What does the Torah teach us today?

Shalom. I trust that you are well and that you thank G-D that you are that way. It is good to Thank G-D.

In my own evaluations of the events in the Books Written by Moses(Torah), I have found a common theme.
Trust G-D enough to follow HIS LAWS without question!

This seems to be THE LAST THING ALMOST ANYONE WANTS TO DO. O.K. enough of the emphasis in the text. But, truly it is what we, individually must perform.

Let us see who we see doing this "Trust and DO" task.

Adam and Eve are to just not touch or eat of a particular tree. They know GOD personally, and fail.

Cain is warned by G-D personally that he is in danger of a great sin, he does not listen.

Noah is told by G-D, when NOAH is 500 years old, build an ark because G-D is going to take the life of all the earth, save those on the ark. Instead of discussing or negotiating or arguing with G-D, he builds an ark. It took 100 years to do this, but he did it.

Abram, who is later Abraham, is called by G-D in Genesis 12, with promises if he will leave his family, friends, town and go where G-D takes him --No Discussion takes place, Abram just goes. He is 75 years old when this happens. From then on Abram/Abraham kind does what he is told without negotiation or deciding that G-D needs help performing HIS Promises. Near the end of Abraham's story, comes the Binding of Issac. Again Abraham does not say anything to G-D, NO back-talk or negotiation this time either. The result is that the blessing now is for the Children of Abraham. He is not tested anymore and lives another 50+ years to die a 175 years of age, having had another wife and more children. He just did what he was told to do, in the end.

Moses, argues with G-D, not wanting to be the messenger or prophet, at the Burning Bush, where G-D does get a bit annoyed but convinces Moses to do the job. After that G-D defends Moses against everyone, and it is Moses who defends sinners from G-D. Except at the second Water form the Rock incident where G-D tells Moses, Numbers 20:12 And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: 'Because ye trust not in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.' The word 'trust' is sometimes translated 'believe', whoever in this place TRUST is a better translation from the Hebrew('aman {aw-man'} Strong's {0539} CLICK HERE FOR THE CONCORDANCE Definitions: a primitive root; properly, to build up or support; to foster as a parent or nurse; figuratively to render (or be) firm or faithful, to trust or believe, to be permanent or quiet; morally to be true or certain; once)[from "Aleph Mem Nun" to be reliable, faithful or trustworthy; to believe in, trust, have trust in, put trust in.] For me - trust is something you give when you have evidence that you should trust, while believe is without evidence being required. Moses has many events demonstrating G-D trustworthiness.

Next time I will take up the evidence of punishment for not trusting G-D.

Shalom, Shalom

Because thou hast hearkened to My voice!

Because thou hast hearkened to My voice!

Genesis 22:18 “... because thou hast hearkened to My voice.”

This phrase and similar phrases are several times in the Tanach by GOD, which is very interesting and worth other writings. However, this particular instance and the result created is of greater interest as subject matter for this writing.

the sermon of all sermons

er kumpt = he comes
this is a wake up call for all AMERICANS!



Subject: Fwd: the sermon of all sermons

This (Jewish) New Year's sermon was forwarded to me by a friend. It is long and troubling, but it is definitely worth reading to the end. It is not inflammatory... it is truthful. It is not "politically incorrect" ...it is truthful. It is not apologetic ... it is truthful.
It is time to speak truthfully !

Jewish Hiker Survives Desert Ordeal Thanks to 'Miracle' Rain - Jewish World - Israel News - Israel National News

Jewish Hiker Survives Desert Ordeal Thanks to 'Miracle' Rain - Jewish World - Israel News - Israel National News

What have you done with your soul?

This seems like a off the wall question, but have you thought about it? What did your father and mother teach you about morals?

Manners? Your mother probably told you something like: “Don't to talk with your mouth full, you will choke!” or “Don't talk with your mouth full it is impolite!” or “Nobody wants to see your food!”. My dad told us “Stand up straight”, “Give a firm hand shake and look them straight in the eye when you are talking to someone”, “If you give your word, make sure that you do what you have promised.” --for every word you say, you should be ready to standby. These are simple examples of values you may have been given. I know that I have heard them before.

My Path to Judahism

This is a sample of what is in the PDF file.

It is my hope that my story will have relevance for you and your choices.

*****************************

On November 29, 1973, we were headed to the Indian Ocean, as a result of a Sheik in Oman declaring that the oceans would run red with American blood if America came to the Gulf of Oman. The USS Oriskany, CVA-34 was preparing to transit the straits of Singapore. Today was payday, and I was feeling very good. We would be going south of the equator on this trip, Flight Ops(4)were almost over and it was only 1:00 P.M. local time, an early day. As a Blue Shirt, I went to walk chalks(5), meaning to take the chalk from the Fly 1 Blue Shirt and walk the aircraft toward the Fly 3 area (aft). I thought, “the sooner this aircraft goes to Fly 3 the
sooner I am off duty.” But this blue shirt was high on drugs, and had a mean attitude. He declared that he would walk the chalk all the way to Fly 3. I was then free to go, off early, but when I stopped walking with him, something had my left foot! I looked down and saw that the aircraft wheel was starting to roll over my
foot. Then I realized that he had been walking in front of the wheel and by the fuselage. Many things went through my head when I realize what is happening.

So, What is the deal, I'm a Jew? Now What?

Blessings and Curses, but for whom and how can I get this? Verse 10 says how!

Deuteronomy Chapter 30 דְּבָרִיםד

ח וְאַתָּה תָשׁוּב, וְשָׁמַעְתָּ בְּקוֹל יְהוָה; וְעָשִׂיתָ, אֶת-כָּל-מִצְו‍ֹתָיו, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ, הַיּוֹם. 8 And thou shalt return and hearken to the voice of the LORD, and do all His commandments which I command thee this day.
ט וְהוֹתִירְךָ יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ בְּכֹל מַעֲשֵׂה יָדֶךָ, בִּפְרִי בִטְנְךָ וּבִפְרִי בְהֶמְתְּךָ וּבִפְרִי אַדְמָתְךָ--לְטֹבָה: כִּי יָשׁוּב יְהוָה, לָשׂוּשׂ עָלֶיךָ לְטוֹב, כַּאֲשֶׁר-שָׂשׂ, עַל-אֲבֹתֶיךָ. 9 And the LORD thy God will make thee over-abundant in all the work of thy hand, in the fruit of thy body, and in the fruit of thy cattle, and in the fruit of thy land, for good; for the LORD will again rejoice over thee for good, as He rejoiced over thy fathers;
י כִּי תִשְׁמַע, בְּקוֹל יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, לִשְׁמֹר מִצְו‍ֹתָיו וְחֻקֹּתָיו, הַכְּתוּבָה בְּסֵפֶר הַתּוֹרָה הַזֶּה: כִּי תָשׁוּב אֶל-יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ, בְּכָל-לְבָבְךָ וּבְכָל-נַפְשֶׁךָ. {ס} 10 if thou shalt hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, to keep His commandments and His statutes which are written in this book of the law; if thou turn unto the LORD thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. {S}

Why Genesis 18 and 19 are needed:

Preface: I know that G-D caused Moses to write these Five Books of Law, History and Teaching. –

{The quotes used here are According to the Masoretic Text and the JPS 1917 Edition}

Numbers 12:

6) The Lord said 'Hear now My words: if there be a prophet among you, I the LORD do make Myself known unto him in a vision, I do speak with him in a dream.

7. My servant Moses is not so; he is trusted in all My house;
8. with him do I speak mouth to mouth, even manifestly, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD doth he behold; wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against My servant, against Moses?

I also know that there is no wasted space in the Five Books, So every story, every event presents something for US to learn about G-D, our role, reward and punishment, so anything which seems ordinary means I must look closer and strive to understand that which is placed before me, or Us.

Condition of Abraham prior to this story: Abraham and Lot are no longer together, their wealth being so great with livestock, servants, household members and possessions that these two men went different directions. Lot went to the plains where Sodom and Gomorrah are located. Lot chose this after seeing how fertile the ground was and the water there. Abraham, for his part, continued on with G-D watching over him and his house. Abraham has been so blessed, that when the Kings of the Plains were defeated and spoils(including Lot and his possessions) were taken by other kingdoms, Abram took his men and some allies and recovered all of the spoils.

This is presented as a reminder, lest we forget that Abraham and his possessions have grown with G-D's blessing.

Genesis 18

We learn that Abraham receives three visitors, who tell him and Sarah that will bear a son this time next year.(abbreviated) Then we are presented with G-D's thoughts regarding Abraham, Sodom and Gomorrah, and what is about to happen. Then we are told the story of Sodom and Gomorrah.

