Chapter 5 of Lamentations works as an acrostic if you take the three verses that begin with 'Al, עַל , and apply them as above for the letter Gimmel, Dalet and Samech (which is an exception). Furthermore, for the letter Tet, take the first letter of the second word in verse 13. Also, for those verses for which the first letter appears in more than one verse, use only one verse and take the second letter of the remaining verses.
7. Our fathers have sinned and are no more, and we have borne their iniquities.
ז. אֲבֹתֵינוּ חָטְאוּ וְאֵינָם וַאֲנַחְנוּ עֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם סָבָלְנוּ:
9. With our lives we bring our bread, because of the sword of the wilderness.
ט. בְּנַפְשֵׁנוּ נָבִיא לַחְמֵנוּ מִפְּנֵי חֶרֶב הַמִּדְבָּר:
5. We are pursued [with a yoke] on our necks; we toil but it does not remain with us.
ה. עַל צַוָּארֵנוּ נִרְדָּפְנוּ יָגַעְנוּ וְלֹא הוּנַּח לָנוּ:
17. For this our heart has become faint, for these things our eyes have grown dim.
יז. עַל זֶה הָיָה דָוֶה לִבֵּנוּ עַל אֵלֶּה חָשְׁכוּ עֵינֵינוּ:
21. Restore us to You, O Lord, that we may be restored! Renew our days as of old.
כא. הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה | אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה חַדֵּשׁ יָמֵינוּ כְּקֶדֶם:
10. Our skin is parched as by a furnace because of the heat of hunger.
י. עוֹרֵנוּ כְּתַנּוּר נִכְמָרוּ מִפְּנֵי זַלְעֲפוֹת רָעָב:
1. Recall, O Lord, what has befallen us; behold and see our disgrace.
א. זְכֹר יְהֹוָה מֶה הָיָה לָנוּ הַבִּיטָה וּרְאֵה אֶת חֶרְפָּתֵנוּ:
2. Our heritage has been turned over to strangers, our houses to aliens.
ב. נַחֲלָתֵנוּ נֶהֶפְכָה לְזָרִים בָּתֵּינוּ לְנָכְרִים:
13. Young men carried the millstones, [and] youths stumbled under [loads of] wood.
יג. בַּחוּרִים טְחוֹן נָשָׂאוּ וּנְעָרִים בָּעֵץ כָּשָׁלוּ:
3. We have become orphans and fatherless, our mothers are like widows.
ג. יְתוֹמִים הָיִינוּ וְאֵין אָב אִמֹּתֵינוּ כְּאַלְמָנוֹת:
22. For if You have utterly rejected us, You have [already] been exceedingly wroth against us.
כב. כִּי אִם מָאֹס מְאַסְתָּנוּ קָצַפְתָּ עָלֵינוּ עַד מְאֹד:
20. Why do You forget us forever, forsake us so long?
כ. לָמָּה לָנֶצַח תִּשְׁכָּחֵנוּ תַּעַזְבֵנוּ לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים:
4. Our water we have drunk for payment; our wood needs must come by purchase.
ד. מֵימֵינוּ בְּכֶסֶף שָׁתִינוּ עֵצֵינוּ בִּמְחִיר יָבֹאוּ:
11. They have outraged women in Zion [and] maidens in the cities of Judah.
יא. נָשִׁים בְּצִיּוֹן עִנּוּ בְּתֻלֹת בְּעָרֵי יְהוּדָה:
18. For Mount Zion, which was desolate; foxes prowled over it.
יח. עַל הַר צִיּוֹן שֶׁשָּׁמֵם שׁוּעָלִים הִלְּכוּ בוֹ:
8. Slaves rule over us, [and] there is none to deliver [us] from their hand.
ח. עֲבָדִים מָשְׁלוּ בָנוּ פֹּרֵק אֵין מִיָּדָם:
16. The crown of our head has fallen, woe to us, for we have sinned.
טז. נָפְלָה עֲטֶרֶת רֹאשֵׁנוּ אוֹי נָא לָנוּ כִּי חָטָאנוּ:
6. We have stretched out our hands to Egypt [and to] Assyria to get enough food.
ו. מִצְרַיִם נָתַנּוּ יָד אַשּׁוּר לִשְׂבֹּעַ לָחֶם:
14. The elders have ceased from the [city] gate, the young men from their music.
יד. זְקֵנִים מִשַּׁעַר שָׁבָתוּ בַּחוּרִים מִנְּגִינָתָם:
12. Princes were hanged by their hands, elders were not shown respect.
יב. שָׂרִים בְּיָדָם נִתְלוּ פְּנֵי זְקֵנִים לֹא נֶהְדָּרוּ:
15. The joy of our heart has ceased, our dancing has turned into mourning.
טו. שָׁבַת מְשׂוֹשׂ לִבֵּנוּ נֶהְפַּךְ לְאֵבֶל מְחוֹלֵנוּ:
19. [But] You, O Lord, remain forever; Your throne endures throughout the generations.
