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Elevating Others ©

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Parshat Behar - Bechukotai

Leviticus 25.1- 27.34

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This Devri Torah Parshat is in the loving memory of Mr. Gary Lee Belk and Mr. Donald Wayne Belk, may they rest in peace.

As a young boy at the age of 9 I began cutting neighbors lawns for spare money.  My father spoke to several neighbors and before long I had about five good size yards to push mow the grass and trim. Shortly after that I got a paper route.  I lied about my age.  Before long my brothers each had a paper route in my name.  Gabor Yitzchok was 8 and Raphael Levy was 7.   We carried these paper routes everyday of the week.  At the age of 11 I began wording for the Denver Public Schools as a sweeper boy in the mornings before school and in the evenings after school. I got my Social Security number at the age of 11. The school district began deducting social security from my .90 cents per hour.   When I was 17 I worked at the local Arby's Roast Beef sometimes until 1:00 am on school nights during high school.  The day before I entered the military Daddy had me stacking hay on a flat bed truck then into the barn later.  The other farmers actually told my father to let me have the rest of the day off because I was going into the military.  When I came home on leave we cut tobacco leafs by hand.

Our parents owned rental property, thank G-d!  Every time a renter moved my father would say boys we gotta go clean and paint that rental. My brothers and I helped our father with all kinds of maintenance work from young ages.  We worked on roofs, we painted, we cleaned, we helped with construction, with poured concrete, with carried mortar, we trimmed trees and split wood.  We worked very hard as kids.

Needless to say when I went into the advertising and printing business our sons immediately were included.  They waited counter after school, made copies, designed business cards, stationary, flyers, folded, collated, handed fliers out door to door plus much more.  They were also quite young.

It is good for young adults to learn responsibility by working at various jobs but NOT kids.

Ha Torah Says, If your brother becomes destitute and cannot sustain himself among you are to support him as a foreigner or temporary resident, so that he can continue among you...  If your brother among you becomes destitute and sells himself to you, you must not force him to do slave labor. Let him stay with you as a hired hand or temporary resident; he may work until the Year of Jubilee.  Then he and his children are to be released from you, and he may return to his clan and his ancestral property.  They are not to be sold as slaves, because they are my slaves I brought out of the land of Mitzriam.  You are not to rule over them harshly but to fear your G-d!

When my father was 5 he became an orphan in the hills of Kentucky.  He went to live with a harsh uncle who beat him often.  Daddy recalled how he had to get up each morning and start a fire in the fireplace.

Dear ones when I was studying this Torah Parshat I realized that I treated my children a bit to sternly when growing up.  I required them to work hard after school.  I expected a to much from there mother.  When Naomi Leah and I married.  We began working hard, real hard.  We were so dedicated to sharing Torah on the internet. This was for a real good cause yet I was too driven.  About 7 or 8 years ago the Rebbetzin needed to back off. I agreed.  I remained very stead fast until about 20 months. I was forced to slow down because of injuries.  It is so difficult and painful to drive to physical therapy and doctors appointments along with home therapy and lessons and audio discussions. As many of you know this past year the Rebbetzin tried to come back by teaching a class on modesty.  She is still trying, G-d Bless her! Then, G-d Forbid she was struck with cancer, then lymphedema and carpal tunnel.    It has been a very difficult road to walk sense then...

The stress on us has been enormous!  We have greatly slowed down!  We are going to need to slow down even more.

In this weeks Parshat we Observe an important principle.  I like the translation of the Holman christian Standard Bible for this Passuk. Holman translates, You are not to rule over them [slaves] harshly but to fear your G-d!  Vayikra 25.46  Two Words stand out.

 hD≤r"ti Tee Rih Deh meaning to rule; to subdue, subjugate, tyrannize over...  The Letter Tav is added.  This is a special sign that tells us to take a closer look.  The Gematria of  hD≤r"ti Tee Rih Deh  is 609.  When the same Letter are rearranged they spell rDæh]t≤ Teh Hih Dawr, meaning favor. Mystically we learn how we are not to treat a servant and how we are to treat a servant.

˚r≤p;B] Bih Faw Rehk meaning to crush, oppress, break, oppress  The Gematria of ˚r≤p;B] Bih Faw Rehk is 302.  This is the same Gematria as bræq; Kaw Rahv meaning to come near to.  Again we learn that one is not to crush a servant but to draw the servant near to them.

 hD≤r"ti Tee Rih Deh meaning to rule; to subdue, subjugate, tyrannize over.

609 = h5 d4 r200 t400

rDæh]t≤ Teh Hih Dawr, meaning favor. 

609 = r200 d400 h500 t400

˚r≤p;B] Bih Faw Rehk meaning to crush, oppress, break, oppress 

302 = ˚20 r200 p80 b2

bræq; Kaw Rahv meaning to come near to

302 = b2 r200 q100

This is a message to all of us. This tells us there is a limit of work that one should expect from their slave.  This also tells us that there is a limit of what one should expect from children.  There is a limit of what one should expect from their spouse. There is a limit we should expect from our selves. Now, each of us should be seriously dedicated to learning and studying Ha Torah.  Yet there is a point where one must draw the line.  There is a point that one should not physically cross.  I cannot say that I have ever met anyone who rigorously or ruthlessly studies Ha Torah.  There are some extremely dedicated Torah Scholars.  Yet to place anyone of them in this category would be a mistake. 

Still when one slows down do to sickness or injury that is O.K. Our Creator Does not expect us to maintain the same scheduled as in our youth.  Avraham handed over responsibilities to Yitzchok when he was 140.  Yitzchok attempted to hand over responsibilities when he was 123.  He handed over responsibilities when he was 145.  Yaakov handed over responsibilities when he was 130.  All that I am saying is it is normal to take time off when one is sick or injured.  It is normal to slow down.  It is normal to hand responsibilities to a trained talmud.  I am also saying there is a line that each of us must pay attention to with regards to what we physically can do.  While on one hand we strive to be righteous and holy we must use common sense.

