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14 Kislev 5768, (24 November 2007). Torah Portion. VaYishlach, Genesis : 32:4-36:43.

develop my own perspective on Torah ideas. They are presented on this site not to "argue" with exsiting concepts or ideas, but rather to serve as a collecting place for my ideas and concepts on Torah. They are given over with these disclaimers with the idea that the reader might find the perspective

Every Day- A New Challenge

Did you rise to the occassion of Today's Challenge?

Origianl Un-editied writing by:
Aharon Moshe (AhMbDvd) Sanders

It is very easy to get all excited and bent out of shape. Everyone can increase the volume of their voice and turn towards yelling. Alas, here is one for you, how about when you really get upset, and feel like your going to lose your cool, try quieting down and truly listening to the person you are apeaking withIn

In last weeks Nesivos Shalom we learned about how every single day brings us a new challenge. The sections we read (in our Passaic host's home) relate directly to the upcoming parsha. It now seems like so long ago, but wow, think of how many unique tests missions, interactions were to be handled by our father Avraham in truly gelvadic day.

Visitors at Avraham's door. Beseeching/ davening to Hashem to save Sodom from total destruction for a mere minion of 10 righteous individuals. So much more..... I leave straight pashat literal meaning (as in the "up-shot" is) to others, as well as basic drasha (basic mining or digging for meaning) to tohers who are so much better at this then I am.

Just like our Avos we are constantly faced with a seemingly un-ending onslaught of decisions, things we should or need to do. People who want and need our attention. Mixed in with the everyday or so called mundane matters are also the biggies. The brach we might want to ask Hashem for is to be given enough insight to realize when when of the big (or tikkune type) decisions is standing opposite us, and demanding our attention.

Then, just maybe we can have a hope or a prayer to give the extra-special attention to this earth shaking, life changing moment. At this point we now still need Hashem's help. Recosgnizing that you are at a life changing (tikkkune type) crossroad, is only half the battle. Now you might want to take a deep breath, allow to conversation volume to drop, even physically step back, and try to get a grip on the now evolving larger picture.

Often when you truly look to Hashem in a moment of clear thinking, the answer becomes so simple and obvious that you may have never even considered it. It my case one of today's answers went like this:

Yes, of course I was wrong (but did not want to admit it), I should not have tried to act alone to change an agreement between two people. However, you are now using the very same logic which made me wrong, to invalidate our entire agreement, and we do know that two wrongs do not make a right.

Such an obvious answer never would have hit me, however I conscisously decided to let go of my axe which I was so buzy gringing to listen to the other person who had a legitimate gripe of his own.

After that I decided not to send an axe grinding e-mail ( on a totally separate matter ) . After all we have been keeping these arguments verbal till now, so why should I take the next step!

In times of great emotion we need to use our energy like an old time carburator with a car that idle's too high at a red light. Shift into neutral (stop judging and listen) , give a little gas to the engine (more whole brain utilization) then you will notice that the engine is now purring (quiet wisdom/insight based thinking) as opposed to running much to quickly and loudly (reactive mind stuff, some one pushed, you push back- thinking gets forgotten)...

All for now...

We should now approach Wed, with a renewed sense of how things should be for us, and those who are dear to us...


Lets learn more Nesivos Shalom


Aharon Moshe Sanders
November 7, 2007 4:05pm Passaic NJ

Aharon's Ark

Aharon's Ark: "Aharon's Ark This Vessel is being created to preserve what is good. The World rests on three pillars: Torah, Service to Hashem (G-d) and Acts of Chesed (kindness)"

Nesivor Shalom

Aleph to Tav: "A source from the Holy Zohar was used to explain how there is a connection to the Sphierot of Chesed to Avraham, Yakov to Tiferet, and Yitzchak to Gevurah. The word Tikkune was also read which our host translated as 'fixing' and also the concept of Tikkune Olam (the fixing or correction of the World) was brought out, I believe from our Holy Zohar ( A primay Kabbalistic source). Readers Digest type synopsis: The sin of Kayin (Cain) killing his brother Abel, had its foundation in Envy. Kayin was jealous that his brother's offering was accepted and not his. The sin which was crouching at Kayins door was that of envy. It was brought out that envy can even rot the bones. Suffice it to say that envy is a very serious negative quality, which is capable of taking a person out of this world!"