יט. אַתָּה יְהֹוָה לְעוֹלָם תֵּשֵׁב כִּסְאֲךָ לְדוֹר וָדוֹר:

THE KABBALAH OF TIME: The Jewish Calendar is the master key to unlock the hidden rationale behind the formal structure of ancient sacred texts, as well as to understand and experience the most profound mystical concepts, which reveal the spiritual energy of each week, serving as a practical guide for self-analysis and development.
Weekly Cycle
Tuesday, January 7, 2020
Nachum Acrostic
B”H
In the first half of the first chapter of Nachum, half an acrostic can be easily identified. The second half requires changing verses around and also focusing on when letters are repeated at the beginning of the sentence.
א. מַשָּׂא נִינְוֵה סֵפֶר חֲזוֹן נַחוּם הָאֶלְקֹשִׁי:
1. The harsh prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
ב. אֵל קַנּוֹא וְנֹקֵם יְהֹוָה נֹקֵם יְהֹוָה
2. The Lord is a jealous and vengeful God
וּבַעַל חֵמָה נֹקֵם יְהֹוָה לְצָרָיו וְנוֹטֵר הוּא לְאֹיְבָיו ג. יְהֹוָה אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם:
and is full of wrath; the Lord avenges Himself upon His adversaries, and He bears a grudge against His enemies. 3. The Lord is slow to anger
וּגְדָל כֹּחַ וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה יְהֹוָה בְּסוּפָה וּבִשְׂעָרָה
and great in power, but He will surely not acquit; the Lord-[His way] is with a tempest and with a storm and cloud is the dust of His feet.
דַּרְכּוֹ וְעָנָן אֲבַק רַגְלָיו ד. גּוֹעֵר בַּיָּם וַיַּבְּשֵׁהוּ וְכָל:
His way; and cloud is the dust of His feet. 4. He rebukes the sea and dries it up, and He has dried up (and) all...
הַנְּהָרוֹת הֶחֱרִיב אֻמְלַל בָּשָׁן וְכַרְמֶל וּפֶרַח לְבָנוֹן אֻמְלָל:
the rivers; Bashan and Carmel are cut off, and the blossoms of the Lebanon are cut off
ה. הָרִים רָעֲשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְהַגְּבָעוֹת הִתְמֹגָגוּ
5. Mountains quaked because of him and the hills melted,
וַתִּשָּׂא הָאָרֶץ מִפָּנָיו וְתֵבֵל וְכָל יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ:
and the land raised up from before Him-and the inhabited earth and all who dwell thereon.
ו. לִפְנֵי זַעְמוֹ מִי יַעֲמוֹד וּמִי יָקוּם בַּחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ
6. Who can stand before His fury and who can rise amidst His wrath?
חֲמָתוֹ נִתְּכָה כָאֵשׁ וְהַצֻּרִים נִתְּצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ:
His wrath has reached [the earth] like fire, and the rocks have been broken up by Him.
ז. טוֹב יְהֹוָה לְמָעוֹז בְּיוֹם צָרָה וְיֹדֵעַ חֹסֵי בוֹ ח. וּבְשֶׁטֶף עֹבֵר כָּלָה:
7. The Lord is good-yea, a stronghold on a day of trouble- and is cognizant of those who trust in Him. 8. But, with an overrunning flood...
יַעֲשֶׂה מְקוֹמָהּ וְאֹיְבָיו יְרַדֶּף חֹשֶׁךְ ט. מַה תְּחַשְּׁבוּן אֶל יְהֹוָה:
He shall make a full end of its place, and darkness shall pursue His enemies. 9. What do you think of the Lord?
כָּלָה הוּא עֹשֶׂה לֹא תָקוּם פַּעֲמַיִם צָרָה :
He will make a full end; the trouble will not rise twice.
