It is with a great joy we have received a good

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1 Shabbat Behar-Bekhukotai Shabbat 19 May Iyar 5772 Website: Web Ministers: News First Online Education University in IAD It is with a great joy we have received a good news about David Siguelnitsky, a Jewish Adventist from Israel who is working in the Inter-American Division. He went to that Division few years ago to work as a teacher. But the L-rd blessed him abundantly, he succeeded to get a PhD, and with this degree he started a new university based in Porto Rico. The first university of the Inter-American Division dedicated to distance learning through the Internet. The Seventh-day Adventist Inter-American Division officially launched its online educational institution yesterday in Miami, Florida, on May 7, 2012 during a colorful ceremony that drew the attendance of top church leaders and educators from the 12 universities in the territory all dressed in their academic regalia. We recognize in this picture Pastor Israel Leito, president of the Inter-America Division who passes on the ceremonial mace to Herbert Fletcher University President Dr. David Siguelnitzky during the inaugural launch. Mazal Tov David, May our G-d continue to bless you. New Israel Field President I am happy to introduce to the readers of our newsletter pastor Roger Robertsen, the new Israel Field s President. I had the opportunity to know him closely, since we have worked together for many years within the Trans-European Division. We attended together many meetings and even the TED s Executive Committee. He was born and grew up in Norway. As a teenager he left the Lutheran church to become a Seventh-day Adventist, mainly due to his studies of the Sabbath issue. He worked as a youth pastor, departmental Director, Conference s President and he was also President of the Norwegian Union. He has worked during the last 12 years as Director of The Norwegian Bible Institute, an organization which works with theological issues and develops Bible courses for the correspondence school the Seventhday Adventists operate. During his service he has represented the church in the Norwegian Theological Association and in the Norwegian Bible Society. His interest in the land of Israel started in 1976 when he participated for the first time to archaeological excavations in Israel. He came back many time, led many tours in the Holy land and as he said I know the countryside, the topography and the Biblical sites in the land. He is happy to come to work in Israel and is aware that it is not the same to come to Israel as a tourist or an archeologist and to come for a permanent living. It is a privilege for me to wish him all the Lord s blessings for his new ministry in the Holy Land. Parasha 1 Newsletter n 477

2 Parasha 2 Newsletter Overview Behar Leviticus 25:1-26:2 The Torah prohibits normal farming of the Land of Israel every seven years. This Shabbat for the Land is called shemita. After every seventh shemita, the fiftieth year, yovel (jubilee) is announced with the sound of the shofar on Yom Kippur. This was also a year for the Land to lie fallow. G-d promises to provide a bumper crop prior to the shemita and yovel years. During yovel, all land is returned to its original division from the time of Joshua, and all Jewish indentured servants are freed, even if they have not completed their six years of work. A Jewish indentured servant may not be given any demeaning, unnecessary or excessively difficult work, and may not be sold in the public market. The price of his labor must be calculated according to the amount of time remaining until he will automatically become free. The price of land is similarly calculated. Should anyone sell his ancestral land, he has the right to redeem it after two years. If a house in a walled city is sold, the right of redemption is limited to the first year after the sale. The Levites cities belong to them forever. The Jewish People are forbidden to take advantage of one another by lending or borrowing with interest. Family members should redeem any relative who was sold as an indentured servant as a result of impoverishment. Bekhukotai Leviticus 26:3-27:34 The Torah promises prosperity for the Jewish People if they follow G-d s commandments. However, if they fail to live up to the responsibility of being the Chosen People, then chilling punishments will result. The Torah details the harsh historical process that will fall upon them when Divine protection is removed. These punishments, whose purpose is to bring the Jewish People to repent, will be in seven stages, each more severe than the last. Sefer Vayikra, the book of Leviticus, concludes with the details of erachin the process by which someone