Would You Hold It Near, As It Were Your Own (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia "Ripple")

There are two refrains that I hear quite often as summer draws to an end and the school year appear imminently on the horizon. “The Holidays are early this year!” or “The Holidays are late this year!” Usually my response is to remind the individual that Rosh HaShanah always begins on time – the first of Tishrei.  Well this year I stand corrected. The Jewish Holidays are early; like two days removed from Labor Day Early.  The Holidays are so early this year that the first day of school this year is before Labor Day.  This means is that that is an awful lot of chaos in our home. Getting kids their school supplies, their uniforms, shoes for the holidays, making sure that they have clothing appropriate for the Holidays that are comfortable for the late summer, and then of course, food shopping and the requisite cooking. I am tired just thinking about it and yes, there is still work to do on sermons.  Getting children ready for another school year is always a bit chaotic; add the fact that the High Holidays coincide with the beginning of school and it seems so easy to forget the point of all this chaos and tumult.

In this week’s double Parsha, Parsha Nitzavim/VaYeilech, Moshe gathers all the people around him one last time. He reminds them that they are a people with a covenant, warns them against idolatry, explains that they descendants will be punished with exile but will eventually return to the Eretz Canaan, and pleads with them to always keep the teachings of the Torah near to them wherever they and their descendants go.   Moshe explains that his death is days away. He completes writing his Sefer Torah, presents it to the Kohanim for safe-keeping. He passes all pertinent information and “state secrets” to Joshua, his successor. Moshe instructs the Kohanim to read the Torah to a gathering of the entire nation every seven years. Then God tells Moshe what will befall the people after his death and after they enter Eretz Canaan.  Moshe listens to God’s words and is instructed to put these words of prophecy into the format of poetry or a song. 

As the text ties up the “loose knots”, as Moshe makes the final preparations for his death; there seems to be a foreboding sense that Moshe’s final moments may not be so pleasant and peaceful and the future of the people may not be so bright after all.  Moshe says a lot of rather discouraging things on his “deathbed”.  He explains that later generations will fail to heed the Torah and they will be exiled. He explains that sad things will happen. He explains that bad things will happen.  Moshe does not offer some saccharine type of hope that suggests not worrying and everything will be OK. Rather Moshe offers a type of hope that empowers each and every individual, empowers each and every generation and, just as importantly Moshe tells them the secret to survival. HaMitzvah HaZot Asher Anochi M’Tzavcha HaYom For this commandment that I command you today Lo Nifleit Hee Mimcha It is not hidden from you  V’Lo Rechoka Hee and it is not distant. Lo Bashamayim Hee It is not in the heavens… Ki Karov Eilecha HaDavar Me’od B’Ficha U’Vilvavcha La’Asoto  Rather the matter (the word) is very near to you – in your mouth and your heart – perform it (Deut. 30:11-14). Moshe secret was that Torah is not inaccessible. Anyone can do it. You just have to learn it and then do it. Moshe reminded those who were listening that his words, his teachings are not beyond anyone’s capacity.  Sforno, the great Renaissance Rabbi and Commentator explains that Teshuva, repentance, and Torah is within the individual’s and the community’s capacity;  there is no need for a prophet to bring heavenly messages if the community behaves the way it is supposed to behave. The only thing that the community needs is someone to teach the community what to do and how to do it. Then the community will be informed enough as to how to behave appropriately. Moshe taught them that Torah was portable. It could go anywhere in the world as long as there was someone to learn it and teach it.  

Yes, the Holidays come early this year. Yes the school year is about to begin and yes indeed, this makes for a lot of chaos. But amid this chaos, we understand the Torah is close by. We know, or perhaps we need to be reminded that amid this chaos we are given the opportunity to continue learning, to spiritually prepare for holidays as well as physically prepare.  As chaotic as it seems, Moshe’s re-assuring words that the Torah is designed to be accessible to everyone suggests something even more profound; that amid the chaos, God is just as accessible.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Going Where The Climate Suits My Clothes ( "Going Down the Road Feeling Bad - sung by Jerry Garcia)

