Can we do תפילות prayers for:
The Temple Institute?
So that 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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"And I will bless them." (Numbers 6:27) Sivan 11, 5772/May 31, 2012
Parashat Naso, (Numbers 4:21-7:89), picks
up where Bamidbar leaves off, with
a description of the preparations being made by the Israelite encampment in
anticipation of entering into the land of Canaan. Not only logistical
preparations are being made, such as the division of labor among the
Levites, but also preparations of a societal-spiritual nature are being
made. Three different cases are discussed in this week's Torah reading,
each being very different from the other, but all three sharing certain
common denominators. The case of the individual afflicted with tzarat, (translated as "leprosy"),
previously described in Leviticus, is here referred to again, this time
emphasizing that the sufferer of tzarat must exile himself to outside the
limits of the encampment, until he has become pure again. Torah then
focuses on the sotah, a woman
accused by her husband of infidelity. And finally, Torah mentions the nazarite, an individual who takes upon
himself an extra vow of abstinence from wine and other luxuries, for a
pre-delineated period of time. In each of these three cases, the
individual's status vis a vis the
rest of society and vis a vis the
Divine Presence, the Shechinah, as
embodied by the Tabernacle, (Holy Temple), is being presented with a severe
challenge.
The
sufferer of tzarat, we have
previously learned, was afflicted with skin lesions as a direct result of
lashon hara - derogatory gossip
aimed at others - which, as a result has caused the source of the invective
to be sent far from the Tabernacle and cast out of the encampment. His
return to society is contingent on purification and an offering brought to
the Holy Temple.
The
sotah refers to a woman who has
been accused, justly or unjustly, (we do not know), by her husband of
infidelity. Rather than being cast out, the sotah is brought, by her own agreement,
to the Tabernacle itself, where a sensitively calibrated ceremony will
determine her virtue, and reinstate her with her husband, and the two of
them with society, (or not).
The
case of the nazarite refers to a
person who feels the need to take upon himself restrictions not otherwise
proscribed by Torah. He is deliberately and intentionally separating
himself from society for a predetermined period of time. Both his self
imposed exit and subsequent reentry into society are marked by offerings
that he brings to the Tabernacle.
All
three of these cases take place in light of the new reality which now
exists within the Israelite encampment, a new reality which will accompany
them into the land of Israel and which will forever inform the children of
Israel in the land of Israel: At the heart of the nation is the Holy
Temple. One cannot violate the integrity of social cohesion without causing
himself to be distanced from the Holy Temple - the place of the Divine
Shechinah. Likewise, in order to
repair the damage done, one must repent and desist from his or her
"anti-social" behavior. But this alone is not enough. One can only return
via the Holy Temple, that is, via the appropriate offerings or ceremony.
The Divine presence and the nation of Israel are
indivisible.
Torah
follows these three scenarios with a ceremony which illustrates this same
reality, but from a very different perspective: "HaShem spoke to Moshe saying: Speak to Aharon
and his sons, saying: This is how you shall bless the children of Israel,
saying to them: May HaShem bless you and watch over you. May HaShem cause
His countenance to shine upon you and favor you. May HaShem raise His
countenance toward you and grant you peace. They shall place My Name upon
the children of Israel, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6:22-27)
Known as birkat kohanim, (the
priestly blessing), this triple benediction is recognized the world over.
The blessing was recited daily by the priests in the Holy Temple. The
priests, as we know, are characterized by the attributes of their
progenitor Aharon, older brother of
Moshe. Aharon is first described in
the book of Exodus thusly: "behold, he
[Aharon] is coming forth toward you [Moshe], and when he sees you, he will
rejoice in his heart." (Exodus 4:14) That is, Aharon is the embodiment and
personification of brotherly love. It is precisely with this spirit of
brotherly love in mind that G-d calls upon the sons of Aharon throughout all the generations to
bless their brothers, the children of Israel. But look closely: The
blessing is followed with these words: "They shall place My Name upon the children of
Israel, and I will bless them." (Numbers 6:27) That is, the blessing
that the kohanim bestow upon their
brothers creates the unity and love that G-d so desires among
His children that He, in turn, blesses the entire assembled congregation: a
perfect embrace between brothers and between G-d and His
people Israel.
Birkat kohanim is recited each and every
day in the land of Israel, twice on Shabbat and festivals, and three times
on Yom Kippur. It has been incorporated into the morning prayer service,
where it is uttered by kohanim who
stand facing the congregation. It is not a remnant or a remembrance of the
original commandment as described in parashat Naso. It is the commandment
itself. This blessing is an eternal flame that has continued to burn
bright throughout two millennia of exile. Its daily recital is a constant
reminder that the words of our prophets are true: Israel has returned and
the Holy Temple will be rebuilt. The brotherly love as expressed in the
blessing, which in turn, inspires the Divine love of the Shechinah, will see to
this.
