Prison weekly Shabbat Elul 27, 5768

Shalom

The Hebrew month is Elul these Parashahs

 are for Shabbat Elul 27, 5768

Parashahs are Torah Nitsavim " you are standing " Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 Haftarah Isaiah 61:10-63:9 Brit Hadasha Romans 10:1-13

 Next weeks Torah  Va Yelech "And he went" Deuteronomy 31:1-30 Haftarah Hosea 14:2-10 & Brit Hadasha Joel 2:16-27

Perceptions

Torah Parashahs HaShavuah‏ Netzavim Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20 

I call Heaven and earth today to witness that I have placed before you life and death, blessing and curse; choose life so that you and your seed shall live. (Devarim 30:19) Since this year, a leap year, Nitzavim is a stand-alone parsha, it gives us a good opportunity to discuss what should be an obvious concept to all of us, and that which is the basis of our judgment on Rosh Hashanah, the choosing of life. However, the Torah is obviously not trying to convince us to not jump from the roof of a high building, because for anyone, for whom that is an option, God forbid, more help would be required than a verse from the Torah. We're talking about choosing to live on higher levels of consciousness here.

Like what, for example?

Imagine a room filled with four sets of study partners (which we will call SP1, SP2, SP3, and SP4 respectively), each one learning a different area of Torah. SP1 is learning Chumash with Rashi, and they are only interested in knowing the simplest explanation of the verses. There may be a lot more to what the Torah is saying, but for the time being, they aren't interested in knowing it. SP2, on the other hand, has decided to learn Mishnah. They too are only interested in learning "Pshat" — the simplest explanation. However, the terse wording of the Mishnah, as well as what seem to be certain inconsistencies, has forced them to engage in discussions that take them beyond the simple words of the teaching. As they do, their discussions become more lively than those of SP1, which is wondering what all the excitement is about. Still, their discussions do not compare to those of SP3, which is learning Talmud. The discussion of their section of learning is not only lively, it seems to have put them into a world of their own. They seem somewhat oblivious to the world around them, as they get up and pace back and forth, contemplative, and yet full of energy and the need to explain themselves. However, SP4 is learning Kabbalah. No one seems to notice them, because they are learning quietly and off to themselves. They are not only enthralled by their learning, they seem entranced by it. Indeed, they seem to be there, and yet, not there. In fact, they seem other-worldy, as the expressions on their faces seem to indicate. These are, of course, the four levels of Torah referred to as "Pardes," a word which means "orchard," but which also stands for the four levels of  Torah learning: Pshat, Remez, Drush, and Sod, literally: Simple, Hint, Exegesis, and Secret, or Mikrah, Mishnah, Talmud, and Kabbalah. There are four levels [of Torah understanding] and the pneumonic is Pardes: Pshat, Remez, Drush, and Sod. A person needs to toil in all of them to the extent that he can, and seek out a teacher to teach them to him. If a person lacks one of these four levels relative to what he could have achieved then he will have to reincarnate. (Sha'ar HaGilgulim, Ch. 11) They are the four levels on which a single Torah concept can be understood, and as one probes from level to level, he also moves from a lower level of consciousness to a higher one: The rabbis taught: Four entered Pardes: Ben Azzai, Ben Zoma, Acher, and Rebi Akiva. Rebi Akiva told them, "When you arrive at the Stones of Pure Marble, don't say, 'Water, water,' because it says, 'He who speaks falsehood will not be established before My eyes' (Tehillim 101:7)." Ben Azzai gazed at the Divine Presence and died, and with respect to him it says, "Difficult in the eyes of God is the death of His pious ones" (Tehillim 116:15). Ben Zoma gazed and went mad — to him the following verse may be applied: "Have you found honey? Eat as much as is sufficient for you, so that you do not consume too much and have to vomit"(Mishlei 25:16). Acher "cut off his plantings" (i.e., he became a heretic). Rebi Akiva entered in peace and departed in peace. (Chagigah 14b) As Tosfos explains, their journey had not been a physical one, but rather, an intellectual one, as the Leshem further explains: It says in the Zohar HaKodesh further regarding the four who entered Pardes, that it had been their intention to rectify the sin of Adam HaRishon, as it was said previously: to meditate and ascend from level to level until the Torah of Atzilus at the root of all Positive and Negative mitzvos. (Sha'arei Leshem, p. 454)

