Post by alon on Nov 20, 2019 19:21:51 GMT -8
Name of Par’shah- 5.3 Chayei Sarah
Par’shah- Gen 23:1 – 25:18
Haftara- 1 Kings 1:1-31
D’rash: Continuing our search for commandments.
Genesis 24:3-4 (ESV) that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
This is a precursor to the commandment to not intermarry. God was keeping His peoples bloodlines pure. But more than this, He was not allowing the religous practices of the Canaanites to pollute His peoples thoughts and ways.
Genesis 24:8-9 (ESV) But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
This continues the theme of separation. Going back, Yitzchak might be tempted to stay. Avraham and his descendants were called away from that land and his own people so that he could father a peculiar nation before God.
Likewise we are not to intermarry with unbelievers:
2 Corinthians 6:14-16a (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
We are again short in actual commandments. However with Thanksgiving 1 wk away in the US, we might look at whether it is halachically appropriate to celebrate Thanksgiving. Should we separate ourselves from this vestage of Christianity?
Leviticus 18:3 (ESV) You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
However this was a feast day giving thanks to YHVH-Yireh, God Our Provider. It was entirely new, and not a practice of the land. It did (and still should) do what all scripture tells us to: gives thanks and all glory to Boreh Ketzot HaAretz, Creator of the Ends of the Earth (Is 40:28).
It has long been debated by mainstream Judaism. Some opinions are, Rav Yitzchok Hutner forbade it, and Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Modechai Gifter said it was ok, as long as it’s not made a permanent or religious practice. (But it was and should be exactly that ed.) Rav Moshe Feinstein in his Igros Moshe (YD 4:11) said that since their religious books don’t mention Thanksgiving as a holiday, nor do they require you hold a feast, and because the day is a commemoration for the country, “in which he is also happy in the country he came to reside in now from before,” there is no law prohibiting rejoicing a feast or enjoying turkey. He did, however, say that it is “certainly forbidden” that anyone make it a permanent simcha, or add the
to it. (Again, it is a permanent holiday, and while not commanded in , the principles of most certainly should be observed on any day of giving thanks to El Channun, the Gracious God (Jonah 4:2). Those who wish to celebrate, and don’t let it interfere with their faith, often enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, as Rav Moshe Feinstein did rule it okay to do so. Those who feel it has avodas kochavim (forbidden worship, technically of stars and planets, but generally including the feasts they mark) don’t have to partake.
The holiday is probably rooted in the harvest festival of Sukkot, a time we are also aware of Immanuel, God With Us (Is 7:14; Mat 1:23). It marks the time the Israelites wandered the desert escaping slavery. The original Thanksgiving also took place after a time of trial, one of the worst years (winter and summer), just after the Puritans/Pilgrims came to America escaping religious persecution. Though many had died, the survivors celebrated God’s provenance to them. Over time it grew into a national holiday. The Puritans were in some ways closer to Messianism than they were to modern Christianity, though they were in no way MJ. They eschewed all the church holidays. Christmas for example was illegal in the US for many years. However the Puritans held to the Trinity, while Judaism holds to God’s Absolute Unity. We, like Judaism hold God is One. However we are not bound by rulings of Rabbinic Judaism, and we do hold some of the things of Christianity to be good, not against, and worthwhile. Thanksgiving, I would argue is one of those things.
Rabbinic distaste for Thanksgiving probably stems more from its association with Christianity than any prohibition they can wrest from a contorted reading of. However, as we go through this year if we do come across anything that might contradict here we will certainly look as honestly as possible at it. And then we’d be fools not to look at what these godly rabbonim had to say about it.
Tehillim 107:1 (OJB) O give thanks unto Hashem, for He is tov; ki l’olam chasdo (for His mercy endureth forever).
1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV) Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 136 (KJV) O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Repeated over and over in scripture, I’d say a day of Thanksgiving for all His blessings, His provision, and His mercy is a fulfillment of these commands. Don’t let this be a secular holiday. It is religious, and it does praise El Elohe Yisroel, giving glory and honor to Him.
Dan C
Par’shah- Gen 23:1 – 25:18
Haftara- 1 Kings 1:1-31
D’rash: Continuing our search for commandments.
Genesis 24:3-4 (ESV) that I may make you swear by the Lord, the God of heaven and God of the earth, that you will not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, among whom I dwell, but will go to my country and to my kindred, and take a wife for my son Isaac.”
