faith – holy scribbles

Daily Potential

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).

Spiritual Plague

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.

parasha Balak 5784

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…

Searching the Heart

“Fire shall be kept burning u[on the altar continually; it shall not go out.”

– Leviticus 6:6, JPS 1917 Tanach

To connect with the L’RD (deveykus) on a continual basis, we need to engage every facet of ourselves – our thought, speech, and behavior – in an effort to enhance the light within us. This is denoted in the manner that many Jewish people pray while standing, swaying back and forth. Symbolically, this may also be understood to represent the ner tamid – eternal flame that was kept burning on the mizbeach (altar). Thus, we should also keep the fire of devotion lit in our hearts for H’Shem both day and night.

The ner tamid (eternal light), represented by the light above the ark in a synagogue, brings us even closer to an understanding of what H’Shem desires of us. In the Zohar, the “everlasting fire,” that is to be kept continually burning on the mizbeach (altar), alludes to the divine light of the soul (Tikkunei Zohar 74a). As expressed elsewhere, “The spirit [neshama] of man is the lamp of the L-RD” (Proverbs 20:27).

In like manner that a candle may be used to lighten a dark room, when searching for some lost object, man’s spirit is enlightened by H’Shem, in order to search all the inner nature of man, to bring to light faults, and negative character traits, as well as sins that might otherwise go unnoticed.

This is of paramount importance, especially in consideration of negative thoughts that may often go unchecked. Akin to the olah offering that could be brought to atone for sinful thoughts, and was kept burning on the mizbeach, we may benefit from a continual focus on guarding our thoughts, subjecting them to the light of truth.

“Above all that thou guardest keep thy heart; for out of it are the issues of life.”

– Proverbs 4:23 JPS 1917 Tanach

parasha Vayechi 5784

“Although you intended me harm, G-d intended it for good.”

– Genesis 50:20, JPSN

Joseph recognized the divine nature of the events that led to his ascendency to becoming the viceroy of Egypt. It was solely G-d’s guidance of events that brought something good out of what appeared to be evil. His brother’s jealousy toward him, served as a catalyst to set events in motion that brought Joseph to Egypt. So, he could not judge them, nor feel resentment toward them, because there was a higher plan working through the actions that they took against him twenty-two years prior to their moving to Egypt to receive G-d’s providence in the land of Goshen.

The famine compelled them, at the behest of their father Jacob to seek rations in Egypt. Yet, H’Shem provided for them, in a manner beyond their expectations, for the entire famine. This shows that G-d always has in mind what is best for us, despite our flaws. He will bring about a way for us to realize our faults, and turn toward Him, in the spirit of teshuvah (repentance). And, He will forgive us for our wrong-doings.

In like manner that Joseph forgave his brothers, we can be assured of HaShem’s forgiveness, when we humble ourselves before Him, in acknowledgment of our sins. Oseph, who suffered at the hands of his brothers forgave them. And the L-RD, Who is grieved by our unruly natures and obstinacy will forgive us as well, when we make a sincere repentance.

We must change our lives, day by day, growing closer to G-d, through our awareness of our shortcomings, and the mending of our souls. This is tikkun hanefesh – the repair of the soul. Our path leads us toward the righteousness, that can only be acquired in tandem with G-d’s help. If we cooperate with His will for us, He will draw us ever closer to Him.

Beneficial Design

Shabbat Shuvah 5784 – Beneficial Design

“And they shall say on that day, ‘Surely it is because our G-d is not in our midst that these evils have befallen us.’” – Deuteronomy 31:17, JPS 1985 Tanach

“They will be intelligent enough to conclude that all the troubles which suddenly overtook them must be due to G-d having deliberately left their midst.” – Ohr HaChayim, 31:17, sefaria.org

The key word here in this commentary is “deliberately,” as if it is implied that we will eventually realize that our own sins compelled G-d to abandon us. This is an important connection for us to make, whereas without recognizing our own complicity, could lead us to blame G-d for His abandonment of us, as if we had no part in the matter.

Let us consider our attitude, whether or not we blame G-d for harsh events in our lives, holding Him accountable for our suffering, without acknowledging the sins that created the distance between us and Him in the first place. The point being, that it is the wrong attitude to have, a spoiled mindset to think that we deserve better, despite our abandoning Him through our own misdeeds.

And, yet, He is compassionate and merciful, inasmuch that hiding His face from us, He desires us to cry out with a heartfelt repentant stance, taking it upon ourselves, to return to Him, in all of our ways, in order to elicit His forgiveness. Thus, it may be seen in regard to what is sometimes called today “tough love,” for example when parents stop enabling their children who exhibit poor behavior, and, rather, deny them assistance, or any kind of monetary support until they correct their errant ways.

