One Torah for All

Due to the pandemic All activities are cancelled until further notice except phone consultations and discussions possible as needed/ desired [928-227-0582]. Newsletter will continue.  If we have pleasant Shabbat weather, we can do an early outdoors Shabbat Morning service/torah study.  call to arrange.

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Oct. 1, VaYelech, Shabbat Shuva

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Sept. 24, Nitzavim

Deuteronomy 29:9-30; Isaiah 61:10-63:9

Shabbat Shalom! Do we pursue good quality of life for all? At Beit Torah we strive to do so:

Nitzavim 5782 Choose Life; Deuteronomy 29:9-30; Isaiah 61:10-63:9

One small chapter reveals this week's

Impending joys, forgiveness' peak,

With Days of Awe's New Year we seek

Choosing Life once more; Hope replete

With some yummy food and community,

Families or chosen with whom to be...

Again we read reaffirmation of our Brit

So we’ll be blessed if we avoid idolatry

We did in Egypt, in other nations did see;

Also avoid the fallout from idolatry

And follow all the Mitzvot Laws to not be cursed…

If we do not, life for all will be even worse.

The whole Land will suffer even if some don’t sin.

For those who scoff Laws, pardon's no path, can’t come in.

Now if on bad times you fall for you do not heed,

You can repent, return, choose Life's blessings you see...

To follow all the Brit Laws, it isn’t too hard.

Hence it should be easy to choose which side of the card

Stands for blessings witnessed well by Heaven and Earth

So all choices combined will cause blessing not curse.

Haftorah

Isaiah once more with words of comfort galore

That Jerusalem’s returning People and more

Lead to rejoicing, redeemed by HaShem so well…

"Since Hashem has so blessed me with bounty galore,

I must not be silent, must praise G!d ever more

As I work to rebuild, glorify Holy Land,

So Jerusalem no longer defiled will be...

Idolaters and invaders will not succeed

In abominations they try to bring in hand...

Nations saw our triumph of return as we tell:

HaShem’s not now angry; with mercy we’re renewed;

Saved with love; vengeance, anger, and fury eschewed!

Through G!d's agency, redeemed the People will be

Not by their own power, so praise to G!d they'll sing!"

in the news:

May we forgive trespasses against us and be forgiven for ours!

Shanah Tova Tikateivu!

And Shabbat Shalom!

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Sept. 17, Ki Tavo

Shabbat Shalom! How do we reaffirm our dedication to the Brit and the MItzvot? At Beit Torah we seek ways to do so:

Ki Tavo 5782 ReDedication; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 26:1-29:8; Isaiah 60:1-22

This discourse further explains Sinai's Mt. Horeb's Brit

With details of outcomes: Blessings and curses replete.

So we start this week’s portion with a simple refrain:

All first fruits we give to HaShem in thanks for the Land

While we recall Laban’s treachery in Aram pain;

Times in Egypt with servitude oppressing each man;

Resolve to care for strangers, Levites, needy, and poor.

With third year tithes collected they can get even more.

If all mitzvot followed correctly, renown’s at hand.

Upon entry to the Promised Land, the Folk were told

In order for folk to reaffirm the Holy Brit

They needed to write the Law on twelve pillar steles,

Plaster covered like Egypt’s, but in this Land won’t hold

[Too wet!], these twelve placed on Mount Ebal for all to see…

Six tribes stood on Ebal and six others Gerizim,

With Cohanim and altar in the valley below.

As blessings were pronounced, all said, “Amen” in clear voice

Just as in prayer services of later years we know.

All Folk remembered well this event of our Brit choice.

The Blessings were clearly coming from observing rules:

Such as fertility in family, flocks and fields;

Surpluses in many products; with a plenty food;

Enemies will be scattered; safety in travel too.

So all will be approached from the head, not the tail/ heels!

