Friday, March 31, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 48

The fragment Yeshaya 48 verses 16b-21:

וְעַתָּה, אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה שְׁלָחַנִי--וְרוּחוֹ. כֹּה-אָמַר יְהוָה גֹּאַלְךָ, קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל: אֲנִי יְהוָה אֱלֹהֶיךָ מְלַמֶּדְךָ לְהוֹעִיל, מַדְרִיכְךָ בְּדֶרֶךְ תֵּלֵךְ. לוּא הִקְשַׁבְתָּ, לְמִצְו‍ֹתָי; וַיְהִי כַנָּהָר שְׁלוֹמֶךָ, וְצִדְקָתְךָ כְּגַלֵּי הַיָּם. וַיְהִי כַחוֹל זַרְעֶךָ, וְצֶאֱצָאֵי מֵעֶיךָ כִּמְעֹתָיו; לֹא-יִכָּרֵת וְלֹא-יִשָּׁמֵד שְׁמוֹ, מִלְּפָנָי. צְאוּ מִבָּבֶל, בִּרְחוּ מִכַּשְׂדִּים, בְּקוֹל רִנָּה הַגִּידוּ הַשְׁמִיעוּ זֹאת, הוֹצִיאוּהָ עַד-קְצֵה הָאָרֶץ; אִמְרוּ, גָּאַל יְהוָה עַבְדּוֹ יַעֲקֹב. וְלֹא צָמְאוּ, בָּחֳרָבוֹת הוֹלִיכָם--מַיִם מִצּוּר, הִזִּיל לָמוֹ; וַיִּבְקַע-צוּר--וַיָּזֻבוּ, מָיִם

The bold-faced verse appears in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

And now the Lord God has sent me, and his Spirit. Thus says the Lord, your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the Lord your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go. Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments! Then your peace would have been like a river, and your righteousness like the waves of the sea; your offspring would have been like the sand, and your descendants like its grains; their name would never be cut off or destroyed from before me.” Go out from Babylon, flee from Chaldea, declare this with a shout of joy, proclaim it, send it out to the end of the earth; say, “The Lord has redeemed his servant Jacob!” They did not thirst when he led them through the deserts; he made water flow for them from the rock; he split the rock and the water gushed out.

This has a genuine instance of "My Mitzvot," perhaps, time-wise, the first such instance. But the "commandments" seem to be to flee from Babylon, to shout it out to the end of the world. They are not "the commandments" of the Torah!

The miracle of the water, is as before, first of all a Mashal for a deeper reality. The Jews of Bavel did not understand this message of Zerubavel, of Moshiach ben David. "Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!" And what happened to Zerubavel? He became the suffering Moshiach, Moshiach ben Yosef.

And because they did not understand, they received the Mitzvot, in what came to be the Torah. "Oh that you had paid attention to my commandments!" Oh that you understood My Mitzvot! Would that you knew Me and therefore My Mishpatim. As Nietzsche wrote and Zarathustra spoke, it is because of "I will" that we will do, nut because of "Thou shalt."

Pesach Sameach!

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 35

The fragment Yeshaya 35:

יְשֻׂשׂוּם מִדְבָּר, וְצִיָּה; וְתָגֵל עֲרָבָה וְתִפְרַח, כַּחֲבַצָּלֶת. פָּרֹחַ תִּפְרַח וְתָגֵל, אַף גִּילַת וְרַנֵּן--כְּבוֹד הַלְּבָנוֹן נִתַּן-לָהּ, הֲדַר הַכַּרְמֶל וְהַשָּׁרוֹן; הֵמָּה יִרְאוּ כְבוֹד-יְהוָה, הֲדַר אֱלֹהֵינוּ. חַזְּקוּ, יָדַיִם רָפוֹת; וּבִרְכַּיִם כֹּשְׁלוֹת, אַמֵּצוּ. אִמְרוּ, לְנִמְהֲרֵי-לֵב, חִזְקוּ, אַל-תִּירָאוּ; הִנֵּה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם, נָקָם יָבוֹא--גְּמוּל אֱלֹהִים, הוּא יָבוֹא וְיֹשַׁעֲכֶם. אָז תִּפָּקַחְנָה, עֵינֵי עִוְרִים; וְאָזְנֵי חֵרְשִׁים, תִּפָּתַחְנָה. אָז יְדַלֵּג כָּאַיָּל פִּסֵּחַ, וְתָרֹן לְשׁוֹן אִלֵּם: כִּי-נִבְקְעוּ בַמִּדְבָּר מַיִם, וּנְחָלִים בָּעֲרָבָה. וְהָיָה הַשָּׁרָב לַאֲגַם, וְצִמָּאוֹן לְמַבּוּעֵי מָיִם; בִּנְוֵה תַנִּים רִבְצָהּ, חָצִיר לְקָנֶה וָגֹמֶא. וְהָיָה-שָׁם מַסְלוּל וָדֶרֶךְ, וְדֶרֶךְ הַקֹּדֶשׁ יִקָּרֵא לָהּ--לֹא-יַעַבְרֶנּוּ טָמֵא, וְהוּא-לָמוֹ; הֹלֵךְ דֶּרֶךְ וֶאֱוִילִים, לֹא יִתְעוּ. לֹא-יִהְיֶה שָׁם אַרְיֵה, וּפְרִיץ חַיּוֹת בַּל-יַעֲלֶנָּה--לֹא תִמָּצֵא, שָׁם; וְהָלְכוּ, גְּאוּלִים. וּפְדוּיֵי יְהוָה יְשֻׁבוּן, וּבָאוּ צִיּוֹן בְּרִנָּה, וְשִׂמְחַת עוֹלָם, עַל-רֹאשָׁם; שָׂשׂוֹן וְשִׂמְחָה יַשִּׂיגוּ, וְנָסוּ יָגוֹן וַאֲנָחָה

