You May Know My Brother, I've Got A Friend Somewhere (Noah Lewis- "Viole Lee Jones")

It has been a week since we picked up our 13 and 15 year old daughters from summer camp. While my wife and I were excited to have our family together; they would prefer to be at camp with their friends.  They wake up in the morning; they turn on their phones and begin snap chatting with their friends. We ask them to do something and their response is: “Just as soon as I finish this conversation.” We look around for them and they are texting their camp friends. We get in the car and they insist on listening to the camp CD. They walk around the house moping and whining about how much they miss camp. They tell us how miserable they are. They tell us they can’t wait until camp starts again. In the middle of a television show, they will begin weeping and tell us that they miss camp. My wife and I had been to camp. I spent 10 consecutive summers at a summer camp as a camper and on staff.  But dealing with their “camp sickness” has been unbearable.

This Shabbat we read from Parsha Ki Teitzei. The parsha focuses up the not so wonderful aspects of everyday life. It begins with how to behave when B'nai Yisroel goes out to war and taking spoils. Moshe reminds B'nai Yisroel of the laws of inheritance favor the first born. Moshe teaches B'nai Yisroel about the laws of the rebellious son, and his punishment, as well as how to treat the dead after they capital punishment.  Moshe reminds B'nai Yisroel that they have a responsibility to care for those less well off: leave a portion of their field un-harvested, returning lost property, and paying employees on a timely basis. B'nai Yisroel is reminded, again, of relationships that are acceptable and those that are not.

During Moshe Rabeinu’s shopping list of laws that range from behavior in war, to relationships, employees, children and the impoverished, Moshe talks about the camp, who is prohibited from being in the camp, and when someone deemed “impure” is permitted to return to the camp. Moshe even reminds them that they should take a shovel with them so that they can leave the camp, and go to the bathroom.  Why all this concern about “the camp”? Ki Adoshem Elokecha Mihaleich B’Kerev Machanecha L’Hatzilcha V’LaTeit Oivecha Lefanecha – For Hashem, your God, walks in the midst of your camp to rescue you and to deliver your enemies from before you; V’Hayah Machanecha Kadosh V’Lo Yirech V’Cha Ervat Davar V’Shav M’Acharecha – so your camp shall be holy, so that He will not see a shameful thing among you and turn away from behind you (Deut. 23:15). The sanctity of the camp was first talked about in Vayikra. However that camp was all of B'nai Yisroel in the context of constructing a Mishkan (a portable worship station).  This camp is a small camp, in the context of B'nai Yisroel’s soldiers going off to war. Even that camp has rules, regulations, and a code of conduct that can either elevate or demean the camps sanctity.  What makes a soldiers camp so sacred? On one level, the camp is considered so sacred because these soldiers are about to go into battle against B'nai Yisroel’s sworn enemies: the Ammonites, the Moabites, the Midianites and the Canaanites. The camp is also sacred because of the bonds that are established between the members of the camp. These soldiers fight and care for the welfare and the lives of their fellow soldiers.  Conceptually, those bonds, the bonds between soldiers within the same unit are almost like family: they become a “band of brothers”. That bond is sacred. That bond is holy.

No our daughters are not veterans. No theirs was not a military camp, or base. However there is no doubt that the camp was sacred. The relationships forged are sacred. God was present in the camp. Whether God’ presence was manifest in prayer or in learning, these activities also bound the campers together.  It is these intense experiences and the time shared that made their relationships at camp so sacred. No wonder, that they go to sleep telling us how much they miss camp and hate being home.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Althea Told Me Upon Scrutiny That My Back Might Need Protection (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Althea")

           Well we picked up our two teen-age daughters from summer camp.  I should have known what was in store for us when we picked them up. We were about an hour late and they were busy hanging around with the other staff kids. We had to look for them. There was no hug, just a passing hello as they ran off crying with their friends. We finally gathered them into the van.  They cried. They bemoaned the fact that they had to return to civilization. They bemoaned the fact they were returning to school. They bemoaned the fact that they couldn’t be loud, stay up late, and talk all night with their friends.  After the car ride and we arrived home and now it seems that no matter what we ask of our daughters, no matter what we do for our daughters, they snap at us, they yell at us and they basically remind us how horrible we are since we took them from camp and they have to wait another ten months before they return.  Their mother and I grew up going to camp, we know how terrific camp can be and how influential camp can be; and we know that there is a requisite decompression time before they return to themselves. Yet I can’t help but wonder that with another camp season passed, our influence has diminished and the influence of their friends and peers have increased. 

This Shabbat we read from Parsha Shoftim.  Moshe reminds B'nai Yisroel to establish courts upon their arrival in the land. He reminds Bnai Yisroel that there is no room for Idolatry, a crime punishable by death. He reminds Bnai Yisroel to be aware of the elder that teaches Torah in a perverse manner. Moshe prophesizes that Bnai Yisroel will want a king. However Moshe reminds the people that the king of Israel must never be like other Kings. In order to guarantee that the King of Israel behaves appropriately, he is commanded to have two Sifrei Torah. One Torah is to remain in the palace for safekeeping and one that he carries with him so that he can be reminded of what it means to be king. Moshe reminds Bnai Yisroel about prophecy and how to know who is a true prophet and who is not. He reminds Bnai Yisroel that they will have to fight in order to conquer the land and there are rules for waging war and negotiating for peace. He also explains that there will be cities of refuge established for those accused of manslaughter and must flee from the avenging family member. Finally he reminds Bnai Yisroel that a town has a responsibility for an unsolved murder. In essence, Moshe reminds Bnai Yisroel that there is no excuse to behave like other nations. Every aspect of life is governed my laws to remind Bnai Yisroel of this fact.

While Moshe reminds Bnai Yisroel of the myriad of laws that are established in order to prevent them from behaving like the other nations; there are moments that extreme measures must be taken.  These extreme measures only exist in the context of He’Arim Rechokot Mimcha Meod-cities that are very distant from you; those cities and those people should be wiped out: L’Maan Asher Lo Yilamdu Etchem La’Asot K’Chol To’Avotam Asu Leiloheihem L’Adoshem Elokeichem –so that they will not teach you to act according to all their abominations that they performed for their gods so that you will sin to Hashem, your God. (Deut 20:15,18). What does it mean when the Torah mentions “a city that is very distant from you”? This is not an issue of geography, nor is it an issue of xenophobia or a simplistic version of racism. Rather, this category of city has everything to do with a place whose inhabitants are so far removed from the Noahide laws, so enmeshed in the idolatry that perverts the fundamental value of the sanctity of life, such inhabitants, and such a place should be destroyed.  The Torah’s reason is simple, so that this horrible influence shouldn’t be anywhere near the Jewish people.

No, we don’t look at our daughter’s summer camp experience as a “distant city” that needs to be eliminated. However, just as such a city needs to be eliminated because of the fear of that city’s influence upon Bnai Yisroel; we worry about those untoward influences upon our children. We also know that less and less places are truly distant yet the influences upon the Jewish people that are negative are plentiful. We cannot rid ourselves of such influences by eliminated the people and the place. Rather we can only eliminate the influence by strengthening Bnai Yisroel. As parents we can eliminate the negative influences, rather we can strengthen our children so that they have the tools to deal with those negative influences, even if it some of those influences come from their friends.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

The Wheel Is Turning And You Can't Slow Down (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "The Wheel")

