Recently, a Lobster diver, was diving in waters on the Provincetown, MA coast. About 45 feet down, his vision was darkened. He thought he was bitten by a shark. It was really a whale that swallowed him whole. He thought it was the end. He cried out “Oh G-d please help me”. The Whale spat him out. Some sailors in the vicinity helped him into their ship.

Jonah’s Reason for Running Away from G-d

Jonah / Yona was a Jewish Prophet. He received a Message from Hash-m to Tell the city of Ninveh to do Teshuva – Repent. He was reluctant to do so. He reasoned that if Ninveh would repent – the Jews would look badly if they did not repent. He ran away. He went to the sea and a raging storm attacked the ship.

The mariners prayed to their god – with no respite. The storm continued. Yona was sleeping. The captain woke him up and said get up and pray. The captain had faith in Hash-m. Yona knew that Hash-m*was sending the storm for he was trying to escape doing his mission. He told the captain. They lowered him into the waters. The waters calmed. Hash-m sent a big fish to swallow Yona. It was quite comfortable inside – he didn’t mind it so much. Then G-d had that whale spit him out and a whale with less comfortable “quarters” swallowed him.

He prayed to Hash-m to save him from the whale’s insides. He was spit up onto the shore of Ninveh – to accomplish his mission.

Eventually the people of Ninveh heard the message of G-d and repented and prayed sincerely to Hash-m. Hash-m forgave them and allowed the city to survive.

G-d then communicated with him – and Told him that he cares about all his creatures.

Two things to learn from Yona

1. Hash-m Cares about you. G-d Loves his creatures and we are among them.
2. In the most trying situations – even when one thinks the end is near – there is always hope. Pray to Hash-m & Repent & He will help. Repentance in Judaism is basically  making an effort to see The Sun Rise Again and Starting Over – Wiping the Slate Clean.Once a gentile woman went for a visit at my friend’s optometrist office. She told him that she abandoned the worship of her younger years and started praying to Hash-m. He asked her why? She responded – when she prayed before her prayers were not answered – now she started praying to Hash-m her prayers were more frequently answered.

   Prayers of Gentiles to Hash-m are Answered

Shlomo Hamelech / King Solomon prayed to Hash-m that specifically the prayers of the gentiles be answered when they prayed by the Holy temple.

He wanted every person in the world to worship Hash-m. Why did he ask that specifically the gentile’s prayers to Hash-m be answered?

He reasoned that gentiles are more sensitive to not having their prayers answered. If a Jew prays and he is not answered – he can attribute it to his transgressions or other reasons. So the Jew will be less sensitive if G-d does not answer positively.

An opportunity for all people – pray to Hash-m and get your wish fulfilled.

==

*(the name of G-d – in many versions of Jonah and other Tanach texts “Hash-m” is mistranslated from the Hebrew text to English as “the L-rd” / it really means Hash-m – ie, it says in Jonah / Yona 2:1 “The Lord appointed a great fish …”  is properly translated as “Hash-m appointed a great fish …”)

This week’s parasha is Hukat / Decree. Various types of Mitzvot / Commandments from the Torah exist Edut, Mishpatim & Hukim.

Edut are testimonies that testify about an event. Jews observe the Shabbat / Sabbath. Shabbat testifies that Hash-m / G-d created the world in 6 days and rested on the seventh.

Mishpatim are laws that are self-evident, logical and for the upholding of society. For instance – Do not steal, do not kill, do not commit adultery.

Hukim are laws that are not comprehensible. We do them only from the fact that Hash-m gave them to us. The Para Aduma / Red Heifer is a Hok.

Solid Foundations of Torah

Our Torah is well founded. It was given by Moses at Mount Sinai. Millions of people heard Hash-m speak. It wasn’t a revelation to a single or group of people by G-d – but to an entire nation of people. The Jews heard it and said “We will Do & We will Hear.”

The UN-understandable law

Parashat Hukat Talks of the Red Heifer – A completely Red cow whose ashed are mixed with water that purify the highest form of impurity.

This is one of the laws that is a Hok. We don’t understand it. Why should we do it? Once we established a relationship with Hash-m – who did great miracles for us, gave us the Torah foundations that made sense – then we can trust Him on the laws that we do not understand.

