Weekly Parsha

This week Shabbat study was written in honor of the family Ackerman. May G-d Bless and keep you all in excellent health and happiness and all Good Things that would come from Him!

Prayer List

May G-d deliver us from this crisis speedily and grant a complete recovery to those who are ill, Amen!

Shlomo Tamas ben Sarah
Rabbi Refoel Pinchas ben Chaya Rivka
Malka Batya bat Tova
Olivia bat Sarah
Adira (Heidi) bat Sarah

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1st Day -- Exodus 19:1 - 20:23

The Jewish people arrive at Mt. Sinai. The Almighty instructs Moses to tell us that we are to be "A Kingdom of cohanim and a holy nation." We spiritually and physically prepare to receive the Torah. The Almighty speaks the 10 Commandments to everyone assembled at Mt. Sinai.

2nd Day -- Deuteronomy 14:22 - 16:17

The Torah portion elaborates on tithing, remission of loans, to be warm-hearted and charitable to others, law of a Jewish bondsman and concludes with the Three Pilgrimage Festivals (when everyone came up to the Temple in Jerusalem to celebrate) -- Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot.

"According to the word of the Almighty, the Children of Israel traveled and according to the word of the Almighty, they encamped." (Numbers 9:23)

What can we learn from the phrase "the word of the Almighty"?

The Talmud (Shabbat 31b) discusses the various forms of creative acts that are forbidden on Shabbat. All of the prohibitions of creative acts on Shabbat are derived from the creative acts required for the building and maintenance of the portable Tabernacle in which we worshipped during the 40 years in the desert. The prohibition against tearing down a building applies only when it is planned to be rebuilt on the same spot.

Since the Tabernacle was taken apart only to be rebuilt on a different spot, likewise the prohibition on Shabbat should be against tearing down a building to rebuild it in a different place. Why is the prohibition only for the same place?

The Talmud answers that since they traveled and encamped according to the word of the Almighty, it is considered as if it were in the same place. We can compare to a baby who travels with its mother. As long as the baby is with its mother, it doesn't matter what city it is in. Since they did everything according to the word of the Almighty, they were totally with Him. He was their place and even though they moved from one spot in the desert to another, their place was really always the same -- with the Almighty.

When one has a constant awareness that he is always with the Almighty, the exact place where he is will not make a major difference. His main focus is on the Almighty and not on the superficial differences between one spot and another.

Life is a journey, not a destination ...
and to travel it is a gift.

Make your Bible study a fixed practice, say little, do much and receive everyone with a cheerful countenance.

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Happy Shavuot and Shabbat Shalom!

Quarantine won't stop our learning

We are excited to announce the American Jewish College Learning Program. Please join us!

COVID-19 Kids Activity List

We will be publishing a centralized directory of things to keep your children occupied with as all are currently home without school, and unable to go outside.

There are many Torah learning events, educational online events, entertainment for children, musical live streams etc.

PLEASE SEND ANY ITEMS YOU ARE AWARE OF TO HAVE THEM LISTED HERE TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST

COVID-19 Prayer List

If you have any Tehillim names of people who are hospitalized with COVID-19, please contact Beit Chai with those names to be added to the list.

Do NOT send us names from existing lists, and ONLY send us names you know personally. This is for COVID-19 victims ONLY. 

SEND THE NAMES TO INFO@BEITCHAI.COM

CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST