Week's Roundup - Are you a Righteous Zealot or Just Unhinged?
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 being a real Zealot by being connected to G-d Al-mighty in every aspect of life. Learn, take hope and take action, and share.
It’s easy to react! It’s easy to find something that pushes us over the top - it’s too much you scream, this has to be stopped!
But is that feeling Divinely propelled or a personal hot button?
That’s the question Pinchas had to ask himself in taking up a spear to eliminate from among the Jewish People a Jewish leader who had devolved into immorality.
The word for spear in the Holy Tongue is רמח which has a numerical total of 248 corresponding to the 248 Positive Commandments. A Divinely motivated Righteous Zealot is someone who is equally passionate about all the Positive Commandments of which the general principle, in addition to the Unity of G-d Al-mighty, is Love Your Fellow as Yourself (Leviticus 19:18 and regarding Rabbi Akiva statement that it is the general principle of the Torah, Sifra 2:16).
So the question Pinchas had to ask himself was, “Am I motivated by G-d Al-mighty’s Divine Spirit and Will, or am I excited by a really dramatic opportunity to spear someone really really well?” The answer is not found in his motivations or justifications in the act of spearing but rather by looking at his conduct the rest of the time.
And, he was certain of that, and so he was qualified to act zealously.
Others, weren’t so sure and blamed his spearing on a mean streak he might have inherited from his maternal grandfather, Yisro (Jethro). And, a mob sought to execute Pinchas.
That is when G-d Al-mighty intervened and declared that as evidence of Pinchas’ true intentions, he would be given the Covenant of Peace and elevated to be a Kohen (Priest) because his true motivations were Divine Peace and not to satiate an itch to spear someone else.
Thus, we must each ask ourselves this question? What guides me? And when does it guide me? Only when it suits me? Only when my ‘guide’ justifies what I am inclined to do anyways?
Or am I willing to accept Divine Guidance even when it requires going beyond my comfort zone? Like for example, Loving My Fellow as Myself.
Next time you are triggered by something you think is outrageous and feel the urge to spear someone, make sure to remove from your life everything that is even remotely related to that which you find outrageous. And make sure that even if spearing is the only option, that the rest of your days and hours before and after a driven by Love Your Fellow as Yourself, and what you really seek is peace.
Watch the complete learning here:
And this video is a call to action to go beyond our comfort zone:
While watching, please remember to subscribe to the Hope for Humanity YouTube Channel.
And, please share 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 (7/7/23) is 8:11 pm and Shabbos ends at 9:19 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
👉 2023-07-02 Mitzvos Hashem Rabbi Steif #67: Courts required to carry out justice lessons from 12 Tammuz for every person
Wednesday Learning
👉 Zecharia 8:23: Parshas Pinchas - Are YOU a Righteous Zealot or Simply Unhinged?
Thursday Learning
👉 Emunah (Faith) in Action - Summary points 11-14
(Emunah (Faith) in Action Playlist)
👉🌟🌟🌟Parshas Pinchas - The Redemption has two elements - SEEING and CONNECTING; TAKE ACTION NOW!
Additional Learning
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.
Here’s a small sample of Notes:
When you read the Notes, please be sure to like, comment, restack and share.
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 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:
How can you more expand the areas of your life that are in accord with what you already know is the Divine Guidance you are receiving?
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