I was inspired by this story. Years ago, this type of story in Kazakhstan inspired my wife and I to pursue missions on our ill fated missions adventure. Enjoy.
"The Time Of The Gentiles?"
There is a Christian revival going on in the world, but it is not one that you would expect nor is it taking place anywhere you would normally imagine. Since the tragedy of 9 / 11 in 2001 hundreds of thousands, even millions of Moslems have and are still coming to faith in Jesus; they are becoming Christians! The amazing thing is that it is happening in countries that you would least expect it to be happening in; countries such as Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Egypt, Morocco and most of the other Middle-Eastern Moslem countries. Now remember in all Moslem countries conversion out of Islam into another religion, any other religion could mean and in most cases does mean certain death. The minimum punishment would be imprisonment and torture.
The astonishing thing about what is happening among Moslems is that this revival is happening in the Middle East while we are seeing many Christian denominations here in the West falling away from the faith. Churches like the United Church, Methodist Church and bastion of Christianity, the Anglican Church have in one form or another fallen into apostasy and who know who will be next.
What is truly incredible is that in reading the testimonies of these Moslem conversions many of them were the result of actual personal appearances to the person by Jesus. Yes, He appeared and introduced Himself to them as Jesus not Yeshua. Many more Moslems came to faith in Jesus through having visions and dreams. In these visions and dreams they received confirming messages that Christianity is the true faith and that they needed to believe in Jesus as the true Messiah and that they needed to follow Him and His teachings. Even though these dreams and visions are widespread among Moslems the vast majority of Moslems are coming to faith because of their disenchantment with a religion that fosters Jihad, hate and the killing and maiming of fellow Moslems. They have witnessed what has been happening in Afghanistan, Iraq and Pakistan where Moslems are killing Moslems and they have been seeing their Moslems brothers using women and the handicapped as suicide bombers and children as shields in war. They are disenchanted with radicalism and yes, even Al Qaeda. So, all these things have been doing much for the Christian revival among Moslems. Add to this the fact that many Moslem converts have become evangelists, preacher and teachers (underground, of course) and the fact that there are now radio, and satellite television evangelists beaming their broadcasts about the G-d that died for you as apposed to the Moslem god who wants you to die for him, in every Arab dialect and in the languages of Ethiopia's and Iran's and you can understand why the revival.
The religion of Islam does not have an assured way of salvation which guarantees entrance into heaven like Christianity. It is a works oriented religion, which means that a Moslem never knows if his works have merited him heaven until he actually gets there, or does not! The religion of Islam is also very aggressively taught from the time children enter school so this theology of working and doing in order to be worthy to go to heaven is engrained in Moslems from a very early age. Sadly, they are falsely taught that the only sure and fool proof way a Moslem has of salvation, the only guaranteed way he can get into heaven is if he were to be martyred defending Islam against infidels, which happens to be anyone who is not a Moslem but especially Americans and Jews. Is it any wonder than that radical Moslems do not have any trouble recruiting terrorists for they demented suicide causes!
How does one defend against a religion that teaches such a philosophy, whether overtly, as by the radicals or in inference as by the Koran? There is no way because there has to come a time when a devout Moslem comes to a crossroad in their religious life where a decision of becoming or not becoming a radical becomes a real choice and I believe that is what is also fuelling the present revival.
This Moslem revival has had another effect; it has thrown a kind-of monkey wrench into Messianic Jewish theology, including mine. What do I mean? Well, Messianic Judaism has always thought that with the recapture of East Jerusalem and the re-unification of the city during the Six Day War of 1967 it marked the end of the Times of the Gentiles and the beginning of a Messianic Jewish revival.
Uri (Luke) {21:24} and they will fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led captive into all the nations; and Yerushalayim will be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.
We have believed that with the reunification of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) this Scripture was fulfilled and yes Messianic Judaism has seen an unprecedented renewal since 1967. In fact, Jewish people have been coming to salvation in numbers not seen since the first century. If the times of the Gentiles is over, however, how then do you explain the millions of Moslems (Gentiles) coming to faith in Jesus since 2001. Did the 67 war really mark the end of the times of the Gentiles? The only way I can explain it is that it did not! The time of the Gentiles therefore, is not over and that will also mean that the tramping down by them of Yerushalayim is also not over. This, I believe, is confirmed by the following Scripture:
Zekharyah (Zechariah) {14:2} For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished, and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.
The skyline of Yerushalayim is still dominated by the abomination of the Dome of the Rock and if Zekharyah's prophecy is yet unfulfilled Yerushalayim will yet again be divided and trampled down by the Gentiles. So that, I believe, would mean that the times of the Gentiles will only be over upon Yeshua HaMashiach's (the Messiah's) return to the earth to set up His throne. For that is when all surviving Jews, those that made it through the tribulation period (Jacob's Troubles) will be saved and all the nations of the earth will turn to Yeshua. At that time there will no longer be any Gentiles because everyone will be saved, remembering that the biblical interpretation of a Gentile is a pagan. It is then that Yerushalayim, Yisrael and the Jewish people will take up their biblical, G-d ordained position and role in the world.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Va Yigash- He drew near
Sorry, I have been slow on my updates, we moved and had a baby, but this was from Rabbi Farber. Hope you enjoy
Parashat HaShavua VaYigash / And He Drew Near
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 44:18-47:27
Yechezekiel / Ezekiel 37:15-28
Uri / Luke 6:9-16
Bereshit {45:4} Yoseph (Joseph) said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Yoseph, your brother, whom you sold into Mitzrayim (Egypt). {45:5} Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for G-D sent me before you to preserve life. {45:6} For these two years has the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. {45:7} G-D sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. {45:8} So now it was not you who sent me here, but G-D, and he has made me a 'ab (father) to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Mitzrayim.
Why does HaShem have to put us through so much difficulty, anguish and hardship in order to have us accomplish His will? Yoseph went through much more than the average believer goes through just so that HaShem could fulfill Yoseph's dream and get his brothers to the point of repentance.
However, it does not end there. HaShem then used the restoration of the family relationship to bring bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel) to Mitzrayim so that the subsequent generations could become slaves, be oppressed, beaten and used as chattel for hundreds of years. All of this was done just so that HaShem could take them out from under Pharaoh and make them into His segulah (special treasure). After that He was going to give them the land of Canaan. Let us face it. G-d is all powerful. He could have saved everyone involved a whole lot of trouble and heartaches if He would have just spoken the end result into being as He did with creation. However, it seems like that is not the way G-d works. This is not because He is G-d, but because we are humans. He does, after all, call us a stiff-necked people:
Shemot (Exodus) 32:9 And HaShem said unto Moshe, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people:
I have encountered and experienced how stiff-necked we are, many times. Not everyone I teach wants to take the Word of G-d at face value. Many demand a reasonable explanation before they will even consider that what Torah says is the way they are supposed to live. It amazes me how most believers have no problem with the fact that Yeshua is G-d, but when it comes to the commandments of Torah they have a problem accepting them let alone adhering to them. If Yeshua is G-d and G-d wrote the Torah, then when Yeshua said, “if you love Me keep My commandments,” (Yochanan [John] 14:15) His commandments must be Torah.
