Esnoga Bet Emunah - 227
Millset Chase -
Telephone: (210) 277 8649 -
|
Three and 1/2 year
Lectionary Readings |
Second Year of the |
|
Tishri 29, 5767 –
October 20/21, 2006 |
Fifth Year of the Shemittah Cycle |
Saturday, October 21, 2006 – Havdalah 7:34 PM
Saturday,
October 21, 2006 – Havdalah 6:34 PM
Saturday, October 21, 2006 – Havdalah 7:23 PM
For other places see: http://chabad.org/calendar/candlelighting.asp
Shabbat Mevar’chim
HaHodesh – Sabbath of Proclamation of the New Moon of Heshvan
Rosh Chodesh
Heshvan – Saturday evening October 21 – Monday evening October 23
|
Shabbat |
Torah |
Weekday Torah
|
|
פְּסָל-לְךָ |
|
|
|
“P’sal L’kha” |
Reader 1 – Sh’mot 34:1-3 |
Reader 1 – Sh’mot 34:27-29 |
|
“Hew for yourself” |
Reader 2 – Sh’mot 34:3-5 |
Reader 2 – Sh’mot 34:30-32 |
|
“Lábrate” |
Reader 3 – Sh’mot 34:6-8 |
Reader 3 – Sh’mot 34:33-35 |
|
Sh’mot (Exodus) 34:1-26 B’Midbar
(Numbers) 28:9-15 |
Reader 4 – Sh’mot 34:9-11 |
|
|
Ashlamatah: Habakkuk
2:2-8, 18-20 |
Reader 5 – Sh’mot 34:12-16 |
|
|
Special: 1 Samuel
20:18-42 |
Reader 6 – Sh’mot 34:17-20 |
Reader 1 – Sh’mot 35:1-3 |
|
Psalm 67 |
Reader 7 – Sh’mot 34:21-23 |
Reader 2 – Sh’mot 35:4-6 |
|
|
Maftir – Sh’mot 34:24-26 |
Reader 3 – Sh’mot 35:7-10 |
|
N.C.: Matityahu 11:20-24 |
Habakkuk 2:2-8, 18-20
1 Samuel 20:18-42 |
|
Roll
of Honor:
This
Torah commentary comes to you courtesy of His Honor Paqid Adon Hillel ben David
and most beloved family, and that of Her Excellency Giberet Sarai bat Sarah and
beloved family, as well as that of His Excellency Adon Barth Lindemann and
beloved family and that of His Excellency Adon John Batchelor and beloved wife,
and that of His Excellency Adon Ezra ben Abraham and his beloved wife Giberet
Karmela bat Sarah. For their regular and sacrificial giving, providing the best
oil for the lamps, we pray that G-d’s richest blessings be upon their lives and
those of their loved ones, together with all Yisrael, amen ve amen! Also a
great thank you to all who send comments to the list about the contents and
commentary of the weekly Seder.
If
you want to subscribe to our list and ensure that you never loose any of our
commentaries, or would like your friends also to receive this commentary,
please do send me an E-Mail, with your E-Mail or the E-Mail addresses of your
friends. Toda Rabba!
