[RTM Torah Portions] - Parashat Miqeitz

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Tony Robinson and his family

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

Shalom! And Welcome To Everyone Who Is New To The Group!

This  coming Shabbat, December 3, 2010 we will read Parashat Miqeitz, Genesis 41:1-44:17.   The haftara reading is 1 Kings 3:15-4:1.  You can download the lesson as a PDF file or a WORD file or as the Children's lesson PDF file.  Don't forget to listen to some of the audio visual lessons for the Torah portions here...

http://restorationoftorah.org/ThinkingThematically/ThinkTank.htm

I will be adding audio video content for the last three Torah portions, but they'll probably be uploaded the week after the Torah portion.  Also, I will be uploading more audiovisual stuff for the other books also, so keep your eyes open for e-mails announcing them.

Connection of Week

Here's something you may not have thought of.  Abraham was chosen to begin a great nation.  However, only Isaac was chosen (not Ishmael!) to start this nation.  One would have thought that  all of Isaac's children would be called to participate in that nation.  However, as we learned in Parashats Toldot and Vayeitzei, only Jacob (not Esau!) was called!  Also note that is is Adonai who decides who is called and who isn't,  Also note that it is typically not the firstborn!  So, Jacob has 12 sons.  Do you think that perhaps there was some behind the scenes jockeying for position between them?  Maybe Jacob (and his sons for that matter) think that Adonai is only going to choose one of Jacob's 12 sons to go on to become the great nation?  This may  help explain some of the sibling rivalry we see in our forefathers.  Once again I invite you to delve into some of the greatest literature on earth . . . these last Torah portions of Bereishit.

Ministry Opportunities

http://www.thefinalreturn.com/index.html

Hey!  The Word Is Out!!!  We are expecting hundreds of people, maybe upwards of 1000 - 1500 at this conference!  

That's right.  So, if you're planning on going . . . !

The Final Return Conference - Where Prophecy, Worship, Spirit and Truth Unite . . . 

Will be held December 10 - 12, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri at the Millennium Hotel.  

I'd like to personally invite the members of my e-mail list to join me in December in Missouri for the Final Return Conference.  The promo can be found at the link below.  I'm sure you'll be blessed by the worship and the teaching.  If you have never been to a large conference like this I encourage  you to go.  There is such a tremendous anointing on these events and Adonai will certainly meet you there in a real and living way. You will instantly feel connected with many of the folks you see and meet.  Trust me, this is going to be a very blessed time of fellowship with the saints and with Adonai.

Translations - Torah Lessons in French!!!

The French web page has been updated with lot's of articles and so far we are on target getting the weekly lessons up in time for the Weekly Parasha!  If you have any French speaking friends or relatives, please consider having them study the weekly lessons on the RTM French web page.

http://restorationoftorah.org/RTMFrench/ParashatHaShavuahFrench.htm

Translations - Torah Lessons in Dutch!!!

The Dutch has been completed with all Torah portions!  If you have any Dutch speaking friends or relatives, please consider having them read an article or two on the RTM Dutch web page.

http://restorationoftorah.org/WeeklyParshaDutch/ParashatHaShavuahDutch.htm

Translations - Torah Lessons in Spanish!!!

The Spanish has the Messiah in the Torah Portion section for every Torah lesson!  If you have any Spanish speaking friends or relatives, please consider having them read an article or two on the RTM Spanish web page. 

http://restorationoftorah.org/WeeklyParshaSpanish/ParashatHaShavuahSpanish.htm

The Sign of the Messiah Online - The Teaching Every Messianic Should See, Lest They Give In To Anti-Missionary's!!!