vows to give the Beit Hamikdash the equivalent monetary value of a person, an animal or property. Behar and Bekhukotai This Shabbat we read the two Parashot, Behar and Bekhukotai. With this reading we conclude the third Book of the Torah, the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra). Behar, is composed of two words: be and har, be is a preposition and means in or on and har means Mountain thus the translation of Behar is on Mount, the next word in the parasha is Sinai. G-d wants to specify that these rules as the entire Torah were given on Mount Sinai. Bekhukotai, is composed also of two words: be and khukotai, from the root khok / khuk which means decree and statute and the suffix Ai read like English I is the possessive My. Bekhukotai means in my decrees to stay in the decrees of the L-rd or to follow His laws. Sabbatical Year Parashat Behar begins with the mitzvah of letting fields rest during Shmita (Sabbatical year): The torah states: And the L-rd spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai saying: Speak to the children of Israel and say to them. When you come into the land which I give you, the land shall keep a Sabbath unto the L-rd. Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in its produce. But a Sabbath of solemn rest shall be in the seventh year; you shall not sow your field and you shall not prune your vineyard... (Lev 25:1-4). Whatever grew in the seventh year belonged to everyone equally. As to the question, What shall we eat the seventh year? G-d promises, I will send you such a blessing in the sixth year that the land will yield enough for three years. (Lev. 25:21) The number seven is significant in Judaism. The weekly Shabbat is the seventh day of each week. The seventh month is the month of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and Tabernacle feasts. The seventh year is the year of Shmita. After seven Shmita years is the Jubilee year Yovel.

3 At a wedding we recite Sheva Brachot seven blessings. In preparation for receiving the Torah on Shavuot, we count Sefirah the omer for seven weeks from Pesach. The patriarchs (Abraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov) and the matriarchs (Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel, Leah) total seven people. Moshe Rabeinu (Moses) was the seventh generation from Abraham (Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Levi, Kehat, Amram, Moshe). Indeed, our sages say, The seventh is favored. In a practical way how do we know if this year is the year of shmita or not. The Jewish people do it in an easy way. This year is in the Jewish calendar the year 5772, this number cannot be divided by 7, then we are not in a year of shmita. the next one will be in 5775, that means in from Yom kippur 2014 (October 4) to Yom Kippur Why A Sabbatical Year? I think at least of four reasons why G-d ordained that Israel have a keep a Sabbatical Year. First, we should devote that year to Torah study and spiritual elevation. It is very common in American Universities today to grant a sabbatical period (quarter, semester or even a year) to their professors in order for them to concentrate on some specific studies, research, or writing. Second, it is good for the fields to rest and not to be submitted to intensive agriculture which exhausts the ground and makes it less and less productive. Third, not to work in the fields during the sabbatical year strengthens one s reliance and dependence on G-d. During the other six years one may attribute their success to their own hard work. By resting during the seventh year, we must rely completely on G-d. Thus, our faith in G-d becomes stronger. Fourth, through the Sabbatical year we can better appreciate the needs of the poor who do not have their own field and must continually rely on the mercy and generosity of others. This leads to a better understanding of the importance of giving charity and helping the needy. Blessings & Punishment Parshat BeChukotei begins, If in My statutes you will walk and My commandments you will keep and do them; then I will give your rains in their seasons and the land shall yield its produce, the trees of the field shall yield their produce and your threshing shall reach vintage and the vintage shall reach into the sowing time; and you shall eat your bread in fullness and satisfaction and you will dwell in safety in your land. And I will give peace in the land... (Lev 26:3-5). After describing the many blessings which will come as a result of observing G-d s commandments, the Torah describes the punishments which will befall the Jewish people if they (G-d forbid) abandon G-d s commandments. Twice in the Torah (in this Parsha and again in Deuteronomy, Parshat Ki Tavo), we find a detailed description of