Rashi & Targum Pseudo Jonathan for: Sh’mot
(Exodus) 34:1-26
|
RASHI |
TARGUM PSEUDO
JONATHAN |
|
1 Adonai said to Moshe, "Carve out two stone tablets for yourself just like the first ones. And I will write upon these tablets the words which were on the first Tablets that you broke. |
And the Lord said to Mosheh, Hew for 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 ready for the morning, and
in the morning go up to |
and be ready in the morning;
and at morning ascend |
|
3 No man shall go up with you, nor shall any man be seen on the entire mountain; even the sheep and cattle shall not graze before that mountain." |
No man shall ascend with you, nor any man be seen on all the mountain, nor sheep, nor oxen grazing on the side of the mountain. |
|
4 He [Moshe] carved out two
stone tablets just like the first ones. Moshe rose early in the morning, and
went up to |
And he hewed two tables of
stone like the former: and Mosheh arose in the morning and ascended |
|
5 Adonai descended in a cloud and it stood with him there; and he [Moshe] called out [invoked] the Name, Adonai. |
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 Adonai passed before him, and proclaimed: "Adonai, Adonai, Almighty, merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in kindness and truth. |
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 He preserves kindness for thousands [of generations], bearing [forgiving] lawlessness, transgression and sin. He clears [acquits the penitent] and he does not clear [acquit the impenitent], visiting the lawlessness of the fathers upon the children, and children's children, [even] upon the third and fourth [generation]." |
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 Moshe hastened, bowed to the ground, and prostrated himself, |
And Mosheh made haste and bowed
himself upon the earth and worshipped. [ |
|
9 and said, "If I have found favor in Your eyes my Master, let my Master go among us; although it is a stiff-necked people, pardon our iniquity and our sins, and take us as Your own possession." |
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, "I hereby make a covenant; before all your people I will perform wonders such as have not been created in all the earth or for any nation; and all the people in whose midst you are, will see how awesome is the deed of Adonai which I will perform for you. |
And He said, Behold, I make 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 Bavel: for I will bring them up from thence, and make them dwell from within the river Sambation; and like wonders shall not be created among all the inhabitants of the earth, nor among any nation. And all the people among whom you will dwell shall see in that day the work of the Lord; for terrible is the thing that I will do with you. |
|
11 Preserve for your own sake that which I command you today. I am driving out [from] before you the Emorites, the Canaanites, the Chitites, the Perizites, the Chivities, and the Yevusites. |
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 For your own sake, be careful not to make a covenant with the people who live in the land to which you are coming, lest it be a trap in your midst. |
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 Rather you must shatter their altars, break down their monuments, and cut down their asherah-trees. |
But you shall rather destroy their high places, and break their statues, and cut down their groves; |
|
14 For you must not prostrate yourselves to another god, because Adonai---Jealous is His Name--- He is a Jealous Almighty [G-d]. |
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 [Take care] not to make a covenant with the people who live in the land, and go astray after their gods [religions], and sacrifice to their gods, [for he] will then call you and you will eat of his sacrifice. |
Lest you strike 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 You will [then] accept his daughters [as wives] for your sons. His daughters will stray after their gods, and they will lead your sons to stray after their gods. |
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 must not make molten gods for yourselves. |
Molten gods you shall not make to yourselves. |
|
18 Preserve the Festival of
Matzot. Eat matzot for seven days as I commanded you, at the appointed time
in the month of ripening [grain]; for in the month of ripening [grain] you
went out of |
You shall observe the feast of the unleavened. Seven days you shall 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 [the first-born] is Mine, and of all your livestock that is male, that open [the womb] both cattle and sheep. |
Whatever opens the womb is Mine; and of all cattle you are to consecrate the males, of oxen, and of sheep. |
|
20 The donkey that opens the womb shall be redeemed with a sheep, and if it is not redeemed, you must break its neck. You must redeem all first-born of your sons, and you must not appear before Me empty-handed. |
But the firstling of an ass you
may redeem with a lamb; but if you redeem him not, you shall cut him off with
the blade. And each firstborn of your sons you must redeem; and they shall
not appear before Me empty [ |
|
21 Six days you shall work but on the Seventh day you must cease; you must cease plowing and harvesting. |
Six days shall you work, and in
the seventh day have rest; in plowing time and in harvest you shall rest. [ |
|
22 Make the Festival of Shavuot, [with bringing] the first crops of the wheat harvest; [also] the Festival of the Harvest at the turn of the year. |
The feast of weeks also shall 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 a year all your males shall appear before the Presence of the Master, Adonai, G-d of Yisrael. |
Three times in the year shall
all your males appear before the Master of the world, the Lord God of |
|
24 For I will drive out the nations before you, and I will expand your boundaries; and no man will covet your land when you go up to appear before Adonai, your G-d, three times a year. |
For I will drive out the nations from before you, and enlarge your borders; and no man shall covet your land at the time of your going up to appear before the Lord your God thrice in the year. |
|
25 Do not slaughter [the Pesach-offering to offer] the blood of My sacrifice while there is chametz; and do not allow to remain overnight until morning any of the offering of the Pesach Festival. |
You shall 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 first fruits of your land, you shall bring to the House of Adonai, your G-d. You must not cook a kid in its mother's milk. |
The best of the first-fruits of
your land you shall 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 [ |
Midrash Tanhuma Yelammedenu for: Sh’mot (Exodus) 34:1-26
28. The Lord said to Moses: “Hew these two tablets of stone” (Exod.
34:1). May it please
our masters to teach us: How many verses of the Torah must the reader recite?
Thus did our masters teach us: One who reads the Torah may not recite less than
three verses to correspond to the three patriarchs on whose behalf the Torah
was given to Israel, as it is said: And Moses went up unto God, and the Lord
called unto him out of the mountain (ibid. 19:3). How do we know the
patriarchs were called mountains? Because it is said: Hear O you mountains,
the Lord’s controversy (Mic. 6:2). Therefore a man must guard the Torah,
for it guards his soul. R. Tanhum the son of Hanilai said: The Holy One,
blessed be He, said to
Everyone who occupies himself with the Torah will become a leader and a
king, as it is said: By Me kings reign and princes decree
justice (Prov. 8:15). Hence Moses, who occupied himself with the Torah,
became a leader and a king, as is said: And there was a king in Jeshurun
(Deut. 33:5). How do we know that he was greatly occupied with the Torah? It is
said: And he was there with the Lord forty days and forty nights; he did
neither eat bread nor drink wine (Exod. 34:28). During the day the Holy
One, blessed be He, taught him the Written Law, and at night He instructed him
in the Oral Law. Finally He gave him the tablets, and he descended only to
discover that they had made the calf. Whereupon he broke the tablets and halted
their revelry. He then sought mercy upon them. Moses did not fail to prostrate
himself in a single corner while pleading in their behalf, until the Holy One,
blessed be He, became reconciled with them. Then he said: Master of the
Universe, give them a second tablet. He replied: I made the first tablets and
you broke them; now you must replace them, as it is said: Hew these two
tablets.
29. Hew these two tablets (Exod. 34:1). Scripture states elsewhere: The blessing of
the Lord, it makes rich (Prov. 10:22). This refers to Elisha’s prayer for
water, when he said: Thus says the Lord: You will not see rain, neither will
you see wind, yet that valley will be filled with water (II Kings 3:17).
What else is written there? And it came to pass in the morning, about the
time of making the offering (ibid., v. 20). One who says in the morning
also says “the time of the morning offering.” R. Tanhuma said: A rain storm
occurred in the south and the water reached (the
Another explanation of The blessing of the Lord, it makes rich.
This refers to Elijah’s blessing in the home of (the widow of) Zarephath, as is
said: The jar of meal will not be spent, neither will the cruse of oil fail,
until the day that the Lord sends rain upon the land (I Kings 17:14).
Though many jars were filled and much meal was ground, yet the jar of meal
will not be spent, etc. Hence, the blessing of the Lord, it makes rich,
and toil adds nothing thereto implies that she was blessed in her own home.
Another explanation of The blessing of the Lord it makex rich.
This refers to the blessing enjoyed by Moses when the Holy One, blessed be He,
told him: Hew these two tablets. He revealed to him the quarry of
sapphire that was in his tent. Hew these, He said: Hew some stone chips
from it for yourself, and it will make you a ruler. From this you learn that
everyone who devotes himself to the Torah acquires his sustenance from the
Torah and becomes prosperous and successful. Thus He said to Joshua: For
then you will make your ways prosperous (Josh. 1:8). And toil adds
nothing thereto indicates that it was not necessary for him to go elsewhere
(to find it), for the Holy One, blessed be He, placed it in his tent.
30. Hew these two tablets of stone (Exod. 34:1). Scripture states elsewhere in allusion to this
verse: The wrath of a king is as messengers of death; but a wise man will
pacify it (Prov. 16:14). The wrath of a king is as messengers of death
alludes to the Holy One, blessed be He. After the people had made the golden calf
the demons attacked Moses. He pleaded for mercy, recalling the merit of the
patriarchs and they departed from him. When he broke the tablets his
anger diminished. What did Moses witness that compelled him to break the
tablets? It may be compared to a king who travels abroad while his wife remains
at home with the servants. Because she was alone with them, rumors began to
circulate concerning her behavior. The king heard them, and when he returned
home, he wanted to kill her. His advisor learned this and tore up her marriage
certificate. He said: “If the king should say, my wife has done such and such,
we can reply, she is no longer your wife.” The king inquired about her and
found that she had done nothing wrong. Only the maidservants had acted shamefully.
He became reconciled with her immediately. His advisor then said to him:
“Master, write another marriage contract, since the first one was torn up.”“You
tore it up,” the king replied, “so now you must bring the parchment and I will
write the document with my own hand.” So too here. When the Israelites made the
calf, the Holy One, blessed be He, felt the same way. He said to Moses: Go,
get yourself down, for your people have dealt corruptly. Whereupon he
replied: They are Your people and Your inheritance. Then the Holy One, blessed
be He, said to Moses: This act proves that The ox knows his owner (Isa.
1:3). The Holy One, blessed be He, said to the calf: Who made you? The calf
answered: The mixed multitude that departed from
Why did he shatter them? R. Ishmael said: Moses arrived at his decision
through an argument ad minorem. Since the paschal sacrifice, which is
but one commandment, was not permitted to idolaters, as it is written: There
shall no alien eat thereof (Exod. 12:43), how much more so would it not be
fitting to give the entire law to idolaters! That is why he broke them.
R. Akiba stated: The Holy One, blessed be He, told him to break them.
Our sages were of the opinion that while the writing was on the tablets Moses
did not feel their weight, but when the writing flew away, they became heavy in
his hands and he dropped them and they were broken. Another explanation of why
he broke them. When Moses saw that they were doomed, he sought a pretext
through which to save them. He said: It is written on the tablets that he who
sacrifices to gods will be excommunicated, and so, I will break them and say to
the Holy One, blessed be He: Until now they did not know the punishment for
idolatry. If they had, they would not have done it.
31. Hew these two tablets of stone (Exod. 34:1). When did Moses descend from the mountain? R.
Judah the son of Shalum said: Moses remained on the mountain with the Holy One,
blessed be He, for one hundred and twenty days. How did he arrive at this
conclusion? From the verse In the third month after the children of
Hew thee and. . . and be ready by the morning (ibid. 34:1—2). With reference to the first
tablets, it is written: And it came to pass on the third day, when it was
morning, that there were thunders and lightning (ibid. 19:16). But with regard
to the second tablets, it is said: Neither let any man be seen (ibid.
34:3). Because the first tablets were given openly, the evil inclination
prevailed over them, and (for that reason) they were broken. But in this
instance (the second tablets) the Holy One, blessed be He, said: There is
nothing more desirable than humility, as it is said: And what does the Lord
require of you: only to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with
your God (Mic. 6:8).
32. And the Lord descended in the cloud, and stood with him there
(Exod. 34:5). How fortunate
was Moses that he could come before the Omnipresent while no angel or seraph
was able to do so! Two people discussed this verse. One said that Moses was drawn
into the cloud, and ascended into the firmament like a colias (a type of bird)
until he reached the Holy One, blessed be He, as it is said: And stood with
him there. The Lord passed before him and proclaimed (ibid., v. 6).
He taught Moses how to plead in defense of
Ketubim
Targum Psalm 67
1. For praise, with melodies; a psalm and a song.
2. God will pity us and bless us; He will make the splendor of His face
shine on us forever.
3. To make known Your way in the land, Your redemption among all the
Gentiles.
4. The Gentiles will give thanks in Your presence, O God, all the Gentiles
will give thanks.
5. The Gentiles will rejoice and exult, for You will judge the peoples
with honesty, and You will guide the nations in the land forever.
6. The peoples will give thanks in Your presence, O God, all the
peoples will give thanks.
7. The land has given its fruit; God, our God, will bless us.
8. God will bless us, and all the ends of the earth will fear Him.
Ketubim
Rashi Psalm 67
2 He will cause His countenance to shine To show a laughing countenance, to give dew
and rain.
3 That Your way should be known on earth To make known that Your trait is to benefit
Your people, and because of this, kingdoms will rejoice and sing praises.
5 for You will judge peoples fairly Favorably. You will lead them You will lead them in a
fair way; therefore, all peoples will thank You.
7 The earth gave forth its produce Also for the earth, which gave forth its
produce, and because God will bless us.
8 and all the ends of the earth will fear Him for they will say, “See these people, who
feared the Lord, how He blessed them and magnified them.”
Ketubim
Midrash Psalm 67
The Holy One, blessed be He, does not save
wonders; You have made known Your strength among the peoples (Ps. 77:15). What is meant by the words Your
strength?
In that You redeem
Ordinary Ashlamatah: Habakkuk 2:2-8, 18-20
1 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will look
out to see what He will speak by me, and what I shall answer when I am
reproved.
2 And the LORD answered me, and said: 'Write the vision, and make it
plain upon tables, that a man may read it swiftly.