It's been a long time coming, but finally I have a good copy of The Sign of the Messiah online.  Many of you are familiar with the teaching of the Sign of the Messiah through the Torah lessons.  Now RTM has an 83 minute DVD quality teaching on the web site.  This is THE teaching that sets the record straight concerning whether or not Yeshua is the Messiah!  Many of you have seen the presentation.  If you have not, I strongly encourage you to view/listen.  Many Messianics are denying Yeshua as the Messiah simply because they cannot find Him in the Torah/Tanakh.  This teaching proves to anyone who is willing to listen that Yeshua is the Messiah.  It is unique in that it presents a Messianic paradigm from the Torah!  That's right.  We go to the Torah and discover what it says about the Messiah.  We prove beyond a shadow of doubt that the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua in three days is the most prophesied event concerning the Messiah in the Torah as well as the entirety of the Tanakh.  If, after reading the last sentence you're thinking, "How does the Tanakh teach about death, burial and resurrection in three days?" then this teaching is for you.  Please view this teaching and pass the link on to anyone who is struggling with Yeshua being the Messiah.  It's free!  In fact, help me by e-mailing the link to any and all of your friends.  

The video is located here...

The Sign of the Messiah

It is also now a major link on my homepage.  Get the word out!  You can help.  View it, then send it with your recommendation.  Especially send it to people struggling with the Messiahship of Yeshua.

The trailer for my new song (COMING SOON) entitled The Sign of the Messiah is here...

The Sign of the Messiah, the Song!

RTM is Now on You Tube!

RTM has begun uploading YouTube video teachings!  As long as you go to the link below and watch the videos there you won't have any problems with unwanted content.  I currently have two separate PLAYLISTS on YouTube, 1) Chiastic Revelations and 2) Resurrection in the Torah! The link to the RTM YouTube web site is . . . 

http://www.youtube.com/restorationoftorah

Here are the latest two uploads . . .

Practical Parallelisms - http://www.youtube.com/restorationoftorah#p/c/A8716190E0E1079D/5/831G2tnnx58

Literal Resurrections in the Tanakkh - http://www.youtube.com/restorationoftorah#p/c/BA69249E4ECFC7BB/4/E5_R7jZKAes

Once there, near the top of the page click on PLAYLISTS and you'll see the two playlists on the right-hand side of the page where you will be able to click on the teachings.  They are numbered, 1, 2, 3,... for ease of remembering where you are.  These are expansions on thematic teachings from the Torah lessons.  Be on the look out for a good mix of YouTube and Power Point and Video presentations.  You absolutely almost can't believe how extensive this teaching is.  But it's here, it's there, it's every where.  In fact, Adonai is literally shouting out to us through the pages of Scripture teaching us this most blessed of truths - Resurrection occurs on day THREE!  So, GET READY! 

The Restoration of Torah Ministries’ Think Tank

 Strictly speaking, a think tank is an organization, institute, corporation, or group that conducts research. The term think tank itself, however, was originally used in reference to organizations that offered military advice, most notably the RAND Corporation, formed originally in 1945. Until around 1970, there were no more than several dozen think tanks, mostly focused on offering non-partisan policy and military advice to the United States government, and generally with large staffs and research budgets. After 1970, the number of think tanks exploded, as many smaller think tanks were formed to express various partisan, political, and ideological views. Some of you may be familiar with many of the conservative (and liberal) think tanks around.

Well, RTM doesn’t have a “large staff and research budget,” neither does it give military advice to the US governmnet. So, what is the RTM Think Tank?
It’s a web page devoted to presenting you with cutting edge thematic research of the scriptures. If you have studied the Torah lessons on this site (The Parashat HaShavuah Link) then you know that Adonai has arranged His eternal Words thematically. Furthermore, you've seen many examples of how themes converge to teach many, many truths. Well, I'd like to follow-up by presenting you with more studies designed to show you how the scriptures come alive when you begin to make thematic connections! These are fresh revelations not covered in the Torah lessons. You will find teachings devoted to uncovering some of the staggering number of chiastic structures and parallelisms found in the Word. But we don't stop at uncovering them. We will examine them for their theological content. These studies will 1) enhance your understanding of the scriptures and help you learn how to apply principles of thematic study. The ThinkTank is located at the following link...  The RTM Messianic Think Tank

