Prayer request: Eliezer Binyamin ben Faige Dinah
Parsha Re’eh
This is the second
speech of Moshe Rabbaynu before he departs this world. This speech covers 4
Parshiyos and over 170 Mitzvos are condensed inside of it. These
Mitzvos might have been known to the population as Oral Torah and now they are
‘new’ to as written Torah. The power of Oral Torah is equal to written Torah.
How we make Tzitzis with what strings, etc. We have lost the sky blue color
Techeiles but it appears that we have a close idea today.
11:26 Behold, I set
before you this day a blessing and a curse:
We start reading about
the blessing this Shabbos but only in Ki Savo 27:12 we are told which tribe
will stand on Har Gerizim for the Bracha and Har Eval for the Klala.
27 the blessing,
if ye shall hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command
you this day;
You shall diligently
observe the commandments that lead to a blessing.
28 and the curse,
if ye shall not hearken unto the commandments of the LORD your God, but turn
aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods,
which ye have not known.
You shall diligently
avoid doing anything that might yield to being cursed.
29 And it shall
come to pass, when the LORD thy God shall bring thee into the land whither thou
go to possess it, that thou shalt set the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the
curse upon mount Ebal.
It is an interesting
fact that above Schem to the east and west is Har Gerizim that has the modern
settlement of Har Bracha. From there one can see Yosef’s Tomb. On Har Eval, the
mountain is bare and nothing grows but at the foot of the Mountain is the
Mizbayach of Yehoshua aka Joshua. It is directly east of Schem and north of Har
Bracha. Geographically, Schem is sort of a midpoint between the Yarden and
Mediterranean.
30 Are they not
beyond the Jordan, behind the way of the going down of the sun, in the land of
the Canaanites that dwell in the Arabah, over against Gilgal, beside the
terebinths of Moreh?
The modern settlement of
Alon Moreh is west of Schem with a route heading down towards the Yarden River.
31 For ye are to
pass over the Jordan to go in to possess the land which the LORD your God gives
you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. 32 And ye shall
observe to do all the statutes and the ordinances which I set before you this
day.
You have been given the
land to possess it but more than that to observe the Mitzvos upon it.
12:1 These are the
statutes and the ordinances, which ye shall observe to do in the land which the
LORD, the God of thy fathers, hath given thee to possess it, all the days that
ye live upon the earth. 2 Ye shall surely destroy all the places,
wherein the nations that ye are to dispossess served their gods, upon the high
mountains, and upon the hills, and under every leafy tree. 3 And ye
shall break down their altars, and dash in pieces their pillars, and burn their
Asherim with fire; and ye shall hew down the graven images of their gods; and
ye shall destroy their name out of that place.
The first Mitzvah is to
destroy the is to destroy all symbols of idolatry.
4 Ye shall not do
so unto the LORD your God. 5 But unto the place which the LORD your
God shall choose out of all your tribes to put His name there, even unto His
habitation shall ye seek, and thither thou shalt come; 6 and thither
ye shall bring your burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, and your tithes, and
the offering of your hand, and your vows, and your freewill-offerings, and the
firstlings of your herd and of your flock;
You shall not pray in
the Mishkan upon the spots of idolatry but only in the place that HASHEM tells
you shall your Mishkan rest. (Tabernacle)
7 and there ye
shall eat before the LORD your God, and ye shall rejoice in all that ye put
your hand unto, ye and your households, wherein the LORD thy God hath blessed
thee. 8 Ye shall not do after all that we do here this day, every man
whatsoever is right in his own eyes;
The Mishkan shall be
once you receive your inheritance.
9 for ye are not
as yet come to the rest and to the inheritance, which the LORD your God gives
thee. 10 But when ye go over the Jordan, and dwell in the land which
the LORD your God causes you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your
enemies round about, so that ye dwell in safety;
Then after the conquest
of the land shall you dwell in safety. The condition is that we observe the
Mitzvos not like the current Government of Israel GOI.
11 then it shall
come to pass that the place which the LORD your God shall choose to cause His
name to dwell there, thither shall ye bring all that I command you: your
burnt-offerings, and your sacrifices, your tithes, and the offering of your
hand, and all your choice vows which ye vow unto the LORD.
Once a Sanhedrin of
Sages is in place instead of the current GOI, then we can settle down and bring
our tithes, and Korbanos until the L-RD.
12 And ye shall
rejoice before the LORD your God, ye, and your sons, and your daughters, and
your men-servants, and your maid-servants, and the Levite that is within your
gates, forasmuch as he hath no portion nor inheritance with
you. 13 Take heed to thyself that thou offer not thy burnt-offerings
in every place that thou see; 14 but in the place which the LORD
shall choose in one of thy tribes, there thou shalt offer thy burnt-offerings,
and there thou shalt do all that I command thee.
We are not one Holy Man
like Avraham, Yitzchak or Yacov traveling the land but a holy nation with a
holy center for our Mishkan and later a Mikdash. (Tabernacle and later the
Temple)
15 Notwithstanding
thou mayest kill meaning kosher ritual
slaughter and eat flesh within all thy gates, after all the desire
of thy soul, according to the blessing of the LORD thy God which HE has given
thee; the unclean and the clean may eat thereof, as of the gazelle, and as of
the hart. 16 Only ye shall not eat the blood; thou shalt pour it out
upon the earth as water.
From the flocks and the
herds, kosher slaughter does not require covering with dirt/sand/sawdust like
that of a bird or wild animal. Even if one as to domesticate Moose, Deer,
Bison, Giraffes etc. one would have to cover their blood upon ritual slaughter
as we do with pigeons and other fowls.
