Believe It If You Need It Or Leave It If You Dare (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

            Earlier this week, our son returned to Israel from his week in Poland. Also earlier this week, the United States Secretary of State, Anthony Blinken visited Israel. He met with Israel’s Prime Minister Netanyahu and he met with the Palestinian Authority leader Abbas. Just before Blinken’s arrival, there were a series of terrorist attacks in Jerusalem, including an attack last week on a synagogue on a Friday night.  There were reprisals by Israel, and then another terrorist attack. As I read about the increased tensions in Jerusalem, I find myself praying that my son remains safe and that he doesn’t happen to be in the wrong place at the wrong time if and when another terrorist attack occurs. I have always been a believer in the “two-state solution”. However, with each attack, my faith in the “two-state solution” erodes just a little. However, I am reminded of the words of Hadassah Froman. Hadassah Froman has managed to keep her faith. Hadassah Froman is a frum (Orthodox) Israeli. She is the mother-in-law of the young pregnant woman who was stabbed in Tekoa approximately seven years ago. Hadassah’s late husband was the late peace activist Rabbi Menachem Froman.  In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Rebbetzin Froman said, "Israel was ‘mishandling’ the delicate fabric of its relations with the Palestinian, and needed to make a greater effort to distinguish between those Palestinian who support terrorism and those who want to live in peace. Rebbetzin Froman continued by explaining that Israel needs to reach out to those Palestinians that wish to “Co-Exist”, to live in peace, and by strengthening those Palestinians, supporting those Palestinians, and keeping those Palestinians safe, it would go a long way in promoting a two-state solution. Her statement was poignant seven years ago when Netanyahu was the Prime Minister and it remains poignant especially now with a highly right-wing Netanyahu government compared to seven years ago.

            This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Songs) because of the "songs" or poetry in both the Parsha, Beshallach, and in Haftarah. In Parsha Beshallach, B'nai Yisroel finally leaves Egypt. Pharaoh sends them out and they hurriedly leave. Three days later, B'nai Yisroel arrives at the Yam Suf, the Reed Sea, which is along the Mediterranean coast. With Pharaoh's army behind them and the Sea in front, B'nai Yisroel is trapped. Then the sea opens up, and B'nai Yisroel crosses through and arrives safely on the other side. The Egyptian army gets caught in the sea - bed as the waters come crashing down. Out of joy and relief, B'nai Yisroel composes Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. No sooner are they finished celebrating than they begin complaining about the lack of water and food. God provides water and Manna. However, B'nai Yisroel is still not safe. Now they are attacked by the indigenous tribe, the Amalekites. B'nai Yisroel must put aside its hunger and thirst and fight for its lives. They do, and they are victorious. The Parsha ends with God commanding Moshe to blot out the very existence of the Amalekites.

           From the time B’nai Yisroel complains to Moshe about the oncoming Egyptian army and Yam Suf that lies before them, to the lack of water, lack of food, and lack of meat, one could understand the entire Parsha as God testing B’nai Yisroel’s faith. With all the complaining, with the refrain of the people cynically asking Moshe if God brought them out of Egypt to have them die in the wilderness, or die on the banks of the Yam Suf. This is certainly a simple and straightforward way to understand that these newly released slaves as not at all ready to engage in a covenantal relationship with God since they lack faith. However, the Midrash in Shmot Rabbah teaches us that Nachshon ben Aminadov from the tribe of Judah went first into the Reed Sea even before it split open. In fact, the waters didn’t open up until he was completely submerged. Only then did the waters open due to his faith and the rest of B’nai Yisroel followed.  The sea didn’t part because of Moshe’s praying on behalf of the people; it split because of one man’s Emunah, one man’s faith that taking the next step forward would ultimately prove to be the step that saved a nation.  As a result of Nachshon’s faith, the tribe of Judah would have dominion over Israel.

            I am always intrigued by those who have the ability to keep faith under the most trying circumstances. I am amazed by the stories of those who questioned yet kept their faith in God during the Holocaust. I am struck by those who have faith in humanity's decency and goodness when they carry the scars inflicted by those whose souls are infected with the darkness of terrorism and extremism. I am amazed by those who have faith in the prospect of peace and co-existence despite the pain they have experienced by the murder of a loved one at the hands of those who don’t want to co-exist. To those people of faith, I applaud knowing deep down that I should follow them, and fight the terrorist agenda of living in fear.