The Scroll of the Gospel of David - Discovering a prophecy of the death, burial and resurrection of Yeshua in II Samuel 15:10 - 20:2
The book, The Scroll of the Gospel of David - If you have not bought a copy, I urge you to consider doing so. This book is an amazing source of Messianic information from an "Old Testament" perspective. There are very few sources that make such extensive use of the Tanakh (Old Testament) to prove that Yeshua is the Messiah. The Scroll of the Gospel of David is one such source. It is a practical application of what you learn each week during the Torah lessons you study from RTM. Again, if you don't have a copy...Get One! You will not be disappointed! If you would like, you can purchase The Scroll of the Gospel of David. Just go to the following web page . . .
The Scroll of the Gospel of David
 . . . and you will find instructions on where to purchase. It is an 8 1/2 x 11 inch paperback book that sells for 18.00 + shipping and handling. It can be shipped throughout the world.

The Scroll of the Gospel According to King David

Hebrew Version is Here!

It can be purchased at the webpage marketkplace.

Torah To The Nations - The RTM Parashat HaShavuah is already translated into Dutch & Spanish.  But can you believe we may soon have them in German, French, Urdu, Panjabi and Russian as well as various articles in Africaan!

Due to faithful translators who want their people to study RTM's Torah lessons in their native tongue, we are able to offer the weekly Torah lessons in Dutch and Spanish. The Dutch page is up and running and so is the Spanish page. If you'd like to see this week's Torah lesson in Dutch click here >>>>> Link To All Dutch Torah Lessons
For the Spanish lesson click here >>>>> Link To All Spanish Torah Lessons

For the French lesson click here >>>>> Link To All French Torah Lessons

If you know how life changing these Torah lessons are and have a burden to see them translated into your native language, please see if Adonai would have you be a blessing by translating them!

Shalom, The Robinson's 

______________________________

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The Parashat HaShavuah (Weekly Torah Portion) E-Mail List From Restoration of Torah Ministries

 

HaMaayan / The Torah Spring - Parshas Miketz

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Rabby Shlomo Katz and Torah.org

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

Hamaayan         by Shlomo Katz         Print Version
To support Torah.org click here

