Weekly Cycle



Sunday, March 22, 2015

Week 40 (Book 5): Upholding our Morality in Exile



SONG OF SONGS: 2. I would lead you, I would bring you to the house of my mother, who instructed me; I would give you to drink some spiced wine, of the juice of my pomegranate.          


70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Arodi and Naaman

                                                                                               

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 40 – Returning Disputed Items


BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 40


Week 40 in the Jewish calendar is the second week of Tammuz. The verse of Shir HaShirim of this week makes reference to the Temple, calling it “the house of my mother.” (See Rashi) The month of Tammuz is very much connected to exile and the destruction of the Temple. The number forty is the gematria of the letter Mem and next week, 41, is the gematria of Alef Mem, which spells, Em, mother. The verse also mentions the pomegranate, and this period of the year is connected to the pomegranate in Perek Shirah (See Book 6).


Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the fortieth mentioned is Arodi. The name seems related to the verb to descend, Lered, which is also connected to exile. This week is also connected to Naaman, son of Benjamin, whose means pleasant, a reference to how Joseph’s deeds were “seemly and pleasant.” Like Joseph, we must hold fast to the ways of righteousness, even in exile.


Daf Mem (Folio 40) of Shvuot describes admission related to paying someone back. Interestingly, this is related to Book 1, Week 40, in which the Wolf decries stealing – the wolf specifically mentions, “the ox, the donkey, the lamb, the garment, for every lost item” and the daf too, discusses all sorts of of items in dispute, including ox, sheep, vessels, land, etc. Again, the focus is on maintaining our moral standards, even in exile.


Chapter 40 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. It introduces the leader Gedaliah, a righteous leader. Because of Gedaliah’s righteousness, despite the great destruction that befell us, life is able to regain some degree of normalcy.


9. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan swore to them and to their men, saying, "Fear not to serve the Chaldeans. Dwell in the land and serve the king of Babylon, and it will go well with you.  

10. And I, behold I dwell in Mizpah to stand before the Chaldeans who will come to us, and you gather wine and dried figs and oil and put [them] into your vessels and dwell in your cities, which you have taken. 

11. And also, all the Jews who [were] in Moab and among the children of Ammon and in Edom and who [were] in all the lands, heard that the king of Babylon had given Judah a remnant and that he had appointed over them Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan. 

12. And all the Jews returned from all the places they had been driven, and they came to the land of Judah to Gedaliah to Mizpah, and they gathered very much wine and dried figs.


Gedaliah was also so righteous that he refused to believe that another leader would attempt to assassinate him.

16. And Gedaliah the son of Ahikam said to Johanan the son of Kareah, "Do not do this thing for you speak falsely about Ishmael."

Sunday, March 15, 2015

Week 41 (Book 5): G-d's Right and Left "Hands"


SONG OF SONGS: 3. His left hand would be under my head, and his right hand would embrace me.

SEVENTY SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Areli and Ehi

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 41 – Repayment of Loans

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 41

Week 41 in the Jewish calendar is the week of Yud Beit/Yud Gimmel Tammuz, as well as the 17th of Tammuz. The verse of Shir HaShirim of this week is one that if often quoted in the Tanya and under Chassidic and Kabbalistic sources. At the same that Hashem’s left hand (representing gevurah, discipline) is under our heads he is also embracing us with His right hand (Chesed, kindness). Hashem supported us through our exiles and difficulties; he also supported the Sixth Lubbavitcher Rebbe under the difficult times he faced.

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the forty-first mentioned is Areli. This name contains the same letters as Ariel, the Lion of G-d, one of the names of the Temple. This week is also connected to Ehi, son of Benjamin, whose name means “my brother” (Achi), a reference to how Joseph was Benjamin’s brother. Brotherly love is what will bring about the rebuilding of the Temple.

Daf Mem Alef (Folio 41) of Shvuot continues to discuss the repayment of loans, and whether that must be done in front of witnesses. The daf also discusses the diference between an oath that is d’rabbanan and one that is d’oraisa, and how a d’rabbanan oath can be reversed, although payment is extracted through other means. This is also related to the 17th of Tammuz, in which payment is extracted for our “spiritual” debts.

