Week's Roundup - The Torah's Eternal Message About Leadership
Highlights from this week's learning and events; An eternal message from the Torah about how G-d Al-mighty wants the Torah message of His Divine Wisdom to reach every single man, woman and child.
Did you know that the Torah has an eternal Divine Message that applies to every single human being? Authentic Torah learning grounds us in reality, both what we can observe and what is beyond our observation, grasp and even understanding, and leads to practical positive action. Positive for us and positive for those around us. Torah reveals our Divine Innate Spiritual Compass and brings our Spiritual Backbone to the forefront of life.
If you have adopted some or all of Enlightenment thinking, learning Torah will challenge everything you believe and hold dear.
In each Week’s Roundup, you will find a special topic, links to this week’s learning, the Torah perspective on current events, upcoming learning and action suggestions. This week we embrace the leadership of Moses, Our Teacher. Learn, take hope and take action, and share.
Torah Leadership is about the person as the end, not the means
A typical modern leadership course today will teach about techniques to maximize the use of people to accomplish a goal. For example, listen to people so they feel heard so that they can be better engaged to do their job. And whatever listening is mustered, is only while the person is still involved in the project. That ‘empathy’ ends as soon as the person leaves the organization or movement.
Torah Leadership, however, is about the person, because in Torah the goal is not outside of us, the goal is the person himself — that the person himself be truly grounded in knowing that he is being lovingly and intentionally recreated at every instant by G-d Almighty, in His Divine Image.
And, the leadership relationship is for life.
Torah leadership is about uplifting a person, shepherding his faith, to point him to develop his spiritual muscle to ignore his own insecure thoughts and those others share with him.
That’s a lifetime commitment to the person.
That’s the commitment of Moshe Rabbeinu (Moses Our Teacher) and highlighted in this weeks’ Torah portion.
Korach, challenged Moses, Our Teachers’ Leadership, but while he claimed to be about making everyone great, he showed that he was only interested in others as a tool, and not in the well-being of others. To aid his own challenge, he instigated 250 other men to join him in the campaign to displace Moses, Our Teacher, with each vying for one position. This means that he only used them to help attack Moses, Our Teacher, but all but one of them was doomed to failure, and that one that Korach was sure would seize the position was Korach himself. So Korach was an effective ‘leader’ but not a real leader.
Because the real Leadership of Moses, our Teacher, is to bring us to the forefront of our own lives, maintain our Divine tranquility (menuchas haNefesh) and simultaneously to ignore our own internal obstructionism and instead be an eager emissary of our Creator.
So, too, is the leadership of the extension of Moses, Our Teacher, in every generation. We took time this week in our learning to focus on the leadership of the Lubavitcher Rebbe who urged us to reach and uplift every human being to know who they really are.
Here are two videos learning about how we are meant to care for our fellow human beings:
Shoot your comments and questions below!
Shabbos is coming, a reminder for every human being that they are an intentional creation of G-d Al-mighty right now and a continuing beneficiary of His Love, His Joy and His Abundance! What an incredible moment to increase even more in joy!
Action: Use the link above to check Yom Tov and Shabbos Candellighting times in your city around the world. Yom Tov and Shabbos Candlelighting time in New York City this week (6/23/23) is 8:13 pm and Shabbos ends at 9:21 pm.
Here is some of the learning we did this week:
These videos are available in the content library at RabbiSmith.org (in parentheses) and also on YouTube by clicking the name of the learning. When you watch on YouTube please like, share and subscribe so the message of hope reaches more and more people. See below at the end of this article a list of upcoming classes both in person and on Zoom.
Check out our new YouTube shorts here. Make sure to subscribe while you are there so you get notified as new ones come out.
Sunday Learning
👉 2023-06-18: Mitzvos Hashem: Rabbi Steif #65: Don’t look to omens
Wednesday Learning
👉 Zecharia 8:23: Parshas Korach - Recognize that G-d gives special assignments to particular people
Thursday Learning
👉 Emunah (Faith) in Action - brief summary of points 4 - 6
(Emunah (Faith) in Action Playlist)
👉🌟🌟🌟Parshas Korach - your personal relationship with the Moshe Rabbeinu of the generation
Additional Learning
👉 Keeping Judaism on track through clear thinking & expanding the message of G-d Almighty’s Oneness
On Substack this week:
On Substack, I write about the practical implications of Torah learning, and how to keep our thinking clear, grounded in honesty and common sense. Here’s The Rabbi Smith Bulletin for this week: A lot of great activity on Notes. Check them out on my Substack Profile1 or at the The Rabbi Smith Bulletin.
A Torah perspective on the world around us…
Ask in the comments below about topics and news you would like the Torah perspective on.
