Rabbi's Drash

Ki Tavo

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5 7 6 9

Numbers 30:2-36:13
 

We are drawing close to the end of D'varim and coming to the portions where we see the consequences of our own disobedience. This portion Ki Tavo begins with bringing the first fruits to G-d including the "gerim". In the ceremony accompanying the bringing of the first fruits to the Temple, the bearers of these fruits were required, upon entering the Temple Court, to read the section Miqra Bikkurim that appears in our parashah (26:1-12). The Mishna (Bikkurim 1:4) teaches: "These [people] bring [first fruits] but do not recite: a proselyte brings but does not recite because he is not able to say (Deut. 26:3) 'Which the Eternal swore to our ancestors to give unto us'. However, despite this Mishnah, Rabbeinu Yitzhak mi-Baale ha-Tosafot (see Tos. Baba Bathra 81b), thinks that the halakhah is otherwise. He bases himself on the baraita in the Jerusalem Talmud in the name of R. Judah saying that the proselyte can certainly recite 'Which the Eternal swore to our ancestors to give unto us', because G-d said to Abraham (Gen. 17:5): "But your name shall be Abraham for I make you the father of a multitude of nations", making Abraham the father of all proselytes as well. Rabbi Yitzhak's opinion is also the halakhah as cited by Maimonides (Hilkhot Bikkurim 4,3). In this example we see the great sensitivity of our rabbis to preserve the honor of the proselyte. ( On Proselytes; Arnon Kimelman, BIU) With that said, I would like to now focus on verse 8 of chapter 28: "And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up." The rabbis explain that the Torah was to be written "clearly" in the 70 languages of the nations so that all could understand what G-d was saying to humanity. We were to the keepers for the Word and to disseminate it to the world. When Ptolemy ordered the 72 wise men to translate the Tenach into Greek, there was a day of mourning proclaimed. It would be impossible to translate it properly into a foreign language without losing the essence of the Word. In the translation much was lost and thus G-d's Word which said that we were not to add or subtract anything from it was already broken. To be the keeper of the Word did not mean that we had more value than the others; it simply put a great responsibility and burden upon us to do it "clearly." Over the many centuries what developed out of this duty were "religion, tradition, believism and true living". One of the greatest obstacles standing in the way of imparting G-d's Truth to the world is that we have developed a system of our own doctrines, dogmas and beliefs. In so doing, we deny the true essence of the Word of G-d. We become religious people instead of being true believers. The traditions of men supersede the Word of G-d so that it is no longer how you live that is important but what you say. I am not saying to remove traditions which can be valuable however they can also be a detriment in leading people to the true G-d. Yeshua spoke about this in Matthew 15:8-9 when he was referring to the prophet Isaiah 29:13. "These people honor me with their lips, but their heart is far away from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the precepts of men." It is important to understand that at the time of Yeshua the rabbis had place the "Sheve al Peh" (the Oral Torah) above the written Torah. The Babylonian Talmud had not yet been codified and even Yeshua himself observed many of the "traditions of the elders". His observance of the festival of Hanukkah (John 10:22) is a good example of that. The rabbis had built the tayag -"a fence around the Torah-(teriag-613 precepts)"- in order to protect even the spiritually blind people from committing the sin of breaking the Torah itself. Many of the 'precept traditions' were logical but they eventually up to today became so burdensome or without any meaning that many people were turned away from G-d. Christianity went through the same process and even worse. If you challenge the doctrines and dogmas of any denomination, they will defend them to the end. They build their cases taking the Scriptures out of context in order to prove their point. One of the clearest examples of this is with the Shabbat being changed from the Saturday to Sunday. When you destroy the Shabbat, you eliminate G-d as being the Creator. In Chapter 27 of Deuteronomy, we read all the beautiful promises of G-d that we will be blessed when we obey. From verses 8-14 we see all that can be accomplished by our obedience. This is followed by the tochecha, the curses. The problem is that we don't believe these verses. We prefer to create our own traditions ignoring his warnings and in so doing deny who G-d is and what He is doing in our lives. When problems arise in our lives, so we ask ourselves what we are doing to bring these onto ourselves. Are we ready to admit that sometimes we are simply harvesting the consequences of our own behavior? Isn't it easier to simply blame G-d for punishing us? We are approaching the High Holidays. It is time to search our souls and to take a so-called "spiritual laxative"…to purge ourselves before the G-d of Israel and asked him to cleanse us. Have you become dull in your walk with Him? G-d needs to speak to your heart. Why are you unhappy? What reality do you not want to deal with? G-d wants us to live a fulfilled life. He wants our happiness. Happiness is a product of our own choosing. G-d gave us everything…we are not beggars. It is time to challenge you…to be honest with yourself. It is wonderful when G-d transforms your life. If you are down or depressed, it is because you are depending upon yourself; fighting on your own strength; facing the world alone. Religion never saves you…G-d does. Religion takes people away from G-d. Our House of Prayer is not a place that should take you away from G-d but we a place where you can come and worship the G-d of Abraham Isaac and Jacob….where His Torah shines in your lives as a beacon to direct your way. How wonderful it is to be in the House of G-d. If you have a personal relationship with G-d, you have a personal relationship with our Messiah. He speaks to you and you to Him. He helps you to grow in Him. Our lives, our bodies are the first fruits to bring to Him. Let us never be afraid to say that we are wrong; that there is something lacking in us; that perhaps there is another way that we don't see. Be honest and deal with the true issues. That is one of the blessings of living in community. We can help each other in this area…by telling each other the truth and helping each other deal with our issues. Let us prepare our hearts for the High Holidays!        May G-d add blessings to His Word!      Rabbi Percy Johnson      Netanel ben Yochanan      [nxy [b lantn      © 2008 Use by Permission      Kehilat She’ar Yashuv

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