Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 9 Tishri, 5785
Parsha Ve-Zo’T Ha-Berakhah – “This is the blessing”: (Deuteronomy 33:1 – 34:12)
Sixth portion: Deuteronomy 33:27 – 33:29

Good morning! Today is our final time with Hashem before Yom Kippur. When the energies shift into a time of reflection and joy over the idea that we are being sealed into the book of good life for another year!

As I read my reflections from the past two years, I am seeing a pattern forming this past week.  I shared the following from my therapist about navigating things we feel stuck in:

He shared there really are only four choices:

• Continue to suffer
• Control our controllables
• Change how we think about the situation
• Practice acceptance

For the past two years, I have written about this from this Torah portion. There are certain truths we need to be reminded of:

• This is what is happening
• May I learn to be with reality as it is rather than how I’d might like it to be
• May I be present to the comings and goings of life

 When it comes to others we feel stuck with:

• We can care for others, but we cannot stop them from suffering
• We can desire to hold others’ joys and sorrows with acceptance and care (we will not ALWAYS do this because of our own suffering)
• We can recognize that everyone is responsible for their OWN thoughts, words and actions
• Others’ happiness or unhappiness is dependent on their actions not upon our wishes for them

This is a beautiful process as we enter into Yom Kippur. Let’s dig into today’s short portion.  We need to start by backing up:

26Jeshurun, there is none like God; He Who rides the heavens is at your assistance, and with His majesty, [He rides] the skies,

We talked yesterday about flying. We have the universe at our assistance. His majesty; the skies?  We are about to find out more about where Hashem dwells:

27which are the abode for the God Who precedes all, and below, are the mighty ones of the world. He expelled the enemy from before you, and said, ‘Destroy!’

Hashem’s realm is above – in the skies. Below? Where we are? Are the “mighty ones.”

Now. We have a choice. We can accept we are the mighty ones, and apply this principle to ourselves:

• This is what is happening. I AM a mighty one.
• May I learn to be with the reality I am a mighty one – as it is; rather than how I’d might like it to be
• May I be present to the comings and goings of life that surround me as a mighty one.

 Or, we can fight. We can tell ourselves we have FAILED as a mighty one. And we have to earn our way BACK. That we need to go through some process to get there. We need to suffer and be punished for our mistakes.

Consider this. As the Torah winds down. Today is LITERALLY the second to LAST portion of the entire Torah. The Torah calls us – after all the crap we’ve pulled? MIGHTY. ONES.

That is who we are. Today. In this moment. Not when the scale shows us we are down 20 pounds. Not when we “feel” more healed. Not when that strategy we’ve implemented for our future “works out.” No.

Today. This is the reality. I am a “mighty one.” I am complete.

That’s the journey home. That’s the journey to the promised land.

28And Israel dwelled safely and alone as Jacob [blessed them], in a land of grain and wine; also, their heavens will drip dew.

29Fortunate are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people whose salvation is through the Lord, the Shield Who helps you, your majestic Sword! Your enemies will lie to you, but you will tread upon their heights.”

This. We are safe. Even though we may not feel safe because we see a future approaching we don’t want or is apart from where we think we “should go.”

 We are safe.

 Those are my thoughts.

 What are yours?

Here is my commentary from the past two years:

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for 14 Tishri, 5784

So. This is interesting.  Today, we read the sixth portion of the final parsha of the Torah today.  But – we will not get to the last one for another week until Simchat Torah.  So we are on this journey together – and we have come to the end.  But before we get to the last part, we get to CELEBRATE!!!!  It’s time for a party!  Tonight starts sukkot.

There is a great resource on Sukkot from Chabad by clicking HERE.

Today’s portion (see my commentary below) is all about knowing our place.  We have (hopefully) chosen to place Hashem as King on the throne of our soul for 5784.  Today’s portion reminds us of our place.

Hashem’s place is in the heavens.  Our place is here. He will take care of us.  We are to trust him.

This sounds easier than it is.  Because it often feels like Hashem has a “list” for us to figure out – and we want to KNOW what is on this list and we want to work HARD to make the list happen.

Often times the “mitzvot” feel like this list.  He’s given us ways to connect to Him through the Mitzvahs in the Torah.  But these Mitzvot are not  His “list” (in my opinion).  Because the “list” He has? It’s the leadership of our life. It is a PARTNERSHIP together for us to experience moment by moment.

This may sound radical – but if I want to serve Hashem, and I don’t? He owns some of that responsibility – doesn’t He? He created me. He guides me. He loves me.  It’s not ALL His responsibility – He leads, I follow. He allows me to lead others (like my children).  It’s all about partnership.