Summer must be coming to an end. Our kids just returned from two months at sleep away camp.  Now the sorting begins. The kids unpack their duffle bags. They sort the clothes into piles. Clothes that no longer fit but are in reasonable condition and no one wants, will be donated. Clothes that fit, get washed, dried folded and are returned to their respective drawers. The last pile is the pile that I find so fascinating. This is the pile that contains clothing, and often time sneakers that have just plain worn out.  This pile is the ultimate in irony. These are clothes and sneakers and shoes that our children liked so much that they wore them all the time. Sometimes they wore them so much and neglected to wash the clothes so were filthy and threadbare. Often these were sneakers and clothes that we bought brand new for camp. That’s right; the kids wore out clothing and sneakers in eight weeks. Well they certainly don’t make clothing and shoes like they used to.

This week we read from Parsha Ki Tavo. The Parsha begins with Moshe explaining the laws that are specific to B'nai Yisroel’s entry into the Land.  He reminds them of the laws of first fruits, and tithing.  Moshe reminds them that there is a powerful link between God, B'nai Yisroel and the Land. Each needs the other.  Moshe then describes the ritual specific to this generation that will symbolize their acceptance of the Torah and the covenant.  As they cross the Jordan River, they would inscribe two stones with Kol Divrei HaTorah HaZot BaEir Heiteiv – You shall inscribe on the stones all the words of this Torah well clarified.” Then the stones would be covered with plaster in order to protect the inscriptions. Moshe then reminds B'nai Yisroel that they are now an Am Yisroel– a Nation and no longer B’nai Yisroel – Children of Yisroel.  With that change of status comes responsibility, and Moshe lists the blessings and the curses that will result depending upon Am Yisroel’s behavior.  Moshe concludes his passionate plea to fulfill the covenant by giving Am Yisroel a brief history lesson. He reminds them that they left Egypt and saw all the signs and wonders (they didn’t, rather their parents and grandparents experience the Exodus and witnessed the plagues). Moshe reminds them that he let them for Forty years, and they didn’t eat bread nor drink wine, rather they experienced the miracle of the Manna. He reminds them of battles they fought and won and finally he reminded them they were ready to begin their new lives in the land.

Certainly the concluding verses are incredibly uplifting as Moshe passionately explains that they are ready to enter the land. However there is one verse in this “pep-talk” that reminds us that Moshe is really an old man, a zeide (a grandfather or great grandfather), who apparently worked in the shmatte business. “V’Oleich Etchem Arbaim Shana BaMidbar – And I led you for forty years in the Wilderness, Lo Valu Salmoteichem Mei’Aleichem V’Na’alcha Lo Valtah Mei’Al Raglecha – your garment did not wear out from on you, and your shoe did not wear out from on your foot.” (Ex. 29:4). Moshe does not explicitly mention the parting of the Yam Suf, nor surreal and miraculous moments at Sinai. Yes he mentions some battles but shoes and clothes? The fact that they didn’t wear out after all those years; that the miracle? Well yes. Besides water and Manna, this was the one miracle that touched them on a daily basis. This is the one miracle that while it happens, they probably didn’t think about it. At least with the Manna they had to go and gather it. At least with the Water they had to go and draw it. However, with clothes and shoes they would just put them on without any thought, nor effort. Now, looking back, Moshe reminds them that even the smallest miracle, the thing most taken for granted was indeed miraculous.

Yes, the kids have made their piles. Yes, it’s amazing how our son wore through a pair of sneakers in a matter of weeks, and our daughters wore through shoes and shirts in a matter of weeks. No miracle here. Maybe the miracle for these kids is that they came home with the majority of their own clothes and are content with what they have!

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Actions Speak Louder Than Words (Otis Redding "Hard To Handle")