Then the curses were so listed in spades

For surreptitious acts: accepting bribes;

For violating Parents, Dads, their wives;

For assault in secret, taking of lives;

Moving land boundaries; misdirecting

Of the disabled, not them protecting;

Like not caring for fatherless, strangers,

And the widows to keep them from dangers;

For, too, illicit sex hidden from day;

For all those who refused still to obey:

Weather calamities, blessings reversed,

With pandemics, inflammations, folks cursed…

Madness, abuse at the hands of others…

Infidelities, idolatries, pests,

Panic, corpse rotting, kids as slaves brothers,

Infestations, infections, no nerve rest…

Strangers rule, no place as home, projects doomed…

As in Lamentations, all horrors loomed…

By ever increasing fear, thoughts that Folk would be plagued,

Cursing all communities and folk for their straying...

An encouraging closing is meted out to all:

Since succeeded with Reuven’s, Gad’s, and half-Menashe’s call

On the River’s East, so too on the West: Success with Gall!

Haftorah

Isaiah’s haftorah promises this week:

Even when other nations sit in the dark

Light upon you will illuminate your mark

So that all sorts of bounty, yours if you seek:

Flourishing trade with economic boom;

Fertile families and business stations;

Victory without violence will resume!

With all prospering and Peace throughout the Land!

Bright days and nights, hence no need for sun nor moon...

Our small nation will have honor in the world,

Our flag equal among all nations unfurled!

HaShem will glory in our mighty nation

Planted here with our Brit as a stronghold grand!

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Sept. 10, Ki Tetze

Shabbat Shalom! At Beit Torah we strive to fastidiously follow the laws?

Ki Tetzei 5782 Way to Live; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 21:10-25:19; Isaiah 54:1-10

This portion’s seventy-four mitzvot we find,

But not all appear in these comments in kind:

Treat fair captives kindly, marry or release;

Give less loved wife a double portion increase;

Gal post-second husband can’t return to first;

Women’s rights not great – other nations were worse;

Newlywed exemptions like from army draft;

Sex, slave traders should be executed fast;

Nocturnal emission? Bathe and wait the day;

Rape of not betrothed means bride price must be paid;

Rapist of betrothed like adulterers die,

Including women in town not heard to cry;

Prove virginity at marriage, else no go;

Sex with close relatives is a big no-no;

No mixtures of work animals, threads, or seeds;

On outer clothing one needs to put tzitzits;

Shield escaped servants; just nest’s eggs to be used;

Make sure your homes are safe with guard rails for roofs;

Vows are to be honored as noted before;

Lepers like Miriam follow their Priests’ lore;

Shun bastards, maimed, Moabites, and Ammonites…

Grandkids okay of Egyptians, Edomites...

Lending’s at no interest among the Folk.

With no inflation worries, ‘twasn’t a joke!

Collateral of needs not to be taken

For loans to servants, widows, fatherless, poor,

Such as a mill or millstones, night clothes, and more;

For these people and for strangers, too, recall

To leave olives, grapes, and field gleanings for all.

Collection of debts’ not to endanger souls

Nor intimidate by forced entry to homes.

There’s no collective family sin assigned

For individual’s guilty act we find;

Even for cults, harlotry, defiant sons,

Cross-dressing or failure to pay wages same day won,

Pay those workers before going home at night,

No false weights or altered measures to your likes.

For all those sins for which guilty’s life is paid,

They’re to be impaled for view until end of day.

However for defiant sons "buts' were made,

Allowances on when that law was then stayed,

So many restrictions were oft put in place

That they say no son ever died thus to this day...

Judgments can be given up to forty blows.

No excess punishment was allowed you know...

If a brother’s levirate marriage is refused,

The widow in public then spits in his shoe.

If wife defends husband crushing attacker’s balls,

Her hand’s to be cut off! What a sexist call!

Had hubby protected wife in such a way,

What charges would be made? What would Judges say?

Care for wayward animals until claimed;

Do not muzzle oxen as they tread their grain;

If livestock is in distress, help fix the mess.

