When my son Aharon Mateho “ben ben” Yoseif was almost 3 years old – and already knew “sand-box” Hebrew, he and I decided it was time to begin his formal education in the world of the mystics.

 “Ben-ben” got just as excited about the meaning behind the Hebrew letters as he had “counting numbers” on Hebrew license plates from the time he rode in a pack on his Abba’s back all over Jerusalem and Israel.  By that, I don’t just mean reciting the numbers in Hebrew, but using a simple gematria I taught him to add them together until they make up one number! So close to my ears,  I finally had to ask him to count “silently” – unless he found a ”9.”   This is because he and I, were “secretly” on the lookout for the “666” who is an 18 who is a 9.  Maybe this is not a mental discipline for all pre-schoolers, but it helped my son, now 21, later master 10 orchestra instruments, Classical guitar, jazz piano and two years of microbiology and helped me fine-tune my spiritual senses to spot the real 666s, when they slither across my path).

 GOvernMEnt Loans spells G-O-M-E-L

 But some discriminations run deep and alas, no scholarship for my son. So like many of our post-Boomer generations today, he must be on the “government DoLe,” and dependant on “GOvernMEnt Loans” (at least until the  economy improves so these young men and women can FIND summer jobs).  Note that student loans are spelled “G-O-M-E-L,” represented by the “Gimel” and those dependent on them are spelled “D-L,” represented by the “Dalet.”  Gimel and Dalet are the third and fourth letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet and the prophet Elijah teaches that they have an inter-relationship.

 I have been engaged in five inipi over the past two weeks – sundancers are starting their annual four-day vision quests and have to be purified before we “inscribe” them in a seven foot diameter circle in remote mountain locations and “washed down” when they return to this world.  So I have been out of touch with the news … until today.

  ‘Triple A’ shuns Beth-El ‘Cookies’

  I see that  “Triple A,” my new pet name for “Arwillus Armittus Armillus” (who is channeling former Mass. Gov. Willard Mitt Romney) revealed more of his Satanic agenda to steal the Birthright of Joseph.    Open-mic moments have revealed that “Triple A” has shunned “Beth-El” (House of God) Cookies!  Beth-El is the border city between Ephraim and Benjamin.  All of the Birthright of Joseph (the head and crown in the partzuf at www.torah-voice.org) pivots on this Luz bone that together with Jerusalem, define the neck.  For those looking for such esoteric clues, it signals a clear attack against the Becorah (Birthright).  Also,  some rabbonim in Israel believe that the place Jacob had his experience with the ladder descending from Heaven indicates an End-Times roll for Beth-El THAT MAY DIRECTLY CONTRADICT THE MORMON BELIEF THAT A NEW JERUSALEM WILL DESCEND AT INDEPENDENCE, MO.  So I can understand the logic of ha-Satan’s attack on “our” Cookies, which are symbolic of the Birthright.

 And now it appears that AAA wants to take aim at my son’s student loan AND MY FOOD STAMPS!  (I live and minister in the poorest county in Colorado by intention and live and minister among the poorest by intention to help  them remember the Torah understanding of their Covenant, to suffer with them for the reconciliation  and to learn from my brothers and sisters and fellow elders!)   With help coming from nowhere, we share among ourselves.

 Together we can eat tuna fish salad.

 I was shocked this morning to hear a recording of the Right Wing Propagandist who poses as a news columnist, Shawn Hannerty who condescendingly and with no SHAME at all, relegated the poor to a pot of “beans and rice.”  To compound his sin, he promotes the idea that the resources stolen from the poor should go into the pockets of the already rich in the form of lower taxes.  I grew up in a small North Louisiana town on beans and rice and polk salad and turnip greens and corn bread (and before I knew any better) pond catfish.  In a family of seven, it was a treat once a week to have chicken or roast beef.   Some days the best meal we had was the school lunch program.   I believe I understand poverty, going to bed hungry and how it affects one’s mental processes.

