Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 5 Tammuz, 5784
Parsha Bukkat – “Suprarational command”: (Numbers 19:1 – 22:1)
Fifth Portion: Numbers 20:22 – 21:9

Good morning! It is time to break camp and leave Kadesh today! Our journey so far has taken us in the wilderness from our cravings to our ego. From our ego to our courage through sacrifice. From our courage to our grief.  This brings us to a place of softness.  Edom wasn’t soft. So Israel turned around and went a different direction.  Let’s dig in:

 22They traveled from Kadesh, and the entire congregation of the children of Israel arrived at Mount Hor.

So we went from one mountain – where we received the Torah to a different mountain. It would seem as if these mountains are the book ends of our journey so far.  We can take stock as we arrive on Mount Hor.  Let’s see where we go:

23The Lord said to Moses and Aaron at Mount Hor, on the border of the land of Edom, saying,

24″Aaron shall be gathered to his people, for he shall not come to the Land which I have given to the children of Israel, because you defied My word at the waters of dispute [Mei Meribah].

So we reach the mountain, and it is time for Aaron to depart.  And it was connected to the journey. So even though lessons were learned on the journey, there were still consequences. Aaron’s time was ending.

25Take Aaron and Eleazar his son and ascend Mount Hor.

26Strip Aaron of his garments and dress Eleazar his son with them. Then Aaron shall be gathered in [to his people] and die there.

Our perspective of death is a little different than the Torah here.  We see death as an ending. And ending of life. Torah sees it as something different – a “gathering.”

I go back to the concept of “Human soul.” The human soul is gathered and the corpse is left behind. We see the body as “us” instead of the soul.

This was a transition time. We went from one mountain to another. And the leadership was changing. This was a “changing of the guard” spiritually.  From Aaron to Eleazar.

My takeaway is this time of the cycle for us? It’s about change. Transition. Tammuz is all about learning to see in the darkness.  What can we see in the darkness that we could not see in the light?  Is there something within us that needs to shift?

Let’s keep going.

27Moses did as the Lord commanded him. They ascended Mount Hor in the presence of the entire congregation.

28Moses then stripped Aaron of his garments and dressed Eleazar his son in them, and Aaron died there on the top of the mountain. [Then] Moses and Eleazar descended from the mountain.

29The whole congregation saw that Aaron had expired, and the entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for thirty days.

30 days of mourning.

There is something about this. That connects me within.  When we go through changes – when we shift – I find myself wanting an immediate change to appear. Do I allow myself a “mourning process” to transition?  Aaron served the people well spiritually. And – he was no longer in a place to serve them.  And. We didn’t just right into Aaron’s leadership.  30 days of mourning.

How often do we not allow ourselves this space or time to mourn what is within us?

I go back to this quote:

“Grief blocks us from where we want to go. Moving through grief allows us to be free to flow.”

Moving through grief takes us to a place of mourning.  There are a few definitions of this word. I like this one:

“feel regret or sadness about (the loss or disappearance of something).”

How often do we feel confused, guilty, ashamed that we are mourning the loss or disappearance of something that is no longer working for us? Something that once brought us growth – and now? Keeps us stuck.  We struggle to let go of it. The past. A friend who supported us at one point in our journey, but who now keeps us stuck in our past.  A value, a belief, an idea, a “rule” we made for ourselves to survive. We know we need to let it go. And we struggle to. And we feel shame about it, don’t we?

And let’s compare this grief over Aaron to Miriam.  When Miriam died? There was no water. We were STILL surviving. When Aaron passes away? We are camping out on our journey at the base of a mountain.

Mourning. Can we allow ourselves to mourn.  To allow ourselves to fee sad and/or regret about the loss of something we need to let go of?

Is this the way to transition leadership? Within us?

And it’s interesting. As we learn to “see in the dark” in this month of Tammuz, we are going to go into the month of Av – which involves a LOT of mourning. From this full moon to the Full moon of Tammuz – there is a lot of mourning to be done. And. On the Full moon of Av? Things shift. We have a super happy day that is ALL about love!  That love will bring us into the spiritual new year of Rosh Hashanah two months later. We are really in the thick of our spiritual cycle here.

Can we mourn?