Peace,
Rav Yitz 

Walk Into Splintered Sunlight Inch Your Way Through Dead Dreams To Another Land (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

           Our seventeen-year-old has come down with a sickness that strikes students in their final year of High School. This sickness is extremely prevalent in Canada and The United States. Our son’s U.S.  and Canadian summer camp friends are coming down with this. I remember having an awful case of it when I was 17 and in my last year of high school. The sickness is called “Senior-itis”. Senioritis for students in their final year of high school focuses upon the profound desire to leave home.  In some cases, the desire is so strong that the student will seek a university as far away as possible.  A less severe case might mean that the student only needs to be an hour away. Because the desire to get out of the parents’ home is so powerful,  life with the 12th grader can be quite strained and tense for the rest of the family. Suddenly rules are questioned, parents are considered to be overbearing and impossible to deal with. The 12th grader walks around frequently aggravated and muttering under his/her breath: “I can’t wait to get out of here.” While all this is perfectly normal and natural, it does carry one enormous risk. It is much safer to have Senioritis when the senior has already been accepted to University or at least a gap year program. Why? Senioritis also affects the 12th grader’s attitude towards school. Senioritis is most dangerous when the student has not yet been accepted because there is still the pressure to academically succeed and apply, all the while dealing with the overbearing desire to leave home.  One should keep in mind that depending on the behavior of the 12th grader, the symptoms can spread. Not only to younger siblings but more importantly, it can spread to us parents. The more the 12th grader becomes impossible; the more the parents can’t wait for the child to get accepted, graduate high school, and actually leave. Obviously, some parents may be more affected than others. In our home, for example, I have become quite vulnerable to our 12th grader’s case of senioritis. Like him, I am getting to the point where I cannot wait for him to leave. However, his mother seems completely invulnerable and can’t stand the idea that he wants to leave.

            This week’s Parsha offers an excellent example of the first steps towards independence, the natural need for reassurance, and mutual trust and faith between a parent and child. Many events occur in Parshat Lech Lecha. Included among these are: Abram leaving his birthplace, traveling down to Egypt and becoming wealthy, separating from Lot, his brother’s son and last blood relative, fight in a battle and killing those men responsible for territorial instability, fathering a son by his wife’s handmaid (with his wife’s approval), and finally circumcising himself at age 99 and all the males in his household, including his son Ishmael.

             In this Parsha, so many things happen to Avram. He is forever running ahead of God; He is forever living life and making decisions. Avram is forever wondering if he is indeed “doing the right thing”.  Like any good parent, God allows Avram to “run ahead”, be independent, and still offer the necessary parental reassurance.  Noach’s relationship was very different than Avraham’s. Noach walked with God suggesting an image of a parent holding a baby’s hands as he/she learns to walk.  Regarding Avram, the Torah says: “And the Lord appeared before Avram and said- Ani El Shaddai Hithaleich Lefanai Veheyei Tamim - I am El Shaddai; walk before Me and be perfect (17:1). Avram is spiritually more evolved; he can walk ahead. However, even when we allow our children to run ahead of us, or give them more and more independence, we still reassure them that we are part of their lives, and everything will work itself out. Six times Avram receives fatherly assurance in the form of a covenant. Ironically, the first time we read of this assurance is immediately following Avram’s father’s death. God tells Avram to leave his birthplace and he will become a great nation (12:2).  God reassures Avram a second time while Avram, literally, walks ahead of God and keeps going until God tells him where to stop. God reiterates his covenant to Avram (12:7), thereby reassuring Avram. God reassures Avram after he made the difficult decision of separating from the last vestiges of his family of origin, Lot (his brother’s son). By re-iterating his covenant (13:14), God reassures Avram that although the decision was painful, it was correct. After worrying whether he behaved appropriately by fighting against the five kings, God re-iterates and reassures Avram a fourth time (15:4). Avram receives reassurance for the fifth time after he drives away the birds of prey that ruined the sacrifice he made to God (15:13). Avram’s sixth reassurance occurs after making the difficult decision of sending away his firstborn son Ishmael.       