This lesson teaches us to not treat ourself or others harshly. 

Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

This Devri Torah Parshat is in the loving memory of Mr. Gary Lee Belk and Mr. Donald Wayne Belk, may they rest in peace.

This week we in our Devri Limood we discussed Rising to Yaakov's Level of Righteousness.   There we stated that righteous people make mistakes.  We discussed the mistakes of Yaakov and other great people of history.  We are going to continue this discussion with defining holiness.

Within our universe there seems to be a misconception of what it means to be holy. We must consider the questions: What is Holy? What is Holiness? Who defines what Holy means? Does it matter who defines the meaning of Holiness?

Simply put Holiness is SEPARATION!   Can one make a mistake and still be separated?  Yes and no!  It depends upon the mistake. Can one make several mistakes and still be separated?  Yes and no!  It depends upon the mistake.

The Story Of the Shwartzah Wolf
So often we look so holy with our long black coats, our black hats, our black kippas, our short hair, our payos, our long dresses, our sheitels, our outward actions, our Shabbos attendance, our davening and many other outward appearances. The problem with outward appearances is that too often they are founded on showtime pretenses. They are not real. Good habits are important. And they are healthy. Yet, to suggest that smoking and drinking among other habits are the soil for sinners is wrong. In fact, Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, may he rest in peace, related the story of the Shwartzah Wolf as told to the Belzer Rebbe by the great grandson.
There was a man who for many years had no children. And the gates of heaven were closed to him and his wife. This man was instructed to get a bracha from the Shwartzah Wolf. As the head of the thirty-six tzaddikim, he was the only one who could open the gates of Heaven.

However, the Shwartzah Wolf, a woodchuck living in the forest, was a very unpopular Jew in the community. He was described as being obnoxious. And his wife's words and his children's actions could not be repeated. This is a man who was not given an aliya at the community shul and for whose funeral the men of the shul did not want to make a minyan. Yet he was the head of the thirty-six tzaddikim, the only one who could open the gates of Heaven.

This desperate individual devised a plan to obtain the blessing from the Shwartzah Wolf. He would appear at the Shwartzah Wolf's home as a Jew acting lost in the forest shortly before Shabbos. His thinking was, "They will be forced to offer me accommodations." He knocked on the door. The wife of the Shwartzah Wolf appeared at the door, so ugly, so vial, so intimidating. The children behind her were mean like little devils. The house was in disarray, unkept and untidy. The home of the tzaddik felt like a scary place.

The Yid said, "I'm lost in the forest, Shabbos is about to begin, may I please stay at your house?"

She cursed at him and directed him to the barn where he could sleep on the hay. She warned him that her husband would kill him if he came near the house during Shabbos.

Late that evening, the Shwartzah Wolf appeared before him in the barn and warned him, "I expect you to be gone two minutes after Shabbos is over. Don't open the door to my house or I'll kill you with my bare hands."

The Yid was terrified. He was a dead man. His wife would be childless. The Shwartzah Wolf would not give him the bracha. The gates of Heaven would remain closed. Then late on Shabbos afternoon he began to cry. He fell to his knees there in the barn, openly sobbing out of control as he remembered his tears could open the gates of Heaven. It was at that time that the barn door flew open and there stood the Shwartzah Wolf, shining as the High Priest, inviting him to the third meal of Shabbos, Shalosh Seudos.

They entered the home together. The wife of the Shwartzah Wolf was exquisitely beautiful, the children were well behaved and adorable, shining like little priests. The house was immaculate and tidy like the Bais HaMikdash.

The Shwartzah Wolf said, "I know why you have come, and the gates of Heaven are open to you.. I grant you your request. I bless you with a son. I have only one request, that you name him after me."...

The Yid trembled with excitement as he traveled home to share the news with his wife...The next morning in shul he learned that the Shwartzah Wolf had died, may he rest in peace.

Reb Shlomo goes on to explain that a tzaddik of this position is a mirror that reflects our own neshama. So if we use inappropriate language or if our behavior is obnoxious then the tzaddik only mirrors what we truly are. The tzaddik does NOT mirror what we appear to be or what others think we are. On the other hand, if we are holy, the tzaddik mirrors that holiness.

So the point is real holiness may NOT be based on the conformity of how one dresses or if one lives in a community or one's education or one's position in the community. The tzaddik could be the woodchuck in the wilderness who cannot bear community incongruity. It gives us something to think about...

As we review these questions let's begin by saying it greatly matters who defines holiness.

Recently a staff member at JewishPath was sharing notes from a class that he attended. The class leader was discussing a Jew's responsibility to live by the Torah's definition of what it means to be Jewish. This discussion was in an Orthodox shul to Orthodox Jews. The class leader stated that Jews who dress "LIKE" frum Jews need to live within the Torah's definition / expectation of frumkeit!

In the same way, the world needs to understand what holiness is and who defines what holiness is. Holiness is not up for personal interpretation. Holiness was predefined before the Creation of man or religion. Holiness was defined by Hashem!
The Tenach states, "There is none holy as Hashem for there is none besides You: neither is there any rock like our G-d." 1Sam. 2:2

The Torah clearly states that Hashem expects Kal Yisroel to be holy! Why?

"You shall be Holy, {WHY?} for I Hashem, your G-d, Am Holy." Leviticus 19:2

"You shall be Holy to Me, {WHY?} for I Hashem, Am Holy." Leviticus 20:26

"You shall make him {the Kohen} Holy {even against his will, Rashi} {WHY?} for he offers the bread of your G-d; he shall be Holy unto you {WHY?} for I, Hashem, Am Holy, Who makes you Holy." Leviticus 21:8

Again, the point is Hashem expects Kal Yisroel to be Holy! Why?

