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5760
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Once there was a poor man named Avraham. He, and his wife and six children lived a meager life in a small wooden hut at the end of the road. Often there was no more than bread and tea to eat, but there was always room at his table and in his heart for guests. |
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5761
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This week we learn the about the tragically aborted mission of the M’raglim (the 12 scouts).
They were sent by Moshe to spy out the land of Canaan in order to conquer it. But when they returned, only two remained loyal to their task. |
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5762
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This week, our Torah portion opens with what seems to be the shameful story of Jews at their worst:
Moses, before beginning the conquest of Canaan, sends an expeditionary group of twelve great Jewish leaders to spy on the enemy. But when they returned forty days later, ten of them successfully preached rebellion against G-d! (Only two of the spies, Yehoshua and Kalev refrained). |
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5763
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This week's we again read the bizarre story of the M'raglim (spies); holy pioneers empowered by Moses and G-d Almighty to manifest the very goal of creation and pave the way for the Jews into the Promised Land… who inexplicably failed in their task.
But maybe it wasn't so inexplicable. |
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5764
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There are six hundred and thirteen commandments in the Torah. Our section this week ends with the commandment of TZI'TZIS:
Tzizis are specially-made, usually woolen strings that, if a male adult Jew decides to wear a garment that has four corners, must be tied on each corner of the garment. |
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5765
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This week we read about how the Jews refused to enter the land of Israel and G-d got so angry that He almost destroyed them all.
This is not understood. |
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5766
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This week we read of the first, major, head-on conflict between Moses and the Jewish people: Moses told them to enter Israel and they all refused.
Does this make sense? How could all the Jews oppose G-d and His servant Moses after all the powerful miracles they had seen? Did the Jews really think that G-d couldn't help them conquer the Holy Land that He had promised to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob? |
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5767
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This week we read about strange and tragic battle of Moses versus the Jews.
The Jews were all about to enter the Promised Land and finally conquer the inheritance that G-d promised to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. |
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5768
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This week we read the embarrassing story of how the Jews wandered in the desert for forty years and were miraculously provided for by G-d; Embarrassing because it was a punishment for their refusal to enter Israel. |
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5769
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This week's Torah portion contains three commandments the last of which is 'Don't follow your eyes and heart."
There are, all together, 613 commandments in the Torah. Some are only applicable to men, some only when there was a Holy Temple, others are only in special times; day, night, holidays etc. But this commandment of 'Don't follow your heart and eyes" is one of the few (six) that apply to every Jew, in every place and at all times. |
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