לֹא יִזָּרַע מִשִּׁמְךָ עוֹד
No more [offspring] of your name shall be sown;
מָלֵא יא. מִמֵּךְ יָצָא חֹשֵׁב עַל יְהֹוָה:
fully ripe. 11. From you has emanated one who plots evil against the Lord,
מֹטֵהוּ מֵעָלָיִךְ וּמוֹסְרֹתַיִךְ אֲנַתֵּק:
his yoke from you, and I will rend your bonds asunder.
וְכֵן רַבִּים וְכֵן נָגוֹזּוּ:
-and likewise many-and likewise they have crossed
י. כִּי עַד סִירִים סְבֻכִים וּכְסָבְאָם סְבוּאִים אֻכְּלוּ כְּקַשׁ יָבֵשׁ
10. For, while the thorns are entangled and the drunkards are drinking, they are consumed like dry stubble,
וְעָבָר וְעִנִּתִךְ לֹא אֲעַנֵּךְ עוֹד יג. וְעַתָּה אֶשְׁבֹּר
and passed over, I will no longer afflict you. 13. And now I will break off...
פֶּסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה אָשִׂים
a graven image and a molten image; I will make
יד. וְצִוָּה עָלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה
14. And the Lord shall command concerning you;
קִבְרֶךָ כִּי קַלּוֹתָ:
your grave, for you have become worthless.
רָעָה יֹעֵץ בְּלִיָּעַל יב. כֹּה | אָמַר יְהֹוָה:
one who counsels wickedness. 12. So said the Lord:
אִם שְׁלֵמִים
Though they be at peace...
מִבֵּית אֱלֹהֶיךָ אַכְרִית
from the house of your god I will cut off
In the first half of the first chapter of Nachum, half an acrostic can be easily identified. The second half requires changing verses around and also focusing on when letters are repeated at the beginning of the sentence.
א. מַשָּׂא נִינְוֵה סֵפֶר חֲזוֹן נַחוּם הָאֶלְקֹשִׁי:
1. The harsh prophecy concerning Nineveh. The book of the vision of Nahum the Elkoshite.
ב. אֵל קַנּוֹא וְנֹקֵם יְהֹוָה נֹקֵם יְהֹוָה
2. The Lord is a jealous and vengeful God
וּבַעַל חֵמָה נֹקֵם יְהֹוָה לְצָרָיו וְנוֹטֵר הוּא לְאֹיְבָיו ג. יְהֹוָה אֶרֶךְ אַפַּיִם:
and is full of wrath; the Lord avenges Himself upon His adversaries, and He bears a grudge against His enemies. 3. The Lord is slow to anger
וּגְדָל כֹּחַ וְנַקֵּה לֹא יְנַקֶּה יְהֹוָה בְּסוּפָה וּבִשְׂעָרָה
and great in power, but He will surely not acquit; the Lord-[His way] is with a tempest and with a storm and cloud is the dust of His feet.
דַּרְכּוֹ וְעָנָן אֲבַק רַגְלָיו ד. גּוֹעֵר בַּיָּם וַיַּבְּשֵׁהוּ וְכָל:
His way; and cloud is the dust of His feet. 4. He rebukes the sea and dries it up, and He has dried up (and) all...
הַנְּהָרוֹת הֶחֱרִיב אֻמְלַל בָּשָׁן וְכַרְמֶל וּפֶרַח לְבָנוֹן אֻמְלָל:
the rivers; Bashan and Carmel are cut off, and the blossoms of the Lebanon are cut off
ה. הָרִים רָעֲשׁוּ מִמֶּנּוּ וְהַגְּבָעוֹת הִתְמֹגָגוּ
5. Mountains quaked because of him and the hills melted,
וַתִּשָּׂא הָאָרֶץ מִפָּנָיו וְתֵבֵל וְכָל יוֹשְׁבֵי בָהּ:
and the land raised up from before Him-and the inhabited earth and all who dwell thereon.
ו. לִפְנֵי זַעְמוֹ מִי יַעֲמוֹד וּמִי יָקוּם בַּחֲרוֹן אַפּוֹ
6. Who can stand before His fury and who can rise amidst His wrath?
חֲמָתוֹ נִתְּכָה כָאֵשׁ וְהַצֻּרִים נִתְּצוּ מִמֶּנּוּ:
His wrath has reached [the earth] like fire, and the rocks have been broken up by Him.