Kal Yisroel is called by His Name... "If My people, which are called by My Name..." "and My people, upon whom My Name is proclaimed..." 2 Chronicles 7:14

"Speak to Aharon and to his sons and let them keep away from the holy offerings of B'nei Yisroel {on the days of their impurities, Rashi} and they shall not profane My Holy Name which they sanctify for Me, I am Hashem." Leviticus 22:2

"You shall not profane My Holy Name but I Will be Sanctified among, B'nei Yisroel. I am Hashem Who Makes you Holy." Leviticus 22:32

This tells us something about a Jew's responsibility. We are NOT TO PROFANE Hashem's Holy Name! Instead we are to SANCTIFY HASHEM'S HOLY NAME! No other people or religion is given this great and holy responsibility! Only Kal Yisroel is held responsible to SANCTIFY HASHEM'S HOLY NAME! So how do we fulfill our important responsibility? What is our guideline? The Torah of Hashem is our guide.


Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,


Dr. Akiva Gamliel

This study of mysticism in Hebrew Gematria is dedicated in the loving memory of Mr. Arnold Student Litman, a graduate of Harvard and an honored World War II hero, may he rest in peace.

Speak to all Witnesses of B'nei Yisroel
and say to them, 'Holy you shall be'
for Holy I am, Hashem, your G-d.

Our world needs real holiness. I need real Holiness!!  Each of us need real Holiness! Even though so many realize so few of us know what that is. Understanding what Holiness is is easy! Hashem says, 'Holy you shall be' for Holy I am..." At JewishPath we define Holiness as separation. Let's try a few examples:

Holy readers, Hashem cannot reward or bless behavior that contradicts the Torah! Individuals who play in two fields, i.e., Judaism and outside Judaism are doing just that.
I struggle with emotion. It is easy for me to show disfavor by raising my voice or by snide remarks, etc. In most instances this is not good! It is not holy! Each of us have construction areas of some kind. These are areas that need remodeling and improvement...

Chassidim, holiness is a minute by minute series of choices. Many of these choices should be choices of separation. Again 'Holy you shall be' for Holy I am..." In other words Hashem is " SEPARATE ". Hashem is unlike anyone or anything else. If we are to be like Hashem then that is the form that we MUST develop. The Gematria Kee - Kaw dosh - Ah nee, meaning " for Holy I am " is the Gematria 501. In the mystical sense we can link our ultimate goal with Kee - Kaw dosh - Ah nee {" for Holy I am "} with the word Ti moo nawh, meaning "form or likeness." So, dear reader, when we separate, we separate what we were from what we are supposed to be. What we are supposed to be is holy like Hashem. We are supposed to be whole as in wholesome. We are not supposed to be hole-y, i.e., having many gaps of emptiness in our live which is unlike Hashem!

Kee - Kaw dosh Ah nee {for Holy I Am}

501 = Yud 10 Nun 50 Aleph 1 - Shin 300 Vav 6 Dalet 4 Kuf 100 - Yud 10 Chof 20

Ti moo nawh {form / likeness}
501 = Hey 5 Nun 50 Vav 6 Mem 40 Sav 400

Good Shabbat!

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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Command ©

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel

Parshat Vayikra Tzav

Vayikra [Leviticus] 6.1- 8.36

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Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. George Belk, Mr. Arnold Student Litman and Mrs. Ethel Channah Sakash Belk may they rest in peace.   May they be elevated in the HaShamayim.

Dear ones our discussion is from the first Word Passuk Bet of our Parshat.  Ha Torah Says, wx; Tzav, meaning Command.

Lev. 6:2

rmo+ale wyn:∞B;Ata,w" ˆŸroh}a'Ata≤â wxæ¶

hl;^[oh; awhi¢ hl...-[oh; tr"¡/T taOzì

h~l;y"L'~h'AlK; j"B´¶z"Mih'Al[' hd:Ÿq"/m l*['

 ./Bê dq"WTè j"B´`z"Mih' va´àw" rq<Bo+h'Ad[' 

May I inquire?  Who likes to be commanded? Why does our Creator Instruct Moshe to Command everything from Aleph to Tav of Aharon his older brother and everything from Aleph to Tav of his sons?

We Observe that the position of a Kohen begins with Command. The crisp... the sharpness... the exactness... requires command.

Next we see, this is the Torah, this is the Law regarding burnt offerings...

The Gematria of wx; Tzav, meaning Command. is 96.  The Gematria of W[d"y:w" Vih Yaw Dih Voo. meaning, and they shall know ispreciseness 96. The purpose of command is so that they will know.  Fulfilling their Observance must not be happenstance. There Observance had to be exact.  They had to pay attention.  They had to get it correct the first time and every time.

The swiftness... the exactness... the preciseness... the Command are all a part of the righteousness.  When we are around individuals who are more righteous we may thing they should be soft and cuddly and loving etc.  Yet the fact is they are as sharp as a blade.  They have to be...  They receive Commands and in return give Commands.  

We must be perceptive to what we may think of as being to hard or to forthright or to pushy or to stern etc.  It is the Command.  It is the straight forward Command of our Creator and those who receive His Command making sure the object of Observance is correct.

Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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Hasten To Do Good  ©

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. Yochanan Bond, Mr. Robert Dietrich Mr. Jimmy Reeves, Mr.  Jim Wilson and Mr. Tim Cox may they rest in peace.

Parshat Terumah

Shemot [Exodus] 25.1 - 27.19

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Exod. 25:1

 .rmoêaLe hv≤àmoAla, hw:¡hy" rB´àd"y"w"  

Exod. 25:2

] yli`AWjq"yIw" lae+r:c]yI ynE∞B]Ala, r~BeD"  

 rv≤¢a} v~yaiAlK; ta´¶me hm...-WrT

 .ytiâm;WrT]Ata, Wj¡q"Ti /B+li WNb≤¢D"yI

And He, Hashem Said to Moshe,

Say to B'nei Yisroel, 'And take a Terumah-offering from every man whose heart impels him to generosity, take everything from Aleph to Tav of My Terumah- offering.' 