Chapter 41 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. The chapter describes the murder of Gedaliah (for which we also fast until this day, like the 17th of Tammuz) and the internal divisions within the Jewish people (reminiscent of earlier divisions), which caused continued suffering.

2. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah and the ten men who were with him arose and smote Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, with the sword, and he slew him, whom the king of Babylon had appointed in the land, 

3. and all the Jews who were with him, with Gedaliah in Mizpah, and the Chaldeans who were found there, the men of war, Ishmael smote.  

4. And it came about on the second day of [his] slaying Gedaliah-and no one knew 

5. that men came from Shechem, from Shiloh, and from Samaria, eighty men, with shaven beards and rent garments and having cut themselves, with a meal-offering and frankincense in their hand[s], to bring to the house of the Lord. 

6. And Ishmael the son of Nethaniah came out toward them from Mizpah, walking and weeping, and it came about when he met them, that he said to them, "Come to Gedaliah the son of Ahikam."

7. And it came to pass when they came into the midst of the city, that Ishmael the son of Nethaniah slew them into the pit, he and the men who were with him. 

8. And ten men were found among them, and they said to Ishmael, "Do not slay us, for we have stores in the field; wheat and barley and oil and honey." And he refrained and did not slay them among their brothers.

9. Now the pit into which Ishmael had cast all the corpses of the men whom he had slain because of Gedaliah-that was [the one] that King Asa had made because of Baasa, king of Israel. That one Ishmael the son of Nethaniah filled with corpses.



Sunday, March 8, 2015

Week 42 (Book 5): Faithfulness in Exile

 

SONG OF SONGS: 4. I adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem; why should you awaken, and why should you arouse the love until it is desirous?"

           

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Asher and Rosh

                                                                                               

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 42 – Paying Back Loans


BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 42

 Week 42 in the Jewish calendar is the last week of Tammuz, and the first of the three weeks of mourning over the destruction of the Temple. In the verse of Shir HaShirim of this week, the Jewish people call out to the other nations, adjuring them not to interfere in its relationship with G-d. It brings to mind the song of the Hound in Book 1, and how the Jewish people maintain their loyalty to G-d despite the difficulties of exile, and how G-d maintains his faithfulness to us. This is also captured in Rashi’s comment on the above verse: “Now the congregation of Israel addresses the nations, “Even though I complain and lament, my Beloved holds on to my hand, and He is my support in my exile; therefore, I adjure you.”

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the forty-second mentioned is Asher. Asher means “happy.” This week is also connected to Rosh, son of Benjamin, whose name means “head,” a reference to how Joseph was Benjamin’s superior. When Mashiach comes and the Temple is rebuilt, this week will be one of happiness, one in which we will feel like a “head” and not a “tail.” Both Asher and Rosh contain the same letters, Reish and Shin, just in reverse. With the slightest of variations, these letters spell Rash, poor. These weeks tend to be difficult times as well.

Daf Mem Beit (Folio 42) of Shevuoth continues to discuss the repayment of loans. It discusses the case of someone who is established as a liar, as well as questionable documents, and other cases of breaches of trust. Again, this is related to the 17th of Tammuz, in which payment is exacted for our spiritual “debts.”
Chapter 42 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. The chapter mentions faithfulness and G-d’s help during exile.

5. And they said to Jeremiah, "May the Lord be a true and faithful witness against us if we do not do according to the entire matter that the Lord your God shall send you to us. 
6. Whether good or bad, we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God, to Whom we are sending you, in order that it be good for us, for we will hearken to the voice of the Lord our God.

(...)

10. If you dwell in this land, I will build you up and I will not pluck you up, for I have repented of the evil that I have done to you. 

11. Fear not the king of Babylon whom you fear; fear it not, says the Lord, for I am with you to redeem you and to save you from his hand.

