Schlagwort: Third Tempel

My favourite Parasha;WaJeze – in these times and today!

At this time I am studying our Torah, to be prepared for Shabbat. Its about Parasha WaJeze.

The parasha WaJeze is so named because Yaakov left Beersheba. There are different emphases in translations as to how WaJeze is to be understood. Personally, I prefer the interpretation of ‚approaching something‘. For me personally, it is the most important parasha in my life as a Jew.

Jacob goes to a place that the Torah only refers to indirectly… „and came to that place“. And yet everything is clear, as we will learn in the course of the further interpretation of the words of the Torah.
It is Jacob who leaves his familiar surroundings and takes one of the stones of the place for his head and lies down. It is a hard surface that Jacob chooses. On the one hand, this is his decision, and on the other hand, he does not make it easy for himself – quite deliberately.

Then he has his famous dream with the ladder reaching up to heaven. Messengers of G-d (plural) ascend and descend on it. These messengers are a clear indication of things to come. Then Jacob has a vision of G-d. G-d speaks to Jacob. Hashem promises him and his seed (i.e. descendants), that is, Israel as a whole. For Hashem says that all the clans of the earth will be blessed in him and spread out. Hashem clearly says, „I am with you, I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land, yes, I will not leave you until I have done what I have spoken to you.“
…
Which place does the Torah describe in this event? It is Mount Moriah, today’s Temple Mount! G-d is everywhere, but He does not reveal Himself everywhere.

When Jacob awakens, everything is strange to him, yet clear. He takes the stone on which his head rested and erects a monument with it, which he pours oil over. It is this symbolic act that sanctifies the profane and makes a decisive difference. He calls this place Bet-El, House of G-d. This refers to the Temple in Jerusalem.

Then he makes a vow. He formulates his words (in chapter 28, verse 20) not as a demand, but as a condition and logical prerequisite. …

But study and read every detail of the Parasha for yourself. I have always seen it as my duty never to lose my faith, even in exile. And I do not, because only in this way can I serve God and return to the house.

Shavua Tov.

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.