3 For the vision is yet for the appointed time, and it declares of the
end, and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely
come, it will not delay.'
4 Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the
righteous/generous shall live by his faithful obedience. {S}
5 Yea, moreover, wine is a treacherous dealer; the haughty man abides
not; he who enlarges his desire as the nether-world, and is as death, and cannot
be satisfied, but gathers unto him all nations, and heaps unto him all peoples.
6 Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting
riddle against him, and say: 'Woe to him that increases that which is not his!
how long? and that lades himself with many pledges!'
7 Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall exact interest of you, and
awake that shall violently shake you, and you will be for booty unto them?
8 Because you have spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the peoples
shall spoil you; because of men's blood, and for the violence done to the land,
to the city and to all that dwell therein. {P}
9 Woe to him that gains evil gains for his
house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the
power of evil!
10 You have devised shame to your house, by
cutting off many peoples, and has forfeited your life.
11 For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and
the beam out of the timber shall answer it. {P}
12 Woe to him that builds a town with blood,
and establishes a city by lawlessness!
13 Behold, is it not of the LORD of hosts that
the peoples labor for the fire, and the nations weary themselves for vanity?
14 For the earth shall be filled with the
knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. {P}
15 Woe unto him that gives his neighbor drink,
that putts your venom thereto, and makes him drunken also, that you may look on
their nakedness!
16 You are filled with shame instead of glory,
drink you also, and be uncovered; the cup of the LORD'S right hand shall be turned
unto you, and filthiness shall be upon your glory.
17 For the violence done to
18 What profits the graven image, that the maker thereof has graven it,
even the molten image, and the teacher of lies; that the maker of his work
trusts therein, to make dumb idols? {S}
19 Woe unto him that says to the wood: 'Awake', to the dumb stone:
'Arise!' Can this teach? Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, and there
is no breath at all in the midst of it.
20 But the LORD is in His holy temple; let all the earth keep silence
before Him. {S}
Special Ashlamatah: 1 Samuel 20:18-42
18 And Jonathan said unto him: 'Tomorrow is the new moon; and you will
be missed, your seat will be empty.
19 And on the third day you will hide yourself well, and come to the
place where you did hide yourself in the day of work, and shall remain by the
stone Ezel.
20 And I will shoot three arrows to the side-ward, as though I shot at
a mark.
21 And, behold, I will send the lad: Go, find the arrows. If I say unto
the lad: Behold, the arrows are on this side of you; take them, and come; for
there is peace to you and no hurt, as the LORD lives.
22 But if I say thus unto the boy: Behold, the arrows are beyond you;
go your way; for the LORD has sent you away.
23 And as touching the matter which I and you have spoken of, behold,
the LORD is between me and you for ever.' {S}
24 So David hid himself in the field; and when the new moon was come,
the king sat himself down to the meal to eat.
25 And the king sat upon his seat, as at other times, even upon the
seat by the wall; and Jonathan stood up, and Abner sat by Saul's side; but
David's place was empty.
26 Nevertheless Saul spoke not any thing that day; for he thought:
'Something has befallen him, he is unclean; surely he is not clean.' {S}
27 And it came to pass on the morrow after the new moon, which was the
second day, that David's place was empty; {P}
and Saul said unto Jonathan his son: 'Wherefore comes not the son of
Jesse to the meal, neither yesterday, nor to-day?'
28 And Jonathan answered Saul: 'David earnestly asked leave of me to go
to
29 and he said: Let me go, I pray; for our family has a sacrifice in the
city; and my brother, he has commanded me; and now, if I have found favor in
your eyes, let me get away, I pray, and see my brethren. Therefore he is not
come unto the king's table.' {S}
30 Then Saul's anger was kindled against Jonathan, and he said unto
him: 'You son of perverse rebellion, do not I know that you have chosen the son
of Jesse to your own shame, and unto the shame of your mother's nakedness?
31 For as long as the son of Jesse lives upon the earth, you shall not
be established, nor your kingdom. Wherefore now send and fetch him unto me, for
he deserves to die.' {S}
32 And Jonathan answered Saul his father, and said unto him: 'Wherefore
should he be put to death? what has he done?'
33 And Saul cast his spear at him to smite him; whereby Jonathan knew
that it was determined of his father to put David to death. {S}
34 So Jonathan arose from the table in fierce anger, and did eat no
food the second day of the month; for he was grieved for David, and because his
father had put him to shame. {S}
35 And it came to pass in the morning, that Jonathan went out into the
field at the time appointed with David, and a little lad with him.
