This week a new Torah Scroll joined our

synagogue in Israel - a donation to the local youth group.

 

The procession from a donor house to

the synagogue was accompanied by hundreds - half of them the

teens from the youth group - and most everyone dancing to

the Torah Songs.

 

I was proud to dance with them - the

future guardians and defenders of Israel. 

 

Soon they will be in the army. 

 

When I am sometimes asked to pray with them or

teach a bit I try to be a part of this spirited group and

maybe add just a little to their spiritual strength.

 

The portion this week teaches that when Israel has to go to war

 

 they first hear words and warnings from the Warrier Priest.

 

"Your camp must be holy" the Torah says.

 

"He who is weak in spirit need not

fight for Israel" says the Warrier Priest ,

 who in the Talmud is linked to the High Priesthood.

 

I often think what a difficult job it was.

 

To accompany Joshua in battle to conquer Canaan from the wicked Canaanites

 "who burn their children" (  in pagan worship ).

 

To accompany David in battle against the Philistine invaders from Crete.

 

And in Second Temple times? ALL THE MACCABBEES WERE KOHANIM - PRIESTS!

 

And today ... to make a holy army to protect civilians

 from rockets and baloon bombs fuelled by oil given to power gaza hospitals!

 

It is NOT EASY!

 

Praise the Almighty we have an army trained in morality, doing its best!

 

The Torah is not a reason to battle - IT IS THE ANTIDOTE TO WAR AND SUFFERING

 

May the world see it as a guiding light!

 

Love and Shabbos

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Rebbi Nachman would say: Come to Uman  and celebrate and LIFT YOU UP:

Sing Dance and Pray with my thousands  .:. Not only for selves - but

For all Israel and

For spirits of all the murdered souls buried there wirh no one thinking of them (Jews and Gentiles)

To bring the lowest spirits in the world - some of the Ukrainians (look up Chmielnitzki)

To the highest spiritual place ... the Jerusalem of on High!

Many from there have converted and are holy in Israel today - and trying to uplift the world!

 

Lithuanian Jews would say to just pray and fast - and do Teshuva - Return to G-d

I Just had great few days with the swetest Litvaks and their kids ..."bein hazmanim vacation" time

And they get their spirit from prayer meditation and sharing

Rabbi  Shlomo Carlebach would say...(did say) ...

Portion of Devarim:

So here is a little explanation from the Vishnitzer Rebbe as mentioned by Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach (clarifications in the parentheses are mine):

We Jews don't re-write history (like some people).

So here Moses REPEATS the 10 Commandments.

Maybe until now we didn't get it right. Parents and Children. The Sabbath. Not being jealous of what others have. MAYBE NOT EVEN BELIEVING ENOUGH IN THE ALMIGHTY!...

10 TOUGH COMMANDMENTS!

So Moses the Teacher REPEATS them in this portion – 40 years after the First Time.

And for us also.

May it be the best time for us to review our Ten Commandments and pick a couple to start improving on …

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

 

This double Portion at the end of the Fourth  Book (of the 5)  has a prophetic message-

 

 for Israel (keep trying) and Ireland (the country that voted this week to ban part of Israel)

 and for Hamas (and Iran and Hezbolah) who continue to make war on the Reality of Israel.

As the Israelites prepare to cross the Jordan – And to

finish clearing out the Enemies of the East who attacked them (see the previous portions)

The Almighty helps Moses and Joshua and Elazar (new High Priest son of the deceased Aron)

To Lead the People and settle Canaan, home of Abraham Isaac and Jacob who lived PEACE-

and Live in Peace ( more or less for the next 400 years –

until the peace and security during the kingdoms of David and Solomon) .

The warriors who ALL returned SAFELY -are to PURIFY THEMSELVES and EVERY ITEM

They are to SET ASIDE PLACES for exile of people who may have Killed by Accident;

The people of Reuvain Gad and Menasheh chose where they settle – in the Golan to build a better life for their families thanthey had in Egypt  - but

(but must help the other tribes if the Canaanites chose to fight the Israelites).

Rebbe Noson of Breslav wrote:  the leadership of Israel is Chosen – to teach RENEWAL-

The world must stop its many hatreds– years of slaughter – for years in Syria, last year in Iraq, just before then in Crimea-Ukraine – Turkey Cambodia Africa Ecuador and Peru etc

Evil haters of Israel – it is TIME! Ireland and Europe and Russia and Iran and ALL MOSLEMS-

Wake up and admit how much Israel and the Jews contribute to the world! Haiti knows Japan knows Thailand knows -

And to Rest – the Sabbath – the Holy Shabbos which is for ALL – not just the rich!

 

And the Joy of the Holy Weddings of the Daughters of Zelafchad - that all Israel were at!

 

Let's a pray this Shabbat that the world learns these lessons and we can all grow in spirit!

 

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz