35 chukat 77 Resumen de la Parasha Semanal

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1 July 2017 7 Ta m u z 5 7 7 7

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A weekly Journal of information and training published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference —Office of Adventist Mission

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Weekly Jewish-Adventist Journal of Information

and the parasha are posted on it every week.

Carlos Muniz

Hubert Paulleta

News 1 Parasha’s comments 2-4 Haftarah 4-5 Apostolic Writings 5 Stories & Traditions 6 Inspirational Corner 6, 7

to look at them.

Journal of Information and Training — Issue 737— 1 July 2017 / 7 Tamuz 5777

Richard Amram Elofer

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This issue

A must website. To subscribe to our newsletter. To download some resources (Hebrew Sabbath School, and other documents). To order the book “Comfort, Comfort my people…” and many other things.

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Chukat

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Alexandra Obrevko

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We pray every week for the Jewish Friendship Ministry. I suggest our partners to pray from July 2 to 8 for Roger Robertsen and Julio Mendez who are respectively President and Secretary of the Israel Field.

Let’s pray for their ministry and their family.

News

Hebrew Sabbath School

Each quarter we receive from Israel the Hebrew translation of the Sabbath School for the next one.

This next quarter starts on Shabbat July 1st. It is time to practice your Hebrew by studying the letter of Rabbi Shaul to the Galatians. The title of this quarter is Habesorah besefer Hagalatim, “The gospel in the book of Galatians.” You can get it on our websites: http://wjafc.globalmissioncenters. org/ and www.jewishadventist.org.

The Jewish People and Summer Time

For everyone Summer means leisure, rest and vacations, it is the same for the Jewish people, but there is a special day which occur every year at the end of July and mostly beginning of August. This day is called Tish’a Be’Av, which means the “9th of the month of Av.” On that special day, the Jewish people remember the destruction of Jerusalem. Indeed, according to the Jewish tradition, the two temples were destroyed on the same calendar day, the 9th of Av. Today we are in the month of Tamuz, and right after it, will be the month of Av, and Tisha Be’Av will be this year on August 1, 2017.

What are the Jews doing on that special day?

Since, it is a sad commemoration, they remember the beautiful days when the temple was the center of Israel, everyone free to come to worship G-d to request His blessings and go back at home happy, being sure that G-d will bless his people for a new year. That is why this commemoration is done at the synagogue, where Jews fast and pray asking G-d to renew His blessing on the people, and bring the Messiah as soon as possible to deliver His people from all oppression.

In our friendship with the Jewish people, it would be good to prepare something special for the Jews who are in contact with us. A special service could be held on Shabbat 5th of August, a special Shabbat called Shabbat Nachmu a “Shabbat of Comfort” when Jews read the beautiful text of Isaiah 40. Why not inviting our Jewish friends to comfort them on behalf of the L-rd? Such an event must be prepared that is why it is not too early to think about it now.

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Numbers 19:1 - 22:1 The Red Heifer and the Messiah

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he parasha starts with the law of the Red Heifer: “Now the L-rd spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law [Torah] that the L-rd has commanded…”

(Numbers 19:1). It is a strange way to introduce this law, because it would have been easier to say: “this is the law of the red heifer,” but the Torah presents this statute as an archetype of the whole laws and principles of Torah, the paradoxical aspect of this law—in one hand when the mixture is sprinkled on the defiled person he is cleansed, and on the other hand the one who is involved in the preparation of the red heifer become defiled— is the sign that the Torah comes from G-d. The lack of logic of this law demonstrates the divine origin of the Torah.

This law is a perfect illustration of the mission of the Messiah. We have already said that the Torah is all about salvation through the Messiah, each ceremonial law — sanctuary, sacrifices, circumcision etc, are about the Messiah. That is why Yeshua said “I have not come to abolish them but to

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fulfill them.” (Matthew 5:17), and later speaking to the leaders of Israel he said to them: “it is they [scriptures] that bear witness about me,” (John 5:39). How is this law of the Red Heifer referring to Yeshua the Messiah? As we said, the mixture prepared with the Red Heifer purify the people of Israel (9) and the sinner (11).

However, at the same time the people who are preparing this sacrifice become unclean: “But the priest … The one who burns the heifer …

And the one who gathers the ashes … shall be unclean until evening.” (Numbers 19:7–10).

Let’s think about these people who will become defiled, they are ready to serve, but they could ask: “Why should we become defiled for the sake of those who were not careful to avoid contact with a corpse?” Here is a great teaching of the Torah, when someone is ready to help his brother, he should be ready for “sacrifice” it is a principle of the Torah “to be ready for selfsacrifice in order to save others” this self-sacrifice principle could be to the point to give his life for the sake of his brother.

“Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13), and speaking about

himself as the good shepherd he added: “The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” (John 10:11). The law of the Red Heifer was perfectly fulfilled by Yeshua, he came on the earth to save us, and through his life he took on him all our sins “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; … he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities.”

(Isaiah 53:4–5). He becomes defiled in order to save us, that is the great lesson of the Red Heifer.

The Jewish people made a strong connection between the Red Heifer and the Messiah.

It is said, “Throughout the history of the Jewish people the ashes of nine red heifers were prepared, and the tenth one will be prepared when Mashiach comes. (See Yalkut Re’uveini and Parah 3:5). If the Messiah has to prepare the Red Heifer, thus he will become unclean for the sake of his people, it is exactly what Yeshua has done for us.

Divine Authority

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hen Israel lack of water, they quarreled with Moses. He went to G-d and asked him what to do, G-d’s answer was: “Take the staff, and assemble the con-

credit: ynetnews.com

Parasha Overview: Chukat he laws of the para aduma (the red heifer) are detailed.

These laws are for the ritual purification of one who comes into contact with death.

After nearly 40 years in the desert, Miriam dies and is buried at Kadesh.

The people complain about the loss of their water supply that until now has been provided miraculously.

Aharon and Moshe pray for the people’s welfare. G-d commands them to gather the nation at Merivah and speak to a designated rock so that water will flow forth. Distressed by the people’s lack of faith, Moshe hits the rock instead of speaking to it.

He thus fails to produce the intended public demonstration of G-d’s mastery over the world, which

“Now the LORD spoke to Moses and to Aaron, saying, “This is the statute of the law that the LORD has commanded: Tell the people of Israel to bring you a red heifer without defect, in which there is no blemish, and on which a yoke has never come.”

(Numbers 19:1–2)

Parasha for this Week

gregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them” (Numbers 20:8).

Since G-d did not say take “your staff” matecha but “the staff” hamateh many scholars ask the question: Which staff was this one? The next verse gives us the answer, it is written: And Moses took the staff from before the L-rd, as he commanded him.”

(9) he took the staff which was “before the L-rd” that means inside of the sanctuary, it was the famous staff, which belonged to Aharon initially and blossomed to indicate to the people of Israel that Aharon had been chosen for the position of High Priest.

This staff was witnessing that authority comes from G-d, not from man, even though Aharon was the brother of Moses, the choice of Aharon was a divine choice, not a human one. Using this blossomed staff, which is the sign of divine authority, G-d demonstrates again before the people of Israel that he is the one who has authority on the elements. Exactly as he can make a dead wood blossom, he can give water from a simple rock.

Obeying Hashem

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T is the second time the people of Israel complained about water. The first time

was in the wilderness of Rephidim, a place which was called Massa and Meriba because they have “quarreled” and “tested” the L-rd (Exodus 17:1-7). But at Massa and Meriba, G-d asked Moses to take his own staff, the one he used to change the water of the Nile in blood and to strike the rock. In the story of Numbers 20, it is a different story, G-d did not ask Moses to strike the rock, but just to speak to him: “and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water.” (Numbers 20:8). The Torah does not give us the words Moses had to say to Rock. Remembering the event of Massa and Meriba, and having the staff in his hand, Moses did not speak to the Rock but struck it twice: “And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock.” (Numbers 20:11).

G-d was upset against Moses for not obeying to his order: “‘Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” (Numbers 20:12), it was important in this early stage of the history of Israel that G-d was lifted-up and

glorified before the people of Israel in order to impress their heart and to get natural adherence and obedience to G-d.

Moses missed this golden occasion to glorify G-d and tried to make this miracle by his own “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” (Numbers 20:10), this sentence “shall we bring water” is full of meaning, the “we” used here, is not G-d and Moses, but Moses and Aharon. Moses took all the glory for himself, it was not G-d who did the miracle but Moses, that is why the reproach G-d made to Moses was “you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel” doing a miracle on his own, is to deny G-d. Only G-d is the master of the universe and nature, only him can change the order of nature, a rock does not give water, if water comes from a mountain, it is not because the rock of the mountain gives water, it is just because in this mountain are some springs of water. Thus the water coming from the rock is a miracle from G-d, not a natural phenomenon of the nature and not a miracle done by Moses and Aharon, thus they did not trust G-d enough just to speak to

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would have resulted had the rock produced water merely at Moshe’s word. Therefore, G-d tells Moshe and Aharon that they will not bring the people into the Land.

Bnei Israel resume their travels, but because the King of Edom, a descendant of Esav, denies them passage through his country, they do not travel the most direct route to Eretz Yisrael. When they reach Mount Hor, Aharon dies and his son Eleazar is invested with his priestly garments and responsibilities.

Aharon was beloved by all, and the entire nation mourns him 30 days. Sichon the Amorite attacks Bnei Yisrael when they ask to pass through his land. As a result, Bnei Yisrael conquer the lands that Sichon had previously seized from the Amonites on the east bank of the Jordan River.

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n the text of the parasha we have the story of Israel crossing the Negev and coming to the land of Edom. They ask permission to pass.

“Now let us pass through your land” (Num. 20:17).

But Edom refused. “You shall not pass through, or we will come out with the sword against you” (Num. 20:18). Israel did not insist and turned back and went around the land of Edom (Num. 21:4).

The same thing happened with the Amorites (Num. 21:21-26). However this time Israel did not accept the refusal of the Amorites and took their land and cities.

The story in our Haftara occurred about three hundred years later, during the time of Jephthah the Gileadite, the son of a prostitute (Judges 11:1). The Amonites came to provoke Israel for what happened during the time of Moses.

“After a time the Ammonites made war against Israel” (Judges 11:4). The people of Israel called Jephthah to help them in this situation. Even though Jephthah was not happy, he sent a delegation to the Amonites. “What is there between you and me, that you have come to me to fight in my land?”

(Judges 11:12). The king of the Amonites recalled to Jephthah what had

credit: citygatekeepers.org

Haftarah Overview Judges 11:1-33

“Take the staff, and assemble the congregation, you and Aaron your brother, and tell the rock before their eyes to yield its water. So you shall bring water out of the rock for them and give drink to the congregation and their cattle.” (Numbers 20:8)

the rock, it was the equivalent of not believing in G-d. It was such a serious offense that G-d promised to Moses and Aharon, that they would not enter the promised land. The matter here in this story is also a matter of obedience. How many times do we receive instruction from G-d to do this or that, and to do it this or that way, but in fact we are more clever than G-d and we want to do it our way? Then we sincerely think that we obeyed G-d, but by the fact that we did not do it the way the L-rd wanted, we were wrong, even though we thought that we obeyed. Let’s obey the L-rd.

Trust Hashem

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he Torah introduces then another war between Israel and the Canaanites in this way: “When the Canaanite, the king of Arad, who lived in the Negeb, heard that Israel was coming by the way of Atharim, he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.” (Numbers 21:1) According to the Jewish commentators, this king of Arad was Amalek, a king who had already fought against Israel in Rephidim (Exodus 17:8). Most of the English translations say that they were traveling “by the way of Atharim” there is no other place in the Bible where, this name Atharim occurred, that is why the ancient translations, and the Aramaic

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Targum of the Torah translated this segment as: “by the way of spies.” The text of Numbers says: “And Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied [Hatharim] out the land, tore their clothes” (Numbers 14:6), we see the similarity between Atharim and Hatharim the difference is the letter aleph used for Atharim but we know that this letter is a weak letter which can drop from time to time. Thus it is possible that the ancient commentators were right in their interpretation. The people of Israel traveling toward the promise land, took the same way as the spies took many years before to scout the country. This expression “by the way of the spies” could have two meaning, first, physical, they physically took the same way or road the spies took a few years earlier; the second, spiritual, the people of Israel were going spiritually on the same way that the spies had taken, who were wicked and corrupted. if this is the case, they were going in a wrong “way” that is why G-d was not with them in the first battle against this king of Arad, “he fought against Israel, and took some of them captive.” (Numbers 21:1), if they had been faithful to the L-rd, this king would never have defeated Israel, but since their “spirit” was going in a wrong

way “by the way of the spies” the Almighty let them experience this bitter experience, that without him, without full confidence in Hashem they would fail. They then understood the lesson and prayed the L-rd: “And Israel vowed a vow to the L-rd and said, “If you will indeed give this people into my hand, then I will devote their cities to destruction.” And the L-rd heeded the voice of Israel and gave over the Canaanites” (Numbers 21:2–3), it is always good to trust the L-rd. When the L-rd is on our side nothing can stop Him in bestowing His blessing to us. Indeed, they were blessed and they got victory against this king, “and they devoted them and their cities to destruction. So, the name of the place was called Hormah.” (Numbers 21:3), here again it is good to come back to the original Hebrew: “and they devoted” in Hebrew VeYaCharem the syllables VeYa means “and they” and the root of verb used is Charam, a word found also in Arabic Chram which means “to ban”, “to forbid”, Something Chram in Arabic is something forbidden, connected to sin too, if you do something Chram, you commit a sin. The cities were forbidden for Jews, I am not sure that we can say that they were “devoted to destruction” it is again a translator’s interpretation. Then this place was

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Apostolic Writings — Hebrews 7:11-8:2

ne of the stories given by the Parasha Chukka is the death of Aharon, one of the great men of the Torah. It is said that he died in Mount Hor, while Moses died on Mount Moab, near Jericho on the other side of the Jordan River. Aharon too died on the other side of the border of Israel, in the territory of Moab or Edom, which is today Jordan. I had the privilege to see Mount Hor, close to Petra, a very interesting archeological site half way between Aqaba (near Eilat) and Amman the capital of Jordan. This place was first occupied by the Edomites and, in the time of Yeshua, by the Nabataean.

Aharon was a great man.

The Torah said about him “…when the whole community learned that Aaron had died, the entire house of Israel mourned for him thirty days.”

(Numbers 20:29). Loved by the kehila (assembly), Aharon helped Moses in his ministry and led the people of Israel when Moses was absent. He was the first high priest of Israel. However, even though he was a good man, high priest and assisted Moses, he had his failures and was not perfect. That is why the Levitical priesthood according to Aharon was not perfect, and should only be a prototype of a more perfect one.

The people of G-d needed a much better priesthood.

David pointed out towards the superior one in saying, “The L-rd has sworn and will not change his mind: ‘You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.’”

(Ps 110:4). The priesthood according to Melchizedek was so good and perfect that it became a perfect illustration of another priesthood, the priesthood of the Messiah, which will last forever, that means it will never end, it will be an eternal priesthood.