Okay, so what about Noach?
A lot has been written about the waters of Noach. One thing mentioned was desire. The hebrew word word for desire is Taiva. The hebrew word for Noah's Ark is Teva. Much was expounded upon, and I am still struggling to understand the meaning of the "Waters of Noach". Therefore I will play it safe, and stop here.

Defending our Oceans | Greenpeace International

Defending our Oceans Greenpeace International: "Modern fishing practices are incredibly wasteful. Every year, fishing nets kill up to 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises globally. Entanglement is the greatest threat to the survival of many species.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ELm8yRxAK9o


Moreover, some fishing practices destroy habitat as well as inhabitantsModern fishing practices are incredibly wasteful. Every year, fishing nets kill up to 300,000 whales, dolphins and porpoises globally. Entanglement is the greatest threat to the survival of many species. Moreover, some fishing practices destroy habitat as well as inhabitants"

Mass Extinction Underway | Biodiversity Crisis | Global Species Loss

Mass Extinction Underway Biodiversity Crisis Global Species Loss: "The rapid disappearance of species was ranked as one of the planet's gravest environmental worries, surpassing pollution, global warming and the thinning of the ozone layer, according to the survey of 400 scientists commissioned by New York's American Museum of Natural History. The poll's release yesterday comes on the heels of a groundbreaking study of plant diversity that concluded than at least one in eight known plant species is threatened with extinction. Although scientists are divided over the specific numbers, many believe that the rate of loss is greater now than at any time in history. 'The speed at which species are being lost is much faster than any we've seen in the past -- including those [extinctions] related to meteor collisions,' said Daniel Simberloff, a University of Tennessee ecologist and prominent expert in biological diversity who participated in the museum's survey. [Note: the last mass extinction caused by a meteor collision was that of the dinosaurs, 65 million years ago.]"

Whales and Habitat Preservation

Whales and Habitat Preservation: "The Issue Every winter, thousands of California Gray Whales migrate from the Arctic Ocean to Mexico, where they breed, give birth, and raise their calves. Many of these whales go to the lagoons of the Vizcaino Desert Biosphere Reserve in Baja California Sur, an area protected by the Mexican government because of its environmental significance. Now the most pristine and important of these lagoons, Laguna San Ignacio, is threatened by a salt company's proposal to expand its operations there. This expansion will most likely have adverse effects on the ecosystem and may disrupt the whales' migration patterns and behavior. The salt company, Exportadora de Sal, is 51 percent owned by the Mexican government and 49 percent owned by the Mitsubishi Corporation of Japan"

Yangtze River dolphin=Only 13 Left!

http://www.smh.com.au/news/whale-watch/humans-drive-rare-dolphin-to-extinction/2007/08/08/1186530447047.html


THE Yangtze River dolphin, until recently one of the most endangered species on the planet, has been declared officially extinct after an intensive survey of its natural habitat.

The freshwater marine mammal, which could weigh up to a quarter of a tonne, is the first large vertebrate forced to extinction by human activity in 50 years, and only Conservationists described the extinction as a "shocking tragedy", caused not by
active persecution but accidentally and carelessly through a combination of factors including unsustainable fishing and mass shipping.