Questions:

Are these Representatives of Hashem? Yes – the evidence is a follows: 1) Abraham is sitting in the door to his tent, looks up, and they are standing over against him. This is not a city or a town, it is a relatively open area with a few people. So unless Abraham was asleep, he would have seen them coming from afar. This did not happen. 2) Abraham acted as though he knew this was G-D. How so? At his advanced age of 99 years, I do not believe that Abraham would have bowed down to the earth for every stranger who passed by, neither would he have given the best of what he had to three unknown strangers --he would have nothing remaining to give Ishmael within the year had this not been a rare event.

Are they really just passing by? This also seems strange and so this is not a casual passing. G-D did not need to pass by Abraham to get to Lot in Sodom. {Note that when Lot saw THEM in the city gate, he fell on his face before THEM – supporting the previous answer.) One of them also checks and asks “where is Sarah?” G-D already Knows, but in asking this question we learn that Sarah is not visible and we are meant to know this as well. When Sarah laughs to herself, Abraham does not perceive this event, so Sarah is meant to know that G-D knows her inner thoughts and that therefore that the statement about the child is true.

What happens if Sodom and Gomorrah are omitted from Abraham’s story?

The best answer to this is only found when we seek all of the issues covered in the Story presented in Genesis 18 and 19. Here is a list of what I find in these two chapters, but mostly in Chapter 18 at this time:

1. Abraham sees three strangers suddenly, while he is sitting in the doorway of his tent, during the heat of the day.
2. Abraham assumes they are representatives of G-D, and entreats them to stay with him.
3. He offers a wash of their feet and a piece of bread to refresh themselves before they depart.
4. Abraham then tells Sarah to make bread with the best mix.
5. Abraham runs to select the best lamb, to server as Their food.
6. Abraham then oversees the service of these Guests.
7. Abraham has done all of this in great haste, so that They will not leave before he has provided the banquet, which They did not agree to but did eat.
8. At some point One of Them asked about Sarah –This action draws attention to Sarah and gets Sarah's attention, so she will listen.
9. It is then announced that this time next year she will have a son.
10. Sarah laughs to herself which is noticed by the Visitors, and questioned. This is not noticed by Abraham, and is therefore for Sarah and US to notice. Note --previously when Abraham was told that he was to have a son, he also laughed. We should note, as Sarah should have noted, that these Visitors Know what she says in her heart, therefore they are Special Messengers sent on missions for G-D.
11. The Visitors of G-D had many tasks to do, which explains why They waited. When this portion of the tasks are finished, They depart with Abraham traveling a distance on their journey with them.
12. On this little journey G-D said(Gen. 18:17)... 'Shall I hide from Abraham that which I am doing; 18) seeing that Abraham shall surely become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth shall be blessed in him? 19) For I have known him, to the end that he may command his children and his household after him, that they may keep the way of the LORD, to do righteousness and justice; to the end that the LORD may bring upon Abraham that which He hath spoken of him.' For whom is this text, if not for those seeking to know G-D? We are presented in this short text with: Abraham's special Status, because of the prophesy in Genesis 12 and that being a deal between G-D and Abraham. The deal here is stated as a known outcome, fulfilled during time of man. The inclusion of this story elevates Abraham in the Torah, restates the job of teaching his children and household after him about G-D, so Abraham is to learn to keep the way of G-D, thereby fulfilling the original Covenant.
13. Now the LORD declares the issue regarding Sodom and Gomorrah, and that HE will seek out the truth of the matter. Note --Two or more witnesses are required so that the Truth may be known, hence there are Three Strangers here.
14. Abraham now attempts to negotiate with G_D over how many righteous G-D will destroy along with the bad. This section and the story of Sodom and Gomorrah demonstrate how far G-D will go to save the righteous when the evil is too great. At no point did G-D change HIS MIND, only Abraham was negotiating. Note --that before destruction could take place, four people must be made safe [Lot, His wife and two daughters, Lot was unable to get any other family to come away – Genesis 19:14 And Lot went out, and spoke unto his sons-in-law, who married his daughters, and said: 'Up, get you out of this place; for the LORD will destroy the city.' But he seemed unto his sons-in-law as one that jested.] other examples of G-D's mercy in similar fashion: Noah and the Ark, and the Prophet Jeremiah in (Jeremiah 5:1 Run ye to and fro through the streets of Jerusalem, and see now, and know, and seek in the broad places thereof, if ye can find a man, if there be any that doeth justly, that seeketh truth; and I will pardon her(Jerusalem).) Here for only one,(Just man who seeks the truth,) G-D will forgive them all, G-D is truly merciful.

Did G-D change HIS mind? No, but we learn about HIS mercy during Abraham's efforts in negotiation, which demonstrate that we are to seek to be merciful as well as to seek mercy. Although we are not able to be as merciful as the G-D of Abraham, we are meant to try.

Leaving the Abraham portion out of the Sodom and Gomorrah story, what happens to the story? All that has been presented above, and it is a lot, but there is even more: Abraham is elevated in this chapter, for the treatment of strangers, defense of the righteous. This portion also adds to the story of Abraham significantly in volume, context and interactions with G-D.

If G-D did not cause this to be written(as some believe), Who benefits from any of this story? This is about G-D and our potential relationship with our CREATOR.

Shana Tova! 

--Yaakov

More about Free Will.

Yesterday I showed Dictionary and Encyclopedia entries to display common though regarding Free Will.

It is possible to decide to take the stance of “what I don't know won't hurt me”, which is a bad idea.

First if you know G-D and you deny G-D, the Tanach(Old Testament) gives many examples of G-D's anger to those which have done this thing. If you know the Law you must do the Law or you have gone against G-D, again.

So what happens if you do not know any of this? Ah that is what I forgot to input last time!

Isaiah 27:11 “….it is a people of no understanding; therefore He that made them will not have compassion upon them, and He that formed them will not be gracious unto them.” This is only a partial verse, and I know that it is custom to seek the background on a subject and then identify the context of the matter. Here I will tell you that I have been concerned about the number of people that seem to have no knowledge of what they do. Or, the evil they create.

I have talked to G-D about the conditions of the world and that I think so many people are not evil they are brain washed and so have no understanding. What happens to them? I then found this verse Isaiah 27:11. It seems that if they have no faith, no knowledge and reject G-D, they will never miss what they have denied or rejected.

This is also very sad for me, so WAKE UP, SMELL THE COFFEE AND SEEK TO UNDERSTAND THE G-D of Abraham, G-D of Issac and the G-D of Jacob before it is too late.

Shabbot Shalom

Yaakov

Free Will --What is it?

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia 20100824 says: “Free will is the purported ability of agents to make choices free from constraints. Historically, the constraint of dominant concern has been the metaphysical constraint of determinism. The opposing positions within that debate are metaphysical libertarianism, the claim that determinism is false and thus that free will exists; and hard determinism, the claim that determinism is true and thus that free will does not exist.”

Answers.com 2010824 says: Dictionary FREE WILL
“n.
The ability or discretion to choose; free choice: chose to remain behind of my own free will.
The power of making free choices that are unconstrained by external circumstances or by an agency such as fate or divine will.”

This is only a couple of the 7,000,000 hits that Google found in 0.12 seconds. It seems obvious to me that this is a really big question. Some of the areas this question is found included: Philosophy, Astrology, Religion, Anti-Religion, Moral responsibility, ….

20100824 --Encyclopedia Britanica eb.org presents Free Will as: “in humans, the power or capacity to choose among alternatives or to act in certain situations independently of natural, social, or divine restraints. Free will is denied by those who espouse any of various forms of determinism. Arguments for free will are based on the subjective experience of freedom, on sentiments of guilt, on revealed religion, and on the universal supposition of moral responsibility for personal actions that underlies the concepts of law, reward, punishment, and incentive. In theology, the existence of free will must be reconciled with God’s omniscience and goodness (in allowing people to choose badly) and with divine grace, which allegedly is necessary for any meritorious act. A prominent feature of existentialism is the concept of a radical, perpetual, and frequently agonizing freedom of choice. Jean-Paul Sartre (1905–80), for example, spoke of the individual “condemned to be free” even though his situation may be wholly determined.

It has also been heard “I can do what I want and you cannot stop me!”.

That concludes presentation of the foundation for this paper.


I have heard these types of explanations for free will most of my life. I even thought that they were reasonably true, except now I am know otherwise.

Simply put, “We are to chose Right from Wrong every time there is a choice to be made, and we are accountable for every choice, to G-D.” That is our Free Will, our only free will. The power to chose to be for G-D or Against G-D.

Explanations or examples:

G-D evicts Adam from the Garden of Eden with “'Because thou hast hearkened unto the voice of thy wife, and hast eaten of the tree, of which I commanded thee ….”(Gene. 3:17) – Adam chose to obey Eve when G-D spoke to Adam, giving him HIS rule, which Adam turned away from G-D in his actions. BAD CHOICE.

