Torah Lesson 041417, תלרה  Lesson by RABBI MOSHE BEN AVAHAM

One of the goals of these lessons is to teach how to apply the laws of the Torah to today’s times. A second goal is to teach theology and to those goals this is offered. Mathew 5:47[i] talks of greeting and this greeting then and today is to wish a person peace. The Hebrew word for Peace is Shalom! Example is shown at Luke 24:36[ii] and John 20:21[iii]. In Judaism the Aramaic word “Aleychem” is used that means “unto you”. So Shalom Aleychem[iv] means “Peace unto you”.  The proper reply is Aleychem shalom and that means “unto you Peace”

Now it’s equally important to know this includes when entering someone’s home. Matthew 10:12[v], says when you go into a household, greet it. It’s explained at Luke 10:5[vi]. But when coming to the home of one you do not know a more perfect greeting is the one king David told his men to say to Na’bal@  1 Samuel 25:6 (NKJV) 6 And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: ‘Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have! The cite Matthew 5:47 (see ref “I”) opens the greeting to everyone you may meet. This of course not followed by most xten’s (John 8:31[vii])

Equally it’s important to understand Matthew 15: 11 & 18[viii] Paul a/k/a Saul comments @ Ephesians 4:29[ix] and warns at 1 Thessalonians 5:22[x] in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica. It was gven the title “Pro Thessalonikeis A”[xi].

But ungodly people allowed themselves to use profanity and allow themselves to make no attempt at stoping the filthy language. See Colossians 3:8[xii] and do not try to follow Ephesians 4:29 (see footnote #ix) But you should (Matthew 12:36[xiii])

Samuel in Hebrew is   שְׁמוּאֵל reading from right to left.

“Amen” means “it is true” before you say something is true you should be sure it is that you be not guilty of bearing false witness.  Exodus 20:16[xiv] Magilla of Yitro 20:13” You shall not bear false witness…”

It is man’s duty to Tikkun Olam[xv] (Repair the World) Sometimes you must start by repairing yourself!

When Hebrew people sit down to a meal there is always salt on the table because at Leviticus 2:13 it’s commanded[xvi] Romans 2:13[xvii] Romans 3:29[xviii]

What Megilla is    ויקרא states[xix]: “You shall salt your every meal-offering with sault; you may not discontinue the salt of your G-d’s covenant from upon your meal-offering on your every offering shall you offer salt.

The Word “Ester[xx]” means “hidden”. The word “Tanakh[xxi]” is an Acronym for Torah, but what does the word Torah, mean[xxii]?

As an aid to keeping an open mind the following story is told:

EXPECTATIONS

A man whispered, “God, speak to me” A meadowlark Sang, but the man did not hear So the man yelled “God, speak to me” Thunder rolled in the sky, but the man didn’t listen. He looked around and said “God, let me see you” A star was shining brightly, but the man didn’t notice. The man shouted, “God show me a miracle. “And a life was born, but the man did not know. So, the man cried out in despair, “Touch me God and let me know you are here.” Whereupon God reached down and touched the man, But the man brushed the butterfly away and walked on alone.

Don’t miss out on a blessing

Because it is not packaged the

Way that you expected.

 

The point of the story told at Mark 12:42-44[xxiii] is missed about charity. It’s not about the amount given, it’s about the intent of the heart in giving it! (Luke 21: 1-4[xxiv]) In latin “ex animo[xxv]”, means from the heart – Sincerely…

Read the story of Jephthah @ Judges 11:30 – 40[xxvi] what did Jephthah do wrong? Judges 12: 1-7[xxvii] He had too much pride and it kept him from seeking advise of the sages who would have told him how he could have lawfully not killed his daughter yet kept his vow (Numbers 30:2[xxviii]; Leviticus 22:25[xxix]; Leviticus 23: 2 – 7[xxx]) But his pride kept him from seeking advice.

It is important you do not commit error by following Jephthah and you remember Proverbs 11:14[xxxi]; 15:22[xxxii]; 24:6[xxxiii]. The Hebrew title of Provers is “Mishle Shelomoh” the Greek Title is “Paroimiai Salomontos”. The Latin title is: liber Proverbiorum. [Book of Proverbs] The rabbinical writings called Proverbs “Sepher Hokhmah” (book of wisdom). “Mishel Shelomah” (proverbs of Solomon) is to be read daily.

