Don't You Turn Around, No Don't Look After You (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia- "Gomorrah")

I had a chance to speak to a friend of mine who lives in Jerusalem. The attacks have become personal for him as there had been an attack at the bus stop that his son’s use for school. On the day that he and his wife decided not to use the bus but rather begin driving their son’s to school, there was an attack that afternoon at the time they would have been arrived home from school. Needless to say, he and his wife were a little bit shaken up. Make no mistake, my friend has no love for the Palestinian leadership that incites this behavior. He is hardly a Peace-Now kind of guy. He readily acknowledges that there is no-one from the Palestinian leadership with whom to talk much less negotiate. However, he also feels the same way about Israel’s Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. He points out that he along with 70% of Israelis are dissatisfied with how he is handling the crisis. He explained that whatever the Prime Minister is doing is not working. He points out Bibi is no longer believable. My friend points to the example that when Bibi exclaims that there is no change in the status quo regarding the Temple Mount; neither Israelis nor Palestinian believe him.   Why? Because Bibi is still looking backwards and invoking the Holocaust and the role that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem played in the Holocaust.  For my friend, whose grandparents were survivors, and whose parents were born in DP camps, invoking the Holocaust is a code for no answers, no solutions for the future but rather comfort in looking back.

This Shabbat we read from Parsha VaYeira. The narrative and adventures of Avraham the Patriarch continue. While healing from his ritual circumcision, he fulfills the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, hospitality. He negotiates with God and reduces the number of righteous people that must be found in Sodom and Gomorrah in order to prevent its destruction. The narrative of Avraham is interrupted as we read the narrative of Lot, the two Angels (the same two that had visited Avraham at the beginning of the parsha), the destruction of the city, and the impure relationship that results when the survivors think that world has been destroyed. The narrative returns to Avraham as its focus and he and his wife Sarah give birth to a son (Yitzchak), the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael (Avraham’s first born son and his concubine) and the final test of his belief, the Akeidat Yitzchak – the Offering of Isaac.

                During these adventures, during these tests, it is fascinating to watch Avraham deal with each new issue, each new tension and arrive at solutions. Avraham always looks forward. Avraham looked forward towards Sodom and Gomorrah while God talked to Avraham about his intention to destroy those cities. When he is commanded to banish Hagar and Ishmael, Avraham looks forward toward where they will be going and gives them food and water in order to survive the journey. When asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Avraham doesn’t look back, he looks forward, towards the mountain where the sacrifice will supposedly occur. Compare this with Lot and his family (Gen 19:12-26). When it became imminent that they needed to leave. Three times the angels tell Lot it’s time to leave. First Lot tells his children to leave, although there is no indication that Lot and his wife intent to go. The second time, the two angels lead Lot, his wife and children out; but Lot still can’t just leave! VaYitmama – still he lingered (Gen 19:16). Even when God’s messengers grab Lot, his wife, and his daughters by the hands and led them out of the city VaYomer Himaleit Al Nafshecha Al Tabit Acharecha v’Al Taamod B’Chol HaKikar Hahara Himaleit pen Tisafeh- Flee for your life! Do not look behind you nor stop anywhere in all the plain; flee to the mount lest you be swept away (Gen 19:17). Lot can’t just move on. He stays to stay and negotiate, figuring he can flee to a nearby city.  Finally, they begin making their way towards the alternative destination VeTabeit Ishto M’Acharav Vathi  Ntziv Melach  But His wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26) Ramban explains that she looked back to make sure her daughters were following. What parent would flee and have the children (little or young adult) behind them? A parent would either have the children in front of them or be holding their hand while fleeing. So what other reason was there to turn around. Like her husband, who had such a difficult time to move forward, Lot’s wife want to turn around one last time in order to see the life and the world she was leaving. She was merely emulating Lot. However she did it “one more time”. From the Angels perspective enough was enough.

                Sometimes moving forward can be very difficult. It can be especially difficult if there is a lack of commitment to move forward. Sometimes even with a strong commitment to move forward, the obstacles are too overwhelming. Sometimes it can be scary to go forward by oneself even if they know that it is the correct path. Sometimes moving forward means sacrificing a job, or power, or popularity. Sometimes moving forward is so emotionally paralyzing because it opens a whole new series of unanticipated consequences or even anticipated consequences with unacceptable solutions. Certainly it is important to understand the past since it helps to deal with the future. However, one must avoid being enslaved by the past.  For Lot, as well as his wife, their sense of purpose was linked to life in the city… Sodom, or any city, it didn’t matter. Clearly their reason for being was not demonstrating faith in God. As my friend points out, Bibi’s reason for being is that he is tough when it comes to dealing with the Palestinians and passionately defends Israeli lives. But if the Palestinian issue is solved, and Israeli feel safe, and the problems appear to have been diminished, then what is Bibi’s reason for being? So Bibi looks back and makes sure that the lake of safety and the state of tension is linked to the Holocaust in order to make people feel more unsafe and more anxious so that he is needed even more. “How’s that working out?’ my friend asks. Surprised by his cynicism, my friend reminds that the cynicism belongs to the leadership on both sides.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