17 Thou mayest not
eat within thy gates the tithe of thy corn, or of thy wine, or of thine oil, or
the firstlings of thy herd or of thy flock, nor any of thy vows which thou vow,
nor thy freewill-offerings, nor the offering of thy hand; 18 but thou
shalt eat them before the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD thy God
shall choose, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy
maid-servant, and the Levite that is within thy gates; and thou shalt rejoice
before the LORD thy God in all that thou put thy hand unto. 19 Take
heed to thyself that thou forsake not the Levite as long as thou live upon thy
land.
Vows of free will sacrifices
were brought to eat not at home but slaughtered in the Temple and eaten within
Yerushalayim. The Tithes shall be brought either to the Temple or one of the 24
cities of the Leviim. They are our teachers and receive a 10th of
the produce in return of this they give a tenth of their tithe to the Cohain as
Teruma Maaser. (A reminder that the first thing we do is to take 1 to 2% Teruma
for the Cohain in purity and then the Maaser for the Levi. In the 1st,
2nd, 4th and 5th year is Maaser Sheni that is
of the farmer about 3% to be eaten in holiness in Yerushalayim and in the 3rd
and 6th year pauper Maaser for the poor of the land.)
20 When the LORD
thy God shall enlarge thy border, as He hath promised thee, and thou shalt say:
'I will eat flesh', because thy soul desires to eat flesh; thou mayest eat
flesh, after all the desire of thy soul. 21 If the place which the
LORD thy God shall choose to put His name there be too far from thee, then thou
shalt kill meaning kosher ritual slaughter of thy herd and of thy flock, which the LORD hath
given thee, as I have commanded thee, and thou shalt eat within thy gates,
after all the desire of thy soul. 22 Howbeit as the gazelle and as
the hart is eaten, so thou shalt eat thereof; the unclean and the clean may eat
thereof alike. 23 Only be steadfast in not eating the blood; for the
blood is the life; and thou shalt not eat the life with the
flesh. 24 Thou shalt not eat it; thou shalt pour it out upon the
earth as water.
We don’t eat the blood
in eggs or that of any animal outside of fish that is considered sort of juice.
The deer and other wild animals have their blood covered. It makes sense as there
are hyaenas, foxes and wolves in Israel. In Syria there are still bears and
until a few years ago there were panthers in the Ein Gedi and South but the
Bedouin killed then out. There is also a problem in trying to save the vultures
from extinction due to the poison spread by Bedouins and other Arabs against
foxes, wolves, weasels etc.
25 Thou shalt not
eat it; that it may go well with thee, and with thy children after thee, when
thou shalt do that which is right in the eyes of the LORD.
Just like the libels of
the Arabs today, in past generations in Christian Lands there was blood libel
of killing a Christian Child for blood to bake Matzos. The Torah tells us no
blood, the Torah means not any at all. After all the koshering process if
something reddish or brownish remains it is considered like juice as humans
cannot under normal circumstances flush out one part in ten thousand. G-D
expects from us to do everything humanly possible and no more.
26 Only thy holy
things which thou hast, and thy vows, thou shalt take, and go unto the place
which the LORD shall choose; 27 and thou shalt offer thy
burnt-offerings, the flesh and the blood, upon the altar of the LORD thy God;
and the blood of thy sacrifices shall be poured out against the altar of the
LORD thy God, and thou shalt eat the flesh.
The blood
is collected in a bowl and sprinkled as required in the Torah with a Hyssop (Marjoram)
branch.
28 Observe and
hear all these words which I command thee, that it may go well with thee, and
with thy children after thee forever, when thou do that which is good and right
in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
So all our Korbanos are
brought to the Mikdash in Yerushalayim. If we have voluntary or compulsory
29 When the LORD
thy God shall cut off the nations from before thee, whither thou go in to
dispossess them, and thou dispossess them, and dwellest in their
land; 30 take heed to thyself that thou be not ensnared to follow
them, after that they are destroyed from before thee; and that thou inquire not
after their gods, saying: 'How used these nations to serve their gods? even so
will I do likewise.' 31 Thou shalt not do so unto the LORD thy God;
for every abomination to the LORD, which He hates have they done unto their
gods; for even their sons and their daughters do they burn in the fire to their
gods.
They have placed their
gods in Canaan now it is up to you to physically destroy and remove them and of
course not consider those sites holy.
13:1 All this word
which I command you, that shall ye observe to do; thou shalt not add thereto,
nor diminish from it. 2 If there arise in the midst of thee a prophet, or
a dreamer of dreams--and he give thee a sign or a wonder, 3 and the
sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spoke unto thee--saying: 'Let us go
after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve
them'; 4 thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or
unto that dreamer of dreams; for the LORD your God put you to proof, to know
whether ye do love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your
soul.
He might even say
something that comes true. That is the test. His prophecy comes from “the other
side” (Sidra Acher). Remember from Sefer Iyob is that sometimes HaSatan is given
power to test us. Sefer Iyob (Book of Job).
5 After the LORD
your God shall ye walk, and Him shall ye fear, and His commandments shall ye
keep, and unto His voice shall ye hearken, and Him shall ye serve, and unto Him
shall ye cleave. 6 And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall
be put to death; because he hath spoken perversion against the LORD your God,
who brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed thee out of the house of
bondage, to draw thee aside out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded
thee to walk in. So shalt thou put away the evil from the midst of thee.
This law applies not
only to idol worship but also to other Monotheistic Religions. Torah Judaism is
the only real religion for all Jews later the Torah will tell us not to stray
to the right or the left of Halachic Judaism but to the stick to the original.