In the 1950s the Yangtze had a population of thousands of freshwater dolphins, but their numbers declined dramatically when China industrialised and transformed the Yangtze into a crowded artery of mass shipping, fishing and power generation. A survey in 1999 estimated the population was just 13.
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Extinction crisis escalates: Red List shows apes, corals, vultures, dolphins all in danger - IUCN News

Extinction crisis escalates: Red List shows apes, corals, vultures, dolphins all in danger - IUCN News: "Yangtze River Dolphin, or Baiji, (Lipotes vexillifer) last November and December, it has been listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct). The dolphin has not been placed in a higher category as further surveys are needed before it can be definitively classified as Extinct. A possible sighting reported in late August 2007 is currently being investigated by Chinese scientists. The main threats to the species include fishing, river traffic, pollution and degradation of habitat. India and Nepal’s crocodile, the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is also facing threats from habitat degradation and has moved from Endangered to Critically Endangered. Its population has recently declined by 58%, from 436 breeding adults in 1997 to just 182 in 2006.Yangtze River Dolphin, or Baiji, (Lipotes vexillifer) last November and December, it has been listed as Critically Endangered (Possibly Extinct). The dolphin has not been placed in a higher category as further surveys are needed before it can be definitively classified as Extinct. A possible sighting reported in late August 2007 is currently being investigated by Chinese scientists. The main threats to the species include fishing, river traffic, pollution and degradation of habitat. India and Nepal’s crocodile, the Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus) is also facing threats from habitat degradation and has moved from Endangered to Critically Endangered. Its population has recently declined by 58%, from 436 breeding adults in 1997 to just 182 in 2006."

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So many ways to shake a Lulov! Fresh from...
Scroll down the page and hit play on the tv screen above my face. Courtesy of Sinai Mail!

Aleph to Tav: The Ten Luminous Emanations

Aleph to Tav: The Ten Luminous Emanations: "first line of our Torah is now used to begin the second line of this incredible explanation us to how:the world, the luminaries, water, light, darkeness, land, stars, the moon, the sun and jellyfish, and all the living creatures and plants were created or formed, might cause one to wonder why that word Ha-Eretz (The World) gets repeated. How is Ha-Eretz, the 7th word of Bereshis, equal to the 8th word or the the first word of he 2nd line "

The photo above, and photo to the left. Creating new content or old content with new presentations on Torah, and striving for accuracy is difficult. The photo above
http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/190587main_image_feature_921_516-387.jpg
In the year 1054 A.D., Chinese astronomers were startled by the appearance of a new star that was so bright that it was visible in broad daylight for several weeks. Located about 6,500 light-years from Earth, the Crab Nebula is the remnant of a star that began its life with about 10 times the mass of our sun. Its life ended on July 4, 1054 when it exploded as a supernova.

In looking at galaxies I observed a certain kid of symetry that one finds in jellyfish. I therefore started posting jellyfish on some of these web pages along with some of the awe inspiring images of galaxies which are thousands of light years away.

I guess one could view some of my thoughts on life in the deep sea as coming attractions! The Metsudah Linear Chumash translates the 260th word of Bereishis "Ha- Gedolim" as whales, which is an amazing animal. Well, ready or not I have to stop and get ready for the Holiday of Sukkot. My understanding of some of the writings of a local Rav here in Passaic is that the Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippor and Sukkot, help get us ready for Parsha Bereishis!

Which is why I feel the need to learn an share as much as possible of this amazing parsha, which contains information which is applicable to every thing a man or or woman might endeavor to create!

Aharon Moshe (ben-Dovid) Sanders
September 26, 2007 4:35pm
Passaic NJ

The First Day of Creation-AhMbDvd

By Aharon Moshe (ben-Dovid) Sanders Sept 26, 2007



This short sequence of words contains some insights that I have come up with and wish to share with anyone who may have happened upon this site. the current concepts were heavily influenced and inspired by Tractate (Masechta) Chagigah. What follows is a sort of meta-anlaysis of the Parsha Bereishis, or borrowing jargon from theater arts, reading the subtext of Bereishis.



My reader my find that the analysis goes off into several different directions at the same time, much like the scientific description of the big bang has massive waves of energy fusing into all directions from some central point, the point itself never being adequately described.



