Laura Weakley's Blog

The gifts G-D gives us must be earned through righteousness, and maintained through righteousness. Always look up to receive!
The ideals which make for good character are not necessarily tangible; temptations, however, are always part of the material world - even power! “How so?” you may ask (since we’ve heard all-too-often about its corruptibility!). Power is about controlling people and industry (their bodies - actions, rewards, and punishments).
In our parashah, when G-D instructs the Israelites to turn around, by way of the Sea of Reeds, to the Wilderness (Deuteronomy 1:40), this speaks to us by essentially telling us - through this admonition - to retrace your (or our) steps to freedom, remember where you come from, and what I (G-D, in this instance, of course) have done for you.
If you want to understand how you arrived at this particular place in your life and time - geographically - all you need to do is retrace what happened along the way. You must evaluate where you came from, and why. Further still, you must look at your family’s history - our parashah mentions Laban - and at how we must all learn from their mistakes.
We are constantly separating from evil, which includes people. After all, one is known by the company one keeps. Those who wanted to take Canaan after the spies’ evil report, and their punishment, serve as prime examples. You cannot avoid consequences of your evil actions by pretending you get a do-over. There are times when it is too late to try to make things right. You must accept your punishment and repent - do good from then on, but the goal must be holy, and not self-serving.
We must all learn to recognize when our goals are no longer attainable, and turn around, and accept the consequences that affect not only ourselves, but also our generations. First we lost our ability to reclaim our inheritance in the desert. Then came the destruction of the first Temple, then the destruction of the second one. . . Each time we were separated from our inheritance for longer periods of time.
When G-D wants us to claim what is meant to be ours, we must not only prove ourselves worthy, but we must continue to do so.
What is ours will always remain ours, even if we are physically apart from it (in the material world). However, we must learn to treasure our connection with G-D.
What was true then is just as true now. Humans continually make the same mistakes - longing for (i.e. following) false gods, such as lust, power, control - treasuring the wrong things, and closing their eyes to what is truly worthy and real.
Of late, Egyptians have been going backwards, historically. Perhaps this is due to their being so far removed from true reality. If you have to fight an outside “enemy” to unite your people, then a country’s idea of power and control is fatally flawed.
The Jewish people were made into a Nation by G-D, to unite for G-D, good, love, peace, justice, fairness, and kindness. This is inherent in the Torah’s laws. Through all of our separations, we remain the Children of Israel, united under “G-D,” and for G-D. We are purposed to lead the nations of the world - towards peace, love, kindness, etc.; additionally, for justice - not to control the world, not for power - but because we are all G-D’s Children. We are all connected.
We have been - and in some cases, some of us still are - oppressed, but we do not oppress others. We have always fought for freedom, justice, peace, kindness, etc., wherever we have found oppression. World history, and American history as well, have examples to demonstrate this.
Maybe for this alone has Adonai continued loving and supporting our people. Essentially, we are guardians of the messages G-D desires us to impart to one another.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.
Shabbat Shalom!

Canaan was conquered by the Israelites, with the help of Adonai, after Moses died. This was the Promised Land, given to the Children of Israel by Adonai. It is to be our inheritance for all time, as the Torah states in many places.
While we have been displaced from our homeland - our inheritance, for most of recorded history - this too was Adonai’s will. While the Jewish people were not the rulers of Canaan - Israel - there has always been at least a small presence of Jewish people residing there.
Before 1948 - when the Jewish people were once again the rulers of the land of Israel - the country was mostly desert. It had been sorely neglected. This is according to human standards, because spiritually speaking, the land was desolate due to our dispersion.
Although this was not my main point, at this particular time in our history, I feel it is important to remind people of this. After the Jewish people once again claimed the country as our rightful inheritance - which, let us not forget, was voted on by the United Nations - the land became fruitful. This is not why Arab nations want to take it from us, by the way. They did not want it for centuries, but they don’t want us to have our inheritance, either.
When Adonai heard the cries of the Children of Israel while we were slaves in Egypt, Adonai decided it was time for us to claim our inheritance. As we all know, first we had to wander for forty years, and then we had to fight to claim Canaan.
Even though we have now lived in and ruled Israel for some 65 years, it has remained a country we must fight for (passionately, I must add) - continuously, it seems. Our parashah, and some of the next one, are very relevant to the current protestations of some of our family who do not want to be conscripted to fight for Israel - for what is, has, and always will be. . . ours. I will mostly skip over lecturing on the obvious points, i.e., the ownership of Israel is a privilege and a responsibility, which we owe to ourselves, and to Adonai, to demonstrate our understanding and appreciation for this.
While the Levites generally were not counted in any Biblical census regarding conscription, this was not always the case. Also, note the reason the Levites generally were not to fight wars was because their responsibility was to ensure the spiritual purpose, for which we were chosen by Adonai in the first place, would be continued, guarded, and protected. The Levites were in charge of guarding and protecting the sanctuary, the purpose of it, the purity of it, and the services carried out in it.
In last week’s parashah, first Adonai told Moses the men who had begun worshipping false gods, in order to satisfy their lust for the Midianite women, must be killed. Moses sent out the word to the people; yet still, Zimri - a leader of his father’s house - decided to publicly fornicate anyway. As we know, Pinchas followed Zimri and Cozbi, and slew them with one thrust of the sword. (Through Zimri’s back and Coszbi’s stomach, we were told, so there could be no doubt about their fornication.)
This week, we are told the names of the public fornicators. The meanings of their names also leaves no room for any doubt as to their intentions: Zimri - a plotter of evil, or countenance of lewdness, the son of “to make light of, or to despise,” and Cozbi - “to lie or to deceive, the daughter of the general name G-D” (versus a particular name of G-D), so she was deceitful about G-D. The name Pinchas also is revealing: motivated by compassion, kindness, or forbearance.
