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Mother’s Day- Memorial Day- Yom Haatzmaut 2024
This is dedicated to all the amazing mothers that love Israel and have taught their children to.
Mother’s Day had me thinking about our own Matriarchs; as I always say- the foundation stones we read about in the very beginning are a reflection of the very end of this time as we know it. Our forefathers had many “stories” surrounding their persona and tikkun- all things we glean from in knowing and understanding these times. The love between Yaakov and Rachel spreads out over many topics, of patience, self -sacrifice, beauty, and emotion. Rachel, our Matriarch was cherished and adored by her husband and her son, Yosef. A scene, like no other, of PROTECTION given to Rachel we read about after Yaakov finally leaves her father’s house, only to contend with his brother, Esau who hated him and desired to kill him. Now came the time of the face off upon coming home to Eretz Yisrael after a long stay in exile of twenty two years. When Esau came to meet Yaakov, our other matriarchs came to prostrate themselves before Esau, but of Rachel it says- “And Yosef came near to his mother and stood before her.” Yosef said- “This wicked man, Esau is bold wanton and cruel- he may want to take my mother.” Yosef, therefore stood up (as it says in his dream- קם וניצב- Stood erect) covering and protecting her. Yosef is described as ” “עלי עין- meaning that as he stands upright, no evil eye can penetrate. All will SEE and bear witness to his greatness.
The story that surrounds Yosef is one of baseless hatred. We are familiar with the brothers who sold him out. The son of Rachel became the viceroy of Egypt, the feeder, the one that blessed that nation with abundance. The brothers eventually realized that Yosef’s dreams came true and came to VIEW him in a different light. Yosef was a seer and he used that quality to bless others with plenty.
The Jewish people when scattered, blessed many nations and lands. Now they are returning to their land as promised. The sons stand over the mothers and run to battle evil now here in Israel. We are being protected by our heroic fearless sons now as Yosef stood up to Esau then. – Then is now. No evil eye can penetrate the exalted transcendental position of Am Yisrael. It has all been promised. Baseless hatred and replacement theology cannot and will not hold. This Parsha speaks about an eye for an eye- this is what the Torah means. It seems as if the brothers of Yosef had an evil eye, it seems as if the nations of the world seek an evil eye, one that wants to grab Rachel- but in the merit of Rachel our Matriarch who saw with a GOOD EYE- the blessing was handed down to Yosef and to us- a great PROTECTION.
The moral of the story- Many nations seek to destroy us. This is the persona of Esau. We overcame and we will overcome.
TODAY WE REMEMBER THE HEROES OF ISRAEL.
Nations of the world: Count how many times it says in the Torah that the Land and People of Israel are one. Am Yisrael Chai!
Dear Friends of Itamar- I rub my eyes as I am writing this to you from the territory of Yosef. Thank you for standing with us. Shavua TOV! Blessings, Leah
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Leah’s Blog – Pesach 2023
Leah’s Blog Pesach – – 2023
I open the handsome rusty gate to the vineyard here on Itamar, still cold to my touch. The grapevines are returning to life after a chilled sleep. Spring is here and with it the month of Nissan and Pesach. Soon the bleak feeling will give way to softer days, bluer skies and balmy nights. The wheat fields billow in the April wind that sweeps through the winding pass through the mountains here. Now their color is a bright Kelly green that says “Israel is alive”. This is the way Israel perceived the Land as they entered Eretz Yisrael at the very same time of the year we left Egypt. The cyclical cycle of it has it the time of departure yet the time of arrival forty years later. Walking through the mountain pass, the Exodus has me understanding Pesach a whole new way. It was the night of matzoh- the night the manna stopped falling from the sky, ” This night is matzoh”. This historic event happened right here, a walk through the ravine from the Jordan River to the two mountains of the Blessing and Curse- it all happened here, pinch me.
The Exodus was a national event that echoes till today. We are taught through the generations to keep the embers of the story alive in order to reach THIS DAY! Never before has the history of our people been so privileged to live restoration as we strive to now, as we build up the heart of Israel, in the very place our Patriarchs and Matriarchs walked and lived and loved. That happened even before we were slaves in Egypt! Israel has always been our home and we long for it. Here the birth pangs of redemption rave, we struggle with the tests put before us as Abraham was tested and many of our prophets. ” This night we eat bitter herbs”. There is a struggle going on now. We seek liberty to do the word of Hashem, involving also tremendous needs for resources to literally pave the way here. The concerted efforts of foreign governments to block restoration here in our ancestral land has put up many challenges for us that truthfully we would not have been able to overcome if it weren’t for you and your care and generosity towards us. Thank you! “This night we dip in salt water”. I am literally crying.
