Torah and Inspiration

Perspectives

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Moshe Rabbeinu ( Moses) is the man who walked between Heaven and Earth. He is the man who spoke to G-d as men speak to each other, panim el panim, that is to say, “face to face.” This is the man who walked into the fiery mountain and felt the Glory of G- d pass over him.

This man at the end of his life had but one request, one final plea (Deuteronomy 3: 24-25):The plea we read in this week’s torah portion. And I beseeched HaShem at that time, saying: “O HaShem G- d, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in Heaven or on Earth that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty acts? Let me go over, I pray Thee, and see the good land that is beyond the Jordan, that goodly hill-country, and Lebanon.”

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Fulfilling Vows – Mattot Masei

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“If a man makes a vow to God, or makes an oath to prohibit [something] to himself, he must not break his word. He should do all that he expressed verbally.” (Num. 30:3)

Oaths and vows are a natural human response in times of intense emotions. Particularly when we sense danger or trouble, we spontaneously begin to bargain with God. We pledge to improve ourselves or repay some undeserved kindness. Why do people act this way?

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Rabbi Akiva Laughed

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Throughout the world, Jewish people have finished this week ,the daily study of the talmudic tract Makkot. This daily system called the Dafyomi,” or a “page (Daf) a day (Yomi),” refers to the system of Talmud study started in 1923 by Rabbi Meir Shapiro, Rabbi of  Lublin,and the representative of the Jewish community in the Polish senate.  Rabbi Shapiro’s goal was to unite Jews all over the world by having them study the same page of Talmud each day, and to enable the great achievement of completing the entire Talmud which, with his system of a page a day, within just over seven years (2,711 pages).In addition to enabling the simple laymen to enter into the fascinating world of homiletic insight and Jewish  religious law and civil jurisprudence , the daily study imparted great spiritual strength and fortitude.

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Lesson of 17th Tammuz

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In the Hellenistic mindset that has defined most of western thinking for over two thousand years, “Time” is viewed as a linear line moving from point a to point b. the Jewish and Biblical view of the world views specific dates and appointed times are gates through which time flows in a cyclical and upward spiral fashion.

Therefore the Passover season is not only a commemoration of the liberation that once was but it is rather a time that calls forth the spiritual strengths and power of renewed liberation from all the slavery that still confines us. Sukkoth is not only a commemoration of wandering through the desert for forty years and living in booths but is rather a time that is ripe for strengthening our faith and belief in a G-d intimately involved in our lives. And the fast days are times that are appointed for great tests and turbulence. They are times that can easily be filled with sadness and yet they are times that can be used for introspection and growth.

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Bilaam and Abraham’s Vision

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Bilaam was the prophet for the Nations who watch the progression of the Israelites into, their destiny with apprehension. He is called into action by Balak the King of Moab who has been witness to the fact that the armies of the Canaanite nations are no match for this ragtag group of people led by an eighty year old man and directed by a Divine pillar of fire and smoke. At first the king threatens, entices and commands Bilaam to come do what G-d clearly does not want Bilaam to do. Bilaam desperately wants to go, but cannot go against the express will of the Creator.

G-d makes it very clear to Balak in a night vision:

“And God said unto Bilaam: ‘Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'(Numbers 22:12). Yet G-d seems to eventually give him the much desired permission, “And God came unto Bilaam at night, and said unto him: ‘If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak untot thee, that shalt thou do.’ (Numbers 22:20)

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The Sigh

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We look around us and we see the growing hatred of the world. In the East we see another Haman gathering weapons of destruction. In the west we see leaders anbandoning alliances and friendships. We hear the world media adopting the lies of the masters of terror.We see the world in general becoming enveloped with a cloud of confusion and ignorance.

It makes one want to sigh.

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