The last verse appears as the title of our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad; the desert shall rejoice and blossom like the crocus; it shall blossom abundantly and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it, the majesty of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the majesty of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who have an anxious heart, “Be strong; fear not! Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy. For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water; in the haunt of jackals, where they lie down, the grass shall become reeds and rushes. And a highway shall be there, and it shall be called the Way of Holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it. It shall belong to those who walk on the way; even if they are fools, they shall not go astray. No lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it; they shall not be found there, but the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

This shows a deeper reason for gladness than what was said here. The Way of Holiness is not a physical road. Rather, physical reality is a Mashal for something deeper. It is the way to the tree of Life, a secret road to longevity, protected by the flaming sword. Therefore, "the unclean shall not pass over it," "even if they are fools, they shall not go astray." Also "no lion shall be there, nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it." The miracle of the water, is also a Mashal for this deeper reality. "For waters break forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert; the burning sand shall become a pool, and the thirsty ground springs of water," points to the Way. The Way of Holiness, Derech Hakodesh, is a remedy to the brain and hence for many diseases; "then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then shall the lame man leap like a deer, and the tongue of the mute sing for joy," and even death is not forced upon him/her who has found this Way of Holiness. Therefore, "everlasting joy shall be upon their heads." Who will come to show this Derech Hakodesh? "The Lord will arise upon you". "Behold, your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God. He will come and save you.” And "the redeemed shall walk there. And the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing." "The lame man shall leap like a deer;" the lame man is called פִּסֵּחַ. Therefore:

Pesach Sameach!

Monday, March 27, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 57

The fragment Yeshaya 57:3-21:

וְאַתֶּם קִרְבוּ-הֵנָּה, בְּנֵי עֹנְנָה; זֶרַע מְנָאֵף, וַתִּזְנֶה. עַל-מִי, תִּתְעַנָּגוּ--עַל-מִי תַּרְחִיבוּ פֶה, תַּאֲרִיכוּ לָשׁוֹן; הֲלוֹא-אַתֶּם יִלְדֵי-פֶשַׁע, זֶרַע שָׁקֶר. הַנֵּחָמִים, בָּאֵלִים, תַּחַת, כָּל-עֵץ רַעֲנָן; שֹׁחֲטֵי הַיְלָדִים בַּנְּחָלִים, תַּחַת סְעִפֵי הַסְּלָעִים. בְּחַלְּקֵי-נַחַל חֶלְקֵךְ, הֵם הֵם גּוֹרָלֵךְ; גַּם-לָהֶם שָׁפַכְתְּ נֶסֶךְ, הֶעֱלִית מִנְחָה--הַעַל אֵלֶּה, אֶנָּחֵם. עַל הַר-גָּבֹהַּ וְנִשָּׂא, שַׂמְתְּ מִשְׁכָּבֵךְ; גַּם-שָׁם עָלִית, לִזְבֹּחַ זָבַח. וְאַחַר הַדֶּלֶת וְהַמְּזוּזָה, שַׂמְתְּ זִכְרוֹנֵךְ: כִּי מֵאִתִּי גִּלִּית וַתַּעֲלִי, הִרְחַבְתְּ מִשְׁכָּבֵךְ וַתִּכְרָת-לָךְ מֵהֶם--אָהַבְתְּ מִשְׁכָּבָם, יָד חָזִית. וַתָּשֻׁרִי לַמֶּלֶךְ בַּשֶּׁמֶן, וַתַּרְבִּי רִקֻּחָיִךְ; וַתְּשַׁלְּחִי צִרַיִךְ עַד-מֵרָחֹק, וַתַּשְׁפִּילִי עַד-שְׁאוֹל. בְּרֹב דַּרְכֵּךְ יָגַעַתְּ, לֹא אָמַרְתְּ נוֹאָשׁ; חַיַּת יָדֵךְ מָצָאת, עַל-כֵּן לֹא חָלִית. וְאֶת-מִי דָּאַגְתְּ וַתִּירְאִי, כִּי תְכַזֵּבִי, וְאוֹתִי לֹא זָכַרְתְּ, לֹא-שַׂמְתְּ עַל-לִבֵּךְ; הֲלֹא אֲנִי מַחְשֶׁה וּמֵעֹלָם, וְאוֹתִי לֹא תִירָאִי. אֲנִי אַגִּיד, צִדְקָתֵךְ; וְאֶת-מַעֲשַׂיִךְ, וְלֹא יוֹעִילוּךְ. בְּזַעֲקֵךְ יַצִּילֻךְ קִבּוּצַיִךְ, וְאֶת-כֻּלָּם יִשָּׂא-רוּחַ יִקַּח-הָבֶל; וְהַחוֹסֶה בִי יִנְחַל-אֶרֶץ, וְיִירַשׁ הַר-קָדְשִׁי. וְאָמַר סֹלּוּ-סֹלּוּ, פַּנּוּ-דָרֶךְ; הָרִימוּ מִכְשׁוֹל, מִדֶּרֶךְ עַמִּי. כִּי כֹה אָמַר רָם וְנִשָּׂא, שֹׁכֵן עַד וְקָדוֹשׁ שְׁמוֹ--מָרוֹם וְקָדוֹשׁ, אֶשְׁכּוֹן; וְאֶת-דַּכָּא, וּשְׁפַל-רוּחַ, לְהַחֲיוֹת רוּחַ שְׁפָלִים, וּלְהַחֲיוֹת לֵב נִדְכָּאִים. כִּי לֹא לְעוֹלָם אָרִיב, וְלֹא לָנֶצַח אֶקְצוֹף: כִּי-רוּחַ מִלְּפָנַי יַעֲטוֹף, וּנְשָׁמוֹת אֲנִי עָשִׂיתִי. בַּעֲו‍ֹן בִּצְעוֹ קָצַפְתִּי וְאַכֵּהוּ, הַסְתֵּר וְאֶקְצֹף; וַיֵּלֶךְ שׁוֹבָב, בְּדֶרֶךְ לִבּוֹ. דְּרָכָיו רָאִיתִי, וְאֶרְפָּאֵהוּ; וְאַנְחֵהוּ, וַאֲשַׁלֵּם נִחֻמִים לוֹ וְלַאֲבֵלָיו. בּוֹרֵא, נוב (נִיב) שְׂפָתָיִם; שָׁלוֹם שָׁלוֹם לָרָחוֹק וְלַקָּרוֹב, אָמַר יְהוָה--וּרְפָאתִיו. וְהָרְשָׁעִים, כַּיָּם נִגְרָשׁ: כִּי הַשְׁקֵט לֹא יוּכָל, וַיִּגְרְשׁוּ מֵימָיו רֶפֶשׁ וָטִיט. אֵין שָׁלוֹם, אָמַר אֱלֹהַי לָרְשָׁעִים