 After our most recent night inipi (purification lodge), the elders and grandmothers and sundancers returning from the Other World, congregated to eat tuna fish salad.  Some brought apples, some pickle relish, others cans of tuna, others onion, others mayo, others bread and others drinks. (I brought some cream horseradish and matzot left over from Passover).  Some could only bring bottles filled with water.  BUT EVERYONE BROUGHT SOMETHING.  But by having this community meal we violated the “law.”

 The Bread of Shame

 While we were munching on our tuna salad and sandwiches sometime around 11 p.m., we came to the realization that in our choice to suffer for the reconciliation between the families of Joseph, we were 66 percent unemployed and 90 percent underemployed and 100 percent dependant on Food Stamps for the meal we were eating!  “law” (lowercase is mine) forbids poor people to share their food with anyone if it is purchased with food stamps.

 This “law” violates THE LAW (Torah), which demands that when one is given a gift, (such as food stamps) that one is obligated to SHARE part or all of that gift with someone else who was not a party to it, else they accumulate the BREAD OF SHAME.  This LAW inbred in Native communities is also inbred in the soul of a Hebrew mystic and relates to the story told by the prophet Elijah of the meaning and order of the first five letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet, the inter-relationship between the Gomel (the Benefactor) and the Dahl (the Poor Man).  It also applies to the “fabric of Creation” and betrays how out of touch “law” is with “LAW.”

 The ‘work ethic’ that divides Ephraim and M’nashe

 Land ownership is a relatively new concept to Natives and most indigenous peoples (meaning non-settlers).  In our hearts we cannot “own” our Mother, from whom our elements come.  So we still think of our role as stewards to PROTECT her.    Neither does the “White Anglo-Saxon Protestant work ethic,” some would force on us, have much value and may not be altogether a healthy ethic.  The incidence of high blood pressure, heart disease, strokes and “high-end” drug addiction have all been linked to out-of-balance ambition and overachievement, working too long and even, Grandfather forbid, working on Shabbat.  This equates to pride and ego for which Ephraim is biblically infamous but which is a black road.  Without the spiritual balance offered by M’nashe, Eprhaim would be Hell-bent on using its technological genius to find some way to profit from all of the resources of our Earth Mother. Without that balance, there would be no concept of thinking through these Get Rich Quick technologies without thinking through the effects on Seven Generations.  These are black roads.

 The Bible is clear that the poor always will be here.  The question to ask is “Why?”

Remembering the G’yana Shagowa – the cost of doing business on Turtle Island

“Triple A”  would say the poor are good for nothing but to work to make the elite more elite, snubbing even our cookies!   This attitude will eventually prompt class wars that hopefully can remain ideological in bringing about reforms toward balance.  Both the sages of Torah and the long Whitehairs say the same thing, “Balance,” in all things.  That would include the disparity of wealth in this nation.  The elite should be reminded that in any other nation they may not “own” that wealth and should make the same “thanksgiving offering” percentage-wise as the “less elite.”

And all Americans should be reminded of something else.  Before the settlers arrived to these shores, the G’yana Shagowa (“Great Law”) existed.  That law, which was the model for the U.S. Constitution and its Two-House system, had as its preamble, “NO POOR, no orphans, no jails.”  That means provision was made for the poor, to take-in orphans and to employ criminals productively to bring about their reform before the Iroquois 6 Nation Confederacy looked to any kind of economic prosperity.  Indeed, the treatment of the poor and orphans and less fortunate was a barometer of its blessings!  You might say it should be the “cost of doing business” on Turtle Island and therefore ALL should know that America (Turtle Island) is not TOTALLY the land of the FREE.  Living on this land, entails caring for and ministering to “the least of these my brothers.”

A snake chasing its tail

 With the goal of helping to reform the “elite,”(because when the time comes, I probably will not be alive), I offer you Eliyahu’s explanation of “Why?” there are poor as told in the story of the first five letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet.

