CONGREGATION MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO
A Messianic Jewish Newsletter for the sake of רבינו ישוע מלך המשיח אדונינו Rabbeinu Yeshua Melech HaMashiach Adoneinu!
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CONGREGATION MELECH YISRAEL OF TORONTO |
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A Messianic Jewish Newsletter for the sake of רבינו ישוע מלך המשיח אדונינו Rabbeinu Yeshua Melech HaMashiach Adoneinu! |
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מתשובה למשיח לגאולה
במהרה בימינו. זכריה י"ב:י' |
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אני מאמין באמונה שלמה בביאת המשיח ואף על פי שיתמהמה עם כל זה אחכה לו בכל יום שיבוא. |
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CMY NEWSLETTER
September-October 2007 / Elul-Tishrei-Cheshvan 5767-5768 Vol. 13 No. 1-2 |
A MESSAGE FROM THE REBBETZIN"Proper Preparation"
To Whom It May Concern: I am writing this bi-monthly’s editorial as an open letter to all concerned. High Holy Days are soon approaching and I am in fact writing this letter to “YOU” on Erev Rosh Chodesh Elul, the day before the New Moon and New Month of Elul. Normally the Rabbi would write an editorial on Elul and give you some monumental and profound thoughts to ponder on, along with Scripture references of course. Well, that is not what I am going to do; I am going to give you the practical application of the month of Elul and all that it entails, but only after I talk to you a little about the Shabbat. In a Biblically based life everything centres on Shabbat; therefore, I will begin my letter with the Shabbat. The guf haMashiach (body of Messiah) puts great time and effort into preparing for Pesach (Passover), the Fall Feasts, Sukkot and Chanukah. A lot of planning also goes into to the yearly Purim party or play, but we sometimes fall short in our preparation for the most important feast of all – Shabbat. When your Erev Shabbat (Friday night) preparation and planning is in place and you arrive for services, even if it is just in the nick of time, then you will be ready for your Shabbat refreshing. Now, I do not promise a stress free existence, but Shabbat, that island in time HaShem has given us, will truly be a time of noach (rest) when you are properly prepared. “No way,” you say, “Getting to Shul on time for services is always a rush for me!” Then start your Shabbat a little earlier by asking your boss to allow you to leave a bit earlier on Erev Shabbat, and make sure you include the fact that you will gladly make up this time during the week. That way you can stop at home light the Shabbat candles, and usher in HIS light and HIS shalom (peace). The candles can be lit before the time specified on the weekly calendar! Also, try having a small meal or just break bread with some wine or grape juice and saying the Shabbat blessings and then continue later after services. One word of caution though -- do not do any of this in the wrong spirit, especially out of duty or legalism. Do it with a countenance of giving G-d the honour and glory He deserves. We try our hardest to please our bosses at work and our spouses at home, but how about pleasing the L-rd G-d of Yisrael by acknowledging the highest holy day of the year, month and week. Shabbat is the first and perhaps the most important of the holy days. Vayikra (Leviticus) chapter 23 describes the moedim (appointed times) of our L-rd and the first one it describes is the Shabbat. |
Therefore, Shabbat must have some universal importance if HaShem put it first and made it a weekly celebration in comparison to the other feasts which are yearly.
This letter to YOU, brothers and sisters in the L-rd, is a reminder. I want to remind you that when we follow HIS order then our lives just go more smoothly. I am sure you all have read this passage in Yirmeyahu (Jeremiah):
Yirmeyahu / Jeremiah {29:11} For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, say HaShem, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.
G-d plans only the best for us, but we have to do things according to HIS order and not ours. Yes, many of us come straight from work to services on Erev Shabbat; some might stop at a café or the mall for a snack, but try not to, please try not to. Rabbi and I open the shul half an hour before services and you are more than welcome to take those moments to eat here or pray or do anything that will get you in the Shabbat mode. We need to change our lives to suit G-d’s Shabbat. HaShem has saved us and made us new creations. It is now our turn to receive all that He has for us.
Now it is time for our talk about the month of Elul. Wow, each day of our lives presents itself with more challenges, and yes we continue to have those foxes in the vineyards along with the stumbling blocks presented by outside forces and last, but not least, our self inflicted woes and worries that pull us down as if we are drowning? “Drowning,” you say, “but we are new creations!” Yes, we are new creation, but we are also still flesh, and we, therefore, experience being sidetracked and unfocused at times. During the month of Elul this sidetracking and unfocusing can be heightened and personified so as we feel like we are going under. The L-rd Most High seems to stir up the things in our lives that He desires us to release and be delivered from. Please do not let your flesh and the evil one get the better of you at this time – don’t give in, but praise Him! Thank Him for His mercy and compassion in allowing you to know that you are not perfect, and that you need Him. We often pray, “L-rd hide me in the shadow of Your wings.” This does not mean, “L-rd hide me so I cannot see or so that others cannot see me.” What it means is, “Comfort me L-rd and give me Your endearing embrace, love and protection.”
Elul can be a magnificent time in your believing walk with the L-rd G-d Most High! It can be a time of cleansing, purifying and reaching newer and higher levels in your understanding of G-d in your life. Remember, however, that higher levels mean bigger devils. When you get closer to Him is when the evil forces desire to get closer to you. During this month of Elul don’t waste a moment in your devotions. During this month of Elul do not put off saying “I am sorry” or immediately repenting of the sin you just committed. During this month of Elul ask for deliverance from the rolling of your eyes and the spirit of mockery towards authority and leadership in government and in your congregations. During this month of Elul refrain and cease rebuking and embarrassing others in public, especially when you know the right way of doing things. During this month of Elul be refreshed and renewed in the victory He has promised!
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