"If you follow My statutes "(Leviticus 26:3) Iyar 23, 5784/ May 31, 2024 Today is Thirty Eight Days of the Omer Parashat Bechuktai opens with an enticing list of blessings. It includes abundant rain in the land, bountiful harvests, peace and security, the crushing of all enemies, the birth of many healthy children, and the very presence of G-d, Who will dwell within His Sanctuary, within the midst of His people. "I will walk among you and be your G-d, and you will be My people." (Leviticus 26:12) It is a short list. Short but sweet, for it covers everything: peace, prosperity, and a profound state of serenity. Who could ask for more? It comes with but one stipulation: "If you follow My statutes and observe My commandments and perform them." (ibid 26:3) The Torah, with its 613 commandments, is a bill of responsibilities for the nation of Israel. Unlike modern democracies, which are founded on a principle of inalienable rights codified in a bill of rights, the covenant agreed to between Israel and the G-d of Israel, is founded on mutual responsibilities. Man, as Torah understands him, has but one inalienable right: the right to choose. To do good or to do evil. To work for the common good or to look out for number one. To trust in HaShem or to turn away from HaShem. Man's freedom of choice is unassailable. Not even G-d can withhold our freedom of choice. That is something only tyrants can attempt. If Israel doesn't enjoy inalienable rights then how does she achieve her freedom? By exercising her inalienable responsibilities. At Mount Sinai when Israel said to G-d, “We will do and hear everything HaShem has said,” (Exodus 24:7) she accepted upon herself a commitment for all time. Israel will, to the very best of her abilities, adhere to the word of Torah. And G-d will reciprocate by blessing Israel with peace, prosperity and a profound state of serenity. It is a simple equation with a simple outcome: peace and quiet. Neither Israel nor G-d asks for anything more. The idea of responsibility seems to get a lot of bad press today, if it even comes up at all. All the talk and all the shouting is always about "rights." "It's my right, you can't stop me!" The concept of inalienable rights is a modern construct designed to protect the individual from the inevitable desire of government to exercise increasing control over its subjects. Inalienable rights are an ankle bracelet designed to stop government from overstepping its bounds. The freest societies are those which keep those in power in check. Likewise, our inalienable rights are intended to keep each of us in check, preventing one citizen from abusing the rights of another. Modern democracy is a wonderful system that is based on the idea that man is evil and his evil urges must be held in check, whether he is the government or the governed. It is survival of the fittest with self imposed restraints. We all look out for number one, and as long as we don't tread on one another we can coexist in relative harmony. Peace and prosperity? It's up to the individual to achieve for himself. It is a successful system - when it works. Torah teaches us than an individual's worth is judged by his or her contribution to others, by the fulfillment of his responsibilities to family, to community, to nation, to the world which G-d created and to humanity at large. It is this ladder of responsibility, enshrined by Torah in its 613 commandments, that we must climb in order to arrive at peace, prosperity and a profound state of serenity, not merely as individuals, but much more essentially, as a people. The many commandments of Torah, whether they be laws regulating our behavior toward one another, or our relationship with G-d, are all there for our good, for our benefit. Our fulfillment of the commandments are for G-d's good, giving Him pleasure, and granting Him welcome to dwell His presence among us. The Hebrew word mitzvah is inevitably translated as commandment, and while that translation is technically accurate, it unfortunately implies something very authoritarian, something very far from the truth. Another, much more revealing translation of mitzvah would be a connector, or a link, whose fulfillment connects us to one another and connects us to G-d. When we perform a mitzvah we are embracing one another, we are shaking hands with G-d. Our sages sometimes refer to mitzvot as "recommendations." Torah is not compelling us to do this or that. It is simply making recommendations, giving us G-dly advice. And if G-d, our Creator, doesn't know what is best for us, what is most beneficial for us, what will ultimately grant us peace and prosperity and peace of mind, then who does? The short list of blessings which Bechukotai opens with is followed by a very long list of admonishments. "But if you do not listen to Me and do not perform all these commandments, and if you despise My statutes and reject My ordinances, not performing any of My commandments, thereby breaking My covenant then I too, will do the same to you..." (ibid 26:14-16) What follows is a long list of dreadful calamities that will befall the nation of Israel, should she turn her back on her responsibilities and show contempt for the very deeds which bind us together and bind us to G-d. Each of these lurking disasters waiting to pounce are enunciated in the plural. Israel does not have the luxury of ultra-individualism, of