Rabbi Shaul or one of his disciples who wrote the letter to the Hebrews said, “If perfection could have been attained through the Levitical priesthood (for on the basis of it the law was given to the people), why was there still a need for another priest to come — one in the order of Melchizedek, not in the order of Aaron?”

(Hebrews 7:11) The author of this letter was a very well educated Jew, as disciple of Rabbi Shaul he was certainly considered as a Pharisee too, and, for him, Aharon was not the initiator of the right priesthood. He remembered what David had said and, when he looked for a forever lasting priesthood, he found Yeshua HaMashiach declaring: “… but because Yeshua lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood.” (Hebrews 7:24).

But the issue here is that Yeshua was not from the tribe of Levi. “For it is evident that our L-rd was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.”

(Hebrews 7:14) even though Miriam, his mother was related to Zechariah haKohen, priest in Jerusalem, and his wife Elizabeth (Luke 1:5-45). Even though Yeshua was from the tribe of Judah,

he still was related to the tribe of Levi by his mother.

But in the Biblical time the genealogy follow the father not the mother lineage, that is why Yeshua is presented and known as a descendant of Judah and David. Thus this letter presents Yeshua as the priest forever, he died for us, but he rose, he resurrected, he is still alive, that is why his priesthood is forever.

His superiority is evident, “For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens.” (Hebrews 7:26). That is the great difference between Yeshua and the descendants of Levi, because he is holy, and innocent, he does not need any sacrifice for himself: “He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself.” (Hebrews 7:27), thus he is this perfect priest for whom the heavenly sanctuary has been prepared: “Now the point in what we are saying is this: we have such a high priest, one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, a minister in the holy places, in the true tent that the L-rd set up, not man.” (Hebrews 8:1–2), let’s have confidence in Yeshua our heavenly and everlasting priest. He is the only one who is the perfect intermediary between G-d and us, in order to intercede for us and to offer full forgiveness.

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happened a few centuries before (Judges 11:26) and pretended that he wanted to get back his original territory, “Because Israel, on coming from Egypt, took away my land from the Arnon to the Jabbok and to the Jordan; now therefore restore it peaceably” (Judges 11:13). However, Jephthah did not want to accept this demand from the Amonites. It was impossible, because the land had been given to the people of Israel by the L-rd himself.

“So now the L-RD, the G-d of Israel, has conquered the Amorites for the benefit of his people Israel. Do you intend to take their place?

(Judges 11:23). In fact Jephthah asked the Amorites if they wanted to oppose the will of G-d. They had not opposed G-d’s decision for three hundred years; it was better to continue that way if they did not want to be in trouble with G-d. The king of the Ammonites refused. “But the king of the Ammonites did not heed the message that Jephthah sent him” (Judges 11:23).

Of course the conclusion is the victory of Israel. It is crucial for us to know whether or not we oppose G-d’s will. Victory is in the hand of G-d, but only if we obey him.

Stories and Traditions

Challenging

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Inspirational Corner v The children of

Israel were anciently commanded to make an offering for the entire congregation to purify them from ceremonial defilement.

This sacrifice was a red heifer and represented the more perfect offering that should redeem from the pollution of sin. This was an occasional sacrifice for the purification of all those who had necessarily or accidentally touched the dead. (4T 120)

here was once a chaplain who visited a jail to deliver a sermon to the inmates. While ascending the podium to speak, he tripped and fell flat on his face. The room erupted in laughter. He picked himself up and went over to the podium and said, “I have just concluded my sermon; the moral is that even when a person falls flat on his face, he can rise up again.”

Are you an Angel?

“A

person who becomes angry is like worshipping idols!” say our sages. Why does the Torah tell us that Moshe struck the rock twice? Rabbi Israel of Ruzhin once saw one of his children become angry. When the Rebbe’s son saw that his father didn’t reprimand him, he again expressed his anger against that person.

His father then said to him, “We find that only after Moshe hit the stone twice did G-d react negatively to him. Why didn’t G-d react like this after Moshe struck the rock the first time?

