Ministry, Shabbat - Ki-Tetze aExEt_yI;k News 597 6 Se p t e mb e r / 11 El l u l 2 0 1 4 / 5 7 7 4 We e k l y J e wi s h - Ad v e n t i s t J o u r n a l o f I n f o r ma t i o n Global Mission Centers Meetings i Every year the Director of Global Mission Centers meet in order to share the progress of their ministry during the last 12 months, and also to learn more about missi- ology and how to improve their ministries. Twenty fve to thirty people participate to these meetings, they are the General Secre- tary of the General Conference, one of the General Conferences Vice-President, the teams of Te General Conferences Adven- tist Mission, and the World Mission Insti- tute and also the professors of the Mission department at Andrews University. Richard Elofer, Director of the Global Mission Jewish Center will participate to this meeting, it will be held in Trinidad and Tabago from September 8 to 14. It is also a very good time to show to the General Con- ference leaders the Jewish ministry by dif- ferent reports and presentations. A Mission Conference will be held on September 12- 13 at the University of Southern Caribbean (USC) Where Richard Elofer will present the topic: Why dont Jews believe in Jesus. Next Celebrations i As soon as we reach the month of September all the Jewish people start to think about the next celebrations which are certainly the most important celebra- tions for the Jewish people. September is the month of the New Year, but for Jews New Year celebration which is called in Hebrew Rosh Hashana is not synonym of excess of drinking and eating but fasting, praying, introspection, repentance, and preparation for the great day of the judg- ment, which will be Yom Kippur. Indeed 9 days after Rosh Hashana is the special day of Yom Kippur, which is a day that has been established on the day G-d forgave Israel for the Golden Calf in the wilderness, the day of Yom Kippur is therefore the day of judgment, but also of forgiveness and G-ds kindness who could destroy Israel but forgave them. Tat is why fve days after Yom Kippur, the great feast of joy and rejoicing, Tabernacle Feast or Succoth starts. It is seven days of feast and joy when Israel remember their dwelling in the wilderness. It is a thanksgiving feasts when all the agricultural kibbutzim in Israel rejoice for the harvest of fruits and vegetables. Are you prepared for these Jewish celebra- tions? Are you prepared to rejoice with your Jewish friends? It is time to say to them Sha- na Tova, which means Happy New Year. Rosh Hashana: September 25-26 Yom Kippur: October 4 Tabernacle Feast: October 9-15 But that is not all, the Jewish people will rejoice also for the end of Torah Reading, that is at the end of the Tabernacle Feast in October, We will come back to that later. This issue News P. 1 Par asha s comment s P. 2- 4 Haf t ar a P. 4- 5 Apost ol i c Wr i t i ngs P. 5 St or i es P. 6 I nspi r at i onal Cor ner P. 6, 7 Col or Sheet f or Ki ds P. 7 Resources: Website: https://jewishadventist-org.gcnetadventist.org A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book Comfort, Comfort my people and many other things. Shalom Adventure Magazine online: www.ShalomAdventure.com If you would like to read articles, watch videos, learn things about Judaism and Israel, this website is just for you. Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/World-Jewish-Adventist-Friendship-Center: If you would like to share with people, this forum on facebook is a good place for that. Photos on Google+: http://picasaweb.google.com/jewishadventist: We have posted a lot of pictures on Internet during the last years. Dont hesitate to look at them. WebRadio: www.shema-israel-radio.com If you would like to listen Jewish or Messianic songs. If you want to be used to ear modern Hebrew of the Apostolic Writings, it is the right radio to listen on the web. Adventist Mission Website: https://jewish-adventistmission-org.lifehopecenters.org/ Tis website is the new resource provided by the Ofce of Adventist Mission of the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventists. Russian Website: http://www.boruh.info/ Tis website is in Russian, many articles and the parasha are posted on it every week. Professional Urban Development: The WJAFC provides: - Professional Urban training for Jewish Ministry - Teaching for theological students - Help to plant new congregations. - Support for Adventist- Jewish dialogue with scholars and rabbis Journal of Information and Training Issue 597 6 September 2 0 1 4 / 11 El l u l 5 7 7 4 We pray every week for lead- ers of the Jewish Ministry, According to our list of prayer for 2014, I sug- gest that our partners pray from September 7-13, for Joseph du Mesnil dEngente, and Jean-Pierre Melo who are the leaders of the Jewish Adventist minis- try