           Avram walks ahead of God knowing that God is always around to reassure him. Ultimately this type of relationship breeds a strong sense of security, trust, and faith in the parent figure. Faith breeds faith and trust breeds trust. Certainly, our 12th-grade son might think that he is ready to begin his own version of Lech Lecha. Yet about some things, he still needs to walk with his parents and, believe it or not, still wants to walk with his parents. About other things, the frustration and aggravation that he feels towards us is merely an expression of the fact that he wants to walk on ahead of us. In both instances, he is telling us about his level of self-confidence to handle the first steps of the path of his own lifelong journey.  One thing is for sure, as parents, we never stop trying to guide and teach him so when he does walk on ahead, he remains grounded in his values and the lessons that she learned. Hopefully, as he grows older and well on his journey, his aggravation with his parents will diminish. Perhaps he will even begin to appreciate the wisdom that we transmitted to him. I hope. 

Peace,
Rav Yitz

Walk Out Of Any Doorway; Feel Your Way Like The Day Before (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh "Box of Rain")

            I just spent two weeks in quarantine, after I drove my twenty-year-old daughter to the University of Maryland. While down in my basement, reading books, working out on my elliptical machine, and watching the news as well as assorted Netflix movies, my daughters knew that I was always home and available for them. In the late mornings, our eighteen-year-old daughter would Whatsapp video call me from Israel. She would tell me about her classes her voice filled with excitement her face full of enthusiasm. Later on, in the early part of the afternoon, I would receive a WhatsApp message or video call from our twenty-year-old. If it was a video call, invariably she would be walking across the campus, coming from a class, her physical therapy session, or a store. Always wearing a mask, her voice too was filled with excitement to be on a big-time college campus, excited to be living in an apartment and thankful for schlepping her down to the University of Maryland. Later in the evening, I would send a message to our eldest daughter. I know that she is incredibly busy trying to get her candidate elected to the United States Congress. Usually, she would respond on a video call as well, prefacing our call by informing me that she only has a few minutes to spare because she is so busy. The campaign will be done next week. Although she looks so tired that I worry about her, her voice is also filled with excitement and passion, her face resolute as she guides a campaign to its ultimate goal.  

          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 towards a place that 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. All these events are linked together by the theme of "Lech Lecha" of going, of traveling.

            The Zohar, the rabbinic book of mysticism, comments upon the first verse "Lech Lecha Mei'Artzecha uMimoladtcha, U'mibeit Avicha El Ha'Aretz Acher Areka- Go for yourself from your land, from your relatives, and from your father's house to the land that I will show you (Gen 12:1). Instead of a physical journey, the Zohar explains that Abram was commanded to embark upon a spiritual journey. The soul, while residing in the World to Come, exists in close or proximity to God. Because of the spiritual clarity and intensity revealed there, no free will and no chance for spiritual growth and advancement can occur. Like the angels, the soul in the World to Come is called an Omaid, a standee. In this World, however, we know that a person has Free Will. This means that we all have the opportunity to advance spiritually as long as we remain in this World. The soul in this world is called a Holiach, a walker, someone who goes, much like Abram went.

            Like Abram, we are all commanded to Lech Lecha. Abram walked and traveled, and so did Lot. Yet Abram epitomized the individual who retained his integrity and ideals despite the difficulties of life, and despite the growing cynicism brought on by age. Abram managed to remember that God is the end and everything else is merely a means to that end. However, all the wealth and all the prosperity are not ends in and of itself. Our daughters have left home,  They are making their way. They may have left home but not the value with which they have been raised. They may have left home, but they brought with them the lessons they have learned and applied it to their lives, their studies, and their jobs. They may have left home but wherever they are and whatever they do, they do so with the passion and joy that can only exist when they choose their respective paths. I only hope our son demonstrates the same passion and joy in whatever path he chooses.

Peace,

Rav Yitz 

Believe It If You Need It, If You Don't Just Pass It On (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

