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GOOD MORNING! There is much confusion amongst Jews as to what we believe as Jews. What are the essential Jewish beliefs? Actually, throughout the ages the greatest of our sages have dealt with this question. Rambam, Moses Maimonides (1135-1204), is well-known and revered by Jews across the board as a Jewish philosopher and scholar. He formulated The 13 Principles of Jewish Belief as the essential beliefs required of every Jew. They are found in almost every prayer book and are accepted as the unambiguous creed of Judaism.
The Thirteen Principles of Belief fall into three categories: (A) the nature of the belief in God, (B) the authenticity, validity and immutability of the Torah, and (C) the responsibilities upon human beings and our ultimate reward. Every principle as stated by Maimonides is prefaced with "I believe with complete belief that..." This week and next week I will enumerate and elucidate with the explanations found in the Artscroll Siddur.
The Nature of the Belief in God has five principles:
For a brilliant exposition on the "Thirteen Principles of Belief," read Fundamentals and Faith by Rabbi Yakov Weinberg, former Rosh HaYeshiva of Ner Yisroel Yeshiva in Baltimore (and brother of Rabbi Noah Weinberg, founder and leader of the Aish HaTorah). Another excellent book is Maimonides' Principles - The Fundamentals of Jewish Faith by Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan. Both are available at your local Jewish bookstore, at judaicaenterprises.com or by calling toll-free to 877-758-3242.
For more on "The 13 Principles of Belief" go to ShabbatShalomAudio.com!
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Torah Portion of the Week
Chukat
Another week of action, adventure and mystery as the Jewish people wander the desert in their 38th year. First, the laws of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah) which was burnt with cedar wood, hyssop and scarlet thread. The ashes were then used in a purification ceremony for those who had come in contact with the dead. Strangely enough, all who were involved in the making of the ashes became ritually impure, but all who were sprinkled with them became ritually pure. It is a lesson that we must do the commandments even if we can't understand them. God decreed the commandments. They are for our benefit. We may not always know why.
Miriam, Moshe's sister and a prophetess, dies. The portable well which had accompanied the Israelites on her merit, ceased to flow. Once again the people rebelled against Moshe and Aharon because of the lack of water. The Almighty tells Moshe to speak to the rock for water. (There are two episodes with the Almighty commanding Moshe concerning the rock. The other time, Moshe was commanded to hit the rock.) Moshe gets angry and hits the rock and water rushes forth. The Almighty punishes Moshe and Aharon for not sanctifying Him by forbidding their entry into the land of Israel. (It pays to follow instructions and to withhold anger!)
Aharon dies. His son, Elazar, is appointed the new High Priest. The Canaanite king of Arad attacks the Israelites and later is soundly defeated. Then there is another rebellion over the food and water which is answered by a plague of poisonous snakes. Moshe prays for the people and is instructed by God to put the image of a snake on a high pole. All who saw it would think of God, repent and live.
The Israelites then annihilate the Amorites and Bashanites who not only would not let us pass peacefully through their lands, but attacked us. There are many questions which need to be asked. Please consult the original work and a good commentary.
Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
The Torah states:
"This is the Torah, if a person dies in a tent..." (Numbers 16:11).
What homiletical lesson can we learn from this verse?
The Talmud, Tractate Brochos 63b), tells us that the Torah only lasts with those who die over it. This seems very puzzling since the Torah is for living as it states in Leviticus 18:5: "And you shall live with them (the commandments)."
The Chofetz Chaim gave the following analogy: A very successful merchant was so busy taking care of the customers who came to his store that he had no time for Torah study. He noticed one day that his hair was turning gray and he realized that he was getting older. He knew that the day he would leave this world was getting closer. He therefore decided that he would go each morning to the synagogue to pray with a minyan (quorum of 10 men over the age of 13) and to study Torah for a couple of hours.
When he came late to the store, his wife was frantic. People would have come to his store if he were there - they were losing customers! He calmly told his wife, "What would I do if the Angel of Death came to me and told me that my time in this world was up? Could I tell him that I can't go yet since I'll miss out on customers? If I were already dead I would not be able to come to the store. Therefore, each day let us imagine for a couple of hours that I have already died. This way I am able to study Torah each day."
This, said the Chofetz Chaim, is what the Sages are advising us. You might be very busy and feel that you do not have any time to study Torah. However, if you will just view yourself as if you were already dead, you will find the time to study Torah which gives life to those who study it!
CANDLE LIGHTING - June 30:
(or Go to http://www.aish.com/shabbat/candlelighting.asp)
Jerusalem 7:14
Guatemala 6:16 - Hong Kong 6:53 - Honolulu 6:59
J'Burg 5:06 - London 9:03 - Los Angeles 7:50
Melbourne 4:53 - Mexico City 7:00 - Miami 7:59
New York 8:13 - Singapore 6:57 - Toronto 8:45
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
Happiness is that state of consciousness
which proceeds from the achievement
of one's values.
-- Ayn Rand
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