Sucot : The Feats of Booths and its meaning

“And the LORD spoke unto Moses, saying: 34 Speak unto the children of Israel, saying: On the fifteenth day of this seventh month is the feast of tabernacles for seven days unto the LORD. 35 On the first day shall be a holy convocation; ye shall do no manner of servile work. 36 Seven days ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; on the eighth day shall be a holy convocation unto you; and ye shall bring an offering made by fire unto the LORD; it is a day of solemn assembly; ye shall do no manner of servile work...40 And ye shall take you on the first day the fruit of goodly trees, branches of palm-trees, and boughs of thick trees, and willows of the brook, and ye shall rejoice before the LORD your God seven days. 41 And ye shall keep it a feast unto the LORD seven days in the year; it is a statute for ever in your generations; ye shall keep it in the seventh month. 42 Ye shall dwell in booths seven days; all that are home-born in Israel shall dwell in booths; 43 that your generations may know that I made the children of Israel to dwell in booths, when I brought them out of the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God”- Leviticus (Vaykrá 23:33-36;40-43).

The feast of Sucot remember us that HaShem, G-d, is Who provides us our sustenance, in all aspects.

The commandment to remember that our ancestors dwelt in booths on the desert after G-d brought them out of the land of Egypt, bring to us many teachings.

“1 And the LORD spoke unto Moses and unto Aaron, saying:2 'The children of Israel shall pitch by their fathers' houses; every man with his own standard, according to the ensigns; a good way off shall they pitch round about the tent of meeting”- Numbers (Bamidbar) 2:1-2.

“5 How goodly are thy tents, O Jacob, thy dwellings, O Israel! 6 As valleys stretched out, as gardens by the river-side; as aloes planted of the LORD, as cedars beside the waters; 7 Water shall flow from his branches, and his seed shall be in many waters; and his king shall be higher than Agag, and his kingdom shall be exalted”- Numbers (Bamidbar) 24:5-7.

The sucot (booths) remember us that we are also pilgrims, travellers in this world. Remember us that our condition is totally dependent of G-d´s favor (grace), of His Goodness with us. As our ancestors inhabitants of booths were vulnerable of all kind of dangers and sufferings, rain, sun, cold, storms, enemies, wild animals, betrayals, injustices from their own brothers, we too, today, in spite of being “well stablished” or “stable” in our achievements, we are exposed (vulnerable) to all. Our life is totally in G-d´s hands. G-d reigns sovereignly in this world and has the knowledge of all things in our hearts and life, and as a Maestro governs (has the regency) ot life and sustains (holds) the breath of every living thing.

At the same time that the sucot remeber us of our weaknesses, that are the same of our ancestors, they remeber us that there is a place of shelter, refuge, a place of rest, a place that teaches us e helps us to love and to walk in the justice of G-d´s comamadments. This place is the own G-d, HaShem, the Creator, G-d of Israel. He is our Sucá (our booth). To Him our eyes are directed, cause of Him depends our sustanance, safeness, protection, justice, righteousness, love, hapyness, peace, shelter. All living thing expects from G-d the food of the body and the food of the spirit.

“2 Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. 3 From the end of the earth will I call unto Thee, when my heart fainteth; lead me to a rock that is too high for me. 4 For Thou hast been a refuge for me, a tower of strength in the face of the enemy. 5 I will dwell in Thy Tent for ever; I will take refuge in the covert of Thy wings. 6 For Thou, O God, hast heard my vows; Thou hast granted the heritage of those that fear Thy name”- Psalms 61:2-6.

“6 The LORD is for me; I will not fear; what can man do unto me? 7 The LORD is for me as my helper; and I shall gaze upon them that hate me. 8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in man. 9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD than to trust in princes. 10 All nations compass me about; verily, in the name of the LORD I will cut them off. 11 They compass me about, yea, they compass me about; verily, in the name of the LORD I will cut them off. 12 They compass me about like bees; they are quenched as the fire of thorns; verily, in the name of the LORD I will cut them off. 13 Thou didst thrust sore at me that I might fall; but the LORD helped me. 14 The LORD is my strength and song; and He is become my salvation. 15 The voice of rejoicing and salvation is in the tents of the righteous; the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. 16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted; the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly”- Psalms 118:6-16.

“2 How lovely are Thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts! 3 My soul yearneth, yea, even pineth for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh sing for joy unto the living God. 4 Yea, the sparrow hath found a house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young; Thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God. 5 Happy are they that dwell in Thy house, they are ever praising Thee. 6 Happy is the man whose strength is in Thee; in whose heart are the highways. 7 Passing through the valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; yea, the early rain clotheth it with blessings. 8 They go from strength to strength, every one of them appeareth before God in Zion. 9 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer; give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah 10 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of Thine anointed.11 For a day in Thy courts is better than a thousand; I had rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness. 12 For the LORD God is a sun and a shield;the LORD giveth grace and glory;
no good thing will He withhold from them that walk uprightly. 13 O LORD of hosts, happy is the man that trusteth in Thee”-Psalms 84.