Moses is not allowed to go to the promised land, 'Because ye believed not in Me, to sanctify Me in the eyes of the children of Israel, therefore ye shall not bring this assembly into the land which I have given them.' (Numb. 20:10) –The translation of the word as BELIEVED also means Trust, of “Because you did not TRUST ME , to Sanctify ME....” Moses has at this point had G-D defend him many times without Moses even needing to ask G-D. This time Moses gets angry with the Israelites, he is not given the opportunity to complain, not even to G-D. The end result is that he(Moses) complains that he and Aaron must get water from the rock. If Moses had remember that G-D would protect him and everything would be o.k., he –Moses would have been fine, instead to insulting G-D. This one is not as directly stated as a “choose G-D or be against G-D” scenario. Do not worry, there are many more examples.

Leviticus chapter 26 is the match to Deuteronomy chapters 28-30.  These tell the end times because they tell us when all of the curses will stop and how this will happen.

Levi. 26:14 “But if ye will not hearken unto Me, and will not do all these commandments;”
26:15 “and if ye shall reject My statutes, and if your soul abhor Mine ordinances, so that ye will not do all My commandments, but break My covenant;” Here begins the the cursing and checking and if we still walk against G-D more curses and more checking until we LEARN THE G-D IS G-D.

Duet. 28:15 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe to do all His commandments and His statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee. ….

Duet: 30:15 “See, I have set before thee this day life and good, and death and evil, 16 in that I command thee this day to love the LORD thy God, to walk in His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His ordinances; then thou shalt live and multiply, and the LORD thy God shall bless thee in the land whither thou goest in to possess it.”

Duet. 30:19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, that I have set before thee life and death, the blessing and the curse; therefore choose life, that thou mayest live, thou and thy seed; 20 to love the LORD thy God, to hearken to His voice, and to cleave unto Him; for that is thy life, and the length of thy days; that thou mayest dwell in the land which the LORD swore unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.


1 Kings Chapter 11:4 For it came to pass, when Solomon was old, that his wives turned away his heart after other gods; and his heart was not whole with the LORD his God, as was the heart of David his father.

Chapter 11:9 And the LORD was angry with Solomon, because his heart was turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared unto him twice, 10 and had commanded him concerning this thing, that he should not go after other gods; but he kept not that which the LORD commanded.

King Solomon, credited with being the wisest of any human, let himself be swayed away from the G-D of his Fathers. He chose his own comfort and pleasure in his old age, therefore turned away from G-D.

These stories and so many more fill the Tanach(Writings of Moses and the Prophets) and then there are the examples of repenting and then again turning away from G-D by some, while others live all of their life doing that which is right in G-D's eyes. Bottom line Isaiah 56:2 “Happy is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that holdeth fast by it: that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.” We are to Love G-D, Know the Law, Keep the Sabbath, Keep our hands from doing evil.

QUESTIONS??

Shalom, Shalom
Yaakov

Why should we follow the Five Books of Moses --The Law?

We are told in the Five Books of Moses, to Love G-D, Know the Law and Keep our hands from doing evil. It seems that these Laws and Rules are generally not followed, unless we happen to understand and agree that they are acceptable to us.

The World is a harsh place to live in and the people are worse. This leads us to seek what is beneficial to our own welfare first and foremost. Later if we get around to it, we will work on these other things like: Love G-d, Know the Law(HIS LAW), make sure that we do them(if we think about it). It seems that way when I look at the world and the people around me. We are also quick to find fault and justifications not to listen or accept that which is written in the First Five Books of the Bible or Tanach. Surprising as I believe that most have NOT read them, or even attempted to really understand what they read. However, we are ready to agree and accept those that give a opinion of "I'm OK, You're OK, Everybody else needs to change" type of speech. But, are we OK? Is the World we live in getting Better or Worse?

So back to the original question: Why should we follow the Five Books of Moses --The Law?

What is your opinion, question or comment?

Shalom

RE: H''EM's Question to Miriam and Aaron

Let me paraphrase question presented in Numbers 12:8 "why were you not afraid to speak against MY servant Moses?"

Some starting points which I know to be true:
   -- Questions by H''em are not random nor chance events in the Writings of Moses.
   -- H''em already knows all of the answers
   -- Therefore the question is being presented to the read/student and for US.

The implication of this question requires the contexts of: when, where, who is present, condition of the environment and what happens next, these are the talking points today. I am not attempting to answer the question. However, I am going to use examples from the Writings of Moses to demonstrate what happens to those that act in manner that justifies need for the Question along with those that follow them.

My synopsis of the story: Miriam is talking to Aaron, with Moses nearby. She in belittling Moses, her brother and his wife which is Midianite/Cushite woman. With no resistance from her audience(Aaron) she places herself and Aaron at the same level as Moses for authority and service to H''em. Aaron says nothing but lets Miriam do the talking. GOD shows anger a this event and orders the three in to the Tent of Meeting, a cloud covers the doors to prevent escape and intrusion -- like a Management Reprimand. The event it is written in the Book, so that we may also understand what they are being told. H''EM tells of Moses special relationship with H''EM, (which is also demonstrated by H''EM in this very act of Defense of Moses)then asked the question just prior to leaving the Tent of Meeting, whereupon Miriam receives punishment. Aaron begs Moses for help, Moses pleads with God on Miriam's behalf.... This was Chapter 12.(A rebellion against Moses by Miriam with Aaron listening to gossip.)

In Chapter 13 & 14, Ten spies return from spying in the Promised Land and the people turn away from GOD, Moses and the Land --Moses pleads to save the lives of the Rebellers(the children of Israel) and Israel is made to wander the desert 40 years, instead of being utterly destroyed .(This is a rebellion against H''em and Moses)

Chapter 15 One Law for Israel and the Stranger that attaches themselves to Israel.

Chapter 16 Another rebellion, this by Korah and his followers. These also want to lift themselves above Moses and Aaron. These are even going to take over the worship in the House of H''em, O.K., the Mobile Temple of H''em. God declares that HE will destroy all of them. Again Moses prays to not harm those which are not directly involved. GOD is merciful, and must 14,700 more die the day after the Korah Matter.(H''em acts for HIS Honor and to defend Moses, without Moses request for asistance.)

Patterns: Rebelling against Moses is the same as rebelling against GOD.
              H''M takes an active role to defend HIS servant against all comers
              While Moses prayed for salvation of the wrong doers, in the end, all that were saved continued to rebel and died for they would not learn.

How will up answer the question "why were you not afraid to speak against MY servant Moses?" Will GOD even ask it of you? Of was this the time of the question?

Shalom,

Yaakov

Seeking understanding regarding a question by H'shem.

Tue Jun 08, 2010 12:37 am
There are some basic thoughts on the best ways to learn from the Bible(x-tian) or Tanach - Jewish.

--First, read a section at a time. i.e. If you are reading about the flood, read all of the story of Noah, then you will have the contexts and a better chance of understanding what is written.

--Second, if you have read a section before, and something this time seems "out of place" try to understand that something until you KNOW the truth of it. Don't give up, you can do it.

--Third, when you have finished the the Bible, do it again. I like to find a new way to read the Bbile. I mean one time I read it as a good story --after all many people I have heard call it just that. I have read it looking a GOD as Father and seeking clues to being a great papa himself.

The question that I have today is: Numbers 12:8 "...How then did you not shrink from speaking against My Servant Moses?"(JPS version 2000)

That question is truly misplaced in general terms. **This section I call the Sedition of Miriam, as only she is punished, only she spoke before GOD took up the defense of Moses, most of what GOD says is hidden from the Israelites in camp, but not from us.

First, it is GOD's Question.
Second, I know that GOD knew all of this before HE said "Let there be LIght!" ....So I must assume that it is not Moses, Aaron of Miriam to answer GOD.
My conclusions so far. Everything is done for a reason, as to me there seems to be no frivolous of unnecessary discussions or instructions. So I know that the conversation was not for those in the desert but for us to gain wisdom from.

Do you have an insight regarding this question? Please post your thoughts here.

Shalom,

Yaakov

God's Complaint

There are many ways of looking at the Tanach(Old Testament or Jewish Bible or G-D's Instructions), some of them I have performed. I have taken a look in this different fashions, because I have heard many reasons that this body of knowledge should not be accepted. For example: "It was just written by man.", "It is just a document about the Jews trying to lift themselves above everybody else.", "It is the Word of GOD, recorded at HIS command and written by Moses". An one that I did when I knew I was going to have a child, "What kind of example is GOD as the Father of all?"

I now purpose to seek in this body of work: "What exactly is GOD'S complaint and what can I to do about it?"

Any thoughts on this?

Shalom Shalom,

Yaakov

"So many arrows and so much trouble in my life!"

What to say, what to say?

If you know the GOD of Abraham, Issac and Jacob, --it is a start. Adam started with more than you or I, because he KNEW GOD and talked with him in the Garden, where he lost his biggest test. So many choose to read the test as "whether or not to eat of the Tree", I seriously, find that the test was not to turn away from GOD. This can only be seen  when you are seeking GOD and HIS WORD, because of the subtle way in which it is written: "because you listened to your wife(Eve) and did eat of the tree when I told you, . . . .the ground is cursed . . . ." Every translation I have seen puts this text in almost the exactly the same words and yet we see everything but GOD'S complaint.

