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M A Weekly Bulletin - PARACHAT BÉHAALOTEKHA/13 JUIN 2020/ 21 SIVAN 5780

06/15/2020 11:15:48 AM

Jun15

           M.A. WEEKLY BULLETIN 
       PARACHAT   BÉHAALOTEKHA
         13 JUIN 2020/  21 SIVAN 5780
                     

SHABBAT TIMES
candle lighting 8:25 PM
chabbat morning :8:30  am
havdalla 9:43 pm

  

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PARACHAT BÉHAALOTÉKHA –

13 juin 2020/ 21 sivan 5780

BON ANNIVERSAIRE À MAYER SAAD

 

Hazkarot

Moshé Argalgi Ben Chafica , père de David Argalgi

Moshé Ballas Ben Chafica, fils de Sophie Ballas

Josiane Nahum Suissa

Lina Shama , mère de Nathalie Shama Serero

 

Yhyé Zickronam Librakha

 

Les donateurs de la semaine :

Fortune et David Argalgi la mémoire de Moshé Argalgi et Moshé Ballas

Viviana et Léon Mosseri à la mémoire de Miryam Harari

 

Tizkou Lemitzvot

 

 

 

 

Dans ce bulletin / In this issue :

The banishement of Miryam – Lessons for today

La Paracha en bref

 

Pessah Chéni

Myriam frappée de lèpre

Did Moshé briefly loose faith

La Ménorah symbole de l’état d’Israel

La Ménorah de la Knesset

Béhaalotecha – Quiz

Proverbes Français & English Proverbs

The Shabbat smile

 

 

 

 

 

 

Béhaalotekha - en bref

Nombres 8, 1 – 12, 16

 

Il est commandé à Aharon d’élever de la lumière dans les lampes de la Ménorah, et la tribu de Lévi est initiée dans le service du sanctuaire.

Un « second Pessa’h » est instauré en réponse à la requête « Pourquoi serions-nous lésés ? » d’un groupe de Juifs qui n’avaient pas pu offrir le sacrifice pascal en son temps, car ils étaient alors rituellement impurs. D.ieu prescrit à Moïse les procédures relatives aux voyages et aux campements du peuple d’Israël dans le désert, et le peuple en formations quitte le mont Sinaï auprès duquel il avait campé pendant près d’un an.

Le peuple est mécontent du « pain céleste » (la manne) qu’il reçoit et exige à Moïse de lui procurer de la viande. Moïse désigne 70 anciens, à qui il transmet une émanation de son esprit, pour l’assister dans la pesante tâche de gouverner le peuple. Myriam parle négativement au sujet de Moïse et est punie par la lèpre ; Moïse prie pour sa guérison et la communauté toute entière attend son retour pendant sept jours.

 

Miriam’s banishment – Lessons for today

At the end of this week’s parasha we read the brief but well-known story of Miriam’s banishment from the community. The Torah doesn’t tell us much. It does tell us that Miriam was speaking with Aharon about the Cushite woman that Moses took. The Torah then reiterates that he took a Cushite woman in case we did not know that yet. This introductory verse thereby repeats, stressing, that she was a Cushite. This word is used to denote and Ethiopian or Black person. The commentaries debate whether this refers to Tzipora the Midianite who was blacker than the Israelites, or if Moshe had a second wife that we did not know about from the land of Cush-Ethiopia. Others argue that Black is just representing that she was beautiful, and others say the opposite. Miriam and Aharon also say something negative about Moshe that they too received prophecy and not just Moshe, so what makes him so special. Again, the Torah does not give us much information regarding the specifics.

Noah had 3 children that repopulated the Earth: Shem, Ham, and Yefet. The Israelites at the time, descendants of Shem (Semites) occupied the Central area (approximately the Middle East) were dark skinned, darker than the descendants of the European Yefet (the beautiful ones) who settled the North of the Middle East and lighter than the descendants of the African Cham people (including the Cushim), who settles south of the Middle East. Basically, Yefet has the least pigment in their skin, Cham the most, and Shem the middle amount.

“Miriam and Aaron spoke against Moses regarding the Cushite woman he had married: For as he married a Cushite woman” (Bemidbar 12:1). It is very interesting to note what Miriam’s punishment is. She spoke about the Moshe regarding the woman he took with too much pigment, and her punishment is that she loses all pigment and her skin becomes white as snow. Due to her speaking negatively about a Cushite woman living in the community and possibly creating a situation where that woman is pushed from being accepted in the community, Miriam, the community leader with more power than any other woman in the community has her skin turns the opposite color and is she herself banished from the community. Miriam was a wonderful person. She was a prophetess. It is in her merit that the people had water during the Desert. Her initiative saved Moshe from death as an infant. She leads the women in song and dance after the Splitting of the Sea. Yet she made a mistake. We all make mistakes. We all at times see “the other” and it affects us, and we react, sometimes incorrectly. Moshe prays to God to forgive her error. God accepts the prayer and Miriam is allowed to return but God makes one condition. Before she can be forgiven and invited back she needs to spend one week outside the community, on her own, in contemplative reflection before she can return. Maybe it is a time to think about why she reacted that way and how she can change for the better. During this time, the entire nation waits for her return before continuing their journey through the wilderness. Maybe this gives everyone a time to reflect and think about their own feelings and attitudes about others. We often have knee-jerk reactions and responses, but sometimes just pausing and thinking can be transformative and healing.

 

 

 

 

 

PESSAH CHÉNI :

Un an après l’Exode d’Égypte, D.ieu ordonna aux Enfants d’Israël d’offrir le sacrifice pascal l’après-midi du 14 Nissan et de le consommer ce soir-là, grillé au feu et accompagné de Matsa et d’herbes amères, comme ils l’avaient fait un an auparavant juste avant de quitter l’Égypte.

« Il y eut cependant des hommes qui s’étaient rendus rituellement impurs au contact d’un cadavre et qui ne purent donc pas préparer l’offrande de Pessa’h ce jour-là. Ils se présentèrent devant Moïse et Aharon... et ils dirent “Pourquoi serions-nous privés d’apporter l’offrande de D.ieu en son temps, seuls parmi les Enfants d’Israël ?” » (Nombres chap. 9)

En réponse à leur requête, D.ieu fit du quatorzième jour de Iyar un « second Pessa’h » (Pessa’h Chéni) pour quiconque avait été dans l’incapacité d’apporter le sacrifice pascal la veille de Pessa’h, le mois précédent.

Ce jour représente la « seconde chance » que l’on atteint par la téchouva, la force de repentir et du « retour ». Dans les mots de Rabbi Yossef Its’hak de Loubavitch, « Le second Pessa’h enseigne qu’une situation n’est jamais désespérée. »

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Did Moshe briefly lose faith?

In this week’s parasha we read of two very atypical reactions of Moshe that are very uncharacteristic of him. From the moment we meet him, he is a man of faith. He is the man that always questions God and challenges Him, but he is also a man that follows God’s command and teaches the people to believe in God as well. In Beha’alotecha however we first see him become stressed and request that God kill him so that he no longer has to bear the burden of the complaining people. Then in a very surprising reaction, Moshe seems to doubt God. God tells Moshe that since the people are complaining about food, He will give them meat, and Moshe cannot believe that it is possible to gather enough meat to feed so many people for so long. God tells Moshe, do you doubt my abilities? You shall see that I can do it. This reminds us of the passage in the navi where the prophet promises that soon the famine will be over the prices will start to rise again, and the person doubts it is possible. However here we are talking about Moshe Rabenu the greatest prophet of all time, making it difficult to understand.

“And say thou unto the people: Sanctify yourselves against tomorrow, and ye shall eat flesh; for ye have wept in the ears of the God, saying: Would that we were given flesh to eat! for it was well with us in Egypt; therefore, God will give you flesh, and ye shall eat. Ye shall not eat one day, nor two days, nor five days, neither ten days, nor twenty days; but a whole month, until it come out at your nostrils, and it be loathsome unto you; because that ye have rejected God who is among you, and have troubled Him with weeping, saying: Why, now, came we forth out of Egypt?'

And Moses said: 'The people, among whom I am, are six hundred thousand men on foot; and yet Thou hast said: I will give them flesh, that they may eat a whole month! If flocks and herds be slain for them, will they suffice them? or if all the fish of the sea be gathered together for them, will they suffice them?'

And God said unto Moses: Is God’s hand waxed short? now shalt thou see whether My word shall come to pass unto thee or not.”

What do you think happened here that can explain Moshe’s uncharacteristic response?

 

 

LA MÉNORAH – SYMBOLE DE L’ÉTAT D’ISRAEL

 

 

Vous l'avez forcément déjà vu, c'est le symbole juif le plus connu. Elle apparait sur tant de logo, de kipot ou de talith, ou encore de devantures de boucherie cacher … la menora est un objet banal…. Banal d'accord mais… en apparence seulement. L'origine et la symbolique de la Menora, qu'on traduit en français par candélabre, ne sont pas si simples à comprendre et la menora mérite quelques explications, alors essayons de faire un peu la lumière sur tout cela si vous me permettez l'expression… Tout d’abord il ne faut pas confondre la Menora, chandelier à sept branches avec la 'Hanoukia qui comporte huit branches et que toute famille juive possède chez elle. La 'Hanoukia à huit branches donc, sert à l’allumage familial des lumières de la fête de 'Hanouka qui dure huit jours. Elle peut avoir différentes formes, parfois très fantaisistes, mais comporte toujours huit lampes plus une neuvième lampe, le chamach décalée par rapport aux autres et qui sert à allumer les autres bougies. La menora a pour sa part une forme bien précise, parfaitement symétrique, avec ses sept branches. Contrairement à ce que beaucoup de gens croient, on ne trouve normalement pas de Menora dans le monde juif ou dans une famille juive, car c’était un objet unique, dans le temple de Jérusalem. Et il existe d’après la loi juive, une interdiction de le reproduire (on peut faire un chandelier à 5, 6 ou 8 branches, mais pas à 7)… Le chandelier à 7 branches est par contre couramment utilisé par la francmaçonnerie, qui affirme prendre ses origines dans la construction du temple de Jérusalem. Description La Menora était l’objet principal du temple de Jérusalem après

La Menora était l’objet principal du temple de Jérusalem après l’arche d’alliance. La Menora était un chandelier en or composé de la sorte: une branche centrale entourée de trois branches de chaque côté, le tout alignant sept lampes à huile en or et décorés de boutons et fleurs d’amandier en or. L’ensemble fait clairement penser à un arbre. Mais on ne sait pas exactement à quoi ressemblait cette Menora malgré les descriptions du livre de l’Exode. Elle était placée dans le Mishkan, le tabernacle démontable qui accompagna les hébreux dans le désert, puis dans le Temple de Jérusalem devant le voile séparant le Saint du Saint-des-Saint. Elle faisait face à la table d’or servant à recevoir les pains de l’offrande. Chaque jour, elle était nettoyée et rallumée par le Cohen en service et brulait toute la nuit. Les lampes des branches de côté étaient tournées vers la branche centrale. Représentant la lumière perpétuelle de la présence divine, idée représentée dans toutes les synagogues par une petite lampe sans forme précise qu’on n’éteint pas, le Ner Tamid. On ne sait pas vraiment sa taille et la Bible ne donne aucune précision. Le Talmud affirme qu’elle était haute de 18 paumes, soit une hauteur d’homme. La construction de la Menora est entourée de mystère. D’après le récit biblique, Dieu aurait montré à Moïse un modèle de cette Menora afin qu’il la reproduise. Cela veut dire que la Menora représentait un objet hautement symbolique, dont la construction dépend de la Révélation. Elle devait être d’un seul bloc et non pas le résultat d’un montage de différentes pièces ; seul un artisan hors du commun pouvait réaliser une telle prouesse, d’après la Tora, ce fut le rôle de Betsalel, l'architecte du Tabernacle. C’est pourquoi de nos jours, l’académie des beaux-arts en Israël porte ce nom. On dit même qu’elle était si difficile à fabriquer que Moïse aurait jeté le bloc d’or dans le feu et la Ménora en serait sortie toute faite… On voit donc combien cet objet chargé de symboles est important dans le rituel juif.