in Paris, Lets pray for their ministries. WJAFC Par i s A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference Ofce of Adventist Mission English Edition: Richard-Amram Elofer Russian Edition: Alexandra Obrevko Dutch Edition: Hubert Paulleta French Edition: Sabine Baris Emails: English: richard@elofer.com Russian: sashok_l@mail.ru French: sabinebaris@gmail.com Spanish: jael_wells@hotmail.com Portuguese: cdmuniz@gmail.com Dutch: hpauletta@hotmail.com Richard Amram Elofer Hubert Paulleta Sabine Baris Alexandra Obrevko for more information: contact us at www.jewishadventist.org Credit photos: Richard Elofer, Alexandra Obrevko, Hubert Paulleta, Laurent Baris and Advent Digital Media 8 S h a b b a t S h a l o m N e ws l e t t e r Yisrael are not to make vows. A worker may eat of the fruit he is harvesting. Divorce and marriage are legislated. For the frst year of marriage, a husband is exempt from the army and stays home to make rejoice with his wife. Tools of labor may not be impounded, as this prevents the debtor from earning a living. Te penalty for kidnapping for proft is death. Removal of the signs of the dis- ease tzaraat is forbidden. Even for an overdue loan, the creditor must return the collateral daily if the debtor needs it. Workers pay must not be delayed. Te guilty may not be subjugated by punishing an innocent relative. Be- cause of their vulnerability, converts and orphans have special rights of protec- tion. Te poor are to have a portion of the harvest. A court may impose lashes. An ox must not be muzzled while thresh- ing. It is a mitzvah for a man to marry his brothers widow if the deceased left no ofspring. Weights and measures must be accurate and used honestly. Te parasha con- cludes with the mitzvah to erase the name of Amalek, for, in spite of knowing about the Exodus, they ambushed the People of Israel. 74 Mitzvot I n this parasha we fnd more mitzvot (com- mandments) than in any other portion of the Torah. Seventy-four mitz- voth are given in this para- sha. Tese Mitzvot fall into two categories; bein adam lachaveiro (between one person and another person), and the mitzvot which are bein adam lamakom (be- tween us and G-d), How- ever, most of the mitzvot in this Parasha concern be- havior between people. Unity of G-ds People T he name of the Parasha, Ki Tetzei When you go out to war (Deuteronomy 21:10) is written in the sin- gular as if the Torah speaks to a single person going to battle. Our prophets tell us in the Bible that King Achav and the people of that time sinned by wor- shipping idols, which is a very grave sin. Yet when they went to war, they were victorious because they dis- played a great level of unity. returning a lost object in its spiritual form refers to Teshuvah repentance. Tis is especially signif- cant in the month of El- lul (the last month of the Jewish year), for Ellul is the month of Teshuvah in which we must return to G-d and ask him to restore us to our original form of holiness and purity. Tat is the Jewish concept of Justifcation by faith, G-d has the power to restore us to our original holiness and purity, the one he gave originally to Adam. It is really like if we had never sinned. Praise the L-rd for his kindness to us. If, when ones donkey has gone astray we must help, how much more so we must help when we see a person gone astray spiritually. Te Torah con- tinue: You shall not see your brothers donkey or his ox fallen down by the way and ignore them. You shall help him to lift them up again. (Deuteronomy 22:4) If it is a mitzvah to help when a donkey who fell under its heavy load, how much more so when a person needs help and a lifting hand physically or spiritually. One of the sages noticed that the mitzvah of Ahavat Yisrael love your neighbor as yourself also applies to oneself. One must love and consider his personal spiritual needs (yourself) and answer to it. Te same applies if we see our neigh- bor who is spiritually lost, that we must help him, in the spirit of Hashavat Aveidah lost object to re- turn to the correct path. Mother Bird and Long Life T he Torah states, If you come across a birds nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sitting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. (Deuteronomy 22:6). We can draw several les- son from this mitzvah. Te environmental aspect of this mitzvah is obvious, if human beings had followed this rule during the last centuries, we would not have extinguished so many species of animals in the world. Only Jews fol- lowed this rule and it was not enough to save them from ex- tinction. However, there is more in this law, Rabbi Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld asked, Can a person catch a bird once it is fying? Of course not! How- ever, there are mother birds who are so concerned