living in a society where the individual and his rights are considered supreme. A Torah society is a society of community, of reaching out and pitching in. Torah calls upon us, through its commandments, to look out for one another and to be there for one another. If we live up to that aspiration, then G-d is there and looking out for us, granting us all the blessings listed above. Torah, an expression of G-d's will, believes in the essential goodness of each of us, and its commandments, or "recommendations" are there to help us reach our potential, both as individuals and as a society, as a people. If we work with G-d, the sky's the limit and peace and prosperity and a profound sense of wellbeing are ours. Conversely, if we place ourselves above G-d and above our fellow man, a vast and painful future awaits us. Isn't it best to take G-d up on His generous and gracious advice and to do good for others, and together reap the blessings? . |
Birkat Kohanim - The Priestly Blessing We are all familiar with the beautiful blessing of the kohanim: "May HaShem bless you and watch over you..." This threefold blessing first appears in the Torah and it was uttered aloud each day by the kohanim in the Holy Temple. To this day, kohanim, the descendants of Aharon, brother of Moshe, Israel's first Kohen Gadol, (High Priest), and the father of all kohanim ever since, continue to bless their brethren each day by uttering the exact same blessing. Learn how the blessing was performed by the kohanim in the Holy Temple and how it is performed in synagogues today! |
Tune in to this week's Temple Talk, as Yitzchak Reuven discusses Israel's bill of responsibilities, and stresses that peace, prosperity and the Holy Temple are all within our reach, and notes that if we keep our promises, G-d will keep His! Israel signed a contract with HaShem at Sinai and we must keep our commitment. If we keep up our end of the bargain, G-d will keep up His end of the bargain. If we treat our commitment to HaShem with disdain, He will reciprocate in kind. Let's make the right choice and do what's right! |
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Feeling blessed or feeling cursed: is it merely a state of mind, an attitude toward life? Is it something that a pill can cure? Or is a blessing or a curse dependent upon how we relate to G-d, as is posited in parashat Bechukotai. Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34)
Parashat Bechukotai is read on Shabbat:
Iyar 24, 5784/MJune 1, 2024 |
Haftarah For Shabbat Parashat Bechukotai Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14: "HaShem, Who are my power and my strength and my refuge in the day of trouble, to You nations will come from the ends of the earth and say, "Only lies have our fathers handed down to us, emptiness in which there is nothing of any avail! Can a man make gods for himself, and they are no gods?" Therefore, behold I let them know; at this time I will let them know My power and My might, and they shall know that My Name is HaShem...''_ |
Sefirat Ha'omer: Today Is Thirty Eight Days Of The Omer Counting the Omer "Blessed are You, HaShem our G-d, King of the universe, Who sanctifies us with His commandments, and commanded us to count the Omer." 23_Iyar: Today is Thirty Eight Days of the Omer. (Tiferet within HYesod_ ) |
The Holy Of Holies The Holy of Holies, (Kodesh haKedoshim), is the most sanctified place in the Mikdash. It housed the Ark of the Covenant and the Two Tablets of the law. Only the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was permitted to enter here, and only on Yom Kippur. In the center of the Holy of Holies stood the foundation stone upon which the Ark rested. Next to the Ark the jar of anointing oil was placed, as well as the container of Manna and Aharon's staff that had blossomed. The Holy of Holies was also called "Dvir" - because it was from the area between the two Cherubim that Moshe heard G-d's word. |
A Blast From The Past – Unveiling Jerusalem's Priestly Neighborhood From Herodian Era After two years of extensive development and renovations costing $5M, Jerusalem's ancient Herodian Quarter is reopening to the public this week. This remarkable archaeological site in the Jewish Quarter features an affluent residential neighborhood from the Second Temple period, spanning 2,600 square meters. It includes luxurious homes, exquisite mosaics, paved streets, and numerous ritual baths. |
Reminder: Israel Is Still At War! Yes, it's been seven months since the depraved events of October 7th, when thousands of Palestinian terrorists and citizens from Gaza invaded southern Israel and indulged in an orgy of murder, torture, rape, mutilation and hostage taking. And while much of the world has conveniently forgotten what took place on that day and why Israel is determined to eradicate Hamas, we in Israel have not and never will forget. Israel continues to fight for our people, for our hostages, for our land, for our way of life, for our future, and whether or not others in the western world like it or not, for the future of humanity. May G-d grant us overwhelming victory over our enemies, wherever they may be. |
The Cubit Of Separation The phrase Ama Traksin (lit., the "cubit of separation") refers to the wall and the curtain that separated between the Kodesh and the Holy of Holies. In the First Temple, a wall one cubit thick and thirty cubits high separated between the two areas. This wall had an opening and a curtain was hung upon it. The two carrying poles of the Ark protruded on the other side of the curtain, (visible in top picture). On the festivals, the curtain at the entrance to the Ulam was opened so that the pilgrims could see the two united Cherubim that decorated the Ama Traksin wall. |
2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Found In Jerusalem’s City Of David Discoveries at the site "are beginning to paint a new picture of the nature and stature of Jerusalem’s inhabitants in the Early Hellenistic Period," said TAU professor Yuval Gadot. A gold ring dating from the early Hellenistic period set with a precious stone was recently found in the joint Israel Antiquities Authority-Tel Aviv University excavation in Jerusalem’s City of David. |
Today: The 20th Of Iyar: Israel Travels From Mount Sinai! In the book of Numbers we read: "On the twentieth of the second month in the second year, the cloud rose up from over the Tabernacle of the Testimony. The children of Israel traveled on their journeys from the Sinai desert, and the cloud settled in the desert of Paran. This was the first journey at G-d's bidding through Moshe." (Numbers 10:11-13) The second month referred to is the current month of Iyar and today is the 20th. |
The Two Golden Stands Two golden stands were placed in the Kodesh near the curtain. During the service of Yom Kippur, the Kohen Gadol would sprinkle the blood of the bull inner sin-offering in the Holy of Holies and in front of the curtain. While the Kohen Gadol was performing the sprinkling of the blood of the goat inner sin-offering, he would place the vessel containing the blood of the bull on the stand, (and visa versa). (Sources: Yoma 5,3-4) |
Perfectly Preserved, 2,300-Year-Old Gold Ring Found Under City Of David Parking Lot
Small Hellenistic-era ring, set with a red garnet, was likely made for a child’s finger; the item and other recent discoveries to be shown to public at June Jerusalem Day event
Archaeologists recently discovered a rare 2,300-year-old gold ring while excavating in the parking lot of the City of David in Jerusalem, the Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) said Monday |
Mikdash Monday - Omer/Shavuot (Part 4)
"...when you enter the land that I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring an omer (first fruits) of your harvest to the kohen." (Vayikra 23:10)
Omer - one-tenth of an ephah.
Ephah - a little over a bushel. |
The Incense Altar, Part 2 The altar was made of wood and overlaid with gold. It was two cubits high and its length and width, one cubit squared. The Mishnah indicates that this cubit is a cubit of five handbreadths - the "vessel cubit" (i.e., the measurement used to determine the size of the vessels). |
The Holiday Of Lag BaOmer! Lag BaOmer, (today!) the 33rd day of the counting of the Omer, is the hillula (celebration) of the passing of the second century Torah giant Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. Shimon bar Yochai was a student of Rabbi Akiva and a harsh critic of the Roman occupation of Israel. His acerbic disdain for Rome placed him on the Roman authority's wanted list. Shimon bar Yochai (also known as Rashbi), with his son, Eleazar bar Shimon, fled north to the Galilean mountains, where he and his son successfully hid from the Romans in a cave in the ancient town of Peki’in. |
Shavua Tov From The Temple Mount! Still fighting in the south (Gaza-Hamas), still fighting in the north (Lebanon-Hezbollah), in the east, (Iran-the puppetmaster) and in the south (Yemen-Houthis), and still ascending the Temple Mount with prayer in Jerusalem, the heart of the nation of Israel, a light to the nations! Shavua tov - have a good week! |
Build a House for HaShem! "Be strong and have courage! Build a House for HaShem!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, the prophet Samuel charges King David with the task of building the Holy Temple! |
The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First! "The Glory of this Last House Shall be Greater than the First!" In this scene from a film soon to become an integral part of the Temple Institute's Jerusalem based Visitors Center experience, Zerubavel from the house of David and Kohen Gadol (High Priest) Yehoshua consult with the prophet Haggai who instructs them to waste no time in rebuilding the Holy Temple! |
Red Heifers Arrive In Israel! On Thursday, September 15, 2022, 5 PM, 5 perfect, unblemished red heifers arrived in Israel from the USA. A modest ceremony was held at the unloading bay of the cargo terminal at Ben Gurion airport, where the new arrivals were greeted and speeches were made by the incredible people who have put their hearts and souls and means into making this historic/prophetic day become a reality. |
Biblical Red Heifer Could Bring Million Visitors To Samaria The Ancient Shiloh heritage site will soon host a Red Heifer research center. Hundreds of visitors flocked to Shiloh in Samaria’s Binyamin region on Thursday to welcome a biblically pure red heifer. The 22-month-old cow, which was brought to Israel from the United States, found a new home at the Ancient Shiloh heritage site, where the biblical Tabernacle once stood. |
Blessings from the holy city of Jerusalem!
Yitzchak Reuven
The Temple Institute |
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