Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 27 Elul, 5784
Parsha Ha’Azinu– “Listen”: (Deuteronomy 32:1 – 52)
Second Portion: Deuteronomy 32:7 – 32:12

Good morning! As we enter the week ahead of transitions, we are closing out 5784 in one way – “Perfection.”

Why do I use this word “perfection?”  Well, in Judaism, there are two levels of perfection and we often conflate them.

There is the “Godly” perfection represented by the number 8. Infinity. We often struggle with disappointment because we WANT to be God – but fail each time. We cannot achieve 8 without Hashem’s intervention. If we do not accept this? We bring upon ourselves the misery of trying for this.

Next is “Human” perfection represented by the number 7. This is one more than 6 – the number of humanity. This level of perfection recognizes as the timeline comes to us – as each moment arrives, we are ALREADY perfect where we are. The true freedom we have – make choices according to our highest excitement. Live with integrity. Authenticity.

And? Even when we make a choice we BELIEVE was not in our integrity? It likely was – because there was something within us that guided that action and behavior. If we feel “bad” about our perfection? Then we are called to explore the faulty belief that is causing the resistance. We are still perfect EVEN THOUGH we may not BELIEVE we are perfect.

So we are approaching the fullness of 5784 as our “7.” And as we transition to 5785? We will enter Rosh Hashanah and receive Hashem’s 1 more to make us “8.” And on Yom Kippur, the door will close for the year ahead, and we will be “born again” and start over back in Genesis (after celebrating the Harvest in Sukkot).

There is something deeply spiritual about this time. Just receive it.

As we continue into the “song of Hazinu” let’s bring this energy to it:

7Remember the days of old; reflect upon the years of [other] generations. Ask your father, and he will tell you; your elders, and they will inform you.

We are called to reflect. Contemplate. Look at our past. See where we have been. If we do not do this? We cannot see how far we come. We cannot see our current “perfection.”  We were perfect back then as well. Everything was as it was designed to be. To bring us all to this moment of time.

Past versions of us? They did exactly as they were supposed to.  Future versions of us? They can handle their moment when it arrives. The key for us? Make decisions to free ourselves in each moment – seeing it as “chocolate or vanilla” decisions instead of “life or death.”

There are TIMES to choose life. The Torah talks about these times. But they were generally times the people KNEW. They were heavy moments. And for the most part? The answer was an “easy” yes.

We often make chocolate/vanilla decisions as long term life altering ones. Life is a “choose your own adventure book” with one wrong choice leading to a trail of our story where we end up in the timeline we are in the worst situation imaginable.

What if that is not the case? What if we add weight to decisions that are just meant to be preferences in a moment?

Let’s keep going:

8When the Most High gave nations their lot, when He separated the sons of man, He set up the boundaries of peoples according to the number of the children of Israel.

We are to remember – the universe does have boundaries according to the size of the family.

This word “boundary” has come up a lot with my six children over the past month or two. And they’ve been learning from me (begrudgingly) the difference between a boundary, rule, agreement, and control.

You see, if I set up a boundary? It’s clearly communicating what I will do if you cross that boundary. Boundaries are not about dictating SOMEONE ELSE’S behavior.

“You can’t cross my boundary” is something I often hear from people.  My kids tell each other – “I have a boundary, you aren’t allowed to cross it.”

I have to correct them, and it has a big difference in dissolving conflicts.

“I have a boundary, if you cross it, then I will…..”

My 9 year old is funny. She said to her sibling; “If you cross my boundary, I am going to punch you in the face.”

I jumped in – “That is definitely a boundary you set. However, you are violating my rule. If you punch your sibling in the face, the rule is – you lose your tablet for 48 hours.”

This has created beautiful conversations. And it’s been eye opening for them, because they have believed that boundaries are designed to control other people’s behavior.

Hashem set up boundaries. This means, if we cross those boundaries, there are behaviors the Universe will act on.

They question is “Why?” Why did Hashem set these boundaries up?

9Because the Lord’s portion is His people Jacob, the lot of His inheritance.

10He found them in a desert land, and in a desolate, howling wasteland. He encompassed them and bestowed understanding upon them; He protected them as the pupil of His eye.