My regular readers (send me an e-mail if you are out there) may notice I have been jazzing up this site with images, color text etc. A large mass of words without images tends to appear mundane. It is also within the nature of the typical internet surfer to view things briefly and only go on if something truly calls their attention.

The space above was intended fro an image, it may get upoaded maybe not.

The first line of Bereishis contains 7 words. The seven words correspond to the seven days of the week. The opening remark ends with Ha-Eretz, which is translated as the earth. I know none of this is Earth Shattering kind of content.

The expalnation then continues with Ha-Eretz we can actually count the hebrew words that are contained within the 1st 5 lines of Bereishis. Try it each and every time there should be no surprise that there are 52.

So, we have the first sentence of Bereishis which contains seven words which sets an important cycle, the week. Then by the end of the Torah's description Bereishis 1-5, we have the completion of the first day of creation Yom Echod! I might be looking for holidays here but Yom Echod- the first day, seems like something worth celebrating.

The Torah gets these concepts out there in 52 words, which correspond to the 52 weeks of a year. All this of course in One Day of Hashem's creation!

The Beis of Creation

Words sequenced and arranged by Aharon Moshe ben-Dovid Sanders, Passaic NJ September 23, 2007. The thoughts, ideas, and concepts are not my own, they are ancient. The choice of wording, presentation, and sequencing is uniquely mine. Permission to use this orginal sequence is expressely prohibited. You may learn these ideas here, however you may not take them out of context. Please refer interested parties directly to this site. For all legal purposes please consider this posting of these words on to the web as the intial publication. Any direct reproduction of this whall be condsidered a copywrite infringent and all penalties provided by will be strictly enforced will be enforced.

Why does the 1st word of the first letter of the Torah begin with a Beis (second letter of the hebrew alphabet) instead of Aleph (the first letter of the Hebrew aleph-beis)?

There was an entire sequence of events which proceeded the creation (as told from Bereishis) . The expalnation goes as follows:

The first act of creation (which was preceeded by the thought of creation) was that Hashem had to make room for the unviverse as we know it to exist. In order to do that he withdrew a portion of himself. This concept is explained by kabbalah and the Zohar as Tzimzum or restriction. This concept in itself is huge, and if you consider all the competing ideas on the creation of the universe, it is the only one which makes perfect sense.

Then when we return to the narrative in the Torah, "G-d said let there be light"

Likewise we have another concept which is outside of the written torah, we call this oral torah. Oral torah is recognized as legitimate Torah in that these parts of the Torah were handed down from our Avos in an oral tradition. Some of this Torah was ultimately recorded as a body of work called Talmud.

The vessels which were to receive this light, in its pure form emanating from Elokim, the cause of all causes, the creater of the Universe, were not able to contain this light and shattered. The breaking of these vessels should not chas va shaolom ever be thought of as an imperfection in Hashems creation, rather it is something which is intamtely tied in with free will, and another important concept called bread of shame.

The vessells were creted with each utterance and likewiss could not contain the energy which issued from Hashem within his ten utterances which are deliniated in Bereshis (Genesis). These vessels are individually referred to as the ten sphierot fused into what might could be called the first man or primordial man or Adam Kadman.

The common Rabbinic explanation as to why the pluaral form is used in the very revealing phrase: "Let us create Man In our Image" is that G-d Hashem-Elokim, the omniscient one, knower of all things that ever was, is or will be, consulted with angels prior to the creation of man. This rabbinic explanation may immediatly solve the "let us ...in our image" problem, however how many more questions doesthis overly simplistic answer create?

(to be continued-pehaps on a new blog page in this domain)

Aharon Moshe

AhmBdvd

Ohter Web sites and Posting from this author:

http://thewriterscafe.tripod.com/

http://thefirststartingpoint.blogspot.com/

http://findinsight.blogspot.com/