Sunday, March 1, 2015

Week 43 (Book 5): Holding On Through the Birthpangs of Mashiach




SONG OF SONGS: 5. "Who is this coming up from the desert, embracing her beloved?" "Under the apple tree I aroused you; there your mother was in travail with you; there she that bore you was in travail."

           

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Imnah and Muppim


TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 43 – Guardians Who Are Exempt from Payment and the Loss of a Security.


BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 43

Week 43 in the Jewish calendar is the week of Rosh Chodesh Av. This is a difficult period in the Jewish year, and also the week of the yahrzeit of Aharon. The verse of Shir HaShirim of this week speaks of the Jewish people holding on strongly to Hashem (under an apple tree) (This 22-day period is connected to the apple (Tapuach), and the Tapuach’s song is from Shir HaShirim, See Book 6). It also speaks of the travail of the Jewish people, its birthpangs. This week’s themes – the proximity to G-d symbolized by Aharon, but also the difficulty of these days, associated with the birthpangs of Mashiach.

Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the forty-third mentioned is Imnah. Imnah appears related to the word Yemin, right, or right hand. It is a reference to Hashem’s great might, with which He redeemed us at the time of the Exodus. Although, during these day throughout history, we have experienced Hashem’s might “against” us, in the future, it will be in Av that Mashiach will be born and we will experience an even greater redemption, and witness even greater might.
Imnah also appears to come from the word Limnot, “to count.” This week is also connected to Muppim, son of Benjamin, whose name is a reference to Joseph’s exceeding beauty. It was Aharon’s job to count the Jewish people with Moshe, focusing on their good points, their strength and their beauty.
Daf Mem Gimmel (Folio 43) of Shvuot discusses cases when a shomer (guardian) is exempt from paying, how claims must be quantified, and what happens when a security is lost. This seems relate to the above, related perhaps to Aharon as a guardian of the Jewish people, who “quantified” (counted) them in the desert. It also appears related to the loss of the “security” G-d entrusted to us, the Temple, which took place during this time of the year.
Chapter 43 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. The chapter speaks of gathering all the people that had remained in the land. It also speaks of the interaction between the people and their guardian at the time - the prophet Jeremiah. However, the people did not listen to Jeremiah. Instead, they chose to listen to Johanan the son of Kareah, who gathered them and took them to Egypt.

4. And Johanan the son of Kareah and all the officers of the armies and all the people did not hearken to the voice of the Lord to dwell in the land of Judah.  

5. And Johanan the son of Kareah and all the officers of the armies took all the remnant of Judah that had returned from all the nations where they had been driven, to sojourn in the land of Judah, 

6. the men and the women and the children and the king's daughters and all the people whom Nebuzaradan the chief executioner had left with Gedaliah the son of Ahikam the son of Shaphan, and Jeremiah the prophet and Baruch the son of Neriah. 

7. And they came to the land of Egypt, for they did not hearken to the voice of the Lord, and they came to Tahpanhes.

Sunday, February 22, 2015

Week 44 (Book 5): "Love is as Strong as Death"


SONG OF SONGS: 6. "Place me like a seal on your heart, liked a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, zeal is as strong as the grave; its coals are coals of fire of a great flame!

70 SOULS THAT DESCENDED TO EGYPT: Ishvah and Huppim

TALMUD SHEVUOTH: Daf 44 - Loss of Security, Entering a House and Removing Its Valuables

BOOK OF JEREMIAH: Chapter 44

Week 44 in the Jewish calendar is the week of Tisha B’Av, which marks the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, as well as the enormous destruction that took place at those times. The death and destruction is remembered every year, with fasting and other signs of intense mourning. It is also a day in which we remember all the tragedies that occurred in Jewish history, including the Holocaust.

The verse of Shir HaShirim is hauntingly connected to such destruction. It speaks of death and the grave, and even of a “seal on your arm,” (like the numbers etched on the arms of the Jews in concentration camps), and a great fire (like the one that burned the Temples). Yet love is stronger than death! In the end, we survived, and the great flame of our people burns strongly still today.
           
