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 Menorah 5

Esnoga Bet El

102 Broken Arrow Dr.

Paris TN 38242

United States of America

© 2024

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E-Mail: waltoakley@charter.net

 

Triennial Cycle (Triennial Torah Cycle) / Septennial Cycle (Septennial Torah Cycle)

 

Three and 1/2 year Lectionary Readings

Third Year of the Triennial Reading Cycle

Tishri 15-23, 5785 / Oct. 16 – Oct. 25, 2024

Third Year of the Shmita Cycle

 

Chag HaSuccoth - Feast of Tabernacles

5785 Ano Mundi

 

 

We wish all of our readers a most happy, blessed, and joyous time over the holidays of Succoth (Tabernacles) together with your loved ones as you welcome daily your most Distinguished guests at your Sukkah, and together with all of our most noble and beloved Jewish brothers and sisters, and their Torah Scholars, amen ve amen!

 

Candle Lighting and Habdalah Times: https://www.chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.htm

 

Roll of Honor:

This Commentary comes out weekly and on the festivals thanks to the great generosity of:

 

His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Hillel ben David and beloved wife HH Giberet Batsheva bat Sarah

His Eminence Rabbi Dr. Eliyahu ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Dr. Elisheba bat Sarah

His Honor Paqid Adon David ben Abraham

His Honor Paqid Adon Ezra ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Karmela bat Sarah,

His Honor Paqid Adon Tzuriel ben Abraham and beloved wife HH Giberet Gibora bat Sarah

Her Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah & beloved family

His Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann & beloved family

His Excellency Adon John Batchelor & beloved wife

Her Excellency Giberet Leah bat Sarah & beloved mother

His Excellency Adon Yehoshua ben Abraham and beloved wife HE Giberet Rut bat Sarah

His Excellency Adon Michael ben Yosef and beloved wife HE Giberet Sheba bat Sarah

Her Excellency Giberet Prof. Dr. Emunah bat Sarah & beloved family

His Excellency Adon Robert Dick & beloved wife HE Giberet Cobena Dick

His Excellency Adon Ovadya ben Abraham and beloved wife HE Giberet Mirit bat Sarah

His Excellency Adon Brad Gaskill and beloved wife Cynthia Gaskill

His Excellency Adon Shlomoh ben Abraham

His Excellency Adon Ya’aqob ben David

His Excellency Adon Bill Haynes and beloved wife HE Giberet Diane Haynes

 

 

For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing the best oil for the lamps, we pray that GOD’s richest blessings be upon their lives and those of their loved ones, together with all Yisrael and her Torah Scholars, amen ve amen!

Also, a great thank you and great blessings be upon all who send comments to the list about the contents and commentary of the weekly Torah Seder and allied topics. If you want to subscribe to our list and ensure that you never lose any of our commentaries or would like your friends also to receive this commentary, please do send me an E-Mail to gkilli@aol.com with your E-Mail or the E-Mail addresses of your friends. Toda Rabba!

 

 

Blessings Before Torah Study

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our GOD, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!

 

Please Ha-Shem, our GOD, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our GOD, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

 

Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons, and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:

 

May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!

 

This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."

 

These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when performing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.

 

These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!

 

 

 


 

Hag HaSuccoth - Feast of Tabernacles

5785 Ano Mundi

 

For further study see: https://www.betemunah.org/succoth.html

https://www.betemunah.org/birth.html

 

Tishri 15, 5785

Evening Wednesday, October 16 – Evening Thursday, October 17, 2024

 

Your Distinguished guest at your Sukkah: Abraham Abinu representing love and kindness

 

Succoth 1st Day - Morning Service

Morning Service Tabernacles (day One) – Tabernáculos (Primer Día)

 

Festival

Torah Reading:

חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת

 

Succoth

Reader 1 – Vayikra 22:26 – 23:3

Torah:

Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 – 23:44

B’midbar (Numbers) 29:12-16

Reader 2 – Vayikra 23:4-14

Haftarah:

Zechariah 14:1-21

Reader 3 – Vayikra 23:15-22

Megillah:

Koheleth: (Ecclesiastes) 1:1-2:15

Reader 4 – Vayikra 23:23-31

Tehillim (Psalms) 76:1-13

Reader 5 – Vayikra 23:32-44

Reader 6 – Vayikra 14:49-51

N.C.: I Thessalonians 1:1-10 + 2:1-12 & Revelation 3:7-13

   Maftir – B’midbar 29:12-16

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Vayikra (Leviticus) ‎‎‎22:26 – 23:44

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

26. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

26. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying (to the effect that):

27. An ox, lamb, or goat, when it is born, will be with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day and thereafter it may be favorably accepted as a sacrifice as a fire-offering to Adonai.

27. What time you call to our mind the order of our oblations, as they will be offered year by year, being our expiatory offering for our sins, when on account of our sins (such sacrifices are required), and we have none to bring from our flocks of sheep, then will a bullock be chosen before Him, in memorial of the righteousness/ generosity of the elder who came from the east, the sincere one who brought the calf, fat and tender, to Your Name. A sheep is to be chosen, secondly, in memory of the righteousness/ generosity of him who was bound as a lamb on the altar, and who stretched forth his neck for Your Name's sake, while the heavens stooped down and condescended, and Izhak beheld their foundations, and his eyes were blinded by the high things; on which account he was reckoned to be worthy that a lamb should be provided for him as a burnt offering. A kid of the goats is to be chosen likewise, in memorial of the righteousness/generosity of that perfect one who made the savory meat of the kid, and brought it to his father, and was made worthy to receive the order of the blessing: wherefore Mosheh the prophet explains, saying: Sons of Israel, my people, When a bullock, or a lamb, or a kid is brought forth according, to the manner of the world, it will be seven days after its dam, that there may be evidence that it is not imperfect; and on the eighth day and thenceforth, it is acceptable to be offered an oblation to the Name of the Lord.

[JERUSALEM. In the time that you reminded us of the order of the oblations as they are to be offered year by year; our offerings are to make atonement for our sins. But when our sins have given occasion, and we have not wherewith to bring from our flocks of sheep, a bullock is to be chosen before Me. to recall to remembrance­ the elder of the east, sincere altogether, Who brought to Your Name a calf tender and good, Which he gave to the young man, who hasted to dress it, and to bake unleavened cakes; and the angels did eat, and be was accounted worthy to receive the announcement that, behold, Sarah should give birth to Izhak. A lamb is to be chosen, secondly, to call to remembrance the righteousness/ generosity of the prince who suffered himself to be bound upon the altar, and stretched forth his neck for Your Name's sake; when the heavens stooped down and condescended, and Izhak beheld their foundations, and his eyes were blinded by the high things (or, from the heights), on which account be was held worthy that a lamb should be provided in his stead for a burnt offering. A kid of the goats also is to be chosen, to call to remembrance the righteousness/ generosity of that perfect one who put on the skins of the kids, and made savory meat, and brought of his viands unto his father, and gave wine to him to drink; on account of which he was held worthy to receive the orders of blessings from Izhak his father, that the twelve sacred tribes should arise to Your Name. Behold, then, how Mosheh, the prophet of the Lord, expounds, and says, Sons of Israel, my people, when a bullock, or a lamb, or a goat is brought forth, it will be seven days after its dam; on the eighth day and thenceforth it will be fit to be offered as an oblation to the Name of the Lord.]

28. An ox or a lamb, it and its offspring, you will not slaughter in one day.

28. Sons of Israel, my people, as our Father in heaven is merciful, so will you be merciful on earth: neither cow, nor ewe, will you sacrifice along with her young on the same day. 

29. When you sacrifice a thanks-giving-offering to Adonai, that it be favorably accepted for you, you will sacrifice it.

29. And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Name of the Lord, you will offer so as to be accepted.

30. On that day [that it is sacrificed] you should eat it; you will leave none of it until the next morning, I am Adonai.

30. It will be eaten on that day; none will remain till the morning: I am the Lord.

31. You will preserve My commandments and fulfill them, I am Adonai.

31. And you will observe My commandments to do them I am the Lord who gives a good reward, to them who keep My commandments and My laws.

32. You will not profane My holy Name; but I will be sanctified among Bne Yisrael. I am Adonai Who makes you holy.

32. Nor will you profane My Holy Name, that I may be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you,

33. Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G-d, I am Adonai.

33. having brought you forth redeemed from the land of Mizraim, that I may be to you Elohim: I am the Lord.

 

 

1. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

1. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying: Speak with the sons of Israel, and say to them,

2. Speak to Bne Yisrael and say to them; the appointed times of Adonai, which you will proclaim them as holy assemblies; these are My appointed times.

2. The orders of the time of the Festivals of the Lord, which you will proclaim as holy convocations, these are the orders of the time of My festivals.

3. Six days will work be performed; and on the seventh day is a Shabbat of resting, a holy assembly. You will not do any work; it is a Shabbat for Adonai in all your dwelling places.

3. Six days will you do work, and the seventh day (will be) a Sabbath and a rest, a holy convocation. No manner of work may you do; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in every place of your habitations.

4. These are the appointed times of Adonai, the holy assemblies that you will proclaim them in their appointed times.

4. These are the times of the Festivals of the Lord, holy convocations which you will proclaim in their times:

5. In the first month (Nisan), on the fourteenth day of the month in the afternoon, is a Pesach (offering) for Adonai.

5. In the month of Nisan, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the suns (will be) the time for the sacrifice of the Pascha to the Name of the Lord.

6. On the fifteenth day of this month is the festival of matzot, for Adonai; for seven days you will eat matzot.

6. And on the fifteenth day of this month the feast of unleavened cakes to the Name of the Lord. Seven days you will eat unleavened bread.

7. On the first day [there] will be a day of holy assembly for you; you will not do any work of labor.

7. On the first day of the feast a holy convocation will be to you; you will do no work of labor,

8. You will bring a fire-offering to Adonai [on each of] seven days. On the seventh day it is [a day] of holy assembly; you will not do any work of labor.

8. but offer the oblation to the Name of the Lord seven days; in the seventh day of the feast will be a holy convocation; you will do no work of labor.

9. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying,

9. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

10. Speak to B’ne Yisrael and say to them; when you come into the land that I give to you and you reap its harvest, you will bring an omer of the first fruits of your harvest to the Kohen.

10. Speak with the sons of Israel, and say to them: When you have entered into the land which I give you, and you reap the harvest, you will bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest;

11. He will waive the omer before Adonai that it be favorably accepted for you. On the day after the day of rest (Pesach), the Kohen will wave it.

11. and he will uplift the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you. After the first festal day of Pascha (or, the day after the feast-day of Pascha) on the day on which you elevate the sheaf,

12. You will prepare, on the day when you wave the omer, an unblemished, male, yearling lamb as a burnt offering, to Adonai.

12. you will make (the sacrifice of a lamb of the year, unblemished a burnt offering unto the Name of the Lord:

13. Its meal-offering is two tenths of flour mixed with [olive] oil as a fire-offering to Adonai of pleasing fragrance. Its wine-offering is one fourth of a hin.

13. and its mincha, two tenths of flour, mingled with olive oil, for an oblation to the Name of the Lord, to be received with acceptance; and its libation, wine of grapes, the fourth of a hin.

14. Bread, parched grain, or tender grain you will not eat until this very day, until you bring the offering of your G-d; it is an everlasting statute for all your generations in all your dwelling places.

14. But neither bread nor parched corn (of the ripe harvest) nor new ears may you eat until this day, until the time of your bringing the oblation of your God: an everlasting statute unto your generations in all your dwellings

15. You will count for yourselves, from the day after the day of rest (Pesach) from the day on which you will bring the omer wave-offering, seven complete weeks they will be,

15. And number to you after the first feast day of Pascha, from the day when you brought the sheaf for the elevation, seven weeks; complete they will be.

16. Until the day after the seventh week, you will count fifty days, and you will bring a new meal-offering to Adonai.

16. Until the day after the seventh week you will number fifty days and will offer a mincha of the new bread unto the Name of the Lord.

17. From [the land of] your dwelling places you will bring two bread wave-offerings; of two tenths of flour, they will be. You will bake them leavened, as first-fruit-offering to Adonai.

17. From the place of your dwellings you are to bring the bread for the elevation; two cakes of two tenths of flour, which must be baked with leaven, as first fruits unto the Name of the Lord.

18. You will bring, along with the bread, seven unblemished, yearling lambs, one young bullock and two rams; they will be a burnt-offering to Adonai with their meal-offerings and wine-offerings, a fire-offering of pleasing fragrance to Adonai.

18. And with that bread you are to offer seven lambs of the year, unblemished, and a young bullock without mixture (of color), the one for a sin offering, and two lambs of the year for a sanctified oblation.

19. You will prepare one he-goat as a sin-offering and two yearling lambs as peace-offerings.

19. And you will make (a sacrifice) of a young goat without mixture, the one for a sin offering and two lambs of the year for a sanctified oblation.

20. The Kohen will wave them along with the bread of the first fruits-offering as a wave-offering before Adonai with the two lambs; they will be holy for Adonai, for the Kohen.

20. And the priest will uplift them with the bread of the first fruits, an elevation before the Lord, with the two lambs; they will be holy to the Name of the Lord and will be for the priest.

21. You will proclaim on this very day; it will be a [day of] holy assembly for you, you will not do any work of labor. It is an everlasting statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.

21. And you will proclaim with life and strength that self-same day, that at the time of that day there will be to you a holy convocation: you will do no work of labor: it is an everlasting statute in all your dwelling for your generations.

22. When you reap the harvest of your land, you will not cut completely the corner of your field when you reap. You will not gather the gleaning of your harvest. You will leave them for the poor and the proselyte, I am Adonai, your G-d.

22. And when you reap the harvest of the ground, you will not finish one corner that is in your field at your reaping, nor will you gather the gleanings of your harvest but leave them for the poor and the strangers: I am the Lord your God.

23. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

23. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

24. Speak to B’ne Yisrael, saying; in the seventh month, on the first of the month, will be for you a [day of] rest. A remembrance of the sounding [of the shofar], a holy assembly.

24. Speak with the children of Israel, saying: In Tishri, which is the seventh month, will be to you a festival, a memorial of trumpets, a holy convocation.

25. You will not do any work of labor and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai.

25. No work of labor may you do but offer an oblation before the Lord unto the Name of the Lord.

26. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

26. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh saying:

27. Indeed, on the tenth day of this seventh month is a day of atonement. It will be for you a [day of] holy assembly and you will afflict yourselves and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai.

27. But on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; a holy convocation will it be to you, and you will humble your souls, (abstaining) from food, and from drink, and from the use of the bath, and from anointing, and the use of the bed, and from sandals; and you will offer an oblation before the Lord,

28. You will not do any work on this very day, for it is a day of atonements, to atone for you before Adonai, your G-d.

28. and do no work on this same day; for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.

29. For any person who will not be afflicted on this very day will be cut off from his people.

29. For every man who eats in the fast, and will not fast that same day, will be cut off by death from among his people.

[JERUSALEM. For every soul who hides himself from fasting and fasts not on the day of the fast of his atonement.]

30. Any person who does any work on this very day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people.

30. And every man who does any work on that same day, that man will I destroy with death from among his people.

31. You will not do any work; it is an everlasting statute for all your generations in all your dwelling places.

31. No work of labor may you do an everlasting statute for your generations, in all your dwellings.

32. It is a Shabbat of complete rest for you, and you will afflict yourselves on the ninth day of the month at evening; from evening to evening you will rest, on your day of rest.

32. It is a Sabbath and time of leisure for you to humble your souls. And you will begin to fast at the ninth day of the month at even time; from that evening, until the next evening, will you fast your fast, and repose in your quietude, that you may employ the time of your festivals with joy. ‎‎[JERUSALEM. From evening to evening you will fast your fast, and repose in your quietude, that you may employ the time of your festivals with joy.]

33. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

33. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

34. Speak to B’ne Yisrael saying; on the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the festival of Succoth for seven days, for Adonai.

34. Speak with the sons of Israel: In the fifteenth day of this seventh month will be the Feast of Tabernacles, seven days unto the Name of the Lord.

35. On the first day [there will be] a holy assembly; you will not do any work of labor.

35. On the first day of the feast is a holy convocation; no work of labor may you do.

36. For seven days, you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai; the eighth day will be for you a holy assembly, and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai. It is [a day] of convocation. you will not do any work of labor.

36. Seven days you will offer an oblation to the Name of the Lord, you will gather together to pray before the Lord for rain; no work of labor may you do.

37. These are the appointed times of Adonai which you will proclaim them [as] holy assemblies, on which to bring a fire-offering to Adonai; a burnt-offering and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and wine-offerings, each on its assigned day,

37. These are the times of the order of the Lord's festivals which you are to convoke for holy convocations, to offer an oblation to the name of the Lord, a burnt sacrifice and a mincha, sanctified offerings and libations, the rite of a day in its day;

38. Besides the [offerings of the] Shabbatot of Adonai and besides your gifts and besides all your vow-offerings and besides all your free-will-offerings that you will give to Adonai.

38. beside the days of the Lord's Sabbaths, beside your gifts, and beside your vows, and beside your free-will offering which you bring before the Lord.

39. Indeed, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather the produce of the land you will celebrate the festival of Adonai for seven days. The first day is a day of rest and the eighth day is a day of rest.

39. But on the fifteenth of the seventh month, at the time when you collect the produce of the ground, you will solemnize a festival of the Lord seven days. On the first day, rest; and on the eighth day, rest.

40. You will take for yourselves, on the first day, the fruit of the beautiful tree (esrog), a branch of palm trees (lulav), boughs of thick-leaved trees (hadasim), and willows of the brook (aravot), and you will rejoice before Adonai, your G-d, for seven days.

40. And of your own will you take on the first day of the feast, the fruits of praiseworthy trees, citrons, and lulabim, and myrtles, and willows that grow by the brooks; and you will rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. ‎‎

[JERUSALEM. Citrons and lulabim.]

41. You will celebrate it as a festival to Adonai seven days in the year; it is an everlasting statute throughout your generations in the seventh month, you will celebrate it.

41. And you will solemnize it before the Lord seven days in the year, by an everlasting statute in your generations will you observe it in the seventh month.

42. You will dwell in the sukkah seven days; every native-born Israelite will dwell in the sukkah.

42. In tabernacles of two sides according to their rule, and the third a handbreadth (higher), that its shaded part may be greater than that into which comes the sunshine; to be made for a bower (or shade) for the feast, from different kinds (of materials) which spring from the earth and are uprooted: in measure seven palms, but the height within ten palms. In it you will sit seven days; the males in Israel, and children who need not their mothers, will sit in the tabernacles, blessing their Creator whenever they enter therein to.

43. So that your generations will know that in Succoth I caused B’ne Yisrael to dwell when I took them out from the land of Egypt, I am Adonai, your G-d.

43. That your generations may know how, under the shadow of the cloud of glory, I made the sons of Israel to tabernacle at the time that I brought them out redeemed from the land of Mizraim.

44. And thus Moshe declared the appointed times of Adonai to B’ne Yisrael.

44. And Mosheh declared the time of the orders of the Lord's festivals and taught them to the sons of Israel.

 

 

Reading Assignment

 

The Torah Anthology, Volume 12-II, Holiness

By: Hakham Yitschak Magrisso

Translated by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan

Moznaim Publishing Corporation, 1990

pp. 115-230

 

Ramban: Commentary on the Torah

ויקרא - Leviticus

Translated and Annotated by Rabbi Dr. Charles Chavel

Published by Shilo Publishing House, Inc.

(New York, 1974)

Vol. 3, pp. 354-403

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Bamidbar (Numbers) 29:12-16

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

12. The fifteenth day of the seventh month will be a sacred holiday to you, when you will not do any work of consequence. You will celebrate a festival to Adonai for seven days.

12. And on the fifth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation, no servile work will you do; but will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles before the Lord seven days,

13. You will bring a burnt-offering, a fire-offering for a pleasing aroma to Adonai, [consisting of] thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs. They will [all] be without blemish.

13. and offer a sacrifice, an oblation to be received with favor before the Lord: thirteen young bullocks proceeding daily and diminishing their number, (in all) seventy for the seventy nations, and offering them by thirteen orders; two rams, which you will offer by two orders; lambs of the year fourteen, unblemished, to be offered by eight orders, offering six of them, by two and two, and two of them one by one, they will be perfect.

14. Their meal-offering [will be] fine flour mixed with [olive] oil, three tenths [of an ephah] for the bull for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths [of an ephah] for the ram for each of the two rams,

14. Their mincha also of wheat flour, with olive oil, three tenths for each bullock of the thirteen, two tenths for each ram,

15. and one tenth [of an ephah] for the lamb for each of the fourteen lambs.

15. a single tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,

16. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

16. and one kid of the goats for a sin offering, which will be offered by one order, beside the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, and the wine of the libation.