7 If thy brother,
the son of thy mother, or thy son, or thy daughter, or the wife of thy bosom,
or thy friend, that is as thine own soul, entice thee secretly, saying: 'Let us
go and serve other gods,' which thou hast not known, thou, nor thy
fathers; 8 of the gods of the peoples that are round about you, nigh
unto thee, or far off from thee, from the one end of the earth even unto the
other end of the earth; 9 thou shalt not consent unto him, nor
hearken unto him; neither shall thine eye pity him, neither shalt thou spare,
neither shalt thou conceal him; 10 but thou shalt surely kill him;
thy hand shall be first upon him to put him to death, and afterwards the hand
of all the people. 11 And thou shalt stone him with stones, that he
die; because he hath sought to draw thee away from the LORD thy God, who
brought thee out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of
bondage. 12 And all Israel shall hear, and fear, and shall do no more
any such wickedness as this is in the midst of thee.
If somebody puts idolatry
before HASHEM even a close relative deserves death.
13 If thou shalt
hear tell concerning one of thy cities, which the LORD thy God giveth thee to
dwell there, saying: 14 'Certain base fellows are gone out from the
midst of thee, and have drawn away the inhabitants of their city, saying: Let
us go and serve other gods, which ye have not known'; 15 then shalt
thou inquire, and make search, and ask diligently; and, behold, if it be truth,
and the thing certain, that such abomination is wrought in the midst of
thee; 16 thou shalt surely smite the inhabitants of that city with
the edge of the sword, destroying it utterly, and all that is therein and the
cattle thereof, with the edge of the sword. 17 And thou shalt gather
all the spoil of it into the midst of the broad place thereof, and shall burn
with fire the city, and all the spoil thereof every whit, unto the LORD thy
God; and it shall be a heap forever; it shall not be built
again. 18 And there shall cleave nought of the devoted thing to thy
hand, that the LORD may turn from the fierceness of His anger, and show thee
mercy, and have compassion upon thee, and multiply thee, as He hath sworn unto
thy fathers; 19 when thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy
God, to keep all His commandments which I command thee this day, to do that which
is right in the eyes of the LORD thy God.
This is a city not on
the border that the endangers the land but a city somewhere more into the
interior that should be destroyed completely. Some say there never was such a
place and others in Tractate Sanhedrin say that they saw such a place.
14:1
Ye are the children of the LORD your God: ye shall not cut yourselves, nor make
any baldness between your eyes for the dead. 2 For thou art a holy
people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be His own
treasure out of all peoples that are upon the face of the earth.
3 Thou
shalt not eat any abominable thing. 4 These are the beasts which ye
may eat: the ox, the sheep, and the goat, 5 the hart, and the
gazelle, and the roebuck, and the wild goat, and the pygarg, and the antelope,
and the mountain-sheep. 6 And every beast that part the hoof, and
hath the hoof wholly cloven in two, and chews the cud, among the beasts, that
ye may eat.
A review of the kosher
animals and birds are mentioned. But fish and kosher insects are not mentioned
or reviewed here.
7 Nevertheless
these ye shall not eat of them that only chew the cud, or of them that only
have the hoof cloven: the camel, and the hare, and the rock-badger, because
they chew the cud but part not the hoof, they are unclean unto
you; 8 and the swine, because he parts the hoof but chews not the
cud, he is unclean unto you; of their flesh ye shall not eat, and their
carcasses ye shall not touch.
Sorry if your American
Football is of pigskin you can’t play with it on Yom Tov.
9 These
ye may eat of all that are in the waters: whatsoever hath fins and scales may
ye eat; 10 and whatsoever hath not fins and scales ye shall not eat;
it is unclean unto you. 11 Of all clean birds ye may eat.
Quail, chickens, geese,
ducks, pigeons, turkeys, etc. are to be ritually slaughtered.
12 But
these are they of which ye shall not eat: the great vulture, and the bearded
vulture, and the ospray; 13 and the glede, and the falcon, and the
kite after its kinds; 14 and every raven after its
kinds; 15 and the ostrich, and the night-hawk, and the sea-mew, and
the hawk after its kinds; 16 the little owl, and the great owl, and
the horned owl; 17 and the pelican, and the carrion-vulture, and the
cormorant; 18 and the stork, and the heron after its kinds, and the
hoopoe, and the bat. 19 And all winged swarming things are unclean
unto you; they shall not be eaten.
This not the full list
and the signs what is a Kosher Bird is more given in Oral Torah than the
written Torah.
20 Of
all clean winged things ye may eat. 21 Ye shall not eat of anything
that dies of itself; thou mayest give it unto the stranger that is within thy
gates, that he may eat it; or thou mayest sell it unto a foreigner; for thou
art a holy people unto the LORD thy God. Thou shalt not seethe a kid in its
mother's milk.
We are forbidden to give
even to our dogs and cats mixtures of meat and milk. So it applies also to the
non-Jew but if one shot a charging bull or a lion killed a deer, we could give
this medically healthy animal to the non-Jewish stranger in our midst or if we
found something non-kosher like a cow swallowed a nail that punctured its
lungs, we could sell to the non-Jew the meat at a lower price.
From
Rabbi Pinchas Winston Perceptions@torah.org
THE TORAH MENTIONS in three locations,
including in this week’s parsha, that we are not to cook a kid in its
mother’s milk. This is the Torah prohibition of baser
b’chalav, which means
that we are not allowed to cook milk and meat together, eat milk and meat that
was cooked together, or even derive benefit from such a mixture.
This is a unique kashrus prohibition
because though we are not allowed to eat treif,
we can cook it for or sell it to someone who can. Baser b’chalav is
also unique since the milk and meat on their own were kosher before being
combined. In fact, the Torah prohibition of baser b’chalav only
takes effect if the milk and meat are kosher before being cooked together. If
either the milk or meat is not kosher,
then they do not result in the issur (prohibition)
of baser b’chalav, though (they would still be forbidden
as treif).
