Bite The Hand That Bakes Your Bread, Dare To Leap Where The Angels Fear To Tread (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Foolish Heart")

Every summer our children attend summer camp, and every summer my wife works at summer camp. This year she has a new job at the summer camp where she and our children attend. This year she will be running the “Cooking/Baking” hobby or activity. For several sessions each day, she will have the campers cook or bake something that they can eat along with a recipe to bring home after the camp session. Preparations for camp usually begin soon after Shavuot and last for a couple of weeks until the minivan is packed and everyone leaves. Because of my wife’s new job, preparations began even earlier. So for the past six weeks, she has been pouring through cookbooks looking for easy recipes to do adolescents and teenagers. Of course, after she has found recipes that she thinks are feasible, she needs to practice. Needless to say, she has been doing a lot of cooking and baking. Among the most important food items that she feels obligated to teach is Challah baking. She has tried numerous recipes and techniques. As a result, there have been at least three dozen Challahs over the past 6 weeks that we have sampled and consumed. Of course, all of my wife’s preparations are designed for when she finally enters into camp and begins teaching the campers.

This week's Parsha is Shlach Lecha. Several disparate events occur in this parsha. First, we read the story of Moshe sending Twelve Spies (one representing each tribe) into Eretz Canaan. Their mission was to ascertain the lay of the land, the strength of the inhabitants, and the fertility of the land. Except for Joshua and Caleb, the remaining ten spies returned with a negative report. The people heard this and wanted to return to Egypt. As a result of both the report and B'nai Yisroel's response, this generation was prohibited from entering the land. Next, we read about the laws concerning the taking of Challah, a fire offering, a burnt offering, feast offering. We read about the offering required for unintentional sin. After this brief discussion about ritual, B'nai Yisroel is reminded about the ethical treatment of native members of the community or proselytes. Then we read about who desecrates Shabbat by gathering wood on Shabbat.  Like the person who acts high handedly, this man was removed from the camp and punished with death. The Parsha concludes with a familiar passage that we know as the 3^rd paragraph of the Shmah. We are commanded to wear tzitzit in order to remind us of three ideas: God's commandments, not to follow our eyes and our hearts (which will lead us astray), and God brought us out of Egypt (Num. 15:37-41).

It seems rather ironic and perhaps superfluous that following their prohibition from entering into the Land, we read about a series of offerings, including the taking of Challah, which will only go into effect once they enter into the land. "B’Vo’Achem El Ha’Aretz Asher Ani Meivi Etchem Shama, When you come to the Land to which I bring you V’Haya Ba’Achlachenm MiLechem Ha’Aretz TaRimu Terumah L’Adoshem It shall be that when you will eat of the bread of the Land, you shall set aside a portion for God. Reishit Arisoteichem Chalah Tareimu Terumah KiTrumat Goren Kein Tarimu Otah As the first of your kneading you shall set aside a loaf as a portion like the portion of the threshing floor, so shall you set it aside.  M’Reishit Arisoteichem Titnu La’Adoshem Terumah L’Doroteichem From the first of your kneading shall you give a portion to God, for your generations. (Num. 15:18-21). The Mitzvah of Challah repeats words such as “Land” “Kneading” and “a Portion to God”.  From planting the wheat, making the flour and eventually baking the Challah, and all the steps in between; the process is an incredibly physical endeavor. It is only human nature that when we are engaged in extremely physical endeavors we tend to think that the task, whatever it may be, in this case baking bread, relies solely upon human effort. It is precisely at those moments, where we need to remind ourselves that what may appear to be primarily a physical endeavor has an element of the spiritual, of the sanctified and of the holy. So the baker of the Challah take separates a portion for God. The Torah never specifies how much should be set aside for God’s portion. That amount was eventually decided by the Talmudic Sages. For now, B’nai Yisroel, the “Children of Israel” needed to learn the very important lesson that 1) they have been gifted the Land and us such anything they create from the land, they need to acknowledge God and 2) the success of their hard work is a result of their relationship with God.