36 And he said unto his lad: 'Run, find now the arrows which I shoot.'
And as the lad ran, he shot an arrow beyond him.
37 And when the lad was come to the place of the arrow which Jonathan
had shot, Jonathan cried after the lad, and said: 'Is not the arrow beyond you?'
38 And Jonathan cried after the lad: 'Make speed, hasten, stay not.'
And Jonathan's lad gathered up the arrows, and came to his master.
39 But the lad knew not any thing; only Jonathan and David knew the
matter. {S}
40 And Jonathan gave his weapons unto his lad, and said unto him: 'Go,
carry them to the city.'
41 And as soon as the lad was gone, David arose out of a place toward
the South, and fell on his face to the ground, and bowed down three times; and
they kissed one another, and wept one with another, until David exceeded.
42 And Jonathan said to David: 'Go in peace, forasmuch as we have sworn
both of us in the name of the LORD, saying: The LORD shall be between me and
you, and between my seed and your seed, for ever.' {P}
Midrash of Matityahu (Matthew)
11:20-24
20. ¶ Then He began to censure the cities in which
most of his mighty works had been performed, because they did not make t’shuvah
(repentance/returning).
21. “Oy to you, Khorazin [in the Galil]! Oy to you,
BethTsayada [on the north-east
22. I tell you [further], it will be easier for
23. And you, K’far Nakhum, you are not to be lifted
up to the heavens. You will be brought down to Sheol, because if the mighty
works done in you had been done in
24. Amen I tell you, it will be easier for the
The Rabbi’s Private Prophetic
Study
Our Torah Seder for this week deals with the renewal of the Tables of
the Law and with the renewal of the Covenant between G-d and
13. But you will cut down their altars, break
their pillars, and you will cut off their Asherahs.
14. For you will not bow to another god, for
Ha-Shem whose name is Jealous, He is a jealous God;
15. that
you not make a covenant with the people of the land, and they fornicate with
their gods, and they call to you, and you eat from his sacrifice;
16 and
you take from their daughters for your sons, and their daughters fornicate with
their gods, and they lead your sons to fornicate with their gods.
17 You
will not make for yourself casted gods.
The requirement appears to be exemplified by the abstention from all
forms of idolatry, and separation from idolaters in matters of religion, food,
and intermarriage. Apostasy to a foreign religion is described in sexual terms
– Fornication, or as some prefer use the more accurate: Adultery! The
covenantal relationship between G-d and B’ne Yisrael (the children of
Now sex is a subject that few want to talk about, particularly because
the Western world has been thoroughly permeated by pagan concepts of sexuality
and marital relationship. However, in Biblical terms, good and frequent sex
between a husband and a wife presents the best analogy of the intimacy that G-d
requires between Himself and His people. Sex, should be the most pleasurable
act (for both partners concerned) in their lives, and that is because sexual
activity itself is a highly spiritual act. It brings two separate individuals
into a relationship of physical, psychological, and spiritual oneness close to
the essence of Ha-Shem Himself who is described by the same Oneness!
Equally, when B’ne Yisrael studies Torah, observes the commandments,
and prays as a community, such activities should be the most pleasurable acts
for B’ne Yisrael, since through these intimacy with G-d are maintained and which
manifests itself in a feeling of sublime Oneness with Ha-Shem, most
blessed be He! I have attended to many Torah studies, and many worship services,
yet one comes out of them feeling as dry as a sand dune. What is the problem?
Again we can describe such scenario by using the sex analogy – it is like
having mechanical sex without intimacy with the other human being, in other
words sex that has no other meaning but keeping up appearances. Similarly, a
Torah study where there is no serious intent of establishing intimacy with G-d
and fellowman, of transacting serious business with G-d and man, is in reality
no Torah study but a mere ritual to keep up appearances.
Those intent in serving G-d, most blessed be He, must understand that
quality intimacy with G-d is mirrored in quality intimacy with one’s sex
partner. And quality intimacy with one’s sex partner is mirrored in quality
intimacy with G-d, most blessed be He! A good quality lover makes for a good
servant of G-d, and a good quality servant of G-d makes for a good lover. The
two concepts go hand in hand, and one is but the mere earthly reflection of a
blissful spiritual reality.