How do people explain Torah away? Often they explain it by saying Torah is for the Jews, but grace is for believers in Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah). What this tells me about them is that they believe G-d has one set of commandment for saved people and another set for un-saved people – an unreasonable and false assumption. G-d's Word is universal. It spans time, space and people groups.
I could have saved myself countless of sleepless nights, gallons of tears and a whole lot of money, if I had only followed the advice of my parents, but no I had to learn everything the hard way. I had to do it all myself, my way, and re-invent the wheel. This relates to how stiff-necked we are. We tend to not appreciate anything we have not learned by our own experience.
Have you ever stood over someone who was pressing the Control-Alt-Delete keys of their computer because the screen was frozen and not accepted the fact that it was not working? Even though you watched them perform the action over and over again without success you have to try pushing the same Control-Alt-Delete keys before you accept that it is not working and the screen is frozen? If you have, then you have proven to yourself why HaShem has to do things the way He does, why He has to teach us the hard way and take us via the long route. It is because we are experiential people and unless we experience something ourselves, sadly the hard way, we do not learn the lesson HaShem is trying to teach us. We do not value what we have not experienced.
Mishlei (Proverbs) {13:11} Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
It is a fact that we value things we had to work hard for more than things that are just given to us without us exerting any effort or experiencing any pain. No one values being healthy more than when they are sick or have just recovered from being sick.
HaShem knows us -- He created us! Appreciate the difficult times of your life because the impressions they will make upon your life will be invaluable. Plus HaShem is the one doing it, for your ultimate good.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
Visit our Webpage @ www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net
272 Ranee Ave Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A-1N6, Tel: 416-785-7612
Parashat HaShavua VaYigash / And He Drew Near
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 44:18-47:27
Yechezekiel / Ezekiel 37:15-28
Uri / Luke 6:9-16
Bereshit {45:4} Yoseph (Joseph) said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Yoseph, your brother, whom you sold into Mitzrayim (Egypt). {45:5} Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for G-D sent me before you to preserve life. {45:6} For these two years has the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. {45:7} G-D sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance. {45:8} So now it was not you who sent me here, but G-D, and he has made me a 'ab (father) to Pharaoh, lord of all his house, and ruler over all the land of Mitzrayim.
Why does HaShem have to put us through so much difficulty, anguish and hardship in order to have us accomplish His will? Yoseph went through much more than the average believer goes through just so that HaShem could fulfill Yoseph's dream and get his brothers to the point of repentance.
However, it does not end there. HaShem then used the restoration of the family relationship to bring bnei Yisrael (the children of Israel) to Mitzrayim so that the subsequent generations could become slaves, be oppressed, beaten and used as chattel for hundreds of years. All of this was done just so that HaShem could take them out from under Pharaoh and make them into His segulah (special treasure). After that He was going to give them the land of Canaan. Let us face it. G-d is all powerful. He could have saved everyone involved a whole lot of trouble and heartaches if He would have just spoken the end result into being as He did with creation. However, it seems like that is not the way G-d works. This is not because He is G-d, but because we are humans. He does, after all, call us a stiff-necked people:
Shemot (Exodus) 32:9 And HaShem said unto Moshe, I have seen this people, and, behold, it is a stiff-necked people:
I have encountered and experienced how stiff-necked we are, many times. Not everyone I teach wants to take the Word of G-d at face value. Many demand a reasonable explanation before they will even consider that what Torah says is the way they are supposed to live. It amazes me how most believers have no problem with the fact that Yeshua is G-d, but when it comes to the commandments of Torah they have a problem accepting them let alone adhering to them. If Yeshua is G-d and G-d wrote the Torah, then when Yeshua said, “if you love Me keep My commandments,” (Yochanan [John] 14:15) His commandments must be Torah.
How do people explain Torah away? Often they explain it by saying Torah is for the Jews, but grace is for believers in Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah). What this tells me about them is that they believe G-d has one set of commandment for saved people and another set for un-saved people – an unreasonable and false assumption. G-d's Word is universal. It spans time, space and people groups.
I could have saved myself countless of sleepless nights, gallons of tears and a whole lot of money, if I had only followed the advice of my parents, but no I had to learn everything the hard way. I had to do it all myself, my way, and re-invent the wheel. This relates to how stiff-necked we are. We tend to not appreciate anything we have not learned by our own experience.
Have you ever stood over someone who was pressing the Control-Alt-Delete keys of their computer because the screen was frozen and not accepted the fact that it was not working? Even though you watched them perform the action over and over again without success you have to try pushing the same Control-Alt-Delete keys before you accept that it is not working and the screen is frozen? If you have, then you have proven to yourself why HaShem has to do things the way He does, why He has to teach us the hard way and take us via the long route. It is because we are experiential people and unless we experience something ourselves, sadly the hard way, we do not learn the lesson HaShem is trying to teach us. We do not value what we have not experienced.
Mishlei (Proverbs) {13:11} Dishonest money dwindles away, but he who gathers money little by little makes it grow.
It is a fact that we value things we had to work hard for more than things that are just given to us without us exerting any effort or experiencing any pain. No one values being healthy more than when they are sick or have just recovered from being sick.
HaShem knows us -- He created us! Appreciate the difficult times of your life because the impressions they will make upon your life will be invaluable. Plus HaShem is the one doing it, for your ultimate good.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
Visit our Webpage @ www.cmy.on.ca / cmy@ca.inter.net
272 Ranee Ave Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A-1N6, Tel: 416-785-7612
Sunday, December 27, 2009
VaYechi- And He lived
From Rabbi Farber
"Accept Forgiveness"
Parashat HaShavua VaYechi / And He Lived
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 47:28-50:26
Melachim Aleph / 1 Kings 2:1-12
Kefa Aleph / 1 Peter 1:3-9
Bereshit {50:15} When Yoseph's (Joseph's) brothers saw that their 'ab (father) was dead, they said, "It may be that Yoseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him. {50:16} They sent a message to Yoseph, saying, "your 'ab commanded before he died, saying, {50:17} "So will you tell Yoseph, 'Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you. ' Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the G-D of your 'ab." Yoseph wept when they spoke to him. {50:18} His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." {50:19} Yoseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of G-D? {50:20} As for you, you meant evil against me, but G-D meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive. {50:21} Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones." He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
I found this passage so typical of believers today. Allow me to explain. We all should know that Yoseph is a type of Yeshua. Yoseph was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, abused and mistreated, sent to prison, resurrected from prison and became great among the Gentiles, the Mitzrim (Egyptians). Yeshua was rejected by his brothers, His own people. He was sold, by one of is own, for thirty pieces of silver. He went down into the pit (hell), was resurrected and became great among the Gentiles (Nations). The similarities between Joseph and Yeshua are not at all coincidental, nor do the similarities end with what I have just told you here, this is only the beginning.
You will remember that in last week's parasha, parasha VaYigash, Y'huda (Judah) and the other brothers poured out their hearts to Yoseph, they confessed their sin before him. At this point Yoseph had not yet revealed himself as Yoseph to his brothers. Subsequently he does reveal his identity and forgives his brothers of their sin and absolves them for what they had done to him.
Bereshit {45:4} Yoseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Yoseph, your brother, whom you sold into Mizrayim (Egypt). {45:5} Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for G-D sent me before you to preserve life. {45:6} For these two years has the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. {45:7} G-D sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
Yoseph's brothers were forgiven. All that transpired in the past was forgotten. Yoseph had moved on in his life, but obviously his brother's had not. Even thought Yoseph clearly forgave them, they had not forgiven themselves and therefore were still carrying around their guilt.