Let’s see where the Torah takes us next:

21:1The Canaanite king of Arad, who lived in the south, heard that Israel had come by the route of the spies, and he waged war against Israel and took from them a captive.

Now I have always assumed this happened AFTER the 30 day period of mourning. And there is no reason to believe that within the Torah. It certainly COULD have happened after the mourning period. And. It could have happened WHILE they were mourning too.

Either way – we have a captive taken. Let’s see what happens:

2Israel made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You deliver this people into my hand, I shall consecrate their cities.”

3The Lord heard Israel’s voice and delivered the Canaanite. He destroyed them and [consecrated] their cities, and he called the place Hormah.

So they basically went to God and said “we will make the land yours if you deliver the people to us.”  And Hashem did.

So – they went from Mourning to trusting Hashem.  Regret and sadness put them in a place to trust. We are good, right?

4They journeyed from Mount Hor by way of the Red Sea to circle the land of Edom, and the people became disheartened because of the way.

Uh oh. They had to take the long road around Edom – and they because disheartened.

I picture the people questioning leadership.  “Why can’t we just go the direct path? Why must we circle around?”  Eleazar is the new spiritual leader. This was a tough test to face early on. The people didn’t even go to Eleazar – they went to Moses:

5The people spoke against God and against Moses, “Why have you brought us up out of Egypt to die in this desert, for there is no bread and no water, and we are disgusted with this rotten bread.”

So again.  They have freedom. Hashem keeps showing up for them. He doesn’t destroy them – he keeps working to teach them about how they continue to Alienate Hashem.  And they keep rejecting Hashem.

And. He continues to love them. Though snake bites and death may appear harsh to us – but if the corpses of the human soul are returning to dust, and the human soul is being gathered to humanity? This appears differently based on perspective. Let’s see what happens:

6The Lord sent against the people the venomous snakes, and they bit the people, and many people of Israel died.

7The people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, for we have spoken against the Lord and against you. Pray to the Lord that He remove the snakes from us.” So Moses prayed on behalf of the people.

The people recognized their “sin.”  Which I am beginning to see as “ways we alienate the one who created us.”  Which brings me back to the commandment of honoring our mother and father – the one who created us on this earth.  The corpses that created a new corpse vessel to carry a human soul on this earth in this timeline.

And Hashem has compassion:

8The Lord said to Moses, “Make yourself a serpent and put it on a pole, and let whoever is bitten look at it and live.”

9Moses made a copper snake and put it on a pole, and whenever a snake bit a man, he would gaze upon the copper snake and live.

So look to the snake – and you will live.

I’ll confess. I am scared of snakes.  Snakes are considered “bad” they are often times connected to the trope of satan.  And here? Hashem is using the snake to heal.

We go from Aaron to Eleazar in today’s portion.  We also go from snakes killing people to saving people.

So on this journey from navigating our cravings, to our ego, to our fear and having courage and sacrifice, to grief and mourning – we come to a time of transition – things we once held as “negative” now being seen as a “positive.”

And maybe this is the key to transition? Of getting “unstuck?”

Look within.

What are you craving?

What is your ego driving?

What are you afraid of?

What is shifting?

This is my takeaway from today’s portion! What is yours?

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Tamuz, 5783

Today’s double portion continues our journey as we enter the second week of the moon cycle of Tamuz.  We reached the solstice (the day of the year with the MOST light) a few days ago – and as the days begin to get shorter and darker, we turn to the moon for our journey.

Yet, as we begin this stage, the moon reminds us to move towards the radiation of light for others. We will move this week towards a full moon – where the moon shines brightest reflecting the sun’s light.  This week is all about adding to our reflection of the sun.  We will culminate at the end of the week into the full moon!

Today’s passage is really interesting in this context.

