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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:22
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Portion Bo - Come on Now - Reality Here?
Were there really plagues in Egypt?
Were the Israelites ever in Exile?
Why am I asking these questions? Are they relevant?
Imagine a communist Chinese boss - who worked his whole life for the communist party...
and now he gets hit with the coronavirus!
What does he think ...feel ...say to his children?
Now omagine the average slave (yes there are even today in someplaces, sad to say).
Now read the end of the First Book of the 5 Books of Moses and
imagine Jacob the father of 12 the tribes - about to leave the world
what does he do? He LEAVES THEM A SPIRITUAL LEGACY THAT LASTS 3000 YEARS (so far).
The Seder night is not just a time to see our relatives (like them or not)!
And this week's portion BO is not just a lead-in to the Passover story (which we will read about for the next bunch of weeks in the Torah).
Quoting from Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (in his story of Moishele the Drunk Watercarrier)
"...Then came Avraham. He began fixing the world ... Yaakov and his twelve holy sons... (BUT) Then Pharaoh made slaves out of us, and tonight, G-d took us out from Egypt....
children, I want you to swear to me right now, that you’ll always know that the same G-d
who took us out from Egypt is still alive. It’s the same G-d.
Whenever a Jew cries to G-d, G-d always hears our prayers and takes us out from all our troubles.'...
He told his Rabbi - ” “Rebbe, I’m so sorry. I couldn’t say anything more (to my children) because I was still drunk. I turned over and I fell asleep again.”
"So the
heilege (holy) Reb Tzvi Elimelech was crying bitter tears. He said to his Chassidim, “Did you hear that? Did you hear that? I wish that one time in my life, I should be privileged to give over
Yiddishkeit to my children, the way Moishele the water carrier gave it over to his children
Seder night.”
Gevalt."
So READ THESE PORTIONS
AND READ THEM OVER AT SEDER NIGHT!
And remember:
YOU should be privileged to give over Yiddishkeit to ... (YOUR) children, the way Moishele the water carrier gave it over to his children Seder night.” Gevalt."
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz (expecting some more blessed rain here in Israel tomorrow -
the place our forfathers came to in order to bring HOLY memory
and HOLY spirit into the world!
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:22
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Portion Shimote : Ghosts of Cain and Able?
How did those guy s from 20 generations before get into our story here?
In our portion the Family of Israel is Forged from the Tribes. What tribes? They just got to Egypt!
Who invented Family, anyway? Not the Egyptians, for sure, despite their "advanced culture"!
Early on - in the beginning - Eve and Adam have their woes !
Soon after, Cain kills Able, and then Cain's grandson kills him !
So, Is the Torah a murder mystery? It's supposed to be a Handbook for Fixing the World!
Our teachers say the saga of Moses and Aron which begins here is to fix the problem of brotherly strife
and
The dedication of Shifra and Puah who stood up to Pharaoh -
is to teach the power of good women to save the future (and allow the tribes of Israel to develop).
And the tribes... Well... We have a Nation here in Formation -
Room for every type of personality - AND FAMILIES!
Room to study and learn about how to build a
"Nation under G-d" - in the coming portions
And may we all be blessed with a great Shabbos!
Shabbat shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם ברביעי, 02 דצמבר 2020 17:21
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Portion Va Yeh Chee - Blessings to the UPS man last night - The end of the First Book of the Five of Moses
UPS man? No he did not bring things for ME but I accepted for others …HOWEVER we TALKED A BIT
and I told him what Max and I learned in Talmud Brachot just a minute before he came
(and Max who will celebrate his bar mitzva next week got the message) - about Blessing each other - AND
About even saying Hello back when somebody says Hello (if not you are almost "stealing" from them - the grace we are here to share! )
And... What has that to do with Portion Va Yeh Chee?
Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach says - `be a Yakov person and NOT a Lavan person`? So what does that mean? And all of this?
