The Shape It Takes Could Be Yours To Choose; What You May Win And What You May Lose (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Till The Morning Comes")

          It seems that there we are living in two different worlds. One world appears more “normal” to me. In this world, the Canada/U.S. border is at least partially completely open. Canadians are still waiting for the U.S. to permit them to drive across the border. Fully vaccinated Americans are allowed to drive across the border subject to covid test results prior to crossing the border. In this "more" normal or "almost normal" world, the Toronto Blue Jays are finally home and I can go to the ballpark, and people dutifully get vaccinated.   In this "almost normal world" or "more normal" world, Ontario is now over 70% fully vaccinated and Canada is now over 60% fully vaccinated, masks are worn in public places and will be worn in schools. In this "almost normal" or "more normal" world, decisions seem to be made thoughtfully, cautiously, with the concern for the public good, and welfare to be the most important criteria.  In the other world, the world on the other side of the border, where my parents live, my wife’s family lives, my sister and her family live, where one daughter lives and works and where two daughters are supposed to attend university,  that world seems to be embroiled in an identity crisis. One part of that world, thankfully the places where my wife’s family, my family, and our daughters live, are similar to the "almost normal" or "more normal" world. Many are vaccinated,  and while there were a few weeks where masks were not required in public places; now public masking indoors is necessary because of the strength of the Delta Variant. Owners of restaurants have determined that they will only permit vaccinated people onto their premises. Attending concerts requires proof of vaccination. Public safety and welfare decisions are made thoughtfully and cautiously based on science, data, and current conditions based on a concern for the welfare of the whole of society and special concern for the most vulnerable.  In this second world, the Delta Variant runs wild,  and hospitals are filled with younger and sicker people. If these states were a combined country,  they would be ground zero for this “Fourth Wave” of the Pandemic. Ironically, one Governor wants the state legislature to revoke its current ban on mask-wearing. Other Governors have dug in their heels and have signed controversial executive orders prohibiting school boards from determining for themselves as to whether to mandate masks. These governors, specifically in Florida and Texas (places with the most outbreaks) use the rhetoric of “personal choice” and “freedom”.  In such places, decisions seem to be made based upon “politics”, rumors, non-scientific data, cowardice, selfishness, and a failure to understand the nature of leadership. 

          This week’s Parsha is Shoftim. Moshe has completed his lecture on the values of monotheism and covenant. Now he begins telling B'nai Yisroel all the nitty-gritty details of living a Jewish life within this community. What a downer! B’nai Yisroel is inspired and ready to enter into Eretz Canaan and begin living the life in the land that God had promised their ancestors. They are now ready to begin fulfilling the dream that allowed them to survive centuries of slavery. So what does Moshe Rabeinu do? He brings them crashing back to reality. Now they will listen and understand laws concerning war, punishments for idolatry, choosing a king, jurisprudence, priestly entitlements, and unsolved murders. Moshe gives B’nai Yisroel a healthy dose of reality by supplying all the details required to uphold the Covenant.

        One of these laws is rather curious yet serves as a reminder of how important it is to maintain a balance between dreams and reality, between the idealism of our youth and the cynicism of age. V’Hayah Ch’shivto Al Kisei Mamlachto V’Chatav Lo Et Mishnei HaTorah Hazot – And it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself two copies of this Torah in a book… V’Haitah Imo V’Kara Vo Kol Yemei Chayav Lema’an Yilmad L’yirah et Adonai Elohav – It shall be with him and he shall read from it all the days of his life, so that he will learn to fear the Lord his God, Lishmor et Kol Divrei HaTorah Ha’Zot V’Et HaChukim Ha’Eilah La’Asotam – to observe all the words of this Torah and these decrees, to perform them so that his heart does not become haughty over his brethren and not turn from the commandment right or left so that he will prolong years over his kingdom, he and his sons amid Israel (Deut. 18:18-20). The king must write and maintain two Torah scrolls. The “personal” Torah must be carried with him wherever he goes: meetings, wars, benefit dinners, etc. The Torah must always remain physically near his heart. However, the second Sefer Torah sits in the treasure room as a pristine copy, as a benchmark. This “benchmark” Torah remains enclosed, protected, and untouched. The king may consult it, but this pristine copy never leaves the sanctuary. How brilliant! The “personal” Torah that is carried around eventually becomes worn, the letters fade, and the parchment may even tear. This would most likely occur unbeknownst to the king. Yearly, the king must lay his “personal” Torah besides the “benchmark” Torah. There, in the inner chamber, the two Torahs are checked against each other. Then if there are any discrepancies in the “Personal” Torah, the king must make the necessary corrections. The king’s “personal” Torah must reflect the purest and highest standards. Through daily wear and tear, through the compromises necessary to manage a kingdom, the king must regularly check to make sure that he has not gradually drifted away from the “Pristine” or “Benchmark” Torah.