The point is every soul on that has ever lived or will live is tested by being: rich, poor, lame, athletic, man, woman, of any race, of any color and circumstance, ailing or vigorous in mind, body, or spirit . . . .

Hold on to GOD with all of your Heart, Soul and Being. Keep HIS Sabbath and keep your hands from doing evil. This is the minimum required by GOD, but never turn away or ignore HIM, what ever HE brings to test you. (For he created the good and the evil.)

I know that this is not a good pep-talk, but it seems to me that all of us should be reminded, what we must do puts our souls at risk and a prize is much greater than possessing the whole earth. If this were not true, I can find no reason for GOD, who knows all and created all for HIS purposes to then create evil on the earth or even to create mankind who has the inclination to do evil at all times. HE would have made US all good without a choice. Therefore HE is seeking those that hold on and do not turn away completely, but when we slip and fall, when we sin, and then being still alive in the flesh, shall turn back to HIM and seek HIM and HIS forgiveness, it is promised to be given and we will be Righteous again.

All of this is for HIS Honor and HIS Glory, Amen.

I hope that this helps you, it is some of what I hang on to myself.

Shalom Shalom,

Yaakov

I am not to keep the Sabbath and I don't know where to turn for truth

Trust in the Word of GOD! In Genesis 2:2 "On the seventh day GOD finished that work which HE had been doing, and HE ceased on the seventh day from all the work that HE had done. (3) And GOD BLessed the seventh day and declared it holy, because on it GOD ceased from all of the creation  that HE had done." IT is GOD'S Holy Day, --not man's. Keep the Sabbath(Seventh Day) for it is HIS Day, even the ground gets a Sabbath.

Payment for sins, Repent to the GOD Most HIgh and seek HIS Mercy for HIS Name Sake and His Glory, --I believe that we are in the End of Days, so there are special rules for these times. First, when you pray face HIS Holy Mountain (Zion) in Jerusalem, HE Promises to hear prayers sent to that place. Second, trouble will be for the Righteous as well as for the sinner at that time, But if you seek GOD with all of your Heart, your Soul and Being, and Keep HIS LAW  and Keep your Hands from doing evil, GOD will take care of you. For it is your SOUL that counts not the body. The difference between a A righteous person and a sinner is ONE SIN or ONE TRUE REPENTANCE to GOD. (Ezekiel 18 --Your answers are here.) Keep in mind that if you repent, you need to strive with all that you are to not do it again. I know of no perfect people in the Bible(Tanach), only sinners and those who repented and tried harder to walk before GOD. --Don't Stop Trying! You don't need lots of books, Study the Writings of Moses with an open heart, and you will go a long way. If that is not enough, Read the Tanach also. Seek the Truth, Always. In Jeremiah, GOD chose him in the womb to be GOD'S Prophet and told him of all the suffering that Israel was going to receive. Jeremiah argued with GOD, not wanting to do this thing. GOD told him to go into the streets of Jerusalem and find a man that executes justice and seeks the truth, if he could find ONE such, GOD would forgive ALL of Israel, --for the righteousness of ONE. In all Jerusalem not one was found.  So a King wanted a horse, GOD made a deal for ONE Righteous man, both have been denied success.( The first part, about the King is not in the Tanach but is in Shakespeare's is writings.)

Before the Chosen One Comes to do his job in Jerusalem, all Israel's Children will turn back to GOD and declare will all their Heart and Soul, that GOD is GOD, and follow HIS ways truly. This has never been, even Moses complained about this in Deuteronomy 29, we have the worse pain the world has ever seen coming, in order to make us turn to GOD and Acknowledge HIM as OUR GOD and Follow HIM. JUST TRY HARDER, you can do it, --I know you can if you want to. Take to GOD about it, with you whole heart.

For additional confirmation of what I have written to you prior to this,
you must read Isaiah 56!  Even if you are a stranger, you are acceptable to GOD.

Shalom Shalom,

Yaakov

Things I became aware of while preparing for Passover 2010.

1. Behind the command to love the LORD GOD with all of my heart, all of my soul and all of my being, is the to keep and perform Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.
   
2. The first example of becoming a Israelite(conversion) is in Exodus in the Commandments(Laws) regarding keeping the Passover Feast.
   
   
   
   1. The Law:
      
      
      
      1. (Genesis 17:10) This is my covenant, which ye shall keep, between me and you and thy seed after thee; Every man child among you shall be circumcised. (17:11) And ye shall circumcise the flesh of your foreskin; and it shall be a token of the covenant betwixt me and you.(King James Version) ;; (Genesis 17:10) Such shall be the covenant between ME and you and your offspring to follow which you shall keep: every male among you shall be circumcised.(17:11) You shall circumcise the flesh of the foreskin, and that shall be of the covenant between ME and YOU.(Jewish Publication Society 1999)
         
      2. (Exodus 12:43) And the LORD said unto Moses and Aaron, This is the ordinance of the passover: There shall no stranger eat thereof: (12:44) But every man's servant that is bought for money, when thou hast circumcised him, then shall he eat thereof.(KJV);;(Exodus 12:43)The LORD said to Moses and Aaron: This is the LAW of the Passover offering: No Foreigner shall eat of it.(44) But any slave a man has bought may eat of it once he has been circumcised.(Jewish Publication Society 1999).
         
      3. (Exodus 12:48) If a stranger who dwells with you would offer the Passover to the LORD, all his males must be circumcised, then he shall be admitted to offer it; he shall be a citizen of the country. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it. (KJV);;(Exodus 12:48) If a stranger who dwells with you would offer the Passover to the LORD, all his males must be circumcised; then he shall be admitted to offer it; he shall be as a citizen of the country. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.(JPS 1999)
         
      4. (Exodus 12:49) There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you.(KJV);;(Exodus 12:49) There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you.(JPS 1999)
         
   2. I read this as a conversion process going back to Abraham and the making of the Covenant.
      
3. In the Commandments given prior to the Exodus, regarding Passover, is the Bind upon the Hand, and a symbol between the eyes.
   
   
   
   1. This understanding takes more explanation, and a couple of questions.
      
      
      
      1. The Law:
         
         
         
         1. (Exodus 13:9) And this shall server you as assign upon your hand and reminder on your forehead(between your eyes), in order that the Teaching of the LORD may be in your mouth --: that with a mighty hand the LORD freed you from Egypt. (KJV);;(Exodus 13:9) And this shall serve you as a sign on your hand and as a reminder on your forehead –in order that the TEACHING of the LORD may be in your mouth –that with a mighty had the LORD freed you from Egypt. (JPS 1999)
            
         2. (Exodus 13:16) And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.(KJV);;(Exodus 13:16) And it shall be as a sign upon your hand and as a symbol on your forehead that with a mighty hand the LORD freed us from Egypt.(JPS 1999)
            
         3. (Deuteronomy 6:8) And thou shalt bind them for a sign upon thine hand, and they shall be as frontlets between thine eyes.(KJV);;(Deuteronomy 6:8)Bind them as a sign on your hand and let them serve as a symbol on you forehead(between your eyes-JPS note d)(JPS 1999)
            
      2. What I have come to know about this is: Between your eyes is to KNOW or REMEMBER, Up on your hand is that this must control what you do, perform, act upon. (Isaiah 56) 2:Happy is the man who does this, the man who holds fast to it:Who keeps the Sabbath and does not profane it. And stays his hand from doing evil.(JPS 1999) I will use the KJV now because I have it in digital form and I must Observe Passover very soon. (Isaiah 56:6) Also the sons of the stranger, that join themselves to the LORD, to serve him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be his servants, every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it, and taketh hold of my covenant; (7)Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.(8)(Isaiah 56:8) The Lord GOD which gathereth the outcasts of Israel saith, Yet will I gather others to him, beside those that are gathered unto him. (KJV)
         

Shalom Shalom,
Yom Paesach
Yaakov

Law, Proof Text or Prophecy, middle of discussion.

It is a good to praise GOD, I think it is questionable to use them(Psalms) as Law, Proof Text or Prophecy. I do find that Prophets speaking in the NAME of the LORD are to be referenced, as long as what was said comes true or does not conflict with the Written TORAH(GOD'S LAW). A lot is made of this in the Tanach.

re: What do you mean " A lot is made of this in the Tanach."(referring to prophecy)

Prophets speak in the Name of GOD, like Moses, Isaiah, Jeremiah,... God calls the prophets, prophetesses.

Speaking of Abraham as a prophet(Genesis 20:7) Now therefore restore the man his wife; for he is a prophet, and he shall pray for thee, and thou shalt live: and if thou restore her not, know thou that thou shalt surely die, thou, and all that are thine.
Aaron a prophet(Exodus 7:1) And the LORD said unto Moses, See, I have made thee a god to Pharaoh: and Aaron thy brother shall be thy prophet.
Miriam (Exodus 15:20) And Miriam the prophetess, the sister of Aaron, took a timbrel in her hand; and all the women went out after her with timbrels and with dances.
According to Moses, (Numbers 11:29) And Moses said unto him, Enviest thou for my sake? would God that all the LORD'S people were prophets, and that the LORD would put his spirit upon them!

