PE Progressive Jewish Congregation

✡️ This week we read Parashat Chukat, which is the 39th weekly portion and is read from Numbers 19:1 - 22:1

The key points in this Parsha opens with the laws of the Red Heifer, the passing of Miriam, Moses striking the rock rather than speaking to it, the passing of Aaron and the Bronze Serpent

✡️ Chukat means Statute or Decree. This parsha is one of the most challenging portions to understand as it is deeply paradoxical

✡️ We read in the Torah where the process of purification is described and for these purposes a “ pure red cow “ must be found and killed. The ashes of the Red Heifer are mixed with water and used to purify someone who has been defiled by a co**se

In the Talmud, the sages point out that the Red Heifer is the only ritual in the Torah which is both totally pure and totally defiling at the same time, as the pure person preparing and sprinkling the ashes becomes ritually impure in the process

✡️ In modern times today, we can view the Red Heifer as representing the paradox of “getting dirty” in order to help someone else, and mirrors that when we step in to support someone going through grief, trauma, problems and battling through life we absorb their feelings and leave feeling drained

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ On the 13 June, we read Parashat Korach from the book of Numbers 16:1 - 18:32

Korach was a first cousin to Moses and Aaron, whilst Aaron’s son, Eleazar, was appointed as the chief over the leaders of the Levites

Korach together with Dathan, Aviram and 250 members of the Israelite community revolted against Moses and Aaron and cried “We are all holy, why do you make yourselves greater than the rest of us”

Moses asked Korach and his followers, if they wished to be priests as well as doing the Lord’s holy work in the tabernacle and instructed them to bring offerings the following day

✡️ According to the texts, Moses said to the Israelites “ if these men die an unnatural death, then you shall know that they have offended the Lord”

The Lord was offended by this rebellion and as soon as Moses had finished speaking, the ground below, parted and swallowed them

Peace versus Pride

✡️ In the Written Torah, we read of Korach’s rebellion, whilst it is recorded in the Midrash, that Korach felt humiliated and passed over, as he believed that he was entitled to a high leadership position based on the wealth and status of his family

✡️ In modern day, the actions of Korach teach us to rather tackle a problem and not a person, to rather put our pride aside, and to delay an immediate reactionary approach

✡️ King Solomon wrote in Proverbs 16:18 “Lifnei shever ga’on, v’lifnei khishalon govah ruach”

In English: “ Before a shattering comes pride, and before stumbling, a haughty spirit”

✡️ When we choose the path of inflated pride we are assured of our shattering, choose peace rather than pride, as pride will cause our fall on the very ground beneath our feet

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ This week’s Parashat is Sh’lach, which means “Send”, and is read on 6 June from Numbers 13:1 - 15:41

Fake News Versus Truth

In this portion, Moses chooses a leader from each of the 12 tribes to the scout the lands of Canaan

Forty days later the spies returned and rejoined their community at the ancient oasis of Kadesh, situated between the Negev Desert and Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula

✡️ Ten of the spies reported that although the lands of Canaan were fertile, the inhabitants were a formidable force, their cities were heavily fortified, and too powerful to defeat

They spoke to the Israelites by inciting fear and spread stories in their community which undermined Ha’Shem’s promise of freeing the Israelites from slavery, which in turn triggered a rebellion and demanded a new leader to lead them back to Egypt, by attempting a coup and military force against Moses

✡️ Joshua from the Tribe of Ephraim, who was descended from Joseph, and Caleb from the Tribe of Judah, returned with a positive outlook and report, spoke of a land of promise, a land of milk and honey, an enemy which could be defeated and urged courage over fear

✡️ They stood their ground when the Israelites refused to listen to them and reminded the Israelites to have faith in Ha’Shem and commanded the community
“ do not rebel against the Lord. And do not be afraid of the people of the land “

✡️ Ha’shem was grieved and angry with the Israelites over their lack of faith and we read in Numbers: 14:11, Ha’Shem said to Moses:

“ How long will these people treat me with contempt ? How long will they refuse to believe me, despite all the signs I have performed amongst them “ ?