about the welfare of their children that they stay with them and do not leave them alone when a hunter comes along. Because of her devotion, the mother bird falls right into the hands of the hunter. It turns out that the hunter would want to take advantage of the mothers compassion for her children. Terefore, the Torah orders a person to send away the mother. One has no right to utilize her positive trait of mercy in order to capture her. All the more so, we should not try to take advantage of another person just because he is softhearted. Tere are peo- ple who are very compassion- ate and whenever they hear that someone has a difculty, they do whatever they can to help. In monetary matters they do not like to argue or quarrel and easily give in to Parasha for this Week Ki-Tetze aExEt_yI;k Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19 If you come across a birds nest in any tree or on the ground, with young ones or eggs and the mother sit- ting on the young or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. (Deuteronomy 22:6). 2 3 Parasha Overview Ki-Tetze T he Torah describes the only permis- sible way a woman captured in battle may be married. If a man marries two wives, and the less- favored wife bears a frstborn son, this sons right to inherit a double portion is protected against the fathers desire to favor the child of the favored wife. Te penalty for a rebel- lious son, who will inevitably degenerate into a monstrous criminal, is stoning. A body must not be left on the gallows overnight, because it had housed a holy soul. Lost property must be return. Men are forbidden from wearing womens cloth- ing and vice versa. A mother bird may not be taken together with her eggs. A fence must be built around the roof of a house. It is forbidden to plant a mixture of seeds, to plow with an ox and a donkey together, or to combine wool and linen in a garment. A four-cornered garment must have twisted threads tzitzit on its corners. Laws regarding illicit rela- tionships are detailed. When Israel goes to war, the camp must be governed by rules of spiritual purity. An escaped slave must not be returned to his master. Taking interest for lending to a Jew is forbidden. Bnei Ki Teitzei in the singular hints to the secret of victory, which can come only when G-ds people are united as one person. On the same line of thought the Arizal, a great Kabbal- ist, noted also the singular person of the verb Ki-Tetze When you go out to war is singular in Hebrew, but Your enemies is plural. Ten the Torah reverts to the singular regarding the enemy give him Netato instead of writing give them, and this is not a grammatical mistake. Te Arizal explains: Te Torah is telling us that if we have unity and are as one when we go out against our enemies, then even though our enemies are very numerous, you will be victo- rious as easily as if they were just one. Te importance of unity for accomplishment applies not only during times of war against an enemy. It is just as necessary during times of peace. When a group of peo- ple will work on any project with a spirit of togetherness, they will accomplish much more than if they would each be doing things as separate individuals. Returning Lost Objects O ne of the mitzvot in this weeks Para- sha is the mitzvah of Hashavat Aveidah re- turning a lost object to its rightful owner, indeed the Torah states: You shall not see your brothers ox or his sheep going astray and ig- nore them. You shall take them back to your brother. And if he does not live near you and you do not know who he is, you shall bring it home to your house, and it shall stay with you until your brother seeks it. Ten you shall restore it to him. And you shall do the same with his donkey or with his garment, or with any lost thing of your brothers, which he loses and you fnd; you may not ignore it. (Deuteronomy 22:13). In the Parasha we see a connection between the mitzvot toward each other and toward G-d. Dealings with others and our com- mitment to G-d go hand in hand. One should make Mitzvot their business and their business into a mitz- vah! Hashavat Aveidah Haftara Isaiah 54:1-10 T his Shabbat is the fourth Shabbat af- ter Tisha BAv. We are in a period called Shiva DnechemtaSeven weeks of comfort. The seven Haf- tarot of the weeks between Tisha Bav and Rosh Hasha- na are prophesies of comfort and hope for Israel and Gods people at large. Haftara: This text is a very special text of comfort since the first verse is not clear for everyone. In this text God is speaking about two wives; the first one is the desolated (di- vorced) wife and the second one is still married. Sing, O barren one who did not bear; burst into song and shout, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married, says the LORD (Is. 54:1). The Brit