Chazak-Ve-ematz
-hebraicstudies.net-
Please do NOT visit this
site on שַׁבָּת - Shabbat or on the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim -
Feasts!
Re Tanakh versions:
Throughout this site I
may use any of the following three versions of the Tanakh: 1. “Jewish Publication Society” (JPS-1917), 2. “Mechon-Mamre.org”
(MEC), and 3. “Sefaria.org” (SEF), three brilliant
versions, although JPS-1917 is my preferred version!
Colour coded
details of our beloved TaNaKh:
1. Torah = History & Law, 2. Nevi’im = The Prophets. 3. *Ketuvim = all other Writings.
*The Ketuvim - Includes, Poetical books - Psalms, Proverbs, Job,
the Megillot, or Scrolls - Song of Solomon, Ruth,
Lamentations of Jeremiah, Ecclesiastes, and Esther, prophecy of
Daniel, and history of Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I & II.
Please Note: Some
alterations or (additions) have been made relating to ‘Names’ and
‘Attributes’ of אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, having been
corrected like it once was pre the “Masoretic Text”.
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Remember the following truth from our beloved Torah!
“Ye
shall NOT ADD
TO THE WORD which I command
you, NEITHER SHALL YE DIMINISH FROM IT,
that ye may keep the commandments of יְהוָה
אֱלֹהֵיכֶם - the LORD your Eloleichem,
which I command you”. Davarim -
Deuteronomy 4:2. (JPS-1917).
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“Be Strong and of Good Courage”
Devarim - Deuteronomy 32:1 to 5.
With Rabbi, Dr,
Reuven Ben Avraham-Goossens, PhD..
A $20 Dollar Note (Bill):
There is an old story
that goes as follows: “A rabbi decided for certain reasons to commence
his class by holding up a crisp new $20 note (or ‘Bill’ in certain
countries) and asked, “Who would like this $20 dollar note?” Of
course every single hand in the room shot up. He continued, ‘I am going
to give this $20 dollar note to one of you’, he said. ‘But first, I
am going to do this’. And, he proceeded to crumple up the $20 dollar note
in his hand and said ‘Who wants it now?’ he asked. The hands stayed
up. ‘Really?’ he said. ‘Well what if I do this to it? And he
dropped the note on the floor and began to grind it all up. He then paused and
picked it up and held it up, with it looking very crumpled and somewhat dirty.
‘Well, who wants it now?’ he asked. And again all the hands went
straight back up.
‘My friends,
the rabbi said ‘you have learned a most valuable lesson. When I started
this lesson, this note was worth $20 dollars. And no matter what I did to it,
you still wanted it, because no matter what happened to that note,
it did not decrease its value’.
The rabbi went on and
explained what this all meant, and why he decides to use this $20 dollar note,
etc. He then told the class, ‘The truth is we are that $20 dollar note,
for we have been crushed, and crumbled and we have
been dropped and grind into the dirt as if we were worthless. Bad decisions, or simply hapless circumstances which we were
unable to control and make us feel as if we of no value what-so-ever. Due to those who were evil in the past. But never forget, no
matter what has happened to you it may well happen to you in the future, yet you
will always have value in the eyes of those who love you, especially our
Elohim, for we are special!”
“
did not
set His love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any
people for ye were the fewest of all peoples” Devarim -
Deuteronomy 7:7 (JPS-1917).
Obviously, if we
think about it the aforementioned it should really speak to us for many reasons
and considering Rosh Hashanah commenced a time of reflection regarding the year
that has just passed. Or the year that is yet to come. Thus this past year
bears some reflection. For in the past few years we have all seen a great deal
of pain and hardship throughout the country as well as throughout the world.
In our previous
Parashat we had a very powerful verse, which included a statement that had
words that resounded through history right into our own time;
Indeed we have all
seen difficult times before but I am always the most optimistic of realists.
But somehow, as we enter this Rosh Hashanah, take heart for there is always
hope and remember, no matter what we as Hebrews have gone through, and we have
gone through more than most, we will always have Elohim’s assurance of a
positive future, even though we have wronged our loving Elohim in the past in
some way!
,
saith the Lord , when
I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes. For I will take you (Yisrael)
from among the nations, and gather you out of all the countries, and will bring
you into your own land … Then the nations that are left round about
you shall know that I have builded the
ruined places, and planted that which was desolate; I have
spoken it, and I will do it. Thus saith the Lord : I will yet for this be
inquired of by the house of
And also the
following powerful prophecy;
“I remember My
covenant with Ya’aqov - Jacob, and also My covenant with Yitzchak -
Isaac, and also My covenant with Avraham will I remember; and I will remember
the land … And yet for all that, when they are in the land of their
enemies, I will not reject them, neither will I abhor them, to destroy them
utterly, and to break My covenant with them; for I am their
Elohim. But I will for their sakes remember the covenant of their
ancestors, whom I brought forth out of the land of Egypt in the sight of the
nations, that I might be their Elohim: I am ” Vayikra - Leviticus 26:42, 44-45 (JPS-1917).