Parshas Miketz Volume 25, No. 10 27 Kislev 5771 December 4, 2010 Sponsored by the Vogel family on the yahrzeit of mother and grandmother Miriam bat Yehuda Leib a"h (Mary Kalkstein) Today's Learning: Tanach: Melachim II 5-6 Mishnah: Shevi'it 6:4-5 Halachah: O.C. 579:2-580:2 Daf Yomi (Bavli): Zevachim 31 Daf Yomi (Yerushalmi): Ma'aser Sheni 25 Near the end of our parashah, we read that Yosef told his assistant to hide his (Yosef's) silver goblet in Binyamin's bag and then to chase the brothers and "find" the goblet. According to the midrash, the assistant was none other than Yosef's son, Menashe. The Torah relates (44:12-13), "He searched; he began with the oldest and ended with the youngest; and the goblet was found in Binyamin's sack. They rent their garments." In Parashat Matot, we read that two-and-a-half tribes--Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe--received their portions of Eretz Yisrael east of the Jordan River. R' Chaim Palagi z"l (1788-1868; rabbi of Izmir, Turkey) writes that the tribe of Menashe was split in two as a punishment for their ancestor Menashe's causing Yosef's brothers to tear their garments, as related in our parashah. (Artzot Ha'Chaim) R' Eliyahu Hakohen z"l (also from Izmir; died 1729) writes: The tribe of Reuven settled on the east bank of the Jordan because it had many sheep, and the east bank was prime pastureland. Why did Reuven merit to have so many sheep? We read in last week's parashah that Reuven devised a plan to save Yosef from his brothers. However, before he could fully implement his plan, Reuven went home to care for his father, Yaakov. When Reuven returned, he found that Yosef was gone, and he tore his clothes. Why did he tear his clothes? Because, R' Eliyahu explains, although it was Reuven's turn to care for his father, he was the firstborn; as such, he could have ordered one of his younger brothers to go in his place, and he could have stayed behind with the sheep to protect Yosef. In the merit of his profound regret at not having remained with the sheep, Reuven merited that his descendants had many sheep. (Semuchin L'ad: Parashat Matot) ******** "Now let Pharaoh seek out a discerning and wise man and set him over the land of Egypt . . . Then Pharaoh said to Yosef, `Since G-d has informed you (literally, `given you knowledge') of all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you!'" (41:33, 39) Commentaries pose a number of questions regarding these verses, among them: (1) Yosef was brought to Pharaoh to interpret the latter's dream; why did Yosef take the liberty of giving Pharaoh advice? (2) Da'at / knowledge, binah / discernment and chochmah / wisdom are three separate qualities; how did Pharaoh conclude from the fact that Yosef had knowledge that he also had discernment and wisdom? (3) Why did Pharaoh say, "Since G-d has informed you of all this"? R' Yehuda Leib Halevi Eidel z"l (Poland; 1757-1805) answers these questions based on the answer to another question (based in part on the commentary of Ramban z"l): How did Yosef know that G-d intended the Egyptians to stockpile food during the seven years of plenty to use during the seven years of famine? He answers: Yosef discerned this based on a seeming contradiction within Pharaoh's dream. On the one hand, we read (in verse 21), "They [the healthy cows] came inside them [the unhealthy cows]." This, says Ramban, implies that something from the first seven years would "enter" the other seven years. On the other hand, we read (in the same verse), "But it was not apparent that they had come inside them." This implies that the seven years of famine would be so devastating that no memory of the seven years of plenty would remain. From this, Yosef concluded that there were two possible outcomes: if food was stockpiled, then something from the first seven years would survive into the other seven years. But, if no food was stockpiled, then the famine would be so devastating that no memory of the years of plenty would remain. It follows that when Yosef told Pharaoh that he should appoint someone to supervise the gathering of food during the seven years of plenty, Yosef was not giving advice; he was merely interpreting the dream. [This answers the first question above.] R' Eidel continues: When the Torah relates Pharaoh's dreams as he dreamt them, it does not say, "But it was not apparent that they [the healthy cows] had come inside them [the unhealthy cows]." Presumably this is how Pharaoh related his dreams to his wise men--omitting this detail, either because he forgot or because he deliberately concealed it for some reason. In contrast, when Pharaoh told the dreams to Yosef, Hashem awakened him to include this detail, which, in turn, led Yosef to understand that Pharaoh was meant to stockpile food during the years of plenty (as explained above). This is why Pharaoh said, "Since G-d has informed you of all this"--with emphasis on "all." [This answers the third question.] Furthermore, Pharaoh said: You have told me that the message of my dream is that I should appoint a "discerning and wise man." "Since G-d has informed you of all this" -- i.e., of the detail of my dream that I had forgotten, the very detail from which you know that so meone must be appointed -- it is a sign that, in G-d's opinion, "there is no one so discerning and wise as you!" Apparently, you are the discerning and wise person that I am meant to appoint. [This answers the second question.] (Afikei Yehuda: Drush 29) ******** "Pharaoh called