{"id":81,"date":"2020-10-26T19:55:14","date_gmt":"2020-10-26T19:55:14","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/?p=81"},"modified":"2020-12-03T20:43:54","modified_gmt":"2020-12-03T20:43:54","slug":"cut-away-the-barrier-of-your-heart","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/?p=81","title":{"rendered":"Chapter 10 Cut away the barrier of your heart"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"961\" height=\"360\" src=\"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Copy-of-CH-10.jpg\" alt=\"2 in one picture of original artwork by the author using the Hebrew letters for Love and Caring for the Earth\" class=\"wp-image-141\" srcset=\"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Copy-of-CH-10.jpg 961w, http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Copy-of-CH-10-300x112.jpg 300w, http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Copy-of-CH-10-768x288.jpg 768w, http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/11\/Copy-of-CH-10-690x258.jpg 690w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 961px) 100vw, 961px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li>Cut away the barrier of your heart<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Chapter 10 \u2013 46 Eikev \/ on heels of \/ footprint \u2013 Deuteronomy 7:12-11:<\/strong>25<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Cast off from upon yourselves all your transgressions through which you have transgressed and make for yourselves a new heart and a new <\/em>spirit. Ezekiel 18:31<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>The Commandments<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this parsha <em>Eikev <\/em>[Deu 7:12-11:25] commandments are given that Jews specifically have to do as well as some that are applicable only in Israel, therefore, I will not list these<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWhat Moses is telling us throughout Devarim is that God does not seek blind obedience.\u00a0 The fact that there is no word for <em>obedience<\/em> in biblical Hebrew, in a religion of 613 commands, is stunning in itself (modern Hebrew had to borrow a verb<em>, letzayet<\/em>, from Aramaic).\u00a0 He wants us to listen, not just with our ears but with the deepest resources of our minds.\u00a0 If God had simply sought obedience, he would have created robots, not human beings with a will of their own. (*1)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>&nbsp;Deu 7:16:- &nbsp;You shall not worship other gods but \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 other gods will be a snare for you. (note this is again repeated in Deu 11:16) Do not let your heart be seduced by other gods and go astray and prostrate yourselves before them.&nbsp; G-d will then withhold the blessing of rain for your land.<\/li><li>Deu 8:10:- &nbsp;When you have eaten and be satisfied, thank and bless G-d.<\/li><li>&nbsp;Deu 8:11,18; 9:4:- &nbsp;You shall remember \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 G-d: that it was he who gives you strength to make your wealth,&nbsp; Take care lest you forget \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 your G-d.., lest you eat and be satisfied and build good homes and settle\u2026 and everything that you have will increase \u2013 and your heart will become haughty and you will forget \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 your G-d\u2026 Do not say in your heart\u2026 Because of my righteousness did \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 bring me to possess this land?<\/li><li>Deu 10:12, 16:- &nbsp;What does \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 your G-d asks of you?&nbsp; You shall cut away the barrier of your heart and no longer stiffen your neck.&nbsp; Fear G-d, go in all His ways, love him, serve him with all your heart and with all your soul.&nbsp; Deu 8:5 notes you will be chastised, you will perish if you do not go according to G-d\u2019s ways and fear him.&nbsp; Be grateful, for he is bringing you to a beautiful bountiful land.<\/li><li>Deu 10:18:- &nbsp;Consider the widow and the orphan because G-d cares about them.<\/li><li>Deu 10:19:- You shall love the proselyte (convert) for you were stranger in the land of Egypt.<\/li><li>Deu 11:1-8 &#8211; Do not forget the miracles that G-d did since taking you out of Egypt with a strong hand, as well as His chastisements when you sinned.&nbsp; Once you are in the land, don\u2019t make the excuse that you did not experience all that, and lie and forget.<\/li><li>&nbsp;Deu 11:8,9, 22 Observe ALL of G-d\u2019s commandments in the Promised Land.