Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith on Exodus 13 http://youtu.be/s2524ln5tno
Category: Teachings on Shemot (Exodus)
Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith Shemot Exodus 12 http://youtu.be/z-pxAeI_bT8
Rabbi Goldsmith on Exodus 6 http://youtu.be/U1lga_2rkJA
Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith on Shemot Exodus Chapter 1
Parshat Shemot – January 13 2012
The last portions of the book of Bereishit focus on the life and times of Yosef HaTzaddik, of his influence, esteem and excellence in all realms of management of resources and finance in the land of Egypt. The new book of Shemot begins with the significant passuk “And a new king ruled over Egypt who did not know Yosef”. Yosef, the Yesod olam- the Foundation Stone of the world, the only one to be called the Tzaddik is again not recognized- this time by the new and powerful king that ruled the world. Seemingly dead buried and vanished why does Pharoh “not know Yosef”? It must have a deeper meaning. Yosef has passed on physically as we enter a period in time of not reaping the rewards of his talents. There is a famous passuk connected to Yosef: “Ode Yosef Chay”. He lives on, for the tzaddik lives on forever, residing in every generation and even materializing into real life events. This is exactly what the new king wanted to annihilate. He not only wanted Yosef dead, but dead and done for.
On a closer look into the essence of Yosef, the Yesod, the very message of life comes into play. Yesod is the foundation of all the generations to come, connecting to the very first foundation mitzvah of the torah- “Be fruitful and multiply”. This is exactly what was happening in Egypt at an alarming rate. Even the number attributed to this is intrinsically connected to the Yesod, the number six (being the 6th sphere of the 7 lower spheres), “Sheshah bekeress achad” – Sixtuplets were born to the Jewish people at every birth and they multiplied at a great speed. The Yesod Foundation sphere parallels the sixth day of creation when Hashem created man/woman as one unit as it says in the passuk: “G-d created man in His image, he created THEM- male(yesod) and female(malchut)” (genesis 1:27) Hashem gave over the greatest power – to create life (the most G-dly attribute possible). Later, it wasn’t only that Pharoh “did not know Yosef” but he made a concerted effort to obliterate all males, to cast them into the river, to demand the midwives slaughter them, etc… At a later time, at the climax of the exodus the torah tells us “Moshe took the bones of Yosef with him” culminating the period of the obliteration of the Yesod. The Bnei Yisrael actually carried the bones of Yosef right into Eretz Yisrael alongside the Mishkan, paving the way for a new life and continuity in the Land of Israel.
Today we stand in the light of the last hours of the sixth millennium, the time right before we light the Shabbat candles. Again, there are kings of great nations who “do not know Yosef” nor do they recognize the power of the Yesod. There are those that create impasses, those that try to prevent the power of Mashiach ben Yosef from collecting the exiles, planting the vineyards and rebuilding the desolate cities that were once home to our forefathers and will anything and everything in their power to obstruct the bones from coming to life, even by destroying the resting place of Yosef HaTzaddik (!) – There are too many cameras and eyes of the world focused on the little dilapidated prefab being built in the middle of the night on the barren hilltops of the land of Yosef, too many for us to ignore the meaning of what life in Israel, the heart of Israel means . This is the source of salvation, blessing, redemption, loving kindness, mercy, success and health for the Jewish people and for the world. The influence is far beyond any Presidents power now.
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
“Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the tent of the meeting finished and the Children of Israel did according to all that the Lord commanded Moshe, so they did.”
Parshat Pekudey closes the book of Shemot, the book of our exodus from Egypt. We know the torah doesn’t stop there but continues on into other books relating the events that led up to the eventual conquering of the Land of Israel and establishing a permanent home in the land of their fathers who had lived a life committed to the everlasting covenant with Hashem generations earlier. This parsha is about the rectification of the breach in this covenant that was made at the sin of the golden calf. As a result of their misbehaving through the vehicle of idolatry Hashem cut off His end of the deal. The difference in avodat Hashem (serving G-d) and avodat elilim (serving idols) is that instead of doing for the sake of Heaven (Leshaym shamayim) one is serving one’s ego in the desire to have it his way (like- if it feels good do it), actually making an offering to ones own will which is the antithesis of acquiescing to Hashems will.
