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Shabbat Ki Tavo
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News congregation of Hebrew speaking people who

are willing to worship G-d in Hebrew and to
Installation Of a New Pastor witness to the Israelis living in Tel Aviv. We
in Israel went to this congregation right after our visit in
Rehovot.

Parasha
It was with a great pleasure that I dedicated
Sabbath August 29 to the presentation of a The third assignment given to Shalom will
new pastor to his congregations. I am sure that not be the easiest one, because it is the task of
if you read our newsletters carefully you will planting a new Hebrew speaking congregation
have heard or read about Shalom David and in Jerusalem. Jerusalem is the Jewish city “par
his family. Shalom is a “sabra” that means a Jew excellence”, the capital of the Jewish people
born in Israel. Shalom discovered Jesus thanks since King David, 3,000 years ago. We are happy
with our Hebrew speaking congregation in Tel

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to his wife Paola and the ministry of Paul Lippi
when he was working in Israel. Aviv and in Haifa, and we really feel that there
After accepting Yeshua, Shalom decided is a need for a Hebrew speaking congregation

Newsletter n° 336
to go to Newbold College in England to study in Jerusalem. We asked Shalom to live in
theology and to return as a pastor. Jerusalem. We hope that he will be able to plant
It was a big decision for him and his family this congregation and to share Yeshua with
(five children) because Shalom is not what we many people.
call today a young man. He is in his 40’s and has
a big family to care for and to feed. Jewish Work in Chicago
The Executive Committee gave Shalom two Two years ago a Jewish Adventist team
congregations to pastor and he is to plant a new had a specific prayer. We looked at the largest
one. The first is the Ethiopian congregation metropolitan areas in North America that have
we have in Rehovot. Our choice of Shalom is a Jewish population and asked God to lead us in
because this congregation is composed of Jews establishing the work there. Chicago was on our
who have emigrated from Ethiopia in the 90’s. list but nobody from the team had any connection
It will not be easy. These people do not speak with this city, neither among the churches nor
English. They speak Amharic and only some of among the conference administrators. Four
them speak Hebrew, so it is important for this months after this prayer a group of lay members
congregation to be served by a Hebrew speaking from the personal ministry team of North Shore
pastor, especially because their children attend approached Shalom Learning Center requesting
public Israeli schools and they speak only help in reaching the Jewish community of the
Hebrew; they don’t even learn Amharic. north side of Chicago where the church itself
We visited this community on Shabbat was located. This was the beginning of the
morning. After introducing the congregation Shalom Learning Center’s work in the third
and the David family to each other, I preached. largest Jewish populated area of North America.
Just before leaving, Shalom and Paola addressed Today a Jewish Adventist Russian speaking
a few words to the congregation. The members congregation meets there. Sadly, Sergei and
were happy to see this family ready to come to Svetlana, the leaders of this group, lost their
pastor them. baby—only three weeks old. They need our
The second congregation the Executive prayers. Thank you for presenting this couple to
Committee assigned to Shalom is the the Lord for his comfort and blessing upon them.
Hebrew congregation in Tel Aviv. It is a small I am sure that we will see this baby in heaven.
 the Torah, Moshe details a chilling picture of
Overview destruction, resulting in exile and wandering
among the nations.
Ki Tavo
Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8 Everything is for the