The feast of Sucot celebrates the harvest given by G-d to the inhabitants of that weak booths. It makes us remember that all around us is fragile, except our safe place that is th own G-d HaShem, Our Sucá. All circunstances can change: relantionships, health, job, conditions, etc, but, our solid bedroch (foundation) is in our relation with G-d, that sustains all things as Roch Steady, the unique safe place where we can construct our lives.

“The Rock, His work is perfect; for all His ways are justice; a G-d of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and right is He”- Deuteronomy (Devarim) 32:4.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before Thee,O LORD, my Rock, and my Redeemer.”- Psalms (Tehelim) 19:15

“For Thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for Thy name's sake lead me and guide me”- Psalms (Tehelim) 31:4.

“But the LORD hath been my high tower, and my God the rock of my refuge”- Psalms (Tehelim) 94:22.

“Oh come, let us sing unto the LORD; let us shout for joy to the Rock of our salvation”- Psalms 95:1

“[A Psalm] of David. Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who traineth my hands for war, and my fingers for battle”- Psalms (Tehelim) 144:1

“Only for G-d doth my soul wait in stillness; from Him cometh my salvation...7 He only is my rock and my salvation, my high tower, I shall not be moved”- Psalms 62:2,7

Chag Sucot Sameach

The Way of the righteous X The way of the wicked (Mishlei`s teachings)

“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him”-Proverbs 26:24.

“As coals are to burning coals, and wood to fire; so is a contentious man to kindle strife.”-Proverbs 26:21.

“Seest thou a man wise in his own eyes? there is more hope of a fool than of him” -Proverbs 26:12.

“When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart”-Proverbs 26:25.

“Be not thou envious of evil men, neither desire to be with them. For their heart studieth destruction, and their lips talk of mischief”-Proverbs 24:1,2

“Envy thou not the man of violence, and choose none of his ways.”-Proverbs 3:31

“The wise shall inherit honour; but as for the fools, they carry away shame”-Proverbs 3:35.

“ The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked; but He blesseth the habitation of the righteous”-Proverbs 3:33.

“The sluggard burieth his hand in the dish; it wearieth him to bring it back to his mouth”-proverbs 26:15.

“Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint”-Proverbs 25:19.

“He that hateth dissembleth with his lips, but he layeth up deceit within him” -Proverbs 26:24

“It is better to dwell in a desert land, than with a contentious and fretful woman”- Proverbs 21:19.

“Whoso keepeth his mouth and his tongue keepeth his soul from troubles”- Proverbs 21:23

“A prudent man seeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the thoughtless pass on, and are punished”-Proverbs 22:3.

“A wicked man hardeneth his face; but as for the upright, he looketh well to his way” - Proverbs 21:29

“Thorns and snares are in the way of the froward; he that keepeth his soul holdeth himself far from them”-Proverbs 22:5.

“He that soweth iniquity shall reap vanity; and the rod of his wrath shall fail”- Proverbs 22:8.

“Make no friendship with a man that is given to anger; and with a wrathful man thou shalt not go;Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul. “- Proverbs 22:24,25

“But whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell securely, and shall be quiet without fear of evil”- Proverbs 1:33.

“But the wicked shall be cut off from the land, and the faithless shall be plucked up out of it”-Proverbs 2:22.

“17 HaShem (G-d) ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.

18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her, and happy is every one that holdest her fast. 

19 The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens.

20 By His knowledge the depths were broken up, and the skies drop down the dew.

21 My son, let not them depart from thine eyes; keep sound wisdom and discretion;

22 So shall they be life unto thy soul, and grace to thy neck.

23 Then shalt thou walk in thy way securely, and thou shalt not dash thy foot.

24 When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid; yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

25 Be not afraid of sudden terror, neither of the destruction of the wicked, when it cometh;

26 For the LORD will be thy confidence, and will keep thy foot from being caught.

27 Withhold not good from him to whom it is due, when it is in the power of thy hand to do it”- Proverbs 3:17-27.

“For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He maketh even all his paths. His own iniquities shall ensnare the wicked, and he shall be holden with the cords of his sin .He shall die for lack of instruction; and in the greatness of his folly he shall reel “- Proverbs 5:21-23

“The fear of the LORD is to hate evil; 
pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate”-Proverbs 8:13.

“For whoso findeth me findeth life, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. But he that misseth me wrongeth his own soul; all they that hate me love death.”-Proverbs 8:35-36

“ Whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he” (Proverbs 16:20)

 Why is happy who trust in HaShem?

G´d knows that what makes us happy is to love. As HaShem´s words in the Hebrew Bible says, to love is to obey His commadments. The justice and the love are in closely and linked. It is not possible to keep acting unfairly with someone and to love him (her). It is not possible to love someone to whom we don´t stop to prejudice. Because of this reason, where inhabit the transgression of the commandments, there is no love.