And, so, we do not understand G-d to be capricious: rather everything is ultimately designed for our benefit, even the chastisement that is placed upon us, when we go astray of G-d’s commandments. For nothing happens by chance in an ordered world, that is a world whose order is often above our own understanding. Any randomness that appears to occur is only based upon a perspective that does not have the level of emunah (faith) in H’Shem that accepts His sovereignty over all events in the world, as well as those that occur to us on an individual level.

To understand that everything happens according to G-d’s will, or is permitted by Him, is to recognize His absolute sovereignty in all realms of life. Moreover, He is not to blame when bad things happen to good people, for man is responsible for his own sin against his fellow man; and, if G-d permits something bad to happen to us, it is for a reason, that we should attempt to understand.

Otherwise, we will fall prey to a lack of faith in Him as Sovereign King over our lives. Avinu Malkeinu (our Father, our King), shema koleinu (hear us), and grant us peace of mind. Grant us understanding, so that will not react with anger toward You, when bad things occur in our lives.

For to exhibit anger about our circumstances is to deny Your sovereignty. Cause us to return to You, especially as we feel compelled to do on Shabbat Shuvah (the Sabbath of Repentance), so that we do not hold any grudges against the very one whose wisdom soars above our own.

Choose Life

parasha Nitzavim-Vayelech 5783

“See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity.”

– Deuteronomy 30:15, JPS 1985 Tanach

To accept this statement, it can be said, requires an acknowledgment of an omniscient G-d, Who has the good in mind, for our well-being. To be reliant on His discernment, of what is life-affirming and prosperous for us, versus what is destructive to the soul and adverse to our moral growth, is to accept standards that are given by a Higher Wisdom than mankind can contrive on his own.

Thus, G-d not only gives us the consequences of choosing life or death (to follow what is good for us, and avoid what is bad) according to His commandments, He also encourages us to choose life, so that our soul may flourish, and ultimately be granted chayei olam (eternal life). Sforno comments that “life” refers to “eternal life, not just life on earth,” and death refers to “eternal oblivion” (see Sforno’s commentary on Deuteronomy 30:15, sefaria.org).

Yet, mankind cannot design a set of principles, consisting of rules and regulations, concerning what is permissible vs. what is impermissible, and in doing so, guarantee our personal well-being, let alone our entrance into Olam Haba (the World-to-Come). This can be clearly demonstrated by most of mankind’s inability to govern his own passions. That being the case, anyone unable to tame his own unruly nature, is certainly not fit to govern others.

The Torah takes this into consideration, by requiring a King of Israel to not only write his own Torah scroll, but to have the Torah with him at all times, in order to discern right and wrong from its instruction. That is to say, that a king, according to G-d’s requirement, is not above the law. The Torah “shall be with him, and he shall read therein all the days of his life; that he may learn to fear the L-RD his God, to keep all the words of this law and these statutes, to do them; that his heart be not lifted up above his brethren” (Deuteronomy 17:19-20).

Shavuot 5783 – Mattan Torah

At Sinai, B’nei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) encamped as one. To the eyes of the nations at the time, this massive throng of people, trekking through the desert, may have appeared to be a behemoth, compared to oxen that tear out the roots of the grass they eat, thus completely destroying a field, without its possibility of growing back; yet, from the vantage point of heaven, the people were a divinely chosen nation, being guided into their destiny, via the many tests and trials in the wilderness.

Thus, from an external perspective, based only upon outward appearances, the two-million-person multitude may have appeared somewhat haphazard in its wandering via a circuitous through the wilderness. Yet, not so, from H’Shem’s perspective, nor from the understanding of Moses, the leader of this people.

The continual march of the Jewish people throughout history as well, has not been haphazard. The prophets foresaw our destiny, and paved the way for our understanding, so that we know that our return to Israel had a lot more to do with divine intention, than from political maneuverings. On Shavuot, we recall the giving of the Torah at Sinai, the same commandments that are in effect today, as our national constitution, so to speak, as a nation.

Choose Life

dvar Nitzavim 5782

“See, I set before you this day life and prosperity, death and adversity.”

– Deuteronomy 30:15, JPS 1985 Tanach

Spiritual Plague

parasha Pinchas 5782

“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 H’Shem 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 H’Shem 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 H’Shem. So, the brief national diversion that had swept through the encampment was staid; and, the plague was stopped.

Yet, it is not so today, in regard to the rampant spread of a pseudo-morality known as Wokism. It’s permeation into every facet of American society is increasing substantially. Thus, like a modern-day plague, that differs from Covid, because it is namely a spiritual plague, Wokism manifests as a cultural movement. Essentially, it is a form of cultural Marxism; its ideological roots go back to Hegel, Marx and the Frankfort School.

The remedy might very well be to stand up for the truth, as revealed through G-d’s Will, via the commandments and the traditional values inherited from our forefathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. To “live not by lies” propagated by the pseudo-morality of Wokism, and implemented through a system of soft-totalitarianism, heading towards a technocracy. We are not called to the level of zealousness exhibited by Pinchas; yet, we may very well be called to some form of mesiras nefesh (self-sacrifice) in our individual lives.