ז. טוֹב יְהֹוָה לְמָעוֹז בְּיוֹם צָרָה וְיֹדֵעַ חֹסֵי בוֹ ח. וּבְשֶׁטֶף עֹבֵר כָּלָה:
7. The Lord is good-yea, a stronghold on a day of trouble- and is cognizant of those who trust in Him. 8. But, with an overrunning flood...
יַעֲשֶׂה מְקוֹמָהּ וְאֹיְבָיו יְרַדֶּף חֹשֶׁךְ ט. מַה תְּחַשְּׁבוּן אֶל יְהֹוָה:
He shall make a full end of its place, and darkness shall pursue His enemies. 9. What do you think of the Lord?
כָּלָה הוּא עֹשֶׂה לֹא תָקוּם פַּעֲמַיִם צָרָה :
He will make a full end; the trouble will not rise twice.
לֹא יִזָּרַע מִשִּׁמְךָ עוֹד
No more [offspring] of your name shall be sown;
מָלֵא יא. מִמֵּךְ יָצָא חֹשֵׁב עַל יְהֹוָה:
fully ripe. 11. From you has emanated one who plots evil against the Lord,
מֹטֵהוּ מֵעָלָיִךְ וּמוֹסְרֹתַיִךְ אֲנַתֵּק:
his yoke from you, and I will rend your bonds asunder.
וְכֵן רַבִּים וְכֵן נָגוֹזּוּ:
-and likewise many-and likewise they have crossed
י. כִּי עַד סִירִים סְבֻכִים וּכְסָבְאָם סְבוּאִים אֻכְּלוּ כְּקַשׁ יָבֵשׁ
10. For, while the thorns are entangled and the drunkards are drinking, they are consumed like dry stubble,
וְעָבָר וְעִנִּתִךְ לֹא אֲעַנֵּךְ עוֹד יג. וְעַתָּה אֶשְׁבֹּר
and passed over, I will no longer afflict you. 13. And now I will break off...
פֶּסֶל וּמַסֵּכָה אָשִׂים
a graven image and a molten image; I will make
יד. וְצִוָּה עָלֶיךָ יְהֹוָה
14. And the Lord shall command concerning you;
קִבְרֶךָ כִּי קַלּוֹתָ:
your grave, for you have become worthless.
רָעָה יֹעֵץ בְּלִיָּעַל יב. כֹּה | אָמַר יְהֹוָה:
one who counsels wickedness. 12. So said the Lord:
אִם שְׁלֵמִים
Though they be at peace...
מִבֵּית אֱלֹהֶיךָ אַכְרִית
from the house of your god I will cut off
The 70 Souls of Israel, the 70 Nations of the World, and the Jewish Calendar
In honor of the passing of Maran, Rabbi Ovadiah Yosef, of Blessed Memory, on the day of this writing:
As already mentioned in the introduction to Book 5, there is an interesting parallel between the 70 souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt and the calendar. Leah's children are seven in total, six men (the first six sefirot/ the first six days of the week) and one female (malchut, Shabat).
As already mentioned in the introduction to Book 5, there is an interesting parallel between the 70 souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt and the calendar. Leah's children are seven in total, six men (the first six sefirot/ the first six days of the week) and one female (malchut, Shabat).
The counting of the omer/ weeks of the year. Leah children and
grandchildren are 33 in total, including Yocheved, the hidden descendant. (See
Rashi). Bilhah's (Leah's maidservant) descendants are 16,
bringing the total number to 49. Dina again plays a special role, she's number
33, like Lag Ba'omer.
Book 4b then included Rachel, Joseph and Binyamin (which are
mentioned next in the verse in Vayigash) as parallel to the weeks
of Pessach/Shavuot, weeks 50, 51 and 52. (See Introduction
to Book 1 as to why the last three weeks of the year represent the end of one
cycle as well as the beginning of the next).
The remaining descendants of Rachel, her grandchildren, are 12 in
total, and appear to parallel the months of the year. This would follow the
notion that Joseph's progeny were supposed to parallel Jacob's, and it is well
known that each of Jacob's sons, the Tribes, represent a month of the year.
Because of the test Joseph faced with Potiphar's wife, he ended up having only
two sons instead of twelve. However, not by coincidence, Benjamin has ten sons,
all named after Joseph.
Zilpah's descendants are seven in total, like Leah's children, one
for each day of the week. 49 (52), 12, and 7 are the numbers most associated with the
months, weeks, and days of the calendar.