          Our daughter just turned twenty this week. Because of the Covid 19 Pandemic caused summer camps to close; our daughter celebrated her birthday at home. I think that the last time she was home for her birthday was our first year in Toronto when she attended day camp. That was eleven years ago. Yes, of course, her mother did everything she could to make our daughter’s birthday special. In fact, it began last Shabbos and continued right on into Sunday.  The whole weekend,  I was keenly aware that I was sharing participating in something that I usually don’t get to participate in. The moment first struck me last Erev Shabbos when I blessed her. Every Friday Night, I bless our children. With our University age student home since the Pandemic began in March, I have had the opportunity to bless her along with her younger sister and brother. However this last Friday Night, my blessing seemed different. The words were the same, but because we were both aware that on this particular Shabbat, this time seemed different.  As I blessed her, I thought about her turning twenty. I thought about her making her way through university, directed, and enthusiastic about her studies. I thought about my own mortality and all my children. I thought about what, if anything, they will inherit.
          This Shabbat we read from Parsha Pinchas. The first few psukim (verses) of the Parsha are a direct continuation of the previous Shabbat Parsha Balak. There is no elapse of time in the narrative. Balak concludes with a plague upon B’nai Yisroel for its worship of Moabite/Midianite god, Baal Peor. Aaron’s son Pinchas zealously acts by killing Zimri from the tribe of Shimon and Cozbi the Midianite woman. God tells Moshe to reward Pinchas for his behavior by giving him the Brit Shalom, the Covenant of Peace. This covenant is only for Pinchas and his descendants. Keeping in mind that B’nai Yisroel has now concluded it 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and is poised upon the eastern bank of the Jordan River; a new census is taken. Just like we needed to know how many left Egypt, we now need to know how many will enter into Eretz Canaan. After the census is taken Moshe must judge a legal case concerning the laws of inheritance when a man has only daughters. This brief narrative is about the “Daughters of Tzelophchad”. Following this narrative, God commands Moshe to teach the new generation the laws for time-bound offerings including the Shabbat offering, the Rosh Chodesh offering, the offerings for the Shalosh Regalim (Three Pilgrimage Festivals, etc).
          Following the narrative of Pinchas and the second census taken in the book of Bemidbar; two narratives occur. One narrative involves the daughters of Tzlophchad and one narrative involves Moshe. Both deal with inheritance. In the case of the daughters of Tzlophchad, there were no sons to inherit Tzlophchad’s portion in Eretz Canaan. In the case of Moshe, he had sons whom he had hoped would succeed him as the leader, much like Aaron’s sons and grandsons ultimately succeeded him as the Kohen Gadol. The daughters make it clear that their father did not die during the various plagues. Rather he died in the Wilderness, (commentators explain that he was the person picking up sticks on Shabbat and was punished with death for having violated the Shabbat). The daughters’ argument was that his punishment should not effect his rightful portion, Avinu Meit BaMidbar V’Hu Lo Hayah B’Toch Ha’Eidah HaNoadim Al Adoshem B’Adat Korach Ki v’Cheto Meit U’Vanim Lo Hayu Lo – Our father died in the Wilderness, but he was not among the assembly that was gathering against Hashem in the assembly of Korach, but he died of his own sin; he had no son. Lamah Yigra Shem Avinu MiToch Mishpachto Ki Ein Lo Bein T’nah Lanu Achuzah B’Toch Achei Avinu – Why should the name of our father be omitted from among his family because he had no son? Give us a possession among our father’s brothers. Quite cleverly, the daughters explain that their father did not participate in any rebellion against Moshe’s nor God’s authority. Rather he committed and the individual sin that led to his death. However, that should not preclude him nor his family from receiving land. Clearly, this was entirely new and Moshe had no idea how to solve this precedent-setting legal issue.  VaYakreiv Moshe et Mishpatan Lifnei Hashem – So Moshe brought their claim to Hashem. However, a hint as to decision exists in the word Mishpatan (their claim). The last letter of the word is written in a bold font compared to the rest of the Torah letters. This special letter designating the daughters tells us that the daughters were meritorious and worthy of making the claim. They did so in a respectful manner mindful of the law and willing to work within the system.  Immediately after the narrative, Moshe asks about entering the land and is reminded that he is prohibited. He asks about his successor. He suggests the qualities that the leader should possess “who shall go out before them and come in before them, who shall take them out and bring them in; and let the assembly of the Hashem not be like sheep that have no shepherd (Num 27:17) God’s answer is direct and unequivocal. Kach Lecha et Yehoshua ben Nun Take for yourself Joshua son of Nun. According to Rashi, Moshe had hoped that his sons would have been worthy and chosen to succeed him. However, Moshe had to “take for himself” Joshua as though Joshua were his own son.
          Moshe had everything to pass down to his successor. Tzlophchad’s daughters sensed that their father’s name to be  “omitted” from the census and lose out on his portion in Eretz Canaan. Nowhere in the Torah do we hear or read about Moshe’s sons doing anything. We read about Aaron’s sons, we read about Aaron’s grandson, Pinchas. We read about Tzlophchad’s daughters. We read about Joshua and Caleb. We read about those who have Zchut (merit) and those who don’t have Zchut, there is only silence. Tzlophchad never knew had a claim on his portion. Moshe wasn’t aware that he could pass his leadership to Joshua. As I blessed my twenty-year-old, I realize that “inheritance” isn’t necessarily about what the parent or grandparent has to pass down to the younger generation. When I bless our children, I realize now that I am passing to my children that which I inherited from my grandparents and my parents. Our children will inherit any wisdom that we have acquired from our parents, our grandparents, and from our own experiences.