The bold-faced verse appears in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

But you, draw near, sons of the sorceress, offspring of the adulterer and the loose woman. Whom are you mocking? Against whom do you open your mouth wide and stick out your tongue? Are you not children of transgression, the offspring of deceit, you who burn with lust among the oaks, under every green tree, who slaughter your children in the valleys, under the clefts of the rocks? Among the smooth stones of the valley is your portion; they, they, are your lot; to them you have poured out a drink offering, you have brought a grain offering. Shall I relent for these things? On a high and lofty mountain you have set your bed, and there you went up to offer sacrifice. Behind the door and the doorpost you have set up your memorial; for, deserting me, you have uncovered your bed, you have gone up to it, you have made it wide; and you have made a covenant for yourself with them, you have loved their bed, you have looked on nakedness. You journeyed to the king with oil and multiplied your perfumes; you sent your envoys far off, and sent down even to Sheol. You were wearied with the length of your way, but you did not say, “It is hopeless”; you found new life for your strength, and so you were not faint. Whom did you dread and fear, so that you lied, and did not remember me, did not lay it to heart? Have I not held my peace, even for a long time, and you do not fear me? I will declare your righteousness and your deeds, but they will not profit you. When you cry out, let your collection of idols deliver you! The wind will carry them all off, a breath will take them away. But he who takes refuge in me shall possess the land and shall inherit my holy mountain. And it shall be said, “Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstruction from my people’s way.” For thus says the One who is high and lifted up, who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, and also with him who is of a contrite and lowly spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly, and to revive the heart of the contrite. For I will not contend forever, nor will I always be angry; for the spirit would grow faint before me, and the breath of life that I made. Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him and restore comfort to him and his mourners, creating the fruit of the lips. Peace, peace, to the far and to the near,” says the Lord, “and I will heal him. But the wicked are like the tossing sea; for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up mire and dirt. There is no peace,” says my God, “for the wicked.”

This is an elaboration of the previous post and therefore is directed at the "sons of the sorceress," the "children of transgression," the perceivers of nothing, dumb dogs, blind worshippers of P. Zerubavel would say of the Kohanim that they are "like one who blesses an idol," and this is how he said it. The evil of P is in the blind faith it demands, a faith that simply states the "truth," without confronting criticism, which is a sure way to falsehood. A person who really believes in the falsehood, and makes a career in the system, and therefore acquires a vested interest in keeping things going, is able to do anything. For the sake of "Torah." How can he be healed? Through the Torah of Zerubavel.

Moreover, "the dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough." There are many present-day "profit-yielding" systems; the Rabbanut system and the Kashrut "business" are prime examples, for "dogs" that ware a Kippa. But without a Kippa, they are still "dogs." Think about the governmental Mosdot in Israel. Many are the "profit-yielding" systems among the Mosdot, such as the Misrad Harishui "business," or the Bituach Leumi "business," or the legal system with its many branches. Or think about the camp of the lovers of "peace" with their money flowing in from the US and Europe. "There is no peace, says my God, for the wicked.” Many are the "tricks" one can do to avoid paying one's dues, and many are the "tricks" to make someone pay who should not pay. It is the "profit" and the "appetite" of the "dogs" that makes these systems work. "And tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure." Even a good soul can get stuck in these evil systems. Therefore it says: "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry, I struck him; I hid my face and was angry, but he went on backsliding in the way of his own heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him."

Cry aloud; do not hold back; lift up your voice like a shofar; declare to my people their transgression, to the house of Jacob their sins." Before the awesome, fearful, day comes, we will hear it, starting from the study hall. What will we hear? Like the shofar we will hear, "the sound of the Lord, rendering recompense to his enemies!"

Pesach Sameach!