The Mistake of those Who Say G-d changes the Torah

This is much different than other religions that refuse to explain the authenticity of the foundations of the Religion. We know the foundations of Torah make sense – now that the foundations are solidly established we can follow the Hukim / Decrees we do not understand.

G-d is infinitely wise. For G-d to “change his mind” is not logical. Some religions reform, reconstruct, or conserve things laws of the Torah. If one doesn’t understand something – how can you rebuild it. Especially if it was built by G-d. Only Torah Judaism says G-d did not change the Torah. Understanding this concept prompts us to choose the right path in life.

All Mitzvot Have Reasons we understand & know and reasons we don’t know or understand

G-d gives some reasons in Torah for particular mitzvot. But In actuality – there are thousands of reasons for each Mitzvah. There are some that we may not even understand.

Some may disregard Torah because they either say – “I don’t understand it” or they say “I understand it – but that reason does not apply to me.”

King Solomon’s Mistake

King Solomon – the wisest man in history – said he understood that the reason for a Jewish King to not have many wives – was that they were liable to remove the king from the service of G-d. He said – that does not apply to him. In the end he fell to being detoured from proper service of G-d by his wives.

The Wise Doctor

If an honest, reputable Dr. that studied 50 years about the cure to a particular ailment and came up with cure – for some person who read one newspaper article on the subject – it would be foolish for the man to say he is more knowledgeable.

Hash-m Knows all. Even King Solomon’s reflection was not wise because he took into account one reason for not marrying many wives as a king – when G-d takes all reasons into account.

All laws have a incomprehensible aspect. But we accept them. But we don’t change them or say G-d changed them. Doing so would be like rejecting a medicine that was proven scientifically, studied for decades, proven to be safe, effective with no side effects – because we read one article on the subject.

This is one explanation of the Verse “Zot Hukat HaTorah” / This is the Decree of “the Torah”. It Should have said “this is Decree of ‘the Red Heifer'”. Saying “the Torah” instead of “the Red Heifer” is alluding to the fact that all laws that we received from Moshe / Moses in the Torah have an aspect so sublime – we are limited in our intelligence to comprehend.

The events of the week follow a similar manner to the Week’s Parasha / Torah Reading. A Rabbi I used to learn with used to compare the Parasha happenings to the current events of the week.

Good sources to learn about the parasha are :

Torah Anytime – torahanytime.com
https://parshasheets.com/ and parasha.com.

there are many more – see some in the links section

The Blessing of Peace

Peace is a blessing. This week’s parasha talks of Korach – who created a quarrel against Moshe / Moses. Quarrel is a terrible thing – it breaks friends, families & people. In this week’s parasha – those who ran from quarrel – like Ohn Ben Pelet – lived. The others perished.

So how do you avoid quarrel?

1. Avoid Quarrel.

2. Judge a person the positive way (If he or she is usually a good, or average person)

3. Don’t jump to conclusions.

4. Don’t assume you are right.

5. Don’t be judgemental.

6. Love Peace & Pursue Peace. (See Pirkei Avot)

7. Learn Pirkei Avot.

8. Don’t enter your nose into other people’s business.

9. Calm down a situation – don’t add fuel to the fire.

10. Don’t believe everything you hear – you remember the game “Telephone” when you were young.

11. Solve disputes among family and friends. There is an expression in french – We wash our dirty laundry among family.

12. Choose someone to talk with that is a peace maker not someone who fuels anger .

13. Take a break from the discussion until you are calm.

14. Don’t involve people who will help to take sides.

15. Choose a neutral mediator.

16. See the benefit that you gain by being on one side or the other.

17. According to Torah, You may tell fibs to create peace between people. That is what Aharon / Aron, Moshe’s Brother did.

18. Talk Softly. (See Igeret Ha Ramban)

19. Don’t instigate others.

20. Look at the common good over your own personal feelings or benefits.

21. Be Quick to Say Sorry.

22. Be Quick to Forgive.

23. Don’t Hold onto grudges.

24. Think that the person that did the bad is an agent of G-d.

25. Avoid heated conversation.

26. Pray to Hash-m for Peace.

27. Think Before you speak – to assure your words do not cause hatred, strife, hurt or sadness.

28. First Love the Person with whom You want to Quarrel

One of the greatest blessings is peace – Shalom.

It’s better to become better than to be bitter. At times a person will do something to your distaste. You choose your reaction – judging favorably, hate, anger, indifference in the future, spite, revenge, tolerance or love.

