Parshat Noach: A Unified Language – the Key to Nation Building

In parahat Noach, chapter 11 we learn about the importance of having a common language.

There was a time when mankind spoke one language on the earth, many believe it was called Akkadian (from ahchad meaning unity).  They spoke this language in the area of Mesopotamia where the people built the Tower of Babel under Nimrodโ€™s direction.

The story of the Tower of Babel teaches us that Having a common Language (safah) (along with being in one common location) is the key to building a great nation.

This common language allowed the people to share ideas and develop a common goal and purpose.  

  • โ€œAnd the kol HaAretz was of one language and of devarim achadim (common purpose).โ€

Once they established a unified purpose, their language also allowed them to carry it out and actually build something.  

  • โ€œAnd they said one to another, Come, let us make brick, and bake them thoroughlโ€ฆ And they had brick for even (stone), and bitumen had they for mortar.โ€

Imagine trying to build something with workers who donโ€™t speak your language?  It would be nearly impossible without a translator to bring understanding.

Unfortunately, they decided to use their creative ability for something negative – to rival the Creator Himself.

  • โ€œAnd they said, Come, let us build us an Ir and a Migdal, whose rosh (top) may reach unto Shomayim; and let us make us a shem, otherwise we shall be scattered abroad upon the face of kol HaAretz. 

Their tower was designed to cross serious boundaries – the boundary between heaven and earth, which had been separated since the beginning of Creation.  This was a direct rebellion against the will of Elohim, Boreh ha Olam.

When Elohim saw the rebellion, He cited their common language as the key to their power.

  • โ€œAnd Hashem said, See, the Am is echad and they have all one language; and this they begin to do; and now nothing will be impossible for them, which they have proposed to do.โ€ โ€ญโ€ญBereshit 11โ€ฌ:โ€ญ6

Itโ€™s crucial to note, Yah says with unity and one language, nothing would be impossible to them – without his divine intervention, of course.

Wow! Thatโ€™s a lot to take in when we reflect on the power of a unified nation with one language, one land and one purpose.

When The Most High wished to stop the peopleโ€™s national progress, he simply took away the source of their power – their ability to communicate in one language.

From there they disintegrated into tribes grouped by similar languages and scattered to various parts of the globe in pursuit of their own separate lands and missions.

As a teacher (and student) of modern and biblical Hebrew language, the lessons of Noach 11 strongly resonates with me because I can see the wisdom and beauty of what Elohim has done today to โ€˜restore a pure languageโ€™ the language of Tanakh to the people of Israel today.

As Israel has been gathered from the galute exile after thousands of years, our language was divided.  Establishing Hebrew as a common national language has allowed us to developed amazing ideas and build the modern state as it is today, a process of fulfilling biblical prophecies of the regathering – although the bulk of lost tribes from sub saharan Africa  have yet to be gathered.

I personally have been able to develop relationships with my brothers and sisters from all over the globe who have returned to the land of promise as well as help secure a future here for my children.

Are you preparing for the regathering by learning both classical and Biblical Hebrew?

If youโ€™d like to know more about learning Hebrew, visit the Hebrew page of my website.

Thanks for reading! To keep up with my latest blog, sign up here. To support my music or works visit the donate page of my website.

One love! 1โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

Makedah

โ€œPray for the peace of Jerusalem.โ€ Ps. 122.6

Ki Teitze – Protecting Women and Families

Ki Titzei and Protecting Women

In this weekโ€™s parsha Ki Titzei, there is a long list of laws concerning sexual purity, marriage and family.  In fact, some of the most taboo topics are discussed:  rape, incest, adultery, loss of virginity (pre-marital sex), prostitution (sex trafficking), kidnapping and slavery.

As you read youโ€™ll notice that most of these laws are geared towards protecting women. 

How did we get here?

When we go back to the beginning of Elohimโ€™s plan for mankind in the garden, it all started with the beauty of Adam and Hawah (Eve) being created as transcendent beings in harmony and equality both as male and female aspects of the divine:

โ€œWhen Elohim created man, he made him in the likeness of Elohim. He created them male and female and blessed them. And when they were created, he called them “Adam.โ€

Yet after Adam and Hawah chose to violate Yahโ€™s commands, their relationship descended into darkness and became one of enmity, hatred and cruelty towards one another – reaping a curse instead of blessing:

โ€œI will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will bruise your head, and you will bruise his heel.” Gen. 3:15

Adam and Hawah were no longer friends but enemies who inflicted violence upon one another – whether literal or figurative.  In this context, the difficult topics of gender based violence can better be understood.