So how does being a prophet work?
(Numbers 12:6)(GOD Speaking) And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I the LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream.
(Numbers 12:7) My servant Moses is not so, who is faithful in all mine house.
(Numbers 12:8) With him will I speak mouth to mouth, even apparently, and not in dark speeches; and the similitude of the LORD shall he behold: wherefore then were ye not afraid to speak against my servant Moses? ***This is the sedition of Miriam and Aaron in Numbers 12.***

How are we to know who is a prophet?
(Deuteronomy 13:1) If there arise among you a prophet, or a dreamer of dreams, and giveth thee a sign or a wonder,(Deuteronomy 13:2) And the sign or the wonder come to pass, whereof he spake unto thee, saying, Let us go after other gods, which thou hast not known, and let us serve them;
(Deuteronomy 13:3) Thou shalt not hearken unto the words of that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams: for the LORD your God proveth you, to know whether ye love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul.
(Deuteronomy 13:4) Ye shall walk after the LORD your God, and fear him, and keep his commandments, and obey his voice, and ye shall serve him, and cleave unto him.
(Deuteronomy 13:5) And that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death; because he hath spoken to turn you away from the LORD your God, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, and redeemed you out of the house of bondage, to thrust thee out of the way which the LORD thy God commanded thee to walk in. So shalt thou put the evil away from the midst of thee.
***This chapter is our responsibility to know GOD'S Law and to be lead astray, to go against GOD'S Law for anyone else, It Is Our Life(Soul) that is at stake.***

(Deuteronomy 18:18) I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.(Deuteronomy 18:19) And it shall come to pass, that whosoever will not hearken unto my words which he shall speak in my name, I will require it of him.(Deuteronomy 18:20) But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or that shall speak in the name of other gods, even that prophet shall die.(Deuteronomy 18:21) And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? (Deuteronomy 18:22) When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him.

(Deuteronomy 34:10) And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom the LORD knew face to face,

***This is just in the Writings of Moses(Torah), and prophecy is a very serious thing. The First Rule is Someone speaks against or contrary to GOD'S WORD, do not listen(Deuteronomy 13:3) you are being tested. I personally am afraid of leading by word or deed any person from GOD'S Path, and so it is the MAIN reason for seeking the TRUTH in Writings of Moses(Torah) and the Prophets which GOD Appoints. Others can speak prophecy or what seam to be prophecy, but maybe they are only the words quoted from Moses. King David tells King Solomon to hold to the writings of Moses; King Solomon at the dedication of The TEMPLE ask GOD to PLACE HIS NAME THERE, and that the Lord should always hear prayers towards this place, no matter where they are in the world, if they will face this place.
(1 Kings 8:29) That thine eyes may be open toward this house night and day, even toward the place of which thou hast said, My name shall be there: that thou mayest hearken unto the prayer which thy servant shall make toward this place.
(1 Kings 8:30) And hearken thou to the supplication of thy servant, and of thy people Israel, when they shall pray toward this place: and hear thou in heaven thy dwelling place: and when thou hearest, forgive.
....(1 Kings 8:33) When thy people Israel be smitten down before the enemy, because they have sinned against thee, and shall turn again to thee, and confess thy name, and pray, and make supplication unto thee in this house:
....(1 Kings 8:48) And so return unto thee with all their heart, and with all their soul, in the land of their enemies, which led them away captive, and pray unto thee toward their land, which thou gavest unto their fathers, the city which thou hast chosen, and the house... ***It is a very long prayer, and refers to many prophecies found in the Writings of Moses(Torah). King Solomon did listen some to what King David instructed him. King Solomon did know that to ask GOD to listen to this place, for even the Curses or Prophecies about being scattered amongst the nations and that GOD would not listen when they cry out in prayer because of their deeds, he knew to get this concession, that GOD would always listen to the prayers offered toward this place.****(1 Kings 9:3) And the LORD said unto him, I have heard thy prayer and thy supplication, that thou hast made before me: I have hallowed this house, which thou hast built, to put my name there for ever; and mine eyes and mine heart shall be there perpetually. ...
(1 Kings 9:6) But if ye shall at all turn from following me, ye or your children, and will not keep my commandments and my statutes which I have set before you, but go and serve other gods, and worship them:
(1 Kings 9:7) Then will I cut off Israel out of the land which I have given them; and this house, which I have hallowed for my name, will I cast out of my sight; and Israel shall be a proverb and a byword among all people: ***Concession given, but GOD says that we will not hold to HIS LAW and so the need for the place GOD Placed HIS NAME is of GREAT Importance to those who would speak to GOD in these days.
Who is a prophet? Anyone that GOD chooses, and they will speak in HIS NAME and at HIS COMMAND.

Am I understandable? Am I answering the question in a way you can hear? What else should I explain?

Shalom, Shalom,
Yaakov

Why is this night different from all other nights?

This night is to honor the Living G-D of Israel, for what He did for me in the land of Egypt when He freed me. We are told these three times to tell what the LORD has done for us.

Exodus 10:1) Then the LORD said to Moses, "Go to Pharaoh, For I have hardened his heart and the hearts of his courtiers, in order that I may display these My signs among them, and that you may recount in the hearing of your sons and that of your sons’ sons how I made a mockery of the Egyptians and how I displayed My signs among them –in order that you may know that I am the LORD."

Exodus 12:26) "And when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this rite?’ 27) You shall say ‘It is the Passover Sacrifice to the LORD, because He passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when He smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses’."

Exodus 13:8: And you shall explain to your son on that day, "it is because of what the LORD did for me when I went free from Egypt".

Thus the story begins: When Abram was very old in years, he told the LORD that because he had no Heir yet, his man server would then be my heir. The LORD knowing that Abram needed reassurances that he would have a heir, told Abram to create the common ritual for sealing a covenant(split animals). This Abram did and then he waited, at about evening time a deep sleep fell upon Abram, and a great dread descended upon him. Genesis 15:13) And He said to Abram, " Know well that your children shall live in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed four hundred years; but I will execute judgment on the nation they shall serve, and in the end they shall go free with great wealth." Abram went to sleep and the LORD completed the ritual HIMSELF.

Abram’s, now Abraham, grandson Joseph was sold into slavery in Egypt when Joseph was 17 years of age. A few years later G-D uses Joseph to save All this people and his father’s family.
As reported by Joseph to his brothers that sold him into slavery. Genesis 50:18) Now it is a 413 years later. That which the LORD told Abram has happened, and it now time for the family to be redeemed. And so, a man named Moses sees a burning bush while tending sheep for his father-in-law, Jethro High Priest of Midian. From this bush G-D tells Moses that he is to go and be the mouth piece of the LORD to Pharaoh. Each step of the events that transpire are explained by G-D to Moses, and the responses of Pharaoh.

Moses to Pharaoh upon returning to and Egypt is struck by 9 plagues, there are Blood, Frogs, Lice, Flies, Death of Livestock, Boils, Hail that burns as Fire, Locust, Darkness. Still Pharaoh had a hard heart and would not let the people go.

One last plague is sent to Egypt. This one requires preparation by the people before the event. ADONAI sets this as the First month of months, a command, on the First Day of the Month and continues to give the process for handling the night of PassOver(Pesach). The Hebrews were required to eat a whole lamb in one night for each house hold and to mark the Door Post and Mantels with Blood from the Lamb, in this way the Angel that was coming would not touch my house, or PASS OVER it. When G-D gave the instructions to Moses and therefore to the Hebrews, He said that we are to keep this feast and tell this story throughout our generations.

After the tenth plague, the Death of the First Born, Pharaoh order the Hebrews to leave NOW! There were very, very many Hebrews to get underway. Because of this plague G-D has declared that the first born on the Hebrews, children and animals belong to G-D. It is stated in Exodus 12:40) "The length of time that the Israelites lived in Egypt was four hundred thirty years, at the end of the Four Hundred Thirtieth year, to the very day, all the ranks of the Lord departed from the land of Egypt.

On the First day of the Year, Moses instructs the Hebrews, in the preparation for the Feast of Passover. Also, the people are instructed to borrow from their Egyptian neighbors, silver, gold and other valuables. The LORD sets the Egyptian hearts to give their valuables to the Hebrews. Thus when Pharaoh ejects the Hebrews from Egypt, the LORD has fulfilled the statement to Abram. ((Genesis 15:13) And he said unto Abram, Know of a surety that thy seed shall be a stranger in a land that is not theirs, and shall serve them; and they shall afflict them four hundred years; (Genesis 15:14) And also that nation, whom they shall serve, will I judge: and afterward shall they come out with great substance.)

