Paradise Waits, On The Crest Of A Wave Her Angels In Flame (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia- "Help On The Way")

There is no question that the highlight of our family's week is Shabbat. The house is cleaned; the kitchen smells of my wife's delicious cooking. With teenage children in the house, there is an expectation that they contribute to the Shabbat preparations. They are expected to have their rooms picked up, shower, set the table, and help in any of the last minute cooking or baking preparations and the ensuing clean up. Inevitably, one of them is on the phone, or the computer slacking off. After a gentle reminder or three, and sometimes a less gentle reminder, the preparations resume with everyone contributing. When we finally sit down to our meal, we all take a deep breath as we are ever mindful of the physical preparation that was required in order to appreciate such a spiritually powerful moment. So as we sing “Shalom Aleichem”, bless our children, and chant Eishet Chayil, and I see the Shabbat Candles burning; our home has achieved a level of spirituality that is very different from the weekday. Shabbat is very unique day in which the physical and the spiritual combine in a perfect symmetry and create the opportunity for a truly wonderful day. Ever mindful of our physical existence, Shabbat is the day where our physical existence is infused with spirituality. Shabbat is the day where we bring Olam Habah, and Gan Eden down to us and our physical existence.

This Shabbat, Jews throughout the world will be celebrating Yom Kippur –The Day of Atonement. The name of the day does sound rather solemn. For most Jews, Yom Kippur is considered a rather somber sort of day and a day in which we are supposed to “afflict” ourselves. In Masechet Yoma (the Talmudic tractate that focus on Yom Kippur), five afflictions are mentioned as part of Yom Kippur. These five afflictions are: fasting (no food or drink from sunset to sunset); washing; anointing; wearing of leather, and marital relations. While Shabbat is the day we do not afflict ourselves, when Yom Kippur falls on Shabbat, Yom Kippur supersedes the laws of Shabbat. Only Yom Kippur supersedes Shabbat in terms of importance. It is known as Shabbat Shabbaton – the Sabbath of all Sabbaths.  How can a day in which we physical afflict ourselves supersede the one day of the week where we miraculously bring the spiritual world down to our physical world?

The Midrash explains that Yom Kippur is the day that Moshe re-ascended the mountain and received the second set of the Aseret Dibrot, (the second set of commandments). Remember, the first set was destroyed when Moshe saw Bnai Yisroel worshipping the Eigel Zahav, the Golden Calf. In his anger, Moshe smashed the first set of stone tablets.  During this second revelation, this more private sort of revelation, Moshe had begged God to be permitted to see God’s face. While God rejected Moshe’s request, God did in fact allow Moshe to see God’s back as God passed (Exodus Chapter 33).  During these 40 days and nights, (beginning on Elul 1 and concluding on Yom Kippur), Moshe fasted.  On the one hand, he experienced a physical affliction due to the lack of food. On the other hand, he had the opportunity to be as near God as was humanly possible. In that moment he had become more spiritual than physical.  Yes we afflict ourselves. However, the “afflictions” are base on the desire to be more spiritual than physical. The “afflictions” are based upon our desire to be as close to God as humanly possible. Our “afflictions” are based upon our desire to experience God from the exalted position of the Angels without care or concern to our physical existence. The Atonement therefore is not the sole purpose of the day. The ultimate purpose of the day is to be as close to God as possible. How can we be close to God if we are ensconced in the physical realm? How can we be close to God if we need to atone for our spiritual shortcomings (our Chetaim –sins)? Our spiritual shortcomings are just that, short of God. Atonement allows us to be closer. Closer to God is a good thing. Closeness to God is the main objective of Yom Kippur. When we achieve this, we should be totally happy, at ease in utterly in awed just like Moshe was when he descended the mountain the second time with the second set of tablet.  God’s spiritual light emanated from Moshe. Who wouldn’t be happy if that happened to each and every one of us?

                 Rather than thinking of Yom Kippur as so somber and serious, it is the one day of the year where we purposefully supersede Shabbat. Rather than bringing HaKadosh Baruch Hu down to us, Yom Kippur is the day that we elevate our souls towards the Kadosh Baruch Hu. The experience should be much more “awe” as in “awesome” instead of somber. That experience ought to fill us with awe, joy, and leave us radiating light.

Gmar Chatima Tov -May we all be sealed in the Book of Life.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Faring Thee Well Now; Let Your Life Proceed By Its Own Designs (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "Cassidy")

Well no sooner than the school year starts and the Jewish Holidays are upon us. With kids in day school, the holidays mean a few days of school and a few days off from school between now and the middle of October. With a daughter in Grade 12 (12^th grade if you speak American), we have entered a new realm of anxiety. Our daughter discovered it late last week. We all know it as the future. Yes, late last week, it dawned on our daughter that she actually had to deal with and make plans for the future. She knows that she has to apply to colleges and universities, she wants to take a gap year in Israel, so she needs to decide on a program that fits her, her interests and the type of learning she wants to engage in. If she is planning on going to university/college in the United States she has to take standardized tests: SAT’s or ACT’s. Late last week, she was overtired, she was stressed about a biology assignment and now the subject of standardized tests came up. She became very upset, angry and didn’t want to listen to anyone or any advice. She knew it all, didn’t like any of the choices and at that moment decided that the only place she was going to the next four years was our basement.  A few days later she actually had a good night’s sleep. That afternoon, a completely different daughter peeked her head outside and saw that I was waking up from a nap. She wanted to talk. She wanted to talk about her future. She wanted to discuss a strategy of how to determine which Israel program she wants to go on. She wanted to discuss colleges and universities in the U.S. or Canada. She wanted to discuss standardized tests. I suggested that we limit the discussion to the Province of Ontario, the Northeast United States where there is a vibrant Jewish student population. We talked. She listened as did I. I assume there was anxiety but suddenly it didn’t cause paralysis; instead she seemed excited about the future.