A
non-Jew asked Rabbi R. for a Cheeseburger. The “Two Guys” Kiosk in Ashdod had
one side milk and one side meat. Sam of Blessed Memory told the Rabbi that he
could make a grilled cheese sandwich on the milk (chalav) side and sell it to
him and a hamburger on the meat (baser) side and what the non-Jew does with
them when he gets them is his business – and so it was.
22 Thou
shalt surely tithe all the increase of thy seed, that which is brought forth in
the field year by year. 23 And thou shalt eat before the LORD thy
God, in the place which He shall choose to cause His name to dwell there, the
tithe of thy corn, of thy wine, and of thine oil, and the firstlings of thy
herd and of thy flock; that thou mayest learn to fear the LORD thy God
always. 24 And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not
able to carry it, because the place is too far from thee, which the LORD thy
God shall choose to set His name there, when the LORD thy God shall bless
thee; 25 then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in
thy hand, and shalt go unto the place which the LORD thy God shall
choose. 26 And thou shalt bestow the money for whatsoever thy soul
desires, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for
whatsoever thy soul asks of thee; and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy
God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou and thy household. 27 And the
Levite that is within thy gates, thou shalt not forsake him; for he hath no
portion nor inheritance with thee.
Sacrifices and the three
times a year of congregating shall only be in one holy place.
28 At
the end of every three years, even in the same year, thou shalt bring forth all
the tithe of thine increase, and shall lay it up within thy
gates. 29 And the Levite, because he hath no portion nor inheritance
with thee, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and the widow, that are within
thy gates, shall come, and shall eat and be satisfied; that the LORD thy God
may bless thee in all the work of thy hand which thou do.
If you deal kindly with
them, then you shall be blessed.
15:1
At the end of every seven years thou shalt make a release. 2 And this
is the manner of the release: every creditor shall release that which he hath
lent unto his neighbor; he shall not exact it of his neighbor and his brother;
because the LORD'S release hath been proclaimed. 3 Of a foreigner
thou mayest exact it; but whatsoever of thine is with thy brother thy hand
shall release. 4 Howbeit there shall be no needy among you--for the
LORD will surely bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee for
an inheritance to possess it-- 5 if only thou diligently hearken unto
the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all this commandment which I
command thee this day. 6 For the LORD thy God will bless thee, as He
promised thee; and thou shalt lend unto many nations, but thou shalt not
borrow; and thou shalt rule over many nations, but they shall not rule over
thee.
There are numerous
Chassidic Stories of rich people who loan to the very poor and get paid back in
more than full by HASHEM because they figure that the poor person will not earn
enough to pay them back but doesn’t want to take charity.
7 If
there be among you a needy man, one of thy brethren, within any of thy gates,
in thy land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not harden thy
heart, nor shut thy hand from thy needy brother; 8 but thou shalt
surely open thy hand unto him, and shalt surely lend him sufficient for his
need in that which he wants.
There is a big problem
that in some communities this asking becomes a weekly charity collection by
certain individuals. There are psychological factors involved too. How much
honor does a man/woman have. If A works a full day at minimum wage he/she will
be paid X and that is a starvation rate. If they beg for a few hours they get X
plus Y and make ends meet. Those who have should give.
9 Beware
that there be not a base thought in thy heart, saying: 'The seventh year, the
year of release, is at hand'; and thine eye be evil against thy needy brother,
and thou give him nought; and he cry unto the LORD against thee, and it be sin
in thee. 10 Thou shalt surely give him, and thy heart shall not be
grieved when thou give unto him; because that for this thing the LORD thy God
will bless thee in all thy work, and in all that thou put thy hand
unto. 11 For the poor shall never cease out of the land; therefore I
command thee, saying: 'Thou shalt surely open thy hand unto thy poor and needy
brother, in thy land.'
Hillel designed a Prosbul
Document for extending the loan past Shmita. Example I loan the US Treasury
money and it will return the money from the bond in 25years. The Torah wants us
to loan to the Jewish Poor even if before the Shmita of loans. So Hillel upon
seeing that people were withholding loans, put the Prosbul into effect.
Example: Yosef and Reuven work in a bakery. Yosef wants to marry off his
daughter and has saved so and so much but he needs another bunch of Shekels.
Reuven has saved the equivalent to the bunch and perhaps more but will need the
money back for his daughter. So he lends Yosef for payment over time in a
reasonable manner. But if such a sum was forgiven he could not risk the loan.
12 If
thy brother, a Hebrew man, or a Hebrew woman, be sold unto thee, he shall serve
thee six years; and in the seventh year thou shalt let him go free from
thee. 13 And when thou let him go free from thee, thou shalt not let
him go empty; 14 thou shalt furnish him liberally out of thy flock,
and out of thy threshing-floor, and out of thy winepress; of that wherewith the
LORD thy God hath blessed thee thou shalt give unto him. 15 And thou
shalt remember that thou was a bondman in the land of Egypt, and the LORD thy
God redeemed thee; therefore I command thee this thing to-day. 16 And
it shall be, if he say unto thee: 'I will not go out from thee'; because he
loveth thee and thy house, because he fares well with thee; 17 then
thou shalt take an awl, and thrust it through his ear and into the door, and he
shall be thy bondman forever. And also unto thy bondwoman thou shalt do
likewise.
The right ear lobe that
heard on Sinai, “I am the L-RD” should not have a master for the time until the
Yovel so his ear is drilled.
18 It
shall not seem hard unto thee, when thou let him go free from thee; for to the
double of the hire of a hireling hath he served thee six years; and the LORD
thy God will bless thee in all that thou do.
He gets workers
compensation for a fresh start in life as an independent person.