The answer is that a person is not an angel, he is only human, perhaps he couldn’t help from becoming angry. But when the person expresses his anger a second time, then it is his fault and he must be reprimanded.

The same with you. The first time I figured you just fell into anger... but when you became angry a second time, this is prohibited and against the law of the Torah.”

Mitsvot and Business

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abbi Olesker gave a seminar in Boston.

During a break, one of

his students, a Jewish man in his early fifties asked to speak with him about a very important matter. They agreed to meet for dinner. They went to a Chinese restaurant.

About half way through dinner the man began to broach the issue. He and his wife got married relatively late in life and thank G-d, were blessed with children.

However, now the children were about to enter school.

“Rabbi, I want my children to identify strongly as believers and to marry believers. I know the tremendous risk of assimilation by putting my children into a public school— in addition to the problems of the drugs and violence.

However, how can I send them to a yeshiva or a Jewish day school, and have them come home to a non-religious home? Should my wife and I become religious for the sake of our children?”

Rabbi Olesker laughed and the man asked him, “Why are you laughing at my question?”

Rabbi Olesker responded, “Because you already know the answer to the question. You are uneasy with the answer; you want me to tell you what you already know. Then you’ll disagree with me and feel justified in not following what you know is the right answer.”

“How can you possibly know that?” asked the man. “Simple,” responded Rabbi Olesker, “Why else would you ask this question to an Orthodox rabbi?”

The man laughed and said, “Maybe you’re right, but I would still like to hear your thoughts.”

“OK,” replied Rabbi Olesker,

“a parent only owes his child three things: example, example and example. If having your children being part of the Jewish future is important to you, then there is no better way than to send them to a day school and to have a consistently religious home.”

The man responded, “But it is so hard. I could never change.”

Rabbi Olesker, who came from a non-observant home, responded, “Look, no one has made more changes than me. If I can do it, you can do it, too!”

The man retorted, “It’s easy for you. You are a very adaptable person, but I am too old to change.” The conversation continued for a couple of minutes to no avail and then the topic changed.

After dessert, the waiter brought two fortune cookies.

Rabbi Olesker opened his and began to laugh. “Why are you laughing?” asked his companion. “Look what my fortune cookie says,” and handed it to the man to read – “You are a very adaptable person.” The man joined in the laughter and then queried, “I wonder what my fortune is,” as he opened his own cookie.

When he read the fortune, he immediately turned white and began to tremble.

“What’s wrong?” asked Rabbi Olesker. “It’s the fortune from the cookie.”

Rabbi Olesker took the slip of paper and read - “You are never too old to change.”

Today the man attends a congregation regularly, and he and his family are growing in their obedience to G-d. And his children are attending religious schools.

Kids Parasha Chukat

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Inspirational Corner

v This heifer was

Numbers 19:1 - 22:1

“Then Moses and Aaron gathered the assembly together before the rock, and he said to them, “Hear now, you rebels: shall we bring water for you out of this rock?” And Moses lifted up his hand and struck the rock with his staff twice, and water came out abundantly, and the congregation drank, and their livestock. And the L-rd said to Moses and Aaron, “Because you did not believe in me, to uphold me as holy in the eyes of the people of Israel, therefore you shall not bring this assembly into the land that I have given them.” These are the waters of Meribah, where the people of Israel quarreled with the L-rd, and through them he showed himself holy.” (Numbers 20:10–13). http://www.bnai-tikkun.org.nz7

to be red, which was a symbol of blood. It must be without spot or blemish, and one that had never borne a yoke. Here, again, Messiah was typified. The Son of G-d came voluntarily to accomplish the work of atonement. There was no obligatory yoke upon Him, for He was independent and above all law. The angels, as G-d’s intelligent messengers, were under the yoke of obligation; no personal sacrifice of theirs could atone for the guilt of fallen man.

Messiah alone was free from the claims of the law to undertake the redemption of the sinful race.... (FLB 199)