This Shabbat, the Shabbat between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, is known as Shabbat Shuva, The Shabbat of Return. We read from Parshat Ha’Azinu.  The Parsha is poetry, a song that God had commanded Moshe to compose in the previous Parsha, VaYeleich. Composing this song was the final deed that God commanded Moshe. The song is the final prophecy that God told Moshe in the previous Parsha, VaYeilech.  As a song, it is not contain the most pleasant of lyrics, and it is not particular uplifting or inspiration. The song does not offer such an optimistic future.  Rather, Moshe invokes Heaven and Earth to offer testimony to God’s prophecy and future punishment against his people.  Throughout Sefer Devarim, Deuteronomy, Moshe has taught the law, and inspired Bnai Yisroel to choose fidelity to God and God’s Torah.  Choosing to follow would result in a reward. Choosing not to follow would result in a punishment. Now, during the final moments of Moshe Rabeinu’s life, the song suggests neither choice nor the results of that choice. Instead we are told that we will choose badly and that we will be punished.  There is nothing explicit within the song that suggests or even offers a means by which we are able to do Tshuva (repent) and ultimately return to God. While intellectually, Moshe has taught that concept to Bnai Yisroel; here in the song that possibility is not explicit.

However when the song is complete, Moshe speaks his word to Bnai Yisroel. His words offer a sense of hope, a sense of inspiration. He reminds Bnai Yisroel that even when they have grown distant from God, even though the resulting punishment will be brutal; there is still a measure of hope, hope for the next generation.  SImu Levavchem L’Chol Hadvarim Asher Anochi Mei’id Bachem Hayom, Asher T’Tzavoom et Bnaichem Lishmor La’Asot et Kol Divrei HaTorah Ha’Zot -  Apply your hearts to all the words that I Testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah.  Ki Lo Davar Reik Hu Mikem Ki Hu Chayeichem Uvadavar HaZeh Ta’Arichu Yamim – for it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan to possess it. In Moshe’s final moments, he reminds us that the key to our survival is to teach Torah to our children. Yes, according to the song, we will grow distant from God, yes we will engage in idolatry. Yes we will be punishment. However there will always be hope for the next generation if they are educated in such a manner that when it comes time for them to make a choice; they choose wisely, they choose God’s Torah.  Moshe reminds his people that the Torah is not empty. Rashi reminds us that if we find Torah to be empty and unsatisfying then the fault lies with us, Mikem.

             While the conversation with my daughter lasted only about 30 minutes. It seemed positive or at least it will be positive until the anxiety becomes overwhelming again.  For now at least, for the past few days, she doesn’t seem to be dreading the future. No she doesn’t know specifically which program for her gap year, no she hasn’t been accepted nor has she even applied to colleges and universities. In fact, she sat down and began looking at the ACT examination, and began preparing for that standardized exam. However, she understands that there are things that she has to do, things she has to find out about, information she needs to obtain and a strategy that she needs to follow in order to achieve her five year future. She understand that if she engages in this process with an open heart and positive attitude; then her future won’t be such an empty thing.

Gmar Chatima Tova – May we all be sealed in the Book of Life,

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Wake Of The Flood, Laughing Water, Forty Nine (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Here Comes Sunshine")

Until this week, I can’t remember the last time my children or my wife praised Toronto’s weather. Having grown up on the southern side of Lake Ontario, in Rochester, New York; I was used to those very unique spring and fall days in which three even four season appeared within a twenty four hour span. Rochester would be just as cold with twice the snow because of something called “Lake Effect”. However, while every day this week has been sunny and 20/25 C (or for my wife and kids 70/77 F); we have watched the devastation of Hurricane Irma throughout Florida, the destruction it left in the Caribbean, in Cuba, the flooding in Jacksonville, and Charleston, South Carolina. Millions of people are without power, millions have lost homes and their most precious belongings. Of course this comes on the heels of the Hurricane Harvey’s flooding of Houston ten days before Irma struck Florida. Some Synagogues in both Houston and certain parts of Florida have been damaged by flood, some have lost prayer books, and some synagogues will have to find alternative locations since the synagogue building cannot be used.  Synagogues from other parts of the United States and Canada are sending Machzorim, Siddurim, and Chumashim. Otherwise, the High Holidays, which is a normally stressful time for clergy, and Synagogue employees is exponentially worse in those places affected by the recent hurricanes.  

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 can be stressful even in ideal circumstances. However the chaos caused by hurricanes, violent winds, and flooding, the physical and emotional chaos cause by these powerful storms suggests a different kind of chaos: a more intense type of chaos, a chaos that leaves people powerless, feeling diminished, exhausted and questioning. Yet for the questions that some may have, the struggle with faith; despite all this; 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 if not more so.

Peace,

Rav Yitz