19 All
the firstling males that are born of thy herd and of thy flock thou shalt
sanctify unto the LORD thy God; thou shalt do no work with the firstling of
thine ox, nor shear the firstling of thy flock. 20 Thou shalt eat it
before the LORD thy God year by year in the place which the LORD shall choose,
thou and thy household. 21 And if there be any blemish therein, lameness,
or blindness, any ill blemish whatsoever, thou shalt not sacrifice it unto the
LORD thy God. 22 Thou shalt eat it within thy gates; the unclean and
the clean may eat it alike, as the gazelle, and as the hart. 23 Only
thou shalt not eat the blood thereof; thou shalt pour it out upon the ground as
water.
This is the prohibition
of eating/drinking blood of animals as mentioned earlier in this Parsha.
16:1
Observe the month of Abib, and keep the Passover unto the LORD thy God; for in
the month of Abib the LORD thy God brought thee forth out of Egypt by
night. 2 And thou shalt sacrifice the Passover-offering unto the LORD
thy God, of the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to
cause His name to dwell there. 3 Thou shalt eat no leavened bread
with it; seven days shalt thou eat unleavened bread therewith, even the bread
of affliction; for in haste didst thou come forth out of the land of Egypt;
that thou mayest remember the day when thou came forth out of the land of Egypt
all the days of thy life.
The Hebrew Festival Year
begins with Pesach and continues all the 3 Regelim through Shavuos aka Pentecost
and Sukkos aka Tabernacles. A general review for all the congregation by Moshe
before his death.
4 And
there shall be no leaven seen with thee in all they borders seven days; neither
shall any of the flesh, which thou sacrifice the first day at even, remain all
night until the morning. 5 Thou mayest not sacrifice the Passover-offering
within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God gives thee; 6 but at
the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to cause His name to dwell in,
there thou shalt sacrifice the Passover-offering at even, at the going down of
the sun, at the season that thou came forth out of Egypt. 7 And thou
shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose; and
thou shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents. 8 Six days
thou shalt eat unleavened bread; and on the seventh day shall be a solemn
assembly to the LORD thy God; thou shalt do no work therein.
The first and seventh
days are Yom Tovim for Pesach and without leavening in your possession.
9 Seven
weeks shalt thou number unto thee; from the time the sickle is first put to the
standing corn shalt thou begin to number seven weeks. 10 And thou
shalt keep the feast of weeks unto the LORD thy God after the measure of the
freewill-offering of thy hand, which thou shalt give, according as the LORD thy
God bless thee. 11 And thou shalt rejoice before the LORD thy God,
thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant, and thy maid-servant,
and the Levite that is within thy gates, and the stranger, and the fatherless,
and the widow, that are in the midst of thee, in the place which the LORD thy
God shall choose to cause His name to dwell there. 12 And thou shalt
remember that thou were a bondman in Egypt; and thou shalt observe and do these
statutes.
Seven full weeks shall
pass from the first day of Pesach counting the harvesting of the Barley and on
the 50th day shall be Yom Tov Shavuos. By this time, wheat is being
harvested in Israel. Then in the fall comes the other harvest at Sukkos of the
grapes, pomegranates, figs, dates and olives. The first and eight days are full
Yomim Tovim.
13 Thou
shalt keep the feast of tabernacles seven days, after that thou hast gathered
in from thy threshing-floor and from thy winepress. 14 And thou shalt
rejoice in thy feast, thou, and thy son, and thy daughter, and thy man-servant,
and thy maid-servant, and the Levite, and the stranger, and the fatherless, and
the widow, that are within thy gates. 15 Seven days shalt thou keep a
feast unto the LORD thy God in the place which the LORD shall choose; because
the LORD thy God shall bless thee in all thine increase, and in all the work of
thy hands, and thou shalt be altogether joyful. 16 Three times in a
year shall all thy males appear before the LORD thy God in the place which He
shall choose; on the feast of unleavened bread, and on the feast of weeks, and
on the feast of tabernacles; and they shall not appear before the LORD
empty; 17 every man shall give as he is able, according to the
blessing of the LORD thy God which He hath given thee.
Shabbat Mevorchim: Molad for
Elul: Will occur (September 3) Tuesday Afternoon 37 minutes and 12 Chalakim
after 2 O’clock Jerusalem time.
The Puzzling Kashrus
Certificate by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles. https://ascentofsafed.com/Stories/Stories/5784/1394-51.html
The Chida,
Rabbi Chaim-Yosef-David Azulai, travelled extensively. His first journey was a
six year long voyage to help the Jewish community in Hebron. From then on he
continued to travel to different Jewish centers in many countries as a
messenger of the Rabbis of the Holy Land, collecting donations from the Jews
for the poverty stricken Jews in Jerusalem and Hebron.
He describes his
travels in his book "Ma'agal Tov", which is a diary of
his experiences as he visited more than ten countries. In it one can find lists
of the monies he collected for Israel's poor, information about the life and
habits of the Jewish communities he passed through, people in high positions he
met, like the king of France, leaders of communities and visits by great,
famous Torah scholars. [1]
During one of his
voyages he was engrossed in the study of Torah in his cabin onboard ship when
someone knocked on the door. The man who entered introduced himself as a
merchant in high quality cheese. He was delighted to discover that the Chida
himself was a fellow passenger. He requested from the Chida to write him a
kosher certificate and promised him a nice recompense.
The Chida explained
that since he didn't supervise the production and packaging of the cheese he
was not in a position to give a kosher certificate.
When the merchant
tried to convince the Chida that he himself oversaw the whole process and
everything was completely kosher, the Chida replied that he cannot rely on his
word alone and will not be able to give the requested certificate.
Seeing that he
wouldn't be able to convince the Rav to comply with his demand, he changed his
tone and started threatening him. He told the Chida that if he continues to
deny him he will be thrown overboard to become prey for the fish.
