Parashat Hashavua

Portion Korach - the 30 Day Wonder

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Portion Korach - the 30 Day Wonder

This portion holds a direct warning -and promise - to the current Israeli politic about what can happen when politicians fight over positioning

Some people get burned (like those who tried to offer incencmse outside tge Temple rules.)

And here this week - Arabs set fires all around especially in Jerusalem forests. Direct prophetic result?

Etc.

But also and mostly unnoticed

Were all the traffic jams around Jerusalem!

We should have known something was up, 'with all those backhoes Stopping Traffic!

Why I Almost missed the Pidyon Haben in Ramot!

And theres the rub, as Shakespeare would have said.

The portion tells us,

A baby - a firstborn - opening up such new vistas for a family-

So that a deal of 5 shekels must be made

With the holy Teacher Priests, just

As written in this weeks Portion,

And I witnessed this tradition in Ramot

And I bless the family

And all of us,

And especially Baby Yishai

To keep making our traditions beautiful.

And the archaeology egg story this week!

israel news announced

That a site in Yavneh ,

Found an ancient industrial area from the late Byzantine era.

And there they found

a 1000 year old whole chicken egg -preserved!

Probably not

An omen for rejuvenation rebirth and renewal when the new Israeli government is sworn in on Sunday

But maybe a challenge to preserve Israel for the next thousand years?

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

תשובהתשובה לכולםהעברה

Portion Shelach - Send out the 12 Big Shots and - Uh Oh!

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Portion Shelach - Send out the 12 Big Shots and - Uh Oh!

What's the reason Moses had to send 12 spies to see where the Israelites were headed?

And why the whole "12 Tribes" history, anyway - it only caused trouble for 1000 years - from Joseph until the First Temple was destroyed !

Too big questions to answer , one might think? Not At All! Just Look At Today!

The whole 12 Tribe Saga is obviously for Teaching the World Today:

That the Israel Story is what the World Needs Today-

Like Israel accepted 163 Indian "Bnei Menashe ("Jewish Wannabees" ) yesterday

(Read the Israeli news story),

AND

Is expecting another couple of thousand Ethiopians soon

And

That the country has "ingathered the exiles" since 1948 (actually for 2000 years)-

Just as written in the prophecies.

WHY? Because From the beginning of time we Israelites struggle to UNITE

While the rest of the world is lost in greedy battles and

Hatred -

like yesterdays news of Arab girls cursing

And trying to drown 2 eleven year old Jewsh girls -

at the municipal pool in Lod!

They were saved when someone called the police.

Like Arab liars saying "King David was a Moslem"!

Like saying "There was no Holy Temple in Jerusalem!

And their hating followers want to believe them!

So Moses sent 12 different "leaders" as speis - OIY!

They could have agreed to say a few nice thing!

ButAnd those spies came vack

With

Lies -

was it fear or jealousy or what hatred

And where did it get them?

40 years' punishment -wandering in the desert.

Reb Shlomo Carlebach said - the Almighty showed the 12 "leaders"

(did they have twitter followings?)

the Land of the Semites - the forebears of Abraham -

and they had nothing good to say -

But I had coffee this morning just looking out on the beautiful Judean desert - and had to call a couple of friends to say

"I can almost see your house from here"!

Joy - is coffee in the morning,

with a roll from my daughter,

sharing a beautiful thought to a friend,

and reading about 2 Commandments in the Portion -

Chalah-Making for all our Wonderful Women

and Tzitzis shirts to remind us regular guys that we are ALL

connected to the Almighty!

So may the world remember!!!!

Shabbat Shalom and Health

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Beha'alotcha - - Of Watermelon Garlic and Onion

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Portion Beha'alotcha - - Of Watermelon Garlic and Onion

It starts eloquently,

with directing Aron the High Priest

In lighting the Lamp of the Tabernacle in the desert ...

and in all subsequent Great Temples

So let me ask ...

How is it that we often start out in life so eloquently,

in search of

A little meaning to life and a little light,

And then our lìves become a search for mere

Portions of vegetables and meat?

Just

As in this week's Portion

Where the goal of the freed people going to Canaan

degenerates

To a Lowest Common Denominator,

Just

Demands for food the Israelites and the converts remembered they had in Egypt!

But Thankfully

in the middle of the portion

the Almighty teaches us how to

Journey in the Desert

With the verses we use in prayer

Opening the Ark we sing

Vayehi Binsoa HaAron - "And when the Ark (with the 10 Commandments) journeyed...

(as we journey through life)

And Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach ... who with song and story ...