Remember Amalek who preyed on the weak,

Who must be wiped out each year, every week!

A favorite Haftorah appears this week

As only ten short verses to read there be!

From barren to fruitful inhabited Land

Is promised by HaShem with kindness and peace,

Leaving behind anger and rebuke now canned,

Returning comfort with compassion’s increase.

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Sept. 3, Shofetim

Shabbat Shalom! At Beit Torah we seek honor and integrity in our judges and leaders - or at least we should …

Shoftim 5782 Honor and Integrity; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 16:18-21:9; Isaiah51:12-52:12

We read: “Justice, Justice shall you pursue”

With humble Kings who know Laws to be strict;

With impartial Judges and taking no bribes;

With two witnesses needed to convict

And cast the very stones to take those lives

Of idolaters or who verdicts flee

From Judges’ decisions or those of Priests

When Judges can't decide who should be free...

Now if a witness a false statement gives,

And an investigation proves it so,

Then the punishment for the crime is his.

Paid equivalent for each loss you know -

Eye worth for eye... or tooth, hand, foot as you go…

Mellows Hammurabi’s harsh edict so!

When Folk are settled in the Land,

Three refuge cities there are planned,

Three more elsewhere if all goes well

For manslaughterers to restart

Since spilt innocent blood brings shame

To all Folk under this Land's name!

If murder with intent instead,

To blood-avenger until dead…

There is always much to be truly judged:

Whether some boundary markers were moved?

Whether a prophet is true one or false?

If false, should die – but how can it be proved?

A chosen Monarch like a Judge should be...

Ever loyal to HaShem, humble, true,

Not haughty, faithful to Laws’ study too,

Not alien foreigner nor a hoarder

Of gold and silver nor of wives or steeds…

No exchange with Egypt for any needs…

No altars save only to HaShem,

Unblemished offered, no deities.

Support the Levites with sacrifices

Wherever may be their communities.

So if a human corpse on the road is found,

Responsibility’s on the nearest town

To bury, but Levites must clear the site,

Purify and absolve all guilt and fright.

Death if heathen acts are done, dispossessed:

Sacrificer of kids; caster of spells;

Consulter with ghosts, spirits or the dead;

An auger; diviner; or sorcerer;

A soothsayer to be cast out as well.

Now in battle do not fear. HaShem with you will be near!

In a war you must preserve women, children, trees and vines

So that after the battles one can collect grapes for wines.

Even as the fellow with new unused vineyard released,

So too, the betrothed or one afraid, home sent they’re to be.

Offer surrender before battle save to some locals

To be killed for fear that idolatry might be increased.

To comfort those in deep dread and fear,

Isaiah: 'stand tall, proclaim your faith

To the Holy Name, one who is near,

Who marches with you if you’re sincere.'

Isaiah said, 'These are HaShem's words to be heard':

"I am the one to comfort you short-lived mortals -

I, the Source of all the Heaven's and Earth's portals...

While you feel the rage of oppressors, I protect

You, my People, as I stir all the seas to roar

To regain unguided kids, raised on foreign floors...

For your tragedies, on tormentors my wrath'll be.

Zion, once you're awake, rebuild yourselves restored

So that the unrighteous will enter you no more.

Recover from exile. From temptation be free.

In order to be able to see, embrace me

So that your return to the pure all will perceive

As you march into the future along with me..."

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Aug. 27, Re-eh

Shabbat Shalom! At Beit Torah we strive to find better ways to meet challenges …

Re’eh 5782, Comfort Food; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 11:26-16:17; Isaiah 54:11-55:5

This is the well known portion with focus on one thing:

When one is given to choose between curse and blessing,

One should choose life for the blessings, many it will bring,

Not like barren Ebal but like the lush Gerizim -

Both west of Jordan River where Folk entered the Land

In which they would follow rules and Laws as HaShem planned.