Well, if we continue with the comparison of Yoseph being a type of Yeshua, is not this scenario frightfully similar to the lives of many believers today? Everything that happened to Yoseph was, as he admitted, ordained by HaShem for the purpose of benefiting his brothers and future generations of bnei Yisrael. The brothers' confession to Yoseph would now allow them all the benefits of living under the protection of Yoseph who had been elevated to the powerful position of viceroy in Mitzrayim. Similarly, everything that happened to Yeshua was ordained by the Father for the express purpose of benefiting bnei Yisrael and in turn the entire world. When we confess our sin to Yeshua, the sin we committed against Him by breaking the commandments of Torah, He forgives us. In fact we are told:
Michah (Micah) {7:19} He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
However, do we forgive ourselves? Many of us do not! Despite the fact that we have been forgiven we still carry around our guilt. Allow this week's Parasha and specifically the portions of Scripture that I have quoted from it to minister to you so that you will not be like Yoseph's brothers and that you will accept the forgiveness that Yeshua has given you and move on in your life.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
"Accept Forgiveness"
Parashat HaShavua VaYechi / And He Lived
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 47:28-50:26
Melachim Aleph / 1 Kings 2:1-12
Kefa Aleph / 1 Peter 1:3-9
Bereshit {50:15} When Yoseph's (Joseph's) brothers saw that their 'ab (father) was dead, they said, "It may be that Yoseph will hate us, and will fully pay us back for all of the evil which we did to him. {50:16} They sent a message to Yoseph, saying, "your 'ab commanded before he died, saying, {50:17} "So will you tell Yoseph, 'Now please forgive the disobedience of your brothers, and their sin, because they did evil to you. ' Now, please forgive the disobedience of the servants of the G-D of your 'ab." Yoseph wept when they spoke to him. {50:18} His brothers also went and fell down before his face; and they said, "Behold, we are your servants." {50:19} Yoseph said to them, "Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of G-D? {50:20} As for you, you meant evil against me, but G-D meant it for good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save many people alive. {50:21} Now therefore do not be afraid. I will nourish you and your little ones." He comforted them, and spoke kindly to them.
I found this passage so typical of believers today. Allow me to explain. We all should know that Yoseph is a type of Yeshua. Yoseph was rejected by his brothers, sold into slavery, abused and mistreated, sent to prison, resurrected from prison and became great among the Gentiles, the Mitzrim (Egyptians). Yeshua was rejected by his brothers, His own people. He was sold, by one of is own, for thirty pieces of silver. He went down into the pit (hell), was resurrected and became great among the Gentiles (Nations). The similarities between Joseph and Yeshua are not at all coincidental, nor do the similarities end with what I have just told you here, this is only the beginning.
You will remember that in last week's parasha, parasha VaYigash, Y'huda (Judah) and the other brothers poured out their hearts to Yoseph, they confessed their sin before him. At this point Yoseph had not yet revealed himself as Yoseph to his brothers. Subsequently he does reveal his identity and forgives his brothers of their sin and absolves them for what they had done to him.
Bereshit {45:4} Yoseph said to his brothers, "Come near to me, please." They came near. "He said, I am Yoseph, your brother, whom you sold into Mizrayim (Egypt). {45:5} Now do not be grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that you sold me here, for G-D sent me before you to preserve life. {45:6} For these two years has the famine been in the land, and there are yet five years, in which there will be neither ploughing nor harvest. {45:7} G-D sent me before you to preserve you a remnant in the earth, and to save you alive by a great deliverance.
Yoseph's brothers were forgiven. All that transpired in the past was forgotten. Yoseph had moved on in his life, but obviously his brother's had not. Even thought Yoseph clearly forgave them, they had not forgiven themselves and therefore were still carrying around their guilt.
Well, if we continue with the comparison of Yoseph being a type of Yeshua, is not this scenario frightfully similar to the lives of many believers today? Everything that happened to Yoseph was, as he admitted, ordained by HaShem for the purpose of benefiting his brothers and future generations of bnei Yisrael. The brothers' confession to Yoseph would now allow them all the benefits of living under the protection of Yoseph who had been elevated to the powerful position of viceroy in Mitzrayim. Similarly, everything that happened to Yeshua was ordained by the Father for the express purpose of benefiting bnei Yisrael and in turn the entire world. When we confess our sin to Yeshua, the sin we committed against Him by breaking the commandments of Torah, He forgives us. In fact we are told:
Michah (Micah) {7:19} He will turn again, He will have compassion upon us; He will subdue our iniquities; and You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.
However, do we forgive ourselves? Many of us do not! Despite the fact that we have been forgiven we still carry around our guilt. Allow this week's Parasha and specifically the portions of Scripture that I have quoted from it to minister to you so that you will not be like Yoseph's brothers and that you will accept the forgiveness that Yeshua has given you and move on in your life.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
Sunday, December 13, 2009
חג חנוכה שמח
A bonus contribution from Rabbi Farber Helping with some of the blessings for this holiday season. Hope you enjoy. -Bradley
"חג חנוכה שמח!"
"Have A Joyous Festival Of Chanukah"
Please visit www.bluemountain.com for more Chanukah greetings.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
On this the festival of lights we remember Yeshua HaMashiach the light of the world. May His light continue to shine in your life during this holiday season and throughout the year.
Thank you for being part of our mishpacha,
Rabbi Jack (Ya'acov) Farber
3 Blessings: Before the lighting of the candles
Blessing 1: Recite each night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
Asher kid'shanu bid'varo,
v'natan lanu et Yeshua M'shiychanu,
v'tzi'vanu l'ki'ot or la'olam. ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,אַשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בִּדְוָרוֹ
וְנַתָך לָנוּ אֶת יְשׁוּעָ מְשִׁיחֵנוּ
.וְצִוָּנוּ לְכִּוֹת אוֹר לָעוֹלָם
Blessed are You, Ad-nai our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by Thy Word, given use Yeshua our Massiah and has commanded us to be a light to the world.
Blessing 2: Recite each night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
She'asah nisim la'avoteinu,
bayamim ha'ham baz'man hazeh ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוׁתֵינוּ
.בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers in days of old, at this season.
Blessing 3: Recite Only the first night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
She'hecheyanu, vekiy'manu,
vehigi'anu laz'man hazeh ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ, וְקִיְמָנוּ
.וְהִגִּעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
2 Blessings: After the lighting of the candles
Ha'Neirot Halalu: Recite each night
Ha'Neirot halalu anachnu madlikin
al hanisim ve'al hanifla'ot, ve'al hat'shu'ot ve'al hamilchamot,
she'asita la'avotainu bayamim haham baz'man hazeh,
al yedei kohaneicha hakedoshim.
Vechol sh'monat yemei Chanukah,
haneirot halalu kodesh hem.
Ve'ein lanu reshut le'hishtamesh ba'hem,
eh'lah lir'otam bilvad,
k'dei le'hodot u'lehalel leshimcha hagadol al nisecha ve'al nifle'otecha ve'al yeshuatecha. הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַדְלִיקִין
עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת
שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
עַל יְדֵי כּהֲנֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים
וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה
הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קדֶשׁ הֵם
וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם
אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד
כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל נִסֶּיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ
These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the battles which you performed for our forefathers in those days at this season through Your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.