This is how we were freed from Egypt, but the story continues.

Shalom for now,
Yaakov

What must we do for PassOver?

Thank you for the question regarding celebration of Passover, how to celebrate.

Before I start, let me explain that this post is longer than normal, even for me. This is due to the subject and its importance, had GOD(source) and the Hand of Moses(writing) not commanded multiple times, there would not be so many verses involved here. Notice that this particular event is placed near the top of GOD's List of things we need to learn and do. In no other place have I seen so many commands, along with giving reasons for observing; definintions who can observe, and exactly what is to be done. --On with the article -Yaakov

1) Passover starts at evening(end of day) on the 14th day of Abib(this is the HEBREW name for the first month, the current Jewish calendar uses the Babylonian name of NISSAN).

Exodus 12:27 ". . . .It is the sacrifice of the LORD'S passover, for that He passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt, when He smote the Egyptians, and delivered our houses.' And the people bowed the head and worshipped."

2) We are to retell the story of our redemption from Egypt by the LORD our GOD.
3) We are not to work on the First day of the Feast of Unleavened Bread, which begins with the Passover Feast.
4) We are to answer "What do you mean by this rite?" when asked by children, "It is the Passover to the LORD, because HE passed over the houses of Israelites in the land of Egypt when HE smote the Egyptians. but saved our houses."(JPS 1999, Exodus 12:26)
5) The Deuteronomy 16 passage presents that a sacrifice is required, but only at the place GOD Places HIS NAME. This was the House that King Solomon built for the LORD, there GOD placed HIS NAME. Performed in 1Kings 9:3 this is where the account of the event starts. A great read for many reasons. It should also be noted that Anyone may create an alter of stone, by hand with no tools, as a place to sacrifice unto GOD, as was accomplished by all prior to the Temple. If you are going to do that, you must make sure that you find the laws of GOD regarding the handling of all components of a sacrifice, if you wish GOD to give it respect (Cain vs Able story.) This personal alter is not a LAW or requirement in the Torah, but a personal thing between you and GOD when there is no HOUSE OF GOD. Be aware that the Passover Sacrifice unto GOD, is not to be had by an uncircumcised, none is to remain until morning, no bone is to be broken, take only what you can consume before morning. I believe that you will find commands regarding these in the texts below.

We turn to Torah to discover:
I have copied from a digital copy of the King James, while reading from a JPS 1999 copy of Tanach, there are minor differences between these translations. I have modified this copy of Exodus to be JPS 1999 version(Jewish Publication Society)as I have worked through this question. More question have emerged during my study, and I will address them later. I did comment on some things I noticed during this study. –Yaakov

(Exodus 12:14) This day shall be unto you for a remembrance you shall celebrate it as a feast to the LORD throughout the ages; you shall celebrate it as institution for all time.
(Exodus 12:15) Seven days shall you eat unleavened bread; on the very first day you shall remove leaven from your houses: for whosoever eats leavened bread from the first day until the seventh day, that soul(person) shall be cut off from Israel.
(Exodus 12:16) You shall celebrate a scared occasion on the first day and a sacred occasion on the seventh day, no work as all shall be done on them; only what every person is to eat, that only may be prepared for you.
(Exodus 12:17) And you shall observe the (Feast of) Unleavened Bread; for on this very day, I brought your ranks out of the land of Egypt; you shall observe this day throughout the ages as an institution (ordinance) for all time.
(Exodus 12:18) In the first month, on the fourteenth day of the month at evening, you shall eat unleavened bread, until the one and twentieth day of the month at evening.
(Exodus 12:19) Seven days shall there be No leaven shall be found in your houses for seven days. For whoever eats that which is leavened, that person(soul) shall be cut off from the community(congregation) of Israel, whether he is a stranger, or a citizen of the country.

(Exodus 12:24) You shall observe this as an institution for all time, for you and to your descendants.
(Exodus 12:25) And when you enter the land that the LORD will give you, as HE has promised, you shall observe this rite.
(Exodus 12:26) And when your children ask you, ‘What do you mean by this rite?’
(Exodus 12:27) you shall say, ‘It is the Passover Sacrifice to the LORD, because HE passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when HE smote the Egyptians, but saved our houses.

(Exodus 12:43) The LORD said unto Moses and Aaron: This is the law of the Passover offering: No foreigner eat thereof:
(Exodus 12:44) But any slave a man has bought may eat of it once, he has been circumcised.
(Exodus 12:45) No bound or hired laborer shall not eat of it.
(Exodus 12:46) It shall be eaten in one house: you shall not take any of the flesh outside the house; nor shall you break a bone of it.
(Exodus 12:47) The whole community(congregation) of Israel shall offer it.
(Exodus 12:48) If a stranger who dwells with you would offer the Passover to the LORD, all his males must be circumcised, then he shall be admitted to offer it; he shall be a citizen of the country. But no uncircumcised person may eat of it.
(Exodus 12:49) There shall be one law for the citizen and for the stranger who dwells among you.

(Exodus 13:3) And Moses said unto the people, “Remember this day, in which you went free from Egypt, the house of bondage, how the LORD freed you from it with a mighty hand: no leavened bread be eaten.
(Exodus 13:4) You go free on this day, in the month Aviv(Abib-there is no difference in the Written Torah between the b and v, Nisan).
(Exodus 13:5) So, when the LORD has brought you into the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, which He swore to your fathers to give you, a land flowing with milk and honey, you shalt observe in this month the following practice:
(Exodus 13:6) Seven days you shalt eat unleavened bread, and on the seventh day shall be a festival to the LORD.
(Exodus 13:7) Throughout the seven days unleavened bread shall be eaten; no leavened bread be found with you, and no leaven shall be found in all your territory.
(Exodus 13:8) And you shall explain to your son on that day, ‘It is because of what the LORD did for me when I went free from Egypt.’
(Exodus 13:9) And this shall server you as assign upon your hand and reminder on your forehead(between your eyes), in order that the Teaching of the LORD may be in your mouth --: that with a mighty hand the LORD freed you from Egypt.
(Exodus 13:10) You shall keep this institution as its set time from year to year.


Regarding the Sacrifice of the first born male of every womb.
(Exodus 13:16) And it shall be for a token upon thine hand, and for frontlets between thine eyes: for by strength of hand the LORD brought us forth out of Egypt.(Why do we not hear about this pair of Laws? Has this too been over looked?)

(Exodus 23:14) Three times you shall hold a festival for ME.
(Exodus 23:15) You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread –eating unleavened bread for seven days, as I commanded you –at the set time in the month of Aviv(Abib, Nisan), for in it you went forth from the land of Egypt; and none shall appear before me empty handed;(Bring something to the feast.)

(Exodus 23:17) Three times a year all your males shall appear before the Sovereign, the LORD.

Note –Following on the heels of Sacrifice Laws, commanded by GOD, Exodus 23:19 and Exodus 34:26 -- “you shall not boil the kid in it’s mothers milk” ...this seems a ritual performed in the worship of other g’s and not a prescription of eating habits as no other eating is near this law.

(Exodus 34:18) You shall observe the Feast of Unleavened Bread –eating unleavened bread for seven days, as I commanded you –at the set time in the month of Aviv(Abib, Nisan), for in the month of Aviv, for in it you went forth from Egypt.

(I will leave these in the KJV)
(Leviticus 23:4) These are the feasts of the LORD, even holy convocations, which ye shall proclaim in their seasons.
(Leviticus 23:5) In the fourteenth day of the first month at even is the LORD'S passover. (Leviticus 23:6) And on the fifteenth day of the same month is the feast of unleavened bread unto the LORD: seven days ye must eat unleavened bread.
(Leviticus 23:7) In the first day ye shall have an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.
(Leviticus 23:8) But ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the LORD seven days: in the seventh day is an holy convocation: ye shall do no servile work therein.

(Deuteronomy 16:1) Observe the month of Aviv, and offer a Passover Sacrifice to the LORD you GOD: for in the month of Aviv, at night, that the LORD your God freed from Egypt. (Deuteronomy 16:2) You shall slaughter the Passover Sacrifice for the LORD thy God, from the flock and the herd, in the place which the LORD shall choose to establish(place) HIS name. (Deuteronomy 16:3) You shalt not eat anything leavened with it; for seven days thereafter you eat unleavened bread, bread even the bread of affliction; for you came forth out of the land of Egypt in haste: that you mayest remember the day when you came forth out of the land of Egypt all the days of thy life.
(Deuteronomy 16:4) And there shall be no leavened bread seen with you in all thy coast seven days; neither shall there any thing of the flesh, which you sacrificed the first day at evening, remain all night until the morning.
(Deuteronomy 16:5) You mayest not sacrifice the Passover within any of thy gates, which the LORD thy God giveth you:
(Deuteronomy 16:6) But at the place which the LORD thy God shall choose to place his name in, there you shalt sacrifice the Passover at even, at the going down of the sun, at the season that you came forth out of Egypt.
(Deuteronomy 16:7) And you shalt roast and eat it in the place which the LORD thy God shall choose: and you shalt turn in the morning, and go unto thy tents.
(Deuteronomy 16:8) Six days you shalt eat unleavened bread: and on the seventh day shall be a solemn assembly to the LORD thy God: you shalt do no work therein.