And You Know I'm Only In It For The Gold (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Loser")

           During the past week, there has been an incredible amount of excitement in our home. The excitement began late last week and thought that have been several down moments, the excitement has once again peaked early this week. Just how much excited is our home? Well excited enough that even our two teenage daughters are now emotionally involved. At first I thought it was the Canadian election which occurred earlier in the week. Nope, it wasn’t the election. I thought maybe it was the recent Democratic debates knowing that our eldest daughters’ boss, Mrs. Clinton had done so well. I was wrong. The excitement has been a result of the Toronto Blue Jays.  Every day I hear from my kids, who is going to the games. Every day at least one child provides an injury report or some statistic. While Toronto is not our family’s favorite team, we have all been caught up in the excitement. If there is such a thing as Blue Jays fever; we have a mild case of it.  It’s not just the kids who are excited, all of our friends only talk about “last night’s game”, tickets for an upcoming game, “did you see that inning” or “did you see that home run”. However amid all the excitement and hoopla, I was speaking to one friend of mine who watches each pitch and each at bad with such concern and anxiety. Interestingly enough it is the exact same way I watch the Yankees when they are in the playoffs. Admittedly there is something to be said about watching a fun team and not have the anxiety since I don’t live and die with each pitch or at bat. So my friend and I were talking about the Blue Jays. In order to take his mind of off the current pitching match-up, he wanted to discuss the future. He was concerned about those players that are “Free Agents” and might decide to leave for greener pastures, more money, or bigger TV market with more commercial possibilities. I validated his concern and told him, there will be those who leave because they want more money, or longer contracts, and there will be those who decide to stay because the situation in Toronto is a good fit for them.

           This week's Parsha is Lech Lecha. In it, God commands Abram to leave his father, his homeland and everything he has ever known and go to a place where God will show him later. Abram does. He heads down towards Egypt because of a famine. Eventually, Abram leaves Egypt with money, flocks, servants, and wealth. Lot, Abram's nephew, and Abram decide to part ways since each their respective flocks not only become intermingled but their hired hands fight among each other. Abram then fights against several kings in an attempt to protect Lot. Then his wife Sarai, who is barren, tells Abram to make Hagar (the maidservant) the surrogate mother. Abram listens and Hagar has a son named Ishmael. She runs away and then returns. God tells Abram a prophecy. Abram will become the father of a great nation, and that nation will become enslaved for several centuries and then will return to the land that God promised Abram. Then God instructs Abram to circumcise himself, his son Ishmael and all the males of his household.

                The process by which Abram and Lot separate, provides a rather fascinating example of leaving a good situation in pursuit of a better deal. After Abram and Lot’s men quarrel Abram desperately wants to keep the peace. Abram also understands that Lot needs to separate himself from Abram. So he gives Lot a choice: Al Nah T’Hi Mriva Beini UVeinecha U’Ven Ro-ai U’Ven Roecha Ki Anashim Achim Anachnu – Please let there be no strive between me and you, and between my shepherds and your shepherds for we are kinsmen. For Abram, he views Lot as part of the family, part of the team but also understand that Lot must decide if he wants to remain. Abram gives Lot a choice of land. VaYisa Lot et Einav VaYar et Kol Kikar HaYarden Ki Chula Mashkeh- So Lot raised his eyes and saw the entire plain of the Jordan that it was well watered; VaYivchar Lo Lot Eit kol Kikar HaYarden VaYisa Lot MiKedem. -So lot chose for himself the whole plain of the Jordan and Lot journeyed from the east; VLot Yashav B’Arei HaKikar BaYe’Ehal Ad S’dom – and Lot dwelled in the cities of the plain and pitched his tent as far as S’dom. Why did Lot choose the plain of Jordan and the cities in that area including S’dom and Amora? Obviously Lot did not know that these place were going to be destroyed in the future. Rashi, commenting on the word MiKedem, quotes the Midrash Tanchuma and understand the word as Kodem, not east but rather “Earliest One” or “Primordial One” (meaning God). Lot left the morality of Abram and the holiness of God and settled near S’Dom. R’Shimshon Rafael Hirsch comments on Lot’s lifting his eyes  and explains that he was led by his sense of sight rather than his sense of spirituality and God’s presence. As a result, Lot chose a fertile, rich land that had great commercial potential and would yield Lot great wealth.

                So Lot, the free agent, left Abram, left a great situation, and settled for greener pastures, more money and a much worse situation. I reminded my friend that unfortunately, most players are much more like Lot and will take the more money and be put in a worse situation or a losing situation rather than less money to be on in a great situation or a winning team.  Cynically, I think it is human nature to “follow the money”. However this attitude is not only limited to Lot, or free agents in professional sports. This sort of thing happens in business all the time and quite frequently it serves as the deciding factor for many of our own career decisions. However, we should always be reminded that sometimes it is better to be in the right situation, playing for a winning team and earning less, as opposed to trying to reap financial satisfaction in an unhealthy or negative environment.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Did He Steal His Fate Or Earn It (Gerrit Graham & Bob Weir - "Victim or the Crime")

As the Jewish Holidays drew to a conclusion, life in Israel has grown more anxious as a wave of terrorist activity has intensified. More rockets have been launched from Gaza. While some have landed harmlessly in barren spaces in Israel, other rockets have required the use of the Iron Dome to protect Israelis safety.  However there has be a rash of Israeli Arabs walking up to Israeli Jews and stabbing them or running them over in cars. Almost two weeks ago parents were run over and killed while standing at an intersection and their four children looked on. Stabbings and murder have occurred in Haifa, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. The targets, such as they are, are NOT, military targets, government targets, symbols of Israeli industry, capitalism or Judaism. The targets are not even Israeli citizens who are military officials, political officials, or any “strategic” member of the population. Rather the targets and the victims of these random stabbings are just regular ordinary people going on about their day: running errands, going to work, or taking their kids to school or practice. The attacks are random, occurring on a crowded intersection during the day, or on an empty street at night. These attacks occur in nice upscale neighborhoods such as Raanana or less upscale neighborhoods. The tension as a result of these random attacks has become so palpable that one Israeli shot another Israeli because he thought the other was an Arab and appeared as if he were preparing to attack. If the Palestinian leadership, Hamas, and Fatah, strategy was to engage in a wave of random terrorist attacks so as to breed chaos and confusion; in one respect they have succeeded. The United States, the EU, Canada have all condemned these attacks. However the U.N. seems a bit confused. The U.N. General Secretary called on Israel to review whether Israeli security forces have demonstrated excessive force when dealing with these attacks and its response to Gaza as rockets continue to be fired from there.

                This Shabbat we read from Parshat Noach. Comprised of two distinct narratives; both deal with the theology of chaos and confused boundaries. First we read the story of Noach, God’s disenchantment with creation and mankind’s behavior, the instruction to build the Teva (the Ark), the Flood as punishment for mankind’s unethical behavior, the covenant made between God and Noach and the resulting offering to God, and then an odd story about Noach’s drunkenness and one’s sons inappropriate behavior. The second distinct narrative is also about chaos and confused boundaries. This time mankind confuses boundaries and trying to build a tower up to the heavens. The result is that God scatters mankind across the earth by making mankind speak numerous languages and making communication difficult.

                The Parsha begins with God’s recognition that the order previously establish established; has grown increasing disordered.  That is to say, when left to themselves, mankind was unable to establish and maintain order but rather gravitated towards chaos. VaTishacheit HaAretz Lifnei HaElokim BaTimalei HaAretz Chamas Now the earth had become corrupt before god; and the earth had become filled with ChaMaS violence. Literally the word ChaMaS means “violence as a form of extortion.” So the corruption that God saw was that Mankind grew increasingly violent as a way of trying to acquire what it wanted. Unlike the thief that steals an object, ChaMaS suggests that people took or acquired what they wanted and if nobody stood up to it, then the “armed robber” would continue to take and acquire without prosecution. Certainly we can understand this idea of ChaMaS in terms of acquiring property illegally. However after reading about the first murder, the first fratricide of Kain and Abel; we can understand that ChaMaS also includes the idea of taking anything for the sake of extorting a third party and when the object has lost all its value and the extortionist is beyond prosecution, the object that lost value is eliminated. That went for inanimate objects, cattle, and people. This kind of chaos, when there is no orderly way to acquire or transfer property, no orderly way to deal with disagreements, but rather to extort is the chaos that angered God, and brought the flood.

As we continue to watch events unfold in Israel; as we watch the growing unrest in the West Bank and Gaza, as we watch the random acts of terrorism upon innocent Israeli civilians; it become increasingly clear that the violence, the terrorism is all about extorting something from Israel. What is that something?  Well as the perpetrators of the terror become younger and younger, including 14 and 15 year olds, as the weapons become cruder and cruder: screwdrivers, sharp kitchen knives, even a vegetable peeler, those calling for these terrorist acts to be perpetrated are indeed corrupt. Those calling for these desperate terrorist acts are indeed ChaMaS- extortionists. Yes they will continue to engage in this until Israel capitulates by giving them all of Israel (not going to happen); or until some Palestinian young person realizes and is able to explain to his/her people that the leadership doesn’t care at all about Palestinian youth, a Palestinian future, or Palestinian people for if they did; they wouldn’t be sending kids off to stab people and risk death. The Palestinian leadership Hamas and Fata, in some perverse way, are not only trying to kill Israelis, but they kill their own as well. Nothing could be demonstrate a corrupt society more than that, even compared to the days of Noach.