Parashat Hashavua

Portion Noah - How Many Names can You Remember?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:54
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Portion Noah - How Many Names can You Remember?
 
 
So what's the most important part of this week's portion?    Building the Mythical Ark?
 
Where was all the room for FOOD for the animals (besides other questions)?  WHO BUILDS SAFE HOLY ARK SPACES TODAY?
 
 
Are we warned in the words - not to allow "Destruction of the World"? 
OIY!  Little by little - OIY! Look - What gives?
 
 
Do we do a good job of building a better world?  We don't need Bible stories, parables, or poetry - 
 just look around the world!  Read History! What did you hear?
 
 
"What could I do?"  We've heard that so many times - but how can so many people stand by and …?
 
 
 
And why does Noah get drunk in the portion - about the PAST - or about THE FUTURE?
 
 
 
And why does the portion spend the last third just reciting names and ages?
 
My theory is that 
 
we NEED TO REMEMBER WHO PUTS OUT TO SAVE THE WORLD! Noah built a safe holy space - but he blew it on WINE!
So who kept the world going after his failure?
 
In the end -of the portion - and always -
 
 it is our father ABRAHAM -
 
 who Battles Babylon (nutty Nimrod) - and Evades Egypt (see Pharaohs Fashla - Hebrew for boo boo - next week)!
 
Remember - ALL THOSE NAMES ARE PEOPLE THAT LED UP TO ABRAHAM.
 
And - all the people who came before you - each faced their own trials - and here we are with another chance to DO SOMETHING GOOD!
 
So - what's to be done? (Volunteer?  Fight Forest Fires in California?  Help Hurricane Victims in the Bahamas? 
ISRAELIS ARE DOING ALL THAT!!!)
 
SO STOP LISTENING TO THE LIES IN THE MEDIA!  Israel has its problems - 
 
BUT THE ISRAELITE HISTORY (and part of it was Noah - yes ) IS TO FIX PROBLEMS! JOIN IN!
 
 
Shabbat Shalom 
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Buh rayShis - Bottle Beginnings?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:53
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Portion Buh rayShis - Bottle Beginnings?
 
 
This morning at 540AM while sitting at a bus stop
Waiting for my Jerusalem bus - I heard a noise - and turned around quickly.
 
It was the Ultra Orthodox bottle-collecting lady going thru the trash. I reached into my pocket to give her a shekel -but she was GONE - up the hill - looking for bottles to cash.
 
Often I walk to Shul in Staten Island - and there I see the Oriental-Bottle-Collector-Lady.
 
Is there any difference?  Could they be a mirror -or warning - of our society?
 
This week's portion begins a new cycle of Torah Reading. 
 
So where do we begin?  The Torah says the world started as 
 
Tohu - Va - Vohu (emptiness and Confusion).  ARE WE STILL THERE? OR BACK THERE?
 
Poverty    -   Evil or Sadness     -    Greed    -     Barbaric Customs   -      Murder etc  ...       
 
And then comes Noah convincing the Almighty that all is not lost? 
 
We need to take stock after all our holidays  -  communicate some kindness to all the Bottle Ladies
 
Build some Arks (like Noah) to save the world - AND OURSELVES -
 
 before the revisionists and anti semites point the world backwards again
 
to 
Tohu - Va - Vohu (emptiness and Confusion
 
 
Love and Shabbos from Jerusalem
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portions - Sukkote - and Simchat Torah

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:53
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Portions - Sukkote - and Simchat Torah


I was in a Sukkah last night with a bunch of scholars sort of debating which is the most important aspect of ASSURING you can stay close to the Almighty

One genius gave a talk about FAITH

Another spoke about Humility
 
A third told the story of the Brisker Rov whose escape from the Nazis was recorded as happening because he and his son would not stop for a minute saying "  I connect myself toYou o L-rd  "  and wherever they went on their escape route the Nazis who saw them did not shoot!    

The whole day yesterday I was at the Moshav Modiim Carlebch Festival which of course
focuses on JOY!
 
So from where comes the grestest connecting power?

What a great religion we have where we can debate
If it is
mitvas that bring you close to the Almighty
 - or is it -
the Almighty brings you close so you can love doing Mitzvas?

Any way you look at it - YOU WIN

Much love joy faith and  humility... from Israel

And Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 

Portion HaAHZEENU AND SUKKOT

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:52
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Portion HaAHZEENU AND SUKKOT
Before the final blessings in the final Torah portion
 
The HaAhZeeNu portion is mostly a song but  with  overtones of potential  punishment. 
.
It is fearful  for the Israelites -  a whole  nation who are NOW moving out into a new life  
- and into war
 
But the warnings of Moses are tempered by the blessings we read on Simchat Torah
 
And all our connection to the nation s on Sukkot!I
 
SO
What blessings befall all Israel every moment?
 
 
Right now a young Breslaver is singing and playing guitar on our 630 AM bus to yerushalayim ... With more to come the next 8 days!
 