Jacob called for his sons and said, " Gather and hear, sons of Jacob, and listen to your father Israel ...
All these are the twelve tribes of Israel... He gave each one his own special blessing. (Genesis: 49:1-2, 28) ...
Jacob is on his deathbed, and his children gather around for his final words.
That;: Light seeps out of the darkness (my note: the despair of death of Jacob - and) Jacob lifts his hands to bless his sons, the twelve tribes of Israel.
He bestows upon them blessings which foretell the destiny of the Jewish People. The light of these blessings illuminates the darkness ...
SO Back to the portion: these AISH words on Aish.com are poetic and beautiful … but - Huh?
So It's like we (me and Max and Mr UPS) learned - The end of the First Book of the Five of Moses shows us :
It's all about blessing each other - that's why the Almighty created us and the world!
Blessings - Be a Yakov-man and learn to give blessings - even with your last breaths -
and it will open hearts and open the path to - THE SECOND BOOK of the Five-
The Book of Redemption of Israel - and thereby the world - from the "Oppression (and constriction) that is Egypt"
(Egypt - Mitzrayim - means "constriction")
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:57
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Portion Shabbat Va Yee Gosh - the wars continue
Do they really?
Well - in this portion Judah is ABOUT TO strike Joseph - who he thinks is an Egyptian
Anyone remember the Moses incident? Another fight - with the Pharaohs … until WE GOT OUT.
In today's TALMUD CYCLE COMPLETION celebration
in my Kolel of Retired Geniuses - and policemen and bureaucrats ...
One of our teachers at the Great Synagogue of Jerusalem reminded us that
Joseph was a King
And Judah's descendants were kings (from David on down …)
so there were ALWAYS some differences .. over who rules (EVEN CONFLICTS)
OIY - and then Chanuka came in - where the priests of the Tribe of Levi took over!
They ticked off the Davidic dynasty - BUT EVENTUALLY
Because they had wisdom and dedication -
THE TALMUD (MISHNA parts) -
WAS STARTED UNDER THEIR RULE
and was COMPLETED - 300 ears later - By Rabbi Judah the Prince
who was descended from DAVID - and a TRUE PRINCE (and genius).
So remember the rule -
Joseph and Judah and Levi may have their quarrels -
but in the end
they ALL BRING HOLY WISDOM TO THE TABLE - for ALL OF US TO LEARN
ShabbatShalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:56
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Portion VaYayShev - Dreams and Dislocation
So whose dreams are discussed intros portion?
Joseph and the Butler and the Baker - but
Why was Joseph dreaming about wheat and about stars?
That's easy - he FED the world, and he became a superstar!
Butler - okay wine, Baker - okay bread.
But what's the connection between the three mean for us?
So think about this: Joseph gets stuck still - in jail - after he interprets the dreams of the other guys.
The commentators say it was because he asked the butler for help and didn't trust the Almightyenough.
I say - from a perspective of today 3000 years later - maybe it was PARTLY because -
(not a criticism - but a learning for today)
WE needed to learn from JOSEPH some more tricks for TODAY!
He didn't SAVE the Baker?
He didn't stay FRIENDS with the butler?
He didn't involve the Prison Warden who trusted him implicitly?
WE CAN LEARN SO SO MUCH from JOSEPH's story.
But after the years of holocaust and the new threats against Israel -
WE NEED TO LEARN THE JOSEPH STORY IN A WAY TO BRING US TO WHAT RABBI CARLEBACH SANG
Peace in every home
Peace in Yerushalayim
Peace in the Holy Land
Peace - TRUE PEACE- among the peoples who
like the BDS-liars the terrorists'-apologists - and the anti-semites who allow others to hurt our people
like we read in a few weeks - of those "who don't remember Joseph"-
Who forget all the GREAT things the Jewish People do for the world!
Let's wake up the world with stories of Joseph and getting the brothers to a higher spiritual place!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:56
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Portion Vayishlach : Nothing to fear? But fear itself?