Yosef's name Tzofnat-Paneach." (41:45) Rashi z"l explains: "Revealer of hidden things." R' Machir z"l Hy"d (Spain; 14th century) writes: The Hebrew letters of this name are the initials of "Tzaddik panah negged ta'avato; Potiphar inah nafsho chinam" / "The righteous one (Yosef) turned aside in the face of his desire (for Potiphar's wife); Potiphar oppressed him for no reason." (Avkat Rocheil ch.56) ******** "Yosef saw his brothers and he recognized them, but he acted like a stranger toward them." (42:7) Rashi z"l writes that the brothers did not recognize Yosef because he had left home without a beard, and now he had a beard. However, writes R' Yitzchak Isaac Sher z"l (1875-1952; rosh yeshiva of the Slobodka Yeshiva in Lithuania and Bnei Brak, Israel), this is difficult to understand; after all, many people recognize individuals whom they last saw without a beard and now see with a beard! Moreover, our Sages say that Yosef resembled Yaakov, who presumably did have a beard. Why, then, did the brothers not recognize that the Egyptian official standing before them looked like their father? On top of this, there were many other signs that they missed. For example, the midrash relates that the Egyptian official (Yosef) demonstrated such superhuman strength that his brother Shimon even commented that he shared this trait with the family of Yaakov. Also, the Egyptian correctly "divined" the birth order of the brothers who stood before him and the fact that they had different mo thers. Even so, they did not suspect that the Egyptian was their brother! How can this be? R' Sher answers that this teaches us how far a person's own thoughts can lead him to erroneous conclusions. The midrash relates that Yosef's brothers did not immediately go to purchase food when they arrived in Egypt. First, they visited the "red-light districts" searching for their brother Yosef. They reasoned that because he was so handsome, that was surely where he was to be found. Having formed this picture of a lowly, immoral Yosef, it was thereafter impossible for the brothers to imagine a regal, noble Yosef. This, concludes R' Sher, should be a warning to us of the power of a heretical or immoral thought to be absorbed into our subconscious from our surroundings and to corrupt our system of beliefs. (Lekket Sichot Mussar Vol.I p.127) R' Don Yitzchak Abarbanel z"l (1437-1508; author of a significant commentary on Tanach and of numerous other works; advisor to the monarchs of Portugal, Spain and several Italian states) writes that Yosef was very much afraid of being recognized. This is why Yosef accused his brothers of spying as soon as they appeared before him. His intention was to distract them and worry them so that they would not have the presence of mind to observe him closely. (Beur Al Ha'Torah) ******** A Meal from Eretz Yisrael "Yisrael their father said to them, `If it must be so, then do this: Take mi'zimrat ha'aretz / of the land's glory in your baggage and bring it down to the man [i.e., Yosef] as a tribute-- a bit of balsam, a bit of honey, wax, lotus, pistachios, and almonds'." (43:11) What is special about this gift, which consists of items that surely could be found in Pharaoh's court? R' Yosef Bechor Shor z"l (France; 12th century) explains: "Mi'zimrat ha'aretz" is a language of "song" or "praise," and it refers to those items because of which people praise the Land. They say, "How good is Eretz Yisrael, which has fruits such as these!" R' Moshe Zuriel shlita (former mashgiach ruchani of Yeshivat Sha'alvim) explains further: While the items that the brothers took were already available in Egypt, they were special merely because they were from Eretz Yisrael. This idea is found in the Midrash Esther Rabbah, which comments on the verse (Esther 1:4), "When he displayed the riches of his glorious kingdom," as follows: "He showed them a meal from Eretz Yisrael." The Maharal of Prague z"l explains: Since the Torah says about Eretz Yisrael (Devarim 8:9), "You will lack nothing there," it was Achashveirosh's possession of Eretz Yisrael which enabled him to make a feast that was truly fit for a king. R' Zuriel continues: We read in Midrash Shir Ha'shirim Rabbah that the prophet Daniel returned to Eretz Yisrael from Babylon, "It is preferable for us to eat a meal from Eretz Yisrael and recite a blessing over Eretz Yisrael." This teaches, concludes R' Zuriel, that Birkat Hamazon takes on an added dimension when the food that was eaten was grown in Eretz Yisrael. (Drishat Tzion)     Copyright &copy 2010 by Shlomo Katz and Torah.org. The editors hope these brief 'snippets' will engender further study and discussion of Torah topics ('lehagdil Torah u'leha'adirah'), and your letters are appreciated. Web archives at Torah.org start with 5758 (1997) and may be retrieved from the Hamaayan page. Hamaayan needs your support! Please consider sponsoring Hamaayan in honor of a happy occasion or in memory of a loved one. The low cost of sponsorship is $36. Donations to HaMaayan are tax-deductible. Questions or comments? Email feedback@torah.org. Join the Jewish Learning Revolution! Torah.org: The Judaism Site brings this and a host of other classes to you every week. Visit http://torah.org or email learn@torah.org to get your own free copy of this mailing. Permission is granted to redistribute, but please give proper attribution and copyright to the author and Torah.org. Both the author and Torah.org reserve certain rights. Email copyrights@torah.org for full information.

