Parashat Naso
12 Sivan 5776 / 17-18 June 2016
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
12 Sivan 5776 / 17-18 June 2016
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Full calendar
and lots of other info available at: www.bethmeier.org
Please feel free
to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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THE POWER OF GOD
IS IN YOUR HANDS
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: So shall you bless the children ofIsrael Israel
Many years ago, when I was at the earliest stage of my renewed interest in Judaism, I read about a most intriguing custom - the parental blessing of children on Shabbat evening. Years later, I searched everywhere for the story and incredibly, when I really, really needed to find it, I finally did:
'Sadly, in recent times, blessing the children has become generally unobserved outside the Orthodox community. Herbert Wiener, an American Reform rabbi who witnessed an elderly Jew dispensing Sabbath blessings in Safed, Israel, was moved to write: "I could not help but think of successful suburban fathers who had made comfortable provisions for their children yet would never receive the honor and respect that had fallen to the lot of the old North African Jew who could offer only blessings."' (Jewish Literacy, by Joseph Telushkin)
Only blessings! The significance of blessings is borne out in the story of Jacob's deception of Isaac, and Esau's anguished cry: "Bless me father, even me!" (Genesis 27) The idea that God permits us to give blessings in God's name stunned me – and it still does. To have such authority, such power! To be God's agent, even God's partner!
"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: So shall you bless the children of
Many years ago, when I was at the earliest stage of my renewed interest in Judaism, I read about a most intriguing custom - the parental blessing of children on Shabbat evening. Years later, I searched everywhere for the story and incredibly, when I really, really needed to find it, I finally did:
'Sadly, in recent times, blessing the children has become generally unobserved outside the Orthodox community. Herbert Wiener, an American Reform rabbi who witnessed an elderly Jew dispensing Sabbath blessings in Safed, Israel, was moved to write: "I could not help but think of successful suburban fathers who had made comfortable provisions for their children yet would never receive the honor and respect that had fallen to the lot of the old North African Jew who could offer only blessings."' (Jewish Literacy, by Joseph Telushkin)
Only blessings! The significance of blessings is borne out in the story of Jacob's deception of Isaac, and Esau's anguished cry: "Bless me father, even me!" (Genesis 27) The idea that God permits us to give blessings in God's name stunned me – and it still does. To have such authority, such power! To be God's agent, even God's partner!
I promised
myself that, if I should ever be fortunate enough to become a father, I would
bless my child every Shabbat and Yom Tov. In December 1994, it came to pass,
and when Robert was one day old, in the neo-natal intensive care unit, Lynn and
I donned gowns and gloves and masks, laid our hands on his tiny head, and
began: May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe. (The beginning for a daughter
is: May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah). Then, in keeping
with the tradition, we continued with the priestly blessing above. We felt God
there, blessing and guarding our son. It was awesome, and we have not missed an
opportunity to bless him since.
You should not
miss this experience either (even if your children are now adults or out of the
home – you can do this by phone as well). Your children's memories of receiving
your blessing every Friday night will stay with them much longer than those of
receiving the latest video game or toy. More than that, the idea that you
become God's partner in blessing your children will stay with them and you, and
empower you. When you recite the blessing, and put God's name on your children,
God blesses them. Your action leads to God's action. You have the power of God
in your hands.
Have a wonderful Shabbat, full of God's blessings.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City , CA
Website: www.bethmeier.org
Blogging at: www.rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @DrahcirMolf
"From the place where we are absolutely right,
flowers will never grow in the spring."
"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא
יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"
Yehuda Amichai
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Candlelighting: 7:48 pm
Friday: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am – Kiddush lunch follows.
Tuesday: NO Lunch and Learn – Rabbi Flom attending conference.
Friday, 24 June: Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday, 25 June: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Kiddush lunch follows.
Tuesday, 28 June: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.
Next time you come to Beth Meier,
please bring some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal
items (no glass) for SOVA.
This d’var torah is offered in honor of our son,
Robert Flom, whom we bless and who is a constant blessing to us.
This d’var torah is offered in honor of Elsbet Brosky
and her son Geir Hartmann, who are celebrating their respective birthdays this
Shabbat at Beth Meier. Mazal tov! Ad meah v’esrim!
This d’var torah is offered in memory of my uncle,
Hans Schack, whose yahrzeit falls on Wednesday, 16 Sivan. Y’hi zikhro
liv’rakhah.
This d’var torah is offered in memory of the
victims of the Pulse Nightclub terrorist attack in Orlando
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah
for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Berel ben Feigel, Yaakov
Rani Ben Margalit, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah bat
Devorah, Jackie Aaronson, Susan Arbetman, Scott Beatty, Ken
Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jerry Daniels, Beverly Erenbaum (Blimah bat
Sarah), Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben
Gittel), Leonard Foint (Eliezer Moshe ben Esther), Jerry Forman, Myra
Goodman, Stephanie Kane, Philip Kovac, Harvey Kronzek, Carolynne
Lavoie-Schwartz, Toni Linder, Deborah Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya
Feiga), and Beatrice Weide (Bayla bat Malkah).
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like
to add to this list or if there is anyone who may be removed from this list.
My weekly divrei torah are available through free
subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No
salesman will call!
Cyber Torah list management:
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