Discussions are also on: http://www.ask-james.com/TruthintorahBB/


Shalom for now. I will continue to work on this and post it on http://truthintorah.blogspot.com when completed.

Israelite, Hebrew, Jew, whats the difference?

The question of what is the difference between:

Israelite or Israeli --"Children of Jacob or Israel" the Twelve Tribes, all the King David's and King Solomon's Nation.

Hebrew --A Hebrew were Abraham, Issac and Jacob, as well as those that left Egypt in the Exodus by Moses in Exodus 5:3 "the God of the Hebrews ...", then taken to Mount Horeb. Later they are referred to as the Children of Israel, or Israelites. The Old Meaning in Genesis refers to those that came from the other side, of simple the Others. Being separate, and worshiping only One GOD. I have considered my self a Hebrew for more than 20 years (and a Jew in May 2009), as I accept that GOD IS GOD and the Covenants give at Mt. Horeb and Mt. Sinai, as written. Example:
"(Deuteronomy 29:10) You stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,
(Deuteronomy 29:11)Your little ones, your wives, and the stranger that is in your camp, from the hewer of your wood unto the drawer of your water:
(Deuteronomy 29:12) That you should enter into covenant with the LORD your God, and into his oath, which the LORD your God makes with you this day:
(Deuteronomy 29:13) That he may establish you to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto you a God, as he hath said unto you and as he hath sworn unto your fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.
(Deuteronomy 29:14) Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath; But with him that stands here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:" --Now The Nation of Israel crossing the Jordan with Joshua.


Jew -- A Jew is from the tribe of Judah and a member of the Southern Kingdom, which was created as a result of King Solomon's actions against or by turning away from Our GOD. See 1Kings references below.


(1 Kings 11:11) Wherefore the LORD said unto Solomon, because this is done by you and you have not kept my covenant and my statutes, which I have commanded thee, I will surely rend the kingdom from you, and will give it to thy servant. (1 Kings 11:12) Notwithstanding in your days I will not do it for David your father's sake: but I will rend it out of the hand of your son. (1 Kings 11:13) Although I will not rend away all the kingdom; but will give one tribe to your son, for David my servant's sake, and for Jerusalem's sake which I have chosen.


Later:

(1 Kings 11:31) And he said to Jeroboam, Your take ten pieces: for this says the LORD, the God of Israel, Behold, I will rend the kingdom out of the hand of Solomon, and will give ten tribes to you:


(1 Kings 12:22) But the word of God came unto Shemaiah the man of God, saying, (1 Kings 12:23) Speak unto Rehoboam, the son of Solomon, king of Judah, and unto all the house of Judah and Benjamin, and to the remnant of the people, saying,..." So it was done.

Shalom Shalom,
Yaakov

Why not just make everybody act perfectly?

If there is a GOD, why not just make everybody act perfectly? 


My Answer: That is a really great question. but it does seem that HE(GOD) wants us to chose and then be responsible for what we chose. (There is something GOD has planned. Something  where HE wants a particular type of Spirit, Soul, Person, to continue past this Earth as we know it. A life not of this body. If this were not the case, why put up with people at all? Why is it important for us to have free choice concerning right and wrong?)


Really I can only postulate on this, based on what I seen in the Written Torah and Tanach. For example: GOD made man above all creation, put HIS breath(Spirit) within him and then HE tests man all of man's life, apparently to allow us to go on to a much bigger, of which only GOD knows for certain. When I take into consideration that: The GOD that created ALL, can stop ALL without any possible consequences. GOD also knew what the END was going to be before HE started the process.(I tell the end at the beginning so that you will KNOW when it happens that I DID IT.) 


This information has been used to say that If GOD knows then there is no choice. This is a faulty statement, in that each of us still must make our choices and live or die(spiritually/soul) by those choices. If on the other hand, we have no choice, then GOD makes all of the mistakes and HE will simple stop the game when HE gets bored. Who are we to think that we control GOD? A world of insignificant size or importance in our galaxy of no value in the billions of galaxies, with a few billion people made of dirt that talks and think they have all the power to control the one who turned on the lights for the universe; we are nothing of value except the value GOD places on US. 


HE just KNOWS every choice we will make due to each event and circumstance with which we face, otherwise there is now way I can identify(as a programmer) which will create a specific END sequence(as has been written in the Written Torah and more fully disclosed in the Prophets of the Tanach or (GOD)I tell what IS 4,500 years before we experience that event). 


What are you talking about? 


If you are a computer programmer in assembler, you know that you are required to make the computer do everything which is not hard coded in the CPU itself. You must plan and code(program) everything to get the desired results after any program is run. This is very difficult to do except for the very simplest of tasks. Given that information, how much wisdom would GOD need to just plan the world for say for today? We say that GOD has not been active in our world with Prophets for 2,200 years. We have in GOD's words everything we must have to get it right(it is written by Moses and the Prophets) -- The Program is Running. We can find the results clearly stated in the Tanach of what is coming to the world and what we must do to stop it from happening or, to end it once it has started.(This scares me: Deut. 30:1 When all of these, the blessing and the curse have come upon you ... Either we have no free will to do what is right so that we are stuck with the curses or WE JUST REFUSE TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT --Accept GOD as GOD and LOVE HIM.)  I have seen no evidence of any man or group of men or nation, religion,... that is or are smart enough to be more RIGHTEOUS than MY GOD or more wise.


The secret is: The Lord our GOD is GOD, there is only one, and we are to Love the LORD our GOD with all of our HEART, all of our SOUL and all of our BEING(Deuteronomy 6: 4 & 5). The Children of Israel must turn back to the LORD our GOD with all of our heart and confess that we have walked contrary to GOD and so HE has walked contrary to us. (Leviticus 26) This is written many times in the Tanach(Old Testament), and is the precursor to the salvation of Israel and the Earth(Last Days.)


If you still doubt that the Tanach is True, compare the news of the world with the Prophets of the Tanach. If You are still able to think, clearly.


Shalom,


Yaakov 

Update: Band for the Truth

Here is the latest news:


It seems that at least one member of the forum debated with the controller about why I was band, and the individual that band me was angry and accused me of Preaching, by not allowing debate. In reviewing the exchanges, I believe that it was not I that was Preaching. As a result, said individual declared that I would be given another chance on the forum, actually HE DELETED ME FROM THE FORM INSTEAD, removing the recorders. I had already taken a copy of the exchanges, at least my side of them.


I am still writing here, and I tell others where to find me, maybe you will also.


How many times do we blame others for our actions? Probably because there is something we just do not want to face. In this case I believe that issue is that the Writings of Moses(Torah) and the Tanach are true. So when faced with a logical conundrum it seems easier to turn away than to acknowledge the Truth of an issue and learn from it.


I still hold that the Torah written by Moses at GOD's command is True and unbreakable. If you think you have a part that is false, I would love to have you present it to me. Maybe you and I can find out together where the truth is.


I am willing to hear you.


My prayer is that H'shem will open our ears to perceive and our eyes to understanding and our heart to GOD's Law today.


Shalom,


Yaakov

Band for the Truth

The original quote from Mark Twain is “Truth is more a stranger than fiction.” became “Truth is stranger that fiction.”

Recently I experienced this tale which I shall relate, which is also the Truth, believe it or not.




I have commented to some that know me personally that I do not mind discussing the Written Torah and the Tanach with anyone, including Rabbi's. I write a blog, this one. I attend Torah study and sometimes Talmud class(to see if I can find anything to trust or where are these guys heads as they lead the thoughts over thousands of years), I meet religious and non-religious people on the street and I answer questions using the Jewish Scriptures. For a while I wrote to a Rabbi in Israel, which is on the radio, but he stopped responding. I have been a call-in questioner and discusser on a Religious radio station in Israel, attended chat room discussions regarding religious radio shows, discussing the Writings of Moses and the Prophets of the Tanach, where I have listeners write to me from Europe, Canada, Mexico and the USA, some with questions, some to say how much I have helped them without speaking to them directly or having any other connection to them. These were a Blessing from GOD, and I thank HIM for allowing me to help. I even had someone that wrote me and thought that he wanted me to discuss with Rabbi Tovia Singer in Israel and another Rabbi I have not previously heard of, but it needed to be several hours as my questions were too deep and penetrating(in his view). All very nice things to hear, maybe this is how I can help others....