Hacha- dasha has clearly identified these two women as Sarah and Hagar. Now this is an allegory: these women are two covenants. One woman, in fact, is Hagar, from Mount Sinai, . . . But the other wom- an corresponds to the Jerusa- lem above; she is free, and she is our mother (Gal 4:24, 26). The desolated wife, Hagar, represents Israel and the mar- ried wife, Sarah, represents the kehila (church). However, in the text of Isaiah there are more blessings for the deso- lated (Hagar or Israel) than for the married (Sara, the ke- hila) For the children of the desolate woman will be more than the children of her that is married (Is 54:1). The text then continues to comfort the desolate woman: Do not fear, for you will not be ashamed; do not be discour- aged, for you will not suffer disgrace; for you will forget the shame of your youth, . . . For your Maker is your husband, . . . the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer . . . For a brief moment I abandoned you, but with great compassion I will gather you. . . . . but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you, says the LORD, your Redeemer (Is 54:2-8). G-d continues to love His people, as com- pared with Hagar, who al- though Abraham divorced her, he continued to love her and she was taken back, according to Jewish tradi- tion, as Ketura. This means that for Israel, God has not cancelled His covenant with His historical people, even though He opened His arms to the Gentiles in the kehila, My covenant of peace shall not be removed, says the LORD, who has compassion on you. . . . All your children shall be taught by the LORD, and great shall be the prosperity of your children. In righ- teousness you shall be es- tablished (10-13). the demands and requests of others. Do not utilize their good heart to take advantage of them in either fnancial matters or in taking up their time and energy by asking them to do things that you would not ask others to do. Te torah continues You shall let the mother go, but the young you may take for yourself, that it may go well with you, and that you may live long. (Deuteronomy 22:7) Why does the Torah promise a good and long life for fulflling this mitzvah (commandment)? Te Ram- ban (Moshe Nachmanides) explains that this mitzvah will implant in a person the attribute of empathy and compassion. Acting in a compassionate manner will enable you to feel empathy. Te Ksav Sofer (Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Sofer) notes that the Sages in the Talmud (Pesachim 113b) teach that three kinds of people are not considered as really living: (1) those with a too strong degree of com- passion, (2) those who con- stantly become angry, and (3) those who are fnicky. Rabbi Sofer says: When someone empathizes strongly with the pain and sufering of others, he will sufer him- self whenever he hears about the sufering of others, espe- cially when he is unable to do anything to alleviate the other persons sufering, as is frequently the case. Tere- fore, after the Almighty com- mands us to have compas- sion on birds in order that we should grow in this trait, He guarantees that through this we will still live a good and long life. For many years you will be able to help a larger number of people and this will increase your days in- stead of shortening them. Te more you feel for others, the more elevated you become About the reward of long life Te Jewish rabbis have discussed a lot about re- wards for keeping the mitz- vot. As disciples of Yeshua we know that we are not justifed by keeping the mitzvot. Even the best of our efort is yet marked by our sinful nature. Commenting on this verse it is said Tere is no reward for mitzvot in this world.Te Guemara then relates a story of a person who died while sending away the mother bird at the behest of his father, thus performing both mitz- vot, which should have given him long life. Where was this persons long life? Rather, these promises refer to days which are eternally long in the Olam Haba, (world to come). (Kiddushin 39b). Our justif- cation and our rewards come from God and Mashiach not because of any mitzvot we could perform. Rabbi Shaul said We maintain therefore that a man is justifed by faith apart from the works of the Torah. (Romans 3:28). How- ever this afrmation does not mean denying the mitzvot but to confrm them, Rabbi Shaul continues: Do we then nul- lify the Torah through faith? May it never be! No, we es- tablish the Torah. (31). Ye- shua confrmed: Dont think that I came to destroy the To- rah or the Prophets. I didnt come to destroy, but to fulfll. For most assuredly, I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not even one Yod or a stroke shall in any way pass away from the Torah, until all things are accomplished. (Matthew 5:17-18). Ten it is clear that those