Enough blah, blah, blah, blah, blah....

Since the month of Elul has unique spiritual properties, we are going to go over a few things from the last few Torah portions, with the hope that their teachings will be grasped by everyone.

Sometimes people ask, “What is the purpose of the Torah?”

G-d Himself gives us the answer. The Torah states: “All the commandments which I command you this day shall you observe to do, that you may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the Land which the L-rd swore to your fathers (Devarim, 7:8).  

G-d gave us the Torah so that we could live fruitfully in the Land of Israel. That’s what the verse says. There is no way else to interpret it. This means that living in the Land of Israel isn’t just an extra mitzvah for which you get bonus points if you fulfill it. Living in the Land of Israel is THE mitzvah. It is the reason all of the commandments were given to us – to enable us to refine ourselves in order to live in this unique Holy Land. Why? Because only when the Jewish People live a life of Torah in the Land of Israel is G-d’s Kingship manifest in the world. When Jews are in exile outside of the Land of Israel, it is a desecration of the Name of G-d, as the Prophet states: “And when they came to live amongst the nations, into which they came, they desecrated My holy Name, in that people said of them, ‘These are the people of the L-rd and they are gone out of His Land (Ezekiel, 36:20).

In other words, when a gentile sees Jews living in Canada, and Brooklyn, and Australia, he says, “Hey, the L-rd gave the Jews the Land of Israel, and they prefer living here with us instead of obeying their G-d.” That’s called a “Chillul Hashem,” or desecration of the G-d. The opposite – when the Jews return to the Land of Israel – is called a “Kiddush Hashem,” or a sanctification of the Name of G-d, as G-d Himself states: “And I will sanctify My great Name, which was desecrated amongst the nations, which you have profaned in the midst of them; and the gentiles shall know that I am the L-rd, says the L-rd G-d, when I shall be sanctified in you before their eyes – for I will take you from among the gentiles, and gather you out of all countries, and will bring you into your own Land” (Ezekiel, 36:23-24).

Is that clear? Or do I have to repeat it another 10,000 times before it sinks in? Jewish life in the Land of Israel is a sanctification of the Name of G-d, and Jewish life in the Diaspora is a desecration of the Name of G-d – that’s what the Prophet says.

Let’s read on a little further in the Book of Devarim. The Torah states: “Like wise, when the L-rd sent you from Kadesh Barnea, saying, ‘Go up and possess the Land which I have given you,’ then you rebelled against the commandment of the L-rd your G-d, and you believed Him not, nor hearkened to His voice” (Devarim, 9:23).

The Torah says it plain and simple – going on aliyah is a commandment. Rejecting aliyah is a rebellion against G-d. That’s what the Torah says. I’m not making it up. Look for yourselves. I haven’t changed the words. The Torah clearly states that not going on aliyah is a rebellion against G-d and an expression of lack of faith, as it says, “and you believed Him not.”

Not only does the Torah make it clear that G-d wants the Jewish People to live in Israel, the Torah states this over and over again. For instance, just a little later, the Torah states: “Therefore you shall keep all the commandments which I command you this day, that you may be strong, and GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND, into which you go in to possess it, and that YOU MAY PROLONG YOUR DAYS IN THE LAND which the L-rd swore to your fathers to give to them AND TO THEIR DESCENDANTS, a Land flowing with milk and honey” (Devarim, 11:8-9).

My friends – do you get the message yet? Eretz Yisrael is not some tinsel town LA, or honky town Detroit, or some second rate borough like Brooklyn – Eretz Yisrael is “the Land which the L-rd your G-d cares for; the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end” (Devarim, 11:12).

And what follows that? The second paragraph of the “Shema,” which promises blessing in the Land of Israel for obedience to the Torah. And what is the punishment if we stray from the Torah? The worst punishment that can be – exile from the Land of Israel, as it says, “And you will quickly perish from the good Land which the L-rd gives you” (Devarim, 11:17), to live as Obamalicking Jews amongst the goyim.

This is the message that a Jew is to absorb in his heart, and write in his tefillin,  and teach to his children, as the Torah goes on to say in the very next verse, “And you shall lay up My words in your heart and in your soul, and bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they will be as frontlets between your eyes. And you shall teach them to your children….”

Why?

“That your days may be multiplied, and the days of your children, IN THE LAND which the L-rd swore to your fathers to give them, AS THE DAYS OF HEAVEN UPON THE EARTH” which means forever, at all times, in every generation, even now my friends.

And I ask you once again – do you get the message?

Not yet?

Let’s go on to the next Torah portion. What does it say?

“For you shall pass over the Jordon to GO IN AND POSSESS THE LAND which the L-rd your G-d gives you, and you shall possess it AND DWELL IN IT. And you shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which you shall observe to do IN THE LAND which the L-rd G-d of your fathers gives you to possess it ALL THE DAYS THAT YOU LIVE UPON THE EARTH” (Devarim, 11:31-12:1).

That means forever. Not just in Biblical days. Forever.

Do you get it now, my beloved brothers and sisters? It’s time to face the truth. The Day of Judgment is before us. The shofar blasts at dawn, telling us to wake up!

Yes, I know it is difficult. I know it is scary. Thousands of years ago, when G-d gave us the Torah, He knew that making aliyah wouldn’t be easy. He knew there would be excuses, and draft dodgers, and Jews going AWOL, running away from the ranks. That’s why He had the priest in charge of aliyah give them a pep talk on the verge of entering the Land, saying, “Let not your hearts be faint, fear not, and do not tremble” (Devarim, 20:3). So as not to embarrass the frightened among them, G-d Himself gave them excuses for not joining in the commandment to conquer the Land: “Who has built a new house and not dedicated it? Who has planted a vineyard and not eaten of it? Who has betrothed a wife and not taken her? Let him go home, lest he die in battle…. What man is there that is fearful and fainthearted? Let him go and return to his house, lest his brother’s heart melt like his heart” (Devarim, 20:5-8).