Ketubim: Tehillim (Psalms) 76:1-13[1]

 

Rashi

Targum

1. For the conductor on neginoth, a psalm of Asaph, a song.

1. For praise, as a psalm; a psalm composed by Asaph, a song.

2. God is known in Judah; in Israel, His name is great.

2. God has become known among those of the house of Judah; His name is great among those of the house of Israel.

3. His Tabernacle was in Salem, and His dwelling place in Zion.

3. And His sanctuary has come to be in Jerusalem, and the dwelling of the house of His holy presence is in Zion.

4. There He broke the arrows of the bow, shield and sword and war forever.

4. When the house of Israel did His will, He made His presence abide among them; there He broke the arrows and bows of the Gentiles who were making war; He made forever the shields and battle-lines of no account.

5. You are destructive; mightier than the mountains of prey.

5. Bright [and awful are You, O God, acclaimed from Your sanctuary; the kings who dwell in the mountain fortresses, the place where their spoil is gathered, will tremble in Your presence.

6. The stout-hearted became mad; they slumbered in their sleep, and none of the men of the army found their hands.

6. The mighty in heart have stripped from them the weapons of war; they have slumbered in their sleep; and all the men of might have not been able to grasp their weapons in their hands.

7. From Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, chariot, and horse were stunned.

7. At Your rebuke, O God of Jacob, the chariots have fallen asleep, and the cavalry have been disabled.

8. You-awesome are You, and who can stand before You once You are angry?

8. You are awesome, You are God; and who will stand before You from the time Your anger becomes strong?

9. From heaven, You let judgment be heard; the earth feared and became calm.

9. From heaven You proclaimed judgment on the land of the Gentiles; the land of Israel was afraid and became silent.

10. When God rises for judgment, to save all the humble of the earth forever.

10. The righteous/generous say, "Let God arise for judgment with the wicked/lawless, to redeem from their hands all the meek of the earth forever."

11. For man's anger will thank You; it will prevent the residue of wrath.

11. When You are angry at Your people, You show mercy to them, and they will give thanks to Your name; but the remainder of fury that is left to You, out of the wrath that You showed, You will gird on to destroy the Gentiles. ANOTHER TARGUM: For when Your anger grows strong against Your people, they will repent and give thanks to Your name, and You turn from anger; but against the remnant of the Gentiles You will gird on the instruments of anger.

12. Vow and pay to the Lord your God; all those around Him will bring a gift to Him Who is to be feared.

12. Make vows and fulfill them in the presence of the LORD your God, all you who dwell around His sanctuary; let them bring offerings to His awesome temple.

13. He will cut down the spirit of princes; He will be feared by the kings of the earth.

13. He will diminish the arrogant spirits of the leaders; He is dreadful to all the kings of the earth.

 

 

Ashlamatah: Zechariah 14:1-21

 

Rashi

Targum

1. Behold! A day of the Lord is coming, and your plunder shall be shared within you.

1. Behold, the day will come from the LORD when the house of Israel will divide the possessions of the nations in your midst, O Jerusalem.

2. And I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to wage war; and the city shall be captured, and the houses shall be plundered, and the women shall be ravished, and half the city shall go forth into exile-and the rest of the people shall not be cut off from the city.

2. And I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to do battle, and the city will be conquered, and the houses plundered, and the women ravished, and half of the city will go forth into captivity, but the remainder of the people will not cease from the city.

3. And the Lord shall go forth and wage war with those nations, like the day he waged war on the day of the battle.

3. And the LORD will reveal himself and will do battle with those nations as in the day when He did battle by the Red Sea.

4. And on that day His feet shall stand on the Mount of Olives, which is before Jerusalem from the east. And the Mount of Olives shall split in the midst thereof-toward the east and toward the west-a very great valley. And half the mountain shall move to the north, and half of it to the south.

4. And at that time He will reveal Himself in His might upon the mount of Olives which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the mount of Olives will be split in two to the east and to the west by a very great valley; and half of the mountain will be torn away to the north and half of it to the south.

5. And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains, for the valley of the mountains shall reach Azal. And you shall flee as you fled because of the earthquake, in the days of Uzziah the King of Judah. And the Lord, my God, shall come; all holy ones with you.

5. And the valley of the mountains will be stopped up, for the valley of the mountains will extend to Azal; and you will flee just as you fled before the earthquake which came in the days of Uzziah king of the tribe of the house of Judah; and the LORD my God will reveal Himself, and all His holy ones with Him.

6. And it shall come to pass on that day that there shall be no light, only disappearing light and thick darkness.

6. And it will come to pass at that time. there will not be light, but cold and ice.

7. And it shall be one day that shall be known to the Lord, neither day nor night; and it shall come to pass that at eventide it shall be light.

7. And it will be one day - it is known before the LORD - not like the light of day, and not like the darkness of night; and it will come to pass, at evening there will be light.

8. And it shall come to pass on that day that spring water shall come forth from Jerusalem; half of it to the eastern sea, and half of it to the western sea; in summer and in winter it shall be.

8. And it will come to pass at that time, spring waters will issue from Jerusalem, half of them to the eastern sea and half of them to the western sea; they will issue in summer and in winter.

9. And the Lord shall become King over all the earth; on that day shall the Lord be one, and His name one.

9. And the kingdom of the LORD will be revealed upon all the inhabitants of the earth; at that time, they will serve before the LORD with one accord. For His name is established in the world, there is none apart from Him.

10. The whole earth shall be changed to be like a plain, from the hill of Rimmon in the south of Jerusalem; but it [Jerusalem] will be elevated high and remain in its old place; from the gate of Benjamin to the place of the first gate, until the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel until the king's wine-cellars.

10. He will turn the whole land into a plain from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem; and (Jerusalem) will increase and will be inhabited in its place from the Gate of the tribe of Benjamin to the site of the former gate, to the Gate of the Corners, and (from) the Hippicus Tower to the king's pits.

11. And they shall dwell therein, and there shall be no more destruction; but Jerusalem shall dwell in safety.

11. And they will live in it, and there will be no more killing, and Jerusalem will dwell in security.

12. And this shall be the plague wherewith the Lord will smite all the nations who besieged Jerusalem; his flesh will waste away while he still stands on his feet; his eyes will waste away in their sockets, and his tongue shall waste away in his mouth.

12. And this will be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the nations which assemble and come against Jerusalem: their flesh will be dissolved while they stand upon their feet, and their eyes will dissolve in their sockets, and their tongue will dissolve in their mouth.

13. And it will come to pass on that day that there will be great consternation, sent by the Lord upon them; each one shall seize the hand of the other, and his hand shall rise up against the hand of the other.

13. And it will come to pass at that time, there will be a great deadly upheaval from the LORD among them and they will each lay hold upon the hand of his companion, and his hand will be torn away with the hand of his companion.

14. Yea, even Judah will fight against Jerusalem! And the wealth of all the nations roundabout-gold and silver and apparel-will be gathered in very great abundance.

14. And even the people of the house of Judah will the nations bring by force to wage war against Jerusalem, and they will amass the goods of all the nations round about, gold and silver and clothes in great abundance.

15. And so will be the plague of the horses, the mules, the camels, the donkeys, and all the animals that are in those camps, similar to this plague.

15. And the plague upon the horse, mule, camel and ass, and every beast which may be in those camps: will be like this plague.

16. And it will come to pass that everyone left of the nations who came up against Jerusalem will go up from year to year to prostrate himself to the King, the Lord of Hosts, and to celebrate the festival of Tabernacles.

16. And it will come to pass, everyone who is left of all the Gentiles which assemble and come against Jerusalem will go up year by year to worship before the King of the ages, the LORD of hosts, and to keep the festival of Tabernacles.

17. And it shall be that whoever of all the families of the earth does not go up to Jerusalem to prostrate himself to the King, the Lord of Hosts-upon them there shall be no rain.

17. And it will come to pass, if any of the families of the nations of the earth will not go up to Jerusalem to worship before the King of the ages, the LORD of hosts, there will not be rain upon them.

18. And if the family of Egypt does not go up and does not come, it shall not [rain] upon them. The plague [on Egypt] will be [the same as] that with which the Lord will plague the nations who do not go up to celebrate the festival of Tabernacles.

18. And if the kingdom of Egypt will not go up or be present, then the Nile will not rise for them, but upon them will be the plague with which the LORD will smite all the nations which will not go up to keep the festival of Tabernacles.

19. Such will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the festival of Tabernacles.

19. This will be the retribution upon the Egyptians and the retribution upon all the nations which will not go up to keep the festival of Tabernacles.

20. On that day there will be upon the bells of the horses, "holy to the Lord"; and the pots in the House of the Lord will be like the sprinkling bowls before the altar.

20. At that time there will be upon the blanket of the horse, "Holiness before the LORD", and the pots in the Sanctuary of the LORD will be numerous as the bowls before the altar.

21. Yea, every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holy to the Lord of Hosts, and all who sacrifice will come and take of them and cook in them; and there will no longer be a trafficker in the House of the Lord of Hosts on that day.

21. And every pot in Jerusalem and in Judah will be holiness before the LORD of hosts, and all who offer sacrifice will come and take from them and boil in them; and there will never again be a trader in the Sanctuary of the LORD of hosts at that time.

 

 

Rashi’s Commentary for: Zecharia 14:1-21

 

1 Behold! A day of the Lord is coming A day dear to the Lord.

 

and your plunder shall be shared within you Those dwelling within you shall share the plunder that you shall plunder [from] the enemies. And so does Jonathan render: And the house of Israel shall share the wealth of the peoples in your midst, O Jerusalem.

 

2 and the rest of the people Not all of them will be exiled. Now, why will He permit them [i.e., the gentile nations] to exile half of them and to plunder the houses? So that they should not have an excuse, saying, “We have not come for war, but we have come to prostrate ourselves.”

3 like the day he waged war on the day of battle Like the day He waged war on the Red Sea.

 

4 in the midst thereof lit., from its half

 

toward the east and toward the west From east to west, as he goes on and concludes.

 

and half the mountain shall move to the north, etc. The northern half shall move from its place and draw toward the north, and so…

 

and half of it to the south Toward the south; and the valley between them will have its beginning to the east and its end to the west.

 

5 And you shall flee to the valley of the mountains Jonathan renders. And the valley of the mountains shall be stopped up. Since Jerusalem is surrounded by mountains, and there is a valley between the mountains in the north and the Mount of Olives, and [this is also] so in the south, when half of the Mount of Olives draws toward the mountain in the north, the valley between them will be stopped up. [This will also be] so in the south.

 

shall reach The height of the valley that will be between the mountains.

 

to Azal To the height of the mountaintops that are from either side. So did Menahem classify this (Machbereth p. 32), with (Isa. 41:9) “and from its nobles I called you.” Its meaning is an expression of height.

 

and you shall flee when you see this great wonder.

 

as you fled because of the earthquake [Isa. 6:4] “And the doorposts quaked” on the day that Uzziah was stricken with zaraath.

 

all holy ones Angels.

 

6 there shall be no light, only disappearing light and thick darkness Jonathan renders. There shall not be light, only light that passes away, and thickness, i.e., there shall not be splendrous light, only יְקָרוֹת and קִפָּאוֹן shall [there] be. יְקָרוֹת An expression similar to (Ps. 37:20), “like the disappearing light over the plains.” Like a sort of light that appears in the morning over the mountains and disappears little by little.

 

and thick darkness וְקִפָּאוֹן Congealed and dark and thick, like ice that is congealed and frozen, as in (Job 10:10), “And like cheese You curdled me.”

 

7 And it shall be one day And this thing shall be one day of the day of the Holy One, blessed be He. That day shall be known, that it is for the preparation of the salvation by the Holy One, blessed be He.

 

neither day Neither [will it be] a light of splendor, like the light of the world to come, as it is stated (Isa. 30:26): “The light of the sun shall be sevenfold as the light of the seven days.”

 

nor night Nor a time of trouble, like the trouble of the preceding subjugation by the kingdoms, shall [these days] be, for they will be the days of the Messiah, and there shall be no subjugation during these days.

 

and it shall come to pass that at eventide Before the thousand years are up there shall be a splendrous light, and all the good promised to Israel [will come]. And so did Jonathan translate: Not like the light of day and not like the darkness of night.

 

8 And it shall come to pass on that day when the Mount of Olives will split from east to west.

 

spring water shall come forth from Jerusalem and flow to the east by way of the crevice to…

 

the eastern sea which is to the east of the world; and half of it will turn to the west, to the western sea. This is the spring concerning which Joel (4:18) prophesied: “And a spring shall emanate from the house of the Lord.” That is the spring concerning which Ezekiel (47:3) prophesied: “And he measured a thousand cubits and he made me pass through the water.”

 

9 shall the Lord be one For all the nations shall abandon their vanities and acknowledge Him, that He is one, and [that] no strange deity is with Him.

 

and His name one That His name shall be mentioned by everyone.

 

10 The whole earth shall be changed The whole earth shall be changed to be like a plain. The mountains will be lowered, and the whole world will be a plain; and Jerusalem will be a mountain, so that it should appear higher than everything [else in the world].

 

from the hill of Rimmon We learned in Tosefta of Sotah (11:14): South of Jerusalem is a plain, and the hill of Rimmon is rocks and clods. Rather, so is [the] interpretation [of this phrase]: From the hill of Rimmon, which is a mountainous place from there [the mountains of the world] will begin to be changed, to [be] a plain; and they will be like the south of Jerusalem, which is a plain.

 

but it will be elevated high Since its entire environs are a plain, it will appear high.

 

and remain in its old place in its place.

 

until the corner gate, and from the tower of Hananel which will also be in its place; and from there shall extend the length of the city.

 

until the king’s wine-cellars Jonathan renders: the pits off the king, fosec in Old French. [This is] like [a word in] Baba Kamma 50b, “trenches and caves.” And so, all wine cellars in Scripture are expressions of trenches, referring to the pit that is before the wine press, into which the wine flows. And the Midrash Aggadah (Pesikta d’Rav Kahana p. 143a; Song Rabbah 7: 4, cf. Mattenoth Kehunnah, Radal) [identifies] the pits of the king with the ocean: that Jerusalem will reach the end of the whole world, the pits dug out by the supreme King of kings.

 

11 and there shall be no more destruction The city shall no longer be in ruins.

 

12 his flesh will waste away while he still stands This denotes the falling off of the limbs.

 

13 there will be great consternation, sent by the Lord upon them to confuse their wisdom, to bring them about to madness.

 

each one will seize the hand of the other He will seize him to slay him.

 

and his hand shall rise up Whoever is stronger is victorious.

 

14 Yea, even Judah against their will shall fight against Jerusalem.

 

15 similar to this plague which is delineated above, that his flesh shall waste away.

 

16 the festival of Tabernacle As our Sages explained in tractate Avodah Zarah (3a): I have an easy commandment named Sukkah, as is stated in the first halachic discussion.

 

17 rain Actual rain to cause the produce of their land to grow. Now, what reason did He have for decreeing upon them the withholding of rain? That the commandments of the festival are based on the rains: the four species of the lulav and the water libation are to appease God for water. Since the festival of Tabernacles is the time of the rains of the year, no rain will fall on those who entertain doubts concerning the festival of Tabernacles. This is learned in the Tosefta of Sukkah (4:7).

 

18 And if the family of Egypt does not go up and they do not require rain, for the Nile comes up and waters it [i.e., the land of Egypt].

 

it shall not [rain] upon them Their rain shall not be upon them; i.e., the Nile will not water them, and so did Jonathan render: The Nile shall not ascend upon them.

 

the plague will be The plague of famine.

 

with which the Lord will plague This will be the punishment of Egypt and the punishment of all the nations, as He states. “upon them there shall be no rain.”

 

20 there will be upon the bells of the horses On the bells that are hung on the horse for beauty between its eyes (Pesachim 50a). Those, too, will be consecrated to make service vessels: sprinkling basins for the blood and pots to cook the flesh of the many sacrifices.

 

Yea, every pot… will be All those that are used to remove the ashes, they too will be of gold and of silver, like the sprinkling basins that are before the altar.

 

the bells of the horses tentinonc in Old French.

 

21 and there will no longer be a trafficker They will not require trafficking, as in (Isa. 23:8): “whose traffickers were the honored of the earth.” Another explanation: There is no poor man here.

 

Nazarean Jews Privately read:

I Thessalonians 1:1-10 + 2:1-12 & Revelation 3:7-13

 

 

Blessing After Torah Study

 

Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,

Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.

Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!

Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,

Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.

Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,

before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”

 

 

Succoth 1st Day - Afternoon Service

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 1:1 - 2:15

 

Normally, The whole of Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) is read on the Shabbat during Succoth. We have spread out the reading during all of Succoth just to reduce the amount of reading. Feel free to read the megillah on Shabbat.

 

1. The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem:

2. Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, vanity of vanities! All is vanity!

3. What is the profit to a man in all his labour which he labours under the sun?

4. A generation passes away, and another generation comes; but the earth stands forever.

5. The sun also arises, and the sun goes even panting to its place; it arises there again.

6. The wind goes toward the south and turning around to the north; the wind is going around and around. And the wind returns on its circuits.

7. All the rivers are going to the sea; yet the sea is not full. To the place where the rivers are going, there they are returning to go again.

8. All words are wearisome; a man is not able to utter it. The eye is not satisfied to see, nor is the ear filled from hearing.

9. That which has been, it is that which shall be. And that which has been done, it is that which will be done. And there is no new thing under the sun.

10. Is there a thing of which one might say, see this, it is new? It has already been for the ages which were before us.

11. There is no memory of former things; yes, nor is there any memory for them of things which will be afterward, with those who will be at the last.

12. I, the Preacher, was king over Israel in Jerusalem.

13. And I gave my heart to seek and to investigate by wisdom concerning all which is done under the heavens. It is an evil task God has given to the sons of men, to be afflicted by it.

14. I have seen all the works which are done under the sun; and behold, all is vanity and striving after wind!

15. What is crooked cannot be made straight, and that lacking cannot be numbered.

16. I spoke with my heart, saying, lo, I have become great and have increased wisdom over all that have been over Jerusalem before me. Yea, my heart has seen much wisdom and knowledge.

17. And I gave my heart to know wisdom, and to know madness, and folly. I know that this also, it is striving after wind.

18. For in much wisdom is much grief; and he who increases knowledge increases pain.

1. I said in my heart, come now, I will test you with mirth. Therefore, consider with goodness. And behold, this also is vanity.

2. I said of laughter, It is madness, and of mirth, What does it do?

3. I sought in my heart how to drag my flesh with wine and leading my heart in wisdom; and to lay hold on folly, until I might see where the good for the sons of men is, that which they should do under the heavens the number of days of their life.

4. I made my works great; I built houses for myself; I planted vineyards for myself.

5. I made gardens and parks for myself; and I planted trees in them of every fruit.

6. I made pools of water for myself; to water from them the forest shooting forth trees.

7. I bought slaves and slave girls, and the sons of the house were mine. Also, livestock, a herd and a great flock were mine, above all that were before me in Jerusalem.

8. I also gathered to me silver and gold, and the treasure of kings and of provinces. I made ready male singers and female singers for myself, and the delights of the sons of men, a concubine, and concubines.

9. And I became great and increased more than all who were before me in Jerusalem; also, my wisdom stayed with me.

10. And all that my eyes desired, I did not set aside from them. I withheld not my heart from all joy; for my heart rejoiced from all my labour; and this was my part from all my labour.

11. Then I faced on all my works that my hands had done, and on the labour that I had laboured to do. And, lo, all is vanity and striving after wind, and there is no profit under the sun.

12. And I turned to behold wisdom, and madness, and folly. For what can a man do who comes after the king, when they have already done it?

13. Then I saw that there is advantage to wisdom above folly, even as light has advantage over darkness.

14. The wise man's eyes are in his head, but the fool walks in darkness; and I also know that one event happens with all of them.

15. And I said in my heart, As the event of the stupid one, even so it will happen to me; and why then was I more wise? Then I said in my heart that this also is vanity.

 

 

Tishri 16, 5785

 

Evening Thursday, October 17 –Evening Friday, October 18, 2024

 

Your Distinguished guest at your Sukkah:

The Patriarch Yitzchaq representing restraint and personal strength

 


 

Succoth 2nd Day - Morning Service

Morning Service Tabernacles (day Two) – Tabernáculos (Seguno Día)

 

Festival

Torah Reading:

חַג הַסֻּכּוֹת

 

Succoth 2nd Day

Reader 1 – Vayikra 22:26 – 23:3

Torah:

Vayikra (Leviticus) 22:26 – 23:44

B’midbar (Numbers) 29:12-16

Reader 2 – Vayikra 23:4-14

Haftarah:

Melachim alef (I Kings) 8:2-21

Reader 3 – Vayikra 23:15-22

Megillah:

Koheleth: (Ecclesiastes) 2:16-3:22

Reader 4 – Vayikra 23:23-31

Tehillim (Psalms) 42:1-12

Reader 5 – Vayikra 23:32-44

Reader 6 – Vayikra 14:49-51

N.C.: I Thessalonians 2:13-16 + 2:17-20 & Revelation 3:7-13

Maftir – B’midbar 29:12-16

 

 

 

Blessings Before Torah Study

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!