Gen. 24:18

rhe%m'T]w" ynI-doa} ht´¢v] rm,aOT¡w" 

 .WhqEêv]T'w" Hd:¡y:Al[' HD:üK' dr<Toéw" 

Gen. 24:19

 Ú~yL,~m'g"li µG"• rm,aOT%w" /t-qov]h'l] lkæ`T]w" 

.tToêv]li WL¡KiAµai d[æà ba;+v]a,

Gen. 24:20

tq<Vo+h'Ala, H~D:K' r[æ¶T]w" rhe%m'T]w"  

 bao-v]li ra´`B]h'Ala≤â d/[ü ≈r:T...àw"

 .wyL...âm'G"Alk;l] baæ`v]Tiw"

And [Rivkah] said,  'Drink, my master' and she hastened to lower her pitcher to her hand and let him drink. And when she had finished giving him to drink she said,  'I will also draw water for your camels, until they have finished drinking.'  And she hastened her pitcher into the trough and ran quickly to the well again to draw [water].  [Rivkah] drew water for all his camels.

Dear Ones in our Discussion of the Devri Limood Bereisheit 22 entitled G-d Tested Avraham we examined what separates Avraham from us.  We found our father Avraham was meticulous in his observances of Ha Torah.  We found Avraham put his entire being into doing the Mitzvot.  We observed that Avraham reduced his self that his self being stayed within proper boundaries. He did not let his goof i.e. his self have open range. He kept himself under control.  Avraham was quick to do what ever His Creator Requested.

In Parshat Terumah we observe that B'nei Yisroel is on a very high level of righteousness.  They are quick to respond to the request of a Terumah offering of gold, silver and other fine things.  And through the Gematria of the Word hm;WrTi, Tee Roo Maw, meaning offering, we observe the righteous Rivkah as she rhemæT]wæ, Vah Tih Mah Hayr, meaning and hastens to give water to Avraham's servant Eliezer and then to his camels.  The Shoresh of  hm;WrTi, Tee Roo Maw is rhemi, Mee Hayr,  The Letter t, Tav is added as a special sign in front of the Word hm;WrTi, Tee Roo Maw.  The Letter t, Tav is a sign given to teach us that  the three year old Rivkah was respectful to Avraham's servant, that she was deliberate in her actions, she quick summed up the situation and she acted with hast.  Ha Torah Does not give us the impression that Rivkah asked any questions of Eliezer or of the men with him.  For example she could have asked why aren't you servants watering the camels?  She didn't.  We know Eleizer had men traveling with him because Lot gave water to Eliezer to wash his feet and Lot also gave water for the feet of the men who were with Eliezer, Bereisheit 24.32.  

Rivkah's actions was a display of her very great righteousness.  She contained herself being.  She kept her self being in control.  She acted on the older gentleman's request.  Then she even went beyond the request.  This is a very great example of the righteousness and respect Rivkah possessed!  Thank G-d!

Tee Roo Maw, meaning offering

651 = h5 m40 w6 r200 t400

Vah Tih Mah Hayr, meaning to hasten

651 = r200 h5 m40 t400 w6

The prayer for each of us is not to be self empowering but  to be soul empowering as our father Avraham and mother Sarah were and May we hasten to give Terumah from a generous heart.

Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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Understanding the Honor Ha Torah Requires for Parents ©

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. Yochanan Bond may he rest in peace.

Parshat Mishpatim

Shemot [Exodus] 21.1 - 24.18

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 Exod. 21:15

.tm...âWy t/mè /M¡aiw" wybiöa; hK´àm'W

Exod. 21:17

.tm...âWy t/mè /M¡aiw" wybiöa; lL´àq"m]W

The Gematria of /M¡aiw" wybiöa; Aw Vee Vih Eemoh, And Father and Mother equals 72.  This is the same Gematria number as for ds,j, Chessed kindness and dwObK;mi Mee Caw Vohd, from Honor.  We are to show every form of kindness for our father and mother.  We are to remember we come from our parents so our honor comes from the honor we extend to them.  The more we honor our parents the more each of us will be honored.  If we, G-d Forbid, disrespect our parents we lower our position in this world and in the world to come and shorten our days of living on the good land that Hashem our G-d Gives us, see Exodus 20.12.

Aw Vee Vih Eemoh, And Father and Mother

72 = w6 m40 a1 w6  w6 y10 b2 a1

Chessed, kindness

72 = d4 s60 j8

Mee Caw Vohd, from Honor.

72 = d4 w6 b2 k20 m40

Blessings Health, Prosperity, Kindness and Peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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tpewOm Mk,l; WnT]

Give A Sign for Yourselves ©

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By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. Arnold Student Litman and Donald Wayne Belk and Mr. Gary Lee Belk, may they rest in peace.

Parshat Shemot Va'eira

Shemot Exodus 6.2 - 9.35

Shemot 7.9

rmo+ale h~[or"P' µk≤¶lea} rBeŸd"y" y°Ki

T...¢r"m'a;w" tp´-/m µk≤`l; WnìT]

Ël´àv]h'w" ÚüF]m'Ata≤â jq"é ˆro%h}a'Ala≤â

 .ˆyNIêt'l] yhiày" h[o¡r"p'AynEêp]li

For when Pharaoh says to you 'Give a sign [or miracle] for yourselves, and then you [Moshe] should say to Aharon, 'Take everything from Aleph to Tav of your rod then throw it down before Pharaoh.  [Your rod] will become a serpent.

It is note worthy to mention that just thirty-six Words after tpEwOm Moh Fay, meaning sign or miracle we find the Word, µypiV]kæm]læw", Vih Lah Mih Chah Shih Feem, meaning and for magicians [sorcerers].  Both Words are the Gematria 526.  G-d Willing we will discuss the Gematria connection of 526 later.  The number thirty six is the Gematria of Úd<y:B], Bih Yaw Deh Chaw, meaning in your hand. 

