Search Results for: Parsha

Yom Ha’atzmaut — Modern-Day Jewish State of Israel at 61

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by Moshe Burt

A couple of thoughts on the 61st anniversary of Modern-Day Jewish State of Israel:

  • 1/ It should only be that all of B’nai Yisrael, forget the non-Jewish world, that all Jews, everywhere, unite and internalize modern-day Israel as a Jewish State, as a Jewish entity, as a Jewish Land connected to the Jewish people by eternal Divine legacy.
  • 2/ A friend of mine jested in Shul this morning that Yom Ha’atzmaut was like a fast day to certain Jewish sectors and that the siyum that was to be held, similar to Erev Pesach, was to eliminate the necessity of first-born to fast.

This author’s response to the latter:

As much as this friend was jesting when equating Yom Ha’atzmaut with a fast day, the reality seems to be that certain Jewish sectors appear to view the equation as valid.

A few years ago, after the expulsion of Jews from Gush Katif and the 4 Shomron towns, this author ceased to say Hallel on Yom Ha’atzmaut. This is a somewhat controversial topic. read more

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Parshiyot Tazria/Metzora 5769: Ta’amei and Tahara on National Level

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In learning about the laws of tzara’as, we find posukim which are a pelah, a wonderment.

Torah relates in our Parsha;

“If the tzara’as will erupt on the skin, and … will cover the entire skin of the afflicted from his head to his feet, wherever the eyes of the Kohen can see — the Kohen shall look, and behold! — the affliction has covered his entire flesh, then he shall declare the affliction to be pure; having turned completely white, it is pure. On the day healthy skin appears …, it (the affliction) shall be contaminated.” (Sefer Vayikra, Perek 13, posukim 12 – 14) read more

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Parshiyot Vayakhel, Pekudei: Leadership, Accountability and Transparency, Paradigm for National Unity

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by Moshe Burt

The terms leadership, accountability and transparency have often been bandied about in contemporary Medinat Yisrael where dedication, diligence and overiding concern for the welfare of the Kahal have often been wanting as compared with the influence, enrichment, protexia and political agendization of the few, the priviledged, the elitists.

Our Parsha Vayakhel is dedicated to teaching B’nai Yisrael about Shabbat which has always, until recent times, been the unifying, defining factor of Judaism. It alludes to all else — Yishuv HaAretz, Kiddushin, etc. It symbolizes the Jew’s faith in Hashem. The parsha begins by stating that “Moshe assembled the entire congregation of B’nai Yisrael…” (Perek 35, Posuk 1) However, Torah’s loshen (language) “Adat B’nai Yisrael”, in the context of learning the laws of Shabbos as related to the construction of the Mishkan, seems to indicate a unity, as one, amongst the Assembly of the B’nai Yisrael. read more

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Purim 5769: The Meaning of Purim, and the “New Jew”

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By Moshe Burt

In writing a vort on Purim, this author thinks back to a theme addressed in an earlier Siyum on Mesechta Megillah from a few years ago as well as another recurring theme on this blog.

The Jew separates and distinguishes himself from the rest of the nations through the Mitzvah of Bris Milah, even though many of our contemporary Jewish brothers would distance themselves from, or stand in denial of their Yiddishkeit. In short, many among our Jewish brethren would deny Hashem’s control of the world and seek to tailor Torah and their Jewishness to fit the ways of the nations rather than accepting Hashem’s reishut (command) over the world. read more

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Bibi and Likud Primaries: Referendum2 — “Lavan Broke His Agreement with Yaakov 100 Times…”

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Commentary;

In last week’s Parsha Vayeitzei, Yaakov tells his wives Rachel and Leah;

…Your father mocked me and changed my wage a hundred times, but Hashem did not permit him to harm me.” (Sefer Breish’t, Perek 31, posuk 7)

And like Lavan, Likud party leader Benjamin Netanyahu has subjected Moshe Feiglin, Manhigut Yehudit and Likud voters to repeated Lavan-like changes to the rules, both before primary day and now after.