“1Happy are they that are upright in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD. 2Happy are they that keep His testimonies, that seek Him with the whole heart. 3Yea, they do no unrighteousness; they walk in His ways. 4Thou hast ordained Thy precepts, that we should observe them diligently. 5Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes! 6Then should I not be ashamed, when I have regard unto all Thy commandments. 7I will give thanks unto Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous ordinances. 8 I will observe Thy statutes; O forsake me not utterly.” - Psalms 119:1-7

There is, although, a big fight for the human being who wants to love, to live G-d`s commandments. This fight occurs because the world´s values militate, fight against G-d´s values.

HaShem wants us to love His commandments above blessings, above desires, above pleasures or momentary happiness that are offered to us.

To do to the neighbour what we want him to do for us is the resume of G-d`s Law (G-d´s Torah (see Leviticus 19)), while the world´s reality is individualism and competition.

Each one, with the objective to ensure his/her own success, many times accept to bypass of the biblical precepts because does`t believe that, if he/she keeps living (following, obeying) the commandmants,he/she will be blessed by G´d and nothing will lack (Psalm 23; 34; 1). For this reason, to follow G-d and to love Him with all the heart, as prescripted in the Shemá (Deuteronomy 6), that has as reward the life (Deuteronomy 30), only can be achieve by faith in G-d.

By faith, the human being believes that the Everlasting G-d will provide us in everything and that it is not necessary to transgress precepts of G-d and to take the shape of the world to survive.

It is necessary, as HaShem says in Deuteronomy 30, to make a choice between life or death. Being life associated to choose to live the commandments of G-d, the love, and by faith to apropriate of the promess that G-d purifies the human being`s heart e make him/her live His Law, everyone who want to do it above all (above another wantings and greed).

All the ways of a man are clean in his own eyes; but the LORD weigheth the spirits (Proverbs 16:1). There is not any human being who can be holy, pure as G´d is (and as G-d made the human being at the beggining) to be in the presence of G´d, reason why He is the One who sanctifies all that repent their transgressions and trust in Him to make them live His commandments (Levíticus 21:7; Exodus 31:13). Because without Him we cannot nothing. And without sanctification anyone will see G-d, because He said “Be hole because I am holy”(Levíticus 21:6) and “But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid His face from you, that He will not hear”(Isaiah 59:2).

It is necessary to return to HaShem as did, for example, the prophet Ieshaiahu (Isaíah):

Isaíah said, after contemplating G-d`s Holiness:

“5 Then said I: Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.

6 Then flew unto me one of the seraphim, with a glowing stone in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar;

7 and he touched my mouth with it, and said: Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin expiated”- Isaíah 6:5-7

Let´s follow Isaiah´s example of asking G-d to purify us and help us living His commadments and that we love Him above all things. Let us do as David that entreated HaShem a pure heart and asked Him to renew in him a righteous spirit (Psalms 51).

Certanly the way of those that choice to take the shape of the patterns of the world can be easier but wil l conduct to ruin. Certainly those that loved more things, status, pretige, money, acceptance of people, richness, and the pleasures will finish in ruin (although this ruin can happen only after death).

“1 Happy is the man that hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stood in the way of sinners, nor sat in the seat of the scornful.

2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.

3 And he shall be like a tree planted by streams of water,
that bringeth forth its fruit in its season, and whose leaf doth not wither; and in whatsoever he doeth he shall prosper.

4 Not so the wicked; but they are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

5 Therefore the wicked shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6 For the LORD regardeth the way of the righteous; but the way of the wicked shall perish.”- Psalms 1

Although these shall receive more severe judgment from G-d, those that think they are righteous in theirselves, self-sufficient and that think they don´t need G-d´s help to be pure and to live His commandments also will have ruin as their end, because olny G-d can make the human being righteous again, purified enough to be on His Holy presence. Let´s pay attention to the fact that G´d is Holy and there is any impurity on Him, and He doesn´t inhabit next to the impure.

“....5 For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work; I will exult in the works of Thy hands. 6 How great are Thy works, O LORD! Thy thoughts are very deep. 7 A brutish man knoweth not, neither doth a fool understand this. 8 When the wicked spring up as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they may be destroyed for ever. 9 But Thou, O LORD, art on high for evermore. 10 For, lo, Thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, Thine enemies shall perish: all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 11 But my horn hast Thou exalted like the horn of the wild-ox; I am anointed with rich oil. 12 Mine eye also hath gazed on them that lie in wait for me, mine ears have heard my desire of the evil-doers that rise up against me. 13 The righteous shall flourish like the palm-tree; he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 14 Planted in the house of the LORD, they shall flourish in the courts of our God. 15 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be full of sap and richness; 16 To declare that the LORD is upright, my Rock, in whom there is no unrighteousness.”- Psalms 92