W
hen Bnei Yisrael dwell in the
Ultimate Good

T
Land of Israel, its first fruits are
Parasha

his week’s Parsha Ki Tavo begins

to be taken to the Temple and
with the mitzvah of “Bikurim”—
given to the kohen in a ceremony expressing
bringing the first fruits to the Kohen
recognition that it is G-d who guides the
(priest) in the Holy Temple. This mitzvah is
history of the Jewish People throughout all
ages. an expression of appreciation by the owner
This passage forms one of the central of the land for the good and blessings which
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parts of the Haggadah that we read at the G-d gave him. The Torah says, “And you
Passover Seder. On the last day of Pesach of shall rejoice in all the good which the L-rd
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the fourth and seventh years of the seven- your G-d has given to you...”
year shemitta cycle, a person must recite The Talmud relates that Rabbi Akiva would
a disclosure stating that he has indeed always say, “Whatever G-d does is for the
distributed the tithes to the appropriate good!” Once on a journey, Rabbi Akiva and
people in the prescribed manner. his students were refused hospitality at a
With this mitzvah Moshe concludes the certain town and had to spend the night in a
commandments that G-d has told him to field. Yet, instead of being upset, Rabbi Akiva
give to the Jewish People. Moshe exhorts said: “Whatever G-d does is for the good!”
them to walk in G-d’s ways, because they Rabbi Akiva had a donkey, a rooster to
are set aside as a treasured people to G-d. awaken him early, and a lamp for studying
When Bnei Yisrael cross the Jordan River Torah. That evening, as he was studying, a
they are to make a new commitment to the wind blew out his lamp. Then a cat pounced
Torah. on his rooster and ate it. Finally, a prowling
Huge stones are to be erected and the lion ate his donkey. Again Rabbi Akiva said:
Torah is to be written on them in the “Whatever G-d does is for the good!”
world’s seventy primary languages, after Late that night, marauding troops raided
which they are to be covered over with a the town and took all its inhabitants captive.
thin layer of plaster. The next morning, Rabbi Akiva and his
Half the tribes will stand on Mount students discovered what happened. He said
Gerizim, and half on Mount Eval, and to his students: “Didn’t I tell you—whatever
the levi’im will stand in a valley between G-d does is for the good! If the lamp would
the two mountains. There the levi’im will have been burning or the rooster would have
recite 12 commandments and all the people crowed, or the donkey would have brayed, we
will answer “amen” to the blessings and the too, would have been taken captive.”
curses. Rabbi Zalmen Marozov gives us a lesson
Moshe then details the blessings that when he affirms that at times G-d’s actions
will be bestowed upon Bnei Yisrael. These don’t reveal any good at all. In situations like
blessings are both physical and spiritual. these one has to believe and trust in G-d that
However if the Jewish People do not keep everything is for the ultimate good.
 Appreciate what into the mattress and they don’t know that it is
there. Instead, they complain about sleeping on
you have

T
a lumpy mattress!
he Torah states: “And you shall rejoice One can have eyes, hands, feet, a mind to
with all the good that the Almighty think with and be depressed -unless he focuses
has given you” (Deut. 26:11). Why do on taking pleasure in these gifts. Imagine if
we need a directive to rejoice when we should you were blind and suddenly were given the

Parasha
automatically be happy when we have good gift of sight. Would you be “flying high”? You
things? would be beyond yourself in happiness! Why
Rabbi Mordechai Gifter, former Rosh wait to appreciate what you have? Make a list
HaYeshiva of Telse Yeshiva in Cleveland, of your gifts and what you are grateful for. It is
clarifies with an insight into human nature: good preparation for Rosh Hashana! And so is
“Man’s nature is to constantly want more than reading.
he presently has. ‘He who has one hundred

3
wants two hundred.’ Our moments of joy are
mixed with sadness over what we lack—and this
Bikurim, an Expression

Newsletter
is destructive both physically and spiritually. of Joy

T
Therefore, the Torah commands us to feel a joy he mitzvah of Bikurim didn’t apply
that is complete—to focus on and rejoice with immediately upon entering into Israel,
what we have.” The mitzvah of Bikurim also but 14 years later after they conquered
teaches us to be happy and rejoice with whatever the land and gave everyone their assigned
G-d has given us. A person who believes that land. Why did the person who got his parcel
of land earlier have to wait with this mitzvah
whatever he or she has is a gift from G-d, will
until everyone got their land? Our sages explain
not be jealous of others and thus truly rejoice it this way: The mitzvah of Bikurim was an
and be satisfied and happy in life. expression of joy; “And you shall rejoice in all
If you think that you will be happy only when the good which the L-rd your G-d has given
you have more, then you will never be happy. you and to your household.” However, in the
When you finally get what you were hoping for, spirit of the mitzvah of “Ahavat Yisrael,” one
you will once again focus on getting more and cannot have complete joy, even when they have
will again feel unhappy. Happiness is dependent everything they need, knowing that one of his
upon your state of mind. You can only be happy brethren is still lacking, because they don’t have
if you appreciate what you have and what you their land yet. Thus, the mitzvah applied only
are presently doing. 14 year after coming into the Promised Land.
Adding to Rabbi Pliskin’s message, Pirkei
Avos (chapter 4, the first mishna or “teaching”) Hillel taught
states, “Who is the rich person? He who is happy “Do not say, ‘when I have time I will learn,’ for
with his portion.” Regardless of what you have, perhaps you will never have time.” There are
you are only wealthy if you have mastered the those who feel that communal responsibilities
ability to appreciate what you have. According infringe too greatly on their time and potential
to Torah, true wealth is measured in terms of for personal development. They therefore
conclude that disassociating themselves from
happiness!
communal involvement will give them more
The mitzvah of Bikurim teaches us that before
time to learn. Never reckon that time can be
we enjoy the bounty and blessings which G-d generated by avoiding a mitzvah. That time
gives us, we must give back some. There are might never materialize. God will not permit
many believers with regards to their faith who one to benefit by neglecting his communal
are like multi-millionaires who don’t know that responsibilities.
they are rich because all of their money is sewn
 doesn’t matter why you did it, as long as the other
Giving Charity person was helped!” “Every other mitzvah,” concluded
Rabbi Meir of Premishlan explains the beauty Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, “is lacking if not done with
of the mitzvah of giving charity and how charity the purest and holiest of intent. With charity, however,
differs from other mitzvot: “I had a dream,” said it doesn’t matter what the reason or motive is, as long as
Rabbi Meir of Premishlan, “in which I ascended the other person was helped!” In fact, even if one loses
to Gan Eden (paradise) and sat down near its money and is upset about it, yet, if a poor person finds it
Parasha