Feiglin: The Voters have Spoken [And Again the Voter’s Will is Disrespected by Likud] read more

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Yom Kippur 5769: As Kohanim to the Jews; The Jews to Mankind

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By Moshe Burt

The Mussaf portion of any prayers; Yom Tov, Rosh Chodesh, Shabbos represent the essence, the main point of that day.

On Yom Kippur, the essence of the service, the ikar is the avodah of the Kohen Godol. So much so is this the case that the Mussaf service centers around the order of the Kohen Godol’s service in the Kodosh Kodoshim (the Holy of Holies in the Beit HaMikdash). The service includes all of the preparations which the Kohen Godol makes prior to the service, the clothing he must wear at each step of the avodah, the number of times that the Kohen must bathe himself prior to each change of clothing and before each step of his service, the drawing of lots determining which goat is for Hashem and which for The Mountain of Azazel (the goat designated by lot to bear the burden of death to rectify B’nai Yisrael’s sins) and more. And by virtue of our being Hashem’s “most favored nation”, The Kohen Godol is to the Jews a paradigm of Hashem’s blueprint of what the Jews are to represent to the other nations of Mankind. read more

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Israel’s Governance Expresses Gaza Expulsion Regrets; Itches for a Repeat

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Commentary;

My Beit Knesset’s learning program has recently featured a 1 hour daily Torah Ulpan for learning conversational Iv’rit in a contect of learning the Rambam’s Hichos Teshuva.

During one of the first classes, we discussed the concept of sincere, honest, heart-felt regret of wrong-doing and the will to change one’s ways. This discussion brought to mind the contrast between sincere, honest, heart-felt regret of wrong-doing and superficial “regret.”

The recent expressions of regret by a female former soldier for her role in the expulsion, as stated in an email, contrasts with expressions by Israel’s governing leaders, i.e. words of former Defense Minister Binyamin Ben-Eliezer who basically admits that the expulsion was a mistake, but who still “hopes Israel will leave territories as soon as possible.” read more

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Devarim 5768: Learning, Jewish Ethics, Kiddush Hashem Applied Outside Beit Medrash Toward National Purpose

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By Moshe Burt

A few years ago, Rav Aba Wagensberg spoke out in a shiur that Sefer Devarim represents Moshe Rabbeinu’s Mussar to B’nai Yisrael as the time of his death drew near.

He explained that near the end of Sefer BaMidbar, we began to see indications, via the story of Zelafchad’s daughters, Reuven and Gad’s desire to settle east of the Jordan, etc., that the B’nai Yisrael finally desired to accept Moshe Rabbeinu’s teachings and his Mussar which was meant to bring about the perfection of the Jewish people in emulation of the ways of Hashem as they were about to enter Eretz Yisrael. read more

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BREAKING NEWS: Another Israeli-Arab City Employee Terrorizes Jerusalem in Bulldozer

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Commentary;

We have no one to blame but ourselves, for “tolerating evil in the camp” while Israeli kablanim (builders) rake in windfall profits through employment of inordinately cheap Arab labor while Jewish unemployment rises.

Shifra Hoffman of Victims of Arab Terror noted, regarding the non-existence of a policy of not hiring Arabs; “We hold the government guilty of this attack for not implementing this policy.” MB

Sixteen Wounded in Copycat Bulldozer Attack in Jerusalem read more

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Barak to Ashkelon Residents: Rockets, Not for Long

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Barak to Ashkelon; “Any day now…”

Commentary;

More familiar hot air refrains, delaying tactics to avoid taking serious action. Been there, done that! We’ve heard it all before; countless times before. Barak’s comments to the residents of Ashkelon can be best summed up by the old American TV mortgage loan commercial which opens with an aged mortgage officer answering phone calls from anxious applicants with a no sense shared urgency response; “Any day now, any day now.” read more

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