For the last couple months I have been writing on that radio station's Wall, answering questions and attempting to clear up misunderstandings where various people have espoused and opinion which, while not true according to my readings of GOD's word, actually hurt and chase people away from GOD. The manager of the Wall, recently declare that the Wall was the Radio Stations and religious discussions which were not directly addressed to the host of a show, were not welcome there. I was in shock and hoar as I realized that a Israel Radio station which hosted many Religious and Spiritual programs did not want listeners to discuss Religion or Spirituality without a show host. I went looking for some place where I could discuss “Religion or Spirituality” as it relates to being a Light Unto To The Nations(according to God and HIS Law). I found forums which discussions were “Religion or Spirituality”, I think I have found a place to discuss GOD and His Law, HAAAAA!. I answered about a half dozen standing questions, and received several very nice personal notes reporting how much my words helped them. However, I also had hecklers, those name callers which espouse the good of men's words and decline to think about the Writings of Moses or GOD's Prophets in the Tanach. I am used to the idea that others have differing opinions, this has been going on for a few thousand years. But then they got ugly about it, and then it got worse. I will not let them beat me down, but also have to keep a tight rein on my emotions, which is not easy for me considering the topics. My Faith, My Jewishness, My Knowledge of Scripture and Translations, …..really, these became ad hominem (is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the argument) attacks, and were performed by the monitors of the forum, then I was barred from any input or discussion. 'I have been barred from a forum for speaking and writing what the word of GOD says in, not verse form but in block of text for contextual reference to demonstrate the TRUTH of what is written.”



A very painful event for me, but GOD does participate in the world. I talked it over with GOD, while I was walking the dog last night, I told HIM all of my concerns and how I really needed to know that I was going in the Right Direction. I need to know which way to go..... I go back to the computer to see if this is just a mix up, hoping that I was wrong in my understanding of what has happened. I received a private message from someone that that had reported to me that I had helped –I am sorry you are band, but I will seek answers from you on your blog. This was very nice to receive, and something I needed to hear. Seconds later, I got a personal message from a family in Ohio, telling me that I was their hero because they had given up finding anyone that spoke about GOD and HIS Laws, I had given this family of eight reason to continue to seek to convert to Judaism. Another great blessing from GOD and a confirmation that I am on the Right Path. This has happened to me before in November 2009, but personal, face-to-face strangers telling me that have been inspired by me, as they have been watching me for some time. That time the messages were twenty minutes apart, and a few blocks away on the street. GOD does answer pray and HE is in this world.




What is the point of this: Do what is right according to the Writings of Moses(Torah) and the GOD's Prophets in the Tanach. Moses is the rule and explanation of what is required. The other Prophets declare how we have failed, GOD's evidence against us and the punishments decreed by GOD, but also exactly what we need to do to stop the pain and get blessed by GOD. It really is simple to say, a little harder to perform, but most refuse to listen. There is a rabbinical saying that, We are not going to be able to fix the world, but neither are we allow to stop trying. There are things to learn from others, but not if it puts MY SOUL at risk of GOD's Anger by overriding GOD's LAWS and Precepts. I will hold to the God of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, the GOD of Jacob, and HIS promises. What do you hold on to?



Most of us, (I believe trust the religious leaders that we have chosen to follow, but where do you think they are taking you? ) follow a religious leader because they make us feel good, or we like their way of addressing an issue, or they have charisma, what ever the reason prior to this we should find those that lead us to GOD, always using the Word of GOD as the measure of TRUTH, not the word of man. (Isaiah 29:13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:(KJV) I happen to like the JPS 1999 version better, however they really are saying the same thing when you look at the meanings and not get hung up on individual words. You can after all re-interpret every word to lose all meaning, and it seems that is happening, You will need to study any passage in the Tanach which you find anyway questionable. A really great way to learn –for me. 

Seek Truth, Do Justice and Love GOD to be Righteous.



Shalom ,

Yaakov

Band from discussing GOD LAW

The original quote from Mark Twain is “Truth is more a stranger than fiction.” became “Truth is stranger that fiction.”
Recently I experienced this tale which I shall relate, which is also the Truth, believe it or not.


I have commented to some that know me personally that I do not mind discussing the Written Torah and the Tanach with anyone, including Rabbi's. I write a blog, this one. I attend Torah study and sometimes Talmud class(to see if I can find anything to trust or where are these guys heads as they lead the thoughts over thousands of years), I meet religious and non-religious people on the street and I answer questions using the Jewish Scriptures. For a while I wrote to a Rabbi in Israel, which is on the radio, but he stopped responding. I have been a call-in questioner and discusser on a Religious radio station in Israel, attended chat room discussions regarding religious radio shows, discussing the Writings of Moses and the Prophets of the Tanach, where I have listeners write to me from Europe, Canada, Mexico and the USA, some with questions, some to say how much I have helped them without speaking to them directly or having any other connection to them. These were a Blessing from GOD, and I thank HIM for allowing me to help. I even had someone that wrote me and thought that he wanted me to discuss with Rabbi Tovia Singer in Israel and another Rabbi I have not previously heard of, but it needed to be several hours as my questions were too deep and penetrating(in his view). All very nice things to hear, maybe this is how I can help others....

For the last couple months I have been writing on that radio station's Wall, answering questions and attempting to clear up misunderstandings where various people have espoused and opinion which, while not true according to my readings of GOD's word, actually hurt and chase people away from GOD. The manager of the Wall, recently declare that the Wall was the Radio Stations and religious discussions which were not directly addressed to the host of a show, were not welcome there. I was in shock and hoar as I realized that a Israel Radio station which hosted many Religious and Spiritual programs did not want listeners to discuss Religion or Spirituality without a show host. I went looking for some place where I could discuss “Religion or Spirituality” as it relates to being a Light Unto To The Nations(according to God and HIS Law). I found forums which discussions were “Religion or Spirituality”, I think I have found a place to discuss GOD and His Law, HAAAAA!. I answered about a half dozen standing questions, and received several very nice personal notes reporting how much my words helped them. However, I also had hecklers, those name callers which espouse the good of men's words and decline to think about the Writings of Moses or GOD's Prophets in the Tanach. I am used to the idea that others have differing opinions, this has been going on for a few thousand years. But then they got ugly about it, and then it got worse. I will not let them beat me down, but also have to keep a tight rein on my emotions, which is not easy for me considering the topics. My Faith, My Jewishness, My Knowledge of Scripture and Translations, …..really, these became ad hominem (is the logical fallacy of attempting to undermine a speaker's argument by attacking the speaker instead of addressing the argument) attacks, and were performed by the monitors of the forum, then I was barred from any input or discussion. 'I have been barred from a forum for speaking and writing what the word of GOD says in, not verse form but in block of text for contextual reference to demonstrate the TRUTH of what is written.”

A very painful event for me, but GOD does participate in the world. I talked it over with GOD, while I was walking the god last night. I told him all of my concerns and how I really needed to know that I was going in the Right Direction. I need to know which way to go..... I go back to the computer to see if this is just a mix up, hoping that I was wrong in my understanding of what has happened. I received a private message from someone that that had reported to me that I had helped –I am sorry you are band, but I will seek answers from you on your blog. This was very nice to receive, and something I needed to hear. Seconds later, I got a personal message from a family in Ohio, telling me that I was their hero because they had given up finding anyone that spoke about GOD and HIS Laws, I had given this family of eight reason to continue to seek to convert to Judaism. Another great blessing from GOD and a confirmation that I am on the Right Path. This has happened to me before in November 2009, but personal, face-to-face strangers telling me that have been inspired by me, as they have been watching me for some time. That time the messages were twenty minutes apart, and a few blocks away on the street. GOD does answer pray and HE is in this world.

What is the point of this: Do what is right according to the Writings of Moses(Torah) and the GOD's Prophets in the Tanach. Moses is the rule and explanation of what is required. The other Prophets declare how we have failed, GOD's evidence against us and the punishments decreed by GOD, but also exactly what we need to do to stop the pain and get blessed by GOD. It really is simple to say, a little harder to perform, but most refuse to listen. There is a rabbinical saying that, We are not going to be able to fix the world, but neither are we allow to stop trying. There are things to learn from others, but not we it puts MY SOUL at risk of GOD's Anger by over riding GOD's LAWS and Precepts. I will hold to the God of Abraham, the GOD of Isaac, the GOD of Jacob, and HIS promises. What do you hold on to?


Most of us, (I believe trust the religious leaders that we have chosen to follow, but where do you think they are taking you? ) follow a religious leader because they make us feel good, or we like their way of addressing an issue, or they have charisma, what ever the reason prior to this we should find those that lead us to GOD, always using the Word of GOD as the measure of TRUTH, not the word of man. (Isaiah 29:13) Wherefore the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw near me with their mouth, and with their lips do honour me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear toward me is taught by the precept of men:(KJV) I happen to like the JPS 1999 version better, however they really are saying the same thing when you look at the meanings and not get hung up on individual words. You can after all re-interpret every word to loss all meaning, and it seems that is happening, You will need to study any passage in the Tanach which you find anyway questionable. A really great way to learn –for me.
Seek Truth, Do Justice and Love GOD to be Righteous.

Shalom ,
Yaakov