The time between Purim and Pesach is always rigorous. The demands put on us are intense for everyone. This is a time of great DOING. We have been blessed to help Alan Hirsh for many years now with his Matzo fund – Bnei Israel. We continue from this very house to assist in Pesach food package distribution for 24 yishuvim in the Shomron, Binyamin and Jordan valley area. Suppliers had to cope with getting through the chokepoint of Huwara, the nightmare that has also sprung to life alongside our lives here. Truck drivers and volunteers drove to and from Itamar with tons of chickens, grape juice, wine, olive oil, Matzohs, potatoes, eggs, and other provisions. It is our opportunity to thank all of those who donated to this project – You are not only feeding families but you are encouraging them in your acts of kindness- May Hashem bless you for giving to this incredible endeavor. This Pesach project could not have been accomplished without the complete self -sacrifice of dear Alan- TODA RABA RABA from all of us here on Itamar and the hilltops and surrounding farms as well as all the yishuvim that received these relief packages! HALLELUYAH!
Now that our service in this has been completed, I will now attempt to tackle the curtains, windowpanes sinks, drawers, bed linens, boil down the kitchen (Moshe is a Pesach freak!) and all the “regular” chores that need to get done. My desire is really to go out to the fields and pick prime temp flowers but that will have to wait till later -when we are all free! CHAG SAMEYACH- SHABBAT SHALOM! – Leah
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Leah’s Blog Parasha Tizaveh 2022
Tetzahveh – DRESSED IN LIGHT – February 2022
Wearing certain clothes for me can be an emotional experience that goes way beyond the colors and what affect they have on me, what styles suit me, etc… It has become a way of expression- as an emissary it’s important to me. Arrayed in an outfit, it is with no doubt affecting my mood. It’s bound to affect yours. We wear our feelings – the question is, does what we wear translate into who we are? My ability to dress, and dress up has morphed with the years I’ve come to know myself. It’s more exact as I come to realize changes I’ve made in my attitude to myself, call it a freeing from things that held me back, and even a new understanding of who I am. I obviously wouldn’t wear work clothes at a wedding nor would I wear Shabbat clothes visiting the goat farm. What I really ask myself is, will these clothes serve me to have confidence, daring, nobility, and even sensitivity. As you can see dressing goes way beyond the technical, a good way off. What you wear in essence, reflects your soul and spirit. It tells us a bit of what your story is. Questions you can ask yourself – what would you like to change about your way of appearance; imagine the moment you are dressed exactly the way you want and feel – how would that look? What message to the world are you conveying about yourself through your specific enthusiasm in fashion.
Tetzaveh has us reading about Itamar, Elazar, Nadav, and Avihu- the sons of aaron and of what they wore. As the conduit, clothing puts them and those that see them into a mindset. Standing in the presence of the King, serving Him, every fine detail of tassel and gemstone, threads of linen to light colors like the light of the Ner Tamid, the eternal light was their mission, to shine out, to be the leading light. We read about the commandment to wear the Priestly garments and wonder how something so superficial as clothing be so critical in the service of the Tabernacle. Here is the meeting place of the world of matter and the world of Ruach. Wearing the lights, they echo the connection of all worlds in the constant yet refreshed service. Inner to inside, outer to outside, the message transmits. In Tetzaveh we have come to an exact proportion and readiness to serve G-d, girded and anchored in service. Right here on Itamar there is a very special place, Lishkaht HaParochet where you can come to experience in this “Chamber of curtains” the Priestly garments as well as the entire subject of the Temple service. (enclosed is a short video of Orna Hershberg the founder and manager of the site) Covering a wide range of subjects that you can see feel and touch flax spun into linen, incense, techelet and the snails they come from to mention just a few of the wonders in the room that has the actual curtains made for the Temple.
At this opportunity I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart in the name of all the people of Itamar (located just a five minute drive to the resting places of Itamar,Elazar and Pinchas the High Priests of Israel) YAD LEAH, who in their zechut, we are wearing beautiful quality clothing in the amazing GMACH they provide and have been providing for many years. Led by Jessica Katz and Karen Thaler, two amazing women of valor that have taken upon themselves hundreds and hundreds of boxes of clothing for communities all over Israel- with the many volunteers, schools, teachers, parents and the list is long of donors to this incredible project truly avodat HASHEM! Another SPECIAL MESSAGE OF GRATITUDE GOING OUT TO Keees Tineke and all the amazing people at NNA. Words do not do justice for the love care dignity and support you have been providing for our community and making such a big difference for us here! How many resources and energies it has taken you all to reach this point of true CHESED for the people that live here in the heart of Eretz Yisrael, literally in the backyard of the original Kohanim. May Hashem bless all of the many people involved in helping! It is truly an honor to be standing in your light. The mitzvah of being the candle and being a receptacle that first receives that light, and holding that light is brightening our lives. TODA RABA RABA.
Again, I would like invite you to join FRIENDS OF ITAMAR and bless you to visit us when you are in Israel!
Shabbat shalom, Leah
DERI1491 press on this link for video about priestly garments