That was the line touted by president Roosevelt in WW II. Wasn't he off a little bit?
The Torah states clearly that one should " Fear your Almighty - Yareita may Elokecha ".
In last week's portion Jacob said "Pachad Yitzchak" - saved him from Lavan's treachery-
the " L-rd who
Is the Awe who protected Isaac" his father
And thus protected Jacob from Lavan!
So in this portion...
It sounds like Jacob was SO so afraid of Esau? And
did he not Trust in the Almighty?
What in Torah does Awe mean?
Why did Jacob need it?
What does it mean for US?
What is fear? Yirah it says in these portion so...
Is it fear of esau?
Awe of the Power of Hashem ....
Awe of the Miracles wrought by Hashem
Fear of losing our Connection to Hashem
Fear of not doing " the Right Thing " that
Hashem is directing Each of Us to grapple with
The Breslav songs say Low Lu Fached Klal
- be Fearless -
After learning to appreciate all those
" trials by fire of our forefathers and mothers" that the Torah teaches us in Every Portion
But use everthing in those portions
To increase Yirah and Pachad of Hashem in the world.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:55
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Portion Toldot - Did the Ancient Kings - or our Forefathers and Mothers celebrate Thanklsgiving?
The Torah DOES tell us Abraham hob nobbed with Pharoah and the Philistine kings.
And he DEFEATED 4 warring Kings! Was Abraham also a Jewish King? He had followers frirends and an army!
And it tells us The King of Jerusalem came - to say THANKS to Abraham - and did some giving (mostly BREAD)
And Isaac too hung out with the PHilistine king - was Isaac then a king?
I'm this portion Jacob is born ... And runs away from a brother - Esau - who wants to kill him -
He is certainly NOT a KING! He was BROKE for a long while!
But his son Joseph is ALMOST a KING!
But WHO were the EARLY JEWISH KINGS?
Moses - the Shepherd was like a king - and his assistant Joshua was LIKE him … but Not Quite a King!
David the Shepherd of Israel IS A KING … and all his decendants!
Rabbi Carlebach said we are all like kings-
and should make our meals (ESPECIALLY ON SHABBAT) like KINGS and QUEENS - no fast foods! No Rushing!
Let's celebrate the ALMOST KINGS and be like REAL KINGS this SHABBAT
And THANK the Almighty for GIVING us
ALL the stories of our fathers and mothers - from Abraham on down!
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
- פרטים
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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
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פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:55
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Portion Chayei Sarah about the Rabbi and the 4.AM Skunk
This week we find Rebecca , or actually Eliezer -finds Rebecca -
But not for himself - but to marry Isaac
So what kind of story is that?
and so what kind of learning can we glean from this chapter in our "Jewish Family history?"
We no Longer arrange marriages long distance or do we?
We will pass on that for now
And who remembers that great heroine Rebecca?
But here we have a story hidden in the middle of the portion
As I thought about that skunk...
Just this morning at four AM I was walking to the bus to go to a class and then pray
when I guess I startled a skunk slinking through the garbage waiting to be picked up by the city
Who was more worried by who?
I walked away quickly and he ran off in the opposite direction
But in the Rebecca story we chance upon a REAL smelly character
It says Lavan tries to kill that match made in heaven AND
In the meantime Lavan probably kills his father who was FOR it
( - or was it heart attack? I think murder...)
Read between the lines and this is a story of greed
( Because Abraham knows his relatives And sends gifts
But knows their treachery
And sends his army captain Eliezer to make sure there is no hanky panky ... See the war two weeks ago)
Who was more of a skunk than Lavan? But he and Rebecca were siblings and
They grew up in the same house!
So lesson 1 seems to be
Teach All your kids Kindness not greed
And lesson 2 that in the Greater World we need to
Teach Everyone that Treachery will Not be Allowed
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
