Turn every night into a vigil,
until my composure is restored,
and a semblance of peace
is restored to me.
—– —– —–
Trying to drown out the misery
with my prayers;
yet, it is not my own suffering
that distresses me,
rather, that of my mother.
—– —– —–
As her primary caregiver,
who am I, aside from this role
that is consuming me?
—– —– —–
L-RD, restore a sense
of wholeness in me,
and bestow your grace
upon us.
The calm before the storm,
is like an island of solace in time,
savoring the quietude indoors.
Fifty-six miles north of here,
the edge of the hurricane’s path
will extend its potential to shear
off the fronds of the palm trees,
where I reside with my mother.
—– —– —– —–
A reminder of the inner storms of life
that seem more palpable, and real
than the force that will ensue, rife
around this time of year.
In two days from now,
the flag at the beach will be red,
and my boardwalk views curtailed,
unless I decide to brave the storm
to come, as I do every day,
regardless of the weather.
©2024 Tzvi Fievel all rights reserved
weekly Torah reading : parasha Va’etchanan 5784
Moses, who lost out on permission to enter the land, pleaded one last time with H’Shem. He did not expect to change the L-RD’s mind, based upon any merit that he might claim for himself; for, it was precisely his demerit, having struck the rock, instead of speaking to the rock, that compelled G-d to decree that neither Moses, nor Aaron would enter the Land.
Yet, Moshe tried and tried again, for the sake of making an appeal to the L-RD, Who on several occasions in the past, relented from strict judgment against Israel.
To no avail, Moshe’s pleas only brought the retort that the L-RD had heard enough, he would not change his mind. Why, we may ask, when Moses acted on behalf of the people, the L-RD forgave them, and lessened the judgment; yet, in asking for himself, he is refused?
Although I am not prone to speculation, one answer could be because of the high level of expectations the L-RD had of him, as well as Aaron, because of their leadership positions. For, more is expected of those who have greater responsibilities to others.
Yet, consider, that all was not lost upon Moses, for his error; rather, as Rashi comments, his consolation prize, so to speak, was permission to enter Olam Haba (the World to Come). And, this, in all estimation, is really the greater reward – one that we should also look forward to in great expectation. For, this world is like a corridor, where we prove ourselves to the L-RD, so that we may enter the banquet hall, symbolic of the World to Come (Pirkei Avos 4:21).
Like Moshe, regardless of whatever unfulfilled dreams we may have in our own lives, G-d will grant an even greater reward to us, if we remain faithful to Him.
parasha Devarim 5784
“The L-RD your God has blessed you in all your undertakings. He has watched over your wanderings through this great wilderness.”
– Deuteronomy 2:7, JPS 1985 Tanach
While journeying from place to place in the wilderness, the L-RD provided the Children of Israel with sustenance, in the form of water from the well, manna from the sky, and quails, on that one occasion, that they ate for a month. Over a period of forty years, the fledgling nation of Israel was guarded, guided, and provided for by the L-RD.
This time was also used to test them, especially when provisions seemed to run scarce, or they had growing temptations about returning to Egypt, where there was not only more variety of food, also, security in knowing where their food would come from every day to put on their table. Their provisions in Egypt, even as slaves, seemed surer, than the day-to-day trust that they needed to place in the L-RD, who only provided for them on a daily basis.
Perhaps, the adage, “one day at a time,” is significant, here, with respect to the way they lived their lives for forty years. And, the same adage can be applied to our lives today, with respect towards a trusting in the simplicity of life, when we focus on our needs, instead of our wants. For, only inasmuch that we can depend on the provision of the day, for both our material and spiritual nourishment, can we live in appreciation of each day, as a unique, unrepeatable basic unit of time, that brings certain opportunities for our growth as individuals.
Each day has its potential that is offered in its own time. This is akin to the offerings of the moadim (appointed times), “each on its own day” (Leviticus 23:37). So, that in regard to the days of our lives, we may achieve what G-d’s expectations are for us, adding day upon day, in order to accumulate understanding, experience, and wisdom. And, go from strength to strength, as well as from day to day, until the time of Moshiach (Messiah).
©2024 Tzvi Fievel all rights reserved
parasha Pinchas 5784
“They were weeping at the door of the tent of meeting.”