The listing of the 70 souls that descended to Egypt is in Chapter 46 of Genesis, which can be found here:
There also appears to be a parallel between the 70 souls that
descended to Egypt and the nations of the world, which we read about in this
week's portion. Verse 8 in Haazinu states: "When
the Most High gave nations their lot, when He separated the sons of man,
He set up the boundaries of peoples according to the number of
the children of Israel." This is also mentioned in the Zohar, Shemot 5)[1]
- The sons of Japheth are 7, which parallel the children of Leah (or the descendants of Zilpah).
- The grandchildren of Japheth are also 7, which also parallel the children of Leah (or the descendants of Zilpah).
- The descendants of Shem are 26, which parallel the grandchildren of Leah.
- The descendants of Ham are 30, which parallel the descendants of Rachel (14) plus those of Bilhah (16).
Below is Chapter 10 of Bereshit, with numbers added by the descendants:
1. And these are the generations of the sons of Noah: Shem, Ham, and Japheth, and sons were born to them after the Flood.
2. The sons of Japheth were Gomer and Magog and Madai and Javan and Tubal, and Meshech and Tiras. (Sons of Japheth: 7)
3. And the sons of Gomer were Ashkenaz and Riphath and Togarmah. (3)
4. And the sons of Javan were Elishah and Tarshish, Kittim, and Dodanim. (4)
(Descendants of Japheth: 14)
6. And the sons of Ham were Cush and Mizraim and Put and Canaan. (Sons of Ham: 4)
7. And the sons of Cush were Seba and Havilah and Sabta and Raamah and Sabtecha, and the sons of Raamah were Sheba and Dedan. (7)
8. And Cush begot Nimrod; he began to be a mighty man in the land.
(...)
13. And Mizraim begot the Ludim and the Anamim and the Lehabim and the Naphtuhim,
14. And the Pathrusim and the Casluhim, from whom the Philistines emerged, and the Caphtorim. (7)
15. And Canaan begot Zidon his firstborn and Heth.
16. And the Jebusites and the Amorites and the Girgashites.
17. And the Hivvites and the Arkites and the Sinites.
18. and the Arvadites and the Zemarites and the Hamathites, and afterwards the families of the Canaanites were scattered. (11)
(Descendants of Ham: 30)
22. The sons of Shem were Elam and Asshur and Arpachshad and Lud and Aram. (Sons of Shem: 5) 23. And the sons of Aram were Uz and Hul and Gether and Mash. (4)
24. And Arpachshad begot Shelah, and Shelah begot Eber. (2)
25. And to Eber were born two sons: one was named Peleg, because in his days the earth was divided, and the name of his brother was Joktan. (2)
26. And Joktan begot Almodad and Sheleph and Hazarmaveth and Jerah.
27. And Hadoram and Uzal and Diklah.
28. And Obal and Abimael and Sheba.
29. And Ophir and Havilah and Jobab; all these were the sons of Joktan. (13)
(Descendants of Shem: 26)
The following is a link to Chapter 10 of Genesis: http://www.chabad.org/library/bible_cdo/aid/8174
Observation: Interestingly, Nimrod is usually not included in the counting of the nations of the world. Instead "Plishtim," the Philistines are included. If one groups the Philistines with Canaan instead of Mizraim (after all, historically they dwelt in the Land of Canaan), then the 30 descendants of Ham can be further subdivided int two groups:
- Put, Canaan and their descendants (including Plishtim) total 14, which parallel the descendants of Rachel.
- Cush, Mizraim and their descendants (not including Plishtim) are 16, which parallel the descendants of Bilhah.
Sunday, January 5, 2020
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Haazinu as a Reflection of the Torah Portions from Bereishit until Haazinu Itself
1. Bereishit. "Give ear O heavens...
may the earth hear." (portion describes creation of heaven and earth)
2. Noah. "May my teaching drop like
rain... dew... storm winds... raindrops (portion describes the Flood)
3. Lech Lecha. "When I call out the
Name of Hashem, ascribe greatness to our G-d." (portion describes Avraham,
first to call out the Name of Hashem, and influence others to ascribe greatness
to our G-d).
4. Vayeira. "... perfect is His
work... a G-d of faith..." (Isaac was a "perfect offering," and
Abraham and Isaac were tested in their faith by the Akeidah)
5. Chayei Sarah: "Corruption is not
His - the blemish is His children's, a perverse and twisted generation."