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Rabbi Zweig - Parshas Miketz & Chanukah

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Rabbi Yochanan Zweig and Torah.org

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

Rabbi Zweig on the Parsha         by Rabbi Yochanan Zweig         Print Version
To sponsor an edition of the Rabbi Zweig on the Parsha e-mail list, click here

Parshas Miketz & Chanukah To Fergin or Forget "...seven cows of beautiful appearance and robust flesh..." (41:2) Pharaoh dreams that as he is standing over the Nile seven cows "y'fos mareh" - "of beautiful appearance" and "briyos bassar" - "robust flesh" emerge from the river. Subsequently, seven other cows, ugly and gaunt, emerge and consume the beautiful and robust cows. Yoseif interprets that the first seven cows represent seven years of abundance, which are to be followed by seven years of famine, represented by the second set of cows. Most of the commentaries see a correlation between the cows and the Egyptian economy. Being an agricultural society, Egypt's economic wellbeing is defined in terms of their livestock; abundance results in well-fed animals while famine results in malnourished animals.[1] However, Rashi chooses to explain the symbolism in a different manner. Rashi's comment on the expression "y'fos mareh" - "of beautiful appearance" is that it alludes to the years of "sovah", when people will view each other favorably.[2] Clearly, Rashi is teaching that the cows rep resent the people and not the livestock owned by the Egyptians. What prompts Rashi to interpret the verse differently than most of the other commentaries? If, according to Rashi, the cows represent the people's attitudes towards one another, how do we interpret the latter half of the verse "briyos bassar" - "robust flesh"? The term used by the Torah for the years of plenty is "sova". Rashi understands that "sova" does not only refer to abundance, but contentment as well. Contentment is not gauged by the state of the economy alone; it is a state of mind. If a person is able to view another's success favorably, then he is truly content. Many people have more resources than they will ever need, but still begrudge others their success. They become so consumed with the success of others, that they forget their own accomplishments and are therefore unable to find satisfaction in the fruit of their labor. Therefore, Rashi identifies the "sova gadol" - "a time of great contentment" as a time when people are able to view each other favorably. This concept is alluded to by the seven cows "y'fos mareh" - "of beautiful appearance". Rashi's interpretation is corroborated by the comments made by the Midrash on the end of the verse "vatirenah b'achu" - "and they were grazing in the marsh". The Midrash comments "ahava ve'achva ba'olam" - "it is a time of love and brotherhood in the world".[3] One person can view another favorably only if he sees himself in a healthy light. Self-respect coupled with the ability to gauge ourselves by our own accomplishments allows us the security to share in the happiness and success of others. This is alluded to by the description of the cows "briyos bassar" - "robust flesh", for they have a healthy disposition.. If a person does not have self-respect and can only gauge his own accomplishments in terms of others', he will be forever threatened by their success and therefore never rejoice in his own. 1.Ramban 41:2 2.Rashi ibid. 3.Bereishis Rabbah 89:4 Welcome To The J.C.C Of Mt. Moriah The Mishna in Midos relates that the Greeks breached the walls surrounding the Beis Hamikdash in thirteen places.[1] Chazal view these breaches as symbolic of the chasm created by the Greeks within the Jewish people as a result of their attempts to eradicate Torah observance. The Talmud states that King Solomon was taken to task for sealing breaches in the wall surrounding the Beis Hamikdash, for doing so inhibited access to Jewish pilgrims.[2] If the breaches in the wall allowed greater accessibility to the Beis Hamikdash, why were the breaches created by the Greeks viewed in such a negative light? The Talmud states that two contributing factors in the death of the ignorant is their reference to the "Holy ark" as "arna" - "a closet" and naming their houses of worship "Beth Am" - "House of the People".[3] Why are these actions considered shortcomings? What is the connection between the two behaviors? In Hilchos Beis Habechira the Rambam records as the source of the obligation to build the Beis Hamikdosh the verse in Parshas Teruma "v'asu li mikdosh" - "make for Me a sanctuary".