Think This Through With Me, Let Me Know Your Mind; What I Want To Know Is, Are You Kind? (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia "Uncle John's Band")

Our teen-age daughters, 17 and 15 will be going to the New York metropolitan area in order to spend the last days Shemini Atseret and Simchat Torah with their “camp friends”. For the past couple of weeks we have been searching for a way to get her to New Jersey: plane, train, bus, a car ride with friends who are heading to New York. We couldn’t find anything then satisfied our concern for time, cost, or safety. We managed to find a cheap flight from Buffalo to New York’s LaGuardia airport. They just had to find a way to get picked up at LaGuardia in order to get to their respective destinations: Teaneck, NJ and Cedarhurst Long Island. For the past few years, my parents would drive down to New York City and visit with my sister and her family, however this year my parents won’t be heading down until after Sukkot. In the past, I have relished the idea of our kids on a six hour car ride with my father and listening to the lectures that I had to listen to. I relished the idea of our kids on a six hour car ride with my father and listening to sage words of wisdom about life, relationships, and the future. Because the 17 year old is thinking about university, I was especially hopeful that Grandpa (my father) would offer advice and perspective to deal with the anxiety and the process of choosing and applying to universities. Needless to say, I think our daughters were relieved that they are flying to New York rather than driving six hours and listening to a lecture from Grandpa. For me, it is a lost opportunity for a grandfather to offer wisdom and advice to his grandchildren. Now, as I become more conscious of these diminished opportunities; I realize that it falls on me to transmit his wisdom and advice.

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Chol HaMoed Sukkot. It is the Shabbat that falls during the 7 day Festival of Sukkot. As a result we do not read the regular Torah Reading. Instead, we read of the narrative when Moshe re- ascended the mountain a second time in order to receive the second set of Tablets. As part of the Festival, we recite Hallel which is a series of psalms praising God and state our joy in being part of the Brit, part of the covenant with God. Also, because it is a festival, we read one of Five Megillot taken from the Ketuvim – the Book of Writings. On Shabbat Chol Ha Moed Sukkot, we read Kohelet, the Book of Ecclesiastes.  Jewish tradition ascribes the twelve chapter scroll to Shlomo HaMelech – King Solomon.  This wisdom literature is written from the perspective of an elderly man who has seen it all, and experienced it all. – Ein Kol Chadash Tachat HaShemesh – There is nothing new under the sun! Kohelet – The Preacher speaks with brutal and harsh honesty.. In what is perhaps the most famous few verses, the Preacher tells us that life is full of ups and downs, good times and difficult times. L’Kol Zman V’Eit L’Chol Chafetz Tachat HaShamayim – Everything has its season, and there is a time for everything under heaven: A time to be born and a time to die…..That may not sound so inspiring.  Yet our job is to live our lives according to a set of rules. The result may be good or it may be bad, but God will be the judge of that. All we can do is play according to the rules as we make our way through life and contend with the obstacles presented.

          I hope there will be other opportunities for our children to spend significant time with their grandparents receiving their wisdom. In the meantime I have to make time with my kids passing this Kohelet wisdom to them. After all it’s a seasonal thing: Sukkot, autumn, change of seasons, leaves changing colors. I will take them for a drive, we will talk, we will see the leaves changing, we will discuss univerisities. Words, advice and hopefully wisdom will come out of my mouth and I will realize that I sound like my father, who amazingly enough sounded a lot like his father. I hope I do as good a job transmitting these words, thoughts, and wisdom to them as my father and grandfather did. Like Kohelet concluded by reminding the younger generation that after all is said and done, Sof Davar HaKol Nishmah et HaElohim Yrah v’Et Mitzvotav SHmor ki Zeh Kol HaAdam- Fear God and keep his Commandments, for that is man’s whole duty, Ki et Kol Maaseh Ha’Elohim Yavoh V'Mishpat – For God will judge every deed…; I am reminded of my father’s advice and need that I need to transmit to them: that if they follow their grandfather’s advice, they will be able to handle life’s obstacles and remain positive and happy.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