In Shemot 4.2 Ha Torah States:

'Hashem Said to [Moshe] ''What is that Úd<y:b], Vih Yaw Deh Chaw, in your hand?''  [Moshe] said, a rod.  [Hashem Said] 'Throw it on the ground.'  [Moshe] threw it on the ground and it became a snake...

In Shemot 4.17 Hashem Instructs Moshe:

'And take everything of Aleph to Tav of this rod Úd<y:B, in your hand, for with it you will perform everything from Aleph to Tav of [miraculous] signs.'

Shemot 4.17

Úd<-y:B] jQ"∞Ti hZ<¡h' hF≤àM'h'Ata,w"

.ttoêaoh;Ata, /B¡Ahc,[}T' rv≤àa}

Now it is VERY IMPORTANT to note that the last Word of Shemot 4.17 is ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, meaning signs.  ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht is plural for twOa, Ooht, meaning sign.  Why is it important to clarify that ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, means signs?  It is important because in Shemot 7.9 the Word tpEwOm Moh Fay, meaning sign or miracle is used.  Jews, Spiritualists [Noachides] and Christians ALL translate tpEwOm Moh Fay as sign in Shemot 7.9  In addition to this we can refer back to Shemot 4.17 where Hashem, the Creator of everything States that through this rod Moshe would perform many ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, signs.  Again, in the first usage of ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht in Bereisheit [Genesis] 1.14 and in the second usage in Shemot 4.17 Jews, Spiritualists and Christians all translate ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht as signs.

In Shemot 4.9 Ha Torah Says:

'And if they will not believe these two twOtaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, signs, and they will not listen to your voice ...' Again Jews, Spiritualists and Christians agree.  twOtaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, signs means signs. These Passukim [verses] are really good because IT DOES NOT ALLOW FOR ANY SQUIGGLE ROOM when we discuss what Jesus says about signs later!!  G-d Willing we will come back to this shortly.

In Shemot 4.21 Ha Torah Says:

Hashem Said to Moshe, 'On your return to Mitzriam [Egypt] see [think about] all the wondrous [signs] that I have placed  Úd<y:b], Vih Yaw Deh Chaw, in your hand, and do them to Pharaoh.

It is important to Observe that in these Passukim the Words, tpEwOm Moh Fay, meaning sign or miracle is and  ttoaoh;, Haw Oh Toht, signs are used to describe the very same things.  Now having said this I would like to refer Sefer HaYashar, noted in KJV as 'The Book of Jasher' in Joshua 10.13 and 2 Samuel 1.18.  The NIV translations notes this as the Book of Jashar.  Sefer Ha Yashar dates back to before 2488 F.C.  i.e around the time of the Giving of Ha Torah on Mount Sinai. The Book of Jasher states, 'In the morning, the king sent for the two brothers [Moshe and Aharon]. They came with the staff [rod] and spoke again: ''Thus says the [G-d] of the Hebrews, 'Let My people leave so that they may serve Me.'  ''

''Who do you think will believe you, said the [king] when you say that you are messengers of [G-d] and you come here by His [Command]? Give me a sign, so that your statements may be verified.''  Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.197

'[G-d Told Moshe] the end at the beginning, Note that it does not say: If Pharaoh will speak unto you, but, WHEN HE SHALL SPEAK UNTO YOU, as if to say, Pharaoh will speak unto you thus. R, Judah, son of R. Shalom, said: [G-d Said, 'Pharaoh] is quite right to say: SHOW A WONDER FOR YOU (VII,9), for so you find in the case of Noah.' After all the miracles which [G-d Had Performed] for him in the ark, when He brought him forth and [Said] to him, And the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh' (Gen. IX, 15),Noah began to demand a sign, and [G-d Has] to assure him: I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a token (ib. 16).  If Noah who was righteous asked for a sign, shall not Pharaoh who is wicked certainly do so? Similarly, in the case of Hezekiah, when Isaiah came and said to him: 'Thus Saith the [L-rd] . . . behold, I will heal thee; on the third day thou shalt go up unto the house of the [L-rd]' (II Kings xx, 5), Hezekiah demanded a sign, as it says: And Hezekiah said unto Isaiah: What shall be the sign that the [L-rd Will] heal me, and that I shall go up unto the house of the [L-rd] the third day (ib.8).  If Hezekiah who was righteous asked for a sign, shall not Pharaoh who is wicked certainly do so?' Rabbi Dr. H. Freedman, Midrash Rabba Exodus III (New York, NY: The Soncino Press 1983) - Midrash Rabbah writes, Tamar was the daughter of Shem. pp120.121

Dear reader with many references we have established that a sign is proper.   Both the righteous and the wicked as our Creator for signs. Now we must ask, Does G-d Love each human being equally?  Christians Believe that G-d is not a Respecter of persons.  Paul writes in Romans 2:11 'For there is no respect of persons with [G-d].' 'For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same [lord] over all is rich unto all that call upon him, Romans 10:12.  If Christians believe that G-d is Fair... that G-d is Just... that G-d is Mercifully... that G-d is Love why would Christians believe that the generation in which the Messiah comes would not be given many signs of what was about to happen?

Why would Jesus say,  "A wicked and adulterous generation asks for a miraculous sign! But none will be given it except the sign of the prophet Jonah",  Matthew 12.39.  Jesus repeated his claim in Matthew 16:4 'A wicked and adulterous generation looks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah.'  Luke reported that Jesus said,  "This is a wicked generation. It asks for a miraculous sign, but none will be given it except the sign of Jonah", Luke 11:29.  Was Jesus implying that G-d Loved wicked Pharaoh much more than the wicked and adulterous generation?  G-d Gave many signs through Moshe to wicked Pharaoh.  Why wouldn't G-d give the same opportunity to this wicked and adulterous generation?  G-d Gave the wicked people of Nineveh forty days to repent.  G-d Sent Jonah to preach to the wicked people of Nineveh. See Jonah 1.2;3.1-4 Why wouldn't G-d Give the same opportunity to this wicked and adulterous generation? 