          I drove down to Pennsylvania’s Pocono Mountains last week. I was visiting my wife and kids at a summer camp and spending Shabbat with them. It also happened to be our son’s 9^th birthday so it seemed like a nice idea to spend Shabbat and the weekend with him.  The drive was about 6 hours and since I left on Thursday morning, I did have the pre-Sabbath rush to deadline. Pennsylvania is a unique state. There are two large, major league cities. In the south eastern part of the state lies Philadelphia. On the western border with West Virginia and Ohio where the Allegheny, the Monongahela, and the Ohio rivers converge lies Pittsburgh.  In between the two cities are about 310 miles of mountains, rivers, and small towns, including the state capital, Harrisburg. James Carville, the campaign director for former President Bill Clinton, described Pennsylvania’s politics as: Philadelphia, Pittsburgh and in between is Alabama. Needless to say, the camp was located in the “Alabama” part of the state. Because of a small problem with my car I stopped at a mechanics shop to have him look at my car. We began talking and when he asked me what I did for a living, I told him that I was a Rabbi of a congregation in Toronto. His wife, he works with him, as well as the mechanic proceeded to tell me that they were “Christians”, they loved the Jewish People, they were very supportive of the State of Israel, and they give charity to International Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and claim that they are Christian supporters of Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein, the head of this charity. They asked me lots of questions about being a Rabbi and then the conversation turned to their faith and their acceptance of Jesus as the Messiah.  They asked me what I thought of Jesus and I explained that from my perspective and belief, he was a Rabbi, a teacher and his disciples made him into something much more. They then asked me I could accept Jesus as my Moshiach. I politely said, “No”. Then they asked me something fascinating. They asked if it would be possible for me to accept Jesus as the Messiah privately and personally while continuing publicly as a Rabbi. I smiled and said that would be impossible because any acknowledgement and acceptance would be “spiritually out of bounds”. I would not be able to reconcile the personal and the public and my words would be irrelevant.

This week's Torah portion is Ki Teitzei. Moshe continues with listing laws such as: rights of the first born for inheritance, the wayward rebellious son, lost and found property, sending a mother bird from the nest when procuring the egg from the nest, tzitzit, false accusations, forbidden marriages, charging interest, divorce, workers rights to timely payment, honesty in weights and measures and remembering Amalek. That is just to name a few. Quite clearly, all these laws reflect one extremely relevant idea. Judaism is not just a ritualized religion that takes on import three times a year, or only at life cycle events. Judaism is a way of life designed to elevate holiness within us, even when we are engage in activities that may not be construed as particularly holy. While Moshe reminds Bnai Yisroel of the limits of charging interest and the importance and sanctity of vows Moshe makes the following statement.  In Deut 23:24 we read Motzah S'fatecha Tishmor V’Asita Ka’Asher Nadarta L’Adoshem Elokecha You shall observe and carry out what emerges from your lips just as you vowed a voluntary gift to Hashemn your God…. Within the context of the Parshah, the law is talking about taking oaths and vows and upholding those oaths and vows.  Rashi, the 11^th century French commentator explains that Torah is strengthening the importance of vows by using positive language. However the Or HaChaim, the early 18^th century great Moroccan Talmudist and Kabbalist offered a slightly different understanding of the verse. The Or Hachaim explains that verse actually implores us by being careful to not to make a vow unless we are certain that we can fulfill the vow by the designated deadline.  

Our words matter. Vows are inherently public, they involve the individual and God. Vows might involve a third party but a vow at the very least involves two parties: the individual and God.  Also, we could understand the verse as reminding us that any vow suggests  a “voluntary gift” to God. Vows are not only words but are supposed to be backed up by deed and action – the gift. Vows have a time frame which suggest that we could be late in giving our gift to God.  During my conversation with the husband and wife from the “Alabama” part of Pennsylvania, the vow that they asked me to make privately, according to the Or HaChaim, would be not only spiritually impossible for me but Halachically (according to Jewish Law) impossible. I had no intention of fulfilling that vow within my lifetime.  The couple understood and were nothing but polite and appreciative the time we spent talking and more importantly listening to each other.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Little Bitty Boy, With a Heart of Steel (Modeliste,Neville, Nocentelli & Porter - "Hey Pocky Way")