 

Please Ha-Shem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

 

Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:

 

May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!

 

This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."

 

These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when performing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.

 

These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Vayikra (Leviticus) ‎‎‎22:26 – 23:44

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

26. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

26. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying (to the effect that):

27. An ox, lamb, or goat, when it is born, will be with its mother for seven days. From the eighth day and thereafter it may be favorably accepted as a sacrifice as a fire-offering to Adonai.

27. What time you call to our mind the order of our oblations, as they will be offered year by year, being our expiatory offering for our sins, when on account of our sins (such sacrifices are required), and we have none to bring from our flocks of sheep, then will a bullock be chosen before Him, in memorial of the righteousness/ generosity of the elder who came from the east, the sincere one who brought the calf, fat and tender, to Your Name. A sheep is to be chosen, secondly, in memory of the righteousness/ generosity of him who was bound as a lamb on the altar, and who stretched forth his neck for Your Name's sake, while the heavens stooped down and condescended, and Izhak beheld their foundations, and his eyes were blinded by the high things; on which account he was reckoned to be worthy that a lamb should be provided for him as a burnt offering. A kid of the goats is to be chosen likewise, in memorial of the righteousness/generosity of that perfect one who made the savory meat of the kid, and brought it to his father, and was made worthy to receive the order of the blessing: wherefore Mosheh the prophet explains, saying: Sons of Israel, my people, When a bullock, or a lamb, or a kid is brought forth according, to the manner of the world, it will be seven days after its dam, that there may be evidence that it is not imperfect; and on the eighth day and thenceforth, it is acceptable to be offered an oblation to the Name of the Lord.

[JERUSALEM. In the time that you reminded us of the order of the oblations as they are to be offered year by year; our offerings are to make atonement for our sins. But when our sins have given occasion, and we have not wherewith to bring from our flocks of sheep, a bullock is to be chosen before Me. to recall to remembrance­ the elder of the east, sincere altogether, Who brought to Your Name a calf tender and good, Which he gave to the young man, who hasted to dress it, and to bake unleavened cakes; and the angels did eat, and be was accounted worthy to receive the announcement that, behold, Sarah should give birth to Izhak. A lamb is to be chosen, secondly, to call to remembrance the righteousness/ generosity of the prince who suffered himself to be bound upon the altar, and stretched forth his neck for Your Name's sake; when the heavens stooped down and condescended, and Izhak beheld their foundations, and his eyes were blinded by the high things (or, from the heights), on which account be was held worthy that a lamb should be provided in his stead for a burnt offering. A kid of the goats also is to be chosen, to call to remembrance the righteousness/ generosity of that perfect one who put on the skins of the kids, and made savory meat, and brought of his viands unto his father, and gave wine to him to drink; on account of which he was held worthy to receive the orders of blessings from Izhak his father, that the twelve sacred tribes should arise to Your Name. Behold, then, how Mosheh, the prophet of the Lord, expounds, and says, Sons of Israel, my people, when a bullock, or a lamb, or a goat is brought forth, it will be seven days after its dam; on the eighth day and thenceforth it will be fit to be offered as an oblation to the Name of the Lord.]

28. An ox or a lamb, it, and its offspring, you will not slaughter in one day.

28. Sons of Israel, my people, as our Father in heaven is merciful, so will you be merciful on earth: neither cow, nor ewe, will you sacrifice along with her young on the same day. 

29. When you sacrifice a thanks-giving-offering to Adonai, that it be favorably accepted for you, you will sacrifice it.

29. And when you offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving to the Name of the Lord, you will offer so as to be accepted.

30. On that day [that it is sacrificed] you should eat it; you will leave none of it until the next morning, I am Adonai.

30. It will be eaten on that day; none will remain till the morning: I am the Lord.

31. You will preserve My commandments and fulfill them, I am Adonai.

31. And you will observe My commandments to do them I am the Lord who gives a good reward, to them who keep My commandments and My laws.

32. You will not profane My holy Name; but I will be sanctified among Bne Yisrael. I am Adonai Who makes you holy.

32. Nor will you profane My Holy Name, that I may be hallowed among the children of Israel. I am the Lord who sanctifies you,

33. Who brought you out of the land of Egypt to be your G-d, I am Adonai.

33. having brought you forth redeemed from the land of Mizraim, that I may be to you Elohim: I am the Lord.

 

 

1. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

1. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying: Speak with the sons of Israel, and say to them,

2. Speak to Bne Yisrael and say to them; the appointed times of Adonai, which you will proclaim them as holy assemblies; these are My appointed times.

2. The orders of the time of the Festivals of the Lord, which you will proclaim as holy convocations, these are the orders of the time of My festivals.

3. Six days will work be performed; and on the seventh day is a Shabbat of resting, a holy assembly. You will not do any work; it is a Shabbat for Adonai in all your dwelling places.

3. Six days will you do work, and the seventh day (will be) a Sabbath and a rest, a holy convocation. No manner of work may you do; it is a Sabbath to the Lord in every place of your habitations.

4. These are the appointed times of Adonai, the holy assemblies that you will proclaim them in their appointed times.

4. These are the times of the Festivals of the Lord, holy convocations which you will proclaim in their times:

5. In the first month (Nisan), on the fourteenth day of the month in the afternoon, is a Pesach (offering) for Adonai.

5. In the month of Nisan, on the fourteenth day of the month, between the suns (will be) the time for the sacrifice of the Pascha to the Name of the Lord.

6. On the fifteenth day of this month is the festival of matzot, for Adonai; for seven days you will eat matzot.

6. And on the fifteenth day of this month the feast of unleavened cakes to the Name of the Lord. Seven days you will eat unleavened bread.

7. On the first day [there] will be a day of holy assembly for you; you will not do any work of labor.

7. On the first day of the feast a holy convocation will be to you; you will do no work of labor,

8. You will bring a fire-offering to Adonai [on each of] seven days. On the seventh day it is [a day] of holy assembly; you will not do any work of labor.

8. but offer the oblation to the Name of the Lord seven days; in the seventh day of the feast will be a holy convocation; you will do no work of labor.

9. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying,

9. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

10. Speak to B’ne Yisrael and say to them; when you come into the land that I give to you and you reap its harvest, you will bring an omer of the first fruits of your harvest to the Kohen.

10. Speak with the sons of Israel, and say to them: When you have entered into the land which I give you, and you reap the harvest, you will bring the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest unto the priest;

11. He will waive the omer before Adonai that it be favorably accepted for you. On the day after the day of rest (Pesach), the Kohen will wave it.

11. and he will uplift the sheaf before the Lord to be accepted for you. After the first festal day of Pascha (or, the day after the feast-day of Pascha) on the day on which you elevate the sheaf,

12. You will prepare, on the day when you wave the omer, an unblemished, male, yearling lamb as a burnt offering, to Adonai.

12. you will make (the sacrifice of a lamb of the year, unblemished a burnt offering unto the Name of the Lord:

13. Its meal-offering is two tenths of flour mixed with [olive] oil as a fire-offering to Adonai of pleasing fragrance. Its wine-offering is one fourth of a hin.

13. and its mincha, two tenths of flour, mingled with olive oil, for an oblation to the Name of the Lord, to be received with acceptance; and its libation, wine of grapes, the fourth of a hin.

14. Bread, parched grain or tender grain you will not eat until this very day, until you bring the offering of your G-d; it is an everlasting statute for all your generations in all your dwelling places.

14. But neither bread nor parched corn (of the ripe harvest) nor new ears may you eat until this day, until the time of your bringing the oblation of your God: an everlasting statute unto your generations in all your dwellings

15. You will count for yourselves, from the day after the day of rest (Pesach) from the day on which you will bring the omer wave-offering, seven complete weeks they will be,

15. And number to you after the first feast day of Pascha, from the day when you brought the sheaf for the elevation, seven weeks; complete they will be.

16. Until the day after the seventh week, you will count fifty days, and you will bring a new meal-offering to Adonai.

16. Until the day after the seventh week you will number fifty days and will offer a mincha of the new bread unto the Name of the Lord.

17. From [the land of] your dwelling places you will bring two bread wave-offerings; of two tenths of flour, they will be. You will bake them leavened, as first-fruit-offering to Adonai.

17. From the place of your dwellings you are to bring the bread for the elevation; two cakes of two tenths of flour, which must be baked with leaven, as first fruits unto the Name of the Lord.

18. You will bring, along with the bread, seven unblemished, yearling lambs, one young bullock and two rams; they will be a burnt-offering to Adonai with their meal-offerings and wine-offerings, a fire-offering of pleasing fragrance to Adonai.

18. And with that bread you are to offer seven lambs of the year, unblemished, and a young bullock without mixture (of color), the one for a sin offering, and two lambs of the year for a sanctified oblation.

19. You will prepare one he-goat as a sin-offering and two yearling lambs as peace-offerings.

19. And you will make (a sacrifice) of a young goat without mixture, the one for a sin offering and two lambs of the year for a sanctified oblation.

20. The Kohen will wave them along with the bread of the first fruit-offering as a wave-offering before Adonai with the two lambs; they will be holy for Adonai, for the Kohen.

20. And the priest will uplift them with the bread of the first fruits, an elevation before the Lord, with the two lambs; they will be holy to the Name of the Lord and will be for the priest.

21. You will proclaim on this very day; it will be a [day of] holy assembly for you, you will not do any work of labor. It is an everlasting statute in all your dwelling places throughout your generations.

21. And you will proclaim with life and strength that self-same day, that at the time of that day there will be to you a holy convocation: you will do no work of labor: it is an everlasting statute in all your dwelling for your generations.

22. When you reap the harvest of your land, you will not cut completely the corner of your field when you reap. You will not gather the gleaning of your harvest. You will leave them for the poor and the proselyte, I am Adonai, your G-d.

22. And when you reap the harvest of the ground, you will not finish one corner that is in your field at your reaping, nor will you gather the gleanings of your harvest but leave them for the poor and the strangers: I am the Lord your God.

23. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

23. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

24. Speak to B’ne Yisrael, saying; in the seventh month, on the first of the month, will be for you a [day of] rest. A remembrance of the sounding [of the shofar], a holy assembly.

24. Speak with the children of Israel, saying: In Tishri, which is the seven month, will be to you a festival, a memorial of trumpets, a holy convocation.

25. You will not do any work of labor and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai.

25. No work of labor may you do but offer an oblation before the Lord unto the Name of the Lord.

26. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

26. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh saying:

27. Indeed, on the tenth day of this seventh month is a day of atonement. It will be for you a [day of] holy assembly and you will afflict yourselves and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai.

27. But on the tenth day of this seventh month is the Day of Atonement; a holy convocation will it be to you, and you will humble your souls, (abstaining) from food, and from drink, and from the use of the bath, and from anointing, and the use of the bed, and from sandals; and you will offer an oblation before the Lord,

28. You will not do any work on this very day, for it is a day of atonements, to atone for you before Adonai, your G-d.

28. and do no work on this same day; for it is the Day of Atonement, to make atonement for you before the Lord your God.

29. For any person who will not be afflicted on this very day will be cut off from his people.

29. For every man who eats in the fast, and will not fast that same day, will be cut off by death from among his people.

[JERUSALEM. For every soul who hides himself from fasting and fasts not on the day of the fast of his atonement.]

30. Any person who does any work on this very day, I will cause that person to perish from among his people.

30. And every man who does any work on that same day, that man will I destroy with death from among his people.

31. You will not do any work; it is an everlasting statute for all your generations in all your dwelling places.

31. No work of labor may you do an everlasting statute for your generations, in all your dwellings.

32. It is a Shabbat of complete rest for you, and you will afflict yourselves on the ninth day of the month at evening; from evening to evening you will rest, on your day of rest.

32. It is a Sabbath and time of leisure for you to humble your souls. And you will begin to fast at the ninth day of the month at even time; from that evening, until the next evening, will you fast your fast, and repose in your quietude, that you may employ the time of your festivals with joy. ‎‎[JERUSALEM. From evening to evening you will fast your fast, and repose in your quietude, that you may employ the time of your festivals with joy.]

33. Adonai spoke to Moshe, saying;

33. And the Lord spoke with Mosheh, saying:

34. Speak to B’ne Yisrael saying; on the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the festival of Succoth for seven days, for Adonai.

34. Speak with the sons of Israel: In the fifteenth day of this seventh month will be the Feast of Tabernacles, seven days unto the Name of the Lord.

35. On the first day [there will be] a holy assembly; you will not do any work of labor.

35. On the first day of the feast is a holy convocation; no work of labor may you do.

36. For seven days, you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai; the eighth day will be for you a holy assembly, and you will bring a fire-offering to Adonai. It is [a day] of convocation. you will not do any work of labor.

36. Seven days you will offer an oblation to the Name of the Lord, you will gather together to pray before the Lord for rain; no work of labor may you do.

37. These are the appointed times of Adonai which you will proclaim them [as] holy assemblies, on which to bring a fire-offering to Adonai; a burnt-offering and a meal-offering, a sacrifice, and wine-offerings, each on its assigned day,

37. These are the times of the order of the Lord's festivals which you are to convoke for holy convocations, to offer an oblation to the name of the Lord, a burnt sacrifice and a mincha, sanctified offerings and libations, the rite of a day in its day;

38. Besides the [offerings of the] Shabbatot of Adonai and besides your gifts and besides all your vow-offerings and besides all your free-will-offerings that you will give to Adonai.

38. beside the days of the Lord's Sabbaths, beside your gifts, and beside your vows, and beside your free-will offering which you bring before the Lord.

39. Indeed, on the fifteenth day of the seventh month, when you gather the produce of the land you will celebrate the festival of Adonai for seven days. The first day is a day of rest and the eighth day is a day of rest.

39. But on the fifteenth of the seventh month, at the time when you collect the produce of the ground, you will solemnize a festival of the Lord seven days. On the first day, rest; and on the eighth day, rest.

40. You will take for yourselves, on the first day, the fruit of the beautiful tree (esrog), a branch of palm trees (lulav), boughs of thick-leaved trees (hadasim), and willows of the brook (aravot), and you will rejoice before Adonai, your G-d, for seven days.

40. And of your own will you take on the first day of the feast, the fruits of praiseworthy trees, citrons, and lulabim, and myrtles, and willows that grow by the brooks; and you will rejoice before the Lord your God seven days. ‎‎

[JERUSALEM. Citrons and lulabim.]

41. You will celebrate it as a festival to Adonai seven days in the year; it is an everlasting statute throughout your generations in the seventh month, you will celebrate it.

41. And you will solemnize it before the Lord seven days in the year, by an everlasting statute in your generations will you observe it in the seventh month.

42. You will dwell in the sukkah seven days; every native-born Israelite will dwell in the sukkah.

42. In tabernacles of two sides according to their rule, and the third a handbreadth (higher), that its shaded part may be greater than that into which comes the sunshine; to be made for a bower (or shade) for the feast, from different kinds (of materials) which spring from the earth and are uprooted: in measure seven palms, but the height within ten palms. In it you will sit seven days; the males in Israel, and children who need not their mothers, will sit in the tabernacles, blessing their Creator whenever they enter therein to.

43. So that your generations will know that in Succoth I caused B’ne Yisrael to dwell when I took them out from the land of Egypt, I am Adonai, your G-d.

43. That your generations may know how, under the shadow of the cloud of glory, I made the sons of Israel to tabernacle at the time that I brought them out redeemed from the land of Mizraim.

44. And thus Moshe declared the appointed times of Adonai to B’ne Yisrael.

44. And Mosheh declared the time of the orders of the Lord's festivals and taught them to the sons of Israel.

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: B’Midbar (Numbers) 29:12-16

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

12. The fifteenth day of the seventh month will be a sacred holiday to you, when you will not do any work of consequence. You will celebrate a festival to Adonai for seven days.

12. And on the fifth day of the seventh month you will have a holy convocation, no servile work will you do; but will celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles before the Lord seven days,

13. You will bring a burnt-offering, a fire-offering for a pleasing aroma to Adonai, [consisting of] thirteen young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs. They will [all] be without blemish.

13. and offer a sacrifice, an oblation to be received with favor before the Lord: thirteen young bullocks proceeding daily and diminishing their number, (in all) seventy for the seventy nations, and offering them by thirteen orders; two rams, which you will offer by two orders; lambs of the year fourteen, unblemished, to be offered by eight orders, offering six of them, by two and two, and two of them one by one, they will be perfect.

14. Their meal-offering [will be] fine flour mixed with [olive] oil, three tenths [of an ephah] for the bull for each of the thirteen bulls, two tenths [of an ephah] for the ram for each of the two rams,

14. Their mincha also of wheat flour, with olive oil, three tenths for each bullock of the thirteen, two tenths for each ram,

15. and one tenth [of an ephah] for the lamb for each of the fourteen lambs.

15. a single tenth for each of the fourteen lambs,

16. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

16. and one kid of the goats for a sin offering, which will be offered by one order, beside the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, and the wine of the libation.

 

 

Ketubim:  Tehillim (Psalms) 42:1-12

 

Rashi

Targum on the Psalms

1.  For the conductor, amaskil of the sons of Korah.

1. For praise, with good discernment, by the sons of Korah.

2. As a hart cries longingly for rivulets of water, so does my soul cry longingly to You, O God.

2. As the deer that longs for streams of water, thus my soul longs for You, O LORD.

3. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God; when will I come and appear before God?

3. My soul is thirsty for You, for the mighty, living, and enduring God. When will I enter and see the splendor of the presence of the LORD?

4. My tears were my bread day and night when they say to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

4. My tears have become my sustenance day and night, because the enemy says to me all day, "Where is your God?"

5. These things I will remember, and I will pour out my soul [because of the pain which is] upon me, how I passed on with the throng; I walked slowly with them until the house of God with a joyful shouting and  thanksgiving, a celebrating multitude.

5. These miracles I remember; and I will pour out the thoughts of my soul whenever I pass beneath the shelter alone; I will be strong in the camps of the righteous/ generous, who are going to the sanctuary of the LORD  with a voice of petition and praise, a tumult of peoples coming to keep festival in Jerusalem.

 

6. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you stir within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him for the salvations of His presence.

6. Why will you be lowly, 0 my soul, and why will you rage against me? Wait for God, for again I will praise Him for the redemption that is from His presence.

7. My God, my soul is downcast upon me; therefore, I will remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon, from the young mountain.

7. 0 God, my soul will be for me lowly, therefore I will remember You [among those who dwell yonder in the land of Jordan, and those who dwell on the mountains of Hermon, and the people who accepted the Torah on mount Sinai, which is lowly and small.

8. Deep calls to deep to the sound of Your water channels; all your breakers and waves passed over me.

8. The upper deep calls to the lower deep, at the sound of the pouring of spouts thus all Your breakers and waves passed over me at the time we came forth from Egypt.

9. By day, may the Lord command His kindness, and at night, may His resting place be with me, a prayer  to the God of my life.

9. By day the LORD will command His goodness, and by night His praise is with me, a prayer to the  God who preserves my life.

 

 

10. I will say to God, my Rock, "Why have You forgotten me? Why should I walk in gloom under the oppression of the enemy?"

10. I will say to God my trust, "Why have you neglected me, why do I go about in darkness in the oppression of  the enemy?"

 

11. With murder in my bones, my oppressors have reproached me by saying to me all day long, "Where is your God?"

11. Because they kill my bones whenever my oppressors mock me, when they say to me every day, "Where is your God?"

12. Why are you downcast, my soul, and why do you stir within me? Hope to God, for I will yet thank Him for the salvations of my countenance and my God.

12. Why will you be lowly, 0 my soul, and why will you rage against me? Wait for God, for again I will praise Him for the redemption that comes from His presence, for He is my God.

 

 

Ashlamatah: Melachim alef (I Kings) 8:2-21

 

Rashi

Targum

2. And all the men of Israel assembled themselves unto king Solomon at the feast in the month Ethanim, which (is) the seventh month.

2. And all the men of Israel were gathered unto King Solomon in the month that the ancients called the first month (the festival) and now it is the seventh month.

3. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests took up the ark.

3. And all the elders of Israel came, and the priests bore the ark.

4. And they brought up the ark of the Lord, and the tabernacle of meeting, and all the holy vessels which (were) in the tabernacle, and the priests and the Levites did bring them up.

4. And they brought up the ark of the LORD and the tent of the appointed time, and all the holy vessels that were in the tent; and the priests and the Levites brought them up.

5. And King Solomon, and all the congregation of Israel, that were assembled unto him, (were) with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen, that could not be counted nor numbered for multitude.