Ma'oz Tzur: Recite each night
Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati
Lecha na'eh leshaba'ach
Tikone bait tefilati
Ve'sham todah nezabe'ach
Li'at Tachin Matiba'ach
Mitzar haminaba'ach
Az agimor bishir mizmor
Chanukat hamiziba'ach. מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי
לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי
וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ
מִצָּר הַמְּנַבֵּחַ
.אָז אֶגְמוֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר
חֲנֻּכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ
O mighty Rock of my salvation, to praise You is a delight. Restore my house of prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering. When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe, Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Alter.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Ya'acov) Farber
"חג חנוכה שמח!"
"Have A Joyous Festival Of Chanukah"
Please visit www.bluemountain.com for more Chanukah greetings.
Matthew 5:14-16 "You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven."
On this the festival of lights we remember Yeshua HaMashiach the light of the world. May His light continue to shine in your life during this holiday season and throughout the year.
Thank you for being part of our mishpacha,
Rabbi Jack (Ya'acov) Farber
3 Blessings: Before the lighting of the candles
Blessing 1: Recite each night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
Asher kid'shanu bid'varo,
v'natan lanu et Yeshua M'shiychanu,
v'tzi'vanu l'ki'ot or la'olam. ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,אַשֶׁר קִדְּשָׁנוּ בִּדְוָרוֹ
וְנַתָך לָנוּ אֶת יְשׁוּעָ מְשִׁיחֵנוּ
.וְצִוָּנוּ לְכִּוֹת אוֹר לָעוֹלָם
Blessed are You, Ad-nai our G-d, King of the universe, Who has sanctified us by Thy Word, given use Yeshua our Massiah and has commanded us to be a light to the world.
Blessing 2: Recite each night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
She'asah nisim la'avoteinu,
bayamim ha'ham baz'man hazeh ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,שֶׁעָשָׂה נִסִּים לַאֲבוׁתֵינוּ
.בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has wrought miracles for our forefathers in days of old, at this season.
Blessing 3: Recite Only the first night
Baruch ata Ado-nai,
Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam,
She'hecheyanu, vekiy'manu,
vehigi'anu laz'man hazeh ,בָּרוּך אַתָּה יהוה
,אֱלֹהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם
,שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ, וְקִיְמָנוּ
.וְהִגִּעָנוּ לַזְּמַן הַזֶּה
Blessed are You, Hashem our G-d, King of the universe, Who has kept us alive, and sustained us, and enabled us to reach this season.
2 Blessings: After the lighting of the candles
Ha'Neirot Halalu: Recite each night
Ha'Neirot halalu anachnu madlikin
al hanisim ve'al hanifla'ot, ve'al hat'shu'ot ve'al hamilchamot,
she'asita la'avotainu bayamim haham baz'man hazeh,
al yedei kohaneicha hakedoshim.
Vechol sh'monat yemei Chanukah,
haneirot halalu kodesh hem.
Ve'ein lanu reshut le'hishtamesh ba'hem,
eh'lah lir'otam bilvad,
k'dei le'hodot u'lehalel leshimcha hagadol al nisecha ve'al nifle'otecha ve'al yeshuatecha. הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ אֲנַחְנוּ מַדְלִיקִין
עַל הַנִּסִּים וְעַל הַנִּפְלָאוֹת וְעַל הַתְּשׁוּעוֹת וְעַל הַמִּלְחָמוֹת
שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בַּיָּמִים הָהֵם בַּזְּמַן הַזֶּה
עַל יְדֵי כּהֲנֶיךָ הַקְּדוֹשִׁים
וְכָל שְׁמוֹנַת יְמֵי חֲנֻכָּה
הַנֵּרוֹת הַלָּלוּ קדֶשׁ הֵם
וְאֵין לָנוּ רְשׁוּת לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם
אֶלָּא לִרְאוֹתָם בִּלְבָד
כְּדֵי לְהוֹדוֹת וּלְהַלֵּל לְשִׁמְךָ הַגָּדוֹל עַל נִסֶּיךָ וְעַל נִפְלְאוֹתֶיךָ וְעַל יְשׁוּעָתֶךָ
These lights we kindle upon the miracles, the wonders, the salvations, and the battles which you performed for our forefathers in those days at this season through Your holy priests. During all eight days of Chanukah these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make ordinary use of them, but to look at them in order to express thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, Your wonders and Your salvations.
Ma'oz Tzur: Recite each night
Ma'oz tzur yeshu'ati
Lecha na'eh leshaba'ach
Tikone bait tefilati
Ve'sham todah nezabe'ach
Li'at Tachin Matiba'ach
Mitzar haminaba'ach
Az agimor bishir mizmor
Chanukat hamiziba'ach. מָעוֹז צוּר יְשׁוּעָתִי
לְךָ נָאֶה לְשַׁבֵּחַ
תִּכּוֹן בֵּית תְּפִלָּתִי
וְשָׁם תּוֹדָה נְזַבֵּחַ
לְעֵת תָּכִין מַטְבֵּחַ
מִצָּר הַמְּנַבֵּחַ
.אָז אֶגְמוֹר בְּשִׁיר מִזְמוֹר
חֲנֻּכַּת הַמִּזְבֵּחַ
O mighty Rock of my salvation, to praise You is a delight. Restore my house of prayer and there we will bring a thanksgiving offering. When You will have prepared the slaughter for the blaspheming foe, Then I shall complete with a song of hymn the dedication of the Alter.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Jack (Ya'acov) Farber
HaShavua Miketz / At The End Of
another contribution from Rabbi Farber. Thanks again, Brad
Parashat HaShavua Miketz / At The End Of
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 41:1-44:17
Melachim Aleph / 1 Kings 7:40-50
Korintim Aleph / 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Bereshit {41:25} Yoseph (Joseph) said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. What G-D is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh. {41:26} The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream is one. {41:27} The seven lean and ill-favoured cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine. {41:28} That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What G-D is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh. {41:29} Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt). {41:30} There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Mitzrayim. The famine will consume the land, {41:31} and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous. {41:32} The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by G-D, and G-D will shortly bring it to pass.
There are countless famines and droughts happening in diverse places throughout the world -- even now as I am writing this D'var Torah! In fact Yisrael (Israel) is going through one of its worst droughts since its rebirth. Water rationing is in place and heavy fines are being imposed against those who use excessive water. Every Israeli citizen has been required to register with the water authority. Depending on how many people live in the same residence, they are allotted their monthly water quota. If the water ration is exceeded then, like I said, there is a heavy fine that is levied.
It is not difficult to discern from Scripture that droughts and famines are providential. Right here in our Parasha this week HaShem reveals through Pharaoh's dreams that He will be subjecting Mitzrayim to an extended famine. Famines are caused by drought (lack of rain) and blistering heat. However, as we know from Parasha Miketz, HaShem did not send famine into the land of Mitzrayim for no reason. HaShem always has a purpose for what He does. In this case it was to elevate Yoseph to the position of viceroy in Mitzrayim so that, in the process of time, the dreams HaShem sent Yoseph so many years ago would be fulfilled.