Mark Twain once said: “Always do right. This will gratify some people, and astonish the rest.[xxxiv]”

There is a Russian Proverb that says: “There is no shame in not knowing, the shame lies in not finding out.[xxxv]” A Japanesse Proverb that says: “fall down seven times, get up eight[xxxvi].”

END

 

[i] Matthew 5:47 And if you greet your brethren[a] only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so?

[ii] Luke 24:36 Now as they said these things, Jesus Himself stood in the midst of them, and said to them, “Peace to you.”

[iii] John 20:21 So Jesus said to them again, “Peace to you! As the Father has sent Me, I also send you.”

[iv] Shalom aleychem malachey hasharet malachey elyon mimeleh malehey hamelahim hakadosh baruh hu

Bo’achen leshalom malachot hashalom malachot elyon mimalkat malechot hamelachot hakedoshah beruchah hi

Barechuni leshalom malachey hashalom malachey elyon mimelech malechey hamelachim hakadosh baruh hu Tzetchen leshalom malachot hashalom malachot elyon mimalkat malechot hamelachot hakedoshah beruchah hi

One of the best-known examples of angelology in the Jewish tradition, Shalom Aleychem remains a popular Shabbat evening table song. According to legend, an angel accompanies each Jew to and from the synagogue on Shabbat evening, for protection and companionship. These English words can be sung to the traditional melody. Welcome among us, messengers of shalom, angels of the Highest One, from deep within us, Majesty of Majesties, the blessed Holy One. Come, then, in shalom, blessing us with shalom, leaving us with holy shalom, from deep within us, Majesty of Majesties, the blessed Holy One. (Translated by Burt Jacobson)

[v] Matthew 10:12 And when you go into a household, greet it.

[vi] Luke 10:5 But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’

[vii] John 8:31 Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.

[viii] Matthew 15:11 Not what goes into the mouth defiles a man; but what comes out of the mouth, this defiles a man.”18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.

[ix] Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

[x] 1 Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil.

[xi] Could not find reference to this; please help if you can

[xii] Colossians 3:8 But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.

[xiii] Matthew 12:36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

[xiv] Exodus 20:16 “You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.

[xv] https://jewsforjesus.org/publications/issues/issues-v20-n03/tikkun-olam-repairing-the-world/

[xvi] Leviticus 2:13 And every offering of your grain offering you shall season with salt; you shall not allow the salt of the covenant of your God to be lacking from your grain offering. With all your offerings you shall offer salt.

[xvii] Romans 2:13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified;

[xviii] Romans 3:29 Or is He the God of the Jews only? Is He not also the God of the Gentiles? Yes, of the Gentiles also,

[xix] http://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5761-vayikra/

[xx] http://www.aish.com/h/pur/t/dt/48953946.html

[xxi] Tanakh is an acronym of the first Hebrew letter of each of the Masoretic Text’s three traditional subdivisions: Torah (“Teaching”, also known as the Five Books of Moses), Nevi’im (“Prophets”) and Ketuvim (“Writings”)—hence TaNaKh.

Tanakh – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tanakh

[xxii] The word “Torah” in Hebrew is derived from the root ירה, which in the hif’il conjugation means “to guide/teach” (cf. Lev 10:11). The meaning of the word is therefore “teaching”, “doctrine”, or “instruction”; the commonly accepted “law” gives a wrong impression.

Torah – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torah

[xxiii] Mark 12:42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

[xxiv] Luke 21:1-4 And He looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury, 2 and He saw also a certain poor widow putting in two mites. 3 So He said, “Truly I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all; 4 for all these out of their abundance have put in offerings for God,[a] but she out of her poverty put in all the livelihood that she had.”

[xxv] Definition of ex animo:  from the heart :  sincerely https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ex%20animo

[xxvi] Judges 11:30-40New King James Version (NKJV)

 

30 And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”

 

32 So Jephthah advanced toward the people of Ammon to fight against them, and the Lord delivered them into his hands. 33 And he defeated them from Aroer as far as Minnith—twenty cities—and to Abel Keramim,[a] with a very great slaughter. Thus the people of Ammon were subdued before the children of Israel.