Fake news thrives on repetition, it helps incites fear and violence, it disrupts clear thinking, it creates stress and panic and surrenders freedom which is a form of slavery

✡️ Truth on the other hand can be difficult to find when one is faced with a torrent of falsehoods and lies, which are repeated over and over, and we become paralyzed with fear

Fear is a form of idolatry, which Rashi noted, that the Israelites desire to return to Egypt was driven by fear

✡️ Judaism does not teach us to sit and wait for miracles, we are obligated to our communities and friends to stand up and speak the truth

We need to believe in “Bitachon” and have an absolute trust in Ha’shem, and even when problems, life and falsehoods make the immediate present and future look painful, we need to believe in the goodness of Ha’Shem and search for the truth

✡️ Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ Parashat Beha’alotecha is read on the 30 May from the Book of Numbers. It is the 36 weekly portion in the Torah cycle.

The name of this Parasha means “when you raise up” or “ When you cause ( the flames ) to ascend”

✡️ At this point in the Torah, the Israelites were already camped at Sinai and had been there for a year

✡️ Aaron was devastated and in pain from his exclusion from being excluded from the dedication of the Tabernacle and worried that Ha’Shem had not forgiven him for helping build the golden calf. Aaron was in mourning and still grieving with the traumatic loss of his two eldest sons, who were consumed by fire

✡️ Ha’Shem told Moses to reassure Aaron and he was told “ Your portion is greater than theirs, for you will light and prepare the lamps”

✡️ The lighting of the Menorah represents the spiritual light of the Torah and with Aaron stepping up, it is important to remember by lifting someone else up, in turn you are also elevated

✡️ The flame is unique, it defies gravity and we are commanded to look up and seek meaning and grow

✡️ When we read this Parasha, we are travelling through a wilderness, none of us are perfect and it is reminder to us that there is always a second chance for us to correct our mistakes

✡️ The Israelites celebrated the second Passover a year after the Exodus and during their journey into the desert, they were guided by a pillar of cloud during the day and at night, the cloud was transformed into a glowing column of fire

✡️ As the Israelites celebrated this second Passover, we also have a chance to use our internal light and recognize not to define our mistakes and transgressions of the past, but to use our light and bring goodness and peace into our world. One good deed, one act of kindness, every day, is all it takes to keep the light burning

Shabbat Shalom with ❤️

✡️ Count your Blessings, not your Curses

✡️ This weeks’s Torah portion is Parashat Naso, it is the 35th portion and is read from the second book of Numbers: 4:21 - 7:89, it is the longest portion in the entire Torah: Naso means “ count “

✡️ Focusing on counting your blessings helps build new pathways, and remaining positive boosts happiness and peace. When you actively count your blessings, you will notice opportunities you otherwise would have missed

✡️ Counting your curses on the other hand only multiplies them and in turn increases the hostility and distress you feel. When you focus on your curses, you build up envy and resentment

✡️ When you count your blessings, it reminds you of all the good things in your life, and it should give you strength to solve your problems and rather appreciate what you have, than mourn what you lack

✡️ When you count your blessings, you are following in the ways of Ha’Shem, as everything which Ha’Shem creates has a purpose and is rooted in faith and goodness

✡️ In the Priestly Blessings which are found in this portion, Ha’Shem says “ They shall bestow My name upon the children of Israel, and I will bless them “

✡️ When the spies returned from the Land of Israel, and cried and complained about the “curse of the giants”, Ha’Shem said: “you wept for no reason, so I will give you a reason to weep”

✡️ The Chassidic have a saying “ Think good, and it will be good “ Don’t allow yourself to be trapped in a mindset of curses, as this is what you will experience, and you will live a life devoid of any blessings

✡️ Count your Blessings, Lift your head and count the good

✡️ Forget your “faribels” and grievances, forget your sense of injury over a slight and forget your resentments of others, rather look past the negatives and focus only on the good

✡️ Good Shabbos ❤️❤️

✡️ Parashat Bamidbar is read on 16 May from the fourth book of the Torah and can be found in the Book of Numbers 1:1 - 4:20
Bamidbar means “ To stand Alone” or “ In the Wilderness “

✡️ This Parasha focuses on organizing the Israelites from being a disorganized group of free slaves into a purposeful and structured nation, which moved them from chaos to structure

✡️ Moses was commanded by Ha’Shem to undertake a census and do a headcount of of all the men aged from 20 to 60 years old who were eligible for military service

✡️ We all count today as souls, as the Israelites were counted during the census
✡️ This portion also remind us that we are all counted and we matter individually
✡️ We are all special, we all have our own gifts to offer to one another, especially Love ❤️ and peace ☮️
✡️ No matter how different we are, we keep our shared values and our holiness as the core of our existence
✡️ Make a space for quiet time, free yourself from digital noise and any distractions
✡️ Observing Shabbat is a way to unplug from the world

Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ This weeks Parashat: Behar - Bechukotai
Is read on 9 May from Leviticus: 25:1 - 27:34
It is a double portion and concludes the reading of Leviticus

The Children of Israel were sustained with “Manna from Heaven” When Ha’Shem commanded that the Israelites keep Shabbat, on that Friday, a double portion of manna fell from Heaven and this double portion, provided and supported the Israelites on their day of rest

✡️ Behar focuses on the Sabbatical and Jubilee year for the purposes of giving the people and the land a rest

✡️ Bechukotai concludes with a list of blessings for those following Hashem’s law and warnings for those who disregard the laws

✡️ Tomorrow is 22 Lyar 5786, it marks the anniversary of the day that the Israelites
were commanded to observe Shabbat. It is our tradition to have two loaves of challah, which represents a double portion of manna eaten with a meal on Friday and Saturday

Tomorrows date is a historical and spiritual date as it is a direct link to 1313 BCE when Ha’Shem commanded us to keep Shabbat as a day of rest

✡️ Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ Parashat Emor is read on 2 May from Leviticus 21:1 to 24:23 and means “speak”

Emor serves as a guide to holiness, and is one of the more well known portions of the Torah which lists the entire Jewish calendar

✡️ This portion also lists the laws and rules which we given to the priests in order to keep them pure. The priests were also given rules as whom they could marry, to not go near a dead body unless it was close family, and they were commanded to tend to the lightning the lamps from night to morning

✡️ In modern times, Emor focuses on intentional living - which is managaging ones time to prevent burnout, also to be mindful of ones actions and speech, which are qualities we can bring into our daily lives

✡️ We learn that holiness is not just for the priests but for all of us, and we further learn that holiness connects people, place and time

✡️ Set boundaries, and move from chaos to a santified place, making time to rest and recharge. Use Shabbos as a time to disconnect from technology and work, find moments in the week to pause for a breath or a moment of peace, in order to recharge, by taking care of yourself

❤️ Shabbat Shalom

✡️ This week’s Parashat:
Achrei Mot - Kedoshim is a double portion and is read on 25 April

✡️ Parashat Achrei -Mot means:
“After the Death of” and is found in Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30.
In this portion, Hashem commanded Moses to set aside the tenth day of Tishri as a Day of Atonement, known as Yom Kippur

✡️ Parashat Kedoshim means “Holy Ones” and is found in Leviticus 19:1 - 20:7. In this portion, Hashem speaks again to Moses and instructs him to tell the Israelites: “ You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God am Holy”.
In this portion we are also given many more Mitzvot/Commandments to follow, which helps us as Jews in sanctifying how we relate to Holiness

✡️ In modern times, Achrei Mot Kedoshim, should be viewed as a deliberate way of practicing a way of life which is mindful of the way we live, the empathy we have for others, and where we transform our ancient rituals into modern acts of accountability towards all we encounter

✡️ We can achieve this by giving up a few minutes everyday by making time available for someone else in need
✡️ We can also listen to what others have to say and let them be heard, rather than putting our egos first and talking about ourselves
✡️ We can provide some form of benevolence to someone else, whether it is one meal a week or one good deed

✡️ Shabbat Shalom ❤️

✡️ This weeks Parashat Tazria - Metzora is read on 18 April from Leviticus 12:1 - 15:33

This is a double portion and deals with the Laws of Ritual Impurity and Purity and focuses on purification after child birth, skin diseases and bodily discharges

Tazria means “Conceives” and Metzora means “Leper”

✡️ The Israelites were told by Ha’Shem
“You shall be holy, for I the Lord, your G-d am Holy”

✡️ In a modern context, the Torah portion of this Parasha is linked to the prohibition of Lashon Hara ( evil speech and gossip )

Our Jewish traditions teach us that the laws of Tazria focuses on taharah and tumah as they relate to our human experiences and can be seen as a spiritual skin affliction as a consequence of the misuse of the tongue

✡️ Lashon Hara can be likened to physically taking a feather pillow, cutting a section of the pillow, then shaking it, so the feathers are free to blow away in the wind

This action makes it impossible to find each feather and impossible to try and put them back into the pillow

These feathers are likened to the words we utter, and once uttered, can never be taken back

✡️ Our sages teach us that Lashon Hara is forbidden, even if the degoratory information is true. Lashon Hara “kills” three people:
The speaker, the listener and the matter being spoken about.

Lashon Hara creates walls between us instead of building bridges which bring us closer together

✡️ Shabbat Shalom ❤️