Eikev 5768

Week of August 17, 2008 Shabbat Av 22, 5768
Greetings! The Portion is called Eikev spelled Ayin Koof Bet. It has two distinct meanings in Hebrew. One is heel as in the heel of the foot and one is consequence, result, or reward. It is hard to understand this verse when one uses the meaning "heel" although it is good to remember that the Name Jacob has the same Shoresh (Root) in Hebrew. The verse is usually Paraphrased as follows: If you do what God wants you to do - do the Mitzvoth than you will be rewarded with good things. The translation/Meaning of the First Verse of this Parasha is difficult for the Kabbalist. It implies reward for doing the Mitzvot. The Kabbalists teach a spiritual law referred to as the Boomerang Law. This spiritual law says when one does an action with a selfish consiousness that chaos will be the result. Yet the Torah is implying that one will be rewarded for doing the spiritual actions or Mitzvoth. How does one reconcile these concepts? The reconciliation comes when one understands the essence or energy of the Portion. This is revealed from both the Zohar and the Writings of the ARI and also specifically from the number of verses in the Portion. 111 is the numerical value of the Aleph when fully spelled out. The energy of the Aleph is UNITY. That is the essence of the Parasha. When one does a Mitzvah our sages teach that it is good to do the action - but it is better to do the action with consciousness. The highest consciousness is to desire to be close to HaShem. There fore do the Mitzvah Lishmo - for its own sake. There fore a reward for doing the Mitzvah does not make sense except to know that we are created as a desire to receive and ultimately our strongest deepest desire will be to be close to HaShem. Doing the Mitzvah - Looking for a reward is a good thing when that reward is getting closer to HaShem. Read the rewards listed in the Parasha again. Know that each of the promises are code words for spiritual processes that bring one closer to HaShem. They are not promises for physical things. With this in mind, learn about the second and third sections of the Shma. They are both in this portion but most people including most of the Siddurs say that there is 1 section of the Shma written in this portion. Please note the Shma has 248 words matching the 248 parts of the body and soul and the 248 positive Mitzvoth. The first 12 words are the Shma and Baruch Shem. The next 42 words relate to the 42 Letter Name commonly referred to as the Ana Bekoach as written about last week. The next section written in this portion has 72 words and relates to the 72 3 letter sequence referred to as the 72 Letter Name of HaShem. This is followed by 50 words that represent the 50 Gates of Understanding which is the process of growth to return to the next higher level of spirituality. The last section has 72 words also. The Shma represents unity just as Blessing before and after eating, represents unity because food feeds the physical and spiritual aspects of People. The blessing before food activates the spiritual part so that it can be utilized more properly. The blessing after elevates the sparks in the food to be stored for later use. Have a beautiful week filled with much Love for yourself, your family, your neighbors, your friends, your nation, and the world. This is a good week to start your list of people and actions that you will need to do Tshuvah upon. Enjoy the Reading! Shabbat Shalom Kol Tuuv Shabbat Shalom chanoch P.S. I am looking for volunteers to translate our recordings into many other languages. Come share in the revelation of wisdom. Use your native language skills. All you need is a cell phone that has unlimited long distance and approx 3 hours a week. Write to chanoch_7@hotmail.com if you are interested. You will be amazed how your life improves by this sharing! One of the main purposes of the Mitzvah of Hearing the Torah on Shabbat Morning is to receive the Metaphysical Energy we will need during the next week. Please strive to hear the Torah Reading each week for this benefit. Kol Tuuv Chanoch Ben Yaacov Yeshshem.com

Week of August 17, 2008 Shabbat Av 22, 5768

Greetings!

The Portion is called Eikev spelled Ayin Koof Bet. It has two distinct meanings in Hebrew. One is heel as in the heel of the foot and one is consequence, result, or reward.

It is hard to understand this verse when one uses the meaning "heel" although it is good to remember that the Name Jacob has the same Shoresh (Root) in Hebrew.

The verse is usually Paraphrased as follows: If you do what God wants you to do - do the Mitzvoth than you will be rewarded with good things.

The translation/Meaning of the First Verse of this Parasha is difficult for the Kabbalist. It implies reward for doing the Mitzvot.

The Kabbalists teach a spiritual law referred to as the Boomerang Law. This spiritual law says when one does an action with a selfish consiousness that chaos will be the result. Yet the Torah is implying that one will be rewarded for doing the spiritual actions or Mitzvoth. How does one reconcile these concepts?

The reconciliation comes when one understands the essence or energy of the Portion. This is revealed from both the Zohar and the Writings of the ARI and also specifically from the number of verses in the Portion. 111 is the numerical value of the Aleph when fully spelled out. The energy of the Aleph is UNITY. That is the essence of the Parasha.

When one does a Mitzvah our sages teach that it is good to do the action - but it is better to do the action with consciousness. The highest consciousness is to desire to be close to HaShem. There fore do the Mitzvah Lishmo - for its own sake. There fore a reward for doing the Mitzvah does not make sense except to know that we are created as a desire to receive and ultimately our strongest deepest desire will be to be close to HaShem. Doing the Mitzvah - Looking for a reward is a good thing when that reward is getting closer to HaShem.

Read the rewards listed in the Parasha again. Know that each of the promises are code words for spiritual processes that bring one closer to HaShem. They are not promises for physical things.

With this in mind, learn about the second and third sections of the Shma. They are both in this portion but most people including most of the Siddurs say that there is 1 section of the Shma written in this portion.

Please note the Shma has 248 words matching the 248 parts of the body and soul and the 248 positive Mitzvoth. The first 12 words are the Shma and Baruch Shem. The next 42 words relate to the 42 Letter Name commonly referred to as the Ana Bekoach as written about last week. The next section written in this portion has 72 words and relates to the 72 3 letter sequence referred to as the 72 Letter Name of HaShem. This is followed by 50 words that represent the 50 Gates of Understanding which is the process of growth to return to the next higher level of spirituality. The last section has 72 words also.

The Shma represents unity just as Blessing before and after eating, represents unity because food feeds the physical and spiritual aspects of People. The blessing before food activates the spiritual part so that it can be utilized more properly. The blessing after elevates the sparks in the food to be stored for later use.

Have a beautiful week filled with much Love for yourself, your family, your neighbors, your friends, your nation, and the world.

This is a good week to start your list of people and actions that you will need to do Tshuvah upon.

Enjoy the Reading!

Shabbat Shalom

Kol Tuuv

Shabbat Shalom

chanoch

P.S. I am looking for volunteers to translate our recordings into many other languages. Come share in the revelation of wisdom. Use your native language skills. All you need is a cell phone that has unlimited long distance and approx 3 hours a week. Write to chanoch_7@hotmail.com if you are interested. You will be amazed how your life improves by this sharing!

One of the main purposes of the Mitzvah of Hearing the Torah on Shabbat Morning is to receive the Metaphysical Energy we will need during the next week. Please strive to hear the Torah Reading each week for this benefit.

Kol Tuuv

Chanoch Ben Yaacov
Yeshshem.com

Eikev 5768

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