To emphasize each one’s role even further, the Torah tells us the man’s name was Zimri, and the woman’s name was Cozbi. Often, we are told people’s names, but the word “name” is not always mentioned. When it is mentioned generally (admittedly, a “cover your behind” response on my part, because I have not yet checked every single incidence this happens - only some of them), it is pointed out to us knowing a name of a person means knowing the essence of a person.
My apology for taking so long to publish this, but I got caught up researching every mention of many details of this parashah, by many sources, until I knew I had to just stop for now and write! I had only just begun to meditate upon a direction to take this commentary, when Adonai inspired me by focusing my attention on the current rumblings in Israel on conscription into service, and the war Pinchas was to lead the Israelites into against Midian.
We are clearly told in the Torah that Pinchas was the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the Kohen Gadol. Then we are told Pinchas was to be anointed a Kohen, and that all of his sons after him - forever! - were to be Kohanim too. Isn’t this a bit redundant, since Aaron was also told the priesthood would belong to him and all his generations? So I thought and researched a lot about this too. My opinion differs from what our sages have said (at least the opinions I have just read).
To me, Pinchas was told this was Adonai’s command to Moses for two reasons, though not exclusively these two. The first would have been because the people wanted to kill Pinchas for killing Zimri - as previously mentioned, a leader of his father’s house. So Adonai told Moses Pinchas’ swift action is the reason the plague Adonai had sent against us was stopped. Pinchas did what he did for Adonai - and rightly so.
The second reason was to point out Pinchas was a great man in his own right - a man zealous for Adonai - whether he was descended from a great man or not. Pinchas did what Adonai had commanded Moses to have the people do - courageously, and with no thought for his own safety! Pinchas did what had to be done to stop others from being killed by the plague, and from thinking it was okay to pray to other gods, to stop them from thinking one’s one lust should preside over what one chose to do.
After we are told Pinchas was rightfully a Kohen, and that a census should be taken for the purpose of war with the Midianites, next week’s parashah tells us Pinchas himself must also go to war with the troops. The Children of Israel, each and every one of us, are responsible for preserving the sanctity of Adonai, and the Torah, and our generations. We are also responsible to be a light unto the nations, to teach there is only one G-D, and to be kind to our fellow human beings - this is what G-D wants for all people. Sometimes, sadly, we must go to war to protect ourselves, and for the love of Adonai, because of others plotting against us, as the Midianites did. The Midianites exploited their own children - particularly, of course, their own daughters - in order to turn the Children of Israel away from Adonai’s favor.
It didn’t completely work then, nor have plans like these ever worked, nor will they ever work. Yet, unfortunately, rather than focusing on making this world a better place for all, many still prefer to spread evil in the form of violence against us. (Against others too, but this parashah, and therefore my commentary, is focused on the Children of Israel, and the nation of Israel.) It was our responsibility then, now, and always, to fight for Adonai, to protect ourselves, our country, and to protect the world. It is no exaggeration to state the protection of the country of Israel as a Jewish country is in the best interests of the world.
We are responsible to do this until nation no longer lifts swords against nation, until the whole world as one declares there is only one G-D, and we are, each and every one of us, G-D’s children. The lives of every righteous Jewish person are important to protect, as are the lives of every righteous person on Earth. We must zealously fight to rid the world of evil wherever it rears its ugly head. No one - Pinchas was a Kohen - is above needing to do what must be done to stop those who wish to lead us astray. Sometimes, in order to do this, we must even kill evil leaders. We have. The United States has too. Our parashah teaches us sometimes we must do this through war. May the Messiah (Moshiach) come soon, and in our time. Amen, and Amen.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.
Shabbat Shalom!

Our parashah this week is in stark contrast to the rest of the Torah, and this begs the question - why is it included? There are many stories about our enemies, but they are not written from an enemy’s point of view as Parashah Balak is here. Not only is our parashah from an enemy’s viewpoint, but also it gives an enemy of the Children of Israel prominence through the title itself, which bears an enemy’s name.
Balak was a King of Moab, and the one who initially desired to destroy the Children of Israel, yet Balak himself is not the focus of the parashah. He was, however, the one who initiated the sequence of events which follows. The person in charge of anything, be it a country, organization, business, etc., is always ultimately responsible for what is done in the name of the country, business, organization, etc.
Make no mistake, Balak and Balaam (the prophet engaged to destroy the Children of Israel through curses) were evil. This is made very clear to us, and has never, to my knowledge, been disputed. I want to be clear about their evil intentions before I begin my discourse. In no way am I attempting to intimate they are good - they are absolutely not.
The Torah includes specific stories to teach us many truths - as relevant then as they are today. Life is multifaceted, and so are people. It is easy to judge others after we are aware of some action taken, or a person’s complacency and refusal to act. Understanding how someone could have made a particular decision is important if we want to guard ourselves and others from doing the same.
Balak, the King of Moab, knew about the plagues in Egypt and about the Israelites’ escape. He knew we worshipped one G-D, and that we had won many battles. When the Israelites camped near Moab, Balak also saw the Israelites were numerous, and like Pharaoh in Egypt, who once thought 400 years before, was afraid the large numbers of Israelites would become a threat to him and to his kingdom.
People in power do whatever they can - usually - to stay in power. It is then reasonable to assume Balak was afraid either the Israelites would make war on the Moabites to take over the country, or that many Moabites might be tempted to leave Moab to join the Israelites, thus making Moab weak. In retrospect, we know Balak started trouble where there was no previous threat to Moab, but knowing how nations tend to want to conquer other nations, he was not completely paranoid either. Like many other leaders, he did not attempt to discover any truths about what he perceived as his enemy.
Knowing the Israelites had many successful war campaigns, and therefore were good at fighting, he decided to take another track. He engaged the services of Balaam, a known prophet during this time. When Balak sent his first group of ministers to seek Balaam’s services, he told them he knew that those whom Balaam blessed were blessed, and those he cursed were cursed.