Peace
Rav Yitz

Walk Into Splintered Sunlight; Inch Your Way Through Dead Dreams To Another Land (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box Of Rain")

Our seventeen year old has come down with a sickness that strikes students in their final year of High School and University. It became particularly acute this past week as my daughter and I attended University Night at her high school. About a dozen universities made presentations to parents and students suffering from the disease known as “Senioritis”. Judging from how well attended University Night was; it is apparent that “Senioritis” is quite prevalent in our daughter's class. “Senioritis” tends to strike high school students in their final year, and it is marked by a keen and profound desire to leave home. Whether the desire is to go away for a gap year and return home for university, or to actually leave for a four-year university; there is an expectation of “going away”, or embarking on a journey. In some cases, it means going far away, and in some cases, it may mean being only an hour away. The desire to get out of the parents’ home is so powerful, that life with the 12^th grader can be quite strained. When suffering from “Senioritis”, long-established family rules are questioned, parents are considered to be overbearing and impossible to deal with. The 12^th grader walks around frequently aggravated and muttering under his/her breath: “I can’t wait to get out of here.” Senioritis is most dangerous when the student has not yet been accepted to a college/university or gap year program because of the pressure to academically succeed and apply remains. All the while, the student still struggles with the profound and overbearing desire to finally leave high school. 

This week’s Parsha offers an excellent example of the first steps towards independence, the natural need for re-assurance, and mutual trust and faith between a parent and child. Many events occur in Parshat Lech Lecha. Included among these are: Abram leaving his birthplace, traveling down to Egypt and becoming wealthy, separating from Lot, his brother’s son and last blood relative, fight in a battle and killing those men responsible for territorial instability, fathering a son by his wife’s handmaid (with his wife’s approval), and finally circumcising himself at age 99 and all the males in his household, including his son Ishmael.

In this Parsha, so many things happen to Avram. He is forever running ahead of God; He is forever living life and making decisions. Avram is forever wondering if he is indeed “doing the right thing”.  Like any good parent, God allows Avram to “run ahead”, be independent, and still offer the necessary parental reassurance.  Noach’s relationship was very different than Avraham’s. Noach walked with God suggesting an image of a parent holding a baby’s hands as he/she learns to walk.  Regarding Avram, the Torah says: “And the Lord appeared before Avram and said- Ani El Shaddai Hithaleich Lefanai Veheyei Tamim - I am El Shaddai; walk before Me and be perfect (17:1). Avram is spiritually more evolved; he can walk ahead. However, even when we allow our children to run ahead of us, or give them more and more independence, we still reassure them that we are part of their lives, and everything will work itself out. Six times Avram receives fatherly assurance in the form of a covenant. Ironically, the first time we read of this assurance is immediately following Avram’s father’s death. God tells Avram to leave his birthplace and he will become a great nation (12:2).  God reassures Avram a second time while Avram, literally, walks ahead of God and keeps going until God tells him where to stop. God reiterates his covenant to Avram (12:7), thereby reassuring Avram. God reassures Avram after he made the difficult decision of separating from the last vestiges of his family of origin, Lot (his brother’s son). By re-iterating his covenant (13:14), God reassures Avram that although the decision was painful, it was correct. After worrying whether he behaved appropriately by fighting against the five kings, God re-iterates and reassures Avram a fourth time (15:4). Avram receives re-assurance a fifth time after he drives away the birds of prey that ruined the sacrifice he made to God (15:13). Avram’s sixth reassurance occurs after making the difficult decision of sending away his firstborn son Ishmael.      