Three times Jesus is said to have repeated the ONLY sign that would be given to the wicked and adulterous generation would be the sign of the prophet Jonah.

What was the sign?

 Jesus own prophecy recorded in Matthew 12.40 states,  Jesus said, For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.  What is the problem here?  According to the New Testament Jesus' alleged resurrection took place on the morning of the First Day.  Jesus own prophecy recorded in Matthew 12.40 conflicts with the New Testament account.

Do the math...  Three full days:

Day one is from late on the sixth day to late on the seventh day.

Day two is from late on the seventh day to late on the First Day.

Day three is from late on the First Day to late on the second day.

Try three partial days and nights:

Day one is before sunset on the preparation day, the sixth day. Night one follows.

Day two is Shabbat, the seventh day. Night two follows.

Day three is the First Day of the week.  This does not work either.  Why? There is no night three.

According to the New Testament this is suppose to be a sign.  What kind of a sign is this?  Jesus was not in the heart of the earth 3 days and 3 nights.  

Dear ones for centuries the Catholic church and many Protestants  have been observing Good Friday as the late afternoon / night they claim Jesus was buried.   According to Catholics and Protestants Jesus allegedly arose on the morning of the first day.   Do the math.

Now lets conclude with the Gematria 526. Moshe performed the real signs.  However the sorcerers performed magic.  Jonah was in the big fishes belly three days and three nights.  Jesus was NOT in the heart of the earth three days and three nights.  Moshe's sign was real.  The sorcerers was magic.   Simply put what is a real sign?  Moshe's rod consumed the rods of the sorcerers.  Moshe's rod was the real thing!  Jesus is said to have proclaimed three different times what the sign would be for the wicked and adulterous generation.   Did Jesus fulfill the sign?  Was Jesus in the heart of the earth three days and three nights?  This was NOT a sign.  It did not happen.... 

526 = t400 p80 w6 m40

526 = µ40 y10 p80 v300 k20 m40 l30 w6

The thirty-six Words after tpEwOm Moh Fay, meaning sign or miracle to the Word, µypiV]kæm]læw", Vih Lah Mih Chah Shih Feem, meaning and for magicians [sorcerers] teach us the down fall of Pharaoh, the sorcerers and Mitzriam was Úd<y:B], Bih Yaw Deh Chaw, meaning in your hand [in Moshe's hand].  The  Gematria of Úd<y:B], Bih Yaw Deh Chaw is thirty six.

36 = ˚20 d4 y10 b2

May Hashem Bless us with the knowledge of His Truth.  

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

h |B

bqo[æyæ tae, 

Ayt Yaakov - Vs - Eht Yaakov

The Fullness of Yaakov and His Sons ©

If you cannot read the Hebrew click here.

AUDIO

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. Yochanan Bond may he rest in peace and  Mrs. Jeanne Camille Wiltz Pierre may she rest in peace.

Parshat Shemot Shemot

Shemot [Exodus] 1.1 - 6.1

There are 124 Passukim [Verses] in this Sidrah.

ˆd...[i, Ee Dawn, means time period, era epoch, a long time.  124 = ˆ50d4 [70

When we look at the seventh and eighth Words of Passuk Aleph {Exodus 1.1} we see the Words 

bqo[æyæ tae, Ayt Yaakov.  What I am about to do is to fuss a little over the choice of the Nih Ku Daht [the vowel] in Shemot 1.1 for the word ta.  Our Sages Say the Aleph Tav means 'with' as in 'with Yaakov'.  However in comparing all seventeen usages of the Letters bq[y ta in Ha Tenach, Shemot 1.1 is the ONLY PLACE where the Nih Ku Daht - Tz-Ree [two dots side by side] is used.  In the other sixteen usages the Seghol [See-Gol three dots, two above one center below] are used.  When we use the Tz-ree the pronunciation is Ayt.  When we use the See-Gol the pronunciation is Eth.  The meanings also changes.  Please see Eht Yaakov.

'The [Word] et is spelled Alef-Tav, The first and last [Letters] of the Hebrew alphabet.  It therefore implies a transition from beginning to end...'  Aryeh Kaplan The Bahir ( Lanham, Maryland, Rowman & Littlefield Publishers) 1st edition, 2004 p 108

In the Talmud the Eth is expounded upon from the very first two usages in Bereisheit 1.1, 'The two occurrences of [Eht] transform the meaning of the [Verse] from one extreme to the other... the Torah [Tells] us that [G-d] in His absolute Unity [Created] the heavens and the earth and all their myriad derivations.'  Chagigah 12a -60 The Eht of the Heavens and the Eht of the earth means 'Everything from Aleph to Tav'. 

.≈r<a...âh; ta´àw" µyImæ`V;h' ta´à µyhi-løa' ar:∞B; tyvi`arEB]

'In the beginning G-d Created Everything from Aleph to Tav of the Heavens and Everything from Aleph to Tav of the earth.' Bereisheit 1.1

R' Yishmael expounds the occurrences of [Eth] in Bereisheit 1.1. The [Word Eht] written concerning the heavens is meant to include the auxiliary features of the heavens, such as the sun, moon and stars; the [Word Eht] written concerning the earth is meant to include auxiliary features such as trees, herbs and the Garden of Eden.' Chagigah 12b -1 [Also see: Rabbi Dr. H. Freedman, Midrash Rabba Genesis I (New York, NY: The Soncino Press 1983) - Midrash Rabbah writes, Tamar was the daughter of Shem. p 13]

So why am I discussing this point about the Word Eht?  It is because the Sages Teach an attachment between Yaakov and his sons using the Letters ta {tae} Ayt meaning: with.  I respectfully object! Why?  In these instances both tae Ayt and ta, Eht have the same meanings, 'Everything from Aleph to Tav.'  The Sages Teach that in Shemot 1.1 the Words bqo[æyæ tae, Ayt Yaakov means 'his sons were like Yaakov, i.e on his level of righteousness.' I prefer 'Everything from Aleph to Tav' of Yaakov which includes his sons and everything else pertaining to Yaakov.  The Midrash makes the point! 'The Midrash questions why the [Verse] repeats, ''together with Yaakov.'' since it had just stated, [in Bereisheit 46.5-27] just stated, ''These are the names of the sons of Yisroel who were coming to [Mitzriam] Egypt.'' It is obvious that they came with Yaakov.'