 For anyone who has baked Challah, man or woman, fulfilling this mitzvah is incredibly empowering. Anyone can do it, which means that anyone has it within themselves to do something for beyond themselves. To do something for oneself tends to focus on the physical. To do for another tends to focus upon the spiritual. The person needs to see beyond him or herself and appreciate that they are part of something larger. In this case, the person taking Challah is part of the Land and part of a relationship to God and part of the generations that will follow. The Challahs have all been delicious. I suppose the weight has not been only physical weight but spiritual as well. These pounds  I have gained over these past several weeks has been my sacrifice on behalf of my wife’s perfecting her Challah baking skills. With her heading to camp, hopefully, I can lose this excessive “Challah Weight.”

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Long Is The Road We MustTravel On Down (John Barlow & Brett Mydland- "I Will Tak You Home"

Our 18 year old just returned from Israel after having studied in Seminary for the year.  Now there are two children, 18 and 17 years of age, living at home constantly badgering me and their mom for the use of a car. Let’s just say that there have been a variety of creative ways in which they have asked for the car. However, among the most creative ways have involved their attempt to utilize the car maintenance approach.  The approach is quite clever. They will say things to me such as “Don’t you want me to be self- reliant and NOT dependent on my boyfriend or my husband? “  Of course their assumption is that I will trust them more because they indicate that they are not only concerned about using our cars but that they are willing to assume responsibility in caring for the cars. So I begin showing them the indicator lights, what things mean. If it is something that can be taken care of with minimal knowledge such as pumping gas or checking the oil or the tires, they drive to the gas station. I can see by the look on their faces that they would prefer to just have their father, or someday their husband do this for them. However, they know that if they learn now and practice, I will be much more willing to lend them the car. So the first thing I make clear to them is to pay attention to the indicator lights. “Never ignore the indicator lights”, I tell them.

This morning we read from Parsha BaHalotcha. This Shabbat we read from Parsha Bahalotcha. For the previous two Parshiot, Bemidbar and Naso, Bnai Yisroel has counted and prepared for their journey from Sinai to Eretz Canaan. This week, the final preparations are ordered and executed and the departure from Sinai begins. Aaron, Moshe’s brother and the Kohen Gadol, lights the lamp for the Mishkan, the entire Levite tribe is purified, offerings made and their service for maintenance of the Mishkan begins. Final instructions for observing Pesach under these new conditions, (they were not leaving Egypt anymore nor had they arrived in the land) were offered, including the case of coming into contact with the deceased and becoming spiritually impure. The narrative tells us the manner in which Bnai Yisroel traveled: sheltered by a cloud during the day and protected by a pillar of fire at night. Then the complaining begins. They complain about the Mannah. They complain about the food. They complain about Moshe’s leadership. Moshe’s sister complains about his wife.

As Bnai Yisroel finally begins its trek from Sinai towards Canaan, the Torah makes the following statement.  Vayehi Binsoah Ha’Aron VaYomer Moshe, Kuma Adoshem VeYaFuTzu Oyavecha, VeYaNuSu Misanecha MiPanecha. U’vNucho Yomar Shuva Adoshem Rivvot Alfei Yisroel – When the Ark would journey, Moshe said: ‘Arise Hashem, and let Your foes be scattered let those who hate You flee from before You. And when it rested, he would say, ‘reside tranquilly, O Hashem, among the myriad thousands of Israel. (Num. 10:35) Today we say the first part of the verse while we take the Torah out from the Aron before we read the Torah, and we say the second part of the statement when we have finished reading from the Torah and are returning it to the Aron.  In the Torah, this verse is enclosed by two brackets. The bracket is really an inverted letter, the letter “Nun”. The Talmud in Shabbat 116a teaches us Mipnei Sh’ Sefer Chashuv Hu Bifnei Atzmo – Because it constituted a book on its own. This is a rather cryptic statement since it suggests that there are more than 5 books comprising the Torah. We normally think that the Torah comprised of 5 Books (Breishit- Genesis, Shmot –Exodus, Vayikra – Leviticus, Bemidbar-Numbers, Devarim-Deuteronomy). Now the Talmud is suggesting that there is another book?