gates. I saw a very respectable Jew coming to they have performed the mitzvah of giving Tzedakah.
the gate asking to be let in.” “Who are you?
What merits do you have to deserve entry into G-d does it for Good
paradise?” the angel in charge demanded. Rabbi Akiva was one of the Ten Martyrs who
“I was a Rabbi. All my life I studied Torah. were killed by the Romans in the years following the
Sure I deserve to enter Gan Eden,” he replied. destruction of the Second Holy Temple. Rabbi Akiva
“You will have to wait,” replied the angel. “We suffered a very painful and torturous death. The
4

have to check if your studying was truly for G-d’s Romans tore his flesh with iron combs.
sake or for ulterior motives.” The Talmud relates that in the midst of this pain,
Newsletter

Then another distinguished looking Jew arrives Rabbi Akiva began reciting the “Shma” with great
at the gates of Gan Eden and wants to go straight devotion and with a smile on his face. The Roman
in. “Who are you? And why do you deserve general present said to Rabbi Akiva, “Are you a
entry to Gan Eden?” questioned the angel. magician? How can you smile while suffering so?”
“My entire life I devoted to G-d. I spent my Rabbi Akiva replied, “No, I am not a magician. But
days in prayer and study of Torah. Sure I deserve all my life I proclaimed in the Shma that I love G-d
Gan Eden, for whom else was the Gan Eden with all my soul. All my life I was hoping to be able to
created?” he replied. “Not so fast,” replied the fulfill this mitzvah to the fullest. Now that my soul is
angel. “Although you may have done everything being taken because I am a Jew and I’m truly fulfilling
you claim you did, we have to be sure that it was the mitzvah of loving G-d with all my soul, should I
done with purity and sincerity. You will have to not be happy?”
wait until we check it out thoroughly.” As Rabbi Akiva uttered the last word “Echad” - “G-d
As the angel is still arguing with this man, is One,” he died. “Bechol Meodecha” - “with all your
another Jew, very plain and simple-looking might.” Our sages explain that although we may not
appears at the gates. “I would like to go into Gan see the good in certain situations, it is only because we
Eden,” he declares. “Who are you? What did you have limited vision. From G-d’s perspective there is a
accomplish during your lifetime to be worthy to reason for everything. In the end, whatever G-d does
enter Gan Eden?” asks the angel. is for the good.
“Perhaps I do not deserve Gan Eden,” answered
the man, trembling. “I was a very simple person EditoR
and earned my living from an inn at the roadside. A newsletter published by the
Whenever a traveler came by hungry and tired,
World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center
I made sure to give them food and lodging. If
Under the umbrella of the
the person was poor I charged him less or didn’t
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charge him at all. I tried my best to accommodate
my guests. Perhaps I’m not worthy of entering
Gan Eden, especially seeing these rabbis and
Richard-Amram Elofer Tel. +972 504 535 121
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4, Abraham Lincoln Fax +972 2625 1319
“Come right in!” exclaimed the angel. “All 94186 Jerusalem email: richard@elofer.com
others we have to check if their deeds were purely Israel web: jewishadventist.org
for G-d’s sake. However, your actions in helping
people in need does not need any checking. It
 Haftara Besorat Yeshua
Isaiah 60:1-22 Mark 8:1-13
T O
his Shabbat is the fifth Shabbat after Tisha B’Av.
We are in a period called Shiva D’nechemta— ne of the themes of the parasha is the
”Seven weeks of comfort.” The seven Haftarot joy of bringing to the L-rd the first
of the weeks between Tish’a B’av and Rosh Hashana fruits of the harvest “And you shall