The seal of this relationship is presented to us by the various
Sabbaths, and of which Hakham Shaul admonishesin Bereans (Hebrews) 4:3-11:
3 For
we, the ones faithfully obeying, enter into the rest, even as He said, “As I
swore in My wrath, they will not enter into My rest,” though the works had come
into being from the foundation of the world. [LXX-Psa. 94:11; MT-Psa. 95:11]
:4 For
He has spoken somewhere about the seventh day this way, “And God rested from all
His works in the seventh day.” [Gen. 2:2]
5 And in
this again, “They will not enter into My rest.” [MT-Psalm 95:11]
6
Therefore, since it remains for some to enter into it, and those who
formerly had the Masorah proclaimed did not enter in on account of
disobedience,
7 He
again marks out a certain day, saying in David, Today (after so long a time,
according as He has said), “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your
hearts.” [MT-Psalm 95:7, 8]
8 For if
Joshua gave them rest, then He would not have afterwards spoken out another
day.
9 So,
then, there remains a Sabbath rest to the people of God.
10 For
he entering into His rest, he himself also rested from his works, as God had
rested from His own. [LXX-Psa. 95:11; Gen. 2:2]
11 Therefore, let us exert ourselves to enter
into that rest, that not anyone fall in the same example of disobedience.
We need to exert ourselves to cultivate the best quality of oneness
with G-d and our sex partner. It does not come easy at times, but we are called
to put an effort and to long with anticipation our time of Torah study and
worship with the community. We need to put an effort to derive great and
intense pleasure out of these Divinely appointed activities. As with
commandment observance, we are called to adorn the commandment and make the deed
extremely pleasurable and an ennobling experience otherwise it is not counted
as obedience to G-d but mere fornication! And the same exactly applies to sex
between husband and wife. Whether it be prayer, Torah study, commandment
observance or sex with one’s spouse, the same principles apply, these are all
occasions by which one needs to establish in-depth communion and Oneness, as
well as give and partake of ecstatic pleasure. If this is not so, it is because
an essential element is missing – PROFOUND GRATITUDE!
This point is picked up by the Targum on Psalm 67:4 – “The Gentiles will give thanks in Your presence, O God, all the Gentiles will give thanks.” When a husband is profoundly grateful to Ha-Shem for the gift of his wife, and when a wife is profoundly grateful for the gift of her husband, then sex between them takes a totally different meaning and ennobling quality. Sex becomes then the loving response to gratitude! Equally where there is profound gratitude towards G-d, then prayer, Torah study and commandment observance takes a total different meaning and form of expression that deeply fills and ennobles the human soul.
And this is also the point of Matityahu, who wants to make clear that miracles and G-d’s good providential care of our lives require a sincere and deep response of quality gratitude. For sure, G-d expects a good quality return in His investment on us!
It is critical that we pay extreme care to this subject of gratitude. Spend some time hearing yourself. Do you show ecstatic gratitude to your spouse in your speech and dealings with him or her? What about gratitude towards G-d, and those around you? Is your daily conversation and deeds characterized by a sense of profound gratitude? The dangers of ingratitude are many, chiefly: vain and defective reasoning, as well as an undiscerning and darkened mind and affection.
“Because knowing G-d, they did not glorify Him as G-d, nor were thankful. But they became vain in their reasoning, and their undiscerning heart/mind was darkened.” (Romans 1:21).
The prophet sates most wisely this week: “Behold, his soul is puffed up, it is not upright in him; but the righteous/generous shall live by his faithful obedience” (Habakkuk 2:4). A mind devoid of gratitude is described by the prophet as “a soul that is puffed up.” But a mind and heart that is characterized by a profound sense of gratitude is one that manifests itself in righteousness, generosity, and faithful obedience. It is not a matter of having the right or wrong religion, it is a matter of profound gratitude towards G-d and man for the good and bad in our lives, a total recognition that G-d’s providence and sovereignty over our lives is characterized by goodness and benevolence [though we may not see it as such] that demands a highly ennobling and continual response of our part.
May this month of Heshvan be one in which we turn de towards our lives towards profound gratitude towards G-d and fellowman, towards our spouses and children, towards our Creator and Torah teachers, together with all of our most noble brethren of Yisrael, and their wise teachers, wherever they may be, amen ve amen!
Shalom Shabbat!
Hakham Dr. Yosef ben Haggai