Perhaps the brackets are the indicator lights. The verse within the brackets is the one section of the User’s Manual that will constantly be referred to during this one aspect of the journey. Originally this journey was supposed to be a few weeks or months at the most. Bnai Yisroel had not yet been punished with 40 years of “wandering in the desert’.  Most of the Torah’s instructions were given in anticipation of Bnai Yisroel’s eventual arrival in Canaan. In the meantime, this is the verse that they will need to refer to, this is the section of the user manual that Bnai Yisroel will need in order to survive until their eventual arrival. In reality, this is the “Book” that they would use each day that they traveled and each day that they would temporarily rest. For my daughters, understanding the indicator lights, knowing how to handle some simple aspects of basic car maintenance will help them arrive safely at their destination while remaining independent young women. Of course, once they arrive at their destination, I hope they remember everything else that their mother and I taught them in terms of managing life, expectations and being responsible for their own actions and decisions.  

Peace,

Rav Yitz

You Read About Samson, All From His Works (Traditional Lyrics/ Arrangement by Bob Weir- "Samson and Delilah")

As Toronto, its suburbs, the province of Ontario, and I imagine Canada, and certainly, my home has experienced the emotional roller coaster of these NBA finals; fans of all walks of life will look at these athletes as heroes. Every Toronto fan will see Kawhi Leonard as a hero: he made the series-clinching shot against Philadelphia and taught his teammates how to win, how to handle pressure, how to slow the game down, play through pain, and put the team on his back. Certainly, in the realm of team sports, all of those qualities would qualify Kawhi as a hero.  Fans in the Bay Area will look at Steph Curry or Klay Thompson and see how two players carried a deeply flawed team that had several key players battling injuries, coolly, and calmly save their team from elimination. While watching the game, we discussed the qualities that make a person a hero. Our children pointed out that there are two components to becoming a hero. One is circumstantial and one is the “make-up” of the person. They continued to clarify their answers pointing out that a hero doesn’t necessarily win or survive, but rather the individual or the group handle adversity without succumbing to pressure. A hero handles adversity with cool, calm and dignity even in the face of great pain or death.  Our son reminded us that last week was D-Day, and those Canadians, American, Brits, Aussies and other allies were truly heroes because they did something extraordinary. They were also astute enough to point out that doing something extraordinary, rising to the occasion doesn’t mean that a hero is flawless or a perfect soul.  

This week's Parsha is Naso. It covers a variety of topics. First, we read that once again, God commands Moshe to count. This time Moshe takes a census of the families in the tribe of Levi. Each family has a very specific role concerning the maintenance of the Mishkan (the Tabernacle). Second, after the census, we are reminded that anyone in contact with a corpse is considered impure and must be removed from the camp for a period of time. Third, we are also told that besides capital punishment, certain crimes towards members of the community are punishable by fines. We read about Sotah, the bitter waters a woman accused of adultery must drink. If she survives the ordeal, then she is innocent. On the day the tabernacle was finally completed, each leader of each of the twelve tribes brought gifts. Each day, a different tribe brought these gifts.