Friday, March 24, 2017

Yeshaya 56, 57

The fragment Yeshaya 56:10-12, 57:1-2:

צֹפָו עִוְרִים כֻּלָּם, לֹא יָדָעוּ--כֻּלָּם כְּלָבִים אִלְּמִים, לֹא יוּכְלוּ לִנְבֹּחַ; הֹזִים, שֹׁכְבִים, אֹהֲבֵי, לָנוּם. וְהַכְּלָבִים עַזֵּי-נֶפֶשׁ, לֹא יָדְעוּ שָׂבְעָה, וְהֵמָּה רֹעִים, לֹא יָדְעוּ הָבִין; כֻּלָּם לְדַרְכָּם פָּנוּ, אִישׁ לְבִצְעוֹ מִקָּצֵהוּ. אֵתָיוּ אֶקְחָה-יַיִן, וְנִסְבְּאָה שֵׁכָר; וְהָיָה כָזֶה יוֹם מָחָר, גָּדוֹל יֶתֶר מְאֹד. הַצַּדִּיק אָבָד, וְאֵין אִישׁ שָׂם עַל-לֵב; וְאַנְשֵׁי-חֶסֶד נֶאֱסָפִים בְּאֵין מֵבִין, כִּי-מִפְּנֵי הָרָעָה נֶאֱסַף הַצַּדִּיק. יָבוֹא שָׁלוֹם, יָנוּחוּ עַל-מִשְׁכְּבוֹתָם; הֹלֵךְ, נְכֹחוֹ.

The first verse appears in in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge; they are all silent dogs; they cannot bark, dreaming, lying down, loving to slumber. The dogs have a mighty appetite; they never have enough. But they are shepherds who have no understanding; they have all turned to their own way, each to his own gain, one and all. “Come,” they say, “let me get wine; let us fill ourselves with strong drink; and tomorrow will be like this day, great beyond measure.” The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands. For the righteous man is taken away from calamity; she enters into peace; they rest tin their beds who walk in their uprightness.

Surely, by now you recognize the scene: "His watchmen are blind; they are all without knowledge." Rav Cherlow continues:

זו בהחלט שיטה אפשרית. כבר מיחסה של התורה שבכתב אל העבודה הזרה, דרך הדיונים בגמרא, ועד ההלכה למעשה, אנו מוצאים כי אחת השיטות להתמודדות עם אלטרנטיבות למסורת הקודש היא פשוט התעלמות. ההיגיון שיש בהתעלמות נובע גם מהעובדה שעצם ההתמודדות עם שיטה מסוימת מהווה הכרה בה כראויה להתמודדות, ואילו ההתעלמות המוחלטת מבטאת את הטיעון שאין לה מקום כלל, ושאין היא ברמה הראויה להתייחסות. אולם אור ההתעלמות מטיל כדרכו גם צל כבד, ויש בהתעלמות זו שתי רעות. רעה ראשונה היא מה שאירע לך. אי אפשר לחסום את הידע באופן מוחלט, ולא מעטים הם בחורי הישיבה ובנות המדרשות השונות אשר נחשפים אליה בגיל מאוחר יותר. אז הם נכבשים בדבריה, נאלמים דומייה מול טענותיה, ונאלצים לפורר את עולמם הרוחני. לא זו בלבד, אלא שחלקם מתמלא טינה כנגד רבותיו ומלמדיו על כך שהם רימו אותו, ולא הביאו לידיעתו את דבריה. קשה לי למנות את מספר הפונים אלי בתחושה של "אנא עזור לנו שלא ליפול לתהומות הכפירה" בשל התופעה הזו. אפילו בבחינת "דע מה שתשיב" הביקורת לא נלמדת כלל בעולם הישיבות, גם לא בישיבה שלי, אם כי הבחורים הלומדים בישיבה בה אני מלמד יודעים שהיא קיימת, ומכירים חלק מקושיותיה בהן אני משתמש, וכדלהלן. שים לב כי מדובר בשני היבטים של רעה זו: הן בכך שכאשר נפגשים עם דבריה ניצבים ערומים וחשופים בלי מגן, והן בכך שנוצרת טענה חמורה כלפי מלמדי התורה על כך שהסתירו בפניהם את הקושיות האלה, ותחושה של "סבבוני בכחש" הולכת וגוברת

"The righteous man perishes, and no one lays it to heart; devout men are taken away, while no one understands." Sic. Rav Cherlow further continues:

רעה שנייה נמצאת במקום הרבה יותר מרומם. ממורנו ורבינו הרב ברויאר, זכר צדיק לברכה, למדנו כי עולמות של כפירה לא נועדו רק להיות שליחיו של השטן. הראשונים, לדוגמה, לא ראו באריסטו רק את הסטרא אחרא ואת ה"בעל דבר", אלא "גיירו" אותו כהלכה, והפכו את מקור הכפירה לשורש האמונה. "הפילוסופיה הארורה" הפכה בדרכם לאחד ממבועי היצירה התורנית המשמעותית ביותר. מדברי הרב ברויאר למדנו כי הכלל היותר עמוק והיותר משמעותי בעולמו של האדם המאמין בעיניים פקוחות הוא "להוציא יקר מזולל". ביקורת המקרא מציעה דרך מסוימת לקרוא את העובדות בתורה. אי אפשר לעצום את העיניים בפני הקריאה הזו, מכמה סיבות: ראשית, לא ניתן לעצום עיניים, והדברים חודרים גם אם אדם מכסה את פניו בכמה כיסויים — בדיוק כפי שאירע לך; שנית, התפיסה האמונית היסודית של חיינו צריכה להיות של מבקשי אמונה לא מתוך הסתרה אלא מתוך גילוי, לא מתוך עצימה אלא מתוך פקיחת עיניים לרווחה, לא מתוך פחד אלא מתוך מבקשי אמת ברוחבה העליון ובחירותה המוחלטת

מבקשי אמת ברוחבה העליון. Sic.