Showed and Taught how to be

Opening our hearts to sing - as King David Wrote 3000 years ago

Real Peace for our brothers and friends - (not for the violent attackers who really have a lot to learn)!

Shabbat Shalom and Health and Success and Joy

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Writing at dawn from the beautiful Judean Mountains outside of Jerusalem

Portion Naso : Priestly Blessings and Presidential Gifts

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Portion Naso : Priestly Blessings and Presidential Gifts

Are we in the middle or the end of a war - where Iran helped build an underground terror city
Fired about 4000 rockets at civilians killing a couple of Israeli Arabs in a car,
causing a few deaths when older adults ran for shelters and either fell or suffered heart attacks,
with 2 or 3 Israeli soldiers killed?

And some of WE JEWS are STILL looking for a little Torah Inspiration! (We should all be).

So the Portion reminds us how Levites had to Labor - but
were assisted by gifts from the Presidents of the 12 Tribes,

And the priests are Taught how to Bless EVERYONE -
by Invoking the Holy One's Name on the People of Israel -
and Praying for Peace - Shalom.

My neighbor was just here - a dentist in the army - before ging out for the next 2 days-

NOT to fix teeth -

But to sit in a truck (like a fire truck) JUST IN CASE he needs to spray water at
attacking Arabs trying to destroy the town where Abraham had the dream
OF THE LADDERS - with angels gong up,and some angels coming DOWN.
That's where he was allday yesterday.

The newspaper today said Israeli Clebrities are trying to get the truth out,

Even as Western Celebs are foul mouthing the Jews;

As civilians are bombed by terrorists who "fight for control Jerusalem" - which is
The safest place for a Moslem in the world!

The portion says "V Samu et shemi al Bnei Yisrael" Put my NAME on Israel -
but haters take Israel Off The Map!

The Almighty empowers the Kohanim- priests to "settle The Name of G-d" upon the children of Israel
- and The Pope? - he met with an Iranian official today!

His holiness has not asked the Moslems to stop attacking - but maybe he thinks ....he is inspiring them?

The end of the portion has the Presidents of each tribe bring gifts to the temple,
and for helping the Levites travel with all the temple stuff till they get to Israel

And 3 european foreign ministers were here today in support of the Jews right to defend themsekves

Where are the prioties of the world - sending those millions for being spent on attack bombs?

I like our Portion more than the Hamas rabble rousers like to pay for weaons and explosives

I like to think that carrying the Temple through the desert
Blessing the masses not the war mongers
and those that take Nazirite vows to protest against licentiousness
Are the priorities - and maybe some day we will get the message to the world

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Bamidbar : the Army the Airforce and the Guys Below the Hill Here

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Portion Bamidbar : the Army the Airforce and the Guys Below the Hill Here

In this week's portion Moses and the tribal leaders review the Israelite soldiers,
before marching off to conquer Canaan.

What does the Gerer Rebbe Sefat Emet (quoting Medrash Tanchuma) explain? That
WE ARE WITNESSES TO THE ALMIGHTY'S CREATION AND MANAGING THE WORLD-
each and every one of us - each and every day (especially on Shabbat)

You know, I could have called my "talk" here "the Defense Minister and the Gerer Rebbe"
But since I started this draft - there are Arabs massing and organizing below this hill -
and it don't sound pretty. Yesterday a neighbor was hit by a rock from "a neighbor".

Defense Minister Gans is attacking Gaza - hopefully what's left of an administration here
will do away with the Terror Infrastructure and pay off Abbas and Fatah to return Gaza to
the control of less bloodthirsty Arabs. Who Knows? BUT BUT BUT -

Are you with us America?

Are we doing this just for ourselves? The Sfat Emet says WE AR DOING IT TO TEACH THE WORLD TO END TERRORISM.

Which Do you think would give the Iranians more pleasure?

To atomic-bomb Israel and have the fallout blow over to Iran

Or to blow up DC or LA or NY?
Israel to them is a "usurper"
but the US IS to them THE DEVIL. RIGHT?

So -What was the reasoning behind Moses surveying and counting the troops in the desert?

To make us feel
Strong?
Divided into little militias?
Equal and Competitive?
To put G-dly purpose and structure to this unwieldy assembly of freed slaves? OR

Did the Almjghty want to imbue them with some self respect and PURPOSE?

