Can You Keep A Secret?

The Torah tells us in parsha Vayikra “And He [Hashem] called to Moshe, and Hashem spoke to him from the tent of meeting, saying..." [Vayikra - Leviticus 1:1]

This verse seems to be repetitive. The beginning of the verse says “And He [Hashem] called to Moshe…” and the end of the verse states “saying.” Therefore, the last word in the verse “saying” seems to be superfluous. We know that nothing in the Torah is superfluous, thus, the Sages learn a spiritually fulfilling lesson from the this verse. The Talmud [Yoma 4b] explains that the word “saying” denotes: "What I am about to say, you may say to others."

Consequently, we learn that a person has no right to repeat what someone tells him unless that person gives him explicit permission to do so. [Love Your Neighbor, parshas Vayikra p.216 Reb Zelig Pliskin]

The Talmud relates that a certain student revealed a secret that was twenty-two years old. Rabbi Ami expelled him from the Bais Hamedrash (study hall) saying "this person is a revealer of secrets." [Ibid. citing Sanhedrin 31a]

A person should be careful not to disclose his own secrets to others. Before someone reveals a secret, he is the secret's master. But once a person reveals his secret, the secret is his master, for he lives in fear that it will become known to others. [ibid. citing Menoras Hamaor 2:4] A wise man once joked: “I can keep a secret, but the people I tell cannot.” [Rabbi Avrohom Braun – Monsey, New York]

DO VISIT http://shiratdevorah.blogspot.com/
TO READ THE COMPLETE ARTICLE
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To Be Circumcised or Not To Be Circumcised

Paul explains that all who are "in Christ" are members of the true Israel of God and are counted as the true sons of Abraham. That is, in the Christian Messiah , circumcision, Israel, and the seed of Abraham take on a new, spiritual meaning.circumcision "real circumcision is a matter of the heart, spiritual and not literal" (Rom. 2:29, RSV). In other words, one is a new creation "if one abides with the christian messiah" and circumcision is done away with - not even needed for one born a Jew.

NOW PRAY TELL....how Paul has the audacity to change G-d's commandments and words? In the passages of Ezekiel (chapters 40-48) speaks of the rebuilding of the 3rd Temple and the return of animal sacrifices. Pay attention to Ezekiel 44:9.So said the Lord God: No alien of uncircumcised heart or of uncircumcised flesh may enter My Sanctuary, of any alien who is in the midst of the Children of Israel.

So dear Jew - if you have been raised in a secular family and have not had a bris - it is time for you to have one! As it is one of the 613 commandments
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Who Is Ramchal?

Ramchal is a name by which Rabbi Luzzato is commonly known and is a Hebrew acronym for
Rabbi Moshe Chayim Luzzatto,the outstanding scholar and teacher of Jewish ethics who lived in the 18th century.

Join us in a slow and deliberate study of this central work by Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzatto, master Kabbalist, philosopher, moralist, and thinker. We will cite the book nearly sentence by sentence, explain it, delve deeply into its wisdom, and grow within our beings in the process.

"The Great Redemption"Prologue
Prologue - 1
Prologue - 2

Exile
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11

The Visitation
Chapter 1 (Part 1)
Chapter 1 (Part 2)
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6

The Remembrance
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15

The Rectified World
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7

"Fundamentals of the Jewish Faith"
Introduction
Chapter 1: G-d (Part 1)
Chapter 1: G-d (Part 2)
Chapter 1: G-d (Part 3)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 1)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 2)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 3)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 4)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 5)
Chapter 2: The Spiritual World (Part 6)
Chapter 3: Torah and Mitzvot (Part 1)
Chapter 3: Torah and Mitzvot (Part 2)
Chapter 3: Torah and Mitzvot (Part 3)
Chapter 3: Torah and Mitzvot (Part 4)
Chapter 4: The Divine Merit-System (Part 1)
Chapter 4: The Divine Merit-System (Part 2)
Chapter 4: The Divine Merit-System (Part 3)
Chapter 4: The Divine Merit-System (Part 4)
Chapter 5: Heaven and Hell (Part 1)
Chapter 5: Heaven and Hell (Part 2)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence (Part 1)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence (Part 2)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence (Part 3)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence (Part 4)
Chapter 6: Divine Providence (Part 5)
Chapter 7: Moses and Prophecy(Part 1)
Chapter 7: Moses and Prophecy(Part 2)
Chapter 7: Moses and Prophecy(Part 3)
Chapter 7: Moses and Prophecy(Part 4)
Chapter Eight: The Redemption (Part 1)
Chapter Eight: The Redemption (Part 2)
Chapter Eight: The Redemption (Part 3)
Chapter Eight: The Redemption (Part 4)
Chapter Nine: Miracles (Part 1)
Chapter Nine: Miracles (Part 2)
Chapter Nine: Miracles (Part 3)
Chapter Nine: Miracles (Part 4)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 1)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 2)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 3)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 4)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 5)
Chapter Ten: The Oral Torah (Part 6)