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 40, 41 and 43

The fragment Yeshaya 43 verses 16-21:

כֹּה אָמַר יְהוָה, הַנּוֹתֵן בַּיָּם דָּרֶךְ, וּבְמַיִם עַזִּים, נְתִיבָה. הַמּוֹצִיא רֶכֶב-וָסוּס, חַיִל וְעִזּוּז; יַחְדָּו יִשְׁכְּבוּ בַּל-יָקוּמוּ, דָּעֲכוּ כַּפִּשְׁתָּה כָבוּ. אַל-תִּזְכְּרוּ, רִאשֹׁנוֹת; וְקַדְמֹנִיּוֹת, אַל-תִּתְבֹּנָנוּ. הִנְנִי עֹשֶׂה חֲדָשָׁה עַתָּה תִצְמָח, הֲלוֹא תֵּדָעוּהָ; אַף אָשִׂים בַּמִּדְבָּר דֶּרֶךְ, בִּישִׁמוֹן נְהָרוֹת. תְּכַבְּדֵנִי חַיַּת הַשָּׂדֶה, תַּנִּים וּבְנוֹת יַעֲנָה: כִּי-נָתַתִּי בַמִּדְבָּר מַיִם, נְהָרוֹת בִּישִׁימֹן, לְהַשְׁקוֹת, עַמִּי בְחִירִי. עַם-זוּ יָצַרְתִּי לִי, תְּהִלָּתִי יְסַפֵּרוּ

The first two verses appeared in this post. The English Standard Version is as follows:

Thus says the Lord, who makes a way in the sea, a path in the mighty waters, who brings forth chariot and horse, army and warrior; they lie down, they cannot rise, they are extinguished, quenched like a wick: “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert. The wild beasts will honor me, the jackals and the ostriches, for I give water in the wilderness, rivers in the desert, to give drink to my chosen people, the people whom I formed for myself that they might declare my praise.

This has many references to the J document, see the bold phrases. Compare them to similar phrases in Shemot 14, 15. But, we are not to "consider the things of old," "they are extinguished, quenched like a wick." We are to perceive the miracles of Hashem now, "now it springs forth." A road is built in the wilderness. Is it route six, which goes from the North to Beer Sheva? Or is it route one, renewed as a majestic highway? Or should we think about route 90 along the Jordan river, or route five to the city of Ariel? Or should we think about the new train track to Yerushalayim? Or the recently finished train track to Beit She'an? Yeshaya 40: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God." And concerning water in the wilderness, who cannot think of the miracle of desalination of sea water, "to give drink to my chosen people." Yeshaya 41: "I will open rivers on the bare heights." Or should we think about the wondrous Hashgacha that makes us live in what not long ago was a desert, but now is a land of miracles? Surely we should think about the divine six-day war, the war with so many open miracles! Yeshaya 41: "And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory." "That they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it." And from where they did suddenly come, these six or seven million people? Everyone has a different answer to the question where he or she came from. All the answers together constitute a mighty praise of Hashem. Yeshaya 41: "Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel." Yeshaya 40: "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken." Hashem has created עַם-זוּ, "this people," and they will "declare my praise." "Lift up your eyes all around, and see; they all gather together, they come to you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be carried on the hip; then you shall see and be radiant" (Yeshaya 60). This, then, is our task in Leil Haseder. Do not forget to tell what happened in Mitzrayim, in the early phase of the six-day war, the second of three 999/2 wars, the main 999/2 war, the war of Chesed, the war of Hashem. And if you do not know what happened in the six-day war, now is the time to learn. As you read the Hagadah of Pesach, the important thing is to be grateful, extremely grateful, for what Hashem is doing now. "That they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it."

Pesach Sameach!

Friday, March 17, 2017

Yeshaya 41

The fragment Yeshaya 41 verses 14b-20:

וְגֹאֲלֵךְ קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל. הִנֵּה שַׂמְתִּיךְ, לְמוֹרַג חָרוּץ חָדָשׁ--בַּעַל, פִּיפִיּוֹת; תָּדוּשׁ הָרִים וְתָדֹק, וּגְבָעוֹת כַּמֹּץ תָּשִׂים. תִּזְרֵם וְרוּחַ תִּשָּׂאֵם, וּסְעָרָה תָּפִיץ אוֹתָם; וְאַתָּה תָּגִיל בַּיהוָה, בִּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּתְהַלָּל. הָעֲנִיִּים וְהָאֶבְיוֹנִים מְבַקְשִׁים מַיִם, וָאַיִן--לְשׁוֹנָם, בַּצָּמָא נָשָׁתָּה; אֲנִי יְהוָה אֶעֱנֵם, אֱלֹהֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל לֹא אֶעֶזְבֵם. אֶפְתַּח עַל-שְׁפָיִים נְהָרוֹת, וּבְתוֹךְ בְּקָעוֹת מַעְיָנוֹת; אָשִׂים מִדְבָּר לַאֲגַם-מַיִם, וְאֶרֶץ צִיָּה לְמוֹצָאֵי מָיִם. אֶתֵּן בַּמִּדְבָּר אֶרֶז שִׁטָּה, וַהֲדַס וְעֵץ שָׁמֶן; אָשִׂים בָּעֲרָבָה, בְּרוֹשׁ תִּדְהָר וּתְאַשּׁוּר--יַחְדָּו. לְמַעַן יִרְאוּ וְיֵדְעוּ, וְיָשִׂימוּ וְיַשְׂכִּילוּ יַחְדָּו--כִּי יַד-יְהוָה, עָשְׂתָה זֹּאת; וּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל, בְּרָאָהּ

The first phrase appears in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

And Your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel. Behold, I make of you a threshing sledge, new, sharp, and having teeth; you shall thresh the mountains and crush them, and you shall make the hills like chaff; you shall winnow them, and the wind shall carry them away, and the tempest shall scatter them. And you shall rejoice in the Lord; in the Holy One of Israel you shall glory. When the poor and needy seek water, and there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst, I the Lord will answer them; I the God of Israel will not forsake them. I will open rivers on the bare heights, and fountains in the midst of the valleys. I will make the wilderness a pool of water, and the dry land springs of water. I will put in the wilderness the cedar, the acacia, the myrtle, and the olive. I will set in the desert the cypress, the plane and the pine together, that they may see and know, may consider and understand together, that the hand of the Lord has done this, the Holy One of Israel has created it.