To proof that he
meant what he said, he returned several minutes later with a few brutish
looking sailors. "Now, will you write a kosher certificate?" he asked
threateningly.
When he again
received a refusal he turned to the sailors and order them: "Throw him in
the sea!" The men closed in on the Chida, ready to do as they were told.
It became clear to the Chida that the merchant would stop at nothing and that
his life was in real danger. "All right, I will write you a
certificate," he said softly.
With a broken heart
the Chida took out his quill and wrote: "To my brothers the Jewish people,
I hereby certify that the cheeses in the possession of Mr. So-and-so are
kosher mehadrin (i.e., the highest level)."
Next to his
signature he wrote: "Signed in honor of the Torah for sme"t
"with your loins girded."[2]
The merchant was
happy. He hadn't dreamt of getting such a warm recommendation. He grabbed the
letter from the Chida's hand, thanked him pleasantly and even apologized for
threatening him.
When to ship
anchored at one of the harbors on their way, the merchant unloaded his
merchandise and went straight to the house of the local rabbi. The custom was
if anyone wanted to sell edibles to the community they first had to go to the
local rabbi to receive the rabbi's kosher certificate.
The merchant
presented the rabbi the certificate of the Chida. To his surprise the rabbi
took his time studying the letter. Little did he know that the last sentence
the Chida had written awoke the rabbi's suspicion.
"I will only be
able take care of this tomorrow," the rabbi said to the merch-ant. "I
have to study this tonight and tomorrow I will give you an answer."
The merchant was
stunned. He had not expected a reaction like this from the rabbi. He had been
sure that the warm recommendation of the Chida would be accepted immediately.
The rabbi prayed
that G-d would open his eyes to decode the last cryptic words of the Chida's
letter. What was the meaning of the acronym sme"t? And why the verse
containing the phrase "with girded loins"?
Suddenly a though
occurred to him, he went over to his bookshelves, took out his Chumash,
searched for the right verse in order to look up the translation of Onkelus [3] there.
He had realized that sme"t stood for [the practice of reviewing the weekly
Torah reading] stayim mikra ehad targum ("twice verse,
once translation").
When finally he
found it (Ex. 12:11), his eyes opened wide. The translation of Onkelus into
Aramaic of the partial verse, "with girded loins," was "charitzsim
yehon arisin". Cheese is called charitz, as it says in the
verse "and ten charitzsey chalav" (Shmuel I 17:18)
He immediately
understood the intention of the Chida. By using this translation he hinted that
the cheese was forbidden, inedible by the standards of Jewish kashrut law.
The next day, when
the merchant returned, there were already two muscular men waiting for him who
caught him firmly by the arms.
"Tell me the
truth, right now! How did you get this certificate?" the rabbi demanded to
know.
When the merchant
realized that his scam was revealed, he confessed in tears that he forced the
Chida to write the certificate and that actually the cheese he imported was not
kosher.
The rabbi ordered
him thrown in jail and his cheese was confiscated. The Chida greeted the good
news with much relief.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Source: Translated by Mrs.
C.R. Benami, long-time editorial assistant for AscentOfSafed.com, from the
popular Hebrew weekly, Sichat HaShavua #1893. Revised and supplemented by R.
Yerachmiel Tilles.
Why this week? Kashrut is a
major concern in this week's Torah reading, Re'eh.
Biographical note:
Rabbi Chaim-Yosef-David Azulai [Sivan 5484 - 11 Adar 5566 (1724 -1806)],
universally known as the "Chida," is a highly
respected rabbinical scholar, Kabbalist, historian and bibliographer. Born in
Jerusalem, his teachers included Rav Shalom Sharabi [the Rashash],
and Rav Chaim ben-Atar (the Ohr HaChaim). Eventually he wrote and
published 71 works! His Shem HaGedolim is one of the most
important source books of Jewish literature and history. Several times he
traveled abroad for periods of over five years each, usually as an emissary of
the communities of the Holy Land, and once to serve as the Rav of Cairo. He
lived the last third of his life in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy, where he wrote
most of his major works and where he passed away at age 82 and was buried.
Footnotes:
[1] Such as the prominent Tosfos commentator on the Talmud known as Rabbeinu
Tam
[2]To be explained later.
[3]A Roman convert to Judaism in the period just after the destruction of the
2nd Holy Temple in Jerusalem. His translation of the Torah into Aramaic is so
widely accepted that it is printed in nearly every edition of the Torah that is
printed together with the explanations of Rashi.
The following is a
discussion by a senior Rabbi on Eastern Culture Healing Practices and if it is
based on Idolatry or not. https://en.yhb.org.il/revivim1109/ thanks to Yonaton Behar
Milestone: Cherna Moskowitz, builder
of Yerushalayim supporter of Nefesh B’Nefesh. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395412
Inyanay Diyoma
Aug. 24th and Aug 25th
Day 323 and 324 start of week 48
Israel at war. All the
TV stations on war footing. At Midnight, the Airports Authority closed down Ben
Gurion Airport and opened up the Ramon
Airport in Eilat. At 04:45, we opened a preemptive strike of 100 planes on
Lebanon bases knocking out 6,000 rockets and 300 drones with only 210 sent. The
object was the ID intelligence command base and Mossad Headquarters. From
Friday until now 5 soldiers died bring up the total in war to 700 since Oct. 7th.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395117
Austin-Gallant talks. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395120
Home Front Command lifts most of its
restrictions. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395136
U.S.
Embassy Jerusalem (August 25, 2024)
Location: Israel,
the West Bank, and Gaza
Event: Security
Alert
Due
to the increased tensions and military conflict this morning between Israel and
Lebanese Hezbollah, the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem is continuously and closely
monitoring the security situation.
Israel
has already announced that flights to and from Ben Gurion Airport will be
delayed until at least 10AM. If you have travel plans, you can
monitor announcements at www.iaa.gov.il/en.
