November 2008 Archives

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By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah is in the loving Memory of Mr. Donald Wayne Belk and Mr. Gary Lee Belk, may they rest in peace.

Limood 9

Bereisheit [Genesis] 9

In the beginning of Perek Tet {Chapter 9} of Bereisheit we read, And He G-d [the Judge] Blessed everything from Aleph to Tav of Noach and everything from Aleph to Tav of his sons.  G-d Gave this blessing knowing that a future time Noach would get drunk and Cham would emasculate Cham his father.  Even though our Creator Knows what our actions will be... Even though our Creator knows what our life's outcome will be our Creator does not treat us differently than everyone else.  Our Creator offers us the same blessing!

After Cham emasculates his father our sages Teach that Noach did not curse him because one cannot curse what the Creator Has Blessed!  As a result Noach rWra' {Awh Roor} curses Canaan the grandson of Cham.   rWra' {Awh Roor} meaning cursed or dammed.  We read in Ha Torah that Hashem G-d rWra' Cursed the serpent, Bereisheit 3.14.  In Passuk 17 Hashem G-d hr...Wraæ Cursed the ground because of Adam Reshon's sin.  Then in Bereisheit 9.25 Noach As a result Noach rWra' {Awh Roor} curses Canaan the grandson of Cham.   In Bereisheit 27.29 we read that  ...those who  rWra' {Awh Roor} curse you [Yaakov] are ˚'yr≤r"ao {Oh Rih Reh Chaw} cursed and those that bless you are blessed.  In Bereisheit 49.7  Yaakov says, [to Shimon and Levi]  rWra' Cursed is your anger for it is powerful...

We see the Word cursed used six times in Bereisheit.  Hashem G-d Curses the serpent and the ground.  Noach curses Canaan.  Yaakov curses the anger of Shimon and Levi. Yitzchok says to Yaakov 'those who curse you are cursed.'  These are some very strong Words.  They are not to be used carelessly!

When the word awroor is used as a very serious sign to everyone.  We just don't go around cursing people places or things!  Awroor is used sparingly in Ha Tenach.  Another word, lleqi {Kee Layl} meaning to curse or to revile is also used sparingly in Ha Tenach.

On the other hand words representing Bless, Blessed, Blessing etc are often found in Ha Tenach.

Last week we discussed the Tavah.  We called the Tavah the Holy Tavah yet the Gematria of curse, sign and Tavah are each 207.

The hb;Te {Tavah} was Holy to those dwelling inside. The Tavah was their protection from the destruction of the world outside. Everything outside of the Tavah was cursed with death and eternal destruction.  When G-d shut the door to the Holy Tavah there were two seals.  There were those sealed  inside for safety, protection, life and blessing and there were those sealed outside for doom, destruction and eternal death.

As we began G-d Blessed everything from Aleph to Tav of Noach and everything from Aleph to Tav of his sons. Then G-d established the rainbow as an eternal twoa [Oht] sign in the Heavens that He would not destroy the world again by flood. This was a sign for all humankind. This was a reminder of sin, destruction and salvation for the righteous.  The rainbow is not just pretty.  The rainbow is an Oht, a sign.  

407 = r200 w6 r200 a1

407 = h5 b2 t400

407 = t400 w6 a1

I pray that each of us will merit the blessings of our Creator and not the curse, that we in turn are careful NOT TO DAM or curse anyone or anything especially G-d our Creator!  And that we remember the lesson of the Tavah.  Those in the Holy Tavah were sealed for life, protection and blessing. Those outside the Tavah were sealed for doom, destruction and death.  We observe all this in the Gematria 207.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Our Devri Torah Limood is in the loving Memory of Mr. Jim Beaudry and Author Davis, Sr., may they rest in peace.

Bereisheit 7.11

In Year six Hundred of Noach's years of life in the second month in the seventeenth day of the month in this day all the fountains of the deep burst forth [volcanic lava] and the windows of heaven were opened [torrential down pour]. 

Using the Gregorian Calendar as a point of reference the flood date for 2008 would have begun on 11-15-08 or last Shabbat, Parshat Vayeira.