 “A snake chasing its tail,” the eldest grandmother remarked about the White Anglo-Saxon Protestant work ethic, provoking laughs and yawns as we departed for our lower-class houses, RVs, trailers and Tee-pees.  And so I began my ascent into my dreams after inipi with thoughts of an emerging class warfare, the less than $50 a week I receive in food stamps that keeps me alive and that image … of a snake chasing its tail.  This grandmother did not know that this was the very analogy that was taught to me by the Holy Spirit, when I first learned the Hebrew aleph-bet.

 A “snake chasing its tail,” represents or is idiomatic of a “story.”  One thing that attracted me to the Hopi culture was the common theme of a snake chasing its tail on their pottery and even their ceremonial father drums.  I would later see it again on the Father Drum of Jimmy Tenrivers.  It makes you ask the question awaited by any “maggid” (story-teller at least in Native culture), “Why?”

 The song that does not end

 The “story” of the Hebrew aleph-bet is analogized to a snake chasing its tail, all the way from Aleph, the first letter, to Tav, the last, and circling again to Aleph, or thus, a snake chasing its tail.   Another snake chasing its tail is “The Song That Does Not End,” which “Ben-ben” learned from a Kid’s Channel puppet:  “This is the song that does not end.  Yes it goes on and on my friend.  Some people started singing it not knowing what it was.  And they’ll continue singing it forever just because.  This is the song that does not end …”  You get the idea.

 The teaching of Elijah

 The story begins, (Paraphrasing Eliyahu), “The Aleph is the Aluf who is the MASTER of Creation.  His Bet is his HOUSE OF ISRAEL who must be the Gimel (Gomel or BENEFACTOR) to the D(ah)l (or POOR) represented by the Dalet WHO LOOK TO HASHEM (Heh).”

 This lesson is deep. Beyond teaching my son the order and meaning of the first five letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet, it teaches Israel the very attribute Grandfather manifests toward Israel as told in (the mystical version at least) of the Passover Seder.  Any time Israel is oppressed, they cry in repentance to the Master of Creation (look to Grandfather) and He will be their Gomel.

 In a spiritual sense, it teaches spiritually rich Israel to share with the spiritually poor goyim (Gentiles) these deep understandings such as the fabric of creation being “sharing.”

 Why Creator Created

 Sandbox Humanity is therefore also School of the Mystics 101 and Philosophy of Creation 101 all combined.  At the end of this brief lesson, one should also be able to answer the question, “Why does Grandfather allow the rich to keep getting richer?”

 Grandfather (my personal choice to refer to Creator), all-knowing and Omnipotent had no need for His Creation.  His existence would have gone on quite fine without It.  So philosophically speaking WHY would he Create Creation?  Elijah says, “To share.”

 Sharing – The fabric of Creation

 “This means SHARING is the fabric of Creation.”  As a young boy I was shown that the stars in the sky shine whether my eyes see them or not and the same was true of the flowers that bloom in the field.  So I concluded that these things were not there solely for my pleasure.  The same is true of the winged and four-legged in the forest and the waters running in the streams, the grass and the ferns and the trees and from the springs all SHARE and not always for the eyes and ears or enjoyment of humans, but always to THEIR Creator.  Voice and rational language are unique to humanity and its concept of intelligence.  But Creator eternally enjoys an orchestra that causes the “trees in the field to clap their hands.”

 Only one part of Creation – the race of Adam – would not have this fabric innate or within.  Mankind would need prompting, urging, teaching, exampling, to become a SHARING creature.  Yet all of Creation emanates of this simple message of “sharing.”

 Wealth, status, position, ego die in inipi

 Even the Song of Moses which he sings to all of Israel before passing over the reign of leadership to Y’hoshuah, validates … and warns that the Heavens and the Earth (all of Creation) will bear witness against humanity if they fail to learn and SHARE.

 This is the harmony with “our Earth Mother” that appears to soak like osmosis into the skin of those who visit her spiritual womb (the inipi).  All the riches, the wealth, status, position, and EGO die in inipi. We (all winged, four-legged, even, grass, trees, rocks and insects with all colors of humanity) are all related.  Humankind is “Earth” brought to life, just like the rest of Creation.  We all come from our Earth mother.   We may not eat the insects, but the insects eat us or we eat animals who do eat insects.

