TorahParsha

Justice (for Parshat Titzaveh)

i
Moses sets chiefs of thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens who will judge the people at all times.

Until now, he has judged the people alone.

Now he spreads Justice throughout them.

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God reveals Law on Mount Sinai.

God tells Moses: These are the Judgments that you shall set before the people.

God decrees Judgment from above.

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The people accept the Judgments.

And God tells Moses: the people shall make for Me a sanctuary, and I will dwell among them.

The high priest who serves in that sanctuary shall wear a Breastplate of Judgment.

He shall wear the Breastplate of Judgment over his heart.

It shall bear the names of the Children of Israel, a remembrance before HaShem at all times.

ii
The people partner with God in Justice: the people from below, and God from above.

Then God lives among them.

The people meet God in Justice: on the people’s heart, in God’s remembrance.

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To partner with God is to partner in Justice.

To meet with God is to meet in Justice.

In Justice we greet God.

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach, Abe

With thanks to my wife Kathi for her editing, as always.

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Verses cited: Exodus 19:21-22, 21:1, 25:8, 28:15, 29

Please continue to pray for the recovery of Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah

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Filth (for Parshat Terumah)

i
God says: The people should make a Mishkan, a great Tent.

God will dwell amongst the people from within it.

God commands all the materials and parts for the Mishkan be made, be brought.

ii

God says, You shall make an altar of copper for the Mishkan.

The priests will bring the people’s sacrifices to God there.

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God says: you shall make  pails for removing…ashes that will heap up on this altar (from the fires of the sacrifice).

This is the only part of the Mishkan about which God mentions ashes.

It is the only part of the Mishkan about which God mentions filth, and the removal of filth.

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Here is the place where Man approaches God.

iii

We approach God; we bring our world of filth with us.

But God does not say: stay apart from Me, you are filthy.

God says: come into My dwelling-place, My home.

You can clear your ashes away once you come.

But build the altar of copper.

Come.

 

Shabbat Shalom, Abe

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Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah, whose immediate condition has improved.
Verse cited: Exodus 27:1
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The Revelation at Sinai (Parshat Mishpatim)

i

The people came to Egypt as seventy souls.

The verses name them.

And then the people are slaves.

When God frees them from slavery, from the land of Egypt, He frees them troop by troop.

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Later, at Mount Sinai, God says to Moses:

When a man lets his livestock loose to graze in another’s land, and… a field or a vineyard is grazed bare, then he who let the animal loose must make restitution

and God also says:

When a fire is started and spreads— and stacked, standing, or growing grain is consumed, he who started the fire must make restitution.

 

ii
We come to Egypt as many separate souls.

Then we are troops: we are together.

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And at Sinai God says: in your own livestock, in your own flame, you are responsible to your neighbor’s field, to his grain—to him.

So we become a community.

This is what happens at Sinai.

 

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Shabbat Shalom, Abe

Please still continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah

Verses cited: Ex 1:1, 12:31, 22:4-5

More thoughts at TorahParsha.com

Togetherness (for Parshat Yitro)

i

The people come to Moses to inquire of God, to know God’s Law, from morning to evening.

Moses’ father-in-law says to him: this work is too heavy for you to bear alone.

You will surely wear away.

So Moses brings able men out of all Israel, to share his burden.

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God and Moses are together, up on the Mountain.

The rest of the people are below.

God says to Moses: Go down, warn the people, lest they break through to HaShem to gaze; and many...perish.

Moses joins the people, below.

Then, God utters the Commandments.

ii

You can stand alone with God, close with God.

Or you can come to God as one person, amongst the whole people.

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The second path is our way.

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Shabbat Shalom, Abe

Please continue to pray for Ahuvah Rachel bat Orah

Verses cited: Ex. 18:15,16,18, 25; 19:21

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