Bereisheit 7.12

And the water was upon the earth for forty days and forth nights... [17] ...and the waters increased and lifted up the Tava and it rose above the earth. [18] The waters were powerful and increased greatly on the earth. [19] ...[the waters] covered all the highest mountains [peaks].  [20] ...by up to 30 feet. [21] All flesh that moves on earth  perished; in birds and in animals  and in beasts and in all creeping creatures upon the earth and all humans.  [22] Everything that had with nostrils with a souls breath of life, from all on dry land died.  [23] Every living substance was on the face of the ground was obliterated...and only the remnant [of the earth] Noach and those with him in the Tava survived.

Bereisheit 7.24 And the waters prevailed on the earth for one hundred fifty days.

Bereisheit 8.1

Hashem Remembered everything from Aleph to Tav of  Noach and all the life and all the animals that were with him in the [Holy] Tavah. And G-d, He Caused Spirit on the earth and the waters subsided. [2] The fountains of the deep [volcanic lava] were closed and the windows of the Heaven [torrential down pour].  [3] The waters receded continually from earth.  The waters were diminished at the end of one hundred fifty days.

Bereisheit 8.4

The [Holy] Tavah rested in the seventh month on the seventeenth day of the month on the mountains of Ararat.

The flood began in the second month the seventh day.  

2nd Month 13 Days remaining days

3rd Month  30 Days 

4th Month  30 Days - There were 30 days on this month.  5769 has only 29

5th Month  30 Days

6th Month  30 Days - There were 30 days on this month.  5769 has only 29

7th Month  17 Days beginning days

_______________

Total Days   150 Days = 

The [Holy] Tavah Rested in the Mountains of Ararat in the seventh month on the seventeenth day of the month.  This was 04-11-2009 of the Gregorian Calendar.

Bereisheit 8.5 The waters continuously diminished until the tenth month. In the tenth month the mountain peaks became visible. 

The 30 feet of water depth that covered the highest peaks on earth and all land had diminished.  These means Mount Everest in Asia at 8848 meters / 29,028 feet and Mount Aconcagua Mendoza in South America at 6962 meters / 22, 841 feet and Mount McKinley in North America at 6194 meters / 20,320 feet and Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa at 5895 meters/feet and Mt Elbrus in Europe at 5642 meters / 18,506 feet and Mount Vinson in Antartica at 4892 meters / 16, 050 feet and possible even Mount Evans at 434 7 Meters / 14,264 feet in Colorado in the United States became visible. How do we know this?

Mount Ararat is 5165 meters / 16,946 feet. The waters had diminished from nine meters / thirty feet ABOVE Mount Everest 8843 meters / 29.028 feet to the point where the mountain peaks in the area of Mount Ararat could be seen.   Do the math.

Highest point of the waters was 8843 meters {Mt Everest} PLUS an additional 9 meters = 8852 meters.

Highest point of the waters was 29,028 feet {Mt Everest} PLUS an additional 30 feet = 29,058 feet.

The mountain peaks around Mount Ararat became visible in the tenth month. Again Mount Ararat is 5165 meters / 16,946 feet.  The waters diminished from 8852 meters to below 5165 meters.  The waters diminished more than 3690 meters by the tenth month and by more than 12,112 feet. WOW!

From the time of the seventh month the seventeenth day until the tenth month the twenty-seventh day the [Holy] Tavah rested 99 days. This began a period of 40 days plus 7 days plus 7 days and plus 7 days which led up to the day of judgment, Rosh HaShanah.  The 40 days began on the eve of  07-19-09 of the Gregorian Calendar, which is the [27th day 11th month of 5769 FC.

The 40th day ended on 08-28-09 of Gregorian Calendar, which is the 9th day of the 12th month of 5769 FC.  There are several key words found in Bereisheit 8.6.  Ha Torah Says, 'at the end of forty days'.  When does the day end?  The day ends with night fall.  It was at the end of forty days that the raven was sent out.  This was Erev Shabbat.

Seven days later on the 16th day of the 12th month the dove was sent out.  The dove returned. This was Erev Shabbat. 

Seven days later on the 23rd day of the 12th month the dove was sent out a second time.  The dove returned in the evening. This was Erev Shabbat. 

Seven days later on the 1st day of the new year 1657 FC which begins at evening which is the first day of the seventh month the dove was sent out and did not return. This was Erev Shabbat.  This was Erev Rosh HaShanah of 1657 F.C.

Another key series of words are found in Bereisheit 8.11.   The dove came back at evening. 