A rip in the fabric of Creation

The first five letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet relate Grandfather’s example that the Gomel should share with the D(ah)l,” else humankind “rip” the fabric of Creation.

 And so the Good Master is a Gomel (Benefactor) to the Dahl (Poor) who look to Grandfather.  The Masorites placed “taggin” or tiny crowns on the top of seven letters of the Hebrew aleph-bet.  These include the Gimel, which has three such taggin and the Dalet, which has one.  The Gimel faces the Dalet and the Dalet is not looking toward the Gimel, but rather toward the Heh, which represents Hashem (Grandfather).  Therefore the obligation of the Benefactor toward the Poor who look to Grandfather.

 Spoiled and selfish progeny result from failure to Remedy the Bread of Shame

 Failure to remedy this shame is a sure formula for spoiled and selfish children who will eventually turn against the parents who doted on them and gave them everything they wanted without inbreeding in them the need to share.  Grandfather consequently has in place a system of tithes and offerings to help with this problem and at the same time assure that the needs of the poor – and the Levites who may not hold secular jobs – are met.

 There is also a more global application of this Remedy.  Israel – and only Israel – was given two gifts, which obligate them to be shared with the nations:  Torah and the Land of Israel.  Both are called “Moreshah” or “an heirloom.”  One does not part with heirlooms but there is still an obligation to share.  So how does Israel remedy the Bread of Shame associated with the Torah and Eretz Yisrael?

 Exile helps remedy Bread of Shame of Israel

 As prophesied by Noah, part of Israel would be exiled and dwell with Yaphet (through the family of Gomer), “in the tents of Shem.”  The exile of the Northern House of Israel, once renewed to their covenant, represent a part of Israel that has assimilated into the Nations, sharing their Torah.  A remnant of that body will make a physical return to Eretz Yisrael, including “all families of the Earth” in the remedy of the Bread of Shame.  It is like a loaf of bread with 13 slices and the slices marked Ephraim, M’nashe and Benjamin are shared with the Gentiles.  Judah, on the other hand, to remain true to its covenant, is forbidden to assimilate among the Nations.

 The wealthy as Jesus declared have a slim chance of making it into the World to Come. It is easier to pass a rope (Ara. Gamal) through the eye of a needle.  Here is a curious parallel between the Hebrew Gomel and the Aramaic Gamal, both referring to the wealthy or potential benefactors.

 Wealth of the rich belongs to the poor!

 The sages of Torah also did not cut the wealthy any slack when it comes to sharing.  They write that the wealth of the rich “actually belongs to the poor” obligating the wealthy to share.  The rich are only stewards of this wealth. IT DOES NOT BELONG TO THEM.

 If the wealthy elite would meet this obligation, there would be no poor, no need for student loans or any social programs.  But Triple A and his ilk trample upon this divine law and oppress the poor and needy.   The so-called “Christian” community is caught up with tithing to churches and various ministries – an aberration of Torah which commands that one’s tithe go first to the Levites – set aside for a spiritual work – and the poor.  Offerings, collected after this tithe is paid may be allowed for churches and non-Levitical spiritual works and ministries … BUT NEVER TITHES.

 Government programs necessary when spiritual laws are not obeyed

 Because these spiritual laws are not obeyed, the only hope for the less fortunate – and those set aside for spiritual work, such as these sundancers — is government programs.  “To steal from those who benefit from these programs and require them for the resources to live, to kill these programs and to destroy the hope of the poor is Satan’s agenda and reflects the snobbish, elite, uncaring, hard-heart  of Triple A.   And – I am sad to say – the Religious Right who is in bed with Triple A …  because of Obama hatred.

 So why does Grandfather allow the rich to keep getting richer?  In the World to Come, He will owe them NOTHING.

 Maggid ben Yoseif