Yet first they were to wipe out all the idolatry,

All forms considered evil, including folk you’ll see

Encouraging your false worship – hence they all should be

Destroyed – including false prophets, even family…

Subverted false prophet town totally gone astray

Must with all inhabitants be to the ground all razed.

This is uncomfortable to hear in today’s world.

We will not do as they did with harsh killing unfurled.

Challenges to keep you faithful are a test, you see.

How you handle them determines how righteous you'll be.

To get those desired blessings, worship as you are told,

Not as others do. Bless the future with good and right

As you rejoice appointed times with all your household,

With sacred and freewill offerings, feasts at night…

Recall: all of the blood is to be poured on the ground -

No self-mutilations among you are to be found …

Permitted foods are listed as was noted before,

Save for the eating of locusts permitted no more.

For some urban dwellers it is easier to do -

For farmers post-influx just locusts are left to eat…

Further, do not boil a kid in its mama’s milk too

And do not consume natural death carrion meat!

All offerings should be at the designated place,

Although must be observed even if too far away -

So if tithes the trip to the Holy Site won’t survive

Then they are to be sold with all funds hence to be used

On many goods at the designated Holy See

Of the Levites’ refuge, to boost the economy,

While making sure strangers, orphans, widows, and needy

Are always provided for not just on all feasts!

Now each seventh year remission of debts for the poor

Expected to default yet still given loans before…

Further release of indentured servants if they want

So all released plus the poor can get a new start…

Compassion’s the lesson for generations to flaunt…

We’re told the first born are consecrated to the Priests.

No repeat mention is made of the Pidyon HaBen…

Of importance it is said to celebrate all Feasts:

Pascal offering, seven unleavened days, and then

The Feast of Weeks and of Booths the whole household rejoices

At pilgrimage times with Feast special rites until when:

Sephard unblemished offered; Ashkenaz other choices…

The Haftorah tries to comfort the forlorn

Saying scholars will be children yet unborn;

Destroyed buildings rebuilt in beautiful form;

Safety from wars and slander will be achieved

If faithful to Laws the forlorn will then be.

For hunger and thirst, food and drink will be free.

Be righteous so protected from harm you'll be.

Your knowledge and counsel the Nations will seek.

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Aug. 20, Eikev

Shabbat Shalom! How can we care for the needy: the homeless, the disabled, etc.? At Beit Torah we strive to provide care to the needy as best we can …

Eikev 5782 Tikun Olam; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 7:12-11:25; Isaiah 49:14-51:3

This portion reiterated that all needed to follow the Laws

Or else, it is further stated, there will be curses without pause.

Blessings, respect, admiration by all nations if we’re true -

Or if not, infertility plagues and Egyptian diseases we knew

Will return with People’s bad choices regardless of prayer filled voices.

Reminders of the past recalled forty wilderness wander years,

Of Egypt’s plagues and wonders: miracle at the Sea of Reeds;

Manna as food; broken tablets; water found to provide for needs.

Stiff-neckedness; orneriness; building a golden calf from fears;

Fire destroying outskirts of camp along with Judges’ Meeting Tent;

Also plague from gluttony with uncooked quail as they went;

For such weaknesses and much more were these all as punishment sent

While Moshe interceded many times to save from even worse;

Refused to father a nation; preferred to help ours to heed;

Argued that to abandon the Folk, to all nations' scorn would lead.

The People built an Ark as per given specs to avoid being cursed.

To Ancestors the Land was promised. ‘Twill be given on their crowns.

A Land of plenty to mines and eats: give thanks when tummies full!

So, too, the People’s survival not by their merit but by grace

Of HaShem so they could conquer thirty-one Kings’ Canaanite towns…

This largess and Moshe’s pleadings repeatedly saved Aaron’s face

As well as of erring People’s, who’d yet to earn their Holy place

Housing tablets and arks under Aaron's then Eleazar's pull.