“10 Thou wast wearied with the length of thy way; yet saidst thou not: 'There is no hope'; thou didst find a renewal of thy strength, therefore thou wast not affected. 11 And of whom hast thou been afraid and in fear, that thou wouldest fail? And as for Me, thou hast not remembered Me, nor laid it to thy heart. Have not I held My peace even of long time? Therefore thou fearest Me not. 12 I will declare thy righteousness; thy works also--they shall not profit thee. 13 When thou criest, let them that thou hast gathered deliver thee; but the wind shall carry them all away, a breath shall bear them off; but he that taketh refuge in Me shall possess the land, and shall inherit My holy mountain. 14 And He will say: cast ye up, cast ye up, clear the way, take up the stumblingblock out of the way of My people. {S} 15 For thus saith the High and Lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy: I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones. 16 For I will not contend for ever, neither will I be always wroth; for the spirit that enwrappeth itself is from Me, and the souls which I have made. 17 For the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth and smote him, I hid Me and was wroth; and he went on frowardly in the way of his heart. 18 I have seen his ways, and will heal him; I will lead him also, and requite with comforts him and his mourners. 19 Peace, peace, to him that is far off and to him that is near, saith the LORD that createth the fruit of the lips; and I will heal him. 20 But the wicked are like the troubled sea; for it cannot rest, and its waters cast up mire and dirt. 21 There is no peace, saith my God concerning the wicked”- Isaiah 57:10-21

Those that make G-d`s Law their delight will live the true hapiness and will contemplate G-d`s face forever: The righteous suffers afflictions but G´d delivers them from all their troubles (Psalms 34:17. Will be rewarded in life, will live a life of donation to others, helping them returning to G-d, and, after, will be rewarded in death, in the presence of G-d (Daniel 12).

“Yea, Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counsellors .My soul cleaveth unto the dust; quicken Thou me according to Thy word. -Psalms 119:24-25

“8 The law of the LORD is perfect, restoring the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple. 9 The precepts of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes. 10 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever; the ordinances of the LORD are true, they are righteous altogether; 11 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold; sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. 12 Moreover by them is Thy servant warned; in keeping of them there is great reward. 13 Who can discern his errors? Clear Thou me from hidden faults. 14 Keep back Thy servant also from presumptuous sins, that they may not have dominion over me;then shall I be faultless, and I shall be clear from great transgression.”- Psalms 19:8-14

What makes the human being happy is to love, to donate himself (/herself) to the neighbour, to G-d. To love is to obey commandments of G-d.

The essence of the Torah

If we resume to someone what does the Torah teaches, we will say that the resume of all the Torah is to make for the neighbour what we want for ourselves.

“…but thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself: I am the LORD”- Vaykrá 19:18

In other words, what bothers us , we should not do to our neighbour. More than this: we should do to our neighbor all we want him to do for us.

The world we live in is not like this. On the contrary, is a competitive world, where each one try to save himself. It is common to give excuses to G-d and to people that to persevere living in this self-protected way é a matter of survival. But, HaShem, G-d, through His Word, invites us to think in another way, by His perspective, and to have a life by faith on Him, resting on Him (living His shabbat in the heart) and on His promises.

It is not the will of G-d that we sell our values to a unrighteous and opressive world, but that, by Faith and action of G-d, we live His commandments min a world that fights against them and adores a god called money instead of adore only the Creator e trust to Him the sustenance of all our needs.

While the world seeks at the first place the sustenance and the Money, the G-d´s servant, the person who was made righteous by Him, live by Faith:

“the righteous shall live by his Faith” -Habakkuk 2:4
“...Tsadik bemunató iheiê” -Havacuc 2:4

This means that it is not possible in any way to walk in righteousness without faith. Without faith is impossible to please G-d. There is not any other way to fulfill the Torah, to love the neighbours as ourselves, that is not by Faith in G-d, in His purification. From faith comes the walk in justice and love. This is because the faith is like an impulse that makes us to be connected with G-d, that is the Source of Love and Justice.

We need to depend on this Source of Love and Justice that is HaShem, G`d, to get love to our neighbour as ourselves. In another way, we will be submerged and pressed by life demands, fears, need of acceptance, sustenance, status, by the charges and requirements of the world.

The principles of the world fight against the commandments of G-d. There is no way to compatible, to conciliate both, because they are opposite. G´d calls us D-us to live His commandments and to love in a world that offers awards to the person that makes transgressions to the Torah, in a world that in practice undoes of G´d. HaShem promises that will give sustenance to all that fears Him. It is only necessary to have faith in G`d and in His promises, to seek what pleases Him in first place, and not in persons.

“O fear the LORD, ye His holy ones; for there is no want to them that fear Him”. Psalms 34:9


With the Creator we can win the world, living His commadments in a world governed by other principles: of profit (gain), of status, of derision to the name of G´d, of knowledge and of human pride and presumption, of contempt to the neighbour, do lucro, do status, do escárnio ao nome de D-us, do conhecimento e da soberba humana, do desprezo ao próximo, of interestsdos, etc.