"The Way of G-d"PART 1 - The Fundamental Principles of Reality
Introduction to The Class
Ramchal's Introduction
Chapter 1 - The Creator
Chapter 2 - The Purpose of Creation
Chapter 3 - Mankind
Chapter 4 - The Fundamental Principles of Reality
Chapter 5 - The Spiritual Realm

PART 2 - Divine Providence
Chapter 1 - Divine Providence in General
Chapter 2 - Mankind in this world
Chapter 3 - Personal Providence
Chapter 4 - Israel and the Other Nations
Chapter 5 - How Divine Providence Works
Chapter 6 - The System Behind Divine Providence
Chapter 7 - The Influence of the Stars
Chapter 8 - The Details of Divine Providence

PART 3 - The Soul, Inspiration, Prophecy, and the Supernatural
Chapter 1 - The Soul and its Influence
Chapter 2 - Theurgy
Chapter 3 - Inspiration and Prophecy
Chapter 4 - The Prophetic Experience
Chapter 5 - Moses as a Prophet

PART 4 - Divine Service
Chapter 1 - Serving G-d in General
Chapter 2 - Torah Study
Chapter 3 - The Love and Fear of G-d
Chapter 4 - "Shema Yisroel and Its Blessings"
Chapter 5 - "Prayer"
Chapter 6 - "The Sequence of the Day"
Chapter 7 - "Intermittent Observances"
Chapter 8 - "Seasonal Mitzvot"
Chapter 9 - "Incidental Observances and Blessings"

Da'at Tevunot - The Knowing HeartSection 1
Prologue
Ramchal's Introduction
Section 1, Chapter 1
Section 1, Chapter 2
Section 1, Chapter 3
Section 1, Chapter 4
Section 1, Chapter 5
Section 1, Chapter 6
Section 1, Chapter 7
Section 1, Chapter 8
Section 1, Chapter 9
Section 1, Chapter 10
Section 1, Chapter 11
Section 1, Chapter 12
Section 1, Chapter 13
Section 1, Chapter 14
Section 1, Chapter 15
Section 1, Chapter 16
Section 1, Chapter 17
Section 1, Chapter 18
Section 1, Chapter 19

Section 2
Section 2, Chapter 1
Section 2, Chapter 2
Section 2, Chapter 3
Section 2, Chapter 4
Section 2, Chapter 5
Section 2, Chapter 6
Section 2, Chapter 7
Section 2, Chapter 8
Section 2, Chapter 9
Section 2, Chapter 10
Section 2, Chapter 11

Section 3
Section 3, Chapter 1
Section 3, Chapter 2
Section 3, Chapter 3
Section 3, Chapter 4
Section 3, Chapter 5
Section 3, Chapter 6
Section 3, Chapter 7
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Traits of the Creator

Tomer Devorah
Rav Moshe Cordevero's 10 point system of life change and improvement.
By: Rabbi David Botton
Audio Recordings
Playlist: RealPlayer/WinMedia/MP3
TomerDevorah-01 (48:55)Real Stream/MP3 Download/MP3 Split
The 13 Attributes of Mercy - How to model our lives after the traits of the creator
TomerDevorah-02 (57:03)Real Stream/MP3 Download/MP3 Split
Keter - How to live our lives in the aspect of Keter, humility
TomerDevorah-03 (23:07)Real Stream/MP3 Download/MP3 Split
Chochmah - How to live our lives in the aspect of Chochmah, wisdom
Links
Hebrew Text
Text in Hebrew of the first chapter of Tomer Devorah from Schechem.org
Text
English Text of the Tomer Devorah (External Site)

Chapter 1 - The Thirteen Attributes of Mercy
o Chapter 1 - Attributes 1 & 2o Chapter 1 - Attributes 3 & 4o Chapter 1 - Attributes 5 & 6o Chapter 1 - Attributes 7 & 8o Chapter 1 - Attributes 9 & 10o Chapter 1 - Attributes 11, 12 & 13
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How Does One Keep Shabbos?

It is a given that a Jew must learn the laws of Shabbath to be able to remember, keep, honor and enjoy the day of rest that G-d gave to His one and only chosen nation. I highly recommend Rav Yehoshua Y. Neuwirth’s sefer/book Shemirath Shabbath, a guide to the practical observance of Shabbath. (see excerpt below)

Psalm 147:19-20 He relates His words to Jacov, His statutes and judgments to Israel. He did not do so for any other nation; such judgments they know not. Hallelukah!