Deal with Your Feelings

The Torah is real. It recognizes our feelings – and knows that feelings evoked must be dealt with in a positive manner.

Choose Your Attitude

Your feelings are based upon your attitude. If you think “this is terrible what happened” you will be upset. If you think “All that Hash-m Does is for the Good” – you will have a better attitude.

The Perpetrator is and Agent of G-d / It would have happened anyway by someone else.

When we realize that a person who did us wrong is a shaliach / an agent of Hash-m / G-d – then we can be more forgiving.

It is true that that person did the act. We think that this is the process.

Adam did an act – donated $1000 – to David. So the average person will be very thankful to Adam that he gave him $1000.

It really is: David needed $1000 for Torah Day school tuition. Hash-m decided David should get $1000 for his child’s tuition. Adam wanted to support a child in a Torah Day school. Hash-m made Adam learn of David’s need and thus Adam donated $1000 to David.

In this way of thinking, David should really thank Hash-m first and then Adam. It is Hash-m who decided that he receive the $1000 – Adam was just a messenger of Hash-m. If Adam said he wants to use his $1000 for the Casino – G-d will find someone else to give David $1000. The $1000 was coming to David regardless of what Adam decided to do with his $1000.

The One who wants to do good will be given opportunities to do good and vice versa

It is called megalgelim zechut al yedey zachai umegalgelim chov al yedey chayav

מגלגלין זכות על ידי זכאי וחובה על ידי חייב

They arrange [in Heaven] a merit on those that are meritorious and They arrange [in Heaven] a debt to those are indebted.

Free Choice vs. Destiny

 A person has free choice, but nevertheless, Heaven directs the reality that will come to an entitled person. A good person, who always wants to do good, will be helped by Heaven to bring into reality a kindness and good deed. Let’s say Yosef wants to give Tzedaka / charity – Heaven will help him to find a worthy person to receive his donation. Because “in the way a man wants to go he is lead.”  And vice versa, if something bad should happen to someone, this messenger will be someone who already has chosen to bad in his life.

General Nero’s Dilemma

Like we find with General Nero. Nero was about to battle Jerusalem. He shot arrows in 4 directions – they all landed towards Jerusalem. He reasoned -Hash-m wants Jerusalem to fall – and He wants me to be his agent – and eventually Nero would be punished. He ran away. In the merit of running away from bad – he had a great descendant – Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess.

Choose Good

Our choice is on which side we will be  – on the side of those entitled who want to do good in the world or on the side of the debtors who do evil in the world.

It can also mean that the person who deserves a good deed – it will be organized by Heaven – that he will receive it by a worthy person.

In any case the benefactor of good or doer of bad was just an agent of G-d. They will also be rewarded or punished – because they were the ones who actually did the job.

Don’t Blame the Messenger – Improve Yourself

Looking that the the thing was done was decreed from heaven helps us to remove our negative feelings towards the person and prompts us to ask why did this deed actually happen. The reason why Hash-m wanted you to recieve this good or difficulty may be for several reasons. You did something good – the good came back to you – or vice versa. G-d wanted to send you an opportunity to grow. Based upon the experience you went through you can choose to become better or bitter. Your choice.

Good comes back to the Good Doer

If a person does good – he will receive good – as a reward for the good he did. At times the good that he did creates a domino effect – of other people doing good – and that good eventually comes back to the good doer.

The opposite is true as well. So as a result of a negative act – at times this will have a domino effect coming back to him. In this case one should not be angry at the perpetrator – one should reflect on the act you did – that caused you to recieve the repercussions of your deed.

The 13 Attributes of G-d

A Sefer / Book written by the Kabbalist, Rabbi Moshe Cordovera – Tomer Devora / The Palm Tree of Devorah – speaks about the 13 Attributes of G-d. Each attribute describes Hash-m’s magnanimity and kindness. G-d forgives all kinds of sins for all different reasons.

Learning the Tomer Devora – and other Jewish Mussar / Self- Improvement works – like Pirkei Avot – and emulating Hash-m will help us to forgive & forget – to be magnanimous and not petty nor bitter.

Some say I’ll be happy when…I have a new car ….I have a new boss. …a new job. ….a new friend. …a new house. Fill in the blank.

A person has sufficient good to enjoy now – that the other things he thinks he needs are not necessary. Enjoy your children. Enjoy your family. Enjoy your parents. Enjoy the Shabbat with them.

