Shabbat Bemidbar Shabbat 26 May 2012 5 Sivan 5772 Bekerley Adventist congregation

News

Website: www.jewishadventist.org Web Ministers: www.jewishadventistministers.com

Parasha

t was with pleasure that I visited a church in WestVirginia. the Adventist congregation of Bekerley on May 12, 2012. I preached on the morning and led a meeting on the afternoon. These meetings are always interesting, first for the Jews who attend the congregation, and this church is not an exception, even far away from a big city there are Jews who are interested by the Adventist message. These meetings are also interesting for our members who are in contact with Jews. Most of the time, they dont know how to behave, what to say, how to present Jesus to their Jewish friends. And of course for the Jews who are already members of the congregation. This Bekerley congregation has some Jews as members, they came to me to say how they have appreciated my sermon and my afternoon meeting.

1 During the meeting of the afternoon, I presented our Jewish outreach ministry in the context of the Adventist movement. It was a very good discussion of more than 2 hours and at the end the members were happy to understand our ministry towards Jews. I would like to add that some Jewish members came to me at the end to share with me their joy to have a meeting like this one. Some had tears in their eyes showing their emotion and happiness for what had been said. In most of these meetings the typical topics raised by the members are the supersessionism or replacement theology, which says that Israel has been rejected and replaced by the church, the topic of the 70 weeks of Daniel 9 and the role of Israel at the end of time. It is always an animated discussion and dialogue but at the end the members are happy to have an opportunity to speak about these topics. Newsletter n 478

n Sabbath May 19, 2012 I had the pleasure to visit the Russian American Adventist church in Glendale, California. This visit was very pleasant, among the 60-70 members about 20 of them are Jewish and are very dedicated to the Adventist message. I had the privilege to visit this congregation with Rick McEdward, who also address the congregation on the mission of the church and the role of his department as director of the Study Center at the office of Adventist Mission.

Russian American Adventist congregation in Glendale, CA

Shavuot or Pentecost, starts on Saturday 26 evening. The first day is Sunday 27 and it is celebrated on two days May 27 and May 28. Happy feast to everyone. Chag Sameach.

Overview

he Book of Bamidbar In the desert begins with G-d commanding Moshe to take a census of all men over age twenty old enough for service. The count reveals just over 600,000. The leviim are counted separately later because their service will be unique. They will be responsible for transporting the Mishkan (sanctuary) and its furnishings and assembling them when the nation encamps. The 12 Tribes of Israel, each with its banner, are arranged around the Mishkan in four sections: east, south, west and north. Since Levi is singled out, the tribe of Yosef is split into two tribes, Ephraim and Menashe, so there will be four groups of three. When the nation travels, they march in a formation similar to the way they camp. A formal transfer is made between the first-born and the leviim, whereby the leviim take over the role the first-born would have had serving in the Mishkan if not for the sin of the golden calf. The transfer is made using all the 22,000 surveyed leviim from one month old and up. Only leviim between 30 and 50 will work in the Mishkan. The remaining first-born sons are redeemed with silver, similar to the way Jews redeem their first-born today. The sons of Levi are divided in three main families, Gershon, Kehat and Merari (besides the kohanim the special division from Kehats family). The family of Kehat carried the menorah, the table, the altar and the holy ark. Because of their utmost sanctity, the ark and the altar are covered only by Aharon and his sons, before the leviim prepare them for travel.

Numbers 1:1-4:20

Bemidbar

his parasha begins the book Bemidbar Our Human Nature (Numbers) and means in the desert. The or the Jewish people, the book of Bamidbar is Sfas Emes, a book publish by Thora.org perhaps one of the saddest, so to speak, of all of focuses on the meaning of the key word: midbar the Holy Scriptures. Whereas the book of Shemot, (desert). On the midrashim says that the midbar which records for us the sin of the Golden Calf also gives

In the Desert

as the place where Bnei Israel welcomed HaShems Presence and Words. That is why we must remember that even though the desert means for us silence and desolate place where nothing can grow, in the Hebrew mind, the word midbar is related to the Word (DBR) and to speak (MeDaBer), thats why it is in the desert, in the place of silence that God speaks and gives his word, that is why the rabbis have linked the root DBR with lashon Hakodesh the holy language. The Sfas Emes points to another meaning of the root DBR, saying that it means also to lead and to his Aramaic form to be led. Thus, The people of Israel, on their way to the promise land, in the desert (bemidbar) were completely led by G-d. He was their leader, and the will of G-d for them was to give up their own will to be led by the Almighty. Similarly we could from time to time go through a desert, a place of desolation, silence, perplexity, what is our behavior? Are we ready to give up our will and to be led by the Almighty? Now it is interesting to read that Rabbi Packouz says in the name of Rabbi Pliskin: Why does the Torah specify the wilderness of the Sinai desert? It would have been sufficient to say in the Sinai desert; everyone knows that deserts are wildernesses. The Midrash Bamidbar Rabbah comments on this verse, Whoever does not make himself open and free like a wilderness will not be able to acquire wisdom and Torah. This refers to having the trait of humility which allows a person to learn from everyone and to teach everyone. Rabbi Packouz continues: An arrogant person will only be willing to learn from someone he feels is befitting his honor. A humble person is only concerned with gaining Torah knowledge and will be grateful to learn new ideas even from one who has less overall knowledge than himself. The Midrash teaches that the Torah was given on Mt. Sinai because Mt. Sinai was the lowest of all the mountains. This symbolizes that if a person wants to receive wisdom he must be humble. If he is full of himself there is little room for anything else.

