Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 23 Elul, 5783

Shabbat Shalom!!! This is our final Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah! Our last opportunity of rest in the year 5783.  How will you make the most of these moments?

Let’s dig into the final double portion of the week:

Really, Moses is cleaning up and getting us ready to go.

First – he transfers power to Joshua

Second – he tells Joshua it’s not going to go well for us with our freedom.  Fatness and laziness will come.  It’s a good lesson that liberation and freedom can bring laziness and fatness.  Unless we remain vigilant.

Third – he is going to give us all a gift. A song. And it will remind us.

Fourth – he encourages Joshua – you’ve got this

Fifth – Moses writes an entire Torah scroll

Sixth – Moses places the Torah scroll in the Ark. And comments on our rebellious spirit.

Seventh – Moses gathers the leaders

Eighth – Moses sings the song he wrote for them

So as we close the year out. And we listen to the song in next week’s Parsha, leading us to the Spiritual New Year of 5784.  Where are we? What are we? Who are we? How are we?

Just be. Relax. Enjoy.  The work is done.  It’s time to rest and be ready for the NEW adventure ahead!

Here is my commentary from a year ago:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Tishri 5, 5783

Good morning! as we continue our journey to freedom and liberation, let’s see what todays portion has for us;

Yesterday God gave Moses and Joshua some bad news. Things weren’t going to go well for the Israelites in the promised land. They’d eventually turn away from God. But. Hashem encouraged Moses to teach the Israelites a song that would help them focus on Him and not turn away.

Hashem continues to tell Moses and Joshua of things to come:

Deuteronomy 31:20-22

“When I bring them to the land which I have sworn to their forefathers, a land flowing with milk and honey, they will eat, be satisfied, and become fat. Then they will turn to other gods and serve them, angering Me and violating My covenant.

“What will happen is, when numerous misfortunes and traumas will happen to them, this song (which warns them of the consequences of their actions) will speak out to them as a witness, for it will not be forgotten from the mouths of their children; for I know their inclination that they (are planning) to do today, (even) before I bring them into the land which I swore (to give them).”

“On that day, Moses wrote down this song, and taught it to the children of Israel.”

So. God tells us the importance of this song. Next week, we should REALLY pay attention. I find it interesting. It’s been a long and difficult journey. But at this point of the journey, Hashem wants focus. To focus on this song. Finishing strong is crucial. Anyone can start the journey of freedom and liberation. But finishing strong is unique. That’s critical.

Liberation and Freedom can bring laziness and fatness. But we should remain vigilant.

At this point, Hashem turns to Joshua and speaks directly to him:

“Be strong and courageous! For you will bring the children of Israel to The land that I have sworn to them, and I will be with you.”

Hashem is reminding Joshua to be in the moment. To not get too caught up in the future. To live for now. Joshua has two jobs. Leading the children of to the land, and teaching them the song. The rest is out of his hands. That should bring some comfort.

How often do we get overwhelmed and exhausted by the bigness of our lives? Sometimes we need to focus on now.

Todays portion ends with a cliffhanger:

“Then, when Moses finished writing the words of this Torah, until its very end, in a scroll……”

So. We end with Moses writing the Torah. He has his job, and Joshua had his.

What tasks has Hashem given us for today that we can focus on and not get sidetracked by? Think about and meditate on this!

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Tishri 6, 5783

(Special Note. This year, today is NOT Shabbat Shuva. That is next week. I will repeat this message then)

Shabbat Shalom!!!! Today is a most special Shabbat! It is “Shabbat Shuva” the full Shabbat between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. It is the Shabbat of return(Shuva means return). It is also known as the Shabbat of Teshuva (repentance). This is the focal point as we move from the Head of the Year, where we decided who was King over our lives and move to a place of repentance.

Today is a good day to focus on internals. Here is an article on Shabbat Shuva:

https://www.chabad.org/…/4828/jewish/Shabbat-Shuvah.htm

Ok. Let’s dig into the final portion of this week’s Parsha;

Yesterday we saw Moses finishing up writing his Torah scroll. Today we begin with Moses commanding the Levites (who Carried the ark);

“Take this Torah scroll and place it beside the Ark of the Covenant of God , your God, and it will be there as a witness. For I know your rebellious spirit and your stubbornness.”

Kind of harsh words from Moses. But he is cutting to the heart of the matter. We are rebels. We’ve been rebels against God. We can’t escape this part of who we are. We have a rebellious spirit within us. And I don’t know about you, but this is a tremendous source of shame and guilt for me.