Adamโ€™s cruelty is described here:

โ€œTo the woman he said, โ€˜I will make your pains in childbearing very severe; with painful labor you will give birth to children. Your desire will be for your husband, and he will rule over you.”

At first, Adam separated from his mother and father to โ€˜cleave to his wife,โ€™ in a loving and consensual marriage bond.  But now, although she desired her mate, he would โ€˜rule over her.โ€™  Rulership suggests a relationship of cruelty, force and bondage such as with a slave master.

So, there it is, according to scripture, both the nature of Adamic men and women changed after the fall, becoming cruel and violent towards one another.  

In particular, Hawah and subsequent generations of Adamic women lost their elevated status and became secondary citizens โ€˜so to speakโ€™ in many ways, subject to domination and subjugation by men.  The writings of Genesis say that this was a punishment for leading Adam in rebellion against Elohimโ€™s laws.

Whether you agree with the explanation of gender inequality or not, we can simply look to world history both ancient and modern to confirm these realities.  Although women have gained equal rights in modern western societies, misogyny and discrimination still continues in most countries and manifests in religious, social and business platforms worldwide?

How do we get beyond gender discrimination and oppression?  Elohimโ€™s laws in Ki Titzei are a beginning.  

Severe penalties were put in place to protect women from rape and subsequent honour killings, prevalent throughout the Middle East and parts of Asia.  For instance, in certain parts of India or under extremist Islamic regimes, victims of rape – not the perpetrators – are shockingly killed in whatโ€™s called โ€™honour killings.โ€™  You heard it right, the poor victims and not the attackers are blamed for the crime and executed.

Elohimโ€™s law protects victims of rape by codifying these safeguards into law in Deuteronomy 22: 

โ€œ25 But if out in the country a man happens to meet a young woman pledged to be married and rapes her, only the man who has done this shall die. 26 Do nothing to the woman; she has committed no sin deserving death. This case is like that of someone who attacks and murders a neighbor, 27 for the man found the young woman out in the country, and though the betrothed woman screamed, there was no one to rescue her.โ€

Notice how the wording here explains at length that a rape victim is completely innocent and should never be punished for this atrocity? While the attacker, on the other hand, deserves death.

In other places, the law calls for punishment of both men and women – not just women – guilty of adultery (whether officially married or engaged); protection of widows under the levirate laws; forbidding temple prostitution – equally protections for men and women; making kidnapping a capital offense (often connected with sex trafficking); restricting divorce, forbidding incest and general protections for refugees and the poor, 

Although the content of Ki Titzei is difficult to stomach at times, if we read it in context of societies that persecute female victims of sexual assault, widows, divorcees, etc., it becomes clear that these laws were created to protect women in a fallen world.

The time and care with which these topics are addressed are an indicator of just how important protecting women and family is to our Heavenly Father and to the building of a strong nation.

May the protection of women and young girls be a principle of righteous leadership, governments, families and communities worldwide.  This is righteousness.

Blessings and peace to all! 1โค๏ธ๐Ÿ’›๐Ÿ’š

Torah Study Challenge

Last weekโ€™s parshat Shoftim was primarily  dedicated to laws concerning conducting fair and just judiciary in Israelite society.  However, this weekโ€™s parshat Ki Tetze is primarily focused on family matters – the sanctity of marriage and sexual purity, of which protecting women is a central theme.  

It makes sense that Elohim brings our attention back to family, for how can you have justice in society if thereโ€™s no justice in the most fundamental roots of our society?

Here is a list of the Laws of Family addressed, followed by a study challenge and discussion questions: 

  • Marriage
  • Fornication (vs. virginity)
  • Rape/Sexual Violence 
  • Adultery (w/a betrothed or married woman)
  • Incest
  • Prostitution
  • Wives in plural marriage 
  • Marrying an enslaved woman
  • Re-marriage to the former husband after divorce (forbidden)
  • Levirate Marriage & Halitzah
  • Assault on Male genitals
  • Divorce
  • Laws of the Entry into the Sanctuary

The time and care with which these topics are addressed are an indicator of just how important protecting women and maintaining a strong healthy family unit is to Elohim and our success.

This week, the challenge is to re-read the parsha with family (English/Hebrew) and use the following questions to spark meaningful discussion about the topics.  What are your reflections? Dig deeper: Select a topic youโ€™d like to know more about for independent study and use primary and secondary resources to study that topic. Look up key words in Hebrew. Share what youโ€™ve learned.

CLICK HERE FOR WRJ DISCUSSION  QUESTIONS

I pray you enjoy this activity and have a blessed Shabbat!