Heed, they’re told: shun idolatry; treat all with no favors nor bribes

Just as HaShem does follow Laws; care for the widows and strangers,

Fatherless, converts, as you should your own family’s weal and lives.

Faithfully perform all the mitzvot to avoid further dangers…

Do not forget, by becoming prideful, from whence all your bounty came;

Taking credit not yours; forgetting Egypt, thirst, scorpions, snakes:

Hardships to make you mature to avoid becoming doomed again...

Our second Shema paragraph, therein included, clearly stated:

Follow Laws, love HaShem to be blessed. Be faithful so all goes well.

Care for livestock, the less fortunate, and children before yourselves.

If these things aren’t done, you’ll be cursed. Bless HaShem when you are sated.

Haftorah, Isaiah 49

HaShem promised to rebuild and restore the Folk

After they felt abandoned by G!d in the Land.

So Isaiah asked: 'How could this possibly be?

For HaShem sees all deserving of praise or woe -

Saw how your stolen kids were raised by pagan hands,

Hands which will return those children, set karma free

To pay evil in kind, as HaShem decides...

Now I, Isaiah, proudly show myself to all

As I trust in HaShem unlike they who light fires

With their distrust of G!d to flail in burning pain.

So listen to me now! You must Justice desire;

Remember your Ancestors from whom we all gain

Our love of HaShem, the Brit, Mitzvot we all seek

To find comfort, Zion rebuilt into Eden complete

With gladness, joy, thanksgiving, and musical treats.'

Hence a similar vein in Haftorah we find

As HaShem cares for offspring, cautions them to mind

With pronouncements and deserved punishments dished out

Calling all: pursue Justice, the Holy revere

As we recall our forebears who answered the call

To reach comfort, fruitfulness, joys bringing us near

With gladness, sweet music, thanksgiving, love and cheer!

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Aug. 13, VaEtchanan, Nachamu

Shabbat Shalom! How can we comfort the grieving? At Beit Torah we strive to listen and provide comfort as best we can …

Vaetchanan 5782 Shema; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 3:23-7:11; Isaiah 40:1-26

Now Moshe had high hopes when he set out to do his task:

To free Jacob’s descendants and do all HaShem might ask.

Yet the People were quite naughty with idols, gripes, dissent…

They made HaShem quite cross with them nearly everywhere they went.

Moshe begged on their behalf their punishment to prevent …

HaShem, though cross with Moshe’s ways, in the end did relent.

However Moshe was allowed only the Land to see -

To cross the River Jordan and enter was not to be...

With leading fights on Transjordan land, aged Moish could not keep up.

He sorely blamed HaShem, it is said, for keeping him in the East…

Still it was closer to family… Time for Joshua to lead…

Hence Moshe’s focus was teaching the Law for which there was great need,

Recapping the giving of the Brit by a voice alone, naught seen...

Then No idols could be made of HaShem’s form seen only in dreams.

In short, Moshe Rabbeinu taught the Folk to follow Laws

In order to achieve life especially in the Land,

To avoid destructions, calamities bad choices cause -

Although HaShem promised no annihilation was planned

While Heaven and Earth witness as us caretakers flub up…

And all again told of three refuge cities in the East…

Moshe exhorted Folk to faithfully learn, study, teach

All the Laws as well as the Brit he put within their reach:

NO idols; NO swearing falsely; NO other deities;

Observe Shabbat: livestock, Folk, servants, strangers to include;

Honor your parents [but only their good behaviours do];

NO murder [not ‘killing’]; NO adultery; NO stealing

[particularly of souls and spirits]; NO covetting;

NO false witnessing! Follow the Brit and all Laws to thrive,

To help prevent calamities as well as stay alive!

These Dvarim terms nearly the same as in Exodus jive

When Folk had Moshe tell HaShem's words so to stay alive!

At this point, to the People, Moshe proclaimed the watchword

Of Shema and VeAhavta as Brit, not command nor prayer.

Then he added on some more exhortations to be heard:

When lands are taken, destroy foreign idols, objects, places.