5. And King Solomon and all the assembly of Israel who were joined with him were standing with him before the ark, sacrificing sheep and oxen which could not be counted and could not be numbered for greatness.

6. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the Lord to its place, into the Sanctuary of the house, to the most holy (place), under the wings of the cherubim.

6. And the priests brought in the ark of the covenant of the LORD to its place, to the house of atonements that was prepared for it, in the midst of the houses to the holy of holies, to beneath the wings of the cherubim. 

7. For the cherubim spread forth (their) wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim covered the ark and the staves thereof above.

7. For the cherubim spread their wings over the place of the ark, and the cherubim made a covering over the ark and over its poles from above.

8. And the staves were so long that the ends of the staves were seen from the holy (place) before the Sanctuary, and they were not seen without; and they are there unto this day.

8. And so long were the poles that the ends of the poles were seen from the holy place facing the house of atonements - and were not seen outside; and they are there unto this day.

9. There was nothing in the ark save the two tablets of stone which Moses put there at Horeb, when the Lord made (a covenant) with the children of Israel, when they came out of the land of Egypt.

9. In the ark lay the two tablets of stones that Moses deposited there on Horeb upon which were written the ten words of the covenant that the LORD cut with the sons of Israel in their going forth from the land of Egypt.

10. And it came to pass, when the priests came out of the holy (place), and the cloud filled the house of the Lord.

10. And when the priests went forth from the holy place, a dense cloud filled the house of the sanctuary of the LORD.

11. And the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud; for the glory of the Lord filled the house of the Lord.

11. And the priests were not able to stand to minister from before the cloud, for the glory of the LORD filled the house of the sanctuary of the LORD.

12. Then Solomon said, "The Lord said that He would dwell in the thick darkness.

12. Then Solomon said: “The LORD has chosen to make his Shekinah reside in Jerusalem.”

13. I have surely built You a house to dwell in; a settled place for You to dwell in forever."

13. Indeed I have built the house of the sanctuary before You, a place prepared for the house of your Shekinah forever.”

14. And the king turned his face about, and blessed all the congregation of Israel, and all the congregation of Israel stood.

14. And the king turned his face and blessed all the assembly of Israel, and all the assembly of Israel was standing.

15. And he said, "Blessed (be) the Lord, the God of Israel Who spoke with His mouth unto David my father, and has fulfilled it with His hand, saying.

15. And he said: “Blessed be the LORD the God of Israel who decreed by his Memra with David my father and by his good pleasure fulfilled it, saying:

16. Since the day that I brought forth My people Israel out of Egypt, I chose no city out of all the tribes of Israel to build a house, that My name might be therein; but I chose David to be over My people Israel.'

16. 'From the day that I brought forth My people Israel from Egypt I did not choose a city from all the tribes of Israel to build the house to make My Shekinah reside there, and I chose David to be the king over My people Israel.'

17. And it was in the heart of David my father to build a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

17. And it was in the heart of David my father to build the house to the name of the LORD the God of Israel.

18. And the Lord said to David my father, 'Since it was in your heart to build a house unto My name, you did well that it was in your heart.

18. And the LORD said to David my father: ‘Inasmuch as it was with your heart to build the house to My name, you have done well for it was with your heart.

19. Nevertheless, you shall not build the house; but your son that shall come forth out of your loins, he shall build the house for My name.'

19. Only you will not build the house, but a son whom you will beget, he will build the house to my name.’

20. And the Lord has established His word that He spoke, and I have risen up in the place of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the Lord spoke, and have built a house for the name of the Lord, the God of Israel.

20. And the LORD fulfilled his words that He spoke, and I rose up in the place of David my father and sat upon the throne of the kingdom of Israel as the LORD spoke, and I built the house to the name of the LORD the God of Israel.

21. And I have set there a place for the ark, wherein (is) the covenant of the Lord, which He made with our fathers, when He brought them out of the land of Egypt."

21. And I made a place there prepared for the ark in which lay the two tablets of stone upon which was the covenant of the LORD that He cut with our fathers when He brought them out from the land of Egypt.”

 

 

Rashi’s Commentary for: Melachim alef (1 Kings) 8:2-21

 

2 In the Month Ethanim Jonathan rendered [these words] בְּיֶרַח הָאֵיתָנִים בֶּחָג as follows: ‘In the month which the ancients called the first month, on the festival, and at present it is the seventh month,’ i.e., since the Torah was given, and it is written in reference to the month of נִיסָן that it is the first of the months, so תִּשְׁרֵי will then be called the seventh [month].

 

4 And the tabernacle of meeting Which Moses made [in the desert, and was in Gibeon until now], And Solomon stored this away as soon as the first temple was built, [in the upper story which was above the temple and the Sanctuary,] as we have learned in the Tosefta of the tractate Sota (13:1).

 

Which were in the tabernacle which David pitched for the ark.

 

6 Under the wings of the cherubim Those which Solomon made, which are standing on their feet on the ground [and facing the temple.] And these are not the cherubim of the cover which was on the ark.

 

7 Over the place of the ark [Their wings were spread] from wall to wall as he said above on this subject (6:27).

 

8 The ends of the staves were seen In the curtain which was against the entrance [of the sanctuary in the אמה טרקסין. You might think they tore through the curtain and protruded [on the other side]. The text, therefore, states “and they were not seen without.” How is this possible? They were pushing and bulging similar to two breasts of a woman, as it says, “he lies between my breasts” (Song of Songs 1:13).

 

10 When the priests came out of the holy place When the priests who carried the ark into the Sanctuary were leaving, the Divine presence immediately came to rest there.

 

12 Then When he saw the cloud, he said, Now I see that the Divine presence is in the house which I built, for thus did He promise to come and dwell in it from the midst of a cloud and thick darkness. And where did he say this promise? “For in the cloud will I appear upon the ark-cover” (Lev. 16:12). Thus is this taught in the Sifrei.

 

13 For You to dwell in forever And from the time that this [place] was chosen, it would no longer be permissible [to offer sacrifices] on any strange altars, [except those in the temple,] and the Divine presence no longer dwelled in any other place.

 

15 Who spoke with His mouth [He also told him] that he would grant him a son who would build the temple.

 

And has fulfilled it with His hand He has fulfilled His word with His good power, lit. with His good hand.

 

16 … Since the day, etc. This is what He spoke to my father David.

 

 

Nazarean Jews Privately read:

I Thessalonians 2:13-16 + 2:17-20 & Revelation 3:7-13

 

 

Blessing After Torah Study

 

Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,

Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.

Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!

Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,

Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.

Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,

before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”

 

 

Succoth 2nd Day - Afternoon Service

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 2:16 - 3:22

 

16. For there is not a memory of the wise more than with the fool forever, in that already the days to come will be forgotten. And how does the wise die above the fool?

17. So then I hated life; because the work that is done under the sun is evil to me; for all is vanity and striving after wind.

18. Yes, I, a labourer, hated all my labour under the sun, that I must leave it to the man who will be after me.

19. And who knows if he will be wise or a fool? Yet he will rule among all my labour in which I laboured and acted wisely under the sun. This is also vanity.

20. And I turned to make my heart despair over all the labour which I laboured under the sun.

21. When there is a man whose labour is with wisdom, and with knowledge, and with advantage; yet he will give it to a man who has not laboured with it, for his share; this also is vanity and a great evil.

22. For what is there for man in all his labour, and in striving of his heart, which he did as a labourer under the sun?

23. For all his days are pains, and his task is grief; his heart does not even take rest in the night. Even this also is vanity.

24. Is it not good that he should eat and drink and make his soul see good in his labour? This I also saw that it was from the hand of God.

25. For who can eat, or who can enjoy, apart from me?

26. For God gives wisdom, and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight. But to the sinner He gives the task of gathering and to heap up, to give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and striving after wind.

1. To all there is an appointed time, even a time for every purpose under the heavens:

2. A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pull up what is planted.

3. A time to kill, and a time to heal; a time to tear down, and a time to build up.

4. A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance.

5. A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace, and a time to refrain from embracing.

6. A time to seek, and a time to give up as lost; a time to keep, and a time to throw away.

7. A time to tear, and a time to sew together; a time to keep silence, and a time to speak.

8. A time to love, and a time to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.

9. What advantage has he who works in that which he did as a labourer?

10. I have seen the task which God has given to the sons of men, to be humbled by it.

11. He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, He has set eternity in their heart, without which man cannot find out the work that God makes from the beginning even to the end.

12. I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice to do good in his life.

13. And also every man that eats and drinks, and sees good in his labour, it is the gift of God.

14. I know that whatever God does, it will be forever; nothing is to be added to it, and nothing is to diminish from it. And God does it so that they fear before Him.

15. That which has been, it already is and that which is to be, it already has been. And God seeks what has gone by.

16. And again I saw under the sun the place of justice: wickedness/lawlessness is there; and the place of righteousness/generosity, wickedness/lawlessness is there.

17. I said in my heart, God will judge the righteous/generous and the wicked/lawless; for there is a time there for every good purpose and for every work.

18. I said in my heart concerning the issue of the sons of men, that God may test them and see that they by themselves are beasts.

19. For that which happens to the sons of men, and that which happens to beasts, even one event is to them. As this one dies, so that one dies; yea, one breath is to all; so that there is to the man no advantage over the beast; for all is vanity.

20. All go to one place; all are of the dust, and all return to the dust.

21. Who knows the spirit of the sons of man, whether it goes upward; and the spirit of the beast, whether it goes downward to the earth?

22. And I have seen that nothing is better than that the man should rejoice in his works; for that is his portion; for who can bring him to see what shall be after him

 

 

Amen ve Amen! - Chag Succoth Sameach!

 

 

Succoth 3rd Day Shabbat

Feast of Tabernacles

5785 Ano Mundi

 

 

Shabbat: Tishri 17, 5785

Evening Friday, October 18– Evening Saturday, October 19, 2024

 

Your Distinguished guest at your Sukkah: The Patriarch Ya’aqob representing beauty and truth

 

 

Succoth Shabbat – First Intermediate Day

Tishri 17, 5785 – Oct. 18-19, 2024

 

Shabbat

Torah Reading:

 הַעַל אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה

 

“Ha’Al Et-HaAm Haze”

Reader 1 – Shemot 33:12-16

Bring up this people

Reader 2 – Shemot 33:17-19

“Saca este pueblo”

Reader 3 – Shemot 33:20-23

Torah:

Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 – 34:26

B’Midbar (Numbers) 29:17-22

Reader 4 – Shemot 34:1-3

Haftarah:

Yehzkel (Ezekiel) 38:18 – 39:16

Reader 5 – Shemot 34:4-10

Tehillim (Psalms) 115:1-18

Reader 6 – Shemot 34:11-17

Megillah:

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 4:1 – 5:20

Reader 7 – Shemot 34:18-26

N.C.: 1 Tsefet (Peter) 2:1-25

      Maftir – B’midbar 29:17-22

 

 


 

Blessings Before Torah Study

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!

 

Please Ha-Shem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

 

Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:

 

May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!

 

This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."

 

These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when performing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.

 

These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Shemot (Exodus) ‎‎‎33:12 – 34:26

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

12. Moses said to the Lord: "Look, You say to me: 'Bring this people up!' But You have not informed me whom You will send with me. And You said: 'I have known you by name and you have also found favor in My eyes.'

12. And Mosheh said before the LORD, Lo, what have You said to me, Take this people up? but You have not made me to know whom You will send with me. By Your Word You have said, I have ordained you with a goodly name, and you have found favour before Me.

13. And now, if I have indeed found favor in Your eyes, pray let me know Your ways, so that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your eyes; and consider that this nation is Your people."

13. But now I pray, if I have found mercy before You, make me to know the way of Your goodness, to understand Your mercy when in Your dealing with just men it falls to them as it (falls) to the guilty, and to the guilty as to the just; but, on the contrary how it (indeed) befalls the just according to their righteousness/ generosity and the guilty according to their guilt: that I may find mercy before You, and it be made manifest by You that this people is Your people.

14. So He said, "My Presence will go, and I will give you rest."

14. And He said, Await, until the face of My displeasure will have gone away, and afterward I will give you rest.

15. And he said to Him, "If Your Presence does not go [with us], do not take us up from here.

15. And he said to Him, If Your wrath go not from us, suffer us not to go up from hence under the frown of Your displeasure.

16. For how then will it be known that I have found favor in Your eyes, I and Your people? Is it not in that You will go with us? Then I and Your people will be distinguished from every [other] nation on the face of the earth."

16. In what will it be known that I have found mercy before You but in the converse of Your Shekinah with us, that distinguishing signs may be wrought for us, in the withholding of the Spirit of prophecy from the Gentiles, and by Your speaking by the Holy Spirit to me and to Your people, that we may be distinguished from all the peoples upon the face of the earth?

17. And the Lord said to Moses: "Even this thing that you have spoken, I will do, for you have found favor in My eyes, and I have known you by name."

17. And the LORD said to Mosheh, This thing also which you have spoken of, will I do; for you have found mercy before Me, and I have ordained you with a goodly name.

18. And he said: "Show me, now, Your glory!"

18. And he said, Show now unto me Your glory

19. He said: "I will let all My goodness pass before you; I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you, and I will favor when I wish to favor, and I will have compassion when I wish to have compassion."

19. but He said, Behold, I will make all the measure of My goodness pass before you, and I will give utterance in the good name of the Word of the Lord before you; and I will have compassion upon whom I see it right to have compassion, and will be merciful to whom I see it right to have mercy.

20. And He said, "You will not be able to see My face, for man shall not see Me and live."

20. And He said, you cannot see the visage of My face; for no man can see Me and abide alive. And the LORD said,

21. And the Lord said: "Behold, there is a place with Me, and you shall stand on the rock.

21. Behold, a place is prepared before Me, and you will stand upon the rock.

22. And it shall be that when My glory passes by, I will place you into the cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with My hand until I have passed by.

22. And it will be that when the glory of My Shekinah passes before you, I will put you in a cavern of the rock, and will overshadow you with My Word until the time that I have passed by.

23. Then I will remove My hand, and you will see My back but My face shall not be seen."

23. And I will make the host of angels who stand and minister before Me to pass by, and you will see the hand-border of the tephillin of My glorious Shekinah; but the face of the glory of My Shekinah you can not be able to see.

 

 

1. And the Lord said to Moses: "Hew for yourself two stone tablets like the first ones. And I will inscribe upon the tablets the words that were on the first tablets, which you broke.

1. And the LORD said to Mosheh, Hew yourself two tables of stone, as the former, and write upon the tables the words that were upon the former tables which you did break;

2. Be prepared for the morning, and in the morning you shall ascend Mount Sinai and stand before Me there on the top of the mountain.

2. and be ready in the morning; and at morning ascend Mount Sinai and stand there before Me on the summit of the mountain.

3. No one shall ascend with you, neither shall anyone be seen anywhere on the mountain, neither shall the sheep and the cattle graze facing that mountain."

3. No man will ascend with you, nor any man be seen on all the mountain, nor sheep, nor oxen grazing on the side of the mount.

4. So he [Moses] hewed two stone tablets like the first ones, and Moses arose early in the morning and ascended Mount Sinai as the Lord had commanded him, and he took two stone tablets in his hand.

4. And he hewed two tables of stone like the former: and Mosheh arose in the morning and ascended Mount Sinai, as the LORD had instructed him, and took in his hand the two tables of stone.

5. And the Lord descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and He called out in the name of the Lord.

5. And the LORD revealed Himself in the cloud of the glory of His Shekinah, and Mosheh stood with Him there; and Mosheh called on the Name of the Word of the Lord.

6. And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed: v u v h, v u v h, God, Who is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in loving kindness and truth,

6. And the LORD made His Shekinah to pass by before his face, and proclaimed, The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and near in mercies, abounding to exercise compassion and truth;

7. preserving loving kindness for thousands, forgiving iniquity and rebellion and sin; yet He does not completely clear [of sin] He visits the iniquity of parents on children and children's children, to the third and fourth generations."

7. keeping mercy and bounty for thousands of generations, absolving and remitting guilt, passing by rebellions, and covering sins; pardoning them who convert unto the Law, but holding not guiltless in the great day of judgment those who will not convert; visiting the sins of fathers upon rebellious children upon the third and upon the fourth generation.

8. And Moses hastened, bowed his head to the ground and prostrated himself,

8. And Mosheh made haste and bowed himself upon the earth and worshipped.

9. and said: "If I have now found favor in Your eyes, O Lord, let the Lord go now in our midst [even] if they are a stiff necked people, and You shall forgive our iniquity and our sin and thus secure us as Your possession."

9. And he said, If now I have found mercy before the LORD let the Shekinah of the Glory of the LORD go among us; for it is a people of hard neck; but pardon You our guilt and our sin, and give us the inheritance of the land which You did covenant unto our fathers, and change us not to become an alien people.

10. And He said: "Behold! I will form a covenant; in the presence of all your people, I will make distinctions such as have not been created upon all the earth and among all the nations, and all the people in whose midst you are shall see the work of the Lord how awe inspiring it is that which I will perform with you.

10. And He said, Behold, I make a covenant that I will not change this people to become an alien people; nevertheless from you will proceed a multitude of the righteous/generous; and with all your people will I do wondrous things in the time when they go into captivity by the rivers of Babel: for I will bring them up from thence, and make them dwell from within the river Sambation; and like wonders will not be created among all the inhabitants of the earth, nor among any nation. And all the people among whom you wilt dwell will see in that day the work of the LORD; for terrible is the thing that I will do with you.

11. Keep carefully what I am commanding you today: Lo! I will drive out from before you the Amorites and the Canaanites, the Hittites and the Perizzites, the Hivvites and the Jebusites.

11. Observe that which I command you this day: behold, I drive out from before you the Amoraee, and Kenaanaee, and Hittaee, and Pherizaee, and Hivaee, and Jebusaee.

12. Beware lest you form a covenant with the inhabitant[s] of the land into which you are coming, lest it become a snare in your midst.

12. Take heed to yourself, lest you strike covenants with the inhabitants of that land into which you are to enter; that it may not be a stumbling-block unto you.

13. But you shall demolish their altars, shatter their monuments, and cut down their sacred trees.

13. But you will rather destroy their high places, and break their statues, and cut down their groves;

14. For you shall not prostrate yourself before another god, because the Lord, Whose Name is "Jealous One," is a jealous God.

14. for it is not lawful for you to worship other gods; for the LORD is zealous and vengeful; His Name is God, the Zealous and the Avenger.

15. Lest you form a covenant with the inhabitant[s] of the land, and they [the gentiles] go astray after their gods, and they offer sacrifices to their gods, and they invite you, and you eat of their slaughtering,

15. Lest you strike a covenant with the dwellers in the land, and they draw you astray after their idols, and they sacrifice to their idols, and invite you, and you eat of the sacrifices of their idols

16. and you take of their daughters for your sons; then their daughters will go astray after their gods and lead your sons astray after their gods.

16. and you take of their daughters for your sons, and when their daughters wander after their idols they make your sons also go astray after their idols.

17. You shall not make molten gods for yourself.

17. Molten gods you will not make to yourselves.

18. The Festival of Unleavened Cakes you shall keep; seven days you shall eat unleavened cakes which I have commanded you, at the appointed meeting time of the month of spring, for in the month of spring you went out of Egypt.

18. You will observe the feast of the unleavened. Seven days you will eat unleavened (cakes), as I have commanded you, in the time of the month of Abib; for in the month of Abib you came out free from Mizraim.

19. All that opens the womb is Mine, and all your livestock [that] bears a male, [by] the emergence of ox or lamb.

19. Whatever opens the womb is Mine; and of all cattle you are to consecrate the males, of oxen, and of sheep.

20. And a firstborn donkey you shall redeem with a lamb; if you do not redeem it, you shall decapitate it; every firstborn of your sons you shall redeem, and they shall not appear before Me empty handed.

20. But the firstling of an ass you may redeem with a lamb; but if you redeem him not, you will cut him off with the blade. And each firstborn of your sons you must redeem; and they will not appear before Me empty handed.

21. Six days you may work, and on the seventh day you shall rest; in plowing and in harvest you shall rest.

21. Six days will you work, and in the seventh day have rest; in ploughing time and in harvest times you will rest.

22. And you shall make for yourself a Festival of Weeks, the first of the wheat harvest, and the festival of the ingathering, at the turn of the year.

22. The feast of weeks also will you make to yourself in the time of the firsts of the wheat harvest; and the feast of ingathering at the conclusion of the year.

23. Three times during the year shall all your male[s] appear directly before the Master, the Lord, the God of Israel.

23. Three times in the year will all your males appear before the Master of the world, the LORD God of Israel.

24. When I drive out nations from before you and I widen your border, no one will covet your land when you go up, to appear before the Lord, your God, three times each year.

24. For I will drive out the nations from before you, and enlarge your borders; and no man will covet your land at the time of your going up to appear before the LORD your God three times in the year.