(portion describes Sarah's death and difficulty with burial, which could make
Abraham question Hashem's promise, but he doesn't. It also describes the generations of Ishmael.
6. Toldot. "... O vile and unwise
people? Is He not your Father, your Master? ... created you and firmed
you?" (vile and unwise is a reference to Eisav in this portion, who
foolishly gave up the birthright and then lost his father's blessing. The
portion also describes how Isaac became established, and the establishment of Yaakov
through the blessing he received.
7. Vayetzei. "Remember the days of yore...
Ask your father and he will relate to you..." (portion contains the story
of Yaakov, which serves as a sign and for a guiding point for all subsequent
generations.
8. Vayishlach. "When the Supreme One
gave the nations their inheritance, whe He separated the children of man, He
set the borders of the peoples according to the number of the Children of
Israel." (portion contains meeting between Yaakov and Eisav, and the
division of the land. Eisav goes to Seir, and Yaakov remains in the Land of
Israel.)
9. Vayeshev. "For Hashem's portion is
His people; Jacob is the measure of His inheritance." (portion describes Yaakov
settling in the Land of Israel, His inheritance. It also describes how Yaakov's
inheritance would develop, through Yehudah and Yosef).
10. Miketz. "He discovered him in a
desert land, in desolation, a howling wilderness, He encircled him, He granted
him discernment, He preserved him like the pupil of his eye (Joseph is
protected by Hashem, Who finds him in desolation; Hashem gives him discernment
to interpret Pharaoh's dream and rise to power)
11. Vayigash. "He was like an eagle
arousing its nest, hovering over its young, spreading its wings and taking
them, carrying them on its pinions." (Portion describes how Yaakov and his
sons come down to Egypt, carried by Hashem.)
12. Vayechi. "Hashem alone guided them,
and no other power was with them." (Before passing away, Yaakov gives
blessings to his sons. Immediately prior to this, the Schinah leaves him
temporarily, and the Midrash states that Yaakov is concerned that perhaps they
are not all serving Hashem. They say to him "Shmah Yisrael, Hashem
Elokeinu, Hashem Echad." Hashem alone guides them. At this point, Yaakov
says "Baruch Shem K'vod Malchuto L'Olam Va'ed and blesses them.)
13. Shemot. “ripe fruits from the field,
honey from a stone, oil from a flinty rock” - this is a reference to the
suffering and work of Jews as slaves (children taken from stones of birth
stools; embittered life through mortar and bricks (1:13 - 1:15)
14. Vayera. cattle and other animals, blood
of grapes "Dam... chamer" (plagues: blood, due to the mortar (Chomer), wild beasts, and plagues also
inflicted animals)
15. Bo. became fat and kicked, contemptuous
of the Rock of its salvation (Pharaoh, whose name is related to “overgrown.” He
had a tremendously overgrown ego)
16: Beshalach. They would provoke His
jealousy with strangers, they would anger Him with abominations. (the
complaints of the erev rav, amalek)
17. Yitro. they would slaughter to demons
without power, G-ds whom they knew not, newcomers
recently arrived... (Yitro worshipped every possible idol, but then later he
was a "newcomer" joining
the Jewish people at Sinai.)
18. Mishpatim. You ignored the Rock Who gave
birth to you, and forgot G-d who brought you forth (the Jewish people make a
pact with Hashem, "Na'aseh VeNishmah," which basically represents the
birth of the Jewish people, and even includes with "Dam Habrit" -
reference to a circumcision. Nadav and Avihu and the elders see the Throne of
Hashem (likeness of saphire brickwork), yet eat and drink. This was a big
offense.