Our G-d is in total control of the weather. After all, He created the earth, and it is He who maintains and sustains it. So, if HaShem withholds rain that intern causes droughts and famines, then He would not be doing it out of capriciousness, but rather for a purpose, as He did in this week's Parasha. What is G-d's purpose? It is that He would be glorified. Look at all the famines around the world today and judge for yourself. Are the countries experiencing these famines and droughts serving the one true G-d, the G-d of Heaven and earth, the G-d of Yisrael? Certainly not! If by chance one of the countries calls themselves ‘Christian', are they truly serving G-d, are they honouring His Torah?
Whenever there is a devastating famine in an apostate country and the Red Cross, the United Nations or other humanitarian organizations go on a massive fundraising campaign to assist those who are affected I often struggle with the idea of giving. This is my logic: If I truly believe that HaShem is in control of the weather and that He uses rain or the lack thereof as a blessing or a punishment, then will my giving be interfering with the will and sovereignty of G-d? Will I be interfering with His purpose? There is nothing I would like more than to alleviate the suffering of a fellow human being. However, if that suffering is a result of their disobedience to G-d and for the purpose of glorifying God, then I have to ask, “Should I get involved?”
Bereshit {11:13} It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my mitzvoth (commandments) which I command you this day, to love HaShem your G-D, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your nefesh (soul), {11:14} that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, and your new wine, and your oil. {11:15} I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall eat and be full. {11:16} Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; {11:17} and the anger of HaShem be kindled against you, and he shut up the sky, so that there shall be no rain, and the land shall not yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which HaShem gives you.
Zecharyah (Zechariah) {14:17} And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) to worship the King, Ad-nai Tz'vaot (the L-rd of Hosts), there will be no rain on them. {14:18} And if the family of Mitzrayim does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which HaShem smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate Sukkot (Tabernacles). {14:19} This will be the punishment of Mitzrayim, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Sukkot.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
Parashat HaShavua Miketz / At The End Of
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 41:1-44:17
Melachim Aleph / 1 Kings 7:40-50
Korintim Aleph / 1 Corinthians 2:1-5
Bereshit {41:25} Yoseph (Joseph) said to Pharaoh, "The dream of Pharaoh is one. What G-D is about to do he has declared to Pharaoh. {41:26} The seven good cattle are seven years; and the seven good ears are seven years. The dream is one. {41:27} The seven lean and ill-favoured cattle that came up after them are seven years, and also the seven empty ears blasted with the east wind; they will be seven years of famine. {41:28} That is the thing which I spoke to Pharaoh. What G-D is about to do he has shown to Pharaoh. {41:29} Behold, there come seven years of great plenty throughout all the land of Mitzrayim (Egypt). {41:30} There will arise after them seven years of famine, and all the plenty will be forgotten in the land of Mitzrayim. The famine will consume the land, {41:31} and the plenty will not be known in the land by reason that famine which follows; for it will be very grievous. {41:32} The dream was doubled to Pharaoh, because the thing is established by G-D, and G-D will shortly bring it to pass.
There are countless famines and droughts happening in diverse places throughout the world -- even now as I am writing this D'var Torah! In fact Yisrael (Israel) is going through one of its worst droughts since its rebirth. Water rationing is in place and heavy fines are being imposed against those who use excessive water. Every Israeli citizen has been required to register with the water authority. Depending on how many people live in the same residence, they are allotted their monthly water quota. If the water ration is exceeded then, like I said, there is a heavy fine that is levied.
It is not difficult to discern from Scripture that droughts and famines are providential. Right here in our Parasha this week HaShem reveals through Pharaoh's dreams that He will be subjecting Mitzrayim to an extended famine. Famines are caused by drought (lack of rain) and blistering heat. However, as we know from Parasha Miketz, HaShem did not send famine into the land of Mitzrayim for no reason. HaShem always has a purpose for what He does. In this case it was to elevate Yoseph to the position of viceroy in Mitzrayim so that, in the process of time, the dreams HaShem sent Yoseph so many years ago would be fulfilled.
Our G-d is in total control of the weather. After all, He created the earth, and it is He who maintains and sustains it. So, if HaShem withholds rain that intern causes droughts and famines, then He would not be doing it out of capriciousness, but rather for a purpose, as He did in this week's Parasha. What is G-d's purpose? It is that He would be glorified. Look at all the famines around the world today and judge for yourself. Are the countries experiencing these famines and droughts serving the one true G-d, the G-d of Heaven and earth, the G-d of Yisrael? Certainly not! If by chance one of the countries calls themselves ‘Christian', are they truly serving G-d, are they honouring His Torah?
Whenever there is a devastating famine in an apostate country and the Red Cross, the United Nations or other humanitarian organizations go on a massive fundraising campaign to assist those who are affected I often struggle with the idea of giving. This is my logic: If I truly believe that HaShem is in control of the weather and that He uses rain or the lack thereof as a blessing or a punishment, then will my giving be interfering with the will and sovereignty of G-d? Will I be interfering with His purpose? There is nothing I would like more than to alleviate the suffering of a fellow human being. However, if that suffering is a result of their disobedience to G-d and for the purpose of glorifying God, then I have to ask, “Should I get involved?”
Bereshit {11:13} It shall happen, if you shall listen diligently to my mitzvoth (commandments) which I command you this day, to love HaShem your G-D, and to serve him with all your heart and with all your nefesh (soul), {11:14} that I will give the rain of your land in its season, the former rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, and your new wine, and your oil. {11:15} I will give grass in your fields for your cattle, and you shall eat and be full. {11:16} Take heed to yourselves, lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside, and serve other gods, and worship them; {11:17} and the anger of HaShem be kindled against you, and he shut up the sky, so that there shall be no rain, and the land shall not yield its fruit; and you perish quickly from off the good land which HaShem gives you.
Zecharyah (Zechariah) {14:17} And it will be that whichever of the families of the earth does not go up to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem) to worship the King, Ad-nai Tz'vaot (the L-rd of Hosts), there will be no rain on them. {14:18} And if the family of Mitzrayim does not go up or enter, then no rain will fall on them; it will be the plague with which HaShem smites the nations who do not go up to celebrate Sukkot (Tabernacles). {14:19} This will be the punishment of Mitzrayim, and the punishment of all the nations who do not go up to celebrate the Sukkot.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Hallelujah for our Lord, our Teacher,our Rabbi, "YESHUA" King Messiah for ever and ever!!!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Va Yeshev- he settled Genesis 37:1 to 40:23
Va Yeshev- “and he Settled”
Genesis 37:1-40:23
The next Torah portion goes into the famous story of Joseph. Before we get into that, I would like to lay out a theory about this section of the first book of the Torah. I am sure others have said this before, but I have always held this from my earliest years in Bible college and now am not sure who first came up with the idea.
The book of Bere’shit (Genesis) is 50 chapters long. It covers the longest portion of Biblical history from the dawn of creation though thousands of years down until Israel and his family live in Egypt. It sets the stage for the Exodus. Yet, for all these great men and great stories, why would over ¼ of the book be dedicated to the story of Joseph? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great story. It has become the subject of movies, and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The story resonates on a lot of fronts, but why Joseph? The length of Joseph’s life was only 110. That’s a good long life by any standard, but Adam lived to be almost 1000. Noah was nearly that as well. Abraham and Seth seem to hang on forever. Poor Enoch gets just a couple line in the Bible, yet Joseph get over ¼ of the book of Genesis…why?