Among
Jewish communities of the diaspora, however, a different custom prevails.
Birkat kohanim, the priestly
blessing is not recited on a daily basis. It is only recited on five
occasions throughout the year: the high holidays and the three festivals.
This daily expression of brotherly love is absent in diaspora communities,
as is the daily affirmation of this love by the Divine presence. If no
other reason existed, this alone should compel every Jew living outside of
today's Israelite encampment to desire to join their brethren in the land
of Israel at once.
Two
times a year, during the intermediate days of Sukkot and Pesach, birkat kohanim is performed at the
Western Wall, in the shadow of the Temple Mount, the place of the Holy
Temple. Tens of thousand of Israelis and tourists stream to the plaza in
order to receive the blessing being performed by hundreds of kohanim. Covered by their tallitot, (prayer shawls), the kohanim create a stunning sea of white.
This triple blessing uttered by the priests and "seconded" by
G-d is for all who avail themselves of it. It doesn't happen
via the internet. One doesn't receive it via Facebook or Twitter or SMS.
You don't need an iPod or iPad or Bluetooth or Wifi. You don't need to rent
out a baseball stadium in order to hear the fifteen Hebrew words uttered by
the priests. You just need to be present here in the land of Israel, facing
your brothers, receiving their love, and basking in the glow of the Shechinah. No wonder Torah included the
priestly blessing among the Israelite preparations for entry into the land
of Israel, and no wonder it has regained such prominence in Israel's modern
day return to the land. Soon, in this same spirit of brotherly love and
Divine blessing we shall take up the task of building with our own hands
and hearts, the Holy Temple, from which blessing will come forth for all
mankind!
|
 Tune in to this week's Temple
Talk, as Rabbi Chaim Richman and Yitzchak Reuven ponder the nazarite's dilemma, and consider the test
of the sotah and the mystery of
erasing G-d's name. As the people of Israel prepare to read
parashat Naso this week, we have
received the Torah anew at Mount Sinai on Shavuout and we are poised, in
this book of Numbers, to enter into the Land of Israel. But suddenly we
encounter two unusual individuals in our Torah portion: the sotah, or suspected adulteress, and the
nazarite, who has taken a personal
vow of abstention. In this week's edition of Temple
Talk,
our hosts explore the relationship between these two iconoclastic
archetypes, and their eternal significance in the spiritual odyssey that is
Israel's mission on this earth. Why does G-d allow His holy
name to be erased, and why is that essential for the survival of humanity?
It's all part of the cosmic rectification that takes place in the Holy
Temple. |
 Astonishing Footage Of Jerusalem Day
Prayer, Song And Blessings On The Temple Mount! For the first time
in many years, a large gathering of Jews were able to pray, sing and say
blessings while on the Temple Mount, unhindered by nearby police. The
contingent of Jewish worshipers was led by Knesset members Michael Ben Ari
and Uri Ariel, as well as Rabbi Yisrael Ariel, founder of the Temple
Institute, and other prominent rabbis and public figures. Click here to
view. |
 "If You Build It, He Will
Come": Watch this three minute promotional video for Rabbi Richman's
upcoming USA June tour! Click here to
view. |
 Rabbi Chaim Richman in the USA, June 2012: "IF YOU
BUILD IT, HE WILL COME"
"And He called to Moses, and Hashem spoke to him
from the Tent of Meeting, saying, when a man among you... " (Lev.
1)
Who is
the man who hears the voice?
"The voice of Hashem comes in power! The voice
of Hashem comes in majesty! The voice of Hashem breaks the cedars, the
voice of Hashem strips the forests bare, while in His Temple all will
proclaim 'glory!'" (Psalms 29)
Who
hears the voice?
Who hears the voice that calls out every day
from Mount Sinai, "Make for Me a Sanctuary, and I will dwell among
them?" (Ex. 25:8)
Who
hears the voice that calls out, "because
of My Temple which is ruined, while you run, each to his own house."
(Hagai 1:9)
Of all the issues we confront today, there is only one which holds the key.
The key to peace, prosperity, security, and fulfillment - the rebuilding of
the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, the place that
G-d has
chosen.
What is
holding back the people of Israel from rebuilding the Temple today? How
close are we? How will the nations of the world be affected? Are the
obstacles really that insurmountable... or could we overcome them if we
only try? Are we waiting for
G-d to step in and
perform a miracle... or is He waiting for us to take the initiative? How
can this dream become a reality in our life time? What is the relationship
between the promise of the Holy Temple, and major issues such as the peace
process, Palestinian terror, America's relationship with Israel and the
Iranian nuclear threat?