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Yeshaya 40

The fragment Yeshaya 40 verses 1-5:

נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ, עַמִּי--יֹאמַר, אֱלֹהֵיכֶם. דַּבְּרוּ עַל-לֵב יְרוּשָׁלִַם, וְקִרְאוּ אֵלֶיהָ--כִּי מָלְאָה צְבָאָהּ, כִּי נִרְצָה עֲו‍ֹנָהּ: כִּי לָקְחָה מִיַּד יְהוָה, כִּפְלַיִם בְּכָל-חַטֹּאתֶיהָ. קוֹל קוֹרֵא--בַּמִּדְבָּר, פַּנּוּ דֶּרֶךְ יְהוָה; יַשְּׁרוּ, בָּעֲרָבָה, מְסִלָּה, לֵאלֹהֵינוּ. כָּל-גֶּיא, יִנָּשֵׂא, וְכָל-הַר וְגִבְעָה, יִשְׁפָּלוּ; וְהָיָה הֶעָקֹב לְמִישׁוֹר, וְהָרְכָסִים לְבִקְעָה. וְנִגְלָה, כְּבוֹד יְהוָה; וְרָאוּ כָל-בָּשָׂר יַחְדָּו, כִּי פִּי יְהוָה דִּבֵּר

The bold-faced verses appear in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows:

Comfort, comfort my people, says your God. Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare1 is ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the Lord’s hand double for all her sins. A voice cries: “In the wilderness prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 43

The fragment Yeshaya 43 verses 9-12:

כָּל-הַגּוֹיִם נִקְבְּצוּ יַחְדָּו, וְיֵאָסְפוּ לְאֻמִּים--מִי בָהֶם יַגִּיד זֹאת, וְרִאשֹׁנוֹת יַשְׁמִיעֻנוּ; יִתְּנוּ עֵדֵיהֶם וְיִצְדָּקוּ, וְיִשְׁמְעוּ וְיֹאמְרוּ אֱמֶת. אַתֶּם עֵדַי נְאֻם-יְהוָה, וְעַבְדִּי אֲשֶׁר בָּחָרְתִּי: לְמַעַן תֵּדְעוּ וְתַאֲמִינוּ לִי וְתָבִינוּ, כִּי-אֲנִי הוּא--לְפָנַי לֹא-נוֹצַר אֵל, וְאַחֲרַי לֹא יִהְיֶה. אָנֹכִי אָנֹכִי, יְהוָה; וְאֵין מִבַּלְעָדַי, מוֹשִׁיעַ. אָנֹכִי הִגַּדְתִּי וְהוֹשַׁעְתִּי, וְהִשְׁמַעְתִּי--וְאֵין בָּכֶם, זָר; וְאַתֶּם עֵדַי נְאֻם-יְהוָה

The first verse appears in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows. Discussed is again, in my view, the Torah of P versus the Torah of Zerubavel.

All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things? Let them bring their witnesses to prove them right, and let them hear and say, It is true. “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me. I, I am the Lord, and besides me there is no savior. I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord.

"All the nations gather together, and the peoples assemble. Who among them can declare this, and show us the former things?" This is very frightening. They are challenging the worshippers of P to provide proof, regarding former things. This is frightening because the disregard of the truth among the workers of nothingness.

"'You are my witnesses,' declares the Lord, 'and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he.'" Zerubavel and his people, the men of truth, are the witnesses of Hashem. "I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses,” declares the Lord."

Friday, March 10, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 41

The fragment Yeshaya 41 verses 21-29:

קָרְבוּ רִיבְכֶם, יֹאמַר יְהוָה; הַגִּישׁוּ, עֲצֻמוֹתֵיכֶם, יֹאמַר, מֶלֶךְ יַעֲקֹב. יַגִּישׁוּ וְיַגִּידוּ לָנוּ, אֵת אֲשֶׁר תִּקְרֶינָה; הָרִאשֹׁנוֹת מָה הֵנָּה, הַגִּידוּ וְנָשִׂימָה לִבֵּנוּ וְנֵדְעָה אַחֲרִיתָן, אוֹ הַבָּאוֹת, הַשְׁמִיעֻנוּ. הַגִּידוּ, הָאֹתִיּוֹת לְאָחוֹר, וְנֵדְעָה, כִּי אֱלֹהִים אַתֶּם; אַף-תֵּיטִיבוּ וְתָרֵעוּ, וְנִשְׁתָּעָה ונרא (וְנִרְאֶה) יַחְדָּו. הֵן-אַתֶּם מֵאַיִן, וּפָעָלְכֶם מֵאָפַע; תּוֹעֵבָה, יִבְחַר בָּכֶם. הַעִירוֹתִי מִצָּפוֹן וַיַּאת, מִמִּזְרַח-שֶׁמֶשׁ יִקְרָא בִשְׁמִי; וְיָבֹא סְגָנִים כְּמוֹ-חֹמֶר, וּכְמוֹ יוֹצֵר יִרְמָס-טִיט. מִי-הִגִּיד מֵרֹאשׁ וְנֵדָעָה, וּמִלְּפָנִים וְנֹאמַר צַדִּיק; אַף אֵין-מַגִּיד, אַף אֵין מַשְׁמִיעַ--אַף אֵין-שֹׁמֵעַ, אִמְרֵיכֶם. רִאשׁוֹן לְצִיּוֹן, הִנֵּה הִנָּם; וְלִירוּשָׁלִַם, מְבַשֵּׂר אֶתֵּן. אֵרֶא וְאֵין אִישׁ, וּמֵאֵלֶּה וְאֵין יוֹעֵץ; וְאֶשְׁאָלֵם, וְיָשִׁיבוּ דָבָר. הֵן כֻּלָּם, אָוֶן אֶפֶס מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם; רוּחַ וָתֹהוּ, נִסְכֵּיהֶם

The bold-faced verse appears in our list. The English Standard Version is as follows, with some comments intertwined. Discussed is, in my view, the "Psak Din" regarding P.