Of the seventy souls of the Jewish people that descended to Egypt, the forty-fourth mentioned is Ishvah. Ishvah has the same root as the word Leshavot, and appears related to the Pirkei Avot quality necessary for acquiring the Torah for this week mentioned in Book 2: Mityashev Liboh Betalmudoh, which means to be deliberate, literally to, "settle one's heart" in his study. As mentioned in Book 2, great part of the destruction of the Temple that occurred on the 9th of Av was due to to the hot-headed behavior of the zealots at that time. The Torah scholars of the time, on ther other hand, sought calm and compromise. This week is also connected to Huppim, son of Benjamin, whose name is related to a Chuppah, a wedding canopy, a reference to the fact that Benjamin did not get to see Joseph’s wedding. The Chuppah is the ultimate symbol of peace and normalcy, as famously contained in the prophecy of Jeremiah (Chapter 33), part of the Shevah Brachot said under the Chuppah:

10. So said the Lord: There shall again be heard in this place, concerning which you say, "It is desolate without man and without beast," in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem that are desolate without a man and without an inhabitant and without a beast, 
11. the sound of mirth and the sound of joy, the voice of a bridegroom and the voice of a bride, the sound of those saying, "Thank the Lord of Hosts, for the Lord is good, for His loving-kindness endures forever," bringing a thanksgiving offering to the House of the Lord, for I will restore the captivity of the land as at first, said the Lord.  

The above words of Jeremiah express the tragedy of Tisha B'Av and the destruction of Jerusalem, as well as the ultimate redemption. The Chuppah also associated with love, mentioned above, and Tu B'Av, in the following week, a day very much associated with marriage and love. Tu B'Av is the "high" that immediately follow these Tisha B'Av's "lows."
Daf Mem Dalet (Folio 44) of Shvuot continues the discussion of the case of a mashkon (security) that was lost, just like the Temple (See Week 43). It also starts a new chapter, discussing oaths taken to receive payment. Much of this relates to someone enters someone else’s house without permission. It discusses a case in which that person takes vessels from the owner and a case in which he is wounded by the owner. It also seems related to Tisha B’Av, in which our house, the House of G-d, was entered without permission and vessels were removed, as well as the fact that those that entered the House were punished and will ultimately be punished again in the future.

There is also a discussion of whether this refers to when a party partially admits fault: a party to the taking of one vessel versus two), or a party admits to wounding the other one time versus twice. This last discussion appears related to the fact that two Temples were destroyed, both on Tisha B’Av.

Chapter 44 of the Book of Jeremiah contains a similar theme to the above. The chapter speaks of the great destruction brought upon Jerusalem and the cities of Judah. It also speaks of not listening to the prophets (Av in general is connected to the sense of hearing). Interestingly, it also focuses particularly on the idolatry of wives (related to the theme of marriage, mentioned above)

2. So said the Lord of Hosts, the God of Israel; You saw all the evil that I brought upon Jerusalem and upon all the cities of Judah, and behold, they are waste, and there are no inhabitants in them, 
3. because of their evil, which they did to provoke Me, to go to burn incense to worship other gods, which they did not know, [neither did] you nor your forefathers.  
4. And I sent to you all My servants the prophets, sending them betimes, saying: Now do not do this abominable thing which I hate.  
5. But they did not hearken, nor did they incline their ear[s] to repent of their evil, not to burn incense to other gods. 

6. And My anger and My fury were poured out, and it burnt in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, and they have become waste and desolate as this day. 

7. And now, so said the Lord God of Hosts, the God of Israel; Why do you do this great evil to your souls, to cut off from you man and woman, child and suckling from the midst of Judah, not to leave over a remnant for yourselves, 

8. to provoke Me with the deeds of your hands, to burn incense to other gods in the land of Egypt where you are coming to sojourn, in order to cut yourselves off and in order for you to become a curse and a reproach among all the nations of the earth. 

9. Have you forgotten the evils of your forefathers and the evils of the kings of Judah and the evils of his wives and the evils of your wives, that they did in the land of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem?


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