What Hashem wants us to know is that our life is hidden on Him. All we need comes from Him and He do not let to lack nothing for those who have Him as their Shepherd and obey His voice:

“The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…He guideth me in straight paths for His name's sake” -Psalms 23:1,3

“He might make thee know that man doth not live by bread only, but by everything that proceedeth out of the mouth of the LORD doth man live” -Dt (Devarim) 8:3

“Wherefore ye shall do My statutes, and keep Mine ordinances and do them; and ye shall dwell in the land in safety. And the land shall yield her fruit, and ye shall eat until ye have enough, and dwell therein in safety”- Leviticus (Vaykrá) 25:18-19

“And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as it is at this day” -Dt 6:24

“He that keepeth the commandment keepeth his soul; but he that despiseth His ways shall die”. Pv (Mishlei) 19:16

“The fear of the LORD tendeth to life; and he that hath it shall abide satisfied, he shall not be visited with evil”. Pv (Mishlei) 19:23

We konw that thai is no other way that ensures life, except the obedience to G´ds commadments. And this obedience is a consequence of the Faith in sanctification that HaShem promises to do in all of those persons that are compromised to live His commadments, to obey His Word, and to abandon their transgressions. – Dt (Devarim)30.

To know what is right, fair, by G´d`s eyes is necessary to seek His advice in His word, the Hebrew Bible. The human being has the tendency to deceive himself (ietzer hará) and walk in his own wisdow and judgments. The human being tends to conform himself to the values of the society in which lives, and many of these values are opposite to the values of G´d, of His instruction, the Torah.

The human being shall be humble and seek G´d´s advice and the Creator Instruiction, that teaches us to live in purity, to live truly. For this, is necessary that he clings himself to G´d`s Word and meditate on it day and night.


In removing the principles of the Torah of HaShem o four eyes, we are likely to transgress, even thinking that we are going in a good way. The consequences of the transgressions soon or later will come, because G´d operates the justice and nothing is hidden of His eyes. The commadments protect us of pains that come from our transgressions. The obedience of the commadments ensures us a happy life and the presence of G´d today and when we leave this world, when our spirit return to the hands of the Creator.

“And he taught me, and said unto me: 'Let thy heart hold fast my words, keep my commandments, and live”- Pv (Mishlei) 4:4

“Take fast hold of instruction, let her not go; keep her, for she is thy life” ”-Pv (Mishlei) 4:13.

“ki hem chaiênu veorech imênu, uvahêm neheguê iomám valáila”- brachá ahavat olam - Sidur

And this obedience is fruit of Faith in HaShem, that He is the One who purifies as He says in His Torah (Ex 31:13). He is the One who givens us a heart able to keep the commadments in thinking, feeling and acting, in all our being. (Deuteronomy 30). Been conected on the Source of Justice, HaShem, gives us capacitation to live His commadments, because He circuncises the heart of those that decided to abandon their transgressions and walk in His commadments:

“vetaher libênu leovdecha leovedechá beemet” -brachá Elohênu - Sidur

“… wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”- Psalms 51:9
“Create me a clean heart, O God; and renew a stedfast spirit within me”- Psalms 51:12.

Love in the eyes of G-d (Love in the Torah)

The majority of the jews knows that should listen (Shemá Israel) the commandment to love G-d with all the heart, with all the soul, with all might (Deuteronomy 6:5).

But, what means to live in practice this commandment to love HaShem with all our hearts ?

To love G-d consists of loving His commandments.

"Thy word is tried to the uttermost, and Thy servant loveth it"- Psalms 119:140
"O see how I love Thy precepts.."- Psalms 119:159

To love G-d´s commandment is necssary to know them. For this, is indispensable to take 2 steps: step 1) decide to live them, because the belief thar they proceed from the Creator, that is Holy; step 2) to seek HaShem (G-d) in tefilah (prayer, sincere conversation), asking Him for understanding to understand His commandments and capacity to live them.

David is for us an exemplo of person that gave this 2 steps that allowed him to love the commandments and, hence, to love G-d with all heart. We see this in Psalm (tehelim) 119.


Step 1: decision

"So shall I observe Thy law continually for ever and ever;"-Psalmos119:44
“Give me understanding, that I keep Thy law and observe it with my whole heart”- Psalms 119:35


Step 2: Ask G-d for help to understand and obey His commandments

1ºstage: Ask G-d for help to understand His commandments


“Blessed art Thou, O LORD; teach me Thy statutes"- Psalms 119:12
“Open Thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of Thy law"- Psalms 119:18
“34 Give me understanding, that I keep Thy law and observe it with my whole heart.Make me to tread in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.”-Psalms 119:34-35
“Make me to understand the way of Thy precepts..."- Psalms 119:27
“Thy precepts I get understanding; therefore I hate every false way... Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path”- Psalms 119:104-105
“Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; give me understanding, and I shall live”- Psalms 119:144


2ºstage: Ask G-d for capacity to live (to obey in the heart) His commandments


“Oh that my ways were directed to observe Thy statutes!” - Psalms 119:5
“I will give thanks unto Thee with uprightness of heart, when I learn Thy righteous ordinances.”- Psalms 119:7
“With my whole heart have I sought Thee; O let me not err from Thy commandments”- Psalms 119:10
“Remove from me the way of falsehood; and grant me Thy law graciously”- Psalms 119:29
“Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness.Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in Thy ways.”-Psalms 119:36-37
“Order my footsteps by Thy word; and let not any iniquity have dominion over me”- Psalms 119:133