Then the Midrash Tells us why.  '...all the sons were like Yaakov...  This was because he caused and inspired them by chastising and admonishing them. (Eitz Yosef).' Avrohom Davis, Metsudah Midrash Tanchuma Shemos I (Monsey, NY Eastern Book Press Inc. 2005) p1  The point is that Yaakov was righteous. In chastising and admonishing his children they were righteous like their father.  Yet, there is more.

748 = bq[y 20 = y = dwy = d4 w6 y10

                          130 = [ = ˆy[ = ˆ50 y10 [70

                          186 = q = πwq = π80 w6 q100

                          412 = b = tyB = t400 y10 b2

                             

748 =  412 + 186 + 130 + 20

748 = t400 j8 v300 m40

748 = µ40 t400 b2 v300 w6

748 = t400 v300 m40 j8

Please notice Bereisheit 31.13.  The Gematria Miluy of Yaakov the fullness of Yaakov is 748 which is also the Gematria of T;jvæm;. Maw Shah Chih Taw, meaning you anoint.  Why is this significant? The fullness of Yaakov {748} is you anoint.  Yaakov chastised and admonished his children.  He also Blessed them with his word and actions.  Yaakov Blessed Yoseif, Bereisheit 48.15.  He [Yaakov] Blessed them [Ephraim Menasheh, Bereisheit 48.20.  Then Yaakov gave us this example of how to bless our children. When your cup is full as Yaakov's was... when your life is blessed as Yaakov's was there is no more room to contain the blessing.  When the blessings overflow they poor out of your life... out of your soul and touch those closest to you, your children...  The point is that Yaakov's anointing blessed his children.  The point is that Hashem's Blessings upon Yaakov overflowed in his live and became a source of blessing to others around him.

We are reminded of another overflowing in BaMidbar 3.  There Hashem Instructed Moshe to count the Lih Vih Eem {the Levites].  The count was 22,000.  Next Hashem Instructed Moshe to count all first born males of B'nei Yisroel from one month and above.  The count was 22,273.  There was an overflow of 273 among the first born of B'nei Yisroel.  Then Hashem Spoke to Moshe Saying,   Take the Liv Vih Eem instead of every first born of B'nei Yisroel , and the animals of the Levi'im instead of their animals [B'nei Yisroel's animals] and the Levi'im shall be Mine,' BaMidbar 3.45.  Then regarding the overflow of 273 first born, And the redemption of the two hundred and seventy-three that are in excess of the number of Levi'im from the first born of B'nei Yisroel.  You shall take [ tv,mejæ, Chah May Sheht, meaning] five shekolim apiece from each [of the 273] individuals, you shall take it in holy shekolim at twenty gerah for each shekel.  You shall give the silver to Aharon and his sons as a redemption for those whose numbers are in excess [of the Levi'im], BaMidbar 3.46, 47.  

What is the connection here?  If there would have been 273 more Levi'im then a redemption offering would not have been necessary.  There would have been  enough Levi'im.  Yet the fact is that there were 273 more of the first born of B'nei Yisroel.  Ha Torah is Careful to say they were in excess.  They were an overflow.  Ha Torah did not choose to say there was a shortage of Levi'im.  Interesting! The emphasis is on the excess.  The excess of the first born among B'nei Yisroel points to the overflow of Yaakov on his children.  As a result FIVE silver coins had to be used in place of 273 Levi'im.  The point is that Chah May Sheht, meaning five points to the Five Books of Ha Torah. 

We read Moshe took Everything from Aleph to Tav of the [redemption] silver...., BaMidbar 3.49

We read, The [Written] Statements of Hashem are pure Statements as purified silver clearly visible to all on earth refined seven times. Tehillim 12.7

So we Observe that πs,K,, Cheh Sehf, silver is tied to the [Written] Statements of Hashem that are clearly visible to all on earth...  The [Written] Statements are speaking of Ha Torah.  People may not be able to read Hebrew but they can see the purity of Ha Torah.  People can see Ha Torah Has been tried and remains purified.

Five silver coins physically redeemed the first born of B'nei Yisroel.   However Mystically the Statements of the five Books of Ha Torah is what Spiritually redeems humankind!  The Word µT,b]væw", Vih Shah Vih Tehm means and you will return.  Vih Shah Vih Tehm  is found nine times in Ha Tenach.

Mal. 3:18

o ˆyBeº [v...-r:l] qyDI¡x' ˆyB´à µt,+yair"W µ~T,b]v'w"  

 ./dîb;[} aOlè rv≤`a}l' µyhi+løa' db´¢[ø

Then you will return and see the difference between the righteous and the wicked between one who serves

G-d and one who will not serve Him.

Neh. 1:9

µt≤`yci[}w" yt'+wOx]mi µ~T,r"m'v]W yl'+ae µT≤¢b]v'w"  

 hx´¶q"Bi µk,⁄j}D"nIê hy<!h]yIAµai µt...-ao 

?µ~yti/aybiâh}w"¿ µytiao/bh}w"® µxe+B]q"a} µV...¢mi µ~yIm'~V;h'

 .µv...â ymi`v]Ata,  ˆK´àv'l] yTir"j'+B; rv≤¢a} µ/q+M;h'Ala, 

And when you return to Me and Observe My Commandments and perform them, even if the banished among you reach the ends of the heavens, I Shall Gather them from there and bring them to the Place that I Have Chosen to rest My Name There. 