25. You shall not slaughter [or sprinkle] the blood of My sacrifice with leaven, and the offering of the Passover feast shall not remain overnight until the morning.

25. You will not sacrifice the victim of My Passover before you have done away with leaven; nor suffer the fat of the paschal sacrifice to remain about the altar till the morning.

26. The choicest of the first of your soil you shall bring to the house of the Lord, your God. You shall not cook a kid in its mother's milk."

26. The best of the first-fruits of your land you will bring to the sanctuary of the LORD your God. You are not allowed to boil or to eat flesh and milk mixed together, lest My displeasure be kindled against you, and the fruit of your trees, with the grapes in their branches and their leaves, be laid waste together.

 

 

Rashi’s Commentary for: Shemot (Exodus) 33:12 – 33:23

 

him, “I am angry, and you are angry. Who then will bring them near [to Me]?” (Midrash Tanchuma 27).

 

12 Look, You say to me: Heb. רְאֵה, lit., see. רְאֵה  means: Direct Your eyes and Your heart on Your words. [I.e., think about what You are saying!] You say to me [“Lead”] but You have not informed me [who will come with us]. You said to me, “Behold, I am sending an angel” (Exod. 23:20), [yet] this is not considered informing because I do not want it [to occur this way]. [Reggio edition: I do not want him.] -[See Exod. Rabbah 45:4]

 

And You said: ‘I have known you by name’: [which means that God is saying:] I have recognized you from other people with a name of importance. For [God] said to me [Moses]: “Behold, I am coming to you in the thickness of the cloud… and they will also believe in you forever” (Exod. 19:9).

 

13 And now: If it is true that I have found favor in Your eyes, pray let me know Your ways, [i.e.,] what reward You give to those who find favor in Your eyes.

 

so that I may know You, so that I may find favor in Your eyes: And with this I will know the standard of Your recompense, [i.e.,] what constitutes finding favor, since I have found favor in Your eyes. The explanation of “so that I may find favor” means: in order that I may recognize how great the reward of finding favor [with You] is.

 

and consider that this nation is Your people: That You should not say, “and I will make you into a great nation” and [then] forsake these [people]. See [i.e., remember] that they are Your people from long ago, and if You reject them, I would not rely on [only] those descendants who come from my loins to survive; make known to me [now] the payment of my reward through this people. Although our Rabbis expounded on this in tractate Berachoth (7a), I have come to reconcile the verses according to their context and their sequence.

 

14 So He said, “My Presence will go…”: Heb. פָּנַי יֵלֵכוּ, lit., My countenance will go. [This is to be understood] as the Targum [Onkelos] renders: [שְׁכִנְתִּי תְהַךְ], I will no longer send an angel; I Myself will go, similar to [the verse:] “and you personally go (וּפָנֶיךָ הֹלְכִים) to battle” (II Sam. 17:11).

 

15 And he said to Him: This is what I want, because [I] do not [want you to] take us up from here [if it is] through an angel.

 

16 For how then will it be known: [I.e., how] will the finding of favor be known? Is it not in that You will go with us? One other thing I ask of You [I ask] that Your Shechinah shall no longer rest upon heathen nations. -[from Ber. 7a]

 

Then I and Your people will be distinguished: Heb. וְנִפְלִינוּ. In this respect, we will be separated from every [other] nation, like “And the Lord will make a separation (וְהִפְלָה) …between the livestock of Egypt” (Exod. 9:4).

 

17 Even this thing: [namely] that My Shechinah should no longer rest upon heathens, I will do. Balaam’s [i.e., the gentile prophet] words did not come about through the resting of the Shechinah [on him], but [his prophecy would occur when] he would “fall and his eyes would be unveiled” (Num. 24:4); such as “Now a word was conveyed secretly to me” (Job 4:12). They [these heathen prophets] would hear [the prophecy] through a messenger.

 

18 And he said: “Show me, now, Your glory!”: Moses perceived that it was a time of [God’s] good will, and his words were accepted, so he continued to ask that He show him the appearance of His glory.

 

19 He said: “I will let… pass before you”: The time has come that you shall see some of My glory that I will permit you to see, because I want and I need to teach you the order of prayer. Because when you had to beg mercy for Israel, you begged Me to remember the merit of the Patriarchs. You think that if the merit of the Patriarchs is depleted, there is no longer any hope. I will [therefore] let all the attribute of My goodness pass before you while you are hidden in a cave.

 

I will proclaim the name of the Lord before you: to teach you the procedure for begging for compassion [i.e., praying] even if the merit of the Patriarchs is depleted. According to this procedure, [during] which you [will] see Me enwrapped [see commentary on Exod. 34:6] and proclaiming the Thirteen Attributes, teach the Israelites to do likewise. Through their mentioning before Me [the words] “Compassionate and gracious,” they will be answered, for My compassion never ends. -[from Rosh Hashanah 17b]

 

and I will favor when I wish to favor: [At] those times that I will want to [show] favor.

 

and I will have compassion: At the time I will want to have compassion. Until this point, He promised him [Moses] only that “at times I will answer, and at times I will not answer.” At the time of the deed [when God revealed to Moses the Thirteen Attributes], however, He said to him, “Behold! I will form a covenant” (Exod. 34:10). He promised him that they [the Israelites] would never return empty [i.e., without an answer to their prayers]. -[from Rosh Hashanah 17b]

 

20 And He said, “You will not be able…”: Even when I let all My goodness pass before you, I [still] do not grant you permission to see My face.

 

21 Behold, there is a place with Me: on the mountain, where I always speak to you. I have a place prepared for your benefit, where I will hide you so that you will not be hurt, and from there you shall see what you shall see. This is its simple meaning, but its midrashic meaning is that [God] is speaking of the place where the Shechinah is, and He says: “The place is with Me,” but He does not say: “I am in the place,” for the Holy One, blessed is He, is the place of the world [i.e., the world is within Him], but the world is not His place [i.e., the world does not encompass him] (Gen. Rabbah 68:9).

 

22 when My glory passes by: When I pass by before you.

 

into the cleft of the rock: Heb. בְּנִקְרַתהַצוּר, like [the following verses:] Even if you pick out תִּנַקֵּר  those people’s eyes” (Num. 16:14); “May the ravens of the valley pick it out (יִקְּרוּה) ” (Prov. 30:17); [and] “I dug (קַרְתִּי) and drank water” (Isa. 37:25). [All] these [examples] have one root (קר). נִקְרַת הַצוּר   means the digging out of the rock [i.e., the cleft].

 

and I will cover you with My hand: From here [we understand] that power was given to destructive forces to destroy [Moses] (Num. Rabbah 14:19). Its Aramaic translation is וְאָגֵין בְּמֵימְרִי, and I will protect with My word. This is a euphemism out of honor of the Most High, for He does not need to cover over him [Moses] with an actual hand.

 

23 Then I will remove My hand: [Onkelos renders:] Then I will remove the guidance [i.e., My guidance] of My glory, when the guidance of My glory passes by from opposite your face, to go further from there [this means that even Moses would not be permitted to grasp the essence of God, only His attributes and His deeds (Nethinah LaGer)].

 

and you will see My back: [Then] He showed him the knot of the tefillin. -[from Ber. 7a]

 

1 Hew for yourself Heb. פְּסָל לְךָ . He [God] showed him [Moses] a sapphire mine from within his tent, and He said to him, “The [sapphire] chips shall be yours,” and from there Moses became very wealthy. -[from Tanchuma 29, Lev. Rabbah 32:2]

 

Hew for yourself You broke the first ones. You hew others for yourself. This can be compared to a king who went abroad and left his betrothed with the maidservants. Because of the immoral behavior of the maidservants, she acquired a bad reputation. Her bridesman [the person appointed to defend the bride should any problems arise] arose and tore up her marriage contract. He said, “If the king decides to kill her, I will say to him, ‘She is not yet your wife.’” The king investigated and discovered that only the maidservants were guilty of immoral behavior. He [therefore] became appeased to her. So her bridesman said to him, “Write her another marriage contract because the first one was torn up.” The king replied to him, “You tore it up. You buy yourself another [sheet of] paper, and I will write to her with my [personal] hand [writing].” Likewise, the king represents the Holy One, blessed is He. The maidservants represent the mixed multitude. The bridesman is Moses, and the betrothed of the Holy One, blessed is He, is Israel. That is why it says: “Hew for yourself.” -[from Tanchuma 30]

 

2 prepared Heb. נָכוֹן , ready.

 

3 No one shall ascend with you Since the first ones [i.e., tablets] were accompanied by loud noises, sounds, and with a multitude, the evil eye affected them. [Our conclusion is that] there is nothing better than modesty. - [from Tanchuma 30]

 

5 and He called out in the name of the Lord We render: וּקְרָא בִשְׁמָא דַיְיָ , and he called out in the name of the Lord. [from Onkelos]

 

6 י-ה-ו-ה י-ה-ו-ה This is the attribute of Divine compassion, both before a person sins and after he sins and repents. -[from R.H. 11b]

 

God Heb. אֵל . This too is an attribute of compassion [for God], and so he [the Psalmist] says: “My God, my God, why have You forsaken me?” (Ps. 22:2). One cannot say to the Divine attribute of justice, “Why have You forsaken me?” I found this in the Mechilta (Exod. 15:2).

 

slow to anger He puts off His anger and does not hasten to exact retribution, [hoping that] perhaps he [the sinner] will repent.

 

and abundant in loving-kindness for those who need loving-kindness because they lack sufficient merits. -[from R.H. 17a]

 

and truth to pay a good reward to those who do His will.

 

7 preserving loving-kindness that a person does before Him.

 

for thousands For two thousand generations.

 

[iniquity and rebellion] Iniquities (עֲוֽנוֹת) are intentional sins. פְּשָׁעִים  are sins committed out of rebellion, which a person commits [in order] to anger [God]. -[from Yoma 36b] yet

 

He does not completely clear [of sin] Heb. וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה . According to its simple interpretation, it means that He does not completely overlook the iniquity but exacts retribution for it little by little. Our Rabbis, however, interpreted [this expression to mean]: He clears those who repent, but does not clear those who do not repent (from Yoma 86a, targumim).

 

He visits the iniquity of parents on the children when they hold onto the deeds of their parents in their hands [i.e., emulate their ways], for He already explained this in another verse, [that it means only] “of those who hate Me” (Exod. 20:5). -[from Ber. 7a]

 

and fourth generations Heb. וְעַל רִבֵּעִים , the fourth generation. Thus, the [i.e., God’s] attribute of goodness exceeds the attribute of retribution by a ratio of one to five hundred. Concerning the attribute of goodness, He says: “preserving loving-kindness for thousands.” -[from Tosefta, Sotah 4:1]

 

8 And Moses hastened When Moses saw the Shechinah passing [in front of him] and he heard the voice calling, he immediately prostrated himself.

 

9 let the Lord go now in our midst As You promised us, since You forgive iniquity. [Which means:] and if they are a stiff-necked people, and they rebelled against You, and You have said concerning this, “Lest I destroy you on the way” (Exod. 33:3), You [still] will forgive our iniquity, etc. There are [other instances where] כִּי  [is used] instead of אִם  if.

 

and thus secure us as Your possession And You shall give us to Yourself as a special possession. (Other editions read: and You shall give us a special possession.) That is the [same] request of: “Then I and Your people will be distinguished” (Exod. 33:16), [meaning] that the Shechinah should not rest upon the pagan nations.

 

10 [I will] form a covenant Concerning this.

 

in the presence of all your people, I will make distinctions Heb. אֶעֱשִֶׂה נִפְלָאֽת , an expression related to וְנִפְלִינוּ , “and [we] shall be distinguished” (Exod. 33:16), [meaning] that you shall be separated from all the pagan nations, that My Shechinah shall not rest upon them [these other nations].

 

11 the Amorites… Six nations are [enumerated] here [not the proverbial seven], because the Girgashites [i.e., the seventh nation] got up and emigrated because of them [the Israelites]. -[from Lev. Rabbah 17:6, Yerushalmi Sheviith 6:1.]

 

13 their sacred trees This is a tree they worship.

 

14 Whose Name is “Jealous One” He is zealous to mete out retribution, and He is not indulgent. That is [the meaning of] every expression of jealousy (קִנְאָה) [when used in connection with God]. [It] means that He is steadfast in His superiority [over other deities] and exacts retribution upon those who forsake Him.

 

15 and you eat of their slaughtering You [may] think that there is no punishment for eating it, but [when you eat it] I consider it for you as if you endorsed its worship, for through this [eating of the sacrifice] you will come to take from their daughters for your sons.

 

18 the month of spring The month of early ripening, when the grain first ripens.

 

19 All that opens the womb is Mine Among humans. and all your livestock [that] bears a male… Heb.תִּזָּכָר . And all your livestock that bears a [firstborn] male by the emergence of an ox or lamb [from the womb], meaning that a male will open its womb [i.e., its firstborn is a male].

 

emergence Heb. פֶּטֶר , a word that means opening. Similarly, “The beginning of strife is like letting out (פּוֹטֵר) water” (Prov. 17:14). The “Tav” of תִּזָּכָר  is an expression of the feminine, referring to the [animal] that gives birth.

 

20 And a firstborn donkey But not [the firstborn of] other unclean animals. -[from Bech. 5b]

 

you shall redeem with a lamb [The owner] gives a lamb to the kohen, and it [becomes] the ordinary [unconsecrated] property of the kohen, and the firstborn donkey may be put to work by its owner. -[from Bech. 9b]

 

you shall decapitate it He decapitates it with a cleaver. [The rationale is:] He caused the kohen to lose his money [by neglecting to give him the redemption lamb]. Therefore, he must lose his own money [by decapitating his donkey]. - [from Bech. 10b, Mechilta on Exod. 13:13]

 

every firstborn of your sons you shall redeem His redemption is established as five selas, as it is said: “And his redemption you shall perform from the age of one month [by the evaluation of five shekels, etc.]” (Num. 18:16).

 

and they shall not appear before Me empty-handed According to the simple meaning of the verse, this is a separate matter [from the rest of this verse] and is unrelated to the firstborn, because there is no obligation to appear [in the Temple] in the commandment dealing with the firstborn. Instead this is another warning, [meaning] and when you ascend [to the Temple] on the festivals, you shall not appear before Me empty-handed, [but] it is incumbent upon you to bring burnt offerings (Chag. 7a) whenever appearing before God. According to the way it is interpreted by a Baraitha, this is a superfluous verse [for this was already stated in Exod. 23:15], and it is free [i.e., has no additional reason for being here other than] to be used for a גְּזֵרָה שָׁוָה , [i.e.,] an instance of similar wording, to teach [us] about the provisions given a Hebrew slave [when he is freed]—that it is five selas from each kind [i.e., of sheep, grain, and wine], as much as the redemption of a firstborn. [This is elaborated upon] in tractate Kiddushin (17a).

 

21 in plowing and in harvest you shall rest [If this refers to the Sabbath,] why are plowing and harvest mentioned [in particular, and not other kinds of work]? Some of our Rabbis say that this [verse prohibits] plowing before the seventh year [i.e., the sixth year] which enters the seventh year [i.e., plowing that benefits crops that grow in the seventh year], and the harvest of the seventh year that grows after the seventh year [i.e., crops that have at least one third of their growth during the seventh year must be treated with the sanctity of the seventh year]. This is to teach you that we must add from the unholy [the year preceding the seventh year] to the holy [the seventh year]. Accordingly, this is its meaning: “Six days you may work, and on the seventh day you shall rest”—and [concerning] the work of the six days, which I have permitted you, there is a year in which plowing and harvest are prohibited. The plowing and harvest of the seventh year need not be stated, because it already says: “Your field you shall not sow…” (Lev. 25:4). [Consequently, we deduce that this verse means the plowing before the seventh year and the harvest after the seventh year.] Others [of the Rabbis] say that [the verse] speaks only about the [weekly] Sabbath, and the plowing and harvest mentioned in its context are to inform you that just as [the prohibited] plowing is optional [plowing], so is harvest [referred to here] optional [harvesting]. The harvest of the omer [however] is excluded [from this prohibition] because it is mandatory, and [consequently] it supersedes the Sabbath. -[from R.H. 9a]

 

22 the first of the wheat harvest [This is the festival] on which you bring the two breads made from the wheat [as in Lev. 23:17].

 

the first For it is the first meal offering brought to Temple from the new wheat crop, because the meal offering of the omer on Passover is brought from the barley. -[from Men. 84a]

 

and the festival of the ingathering Heb. וְחַג הָאָסִיף , [which occurs] at the time you gather your grain from the field into the house. This gathering (אֲסִיפָה) is a term denoting bringing into the house, like “you shall take it (וַאֲסַפְתּוֹ) into your house” (Deut. 22:2).

 

at the turn of the year which is at the return of the year, at the beginning of the coming year. [I.e., it is in the month of Tishri, which is the first month of the year, counting from Creation.]

 

at the turn of Heb. תְּקוּפַת , a term denoting going around and encompassing (הַקָּפָה) [i.e., going in a circle].

 

23 all your male[s] Heb.כָּל זְכוּרְךָ , all the males among you. [This is repeated elsewhere as are] many commandments in the Torah, [which] are stated and repeated, many of them three or four times, in order to cause liability and mete out punishment according to the number of the negative commandments they contain and the number of positive commandments they contain.

 

24 I drive out Heb. אוֹרִישׁ  as the Targum renders: אֲתָרֵךְ , I will drive out, and so is “begin to drive out (רָשׁ) ” (Deut. 2: 31), and so is “and he drove out (וַיוֹרֶשׁ) the Amorites” (Num. 21:32), an expression of driving out.

 

and I widen your border And [this way] you will be far from the Temple, and [so] you cannot constantly appear before Me. Therefore, I am setting these three pilgrimage festivals for you.

 

25 You shall not slaughter… You shall not slaughter the Passover sacrifice as long as leaven still exists. This is a [specific] warning to the slaughterer, to the one who sprinkles the blood, or to one of the members of the group [bringing this sacrifice]. -[from Pes. 63b]

 

shall not remain overnight until the morning As the Targum [Onkelos] paraphrases: [it shall not remain overnight until the morning away from the altar]. Remaining overnight on top of the altar has no effect [i.e., does not disqualify the sacrifice] (Mechilta, Exodus 23:18), and [the prohibition of] staying overnight is only completed at the break of dawn (Zev. 87a).

 

and the offering of the Passover feast [This refers to] its sacrificial parts. From here you learn [to apply this rule to all instances of] burning the fats or the limbs [of sacrifices, namely that it may not be performed after the break of dawn if the sacrificial parts stayed off the altar all night until the break of dawn].

 

26 The choicest of the first of your soil [This refers to the fruits] of the seven species delineated as the praise of your land, “A land of wheat and barley, vines, [figs, and pomegranates, a land of oil- producing olives,] and honey” (Deut. 8:8). That is the honey of dates. -[from Bikkurim 3:1]

 

You shall not cook a kid This is the warning against [cooking] meat and milk [together]. This commandment is written in the Torah three times (Exod. 23:19, Deut. 14:21), one for eating, one for deriving benefit, and one for the prohibition of cooking. -[from Chul. 115b]

 

a kid Heb. גְּדִי . Any young offspring is meant, even a calf or a lamb. Since [the Torah] had to specify in many places גְּדִי עִזִּים  [when a young goat is meant], you learn that [mention of] גְּדִי  unqualified means all sucklings. -[from Chul. 113b]

 

in its mother’s milk This excludes fowl, which has no milk, which is not prohibited by the Torah but by the decree of the Scribes [the Sages]. - [from Chul. 113a]

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: BeMidbar (Numbers) ‎‎‎‎‎29:17-22

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

17. And on the second day, twelve young bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.

17. On the second day of the Feast of Tabernacles you will offer twelve young bullocks, by twelve orders; two rams, by two orders; fourteen lambs of the year unblemished by nine orders, five of them will offer two by two, and four of them one by one.

18. And their meal offerings and their libations, for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, as prescribed.

18. And their mincha of wheat flour, and the wine of their libation which will be offered with the bullocks, rams, and lambs, by their number according to the order of their appointment;

19. And one young male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering, and their libations.

19. and one ram by one order, a sin offering, beside the perpetual sacrifice, and the wheat flour of their minchas, and their libations of wine.

20. And on the third day, eleven bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.

20. On the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles you will offer twelve bullocks by twelve orders; two rams by two orders, fourteen unblemished lambs of the year, by ten orders; four of them will offer two and two, and six of them one by one;

21. And their meal offerings and their libations, for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, as prescribed.

21. and their mincha of wheat flour, and their libations of wine, you will offer with the bullocks, rams, and lambs, by the number in their appointed order;

22. And one young male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering and its libation.

22. and one kid of the goats for a sin offering by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice the wheat flour for the mincha, and its libation of wine.

23. And on the fourth day, ten bulls, two rams, and fourteen lambs in the first year, [all] unblemished.

23. On the fourth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, ten young bullocks by ten orders; two rams by two orders; fourteen unblemished lambs of the year by twelve orders; three of them will be offered at two times, and eight of them singly;

24. Their meal offerings and their libations, for the bulls, for the rams, and for the lambs, according to their number, as prescribed.

24. their mincha of wheaten flour, and their libations of wine, which you will offer with the bullocks, rams, and lambs by their number, after their appointed order,

25. And one young male goat for a sin offering, besides the continual burnt offering, its meal offering and its libation. 

25. and one kid for a sin offering, by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, and its libation of wine.

 


 

Ketubim: Tehillim (Psalms) 115:1-18

 

Rashi

Targum on the Psalms

1. Not for us, O Lord, not for us, but for Your name give honor, for Your kindness and for Your truthfulness.

1. Not on our account, O LORD, not on account of our merits, but rather to your name give glory, because of your goodness and because of your truth.

2. Why should the nations say, "Where is your God now?"

2. Why will the Gentiles say, "Where now is their God?"

3. But our God is in heaven; whatever He wishes, He does.

3. And our God's residence is in heaven, all that he desires he has done.

4. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of man.

4. Their idols are of silver and gold, the handiwork of a son of man.

5. They have a mouth, but they do not speak; they have eyes but they do not see.

5. They have a mouth, but do not speak; they have eyes, and do not see.

6. They have ears, but they do not hear; they have a nose but they do not smell.

6. They have ears, and do not hear; they have nostrils, but do not smell.

7. Their hands-but they do not feel; their feet-but they do not walk; they do not murmur with their throat.

7. Hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; they do not murmur with their throat.

8. Like them shall be those who make them, all who trust in them.

8. May their makers become like them, everyone who relies upon them.

9. Israel, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.

9. O Israel, trust in the word of the LORD; he is their helper and their shield.

10. House of Aaron, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.

10. Those of the house of Aaron, trust in the word of the LORD; he is their helper and their shield.

11. Those who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.

11. You who fear the LORD, trust in the word of the LORD; he is their helper and their shield.

12. The Lord, Who remembered us, will bless; He will bless the house of Israel; He will bless the house of Aaron.

12. The word of the LORD has remembered us for good, he will bless; he will bless the house of Israel, he will bless the house of Aaron.

13. He will bless those who fear the Lord, the small together with the great.

13. He will bless those who fear the LORD, the small with the great.

14. May the Lord add upon you, upon you and upon your children.

14. The word of the LORD will add to you; to you, and to your sons.

15. Blessed are you to the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

15. Blessed are you in the presence of the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.

16. The heavens are heavens of the Lord, but the earth He gave to the children of men.

16. The heavens of the heavens are for the glorious presence of the LORD, and the earth he has given to the sons of men.

17. Neither will the dead praise God, nor all those who descend to the grave.

17. The dead do not praise the name of the LORD, nor any of those who go down to the grave of earth.

18. But we shall bless God from now until everlasting, Hallelujah!

18. But we will bless Yah, from now and forevermore. Hallelujah!

 

 

 


 

Ashlamatah: Yehezchel (Ezekiel) 38:18 – 39:16

 

JPS

Targum

38:18 And it shall come to pass in that day, when Gog shall come against the land of Israel, says the Lord GOD, that My fury shall arise up in My nostrils.

18. But it shall be at that time, on the day of Gog’s coming against the land of Israel, says the Lord God, My wrath shall be kindled, and My fury}

19 For in My jealousy and in the fire of My wrath have I spoken: Surely in that day there shall be a great shaking in the land of Israel;

19. And when My punishment is revealed, when the fire of My wrath is kindled, I have decreed by My Memra, that surely on that day there shall be a great earthquake in the land of Israel.

20 so that the fishes of the sea, and the fowls of the heaven, and the beasts of the field and all creeping things that creep upon the ground, and all the men that are upon the face of the earth, shall shake at My presence, and the mountains shall be thrown down, and the steep places shall fall, and every wall shall fall to the ground.

20. The fish of the sea, and the birds of the sky, and the beasts of the field, and all the creeping things that creep on the ground, and all human beings who are on the face of the earth shall tremble before Me; the mountains shall be demolished, and the towers16 shall be torn down, and every high wall shall be piled in rubble on the ground.

21 And I will call for a sword against him throughout all my mountains, says the Lord GOD; every man’s sword shall be against his brother.

21. I will summon him tofall by the sword on the mountains of IsraelMy people, says the Lord God. A man’s sword shall be against his brother.

22 And I will plead against him with pestilence and with blood; and I will cause to rain upon him, and upon his bands, and upon the many peoples that are with him, an overflowing shower, and great hailstones, fire, and brimstone.

22. I will punish him by pestilence and by killing; torrential rain, hailstones, fire and sulphur will I rain upon him and his armies and upon the many peoples that are with him.

23 Thus will I magnify Myself, and sanctify Myself, and I will make Myself known in the eyes of many nations; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

23. Thus 1 will magnify and sanctify Myself; and / will reveal My might in the eyes of many nations, and they shall know that I am the Lord.”

 

 

39:1 ¶ And you, son of man, prophesy against Gog, and say: Thus says the Lord GOD: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, chief prince of Meshech and Tubal;

1. “And you, Son of Adam, prophesy against Gog, and say, Thus says the Lord God: Behold I am sending My wrath, against you, O Gog, great chief of Meshech and Tubal.

2 and I will turn you about and lead you on, and will cause you to come up from the uttermost parts of the north; and I will bring you upon the mountains of Israel;

2. I will swing you around, and lead you astray, and I will take you up from the farthest ends of the north, and bring you against the mountains of Israel.

3 and I will smite your bow out of thy left hand, and will cause your arrows to fall out of your right hand.

3. Then I will cast away your bow from your left hand, and pull down your arrows from your right hand.

4 You shall fall upon the mountains of Israel, you, and all your bands, and the peoples that are with you; I will give you unto the ravenous birds of every sort and to the beasts of the field, to be devoured.

4. On the mountains of the land of Israel shall your corpse be flung, you and all your armies, and the many peoples that are with you; I have handed you over to the fowl, to every bird that flies and the beasts of the field, to be destroyed.

5 You shall fall upon the open field; for I have spoken it, says the Lord GOD.

5. Your corpse shall be flung on the open field, for / have decreed it by My Memra, says the Lord God.

6 And I will send a fire on Magog, and on them that dwell safely in the isles; and they shall know that I am the LORD.

6. I will kindle a fire in Magog and among the inhabi­tants of the islands who dwell securely, and they shall know that I am the Lord.

7 And My holy name will I make known in the midst of My people Israel; neither will I suffer My holy name to be profaned any more; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD, the Holy One in Israel.

7. And My holy name I will reveal in the midst of My people Israel; and never again will I allow My holy name to be profaned; and the nations shall know that I am the Lord, the Holy One; I have made My Shekinah dwell in Israel.

8 ¶ Behold, it comes, and it shall be done, says the Lord GOD; This is the day whereof I have spoken.

8. Behold, it is coming, and it shall be fulfilled, says the Lord God; it is the day that I have decreed by My Memra.

9 And they that dwell in the cities of Israel shall go forth, and shall make fires of the weapons and use them as fuel, both the shields and the bucklers, the bows and the arrows, and the hand-staves, and the spears, and they shall make fires of them seven years;

9. Then those who dwell in the cities of the land of Israel shall go out, and use for heating and store up for kindling, the weapons, bucklers and shields, bows and arrows, wooden staves and spears, and they shall use them for kindling for seven years.

10 so that they shall take no wood out of the field, neither cut down any out of the forests, for they shall make fires of the weapons; and they shall spoil those that spoiled them, and rob those that robbed them, says the Lord GOD.

10. And they shall not take wood from the field, nor cut it from the forests, because they shall use the weapons for kindling, and they shall despoil those who despoiled them, and take booty of those who plundered them, says the Lord God.

11 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will give unto Gog a place fit for burial in Israel, the valley of them that pass through on the east of the sea; and it shall stop them that pass through; and there shall they bury Gog and all his multitude; and they shall call it the valley of Hamon-gog. {That is, The multitude of Gog.}

11. It shall be at that time, I will give to Gog a proper3 place for a burial ground in Israel, in the Valley of the Pass, east of the sea of Gennesaret5 and it is near the two mountains;6 there they shall bury Gog and all of his noisy horde; and they shall call it the Valley of Gog’s Noisy Horde.

12 And seven months shall the house of Israel be burying them, that they may cleanse the land.

12. The House of Israel shall bury them for seven months in order to cleanse the land.

13 Yea, all the people of the land shall bury them, and it shall be to them a renown; in the day that I shall be glorified, says the Lord GOD.

13, All the people of the land shall bury them; and it shall make them famous on the day that I reveal My glory, says the Lord God.

14 And they shall set apart men of continual employment, that shall pass through the land to bury with them that pass through those that remain upon the face of the land, to cleanse it; after the end of seven months shall they search.

14. And they shall appoint men to traverse the land continually, a mobile group, burying those that remain above ground, to cleanse it; at the end of seven months they shall begin to search.

15 And when they that pass through shall pass through the land, and any sees a man’s bone, then shall he set up a sign by it, till the buriers have buried it in the valley of Hamon-gog.

15. And if one of those who traverse the land shall pass along the road, and see a human bone, he shall erect a marker*8 beside it until those who bury it shall have interred it in the Valley of Gog’s Noisy Horde.

 

 

Rashi’s Commentary for: Yehezchel (Ezekiel) 38:18 – 39:16

 

19 a great noise [Heb. רַעַשּׁ,] through noise and thunder, as he states.

 

20 and the cliffs shall fall [Heb. הַמַּדְרִגוֹת.] I heard that they are perpendicular hanging rocks, which appear to be falling, but I say that they are mounds of the towers, for they dig around and cast up the earth in the center to raise the mound, and it is made into steps, eschelons, eschillons in Old French, steps, in order that the earth remain, and after it is pressed down well, they remove the forms that hold up the step.

 

21 And I will call the sword against him upon all My mountains for the sword to come upon them, against him. “And I will call” means, I will prepare. And what is the sword that I will call against him? Their own sword: “every man’s sword shall be against his brother.”

 

22 and great hailstones Hailstones that glisten like precious stones named גָּבִישּׁ, crystal, as the matter is stated (Job 28:18): “Coral and crystal (וְגָּבִישּׁ).” Our Sages said (Ber. 54b): עַל גַב אִישּׁ: Hailstones that started to fall on Egypt, and stood in the air over the man (עַל גַב אִישּׁ), Moses, who prayed that they not fall, as the matter that is stated (Exod. 9:33), לֹא נִתַּךְ אַרְצָה“[it] did not reach the ground.”

 

39:2 and I will entice you [Heb. וְשִּׁשֵּׁאתִיךָ,] like וְהִשֵּׁאתִיךָ, I will entice you upon My people, as in (Ps. 89:23): “No enemy will entice (יַשִׂיא) him.”

 

7 and I will no longer cause My Holy Name to be profaned For Israel’s degradation is a profanation of His Name, “inasmuch as it is said of them, ‘these are the people of the Lord’” (above 36:20), and He is unable to save them.

 

9 and heat up [Heb. וְהִשִּׂיקוּ,] like (Orlah 3:5): “An oven that they heated up (שֶּׁהִטִיקוּהָ)” in the language of the Mishnah.

 

with the weapons [Heb. בַנֶשֶּׁק,] an armures in Old French, with weapons.

 

11 I will give Gog a place there as a grave A place where there will be a grave for them. Since he is of the seed of Japtheth, who covered his father’s nakedness, he therefore merited burial.

 

the valley of those who pass along The valley where people pass the Sea of Kinnereth to bring from there Genossar fruits regularly.

 

the east side of the sea Jonathan renders: on the east of the Sea of Gennasar.

 

and it will then stop those who pass along [Heb. וְחֹסֶמֶת.] It closes off those who pass, like (Deut. 25:4): “You shall not muzzle (לֹא תַחְסוֹם).” Because of the many corpses that will fall there, travelers will be prevented from passing through. Therefore, they will pass by them and bury them. Menachem (p. 91) interprets it in his book (Machbereth) to mean that they will close their nose so as not to smell the odor of the corpses.

 

13 They will bury all the people of the land because they died there.

 

and they will be renowned All the nations will speak their name as praise and as a sign of kindness: “There are no nations as compassionate as this one; do you find a man who buries his enemy who rose up against him to kill him?”

 

14 Men of continuous employment Men designed to continuously devote themselves to this. Israel will separate out in order to [be able to] pass through the land and gather the scattered [corpses].

 

burying with those who pass through Burying with (Heb. אֶת) those who pass through; the corpses (אֶת הַנוֹתָרִים) that will block off and hinder the crossing. Those who crossed the ocean will bury them for their own benefit.

 

with those who pass through Heb. אֶת הַעֹבְרִים, with those who pass through. So I heard, and so did Jonathan render.

 

those who are left on the surface of the land far from the crossing. Those who cross the sea will not occupy themselves with burying them. Those designated to devote themselves to this purpose will bury them.

 

at the end of seven months the majority of the corpses visible to the eye will have been buried; from then on they will probe through the land in the hidden places, in the briars and among the thorns, and bury whomever they find.

 

15 And when they that pass through the land shall pass Wayfarers who see a human bone will construct a marker next to it as a sign that there is a bone of a dead body there, in order that wayfarers and those who prepare ritually pure food should stay away from it.

 

until the men of continuous employment, designated to search, will come and bury it.

 

16 And also the name of the city shall be Hamonah And also the city whose name is “the city stirring with numerous people,” that is, the wicked city, the masses of its inhabitants will be buried there.

 

Thus they shall purify the land [i.e.,] Israel will purify their ritually pure foods and their terumoth in the Land.

 

Hamonah without a “mappiq hey” since the final “hey” serves as an adjective, for הֲמוֹנָה is like הוֹמִיָה, stirring.

 

 

For an interesting description of who is Gog and Magog please see the following Web Page:

 

Who is Gog from the Land of Mogog?


Taken from: https://www.bitchute.com/video/T5gmHJSjnmHr/

 

 

Blessing After Torah Study

 

Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,

Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.

Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!

Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,

Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.

Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,

before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”

 

 

Amen ve Amen! Chag Succoth Sameach!

 

 


 

Succoth Shabbat First Intermediate Day - Afternoon Service

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 4:1 – 5:20

 

1. So I returned and considered all the oppressions that are done under the sun. And behold the tears of those who were oppressed, and they had no comforter! And at the hand of those who oppressed them was power; but there was no comforter to them.

2. And I commended the dead who already have died, more than the living who are alive until now.

3. Yes, better than both is he who has not yet been, who has not seen the evil work that is done under the sun.

4. And I considered every labour, and every advantage of the work, that it is the envy of a man against his neighbour; this is also vanity and striving after wind.

5. The fool folds his hands together and eats his own flesh.

6. Better is a hand filled with rest, than two fists with labour and striving after wind.

7. Then I returned and saw vanity under the sun.

8. There is one alone, and there is not a second; yes, he has neither son nor brother; and there is no end to all his labour; even his eyes are not satisfied with riches; and he says, For whom do I labour, and take good from my soul? This is also vanity. Yes, it is an evil task.

9. Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour.

10. For if they fall, this one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him, the one that falls, and there is not another to lift him up.

11. Also if two lie together, then they have warmth; but for one, how is he warm?

12. And if one overthrows him, two will withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly torn apart.

13. A poor and a wise child is better than the old and stupid king who does not know to be warned any more.

14. For from the house of the imprisoned he goes forth to reign, although in his kingdom he was born poor.

15. I saw all the living who walk about under the sun, with the second child who will stand up in his place.

16. There is no end to all the people, to all who have been before them; they also who come after will not rejoice with him. Surely this is also vanity and striving after wind.

 

1. Guard your feet when you go to the house of God, and draw near to hear, more than to give a sacrifice, as do the fools. For they do not know that they are doing evil.

2. Do not be hasty with your mouth, and do not let your heart hurry to bring forth a word before God. For God is in Heaven, and you are on earth; on account of this, let your words be few.

3. For the dream comes through the greatness of the task; and the voice of the fool is known by the many words.

4. When you vow a vow to God, do not wait to fulfil it. For He has no pleasure in fools. Fulfil that which you have vowed.

5. It is better that you should not vow, than that you should vow and not fulfil it.

6. Do not allow your mouth to cause your flesh to sin; do not say before the angel that it was an error. Why should God be angry over your voice, and destroy the work of your hands?

7. For in the multitude of dreams, both words and vanities abound; but fear God.

8. If you see the oppression of the poor, or the removing of justice and righteousness/generosity in the province, do not be amazed at the purpose. For a high one over a high one is watching; and high ones are over them.

9. And the advantage of a land, it is among all; even a king has a field being tilled.

10. He who loves silver will not be satisfied with silver; and he who loves abundance does not gain. This is also vanity.

11. When the good thing increases, those who devour it increase; then what profit is it to its owners, except to see it with his eyes?

12. The sleep of the labouring man is sweet, whether he eats little or much. But the abundance of the rich will not allow him to sleep.

13. There is a painful evil which I have seen under the sun: riches being kept for their owner to his evil;

14. but those riches perish by an evil use; and he fathers a son, and nothing is in his hand.

15. As he came forth from his mother's womb naked, he will return to go as he came. And from his labour he may not carry anything that may go in his hand.

16. And this also is a painful evil, that in all, as he came, so will he go. And what profit is to him who has laboured for the wind?

17. Also all his days he eats in darkness, and with much grief, along with his sickness and wrath.

18. See what I have seen: It is good which a labourer does to eat and to drink and to see good in all his labour which as a labourer does under the sun, the number of the days of his life which God gives to him, for it is his portion.

19. Also every man to whom God has given riches and treasures, and gives him power to eat of it, and to take his share, and to rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God.

20. For he will not much remember the days of his life, because God answers him in the joy of his heart.

 

 

For further study see:

https://www.betemunah.org/succoth.html

https://www.betemunah.org/birth.html

 

Tishri 18, 5785

Evening Saturday, October 19 – Evening Sunday, October 20, 2024 

 

Your Distinguished guest at your Sukkah: Mosheh Rabbenu

representing eternality and dominance through Torah

 

Succoth Second Intermediate Day - Morning Service

Morning Service Tabernacles (day Four) – Tabernáculos (Quarto Día)

 

Shabbat

Torah Reading:

הַעַל אֶת-הָעָם הַזֶּה

 

“Ha’Al Et-HaAm Haze”

Reader 1 – B’Midbar 29:20-22

Bring up this people

Reader 2 – B’Midbar 29:23-25

“Saca este pueblo”

Reader 3 – B’Midbar 29:26-28

Torah:

B’Midbar (Numbers) 29:20-28

Reader 4 – B’Midbar 29:20-26  

Tehillim (Psalms) 29:1-11

 

Megillah:

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 6:1 - 7:19

 

N.C.: 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 + 4:13-18 & Revelation 3:7-13

 

 

 

Blessings Before Torah Study

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!

 

Please Ha-Shem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

 

Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:

 

May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!

 

This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."

 

These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when performing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.

 

These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Bamidbar (Numbers) ‎‎‎29:20-28

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

20. On the third day [you will bring] eleven young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

20. On the third day of the Feast of Tabernacles you will offer twelve bullocks by twelve orders; two rams by two orders, fourteen unblemished lambs of the year, by ten orders; four of them will offer two and two, and six of them one by one;

21. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs, of the required number.

21. and their mincha of wheat flour, and their libations of wine, you will offer with the bullocks, rams, and lambs, by the number in their appointed order;

22. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

22. and one kid of the goats for a sin offering by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice the wheat flour for the mincha, and its libation of wine.

23. On the fourth day [you will bring] ten young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

23. On the fourth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, ten young bullocks by ten orders; two rams by two orders; fourteen unblemished lambs of the year by twelve orders; three of them will be offered at two times, and eight of them singly;

24. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs, of the required number.

24. their mincha of wheaten flour, and their libations of wine, which you will offer with the bullocks, rams, and lambs by their number, after their appointed order,

25. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

25. and one kid for a sin offering, by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, and its libation of wine.

26. On the fifth day [you will bring] nine young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

26. On the fifth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, nine young bullocks by nine orders; two rams by two orders lambs of the year fourteen, perfect by twelve orders two of them in a pair, twelve singly;

27. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs, of the required number.

27. and the wheat flour for their mincha, and the libation wine for the bullocks, the rams, and lambs by their number after the order of their appointment;

28. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

28. and one kid for a sin offering by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice and the wheat flour for the mincha, and the wine of its libation.

 

 

Ketubim: Tehillim (Psalms) 29:1-11

 

1. A song of David. Prepare for the LORD, [you] sons of the mighty; prepare for the LORD glory and might.

1. A psalm of David. Give praise in the presence of the LORD, O bands of angels; give glory and might in the LORD’s presence.