How blessed the Jews are to have the commandments of G-d. We are a holy people, chosen nation (Deut. 14:2), a light to the nations (Isaiah 60:2-3; , a royal priesthood, a peculiar people (Deut 14:2)– no other nation/religion has been chosen by G-d to be His Servant. How beautiful indeed is our heritage!

Deuteronomy 14:2For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.

Isaiah 60:2-3 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and a thick darkness the nations. But G-d Will Shine upon you. Nations shall then go by your Light and kings by your radiant illumination.


Maimonides, in Mishneh Torah, Hilchoth Shabbath, broadly categorizes the laws of Shabbath in the following way: “Four commands were given regarding Shabbath, two by the Torah and two by the Rabbis, which [later] were expressed by the Prophet Isaiah,

A. Those of Torah,
1. ‘Remember [the Shabbath day’ (Exodus 20:8)] זכור and
2. ‘Keep [the Shabbath day’ (Deuteronomy 5:12)] שמור, and
B. Those which were expressed by the Prophet,
1. Honoring [Shabbath] כבוד and
2. Enjoying [Shabbath] עונג,
In the verse [Isaiah 58:13],’…call Shabbath a joy, [call] G-d’s sanctified [day] honored….’’’

A. How does one “remember” Shabbath? זכור
1. a) The verse from Exodus 20:8 reads in full, “Remember the Shabbath day to sanctify it”; that is to say, remember it in praise and sanctification.
b) This is a positive commandment to sanctify the Shabbath day in words.
2. One remembers it
a) at its commencement, with Kiddush, and,
b) at its termination, with Havdalah

A. How does one “keep” Shabbath?
1. Refraining from forbidden activities on Shabbath is a positive commandment, contained in the words, “…and on the seventh day you shall rest” (Exodus 23:12)
2. Engaging in a forbidden activity on Shabbath is prohibited by the words, “you shall not carry out any [forbidden] activity” (Exodus 20:10).
3. Thus, somebody who performs a forbidden activity on Shabbath transgresses both
a. A positive commandment and
b. A prohibitory injunction

B. “Work” – a misunderstood concept
1. Activities which are forbidden on Shabbath are by no means synonymous with what we would consider hard work.
2. This can be illustrated by the fact that
a. Someone who spends the whole day moving furniture around his house does not infringe any Torah prohibition, whereas
b. Someone who carries a sewing needle out of his house into a public thoroughfare is guilty of such and infringement

C. The Chief Activities and Derivative Activities
1. The categories of forbidden activities were revealed to Moses on Mount Sinai,
2. They consist of
a. The thirty-nine Chief Activities which were required when the Tabernacle was constructed and
b. Derivative Activities which are similar to the Chief Activities in the ways detailed in paragraph E. below
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Ten Tests of Abraham

1) The terrifying experience in Ur Casdim, when Nimrod cast Abraham into the fiery furnace.

2) When G-d commanded Abraham to leave his parents and his family. It was very difficult for Abraham to leave family and friends and go to a strange city, expecially since G-d had given him no indication as to his destination. Abraham was even more troubled, since he had no idea where he would end up. (Chapter 11 verse 1)

3) The great famine in the land of Canaan. The rest of the world had more than enough; only in Canaan where Abraham lived, there was a great famine. Abraham did not want to return to his father and violate G-d's commandment, so that he went to Eqypt. (chapter 11 verse 10)

4) When Abraham came to Eqypt, Pharaoh seized Sarah and had her brought to his harem (chapter 12:15)

5) The four kings came to kill him. They said, "Let's start with his nephew Lot, and when Abraham attempts to rescue him, we'll take care of him." When Lot was taken captive together with the other citizens of Sodom and Gemorah, Abraham had to wage war against four large armies (chapter 14)

6) At the "Pact Between Halves" (B'rith beyn HaBetharim), G-d showed Abraham every exile that his descendants would suffer as well as the punishments of purgatory, asking him to choose one of the two (chapter 15)

7) G-d commanded Abraham to cxircumcise himself when he was 99 years old. This was a very painful operation, expecially since he was so old and still wished to have a son. Abraham wanted to strengthen his reproductive organs; G-d was commanding him to mutilte them. (chapter 17)

8) When Abraham was in the land of the Philistines, Abimelekh had Sarah brought to his harem by force. (chapter 20)

9) When Issac grew up, Sarah saw Ishmael using him as a target to practice archery. She told Abraham to write out a will leaving everything that he owned and everything that G-d had promised him to Isaac, so that Ishmael would not share in the inheritance at all. G-d then told Sbraham to drive Hagar and Ishmael away from his house. Of all the troubles that Abraham suffered, none was worse than driving away his firstborn son. (chapter 21)