Rabbi Yose HaGalilee explains that these people were afraid that they would die in battle because of their sins, so the Torah gave them these excuses for going home to cover up their shame (See Rashi, Devarim, 20:8).

True, there are many people today who simply cannot come on aliyah for justified reasons. But for those who can, and don’t, they shouldn’t be writing discouraging talkbacks against aliyah and against life in Israel, lest they melt the heart of their brothers with all of their unending blah, blah, blah, blah, blah.

Get it?

How You Can Help Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu

The best way to help the Torah giant, Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu, in his battle for life this moment at the Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem, is to pray and study Torah on his behalf (HaRav Mordechai Tzemach ben Mazal). You can do this by studying the seven chapters dealing with the laws of marital relations from his book, “Darkei Taharah,” which we have translated on our jewishsexuality.com website.

Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu

The book, “Darkei Taharah,” which means “The Ways of Purity,” is a definitive and concise guide to the subject of Family Purity (Taharat HaMishpachah). For years, the book has been used to prepare brides and grooms for their wedding and the sacred ways of married life. These laws are the foundation of the Jewish Nation, and the Jewish family. Their observance has a direct influence on the health, happiness, and prosperity of the family, and on the physical and spiritual wellbeing of the children.

In addition to helping the Jewish Nation via his book, Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu has guided countless Jewish couples in private meetings over the last several decades. We first went to him for advice when my wife needed a break between babies. When he heard our request for a temporary hiatus, he frowned and glanced up toward the ceiling of his office in serious concentration, as if waiting to receive a fax from Above. The grave seriousness of his expression made me realize how profound was the holiness surrounding marital relations, and the importance of every soul to the building of Am Yisrael.

After several moments of deep reflection, he gave his consent in a clear, no-nonsense manner, and told us exactly what to do, adding that we should return to consult with him again in another six months.

While some people scoff at my postings dealing with this subject, the silent majority indeed click on the links, some 600 people a day, and read a total of 3000 pages, demonstrating that the wise of mind and heart gladly take advantage of these translations.    

So to help Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu – pray, study, and whatever change for the better that you can make in your lives after studying his teachings will add more weight to the scale of merit in his behalf, and accompany him, please G-d, to a complete and speedy recover.

Laws of Marital Relations Part 2

The month of Elul, which began today, is the time most suited to t’shuva (repentance). It is a period of Divine favor, because it was at this time that Moshe went up Mount Sinai to receive the second Tablets of Law, after the sin of the Golden Calf.

The forty days that Moshe was on the mountain, beseeching G-d to forgive the Jewish People, includes the 30 days of Elul and the first 10 days of the month of Tishrei, which are known as the Ten Days of Repentance. This period of intense t’shuva climaxes on Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, when forgiveness was granted.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov teaches that the dominant theme of the month of Elul is “Tikun HaBrit” – the rectification of sexual sins, known as blemishes to the Covenant:

"For the forgiveness that Moshe won for the Jews was actually over transgressions to the Brit (the Covenant), for the sin of the Golden Calf was over sexual misconduct, as our Sages have taught us - the Jewish People only worshiped idols to provide an excuse for publicly engaging in sexual licentiousness. (Sanhedrin 63A; Rashi, Shemot, 32:6). This rectification of the Brit made this day, the Day of Atonement for all generations."

To help people in their t’shuva, and to give husbands and wives a chance to review the many laws dealing with marital relations, we are continuing to translate Rabbi Mordechai Eliahu’s codification of these laws. Readers are recommended to read over these chapters, which are the foundation of the Covenant between Hashem and the Jewish People.

Those who are interested in learning the deep secrets of Elul can find an essay on the theme on our jewishsexuality.com website. Included is a powerful prayer of rectification written by Rabbi Nachman’s foremost student, Rabbi Natan.

For everyone else, here is a partial checklist of transgressions to the Covenant to remind people of things we can all too easily forget during the course of the year:   

Thou shall not look at pornographic sites on the Internet.

Thou shall not have a computer at home without a filter.

Thou shall not engage in sexual fantasies.

Thou shall not stray after your hearts and your eyes which lead you astray.

Thou shall not masturbate.

Thou shall not engage in pre-marital sex.

Thou shall not hug or kiss a woman whom you are not married to (except for your mother).

Thou shall not have sexual relations with a non-Jew.

Thou shall not engage in oral sex.

Thou shall not engage in homosexuality.

Thou shall not commit adultery.

Thou shall not covet another’s man’s wife.

Thou shall not think about another woman when having relations with your wife.

Thou shall not have marital relations with your wife (nor touch her) during her Niddah (menstruation period).

Thou shall not have marital relations in the daytime.

Thou shall not have marital relations by candlelight, moonlight, electric light, and the like.

Thou shall not have marital relations uncovered.

Thou shall not spill semen in vain – even when engaging in marital relations.

Thou shall not have marital relations in unnatural positions, other than what is known as the missionary position.

Thou shall not have marital relations using a method of contraception without first consulting an Orthodox rabbi.

Thou shall please one’s wife before pleasing oneself.

This is only a partial list. For a detailed review of the topic, please check out the link to Rabbi Eliahu’s compilation of the laws.

Chodesh tov!