Avram walks ahead of God knowing that God is always around to reassure him. Ultimately this type of relationship breeds a strong sense of security, trust, and faith in the parent figure. Faith breeds more faith and trust breeds more trust. Certainly, our 12th-grade daughter might think that she is ready to begin her own version of Lech Lecha. Yet about some things, she still needs to walk with her parents and, believe it or not, still wants to walk with her parents. About other things, her frustration and aggravation with us is merely an expression of the fact that she wants to walk on ahead of us. In those cases, it is quite clear that her “Senioritis” has spread to us because there are moments that we wish she would walk on ahead of us. However, we are acutely aware that in both instances, she is expressing her level of self-confidence to handle the first steps of her own life's path and her lifelong journey.  One thing is for sure, we never stop trying to infuse and teach her so that way when she does walk on ahead, she remains grounded in her values and the lessons that we instilled. Hopefully, as she gets older and well on her journey, her aggravation with her parents will diminish and she will appreciate the wisdom her mother and I gave her. However, I won’t hold my breath.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Look Into Any Eyes You Find By You; You Can See Clear To Another Day (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

Several hours before the Rosh HaShanah holiday began, my wife and I received an email from our daughter who is studying in Israel for the year. Since she arrived, her main form of communication has been phone calls or texts messages through Whatsapp. So when I saw an email from her, I was concerned. Don’t ask me why I should be concerned about getting an email from my daughter; I guess as I grow older and worry more and more. (I guess I am becoming more like my father.) So I read our daughter's email. I welled up. She explained that she did not have classes the day before Rosh HaShanah. Apparently, it was a beautiful day in Jerusalem, yet our daughter was experiencing the first twinges of homesickness as this was the first time that she was away during the High Holidays. She explained all this to us in her email and amid the twinges of homesickness and the welling up of tears, our daughter thanked us. She not only thanked us for giving her the opportunity to spend a gap year in Israel, she thanked us for the making her attend this particular seminary even though her teachers thought she would be happier elsewhere. She thanked us for not only seeing her in an honest and clear light but knowing what was best for her, as compared to her high school teachers. She thanked us for being her parents. I quickly wrote back two words. One word sums up the reason we wanted her to participate in sports as well as community service programs- Perspective. The other word allowed her to cope with hardship, discomfort or any challenge – clarity. Usually, clarity occurs when one is able to sense moments of extreme possibility. I know that I had great moments of clarity when each of my children was born. I also had great moments of clarity when my grandfather passed away a few years ago. Life and death allow us to get at the essence of life.

            In this week’s Parsha, Va’Yeileich, for the last time Moshe experiences a moment of clarity. However of all the moments of clarity including: the Burning Bush, the Revelation at Sinai, the Personal Revelation when he saw the back of God while defending B’nai Yisroel following the episode of the Golden Calf; it is the moment of death to which we can all relate. It is at the moment of impending death that Moshe has perfect clarity. He sees and understands the anguish that his children will experience as they drift towards and away from their Covenant with God. He sees all that his life has been and he recognizes that while his life will be no more, there will be closure. Ki Yadati Acharei Motie Ki Hashcheit Tashchitun v’Sartem Min HaDerech Asher Tziviti Etchem V’Karat Etchem Ha’Ra’Ah B’Acharit Hayamim Ki Ta’Asu et Ha’Rah B’Einei Adoshem L’Hachiso B’Ma’Asei Y’deichem – For I know that after my death you will surely act corruptly,  and you will stray from the path that I have commanded you, and evil will befall you at the end of days, if you do what is evil in the eyes of HaShem, to anger Him through your handiwork (Deut.31:29). We should note that closure does not necessarily mean that the content of the closure will be positive, however, the process of closure is always positive. Our sages are adamant about the vital importance of closure. If a person engages in Tshuvah, a repentant return to God, and Vidui, confession even if the moment before death it is tantamount to a person who has returned to living a life of Mitzvot. In a moment of clarity, certainly such a moment exists at death, Moshe has the opportunity to make that moment holy, sanctified, an un-wasted moment.

            This is a very special time of year for The Jewish People. It is a very spiritual time of year. This ten-day period from Rosh HaShanah until Yom Kippur is known as the Aseret Yamei Teshuvah – the Ten Days of Repentance. As the name suggests, this is the time of year in which we seek M’chila or forgiveness for any transgression we have committed. We seek forgiveness from God, and we seek forgiveness from family and friends. Mostly, it seems to me, that during these ten days we honestly look at ourselves and assume that we have hurt others instead of being shocked when we find out that we are capable of hurting another. The ability to engage in this process known as Tshuvah, the process of returning to the holiest aspect of our being, requires great clarity. Sometimes clarity occurs when one experiences a beginning, like a new life. Sometimes clarity comes at the conclusion, the death of a loved one. For our daughter clarity came on a beautiful autumn day in Jerusalem as she thought about the path of her life, leaving home, this current gap year and then onto college/university. Perhaps, Shabbat Shuvah,, the Shabbat of Return, reminds us of the importance of allowing those moments of clarity to serve as a source of spiritual strength.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Believe It If You Need It Or Leave It If You Dare (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