If youโ€™ve found this resource useful or have suggestions or comments, contact morahmakedah@gmail.com. 

Shabbat Shalom & May Yah Bless! Morah Makedah

p.s. Below are some other links that you may find useful.

TORAH READING & COMMENTARY QUICK LINKS: 

Traditional:

TOPICAL STUDIES WEBSITES – QUICK LINKS

WORD & TOPICAL  STUDY:

(Other) SHABBAT TABLE TALK DISCUSSION QUESTIONS

https://tanach.org/arch.htm

https://teletefila.com/parsha-questions.html

Writing the Torah – Parshat Shoftim

In last weekโ€™s parshat Shoftim, we read about the duties of a king:


โ€˜And it shall be, when he sitteth upon the throne of his kingdom, that he shall write him a copy of this law in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levites.โ€™ V. 18

ื•ึฐื”ึธื™ึธื” ื›ึฐืฉึดืื‘ึฐืชึผื•ึน, ืขึทืœ ื›ึดึผืกึตึผื ืžึทืžึฐืœึทื›ึฐืชึผื•ึน–ื•ึฐื›ึธืชึทื‘ ืœื•ึน ืึถืช-ืžึดืฉึฐืื ึตื” ื”ึทืชึผื•ึนืจึธื” ื”ึทื–ึนึผืืช, ืขึทืœ-ืกึตืคึถืจ, ืžึดืœึดึผืคึฐื ึตื™, ื”ึทื›ึนึผื”ึฒื ึดื™ื ื”ึทืœึฐื•ึดื™ึดึผื.

Why did Elohim require the king to write the Torah?  He could have just left it at the mitzvah to read the Torah (v.19), i.e. get a copy from the priest and study it.  Instead, He instructs the king to write (catav) it for himself (under the priestโ€™s supervision) and then read (karah) it daily.

We know that every word which proceedeth out of the mouth of YHWH is with purpose and meaning. 

So, could it be that YHWH is revealing an important key to learning and memorizing Torah and learning in general? 

According to academic research, writing down information stimulates multiple learning centers in the brain and helps us to:

  • Memorize – Handwriting helps us to intentionally commit information to memory, often through repetition and deliberate effort. Memorization is similar to filling a mental library with flashcards that can be accessed when needed.1
  • Retain – Writing information by hand helps us retrieve information over time. Retention is a specific aspect of memory, which is the overall process of storing and retaining information.2
  • Understand – โ€˜Handwriting requires active engagement with incoming information, leading to better retention and understanding of the concepts.3

(See sources in footnotes below).

As a both a singer-songwriter and a teacher, I couldnโ€™t help but see this aspect of the parsha through an educational lens.

When we understand the science of learning, we can clearly see the wisdom in Elohim having the king write the Torah and then read it daily.  He is in effect giving rulers (and us) a key to committing Torah to memory – especially with the combined effort of writing and reading it daily.  

With the obvious end being, to not just know the Torah but to do it – also called the โ€˜fear ofโ€™ or โ€˜yiraht ha Shem. This is a ruler who would rule with justice and righteous judgement (tzedek and mishpat) thereby blessed and sustained by Elohim,

How can these principles guide our studies?

Although we are not kings and queens on literal thrones, we are leaders of families, organizations, communities and the world.

So, the practice given to the king of writing Torah or parts of Torah along with daily study, will help us too memorize, retain, know the chukim and edute so that we can keep and do it.

Food for thought. Iโ€™d love to hear from you.

If you are interested in Hebrew language or Torah studies with me, visit http://www.queenmakedah.com/hebrew-classes.

Shalom!

Peace and Blessings, Makedah

Giving Thanks through Hell and High Water (Backstory for the song ‘Blessed’)

I remember the words of a respected elder, when Iโ€™d ask how she was doing. ย Instead of responding with a generic โ€˜Excellent!โ€™ or ‘Great!’ like some do (when they’re really struggling).ย  Sheโ€™d sometimes say, โ€˜The horse wonโ€™t ride, the cow wonโ€™t give milk, the chickens wonโ€™t lay eggs – but HalleluYah anyhow!โ€™ Read More

โ€˜Happy is Heโ€™ – Trusting in Yah in an Uncertain World

_Happy is He who trusteth in Yah_
(queenmakedah.blog) Ethiopian boys at Wailing Wall.

Letโ€™s face it, these days there is a lot to be stressed and depressed about.  