Here is the theory. It doesn’t have to be taken as gospel, but it is how I handle the why question. Many people have noticed that different portions of the book of Genesis have a different mood and flow. The Joseph part is the most obvious, but the book starts with a poem. There portions where the name of God (technically “gods“) is exclusively “elohime”, and other portions where the tetra gram is used (the Sacred name of God, generally translated LORD in most English Bibles). There are also portions where the words are used together like “The LORD God said to…”
The theory is that although we do believe in the full inspiration of Scripture it is also possible that the first book included a gathering of text related to Israel’s early history. These gathered texts were then put together by Moses (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) to form the first book of Scripture. This would suggest that the Joseph story would have been a complete text by itself. Proponents of this theory (who know far more then I about Egyptian literature) suggest that this story has the flow of an early Egyptian text. Whether this is true or not, the “original” that Moses might have consulted when he wrote this book has been lost. All we have is the record of the sacred text… which is what God intended for us to have in the first place.
Back to Joseph. The text starts with the statement that Jacob sojourned where his father did in the land of Canaan. One dear older brother recently found himself travelling doing a shofar ministry (e-mail me I can tell you more), and in the course of this was homeless. We, as many of you know, spent several months with no home this year. Another dear young brother with two children drops by and visits often and I have dubbed us the “fellowship of the sojourners”. We work in an area, but we really don’t have our “home” in the area. (Yes, you are correct, we have sort of lost that status just over a week ago). However, there is something to be said for that mindset. We are all sojourners, especially if we dedicate ourselves to the Kingdom of God. We may reside in an area. We may be employed in an area, but we choose not to set our roots down too deep. Our real home, our real place of loyalty, is a kingdom not built by human hands. Here is just where we…”sojourn”. If God calls us elsewhere then we should rejoice to be worthy of that call. We should (like Abraham in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac) wake the next morning and start on the way. Sincerely, brothers and sisters, I am looking at the present chronology of events in Israel. I am watching what is happening with other faithful brothers and sisters and I feel that things may be coming together toward God’s final act. As much as it depends on you, I would urge you to look closely at your life and start thinking about what and how you would act if God asked you to act. We need to be cautious about how deep our roots go. I do think God intended our loyalties to be outside this world. “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…”
Back to our story. Jacob has now become the patriarch not unlike his fathers Abraham, and Isaac. He has several children, and herds. He also has his favourite, Joseph. Joseph is given a “coat of many colours”. This translation (although made popular from Martin Luther’s translation work) is not consistent with the text. The better translation is either a “coat with long sleeves”, or like the JPS version translates the Hebrew “an ornamented coat”. This may have had many colours, but that is beyond the text. If you have ever seen the movie Joseph King of Dreams they do a good job of setting the stage here. This coat means that he doesn’t do “physical work”. He was the favourite, and the rest of the boys understood that. He was singled out for special honour. This situation was created (at least in part) by Jacob. Joseph continued to irritate the situation.
The rest of the boys could not speak a friendly word (or speak “peaceably”) to him. The word is “Shalom”. This is the traditional Hebrew greeting. We don’t know if this was the greeting during Joseph’s time, but either way the brothers do not seek the well-being of Joseph.
Joseph has these dreams where his brothers and his parents and brothers are all bowing down to him. I have often wondered why God would do this. The kid is 17 years old. Is he really going to have the wisdom to keep this information to himself? If God wanted to provide him with a bit of insight into his future this was certainly not something that endeared him to his family. The brothers are even less likely to be favourably disposed to him.
Joseph is sent to his brothers. Just so you get the visual on this. The brothers don’t like Joseph. Joseph likely knows this. His dad likely knows this, yet Joseph raises no concern. He obeys his father without question.
Joseph doesn’t find his brothers (Gen 37:15) instead he finds a “man”. There have been many comments on this “man” whole stories have been written about him. I will quote from one Bible commentary site:
http://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/commentary-on-genesis-37/
Jewish tradition considered him an angel in the form of a man. For Calvin the inclusion of the “man” episode was to depict the diligence of Joseph in carrying out his duty and concomitantly reveals the heinous atrocity of the brothers’ crime. The word order in Joseph’s response, lit., “my brothers I’m seeking” (v. 16), making familial relationship paramount in his thinking, reinforces the trust that he presumes and the brothers transgressed. Since the “man” intercepted Joseph, overheard the private conversation of the brothers, and correctly directed Joseph to discover his brothers at Dothan, the passage conveys the theological orientation of the narrative as a whole. Whether the “man” is an angel or a human, the unseen hand of the Lord is apparent here. He is directing Joseph to discover his brothers so that the divine plan for the salvation of Jacob and many peoples (50:20) might be realized, although it meant a troubling time for the house of Jacob. Where are Joseph’s custodial angels who like his father’s might save him from his brothers, as they did with Jacob and Esau (32:1-2 [2-3]) Luther answered, “In such danger we see the deepest silence of God and the angels. . . But behold how much good God draws forth from this.”
So Joseph is captured by his brothers, sold as a slave to his cousins (the Ismaelites), sent to work for Potiphar, set up by his wife and lands himself in prison.
In the midst of this story is also a story of Judah and Tamar. Judah is the one who will eventually get the firstborn blessing from Jacob. Judah’s first son is a loser (no explanation), God kills him. The second son doesn’t mind have physical relations with Tamar, just does want to get her pregnant. Is this a lust issue? Is this hatred for his brother? Is this hatred for Tamar? We don’t really know, but we do know God is not please so his live is taken as well. The youngest is really too young for this role, so she waits. He job is to wait…in this case forever for Judah to give his third son. Judah never does.
Tamar tricks Judah to become the father and sets it up so he’s in no position to have her done away for immorality. Judah wants her burned…not a pretty way to go. She’s a pretty clever gal. Judah comments rightly that she is more righteous (zadekh) then he. Weird story, certainly not the sort of nice image of Judah. Remember Judah was the one who sold Joseph even when Reuben was trying to save his life. So, which family does the Messiah come from?
Judah
In fact, he’s from Judah and Tamar. (Mt 1:3 and Luke 3:33)
The story is an amazing contrast with Joseph who refuses relations with his master’s wife and gets falsely accused and tossed into prison.
One other little note, and I think this comes across well in the movie Joseph: king of dreams. Joseph is a slave. He has no rights. Potiphar was well within his rights to just have him killed, but instead he’s tossed into prison. In fact, it’s not a prison for the commoners, but prisons of the royal court. If someone was to say that Potiphar did not believe his wife, or found it suspicious, then I would think he was likely right.
Enjoy God’s word…it was written for you. -Bradley Avi
Genesis 37:1-40:23
The next Torah portion goes into the famous story of Joseph. Before we get into that, I would like to lay out a theory about this section of the first book of the Torah. I am sure others have said this before, but I have always held this from my earliest years in Bible college and now am not sure who first came up with the idea.