19. Terumah. Hashem will see and be provoked
by the anger of his sons and daughters (the giving to the Mishkan, which came
from the people's heart, provokes Hashem to act kindly towards his children)
20. Tetzaveh. I shall hide my face... what
their end will be, a generation of reversals - this is the only portion since
Moshe is introduced that his name does not appear (this is also usually parasha
before Purim, which is deeply connected to this connected of Hashem hiding his
face, a story connected to the end of days, and one in which there is a major
reversal, for the good)
21. Ki Tissah. "They provoked me with a
non-G-d, so shall I provoke them with a non-people, with a vile nation shall I
anger them." (Story of the sin of the golden calf; this was actually
started by the erev rav - this non-people which Moshe brought out of Egypt with
the Jews)
22. Vayakhel. "For fire will have been
kindled in My nostrils and blazed to the lowest depths. It shall consume the
earth and its produce, and set ablaze what is founded on mountains." (The
portion describes the construction of the mishkan, which included the altars
for incense and burnt offerings; the mishkan was the revelation of Hashem into
the lowest depths, and later founded on the mountains of Shiloh and Jerusalem)
23. Pekudei. "I shall accumulate evils
against them." (The portion describes the accumulation/accounting of the
monies given to the Mishkan)
24. Vayikra. "bloating of famine,
battles of flaming demons, cutting down by the noontime demon... the teeth of
beasts... the venom of those that creep on the earth." (reference to all
the different kinds of sacrifices, which sacrficied different beasts (same
word), had specific times, and also involved flour, oil, salt, and blood)
25. Tzav. "On the outside, the sword
will bereave, while indoors there will be dread, even a young man, even a
virgin, a suckling with the gray-haired man. (description of different
sacrifices, some brought indoors others outside; consecration of kohanim, every
young man son of Aharon, and Aharon himself, a gray-haired man)
26. Shmini. "I had said, "I will
scatter them, I will cause their memory to cease from man" (Nadav and
Avihu are killed after entering the Mishkan and offering a foreign sacrifice)
27. Tazria. were it not that the anger of
the enemy was pent up, lest his tormenters misinterpret; lest they say, 'Our
hand was raised in triumph, and it was not Hashem Who accomplished this!"
(woman delivering baby has pent up pain and feels tormented; portion also
describes tza'aras, the spiritual disease that greatly humbles those that felt
too haughty)
28. Metzorah. "for they are a nation
bereft of counsel, and there is no discernment in them" (this portion also describes tzara'as, and
the cure for it, which was must be performed through the counsel and
discernment of another, the Kohen)
29. Acharei Mot. "were they wise they
would comprehend this, they would discern it from their end, [lit.
"Acharitam"] (the importance of proper Yom Kippur service is
discerned from the deaths (ends) of Nadav and Avihu.
30. Kedoshim. "For how could one pursue
a thousand, and two cause 10,000 to flee, if not that their Rock had sold them,
and Hashem had delivered them?" (the portion speaks of performing comerce and business (sales and
deliveries) with proper ethics)
31. Emor. "For not like our Rock is
their rock - yet our enemies judge us" (the portion describes how Kohanim
are separate and must behave differently; furthermore, the portion describes
how a son of an Egyptian judged how the show-bread was offered in the Temple,
and ended up "blessing" Hashem.
32. Behar. "For their vineyard is from
the vineyard of Sodom, and from the fields of Gomorrah; their grapes are grapes
of gall, so clusters of bitterness were given to them." (The portion talks
about how fields [and vineyards] have to be put to rest during the Sabbatical
years and the Jubilee years)
33. Bechukotai. "Serpents'' venom is
their wine, the poison of cruel vipers." (portion contains blessings and a
series of curses; if the Jews obey, then wine and other products will be
obtained with little difficulty; if they don't obey, they receive punishment
after punishment, that would appear to be cruel, were it not for the fact that
they were necessary)
34. Bamidbar. "Is it not revealed
[hidden? - internet translation] with Me, sealed in My treasuries?"
(portion describes census - we are counted because we are dear to Hashem, we
are his treasuries.
35. Nasso. "Mine is vengeance and
retribution at the time their foot will falter, for the day of their
catastrophe is near, and future events are rushing at them." (the portion
contains the story of the Sotah, which contains vengeance, retribution,
foot-faltering, catastrophe and threats of future events; events
"rushing" could also be a reference to the Nazir (who creates vows to
avoid negative future events) as well as the princes of each tribe that rushed
to bring offerings to Hashem during the inauguration of the Temple)
36. Beha'aloscha. "When Hashem will
have judged his people, He shall relent regarding His servants, when He sees
that the enemy power progresses, and none is saved or assisted." (Moshe
despairs from the people's complaints, and Hashem seeing that he is alone,
provides for 70 elders to assist him in judging the people; similarly Miriam is
judged but Hashem relents and lets her back in the camp)