10) The tenth teast was the Akediah, under discussion here. After all that had happened, Abraham finally had a beautiful son when he was a hundred years old. Now G-d was telling him to bring the child as a sacrifice. (chapter 22)

source: The Torah Anthology Yalkut ME'AM LO'EZ Genesis-II The Patriarchs

DO LISTEN TO AUDIO ON THE TEN TESTS OF ABRAHAM
AUDIO OF 10 TESTS OF ABRAHAM
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Enduring Forever Never To Be Breached

Tehillim/Psalm 19

ח תּוֹרַת יְהוָה תְּמִימָה מְשִׁיבַת נָפֶשׁ
The Torah of HaShem is perfect restoring the soul.
עֵדוּת יְהוָה נֶאֱמָנָה מַחְכִּימַת פֶּתִי
The testimony of HaShem is trustworthy making wise the simple one
ט פִּקּוּדֵי יְהוָה יְשָׁרִים מְשַׂמְּחֵי-לֵב
The precepts of HaShem are upright gladdening the heart.
מִצְוַת יְהוָה בָּרָה מְאִירַת עֵינָיִם
the command of HaShem is clear and enlightening the eyes
י יִרְאַת יְהוָה, טְהוֹרָה--עוֹמֶדֶת לָעַד
The fear of HaShem is pure enduring forever
מִשְׁפְּטֵי-יְהוָה אֱמֶת; צָדְקוּ יַחְדָּו.
the judgments of HaShem are true, righteous altogether.
יא הַנֶּחֱמָדִים--מִזָּהָב, וּמִפַּז רָב
They are more desirable than fine gold in abundance
וּמְתוּקִים מִדְּבַשׁ, וְנֹפֶת צוּפִים.
and sweeter than honey and drippings from the combs
יב גַּם-עַבְדְּךָ, נִזְהָר בָּהֶם; בְּשָׁמְרָם, עֵקֶב רָב
Indeed, Your servant is scrupulous in them, in observing them there is great reward
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Do You Honor Your Parents?

How sad if one reads but one or two and dismisses the rest of what is listed here.


1. Honor your father and your mother; that your days may be lengthened upon the land which Hashem your G-d gives you. (Shemot/Exodus 20:12)

2. And he who strikes his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. (Shemot/Exodus 21:15)

3. And he who curses his father, or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
(Shemot/Exodus 21:17)

4. You shall fear every man his mother and his father, and keep My Shabbats; I am Hashem your G-d. (Vayikra /Leviticus 19:3)

5. Anyone who curses his father or his mother shall be surely put to death; he has cursed his father or his mother; his blood shall be upon him. (Vayikra 20:9)

6. Honor your father and your mother, as Hashem your G-d has commanded you; that your days may be prolonged, and that it may go well with you, in the land which Hashem your G-d gives you. (Devarim 5:16)

7 If a man has a stubborn and rebellious son, who will not obey the voice of his father or the voice of his mother and who, when they have chastened him, will not listen to them; Then shall his father and his mother lay hold of him, and bring him out to the elders of his city, and to the gate of his place; And they shall say to the elders of his city, This our son is stubborn and
rebellious, he will not obey our voice; he is a glutton, and a drunkard. And all the men
of his city shall stone him with stones, that he die; so shall you put evil away from among you; and all Israel shall hear, and fear. (Devarim 21:18-21)

8. Cursed be he who dishonors his father or his mother. And all the people shall say Amen. (Devarim 27:16)

FROM THE BOOK OF MISHLE
BOOK OF PROVERBS

9. My son, hear the instruction of your father, and forsake not the Torah of your mother (Mishle 1:8)

10. My son, keep your father's commandment, and forsake not the Torah of your mother (Mishle 6:20) (Of course these verses speak to a Jew and not to a nonjew as a Jew is the one that keeps and guards Torah - when one learn and walks in the commandments of G-d - then G-d's Torah becomes as such his/her Torah)

11. The proverbs of Shlomo: A wise son makes a father glad; but a foolish son is the grief of his mother (Mishle 10:1)

12. A wise son hears his father's instruction; but a scorner does not accept rebuke. (Mishle 13:1)

13. A fool despises his father's instruction; but he who heeds reproof is prudent. (Mishle 15:5)

14. A wise son makes a father glad; but a foolish man despises his mother. (Mishle 15:20)
15. He who begets a fool does it to his sorrow; and the father of a fool has no joy. (Mishle 17:21)

16. A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her who bore him. (Mishle 17:25)

17. A son who causes shame and brings reproach, ruins his father and chases away his mother. (Mishle 19:26)

18. Whoever curses his father or his mother, his lamp shall be put out in utter darkness. (Mishle 20:20)

19. Listen to your father who begot you, and despise not your mother when she is
old. (Mishle 23:22)

20. The father of the righteous shall greatly rejoice; and he who begets a wise child shall have joy of him (Mishle 23:24)