– Numbers 25:6, JPS 1917 Tanach
Our allegiance belongs to the L-RD. If we displace our devotion to HaShem onto something other than Him, then we are inadvertently heading in a direction that will ultimately not be of benefit to us. Even if we appear to benefit for some time, in the material sense, our spiritual compass will be amiss as a result. Thus, in terms of the values, that we inevitably promote in our own lives whether consciously, or unconsciously, we should choose wisely.
When B’nei Yisrael fell prey to the influence of the Midianites, resulting in immediate acts of idolatry and immorality, their connection with HaShem was diminished. Their emunah (faith) and kedushah (holiness) plummeted. Only through the selfless act of mesiras nefesh on the part of Pinchas, who put his own life at risk to make an atonement for their sins (Numbers 25:13), were the people reconciled to HaShem. So, the brief national diversion that had swept through the encampment was staid; and, the plague was stopped.
Yet, today, a modern-day cultural plague permeates every facet society. The personal remedy for each and every individual is to stand up for the truth, or, at least to not live by the lies being propagated in the media and every institution that has fallen prey to this ideological plague.
As revealed through G-d’s Will, via the commandments and the traditional values inherited from our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob we should stay the course of sanctification for ourselves and other. We are not called to the level of zealousness exhibited by Pinchas; yet, we may be called to some form of mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) in our lives.
©2024 Tzvi Fievel all rights reserved
weekly Torah reading: parasha Balak 5784 – Character & Integrity
“G-d is not man to be capricious, or mortal to change His mind. Would He speak and not act, promise and not fulfill?” – Numbers 23:21, JPS
“The Word of the living God is not as the words of men for the Lord, the Ruler of all worlds, is the unchangeable (but) man speaketh and denieth. Neither are His works like the works of the children of flesh, who consult, and then repent them of what they had decreed.” – Targum Jonathan on Numbers 23:19, sefaria.org
The importance of remaining true to our word, character, and belief system i integral to the cultural climate today, whereas voices are being silenced and self-censored. We must remain true to ourselves and our faith…
© 2024 all rights reserved
parasha Shelach 5784 – A Different Spirit
The weekly reading from the Torah is parasha Shelach, having to do with the sin of the spies, excepting – Joshua and Caleb – that prevented B’nei Yisrael from initially entering the Land, only one year after the Exodus. It is written that Caleb had a different spirit…
The story of Caleb is a message of faith and resilience embodied by Caleb. Caleb went to the Cave of Machpaleh in Hebron, in order to pray in the merit of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. For this spiritual effort, he was protected against the calumny of the other ten spies.
Caleb’s faith and connection to the divine were instrumental in preserving his integrity and vision during challenging times. His integrity was preserved by a transcendent G-d. Caleb’s story further serves as a reminder of the transformative potential of turning to HaShem during difficult moments.
These moments will sustain us, as we recall our yeshuos from Above, when we might have succumbed to the rampant negativity around us. In like manner that both Joshua and Caleb were preserved, our integrity may be left intact when we seek the protection that only G-d can offer us. We cannot always act on our own; although, G-d appreciates the effort.
Yet, He also favors us when we turn to Him, in acknowledge of our dependency on His strength, to make the circumstances in our lives, regardless of how challenging, conform to His will – all for the best, because we have placed our upmost trust in Him.
©2024 all rights reserved
It is disheartening to learn of South Africa’s president, shamelessly, leading a crowd at an election rally, in a chant that is implicitly genocidal. “From the River to the Sea, Palestine will be Free,” the chant by pro-Palestinian advocates and allies, is chant upheld by both the P.L.O. and Hamas, two terrorist organizations founded in 1964 with the intent of destroying Israel and claiming all of it for the Palestinians.
“From the river to the sea,” this area encompasses all of the land from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea. This covers the entire geopolitical land mass known as the State of Israel, replete with many cities and infrastructure, as well as a population of 8 million people, almost 2 million who are Arabs with full citizenship and rights, completely integrated into Israeli society.