It is emblematic of Balak’s evil that he didn’t even ask Balaam to bless him or his country, but rather only desired the Israelites to be cursed. Balak didn’t even ask for protection from any possible evil. He simply wanted any opposition - perceived or real - gone.
Balaam was a true prophet, a seer, but he was motivated by money, power and fame. He knew if this was what Balak wanted and he steadfastly refused, Balak could find someone else to achieve his goal. We know people in power usually do not do any actual “dirty work” themselves, but hire others to do it for them. We know too, that unfortunately, one could always find an evil person to say or do what someone desires, and there are - even more unfortunately - many who would be willing and eager to do so.
Balaam enjoyed a reputation as the best prophet in Moab and Midian then, and he wanted to keep it this way. He also desired money and power, not too uncommon in our world today. Here was a man who knew, with every fiber of his being, that there was one G-D, and that he could receive visions from G-D.
Balaam serves as an example that anyone could attune himself or herself to connect with Adonai. One does not need to be Jewish to do so. As exemplified here in our parashah, one does not even have to be good, or have pure motivations or intentions. We may want to believe a person who can receive messages from Adonai would necessarily be good, but sadly, no. . . not so!
Many people say they believe in G-D, but for most, the belief of our separateness is much stronger. What this leads to is the ego rules one’s choices. Believing we are separate beings means placing more trust in what we think of as the “real world.” It means when it comes down to choices, we place more faith in how we think things work in the world. Basically, many believe money rules.
The miracles did not stop with the end of Biblical times. They continue to this day. How many times are we aware of when something happens despite a slim-to-none probability of the outcome? We were given freedom of choice, but Adonai has the ultimate power to allow, or not to allow, our choices to attain our desired goals.
Balaam knew there was a G-D. He knew he could receive visions, or prophesy from Adonai. He even knew, as he stated many times, he could not do what Adonai would not allow him to do. He knew this, yet his desire for money, power, and fame blinded him to what this really means. In fact, we are told many times in our parashah, that in order to “see” his visions, to communicate with Adonai, he “fell down” first. In other words, he could only receive messages when he humbled himself. He still had the power of choice as to what to do with the information he received.
How many times do our own desires overrule our knowledge? Sometimes our desires for certain outcomes are what we allow to dictate our actions. How many times do we look back at what led to a different outcome than we may have wanted, and realize all of the signs were there, and they indicated something different would occur? Hindsight is, as they say, 20/20.
Balaam knew Adonai did not want him to curse the Israelites; even more so, he knew the Israelites were blessed and protected by Adonai. Balaam never lied to Balak’s ministers about this, nor to Balak himself. When Balak was angry with the failure of the first attempt at cursing the Israelites, Balaam pointed out to him that he told Balak up front that he would not be able to do what Adonai did not want him to. Yet, they both persisted in their attempts.
As with many evil people, they thought they could “act good,” thereby fooling Adonai into allowing the curses to work. They did this by making sacrifices - basically, bribes. “Maybe if I do something good people do, that I know G-D wants, I can get what I want.” No. Adonai knows our true intentions. You don’t need to be a prophet to know when someone is trying to manipulate a person or situation by pretending to do the right thing, for the right reasons. One only needs to pay attention, rather than to see what one wants to see, ignoring what is actually going on.
The reason evil people continue to try to deceive others this way even today is because generally, people do tend to see what they want to see, and not what is.
Both Balak and Balaam understood a powerful reality most ignore: words are very powerful. It was not only Adonai who created everything with words, but every person is made in the “image of Adonai.” Anyone, and everyone, has the power to create with words too. Like Adonai, we can create, and we can destroy. We can, but in order for our words to have this power, two things must occur: One, Adonai has to allow it; Two, other people must allow it also. One person does not have all of the power Adonai has, even joined as a group; no one does. But we are all connected to each other, to everything, and to Adonai.
I cannot resist, so I will say this too. It is rather amusing to me that Balaam’s talking ass was the animal chosen by him. If you don’t see the irony, I will make it crystal clear: Balaam was the real ass! The animal was smarter than he was!
There is so much to learn from every word in the Torah. We would do well to take these lessons to heart. Balaam told Balak Adonai would never allow all of the Children of Israel to be destroyed. As we know, many have tried throughout history. So if you don’t believe in prophecy, well, we are living proof!
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.
Shabbat Shalom!

Leadership is being challenged and questioned around the world right now. We have seen kings toppled, whole governments overthrown, and elections being questioned. This is nothing new, as it has happened numerous times throughout history. However, in Moses’ time, kings and pharaohs were overthrown by outsiders, or sometimes even killed by family members wanting the throne.
The obvious difference here, is we all knew, as did the Israelites back then, Moses and Aaron were chosen and appointed by Adonai. When Korach and his cohorts opposed Moses and Aaron, Adonai had already appeared to all who were there, and showed them many miracles.
And really, what was their complaint? Just who had the jobs, not how the jobs were being carried out. So...their rebellion was motivated by...oh yes, greed, jealousy, want of personal power. We have seen this many times too. Only, Korach’s opposition meant opposition to Adonai. Not very wise!
Two principals involved in this rebellion were Dathan, and Abiram. We are told when Moses called for them, they refused to go to him, and they walked out of their tents with family in tow - upright. The word upright caught my attention because I do not think it was used very often in the Torah. Right in this context, it was used to show us they were proud of their machinations against Moses and Aaron.
This didn’t last very long, because Adonai made a sinkhole that swallowed all who were with them, and all they owned, and then the earth filled back up over them. Sounds to me like a clear demonstration of the saying, “Go straight to Hell.” (I couldn’t resist!) Even after seeing all of this, Korach and 250 others still wanted to vie for the appointment as Kohen Gadol - High Priest.
