Chanukka, Light, Jerusalem and the Bet haMikdash

We all need more light through Hanukkah. Join us for the public lighting of the candles in your city or community!

Light is the central theme in the creation story of Hashem. It is a transformative and yet independent existence. Light is always a guide and an attribute of existence. Darkness, on the other hand, has no independent existence and is solely the absence of light. Light is therefore something very precious; for where there is light, there is no room for darkness. One could also say that light is one of the most important creations of Hashem. In Genesis 1:1-2, the creation of heaven and earth is described as a state of desolation, void, and darkness, all „on the face of the abyss.“

This prompts Hashem to act (Genesis 1:3), and God said, „Let there be light,“ and there was light.

Light is an active creative process of God. He calls the light good! (Genesis 1:4)

Only then does He establish the distinction between light and darkness. He called the light day and the darkness night.

Today is another day of Hanukkah. Like Jews and all our friends, we will light another candle and celebrate, despite all the threats of darkness in this world, so that the light may increase and we may remember Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem together.

Israel is and always will be the land closest to God; it is the land of His people and the place of Bet haMikdash.

Chag Urim Sameach!
Hanukkah Sameach!

To Parasha Ha’asinu by the Temple Institute, Jerushalajim

THIS WEEK, PARASHAT HA’AZINU: „GIVE EAR, O HEAVENS!“

This week we read parashat Ha’azinu, (Deuteronomy 32:1-52), the next to last parasha of the Torah. In last week’s reading, Vayelech, HaShem told Moshe, „And now, write for yourselves this song, and teach it to the children of Israel. Place it into their mouths, in order that this song will be for Me as a witness for the children of Israel.“ (ibid 31:19) The purpose of the song is to serve as an eternal testimony to Israel, warning them of the danger of abandoning HaShem for foreign gods, a spiritual pitfall which Moshe has been warning against all throughout his 37 day address to Israel which makes up the book of Deuteronomy. „And Moses wrote this song on that day, and taught it to the children of Israel.“ (ibid 31:22)

This week’s reading, Ha’azinu, is that song. The song begins by calling heaven and earth to bear witness to what is about to be said. This is followed by praise of HaShem, which is followed by Israel’s inevitable fall into idolatry. The ramifications will be painful, but HaShem will never abandon His people:

„Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; Let the earth hear the words I utter! May my discourse come down as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, Like showers on young growth, Like droplets on the grass. For the name of HaShem I proclaim; Give glory to our G-d! The Rock!— His deeds are perfect, Yea, all His ways are just; A faithful G-d, never false, True and upright is He…“ (ibid 32:1-4)

This montage shows the three patriarchs, Avraham and Yitzchak, (at the akeida – the binding of Yitzchak, Genesis 22), and Yaakov, (after awakening from his dream in Beit El, Genesis 28), all envisioning the future Holy Temple.

The Way

Every year we banish the fear,
spreading Light,
in every time,
and fight

Every year we banish the fear,
holding our values high,
and clean ourselves and houses,
Going Back in time,
to bring it into present

Every year WE banish the fear,
in times of low,
And let it go,
To higher truths and grow

This year we light it up far away,
next year in Jerushalajim,
For all of us the way.

(Poem by Marcus Günther Michael Gundlach)

Ja’akov’s Dream

I am dealing with the Parasha Vayezah at this time… right at the beginning it is reported that Ya’akov went towards Haran, after leaving Beershaba. On his way he came to a place – it had become dark and he had to spend the night – where he dreamed the famous dream of the ladder to heaven, on which messengers ascend and descend.
In this dream it was important that the Eternal was above it. Hashem had his observation of what was happening the whole time. He says that the G-d of Avraham is his father and that he is the G-d of Yitchak. The land on which he, Ya’akov, lies, Hashem gives to him and his seed – that is, his children. Hashem goes on to say that he will spread out like the dust of the earth in the evening and in the morning… and that with him, Ya’akov, all the families of the earth will bless themselves.
This is very important because it contains a double message: Firstly, that Ya’akov and his children have a special role and responsibility for life on this planet; and secondly, that the nations bless each other with Ya’akov – not against him.

The dream continues, in which Hashem promises that he is with him and protects him wherever Ya’akov goes.

I have always thought about Ya’akov raising the stones of his headrest into a pillar and pouring oil on them; it is a clear reference to the Bet haMikdash in Jerusalem, and that it is precisely this that is being built. Ya’akov therefore gave the name Bet-El – House of G-d to this place where he dreamed and woke up again.