Bereisheit 8.6

And it was after 40 days Noach opened the window of the Tavah which he made.  [7] He sent out a raven...

This was on the eve of  08-29-09

[5769 FC]

Bereisheit 8.7

[Seven days later] He sent the dove to see if the waters had subsided from the face of the ground.  [9] The dove found no rest for her foot so she returned to the Tavah...

This was on the eve of  09-04-09 [5769]

Bereisheit 8.10

[Noach ] waited another seven days and again sent the dove out of the [Holy] Tavah. [9] The dove came to him toward evening and behold, there was a tore olive leaf in her mount.  Noach knew then that the waters had diminished from the earth.

The olive leaf was a sign to Noach that peace had returned to the world just seven day before Rosh Hashanah which was the first judgment after the flood. 

Bereisheit 8.12

[Noach] waited another seven days and sent out the dove. [The dove] did not return to him again.

Bereisheit 8.13

And it happened in the six-hundredth first year in the first month on [day] one that the waters from upon the earth had dried.  Noach removed the covering of the [Holy] Tavah.  He looked out and behold the face of the earth had dried.

This is Rosh HaShanah - The day of Judgment for the entire world.

Bereisheit 8.14

In the second month on the twenty-seventh day of the month the earth was dry.

Bereisheit 8.15

G-d Spoke to Noach, Saying, [16] Depart from the Tavah...

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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The Final Seal! ©

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

Limood 7

 Bereisheit [Genesis] 7.1 24

Our Devri Torah Limood is in the loving Memory of Leann Daniel, Kathleen Travis, Mary Ila Warren, Cloyd Burke, may they rest in peace.

Dear ones we are going to look at Bereisheit 7.16 and Bereisheit 36.6.  Please notice the last three words of Bereisheit 7.16:

Wd"[æBæ    h    y  h   w   rGOos]yiwæ

Vah Yees  Gohr - Hashem - Bah Ahd Voo

He, Hashem Enclosed [them] and sealed [them in the tavah]...  They were especially protected.  Notice why? Those that came were male and female from among all flesh they came LIKE Elokim Commanded [Noach], then He, Hashem enclosed [them] and sealed [them in the tavah]...

The first word, Vah Yees  Gohr  means He Enclosed them!

The third word Bah Ahd Voo  means Hashem Stood in front of the Tavah door.  He Sealed them in!   Then Hashem placed wild animals like bears surrounding the Tavah to prevent them the evil beings from boarding the Tavah or destroying it. Sefer HaYashar (Hoboken, NJ: KTAV Publishing House, Inc., 1993) p.19

They came like G-d Commanded Noach.  They came in pairs one male and one female.  Sometimes we want to do things our own way.  That will not work if G-d Has Not Commanded it!

They benefited from observing the Command of G-d.  

They were shut in the Tavah.

They were sealed in the Tavah.

In Bereisheit 36.6 we read, 

Eisov took his wives, his sons, his daughters, all the people of his household, his livestock, all his animals and all his possessions that he had acquired in the land of Canaan, and he went to a land away from his brother, Yaakov.

Again notice the last three words in Ha Torah:

wyjia; bqoøO[æyæ ynEP]mi

Mee Pih Nay - Yaakov - Aw Cheev

...away from the face of Yaakov his brother.  Eisov represented a threat to Yaakov so our Creator Sent him away to protect Yaakov and his relatives.

We have two interesting phrases here that have similarities.

387 = w6 d4 [70 b2    h5    y10  h5   w6    r200 g3 s60 y10 w6

387 =  w6y10 j8 a1  b2 q100 [70 y10   y10 n50 p80 m40

In one instant Noach is Commanded By G-d to bring all the animals into the Tavah.  Noach did this.

In the other instant Eisov is sent away with all his animals and relatives etc. 

Both of these phrases are a Gematria of 387.   Both have a Letter which is representative of the circle of life, the Mem [m] and the Samech [s] .  Both have a visual Letter in Ayin [[].  Vah Yees  Gohr - Hashem - Bah Ahd Voo Has the Letter [w] Vav 3 times which equals 18 [yj] life.  Hashem Enclosed them and Sealed them for life!  Each word has a Vav.