Believing in oneself is good, but not to the extent of allowing one’s ego to be so grand one cannot even recognize when it is clearly all about the ego, without any regard for reality, let alone what is good for the group. So, yes, even after watching some of the rebels swallowed whole by the earth, they stubbornly - and rather foolishly - tried to “bribe” Adonai with their offerings of incense. What happened the last time someone tried this? Remember two of Aaron’s own sons, Nadab and Abihu? They were consumed by this fire. So were Korach and the other 249 men with him.
Some people never learn. Well, until it is too late. Basically, their own egos destroyed them.
Some may wonder why this story is in the Torah. There are many reasons, but let us explore some of them.
Adonai gave us intelligence, an ability to reason. If we were meant to blindly follow orders, we wouldn’t need these, nor free will. This tells us we not only are allowed to question authority, but sometimes we should. The important point is, when and why should we exercise our ability to do so. What is the motivation? The intention of those questioning authority is also quite important.
There are and have been leaders who truly had the desire to take care of those in their charge. Needless to say, Moses and Aaron were two such leaders.
Korach and his cohorts unfortunately are examples of most others. Some leaders who do so for power, wealth, etc., have those who oppose them killed. Some people simply like creating chaos and trouble. It is everyone’s job to see the truth for what it is. A person’s intentions are not easily hidden.
A great leader also does not equate with a perfect person. The difference is great leaders make efforts, and therefore some mistakes as well, to make life good, fair, kind, and just for their followers. Evil leaders are all about proving how powerful they are. Evil leaders don’t allow dissent. They think they themselves are above the law. They act as if there is no G-D to answer to in the end.
The only authority we have no right to question is Adonai’s. Essentially, this was what Korach and his rebels paid for with their lives. It wasn’t because they questioned their leader’s authority; it was because even after recognizing that Moses and Aaron had been appointed by Adonai, they wanted their jobs for self-glorification only - they questioned Adonai’s choice.
Many times in the Torah, we are told there will never again arise a man as great as Moses, one who knows Adonai “face-to-face,” i.e. without signs, symbols, dreams, and parables. Meaning, one who has complete clarity as to what Adonai wants, and does not want, and who complies.
Korach represents the kind of person we need to be wary of. We need to look past the “face” people like him try to show us, to a person’s soul. We can see this by a person’s words, and deeds. And, need I mention, we are responsible to the world to stop a person in his/her tracks - so to speak - when he/she wants us to turn away from Adonai. If we do not exercise this responsibility, an evil leader will cause the deaths of many before losing his/her own life.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.
Shabbat Shalom!

It has been said one can be blinded by faith. It has also been said one can be blinded by fear. This week’s parashah shows us both.
After scouting out Canaan, we are told the spies “...came back to Moses, Aaron, and the entirety of the Children of Israel, to the Wilderness of Paran at Kadesh...” (Numbers 13:26). As many of you know, and I have written of this many times, names in the Torah teach us the essence of the person, place, or thing. This means we are rather blatantly being told the Children of Israel were in the midst - Wilderness - of Adonai’s Glory - Paran - and in case you don’t get it, they were in Kadosh - Holiness.
Much has been written about why the spies’ report was called “evil”. I have written about this too, only this time armed with even more knowledge. I don’t know how I missed this before, but the spies not only gave a cowardly report - one demonstrating little faith in Adonai - but they did it where the Glory of the Holiness of Adonai was all around them. Sort of like standing in Heaven and telling people there to be afraid of Satan - HaSatan.
The spies caused the holiness to dim, until after they had riled up the people against Adonai, Aaron, and Moses, to the point of wanting to kill them with stones and choose a new leader. At the height of the people’s fear and frustration, when it had developed to the point of wanting to kill their leaders, Adonai appeared and called to them from the Tent of Meeting. This was where the Ark of the Covenant resided.
At this direct confrontation by Adonai for their sins, all-inclusive of their actions, words, and intentions, they were told the punishment would be forty years of wandering, until the last of the adults who lost faith had died, before Adonai would honor the agreement to give to the Children of Israel the land of Canaan. The worst of the offenders - the ten spies who brought the evil report - however, were immediately killed for starting the trouble in the first place. You may recall, Caleb and Joshua were rewarded for trying to calm the people down by telling them to have faith in Adonai. They would conquer the Nephilim (the sons of giants) who lived in Canaan at the time. Caleb and Joshua told the people not to rebel against Adonai. For this, Caleb and Joshua would live to inherit Canaan.
After being told they would now have to wander forty more years, and die before we inherited Canaan, the people wanted a “do - over.” My words, but this is exactly what they tried to do. Sort of the “Oh, if I had known I’d be punished, I would not have done that! Here, let us pretend it never happened, and now I will do as you wanted!” Does this ever work with people, let alone with Adonai? (Rhetorical, of course!)
I believe it is rather obvious the people were crazed because they were blinded by fear. What may not be as obvious is when some of them tried to have their “do-over,” and go fight the Nephilim as they were told to do the first time, they were blinded by faith. I say this because they believed Adonai would still be with them after being told they were to be punished. Both times they ignored the truth. They did what they wanted to do, and thought it would work. We are told, in Numbers 14:45, “The Amalekite and the Canaanite who dwelled on that mountain descended; they struck them and pounded them until Hormah.” (From the Stone Edition of the Tanakh.)
Now this is generally defined and understood by people as the name of a place (Hormah), which is why it is capitalized. But the Hebrew also translates as destruction, or extermination. The Amalekites and Canaanites destroyed those who boldly defied Adonai yet again.
They wanted their will to be Adonai’s will, rather than the other way around. What they, and we today, still need to learn, is to how to see clearly. There is a G-D. There are realms we cannot see, but this does not mean they do not exist. Far too many times people act as if what we call reality is all there is, and so they act due to fear of human consequences.