Some aspects of the true love, the love in the eyes of G-d, in the eyes of Torah :

1. the love doesn´t take vengeance, does not recent (doesn´t keep grudge against) but love the neighbour as himself, that is, treats the other in the same way the person wants to be treated when she transgresses (Leviticus 19:18);
2. the love does not steal; neither deal falsely , nor lie one to another. (Leviticus 19:11-12);
2.The love does not oppress thy neighbour, nor rob him; the love does not exploit; the love pays the diarist servant in the same day of work, does not keep with himself to pay the servant after.(Leviticus 19:13);
3. The love judges with righteousness, is fair in an evaluation, when is judging a cause; does not favor someone only because he is poor neither honour someone because he is powerful, but judges righteously, according a just cause (Leviticus 19:15);
4. The love does not act as a talebearer, does not gossip, does not exposes the other such as he wouldn´t like to be exposed by another person (Leviticus 19:16);
5. The love does not stand idly when the neighboor is in danger but does to the other what he would like for himself (Leviticus 19:16);
6. The love does not hate the brother in the heart, but rebukes when the other act wrong, when the other is unfair, instead of sin against him (Leviticus 19:17);
7. The love does not let cattle gender with a diverse kind; neither sow thy field with two kinds of seed; (Leviticus 19:19);
8.The love is in acknowledge erros through the offer of repentance requered in Torah for the sin (Leviticus 19:21; Leviticus 17:11)
9.The love keeps the sabbath of G-d, day of rest and to acknowledge that the Creator supports us in all things: health, peace, integrity, wisdow ,...(Leviticus 19:30);
10. The love not eat with the blood; neither practises divination nor soothsaying (Leviticus 19:26,31);
11. The love rises up before the hoary head, and honour the face of the old man, and fears G-d(Levítico 19:32);
12. The love takes care of the foreign as we were foreign. Remembers that we were foreign in a strange land, slaves in Egypt (Leviticus 19:34);
13. The love does righteousness in judgment, in meteyard, in weight, or in measure (Leviticus 19:35);
14. The love does not accept to win money without working (in a fair way) (does not play in lotteries, neither accepts moneymaking in money speculations) because with the sweat of the face should eat bread, not with tricks or in prejudice of others, not with transgression of G-d´s precepts (Genesis 3:19);
15. The love does not adore or tributs merit to another thing but G-d, because only G-d deserves worship ( Exodus 20:3);
16.The love Honours father and mother(Exodus 20:12);
17.The love doesn´t commit adultery(Exodus 20:14);
18.The love does not lust what belongs to another person (Exodus 20:17);


These commandments are only some that help us to understand better, if we want to live them and if we ask G´d-s help to do so, to receive understanting and capacity to obey the commandments in practice, in our hearts, thinking, will, and acts.
Our will is that the Creator conducts Israel and bends our hearts for His Torah, so that all receive the circuncision of the heart given by G-d to those who want to live His love and have faith that He gives us capacity to love. We ask for HaShem`s mercy and for His cure in our hearts with His circuncision that operates in the hearts of the repented that acknowledge that need Him to love HIm with all the heart and decide to do it.

G-d does not reject a broken heart, a heart that agree that is poor before the Holy face of G-d(Psalms 34:18)
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Contentment

Rabbi Dessler said that “rich is who is happy with what have, who expelled the envy, the greed and the pursuit of glory”. This teaching was in accordance to G-d´s Word, the Hebrew Bible (Tanach).

The human being, both the one who has so much and that one who has little, tend to be always unsatisfied, tend to never being satiated. Both feel frustrated because each time that their wills are answered, their wills double.

The is no hapiness in the material world, only in spiritual world. Being G-d´s servant, and to serve people is what gives life purpose, meaning. In other words, to live genuinely according to the Torah, is to live plentifully, abundantly.

For some people, to live Torah is to walk enslaved by rules. But, for G-d, to libe the Tora is to live the true love, the love according to the Hebrew Bible.

But what is love according to HaShem´s Word?

Is the compromise to live G-d´s commandments, such as : to seek G-d´s interests in people´s life; is opposite to transgression of the Torah; is compassionate; is true, is just, is wise; doesn´t rejoice in injustice but reprove it; is donor; doesn´t seek own interests; is patient; é voluntary; is impartial; wants and contributes to make people serve G-d servants and, then, be blessed through an autentic relantionship with G-d. Who lives love, expelled envy, greed and pursuit of glory and lives to glorify the Creator, loving Him above all things and people as himself (Deuteronomy 6).

The external observances of the Torah are nothing without the internal observances of the Torah, reason why the circumcision of the flash is nothing compared with the circuncision of human´s heart (Deuteronomy 30). A person who is honest with herself, looking to the true luve as G-d sees it, according to the Tanach, will recognize that doesn´t live this love. But this confession, together with the apologies to G-d, is the first step to the cure that HaShem wants to do in our hearts, the circumcision. The second step is the surrender of our hearts, ofour life to Him, asking Him to sanctify us, to purify us, and to help us to do not commit injustices.