 

La Menorah de la Knesset est faite de bronze. Elle mesure 4 mètres 30 de hauteur, 3,5 mètres de large et pèse 4 tonnes. Elle se trouve en bordure du Jardin des Roses, Gan HaVradim en face de la Knesset, le Parlement d’Israël. Elle a été conçue par le sculpteur Benno Elkan (1877-1960), un sculpteur juif d’origine allemande qui s’est réfugié en Angleterre en 1933 et s’y est installé. C’est un cadeau du Parlement de la Grande-Bretagne offert à Israël le 15 avril 1956 pour le 8e anniversaire de l’Indépendance du pays. Lord Edwin Samuel, le fils du premier Haut-Commissaire britannique Herbert Samuel en Palestine est à l’origine du projet. La Ménorah est d’abord installée Beit Froumine, rue King George à Jérusalem où se trouvait la Knesset jusqu’à l’inauguration officielle de 1966.

Le modèle est inspiré du candélabre qui se trouvait dans le Temple de Jérusalem et fait bien entendu référence au fait que la Ménorah est devenu le symbole de l’Etat d’Israël. Une série de reliefs en bronze dépeignent les luttes du peuple juif en exil et des scènes bibliques ou inspirées de l’histoire juive. De l’Exil de Babylone à la révolte du Ghetto de Varsovie.

Sur la branche centrale, les Tables de la Loi, la prière Shema Israël, Ecoute Israël.

 

 

Beha’alotecha Quiz

 

1) Q. Toward which direction did the wicks of the Menorah burn, and why?

A. The midrash teaches that they leaned toward the middle wick so that people would not say that Hashem wanted the Menorah for its light. This midrash is trying to indicate that the Menora was not simply a lighting solution, rather it had symbolic meaning in the Temple. It is interesting to note that some Sephardic rabbis have written that the Third Temple will likely have an electric Menora as its light would be much better than a candle light. It is not clear if it would be halogen, which is very bright or maybe an eco-friendly fluorescent or LED.

 

2) Q. From what material was the Menorah made?

A. It was carved out from one piece of solid gold. It was not put together from small pieces.

 

3) Q. Moshe was commanded to cleanse the Levi'im by sprinkling on them "Mei Chatat". What is "Mei Chatat"?

A. Water containing ashes of the Parah Adumah - the red cow.

 

  1. Q. Why did Hashem claim the firstborn of the Jewish People as His possession?

A. Because in Egypt He spared them during Makat Bechorot.

  1. Q. Why does the Torah repeat the words "Bnei Yisrael" 5 times in verse 8:19?

A. To show Hashem's love for them, their name was repeated five times corresponding to the five Chumashim of the Torah.

 

6) Q. How many times did the Jewish People offer the Korban Pesach during the forty years in the Midbar?

A. Only once the first year after leaving Egypt. The next time was at the end of 40 years after entering Israel with Joshua.

 

7) Q, Why was the Mitzvah of Pesach Sheni not commanded to Moshe earlier?

A. The Midrash teaches that it was to reward those who asked about it. Hashem wanted them to be the catalyst for the teaching of this Mitzvah. It is interesting to note that this mitzva was only given after a certain situation occurred. One wonders if the laws are intrinsic and created even before the world was created (as some midrashim state), or whether there is movement and progress in the law that is created as situations arise (another example of this, is that of B’not Tzelophchad)

 

8) Q. When were the trumpets used?

A. They were used to gather the Jewish People, to gather the Nesi'im, to signal the beginning of a move of the camp, and to accompany the offering of certain communal Korbanot.

 

9) Q. How long were the Jewish People encamped near Har Sinai?

A. One year less ten days.

 

10) Q. Who initially took temporary possession of Jericho after arriving in Israel?