The book of Bere’shit (Genesis) is 50 chapters long. It covers the longest portion of Biblical history from the dawn of creation though thousands of years down until Israel and his family live in Egypt. It sets the stage for the Exodus. Yet, for all these great men and great stories, why would over ¼ of the book be dedicated to the story of Joseph? Don’t get me wrong, it’s a great story. It has become the subject of movies, and an Andrew Lloyd Webber musical. The story resonates on a lot of fronts, but why Joseph? The length of Joseph’s life was only 110. That’s a good long life by any standard, but Adam lived to be almost 1000. Noah was nearly that as well. Abraham and Seth seem to hang on forever. Poor Enoch gets just a couple line in the Bible, yet Joseph get over ¼ of the book of Genesis…why?
Here is the theory. It doesn’t have to be taken as gospel, but it is how I handle the why question. Many people have noticed that different portions of the book of Genesis have a different mood and flow. The Joseph part is the most obvious, but the book starts with a poem. There portions where the name of God (technically “gods“) is exclusively “elohime”, and other portions where the tetra gram is used (the Sacred name of God, generally translated LORD in most English Bibles). There are also portions where the words are used together like “The LORD God said to…”
The theory is that although we do believe in the full inspiration of Scripture it is also possible that the first book included a gathering of text related to Israel’s early history. These gathered texts were then put together by Moses (under the direction of the Holy Spirit) to form the first book of Scripture. This would suggest that the Joseph story would have been a complete text by itself. Proponents of this theory (who know far more then I about Egyptian literature) suggest that this story has the flow of an early Egyptian text. Whether this is true or not, the “original” that Moses might have consulted when he wrote this book has been lost. All we have is the record of the sacred text… which is what God intended for us to have in the first place.
Back to Joseph. The text starts with the statement that Jacob sojourned where his father did in the land of Canaan. One dear older brother recently found himself travelling doing a shofar ministry (e-mail me I can tell you more), and in the course of this was homeless. We, as many of you know, spent several months with no home this year. Another dear young brother with two children drops by and visits often and I have dubbed us the “fellowship of the sojourners”. We work in an area, but we really don’t have our “home” in the area. (Yes, you are correct, we have sort of lost that status just over a week ago). However, there is something to be said for that mindset. We are all sojourners, especially if we dedicate ourselves to the Kingdom of God. We may reside in an area. We may be employed in an area, but we choose not to set our roots down too deep. Our real home, our real place of loyalty, is a kingdom not built by human hands. Here is just where we…”sojourn”. If God calls us elsewhere then we should rejoice to be worthy of that call. We should (like Abraham in the story of the sacrifice of Isaac) wake the next morning and start on the way. Sincerely, brothers and sisters, I am looking at the present chronology of events in Israel. I am watching what is happening with other faithful brothers and sisters and I feel that things may be coming together toward God’s final act. As much as it depends on you, I would urge you to look closely at your life and start thinking about what and how you would act if God asked you to act. We need to be cautious about how deep our roots go. I do think God intended our loyalties to be outside this world. “seek ye first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness…”
Back to our story. Jacob has now become the patriarch not unlike his fathers Abraham, and Isaac. He has several children, and herds. He also has his favourite, Joseph. Joseph is given a “coat of many colours”. This translation (although made popular from Martin Luther’s translation work) is not consistent with the text. The better translation is either a “coat with long sleeves”, or like the JPS version translates the Hebrew “an ornamented coat”. This may have had many colours, but that is beyond the text. If you have ever seen the movie Joseph King of Dreams they do a good job of setting the stage here. This coat means that he doesn’t do “physical work”. He was the favourite, and the rest of the boys understood that. He was singled out for special honour. This situation was created (at least in part) by Jacob. Joseph continued to irritate the situation.
The rest of the boys could not speak a friendly word (or speak “peaceably”) to him. The word is “Shalom”. This is the traditional Hebrew greeting. We don’t know if this was the greeting during Joseph’s time, but either way the brothers do not seek the well-being of Joseph.
Joseph has these dreams where his brothers and his parents and brothers are all bowing down to him. I have often wondered why God would do this. The kid is 17 years old. Is he really going to have the wisdom to keep this information to himself? If God wanted to provide him with a bit of insight into his future this was certainly not something that endeared him to his family. The brothers are even less likely to be favourably disposed to him.
Joseph is sent to his brothers. Just so you get the visual on this. The brothers don’t like Joseph. Joseph likely knows this. His dad likely knows this, yet Joseph raises no concern. He obeys his father without question.
Joseph doesn’t find his brothers (Gen 37:15) instead he finds a “man”. There have been many comments on this “man” whole stories have been written about him. I will quote from one Bible commentary site:
http://biblicalscholarship.wordpress.com/2009/11/11/commentary-on-genesis-37/
Jewish tradition considered him an angel in the form of a man. For Calvin the inclusion of the “man” episode was to depict the diligence of Joseph in carrying out his duty and concomitantly reveals the heinous atrocity of the brothers’ crime. The word order in Joseph’s response, lit., “my brothers I’m seeking” (v. 16), making familial relationship paramount in his thinking, reinforces the trust that he presumes and the brothers transgressed. Since the “man” intercepted Joseph, overheard the private conversation of the brothers, and correctly directed Joseph to discover his brothers at Dothan, the passage conveys the theological orientation of the narrative as a whole. Whether the “man” is an angel or a human, the unseen hand of the Lord is apparent here. He is directing Joseph to discover his brothers so that the divine plan for the salvation of Jacob and many peoples (50:20) might be realized, although it meant a troubling time for the house of Jacob. Where are Joseph’s custodial angels who like his father’s might save him from his brothers, as they did with Jacob and Esau (32:1-2 [2-3]) Luther answered, “In such danger we see the deepest silence of God and the angels. . . But behold how much good God draws forth from this.”
So Joseph is captured by his brothers, sold as a slave to his cousins (the Ismaelites), sent to work for Potiphar, set up by his wife and lands himself in prison.
In the midst of this story is also a story of Judah and Tamar. Judah is the one who will eventually get the firstborn blessing from Jacob. Judah’s first son is a loser (no explanation), God kills him. The second son doesn’t mind have physical relations with Tamar, just does want to get her pregnant. Is this a lust issue? Is this hatred for his brother? Is this hatred for Tamar? We don’t really know, but we do know God is not please so his live is taken as well. The youngest is really too young for this role, so she waits. He job is to wait…in this case forever for Judah to give his third son. Judah never does.
Tamar tricks Judah to become the father and sets it up so he’s in no position to have her done away for immorality. Judah wants her burned…not a pretty way to go. She’s a pretty clever gal. Judah comments rightly that she is more righteous (zadekh) then he. Weird story, certainly not the sort of nice image of Judah. Remember Judah was the one who sold Joseph even when Reuben was trying to save his life. So, which family does the Messiah come from?
Judah
In fact, he’s from Judah and Tamar. (Mt 1:3 and Luke 3:33)
The story is an amazing contrast with Joseph who refuses relations with his master’s wife and gets falsely accused and tossed into prison.
One other little note, and I think this comes across well in the movie Joseph: king of dreams. Joseph is a slave. He has no rights. Potiphar was well within his rights to just have him killed, but instead he’s tossed into prison. In fact, it’s not a prison for the commoners, but prisons of the royal court. If someone was to say that Potiphar did not believe his wife, or found it suspicious, then I would think he was likely right.