There is not a person who doesn´t need to repent of, at least, one transgression of the Torah along his life. All of us need G-d´s mercy. We need a heart able, capable to love as is writen in the Hebrew Bible.

And, when we recognize it and return to Him, not because of our merits, but without anything to offer Him, except a heart wiling to obey and compromised to abandon our injustices, our disaffection, then He circuncises our heart and enable us through His Spirit to understand, gives us understanding of His Word and gives us spiritual capacitacion to live His commandments. So, He promised in Torah and so happened woth all His servants. Every servant of G´d needed to return to Him, and all of those that wanted to be justs in theirselves, never achieved The Way of Holiness.

Precisely, what every human needs is that G-d be his Source of Justice and Love that gushes in our hearts, helping us to live in our hearts all the mitzvot (commandments). That He returns to be G´d in our hearts, Governor and Guide of our lives. Which merit do we have, so? Trully, any merit. The merit is from HaShem, that enables us to serve Him and to serve other people, in the moment that we decide and will to love above all interest or greed. Because of this reason, onlu the Hashem is deserver of Glory and Acknowledgment. The merits are His. Only He should be aggrandized, glorified.

By this way the human glory is expelled: when he wants to acknowledge only the Creator and to serve Him, repenting of all the times that desired to be aggrandized and all the times that sought to glorify himself. HaShem is the One who expells our passions, greeds, envy, leading us to the Freedom of walking in G-d´s precepts in our hearts. The observance of the external precepts, as observing the shabat, Yom Kippur`s fasting, to elimate the chametz (ferment) in Pessach, etc, should be only consequences, in other words, in gratitude for the fact that HaShem is G-d who sanctifies us, purifies us and makes us His pure servants again.

The external precepts should be symbols of a most important thing that happens in the heart; the rest (shabat) in G-d; the will to abandon the injustices, the trust in HaShem to purify us. Never the man can have merit before G-d, for nothing he makes, because all things that are pure come from G-d and is for His glory and not for our glory.. Just G-d can make the human being to obey in a pure (holy) way in the heart (intentions and acts) any commandment. Without G-d the action wouldn´t be pure. I cannot give any pure fruit, in thought, will, action, behavior, if HaShem doesn´t enable me by His Spirit. The human being, surrended to himself, can give only works, deeds, that have appearence of justice, but are not pure in intentions. It is necessary that the person returns to the Source of Purity, that is, to HaShem, to the Creator.

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow”- Psalms 51:7

Then, we will be satisfied, happy, delighted, even in the middle of life´s difficulties, because even in difficulties we can serve G-d and walk in santity with Him. We will be happy walking in His holy way, following and living His lovely precepts, by capacity that He gives.

Sons of Israel: keep away from the nation´s practices and stay in the Torah of HaShem

“9 When thou art come into the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee, thou shalt not learn to do after the abominations of those nations. 10 There shall not be found among you any one that maketh his son or his daughter to pass through the fire, one that useth divination, a soothsayer, or an enchanter, or a sorcerer, 11 or a charmer, or one that consulteth a ghost or a familiar spirit, or a necromancer. 12 For whosoever doeth these things is an abomination unto the LORD; and because of these abominations the LORD thy God is driving them out from before thee. 13 Thou shalt be whole-hearted with the LORD thy God. 14 For these nations, that thou art to dispossess, hearken unto soothsayers, and unto diviners; but as for thee, the LORD thy God hath not suffered thee so to do.”- Deuteronomy 18:9-14

Why HaShem instructed Israel to stay away from the religious practices of the nations (in the context of the imminent possession of the promised land by Him to the sons of Israel (Jacob) ?)

The practice of nations are not religious options or kind, are injustices and abominable in the eyes of the Creator, HaShem.

When the human being wants to do G-d´s will, want to live His commandments, He doesn´t seek to other source but the Creator. The human being seeks or evokes other gods or spirits (idolatry or espiritism) when he wants to be blessed wothou submitting himself to G-d´s commandments. Otherwise, he would go directly to G-d in prayer or supplication.

Because of this reason, G-d drove out the nations living in the land He promised to the children of Israel. Because they rejected to live on the commandments and on the righteousness of G-d. They magnified themselves and/or the gods and spirits to satiate their wishes, as a bargain: in exchange for the worship, the authority gave him what he wanted and so he would not need to submit to the commandments of G-d and would receive the prosperity they wanted or have their desires satisfied. So is the false religion: the use of gods, spirits and even the Creator (G-d), to do our own will. In contrast, true religion is love to the commandments of the Torah, Torah obedience, love to G-d.

“All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep His covenant and His testimonies” - Psalms 25:10

So, a person can not follow G-d´s way without submitting himself to live in the ethics and justice of Torah, there are the true love, the love in the pure eyes of G-d, the Holy Creator. Manytimes the human being may misrepresent and even pervert the purity of Torah, about it. To understand the Torah is not something tha is done independently of HaShem (G-d). He is the One who gives the understanding (Psalms 119:18,27; Proverbs 8:14).