This week we celebrated our son’s 11^th birthday, we also commemorated my father in law’s Yartzeit and my Grandfather’s Yartzeit. As our son’s birthday approached, he asked why so many people whom he knew seemed to have died this month.  I reminded him that he was born this month, so it wasn't so sad of a month; and then I added that this was what life means. There is Joy and Sorrow and Life and Death – balance. Sometimes both occur within the same year, the same month, the same week, and even the same day. The Hebrew Month of Av draws to a close and the new month of Elul begins on Shabbat. As the month of Av departs, I couldn’t help but notice just how a unique Hebrew month it is. What made Av so unique? Well it is considered to be the saddest month of the calendar since it was on the 9^th of Av, the Jewish People commemorated the destruction of the First and Second Temples. Also the Jewish People assign a number of other national tragedies to the month of Av. For the first nine days, national mourning manifested itself in our refraining from Weddings, eating meat (except on Shabbat), shaving, haircuts and attending live entertainment. However a week later, the happiest day of the year occurs. Known as Tu’B’Av or the 15^th of Av, it celebrated the wine harvest, the sages explained that this was the first day in B’nai Yisroel’s 40 years of wandering that no one died. Everyone who was alive on this day on the 40^th year of wandering was guaranteed entry into Eretz Canaan. Single girls are matched up with single boys for marriages. This truly marks the Jewish Wedding season. The Month of Av, sometimes can seem like a typical Sunday for a Rabbi where there is both a Funeral and a Wedding on the same day. Av is the one month that embodies the complete cycle of life: Joy and Sorrow; life and death.            

This week's Parsha is Re'eh. Moshe continues his discourse. He has already explained the Mitzvot, and he continues to do that. Moshe has alluded to the blessings of life if B'nai Yisroel follows God's commandments. He has and continues to allude to the curses that will befall B'nai Yisroel if they violate the most important commandment-idolatry. "See I present before you today a blessing and a curse" (Deut.11:26). V'haklalah Im Lo tishm'u el Mitzvot Adonai Eloheichem V'sartem Min Ha'Derech Asher Anochi M'taveh Etchem ha'yom La'lechet Acharei Elohim Acheirim Asher Lo Y'Datem-"And the curse: if you do not hearken to the commandments of the Lord your God, and you stray from the path that I command you today, to follow gods of others, that you did know." (Deut. 11:28) Moshe presents B'nai Yisroel with two pictures, a world when B'nai Yisroel lives up to it covenant with God and one in which they don't. Moshe then reminds B'nai Yisroel what the previous generation learned in the Book of Leviticus.  Ritual behavior and ethical behavior go hand in hand. Both are required in order to live a life of Torah and to follow God's commandments. Moshe then explains that even if one grows discouraged in helping the poor, the Jew is still obligated to help. Moshe offers sage advice. Ki Lo Yechdal Evyon Mikerev Ha'Aretz -For destitute people will not cease to exist within the Land, therefore I command you saying, 'You shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor, and to your destitute in your land"

(Deut. 15:11).

            The Torah may be many things, but spiritually unrealistic is not one of them. Judaism recognizes the reality. There will always be those less fortunate.  Whether "less fortune" is a physical, emotional, spiritual, economic, or intellectual not everyone is as fortunate as the next person. We learn that tzuris is part of life and it transcends gender, age, and color and nationality. Judaism and in particular Moshe recognizes that in our zeal to make the world better, in our zeal to do Tikkun Olam (fix the world) we may grow dismayed and even beaten down because there is so much suffering. There are so many in pain, so many are in fact destitute. Perhaps that is why the verse begins commanding us to help those who are closest to us and then working outward.  We begin by helping our brother, then those in our community who are in need, then we begin helping the nation. If the order were reversed we would become absolutely overwhelmed that we would become paralyzed. However by starting with the most immediate, and if everyone were concerned with the most immediate their brother/sister and their community, then helping those throughout the land is not so overwhelming. Even the Haftarah that normally coincides with this third Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, and the third of seven Haftarot which precede Rosh HaShanah, reminds of consolation. Our consolation, the consolation that we began receiving two Shabbatot before until the Shabbat prior to Rosh HaShanah is hope. No matter how awful things are, no matter how many destitute are among us; there is hope. If one is helped, that is one less destitute person. Our consolation is that we can always do something. No it may not be enough. But we can always do something. We can always give Tzedakah, we can always educate others and ourselves, we can always learn more than the day before. We can always offer compassion and solace. And we must always care.