punishments - called Tochacha - for not observing the Torah. However this punishment does not mean that G-d abandon his people or cancel his covenant with Israel. In this parasha we have this statement from G-d Yet, even then, when they are in the land of their enemies, I will not reject them or spurn them so as to destroy them, annulling My covenant with them: for I the LORD am their God. (Lev. 26:44). Honesty in Business Of the many mitzvot found in Parshat B har is honesty in business. The Torah says, And when you will sell to your neighbor or buy from your neighbor... you shall not wrong one another and you shall fear your G-d, for I am the L-rd your G-d. Although the Torah already prohibited stealing, G-d again stresses this prohibition relating to business as it is easier to rationalize such behavior in business. Our sages say that being careful and observant in the mitzvot associated with business and relationships between one person and another have a profound affect as to one s relationship with G-d. This is why the Torah says, And you shall not wrong one another and you shall fear your G-d! In other words, dealing honestly will strengthen one s fear of G-d. The true barometer to one s being G-d fearing can be judged by their honesty in their business dealings and relationship between them and others. Sources: These comments of the parasha are based on comments published by Rabbi Zalmen Pakouz, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, Rabbi Ozer Alport, Rabbi Ari Kahn, Rabbi Noson Weisz, By Rabbi Naftali Reich, Rabbi Berel Wein and Rabbi Yochanan Zweig, Rabbi Yissocher Frand, by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair from Ohr Somayach, by Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky. and Rabbi Zalmen Marozov. Parasha 3 Newsletter

4 Parasha 4 Newsletter Honesty in Business The Talmudic sage Reb Chanina earned his livelihood from selling honey. Once instead of giving bee s honey, he filled the customer s jar with fruit honey by mistake. Next time he saw the customer, he told the customer that he mistakenly gave him fruit honey. The customer replied that he was happy with the honey he got. Yet, Rabbi Chanina felt that he transgressed on the mitzvah of honest business practice, for he didn t give him what he thought he wanted. So, not wanting to have any gain from money earned in a misleading way, he donated the profit of the sale to charity.. The Time of Our Escape There is an old time story about a Polish Jew Moshe who was living under the oppressive rule of a cruel landlord. The economy shrunk and Moshe like many others found it difficult to make a living. The landlord unyielding insisted upon his monthly rent. Moshe fell farther and farther behind. The landlord grew very impatient. The landlord came to Moshe s house and threatened himthat if he did not pay the full amount by Wednesday Moshe would be put into jail and his family would be made to suffer. Moshe knew his threat real. Monday afternoon, in an act of desperation, he piled his family and all his possessions onto his wagon and he began to flee from home. On the single road leaving his village Moshe met the landlord himself. Looking at Moshe with curiously he asked where he was going. Moshe quickly and nervously told the landlord that they re going away for a Jewish holiday. Looking quizzically at Moshe, the landlord queried, Which Jewish holiday? to which Moshe answered, Zeman Pleitaseinu (Literally: the time of our escape). Moshe edged by and the landlord continued on his way into town. When he arrived in town he was surprised to find everyone going about their weekday business. The landlord asked one fellow, Why are not you getting ready for the Jewish holiday? The man answered that he did not know of any Jewish holiday at this time of the year which touched off his suspicion. The landlord told him that Moshe was celebrating something called, Zeman Pleitaseinu. Ahhhhhhh, sighed the Jewish peasant, that holiday is different than other Jewish holidays. Other Jewish holidays we all celebrate together but Zeman Pleitaseinu is different. Everyone celebrates it at a different time. This time it is Moshe s turn. Next it may be mine! Everyone has their own special time to celebrate, Zeman Pleitaseinu! The Honr-Seeking Man The story is told of an honor-seeking man who envied the Cohanim being called first to the reading of the Torah. He longed to have that kavode, honor, and finally devised a plan! Since the Torah is also read on Monday and Thursday in addition to Shabbat, he would travel across town to a synagogue where he was not known. When the gabbai (sexton) calls out, Is there a Cohen present? he ll indicate his presence and get the first aliya to the Torah! One Monday he drives across town to a distant synagogue. When the gabbai asks for a Cohen, he raises his hand. Then the gabbai comes over to him and says, Would you mind stepping out of the synagogue for a few minutes? We want to give the aliya to someone important! EDITOR A newsletter published by the World Jewish Adventist Friendship Center Under the umbrella of the General Conference Office of Adventist Mission Richard-Amram Elofer 4, Abraham Lincoln Jerusalem Israel Tel Fax richard@elofer.com web: jewishadventist.org