2. Prepare for the LORD the glory due His name; prostrate yourselves to the LORD in the place beautified with sanctity.

2. Give the glory of His name in the presence of the LORD; bow down before the LORD in the splendour of holiness.

3. The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders; the LORD is over the vast waters.

3. The voice of the LORD is heard above the waters; in His glorious might the LORD called out over many waters.

4. The voice of the LORD is in strength; the voice of the LORD is in beauty.

4. The voice of the LORD is heard in strength; the voice of the LORD is heard in splendour.

5. The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, yes, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.

5. The voice of the LORD shatters cedars; the word of the LORD has shattered the cedars of Lebanon.

6. He causes them to dance like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a young wild ox.

6. And He made them jump like a calf – Lebanon, and the Mount of Noisome Fruit, like the young of oxen.

7. The voice of the LORD cleaves with flames of fire.

7. The voice of the LORD splits flames of fire.

8. The voice of the LORD causes the desert to quake; the LORD causes the desert of Kadesh to quake.

8. The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness; the Word of the LORD shakes the wilderness of Rekem.

9. The voice of the LORD will frighten the hinds and strip the forests, and in His Temple everyone speaks of His glory.

9. The voice of the LORD impregnates the hinds, and makes the beasts of the forest give birth; and in His sanctuary above, all His servants say, “Glory,” in His presence.

10. The LORD sat [enthroned] at the flood; the LORD sat as King forever.

10. In the generation of the Flood, the LORD sat on His throne of judgment to take vengeance on them; and the LORD sat on the throne of mercy and saved Noah; and He reigns over His children forever and ever.

11. The LORD will grant strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.

11. The LORD gave the Torah to His people; the Lord will bless His people in peace.

 

 

Blessing After Torah Study

 

Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,

Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.

Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!

Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,

Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.

Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,

before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”

 

 

Nazarean Jews Privately read:

I Thessalonians 4:9-12 + 4:13-18 & Revelation 3:7-13

 

 

Succoth 2nd Intermediate Day - Afternoon Service

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 6:1 – 7:19

 

1. There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, and it is great among men:

2. A man to whom God has given riches, and wealth, and honour, so that he lacks nothing for his soul of all that he desires; yet God does not give him the power to eat of it, but a stranger eats it; this is vanity, and it is an evil disease.

3. If a man fathers a hundred, and lives many years, and the days of his years are many, and his soul is not satisfied from the good, and also there is no burial for him; I say, a miscarriage is better than he.

4. For he comes in with vanity and goes out in darkness; his name will be covered in darkness.

5. Also he has not seen nor known the sun; this one has more rest than that one.

6. Yes, though he lives twice a thousand years, yet he has seen no good. Do not all go to one place?

7. All the labour of man is for his mouth, and yet the soul is not filled.

8. For what is the advantage to the wise more than the fool? What advantage is to the poor who knows how to walk before the living?

9. Better is the sight of the eyes than the wandering of the soul. This is also vanity and striving after wind.

10. That which has been named already, and it is known that he is man; and he is not able to contend with Him who is stronger than he.

11. For there are many things that increase vanity, and what is the advantage to man?

12. For who knows what is good for man in this life, the number of the days of his life of vanity? Even he makes them like the shadow. For who can tell a man what will be after him under the sun?

1. A good name is better than good ointment; and the day of death than the day of one's birth.

2. It is better to go to the house of mourning than to go to the house of feasting; for it is the end of every man; and the living will lay it to his heart.

3. Vexation is better than laughter; for by the sadness of the face the heart is made good.

4. The heart of the wise is in the house of mourning; but the heart of the stupid one is in the house of mirth.

5. It is better to hear the rebuke of the wise, than for a man to hear the song of fools.

6. For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the stupid one. And this also is vanity.

7. For oppression makes a wise man mad; and a bribe destroys the heart.

8. Better is the end of a thing than its beginning; the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.

9. Do not be hasty in your spirit to be angry; for vexation rests in the bosom of fools.

10. Do not say, Why was it that the former days were better than these? For you do not ask from wisdom concerning this.

11. Wisdom [Torah] is good with an inheritance; yes, a gain to those who see the sun.

12. For Wisdom [Torah] is in a shadow; and silver is in a shadow; but the excellence of knowledge is that Wisdom [Torah] gives life to those who have it.

13. Look at the work of God; for who can make that straight which He has bent?

14. In the good day, be in good spirit, but also see in the evil day, that God has made one along with the other, so that man should not find anything after him.

15. All things I have seen in the days of my vanity; there is a just man who perishes in his righteousness/generosity, and there is a wicked/lawless one who prolongs his life in his evil.

16. Do not be too much righteous, nor make yourself overly wise; why destroy yourself?

17. Do not be very evil, and do not be a fool; why should you not die in your time?

18. It is good that you should take hold of this; yes, also from this do not let your hand rest; for he who fears God will come forth with all of them.

19. Wisdom [Torah] makes the wise stronger than ten rulers who are in the city.

 

 

Hag HaSuccoth - Feast of Tabernacles

5785 Ano Mundi

 

A table with fruit on it

Description automatically generated with low confidence

 

Tishri 19, 5785

Evening Sunday October 20 – Evening Monday October 21, 2024

 

Your Distinguished guest at your Sukkah: Aharon HaKohen representing empathy and receptivity to divine splendor

 

Succoth 3rd Intermediate Day - Morning Service

 

Morning Service Tabernacles (day Five) – Tabernáculos (Quinto Día)

 

Festival

Torah Reading:

Succoth 3rd Intermediate Day

 

Torah:

B’Midbar (Numbers) 29:23-31

Reader 1 – B’Midbar 29:23-25

Tehillim (Psalms) 94:1-15

Reader 2 – B’Midbar 29:26-28

Megillah:

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 7:19 – 9:3

Reader 3 – B’Midbar 29:29-31

N.C.: I Thessalonians 5:1-11 + 5:12-28 & Revelation 3:7-14

Reader 4 – B’Midbar 29:23-28  

 

 

Blessings Before Torah Study

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us through Your commandments, and commanded us to actively study Torah. Amen!

 

Please Ha-Shem, our G-d, sweeten the words of Your Torah in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people Israel. May we and our offspring, and our offspring's offspring, and all the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel, may we all, together, know Your Name and study Your Torah for the sake of fulfilling Your delight. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Who teaches Torah to His people Israel. Amen!

 

Blessed are You, Ha-Shem our G-d, King of the universe, Who chose us from all the nations, and gave us the Torah. Blessed are You, Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

 

Ha-Shem spoke to Moses, explaining a Commandment. "Speak to Aaron and his sons and teach them the following Commandment: This is how you should bless the Children of Israel. Say to the Children of Israel:

 

May Ha-Shem bless you and keep watch over you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem make His Presence enlighten you, and may He be kind to you; - Amen!

May Ha-Shem bestow favor on you and grant you peace. – Amen!

 

This way, the priests will link My Name with the Israelites, and I will bless them."

 

These are the Laws for which the Torah did not mandate specific amounts: How much growing produce must be left in the corner of the field for the poor; how much of the first fruits must be offered at the Holy Temple; how much one must bring as an offering when one visits the Holy Temple three times a year; how much one must do when performing acts of kindness; and there is no maximum amount of Torah that a person must study.

 

These are the Laws whose benefits a person can often enjoy even in this world, even though the primary reward is in the Next World: They are: Honoring one's father and mother; doing acts of kindness; early attendance at the place of Torah study -- morning and night; showing hospitality to guests; visiting the sick; providing for the financial needs of a bride; escorting the dead; being very engrossed in prayer; bringing peace between two people, and between husband and wife; but the study of Torah is as great as all of them together. Amen!

 

 

 

Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Bamidbar (Numbers) ‎‎‎29:23-31

 

Rashi

Targum Pseudo Jonathan

23. On the fourth day [you will bring] ten young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

23. On the fourth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, ten young bullocks by ten orders; two rams by two orders; fourteen unblemished lambs of the year by twelve orders; three of them will be offered at two times, and eight of them singly;

24. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs, of the required number.

24. their mincha of wheaten flour, and their libations of wine, which you will offer with the the bullocks, rams, and lambs by their number, after their appointed order,

25. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

25. and one kid for a sin offering, by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, and its libation of wine.

26. On the fifth day [you will bring] nine young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

26. On the fifth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, nine young bullocks by nine orders; two rams by two orders lambs of the year fourteen, perfect by twelve orders two of them in a pair, twelve singly;

27. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs, of the required number.

27. and the wheat flour for their mincha, and the libation wine for the bullocks, the rams, and lambs by their number after the order of their appointment;

28. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libation.

28. and one kid for a sin offering by one order; beside the perpetual sacrifice and the wheat flour for the mincha, and the wine of its libation.

29. On the sixth day [you will bring] eight young bulls, two rams, and fourteen yearling lambs, [all] without blemish,

29. On the sixth day of the Feast of Tabernacles, eight young bullocks by eight orders; two rams by two orders; fourteen unblemished lambs of the year by thirteen orders; a pair of them together, and twelve of them singly.

30. together with their meal-offerings and libations for the bulls, rams, and lambs. of the required number.

30. Their mincha of wheat flour, and their libation of wine you will offer with the bullocks, rams, and lambs, by their number in the order appointed;

31. [You will also bring] one he-goat as a sin-offering, in addition to [bringing] the constant (daily) burnt-offering with its meal-offering and libations.

31. and one kid for a sin offering by one order, besides the perpetual sacrifice, the wheat flour for the mincha, the wine of its libation, and a vase of water to be outpoured on the day of the Feast of Tabernacles in grateful acknowledgment (for a good memorial) of the showers of rain.

 

 


 

Ketubim: Tehillim (Psalms) 94:1-15

 

Rashi

Targum

1. O God of vengeance, O Lord; O God show vengeance.

1. The God who takes vengeance is the LORD; the God who takes vengeance has appeared.

2. Exalt Yourself, O Judge of the earth, render to the haughty their recompense.

2. Lift yourself up, O judge of the earth; requite evil to the proud.

3. How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked rejoice?

3. How long will the wicked, O LORD, how long will the wicked dwell in tranquility?

4. They spout forth, they speak falsely; all workers of violence boast.

4. They will gush and speak blasphemy; all the workers of deceit utter disgraceful words.

5. Your people, O Lord, they crush, and Your inheritance they afflict.

5. They will crush Your people, O LORD, and impoverish Your inheritance.

6. They slay the widow and the stranger, and they murder the orphans.

6. They will kill the widow and proselyte, and they will murder orphans.

7. They say, "Yah will not see, nor will the God of Jacob understand."

7. And they said, "Yah will not see, and the God of Jacob will not comprehend it."

8. Understand, [you] most boorish of the people, and [you] fools, when will you gain intelligence?

8. Consider, you who are fools among the people; and you unwise, when will you gain insight?

9. Will He Who implants the ear not hear or will He Who forms the eye not see?

9. Could it be that the ear was planted, and hears no instruction? Or could it be that He created the eye, and it has not looked at the Torah?

10. Will He Who chastises nations not reprove? [He is] the One Who teaches man knowledge.

10. Could it be that He gave the Torah to His people, and when they sin, they are not rebuked? Did not the LORD teach knowledge to the first Adam?

11. The Lord knows man's thoughts that they are vanity.

11. The thoughts of the sons of men are known in the presence of the LORD, for they are nothingness.

12. Fortunate is the man whom You, Yah, chastise, and from Your Torah You teach him.

12. It is well for the man whom You rebuke, O Yah; and You will instruct him out of your Torah.

13. To grant him peace from days of evil, while a pit is a dug for the wicked.

13. To give him quietness from the days of evil until the pit is created for the wicked.

14. For the Lord will not forsake His people, nor will He desert His inheritance.

14. For the LORD will not abandon His people, nor will He forsake His inheritance.

15. For until righteousness will judgment return, and after it all those upright in heart.

15. For justice will return to righteousness/generosity, and after it all the upright of heart will be redeemed.

 

 

Nazarean Jews Privately read:

I Thessalonians 5:1-11 + 5:12-28 & Revelation 3:7-14

 

 

 


 

Blessing After Torah Study

 

Barúch Atáh Adonai, Elohénu Meléch HaOlám,

Ashér Natán Lánu Torát Emét, V'Chayéi Olám Natá B'Tochénu.

Barúch Atáh Adonái, Notén HaToráh. Amen!

Blessed is Ha-Shem our God, King of the universe,

Who has given us a teaching of truth, implanting within us eternal life.

Blessed is Ha-Shem, Giver of the Torah. Amen!

“Now unto Him who is able to preserve you faultless, and spotless, and to establish you without a blemish,

before His majesty, with joy, [namely,] the only one God, our Deliverer, by means of Yeshua the Messiah our Master, be praise, and dominion, and honor, and majesty, both now and in all ages. Amen!”

 

 

Succoth 3rd Intermediate Day - Afternoon Service

Koheleth (Ecclesiastes) 7:19 – 9:3

 

19. Wisdom (Torah) makes the wise stronger than ten rulers who are in the city.

20. For there is not a just man on the earth who does good, and does not sin.

21. Also, do not give your heart to all the words they speak, that you not hear your servant cursing you.

22. For also your own heart knows that you yourself have also cursed others many times.

23. All this I have tested by wisdom: I said, I will be wise; but it was far from me.

24. That which is far off and exceeding deep, who can find it out?

25. And I turned my heart about, to know, and to search, and to seek out wisdom, and the reason of things, and to know the wickedness of folly, and the foolishness of madness:

26. and I found more bitter than death the woman whose heart is snares and nets; her hands are bonds. He who is good before God will escape from her; but the sinner will be captured by her.

27. Behold, I have found this, says the Preacher, counting one by one to find out the sum,

28. that my soul still seeks, but I have not found; one man among a thousand I have found, but a woman among all those I have not found.

29. See, this only I have found, that God has made man upright, but they have sought out many inventions.

 

1. Who is as the wise? And who knows the meaning of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine, and the boldness of his face is changed.

2. I say, Keep the king's word, even on the matter of the oath of God;

3. Do not be hasty to go from before him. Do not take a stand in an evil thing, for he does whatever he pleases.

4. Because the king's word is that which has power; who then will say to him, What are you doing?

5. Whoever keeps the command will know no evil thing. A wise man's heart knows both time and judgment.

6. Because there is a time and judgment to every purpose, in this the evil of man is great upon him.

7. For he does not know what will be. For who can tell him when it will be?

8. Man is not a ruler over the spirit, to restrain the spirit; nor has he power in the day of death. And there is no discharge in that war, nor will wickedness/lawlessness deliver its possessors.

9. All this I have seen. I gave my heart to every work that is done under the sun. There is a time in which a man rules over a man for his evil.

10. And so I saw the wicked/lawless buried; and they came and went from the holy place, and were forgotten in the city, these things that they had done. This is also vanity.

11. Where sentence on an evil work is not executed speedily, on account of this the heart of the sons of men is fully set in them to do evil.

12. Though a sinner does evil a hundred times, and his days are prolonged to him, yet surely I know that it will be well to those who fear God, who fear before Him.

13. But it will not be well for the wicked/lawless; and he will not lengthen his days like a shadow, because he does not fear before God.

14. There is a vanity which is done on the earth: There are just ones to whom it happens according to the work of the wicked/lawless; and there are wicked/lawless men to whom it happens according to the work of the righteous/generous. I said that this also is vanity.

15. Then I praised mirth, because nothing is good for man under the sun except to eat and to drink and to be glad. For that will go with him in his labour for the days of his life which God gives him under the sun.

16. When I gave my heart to know wisdom (Torah), and to see the business that is done on the earth; for even by day and by night he does not see sleep in his eyes.

17. Then I looked at all the work of God, that a man cannot find out the work that is done under the sun; because though a man labours to seek it out, yet he will not find it. And even if the wise speaks of knowing, he will not be able to find it.

 

1. For all this I gave to heart, even to explain all this, that the righteous/generous and the wise and their works are in the hand of God. Whether love or hatred, man does not know all that is before them.

2. All happens alike to all; one event to the righteous/generous, and to the wicked/lawless; to the good, and to the clean, and to the unclean; to him who sacrifices, and to him who does not sacrifice. As is the good, so is the sinner; he who swears is as he that fears an oath.

3. This is an evil among all things that are done under the sun, that there is one event to all. Yea, also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they are alive, and after that they go to those who died.

 

 

Hakham’s Commentary on Succoth

By Hakham Dr. Hillel ben David

 

Let’s examine one of the ideas of Succoth[2] where the Zohar[3] says that the succah is the shadow of faith, based on a reference from Shir HaShirim.

 

Shir HaShirim (Song of Songs) 2:3 … In His shadow, I delighted there and there I sat, and the fruit of His Torah was sweet to my palate.

 

Soncino Zohar, Vayikra, Section 3, Page 103a  When Miriam died the well was taken from them, as it is written, “And Miriam died, and there was no water for the congregation”.[4] Another well which was with Israel also desired to depart, but when it saw six clouds that hovered over them it remained attached to them. When Aaron died the clouds departed and the cloud of the well with them, until Moses came and brought them back.’ R. Isaac said: ‘Why was this honour conferred upon Aaron? Because he was linked with clouds and he linked them all together, so that they were all blessed through him. For in addition to all the lovingkindness that God did with Israel, He linked with them seven precious clouds which He also linked with the Community of Israel, whose cloud was linked with seven others, and Israel traversed the wilderness protected by all of them. They all form a bond of faith, and therefore Israel were bidden to dwell in booths seven days, so that the Israelite may show that he is dwelling in the shadow of faith. As long as Aaron was alive, Israel were in the shadow of faith under those clouds. When Aaron died, a cloud on the right departed and the rest departed with it, and the weakness of Israel was exposed, and straightway the king of Arad heard that the clouds had departed [Tr. note: Cf. T.B. Taanith, ibid.] and the great explorer to whom they were all linked was dead.’ R. Isaac observed that the King of Arad dwelt in the south, and the spies also brought back word that Amalek dwelt in the south,[5] to awe the people, because Amalek had struck the first blow at them. R. Abba said: Why is the Canaanite mentioned here? Because Canaan was a slave of slaves,[6] and this shows that he who withdraws himself from the shadow of faith deserves to be a slave to the slave of slaves. Hence “all that are homeborn in Israel shall dwell in booths”; everyone who is of the holy root and stock of Israel shall dwell in a booth under the shadow of faith. Shall he that is not of the holy stock withdraw himself from the shadow of faith? We are told that Eleazar the servant of Abraham was a Canaanite, but because he served Abraham, who sat under the shadow of faith, he was delivered from the curse of Canaan and was even called “blessed”, as it is written, “Come in, thou blessed of the Lord”.[7] Thus whoever abides under the shadow of faith acquires freedom for himself and his descendants in perpetuity, and is blessed with a noble blessing, but he who withdraws from the shadow of faith brings captivity upon himself and for his children, as it is written, “And he took some of them captive”.

 

There are several questions which arise: What is the ‘shadow of faith’,[8] what does that mean?[9] Why is the Succah connected with emunah?

 

To understand this enigmatic phrase, we must first examine the words ‘faith’[10] or ‘belief’. The two words both carry the connotation of something that is blind. Faith and belief suggests that you believe something that you can’t ever know. This is silly when you are speaking about something as important as the Creator of the universe and one’s eternal destiny. Consider also that if you have faith in something that you can’t ever ‘know’, then how is your faith in HaShem any different from another man’s faith in little green men?

 

Emunah[11] derives from the same root[12] as ne’eman, meaning faithful or loyal. Even the most superficial examination of the word in Torah will show that it cannot be translated as faith in the sense of belief: in the verse:

 

Shemot (Exodus) 17:12 But Moses’ hands were heavy; and they took a stone, and put it under him, and he sat thereon; and Aaron and Hur stayed up his hands, the one on the one side, and the other on the other side; and his hands were faithful until the going down of the sun.

 

 “Va’yehi yadav emunah ad ba hashamesh, And his hands were loyal until the sun went down”; Moses’ hands stayed where they were, they remained loyal to their task. The verse cannot be translated in any other way. Hands cannot have faith or believe anything. In Judaism there is no such concept as contained in the English word ‘faith’. Even the Nazarean Codicil teaches that emunah requires ‘substance’ and ‘evidence’:

 

Bereans (Hebrews) 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

 

A unique feature of the human condition is that we can know something with clarity and yet act in discordance with that knowledge. In disloyalty to that knowledge. You may acknowledge that a certain action is wrong and then do it anyway. who can claim that this is an unfamiliar problem? Free will means that you can act in disharmony with your intellect. Understanding a thing and all its consequences clearly does not guarantee that you will live in accord with your understanding, that you will be loyal to it. Not at all. It takes work to live up to the truth. That work is emunah.