 

Jephthah’s Daughter

34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”

 

36 So she said to him, “My father, if you have given your word to the Lord, do to me according to what has gone out of your mouth, because the Lord has avenged you of your enemies, the people of Ammon.” 37 Then she said to her father, “Let this thing be done for me: let me alone for two months, that I may go and wander on the mountains and bewail my virginity, my friends and I.”

 

38 So he said, “Go.” And he sent her away for two months; and she went with her friends, and bewailed her virginity on the mountains. 39 And it was so at the end of two months that she returned to her father, and he carried out his vow with her which he had vowed. She knew no man.

 

And it became a custom in Israel 40 that the daughters of Israel went four days each year to lament the daughter of Jephthah the Gileadite.

[xxvii] Judges 12:1-7New King James Version (NKJV)

 

Jephthah’s Conflict with Ephraim

12 Then the men of Ephraim gathered together, crossed over toward Zaphon, and said to Jephthah, “Why did you cross over to fight against the people of Ammon, and did not call us to go with you? We will burn your house down on you with fire!”

 

2 And Jephthah said to them, “My people and I were in a great struggle with the people of Ammon; and when I called you, you did not deliver me out of their hands. 3 So when I saw that you would not deliver me, I took my life in my hands and crossed over against the people of Ammon; and the Lord delivered them into my hand. Why then have you come up to me this day to fight against me?” 4 Now Jephthah gathered together all the men of Gilead and fought against Ephraim. And the men of Gilead defeated Ephraim, because they said, “You Gileadites are fugitives of Ephraim among the Ephraimites and among the Manassites.” 5 The Gileadites seized the fords of the Jordan before the Ephraimites arrived. And when any Ephraimite who escaped said, “Let me cross over,” the men of Gilead would say to him, “Are you an Ephraimite?” If he said, “No,” 6 then they would say to him, “Then say, ‘Shibboleth’!” And he would say, “Sibboleth,” for he could not pronounce it right. Then they would take him and kill him at the fords of the Jordan. There fell at that time forty-two thousand Ephraimites.

 

7 And Jephthah judged Israel six years. Then Jephthah the Gileadite died and was buried in among the cities of Gilead.

[xxviii] Numbers 30:2 If a man makes a vow to the Lord, or swears an oath to bind himself by some agreement, he shall not break his word; he shall do according to all that proceeds out of his mouth.

[xxix] Leviticus 22:25 Nor from a foreigner’s hand shall you offer any of these as the bread of your God, because their corruption is in them, and defects are in them. They shall not be accepted on your behalf.’”

[xxx] Leviticus 23:2-7      2 “Speak to the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘The feasts of the Lord, which you shall proclaim to be holy convocations, these are My feasts.

The Sabbath

3 ‘Six days shall work be done, but the seventh day is a Sabbath of solemn rest, a holy convocation. You shall do no work on it; it is the Sabbath of the Lord in all your dwellings.

The Passover and Unleavened Bread

4 ‘These are the feasts of the Lord, holy convocations which you shall proclaim at their appointed times. 5 On the fourteenth day of the first month at twilight is the Lord’s Passover. 6 And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the Feast of Unleavened Bread to the Lord; seven days you must eat unleavened bread. 7 On the first day you shall have a holy convocation; you shall do no customary work on it.

[xxxi] Proverbs 11:14 Where there is no counsel, the people fall;

But in the multitude of counselors there is safety.

[xxxii] Proverbs 15:22 Without counsel, plans go awry,

But in the multitude of counselors they are established.

[xxxiii] Proverbs 24:6 For by wise counsel you will wage your own war,

And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

[xxxiv] http://lifehacker.com/always-do-right-this-will-gratify-some-people-and-ast-1300779343

[xxxv] http://thinkexist.com/quotation/there_is_no_shame_in_not_knowing-the_shame_lies/11940.html

[xxxvi] http://www.presentationzen.com/presentationzen/2011/03/fall-down-seven-times-get-up-eight-the-power-of-japanese-resilience.html