Shavua Tov!

Words

The Jewish people must never give up the certainty that they are loved by Hashem as long as they engage with the Torah. It is instructive to remember that the Torah is 613 according to Gematria. All 613 commandments of the Torah are equally important and eternally relevant. We must all never give up the hope and love that we live according to the Torah and therefore become aware of Hashem’s love. This is why Gematria is so important at this time. The Hebrew word for hope, Hatikva, has the numerical value 600 and Ahava (love) has the value 13. We can all have the hope of being led back in love to our goal of Yisrael and Zion if we hold on to the Torah.

אסור לעם היהודי לוותר על הוודאות שהוא נאהב באמצעות ה‘ כל עוד הוא עוסק בתורה. מאלף לזכור שלפי הגימטריה התורה תואמת את הערך המספרי 613. כל 613 מצוות התורה הן בעלות חשיבות שווה ונצחית. אסור לכולנו לעולם לוותר על התקווה והאהבה שאנו חיים על פי התורה ולכן נהיה מודעים לאהבת ה‘. לכן הגימטריה כל כך חשובה בזמן הזה. המילה העברית לתקווה, התקווה, היא בעלת הערך המספרי 600 ולאהווה (אהבה) היא בעלת הערך 13. לכולנו יכולה להיות תקווה להוביל בחזרה באהבה אל המטרה שלנו, ישראל וציון, אם נאחז בתורה.

Wenn man ein Opfer bringt – Gedanken zum Wochenabschnitt ‚Wajikra‘

Opfer werden nicht geopfert, sondern G-tt entgegen gebracht, durch einen Cohen haGadol. Martin Buber spricht in seiner Übersetzung deshalb von ‚Darnahn‘. Seit das Bet haMikdasch (Tempel in Jerusalem) durch Horden von Feinden Israels mehrfach zerstört wurde – zuletzt durch die Römer – hat man in der jüdischen Überlieferung festgehalten, dass Gebete die Opfer ersetzen. Ein großes Irrtum ist aber, wenn man davon ausgeht, dass Gebete nun für alle Zeit die einzige Möglichkeit darstellen ein Opfer zu bringen. Der Tempel wird in absehbarer Zeit wieder errichtet. Viele gehen trotzdem davon aus, dass dies am jetzigen Tempelberg geschehen soll; ich halte dies für einen Irrtum… hat doch der Islam mitten auf diesem eine Mosche errichtet, wo u.a. Fussball gespielt wird und Waffen hingeschafft werden. Ich würde empfehlen die Westmauer (Kotel) vollständig abzutragen und mit diesen Steinen das neue Bet haMikdasch anzufangen zu errichten, an einem neuen Platz in Jerushalajim (Jerusalem). Dies hätte den Effekt, dass der unsägliche Streit um Gebersrechte innerhalb des Judentums und im Konflikt mit dem Islam entschärft würde. Außerdem würde dann auch dem okkupierenden Gebäude auf dem Tempelberg das Fundament entzogen – im doppelten Sinne. Der neue Platz in Jerusalem muss dann gut gewählt werden. Ich gehe davon aus, dass er gefunden und unter der Federführung des Temple Institutes und eines neuen 71-Mitglieder umfassenden Sanhedrin wiedererichtet wird und allen Friedfertigen, Wahrhaftigen und Gerechten aus allen Völkern offen stehen wird. Allerdings unter den Beschränkungen, dass dies nicht für alle Bereiche Gültigkeit hat. Eben wie in der Thora beschrieben und durch die Propheten Israels vor Urzeiten schon angekündigt. Opfer werden die Gebete des Judentums nicht ablösen, sondern beide werden ihren angemessenen Platz haben und in der Form weitergeführt, wie dies seit Jahrtausenden überliefert wurde. Es ist immer noch ein Problem des Christentums, dass der Tempel als obsolet erachtet wird, als wolle man sich mit den Zerstörern verbünden. Wie dem auch sei, der Tempel wird kommen und wir alle, Juden und Christen, sollten gemeinsam für die baldige Realisierung beten und uns an dessen Aufbau konstruktiv beteiligen.

Scared Pigeons

Scared pigeons fly over the roofs of the old town, it smells of the market stalls and we wait for the change for the better that comes. Scared pigeons are flying over the roofs of the old town, the air is clear and warmer than last year and we are waiting for the change for the better that comes. There are rumors and the politicians are going crazy again while the streets are deserted. Long for walks on Shabbat in the spring sunshine. Above the roofs of the old town – scared pigeons.