Parasha
are prophesies of comfort and hope for Israel and rejoice in all the good which the L-rd your
God’s people at large. G-d has given you and to your household.”
Haftara: This text of comfort reminds us the mission (Deuteronomy 26:11)
of Israel. “Arise, shine; for your light has come, and Besorah: In the text of the besorah, Yeshua
wants to give joy to people who have no joy. In
the glory of the L-RD has risen upon you. ” (Is. 60:1).
those days when there was again a great crowd
G-d’s people has to shine and to reflect the glory of
without anything to eat, he called his disciples
the L-rd, which is His character. Her testimony will

5
and said to them, “I have compassion for the
bring nations and kings to her and through her to
crowd, because they have been with me now
G-d. “Nations shall come to your light, and kings to
for three days and have nothing to eat.” (Mark

Newsletter
the brightness of your dawn” (Is. 60:3). However, to
8:1-2). Yeshua is the one who has compassion
see people coming to her she must lift up her eyes and
for the crowd who is thirsty and hungry.
accepts evidences given by the L-rd “Lift up your eyes
Yeshua asks his disciples to give food to the
and look around; they all gather together, they come to
crowd, but they don’t know how to do it. “How
you; ” (Is 60:4). She will shine even more to be “radiant”
can one feed these people with bread here in
“Then you shall see and be radiant; your heart shall the desert? ” (Mark 8:4). Yeshua knows exactly
thrill and rejoice, because the abundance of the sea how to do it. He asked them, “How many loaves
shall be brought to you, the wealth of the nations shall do you have?” They said, “Seven.” “ (5). It is
come to you.” (Is 60:5) Even the Arabic world will important for the disciples to discover their
come to Israel: “A multitude of camels shall cover you, own incapacities to feed the crowd, that’s why
the young camels of Midian and Ephah; all those from Yeshua asks them to be aware of what they
Sheba shall come.” (Is 60:6a) It will bring wealth to have of their asset, “7 loaves”. For Yeshua it
her “They shall bring gold and frankincense, and is enough, he gives them an order. “Then he
shall proclaim the praise of the LORD.” (Is 60:6b). To ordered the crowd to sit down on the ground”
comfort Israel, G-d promises to her that she will see (6). Obedience is important, if the crowd or
her children who are in exile come back home, “For the disciples did not accept full obedience, the
the coastlands shall wait for me, the ships of Tarshish miracle could not be done. “he took the seven
first, to bring your children from far away, their silver loaves, and after giving thanks he broke them
and gold with them” (Is 60:9a). That will come from and gave them to his disciples to distribute;
the L-rd “for the name of the LORD your God, and for and they distributed them to the crowd”
the Holy One of Israel, because he has glorified you.” (7). The crowd was a big crowd, “They ate
(Is 60:9b). Israel will live in peace without fearing and were filled; and they took up the broken
the nations and invaders “Your gates shall always pieces left over, seven baskets full. Now there
be open; day and night they shall not be shut, so that were about four thousand people. And he sent
nations shall bring you their wealth, with their kings them away” (8-9). For the pharisees it was not
led in procession.” (Is 60:11). Blessings will be always enough, Yeshua fed 4,000 people with 7 loaves
there for her “Your sun shall no more go down, or and a few fishes, but they want more signs “The
your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your Pharisees came and began to argue with him,
everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be asking him for a sign from heaven, to test him”
ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall (11). Yeshua did not satisfy their curiosity, they
possess the land forever. . . . the smallest one a mighty had more than enough signs. “And he left them,
nation; I am the LORD; in its time I will accomplish it and getting into the boat again, he went across
quickly. (Is. 60:20-22). to the other side” (13).