For, just as there are four levels on which Torah can be learned, there are four levels of consciousness, and they correspond: Pshat-Asiyah, Remez- Yetzirah, Drush-Beriyah, and Sod-Atzilus. Therefore, as a person moves from a lower level of Torah understanding to a higher one, he is, in fact, entering a higher level of consciousness, and coming closer to God. It is a process that begins in the mind, but one which eventually spreads to the body as well, since the four levels also correspond to the four lower levels of one's soul: Pshat-Nefesh, Remez-Ruach, Drush-Neshama, and Sod-Chiyah. What this essentially means is that, if one only learns Torah on the Pshatlevel, he will only access the level of Nefesh, which will limit the amount of Godly light that will make it to the level of the body, also limiting the impact on the body. Elevated he will feel, but not beyond the reality of everyday life. He will feel holier, but not enough to take him beyond mundane matters. To learn on the level of Remez is to access the light of Ruach, and to elevate the body significantly higher. While learning it, the person will remain aware of the world around him, but he will also feel above it, to some degree. He will feel a greater sense of identification with the material he is learning than he did when he only learned Chumash. Learning Talmud, as Talmud is meant to be learned, will draw the mind of the person to the level of Neshama, which will have a profound impact on the body of the person as well. Though the physical appearance of a person learning Talmud may not change, he will feel quite different. He will become more spiritual, which is why many students who previously had difficulty learning Chumash and Mishnah for long periods of time, can become "hooked" on the learning of Talmud.

It is also one of the reasons why entry into the world of Talmud can be so difficult for many, even after they have learned Aramaic, the language of the Talmud. It is not merely a matter of simply opening a larger and longer book than that of Mishnah. It is a matter of going to a higher level of consciousness to relate to the words inside, which can be read by just about anyone, but which are related to only by those who make the jump to the level of Neshama. If this is true of the level of Talmud-Neshama, then it is even truer about the level of Sod-Chiyah. The leap from the first level of learning to the second level, or from the second level of learning to the third one, is not nearly as great as the quantum leap from the third level of Drush to that of Sod. To make such a leap is to never turn back again, for on the level of Sod, one is so close to God (as much as possible in this world), that it would be tantamount to spiritual suicide to do so. Again, this is only true if the person learning Sod is doing far more than simply reading the words and repeating them as they appear. On each level, the body must line up with the light that is coming to it, or the Torah will not have its desired impact. Sod is the level of Neshama, an extremely high level of Ohr Ain Sof, and if the body is not a fitting container for such a holy level of light, it won't even try to enter it. In essence, this is what Rosh Hashanah evaluates, and this is the basis of the teshuva we are expected to do. On Rosh Hashanah, the question is: did we reach the level of consciousness that we were capable of achieving? And if yes, did we work to maintain it? The evidence to answer these questions is, for the most part, how we spent our time and resources the previous year, and what we hope to achieve in the upcoming year, and the rest of our lives, for that matter.

Therefore, when the Torah admonishes us to choose life, it is really telling us to choose higher levels of consciousness, whenever it is possible to do so. For, to live on a lesser level of consciousness than we are capable of is a level or death, one that can even result in physical death, either as afunction of Divine response to our waste of life, or, as a result of our lack of ability to rise to a level of consciousness that affords us a clearer picture of the hand of God, and where history is heading. This discussion becomes especially pertinent in our present generation, for the Arizal has revealed: Since these ten colleagues [of Rebi Shimon bar Yochai's time] … are from the level of the Chassadim of the Upper Zivug [in the Sefiros] …that is Yisroel with Rachel, all the secrets of Torah were revealed and explained to them without any suffering. This will not occur again until the Generation of Moshiach as mentioned in the Zohar in many places. (Sha'ar HaGilgulim, p. 26) If you want to know what all these terms mean, you'll have to start studying Kabbalah. However, in the meantime, on a simple level, it means that the generation in advance of Moshiach's arrival will have an easier time accessing higher levels of light and consciousness than previous generations.And, as we have already seen, this not something that is optional, but obligatory, and something, history has proven, that can only enhance one's quality of life and his closeness to God. L'Shannah Tova u'Metuka. Kesiva v'Chasima Tova. Perceptions, Copyright © 2008 by Rabbi Pinchas Winston and Torah.org.

           

GOD IS STILL KING of THE FLOODS-by David Wilkerson (Sep 15).

