Fifty Gates

Dec 15th, 2009 by Rabbi Simcha Weinberg in Reflections & Observations, Relationships

7 Comments

Gates of Jerusalem

I turned 50 years old last night, the fourth night of Chanukah. Debbie had presented me with a list of extravagant gluten-free desserts and offered to make the one of my choice.

The Birthday Cake

Having difficulty with decisions regarding Debbie’s treats, I told her that for such an important birthday, it would only be proper for her to make all of the desserts offered.

The only non gluten-free cake at the party. Boo!

I was joking, kind of, but Debbie as always, generous beyond measure, agreed to make all of them and to invite a few of my favorite people to share my special treats.

Flan

The few people turned out to be more than 65. Friends, more like siblings than friends, flew in from Los Angeles, Boca Raton, Palm Beach and St. Louis. One has been a friend/brother since 1974. There were people from practically every stage of my adult life.

Each and every person there had gone out of their way to help me in good times and bad, and had shared in joyous times, illness, suffering, and life-changing decisions. I would not be where or who I am if not for them.

I was so moved by the people who cared enough to come and share the moment, and steal some of my desserts,

Torta del Re - King's Cake (S.S.)

which they claimed were “just,” (sorry! I couldn’t resist) that I barely had time to eat any of my treats. (I did offer to manage all the leftovers, and have been granted the 24 hours of my birthday to add a few pounds.)

Bee's Double Chocolate Cake

We were gathered in our living room, where we also host a minyan for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Just before the obligatory speech I recalled the last time I had spoken in the room, just before Neilah.

Pumpkin Cheesecake

At that time I reflected on gates that are in the process of closing. Before and during Neilah, we tend to picture ourselves standing outside the gates, and their closing as a loss of opportunity. What if, I asked, rather than standing outside the gates, we were standing inside? We could picture the gates as protecting us and all we gained over Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.

I always picture the closing gates of Neilah as holding me in the courtyards of prayer and Teshuva. I don’t see them as shutting me out, because I have learned through, what many consider, great suffering, that God never closes the Heavenly Gates before us.

Gates represent new opportunities. A slave, who refuses to accept an opportunity for freedom, has his ear pieced on a gate! The Heavenly gates close us in when we need protection, but they constantly open toward more opportunities.

50 represents the 50 Gates of Binah – Understanding. Turning 50 is all about recognizing when the Gates of Opportunity are open wide, inviting us to step through them into even better places.

I have walked through many gates, but I was never alone. Each one of the people who came to steal some of my desserts, and the many who could not come but were there in spirit, had held my arm and helped me walk through every one of those gates.

Thanks for being there with me and for me. I see the gates opening once again: Walk with me.

Author Info:
Learn & discover the Divine prophecies with Rabbi Simcha Weinberg from the holy Torah, Jewish Law, Mysticism, Kabbalah and Jewish Prophecies. The Foundation Stone™ is the ultimate resource for Jews, Judaism, Jewish Education, Jewish Spirituality & the holy Torah.

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7 Comments

• Perry Dec 15, 2009 at 12:36 pm

  Something you once said from the pulpit – that i’ve never forgotten –
  Adam and Eve were punished in various ways for eating from the tree of knowledge. But the section about their being banished from Eden is completely separate (and appears so in the Torah text). This is not really about punishment. They are banished and/BUT angels are put at the gates with whirling swords… not in the expectation that they would never return – but to ensure that their return – when it happens – can be blocked. More importantly the angels are there with the hope that someday we WILL try to come back and break in and merit the ability to thwart the swords. God is expecting us to come knocking at the gates of Eden.
  Till 120 may you be with us on this side knocking at the gates of Eden with sweet Torah and divine questions.
  All my love
  perry
• admin Dec 15, 2009 at 12:51 pm

  Thank you, Perry, my very dear friend. Margy-Ruth and you opened many gates for me and stood by me and pushed me through. You both gave me an opportunity to turn back towards Eden and remember exactly what life promises for those who look to Eden as the two of you so often do.
• moshe stepansky Dec 15, 2009 at 8:08 pm

  The Seer of Lublin says ‘when the gates are open,one is allowed to push them open even wider.

  What is it about the 50th Gate?
  When I had the privilege to learn Yoreh De’ah for rabbinic ordination, our rebbe,Rav Yosef Weiss said on the first day ‘Boys, remember! There is the 5th part of Shukhan Aruch, without which the other four are almost useless, and that is common sense.’ Or as R’Elyah Chayim Carlebach, R’Shlomo’s twin brother was fond of saying ‘Just be normal!!’
  So, where do we find the 50th Gate? Everything is in our Holy Torah. Surely the 50th Gate is marked in a special manner – perhaps flanked by the letter ‘Nun’ numerically 50!?!
  We find in P’ B’Ha’alot’cha (the same weekly portion opening with Aharon’s lighting the M’norah), the 2 verses of “VaY’hee binso’a Ho’Aron” and “U’v'Noo’kho” flanked by backwards ‘Nun’s.
  RaSH”I says these ‘Nun’s indicate these p’sukim,verses, were transported from their linear place in the Torah narrative to accomplish a secret higher purpose,of separating derogatory accounts of Ahm Yisroel’s behaviour. [The numeric of the full letter N U N = 106. The 2 N U N s (flanks) numerically = 2 x 106 = 212, which is the equivalent of RIV -altercation. However, it is split-separation of the altercants, perhaps fixing the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Bad to Good FROM Bad, ‘lahat haKherev haMithapechet’)
  This 5Oth Gate of Wisdom tells us we have to go outside our comfort zone, to disrupt our linear selves, to go beyond. The true wisdom is to know what to do NOW to bring the world into alignment, serving G-d.
  How can we accomplish this? Again, our Holy Torah doesn’t leave us high and dry. These 2 verses tell us the entire encampment would not begin or end its journey until Moshe Rabbeinu davenned. As we journey into the 50th Gate of trying to know what G-d wants from us now,we have to keep on davenning.
  CHaZ”L tell us these 2 verses are considered a separate sefer, holy book of the Torah (i.e instead of the 5 books of the Khumash, there are 7 since B’Midbar is split into 3). But there’s no mitzvah in this exceedingly terse sefer!! The Ohr HaKhayim HaKadosh explains the purpose of this special sefer is to indicate Ahm Yisroel’s mission in journeying all over the planet. He says wherever we go in this great desert (of a planet)we are charged with uncovering and redeeming all the Holy Sparks.
  The 50th Gate of Binah is the portal of seeing the Inside of the Inside. Not many ascend to this level, of utter clarity. Ben-Zoma achieved it and truly understood ” Who is wise, a gibbor, a wealthy man, an honored person…”. Unfortunately, society misinterpreted his behaviour as one who has lost his mind. Clarity is not easily attained or accepted.
  R’Shlomo taught us we all need Moshiakh eyes. ‘A Y N’ numerically is 130; 2 eyes = 260 = 10 x 26. Moshiakh eyes allow us to see the Holy People, hidden under all the shmutz that accumulates with daily existence. Fixing the world can only come about thru sight rooted in the 13 attributes of mercy and lovingkindness.

  I am constantly amazed at R’ Simcha’s ability to go beyond himself. I am sure it is because he is always davenning as he courageously goes where no one has gone before. Even more so,he has acquired a fine pair of Moshiakh eyes, tho’ that long journey has taken its tolls.

  I bless you that attaining the 50th Gate of Moshiakh Eyes is just the beginning of another 70 Insides of the Insides (Panim==>P’nim) of the Holy Torah. May your Light illuminate the world for many years to come , with Debbie warming you with her Holy Fire.