        This is the ultimate form of personal “Checks and Balances”!  The king needs to periodically check his “personal Torah” against the “Benchmark Torah”.  We also must check our “Personal Torah” against the “Benchmark Torah”. Certainly, the process may be uncomfortable, and yes, there is the danger of becoming so self-absorbed that we become paralyzed. The process occurs on a regular enough basis that we don’t become too paralyzed that we can’t function. However, what is so empowering is that this “personal Torah” is not confined to the King.  In this regard, we are all kings, we are all royalty. We are all better off making sure that our “personal Torah”, the one we carry with us wherever we go matches up with Torah, the Torah that we learn from, the Torah that we read upon Shabbat and Holidays.  In watching these two different worlds, I wonder about the types of leaders of these two worlds. I wonder about the people in these “two worlds”.  I wonder about the Torah, the behavioral code that leaders in these “two words” carry with them and remain answerable.  

Peace
Rav Yitz

I Have Always Heard That Virtue Ought To Be Its Own Reward (John Barlow & Brett Mydland - "Just A Little Light")

           Two news stories captured my attention this week. One has been the Tokyo Olympics and watching the successes of Canada, The United States, and Israel (the three countries for which I will either watch or record for watching later). Related to these Olympics has been the Covid Pandemic, the rise in cases in Japan, athletes who are unable to compete because they have tested positive, and the rapid spread of the Delta Variant among those who have not received a vaccine. Of course, this rapid spread, this 4th wave, is not confined to unvaccinated in Japan, the variant is the cause of the rapid increase of Covid cases in Israel, throughout Europe, and especially in parts of the U.S. where vaccination rates are extremely low, including states such as Texas, Missouri, Arkansas, and Florida. The Delta Variant is the cause of new cases here in Canada as well, and even though over 50% of the population is fully vaccinated, that still leaves tens of millions of people at risk. 

          This week’s Parsha is Eikev. Here, in his second discourse, Moshe explains to the new generation how the second set of tablets that contains the Aseret Dibrot came into being. He explains how God forgave their parents for their idolatrous behavior in regards to the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf), and all B’nai Yisroel needs only to refrain from Idolatry, serve God, worship God, and the nation will be rewarded with water, grass, and quality lives. Moshe also reminds B’nai Yisroel that they have nothing to fear when they enter Canaan and conquer the land even though they may be outnumbered because God has already demonstrated that he will protect his people. He did so during the Yetziat Mitzrayim (Exodus), and as long as B’nai Yisroel keeps its side of the B’rit, God will continue to protect his people. This protection includes a guarantee that there will be a satisfactory harvest, and that B’nai Yisroel will always have enough to eat. The Jewish people re-iterate this promise and this guarantee whenever it prays since it is the second paragraph of the “Shmah” and it is found in Parsha Eikev, (11:13-21).

          As Moshe speaks to B’nei Yisroel, he begins the Parsha by explaining the rewards that will result if they fulfill their side of the covenant.  V’Shamar HaShem Elokecha Lecha Et HaBrit V’ Et HaChesed Asher Nishba Elokecha -  Your God will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your ancestors. He will love you and bless you and multiply you, and he will bless the fruit of your womb and the fruit of your Land; your grain, your wine, and your oil...You will be the most blessed of all the peoples; there will be no infertile male or infertile female among you or your animals. V’Hasir HaShem Mimcha Kol Cholei V’Chol Madvei Mitzrayim HaRa’im Asher Yadata Lo Yasimam Bach U’Ntanam B’Chol Sonecha - Hashem will remove from you every illness; and all the bad maladies of Egypt that you knew - He will not put them upon you, but will put them upon your foes (Deut. 7:12-15). If we read this literally, the reward for observance, on a national level is that the Jewish people won’t suffer from sickness, infertility etc. We know that even Israel has suffered from Covid and Israel is suffering from this Delta variant just like other nations. So how do we understand Moshe’s understanding of the reward that awaits the people if they observe God’s covenant? Perhaps the key is the phrase, Madvei Mitzrayim HaRa’im Asher Yadata - and all the bad maladies of Egypt that you knew. In the Talmudic Tractate Baba Metzia (107b): Rav said this is the Evil Eye,  Shmuel said Wind bring about sickness. The Talmudic sages understood the sickness to be spiritual, not necessarily literal.

          When Moshe explains the rewards for observing the covenant, he doesn’t focus upon the individual. He speaks aspirationally. He recognizes that Mitzrayim, from the word Tzar, means “narrow”. Egypt was a spiritually “narrow” and confining place, a place of physical confinement, slavery. However, it was also a place of spiritual confinement, unenlightened, a place of idolatry. For Moshe, observing God’s covenant means spiritual enlightenment and being close to God. No, the continued spread of Covid is not spiritual. It is real. It is evident while watching the Olympics and seeing all the empty seats in each arena. It is evident when watching the news.  We know that we have the capacity to diminish its spread, and prevent serious illness.  However, as we continue to hesitate, as we continue to not refute science, as we continue to politicize. As time goes on, it seems that hesitancy, refuting science, and politicization reflect a spiritual shortcoming, that we refuse knowledge, that we are bogged down with conspiracy, and that we are still enslaved by ignorance. 

Peace,
Rav Yitz