As many in the West celebrated the return of American prisoners who had been held in Iran, and Iran celebrated its return to the “nations of the world” because it had purportedly fulfilled its first obligation in diminishing its Nuclear program; there are those who are naïve enough to think that the world is a safer place, that our faith in humanity and reason should be restored, and even the most despotic, and evil governments want to live peacefully among the nations.  However despite this “good news” two incidents occurred in Israel that remind us that not only is the world still very dangerous, but left many testing their faith in any kind of peaceful solution in Israel.  Early in the week, two Israeli woman were attacked by Palestinians and stabbed. One woman, Dafna Meir, a mother of six, was slain by a Palestinian in her home in Otniel as she successfully stopped the attacker from murdering her children.  Soon afterwards, and while a police/military dragnet searched for Dafna Meir’s murderer, a pregnant woman was stabbed in Tekoah. For anyone who still thinks a two state solution is the most viable long term solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; that faith continues to erode. I know my faith in a two state solution continues to erode. At this time of turmoil, this time of questioning and during the erosion of faith in a peaceful outcome in Israel, Hadassah Froman has managed to keep her faith. Hadassah Froman is a frum (Orthodox) Israeli. She is the mother in law of the young pregnant woman who was stabbed in Tekoa. Hadassah’s late husband was the late peace activist Rabbi Menachem Froman.  In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Rebbetzin Froman said that “Israel was ‘mishandling’ the delicate fabric of its relations with the Palestinian, and needed to make a greater effort to distinguish between those Palestinian who support terrorism and those who want to live in peace. Rebbetzin Froman continued by explaining that Israel needs to reach out to those Palestinians that wan to “Co-Exist”, to live in peace, and by strengthening those Palestinians, by supporting those Palestinians and keeping those Palestinians safe, it would go a long way in promoting a two state solution.

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Songs) because of the "songs" or poetry in both the Parsha, Beshallach, and in the Haftarah. In Parsha Beshallach, B'nai Yisroel finally leaves Egypt. Pharaoh sends them out and they hurriedly leave. Three days later, B'nai Yisroel arrives at the Yam Suf, the Reed Sea, which is along the Mediterranean coast. With Pharaoh's army behind them, and the Sea in front, B'nai Yisroel is trapped. Then the sea opens up, B'nai Yisroel crosses through and arrives safely on the other side. The Egyptian army gets caught in the sea - bed as the waters comes crashing down. Out of joy and relief, B'nai Yisroel composes Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. No sooner are they finished celebrating, then they begin complaining about the lack of water and food. God provides water and Manna. However, B'nai Yisroel is still not safe. Now they are attacked by the indigenous tribe, the Amalekites. B'nai Yisroel must put aside its hunger and thirst and fight for their lives. They do, and they are victorious. The Parsha ends with God commanding Moshe to blot out the very existence of the Amalekites.

From the time B’nai Yisroel complains to Moshe about the oncoming Egyptian army and Yam Suf that lies before them, to the lack of water, lack of food and lack of meat, one could understand the entire Parsha as God testing B’nai Yisroel’s faith. With all the complaining, with the refrain of the people cynically asking Moshe if God brought them out of Egypt to have them die in the wilderness, or die on the banks of the Yam Suf; it is very easy to view these newly released slaves as not at all ready to engage in a covenantal relationship with God since they lack faith. However the Midrash in Shmot Rabbah teaches us that Nachshon ben Aminadov from the tribe of Judah went first into the Reed Sea even before it split open. In fact the waters didn’t open up until he was completely submerged. Only then did the waters open due to his faith and the rest of B’nai Yisroel followed.  The sea didn’t part because of Moshe’s praying on behalf of the people; it split because of one man’s Emunah, one man’s faith that taking the next step forward would ultimately prove to be the step that saved a nation.  As a result Nachshon’s faith, the tribe of Judah would have dominion over Israel.