In short, today’s portion has a few themes:

• The death of Aaron, and the transition to the next segment of the journey of the Israelites from Aaron to Eleazar as high priest.  The Torah even covers the grief process as we move from one segment of our life into a new segment.  This is a natural occurrence in our journeys.
  • What are the “Aarons” in our lives that are being gathered with other past moments that have been inspiring and enlightening to us?  Can we allow ourselves to grieve these as we begin to let go and move forward with NEW inspiration?  Eleazar is just as capable of leading us as Aaron was.  Hashem chose Eleazar (just as He will choose Joshua to lead after Moses)
• Immediately, we went to war. Entering new “segments” of our life can lead to internal battles that need to be fought.
• Hashem took care of the war for the Israelites. Instead of feeling safe, the Israelites complained. They went “backwards.” They were still scared.
  • Consider how these internal wars we have entering new segments of our lives can cause us to feel unsafe.  Like the Jews who complained and wanted to go back to Egypt because it was “comfortable” we tend to want to go where it’s comfortable.  Even if that place of comfort is TRAUMATIC.  We will choose to remain in trauma instead of growth.  This is the idea I wrote about last week – Post Traumatic Growth and Post Traumatic Resilience.
• God made it painful for them – venomous snakes.  Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?  And these snakes kept biting them. Israelites were dying.
  • What within us needs to die? What do we need to let go of in order to feel safe and move forward? We often think death is “bad.”  Death and letting go can be a good thing.  Like a snake shedding it’s skin, what must we shed to enter a new segment of our life with fullness, freedom, and liberation?
• And. Moses prayed on their behalf, and their salvation came the way they were harmed.  They looked at the snake, and they were healed.
  • The traumas within us – that cause us to react and be triggered. Looking at these traumas? That is healing.

And that is how the first portion ended. It does seem like the Torah is showing us how to navigate our trauma and feelings of safety here.  All in the name of trusting that Hashem has our best intentions.  Things are happening FOR us.  Not TO us. The snakes biting us? They are meant to kill off those things holding us back.  Looking at the snakes, examining the trauma (with a professional therapist would be advised) is going to be the path of healing and safety.  THIS is the message of the Torah!

In the next portion, the journey continues and we see a miracle. Had the Israelites not healed and moved forward? They would never get to see the miracle in the “next segment” of their journey.

As we close today, many of us seem to be going through transitions from one segment of life to the other.  A lot of us are afraid of the next chapter. The next segment.  Looking at the snakes within that are causing the fear? That is the way to move forward and heal.  It’s not about anyone else.  It’s about the healing within.  This is why, I believe, Tikkun Olam starts within our hearts.

“Heal ourselves, Heal the world.”

I’d love your thoughts too!!!!

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Tamuz, 5782

As we continue to look for “light in the darkness” of Tamuz, may we find spiritual light in the Torah to guide us! Let’s dig in!

Yesterday we discussed how the Children of Israel wanted to pass through the land of their brothers; Edom. And we’re refused. Today the Torah portion starts with the children of Israel traveling from Kadesh towards the “double mountain.”

What is a double mountain? Are we talking twin peaks?

Rabbi Schneerson writes this:

“A mountain on top of a mountain, like a small apple on top of a big apple (Rashi)

One of the lessons that you can learn from the fact that the Torah was given on a mountain is that while, generally speaking, you are supposed to be meek and humble, this should nevertheless not lead you to be easily walked over? When it comes to defending matters of Torah, you ought to be proud and confident, like a mountain.

That is the case for Torah in general, which was given through Moses, but when it comes to the love and concern for the physical and spiritual needs of others–which was the trait of Aaron, you should have a double measure of determination, a “double mountain.” (End quote).

I like Rabbi Schneerson’s take on this. I’m really reflecting on the juxtaposition of Moses and Aaron.

So Aaron and Moses approach God and he speaks to them at the bottom of double mountain on the edge of Edom. He tells them Aaron is going to be “gathered” to his people.

It’s an interesting way to look at death, isn’t it?

He tells Aaron to go with Eleazar (Aaron’s son) to go up the double mountain. He tells Moses to “divest” Aaron of his priestly garments and dress Eleazar with them; then Aaron will die on the double mountain.

Moses then did what God asked. They all went up, in the presence of the entire congregation of Israel. Aaron died on the mountain- and Moses and Eleazar came down.

The entire house of Israel wept for Aaron for 39 days. Some interesting commentary here from Rabbi Meir Simchah of Dvinsk:

“The entire house of Israel wept for Aaron. But for Moses, only men wept, because Moses used to rebuke the people severely. Aaron, on the other hand, never said to a man or woman, “You have acted offensively.”

When Aaron was walking in the street and met a wicked person, Aaron would greet him. The next day, when the man wanted to commit a sin, he would say, “Dear me! How will I lift up my eyes afterwards and look at my friend Aaron? I am ashamed, because he greeted me. In this way, the man would refrain from sinning.