How many examples throughout history, right up until this very day, do we need before we understand doing what you know to be right and good means acting for Adonai. Not doing, or saying anything against what we know to be wrong, even evil, is denying Adonai. If one does and says what is good and right, and just, does this mean everything will then go well with you? NO.
What we should not do is allow fear to stop us from doing what is right, good, and just. Freedom of choice always is about choosing Adonai, or denying (turning against) Adonai. Blind faith is really about knowing Adonai’s will is what will be done, and doing what you know to be right, good, and just, no matter the consequences. Being blinded by faith, on the other hand, is naively believing you will always be protected from any form of evil if you do what you WANT to think is right. Know the difference. You cannot make your will Adonai’s will, and you do know - we all do - what really is right, good, and just.
Again, what everything boils down to is by treating one another with kindness, love, care, compassion, justice, and truth, you are choosing Adonai by recognizing the spark of Adonai residing in each of us. Because we were given free will, and free choice, people who choose to deny Adonai will commit evil acts, and good people will be harmed by these.
Being blinded by fear means thinking the world we see is all there is. It means being afraid of people, rather than being afraid of Adonai. Because when you allow yourself to be blinded by fear, in that moment, you have turned away from truth, from Adonai.
The Children of Israel were given the inheritance of the land of Canaan, now known as Israel, for eternity. Yet our claiming it the first time we were told to was fraught with challenges. If getting what we want were easy, we wouldn’t learn, evolve, and grow. The children of those Adonai freed from Egypt had the opportunity to learn from their parent’s mistakes.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.
I do want to apologize for not writing every week, but I have been having both technical difficulties, as well as health problems, so please bear with me.
Shabbat Shalom!

Leviticus 25:17 - 18:
Each of you shall not aggrieve his fellow, and you shall fear your G-d; for I am Adonai, your G-d. 18 You shall perform My decrees, and observe My ordinances and perform them; then you shall dwell securely on the land.
Leviticus 25:35 - 37:
If your brother becomes impoverished and his means falter in your proximity, you shall strengthen him/her - proselyte or resident - so that he/she can live with you. 36 Do not take from him/her interest and increase; and you shall fear your G-d - and let your fellow live with you. 37 Do not charge interest on a loan for your fellow, and do not charge for your food.
If this was all the Torah told us, it would be enough! This is what the entirety of scripture is trying to get across to us. Yes, here in Leviticus, we are told the above as part of the laws of the Jubilee and Sabbatical years, as applied when we live in Canaan - Israel - but. . .
As we can read, these laws apply to everyone who lives in Israel, but this does not mean they should ONLY apply to those living in Israel. Over and over again in our parshiyot, we are told to fear Adonai, to conduct ourselves as proscribed because the land is not ours, it is Adonai’s. This is true of the entire world.
Did you notice we are not to allow anyone to suffer through bad times alone - family, friend, or stranger in our midst. We are especially admonished not to humiliate anyone, nor treat a person as “slave labor.” Give your down-on-their-luck fellow a job, yes. But what is perhaps even more important to understand (Besides the obvious, so the person and his/her family can eat, live with dignity, etc.). . .
Feeling useful to society, having dignity, being treated with respect - like a human being, rather than something less, this is why we should take care of one another. We are not talking about being an enabler here - that is wholly different.
Quite frankly, if everyone everywhere understood these things and acted on this knowledge, the world would be healed from most, if not all, woes. Why are these things spelled out in great detail in scripture? Because it was not the way people generally acted then, unfortunately. There are and were cultures around the world who understood these commandments and acted in accordance. However, by and large, people want for themselves, and maybe for their families, and do not worry about the quality of life anyone else has.
Our parshiyot command us again not to make idols to worship - and fear Adonai - as in the only one with real control is Adonai (whatever name you choose to use). Were we told only the Children of Israel should be treated this way and follow these rules? No!!!! Everyone who dwells in Israel is to follow these laws.
But people generally do tend to fear - read as worship - other people, governments, and things. The world was always a dangerous place, and we all know things have gone from bad to worse. So what solutions are our local, up through the federal government in the U.S. - at the least - trying to do to solve this?
Funny you should ask. We are debating about the viability and efficaciousness of gun laws - including, by the way, automatic rifles. Why? Because we don’t just need to defend ourselves, but we need to take as many people down as possible, so no one else will try to take what’s ours!!!!! Oh yes, I am being extremely facetious!!!!! The argument, however, is real.
Do you know what violence begets? MORE VIOLENCE! Does kindness necessarily beget more kindness? Not always; however, in the long run it makes more sense. You see, the Torah is not just telling us to be kind, as in telling someone you see to “have a nice day.” No.
We are not just speaking of simple “random acts of kindness.” Human dignity is what is at stake, our planet’s ability to maintain life of all kinds is at stake. When it comes down to it, no one “owns” anything except one’s own thoughts and own actions. Things come and go, they get lost, broken, stolen, used up, etc. Even power is only held for a time by someone or a group - it too does not last.
With all of the troubles in our world today, violence is getting worse due to fear, and people are trying to legislate the personal details of others’ lives. I am speaking of the arguments for and against gay marriage, abortion, and the like. We are afraid, we worship fear. Needed healthcare and prescription medications are regulated due to those who abused them, tried to resell them, etc. We argue whether we should allow people to “buy” liquor on Sundays, and whether marijuana should be legal or not.
We worry about our neighbor, but not in a meaningful and healthy way. Adonai allows these things to be options, and to exist, because we are supposed to choose for ourselves. By the way, I am speaking of adults, because even the Torah teaches us children are under the aegis of their parents. Parents who are to have their best interests and well-being at heart, not who teach their children to bully, steal, kill, etc.