This is a precursor to the commandment to not intermarry. God was keeping His peoples bloodlines pure. But more than this, He was not allowing the religous practices of the Canaanites to pollute His peoples thoughts and ways.
Genesis 24:8-9 (ESV) But if the woman is not willing to follow you, then you will be free from this oath of mine; only you must not take my son back there.” So the servant put his hand under the thigh of Abraham his master and swore to him concerning this matter.
This continues the theme of separation. Going back, Yitzchak might be tempted to stay. Avraham and his descendants were called away from that land and his own people so that he could father a peculiar nation before God.
Likewise we are not to intermarry with unbelievers:
2 Corinthians 6:14-16a (ESV) Do not be unequally yoked with unbelievers. For what partnership has righteousness with lawlessness? Or what fellowship has light with darkness? What accord has Christ with Belial? Or what portion does a believer share with an unbeliever? What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God;
We are again short in actual commandments. However with Thanksgiving 1 wk away in the US, we might look at whether it is halachically appropriate to celebrate Thanksgiving. Should we separate ourselves from this vestage of Christianity?
Leviticus 18:3 (ESV) You shall not do as they do in the land of Egypt, where you lived, and you shall not do as they do in the land of Canaan, to which I am bringing you. You shall not walk in their statutes.
However this was a feast day giving thanks to YHVH-Yireh, God Our Provider. It was entirely new, and not a practice of the land. It did (and still should) do what all scripture tells us to: gives thanks and all glory to Boreh Ketzot HaAretz, Creator of the Ends of the Earth (Is 40:28).
It has long been debated by mainstream Judaism. Some opinions are, Rav Yitzchok Hutner forbade it, and Rav Moshe Feinstein and Rav Modechai Gifter said it was ok, as long as it’s not made a permanent or religious practice. (But it was and should be exactly that ed.) Rav Moshe Feinstein in his Igros Moshe (YD 4:11) said that since their religious books don’t mention Thanksgiving as a holiday, nor do they require you hold a feast, and because the day is a commemoration for the country, “in which he is also happy in the country he came to reside in now from before,” there is no law prohibiting rejoicing a feast or enjoying turkey. He did, however, say that it is “certainly forbidden” that anyone make it a permanent simcha, or add the
to it. (Again, it is a permanent holiday, and while not commanded in , the principles of most certainly should be observed on any day of giving thanks to El Channun, the Gracious God (Jonah 4:2). Those who wish to celebrate, and don’t let it interfere with their faith, often enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, as Rav Moshe Feinstein did rule it okay to do so. Those who feel it has avodas kochavim (forbidden worship, technically of stars and planets, but generally including the feasts they mark) don’t have to partake.The holiday is probably rooted in the harvest festival of Sukkot, a time we are also aware of Immanuel, God With Us (Is 7:14; Mat 1:23). It marks the time the Israelites wandered the desert escaping slavery. The original Thanksgiving also took place after a time of trial, one of the worst years (winter and summer), just after the Puritans/Pilgrims came to America escaping religious persecution. Though many had died, the survivors celebrated God’s provenance to them. Over time it grew into a national holiday. The Puritans were in some ways closer to Messianism than they were to modern Christianity, though they were in no way MJ. They eschewed all the church holidays. Christmas for example was illegal in the US for many years. However the Puritans held to the Trinity, while Judaism holds to God’s Absolute Unity. We, like Judaism hold God is One. However we are not bound by rulings of Rabbinic Judaism, and we do hold some of the things of Christianity to be good, not against
, and worthwhile. Thanksgiving, I would argue is one of those things.Rabbinic distaste for Thanksgiving probably stems more from its association with Christianity than any prohibition they can wrest from a contorted reading of
. However, as we go through this year if we do come across anything that might contradict here we will certainly look as honestly as possible at it. And then we’d be fools not to look at what these godly rabbonim had to say about it.Tehillim 107:1 (OJB) O give thanks unto Hashem, for He is tov; ki l’olam chasdo (for His mercy endureth forever).
1 Chronicles 16:34 (ESV) Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalm 136 (KJV) O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
Repeated over and over in scripture, I’d say a day of Thanksgiving for all His blessings, His provision, and His mercy is a fulfillment of these commands. Don’t let this be a secular holiday. It is religious, and it does praise El Elohe Yisroel, giving glory and honor to Him.
Dan C