The
U.S. Embassy reminds U.S. citizens of the continued need for caution and
increased personal security awareness (including knowing the location of the
nearest shelter) as security incidents, including mortar and rocket fire and
unmanned aircraft system (UAS) intrusions, often take place without any
warning. The security environment is complex and can change quickly, and
the Israeli Homefront Command can change the guidance in response to the
security situation.
U.S. citizens are encouraged to
read the current Travel Advisory and Country Information Page for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza,
that advises U.S. citizens to be aware of the continuing risks of travel to
Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza due to the security situation and heightened
regional tensions and warns against travel to Gaza and to northern Israel
within 2.5 miles of the Lebanese and Syrian borders.
Ali Mugrabi of Arutz 12 reported
that there are road blocks 10km south of Kiriat Shemona preventing traffic from
moving north.
5 Fallen Soldiers: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395124
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395082
The grandson of Rabbi Eliezer Igra, who until
recently served as acting Chief Rabbi of Israel and is currently running for
the position of Chief Rabbi of Israel, was wounded in action in Khan Yunis over
Shabbos. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395110
Thieves without shame: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395129
https://www.timesofisrael.com/released-hostage-says-gaza-captor-demanded-ransom-from-her-father/
Thomas: Belgistan: https://mailchi.mp/meforum/belgium-cant-save-itself-by-betraying-its-jews-meotti-at-arutz-sheva
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/08/20/maryland-schools-targeted-swastika-graffiti-spree/
Telegram founder arrested in France.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395118
https://www.foxnews.com/sports/high-school-quarterback-dies-after-head-injury-in-opening-night-game
500 children kidnapped in Nigeria
but not in the news.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/10-year-old-girl-run-over-and-killed-in-central-israel/
Two Israelis enter Arab Town and are
attacked. Why do they go there? For saving a dollar? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395108
Wizz, Air France, Etihad, Royal Jordanian, and
Aegean Airlines have announced the cancellation of all their flights to and
from Israel. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395133
Aug. 26th
Day 325
Op-Ed Diane Bederman Time for Canada
to leave the British Commonwealth.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395173 or https://dianebederman.com/has-the-time-come-for-canada-to-leave-the-british-commonwealth/
Analyst says Nasrallah exhausted. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395187
More hilltop communities destroyed. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395180
Rocket towards Rishon Le Tzion
launcher hit. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395181
Senior Jihadi blows himself up. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395185
Trafe and unsanitary. The police noted that "smuggling
meat into the state's territory without supervision, as well as various
sanitary violations, such as transporting food in an inappropriate temperature,
unsanctioned slaughter, or adulterated meat, can cause severe illness." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395182
Ramming attack stopped. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395149
New Police Commissioner. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395148
Naval officer dies by Iron Dome. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395143
The
boys from Lake
Mary, Florida walked it off against Chinese Taipei in extra innings to win the
Little League World Series, 2-1, in thrilling fashion on Sunday night. Let’s
see how they do against Chashmonayim Aztecs. https://www.foxnews.com/sports/lake-mary-walks-off-chinese-taipei-win-floridas-first-ever-little-league-world-series-championship
"What happened today is not the end of the
story. Hezbollah tried this morning to attack the State of Israel with rockets
and UAVs. We order the IDF to carry out a powerful preventative attack to
remove the threat," the Prime Minister stated. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395146
5 people in a meter shoe closet. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395142
Supreme Court why is the Red Cross
forbidden to visit prisoners? https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395138
Aug. 27th
Day 326
Better than being born again. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395254
I saw a report in the Israeli Press
and a publication by S. E. Hughes that the CIA revealed the names of ten Mossad
Agents to the Iranians. “There are murky
connections between Iran, China and the White House, which is the unrecognized
side of the story. In a 2023 report from Business Insider,…”
A few of my direct
readers have asked me if everything is OK as I am delayed. The truth is that I
was wiped out a bit from the wedding and seven Brachos. But also we went for
quotations for solar electrical generation and sort of off the grid – producer
and not only a user. We are doing external and interior home repairs after
being here 36 years maintenance is due.
Last night there was a road rage
murder in Ashkelon.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/irans-khamenei-backs-resumption-of-nuclear-talks-with-enemy-us/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/woman-stabbed-to-death-in-southern-town-of-rahat-allegedly-by-husband/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/stabbing-in-germanys-solingen-fuels-bitter-debate-on-immigration/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/new-trump-ad-pays-tribute-to-thousands-of-oct-7-victims/
What religion?
