Week's Roundup - Torah's Radical Decentralization and Unrestricted Direct Access to G-d Al-mighty for every man, woman and child
Highlights from this week's learning and events; An eternal message from the Torah about how directly accessible G-d Al-mighty is there is no organizational hierarchy to control your access
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 relating G-d Al-mighty Directly. Learn, take hope and take action, and share.
It’s astonishing that G-d Al-mighty, who lovingly and intentionally recreates you and me every instant from nothing can be misunderstood as difficult to approach or that closeness is reserved for those of special status. And tragic, because some then believe they need to jump through hoops to be in relationship with their Creator. Or that they are beholden to someone who holds the keys to the secrets to access.
Maimonides (Rambam) demolishes this myth and establishes that G-d Al-mighty has set up our existence so that every man, woman and child has unrestricted direct access to G-d Al-mighty. And, service of G-d Al-mighty is decentralized so no one can pretend to monopolize the relationship.
Watch and open your eyes: (the text of the Rambam follows)
G-d Willing I will post what the Rambam writes after Shabbos!
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 Shabbos Candellighting times in your city around the world. Shabbos Candlelighting time in New York City this week (4/28/23) is 7:39 pm and Shabbos ends at 8:44 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
👉 2023-04-30: Mitzvos Hashem: Rabbi Steif #58: Being whole hearted with G-d brings blessings & success (Playlist - Mitzvos Hashem of Rabbi Steif for Bnai Noach).
Wednesday Learning
👉 Zecharia 8:23: Parshas Emor - Torah priests have little power - so you have direct connection to G-d (Zecharia 8:23 Playlist).
Thursday Learning
👉 Emunah (Faith) in Action 48: Beis HaLevi 34: Lesson from Joseph: When someone tries evil against you (Emuna (Faith) in Action Playlist)
👉🌟🌟🌟Parshas Emor - A Powerhouse of Torah learning to guide mankind right back home to G-d Al-mighty (Torah Lessons Playlist).
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 by Substack Profile. Click on the ‘Notes’ tab in the Latest Section next to ‘Posts.’
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…
Sefiras HaOmer
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
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:
Isn’t awesome how close your relationship with G-d Al-mighty already is? What are you going to do about it?
This message of Hope can and must reach even more people, with you help. Please gift generously to propel this message to more people. Time is of the essence. The mission is monumental, but with G-d Al-mighty’s help it eminently possible. May G-d Al-mighty bless you for your generosity.
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👉Dedicate a future edition of the Week’s Roundup by clicking here.
Jesus is only way through the Holy Eucharist.
A Sacrament that has salvation written all over it.
Much more than a "personal relationship" it is a marriage covenant between GOD and His chosen people - "Marriage Supper of the Lamb". ***You need an altar and Catholic priest to enter that covenant relationship.***
How do all Catholics become His ONE BODY, ONE "VISIBLE" CHURCH, ONE TEMPLE OR ONE BRIDE???
"Real Presence" or Holy Eucharist Defense
1. "Pascal lamb"
In Exodus 12:3-14 GOD "forever" liturgically commands the PASSOVER as a means of proper worship. In the Passover, GOD REQUIRED the "lamb" to be consumed for "Death to Passover" (Exodus 12:3-8). Then Jesus, the "Lamb of GOD" (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:19), transforms this "forever" GOD commanded PASSOVER Feast during the "Last Supper" (in every synoptic Gospel account) into the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER (Luke 22:19). Further, in context of the PASSOVER (John 6:4) Jesus Christ's "Bread of LIFE" discourse He REQUIRES us to "abide" in His BODY and BLOOD for "Death to Passover" (John 6:54-58). ***Protestants, Jesus Christ states the consequences of not partaking of Him in John 6:53.***
Additional John Chapter 6 Proof??? In John 6:60, everyone was disbelieving Jesus's "hard" teaching (John 6:54-58) about the Holy Eucharist. So, put yourself in Jesus's shoes how would you respond to people disbelieving you??? Wouldn't you want to provide some sort of "proof" or "evidence" you mean what you say??? How does Jesus Christ respond to His disbelievers in John 6:60 and what "proof" will He provide to them and you per John 6:62???
2. "Heavenly Manna"
GOD provided "Spiritual Food and Drink" (1 Corinthians 10:1-4) to His old covenant people, so wouldn't Jesus Christ provide something for His NEW COVENANT chosen people???
Jesus Christ compares Himself to the old covenant "Heavenly Manna" in John 6:31-35. Jesus teaches how the "Heavenly Manna" that came down "daily" will now actually be Him (John 6:51-58).
In the "Our Father" prayer Jesus Christ states "give us THIS DAY OUR DAILY BREAD" that actually refers to the NEW COVENANT MANNA or Jesus Christ Himself as the "BREAD OF LIFE" (John 6:35, 48, 51).
Acts 2:46. The Catholic Church has been "breaking bread (of LIFE) daily" of the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER (Luke 22:19) before the Book of Acts was even written in the mid 60's AD, all along since Jesus Christ's death in 33AD, and to this very day fulfilling Malachi 1:11 prophecy all across the world "daily"!!!
3. "HOW HE WAS MADE KNOWN TO THEM in the Breaking Bread" (Luke 24:35)
In the Luke 24:13-35 "Road to Emmaus" scriptures, there is a clear "structure" of worship being referrenced - being the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER or better known as the Catholic Mass.