[4] The Lechem Mishna comments that the Rambam appears to be contradicting himself, for in Hichos Melachim the Rambam cites the verse "l'shichno sidreshu u'vasah shama" - "you shall seek out His Presence and come there".[5] How do we reconcile this contradiction? The Beis Hamikdosh served two main functions. In addition to functioning as a place for Bnei Yisroel to serve Hashem, it was also the center for the entire nation to gather three times a year to express their unity and solidarity. The verses cited by the Rambam reflect these two functions. The verse "l'shichno sidreshu u'vasah shama" - "you shall seek out His Presence and come there" emphasizes the need for a place for the nation to gather.[6] The Rambam cites this verse in Hilchos Melachim together with the monarchial responsibilities, for the king serves to unite the nation. In Hilchos Beis Habechira which records the various elements of service found in the Beis Hamikdosh, the Rambam records the verse "v'asu li mikdosh" - "make for Me a sanctuary" for this reflects the requirement to have a place of service.[7] Both of these requirements compliment one another for the only true unifying force that the Jewish Nation has is their commitment to uphold their spiritual heri tage. It is because the Beis Hamikdosh is a place of service that it can also function as the rallying point for Bnei Yisroel. The Levush explains that the reason why we celebrate Chanukah with "hallel v'hoda'ah" - "praise and thanksgiving" whereas Purim is celebrated by "se'udah u'mishteh" - "festive meals" is that the Greek threat was not a physical one, rather an attempt to eradicate any vestige of spirituality from our lives. Therefore, we celebrate in a spiritual manner, "hallel v'hoda'ah". On Purim our physical existence was at stake, prompting our celebrating in a physical manner.[8] The Greeks were not attempting to destroy our national identity, rather they wanted to preserve Judaism as a culture devoid of spirituality. The breeches made to the Temple were to create greater accessibility to it. The Temple was to serve as a great cultural center. All the rules and regulations restricting entry to those who were spiritually contaminated were to be abolished. No longer were the "archaic" laws of sanctity and purity to be heeded. Such a course of action would be catastrophic to the Jewish pe ople, for without our commitment to spirituality we could not survive. Under the leadership of Solomon, Bnei Yisroel had a king and Temple that unified us spiritually. Since all laws of sanctity were being observed, the decision to limit the pilgrims was merely political. Therefore, limiting access to the Temple was the wrong course of action. The Talmud castigates those who name their houses of worship "Beth Am" - "House of the People" for they fail to realize that it is the worship that unifies the nation and not our culture. Similarly, referring to the "Aron Hakodesh" as a "closet" reflects the view that the Torah is no more than a mere cultural artifact, a history book. Jews from different parts of the world do not share a common culture or language. It is only their spiritual legacy and commitment that binds them. By emphasizing culture over worship, the house of worship becomes a glorified community center, slowly being drained of its spirituality. It is then that the Maccabees' victory over the Hellenistic forces must be re-examined. 1.2:3 2.Sanhedrin 101b 3.Shabbos 32a 4.1:1 5.1:1 6.Devarim 12:5 7.Shemos 25:8 8.Orech Chaim 670     Questions or comments? Email feedback@torah.org. Join the Jewish Learning Revolution! Torah.org: The Judaism Site brings this and a host of other classes to you every week. Visit http://torah.org or email learn@torah.org to get your own free copy of this mailing. Permission is granted to redistribute, but please give proper attribution and copyright to the author and Torah.org. Both the author and Torah.org reserve certain rights. Email copyrights@torah.org for full information.

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[Par-reg.w] Parshat Miketz

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

The Tanach Study Center by Menachem Leibtag

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

The Tanach Study Center
Copyright (c) 2005 by Menachem Leibtag
Email:  ml@tanach.org 

For an archive of all previous shiurim, visit our website www.tanach.org

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Torah 2 The Nations, Wed, Dec 1, 2010

Can we do תפילות prayers for:

Torah 2 The Nations

That also through them The האור Light, רפואה The Healing and The ואהבה Love of ישועת יהוה Yeshuath YHWH may come back to הארץ The Land of Israel?

 

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Torah 2 The Nations