&nbsp; That, will make you strong and your days will be prolonged to enjoy the land flowing with milk and honey; and then the land will be blessed with rain:&nbsp; the early rains and the late rains, to provide food for you and your animals<\/li><li>Deu 11:18 Place the words of G-d upon you heart and upon your soul.<\/li><li>&nbsp;Deu 11:20 Attach a <em>Mezuzah<\/em> with these words Deu 6:4-9 &amp; 11:13-21, written on the parchment inserted in the Mezuzah, on your doorpost of your house and gates.<\/li><li>Deu 11:19 You shall teach this Torah to your children, to discuss them, while you sit in your home, while you walk on the way, when you retire and when you arise<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>A few comments regarding the above commandments<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[1] Deu 7:16- This commandment is the second commandment of the Ten Commandments [see Ex 20:3]- mentioned straight after the first that states: <em>I am <\/em><em>\u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4<\/em><em> <\/em><em>your G-d, <\/em>and mentioned again and again in the Torah.&nbsp; We know from history that the pagans that lived in the Promised Land and those that surrounded Israel, had many gods as also had Greece and Rome that ruled Israel for periods.&nbsp; Even today there are many cultures and nations that worship many gods.&nbsp; Now, before you think, \u2018well that doesn\u2019t apply to me, \u2018do you worship a famous star [film or singer]?&nbsp; Do you worship status, wealth, prestige, sport of a kind? What do you idolize?&nbsp; What or who takes up all your money, energy, time and mind?&nbsp; <em>\u201c..the idealistic attraction to idolatry ..is not that one feels he is being drawn into another religion, but it is the desire to associate with another culture which just happens to have another god.&nbsp; It is the need to merge into the cultural expressions of another friendly group.\u201d<\/em> (*2)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[2] &nbsp;Deu 8:10 &#8211; There is a well-known painting by the famous American artist Norman Rockwell that shows a grandmother sitting at table in a caf\u00e9 with her grandson, with bowed heads, thanking G-d for the food in front of them,&nbsp; Two young boys to their left that share their table, look on quizzically.&nbsp; Rabbi David Aaron wrote concerning this parashat Eikev<em>: \u201cImagine a man who observes Sabbath but it has no meaning to him \u2013 no taste, The only thing that keeps him doing it is guilt, or respect for the tradition, or simply habit. Without his understanding the meaning behind his observance, it will eventually stop sooner or later, in this generation or the next\u2026getting excited about the commandments driven life requires having a reason.&nbsp; We\u2019re missing the real reason behind it all.&nbsp; And without meaning, tradition becomes stale, and commandments become heavy burdens.\u201d (*3)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Blessing the food we eat and thanking G-d is probably the easiest <em>Mitzvah<\/em>\/Commandment that we do most regularly.&nbsp; <strong>It is therefore one of the many \u2018connections and acknowledgements\u2019 of G-ds existence and presence in our lives, that we can make on a daily basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Think about it, G-d is the creator of everything. It is because of Him giving the blessing of rain and man\u2019s foresight and ability instilled in us by the creator, that we have food on our table.&nbsp; Apart from thanking G-d for the miracles of food, our blessing for what we drink and eat, lift it to a higher and spiritual level.&nbsp; It obviates us being gluttons eating rapaciously (*4)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cMan doesn\u2019t not live by bread alone.\u201d [Deu 8:3]<\/em> a famous line but what does it mean? The verse comes from this week\u2019s Torah reading [see also Matt.4:4] and is a reference to the miraculous manna, which fell from heaven daily in the wilderness.&nbsp; The conclusion of the verse is that man lives by the word of G-d. `Thus, it is reminding us about the true source of human sustenance. Contrary to popular belief, it is neither our earthly toil nor sweat of our brow nor all those conferences, meetings, and sales seminars that ensure our success.&nbsp; The reality is that it is G-d who sustains us and looks after us.\u201d [33.201] (NT reference added by me)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[3] Deu&nbsp; 8:11, 18; 9:4 &#8211; This commandment so aptly describes the well-heeled and prosperous people in the US, Canada, South Africa and Australia <em>et al <\/em>that have fallen victim to the good life. (*5)&nbsp; Too easily when we eat and are satisfied, have good houses, and a holiday home and two cars in the garage, we forget G-d.