Parasha 2 Newsletter

us pause, it concludes with the final construction of the love for Israel. Rabbi Marozov says Our sages exMishkan and Gods Presence, so to speak, resting within plain that these counts were to express G-ds love for the encampment of Israel. But the book of Bamidbar, which the Jewish people. This expression of love was espebegins on a high note of numerical accomplishment and cially important when only 40 days after receiving the the seemingly imminent entry of the Jewish people into Torah, they made and worshipped the Golden Calf. he Land of Israel, ends on a very sour note. It records the To express His great love for His people, Israel, even destruction of the entire generation including its leadership after all they did, G-d wanted them counted. without their entrance into the Promised Land. For rabbi Berel Wein from Genesis.org The narrative of the book of Bamidbar Individuality tells us of rebellion abbi Zweig says Very and constant carping, often when a permilitary defeats and son is part of a large victories, false blessings, The Talmudic sage Rabbi group, he senses a loss of human prejudices and his individuality and selfpersonal bias. But the Yitzchak says, If a person expression. To compensate Torah warned us in its tells you, I have made an effort for this, he has a tendency to very first chapters that break away from the group. this is the book of human in the study of Torah, but I The message of the counting beings. And all of the in Sefer Bamidbar is that weaknesses exhibited have not succeeded, do not there is room for individualby Israel in the desert of believe him. If a person tells ity and self-expression withSinai, as recorded for us in the confines of the group. in the book of Bamidbar, you, I didnt make any effort Indeed, interpersonal relaare definitely part of the and I have succeeded, do not tionships within the group usual human story and can enhance individuality nature. believe him. When a person and offer the opportunity tells you, I have made an effort for self-expression. the diA Token of This explains why vision of tribes and their and I have succeeded, believe Love banners are mentioned in he parasha him! In order to succeed and the census of Bamidbar, and Bamidbar has not in that of Shemos. The a particular rel- understand Torah one needs to ability to identify oneself in evance to the festival of put in time and effort. connection with a particuShavuot. In general, evlar tribe and represented by ery parasha has a conneca particular banner, further tion with the time of the enhances a persons sense of year when it is read, and individuality. Bamidbar is usually read Sources: These comments on the Shabbat before Shavuot. And in particular, Shavuot, which commemo- of the parasha are based on comments published rates G-ds giving of the Torah to Israel, is called the wed- by Rabbi Kalman Packouz, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, ding of Israel to G-d; and on the Shabbat before a wedding, Rabbi Ozer Alport, Rabbi Ari Kahn, Rabbi Noson the bridegroom is called to the Torah as a preparation for Weisz, Rabbi Naftali Reich, Rabbi Berel Wein, the wedding. So Bamidbar is, as it were, a preparation for Rabbi Yochanan Zweig, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, that special union between G-d and his people which came Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair from Ohr Somayach, upon their receiving the Torah. That is why Rashi says that Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky. and Rabbi Zalmen the counting of Israel in the wilderness was token of G-ds Marozov.

Parasha

3 Newsletter

Honesty in Business

his story is given by Rabbi Yitzchak Buxbaum from Chabad. The Baal Shem Tov was once shown from heaven that a certain simple man called Moshe the Shepherd served G-d, blessed be He, better than he did. He longed to meet this shepherd, so he ordered his horses harnessed to his coach, and traveled, with a few of his disciples, to the place where he was told the shepherd lived. They stopped in a field at the foot of a hill, and saw, on the hillside above them, a shepherd who was blowing his horn to call his flock. After the sheep gathered to him, he led them to a nearby trough to water them. While they were drinking, he looked up to heaven and began to call out loudly, Master of the world, You are so great! You created heaven and earth, and everything else! Im a simple man; Im ignorant and unlearned, and I dont know how to serve You or praise You. I was orphaned as a child and raised among gentiles, so I never learned any Torah. But I can blow on my shepherds horn like a shofar, with all my strength, and call out, The L-rd is G-d! After blowing with all his might on the horn, he collapsed to the ground, without an ounce of energy, and lay there motionless until his strength returned. Then he got up and said, Master of the world, Im just a simple shepherd; I dont know any Torah, and I dont know how to pray. What can I do for You? The only thing I know is to sing shepherds songs! He then began to sing loudly and fervently with all his strength until, again, he fell to the earth, exhausted, without an ounce of energy. After recovering, he got up again and began to call out, Master of the world! What is it worth that I blew on my horn and sang songs for You, when Youre so great? What more can I do to serve You? He paused for a moment and said, Theres