When two people quarreled, Aaron went and sat down with one of them and said to him. “My son! Do you know what your friend is saying? His heart is in a turmoil and he is tearing his clothes saying, ‘Dear me! How can I lift up my eyes and look at my friend? I am ashamed because I have wronged him.’” Aaron would then sit with him until he had dispelled the grudge from his heart.

Then Aaron would go and sit with the other one, and say to him, “Do you know what your friend is saying? His heart is in a turmoil and he is tearing his clothes saying, ‘Dear me! How can I lift up my eyes and look at my friend? I am ashamed because I have wronged him.’” Aaron would then sit with him until he had dispelled the grudge from his heart. When the two of them would then meet, they hugged and kissed each other (Avot de-Rabbi Nathan).

By saying the ‘entire house of Israel wept for Aaron’ we can deduce that during all the years that the Israelites traveled in the desert, not even one case of manslaughter had occurred.

According to Jewish law, anyone guilty of manslaughter would have been exiled to the Levites camp: he would be allowed to return home only after the passing of the High Priest. Therefore, an accidental murderer and his family would be joyful when the High Priest died.

However, when Aaron passed away, everyone mourned; not even one family had reason to rejoice in the return of an exiled relative!” (End quote)

Interesting thoughts!

Ok. Now, the Canaanite King of Adar heard that Israel had come. He thought they would be weak. So he waged war. He was only able to take one captive from them.

Then Israel made a vow to God; deliver the people into the hands of the Israelites, and they will consecrate the plunder of their cities.

God heard Israel’s voice and delivered the Canaanites. He destroyed them and consecrated their cities.

God was faithful. Yay! Their faith must have been REALLY strong!

Noooooooope.

They retraced their steps because Edom wouldn’t let them pass. Because they were tracing their steps back, the children of those who left Egypt were triggered (defame demoralized) because they remembered how their parents were sent back to the desert for 38 years.

So what did they do? They complained!!! There was a lack of gratitude.

So what Happens next? God sent venomous snakes among the people. The snakes bit people. Many people of Israel died.

The people saw the error of their ways and went to Moses – they acknowledged their sin against Moses AND against God. They asked Moses to pray to God to remove the snakes.

Moses prayed on behalf of the people.

And this is fascinating- the way the people were dying was actually going to be used to save them.

God told Moses to “make a venomous snake” and place it on a pole. What will happen is, whoever has been bitten will look at it and live.”

And that is what happened.

So – that’s how todays portion closes.

Let’s look at some commentary on the snakes: Rabbi Solomon Kluger wrote:

“The people erroneously thought that the snakes were the cause of the many deaths. Therefore they begged Moses to pray that God “remove the snakes.”

Moses, however, knew that it was their sins, not the snakes that were responsible for all the deaths. Therefore Moses prayed on behalf of the people” that they should repent.

Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Lyndy went a little deeper:

Obviously, the copper snake was not capable of curing people, it was meant to trigger an emotional response from the people encouraging them to focus heavenward and repent, so that God would let them live (Rashi)

The reason a serpent was chosen and not some other object was to magnify the miracle.” God had so desired, the need for an object could have been avoided, and the people would have been immediately healed. By using the serpent, the miracle was made more overt, so that they would not say it was mere chance (Rabbi Joseph b. Isaac Bekhor Shor, 12th century).

If remembering God brought about the cure for the Jewish people, then why was the copper snake necessary at all? Why did Moses not simply tell them to think about God?

Even the most negative or tragic occurrence in this world has a spiritual root which is entirely good. “From heaven, no evil is issued forth” (Lamentations 3:18)-it is only that sometimes the physical world is not ready to absorb the good which comes from heaven. The resulting incompatibility presents itself as something negative.

The solution, therefore, is not to eliminate the negative thing, but to reveal its true inner essence as something good.

And this was the purpose of the copper snake, erected on a pole, which Moses made. By encouraging the Jewish people to look upwards at the snake, Moses was reminding them that, in their spiritual source above, the snakes which had bitten the Jewish people were rooted in Divine goodness. In this way, the people “reconnected” the snakes with their true source above, revealing their inner good–and that good was then also revealed below.” (end quote)

I think this is a fantastic end to chew and reflect on!