Climate change poses a serious threat to manโ€™s very existence, and scientists are warning that if we donโ€™t change (reduce carbon emissions), we may see the extinction of most animal species and the face of the planet altered beyond anything weโ€™ve ever known.  

Economic conditions are not much better.  The effects of tariffs and the recent government shutdown imposed by an inexperienced and unstable president and white house, have thrust millions of hardworking people into hard times.  Many hard working families are suddenly facing the real prospect of losing their homes, eviction, lack of basic necessities like food. This is the ugly face of poverty.

Socially, headlines wreak of widespread sexual abuse and exploitation of children and women around the world, while religious institutions like the Catholic church – instead of holding the bar of morality – are cesspools filled with sexual predators and are some of the most dangerous places for our youth.  Not to mention, the heartless imprisonment of immigrant children and families who are seeking asylum. This behavior is not just in America, but as global resources shrink, immigrants are being attacked with a rise in xenophobic behavior and hate crimes around the world.

Racism and injustice continues to plague black and brown communities with the highest incarceration rates in the world in the U.S., while these communities also face  severe poverty, unemployment, and environmental genocide – poisoned water, food source, ecosystems.

Let’s not even begin to talk about the political turmoil within the American government.  Surely, I can go on and on.  But thereโ€™s not enough space or time to give the full span of things we could worry about.

No doubt, we are facing one of the most uncertain and unstable times in this modern age, and we need Yah more than ever.  The only thing that can give us a real source of stability and comfort is having a personal relationship with your Heavenly Father, for only He can fix it, or give us what we need to cope.  How do you develop this personal relationship with your Creator? Through prayer (which includes praise, affirmation, and meditation) study, and living by His word.

Chanting the Psalms

The Psalms are Yahโ€™s medicine for His children to overcome all anxiety and depression, by giving us hope.  Chanting the Psalms in faith, lifts us out of the dunghill of life by reminding us of Yahโ€™s deep love for us and His power to change our conditions.  Left to ourselves, we are hopeless. But in YHWH, we can do all things! We are more than conquerors in Him.

  • โ€œNever worry about anything. But in every situation let Yah know what you need in prayers and requests while giving thanks. Then Yahโ€™s peace, which goes beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through Yahoshua the Anointed One.โ€  Philippians 4:6-7  

When you are feeling anxious, the best thing you can do is pray.  For Yahweh is greater than all of us, and only He has the power to really change our condition.

 

  • โ€œAnd which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his  span of life?โ€  Luke 12.25โ€™

 

Through prayer, the Almighty through His word – which is spirit – will tear down the strongholds of lies the adversary has used to make you anxious and fearful.

  • โ€œI sought YHWH, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears.โ€   Psalms 34.4

Chanting the Psalms or praying Yahโ€™s word builds our faith and trust in the Creator.  Reminding ourselves of Yahโ€™s all sufficient provision and power.

 

  • โ€œWhen I am afraid, I put my trust in you.โ€ (Psalm 56:3)

 

Words of the Psalms remind us of Yahโ€™s deep and unfailing love for us and that itโ€™s safe to trust Him because He cares for us, which provide spiritual comfort and joy that relieves depression.

 

  • โ€œWhen anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul.โ€  (Psalm 94:19)

 

  • โ€˜Happy is he who puts His trust in Yah.โ€   Psalms 34.8

 

 

When you try to solve your own problems, you have much reason to fear.  But when you invite Yah to solve what you canโ€™t fix, you are filled with a sense of hope and open yourselves up to endless possibilities.

 

  • โ€œCast thy burden upon YHWH, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved.โ€  Ps. 55.22

 

Finally, when you decide to trust in Yah and not in man or your own flesh, victory is sure:

 

  • โ€œAll who hope in you are never ashamed, but they shall be ashamed who are treacherous without excuse.โ€  Ps. 25.3

Here are some of the Psalms you can Pray for comfort and relief of anxiety and depression:

  • Psalms 103 – Yah is our Healer
  • Psalms 23 – Yah is our Shepherd
  • Psalms 25 – Yah is our Protector and Provider
  • Psalms 27 – Yah is our Salvation
  • Psalms 34 – Yah is our Deliverer
  • Psalms 91 – Yah is our Refuge
  • Psalms 145 – Yah is our Provider

You can find more Psalms and inspirational lyrics in my music, such as Blessed, Yah Yireh, and Happy is He, which are available now at http://www.queenmakedah.com/music/.  

These songs and more will also be on my new album Peace Process, due out Spring 2019.  Make sure you sign up for mailing list to receive updates on music news, live shows, blogs, etc.

More on the Psalms is coming in future blogs.