something else I know how to do, and Ill do it for Your honor and glory! He then stood on his head and began to wave his feet wildly in the air. Then he did somersaults one after the other, until he collapsed on the ground, exhausted. The Baal Shem Tov and his disciples watched all this from a distance, in amazement. The shepherd lay there silently until his strength returned. Again, he began to speak and said, Master of the world, Ive done what I can, but I know its not enough! What more can I do to serve You? After pausing to reflect, he said, Yesterday, the nobleman who owns the flock made a feast for his servants, and when it ended, he gave each of us a silver coin. Im giving that coin to You as a gift, O G-d, because You created everything and You feed all Your creatures, including me, Moshe the little shepherd! Saying this, he threw the coin upward. At that moment, the Baal Shem Tov saw a hand reach out from heaven to receive the coin. He said to his disciples, This shepherd has taught me how to fulfill the verse: You shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your might.

Parasha 4 Newsletter

Chag Shavuot Sameach

EDITOR
A newsletter published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission Richard-Amram Elofer 4, Abraham Lincoln 94186 Jerusalem Israel Tel. +972 2625 1547 Fax +972 2625 1319 email: richard@elofer.com web: jewishadventist.org

osea is a man who loves his people and his wife. His wife is unfaithful as the people of Israel is. Speaking to this children, he said to them: Plead with your mother, pleadfor she is not my wife, and I am not her husbandthat she put away her whoring from her face, and her adultery from between her breasts, (Hos. 2:2). His wife become an illustration of the unfaithfulness of Israel. Hosea says to his wife the words G-d addresses to Israel, Now I will uncover her shame in the sight of her lovers, and no one shall rescue her out of my hand. I will put an end to all her mirth, her festivals, her new moons, her sabbaths, and all her appointed festivals. (Hos. 2:10-11). What a wonderful love. In spite of her unfaithfulness he wants to love her, Therefore, I will now allure her, and bring her into the wilderness, and speak tenderly to her. (Hos. 2:14). The Bible is also a romantic book. From there I will give her her vineyards, and make the Valley of Achor a door of hope.. (Hos. 2:15). It is clear that Hoseas wife represents Israel. There she shall respond as in the days of her youth, as at the time when she came out of the land of Egypt. (Hos. 2:15). Then the prophet plays with Hebrew words, the Hebrew word Baal means husband or master and it is also the name of an idol worshiped by Canaanite people. On that day, says the LORD, you will call me, My husband, and no longer will you call me, My Baal. (Hos. 2:16). All idols will be removed. For I will remove the names of the Baals from her mouth, and they shall be mentioned by name no more. (Hos. 2:17). And will make a covenant with Israel. I will make for you a covenant on that day with the wild animals, the birds of the air, and the creeping things of the ground; and I will abolish the bow, the sword, and war from the land; and I will make you lie down in safety. (Hos. 2:18). What a wonderful promise for Israel in this text. And I will take you for my wife forever; I will take you for my wife in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love, and in mercy. I will take you for my wife in faithfulness; and you shall know the LORD. (Hos. 2:20-21).

Hosea 2:1 - 22

Haftar a

Brit Hachadasha

havuot will start on Shabbat evening. it is, for the Jewish people, the anniversary and celebration of the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai to the Jewish people about 3,500 years ago. For the Jewish people It is a time of dedication and commitment to learning Torah. The Torah calls Shavuot the Festival of Weeks (Numbers 28:26). The very word Shavuot is Hebrew for weeks; it refers to the seven weeks that one counts from the second day of Passover (the day after the Sabbath of the feast) until the holiday of Shavuot. It is one of the three pilgrimage feasts, holidays. Every man was commanded to come up to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast in Jerusalem. This feast was an important event for the talmudim of Yeshua. We read in the Brith Hachadasha: When the day of Shavuot came, they were all together in one place. (Acts 2:1). The feast were important for the disciples of Yeshua, and since it was a feast of pilgrimage, they all came from Galilee to Jerusalem to celebrate the feast. The text indicates that they were all in one place. That means they found a place of worship big enough to meet together (about 120) to have their worship. On Shavuot there is a custom to stay up all night reading and learning Torah. Another custom is to read the book of Ruth which occurred on Shavuot. This night of reading and learning was in remembrance of the Jewish people who waited all the night the manifestation of God on the Mount Sinai. However a very special event happened in Jerusalem upon this assembly of the disciples. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and came to rest on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. (Acts 2:2-4) The Ruach Hakodesh came upon them and helped them to share the Good News of Yeshua and to understand the Tanach. It was the fulfillment of two texts: Joel 2:28-32 but also Jeremiah 31:33.

Acts 2:1-47

Parasha 5 Newsletter