5 Haftara Jeremiah 32:6-27 In this text of Jeremiah we have an illustration of the year of Yovel. Jeremiah said, The word of the LORD came to me: Hanamel son of your uncle Shallum is going to come to you and say, Buy my field that is at Anathoth, for the right of redemption by purchase is yours (Jer. 32:6-7). However, Jeremiah wanted to be certain that this revelation was truly from G-d. It was a strange order. Jeremiah had received the revelation from G-d that the people of Israel would be deported to Babylon, Jerusalem and the temple would be destroyed. There was no sense in buying a property now. It would be better to keep these seventeen shekels of silver and to use them in Babylon where they would be living. It was very strange. The L-rd had to confirm to Jeremiah that this revelation was true. And it was confirmed by his cousin. Then my cousin Hanamel came to me in the court of the guard, in accordance with the word of the L-RD, and said to me, Buy my field that is at Anathoth in the land of Benjamin, for the right of possession and redemption is yours; buy it for yourself. Then I knew that this was the word of the L-RD (Jer. 32:8). He obeyed and bought the land. And I bought the field at Anathoth from my cousin Hanamel, and weighed out the money to him, seventeen shekels of silver. I signed the deed, sealed it, got witnesses, and weighed the money on scales. (Jer. 32:9-10). Why did the L-rd want Jeremiah to spend this money in Jerusalem, to buy land that would be taken by the Babylonians? Thus says the L-rd of hosts, the G-d of Israel: Take these deeds, both this sealed deed of purchase and this open deed, and put them in an earthenware jar, in order that they may last for a long time. For thus says the L-rd of hosts, the G-d of Israel: Houses and fields and vineyards shall again be bought in this land (Jer. 32:14-15). The main message of this purchase is that there is hope. G-d is not going to abandon his people or to reject them. He wants to teach them a lesson. He wants to push them to fulfil his mission which is to share the knowledge of G-d. That is why this money was not lost. OUR HOPE IS IN THE L-RD. Brit Hachadasha Hebrews 4 The concept of the Sabbath is very important in the Bible; in the Tanach and the Brit Hachadash too. It is one of the first commandments given by G-d in Eden (Gen 2:1-3). It has been included in the Ten Commandments, written on the tables of stone, by the finger of G-d, showing in this way that the Sabbath is as much important as the commandments of having only one G-d or not to kill. In our parasha God has repeated again the commandment of the Sabbath Observe my Sabbaths and have reverence for my sanctuary. I am the L-rd. (Lev 26:2). And this concept is so important that G-d has extended the concept by requesting the land to rest also on the 7th year (Sabbatical year) and to redeem the lands and the people after seven Sabbatical year (7x7+1) the fiftieth year which was decreed as the year of Jubilee. (Lev 25). The Jewish tradition has understood this concept of rest on the 7th saying that even the world will last 6000 years and then on the 7th millennium the earth will be in rest (or Sabbatical) for 1000 years R. Kattina said: The world is to last six thousand years, and one thousand it will be desolate (Rosh Hashana 31a). Idea which is in complete agreement with the affirmation of Yochanan in Revelation 20 who develops what will happen during this thousand year of desolation. It is therefore not surprising that the Brit Hachadasha reminds us that the concept of the Sabbath is still valid and important. It is first easy to see Yeshua and the disciples being faithful to the Shabbat. And the author of Hebrews is very clear on this point There remains, then, a Sabbath-rest for the people of God (Heb 4:9). Nobody can affirm that with Yeshua we would not need any more the Shabbat. Yeshua said that he did not come to cancel the laws (Matt 5:17). And in Hebrews the seventh-day is confirmed For somewhere he has spoken about the seventh day in these words: And on the seventh day God rested from all his work. ; Let us, therefore, make every effort to enter that rest, so that no one will fall by following their example of disobedience. (Heb 4:4; 11) Parasha 5 Newsletter