21. Whoever keeps the Torah is a wise son; but he who is a companion of riotous men shames his father. (Mishle 28:7)

22. He who robs his father or his mother, and says: This is no transgression; he is the companion of the destroyer. (Mishle 28:24)

23. He who loves wisdom makes his father glad; but he who keeps company with harlots wastes his wealth. (Mishle 29:3)

24. The eye that mocks at his father, and scorns to obey his mother, will be picked out by the ravens of the valley, and the young vultures shall eat it. (Mishle 30:17)


THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A JEW AND A GENTILE REGARDING THE HONORING OF PARENTS pg 119

Do watch this 4 minute video how an adult child "honored" his elderly father
http://tidbitsoftorah.blogspot.com/2009/06/how-many-times-do-i-have-to-tell-you.html
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248 Limbs in Human Body Parallel the 248 Positive Commandments

Each limb announces, "Observe a commandment with me, so that I will live long."
pg 115 The Torah Anthology / Yalukt ME'AM LO'EZ

THE 248 LIMBS

30 bones in the sole of the foot, six in each toe = 60 ; total 60
10 in each ankle = 20 ; total 80
2 in the lower part of the each leg = 4 ; total 84
5 in each knee = 10 ; total 94
1 in each thigh = 2 ; total 96
6 in the hips ; total 102
11 pair of ribs = 22 ; total 124
30 in each hand, six in each finger = 60 ; total 184
2 in each forearm = 4 ; total 188
2 in each elbow = 4 ; total 192
1 in each upper arm = 2 ; total 194
4 in each shoulder = 8 ; total 202
18 vertebra in the spine ; total 220
9 bones in the head ; total 229
8 in the neck ; total 237
6 in the chest ; total 243
5 at the orfices ; total 248

There are also 365 prohibitions in the Torah, paralleling the 365 days of the solar year. Each day, from sunrise to sunset, a heavenly voice announces to man, "Take it upon yourself not to sin on this day, so as not to tilt the world to the side of liability. The world is in a state of equilibrium between good and evil. Even a minor sin can upset this equilibrium toward the side of evil and cause great damage.
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It Ain't Over 'Till the Canibal Loses His Appetite

MOSHIACH IS NOT RECOGNIZED BY HIS MIRACLES

Side A (21:33)Side B (20:03)
It Ain't Over 'Till The Canibal Loses His Appetite - Tape 1
Side A (20:33)Side B (20:17)
When The Light Goes On, Where Will The Darkness Go? - Tape 2


NOT FOR WOMEN ONLY!
Side A (34:27)Side B (34:16)
The Feminine Mystique - Tape 1
Side A (22:12)Side B (21:56)
Marriage: Thinking, Speaking, Doing - Tape 2
Side A (16:53)Side B (16:16)
Three kinds of Love - Tape 3


HOLIDAYS
Chanukah
Days of Awe
Redemption Purim & Pesach
Shavuos



Side A (22:20)Side B (20:39)
The Seven Days of Creation - Tape 1
Side A (26:37)Side B (26:18)
A New Twist to an Old Story - Tape 2
Side A (28:17)Side B (23:30)
Putting First Things First - Tape 3
Side A (25:36)Side B (24:03)
The Soul of the Matter - Tape 4
Side A (25:30)Side B (24:26)
Like Mother, Like Daughter - Tape 5
Side A (28:20)Side B (26:54)
Intimacy, Modesty and Sexuality - Tape 6
Side A (28:34)Side B (23:54)
Elisha - The Rest of the Story - Tape 7
Side A (29:00)Side B (25:38)
An Appointment with G-d. - Tape 8
Side A (25:22)Side B (26:03)
Beyond the Male Ego - Tape 9
Side A (28:18)Side B (26:08)
Let's Talk Intimacy or 'Intimacy For Dummies' - Tape 10
Side A (24:36)Side B (26:35)
The Elements of Humility - Tape 11
Side A (25:16)Side B (25:20)
The Rebbe's Legacy - tape 1 of 2 - Tape 12
Side A (24:56)Side B (24:55)
The Rebbe's Legacy - tape 2 of 2 - Tape 13
Side A (19:11)Side B (18:16)
Its Good to Know - the Conclusion - Tape 14



Side A (30:03)Side B (25:57)
Two Holy Men and a Tartar - Tape 1

Side A (29:35)Side B (22:46)
The Crowns of Royalty - Tape 2

Side A (26:37)Side B (21:52)
Moshe Our Teacher - Tape 3

Side A (28:15)Side B (28:13)
Tape 4
Side A: Light and Shaddows
Side B: Live and Live Again

Side A (27:48)Side B (28:30)
Tape 5
Side A: He Would Not Bow
Side B: He Said And There Was

Side A (28:38)Side B (27:52)
Tape 6
Side A: The Man Who Stood On One Leg - Twice
Side B: Out Came A Golden Calf