Do you know why following the rather simple plan Adonai lays out for us is not the direction people will go? Because people are afraid of people, not Adonai. But isn’t loving thy neighbor about protecting fetuses, and people who want to marry same-sex partners, and who want to buy liquor on Sundays? I am looking out for others by dong this. Again, I am being facetious using the lousy illogic of what is truly being said out there.
And by the way, even if you can’t buy alcohol on Sundays, you can still drink it! If you want to shoot someone with a gun, no gun law in the world can truly stop you. Of course, there will be evil people who continue to choose evil. We also have an obligation to do our best to protect ourselves and our families. This may seem contradictory, but it is not.
Fair and honest business dealings are just that. Getting a mentally ill person help is more dignified and humane than leaving him/her on the streets to fend for him/herself. If you witness a crime, reporting it to the authorities is the thing to do. Should we just allow ourselves to be vulnerable to any thief who wants to take our stuff? Yes, and no. It is not that Adonai doesn’t want us to have things, even nice things - which is a concept many do not understand. Sure, you should lock your doors, put money and valuables in banks, and by the way, not make yourself an obvious target for thieves either - just some common sense advice - but does someone who needs money to eat deserve to die from your gun because they feel they have nowhere else to turn so they can eat? NO! Even, by the way, those who steal for other reasons do not deserve to die.
Loving your fellow is about dignity - his/hers and yours. Do not allow someone to feel desperate, unwanted, unloved, or unneeded. This is the message the entire scripture is trying to teach us all. In case you were wondering about the prescription medicine problem referred to earlier, if you accidentally drop a pill or more in the sink, and they go down the drain, you cannot refill your prescription before the allotted time - with or without insurance. I was also thinking about NyQuil not being sold over the counter because some have used it differently than it was meant to be used, etc. And for the record, I have things which I like, and I don’t have a gun, never did. Also, you can’t stop someone from making bad decisions, no matter how much legislation you throw out there.
Yes, love thy neighbor, be fair, honest, just, kind, empathetic, and listen to each other, care about one another’s well-being, and take care of one another when hard times come. I guarantee the world will heal - not that everyone will become smart, mentally healthy, etc., but the world will heal. The only thing to fear isn’t fear itself - as the saying goes - it is Adonai.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page. Shabbat Shalom!

I am grateful the areas of Boston where the bombs went off did not become scenes of riots. Rather, those who were there chose to help others to the extent they could. My heart goes out to all the families and friends whose loved ones were killed or injured.
The news I read and watched chose to point out people rising to the best of themselves, despite very real danger and fear. It is due to people’s inherent love for our fellows that terrorism and other forms of evil will not win.
Our parashah this week pays special attention to the laws for the mourning of the Kohanim, and for the Kohen Gadol (high priest). We are told the Kohanim should not desecrate themselves due to the loss of a loved one. This means they should not be around a dead body. Exceptions are given for the closest family members, for the general population of Kohanim. For the Kohen Gadol, the limits are even stricter.
Notice they are not told they cannot mourn, nor are they told they should mourn. What did she just say?!!!! The assumption is that the Kohanim have feelings - as does everyone else - and therefore, will of course want to mourn and bury their dead.
When one comes into contact with a dead body, one becomes “unclean” for a time. This is but another set of laws about the separation of the clean from the unclean. (Purity laws.) If the Kohen Gadol, or any other Kohen, or even Levite (who help with the services), shows outward signs of mourning, it will be distracting to the congregation. Any outward signs of mourning also indicate how a person is feeling inside. The Kohen must conduct services with a whole heart dedicated to Adonai.
Every death affects us all. Violent deaths tend to receive a lot more attention. Our parashah does not discuss different ways a person dies, only that they do. And, as I indicated earlier, it assumes the Kohanim want to mourn, and go to the funeral of a close relative. This is why Adonai allows exceptions to the law against the Kohanim coming into contact with a dead person.
Sadly, it is becoming more common these days not to inform close relatives of the death of a loved one. Besides the fact this is disgustingly cruel behavior, it is also judgmental behavior, and as we all know, it is not for us to judge. I will also add, not only are all close relatives of a deceased person to be informed, but also if a relative wants to go to the funeral, and cannot due to monetary reasons, provisions should be made by the family for him/her to attend.
Respectfully burying our dead is the highest mitzvah we can do, because there can be no expectation of a returned favor. We all know we are to love our neighbor as we love ourself, and we should treat our own family members with the best of care and concern.
Our parashah seems to suddenly switch topics with a short story of a man who blasphemes Adonai, and what to do about this. One very interesting thing I noticed is he is not given a name. His mother and her father are named, as well as telling us they are from the tribe of Dan.
We were told in a previous parashah to revere our mother and our father. In the story about the blasphemer, we are given an example of how our behavior reflects on our parents, grandparents, etc. Throughout this parashah, the point is driven home that reverence includes how we treat our family members. If the Kohanim, who must remain in a state of purity at all times, are allowed to make exceptions for the burial of close family members, then the population absolutely must have the opportunity to bury and mourn our dead.
We cannot know why people do or say what they do. We may think we know the excuses or reasons; however, we do not always even understand why we ourselves act as we do. Circumstances are not to blame for behavior, because plenty of people experience the same or similar things, and react differently than one another.
I cannot tell you why some people choose to become violent, or terrorists. What I do think, and why this parashah is relevant to the terrorism in Boston and other places around the world, is because those turning to violence feel abandoned by either society or their families.
Adonai is inside of each and every one of us. We choose to accept or ignore this. We were not told to even like our family members or neighbors, but rather to treat others as we would like to be treated. The bottom line is the more people we allow to feel alone, the greater the violence will become, and it is extremely prevalent right now.
We are responsible for and to one another, each and every person on earth. We must stand up for those who cannot do so for themselves. We must take better care of one another. This begins with family. No outsiders’ cruelty hurts our hearts as much as the cruelty of a family member towards us. If a person, family or not, needs help, do not wait for someone else to help because you think, “it’s not my problem”. It is each of our problems - for each one of us - and when people take weapons to kill school children, runners in a marathon, or any other gathering of strangers, I believe the person or people exhibited cruel behavior before, and were not stopped or helped.