Enjoy God’s word…it was written for you. -Bradley Avi
Sunday, December 6, 2009
VaYeshev from Rabbi Jack Farber
Again thanks for your contribution Rabbi Farber
Parashat HaShavua VaYeshev / And He Settled
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 37:1-40:23
Zekharyah / Zechariah 2:14-4:7
Ma'asei Talmidim / Acts 7:9-16
As I read through this week's Parasha I could not help but remember the words of Martin Luther King when he said, “I have a dream.” Martin Luther had a dream about African Americans finally finding their place in America – ending once and for all the injustice of segregation. When he had this dream black people were still looked down upon, relegated to menial jobs and sitting in the back of buses. If you asked any white person in the south during those turbulent years they would have said Martin Luther was nothing but a dreamer and desegregation would never happen – never! The facts and history, of course, speak for themselves. Desegregation did happen, the world has changed and Martin Luther's dream has come true – Praise G-d!
Now, I do not believe that it was Martin Luther King that in the end made his dream come true. Sure he worked hard at his dream. He had rallies and he held sit-ins, but still it was not from him that the victory came. Martine Luther King had many disappointments and set backs along the way where he through that his dream would not become a reality. Ultimately it took him having to give up his life before his dream was realized. However, Martin Luther King was not the first dreamer.
Bereshit {37:5} Yoseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. {37:6} He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: {37:7} for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." {37:8} His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. {37:9} He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." {37:10} He told it to his 'av (father) and to his brothers. His 'av rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your 'em (mother) and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?" {37:11} His brothers envied him; but his 'av kept this saying in mind.
Yoseph had a dream, but no one paid him any mind. His family though that his dreams were ridiculous. They thought that there was no way what he dreamed could possibly come true, but it did. Everything Yoseph dreamed became a reality. Yet I doubt very much that he himself took them very seriously as the events of his life were unfolding. Can you picture what he must have been thinking while at the bottom of a dry pit waiting to die of thirst, after being placed there by his brothers or when he was sold by them to the Midianites as a slave? It was certainly not about his dreams of being the ruler over his family – it was more about surviving! It took defeat before G-d would bring victory in Joseph's life, just like it took defeat for Martin Luther King for G-d's victory to be realized and his dream to become reality.
I know that we all have had dreams, but the reality is that not all dreams are prophetic. In fact the vast majority are not, but that is not what is important. What is important is that we not take our dreams too seriously. Sometimes we do take our dreams far too seriously. We analyze them, study them and dwell on them so that we can try to find out their interpretation and meaning. Remember it was not until it was all over that Yoseph realized what his dreams really meant and he had to go through some very difficult times before it was realized, but he lived to see it. Sadly Martin Luther King never lived to see his dream realized.
What I am trying to say is that whether or not our dreams are truly prophetic HaShem is the one that is in control and He is the one who will fulfill our dreams. Some of us may live to see their fulfillment and some of us may not but at the end of the day it all depends on G-d.
I, for one, do not put a lot of effort into the interpretation of dreams. Like Yoseph, I am just too busy living my life from day to day, trusting in the L-rd to get me through each day, one day at a time. Therefore, I do not have the time to be preoccupied with what I dreamt last year, last month or even last night. Yes, from time to time I share my dreams, but then I just file them away in the recesses of my mind and go about the task of living. G-d in His wisdom and in His time will make my dreams come true -- or not! Baruch HaShem!
Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) {5:7} For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear G-d.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
Parashat HaShavua VaYeshev / And He Settled
This Week's Reading List:
BeReshit / Genesis 37:1-40:23
Zekharyah / Zechariah 2:14-4:7
Ma'asei Talmidim / Acts 7:9-16
As I read through this week's Parasha I could not help but remember the words of Martin Luther King when he said, “I have a dream.” Martin Luther had a dream about African Americans finally finding their place in America – ending once and for all the injustice of segregation. When he had this dream black people were still looked down upon, relegated to menial jobs and sitting in the back of buses. If you asked any white person in the south during those turbulent years they would have said Martin Luther was nothing but a dreamer and desegregation would never happen – never! The facts and history, of course, speak for themselves. Desegregation did happen, the world has changed and Martin Luther's dream has come true – Praise G-d!
Now, I do not believe that it was Martin Luther King that in the end made his dream come true. Sure he worked hard at his dream. He had rallies and he held sit-ins, but still it was not from him that the victory came. Martine Luther King had many disappointments and set backs along the way where he through that his dream would not become a reality. Ultimately it took him having to give up his life before his dream was realized. However, Martin Luther King was not the first dreamer.
Bereshit {37:5} Yoseph dreamed a dream, and he told it to his brothers, and they hated him all the more. {37:6} He said to them, "Please hear this dream which I have dreamed: {37:7} for, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and behold, my sheaf arose and also stood upright; and behold, your sheaves came around, and bowed down to my sheaf." {37:8} His brothers said to him, "Will you indeed reign over us? Or will you indeed have dominion over us?" They hated him all the more for his dreams and for his words. {37:9} He dreamed yet another dream, and told it to his brothers, and said, "Behold, I have dreamed yet another dream: and behold, the sun and the moon and eleven stars bowed down to me." {37:10} He told it to his 'av (father) and to his brothers. His 'av rebuked him, and said to him, "What is this dream that you have dreamed? Will I and your 'em (mother) and your brothers indeed come to bow ourselves down to you to the earth?" {37:11} His brothers envied him; but his 'av kept this saying in mind.
Yoseph had a dream, but no one paid him any mind. His family though that his dreams were ridiculous. They thought that there was no way what he dreamed could possibly come true, but it did. Everything Yoseph dreamed became a reality. Yet I doubt very much that he himself took them very seriously as the events of his life were unfolding. Can you picture what he must have been thinking while at the bottom of a dry pit waiting to die of thirst, after being placed there by his brothers or when he was sold by them to the Midianites as a slave? It was certainly not about his dreams of being the ruler over his family – it was more about surviving! It took defeat before G-d would bring victory in Joseph's life, just like it took defeat for Martin Luther King for G-d's victory to be realized and his dream to become reality.
I know that we all have had dreams, but the reality is that not all dreams are prophetic. In fact the vast majority are not, but that is not what is important. What is important is that we not take our dreams too seriously. Sometimes we do take our dreams far too seriously. We analyze them, study them and dwell on them so that we can try to find out their interpretation and meaning. Remember it was not until it was all over that Yoseph realized what his dreams really meant and he had to go through some very difficult times before it was realized, but he lived to see it. Sadly Martin Luther King never lived to see his dream realized.
What I am trying to say is that whether or not our dreams are truly prophetic HaShem is the one that is in control and He is the one who will fulfill our dreams. Some of us may live to see their fulfillment and some of us may not but at the end of the day it all depends on G-d.
I, for one, do not put a lot of effort into the interpretation of dreams. Like Yoseph, I am just too busy living my life from day to day, trusting in the L-rd to get me through each day, one day at a time. Therefore, I do not have the time to be preoccupied with what I dreamt last year, last month or even last night. Yes, from time to time I share my dreams, but then I just file them away in the recesses of my mind and go about the task of living. G-d in His wisdom and in His time will make my dreams come true -- or not! Baruch HaShem!
Kohelet (Ecclesiastes) {5:7} For in many dreams and in many words there is emptiness. Rather, fear G-d.
*********************
Baruch HaShem
Rabbi Ya'acov Farber
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