One
of the amazing things about the congregation that I serve is the number of
Holocaust survivors. Children of these congregants, now in their fifties and
sixties routinely call the area where the synagogue is located “survivor
central”. The synagogue was built by
survivors. Its life cycle affairs, whether a Bris, a Baby Naming, a Bar/Bat
Mitzvah or a wedding, are large lavish affairs almost symbolically suggesting
that not only have they survived but they have thrived. So when I listed to certain American
politicians’ criticism of the Iran Nuclear Deal as the equivalent of marching
Israel to the doors of the gas chambers; I want to hang my head in despair. The
despair results from the complete disrespect and lack of sensitivity for the
numerous survivors of my congregation as well as the numerous family and
friends of theirs that, indeed, were marched to the doors of the gas chambers.
I look at the elderly congregants who are Holocaust survivors and realize that
they have done much more than survive, they have thrived. They are a testament
and a symbol of the Jewish People’s ability to survive. As difficult as the
situation has been I am reminded of Mark Twain’s opinion of the Jewish People. “If the statistics are right, the Jews constitute but one percent of the
human race. It suggests a nebulous dim puff of stardust lost in the blaze of
the Milky Way. Properly, the Jew ought hardly to be heard of, but he is heard
of, has always been heard of. He is as prominent on the planet as any other
people, and his commercial importance is extravagantly out of proportion to the
smallness of his bulk. His contributions to the world’s list of great names in
literature, science, art, music, finance, medicine, and abstruse learning are
also way out of proportion to the weakness of his numbers. He has made a
marvelous fight in this world, in all the ages; and has done it with his hands
tied behind him. He could be vain of himself, and be excused for it. The
Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with the
sound and splendor, then faded to dream stuff and passed away. The Greek and
the roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone. Other peoples
have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and
they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them
all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of
age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his
alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces
pass but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality (Mark Twain,
“Concerning the Jews” Harpers Magazine, 1898).
This
week’s parsha is V’Etchanan. The Parshah begins with Moshe's recounting his
experience of pleading to God to allow him into the Land. Moshe explained to
this new generation that because of the previous generation's whining and
complaining, he lost patience and failed to adhere to God's command. Moshe
explain that this is why he cannot cross into the land as well as Joshua
becoming the leader. Moshe then recounts his experience and his generation's
experience of revelation at Sinai. However instead of just stating the facts,
Moshe adds his own editorial comments. "For the Lord your God is a
merciful, He will not abandon you or destroy you, He will not forget the
covenant of your forefathers that he swore to them" (Deut. 4:31). Moshe is
offering hope, suggesting that no matter what happens to this people, they must
always know and believe that we always have the capacity for T'shuvah for
return or repentance to God, and that we will always be accepted. Moshe then
begins recounting the giving of the Aseret HaDibrot, The Ten Commandments.
Moshe again reminds B’nai Yisroel to never participate in Avodah Zarah
(idolatry), and avoid it at all costs. He implores us to pass this information,
and to teach these traditions and these laws to the next generation.
Throughout
this Parsha, the secrets to our survival are revealed in large broad statements
as well as the use of certain words. One secret to our survival is the “Aseret
Dibrot” -The Ten Commandments (Deut. 5:6-19). Another secret to our survival is
perhaps the one theologically dogmatic statement in Torah: Shmah Yisroel Adoshem Elokeinu, Adoshem Echad – Hear O Yisroel O Lord Our God, the Lord is
One. (Deut. 6:4). Certainly the “Shmah” contributes to the secret of our
survival. Moshe’s re-iteration of God’s nature also contributes to the secret
of our success. Ki Eil Kanah Adoshem Elokecha B’kirbecha pen yechreh af Adoshem
Elokecha bach v’hismidcha mei’al pnei
Ha’Adamah- For a jealous God is the
Lord your God, among you lest the wrath of the Lord your God will flare against
you and He destroy you from upon the face of the earth…(Deut 6:15-19).
Certainly these powerful explicit statements of theology, universal moral
guidelines, and our fear of retribution contribute to the secret of our
survival.
However
the essence of our survival is our sense of purpose and our sense of existence.
Our purpose is to live according to these laws. “You shall be careful to act as
the Lord your God commanded you, you shall not stray to the right or left". B’chol Ha’derech Asher Tzivah Adoshem
Elokeichem Etchem Teileichu L’ma’an Tishyun V’Tov Lachem v’haractem Yamim –
On the entire way that the Lord your God,
commanded you shall you go, so that you shall live and it will be good for you,
and you shall prolong your days…(Deut.6:29-30). We live according to Torah so that our lives
will go well, so that our lives will have more meaning, so that the quality of
our lives determines length. We learn that living a long life is not about
length it is about quality. Our sense of purpose is to achieve this quality.
Besides “purpose” we must have a sense of our existence. Our sense of existence
is our acceptance of our place. There were generations that came before us and,
G-d willing, generations will follow us. Ki
Yishalcha vincha Machar Leimor Mah Ha’eidot vHa’chukim v’Hamishpatim Asher
Tzivah Adoshem Elokeinu Etchem – If
your child asks you tomorrow saying; What are the testimonies and the decrees
and the ordinances that the Lord your G-d commanded you V’Amarta L’vincha
Avadim Ha’yinu l’Faroh B’Mitzrayim – You
shall say to your child, “We were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt…(Deut.
6:20-21). Our sense of purpose is of that of transmitter between the older
generation and the younger generation, between the past and the future. As we
delve deeper into the Book of Deuteronomy we understand that our survival is
dependent upon our ability to transmit this sense of purpose and sense of
existence to the next generation. That ability is what makes us a holy nation.
Peace,
Rav Yitz
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