Parashat Naso
12 Sivan 5778 / 25-26 May 2018
Torah: Numbers 4:21 - 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25
Calendar and dedications follow below. For a
full calendar of events and other info about Temple B’nai Hayim/Congregation
Beth Meier, check out:
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend,
and please cite the source.
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REPENTANCE FROM WITHIN
"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the Children of Israel: A man or woman who commits any of man's sins, to commit sacrilege against the Lord, and that person becomes guilty - they shall confess their sin that they committed - he shall make restitution for his guilt plus an additional one-fifth, and give it to the one to whom he has wronged.'" Numbers 5:5-7
"The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, 'Speak to the Children of Israel: A man or woman who commits any of man's sins, to commit sacrilege against the Lord, and that person becomes guilty - they shall confess their sin that they committed - he shall make restitution for his guilt plus an additional one-fifth, and give it to the one to whom he has wronged.'" Numbers 5:5-7
In his Mishneh Torah, Rambam (Maimonides) says that the commandment to confess is the foundation of teshuvah, repentance. For sins against God, we confess to God. For sins against our fellows, we confess to them and to God - for sins against others are also sins against God.
Why confession? Shouldn't
restitution, especially with an additional amount, be sufficient? If the
guilty party has made the victim whole, what is the point of
confession? Compare this with the American legal system. Every day,
hundreds of lawsuits are settled with the payment of money (not called
"damages"), but with no admission of wrongdoing. We accept this
as a way to end litigation, but we know intuitively that it is not the solution
to the problem. It seems like the guilty party is buying a license - perhaps
to sin yet again.
Why confession? In part, one must convince both man and God that one will not commit the sin again. But many of us can be convincing actors. We might even convince ourselves. An answer may be found in the Hebrew grammar for the word "confess" which appears in verse 7. The word is hitvadu, a reflexive form of the verb. The point is to cause introspection, to find the true source of the wrongdoing, to avoid the blame game. Someone who has confessed, both outwardly and inwardly, who has thoroughly examined the self, is much less likely to commit another offense. Some things money can't buy! True repentance comes from within.
Shabbat shalom!
Why confession? In part, one must convince both man and God that one will not commit the sin again. But many of us can be convincing actors. We might even convince ourselves. An answer may be found in the Hebrew grammar for the word "confess" which appears in verse 7. The word is hitvadu, a reflexive form of the verb. The point is to cause introspection, to find the true source of the wrongdoing, to avoid the blame game. Someone who has confessed, both outwardly and inwardly, who has thoroughly examined the self, is much less likely to commit another offense. Some things money can't buy! True repentance comes from within.
Shabbat shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Visit me on Facebook
"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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Candle lighting: 7:36 pm
Friday: Shabbat Rocks! Shabbat
Evening Service – 7:30 pm. A Rock ‘n Roll Service led by Reb Jason and the
Band. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Saturday: Breakfast/Torah
Study – 8:45 am. Shabbat Morning Service – 9:30 am. Kiddush luncheon follows.
Monday: Memorial Day.
Before you fire up the grill, raise the flag, and remember US service personnel
who gave their lives, so you would be free to have that BBQ.
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn –
12:00 noon.
Next time you come to TBH/CBM, please bring
some non-perishable canned and packaged foods and personal items (no glass) for
SOVA.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my
uncle, Hans Schack, whose yahrzeit falls on Sunday. Y’hi zikhro liv’rakhah –
May his memory be a blessing.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of all
those who died in service to their country.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah
shleimah for Ze’ev ben Adeline, Eilite bat Miriam, Sarah bat Devorah, Hiroe
Andreola, Susan Arbetman, Ken Bitticks, Jerry Daniels, Maya Fersht (Maya bat
Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel), Annabelle Flom (Channah
Bella bat Kreina), Bernard Garvin, Leah Granat, Brandon Joseph, Gabor Klein,
Philip Kovac, Tonya Kronzek (Zlata Malkah bat Sarah Emanu), David Marks, Debra
Schugar Strauss (Devorah bat Chaya Feiga), Helen Schugar (Chaya Feiga bat
Kreina), and Jonathan Woolf.
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.
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Send requests for dedications of Cyber
Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah
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