37. Shelach.
"He will ask where is their G-d, the rock in whom they sought
refuge." (portion of the spies; instead of focusing on what Hashem
commanded them, they sought refuge and desired to stay in the desert; portion
also describes unintentional idolatry)
38. Korach. "the fat of whose offerings
they would eat, they would drink the wine of their libations? Let them stand
and help you! Let them be a shelter for you!" (portion describes Korach
and other Levites' desire to offer sacrifices and libations in the place of the
Kohanim; Moshe makes a meeting time the next day for them to offer incense
sacrifices. They are all consumed; Korach and his group are swallowed by the
ground)
39. Chukas. "See, now, that I, I am He
- and no G-d is with me. I put to death and I bring life, I struck down and I
will heal, and there is no rescuer from My hand. (portion describes red cow,
which is the only was Hashem prescribes for purification from contact with the
dead; portion also contains Miriam's death, lack of water, punishment of Moshe
and Aaron, and attack from Amalek; portion also contains plague from fiery
serpents and cure from looking at copper fiery serpent, whose healing power
came from Hashem)
40. Balak. "For I shall raise My hand
to heaven and say, "I live forever." (portion describes Balaam's
attempt to destroy the Jewish people, which Hashem prevented, a sign of the
eternality of the Jewish people; Pinchas also raised his hand to heaven and
saved the people from the plague caused by the sin of Bal-Peor.
41. Pinchas. "If I sharpen My flashing
sword and My hand grasps judgment, I shall return vengeance upon My enemies and
upon those that hate Me shall I bring retribution (portion describes the great
act of Pinchas, who avenged Hashem's vengeance.
42. Mattos. "I shall intoxicate My
arrows with blood and My sword shall devour flesh, because of the blood of
corpse and captive, because of the earliest depredations of the enemy."
(portion describes war against Midian, exacting revenge for their previous
actions)
43. Maasei. "O nations - sing the
praises of His people, for He will avenge the blood of His servants; He will
bring retribution upon His foes, and He will appease His Land and His people.
(portion describes journeys in the desert, as well as the conquering of the
Land of Israel and the apportioning of the Land. It also describes the
Levitical cities and the Cities of Refuge)
44. Devarim. "Moses came and spoke all
the words of this Song in the ears of the people, he and Hoshea son of
Nun." (portion starts "These are the words that Moses spoke to all
Israel..."; in this portion, Moshe reprimands the people, like in Haazinu)
45. Vaetchanan. "Moses concluded
speaking all these words to all Israel." (in this portion, Moshe goes over
many of the fundamental parts of the Torah, including the Ten Commandments and
the Sh'mah)
46. Ekev. "He said to them, "Apply
your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today, with which you
are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this
Torah (in this portion, Moshe urges us to perform the entire Torah, even those
commandments one might step over with one's heels; portion also contains the
verse, "It shall be that if you forget Hashem, your G-d, and go after the G-ds
of others... I testify against you today..." (8:19))
47. Re'eh. "For it is not an empty
thing for you, for it is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong
your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan to possess it."
(portion describes blessings and curses related to mitzvot; sanctity of the
land; and many mitzvot related to daily life and the Land.)
48. Shoftim. "Hashem spoke to Moses on
this very day, saying." (portion describes appointment of judges, a king,
prophecy, all things that indicated that we will have important people to
function like Moshe in every generation)
49. Ki-Tetzeh. "Ascend to this mount of
Abarim, Mount Nebo, which is in the land of Moab, which is before Jericho, and
see the Land of Canaan that I give the Children of Israel as an inheritance.
(Moab represented evil qualities, which Moshe, by being buried opposite it,
would counteract. Moshe seeing the Land of Israel also brought tremendous
blessing to the Land. The portion begins by laws related to when a soldier
"sees" a beautiful captive; the Torah formulates a way in which to
counteract a desire for sin; the portion also contains the most commandments,
including the commandment to remember to destroy the memory of Amalek, who is
quintessential evil).
50. Ki Tavoh. "and die on the mountain
where you will ascend, and be gathered to your people, as Aaron your brother
died on Mount Hor, and was gathered to his people" (the portion contains
many curses, associated with death and destruction)
51. Nitzavim. "because you trespassed
against Me among the Children of Israel at the waters of Meribath-kadesh, in
the wildereness of Zin; because you did not sanctify Me among the Children of
Israel. (the portion begins with the entire Jewish people being present before
Hashem [and before Moshe], and contains also warnings against idolatry and
other transgressions; the people are responsible for revealed sins (those
performed in front of others) and must combat them)
52. Vayelech. "For from a distance
shall you see the Land, but you shall not enter there, into the Land that I
give to the Children of Israel." (In this portion, Moshe says, "I can
no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, "You shall not
cross this Jordan. Hashem, your G-d, He will cross before you..."
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