Witness Israeli troops fightjng to protect the Jewish G,-dliness of Israel and Israeli people

This and all other wars areTestimony to thhe Almighty's People Land and Torah

I dont have all the answers to anything

So many things are so hidden

This is a world where we all have come so far,
And yet simple things sometimes trip us up
Despite the best intentions we may have

I study in Yiddish a few minutes a day- mostly the wild stories of Rebbe Nachman.

This morning we read about the blind hobo admitting at a wedding that he was not really blind!

He says " I just dont want to look at the world like it is".

On Shabbat its like that. I just dont NEED to DO STUFF or make phone calls (except in emergencies like WAR).

Keeing Shabbat Even a Few Hours At A Time is-
like the Sefat Emet wrote -
doing TESTIMONY for G-d's purpose and plan - and is a spiritual joy for THE WORLD!

Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Behar Bechukotai - Ending Vayikra Ending Shiva

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Portion Behar Bechukotai - Ending Vayikra Ending Shiva

In Israel - is it also an end to the Premiership of Benjamin Netanyahu? Looks like it.

But looks are deceiving.

Facts cannot be denied. Peoples' souls left the world last week from Meron Mountain.

And hopefully complacency in light of the pain!

So sad - last week's tragedy at Merom - and just now families are getting up from Shiva Mourning!

So what did it all do in G-d's scheme for us all?

Yes, what is the promise of the last 2 portions in the Book of Vayikra - which we read this Shabbat- to end

the third book of the 5 (Pentateuch) Books?

We are promised the Land of Israel

No one said it would be easy

The portion describes it

Yet it deals with the Laws of Punishment for Murder

So What about politicians - who bicker over -

Just About Eberything?

SHOULD they not BE PREACHING

LOVE AND BROTHERHOOD AS A WAY OUT OF

THE POLITICAL MESS they have caused?

What happened in Meron?

What is happening in Amrica?

Who must take care of the recklessness and responsibility of ALL the politicians?

What does the lack of government do?

Allow personal hatreds caused by NEEDS TO CONTROL A POLITICS FOCUSED ON HATRED AND PERSONAL AGENDAS?

WHO HAS THE VISION OF RAV KOOK?

OF RABBI CARLEBACH

OF EVEN HERZL - WHO NOT ALL AGREE ON BASICs?

Like THE GERER REBBE WHO CAME TO ISRAEL IN THE 30's to try to bring peace to warring religious factions?

The Almighty gave him a

Place in Jerusalem! to Save his people!

May we all be so blessed!

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Emor - on Death, and Holidays, Tuma and Tragedy

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Portion Emor - on Death, and Holidays, Tuma and Tragedy

(Tuma means :ritual impurity" - often associated with being in contact with a deceased person)

Yesterday in Meron, Israel, Somebody Slipped and their Fellows Fell;

And tragedy was like the Pandemmic ... And souls left the world last night on Meron Mountain.

Please o G-d, teach us your ways -that they enter into Every Heart!

We Must not Fall - We must not Fail -

for the sake of all Israel and the World.

There are no holy words to comfort after this tragedy...

The Almighty could not comfort Aaron on the loss of 2 of his sons.

I remember when I couldn't comfort my grandfather when he lost his second son (my Uncle Mo when I was 13)

And Moshe - Moses- cannot comfort us this portion - this week .. where

The Priest is enjoined from being in contact with the deceased in the beginning of the portion-

But can the end of our portion here -teachings of the HolyDays

connect holidays to help comfort those new mourners - or at least DIRECT us somewhat?

The Chief Rabbi says "don't start with the blaming." He is correct. But we need more positive ideas!

I say we Must Teach (sensitivity? decorum? safety? control?)

Reb Shlomo Carlebach said - we are supposed to SHINE ... shine a Holy Light

Into every heart and soul (maybe transferring some of what I wrote just above).

This week's Portion concludes with a review of our HolyDays - for many reasons ...

The Almighty is found there in those Holidays-

and is waiting for us on Shavuote TO RECEIVE THE TORAH IN A PLEASANT WAY.

Not LIKE YESTERDAY on MOUNT Meron -but in Jerusalem, like it was in Mount Sinai

Shabbat Shalom - and may Hashem comfort all Israel soon - and all the world

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion AchreiMos and Kedoshim - Loving the People

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Portion AchreiMos and Kedoshim - Loving the People

Hard sometimes,no?

But we ALL have what it TAKEs

Make someone smile and you can almost like them!

And if they say back "good morning" you will both remember each other

I am at the airport and keeping this short because I better not miss this flight!

Shabbat Shalom health love and Real Friendship

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Tazria Metzora Israel Independence

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Portion Tazria Metzora Israel Independence

In this double Portion we are told

If a woman has a child - and she cant go to the temple for a month or two;

If someone has leprosy - and can't stay in an Israelite town but right outside -
they too cannot enter the Temple

Before we go further afield - or become bothered -
remember the story in the Talmud

One young rabbi asks the Master Teacher "where is the Messia"

and is told "Go to just outside Rome - he is with the lepers..."

You may want to write your own continuation of that story - but there's a lot of MEANING here...

So what to focus on for this week and this Portion?

Last night I prayed in a Sephardic Minyan;
At home I listened to the Memorial Day speech of President Rivlin
And Benny Gantz the lame duck Defense Minister
And the Chief of Staff Kochavi - pledging
to use every modern defice to protect our soldiers as they defend us!

This morning I prayed with the local Ashkenazim,
Was blessed by one of our Kohanim (Priests)
And we sand praises that 73 years ago the Almighty blessed us with a state of our own after 2000 years!

Now for Israel Independence Day -
Walking here to prayers -
I watched an Ethiopian mother kiss her baby
Then
Said Kaddish in the National Religious Minyan -

And waited to sing Hatikva
And blow a big Yemenite shofar

Okay - after childbirth Women were not allowed in the Great Temple -

for a WHILE

And we - now 2000 years later

What have we given birth to?

Just 200 nobel Laureates?

Or PRAYERS AND CRYING to have
a chance for peace for after 70 years of Attacks ...

AND
What's that to lepers and sufferers of gonohrea in the portion?

For 2000 years we were treated like lepers!

The Moslems were not as bad as the Christians, but ...

Our homes were violated ...like the laws of plagues (which require homes be dismantled)

For Israelites ... Passover was a redmption - with
Redemption defined by Rabbi Shlomo.as
Something you gotta cry over for hundreds of years until the longing is a deep part of you -
And the Almighty knows that
Then it's time for us to Escape egypt!

Then we are redeemed

We cry from happiness when a baby is born

From sadness when someone is sick

AND ACTIONS?
Israel sends help in times of any disaster any where in the world!

So lets understand the portion in light of 2000 years crying and praying for deliverance

And peace in the world

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

Portion Shemini -Dearh of Priests and the World Wars

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Today is Yom HaShoAh - Holocaust Rememberance day in Israel

I have to sadly say that giving 90 milion dollars to the Palestinian Authority that supports terrorists (with money) and murderers of Jews (in and out of prison) is an insult to the 6 million murdered by Nazis.

The world has a hundred years of European pogroms captured on film -

proving the meanness of spirit that has returned to USA politics -

now freeing up millions also for Iranian sponsored terrorism and religious coercion around the world.

How stupid - since Iran will never retreat from calling Western people infidels and "dhimis" -sub class humans - and they repress those trying to return to a semblance of democracy like from pre- khomeini.

The 2 sons of Aron died in the Desert Sanctuary - they introduced -

A "strange fire" to the services there - and were consumed by fire.

Moshe tells Aron his brother (at the Shiva) - that

Elokim told him " bikrovai ekadesh " - that the loss of those 2 holy younger priests

was from their holiness-

Allow me to posit - they thought they could innovate - despite clear mandates from the Almighty -

they wanted to "make things better - and easier to make offerings". What's bad about that?

Good boys, Good intentions, Good ideas-

But the antithesis of holiness and G-dliness as the Almighty taught via Moshe our Teacher.

Didn't they learn from the Golden Calf incident?

Does the State Department of Obama Re-Treads think they will change Iran?

Let us ALL

Pray for sense (and write our Congressmen),

for

an end to US support of terrorists

and murderers building nuclear bombs -

all of whom are planning a war (and a Shoah) against the world.

Shabbat Shalom - Peace Health Love and a little Sanity to All the World

Rabbi Andy Eichenholz

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עמוד 17 מתוך 58

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Parashat Hashavua

Portion Korach - the 30 Day Wonder

Portion Shelach - Send out the 12 Big Shots and - Uh Oh!

Portion Beha'alotcha - - Of Watermelon Garlic and Onion

Portion Naso : Priestly Blessings and Presidential Gifts

Portion Bamidbar : the Army the Airforce and the Guys Below the Hill Here

Portion Behar Bechukotai - Ending Vayikra Ending Shiva

Portion Emor - on Death, and Holidays, Tuma and Tragedy

Portion AchreiMos and Kedoshim - Loving the People

Portion Tazria Metzora Israel Independence

Portion Shemini -Dearh of Priests and the World Wars

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