Moshe’s job was to reunite the spirits involved here and bring them back to the harmony that was destroyed at the sin of the golden calf. The symbol of it all coming together as Am Yisrael healed itself in self reflection to avodah leshaym shamayim, was taking all the parts of the completed mission of building the Mishkan and having Moshe make them into one unit in its final completion. It wasn’t every man for himself and his beliefs but one man with one heart like at matan torah. It was an introspection that from this moment on whatever was done was leshaym shamayim. Now they could finally return to Hashem. Now the Shechinah was ready to rest in the house.
All of this is being read in the backdrop of the month of Adar when the entire episode of Purim comes as a wake up call to the Jews of Achashveroshe’s kingdom who ate and drank from the vessels of the Temple in desecration. A breach in the covenant was sorely felt by those who cared to return to Zion. It was a time that a call rang out to stop assimilating, to stop the apathy and having it their way- to stop the breach in the covenant. The call came to rebuild the Mikdash at that time and return to Israel and Hashem. Am Yisrael emerged victorious because of their teshuva and because they reassessed their approach to their identities and their connection to Hashem in a time that there was no house for Him.
Now we come closer to building Hashem’s house as we collect our people home to the place lived in generations earlier by our ancestors. The bodies are returning like the dry bones and now comes the time for fixing the breach and making harmony in Israel, in all she does leshaym shamayim.(for the sake of heaven)
“And they will make for me a Mikdash and I will dwell among them”
Just for the record- it says in the parsha, “Aaron and his sons… Itamar”…- the torah is referring to Itamar and Elazar the High Priests of Israel who were laid to rest in the portion of the Priests not a mile from the present day Itamar. So if you happen to be reading cnn, bbc, and the New York times about a make believe land called the West bank please refer them to the texts of the parsha. We welcome you to come and read the parsha where the nail is hit directly on the head of history.
Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Vayakhel February 25 2011
Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Vayakhel gives the details about how Hashem wants a holy sanctuary, a dwelling place below. This is actually the meeting place of the physical and the meta-physical. There are many lists of items that go into the preparation for such a place. We are introduced at this point to Jewish art as a means of religious expression. Gold, silver, and brass for the ark, blue purple and scarlet linens topped with a gold crown were used for the torah covering. Additional details specify that the ark be decorated with Cherubim and flowers. And so, there were not only talents of gold but talents of real people like Betzalel applied. Hashem singled them out to carry out this mission. “to devise skillful works in works of gold, silver and brass, in the cutting of stones and the carving of wood…” (Shemot 31:1-8) The haftara takes us to a later time, over 400 years later, when Shlomo HaMelech built the permanent house, the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. He was taught well by the inspiration of his father, King David who wrote Psalm 84: “How lovely are Thy tabernacles!”
Throughout history, during the long exile away from this permanent house, our Rabbis declared that we glorify Hashem by creating beautiful articles that have come to be known as Judaica like: menorahs, Shabbat candlesticks, Kiddush cups, havdalah candle holders, dreydels, knitted kipot, embroidered challah covers, tallitot, decorative meigglot, mezuzah cases, ketubot, the list is long. Each item has its own distinct symbolism, and much of its influence from the motives of the Temple, Jerusalem and Israel. The rich culture of these articles of holiness have provided us with a steadfast reminder of who we are as a people, what richness we savor in our heritage. Judaica is the uniform of torah ideology. We put it on at every occasion, just enjoying its variety whether it is decorating the sukkah, making ceramic seder plates for Passover, or having a competition of who can make the nicest menorah for Chanukah. The menorah has carried us through the Arch of Titus and back into the national symbol of the State of Israel!
An interior designer that owns Architectural Antiques commented on the parsha and said, “Hashem made a seder, an order to the world. He created many things and put them all in their own special place which is why order and beauty should be copied into our homes”. (I hoped maybe my husband heard her torah….) Every home is every man’s castle and every home should be a little Jerusalem, a little Temple. This is a good opportunity to tell our readers that we are now full swing into phase 2 of our shule building project here on Itamar. We still do not have a permanent synagogue. All of those who would like to actualize the mitzvah of building a temple here in the holy land will be very blessed and greatly appreciated. Please feel free again, to come and visit at any time!
Bebirkat Haaretz, thank you again,
Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith
Rabbi Moshe Goldsmith