Side A (27:01)Side B (27:38)
Tape 7
Side A: In The Vilage of Che
Side B: Spy vs. Spy

Side A (27:12)Side B (27:05)
The Purim Story - Tape 8

Side A (27:46)Side B (27:34)
Tape 9
Side A: Women and Torah
Side B: Joseph The Wagon Driver

Side A (27:40)Side B (27:47)
Tape 10
Side A The Story of Water
Side B Let's Talk Business


Tape 11
Side A: The Miser of the Town
Side B: Broad Shoulders

Tape 12
Side A: The Czar Visits the King
Side B: A Prince in Prison
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Measure for Measure - Your Deeds are Rewarded or Punished

There are consequences to our actions -- consequences that reflect those actions. If you commit murder and drown others in a river to hide your crime, you will receive your punishment in the form of your crime. If you invent an unjust thing to benefit yourself at the expense of others, that unjust thing will ultimately be used against you. On the positive side, if you introduce something that benefits others, that thing will ultimately come to benefit you as well. In Hebrew it is called: midah k'neged midah -- measure for measure.

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/91921/jewish/The-Case-of-the-Floating-Skull.htm


The Midrash also stresses that each of the plagues represented punishment for a particular wrong that the Egyptians did to the Jews:
1)'They made them drawers of water--and so their river was turned to blood;
2)they made them load their freight -- and the frogs destroyed it;
3)they had the Jews sweep the streets--and the dust turned into lice;
4)they made the Jews watch their children--and God flooded the country with wild animals that devoured the children ...'.
5)The Egyptians made them cattle-herders, whereupon the pestilence killed the herds.
6)They used them to prepare their baths--and then they developed boils which made it impossible for them to wash.
7)The Jews were made stone-cutters -- and God sent hailstones against the Egyptians.
8)They were forced to tend the vinyards and fields--and the locusts consumed all that grew.
9)The Egyptians sought to keep the Jews as prisoners--and were themselves shackled by the thick darkness that fell upon Egypt;
10)their murderous designs upon the Jews brought the killing of the firstborn-- and their drowning of Jewish children was repaid by their death in the Sea of Reeds (Tanchuma).

http://www.heritage.org.il/innernet/archives/10plagues.htm

Hashem responds to our actions using 'midah k'neged midah'. This means that the response fits our act. Not simply a punishment but rather a means of revealing mistakes and rewarding proper acts. Let's see how this concept works through with the three advisors.

The ultimate end of Bilaam, who advised that the Jews should be killed, was that he was killed by the Jews. A clear example of midah k'neged midah. Yisro, who defended the Jews, ran for his life and settled in Midyan. There he met Moshe as he was fleeing from Paroah. Moshe married Yisro's daughter Tziporah, connecting Yisro to Klal Yisroel in a most intimate way. Once again, we see a very clear example of midah k'neged midah - the one who defended the Jews became part of the Jewish nation. However, when we come to the third advisor, Iyov, the connection is more difficult to understand. Iyov, who remained silent, suffered excruciating pain. How did that response fit his act?

Let's understand Iyov. He really had wanted to defend the Jews but, seeing the fate of Yisro, realized that his words would fall upon deaf ears. With nothing to gain by speaking, he remained silent. In order to reveal his error to him, Hashem sent 'yisurim', terrible pain. What does one do when experiencing intense pain? He screams! Even though the screams do nothing in terms of alleviating the pain, if it hurts, you scream. Hashem was teaching him that remaining silent showed that it didn't really bother him. Had Paroah's planned destruction of the Jews bothered him, he would have defended them.

http://www.torah.org/learning/parsha-insights/5758/noach.html

MORE EXAMPLES OF MEASURE FOR MEASURE

Yaacov deceiving his brother Esav out of the rights of the firstborn and his paternal blessing, we also see Yaacov being deceived by his Uncle Lavan who duped him into marrying Leah.

Haman fabricated lies about Mordechai and his Jewish brethren in order to defame them in the eyes of King Achashverosh and to convince the king to annihilate them. Haman was punished measure for measure when Heavenly messengers appeared to King Achashverosh and made the false claim that they had been sent by Haman to destroy Achashverosh’s property and to kill the king.