Before the twelve tribes bring their respective offerings, we read about those individuals who, if they so choose, can take upon themselves vows of abstinence. They are called Nazarites. In the Haftarah for Parsha Naso, we read about the birth of the most famous Nazir, Samson. The Nazir's vow of abstinence consists of no wine nor grapes, no haircut, no contact with the dead (this includes parents and siblings). He puts himself in a circumstance in which he tests his “spiritual strength”.  His abstinence is a vow of purity; he shall not have any contact with death. "All the days of his abstinence he is holy to God." (Num. 6:8). Interestingly enough, the minimum time frame of this vow is only 30 days. That is all it takes to be considered heroic within this community: thirty days, no grapes, no haircuts, and no contact with death. Ironically, when the Nazir's vow expires, sometime after thirty days, he cannot just re-enter society. Instead, he must bring two offerings to the Kohen: a burnt offering and a sin offering. A sin offering: imagine that! Here is an individual who has voluntarily taken on more restrictions. Here is an individual who has successfully achieved a higher degree of piety. Now, in order to re-enter society, that individual must bring a sin offering. Is this the price for greatness? What is the sin? The sin is that the individual, in his/her attempt to achieve a higher level of piety, must voluntarily cut him/herself off from the community. This contradicts much of what we read in the book of Leviticus and even in Numbers. One is separated from the community when deemed impure by coming into contact with death. Separation from the community is a means of maintaining the spiritual purity of the community. The object is to remain in the community and elevate the holiness and purity of the community. The Nazir's actions contradict the aims of the community. The Nazir cannot join the community in Kiddush. The Nazir cannot prepare appropriately for an upcoming holiday with the rest of the community. According to Halacha, one prepares for a holiday by cutting hair, washing clothes, and preparing festive meals. Nor can the Nazir, along with the community help those who grieve. As a result, the Nazir must atone for voluntarily separating him/herself from the community. In a very real sense, there is a bit of a mixed message. Torah recognizes that there are those individuals who may adopt certain fanatical love for Mitzvot and God. However, it is quite clear that the laws regarding the Nazir do not condone fanatic behavior. To the contrary, the restrictions are quite minimal, the time frame is minimal, and the message is clearly unmistakable. Fanaticism, voluntarily cutting oneself off from the community, is a sin. One must atone for this behavior.

So where is the heroism? Heroism is not found in self-absorbed large actions. Heroism is not found in a one-shot deal. Heroism is not found in loud rhetoric. Heroism is found in the humility of small and usually selfless actions. Heroism is found in the constancy of appropriate behavior. Heroism is found in the quiet deeds that improve the community and the world without calling attention to oneself. Heroism occurs as part of something bigger than the individual. Heroism is the acceptance of the daily Mitzvot of Torah Study, Ethical/Menschlikite behavior, Prayer, and Gemilut Hasidim (Acts of Loving Kindness). We learn that heroism and greatness is something we can all achieve. So I explained to my son, that sometimes Heroism and Greatness does not mean one has must sink the game-winning basket and win a championship, nor does Heroism and Greatness require a person to die for one’s country. Sometimes heroism and greatness transcend success and failure, and, instead, it is doing the best that one can do under difficult circumstances. That being said, of course, our three teenagers consider Kawhi Leonard a hero. Hopefully, they consider him a hero all the while maintaining some perspective as to who is truly a hero.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Name, Address And Phone Number, Lord, And Just How Far To Go (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "West L.A. Fade Away")

Since last week and throughout the current week, our home has been thoroughly divided in a way that seemed unimaginable. Yes, there are the natural divisions within a home: Parents and Children; boys and girls; and sometimes parent against parent. In some U.S. households, those divisions are based upon political affiliation or even ones’ alma mater. However, it never occurred to me that our family would be divided based upon an NBA team. Sure, I grew up a NY Knicks fan, but they have been so bad for so long, I figured there wouldn’t be a sports conflict with my children. I couldn’t imagine that the tension would be between Mother and children. However, with a wife from the Bay Area, and our children being raised here in Toronto, our home is a virtual boiling cauldron of tension, ill will, and all things Toronto Raptor/Golden State Warriors.  As we watch the games, each side cheering loudly, and talking trash; I find myself just enjoying the quality of play. Because basketball was my first sport and played in high school and college, I enjoy watching the team play as a team, each player with a function during a certain possession as well as a specific role throughout the game. I watch and I think back to my father coaching our JCC team. I watch and think about my father reminding me that a pass gets to the destination quicker than dribbling. I watch and think about my father telling me and the rest of the team: “There is no ‘I’ in TEAM”. Everyone on the team has a role. If that role is not executed with efficiency and excellence, then the team’s effectiveness is compromised and the risk of losing games increases. I watch these incredible athletes who are paid enormous sums of money; play selfless ego-less basketball all with one common goal.

This week’s Par shah is Bemidbar. Bemidbar marks the start of the fourth Book of the Torah, Sefer Bemidbar (the Book of Numbers).  If the Book of Leviticus focused upon all the ritual and ethical behavior a community must observe in order for “God to dwell among it”, The Book of Numbers focuses upon something quite different. Sefer Bemidbar consists of lists, lists of names, numbers, and places. The Book begins and ends with a census. The Book begins with B’nai Yisroel still wandering from place to place as they completed their first year free from captivity. As they begin their second year, there will be more narrative and more events. The Book of Numbers concludes with B’nai Yisroel’s temporarily dwelling in one spot for the next 38 years, overlooking the Promised Land.