Antisemitic Pastor or anti-Zionists J-Street Jew? From Diane. https://www.frontpagemag.com/pastor-of-kamala-and-dougs-church-opposes-israel/
Aug. 28th
Day 327
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395270
Accidental tank discharge: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395231
Traffic accident in Syrian-Lebanese
road between a drone sent msg and 3 Jihadis and one Hezballah Terrorist. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395297
Prof. resigns post. Professor Nadera Shalhoub-Kevorkian has resigned from the
Hebrew University, after the uproar she caused when she denied the October 7
rapes and murders in the Gaza surrounding communities and towns. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395294
5
businesses and 2 drivers question about 60 infiltrators. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395295
“Brothers in Arms” places sign on
Tax Authority Building asked to remove it. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395247
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/08/27/egypt-israels-alleged-peace-partner/
Plane returns due to unruly
passenger: https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395239
https://www.algemeiner.com/2024/08/27/us-completes-500th-arms-delivery-israel-since-oct-7/
Staff Sgt. Falls in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395277
Some of the smallest organizations, such as the
Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP), the Mujahideen Brigades,
the al-Nasser Salah al-Deen Brigades, and the al-Aqsa Martyrs’ Brigades, have
"cut off" and no longer heed Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's
instructions, These groups hold an unknown number of hostages. Hamas holds
about 22 hostages. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395302
Al-Qadi met with his 90-year-old mother. He kissed
her feet and said, "Now I can die." https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395305
Flight attendant with PLO Pin. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395279
Abu Yair we have more hostages. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395260
Bibi fears Iran wants more security
for Yair. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395266
Fire in B-G’s Jerusalem House. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395250
Opinion Poll. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395268
Commander of the 91st Division Brigadier General
Shai Klapper decided on Tuesday to dismiss the mental health officer of the
Alexandroni Brigade, Adi Angert, after she accused the brigade commander of
wishing for genocide and spoke out against the religious Zionist sector on
social media. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395259
Vehicle with children pelted with
stones. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395255
3 operational failures in Gaza. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395246
Aug. 29th
Day 328
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ukraine-says-netanyahu-and-zelensky-talked-on-phone/
A letter that was claimed to have been written by
a survivor of the massacre at the October 7th Supernova Music Festival before
he took his own life was found to be fake. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395321
Body of murdered soldier recovered. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395315
During joint IDF, ISA and Israeli Border Police
counterterrorism activities in Tulkarm, following exchanges of fire, the forces
eliminated five terrorists who had hidden inside a mosque. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395344
Suspension of flights from US like a
boycott. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395333
Miracle escape from
plane crash on active highway. https://www.aol.com/news/plane-crashes-busy-road-passengers-090634302.html
An extremely rare and unusual stone seal from the
First Temple period, about 2,700 years old, bearing a name inscribed in
paleo-Hebrew script and a winged figure, was discovered near the Southern Wall
of the Temple Mount. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395346
Master Sergeant (Res.) Yochai Hay Glam, aged 32,
from Netanya, a soldier from the 6310th Reconnaissance Battalion,
"Jerusalem" Brigade (16th), fell during combat in the central Gaza
Strip. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395310
… According to data provided by the IDF,
at present, 25 wounded soldiers are hospitalized in serious condition, along
with 167 soldiers who are hospitalized in moderate condition and another six
who are hospitalized in light condition.
Aug. 30th
Day 329 end of week 48 closing in on 11 months
https://www.timesofisrael.com/gallant-said-to-warn-ministers-multi-front-war-dangerously-close-sans-hostage-deal/
& https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395383
My own personal opinion.
During the few years when Israel had direct elections of the Prime Minister, I
voted Netanyahu twice. From 1996 to about 2005 I whole heartedly supported Netanyahu.
When the disengagement from Gush Katif and Gaza occurred, I began to see his dichotomy.
Sara Netanyahu began interfering in his politics kicking out Naphtali Bennett
and Ayelet Shaked from the Likud Party.
Over the past few years
and various elections, I began to see that his main goal was not to do much and
just stay in power. He is now about 17years Prime Minister out of the last
28years.
Well Mr. Netanyahu the
lives of an estimated 50 to 60 Israelis are at stake. We do not need them dead
and burial unknown like Ron Arad, Katz, Feldman and Eli Cohen. Pekuach Nefesh
to make a deal now that 80% of the Hamas Rafah Battalion has been destroyed and
a lot of the tunnels neutralized. While the IDF is uncovering tunnels, Hamas is
digging down 100 or 150 meters for the next tunnel complex into Egypt. Giving
up the corridor will not effect this one way or the other.
I am far from being a
leftist as you readers know but the time to make a deal to free the hostages is
now before some other idiotic terrorist gets a whim to murder another captive
or more. IT IS ALSO TIME TO SECURE OUR NORTHERN FRONT.
Finally I got smart and
searched for what used to appear before my eyes and I got the candle lighting
times. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/shabat
Taylor swift plot: CIA Deputy Director David Cohen
discussed the thwarted plot during the annual Intelligence and National
Security Summit in Maryland this week. “They were plotting to kill a
huge number — tens of thousands of people at this concert, including I am sure
many Americans — and were quite advanced in this,” Cohen said, according to AP. “The Austrians were able to make those arrests because the
agency and our partners in the intelligence community provided them information
about what this ISIS-connected group was planning to do.” https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395404
Berlin Holocaust Memorial Defaced. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395409
Central and south Gaza eliminations.
https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395413
IDF Spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari spoke
with commanders and soldiers who rescued the hostage Farhan al-Qadi and
revealed on Thursday for the first time that he was rescued from the heart of
Rafah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395368
Arrests and weapons seized near Ramallah. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395366
Tortured Confession Prisoner
transferred to Torah Branch. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395369
Pro-terror protests should worry
all. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395361
Aid to soldiers volunteer missing
since Nov. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395364
85year old murdered in captivity. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395358
From Monique B. Eugenics as bad as the Nazis. https://www.foxnews.com/politics/chicago-schools-sex-ed-curriculum-teaches-elementary-school-kids-about-gender-identity-puberty-blockers
An attack on Israel
film with explicatives. https://www.facebook.com/61562491720015/videos/822050100091401/?rdid=Lih8qIoaShgF295s
If the flights return and the mail
comes to Israel, US voters can make a difference. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395350
Activists from the Im Tirtzu movement held a
protest vigil in front of the Chief Military Prosecutor's house protesting
recent events, especially the arrest of the Force 100 soldiers. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395348
Germany to deport terrorist Imam. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395407
Head of Jihad in Jenin struck out. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395407
UAV from Syria shot down. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395360
Jihad intelligence chief gone. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395357
Residents of the northern Golan Heights were
instructed to remain near protected spaces on Thursday afternoon, following the
explosion of several drones in the area. https://www.israelnationalnews.com/news/395363
Have a healthy, happy,
peaceful and restful Shabbos,
Rachamim Pauli