I am always intrigued by those who have the ability to keep faith under the most trying circumstances. I am amazed by the stories of those who questioned yet kept their faith in God during the Holocaust. I am struck by those who have faith in the decency and goodness of humanity when they themselves carry the scars inflicted by those whose souls are infected with darkness of terrorism and extremism. I am amazed by those who have faith in prospect of peace and co-existence despite the pain they have experience by the murder of loved one at the hands of those who don’t want to co-exist. To those people of faith I applaud knowing deep down that I should follow them, fight the terrorist agenda of living in fear.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Look Into Any Eyes You Find By You; You Can See Clear To Another Day (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

We wouldn’t necessarily know it from the weather, but if anyone has been to the malls they are certainly aware that it is “the most wonderful time of the year”. It is the time of year that the Jews go to Florida, and on one day during this week; eat Chinese food and perhaps go to the movies.  Since we are not going to Florida, our family will have the Chinese food. Our family has one other tradition. On December 24^th, we light a fire and watch It’s a Wonderful Life. One of the themes of It’s a Wonderful Life is that an individual’s life touches many other lives. Sometimes we explicitly affect others’ lives, sometimes we implicitly affect other lives. Perhaps we may never know the extent to which we affect and influence others' lives. However, as George Bailey watches people from his town give a few dollars to help him out of a difficult financial bind, he becomes acutely aware that everything he did, every decision he made, every trial and tribulation, every joyous moment and every difficult moment were necessary parts of his life. All of which allowed him to arrive at this final moment; a moment in which he was able to experience the holiness of an act of Loving Kindness.

 This week’s Parshah, Vayechi is the conclusion of the book of Breishit (Genesis). Because this is the last Parshah of the Sefer B’reishit, we read of the passing of the mantle of power from one generation to the next. Yaakov is 147 years old and it is time for him to bless his children and his grandchildren. To each of his twelve sons, he offers a blessing. To Yosef’s sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, he not only offers a blessing but he reserves the blessing of the first born to the younger brother, Ephraim.  This is fitting. Yaakov also received the blessing reserved for the first born. He also leaves Yosef with one last mission. Yaakov tells Yosef of the covenant that God made with Avraham, Yitzchak and himself. He also made Yosef swear an oath that he would bring him out of Egypt and bury him with his father and grandfather. Yosef accepts this oath. He and his brothers leave Egypt and bury their father. Because the famine remains pervasive throughout the land, they return to Egypt. Now the brothers fear Yosef’s wrath. Although he has not expressed any anger towards them, the brothers believe now that their father is dead; Yosef’s anger will not be contained. First they sent servants to Yosef in order to plead on their behalf. Then the brothers plead to Yosef and prostrate themselves before Yosef. Yosef’s response indicates his maturity, his spiritual contentment and his peace with himself and his environment. Vayomer Aleihem Yosef Al Tirau Ki Hatachat Elohim Ani -“But Joseph said to them, ‘Fear not, for am I instead of God? V’Atem Chashavtem Alai Ra’ah Elohim Chashava L’Tovah L’Ma’An Asah KaYom HaZeh LHaChayot Am Rav - Although you intended me harm, God intended it for good: in order to accomplish, it is as clear as this day, that a vast people be kept alive.  V’Atah Al Tirau Anochi Achalkeil Etchem V’et Tapchem Vayinachem Otam Vayidaber al Libam -So now fear not, I will sustain you and your young ones.’ Thus he comforted them and spoke to their heart.” (Gen: 19-21) Yosef bears no animosity towards his brothers. The tears he shed in last week’s parsha, VaYigash, were genuine. The joy of re-uniting with his family without rancor and bitterness overwhelmed any negative or bitter feelings. Yosef understands and accepts his place. Yosef understands that he had to experience all the tsuris and all the simcha of his life in order to arrive at that point in time and in that manner. Yosef arrived at that moment without bitterness. He chose not to have bitterness. Rather, his faith and sense of self provided enough strength for him to make peace, achieve contentment, and appreciate the path that his life had taken.

It took George Bailey to sink to his lowest point, wishing he “had never been born” in order to understand that by living life, by working hard, by trying to make a difference, he ultimately did. Like most of us, we don’t always get to see how our deeds and actions make a difference to those lives we touch. Like George Bailey, Yosef understood all this. He too had to go through all kinds of difficulty, namely an estrangement from his family for more than twenty years, in order for him to learn the lesson that that everything has to happen in order for us to arrive at this point in time. Both George Bailey and Yosef teach us to try hard, to do our best, never lose faith and don’t allow negative feelings to overwhelm us to the point of becoming embittered souls. Ultimately we need to learn and eventually accept that everything unfolds the way it does in order for us to be here at this moment in time.

Peace,

Rav Yitz