who believe in Yeshua have to follow the To- rah, e fulfllment of the Torah does not mean to cancel it but to see how Yeshua was the ul- timate accomplishment of the Torah. I n parasha Ki-Tetse, our sages have insisted on the unity of G-ds people. Ki-tetse, means when you go out, in this case for war (Deut 21:10), even though people go to war in group, as an army, the text use the sin- gular form of the verb, this to indicate that the war was the responsibility of each member of G-ds people, and victory can be obtained only if they all go as one, in unity. G-d sent his people in the ancient time to war, they had to conquer the Promise Land, the Land of Canaan, today we are not living in the same time, but there is still a war to win, the war against the en- emy of G-d and His people, the evil or Satan. G-ds people must have the same spirit of unity in order to win this war against the evil. It is a war for everyone, each member of G- ds people has be aware and involved in this war. And G- ds people can be victorious over this war only if they go to it in great unity, as one person. Tat is why Yeshua prayed for the unity of G-ds people. Just before giving his life for everyone, he celebrated the Seder of Passover, and at the end of the meal, while he knew that this hour was the last one with the talmidim, he prayed for them about his main concern for the future, unity of his disciples. Te frst verse of Yochanan 17 says: When Jesus had spoken these words, he lifted up his eyes to heaven, and said: (John 17:1), he wanted to present some re- quests to G-d, his father who was in heaven, he said: I am praying for them. I am not praying for the world but for those whom you have given me, for they are yours. (John 17:9). Yeshua knew that it was the last moment he was with his disciples, on that night, at midnight he will be arrested, put in trial and will die the next day. He continues: And I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, (John 17:11a) and keep them in your name, which you have given me, that they may be one, even as we are one. (John 17:11b). Even though they will be guarded by G-d, they will not be safe in the world because of the presence of the evil, I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. (John 17:15). As long as they belong to the Mashiach they are kept in this world, and even more, they dont belong anymore to this world Tey are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. (John 17:16) Tis prayer of Yeshua is not only for the disciples of his time, but for everyone who will believe in the next centuries: I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, (John 17:20), Yeshua prayed for each one of us, even though we are living two thousand years af- ter. And the heart of his prayer for the believers is that they may all be one, just as you, Fa- ther, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. (John 17:21) Yeshua is one with the father, and in the father, his prayer is that we also be one with him and the father, in him and the father. Tat is the best testimony we can give to the world. Te world will believe in Yeshua as the Mashiach sent by G-d only when we are all united as one. Te glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one, I in them and you in me, that they may become perfect- ly one, so that the world may know that you sent me and loved them even as you loved me. (John 17:2223). Tat is the secret of a victorious life in Yeshua, to be one, all together. And you shall do the same with his donkey or with his garment, or with any lost thing of your brothers, which he loses and you fnd; you may not ignore it. (Deuteronomy 22:13). Apostolic Writings Yochanan (John) 17 4 5 C r e d i t :
D i m d i m a . c o m Inspirational Corner v G-ds word sanc- tions no policy that will enrich one class by the oppression and sufer- ing of another. In all our business transac- tions it teaches us to put ourselves in the place of those with whom we are dealing, to look not only on our own things, but also on the things of others. Tose who would take advantage of anoth- ers misfortunes in order to beneft themselves, or who seek to proft them- selves through anothers weakness or incompe- tence, are transgressors both of the principles and of the precepts of the Word of G-d. (BLJ 168) Inspirational Corner v Tus G-d commanded his people not to take advantage of the necessities of the poor, to en- rich themselves by impoverish- ing their poorer brethren (Deuter- onomy 23:19-20). Of Gentiles they might take usury; but they were not permitted to be exorbitant or op- pressive. G-d is the rightful king of the universe. And he inquires of Israel, What nation is there so great, that hath statutes and judgments so righteous as all this law, which I set before you this day? Today