So
 
Stay connected to G-d
 
As we connect the four species with the Lluulav!
 
And 
 
remind yourselves that
 
In todays Talmud page it says
 
The Kohain and Levite  Guards of the Temple
Made a special blessing at times:
 
That peace should emanate from 
The Holy Temple
 
And so may it emanate from us and our holy places
 
Happy Sukkot
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 

Portion Va Yay Lech: How did Moses Prepare for Shabbat?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:52
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Portion Va Yay Lech:  How did Moses Prepare for Shabbat? 
 
Just Look at this week's SHORT portion - packed with Moses' meetings - THE DAY BEFORE HE DEPARTS FOR HEAVEN!
 
You would think the Almighty would let him TAKE IT EASY, hug the kids, Hang with the Family?
 
But : G-d's Time waits for NO ONE
 
Let him Relax One Day? As they say in Hebrew " NO and NO - Low V Low" (meaning no way)!
 
Anfd this portion PROVES you should Believe that Moshe was a leader 24/7!
 
Just look at his schedule just before he goes up the mountain for the last time!
 
It says "And Moses went ..."
Moshe. Moses. Goes .... Where?  
 
Tell Joshua this and that (transfer the leadership)
 
Tell the people of The prophecy of End of Days 
(and not to be depressed without Moses and Aron and Miriam)
 
 Moshe you are about to leave the world - so instruct the priesthood ...
 
Order a gathering every 8 years in Jerusalem
 
Writer a Torah and KEEP IT NEXT TO THE TEN COMMANDMENTS" BOX
 
 
And what else?
 
He Wrote them a Song! ( See: Next week's parsha, when I hope to be back in the Holy Land)
 
The Torah is said to be a Guide to truth of G - d IN  life and in OUR  spirits
 
So - never say it's TOO HARD TO GET READY FOR SHABBAT
 
or YOM KIPPUR
 
or SUKKOT -
 
and SHARE THE WORKLOAD - DO IT TOGETHER WITH THE REST OF OUR TRIBE!!!!
 
Our tribe is also a GIFT to each and every one of us!
 
Shabbat Shuva
 
 
 
 
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Nitzavim Turn Turn Turn

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:51
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Portion Nitzavim Turn Turn Turn
 
 
So the portion  starts by Moses saying`Zu
 
 
 
 
   Everyone  is right here...  Give  No Excuses  that you didnt  hear...
 
 
Why are those guys there? For  Blessings  and Warnings? What's  the problem? 
 
Yesterday  I got a lift to afternoon  prayers but  was locked  out of the Shul. 
 
Between  Morning and  afternoon  services  the locks were  changed but no one was told.
 
Everyone was in Shul but no one knew about the changes!
 
 
Rabbi  Kook  the  1920-1935 first Chief Rabbi of Israel sent out a guy on Rosh Hashono
 
To blow shot at for Some guys -
 
workers in the early 1930's who were fed up with religion interfering in their work.
 
When they saw the emissary and heard the shofar it
Turned the whole day Around because then 
 
they Knew G-d cared and the Rabbi cared.
 
Have a Great Shabbat and Rosh Hashono - because G-d cares!
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Andy EICHENHOLZ

Portion Key Tavo: What - More Blessings and Curses?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:51
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Portion Key Tavo: What - More Blessings and Curses?
 
 
This time the Israelites are asked to STAND FAST AT THE MOUNTAINS to hear
the Almighty's Promises!
 
And it was to be when Joshua brought the people into the LAND of ISRAEL 
 
(within a year of the commandment told by Moses)
 
Right in the MIDDLE of the country - and before 7 years of wars to conquer Canaan
 
iIt was n the mountains of Sh chem-Nablus
 
Where Jacob bought his fields! (Like Abraham bought Hebron!)
 
And where Dina was assaulted and kidnapped despite Jacob
 
 coming in peace and PURCHASING fields for his animals to graze!
 
The Blessings are ALWAYS within our Reach -
if we each sincerely TRY a little HARDER to do the MITZVOT -
 
ESPECIALLY to THANK the ALMIGHTY for all the GOOD we have - EVERY DAY
 
And say SHMA YISRAEL
 
and read EVEN ONE PASSAGE FROM THE TORAH each day!\
(and of course celebrate Rosh Hashono and the whole year with Rabbi Andy!!!!)
 
 
 
Shabbat Shalom  Rabbi Andy Eichenholz
 
 

Portion Key Taytzay LaMil Chama - it's WAR today- and the Spanish Armada?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:50
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Portion  Key Taytzay LaMil Chama -  it's WAR today-  and the Spanish Armada?
 
"When you go out to war …"
 
Some of us are fighting for our lives
 
Whether in hospitals or on battlefields
 
May the Almighty protect us from all ills and evils!
 
Remember that the Torah is meant to Protect Us!
 
 
This Torah portion says to Us All - WHEN you go out to war  against our enemies...
 
 
Does  everyone. Have Enemies?
 
 
Youknow, your Enemies , ALL my people and friends 
 
Are
1
Ignorance
2
Hatred
3
Meanness of Spirit
4
Greed
 
Not everyone needs be a genius
 
But to love  ignorance  is Evil used by Some
Leaders who like ignorant followers because it lets them control
 
 
And not everyone can love everyone
 
but hatred can be and IS often Roiled Up and used against humanity
 
 
So - if
some people can be a little crotchety - 
 
Really- it's understandable and True that
everyone deserves a little from the Bounty and even  PLENTY
 that we ALL see in this generation!  - 
 
But be fair - Hashem
blessed us and Commanded Us - with all these good things -
 and with the capacity for Goodness and understanding
 
To remind the world:
 
Where is all the gold the Spanish stole from South America?
Half of it is still in sunken vessels at the bottom of the ocean
 
The rest financed the wars of the Spanish people - those who Expelled the Jews
 
Until the powerful Spanish Armada was defeated by the Hand of G-d
 
Why did they go out to
purposely hurt?   It was And Is GREED!
 
So the portion teaches us ways we can and
 
must teach  the World to
avoid and War Against greed and meanness of spirit
and to look for and support
The Heavenly Purposes at all times.
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Key Taytzay LaMil Chama - it's WAR today- and the Spanish Armada?

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:50
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Portion  Key Taytzay LaMil Chama -  it's WAR today-  and the Spanish Armada?
 
"When you go out to war …"
 
Some of us are fighting for our lives
 
Whether in hospitals or on battlefields
 
May the Almighty protect us from all ills and evils!
 
Remember that the Torah is meant to Protect Us!
 
 
This Torah portion says to Us All - WHEN you go out to war  against our enemies...
 
 
Does  everyone. Have Enemies?
 
 
Youknow, your Enemies , ALL my people and friends 
 
Are
1
Ignorance
2
Hatred
3
Meanness of Spirit
4
Greed
 
Not everyone needs be a genius
 
But to love  ignorance  is Evil used by Some
Leaders who like ignorant followers because it lets them control
 
 
And not everyone can love everyone
 
but hatred can be and IS often Roiled Up and used against humanity
 
 
So - if
some people can be a little crotchety - 
 
Really- it's understandable and True that
everyone deserves a little from the Bounty and even  PLENTY
 that we ALL see in this generation!  - 
 
But be fair - Hashem
blessed us and Commanded Us - with all these good things -
 and with the capacity for Goodness and understanding
 
To remind the world:
 
Where is all the gold the Spanish stole from South America?
Half of it is still in sunken vessels at the bottom of the ocean
 
The rest financed the wars of the Spanish people - those who Expelled the Jews
 
Until the powerful Spanish Armada was defeated by the Hand of G-d
 
Why did they go out to
purposely hurt?   It was And Is GREED!
 
So the portion teaches us ways we can and
 
must teach  the World to
avoid and War Against greed and meanness of spirit
and to look for and support
The Heavenly Purposes at all times.
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Shoftim Be like the Children of Kings

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קטגוריה: Parashat Hashavua
פורסם בשלישי, 01 דצמבר 2020 18:49
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Portion Shoftim Be like the Children of Kings

 
 
This portion. Talks about appointment of Jewish Kings
 
A Jewish King needs to own two Seder Torahs including one copy he writes for himself
 
In the second book of the Torah we are commanded to be a holy Kingdom
 
Abraham is promised that Kings will be descended from him and Sarah
 
So where are we today?
 
Rebbe Nachman has a number of stories about kings ... Why?I
 
One very Timely story is on the surface is about a long who tells at his daughter .... And she Runs Away
 
The chief advisories chases after her .... And eventually works out a reconciliation
 
There is allegory to our generation after the holocaust AND maybe Post Woodstock
 
Jewish royalty is Not Not like British Royalty!I
 
How do we Become Jewish Royalty before Rosh Hashono?
 
We have to work on our Magnanimosity and
On ALL our great spirituality
 
And come together in Rosh Hashono to connect ourselves
 
To the King of Kings Melech Malchei Ha Melachim
 
 
Shabbat Shalom
 
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

מאמרים נוספים...

  1. Portion Ruh Aiy - a month before Rosh Hashono
  2. Portion Eiy kev : How long can I LISTEN to this?
  3. Portion VaEtCHaNan:What, the 10 Co mmandments again ? (and Tu B'Av)
  4. Portion of Torah Masay from a Judean Mountaintop
  5. Portion Matot in Israel - did Moses kill him?
  6. Portion Pinchas in Israel (Balak in the Diaspora) - Celebrating a Holiday? With Sacrifice?
  7. Portion Balak – My Bar Mitzva - and the Arabs in Israel
  8. Portion Chukat in Israel So you call that a War?
  9. Portion Korach in Israel Shelach abroad : Levites fight ... and did Moses play the trumpet
  10. Portion Shelach in Israel