The Psalmist writes, "The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves" (Psalm 93:3). The floods represent the rising waters of afflictions, the overwhelming crises that are coming on the earth affecting multitudes. This is the flood of unemployment, housing nightmares, ever-growing financial difficulties. We now face a great flood of fear and confusion about what to do to survive the storm. It tears my heart to have a single mother stop me on the street weeping, "Pastor, what am I going to do? I lost my job, and I may lose my apartment. I have nothing to live on. Where will I go?" Top-level executives are being laid off with no warning. Workers tell me they see bosses crying at their desks, asking, "What will I do? I'm broke. What about my mortgage? I have no benefits."Some terrible things are happening, even to some of the godliest believers. I ask God, "Lord, what do I tell them? They are in the flood." I know these saintly people pray and read God's Word. Indeed, they have learned to trust the Lord. But now their faith is being tested to the limit. I get calls from some who are soon to lose everything. I can't just give these people a pep talk and a few Scriptures and ask them to cheer up. I am not suffering the way they are. I still get paid, and I am not in danger of losing my home. I ask you, please, hear my heart as I say this: The time is not far away before we all will be deeply affected by the economic flood coming to the whole world. Great trials are ahead for all of us who deeply love the Lord. Here is what I am led to do by the Holy Spirit. I ask it of my family, all of whom work with the church body. I urge you to pray to see if the Lord is leading you to do the same: No more buying of luxuries. Cut all spending except absolute necessities. Sell every unneeded item. Turn it to cash and give it to ministries to the poor and needy. Downsize as much as possible. Be willing to let it all come to this: "Having food and raiment [covering], let us be therewith content" (1 Timothy 6:8). Build up your faith by reminding the Lord daily of his promises: "The Lord sitteth upon the flood; yea, the Lord sitteth King for ever" (Psalm 29:10). "In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness" (Psalm 31:1).
In Christ, David Wilkerson

Rosh Ha Shannah Tishri 1, 5769 or Sept. 29, 2008

This report is for those who would like to observe God's Holidays. This has absolutely nothing to do with the Law; this has everything to do with the Holidays God has given us to be observed. It is not complete, and if I tried to make it complete it would be more than most would want to read. So I do hope it wets your appetite. The Hebrew word Rosh means "head" or "Beginning" Ha means "the" and Shannah means "year". It's only used once in the Tenach "Old Testament" Ezekiel 40:1 says, "in the beginning of the year" in the Hebrew it says Rosh Ha Shannah. The more common Biblical name is "Feast of Trumpets." Lev.23:23-25 And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, In the seventh month in the first day of the month, shall ye have a sabbath, a memorial of blowing of trumpets, a holy convocation. Ye shall do no servile work therein: but ye shall offer an offering made by fire unto the Lord. Rosh Hashannah is considered the Jewish New Year, but it comes on the seventh month on the first day. In the Jewish world it is considered the birthday of the world. If you count from the first day of Elul (the 6^th month) until the 1^st day of Tishri (7^th month) which is Rosh Ha Shannah you will have counted 30 days. Known as the 30 days of preparation ending with Yom Teruah, Yom in Hebrew is "day" Teruah means "Trumpets" so it's the day of sounding the trumpets, or known today as Rosh Ha Shannah. If I haven't lost you yet, you are doing well, don't let this get to complicated, because it will come to you in time. Now lets go on…. Rosh Hashannah is the Spiritual New Year, not the regular new year, for it would come on the first day of Nisan, the first month on the Jewish calendar. Much like the 6 days of creation, the 7^th day is the Sabbath. The same is true with the first 6 months and the 7^th month being a Sabbath, and the 1^st day of the 7^th month is Rosh Ha Shannah, the spiritual New Year. Recognized in Israel and the Jewish world as the New Year. Rosh Ha Shannah is the beginning of the ten days called High Holy Days or "Days of Awe" They are also called the Days of Repentance, Days of Admitting, Days of Returning. These ten days end with the Day of Atonement, "Yom Kippur" It's interesting living in Israel during these ten days of repentance, everyone you know will most likely call you and make sure everything is all right with you and them. They will ask you to forgive them for anything they may have done during the year that may have offended you. There seems to be more nice people in Israel during these ten days.