 

Emunah relates very little to the idea of blind belief; it relates far more to the work of disciplining the heart and harnessing the hands in loyalty to the head. With this understanding, lets begin to look at the Succah.

 

What is a Succah? The mitzva of Succah has some unique characteristics which are not found in any other mitzva.

 

A Succah has to be flimsy, a trait not found in any other mitzva. The roof must be so thin that you can see the stars, and the rain can come through freely. Yet, the whole concept of a Succah is that it provides protection. We leave a solid structure, with the illusion of security, and enter a structure of emunah. Thus we leave our house, which does not provide protection, and enter this flimsy structure that does provide protection. This is the essence of bitachon.[13]

 

The obvious conclusion derived from the mitzva of Succah is that our protection does not derive from the wooden or concrete walls of a building, but rather from HaShem. This is not an easy message to assimilate. When we live with the comforts of life, a high tech security system, and a fine home, it is hard to internalize that none of these things provide the slightest protection without HaShem’s desire.

 

Succoth does not come when we are planting because this is a time when we feel vulnerable. After all, there is uncertainty about the quality of the seed, the efficacy of the soil, and the availability of rain. No, Succoth occurs at the time of the harvest. Thus a time when we feel the most secure. It is precisely for this reason that we leave this illusion and live in a way that bends our minds to the reality that all of those items of security are meaningless and that the Succah is all we need because our protection comes from HaShem and from no other place. The Succah comes to inoculate our mind at a time when we feel that there is plenty and that we are self-sufficient. It has been said, in this regard, that the distance between us and HaShem is the thickness of our wallet.

 

We move into a Succah to teach ourselves that wealth, security, and plenty are not what brings us protection. That is why we read Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) at Succoth. The theme of this book is that all of our material wealth is illusory.

 

A major theme of Kohelet is the futility of mundane pursuits and pleasures, and the search for deeper meaning to life. Succoth is also known as Chag HaAsif, the Festival of Ingathering. It’s the time of year when the harvest has ended, and the crops are gathered and stored for the coming year. It’s a moment of great satisfaction, as one can see the fruits of his labor before him.

 

Kohelet shakes our contentment with the reminder that mundane accomplishments are fleeting and empty. Even at the close of the harvest, we must seek real achievement and fulfillment.

 

Succoth itself demonstrates this theme by the commandment to live in temporary dwellings. We move outside our home, which provides a sense of permanence and comfort, and instead dwell in a flimsy hut. This recalls the transience of physicality, as does the book of Kohelet.

 

A major mitzva of Succoth is to be joyful. The Torah comes to teach us that the way to have joy, when you have material security, is leave that security and move into this flimsy structure with no obvious protection. This is where we experience joy that is not based on our material things, which can let us down,[14] but rather our joy is in HaShem. The only real joy is the realization that joy cannot be found in the things of this world, it can only be found in HaShem.

 

The Gemara[15] says that if you have no trouble[16] for forty days, then you are in disastrous trouble. The reason why it signifies trouble, is because it means that you are not worth being sensitized. It is like a father who has tried punishments, scolding, and every other discipline he could imagine, yet his son continues in his bad ways. When this father, finally, leaves his son and ignores his bad behavior, then the son knows that he is really in trouble because he is no longer worth fixing. In the same way, if you have learned to trust in material things for your protection, and you are not awakened by the succah, then there is no hope.

 

The deep joy that we experience comes from knowing that the pleasures and things of this world are to be enjoyed, but our eyes see that these are all from HaShem. The festive meals, the beautiful succah, the company of family and friends are all to be enjoyed at exactly the same time as we realize that all is from HaShem. This is true joy.

 

The word schach,[17] סכך,[18] and ‘succah’ both come from the same Talmudic root sacar, which means to ‘see through’. One of Sarah’s names was Iscah.[19] This word has the same root as schach and succah and means “to see through”. Just as Sarah had incredible, almost irresistible, physical beauty, so much so that when she was advanced in age Paro[20] desired her for a wife. But, in a deeper sense, this beauty meant that one could see that her spirit on the inside, and at the same time one saw her external beauty,  and they were the same.  What was on the inside is the same as what was outside, i.e. her deeds. When one looked at Sarah, they saw HaShem. The idea of Tzniut, often translated as modesty or privacy, carries the same idea, and is the ability of a woman to properly wear clothes[21] so that her flesh is covered and her beauty is projected to the world.

 

In the same way, one could look through the succah’s temporary roof[22] and see the stars. But, the deep meaning is that Succoth is a time to see through physicality to what is beyond. That is why the Succah has such a high place in the Torah. This ability suggests that we should be very careful about how we conduct ourselves in our succah. We should be mindful of what we are supposed to achieve. To our physical eyes it is just a hut, but to our spiritual eyes we see a place of intense spirituality. So, Succoth is a time to build emunah.

 

The succah is really beyond words, but we have only words to convey the meaning of this deep spiritual item. We want to reach beyond the words. The words can bring us to the brink, but our own inner daat[23] must take over from the words and carry us to the real understanding. Emunah is the zone beyond the brink, it is true knowledge that cannot be put into words.

 

Emunah is the underlying assumption for all of the mitzvot[24] in the Torah, in a sense it is the first commandment upon which all others depend. Maimonides[25] holds this to be the first commandment; others hold that it is even more fundamental than a commandment, it is the substrate on which all the commandments depend. Emunah reaches into every other facet of Torah and of life!

 

The area of emunah, lets call it the knowledge of something higher, is knowing that HaShem exists and understanding the nature of our relationship. Many folks say that if they could just see a miracle, then they would believe in HaShem. But this is not the way of the world. Consider the following hint:

 

Luqas (Luke) 16:19 There was a certain rich man, which was clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared sumptuously every day: 20  And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, which was laid at his gate, full of sores, 21  And desiring to be fed with the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table: moreover the dogs came and licked his sores. 22  And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham’s bosom: the rich man also died, and was buried; 23  And in hell he lifts up his eyes, being in torments, and seeth Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom. 24  And he cried and said, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame. 25  But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. 26  And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence. 27  Then he said, I pray thee therefore, father, that thou wouldest send him to my father’s house: 28  For I have five brethren; that he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torment. 29  Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. 30  And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. 31 And he said unto him, if they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

 

If we saw a miracle today, tomorrow we would wake up and suspect that we ha been dreaming. Doubt would immediately spring up in our imagination. The person who ‘needs’ a miracle to believe in HaShem will probably not use the miracle correctly and the miracle would be wasted. Emunah is not like this. The kind of person who has emunah does not need a miracle because he has already seen through the mask of nature and ‘knows’ HaShem. The reason that our generation does not experience miracles is because we would not use them correctly, and we would then become more culpable. Our tendency would be to take the miracle and explain it in a natural way, as though we could explain it through the laws of nature. Just as we do today when incredible coincidences occur.

 

The question that most people want to know is:  Can we ‘KNOW’ that HaShem exists and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him?[26] In summary, how can emunah ever be meaningful? The existence of HaShem is either definitely knowable, or it is not. If it is knowable with a definite clarity, then emunah would seem to be the wrong idea. But if HaShem’s existence is not knowable objectively, then emunah would seem arbitrary, no more than a personal emotion, really. And quite possibly a smokescreen, a confusing, deluding and enslaving thing. Can you know it as solidly as you know something in the physical world, or is it intrinsically unknowable? So what is emunah?

 

What we mean by emunah is not belief. We do not commit ourselves to something that is the product of imagination. We have not committed ourselves to HaShem throughout history because we decided subjectively and personally that such commitment was a good idea. Our commitment is based on knowledge. We assert that the object of our “faith” can be established and known. That knowledge is enlightenment itself, and that is the real value, not belief.

 

In fact, clarity of knowledge is exactly what we are seeking. Torah study is a demanding and rigorous training in objectivity. Torah students are not encouraged to accept anything uncritically and thoughtlessly; they are encouraged to think powerfully and logically. Torah learning is not an appeal to the emotions; it is a very demanding appeal to the intellect. To study Torah effectively you must be able to ask the most penetrating questions and learn to accept only completely satisfactory answers; only the highest standards of thought and logic are valid. We are not afraid of questions. On the contrary, asking difficult questions that cut to the root of an issue is the basis of learning.

 

Let’s assume that knowledge of HaShem is knowable, and let’s explore that pathway.

 

When we begin to learn any profession, we start at a point where we are told what to look for and what to expect, but when we try to do it for the first time, then we find that it seems impossible. It is like riding a bike. The first time we actually try it we find that it seems impossible to actually ride it. We watch someone else riding and it seems possible and even easy, yet when we try, we find it impossible. After we go through the process, the training, we, eventually, begin to be able to ride. Eventually, we find it to be so easy that it was hard to imagine that we first thought that it was impossible. With a bit a practice we can do unbelievable tricks that boggle the imagination.

 

Something which is unknown can be taught so that it becomes known. This process is normally called training. Thus the act of riding a bicycle is not faith, it is not blind; it is knowledge. If it is possible to know HaShem, then it is not faith, in the traditional meaning of the word; it is called knowledge. Like learning to ride, it is hard to acquire this knowledge and there may be many mishaps along the way, but it is possible if we persevere and patiently learn.

 

On the other hand, if knowledge of HaShem is not knowable, then you are in even bigger trouble. If I accept, with blind faith, that which is unknowable, then I am no better off than the one who believes in Santa Claus or the Easter bunny. Without knowledge, belief is just silly. The Christian idea of ‘faith’ as a blind belief in that which is unknowable that faith is directly contrary to the concept of emunah.

 

At a superficial level, it is possible to know HaShem. At some point, however, there is gap where we do not know. Consider that there is nothing in life which is ultimately knowable. The knowledge of HaShem is an expanded level of the knowledge of ourselves; knowledge of our own existence. Along with this knowledge, of self, is an awareness of something beyond that self. The most important tool in the knowing of something higher is the knowledge of your own existence; and knowing that you exist is not logical as it cannot be proven.

 

All of the most important things in life cannot be proven. For example, it is impossible to prove that you exist. “I think therefore I am”,[27] means that I know that I am. This is not a formal demonstration of the fact.

 

Knowing that you have free will is not something that can be proven, you cannot demonstrate it. Knowing that you are human and not an animal cannot be demonstrated, it is unknowable. If you say that there is a demonstrable difference between me and an animal, you are saying something that is not demonstrable.

 

This line of thought can be continued by asking how you know that your parents are really your parents? The most basic things in our awareness live is an area which is not amenable to proofs. Consider that it is impossible to prove that you are awake right now. After all, in a dream we ‘know’ that it is real and our body reacts accordingly. Yet, when you wake up, you instantly know that a dream was just that. The dream was not real, despite the fact that we thought it was. This demonstrates how difficult it is to know that you are awake right now, you could be dreaming. Thus, the basic, important things in life are unknowable.

 

There nothing that you can know and no amount of miracles will change this situation. If Aristotle[28] would have been at Mt. Sinai, he would have been able to bring Moshe Rabbenu[29] a thousand proofs that it had never happened; after they had been there, it still would have been impossible to prove it! How do you prove that the Infinite G-d came down and met with finite people? It is not possible to prove this! Logically, Descartes would have been right, while being wrong in fact.

 

So, is there a leap of faith in accepting HaShem’s existence? Surely there must be when we can’t even prove our own existence! In Judaism we are going to look for ‘good enough’ evidence that I can act on the consequences. This will begin with common sense understanding that I am here, that I am real, and that I am not dreaming when I am not. This is good enough and I posit my life on those principles.

 

Consider that all other religions, save Judaism, are based on the testimony, or vision, of a single person. Judaism is based on the testimony of more than six million people who stood at the foot of Mt. Sinai and personally heard the voice of HaShem. Then, every year, they faithfully transmitted that testimony to their children at the Passover seder. Jews all over the world tell the same story to their children at the seder table. So, all over the world, Jews share the testimony of the events at Sinai! Remarkably, no other religion has ever claimed that this testimony was falsified. It is difficult to falsify because more than six million men, women, and children heard the voice of HaShem. They then testified this experience to their children for the last eighty generations.

 

Understanding that HaShem created the world can be found in the complexities of our created world. In the same way that a watch found in the wilderness is presumed to have been created by a man.[30] Even a single living cell[31] in man, animals, or plants give evidence that they, too, have a Creator.[32]

 

Those who deny the creation are unable to explain how simple molecules came to be. A grain of dust on the moon is so complex that it boggles the mind. Even today we do not understand the atomic forces that go into such a simple thing. The way deniers explain this dust is to simply say that it has always existed. This lets them off the hook so that they do not need to explain its complexities.

 

Things in this world do not become more complex by themselves. It is axiomatic that everything will naturally decay. This is summed up in the second law of thermodynamics, which states that the entropy[33] of any isolated system always increases. If a watch sits in the wilderness it begins to rust and decay. Eventually it will no longer be recognized as a watch. This is the nature of our world.

 

All proofs of HaShem’s existence are proofs by exclusions. We do not follow a process whereby we derive HaShem’s existence, but rather we try see if the world could be explained in its own terms, and we find that difficult to do. So, we take the world, or even a single molecule, and ask whether this could have happened by accident. Does this look like creation by random processes?

 

Consider that sodium is a metal that explodes when exposed to the air, and chlorine is a deadly gas. Yet when combined they form table salt.[34] Could this have happened by accident? Is it reasonable to assume that this could have happened through random processes? It boggles the mind to even contemplate this. This implies that something else must have created these wondrous materials. This is an argument by exclusion. Consider what Sherlock Holmes said, “When you have eliminated the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth?”[35] We cannot prove HaShem’s existence by derivation, therefore we must prove it by exclusion because there is no other way.

 

A proof by exclusion can show what did not create this wondrous molecule, but, it cannot prove what did create it. Scientific analysis can bring us to the brink of understanding, but it cannot send us over the brink to the point of knowledge. To accomplish this, we need Torah. The point of the scientific processes is to shake us up and help us understand that creation must be something beyond the realm of science. In order to achieve true knowledge, we need the experience of Torah. This where the ‘leap of faith’ comes in. Emunah has this aspect of blind faith, but it comes after we know that all other possibilities have been excluded.

 

When Abraham is commanded to leave his home on the journey that begins Jewish history, he is not told the destination:

 

Bereshit (Genesis) 12:1 Go from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house to the land which I shall show you.

 

This is the classical structure of a test. The point of departure is clear; there is no doubt that he must go. The test is the journey that leads into the unknown; what he will find and what he must go through on that journey are not clear at all. The destination will become clear only when he gets there; the entire journey must be made only on the strength of the command to travel.

 

This is where we meet the element of the unknown in ordeals, and this is the element of truth in the world’s translation of emunah, as blind. If there is a blindness in tests, it is this: the destination is always hidden. You can never know what the end of the road will be until you are there because the end of the road is really the greater form of yourself that the journey is building. Each of life’s ordeals is an opportunity to become what you must be; you will know the meaning of that, only when you have made it real.

 

So, is it knowable or not? The Jewish answer is that it is knowable within certain limits. What is knowable is only that a certain thing must be, but getting into that thing and where it takes you is completely unknowable.

 

The correct translation of emunah is not faith but faithfulness, loyalty. The concept is this: when you have acquired spiritual knowledge, when you know clearly that what meets the eye is not all there is; the question, then, is will you be loyal to that knowledge? Will you live up to it? The problem of emunah is not how to gain knowledge of the spiritual world, it is the challenge of being faithful to that knowledge. In the gap between impersonal truth and direct personal experiential contact with that truth to the extent that no disloyalty can enter, then emunah becomes a possibility and an obligation.

 

 

 

Amen ve Amen!

 

Chag Succoth Sameach!

 



[1] The Psalms were selected as shir shel yom (Song of the Day) by the Gra

[2] The Hebrew word succōt is the plural of succah, "booth" or "tabernacle", which is a walled structure covered with schach (plant material such as overgrowth or palm leaves). A succah is the name of the temporary dwelling in which farmers would live during harvesting, a fact connecting to the agricultural significance of the holiday stressed by the Book of Exodus. As stated in Leviticus, it is also intended as a reminiscence of the type of fragile dwellings in which the Israelites dwelt during their 40 years of travel in the desert after the Exodus from slavery in Egypt.

[3] Zohar Emor 103a

[4] Bamidbar (Numbers) 20:1-2

[5] Bamidbar (Numbers) 13:20

[6] Bereshit (Genesis) 9:25

[7] Bereshit (Genesis) 24:31

[8] The essence of a succah is its shade. A succah that has more sun than shadow is invalid. Our Sages teach that when we sit in the succah, we are sitting in "the shadow of faith". The spiritual masters derived this phrase from a verse in the Song of Songs 2:4, "In His shadow, I delighted there and there I sat, and the fruit of His Torah was sweet to my palate." - Faith is like a shadow. Faith is the knowledge of something that you cannot see. We can know there is a G-d but we cannot see Him. We can perceive the shadow of His existence, but we cannot see the Reality itself directly. We can experience closeness to G-d through tasting "the fruit of His Torah". We can experience the sweetness of that Existence that is beyond, but, for the very reason that He is beyond, we can never see that Existence.

[9] Much of this paper is based on a shiur given by Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz, “Succoth in the Shadow of Faith”, and his book:  Letters to a Buddhist Jew, with David Gottlieb.

[10] The dictionary gives the following religious definition:  strong belief in G-d or in the doctrines of a religion, based on spiritual apprehension rather than proof.

[11] Strong’s number 0530 - אמונה

[12] Strong’s number 0529 - אמון

[13] Generally translated as “trust”, bitachon is a powerful sense of optimism and confidence based not on reason or experience, but on emunah. You know that “HaShem is good and He’s the only one in charge,” and therefore you have no fears or frets. Strong’s number 0982 - בטח.

[14] Matthew 6:19-20  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

[15] Arachin 16b

[16] A Divine visitation

[17] The roofing material for a succah - The roof must be made from material that grows from the ground – i.e. branches or leaves (but not metal, or any food).

[18] The word succah comes from the same root as schach. In other words, the roof of the succah is the essence of the succah.

[19] Bereshit (Genesis) 11:29

[20] Pharaoh

[21] Her clothes simultaneously conceal and reveal. She does not wear a sack to accomplish this, but rather she wears elegant clothes that radiate her beauty while covering her arms, legs, and torso.

[22] The is composed of loose tree branches that provide more shade than sun and are loose and thin enough so that rain get through and one can see the stars.

[23] Daat or Daas ("Knowledge", Hebrew: דעת) is a Hebrew word that means Knowledge. In the branch of Jewish mysticism known as Kabbalah, Daat is the location (the mystical state) where all ten sephirot in the Tree of Life are united as one.

[24] In its primary meaning, the Hebrew word mitzvah (plural מִצְווֹת mitzvot [mit͡sˈvot], Biblical: miṣwoth; from צִוָּה ṣiwwah "command") refers to precepts and commandments commanded by G-d.

[25] Moshe ben Maimon, acronymed Rambam (Hebrew: רמב״ם‎‎ – for "Rabbeinu Moshe Ben Maimon", "Our Rabbi/Teacher Moses Son of Maimon"), and Graecized (and subsequently Latinized) Moses Maimonides, a preeminent medieval Sephardic Jewish philosopher and astronomer, became one of the most prolific and influential Torah scholars and physicians of the Middle Ages.

[26] Bereans (Hebrews) 11:6

[27] Cogito ergo sum is a Latin philosophical proposition by René Descartes usually translated into English as "I think, therefore I am".

[28] Aristotle; 384–322 BC) was a Greek philosopher and scientist born in the city of Stagira, Chalkidice, on the northern periphery of classical Greece.

[29] Moses, Our Teacher/Rabbi.

[30] Watchmaker analogy. The watchmaker analogy or watchmaker argument is a teleological argument, which by way of an analogy, states that design of creation (like a watch) implies a designer.

[31] The living cell is best thought of as a supercomputer – an information processing and replicating system of astonishing complexity. DNA is not a special life giving molecule but a genetic data bank that transmits its information using a mathematical code. Most of the workings of the cell are best described as…information, or software. Trying to make life by mixing chemicals in a test tube is like soldering switches and wires in an attempt to produce Windows 98. It won’t work because it addresses the problem at the wrong conceptual level. (Dr. Paul Davies, Origin of Life expert, Physicist, Arizona State University)

[32] “Although a biologist, I must confess I do not understand how life came about…I consider that life only starts at the level of a functional cell. The most primitive cells may require at least several hundred different specific biological macro-molecules. How such already quite complex structures may have come together remains a mystery to me. The possibility of the existence of a Creator, of G-d, represents to me a satisfactory solution to this problem.” (Dr. Werner Arber, Nobel Prize-Medicine, 1978)

[33] A thermodynamic quantity representing the unavailability of a system's thermal energy for conversion into mechanical work, often interpreted as the degree of disorder or randomness in the system.

[34] Sodium chloride

[35] Sherlock Holmes in The Sign of the Four (Doubleday p. 111)