WHAT ABOUT US?
* You lie to someone - someone will lie to you
* A cashier steals money - he/she finds that their money has been misplaced or stolen
* An uncaught killer strangles his victim - G-d will exact punishment in this world ; perhaps the killer will die from choking, from drowning
* You smile at someone - someone will smile back
* You give charity - in your time of need charity will be given to you
*You pray for a person to be healed - in your time of need if G-d's will you will be healed

get the picture? good deeds are rewarded with good deeds ; evil deeds are repayed with evil deeds (in this world or in the world to come) NO DEED GOES UNREWARDED OR UNPUNISHED


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The Ark of the Covenant of Hashem

In the movie Raiders Of The Lost Ark, the hero Indiana Jones, not only searches for the missing holy Ark, but actually finds it. But that takes place in the fictional world, not in the real world that we live in. Most Jews have totally forgotten that the Ark of the Convenant has been missing for nearly 3,000 years. The prophet Jeremiah saw that this would happen at this time (the days preceding Mashiach) when he proclaimed in 3(16), "In those days they will no longer say, The Ark of the Covenant of Hashem, and it will not come to mind, they will not mention it and will not recall it."

While current day archaeologists search Israel for the hidden Ark, 1,600 miles away in Ethiopia a "watchman" spends his entire days, weeks, months, years and lifetime guarding a sacred object. Ethiopia is the modern day name for Cush. Does anybody stop and think for a moment why Cush is mentioned in the 44th verse in Torah? G-d just completed creating the world, the universe, the animal and vegetable world, and Adam. Just 6 verses after the creation of man, Cush is mentioned. Let's examine several verses preceding the one mentioning Cush. In Genesis 2(8) "Hashem G-d planted a garden in Eden, to the east, and placed there the man whom He had formed. And Hashem G-d caused to sprout from the ground every tree that was pleasing to the sight and good for food; also the Tree of Life in the midst of the garden, and the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad. A river issues forth from Eden to water the garden, and from there it is divided and becomes 4 headwaters. The name of the first is Pishon, the one that encircles the whole land of Havilah, where the gold is. The gold of that land is good, the bedolach is there, and the shoham stone. The name of the second river is Gihon גיחון, the one that encircles the whole land of כּושׁ Cush." What is going on here? The holy waters of Gan Eden surrounds Cush and purifies it. Why Cush?

Let's turn the clock back to the Jewish year 2948 exactly 500 years after we left Egypt. King Solomon, the son of King David, had just completed building both the first Temple (which took 7 years) and his own magnificant palace (which took 13 years). It was at this time that the Queen of Sheba מלכּת שׁבא paid King Solomon a visit. She had heard of the King's great wisdom, and according to Kings 1, 10(1) she came to test him with riddles בּחידת. Most commentators discuss the content of the questions she asked the King and how he answered all of them. She was overwhelmed by the answers to all of her riddled questions. But there is a deeper, hidden secret in this episode. For the 793 gematria of Queen of Sheba, מלכּת שׁבא, is the same as חתם הספר, "Seal the Book." That is, until the Time of the End according to Daniel 12(4). There certainly was more that she searched for. There was a question that she needed to know. In Kings 1, 10(2) she came before Solomon and she spoke about all that was in her heart. What was this question or riddle that brought her from a distant nation? The answer is hidden in the word for riddles itself. This word, בּחידת, spoken by Hashem Himself in Numbers 12(8) is holy because it's gematria is 424, the same as משׁיח בּן דוד, Mashiach son of David. She believed that this great man, King Solomon, the true son of David, who had just completed the building of the Temple, who was the smartest person in the history of the world, was the Mashiach. He then answered her in Kings 1, 10(3), ויגד לה שׁלמה את כּל, "Solomon told her everything." What did he tell her? He told her that he couldn't be the Mashiach because certain events had to occur before the final redemption. Look at the first letters of these 5 words. They add up to 357 the same as בּרק אובּאמה, Barack Obama. Now look at the last letters of these same 5 words. They add up to 444. This is the atbash of ככלות נפּץ יד עם קדשׁ, "When the crushing of the power of the holy people." King Solomon explained to her that Mashiach cannot come until an evil, arrogant leader named Barack Obama causes havoc to the Jewish People and crushes the power they had attained through the course of history.

King Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines. He loved them all, as it says in Kings 1, 11(2), "Solomon clung to them for love." Before the Queen of Sheba left, she blessed Hashem. Then in Kings 1, 10(13) King Solomon gave the Queen of Sheba "whatever she desired." This word for desire חפצה, has an atbash gematria equal to הדבקים, "who cling." Whether or not the Queen of Sheba had any offspring through her relationship with King Solomon is not mentioned in the Tanach. The 700 year old Kebra Negast, an ancient compilation of Ethiopian traditions, is regarded as the final authority on the early history of Ethiopia. It claims, with explicit detail, that the Queen was pregnant when she left, and gave birth back in Ethiopia to a male child. King Solomon gave her a ring to give the child as proof that he was indeed his son. The child's name was Menelek, the son of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. Twenty years later Menelek visited his father and showed him the ring. King Solomon welcomed him and invited him to stay permanently with him. But he desired to return to Ethiopia and to his mother. Modern day Ethiopians claim that their rulers were all descended from Menelek, also known as "the son of the wise man." He would establish the kingdom of David in Ethiopia (Cush), a dynasty that would reign until Haile Selassie was overthrown in 1974. The Ethiopian nation would eventually convert from the worship of the sun, moon, and stars, to the "Lord G-d of Israel." The entire period covered 225 different kings, all descended without interruption from Menelek. It's no coincidence that it was 225 for it's the gematria of הטהור, "the clean." No wonder at all, since the waters of Gan Eden encircles the land of Ethiopia.