Set forth your case, says the Lord; bring your proofs, says the King of Jacob. Let them bring them, and tell us what is to happen. Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come. Tell us what is to come hereafter, that we may know that you are gods; do good, or do harm, that we may be dismayed will discuss and terrified see together.

Hence, P will be accepted as Torah, provided that there is anything to it. It could be that there is something from the "gods." "Tell us the former things, what they are, that we may consider them, that we may know their outcome; or declare to us the things to come."

Behold, you are nothing, and your work is less than nothing; an abomination is he who chooses you.


As you are nothing, who chooses you, chooses nothing, and is an abomination.

I stirred up one from the north, and he has come, from the rising of the sun, and he shall call upon my name; he shall trample on rulers as on mortar, as the potter treads clay. Who declared it from the beginning, that we might know, and beforehand, that we might say, “He is right”? There was none who declared it, none who proclaimed, none who heard your words. I was the first to say to Zion, “Behold, here they are!” and I give to Jerusalem a herald of good news. But when I look, there is no one; among these there is no counselor who, when I ask, gives an answer. Behold, they are all a delusion; their works are nothing; their metal images libations are empty wind.

In the court case, "there is no man," "there is no counselor," nobody answers the questions. We could answer for them. One could make the point that first verse of Parshat Tetzaveh would seem to be in P. One could answer that PE, definitely divine, would seem to be part of P. "I was the first to say to Zion, `Behold, here they are!`" They did not believe in their case and hence they were silent, and it is their very silence that is suspect. See, the silence of the rabbanim, the worshippers of P, was foretold. They can give no answer to a single real question. "They are all a delusion." The word נִסְכֵּיהֶם is to be translated as "their libations," as P prescribed to do them. Therefore, P is mere "empty wind," "their works are nothing." But the word can also be translated as "their metal images," as the English Standard Version has it, and then P is like idol worship. Thirdly, the word could also be translated as "their masks," particularly apt on Purim.

Purim Sameach!

Wednesday, March 8, 2017

Perush Yeshaya 61

The fragment Yeshaya 61 verses 1-5:

רוּחַ אֲדֹנָי יְהוִה, עָלָי--יַעַן מָשַׁח יְהוָה אֹתִי לְבַשֵּׂר עֲנָוִים, שְׁלָחַנִי לַחֲבֹשׁ לְנִשְׁבְּרֵי-לֵב, לִקְרֹא לִשְׁבוּיִם דְּרוֹר, וְלַאֲסוּרִים פְּקַח-קוֹחַ. לִקְרֹא שְׁנַת-רָצוֹן לַיהוָה, וְיוֹם נָקָם לֵאלֹהֵינוּ, לְנַחֵם, כָּל-אֲבֵלִים. לָשׂוּם לַאֲבֵלֵי צִיּוֹן, לָתֵת לָהֶם פְּאֵר תַּחַת אֵפֶר שֶׁמֶן שָׂשׂוֹן תַּחַת אֵבֶל--מַעֲטֵה תְהִלָּה, תַּחַת רוּחַ כֵּהָה; וְקֹרָא לָהֶם אֵילֵי הַצֶּדֶק, מַטַּע יְהוָה לְהִתְפָּאֵר. וּבָנוּ חָרְבוֹת עוֹלָם, שֹׁמְמוֹת רִאשֹׁנִים יְקוֹמֵמוּ; וְחִדְּשׁוּ עָרֵי חֹרֶב, שֹׁמְמוֹת דּוֹר וָדוֹר. עָמְדוּ זָרִים, וְרָעוּ צֹאנְכֶם; וּבְנֵי נֵכָר, אִכָּרֵיכֶם וְכֹרְמֵיכֶם

The first verse appeared in this post. The English Standard Version is as follows:

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn; to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. Strangers shall stand and tend your flocks; foreigners shall be your plowmen and vinedressers;

"The Lord has anointed me." Says the prophet, Zerubabel, the Moshiach of Hashem. He proclaims liberty, citing the verse Vayikra 25:10, in English Standard Version:

And you shall consecrate the fiftieth year, and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants. It shall be a jubilee for you, when each of you shall return to his property and each of you shall return to his clan.