If you build it, he will come. With
G-d's help Rabbi
Richman will be visiting the United States this coming June to share the
Torah's message of the immediate rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the source
of blessing for the whole world.
Time to roll up our sleeves and get to
work!
From
June 11th through June 20th, Rabbi Richman will be speaking in different
cities throughout Texas and New Mexico. Click here for
details.
|
 This week's all-new Return
of Prophecy teaching by Rabbi Avraham Sutton, is entitled, "Chapter 27: The Role of the Tzadik: It is the role of our righteous teachers and
leaders to lift us up and bring us closer to HaShem, even through our
questions and our doubts" Click here
to view. |
 What's in a name? Everything - if we're talking about the name of
G-d. Just as G-d willingly allows His name to be
erased for the sake of exonerating the accused sotah, He allows for His name to be
desecrated for the sake of proving Israel's fidelity. Click here
to view Rabbi Richman's teaching on parashat Naso (Numbers
4:21-7:89). |
 The 3rd Annual Temple Mount
Awareness Day Happening: Part 7: Rabbi Mois Navon, of the Ptil
Tekhelet organization, manufacturers of the biblical blue techelet dye, used in tzitziyot, (ritual fringes), and priestly
garments, discusses the colorful history of techelet from antiquity to the
contemporary reestablishment of the venerated techelet industry. With Steve Levine and
Rabbi Chaim Richman Click here
to view. |
 Part 6, featuring Tziporra
Piltz. Click here to
view. |
 Part 5, featuring Hillel Richman and
Frankie Snyder. Click here to
view. |
 Part 4, featuring Yehudah
Katz, and his band. Click here to
view. |
 Part 3, featuring Yisrael
Medad, Temple Mount activist and media expert. Click here to
view. |
 Part 2, featuring Rabbi Nachman
Kahana, beloved and highly esteemed Kohen, Torah scholar and author.
Click here to
view. |
 Part 1, featuring Moshe
Feiglin, head of the Likud's Manhigut Yehudit, (Jewish Leadership),
Faction. Click here to
view. |
 Chag Shavuot Sameach - a Joyous
Shavuot - from the holy city of Jerusalem,
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple
Institute
|
 Help us build the
future.Click here. |
|
THE TEMPLE INSTITUTE
PO Box 31876
Jerusalem, Israel 97500
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Say Yes to Abba Yahweh and His Laws special in
this time when Abba Yahweh is 'testing' us:
Hab 1:12 Art thou not mikedem (‘everlasting’ also said of
Moshiach, indicating Moshiach’s eternal divine nature: Dan
7:14 And there was given Him
(Moshiach) dominion, and honor, and sovereignty, that all people, Goyim,
tongues, should pey-lammed-chet. [ii](worship
as deity) (see Dan 3:12, serve, reverence as deity Him (Moshiach). His dominion
is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His (Messianic)
Kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.]see Michoh 5:1[2]; Yahweh Elohai (my
Elohim) Kedoshi (my Holy One)? We shall not die. Yahweh, Thou hast appointed
them for mishpat (ordinance); O Tzur, Thou hast ordained them for reproof.
(Please read the whole book of HaNavi Habakuk)
Please take it serious what Abba Yahweh is telling us in: Deu 18:15 Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohim) will raise up unto thee a Navi (prophet) from among thee, of thy achim (bretheren), kamoni (like me Exo 32:30 The next day Moshe said to the people, "You have committed a terrible sin. Now I will go up to Yahweh; maybe I will be able to atone for your sin."); unto him ye must listen;
Deu 18:16 According to all that thou
desired of Yahweh Eloheicha (your Elohimin) Chorev in the Yom HaKahal (day of
the congregation), saying, Let me not hear again the voice of Yahweh Elohav
(your Elohim), neither let me see this eish hagedolah (‘great fire’) any more,
that I die not.
Deu 18:17 And Yahweh said unto me, They
have well-spoken that which they have spoken.
Deu 18:18 I will raise them up a Navi
(prophet) from among their achim (brethren), like unto thee, and will put My
words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him
[Yn 10:18].
Deu 18:19 And it shall come to pass,
that whosoever will not listen unto My words which he shall speak Bishmi (in My
Name), I will require it of him.
Joh 8:28 Therefore, Rebbe, Melech
HaMoshiach said to them, When you perform the hagbah (lifting up) of
the Ben HaAdam, you will have da'as (knowledge) that Ani Hu [YESHAYAH
41:4; SHEMOT 3:14-16], and from myself I do nothing, but as HaAv (the Father)
of me taught me, these things I speak.
[ii]
Dictionary of the Talmud. M. Jastrow p. 1178 פלח
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