Parashat Balak
17 Tammuz 5775 / 3-4 July 2015
Torah: Numbers 22:2 - 25:9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6 - 6:8
17 Tammuz 5775 / 3-4 July 2015
Torah: Numbers 22:2 - 25:9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6 - 6:8
Dedications and Calendar of
Events follow below. Full calendar and other information about our
community may be found at: http://www.bethmeier.org
We’re planning
a trip to Israel
Please feel free to pass
this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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NO PROFIT FROM “PROPHETS”
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel. Like palm groves that stretch out; like gardens beside a river; like aloes planted by the Lord; like cedars beside the water.” Numbers 24:5-6.
The first verse here is the opening of “Ma Tovu”, recited upon entering the synagogue. Together, the verses are a beautiful blessing, or perhaps an observation, offered by the sorcerer-prophet Bil’am, who had been hired to curse the people ofIsrael
The early Hasidic master Yakov Yosef of Polnoye asks, “What is the difference between a true prophet and a false one?” The true prophet, he says, scolds people, telling them of their failings and how they may correct them. Think of Jeremiah or Isaiah.
The false prophet, on the other hand, sweet-talks the people. “You’re wonderful! Everything is great! Don’t change a thing.” He covers you in honey and cream while preparing to slice you to pieces.
It is precisely because true prophets love the people that they criticize them and demand improvement. Even though Bil’am and others of his ilk praise the peopleIsrael Israel
Don’t be fooled by false prophets - they'll love you to death.
Shabbat Shalom! Happy Independence Day!
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NO PROFIT FROM “PROPHETS”
“How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel. Like palm groves that stretch out; like gardens beside a river; like aloes planted by the Lord; like cedars beside the water.” Numbers 24:5-6.
The first verse here is the opening of “Ma Tovu”, recited upon entering the synagogue. Together, the verses are a beautiful blessing, or perhaps an observation, offered by the sorcerer-prophet Bil’am, who had been hired to curse the people of
The early Hasidic master Yakov Yosef of Polnoye asks, “What is the difference between a true prophet and a false one?” The true prophet, he says, scolds people, telling them of their failings and how they may correct them. Think of Jeremiah or Isaiah.
The false prophet, on the other hand, sweet-talks the people. “You’re wonderful! Everything is great! Don’t change a thing.” He covers you in honey and cream while preparing to slice you to pieces.
It is precisely because true prophets love the people that they criticize them and demand improvement. Even though Bil’am and others of his ilk praise the people
Don’t be fooled by false prophets - they'll love you to death.
Shabbat Shalom! Happy Independence Day!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier
- Studio City , CA
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com
Visit me on Facebook
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Candle lighting:
7:50 pm
Friday: Beth Meier office CLOSED – Federal
Holiday. NO Shabbat Evening Service.
Saturday: Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00
am. Kiddush lunch follows. Happy Fourth of July!
Tuesday: Lunch and Learn – 12:00 noon.
Friday, July 10: Family Shabbat Evening Service –
7:30 pm. Oneg Shabbat follows.
Sunday, July
12: English Tea
Party at Beth Meier - Enjoy a three course meal, meet new people, have fun
and plan other events. Limited seating, $25 per person, RSVP by July 7th!
Sunday, July
19: Rosh Chodesh Group’s
Tallit Making Caravan to Little India. Contact Lynn Kronzek or Deb Sigel for
details.
Sunday, August
2: IMPORTANT
Meeting of the members of Beth Meier – 2:00 pm. Please make every effort to
come and make your voices heard!
We’re planning
a trip to Israel
This d’var torah
is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avi Shmuel Yosef Hakohen ben Bella, Naomi bat
Yorma, Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Jeannie Berger, Ken
Bitticks, Elsbet Brosky, Jacob William Cohen, Jerry Daniels, Howard Ehrlich,
Maya Fersht (Maya bat Esther), Dr. Samuel Fersht (Shmuel Natan ben Gittel),
Leonard Foint, Annabelle Flom (Chanah Bella bat Kreina), Gig Flom (Gittel Tobi
bat Blanca), Jerry Forman, Pamela Huddleston, Philip Kovac, Rabbi Sheldon
Pennes, and Annie Rivera.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via free subscription to the Cyber Torah email list.
Cyber Torah list
management:
To subscribe to
Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with
the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.
To unsubscribe from
Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with
the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.
To dedicate a
Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a
refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber
Torah” and provide details in the message body.