A peek ahead…
What’s going on in the Holy Land
Restarting the Rambam Mishnah Torah
A thought in concluding for now…
Thank G-d, we live in the most inspiring and incredible times in the history of the world. We have a great and beautiful mission before us. The need in the people is great, time is of the essence and the undertaking is massive, but eminently doable with the help of G-d Al-mighty. Please consider a generous gift to bring this message of hope to thousands more people, by clicking here.
May G-d Al-mighty bless you and Gut Shabbos!
See more actions further down. Torah learning and positive actions are the key to our future.
Upcoming Learning:
All learning uses the following Zoom link: https://bit.ly/BeisMedrash. Sponsor learning in honor or memory of a loved one.
👉Yeshiva Shem V'Ever
Shabbos Afternoon (Saturday) 4 pm Eastern
We will be learning Torah relevant to non-Jews with Jews and non-Jews.
Tanya: Sha'ar Hayichud v'HaEmunah - the Gate of Oneness and Faith
In person in Passaic, New Jersey, only.
👉Rabbi Steif Mitzvos Hashem
SUNDAY 7 am Eastern (1 pm Germany time)
Rabbi Steif wrote this holy book to avert the Holocaust by making sure that both Jews and non-Jews should know clearly G-d Al-mighty's rules for non-Jews.
👉Zecharia 8:23 - Weekly Torah Portion, Prayer and Talmud
WEDNESDAY 8:00 pm Eastern
Learn the week's Torah Portion (parsha) as it is relevant to every man, Prayer for every man and portions of the Talmud that are relevant to non-Jews
👉Emunah (Faith) in Action
THURSDAY 10 am Eastern
Only with tranquility of the soul can we hear G-d Al-Mighty's voice clearly, know what to do and have the strength to do it effectively
👉Gate of Oneness
Words on the Torah Portion
The Torah Experience - Life Fully Lived
THURSDAY 8:00 pm Eastern - Not this coming week due to Shavuous
Study the Gate of Oneness (Sha'ar HaYichud) by the Mittler Rebbe which teaches us how to think clearly. Delivered by Rabbi Shimon Chyrek. Rabbi Smith speaks on the weekly Torah portion at the end of the class.
Actions:
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That’s our goal at RabbiSmith.org to develop our spiritual muscles to do exactly that. Join us.
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You are deceived. What does Exodus 12:14 say? What does Jesus Christ say as the "Lamb of GOD" (John 1:29) in Matthew 22:19-20 while transforming this Hebrew Olam "forever" commanded Passover Feast?
**GOD wants to be worshipped HIS WAY no longer in an old covenant Jewish way and definately not in 35,000 and growing Protestant "man made" Golden Calf ways.***
BIBLICAL “FOREVER” COMMANDS OF WORSHIP
Does your Church meet the “forever” historical link all the way back to Judaism when Jesus Christ died on the cross, and from that point on until this very day celebrate the fulfillment of these “forever” liturgical worship commands of GOD in their “perfected” NEW COVENANT FORM?
1. Passover Feast (Exodus 12:14, 24) Jesus during the “Last Supper” transformed the “forever” GOD commanded Passover by replacing the lamb with Himself in all the Gospel accounts. (Jesus is described as the “Lamb of GOD” in John 1:29, 1 Peter 1:19, and in 1 Corinthians 5:7 “Christ, our Passover Lamb, has been sacrificed for us”) In the OT, everyone celebrating the Passover Feast was commanded by GOD to eat the meat of the lamb for death to “Passover”. Could a Hebrew or later practicing Jew only “symbolically” eat the lamb and obey GOD? Jesus was being liturgically consistent with the original “forever” OT Passover commands to “eat the meat of the lamb” culminating in His “hard” teaching in John 6:53-54: “Truly, Truly, I say to you, UNLESS YOU EAT the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, YOU DO NOT HAVE LIFE IN YOU. Whoever EATS my flesh and drinks my blood HAS ETERNAL LIFE”. NEWPASSOVER(CCC#611,13391340) www.salvationhistory.com/studies/lesson/the_paschal_mystery_how_jesus_celebrated_fulfilled_the_passover
2. Day of Atonement (Leviticus 16:30-33) CC has the altar and gives out the atoning blood provided by the “eternal” High Priest Jesus fulfilling Leviticus 17:11 prophecy “For the LIFE OF THE FLESH IS IN THE BLOOD, and I HAVE GIVEN IT FOR YOU UPON THE ALTAR TO MAKE ATONEMENT FOR YOUR SOULS; for it is THE BLOOD THAT MAKES ATONEMENT, by REASON OF THE LIFE” (CCC 616,623) www.salvationhistory.com/studies/lesson/jesus_and_the_day_of_atonement
3. Tabernacle Feast (Leviticus 23:41-42) CC has the Tabernacle and fulfills this feast within Mass. (CCC #1183,1090) www.salvationhistory.com/studies/lesson/tabernacles_old_testament_feast_and_eucharistic_fulfillment
4. Unleavened Bread Feast (Exodus 12:17) CC has “7 days” a week unleavened bread (CCC#1334) www.salvationhistory.com/studies/lesson/the_mystery_of_the_feast_of_unleavened_bread