18 = w6 d[b    h    y  h   w6    rgsyw6

Mee Pih Nay - Yaakov - Aw Cheev Has the Letter [y] Yud 3 times.  Eisov was very powerful.  He and his family were feared.  Why would he have left Eretz Canaan after living their for over a hundred years.  It was because Hashem Sent him away from the face of his brother, Yaakov!  Each Word has a Yud!

30 =  wy10 ja  bq[y10   y10 npm

So in our discussion we observe several was that our Creator protects us from those that would hurt us.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

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Tavah! ©

hbt / tbt 

rpegOAyxe[æ tbæTe ˚;l] hce[æ

By Dr. Akiva Gamliel Belk

This Divrei Torah is offered in the loving memory of Rabbi Yehosuah Gutman and Yehosuah Goodman, may they rest in peace.

Bereisheit [Genesis] 6.14 Make, Construct, Build, Design, Assemble for yourself an Ark of Ceder Wood.

Build this Tavah [Box, Chest, Case] for yourself but invite others to join you.  What is the message?

Consider the cost of the Ark.  How would Noach pay for such an expensive project?  Where would he get the resources? Consider the design, the architectural skills required.  Had anyone built an ark before? What technical skills would be required for designing and constructing buildings the ark?  Think of the knowledge and skill required to build the ark.  How would Noach test the competency of the Ark?  After the ark was constructed what about navigating the ark

The Midrash Says that Noach began 120 years before the flood by planting trees.  He had to grow the trees to specific heights.  Noach would have to plant the trees and harvest them at the appropriate times.  How would he know how to do this? 

I cannot imagine.  Building a Sukkah does me in for several weeks.

At the top are two words Tay Vaht  in blue type and Tay Vawh in red type.  It is interesting that the introduction to the Tavah has a Tav in the beginning and at the End of the word.  The Letter Tav symbolizes Truth and Perfection.  The Letter Tav is often used to represent SIGN when attached to the beginning of a letter.  The center Letter Bet represents blessings, creation and duality or plurality.  So, it is interesting that the Letter Bet has the Letters Tav before and after.  It is also interesting to note that the animals etc. that were not clean came in two's, a male with a female.

During the period of time that the evil in the world were perishing, being drowned by water and being sweep away within the Tavah were the blessed!  The blessed were surrounded by perfection with a Tav on each side. The Letter Bet means house.  So lodged between each Tav was the house that housed the living, purified beings of the world.   They were the blessed!  What did they do to be selected to be among thoughts chosen to repopulate the earth? 

This was a dark time for most of the world.  The world had to be cleansed by water.  The world had to be immersed in a mikvah so to speak.   Yet there was light in the Tavah.  Noach was Instructed to place a Precious Stone in the top of the Tavah.  Light would emanate from this stone throughout the Tavah.  So when there was darkness all around there was light coming from this precious stone. 

rhæxo Tzoh Har means window, skylight and brightness, To be bright... To be clear...

I take this to mean that within the Tavah there was brightness and clarity.  There was no confusion.  Everyone had to look to the top of the Tavah for brightness and Clarity, i.e. to the precious stone, to Hashem!

This is a reminder that we should be careful to surround ourselves with purity.  We are the House... we are the Temple... We always need brightness and clarity. We should look up to Hashem, our Precious Stone.  There is a key word here.  It is the second word.

hc,[æTæ Tah Ah Seh means for us to MAKE a place in our Bet, our house for brightness for clarity.  It is our responsibility to make a place for the precious stone.

Blessings and peace,

Dr. Akiva Gamliel

Before discussing changes in American I would like to congratulate President elect Barack Obama for winning the presidential race.  I pray that President Elect Obama will be the best President America has had.  Please!  G-d Keep our President Elect safe!

 

Political Change

We are at the threshold of CHANGE! We are facing change here at home and in the world, we share with others.  At home, we voted for political change. Yesterday that change began. Today that change continues.  Part of the change we need is patching things up with the other political parties.  We need each other.  We need each other's cooperation.  Our government needs to function.

 

Attitude Change

Americans need a change in attitude. We need a change in attitude with each other and with our world neighbors. With each other has to do with our relationships.  I strongly dislike the lying and smearing during the presidential campaign. Many positions were misrepresented.  That is not good.  There are many ways to look a picture but adding items [opinions] to a picture that do not exist is wrong! I frequently spoke out against many falsehoods and smears. I presented and referenced facts that told more that one side to a story if I found what some call partial truths. A partial truth misses facts which can results in a lie.  So it is important how we tell the story... how we represent the issues...