During a recent conversation, our son told me how much it would mean to him if I were to see at camp on his birthday. He wanted me to watch him “do camp stuff” on his birthday. I asked him what he meant by “camp stuff”.  He thought for a moment and said “baseball”.  He wanted me to watch him play baseball.  I playfully responded that I have watched him play baseball before he left for camp. He explained that he wanted me to see how much he improved. He then talked to me for ten minutes about his fielding, his throwing and his hitting and his recent exploits on the field. I was struck by his increased level of enthusiasm, not only playing the game, but talking about the game, discussing its strategy and even its history. He truly loves the game; he likes playing it, learning about it and studying it. For my son, it is pure and it is innocent.  After I hung up the phone I read about Alex Rodriguez, the 38 year old, embattled New York Yankee 3^rd basemen who has already admitted to steroid use just over ten years ago and has been prominently mentioned in a recent steroid investigation over the past year. He has not played a game yet due to injury and rehab, and now he is about to be suspended from Major League Baseball. The 214 game suspension means that he would be 40 years old before he could resume playing. Essentially the 214 game suspension would ignominiously end what would have been a Hall of Fame career. If the suspension goes through, he stands to lose tens of millions of dollars. It’s ironic but when he discusses baseball, it lacks innocence, it lacks enthusiasm, and it lacks the purity of a nine year old boy wanting his dad to just watch him play.

            This week’s Parsha is Shoftim. Moshe has completed his lecture on the values of monotheism and covenant. Now he begins telling B'nai Yisroel all the nitty gritty details of living a Jewish life within this community. What a downer! B’nai Yisroel is inspired and ready to enter into Eretz Canaan and begin living the life in the land that God had promised their ancestors. They are now ready to begin fulfilling the dream that allowed them to survive centuries of slavery. So what does Moshe Rabeinu do? He brings them crashing back to reality. Now they will listen and understand laws concerning war, punishments for idolatry, choosing a king, jurisprudence, priestly entitlements and unsolved murders. Moshe gives B’nai Yisroel a healthy dose of reality by supplying all the details required to uphold the Covenant.

            One of these laws is rather curious yet serves as a reminder how important it is to maintain a balance between dreams and reality, between the idealism of our youth and the cynicism of age. V’Hayah Ch’shivto Al Kisei Mamlachto V’Chatav Lo et Mishnei HaTorah Hazot – And it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself two copies of this Torah in a book… V’Haitah Imo V’Kara Vo Kol Yemei Chayav Lema’an Yilmad L’yirah et Adonai Elohav – It shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the Lord his God, Lishmor et Kol Divrei HaTorah Ha’Zot V’Et HaChukim Ha’Eilah La’Asotam – to observe all the words of this Torah and these decrees, to perform them, so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren and not turn from the commandment right or left, so that he will prolong years over his kingdom, he and his sons amid Israel (Deut. 18:18-20). The king must write and maintain two Sifrei Torah. The “personal” Torah must be carried with him wherever he goes: meetings, wars, benefit dinners etc. The Torah must always remain physically near his heart. However the second Sefer Torah sits in the treasure room as a pristine copy, as a benchmark. This “benchmark” Torah remains enclosed, protected, and untouched. The king may consult it, but this pristine copy never leaves the sanctuary. How brilliant! The “personal” Torah that is carried around eventually, and sometimes unknown to the king, becomes worn, the letters fade, and the parchment may even tear.On a yearly basis, the king must lay his “personal” Torah beside the “benchmark” Torah. There, in the inner chamber, the two Torahs are checked against each other. Then if there are any discrepancies in the “Personal” Torah, the king must make the necessary corrections. The king’s “personal” Torah must reflect the purest and highest standard. Through daily wear and tear, through the compromises necessary to manage a kingdom, the king must regularly check to make sure that he has not gradually drifted away from the “Pristine” or “Benchmark” Torah.

            This is the ultimate form of personal “Checks and Balances”! Instead of waking up one morning twenty or twenty five years later wondering “What’s become of me”; Judaism understands that we all make compromises. Sometimes we may even, unfortunately, compromise our integrity our values and our own sense of propriety. Sometimes our drift from the ideal is not even that pernicious. Sometimes we just slowdown or get sidetracked. However Judaism is about behavior that expresses our relationship with each other and with God. Like a king that needs to periodically check his “personal Torah” against the “Benchmark Torah”, we also must check our “Personal Torah” against the “Benchmark Torah”. I am sure that at some point in Alex Rodriguez’s life, he played and spoke about baseball with as much childlike enthusiasm as a nine year old boy. I only hope that as our nine year old son grows up, he remembers his passion, his enthusiasm, purity and innocence in which he plays and discusses baseball, and applies it to how he lives his life.

Peace,

Rav Yitz