The easiest way to begin to repair the world is with our own family members. Do not be the reason a loving parent cannot see his/her child. Do not be the reason someone feels all alone, depressed, scared, hurt, or angry. Do not be the reason someone does not get their medicine, food, clothing, a roof over his/her head.
The crowd’s actions in Boston, New York, and other places as well, tell me there is hope for this world. Despite all of the bad things being experienced worldwide, man-made, and natural disasters, the majority of people still do what they can to help others to the best of their ability. This is the “Living G-d.” There is hope for the world, and love in the world. Let us all participate to the best of our abilities to love one another, take care of one another, and understand there is a G-d, everyone’s G-d. This is how we can honor the memories and lives of the victims of violence. Do not let their deaths be for naught. Honor them by being loving, kind, fair, and just - not by trying to “avenge” their deaths. Do not allow fear to rule your life.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page. Shabbat Shalom!

There are open, glaring manifestations of evil in our modern world. In this week’s parshiyot, when one is covered with tzaraas, the Kohen is supposed to declare him/her pure. He does so: the person is pure evil (the person is covered completely). In a modern example, the new North Korean leader is covered completely. . . in evil! As far as Hamas - their intentions have become blatantly obvious to the world in recent years.
Right now, I do not think I need to tell you evil intentions are not so easily hidden anymore. They are being brought to light the world over. The parshiyot clearly inform us Adonai provides avenues of healing - of purification. But what is also manifest here is the person must want to be cleansed and purified. It must be of his/her own volition, of his/her own desire (i.e. they must not be forced). A very important point not to be overlooked.
The focus, in our parshiyot, is individual responsibility for one’s own self, family, community, et cetera. Each individual is responsible for his/her own connection to Adonai, which is the goal of the soul.
Our rabbis have taught us these parshiyot are about spiritual uncleanness manifesting. We do not even have a clear description of each type of skin lesion, i.e., whether leprosy, eczema, etc. is represented by what the Torah describes as basic tzaraas, baheres, or s’eis. So today, we really don’t even know exactly what they were. This is perhaps designed to teach us even more clearly the important aspect is not the lesion itself, so much as it is the sin causing the lesion. This is why many times in the parshiyot we are told about the lesion being beneath the skin.
Interestingly, we are also told multiple times here about the lesions turning the hair on the skin white; also, the skin causing the hair to fall out completely. If you pay attention, you will easily notice a person who grapples with his/her own internal war between the soul and self, i.e., someone who is not in balance, or has “the weight of the world on their shoulders,” to age considerably. This is why, I believe, the Torah specifically indicates the lesions turn the hair white, not the process itself.
As we know, it is the natural progression that as we age, hair either turns white, gray, or falls out. I do not believe Adonai means for us to judge every elderly person as being evil. I am reminded here of my Grandma Evelyn (may she rest in peace), who in her final days, had a visible, angelic glow about her. It was incredible to experience. I feel certain she was not alone in having this.
Interestingly too, our parshiyot do not speak of a person having to find an elder/leader/authority figure to determine a stricken person’s situation, but specifically a Kohen, which appears to inform us this is about a spiritual cleansing.
All of the unrest in the world today stems from fear, and fear creates chaos - both in our spiritual and material worlds. There is a reason also - of course - why we were told here the person the Kohen pronounces unclean, or contagious, must isolate him/herself for seven days. Need I point out the obvious allusion to the days of Creation?!
The “diseased” person is basically being given what we call a “time-out,” indicating rather blatantly that if you purely want to connect with Adonai, it is important to take time to be by yourself in order to delve into why you did what you did, what other choices you might have had - basically, how you have to change. Essentially, the change needed in order to become a better person. Simply stating you will no longer lie, cheat, steal, kill - whatever the sin - without truly understanding why you did what you did, and the circumstances, is unlikely to produce a change.
Adonai wants to give each one of us every opportunity to make Teshuvah (turning back to G-D). Our parshiyot make clear the choice is ours to make. Through the specific inclusion of performing a cleansing service with a Kohen, we are being informed we are not expected to accomplish changing by ourselves, alone. Seek a spiritual leader - a Kohen - for help and support. We must help one another to be the best we can be.
When a person or country announces plans to bomb, or in any way annihilate or desecrate a group of people/nation, they indicate, by their actions, their knowledge that taking this type of action will incur the repercussions of receiving the same actions right back (thereby escalating the situation further). The threat of action without actual action leaves room for an alternate outcome. This gives us (citizens of the world) hope for a better, kindler, more just world. One where we desire to help each other to be the best we can be for Adonai.
Let us pray we, and our children, live to see that world. Pray for an end to warmongering and posturing. We all know we can destroy one another - not just with bombs, either. Right now, we need to find ways to make our planet a safe and loving place where everyone is treated with respect. A place where everyone has a roof over his/her head, clothes to wear, food to eat, and something to look forward to - Hope. When one truly has power, there is no reason to wish to destroy. Only those who are afraid because they know they are essentially powerless, threaten and bully to achieve theoretical power. Adonai has the ultimate say as to who will live, and who will die. Quite frankly, any personal power over another, or a group, or country, will not last. It cannot.
Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page. Shabbat Shalom!

This year, Parashah Shemini is studied during Passover, so I thought I would take a look at some parallels.
The Kohanim were inaugurated, and then led their first service in the Mishkan, in the month of Nissan. Two years prior, Adonai took the Israelites out of Egypt not only in the month of Nissan, but also, Moses was told by Adonai, Nissan would now be the first month of our year. In the spring, life begins anew in nature, the old is replaced by the new. The slaves were now free, and the Israelites began a formal, community way of structured worship.