Zerubabel is consciously writing a secret, for us to proclaim. The secret is based on the connection between the Yovel year, the jubilee, and the previous section, of Yeshaya 60. The period from 5708 to 5734, from the start of the Medinah until the Yom Kippur war, was the period of 999/2. The central year was year 5727, with the six-day war, three quarters into the period of 999/2. The year 5727 was the year of Hashem, the beginning of the counting. Fifty years later is the year 5777, and that is now. The clock ticks, now is the period of 507, ז"ך. Therefore, now is the auspicious time to "proclaim liberty," to "proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor." Now is the year of unlimited building allover the Land, the year we return to our property. Purim is the time of liberty, Dror, for Chazal tell us that the name Mordechai, the hero of Purim, sounds like the Aramaic "Mar D'khia", translation of the Hebrew "Mar Dror" (Shemot 30:23). Chazal also tell us that Yom Kippur is really called Yom Ki-Purim, a day like Purim, and Vayikra 25:9 teaches that tenth of the seventh month of the Yovel year is the day to sound the Shofar. On Purim everything is seen through special lenses, and it is apt to sound the Shofar on Purim, just as we sound it on Yom Ki-Purim, to proclaim liberty and to announce "the day of vengeance of our God." The real day of Purim, "the day of vengeance of our God," is in the year זי"ת ז"ך, three quarters into the period of 507, that is, six years from now. If the message was not clear, read the text again on Purim, after a drink or two. Purim Sameach!

Sunday, March 5, 2017

Perush Yeshayah 45

The fragment Yeshaya 45 verses 18-25:

כִּי כֹה אָמַר-יְהוָה בּוֹרֵא הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, יֹצֵר הָאָרֶץ וְעֹשָׂהּ הוּא כוֹנְנָהּ--לֹא-תֹהוּ בְרָאָהּ, לָשֶׁבֶת יְצָרָהּ; אֲנִי יְהוָה, וְאֵין עוֹד. לֹא בַסֵּתֶר דִּבַּרְתִּי, בִּמְקוֹם אֶרֶץ חֹשֶׁךְ--לֹא אָמַרְתִּי לְזֶרַע יַעֲקֹב, תֹּהוּ בַקְּשׁוּנִי; אֲנִי יְהוָה דֹּבֵר צֶדֶק, מַגִּיד מֵישָׁרִים. הִקָּבְצוּ וָבֹאוּ הִתְנַגְּשׁוּ יַחְדָּו, פְּלִיטֵי הַגּוֹיִם; לֹא יָדְעוּ, הַנֹּשְׂאִים אֶת-עֵץ פִּסְלָם, וּמִתְפַּלְלִים, אֶל-אֵל לֹא יוֹשִׁיעַ. הַגִּידוּ וְהַגִּישׁוּ, אַף יִוָּעֲצוּ יַחְדָּו: מִי הִשְׁמִיעַ זֹאת מִקֶּדֶם מֵאָז הִגִּידָהּ, הֲלוֹא אֲנִי יְהוָה וְאֵין-עוֹד אֱלֹהִים מִבַּלְעָדַי--אֵל-צַדִּיק וּמוֹשִׁיעַ, אַיִן זוּלָתִי. פְּנוּ-אֵלַי וְהִוָּשְׁעוּ, כָּל-אַפְסֵי-אָרֶץ: כִּי אֲנִי-אֵל, וְאֵין עוֹד. בִּי נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי--יָצָא מִפִּי צְדָקָה דָּבָר, וְלֹא יָשׁוּב: כִּי-לִי תִּכְרַע כָּל-בֶּרֶךְ, תִּשָּׁבַע כָּל-לָשׁוֹן. אַךְ בַּיהוָה לִי אָמַר, צְדָקוֹת וָעֹז; עָדָיו יָבוֹא וְיֵבֹשׁוּ, כֹּל הַנֶּחֱרִים בּוֹ. בַּיהוָה יִצְדְּקוּ וְיִתְהַלְלוּ, כָּל-זֶרַע יִשְׂרָאֵל

The first verse appeared in this post. The English Standard Version is as follows:

For thus says the Lord, who created the heavens (he is God!), who formed the earth and made it (he established it; he did not create it empty, he formed it to be inhabited!): “I am the Lord, and there is no other. I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain.’ I the Lord speak the truth; I declare what is right. “Assemble yourselves and come; draw near together, you survivors of the nations! They have no knowledge who carry about their wooden idols, and keep on praying to a god that cannot save. Declare and present your case; let them take counsel together! Who told this long ago? Who declared it of old? Was it not I, the Lord? And there is no other god besides me, a righteous God and a Savior; For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: there is none besides me. “Turn to me and be saved, hall the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: ‘To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance.’ “Only in the Lord, it shall be said of me, are righteousness and strength; to him shall come and be ashamed all who were incensed against him. In the Lord all the offspring of Israel shall be justified and shall glory.

This is based on the first verse in Sefer Bereshit. All concepts of this verse exist also here, בּוֹרֵא הַשָּׁמַיִם הוּא הָאֱלֹהִים, יֹצֵר הָאָרֶץ , God is the creator of the Heavens and the Earth; בִּמְקוֹם אֶרֶץ חֹשֶׁךְ--לֹא אָמַרְתִּי לְזֶרַע יַעֲקֹב, תֹּהוּ בַקְּשׁוּנִי, the earth of darkness, לֹא-תֹהוּ בְרָאָהּ, not-empty it was created; תֹּהוּ בַקְּשׁוּנִ seek me in vain, he did not say. What is missing here is the light that was created. Instead, Hashem presents Himself, as e.g. in "I the Lord speak the truth" and in “Turn to me and be saved, hall the ends of the earth!" Thus, His Presence, the Shechina, is "the light," which must be missing here on purpose. The relation between light and the presence of Hashem is made explicit in Yeshaya 60, in verses like: וְהָיָה-לָךְ יְהוָה לְאוֹר עוֹלָם, "and the Lord will be your everlasting light," and וְעָלַיִךְ יִזְרַח יְהוָה, וּכְבוֹדוֹ עָלַיִךְ יֵרָאֶה. וְהָלְכוּ גוֹיִם, לְאוֹרֵךְ, "and the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you, and nations shall come to your light." Hence, the new light that will come over Zion, is the same old light that was created in the beginning, יְהִי אוֹר.