“Give me understanding, that I keep Thy law and observe it with my whole heart. 35 Make me to tread in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight.36 Incline my heart unto Thy testimonies, and not to covetousness”- Psalms 119:34-36.

And He doesn´t give to all, but only for those who are decided to abandon their injustices practices and to live His commandments and for this don´t trust in theirselves, but in the purification and capacitation that He gives. If they trust in theirselves to obey the Torah they would be using G-d and the Torah to exalt themselves, what would be false religion. In opposition, is G-d that sanctifies the sons of Israel (Exodus (Shemot) 31:13) and the sons of the nations that return to Him (make teshuvá) with all their hearts (Psalms 72:11,17; 86:9; 102:16).

The people of Israel, in opposition of the nation, had made a covenant (brit) with HaShem, compromising themselves to live in all the commandments of Torah, which resume is true love and justice. If they get involved or copy some religious practices of the nations, it would mean that thwy were choosing to do not live the pure and just commandments of the Torah and making bargains to obtain what they want, in the same way of the nations, without connection with G-d´s justice. If Israel made this, therefore, they would be decouplingfrom G-d, moving away from G-dand being abominable in His eyes, being exposed to the same judgment that was destinated (court for) to the nations.

We live in a time in which the retativism and the ecumenism are taking the religions. Are being criticized those tha tell that there is only a Way that leads to G-d. But the Creator, G-d of Abraham, Itzhak e Iakov says that His way is the Torah, His Word (Exodus (Shemot) 18:20; Joshua 1:8; Psalms 25:10). The Torah must be the reference of the jewish faith, which must be heard and retained in the heart (Shemá Israel) and by the Torah the human being knows G-d and is guided by Him, if he (she) decides to submit himself (herself) to Him and love Him with all his (her) heart (Deuteronomy 6:5). Traditions and comments come and go, but the Word of HaShem, the Torah, remains forever. We just listen to HaShem if we read His Torah and if we are wiiling, we have a disposition to live it by choosing the way of justice, and love, retaining the Torah in the heart (Psalms 19:8-15).


“Remove from me the way of falsehood; and grant me Thy law graciously.I have chosen the way of faithfulness; Thine ordinances have I set [before me]. I cleave unto Thy testimonies; O LORD, put me not to shame”- - Psalms 119:29-31

The Babylon, the mother of the false religion, says that all ways are valid and supports religious syncretism. But G-d´s ways is the Torah, that does not assimilate with the practices of the nations. In opposite, reprove them, because they come against the righteousness of the righteous and lovely commandments of HaShem. The idolatrous practices of the nations seek to satiate the human desires while the true religion seeks to do G-d´s Will: to obey Torah´s precepts and, therefore, to love G-d with all the heart, whose consequence is the eternal life.

Is not for accident that the false religion has being expanding, but it comes to prepare the acceptance of the Anti-Messiah, the man of iniquity, tha the Tanach, in Daniel´s book, announces that he will come. This Anti-Messiah will have the appearance of kindness and justice, but is false, and just seeks to be glorified in the place of G-d, exalting himself. He will profane the third Temple. He will promote a false peace and will deceive many people. The more people are distant from the Hebrew Bible the more they will be more likely to be deceived by the anti-Messiah:

“24 Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an end of sin, and to forgive iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal vision and prophet, and to anoint the most holy place.
25 Know therefore and discern, that from the going forth of the word to restore and to build Jerusalem unto one anointed, a prince, shall be seven weeks; and for threescore and two weeks, it shall be built again, with broad place and moat, but in troublous times.
26 And after the threescore and two weeks shall an anointed one be cut off, and be no more; and the people of a prince that shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; but his end shall be with a flood; and unto the end of the war desolations are determined.
27 And he shall make a firm covenant with many for one week; and for half of the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the offering to cease; and upon the wing of detestable things shall be that which causeth appalment; and that until the extermination wholly determined be poured out upon that which causeth appalment.'” - Daniel 9:24-27.

The prince that will come of Daniel chapter 9, the Anti-Messiah, will make a covenant with liders for a week [of years] (7 years), establishing a false peace. In the middle of the weak (3 uears and a half) he will make stop the sacrifice and will make detestable things and will continuate to act until his destruction comes.

Because of this reason, is very important that people turn to the Holy Scriptures (Kodesh Ketuvim), para a Bíblia Hebraica, e assim possam discernir as coisas do Eterno, to know Him and to be less exposed to the deceits of the Anti- Messiah, that will pretend of Light (of Messiah), but is darkness. The Anti-Messiah will be destructed by HaShem, in the establishiment of His of justice and true peace of hte Kingdom of the True Messiah (Isaiah 2; 9;11).

“25 And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the seasons and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time.
26 But the judgment shall sit, and his dominions shall be taken away, to be consumed and to be destroy unto the end.
27 And the kingdom and the dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High; their kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obey them.' " - Daniel 7:25-27