Parshah Bemidbar begins with God commanding Moshe to count the people. Then God commands Moshe to organize the people according to tribal formation around the Mishkan. Three tribes are in each of the four directions: three in the North, three in the South, three in the East and three in the West.  The tribe of Levi, (the priest) was not counted in this census because it occupied the center of the camp. Instead of the firstborn from other tribes serving in the Mishkan, the Levites became the designated tribe to serve God in the Mishkan. Counting the Levites was the second census. In Parshah Bemidbar, we also read a list of names. These are the designated leaders of each tribe. Every tribe has a place within the camp, every tribe has a flag, and every tribe has a leader. The Parshah concludes with another census, this time it is limited to a particular family within the tribe of Levi. Every tribe had a role. Every tribe had a place. Every tribe had a function. The Midrash Tanchuma Bemidbar 12 explains that when God suggested the arrangements and roles for the tribes, Moshe questioned the idea. “Now there will be disputes between the tribes.” Moshe reasoned that by assigning certain tribes to certain places, other tribes would become envious and grow disenchanted with their place within the camp, relative to the Mishkan. God explained that there was no need to worry. Each tribe’s designated spot was based upon Jacob’s sons’ positioning around Jacob’s coffin. Each tribe had a clear and proper place within the greater community. There was no fighting, no bickering, nor any disenchantment. VaYa’Asu B’nai Yisroel kChol Asher Tzivah Adonai et Moshe, Kein Asu – “The Children of Israel did everything that God commanded Moshe, so did they do” (Num.1:54). Knowing their role or their place had a positive effect. Each tribe had a defined space and specific function that insured the welfare of the community.

Towards the end of the Parsha, the census for the Levite tribe begins. The first family with the Levi tribe to be counted was the Kohatite family: Moshe and Aharon’s family. The Kohatite family was assigned a certain task in regards to the maintenance of the Mishkan.  Remembering what happened to Aharon’s two eldest sons when they inappropriately approached the Mishkan back in Parsha Shemini; clearly, this family bears an inordinate amount of risk to life and limb in regards to its particular responsibilities.  V’Zot Asu Lahem V’Chayu V’Lo Yamutu B’Gishtam et Kodesh Hakodashim, Thus shall you do for them so that they shall live and not die; when they approach the Holy of Holies Aharon U’VaNav YaVo’u  V’Samu Otam Ish Ish Al Avodato v’El Masa’o –, Aharon and his sons shall come and assign them, every man to his work and his burden. (4:19). Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno, an Italian Renaissance commentator explains that each of the Hohatites should be appointed to do a specific task in the breaking down and carrying of the Mishkan. They should be so organized in order to ensure an orderly approach to the Mishkan. Otherwise, they will invariably compete with one another in order to be the first one and someone might get jostled. The jostling could result in someone knocking into the Mishkan thus bringing death upon himself.

            While an entire people stood at Sinai and said Naaseh v Nishma, We will do and we will obey while receiving the Ten Commandments; we learn that every individual counts and every individual has value.  God ordered two censuses. B’nai Yisroel mattered to God; each individual must have had value. Otherwise, God would not have counted. From this, we learn that a community’s strength is only as great as the individuals that comprise that community. We also know that that the person who has been counted must have a sense of self-value or self-worth. Each person counted must have a role or a function within that community. Each individual must have the means to contribute to the community. By reaching out to the individual, recognizing how each contributes to the whole, the larger group benefits.  No, B’nai Yisroel wasn’t trying to win an NBA championship, but Bemidbar reminds the community that each tribe, each family each individual has a role to play in terms of bringing Holiness and God’s presence into the camp. Unfortunately, as long as Toronto and Golden State duel in the NBA championship, mother and children will remain divided and I will wind up doing far more of the household chores.  

Peace,

Rav Yitz