A. The children of Yitro.

 

11) Q. Which Aron (ark) is referred to in verse 10:33?

A. The Aron that held the broken pieces of the first Tablets. This same Aron traveled with the army in times of war.

 

12) Q. What was the prophesy of Eldad and Medad?

A. "Moshe will die and Yehoshua will lead the Jewish People to the Land."

 

13) Q. Why did Miriam deserve to have the Jewish People wait one week for her to recover?

A. Because when Moshe was cast into the river, she waited one hour to see what would happen to him. This is called a Mida K’neged Mida – a measure for measure reward.

 

14) Q. Why is the national symbol of the State of Israel a Menora with olive branches?

A. The source of this symbol is in this week’s Haftara from the book of Zecharia. Zecharia is one of the ‘Twelve Prophets’ of the book Tre Asar. He was part of the generation that returned to rebuild the Temple 70 years after its destruction. This generation was the last prophets we had.

 

 

PROVERBES :

Qui court après l'incertain néglige bien souvent le certain.

Derrière les nuages, le ciel est toujours bleu

Qui est habile de ses mains ne meurt jamais de faim.

Vis pour apprendre, et apprends pour vivre.

Vieil amour ne rouille jamais.

Écoute, vois et tais-toi, tu seras à l'abri des querelles

Un conseil : Ne testez jamais vos freins au bord d'une falaise

La beauté a de grands charmes, mais ces charmes sont fort trompeurs dans la durée.

La famille est faite pour la protection, et pour la chaleur du nid.

Apprends à n'avoir besoin de personne, on n'est jamais mieux servi que par soi-même

 

 

 

 

ENGLISH PROVERBS

Happiness takes no account of time

Possession is nine-tenth of the law.

Nothing hurts like the truth.

No news is good news.

Might makes right.

Lightning never strikes twice in the same place.

Good things come in small packages.

The best things in life are free.

Bad news travels fast.

You have to take the good with the bad.

One good turn deserves another.

Love makes the world go round.

Better safe than sorry.

Better late than never.

Actions speak louder than words.

 

 

 

The Shabbat smile :

One day when his wife of the Rabbi was out, the very curious husband saw a box in his wife’s desk and opened the box. Iinside he found 3 eggs and $2000. When his wife came home, he admitted that he opened the box, and he asked her to explain the contents to him. She told him that every time he had a bad sermon, she would put an egg in the box.......... He interrupted, "In twenty years, only three bad sermons, that's not bad." His wife continued...... and every time I got a dozen eggs, I would sell them for $1."

 

A group of foreign dignitaries are visiting Israel. At the end of the tour, they are taken to see the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. They look at the tomb and read the following inscription: ABRAHAM SCHWARTZ BORN 5694 DIED 5733 A GOOD MAN AND A GREAT FURRIER

The visitors are incredulous. They ask the guide, "How can this be an unknown soldier if the grave has his name?" Their host responds, "Sure, as a soldier he was unknown, but as a furrier -- he was the best!"

 

 

 

A man asks his wife, "What would you most like for your birthday?"
She answers, "I'd love to be ten again."
So on the morning of her birthday, he gets her up bright and early and off they go to the local Theme Park. What a day! He puts her on every ride in the park, the Death Slide, The Screaming Loop, the Wall of Fear...everything there is! Wow!
She staggers out of the Theme Park five hours later, her head reeling and her stomach upside down. They went for food and a refreshing strawberry shake. Then off to a movie... it's the latest Star Wars epic , popcorn, Pepsi Cola and M & Ms. What a fabulous adventure! Finally she wobbles home with her husband and collapses in to bed.
He leans over lovingly and asks, "Well, dear, what was it like being ten again?"
One eye opens and she groans, “Stupid “, I meant dress size."

 

It was mealtime during a flight on El-Al.
"Would you like dinner?" the flight attendant asked Moishe, seated in front.
"What are my choices?" Moishe asked.
"Yes or no," she replied

 

Chabbat Chalom

Maghen Abraham

David Hasson

 

 

 

 

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Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784