11As an eagle awakens its nest, hovering over its fledglings, it spreads its wings, taking them and carrying them on its pinions.

12[So] the Lord guided them alone, and there was no alien deity with Him.

Quite simply? Hashem provided these boundaries because He has a stake in our success. Because we are HIS. If we cross these boundaries, they are designed for Hashem to act in a way for OUR GOOD not our pain.

Hashem found us. He protects us. He guides us.

The question is – are we in the flow of His guidance? Can we accept the reality of the moment and see where He is taking us? And be curious?

This is the takeway today.

Flow. Where are we flowing?

What are your thoughts?

Here are my thoughts from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 25 Elul, 5783

This morning we are reading the second portion of Ha’Azinu.  We are called to listen.  Today’s portion focuses on Remembrance.  When we enter freedom, we must REMEMBER how we got here.  How we entered freedom and liberation.  We can’t ignore the slavery and imprisonment – we need to not forget it.

It’s a cycle for sure.

As we come to the new spiritual year, what do we need to remember this past year in terms of lessons?

We’ve been talking a lot about leaving behind and bringing with us into the new spiritual year.  It would seem to be instinctual to desire to “leave behind” the tough times of 5783.  But those may be EXACTLY what we need to bring with us as lessons to remember in 5784.

What do you we need to remember in this new year?

For me?

• Stop picking at emotional wounds that keep them open sores and just allow them to heal.  There is nothing more I need to do to heal them – just let them be.
• Be anchored when called to be by those who I love. Be free when I am not called to be anchored. Harmony. Balance.
• Allow things to unfold around me – don’t resist or try to control them.  I can’t dictate outcomes – I can only create and co-create moments as they arise.

Just to name a few.  What about you?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 8 Tishri, 5783

Good morning! It’s Monday and we are two days from Yom Kippur which starts Tuesday at sundown! Let’s see what the Torah and this song, Ha’Azinu has for us!

Todays portion is Deuteronomy 32:7-12.

32:7: Remember the days gone by (when God punished the wicked). Reflectuopon the years of one generation and another. Ask your father, and he will tell you (about days gone by, ask) your elders, and they will inform you (what the early generations did).

32:8: When the Supernal One gave nations their lot (with the Flood), when He separated the sons of man (after the Tower of Babel), He (allowed them to exist by) establishing (seventy) distinct nations, (for the sake of) the children of Israel (who would later arise, and) number (seventy souls).

32:9: (He saved all the nations) because of God’s portion, His people, (hidden among them). Jacob (and his sons were) His inheritance, (for Jacob’s merit was threefold, like the strands of) a rope.

32:10: He found them (faithful to Him, accepting the Torah) in a desert land, ( following Moses) into a desolate, howling wasteland. He encompassed them (with clouds), and bestowed understanding upon them (through the Torah). He protected them (from snakes and scorpions) like the pupil of His eye.

32:11: (He guided them with compassion) like an eagle (that) wakens its nest (gently), hovering over its young (without touching them); it spreads its wings, taking them, carrying them (safely) on its upper side.

32:12: God alone guided them, and there was no strange god (able to attack) them.

So todays portion of the song of Ha’Azinu seems to be focused on remembering our past. Not forgetting what has happened. When we enter freedom and liberation, I would think the instinct is to just be free. But that can lead us back into slavery. We are compelled to remember how we got here. The Torah is a cycle of remembrance- the story of how we went from freedom to slavery and then from slavery back to liberation. I’m reflecting on how quick it was to go from freedom to slavery. That all happened in the first book of Moses; Genesis.

I’m also reflecting on how we see Genesis as the story of creation, and it is. but it’s also a story in how we found ourselves in slavery. It’s the genesis of slavery. This is an internal slavery. When Joseph is in prison, it’s the first light of slavery. He still had his spiritual and emotional liberation, so it was merely a physical prison. By the time we get to the Israelites being enslaved by Pharaoh, it’s a complete prison.

We are called to remember. Todays theme; as we enter Yom Kippur, as we do the repentance work, is to remember how we got here. And to remember Hashem’s faithfulness in that process!

What are your thoughts?