Restless souls tend
to yearn for some relief and some sense of validation. But sometimes I am well
aware that many are looking in the wrong place. Sometimes I believe the old
ways are not always the best ways. However, the spiritual life is always better,
and His eternal love is able to nourish us, and allow our souls to blossom,
even as we struggle. The problem in many cases is, that we are just not used to
asking.
“And Elohim
created man in His own image, in the image of Elohim created He him; male and
female created He them. And Elohim blessed them” Bereshit - Genesis
1:27-28 (JPS-1917).
But if we are created
“b’tzelem Elohim”, “in the
image of Elohim”, as I believe we are – then a simple truth
emerges: we are valued; we are valuable, no matter what. It is not the love of another that
validates us. We, each of us are fully deserving by
His love! Yes we might well be crumpled, but we will never lose our intrinsic
worth. Many years ago I fell chronically ill and today I live in a crumpled
body, yet I continue in a completely undiminished spirit, for My Elohim is with
me, and even from my hospital bed at home, I am able to share my messages with
you!
When we are lost and
alone, when feel that no one knows us or loves us; when we are crumpled and
torn we doubt our own value: there is a path.
The Psalmist, who
knows well the pain of life, tells us about the Holy One, the Elohim, blessed
be He, we have always known, and who always knows us:
“He gathereth together the dispersed of
The Psalmist clearly
tells us: that we are known, even when we are alone. The innumerable stars are
known by the One who our tradition calls “The Holy One Blessed be
He” and the “Source of Life”.
The world tends to
have many images and metaphors to explain of what we cannot directly perceive.
But though we think about Elohim, blessed be He, in many ways, I believe that
we simply do not think about our beloved Creator enough.
Why not start with
gratitude for what Elohim has done for your life?
Yes, there has been
difficult times of late, but think about it, I am sure that you can remember
countless happy and memorable events that have occurred during your life!
Remember this; Even
when we feel broken, remember that we are always valued, for Elohim, blessed be His Sanctified Name, is
always by your side!
When I am feeling
low, as for me there is one thing I ask of Elohim, for I only seek for my
future the following
“One thing have
I asked of , that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of all the days of my life, to behold the
graciousness of , and
to visit early in His Temple” Tehillim - Psalms 27:4 (JPS-1917).
Life is precious and
we are finely balanced. Sometimes that balance may be shattered and we tumble and
feel lost in the void. But no matter our circumstances, no matter how crumpled
and crushed we are, as long as the breath of life is within us, we can give
thanks for life. And from that place of gratitude, we can feel the Divine
Presence supporting us. Sometimes, even in our pain, our spirits can soar with
the breath of life. Elohim gives us life, the most precious gift, and we have
value.
I said earlier that
“we were special” you might ask, on what grounds do you make that
statement? Simple from what our Creator said!
“Ye shall be
unto Me a kingdom of priests, and a holy
nation” Shemot - Exodus 19:6 (JPS).
Yes, we have made
mistakes and we have been punished for them, but we have also read that;
“And yet for
all that, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them,
neither will I abhor them” Vayikra - Leviticus 26:42:44 (JPS-1917).
As we begin a new
year, we reflect on the brokenness of the year that has passed. May Elohim
grant us the patience to still the voice of our own despair! May we have the
courage to reach out to Holiness and begin to feel whole again.
May His embrace remind us that no matter how we are crumpled, we are still valued. And may the New Year bring us ‘Healing’,
‘Joy’ and ‘Peace’.
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Please Note: “hebraicstudies”
links are located down the page!
This site was originally created, for those who
desired to return to our blessed and wonderful faith. Thus be wise and work on your
faith and pray at least two or three times a day (if possible) and always seek
our beloved אֱלֹהִים - Elohim’s guidance,
for His love is always with us, especially when we seek Him, blessed be He!
However this site has become very much a teaching site with hundreds of studies!
Remember what אֱלֹהִים - Elohim, blessed be
He, said the following via several of our prophets...
“Hebraic Studies”
motto is as follows;
“The
More Torah, the More Life”,
For Elohim is the One who gave us our ... “Life!”
May the שָׁלוֹם - Shalom =
Peace of צְבָאוֹת- יְהוָה= the LORD of hosts,
be with you, and please always uphold our blessed שַׁבָּת - Shabbat, as
well as the מוֹעֲדִים - Mo’a’dim - Feasts, and continue
saying your daily תְּפִלָּה - Tefeelah’s - Prayers and
regular בְּרָכָה - Be’ra’chah’s - blessings before
food and drinks, etc!
שָׁלוֹם
עֲלֵיכֶם - Shalom Aleichem - Peace be
with you!
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