Since 1948, when Israel was established as a country by U.N. vote, the Arab world rejected its statehood. Arab antipathy toward a Jewish presence in Israel began ostensibly during the British mandate, prior to 1948. This was decades before Arabs living in the geopolitical area known at that time as Palestine, under the British Mandate, began to identify as distinct people-group with nationalist aspirations; hence, they began to identify as Palestinians.
They have been used to carry out the continuing was against the Jewish people, since 198, when five Arab nations attacked the fledgling state of Israel, the morning after Israel declared its Independence. They have never acknowledged Israel’s statehood; nor, has there ever been a state called Palestine, solely of Arab people called Palestinians. What they, Hamas, and the radical Islamic nations and proxies of Iran want is a Judenfrei Israel – an Israel without Jews.
It is shameful for Cyril Ramaphosa to promote the calling for genocide against Israelis and Jews, while claiming that Israel is waging a genocide against Palestinians. It is double calumny. Humanitarian aid pours into Gaza everyday, and Israel’s military upholds a high moral standard in going at length to avoid civilian casualties. Rather, it is Hamas who committed a genocidal act against innocent Israelis on October Seventh, murdering 1200 men, women, children and elderly persons, including holocaust survivors.
The intent of Hamas to commit genocide against Israelis and the Jewish people is written into their 1980 charter. This intent is the motivation for the atrocities that Hamas and Palestinian civilians committed against innocent Israelis on October Seventh. The Gaza War is a war against Hamas, not the Palestinian people. This is why the I.D.F. takes great care, risking their own soldiers to prevent civilian casualties.
Because Hamas hides in an underground infrastructure underneath UNRA schools, mosques, hospitals and residential neighborhoods, the task at hand – to eliminate Hamas – is extremely complicated. Over 90,000 Palestinians were evacuated from Rafah by the I.D.F, before the I.D.F. operation in Rafah began. It was Israel who initially provided 40,000 tents for Palestinian civilians, weeks in advance of the operation.
There is no intent of genocide on the Part of Israel, only to eliminate Hamas, so that the ideological terror of radical Islam cannot continue to claim the lives of Israelis. The attempt to make a case against Israel, as per their bid at the ICJ (International Court of Justice) was not upheld. As if still agitated against Israel, Ramaphosa feels compelled to stir up hatred as well amongst his constituents.
His shameless and baseless accusations now give way to calls of genocide against Israel. May South Africans not be swayed by the lies and false narratives begin propagated by the ANC. Inquire into the truth, and the truth will set you free of the false claims. Israel is a bastion of hope and light to the world. Am Yisrael Chai.
©2024 all rights reserved
reflections on parasha Behar 5784
Within the text, concerning the Shemitah year, there is a reassurance given to the one who doubts in his mind, whether or not G-d’s provision will suffice when the land lies fallow. G-d anticipates the question. “And if ye shall say: ‘What shall we eat in the seventh year? Behold, we may not sow, nor gather in our increase’; then I will command My blessing upon you in the sixth year, and it shall bring forth produce for the three years” (Leviticus 25:2-21, JPS 1917 Tanach).
Apparently, there is a conflict between faith and reason, in the mind of the doubter, regarding the provision to be made for the three years. In this sense, reason diminishes the bitachon (trust) in HaShem to provide; so, He gives His blessing to assure the one who doubts, that despite his inability to understand how one year’s worth of crops would last for three years, it will be provided, according to HaShem’s Providence.
Yet, even if there is a conviction in the eyes of the beholder that the provision will be made, one might wonder how that fulfillment will be brought about. Too often we uphold the unspoken tenet that faith and reason are opposed to each other. Similarly, the polarity between faith and questioning should be understood as a dialogue, not as opposite positions in regard to belief.
Since HaShem’s ways are higher than our ways, it is only natural to wonder how He will bring about his promises, despite what we may see with eyes, hear with our ears, and question with our intellect. Faith bridges the gap between our lack of understanding and His fulfillment of His promises.
If we have doubt, it may not be so much because of a lack of belief in G-d, rather, it could be a result of our doubt in His efficacy. That is an issue having to do with bitachon (trust). We may question, while still having faith, in tandem with our doubts.
©2024 all rights reserved
The Redemptive Power of Grace
©2024 all rights reserved
Shabbat shalom.
holy scribbles 