Let's now move ahead, 2800 years later. If you know anyone from Ethiopia, ask them a simple question. "Do you know where the Holy Ark is located?" You'll be amazed when they respond, "Of course I do. Everyone in Ethiopia knows that it is kept in a special treasury next to the Church of St. Mary of Zion in Axum, Ethiopia. They'll also tell you that the ark cannot be seen by anyone but the high priest of Axum, an elderly, holy monk who is charged with its care and preservation for life. He doesn't leave the premises and names his successor on his death bed. His name is Abba Tesfa Mariam. He is the 30th guardian in history who never left that same enclosure. He as well as the guardians before him, worship 13 hours a day in front of the Holy Ark. So how did the Ark wind up in Ethiopia?

When King Solomon realized that his son Menelek was determined to go back to his mother, the Queen of Sheba in Axum, Ethiopia, he gave him a replica of the Ark of the Covenant. This would constantly remind him of the real one and be a source of spiritual inspiration that he would need when he was so far away from Jerusalem. Menelek was escorted on his journey with men hand picked by his father. Before he reached Ethiopia he realized that someone, somehow had substituted the real Ark for the replica. Was it just an accident? Did one of the men do it and why? Is it possible that King Solomon himself did it? He was about to go back to Jerusalem when he interpreted the incident to be a message from G-d. He realized that it was divine providence that he had the possession of this sacred object. Everyone will seek to find it in Jerusalem. No one will ever think for a moment that this precious, holy item would be in the dark, uncivilized land of Cush.

Several months ago Abuna Pauolos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, claimed that the real Ark of the Covenant rests indeed in Axum. Most, if not all, Ethiopian churches contain replicas of the Ark in order to protect the secret location of the real one. If the replicas are removed they are considered impure. These replicas are considered extremely holy. He said, "The Ark of the Covenant is located in Axum, Ethiopia and only G-d knows for how much longer." He continued that, "the artifact is described perfectly in the Bible, and it is in good condition. After a meeting with the Pope in Italy it was decided that the time had come to reveal the sacred object to the world and to house it in a planned museum. A press conference was scheduled for the following day, and all the details would then be revealed to the world. But there was no press conference in Italy the next day. Some mysterious person must have spoken to him that night for he ran out of the country straight back to Ethiopia like a man running for his life. All he would say was that he was misquoted and that the Holy Ark must be protected from the "gaze of the public."

Some of you might be skeptical. Some might be in disbelief. But before you decide whether the above is the truth or just a good script for a movie or book, please bear in mind the following:

1. The atbash of כּושׁ Cush, is 112. This number represents the time period of Daniel's famous, "Time, Times, and a half of Time." See our blog entitled, "The Connection Between The Blessing Of The Sun And The Final Redemption."

2. The flag of Ethiopia during Haile Selassie's reign depicted a lion. Selassie referred to himself as "The Lion of Judah." King David, King Solomon, Menelek, and all the kings until Selassie were all descended from Judah. Currently the flag of Ethiopia portrays its national emblem, a 6 pointed star corresponding to the shield of King David.

3. Zipporah, the wife of Moses, is described in Numbers 12(1) as a Cushite woman. But she was a Midianite. Why was she described this way? Gemara Moed Katan addresses this question and discusses 3 additional cases where a non-Cushite is described as a Cushite. The answer for all 4 cases is that, "just as a Cushite is unusual in the aspect of their skin, so was Zipporah and the other people mentioned, unusual in the aspect of their deeds." But why not compare these people to Abraham our Father, if they were so filled with kindness and good deeds? It's perhaps because Zipporah and the others were unusual with respect to their purity. As we mentioned before, the Gihon river flows from Gan Eden and encircles the whole land of Cush. If a Cushite exemplifies one special trait, it must be that of purity, the same trait that illustrates the holiness of the Ark of the Convenant of Hashem.

4. The name Cush appears in the 44th verse in Torah corresponding to the 44th word, ולחשׁך, "And to the darkness" as well as to our 44th President. This indicates that at this current time when the 44th President became elected not because he was filled with kindness, good deeds or purity, but simply because he resembled a Cushite with respect to the aspect of his skin, know for sure that this is the time when the secret of the missing Ark of the Covenant of Hashem will be revealed to the world.

SOURCE

http://redemption5768.blogspot.com/2009/08/ark-of-covenant-of-hashem.html
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