            Peace,

                Rav Yitz

I Hear The Cries Of Children And The Other Songs Of War (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Standing on the Moon")

Recently, two tragic events took place in Israel that left Israeli society, and much of the Orthodox Jewish world asking questions and condemning the perpetrators. However the condemnation was not directed at Hamas, or the Palestinian people. The condemnation was not even directed at secular Israelis. Rather the condemnation was directed at the politically extreme and socially intolerant segment of the Haredi Orthodox community.  First, a politically right wing Israeli settler extremists burned down a Palestinian home. An 18 month old baby and three other family members were asleep in the house. The baby was burned to death and the other three are in serious condition. A few days later, at the Gay Pride parade in Jerusalem, an Orthodox Jew, with a violent history and had been incarcerated ten years ago, attacked six people. One teen age girl recently died from the stab wounds. Segments of Israeli society have called both attacks, “terrorism”. Segments of Israeli society, including Police, parts of the Netanyahu Coalition, and the Modern Orthodox community have condemned both acts. Prime Minister Netanyahu even visited the Palestinians who were hospitalized because of their burns. The government has publicly stated that the perpetrators will be punished to the full extent of the law.

This coming Shabbat we read from Parsha Eikev. Here in his second discourse, Moshe explains to the new generation how the second set of tablets that contain the Aseret Dibrot (The Ten Commandments) came into being. He explains how God forgave their parents of their idolatrous behavior in regards to the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf), and all B’nai Yisroel must do essentially refrain from Idolatry, serve God, worship God, and the nation will be rewarded with water, grass and quality lives. Moshe also reminds B’nai Yisroel that they have nothing to fear when they enter into Canaan and conquer the land even though they maybe outnumbered, because God has already demonstrated that he will protect his people. He did so during the Yetziat Mitzrayim (Exodus), and as long as B’nai Yisroel keeps its side of the B’rit, God will continue to protect his people.

                During this discourse, Moshe reminds this generation of the context of its inevitable inheritance of Eretz Canaan. Al Tomar Bilvavcha Hashem Elokecha Otam Milfanecha Leimor B’Tzidkati Hevi’ani Hashem LaReshet et Ha’Aretz HaZot.  Do not say in your heart, when Hashem, your God, pushes them away from before you, saying, “Because of my righteousness did Hashem bring me to possess the Land U’Virashat HaGoyim HaEilah Hashem Morisham Mipanecha – and because of the wickedness of the nations did Hashem drive them away from before you. Lo V’Tzidkatcha UvYosher  Levavcha – Not because of your righteousness and the uprightness of your heart…. U’LeMaan Hakim et HaDavar Asher Nishba Hashem La’Avotecha L’Avrahem, L’Yitzchak U’LaYaakov – rather in order to establish the word that Hashem swore to your forefathers: Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov. V’Yadata Ki Lo V’Tzidkatcha Hashem Elokecha Notein Lecha et Ha’Aretz HaTovah HaZot L’Rishtah Ki Am Kshei Oref Atah And you should know that not because of your righteousness does Hashem Your God give you this good Land to possess it, for you are a stiff-necked people. (Deut. 9:4-6). Moshe essentially tells this generation that they don’t deserve the land. They are neither righteous enough to inherit the land nor are they “upright in their hearts” enough to inherit the land. As it stands now, the generation that stands before Moshe is, to put it diplomatically, a work in progress at best. Rather Moshe tells this generation that they are the beneficiaries of the Abraham, Isaac and Jacob’s relationship and covenant with God.  Rashi, the 11th Century French commentator, explains that any success this generation enjoys in terms of entering the land has nothing to do with their behavior rather it is spite of their behavior that they inherit. All benefits are a result of God’s covenant, God’s brit, with Abraham Isaac and Jacob.

                Here we are thousands of years later. We still need to be reminded that we don’t inherit Israel because we are so righteous and upright in our hearts. Rather the events of the past week suggest that parts of our people have become nearly as intolerant, and wicked as “those nations”.  Tragically, there are aspects of Israeli society, Jewish society that has become like the other nations. Perhaps those segments of the population, ironically those segments that are “holier than thou” or “more righteous than thou” need to be reminded that in their arrogance, and their stiff necked, closed mindedness, they don’t deserve the land.

Peace,

Rav Yitz