Traditional Jewish Observance

In the Synagogue the Shofar (Trumpet) is blown daily to be sure that everyone knows that the time of Judgement is near. Most of the orthodox will take a water immersion called in Hebrew (tevilah mikveh) better known to you as baptism. It means that one has cleansed his ways. Or been separated unto a Priestly Ministry. This is what John the Baptist was calling the Jews to do, but with a Messianic meaning. Because of the meaning of repentance this day takes on a somber character, but with a hint of hope of God's forgiveness there is room for a festive meal. It is the custom to serve a fish cooked with its head. Placed in front of the father. It shows that he has been ordained by God to be the head of the family. It is also a time to test the first fruits of the new harvest. Find a fruit that gets ripe in your region and do not eat any until this meal. Make it an occasion for the family, they will enjoy it much more than if they have eaten it earlier. Make the meal even more interesting by blowing a shofar, or trumpet, you don't have to be a professional to do this. In the Synagogue there are four different notes blown, tekia (blast) shevarim (broken notes), teruah (alarm) and tekia gedolah (the big blast). In Biblical times the Shofar was blown to Hail the King, on this day it's said that all Israel is said to be before the King in anticipation of personal judgement. It's customary for slices of apple to be dipped into honey, this is in hope that the coming new year will be a sweet one. After dipping the apple in honey, the Father says a special prayer. Instead of the regular twisted loaves of bread, the challah, for this meal you have round bread, symbolic of our desire for a full and round year. If you bake your own bread, save a little dough and form a small latter on the top of the loaf. Showing that your prayers are for God Who sets on high, that when we pray we are not just talking to each other, but to God through the Person of Yeshua our Messiah. When the meal is over and the grace has been said, (the Jewish way and biblical way is to say grace after you've eaten) then read the story of Abraham and Isaac Gen. 22:1-14. Talk about God's provision of a ram to be sacrificed in Isaac's place. A living picture of what was to come in His greater gift to us "Yeshua" Jesus.

TASHLICH

"Thou shalt cast unto the sea"

Tashlich, on the afternoon of Rosh Ha Shannah it is traditional to go to a river or a body of water. This Hebrew word Tashlich means "thou shalt cast unto the sea". Bring your kids to the lake, river, sea, or any body of water. Make sure they wear cloths with plenty of pockets, and fill them with pebbles or small stones. Throw the rocks into the water each time designate each rock with a sin. Each time asking God to forgive you of that sin in your life. Micah 7:19 and thou shalt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. And see how far you can throw each stone Ps. 103:12 As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us.It almost always happens that a child will find a very pretty stone that they want to keep, and it will give you a wonderful opportunity to talk about the sins we seem to like, but must cast off as well. It is a great family experience. For the child it opens the door for the Holy Spirit to do a work. Much like when you introduce another to Yeshua and open the door for the Holy Spirit (Rauch Ha Kodesh) to do a work in their life.There are many special foods for this day, and I could go on and on, but I will close this article with this. The Holidays that God has given us are real and pure, not pagan like so many celebrated in the Church today, like Christmas, Easter, Good Friday etc, etc. Try this one, you will love it, your kids will be brought closer to God because you did. Shalom, jerry golden

Mission update: Proverbs 3:5,6

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.

Shalom in Yeshua Messiah

Praise Yahweh he is so good & will NEVER forsake nor Forget His Faithful.

I just finished paying all of September bills as well as a few of the October ones that are already in. I also have the funds to get eggs tomorrow as I only have six dozen there to start the day. Last Tuesday I made fourteen food boxes and the supplies are nearly gone. I can make about four boxes today but then I will only be able to give out bread and jelly. We won't go to the food bank again until Ipay for what we already got. The bill is 286 something and that account is down under a hundred.

Next week will be time for the newsletter and the price for that has sky rocketed. last month it cost 388 an some change to get it printed and mailed out to you.

I must close for now it is very early/late an I have lots to do. Besides feeding today our oldest son will be getting Married Saturday at 7pm and I am Blessed with overseeing all the arrangements for that.

We must stay on track and KEEP doing as Yahweh provides. HE WILL SUPPLY all the needs we must have FAITH AND BELIEVE!

enough said you know the drill keep us in prayer as we do you have a very blessed week and HAPPY NEW YEAR!

love sisterlinda/Messiah's Branch

Shalom B'Shem Yeshua HaMashiach

Peace in the Name of Yeshua, the Messiah

Mark 9:23,10:27

 Y " THE Truth will set you FREE" Y