Rabbi Abe Abrahami

(Dedicated to the complete healing of Yocheved bat Sarah)

[G-d said to Moses:] "Take revenge for the Israelites against the Midianites. Then you shall [die and] be gathered to your people."

Commentary: a person should settle his household scores and affairs before he passes onto the next trip the soul lives forever and reincarnated in its forward journey after the body ceases to be. Midian comes from the Hebrew word of Madon quarrel the people who quarrel with us; then and today we must settle our score with them before we move on!

[Spoils of war of revenge] "Whatever was used over fire must be brought over fire and purged, and [then] purified with the water. However, that which was not used over fire need only be immersed in the water."

Commentary: from this instruction we learn the rules for Hagalat Kelim purification of vessels in a Jewish household, including those for Passover. This is also for us a hint how we purify ourselves, through fire and water the Torah is compared to both learning Torah achieves this goal.

"The descendants of Reuben and Gad had an extremely large number of animals, and they saw that the Ya'azer and Gilead areas were good for livestock"

Commentary: the idea of leaving the land of Israel is not new, right from the beginning, part of the Israelite nation wished to live abroad, and Moses agreed to it. Therefore, do not be quick to condemn Jews who live outside the land of Israel, every person has a reason to live where he/she does this a form of Tikun a repair of a blemish, a unique challenge to overcome

Haftarah: Jeremiah 1:1 - 2:3

Chapter 1
" and the Lord said to me: See, I appoint you this day Over nations and kingdoms: To uproot and to pull down, To destroy and to overthrow, To build and to plant."

Commentary: the above text does not apply only to Biblical times as history repeats itself in a cycle a day will come, when the Messiah arrives, and resurrection takes place, he will be instructed to deliver these decrees. Yirmiah is not just the Hebrew name of Jeremiah. It is made of two words; Yarim Y-ah, those whom G-d will uplift/elevate the Messiah, Israel and righteous nations they merit a lofty recognition, as the paragraph below proclaim.

Chapter 2
"Go proclaim to Jerusalem: Thus said the Lord: I accounted to your favour.
The devotion of your youth, your love as a bride - How you followed Me in the wilderness, In a land not sown.
Israel was holy to the Lord, The first fruits of His harvest."

Commentary: Yisrael does not simply mean Israel, the Jewish nation. The word comes from and includes the Hebrew combination of words: Yesh E-l; meaning - "there is G-d". All those in whom there is a true G-dly compassion, the Lord will reciprocate with love as a farmer who greatly appreciates the fist fruit of the harvest. Yisrael, in Hebrew - is also derived from the words "Serarah of E-l" the rule of G-d. In all those who allow the true divine rule to prevail over their lives, not fear of threat or blackmail, but unconditional love, they will be rewarded.

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