Part of this new service included sacrificing a ram as a peace-feast offering. This was symbolic of our collective purpose, our new way of life, our role for the world. The ram symbolized the dawning of a “new world order,” if you will, the desire of Adonai for our world.
Up until the Exodus, Egypt had been a warring nation. Each Pharaoh proved his worth by leading battles. One of the gods they worshipped was the constellation Aries, represented by the ram. They worshipped the “god of war” {“Ares” - spelled this way - is the “war god” of the Ancient Greeks}. This was the same symbol we were told to eat for our preparation for departing Egypt. No more war - lead ourselves and the world in peace. This was also the first peace-feast offering the newly dubbed Nation of Israel sent up to Adonai.
While many of you may pooh-pooh what I wrote because many battles were fought by the Nation of Israel before crossing into Canaan, and afterwards - up until today as well - their purpose was not land acquisition alone, nor to subdue a people into servitude, nor to prove we were powerful. Then as now, when we have fought, it was against people who worshipped evil as an acceptable way of life. Meaning, those who practiced things like sacrificing children, bestiality, fraud, rape, murder, etc., etc., etc (i.e., NOTHING desirable to Adonai!).
The battles fought then, as now, were to protect good people from harm, and to defend ourselves from those who try/tried to kill us. We were, and remain, charged with being a light unto the nations - teaching Adonai is love, and how to treat one another with love, kindness, fairness, etc.
Parashah Shemini ends with laws of Kashrut. Separating the clean from the unclean, the sacred from the profane. Kashrut laws meant eating differently from the rest of the world’s typical diets. These do include merciful killing of the animals we eat, so the animals should not suffer. On Passover, we eat differently still. We do not eat leaven. Interestingly, yeast is symbolic of death, and as we know, Adonai tells us multiple times throughout the Torah to “Choose Life”.
It is in Parashah Shemini the Levites are reminded they represent the firstborn Egyptian males who died from the tenth plague, and the Israelite firstborn saved from death. Obviously, a direct correlation to the Exodus. One no metaphor is needed to understand.
As we all know, Adonai created everything, and is eternal. While Adonai certainly is always accessible and plays a role in our lives, most of the time we must pay close attention to understand this. If not, we would not truly have free will, and choice! It is up to us to choose to “see” Adonai’s proverbial hand at work.
Through the plagues, Adonai made certain the world was left with no doubt about whose world this is. Adonai worked such miracles and wonders so the world would never forget. In Parashah Shemini, Adonai’s glory rests on the Nation of Israel visibly, and palpably, so there would be no confusion as to what Adonai wanted from us.
The priesthood inauguration ceremony was set as an example for all time. The worship service included thanking Adonai for every aspect of life. This was a new way of thinking. Gathering together as one. Feeling each other’s pain, sorrow, and joy - sharing every aspect of life, and understanding Adonai is part of everything. We were told by Moses in the Torah we were to celebrate Passover for all eternity, every year, when life on earth begins anew. We are to do this as if we were there. If you understand the true nature of time - we were! If you do not, remember, we celebrate our freedom from slavery, our freedom to worship Adonai, and how lucky we truly are if we are still here to celebrate! Chag Sameach! May peace be the nature of a new world order for all! As we symbolically “kill” the “god of war,” may it be our reality as well!
Shabbat Shalom! Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.

Adonai loves us unconditionally, and wants us to want to come close. As we begin the Book of Leviticus, we are given tangible ways to do this. Merely stating “I’m sorry” is not nearly as effective, nor as meaningful, as a physical way of reflecting our intentions to change.
Ceremonies are helpful for many reasons. The offerings Vayikra describes are indicative of the value of actions - making amends. At the end of each sin offering description, we are told - after the offering is made - we will be forgiven.
The sin offerings are for unintentional sins. This is not the same as the popularized idea of “I would rather ask for forgiveness than ask for permission.” Here is something many would consider unacceptable. The sins we are told we can bring offerings for are about how we should treat each other - for the most part; and let’s face it: sometimes we do things to each other without thinking, or understanding. Vayikra teaches us if Adonai will forgive us for our sincerely regrettable actions, we should be able to forgive one another. Not that this necessarily bears repeating, but may be forgotten in the “heat of the moment”: none of us is perfect!
While certainly we are given literal descriptions of sacrifices - and we do not practice these today - this still applies in the metaphorical sense. Do note intentional sin is not part of this (for you legally-minded) malice of forethought. This also includes vengeance. Obviously, this parallels the “golden rule”. If you want a modern-day example, making and/or setting off a bomb, or walking into a school with a loaded gun - presumably (and tragically) with violent intent, and deaths - is not forgivable.
Much mention is made in our parashah of blood. When seeking forgiveness, we are told to put our hands on the head of the animal to be sacrificed. By throwing the animal’s blood on the altar - after putting our hands on its head - we demonstrate the significance of taking any life. The blood of the animal on the altar figuratively calls out to Adonai, “This animal is taken figuratively.” This is not made lightly, as the seriousness of the offering may be gleaned from the intricacy of the details, even when compared to the other offerings spelled out in this parashah.
The desire to be forgiven must be made from your whole heart, mind, and soul - with everything you are! Essentially, you have to mean it. Because Vayikra talks about leaders publicly bringing an offering, as embarrassing as it may be for the leader to admit wrongdoing, it still must be done. There are many stories in recent history about cover-ups. Obviously, a cover-up only makes matters worse, as it guarantees there will be more victims of the perpetrator(s). No one is above G-D’s law. If you want to come close to Adonai, you must demonstrate with action(s) - and not just words - that you have every intention of changing, and being a better person.
Shabbat Shalom! Pray for Israel. Pray for everyone. Pray for peace! I’d love to know what you think! You may e-mail me, call me, write your thoughts on my blog page on goodreads.com, or on my Facebook page.