But Moses does something interesting here in this context. Instead of judging, he tells the Levites; “gather all the elders of your tribes and your police officers, and I will speak these words of the song (Ha’azinu) into their ears.”

Moses knew where the people’s rebellion would take them. He wanted them to learn this song (which we will read starting tomorrow) to remind them of the source of their freedom and liberation. Next weeks’ Parsha is going to be a crucial one for us to pay attention to as we finish our journey these next weeks (spoiler – we only have two more Parshas left to cover!). Moses has done all he can to lead us to the promised land of liberation and freedom.

The rest will be up to us – in 5783, are we going to enter freedom and liberation, but being grounded in Torah? Or will we embrace the rebelliousness of our hearts and end up back as slaves in Egypt? That is our choice!

Shabbat Shalom!

What are your thoughts?

As always on Shabbat, Haftorah thoughts will be in the comments below!

Again, since today is not Shabbat Shuva, I will not be including commentary from the Shabbat Shuva portion here.  We covered today’s Haftorah earlier in the week.  I am reposting it here:

Todays Haftorah is the final Haftorah of comfort before Rosh Hashanah. The Haftorah covers Isaiah 61:10-63:9

The Haftorah starts with the redemption of Zion. God has clothed us in “Garments of Salvation.” And “robes of righteousness.”

What are these garments and robes?

My theory/hypothesis? They are our bodies. Our souls are clothed in these bodies of salvation and righteousness. To connect with the Torah portion; our bodies have the choice to do good or evil.

Isaiah 61 ends with this line; “For just like the earth brings forth its growth, and a garden makes its seeds grow, so too will God Almighty cause the righteousness and praise of Israel to sprout before all the nations.”

This is all about a process. Growth. Development. This isn’t an exam. A judgment. The goal with each year, with each Torah cycle, is to grow like a garden. And we can choose the direction and momentum of our growth.

Isaiah 62 promises us that Hashem will it be quiet as long as we are in process; until our righteousness emergence’s like a shining light – and salvation like a burning torch.

As we achieve freedom and liberation. As we achieve healing and growth; we will light the way for others. In the words of the Mandalorian; “this is the way.”

And Hashem promised us we will be protected. We will change- here’s what it says:

You will be protected like a crown of beauty in God’s hand, a royal coronet in the palm of your God.

You will no longer be called “Abandoned by God” and your land will no longer be called “Desolation.” Rather, you will be called “I desire her” and your land “inhabited,” for God will desire you, and your land will be inhabited. “

How often do we abandoned and desolate? Freedom and liberation bring desire. That is crucial.

And it’s not because we did anything to warrant this. In fact, the Haftorah says God looked around and saw no one had merit – no one. Isaiah 63 includes this; “For I have been planning a day of vengeance against the nations for a long time, and the year of redemption for My people has now come.”

Was 5782 the year of redemption for us? Or will that be 5783? I think that has to do with our choice. Isaiah 63 continues;

“I looked around for a merit with which the Jewish people might be redeemed, but there was no merit to help. I was amazed that there was no merit to be of help in redeeming them. So My arm wrought their salvation for Me and not their own merit, and My anger against the nations supported Me in wreaking vengeance upon them. I trampled peoples in My wrath and made them drunk with the cup of My rage. I cast the blood of their strength down to the ground.”

Did that sound like your 5782? It does for me. If it doesn’t, then buckle up for 5783.

Because here is why. Here is why we go through this.

We have no merit.

But we do;

The prophet says, “Israel will relate God’s kind deeds and His praise for everything He has done for us -all the good He has granted to the House of Israel in His mercy and great kindness” When God took them out of Egypt, He said, “Indeed, they alone are My people, children who were not unfaithful and did not forsake Me, and He became their Savior.”

Our sufferings happen because we cannot understand kindness without suffering. How would we know kindness if we never suffered? Sit with that. Like the yin/yang or light/dark. These aren’t bad combos. They have a purpose. Rabbi Meir tells me often “we go down in order to go up.” There’s a balance.

We close the Haftorah with this comfort:

“All their sufferings caused Him pain and the angel who stands before Him saved them, Likewise, out of His love and mercy He redeemed them. He will bear them and carry them forever.”

God does not hate us. He wants us to be free. How free are we? That’s the question to ask ourselves as we close 5782. We have one more day. What will we do with that day?