So Dear Ones we can Observe that returning to Hashem and returning to Torah Observance each are connected with  the Overflow  of the Miluy Yaakov 748.  It is when we turn our attention to the Statements of Ha Torah and begin absorbing Ha Torah's Statements that we begin to do repair that we begin to become purified.   

Right now we may be like the first born of B'nei Yisroel.  We may need the Ceh Sehf, the silver of Ha Torah to redeem us and to refine us seven times over.  When we take this step of return we begin the path of redemption.  When we take this step of redemption by beginning to Observe Ha Torah our live begins to rise to the point of overflow.  When we overflow we are like Yaakov in righteousness.

May we take the challenge of Torah Observance SERIOUSLY!  May we regard each Mitzvot of Ha Torah with the highest honor.  May Honor Hashem by CAREFULLY Observing Ha Torah!

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

h |B

Yaakov Lived ©

hnv hrv[ [bv µyrxm ≈rab bq[y yjyw

And he, Yisroel, lived in the land of Mitzriam / Egypt for seventeen years.

If the Hebrew does not open for you click here.

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr Yochanan Bond may he rest in peace and Mrs. Jeanne Camille Wiltz Pierre may she rest in peace.

Parshat Vayechi

Bereisheit [Genesis] 47.28 - 50.26

1.) Vayechi begins with the comment 'Yaakov lived in Mitzriam for seventeen years'. Ha Torah Does not say Yisroel lived in Mitzriam for seventeen years.  We are speaking of a difference in names here, Yaakov in comparison to Yisroel.  Why?  The Gematria of 'Yaakov lived' has a message.  There is a pointed difference. The words, 'Yaakov lived' is the Gematria 216. However what if Ha Torah Said 'Yisroel lived' the Gematria would have been 575. There is an important reason why Ha Torah is using Yaakov in place of Yisroel. What is the reason?

2.) Then one should be asking why Ha Torah Does not directly inform us how long Yaakov lived with his parents, Yitzchok and Rivkah.  One should be inquiring why Ha Torah does not inform us of how long Yaakov lived with Lavan.  We can use methods to learn how long Yaakov lived in certain areas but we are not pointedly informed like Bereisheit 47.29, 'Yaakov lived in Mitzriam for seventeen years'  We could have figured out the time Yaakov spent in Mitzriam.  Wo why does Ha Torah inform us that 'Yaakov lived in Mitzriam for seventeen years'?

 b~qo[}y"Aym´ây" yhi¶y"w" hn:-v; hrE¡c][, [bæàv] µyIr"+x]mi ≈r<a≤￠B] b~qo[}y" yji¶y"w"

.hn:êv; taæ`m]W µy[iàB;r"a'w" µynI±v; [b'v≤￠ wyY:±j' ynE∞v]

3.) Another point is the usual use of the Word yjiy"wæ Vah Yih Chee, meaning 'and he lived.'  Our sages point out the Torah usually employs such terms as bv,yEwæ, settled, or rg:y...wæ, dwelt, to describe the years one spent in a particular place...' Rabbi Meir Zlotowitz and Rabbi Nosson Scherman, The Artscroll Tanach Series - Bereishis Vol. I(b) (Brooklyn, New York: Mesorah Publications, Ltd. 3rd Impression, 1989), p 2085

So we have a quandary.  Each of these three points cause us to focus on why?

1. Why Yaakov lived instead of Yisroel lived

2. Why Lived instead of settled or dwelt

3. Why pin point Yaakov's seventeen years of living in Mitzriam

Our Sages say Yaakov suffered much during the first 130 years of his life. He had issues with Eisov, the birthright, the blessing of the first born and his brothers hatred.  He had issues with Lavan for 20 years.  He mourned for 20 years thinking Yoseif was dead that his sons would not inhere the Blessing of Avraham.  Twelve sons were necessary.  He was missing one son.  So the last seventeen years of Yaakov's life were not spent settling or dwelling they were spent living with his entire family in happiness and harmony.   'If one's end is good, all is good.' {Akeidah; Chizkuni}. 

216 = b2 q100 [70 y10   y10 8 10 6

216 = r200 w6 b2 j8

216 = µ40 w6 q100 m40 l30

The Gematria of Yaakov lived tells us how he lived.  He was joined with his children and grandchildren etc. rWbj... Chaw Voor meaning joined [to his family],  attached to [his family], connecting [with his family].  One could also say Yaakov longed for.. Yaakov greatly desired the day he would be joined with Yoseif.  Last week in Parshat Vayigash we discussed Bring Me Up Out of that Place!  We discussed and shared our saddnesses about dwelling in a place that was not on the high Spiritual level we desire and how we want to return to that place.  Well in

 this week's Parshat that place is µwOqM;læ, Lah Mae Kohm, meaning, to go to the Place.  For each of us there is a circle a place of tranquility. There is a place we can enter to live to enjoy as yaakov was able to do. This does not mean everything is right in life.  This means there is a place that we can live and enjoy those we love as Yaakov did.  The Gematria of Lah Maw Kohm is also 216.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

h |B

Shalom Dear Ones,

G-d Willing, The Rebbetzin and I plan to blog live for about an hour on 01-04-2009.  It would really be nice if you would join with us at 3:00 P. M  and again at 8:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.  This is free time for everyone to ask questions, share thoughts and interact with others...  We look forward to you joining with us.  If you have any questions about blogging send them to us at the Email below...

3:00 P. M  and again at 8:00 PM Eastern Time Zone.

http://www.bnti.us/bnti_blog/

8:00 pm Eastern Time Zone

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G-d Willing we will be checking this Email address every hour from now until we blog.



Thank you!

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel