Monday, July 23, 2012

Sfas Emes - Parshas Devarim

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Nosson Chayim Leff and Torah.org?

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	Sfas Emes
	by Nosson Chayim Leff
	Print Version

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The weekly Sfas Emes is now available in a Sefer. The Seferis called Emes Ve'emunah : A Sfas Emes Companion. This Sefer contains all of the materials in the weekly emails, plus new insights. The Sefer also contains the text in lashon hakodesh on which the Sfas Emes worked to produce his ma'amar. Accessing the the Sfas Emes via the Sefer offers advantages. You have the week's Torah without having to print the email. You have the Sfas Emes' text--which could not be sent by email. Also many people who would enjoy the Sfas Emes do not have internet. You can purchase this Sefer at your favorite bokstore, or online, at the Targum or Feldheim websites. Emes Ve'Emunah will also be available for purchase or perusal at the SOY Seform Sale, January 15-January 24.

Parshas Devarim

Note the following problem. Too often, when we encounter a mashal (metaphor, parable ), or a statement that Chazal wrapped in the form of aggada, we assume that its message is only of marginal importance. For this reason, we do not make the effort to penetrate the code or the metaphor within which the message is presented.

By contrast, when the Sfas Emes works with a difficult ma'amar of Chazal, he insists that the statement must make sense. Accordingly, he takes the time and effort necessary to understand the ma'amar,and explain it to us. Here are two examples that illustrate the Sfas Emes's discipline in this respect. They also show the potential benefit that we can gain from taking Chazal's words seriously rather than taking the path of "let's skip the Aggadata."

For the first example, we go to, the second paragraph of the Sfas Emes's ma'amar in the year 5634. That paragraph: "Kol Dor ..." (That is: "Any generation in which the Beis Hamikdash is not rebuilt is on the same low spiritual level as the generation which merited the Churban -- the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash.")

If taken seriously and literally, this is a very powerful, if enigmatic, statement. So much so that that the Sfas Emes explicitly questioned its truth. Thus, he observed that, in fact there had been, many generations following the Churban in which exceptionally worthy and pious people ("tzaddikei elyon") lived. Can we honestly say of those generations, he asks, that they literally merited the Churban of the Beis Hamikdash in their days ? Likewise, do we truly expect that there will arise a generation so virtuous that it will, on its own, merit the Ge'ula (Redemption) that no earlier generation deserved?

The Sfas Emes answers that the Ge'ula will come as the result of a cumulative process, in which the spiritual achievements of each generation will be added to those of all preceding generations until finally we reach the "target level." Thus, every generation that adds spirituality to the world, by bringing light to where darkness had previously reigned, participates in building the Beis Hamikdash. (Note: This perspective implies a view of history as progress rather than of decline or degeneration.) It turns out, then, that the Jewish people have actually been rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash throughout the entire duration of the Golus!

Further, we can be building it right now. The Sfas Emes notes that this ongoing process is precisely referred to (twice) in our Siddur (in the daily Shemoneh Esrei and in Birkas Hamazon): namely, "Bonei Yerushalayim" ("He who builds - present tense! -- Yerushalayim").

The Sfas Emes explains that this Chazal ("Any generation in which the Beis Hamikdash is not rebuilt ... ") refers to a generation that does not participate at all in the cumulative process.

So far, following the text from Chazal, the Sfas Emes has been speaking in terms of "generations"; i.e., Klal Yisroel as a collectivity can be rebuilding the Beis Hamikdash right now. Now he adds that the same process also operates at the level of the individual ("Vechol Ahdam Bifrat"). Thus, he is telling us that we should be aware that each indivudal's actions can also help to rebuild the Beis HaMikdash right now!

The Sfas Emes concludes this paragraph (yes, all of this has been packed into a single, concise paragraph) with a quote from Chazal: "Hakol Mesa'ayin Lebinyano Shel Melech." That is, each and every one of us can/may/should help in building the King's palace.

The following is another example in which, by taking a ma'amar of Chazal seriously, the Sfas Emes is led to a question which (to my very limited knowledge) had not been asked before and, in addressing that question, takes us to a totally new perspective. This example comes from the Sfas Emes of the year 5635.

As we know, Sefer Devarim begins in a surprising way, with a list of geographical sites. Why so? Rashi follows (some of) Chazal in reading the place names in Devarim 1:1 as a veiled rebuke. That is, they see Moshe as mentioning these sites to rebuke Bnei Yisroel for the Aveiros (sins) that they had committed in those places. Thus, the reference to a place named "Di Zahav" is in reality a rebuke to Bnei Yisroel for the sin of Eigel Hazahav, the golden calf.

To this the Sfas Emes reacts, asking: What is the point of rebuking Bnei Yisroel of this generation -- i.e., the generation that was about to enter Eretz Yisroel -- for these Aveiros? These Aveiros had been committed by the previous generation, not the people to whom Moshe was now speaking!

The Sfas Emes answers that every generation begins life with the Aveiros of the previous generation on its back, so to speak. And for this reason, every generation has the responsibility of correcting those Aveiros. Thus, just as there is Zechus Avos (people can benefit from the merit of their forefathers), so, too, there is "Cheit Avos" -- the Aveiros that the previous generations pass on to succeeding generations.

Note how neatly this thought of the Sfas Emes fits in with common sense. Take a moment to think about this question, you will soon reach the same conclusion. In fact, we do start life with both the assets and the liabilities of our parents -- and indeed, of the whole generation to which they belonged.

Comments? Reactions ? Questions? Suggestions? Email them to to Dr. Leff at: leffjud@earthlink.net

Selections based on the book Emes VeEmunah: A Sfas Emes Companion, by
Nosson Chayim Leff, with permission from Targum Press. Available at
www.targum.com. If you like the Sfas Emes emails, you'll love the Sfas Emes sefer.

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Please Say Yes to Abba Yahweh and His Laws.

Please read the Mitzvoth go to: Positive Commandments and the Negative Commandments), easy to read. It is very important to know them. For, the understanding of the rest of The Scriptures.

Hab 2:3 For the chazon (vision) is yet for a mo’ed (an appointed time); it speaks of HaKetz (the End), and does not lie; though it tarry, wait for him

Moshiach— see: Sanhedrin 97b, ‘It has been taught; R. Nathan said: This verse pierces and descends to the very abyss:11 For the Vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though he tarry, wait for him (Moshiach); because it will surely come, it will not tarry.12]; because he (Moshiach) will surely come, and will not tarry.

(11) Just as the bottom of an abyss cannot be reached, so is it impossible to grasp the full purport of this verse (Rashi).
(12) Hab. II, 3.

Believe…..

Hab 2:4 Hinei (behold), his nashamah (soul) which is puffed up is not upright in him; but the tzaddik (righteous) shall live by his emunah (believe).

Through Moshiach, Yeshuah from Yahweh who give you emunah (believe)…..

Gen 15:6 And he believed in Yahweh; and He credited emunah (faith)] to him as tzedakah (righteousness).

Please read the whole book of HaNavi Habakuk?

The Koran teaches us that you have to die…….

But, please Yudah (Jews) and Ephraim (most Christians) Listen to His Voice:

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. [1] (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 Michah 5:1[2];)

Yahweh Elohai (my Elohim) Kedoshi (my Holy One)? We shall not die. Yahweh, Thou hast appointed them (these Chaldean) for mishpat (ordinance); O Tzur, Thou hast ordained them (these Chaldean) for reproof.

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 (to be burnt dried up, ruined, wasted) 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.

Joh 10:18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have samchut (authority) to lay it down, and I have samchut to receive it again. This mitzvah I received from HaAv (the Father).

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.

Rebbe, Melech HaMoshiah Yeshuah – is Yeshuah Yahweh. Like it is said in:

Gen_49:18 I have waited for Thy Yeshuah (Salvation), Yahweh.

Exo_15:2 Yahweh is my oz and zimrah (song of praise), and He is become to me Yeshuah (salvation); He is Eli (my Elohim), and I will praise Him; Elohei Avi (the Elohim of my Father), and I will exalt Him.

And not a half-god, or another mighty-one who came between HaShem and us! (Not, ‘It Suph’!) I believe many of us (Jews and Ephraimites!) have to learn that!

[1] Dictionary of the Talmud. M. Jastrow p. 1178 פלח