Do not intermarry. Foreign religions: leave no traces…

At times: Folk were told to expel natives; others: kill them there…

These were not the words at Mount Horeb in the Sinai sands.

Hence now we ask: What did they do when they entered the Land?

Haftorah Nachamu, Isaiah

Bloody dramas of this portion along with the good, too,

Leave us a bit unsettled. What history should we rue?

So the comfort of Haftorah is welcomed, Nachamu,

With a promised Jerusalem restored – what does that mean?

Yet with a strong caution since our ephemeral flesh will be

As all is, save the Words of HaShem throughout eternity.

None can be likened to HaShem at whose call all will be seen…

So Comfort’s the call as we go to the High Holy Days scene…

A double punishment for Jerusalem was meted

Then reinstated with the Shechinah when completed.

So all now should feel comforted and ready to rebuild

A highway to Zion for all folks' spirits to be filled

With a desire to follow Laws and do Mitzvot as willed

By HaShem who's eternal; as a shepherd shepherds all.

However, we who are but a blip in time must recall

That only HaShem knows the measure of every part

Of Nature and the Universe; alone will decide,

Consulting no other; all seeing, from sight none can hide.

No idols nor men can to HaShem compare as they, too,

Are not permanent, unlike the Source of all evolved new -

That Source: the True Judge of all Creation, all of us, too.

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Aug. 6  Dvarim

Shabbat Shalom! At Beit Torah we constantly discuss opposing Amalek's hatreds, bigotries, violence, destructions...

Devarim 5782 Recap; Deuteronomy [Devarim] 1:1-3:22; Isaiah 1:1-27

Now Moshe was an old and feeble man

With his memory mayhap in part shot -

Of his days, they all seemed like yesterday,

So the Devarim Book is what we got:

A recap of forty long desert years;

With fair minded judges appointed per plan;

With wise leaders chosen to pave the way

Despite fights and gripes which seemed quite a lot…

Was it written later in Moshe’s name

Using newer, good language per each jot?

Hot off the press to help Hilkiah teach

A return to the Laws that all might reach?

The bloody overtaking of the Land

With the slaughter of all its native folk

Was perhaps the end goal that Moshe planned,

But in truth not all local folk did croak…

The peoples and nations in Devarim and their known names

Are like in Numbers, but not all fights were described the same:

Amalek, Anakim, Sihon and Og come now to mind...

We close with a reminder that those Folk who stayed behind

Agreed in the East to be shock troops for the Western line.

Joshua, as military leader, was charged to trust

That HaShem would battle with him to conquer as they must…

Haftorah, Isaiah third of admonition/ desolation

Now we approach Tisha B’Av with the first of Isaiah’s words

To the Kings of Judah during their four reigns

Railing against depravities, iniquities of which he heard

That would cause, if unchecked, desolation pains…

He urged them to fully cleanse themselves and right the wrongs they had done,

Such as by protecting widows and orphans, too…

Or if not, Hashem would bring them low until evil was all gone,

Repentant ones called righteous, Zion redeemed anew…

Further, Eighth Century B.C.E., he did say:

'HaShem feels abandoned by your sinful ways.

Unlike domesticated who with their masters stay,

Your rebellions remind HaShem of other days

When Sodom and Gomorrah both were led astray.

So He berates you Folk and clearly to you states

That for objects and sacrifices G!d cares not!

False pieties on Holy Days don't hit the spot!

Just cleanse yourselves of evil doings and do good;

Devote yourselves to Justice to help those in need -

Or wronged. You can repent, do mitzvot as you should

So you can be blessed- OR if not, be cursed with speed.

Know too, you must not others judge if you're with crooks.

HaShem punishes enemies despite good looks.

So too for you if you're with unsavory folk...

Those who repent will be righteous leaders - No joke!

Zion, as 'Righteous, Faithful City', will be saved

By repentant survivors with blessed future paved.'