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Parashat Beha’alotcha

(When You Raise (the Lamps))

Winston Churchill is said to have said: “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity. An optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty. “

Parshat Beha’alotcha is a Torah portion of both difficulty and opportunity. Here’s the sequence of events in this portion.

1. The Levites prepare for service in the Tabernacle.

2. The commandment to offer the Passover sacrifice is given.

TORAH READING

Numbers 8:1-12:16

In this Torah portion, the Israelites receive instructions regarding Passover. They journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions, provoking God’s anger. Miriam and Aaron speak against Moses.

FULL SUMMARY HAFTARAH SUMMAR

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Shabbat shalom from me to you

The Parasha, which we read every Shabbat, consists of both a passage from the Torah and from the Prophets. The passage from the Prophets is called ‘Haftarah’.

This week’s Haftarah is Zechariah 2:14-4:7.

It opens with the words: “Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion, for, behold! I will come and dwell in your midst, says the Lord.”

Zechariah then describes a scene in the Heavenly Court: the Satan seeks to incriminate Joshua, the first High Priest to serve in the Second Temple, because of the “soiled garments” (his sins) he was wearing.

God himself then defends the High Priest, saying: “The Lord shall rebuke you, O Satan; the Lord who chose Jerusalem shall rebuke you. Is Joshua not a brand plucked from fire?”

How dare Satan prosecute an individual who endured the hardships of exile?

Then God raised His voice and said, “Take the filthy garments off him…. See, I have removed your iniquity from you and I have clad you with clean garments.”

In these days the nations say the Jewish people have no right to our land, Israel, because our ‘garments’ are filthy, hence we are not holy enough to receive God’s promises. But God Himself will rebuke our accusers (the satans). He will remove our iniquity and clothe us with clean garments.

שבת שלום

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“Until you get comfortable with being alone, you’ll never know if you are choosing someone out of love or loneliness.”

— Mandy Hale

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“Plein Air” by Enric Sant, 2016, oil on wood

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Judith Beheading Holofernes by Caravaggio // Judith Slaying Holofernes by Artemisia Gentileschi // Judith Cutting Off the Head of Holofernes by Trophime Bigot // Judith with the Head of Holofernes by Peter Paul Rubens