5. Sanctuary Lamp (Exodus 27:20-21) CC has this burning constantly before the Tabernacle.
6. Tabernacle Candles (Leviticus 24:2-4) CC has special candles placed next to the Tabernacle as commanded (CCC #1154, 1189)
7. Bread of the Presence (Leviticus 24:5-9, Exodus 25:30) Jesus Christ becomes the true fulfilled “Bread of the Presence” during Mass consecration. (CCC #1378)
8. Leviticus Priesthood (Exodus 29:7-9, Exodus 40:15, 1 Chronicles 23:13, *Numbers 25:12-13, *Jeremiah 33:14-22, *Isaiah 66:21, Malachi 2:4-7, Malachi 3:3) Jesus fulfills the Levi Covenant promise by ordaining and reconciling the 12 apostles (tribes) for priesthood in the Upper Room ordered to “do this in remembrance of me” (CCC #611, 1337). Proof? John 13:1-20 Jesus prior to His passion washes and “purifies” the Apostles to prepare them for priestly altar work (fulfilling Malachi 3:3 and the “forever” priest washing in Exodus 30:21). Like OT “Forever” Feasts, a Leviticus form of priesthood has to preside over the altar of sacrifice, be washed, and has to abstain or be celibate to even touch the “Bread of the Presence” (CCC # 1541-2) Jesus is the “pure offering” presented by the priesthood through “daily” Mass across the world fulfilling Malachi 1:11 prophesy.
9. Priest Washing (Exodus 30:21) CC Priests complete a washing before consecration (CCC #1337)
10. Priestly Share (Numbers 18:22-23) CC Priests are the first partakers of the Holy Eucharist, and receive offerings to the Church (CCC #2043)
11. Animal Sacrifice (Leviticus 7:36-38; Deuteronomy 12:26-28, Exodus 29:42) Jesus is the described fulfillment “Lamb of GOD” (John 1:29 and 1 Corinthians 5:7) (CCC #608, 613)
12. Grain Offering (Leviticus 6:9-11; 23:13-14) CC has bread and wine offering from parishioners brought up to the priests and the altar. (CCC #1334, 1350)
13. Incense Burning (Exodus 30:8) CC Mass celebrates feasts with incense. (CCC #1154)
14. Sabbath – Mark 2:28, Matthew 12:8, Luke 6:5 “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath”. The day our Risen Lord showed us what to do in Luke 24:13-35 and “how He was made known to them in the breaking of the bread”. The risen Jesus obeys His Heavenly Father's "perpetual" celebration command being on "the day after Sabbath" per Leviticus 23:11-14, Pentecost 15-21, and verse 39 Tabernacle Feast being the “First day” and “Eighth Day” which is one in the same SUNDAY or “First Day of the Week”. CC follows our Risen Lord’s lead with “breaking of bread” or celebrating the “forever” NEW COVENANT PASSOVER on Sundays. CC even fulfills Jesus’s “Our Father” prayer “give us this day our daily bread” (Jesus compared Himself to OT manna in John 6:31-35) by providing the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER “daily”.
The Hebrew word “olam” or English translations “forever, everlasting, or perpetual” was clearly understood by the Jewish people as they still are “forever” obeying GOD’s liturgical commands and celebrating a form of the original Passover, Unleavened Bread, Day of Atonement, and Tabernacle Feasts to this very day.
JESUS CHRIST is the NEW ADAM (Romans 5:12-21) making us part of the NEW CREATION ( 2 CORINTHIANS 5:17, GALATIANS 6:15) under NEW LAW (John 13:34, Romans 7:6, 1 Corinthians 9:19-21, Hebrews 7:12) to enter into the NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH form of worship (Isaiah 66:18-23). NEW ADAM + NEW CREATION + NEW HEAVEN AND NEW EARTH + NEW LAW = NEW SABBATH. Old covenant law is the law of the flesh and New Covenant law is of Spirit being"Love". Pentecost is "forever" GOD commanded on what "day" in Leviticus 23:15 with a day of rest in verse 21? Hebrews 4:7-9? "HE AGAIN SETS A CERTAIN DAY ” AND “ GOD WOULD NOT SPEAK LATER OF ANOTHER DAY ".
So, if the Church was "born" on Pentecost (Acts 2:1) through the "same day" the NEW ADAM was resurrected on, then what "day" would we get "reborn" (John 3:5) on to "LIVE in the "Spirit of the law" (Romans 8:2) being LOVE (John 13:34) of the NEW COVENANT???