In Luke 24:27, there is an opening up of the old testament Sacred Scriptures (Readings). Then, a clear explanation of how Jesus Christ fulfilled all the old covenant prophecies and covenant promises (Homily). Then, we have a "participation in" (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER "breaking of bread" where the "Lamb of GOD" Jesus Christ ultimately becomes "KNOWN" to us.
Protestants, what does Jesus Christ say to you refusing to "break bread" and "become KNOWN" to Him in His ONE and ONLY "Kingdom of GOD" here on earth - being the ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH - per Luke 7:21-23??? Still saved???
4. "Bread of the PRESENCE"
Along with the Passover, GOD "forever" liturgically commands the "Bread of the PRESENCE" to be part of proper worship of Him in Leviticus 24:5-9.
In the old Jewish Temple, the old "Heaven and Earth" of worship, a veil seperated two main worship rooms.
In the outer room was the "Bread of the PRESENCE". A veil separated it from the inner room that was called the HOLY of HOLIES, where no one could enter but the High Priest once a year. This inner room the HOLY of HOLIES is where Jews believed God's "real presence" remained.
So, when Jesus Christ died the veil was reported to have been "torn" (Matthew 27:51, Mark 15:38, Luke 23:45). Thus, liturgically speaking there no longer remains any barrier between GOD'S presence and the "Bread of the PRESENCE" (Matthew 28:20).
So, if the veil was "torn" allowing GOD'S presence in the Holy of Holies to flow to the "BREAD of the PRESENCE" in the outer room of worship, then what does the Holy Eucharist or "Bread of the PRESENCE" truly become in the fulfilled NEW COVENANT FORM???
5. "ONE BREAD ONE BODY"
1 Corinthians 10:16-17. If the "many" become "ONE BODY" through "participation in" the ONE SACRIFICE of the "Lamb of GOD" Jesus Christ in the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER, then how can the Holy Eucharist logically be a mere symbol as Protestants purport???
Truly, we can ONLY become ONE BODY (1 Corinthians 10:16-17, Ephesians 5:29-32), ONE FLOCK (John 10:16), ONE TEMPLE (1 Corinthians 3:17), ONE CHURCH (Ephesians 4:4-6), ONE BRIDE (2 Corinthians 11:2) through the "ONE" Jesus Christ (John 6:54-58) the "Lamb of God" (John 1:29, 1 Corinthians 5:7, 1 Peter 1:19) in the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER (Luke 22:19).
6. "EAT AND DRINK JUDGMENT UPON OURSELVES"
1 Corinthians 11:27-29. If "partaking unworthily" is "eating and drinking JUDGMENT upon ourselves", then once again how logically can the Holy Eucharist merely be a symbol as Protestants purport???
7. Partaking of "Divinity" (John 6:55-56, 2 Peter 1:4, Catechism #460) is the only way to become a true Son or Daughter of GOD.
In the Garden of Eden man was created in the "image" and "likeness" of GOD. Through Adam and Eve's disobedience it caused us to lose our "likeness" to GOD (original sin). For how can GOD's "likeness" and goodness ever mix with sin??? (John 3:6, Romans Chapter 5) Jesus Christ is the NEW ADAM OF OBEDIENCE.
In God's beautiful salvation plan He takes a "do not partake" old Adam of disobedience and the removal of the "TREE OF LIFE" (Genesis 3:23), and completely transforms it into telling us to "partake" of the "TREE OF LIFE".
Catholics actually receive His priest, prophet and King "divinity" in the Holy Eucharist, thereby obtaining our "likeness" back if we only partake "worthily" (1 Corinthians 11:27-29). We truly become "divine" Sons and Daughters of GOD by "uniting" with Jesus Christ the NEW ADAM (Romans 5:12-21). As a result, we become a part of GOD'S NEW CREATION (2 Corinthians 5:17, Galatians 6:15, Ephesians 1:10, Colossians 1:15-17, 20) here on earth.
The "TREE OF LIFE" hangs above every Catholic Church altar.
8. "Thanksgiving" or Jewish Todah
In this Jewish Messianic prophecy feast the "lamb" sacrifice had to occur at the same time the "bread and wine" was consecrated. Just as the Jews believed they were "participating in" the original timeless and eternal first PASSOVER when celebrating their old covenant "forever" GOD commanded Passover (Exodus 12:14), so do we Catholics believe we are "participating in" the ONE SACRIFICE of Jesus Christ during the consecration of the bread and wine (1 Corinthians 10:16-17) in the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER.
The Greek "Eucharistia" or English meaning "Thanksgiving" Feast for what Jesus Christ has done for us is the source, summit, and ultimate high point of worship in the NEW COVENANT.
9. "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" (Revelation 19:9).
Every CATHOLIC during the NEW COVENANT PASSOVER "Mass" enters the aisle and approaches the "Bridegroom" Jesus Christ the "Lamb of God" who hangs above every single Catholic altar. We see the "Bridegroom" who emptied Himself out of love for us on the cross - for His ONE and ONLY "BRIDE" - the ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.
The "right and just" response of each and every Catholic is to give all of ourselves back to Him in the "Marriage Supper of the Lamb" NEW COVENANT PASSOVER.
Historical support per Early Church Father beliefs on the "Real Presence" Holy Eucharist:
http://www.therealpresence.org/eucharst/father/a5.html
Be "ONE WITH CHRIST" by accepting His ONE and ONLY BODY in the ONE HOLY CATHOLIC AND APOSTOLIC CHURCH.