he might make the same challenge. Te laws he gave to his people were wiser, better, and more humane than those of the most civilized nations of the earth. (ST February 7, 1884) A Thief S am the thief, as he was called by everyone in town, came to the rabbi one day during the month of Ellul. Rabbi, I found a wallet full of money. I would like you to help me locate the owner so I can return the wallet and per- form the mitzvah of returning a lost object to its rightful owner. Te rabbi, a bit surprised, yet impressed to see Sam improve his ways, assured him that he will make an announcement in synagogue so Sam will be able to return the wallet and perform this very important mitzvah. A little while after Sam left, the rabbi discovered that his watch was missing. He imme- diately sent for Sam and sure enough, he had it in his pocket. I cant fgure you out! said the rabbi. First you come to re- turn a lost wallet and then you steal my watch! I dont under- stand you at all! Whats there to understand? answered Sam. When it comes to returning a lost object thats a mitzvah. But when it comes to stealing, thats business. Returning lost Objects T he Talmudic sage Rabbi Chanina ben Dosa was extremely careful with the mitzvah of returning lost objects. A person forgot some chick- ens near Rabbi Chaninas house. Rabbi Chanina took care of them. Although he was very poor, he didnt allow his family to eat the eggs or the chickens. Rabbi Chanina was waiting for the person to come and claim them. As time passed the chickens multiplied so greatly that it was impossible for Rabbi Chanina to keep them. He then sold the chickens and bought goats in- stead. One day, Rabbi Chanina saw a stranger in front of his house. Te stranger mentioned that many years ago, he had left a few chickens near the house. When Rabbi Chanina was con- vinced that this person was the true owner of the chickens, he took him into the yard, and to the strangers surprise, said All these goats are yours. Tey came from your chickens! Hashavat Aveidahreturn- ing a lost object in its spiritual form refers to Teshuvah (repen- tance), and the mitzvah of Aha- vat Yisrael Love for your fellow brother. Charity O ne Rosh Hashana (Trumpets Feast and Jewish new year day) night, the great Talmudic Sage, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, had a dream. In the dream, he saw that his nephews would have to pay 600 golden dinars to the tax collectors. Rabbi Shimon, wanting to save them this ag- gravation, sent charity collec- tors to ask his nephews to con- tribute more charity than usual throughout the year. Why do you want us to give more charity this year than usual? they questioned him. Rabbi Shimon answered, If one doesnt give willingly to the right things, he ends up having to give forcibly for the wrong things. At the end of the year, a special military tax was imposed on the people of that city. Rabbi Shi- mons nephews, being wealthy people, were assessed 600 gold- en dinars. When they refused to pay this large amount, they were thrown in jail. Rabbi Shimon heard what happened and ordered his neph- ews records of charitable dona- tions be brought to him. Upon calculating how much charity they gave, he realized that they were 6 dinars short of the sum of 600. Bring me six dinars, said Rabbi Shimon, and with G-ds help, everything will be in or- der. But they want 600 dinars! What good will six dinars do? But Rabbi Shimon urged them to do as he said. With the six dinars in his hand he went to the tax collector and succeeded in persuading him to take the six dinars and free his nephews. Only then did Rabbi Shimon tell his relatives of his Rosh Hashana dream. Had you given the full 600 dinars for charity, you wouldnt have had to go through all this misery, Rabbi Shimon told them. If you knew this all along, why didnt you tell us? We would have gladly given the 600 dinars for charity! they com- plained. Had I told you about my dream in the beginning of the year, all the charity you gave during the year would have been for selfsh reasons. In that case, the mitzvah wouldnt have been performed to its fullest, an- swered Rabbi Shimon.. If you go into your neighbors vineyard, you may eat your fll of grapes, as many as you wish, but you shall not put any in your bag. If you go into your neighbors stand- ing grain, you may pluck the ears with your hand, but you shall not put a sickle to your neighbors standing grain. (Deuteronomy 23:2425) KIDS PARASHA KI-TETZE aExEt_yI;k STORIES AND TRADITIONS http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz 6 7 Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19
Speech by His Excellency The Governor of Vihiga County (Rev) Moses Akaranga During The Closing Ceremony of The Induction Course For The Sub-County and Ward Administrators.