&nbsp; We become proud, haughty, and arrogant and would even refer to the Bible as those \u2019ancient tales of no use to me\u2019.&nbsp; Deu 7:25 says:\u2019<em>\u2026 you shall not covet and take for yourself the silver and gold that is on them<\/em>(carved images of gods) <em>lest you be ensnared by it\u2019 <\/em>And when things go bad, we suddenly run to G-d and fellow men would tease us, saying we are grabbing at a crutch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Faith is a daily walk and relationship with the Almighty father,&nbsp; such an intimate relationship only comes from knowing Him, through his word and communicating with G-d with Thanksgiving and praise on your lips, in your heart and soul on a daily basis.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[4] <strong>&nbsp;<\/strong>Deu 10:12,16 &#8211; The fourth commandment listed here above is the antidote to the third.&nbsp; In the wink of an eye one can lose everything:&nbsp; your life, health, wealth or status.&nbsp; That is when one realizes only one\u2019s soul, one can hold onto and keep pure and holy as Jews realized in the Concentration Camps.&nbsp; Rabbi Jonathan sacks wrote: <em>\u2018the moral voice itself comes to seem like an un warranted intrusion into personal freedom\u2026 other civilizations failed because they forgot these difficult truths, so easily lost in affluent times,&nbsp; Jews have never forgotten.&nbsp; They made <strong>memory<\/strong> a religious obligation\u2026 Today a view prevails that all ways of life, all lifestyles, are equally valid.&nbsp; Judgment itself is held to be morally wrong because it assaults the principle that each of us should be free to live as we choose\u2026each of us is unique, and there are many different ways of living well\u2026Some ways of life lead on to happiness, others to frustration, loneliness, disappointment and quiet despair.&nbsp; The truth is that we discover what doesn\u2019t work when It is already too late.\u2019 [<\/em>1.178] [my bold emphasis]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[5] Deu 10:18 &#8211; European countries have as of late discovered that their welfare state policies do not work and are headed for total collapse because of the hundreds and thousands of so called refugees from the Middle East and Africa that are flooding their countries.&nbsp; (A Spanish parliamentary actually stated this during Aug. 2018).&nbsp; The Torah teaches us to care for our fellow man in ever growing wider concentric circles.&nbsp; First in the home, the family that forms the basis of society, the extended family and then the immediate community, and so in ever larger groups.&nbsp; What a difference this would make if only we lived like this!&nbsp; More and more governments are experiencing problems to keep up with the costs of social demands their welfare policies create for them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u2018The directive to be holy was given to the entire assembly of the children of Israel\u2026G-d commanded Moshe to gather all of the Jewish people\u2026 This teaches us the [parshas Kedoshim] was said before the entire assembly because the majority of the Torah\u2019s fundamental principles are contingent upon it\u2026.holiness can be attained <u>only when one is part of a community and not in isolation\u2026and treating all people with respect and genuine fraternity<\/u>\u201d [36.51] <\/em>And this has very much been the Jewish tradition through the ages.&nbsp; <em>(my underlining)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[6] Deu 10:19 \u2013 A society or community often find it difficult to practice this commandment when new converts are from a different culture or are a different race or skin colour.&nbsp; The commandment to \u2018Love your neighbor as yourself\u2019 should go hand in hand with this commandment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[7] Deu 11:1-8 &#8211; Believers today also experience daily miracles \u2013 big and small.&nbsp; Often you think it was &nbsp;just \u2018per chance\u2019 or a fluke \u2013 yet usually it is a miracle from G-d.&nbsp; Remember what G-d did for you; remember those small daily miracles.&nbsp; It\u2019s a good habit to diarize these: e.g. \u2018today I un-expectantly bumped into X and happen to mention to Y which led to the right information to solve my problem.\u2019&nbsp; And when we look back over our lives, we can clearly identify the big or small miracles that lead us on in our path of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[8] Deu 11:8,9,22 &#8211; We read the following comment in the <em>Chumash <\/em>regarding these verses:&nbsp; <em>\u201cG-d is aware of and concerned with human activity\u201d <\/em>[11.995] And on the same page we read the beautiful\u2026 Verse: <em>\u2018the eyes of Hashem [G-d], your G-d are always upon it [the land of Israel] from the beginning of the year , to the years end.<\/em>\u2019 [Deu 11:12]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>[10] Deu 11:20 refers to the <em>Mezuza <\/em>is the container affixed on the right side of the gate or door of one\u2019s house, that contains a hand-written parchment on which is written the <strong><em>Shema<\/em><\/strong><em>. <\/em>It is a \u201cr<em>eminder of God\u2019s eternal Presence, in this case in the Jewish home\u2026Upon entering and leaving the home, or any room therein, the Jew is reminded of the potential for sanctity in all aspects of life, and of the relationship one must have with God to achieve a saintly life. In that way the love of God and the positive consequences of our relationship with God will be our central interest and goal in life.\u201d <\/em>[21.232]  (See also Chapter 17)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Commandments 9, 10,&amp;11 mentioned here above are repetitions of what was mentioned in the previous discussion, Parshat 45 Va\u2019etchanan.&nbsp; These commandments are part of the <strong>Shema <\/strong>(*6).&nbsp; The first paragraph of the Shema is found in <em>Va\u2019etchanan<\/em>\u2026And the second in <em>Eikev<\/em>\u2026They are clearly related.&nbsp; They have many ideas in common, but they also diverge at a number of points.&nbsp; \u201c<em>If one examines the text closely, a significant distinction between the two chapters becomes immediately discernable.&nbsp; The first chapter is in the singular; and the second is in the plural.&nbsp; Teach Torah to your son in the first and to your children in the second\u2026 one important answer is that G-d speaks to the individual but G-d also speaks to the community\u201d <\/em>[33.204]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c<em>The first parasha of the Shema is an expression of \u201cTorah for its own sake,\u201d&nbsp; that being the love of God without instrumental significance, and it\u2019s aim its contained within itself.&nbsp; Therefore no reason is given and there are no sanctions.&nbsp; Had one been able to able to give a reason for it, it would have lost its significances a categorical command, as something a person accepts because he sees its value in itself.&nbsp; But not every person is capable of that.&nbsp; We know the saying of Maimonides that the Torah permitted man to serve God and to observe the mitzvoth with the hope of being awarded, and to refrain from sin because of his fear of punishments. It is to these people that the second paragraph of the Shema is addressed.&nbsp; But the purpose of faith isn\u2019t not the results which stem from the fact that there is faith, but the faith itself\u2026 The love of God, the fear of God, and the worship of God are all intermingled, and cannot be separated..\u201d [32.170]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now again consider the above.&nbsp; Is there a commandment or principle that you as a believer or Christian need not do?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>What we learn from the narrative<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In Deu 7:12-15 and 8:1-10 Moses tells Israel of all the blessings they will receive if they <strong>hearken to, observe &amp; perform<\/strong> the ordinances.&nbsp; Then again in Deu 11:13 he again says: \u2018if you indeed heed\u2026\u2019 which means <em>\u201c if you listen \u2013 and I mean really listen\u201d<\/em>&nbsp; Jonathan Sacks furthermore writes<em>:&nbsp; \u2018Listening to another human being, let alone G-d, is an act of opening ourselves up to a mind radically other than our own.&nbsp; This takes courage&#8230; My deepest certainties may be shaken by entering into the mind of one who thinks quite differently about the world\u2026. It is the antidote to narcissism: the belief that we are the center of the universe.&nbsp; It is also the antidote to the fundamentalist mindset characterized by the late Professor Bernard Lewis as ,\u2019I\u2019m right; your wrong; go to hell.\u201d (*1)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It is said that the world that you live in is a product of your perception of reality.\u00a0 If Israel kept the commandments, G-d said he would safeguard the covenant and loving kindness (<em>Chessed) <\/em>He swore to their forefathers.\u00a0 They will be blessed and loved by G-d; they will have many children, the land will be blessed to be fruitful.\u00a0 Verse 14 states \u2018you will be most blessed of all peoples\u2019\u00a0 Any believer and follower of the G-d of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob that keeps his commandments will also experience bountiful blessings.\u00a0 But it can depend on your perception of your circumstances.\u00a0 Rabbi David Aaron gives a striking example;\u2019 <em>Imagine three people sitting right next to each other in a doctors waiting room&#8230;Let\u2019s say the first person walked in and complained, \u2019Oh, how small this room is.\u2019\u00a0 The second person enters and exclaims, \u2018Look, how bright this room is\u2019.\u00a0 The third person comes in and thinks \u2018Ugh, what a messy room.\u2019\u00a0 Now they are sitting inches apart, but they are not in the same room.\u00a0 The first person is sitting in a small room feeling really cramped.\u00a0 The second person is sitting in a light room, feeling cheerful.\u00a0 The third person is sitting in a messy room feeling disgusted\u2026Your consciousness of G-d determines how much of the light and truth [<\/em>and blessings<em>] will be allowed into your world.\u00a0 To the extent that you acknowledge G-d, to that extent G-d will be in your life.\u00a0 This is a very crucial idea.\u00a0 Although G-d is, G-d is not revealed in your perceptual world unless you actively acknowledge and invite G-d in,\u2019 (*7)<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deu 7:18-21\u00a0 Moses said to Israel, who was about to enter the Promised Land knew it had giants that made them feel like grasshoppers, \u2018<em>Do not fear!&#8230;for \u00a0\u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4, your God is among you, a great and awesome God\u2019<\/em>\u00a0 Later we read G-d saying to Joshua as they were about to enter the land: Jos 1:5\u2026<em>\u2019as I was with Moses so will I be with you; I will not release you nor will I foresake you.\u00a0 Be strong and courageous.\u2019 <\/em>(this last phrase is repeated in verse 7&amp;9) We too often have to remind ourselves of G-ds nearness, not to fear, but to hold on to him <em>for \u2018The name of \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 is a strong tower; The righteous run into it and are safe\u2019<\/em> [Proverbs 18:10]\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Is it not amazing that the Israelites \u2018 garments and sandals did not wear out all of the forty years, and their feet did not swell. Read Deu 8:4&nbsp; Such was G-d\u2019s safeguarding!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>From Deu 8:2 we learned that G-d tested them<em>. \u2018\u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 your God led you these forty years in the Wilderness so as to afflict you, to test you, to know what is in your heart, whether you would observe his commandments or not\u2019 <\/em>The message to us is to be faithful, trust G-d and perservere.\u00a0 Do not give up!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deu 9:4 \u2018\u2026<em>Because of the wickedness of these nations did Hashem (G-d) drive them away from before you.\u2019<\/em> Often the fact that israel had to destroy all the pagan nations, men women and children included, is questioned and seen as being cruel and without mercy.\u00a0 We are not given details of their sinful life style; rather not to fill our memory banks with the awful misdeeds and disgusting behaviors of the heathens.\u00a0 We can be sure that it was because of their unacceptable behavior and wickedness according to G-d. that they have to be destroyed.\u00a0 We never need to doubt the long suffering and mercifulness of \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 our God \u2018<em>for very great are His mercies\u2019 <\/em>[1Ch 21:13] [see also Ex34:6, Deu4:31] In verse 5 Moses reiterates that the Israelites should not think their righteousness is sufficient, but that G-d is a faithful and\u00a0G-d honors his convenant with their forefathers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deu 9:17 Moses broke the two tablets on which G-d wrote the Ten commandments because they were the <em>Ketuba<\/em> (marriage contract) so to say and had Israel read them, they would have been guilty of unfaithfullness; he therefore interceded for them.\u00a0 (Read Jeremiah 31:31).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Deu 9:19 and :25-29\u00a0 We read here how Moses pleads to G-d and reasons with him just as Abraham did \u2013 see Genesis 18:22-33. \u05d9\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 is a G-d that one can talk to;\u00a0 He is a loving Father.\u00a0 Even though we read \u2018<em>For \u05d9-\u05d4\u05d5\u05d4 your \u00a0God \u2013 he is the G-d of the powers and the Lord of Lords, the great, mighty and awesome G-d, who does not show favor and who does not accept a bribe\u2019. <\/em>[Deu 10:17]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201c<strong>At the heart of Judaism is a convenant of love.\u00a0 Judaism has often been seen &#8211;\u00a0 notoriously by Christianity \u2013 as a religion of law and justice rather then love and compassion<\/strong>.\u00a0\u00a0 To be sure, Judaism is a religion of law and justice between human beings, because only where there is law can there be a just society, and Judaism is nothing if not a religion of society.\u00a0 But <strong>between God and man there is a bond of love\u2026<\/strong>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c \u2018In that day, declares the Lord, You will call Me \u201cmy husband\u201d (ishi); You will no longer call Me, \u201cmy master\u201d (Baali) [Hosea 2:18]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>\u201cFor Hosea, at the core of Baal worship is the primitive idea that God rules the world by force, as husbands rule families in societies where power determines the structure of relationships\u2026.The God to whom we speak in prayer is not the ultimate power but the ultimate person, the Other in whom I find myself.\u201d [1.86]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can even say that Moses cared for the reputation of G-d.&nbsp; In fact there is an expression where we say <em>Kiddush Ha-shem<\/em>, when something is said or done that is to the glory of G-d.&nbsp; The converse is <em>Hillul HaShem,<\/em> which refers to an utterence or action that profanes the name of G-d, or even any actions that brings disgrace to Israel or Jews.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><u>What we learn from the Hebrew<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Not only the actual Hebrew language teaches us so much more, but also the stylistic structure of the Torah.&nbsp; The fact that the narrative is not always in a chronological order has meaning, and often <strong><em>chiastic <\/em><\/strong>structures appears.&nbsp; Repetition of words in a section is also noteworthy.&nbsp; Note for instance how often the word \u2018remember\u2019 appears, and how many times the word \u2018love\u2019 is used in this Parshas Eikev.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cThe true meaning of the word \u2018 love\u2019, ahav, in Hebrew: \u201cThe first biblical usage of this verb is in Genesis 22:2, where it refers to the relationship between Avraham and Yitzchak.&nbsp; To a<em>hav<\/em> means to consciously choose as a favourite, to pursue time with and communion\/fellowship and constant interaction with, and to thereby bond with, someone, prefering that person\u2019s company, ways, opinions, and values over any other.\u201d(*8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c The word our English Bibles translate as \u201cbless\u201d is\u00a0 <strong>Barach<\/strong>,<strong> <\/strong>means to release from restrictions and limitations.\u00a0 To <strong>barach<\/strong> someone or something means to infuse the object of blessing with unlimited potential and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8220;The Holy One will do that with us.\u00a0 He will release us from restrictions,\u00a0 He will release us from limitations.\u00a0 He will infuse us with unlimited potential and empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c The word our English Bibles translate as \u201crain\u201d in this passage is <strong>Matar,\u2026<\/strong> Strong\u2019s Hebrew #4306 , pronounced <em>maw-<strong>tawr<\/strong>\u2019<\/em><strong>.&nbsp; Matar<\/strong> does not, However, mean only \u2018rain\u2019 in the sense of precipitation.&nbsp; Rather, it refers Hebraically to <strong><em>anything that that falls or is dispatched <u>from heaven to earth.<\/u><\/em><\/strong> (*8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201c In Eretz Yisroel, we are dependant upon the former and the latter rains.&nbsp; If the former rain [ <strong><em>yoreh<\/em><\/strong>] does not fall in October through December [beginning immediately after sukkot, and continuing intermittently through Chanuka], our land will be too dry in the Spring.&nbsp; If the latter rain [<strong>mal\u2019kosh<\/strong>] does not fall in March and April [ between Purim and Pesach &amp; Feast of Matzah], our crops will wither on the vine and stalk, and yield no harvest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cWe must have the rains.&nbsp; We must trust the Holy One for the rains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cAnd the Holy One will discipline us, by depriving us of the rains we need, if we <strong><em>lo sh\u2019ma <\/em><\/strong>[not listen, hear, heed, and walk in] His instructions for living. (*8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>FOOTNOTES<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*1 Sacks, Jonathan. <em>Listen, Really Listen<\/em>. Eikev. Covernant and Conversation. &nbsp;2018\/5778<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*2 Va-etchanan, 2009. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.yourlivingwatrers.com\">www.yourlivingwatrers.com<\/a>&nbsp; Ardelle brody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*3 You get Back What You Put In.&nbsp; <em>The Joys of a Commandment- Driven Life<\/em>. Rabbi David Aaron, Isralight, 2018<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*4 The Torah way of honoring the food that we eat as being a gift from G-d, and treating animals humanely, is in stark contrast to the horrifying news and video showing black Africans cutting meat from a horse they kept tied up alive and a mob in Africa hacking at a live elephant lying squirming in agony while they hack away at him.&nbsp; No wonder the Torah forbids us to tear a limb off a live animal [ see Leviticus 17] see also Dallen [12.97-121] In Psalm 50:10 we read: <em>For mine is every beast of the forest; the Behemoth upon a thousand hills.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>*5 \u201cI think we sometimes forget the real <\/em>Galut mentality<em> is not necessarily living in a ghetto, but considering the non-Jewish world to be so great.&nbsp; The real exile within, the exile inside our own heads and hearts,\u201d [32.203]<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*6 The Shema is the closest Judaism gets to a \u2018confession of faith\u2019.\u00a0 It does not have a confession of faith as other religions have.\u00a0 The first pharagraph of the Shema is in Deu 6:4-9 and the second paragraph is in Deu 11:13-21 and therefore appear in this parshat that I discussed.\u00a0 Miamonides, also known as the Rambam, listed 13 priciples of faith that are also regarded as the basic faith principles that a Jew adheres to., <strong>\u201cthe fundamental truths of our religion and its very foundations.\u201d:<\/strong>&#8211;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ol type=\"1\"><li>Belief in the existence of the creator, who is perfect in every manner of existence and is the Primary Cause of all that exists.<\/li><li>The belief in G-ds absolute and unparalleled unity.<\/li><li>The belief in G-ds\u2019s non-corporeality, nor that he will be affected by any physical occurrences, such as movement, or rest, or dwelling.<\/li><li>The belief in G-ds eternity<\/li><li>The imperative to worship G-d exclusively and no foreign false gods.<\/li><li>The belief that G-d communicates with man through prophecy.<\/li><li>The belief in the primacy of the prophecy of Moses our teacher<\/li><li>The belief of the divine origin of the Torah.<\/li><li>The belief of the immutability of the Torah.<\/li><li>The Belief in G-d\u2019s omniscience and providence.<\/li><li>The belief in divine reward and retribution<\/li><li>The belief in the arrival of the Messia and the Messianic era<\/li><li>The belief of the ressurection of the dead.<\/li><\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p>It is the custom of many congregations to recite the Thirteen Articles, In a slighly more poetic form, beginning with the words <em>Ani Maamin\u2014<\/em>\u201cI believe\u201d\u2014everyday after the morning prayers in the synagogue. [See Chabad.org or page 179 of the Artscroll Siddur.]<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>&#8212;The word Shema\/ shamoa tishme\u2019u, &nbsp;appears 92 times In Deutronomy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*7 Rabbi David Aaron. <em>What you see is what you get.<\/em> Sparks, Isralight, Dec 2010<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>*8 Bill Bullock. <em>Ekev<\/em>. Rabbisson@cableone.net<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cut away the barrier of your heart Chapter 10 \u2013 46 Eikev \/ on heels of \/ footprint \u2013 Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25 Cast off from upon yourselves all your transgressions through which you have transgressed and make for yourselves a new heart and a new spirit. Ezekiel 18:31 The Commandments In this parsha Eikev [Deu 7:12-11:25] [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=81"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":189,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/81\/revisions\/189"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=81"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=81"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/nachalayim.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=81"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}