 

Consumption Change

Americans need a change in consumption. Everyone knows that world resources have limits yet Americans carelessly waste valuable resources.  Here are a few examples:

 

1.) Those that can afford larger autos, homes etc should be cautious.  Honestly, displays of affluence should be replaced with practicality.  Big homes and autos consume more than is practical or necessary.  Our common goal should be to reduce energy consumption.  All of us should set a goal to reduce our energy consumption by 10% - 15%.

 

2.) Cloths, household items etc are important BUT they use world resources.  We have allowed ourselves to slip into a through away society.  Demands for quality have slipped.  We purchase cheaper goods.  This results in an increase in consumption.   We need to return to the idea and practices of making goods last.  We need to be frugal.  We need to be practical.  We need to allow ourselves to be inconvenienced.  We can get by without many household appliances, tools etc.  Frankly, how many pairs of shoes, slacks, skirts etc do we need?  How many unnecessary doubles do we own?

 

3.) Throwing away items increases prices and consumption.  Today we use plastic milk bottles.  We use-to-use glass bottles that were reused hundreds of times. Paper tissues replaced handkerchiefs. Paper towels replaced kitchen towels.

 

Stabilization Change

Change is necessary for the continuity of humankind and the stability earth! We are a part of a much larger picture.  Issues we face in our country are part of the world's issues.  We are part of a worldwide economy!  We are part of a world that is suffering from global warming.  IT IS VERY SERIOUS!  We need greater global awareness than we receive from our daily news!  We can voluntary begin reducing our consumption or the costs of goods will pressure us too.  We need to restructure our thought as we have learned to do with recycling.

 

Part of change has to do with changing our consumption products. I hope that the new administration will make auto conversions from gas to propane easy to obtain and affordable.  Natural gas is a common and plentiful resource in America.  Homes and businesses should be moved from heating oil to natural gas, wind powered electricity and solar ASAP.  Solar and wind are two of our greatest natural resources.

 

World Relationship Change

We need to change how we interaction with nations of the world.  We must shed our bully image!  Americans must heighten our respect for other nations of the world.  This must begin at home with us.

 

I remember something Dad would say to his sons upon there leaving elementary school, upon there going to middle school, upon their graduation from high school, upon there going to college or upon there entering the military , etc. Dad would say, 'Son you're closing a chapter in the Book of Life and opening another.' Yesterday Americans began closing a chapter in American history / world history and opening another, John McCain said in his concession speech, My friends, we have -- we have come to the end of a long journey.  The American people have spoken, and they have spoken clear.

Leadership Change

The part of the chapter that must close the part of the journey that MUST COME TO AN END is the bickering, the lying the smearing the false representation , etc., of each other.  We need a large dose of appreciation and regard for people who think differently in our own country and in our world.  We MUST COME TOGETHER and work together for the common good of all humankind.  Regardless of whom we supported for President of the United States or Congress we must seek common ground.  We must find ways under our new leadership to make our country and our world a better place for all people... Senator McCain continued, A little while ago, I had the honor of calling Sen. Barack Obama to congratulate him. To congratulate him on being elected the next president of the country that we both love.

These are difficult times for our country. And I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him lead us through the many challenges we face.

I urge all Americans who supported me to join me in not just congratulating him, but offering our next president our good will and earnest effort to find ways to come together to find the necessary compromises to bridge our differences and help restore our prosperity, defend our security in a dangerous world, and leave our children and grandchildren a stronger, better country than we inherited.

Whatever our differences, we are fellow Americans...

 

We MUST carry Senator McCain's attitude and of coming together further. A little later President Elect Obama said after an overwhelming victory in his acceptance speech,  And to those Americans whose support I have yet to earn, I may not have won your vote tonight, but I hear your voices. I need your help. And I will be your president, too.

 

There are many leaks in the dam holding back worldwide depression, starvation, poverty, war and global destruction IN ADDITION to our own problems at home.  I believe President Elect Obama's temperament is especially prepared for times like these. Lets surround and support our new President elect with prayer, cooperation and encouragement.

 

Blessings and peace,

 

Dr. Akiva Gamliel