Some zip through the tefillah / prayer service – to fulfill their obligation. But apparently Hash-m wants us to enjoy the moment. Enjoy & feel the words and tunes of the prayer service. I personally like the Moroccan Jewish prayer service. The nigunim / melodies bring out the feelings that the words convey – whether in the Tefillah, or Taamim / cantillation of the Torah reading, Haftorah reading, the ketuba on Shavuot, the nigunim of Tisha B’e av, etc.

Enjoy the moment.Enjoy the Tefillah – savor the words & melodies.

Some push off mitzvoth / Torah commandments. Like observing Shabbat. Or keeping kosher. At times because they don’t know how or because they are afraid of giving up their lifestyle or what people may think. But you only gain from Hash-m’s words – learning or doing them.

I have a motto – Do it now – perfect it later. Some want everything to be perfect before starting a project or a new endeavor. I think – if it is a good thing – do it now & perfect it later.

Some failed in the past. They are sorry about the past. They live in remorse. Teshuva – is repentance in Judaism. We feall bad and correct the past deeds. But if one falls into depression or too much sadness – this might be a negative thing. G-d wants you to be happy. The Yetzer HaRa – Evil Inclination puts thoughts of being worthless into one’s head to prevent them from accomplishing the good in life. Leave the past and go on with your life.

Some think “I can’t” – try and see.

Learn about topics you want to do in Judaism. Learn about Shabbat and do it.

Be happy now. enjoy the moment.

Don’t rush to pray / daven – so that you can do something else – enjoy the davening. Connect to the One who said “Let there be light” – Hash-m – and bring light into your life.

What is Your view of yourself?

I used to have the attitude – “I don’t care what people think. I care what people feel.” I did alter my attitude a bit – now my attitude is more “If I am doing the right thing and the right way – according to Torah – I don’t care what people think.” But that’s just a general attitude. Obviously it depends upon the the situation. For instance in Torah we try not to offend – yet at times to do the right thing – we might offend the sensibilities of others if other’s sensibilities run contrary to Torah ideals. But that is an article in itself.

The Jewish Spies

In this week’s parasha – Shelach – spies are sent to Eretz Yisrael in the time of Moshe / Moses. 12 are sent. 10 come back with a negative report. 2 come back with a positive report. The Jews believe the negative report and cry in vain. Then G-d, upset about the people’s attitude – tells them that they will remain in the desert for 40 years – one year for each day they spied. He also says – since they cried in vain – He will give them a real reason to cry on that day in the future – which is the 9th of Av – the A Day of Suffering & Mourning for the Jews.

Projecting our self-image to the way others view us

The spies in their report describing the giants who live there – who they had to conquer – say

“There we saw the giants, the sons of the giant, of the Nephilim, and we were like grasshoppers in our eyes, and so we appeared in their eyes.” (Bamidbar/ Numbers 13:33)

We can understand the verse as just like we were grasshoppers in our eyes – we were grasshoppers in their eyes. Or because we were grasshoppers in our eyes we were grasshoppers in their eyes. Meaning because we felt like grasshoppers – they looked at us like grasshoppers. Meaning people may judge you the way you look at yourself.

Believe in Yourself

If you believe in yourself – others will believe in you. If you don’t it is possible others will not as well. The Torah wants us to have a positive self image.

What is Humility? True and False Humility

One of the greatest character traits to have is humility. Moses was the most humble of all men. Yet he accomplished more than any man in history. How is this so?

Define the Terms of Your Discussion to See if you really Agree

If you have a question or discussion with someone else – at times you will agree with one another but disagree. It depends upon your terms. Let’s explain.

Let’s take Humility. David person may think his friend – Danny – is humble. Adam says he is not. Danny is defining humility as looking down oneself. Adam is defining humility as recognizing that one’s greatest strengths come from Hash-m. Adam’s definition is correct. When one recognizes that his talents are G-d given – he will have self confidence. If one puts oneself down – he will become downtrodden.

Moses – the Most Humble of All Men

That’s how Moses was so humble – yet he accomplished so much. I also heard that Moshe used to compare his deeds to what his potential deeds were and thus he remained humble as well.

Fix yourself and Others will Look up to You

Now we should not complain about what others think of us. First we should fix our attitude and believe in ourselves – and when we look at ourselves positively – will have an effect on how others look at us.