What a joy it is (from those I’ve spoken to) for Grandparents.  There is a sense of this. They have lead their children. They now get to see their children step into leadership with their children.  Watching your child be a parent creates tremendous JOY and tremendous HEARTACHE.  How much more does Hashem feel this?

Let’s close this part of the journey in the Torah with there affirmations from a year ago – which I think are significant:

I meditate each day, and this morning there were some affirmations I was meditating on. This was from the 10% happier app I use. Here they are:

• • This is what is happening
  • May I learn to be with reality as it is rather than how I’d might like it to be
  • May I be present to the comings and goings of life
  • For others I’m intertwined with:
    • I care for you but I cannot stop you from suffering
    • May I hold your joys and sorrows with acceptance and care
    • All beings are responsible for their thoughts, words and actions
    • Their happiness or unhappiness is dependent on their actions not upon my wishes for them

What are your thoughts?

Tyler’s Torah Thoughts for Tishri 19, 5783

Good morning! As we make our way to the end of the Torah cycle – only two days to go – with some bonus lessons for Shmeni Atzeret and Simchat Torah, I’m am so grateful to have you all on this Torah journey.

Today and tomorrow we wrap up the final Parsha in the torah. The final steps to liberation. Next week’s Parsha is in Genesis- we will start all over! I plan on continuing – as I wonder if what we’ve learned this year will deepen the lesson from when we started.

Let’s dig in!

Todays portion is SUPER SHORT. it is Moses’ final words to us; before he goes up to Moab and passes away. In reading ahead, I will tantalize you with a shocking ending we will discuss tomorrow on Shabbat. But for now let’s focus on his final words:

Deuteronomy 33:27-29

“(The heavens) are the abode for God, who precedes all. The mighty ones of the world are found (only) below. He expelled the enemy from before you and said, ‘Destroy!’ Israel will live safely and (it will be safe for each person to live) alone-as Jacob (blessed them)-in a land of grain and wine, with skies the drip dew, (as Isaac blessed them).

Fortunate are you, O Israel! Who is like you, O people saved by God, the Shield who helps you, your majestic Sword! Your enemies will lie to you, but you vi trample upon their exalted ones.”

Ok. The first thing I see is that God’s abode (residence) is in the heavens. Our residence is below. On earth. But guess what? We are “the mighty ones!” I don’t know about you; but that’s hard to swallow. I don’t FEEL mighty. I don’t FEEL powerful. And yet, as we are about to enter the promised land. We are called mighty.

We WILL live safely. And. How often don’t we FEEL safe? So we are mighty? We will live safely? This is the foundation of our freedom and liberation, isn’t it? To feel free is to feel mighty. It’s about power. It’s to feel safe. To feel like you are taken care of. The journey of slavery to freedom and liberation is discovering within us our power and safety. This is the essence of the Torah (in my opinion).

I think this is reinforced by the part about living alone. Our safety and power does not come from others. From their judgment of us. Whether they “like” us or not. If our source of power and safety is external to us? We are going to struggle. Our design is to internally, alone, discover our power and provision. Because although Hashem dwells in the Heavens above; we ALSO know and have discovered, He dwells within us. He has put a part of himself (herself, themself) inside of us.

And think about that. If that is true. If we have our Neshama within us; it means we are all connected. To Hashem. To each other.

Even those we may not get along with. Even those who have hurt us. And yet; we are NOT responsible for them. We are all responsible for ourselves.

I want to close with this. I meditate each day, and this morning there were some affirmations I was meditating on. This was from the 10% happier app I use. Here they are:

• This is what is happening
• May I learn to be with reality as it is rather than how I’d might like it to be
• May I be present to the comings and goings of life
• For others I’m intertwined with:
  • I care for you but I cannot stop you from suffering
  • May I hold your joys and sorrows with acceptance and care
  • All beings are responsible for their thoughts, words and actions
  • Their happiness or unhappiness is dependent on their actions not upon my wishes for them

The wisdom of these affirmations are fully in Line with the lesson today. We can care about others, but our focus is on our internal power and safety. When we take on others happiness as a responsibility- it is a prison. We can care about their happiness; but it is theirs. Just like our happiness is our own. The power and safety comes within first. This is the Torah journey. This is what we are working towards; together.

Much love for you during the festival of Sukkot – Today is the fifth day (third day of Chol Hamoed) – May it bring you peace as we prepare for tonight’s sabbath rest!

What are YOUR thoughts? I really want to know!