A Hopeful Candle Lingers In The Land Of Lullabies (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Days Between")

The last few weeks, there has been a dramatic increase in dramatic increase in Anti-Semitic attacks.  Several dozen Jewish Community Centers throughout the United States have received bomb threats. This week, the bomb threat scare arrived in my hometown of Rochester, NY, and here in Toronto. Both facilities evacuated and eventually determined the threat was just like all the other bomb threats.  Day Schools in the United States have received bomb threats. Jewish cemeteries from St. Louis, to Philadelphia from Brooklyn to Rochester, NY have been the site of vandalism with numerous gravestones toppled. During one of the many news shows that I watch, one of the political pundits who resides in New York City commented that he saw a police officer standing outside a Jewish Day school. The pundit asked the policeman why his presence was required. Was an important official appearing at the school? The police officer responded, “It’s just another day at school”.  In response to these Anti-Semitic incidents in New York State, Governor Cuomo went to Israel to meet with the Prime Minister,  show support for Israel, and spend time with Israel’s security and law enforcement industries and agencies. Then the governor did something to show his support for the Jewish Community in New York. He spent last Shabbat at the Park Avenue Synagogue, one of the wealthiest Conservative Synagogues in the United States. The Governor’s message was simple. His was a message of tolerance and light, and he wanted everyone, even those who gravitate toward intolerance and darkness, to understand that tolerance and light will remain a constant in his administration. Needless to say, all of our children were incredibly proud that Governor visited Israel and celebrated Shabbat as a demonstration of support for Jews in Israel and Jews in North America.

This Shabbat we read from Parshah Tetzaveh. This Shabbat is also the Shabbat that immediately precedes the celebration of Purim. The day in which the Jewish people celebrate the redemption of Persian Jewry during the second or third century BCE. This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Zachor – Shabbat of Remembrance. Besides the weekly Torah portion, Tetzaveh, three verses (Deut. 25:17-19) are recited. In those verses we are commanded to remember what Amalek did to the Jewish people as they left Egypt. They attacked and murdered the escaped slaves. The villain of the Purim story, Haman, according to Midrash (Rabbinic legend) comes from the tribe of Amalek, the Torah’s symbol of evil. However the weekly Parsha Tetzaveh has nothing to do with Purim, or Amalek. Instead the Parsha focuses upon Aaron, Moshe’s brother, Aaron’s sons, their position as the Kohen Gadol, (High Priest), their “work uniform” and their preparations. Just like last week’s Parshah, Terumah, contained numerous details concerning the construction of the Mishkan; Tetzaveh’s focuses primarily upon the details concerning the Kohen Gadol’s uniform. From material to design, this aspect of the Parshah is a tailor/fashion designer’s dream. Once the details for the uniform have been taught, the Parshah concentrates upon the necessary preparations that the Kohanim must engage in so that they are spiritually pure enough to make offerings on the behalf of the people. Only then, when the construction is complete, when the clothing is finished and the purification process fulfilled, then God will rest God’s presence among the people.

Despite the primary focus upon Priestly vestments, the Parsha begins with the commandment of the Ner Tamid, an Eternal Light. Until now Moshe has been a conduit: VaYiDaber Adoshem El Moshe Leimor, Dabeir El B’nai Yisroel – God spoke to Moshe, saying: ‘Speak to the Children of Israel’. Now, regarding the Lamp, Moshe doesn’t speak to the children of Israel or to the Priests; instead Moshe is instructed to command the priests. No long is he just a conduit. Regarding the Lamp, the command emanates from Moshe. Regarding God’s first command of Moshe, the Torah tells us,  V’Atah T’tzaveh et Bnai Yisroel VYikchu Eilecha Shemen Zayit Zach Katit La’Maor L’Ha’Alot Neir Tamid – Now you shall command the Children of Yisroel that they shall take for you pure, pressed olive oil for illumination to kindle the lamp continually (Ex. 27:20). So why is it so important for the command to appear as if it comes from Moshe and not God? Why is this Moshe’s commandment to the priests? Shmot Rabbah (Talmudic Rabbis’ commentary on the Book of Exodus) offers a figurative understand of the perpetual light that Moshe commands to be lit. See how the words of Torah give light to man when he is occupied with them. But whoever is not so occupied and is ignorant, he stumbles…’The way of the wicked is in thick darkness ’…. (Shmot Rabbah 36:3). Moshe is told to command the Aaron and his sons to light the Ner Tamid in perpetuity. Light and learning, not darkness and ignorance must be perpetual and constant. Light and knowledge must provide a lamp for all those who are in need of light and all those who are ignorant and don’t even realize it. Moshe, ever the teacher, ever the law giver, has been tasked to the lamp, to bring light, knowledge and understanding in perpetuity.

I suppose our children are more sensitive to and are more acutely aware of antisemitism than I was at their age. Maybe I was more oblivious. Maybe society was more polite and such “unpleasantness” was part of the extreme aspects of society that scurried about in the dark shadows where polite people didn’t venture. Nowadays society is far less polite and over the past year, we have watched extreme aspects of society receive a warm embrace by what used to be thought of as “mainstream”. As this week immediately precedes Purim, a celebration that commemorates Persian Jewry’s victory over Anti- Semitism; we are reminded that darkness and ignorance remains present even here and that we need to remain vigilant. Generally, light is symbolic of wisdom and enlightenment. The only way to combat intolerance and ignorance is to shine a light upon it, a strong glaring light of an enlightened, educated, sensitive, and democratic society that possesses a profound respect for its democratic institutions and the strength of will to root out the Amalek, the evil, ignorance, and intolerance that exists in every generation.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

You Will Follow Me And We Will Ride To Glory (John Barlow & Bob Weir- "Estimated Prophet")

I don’t know about you, but we are expecting a long lost relative to show up at our Seder this year. In fact, I am willing to bet that a long lost uncle will be showing up at many Seders in the United States and even in Canada. Well before Elijah shows up, this long lost cranky Uncle Bernie will make an appearance. No, he won’t be there physically, but make no mistake, Uncle Bernie will put in an appearance. It would have been way too tense with lots of political fireworks if our eldest daughter came home for Pesach. However, the woman for whom our daughter works needed our daughter in Pennsylvania for that state’s April 26^th primary.  I just hope that if and when Uncle Bernie shows up, there won’t be yelling, screaming, name calling, or long diatribes about the same thing over and over again.

Of course Uncle Bernie shows up when we open the door to symbolically welcome the needy into our home. Most likely he would have been there before screaming at us to “open the damn door already, there are millions of people who need our help and society has failed them”. So we open the door and in walks Uncle Bernie.  As he brusquely walked in, not even saying hello to my younger kids, nor my nieces and nephew, I would looked at him and told him that I open the “damn door” when the Hagaddah instructs me to open the door since I follow the prescribed order of the Hagaddah. I reminded him that we started our Seder at a certain time and he didn’t need to make such a scene.  As he sits down, he throws his first barb at me. He tells me that “I am a slave to Torah, to organized religion.” He tells me that I am a slave to the capitalist society and that “only a revolution”, of which he is the leader “can throw off the shackles of this current state of slavery.” Knowing that I will have a chance later, I dismiss his initial parry and tell Uncle Bernie that he should save his diatribe for later while we are eating or even better, after that last cup of wine.

                So as we working our way thought Hagaddah, I pick up the Matzah and explain that this is the bread of poverty, Uncle Bernie reminds us that we should always appreciate the fact that it’s not only the bread of poverty for Jews, especially after the Pesach shopping is complete, but we should always be aware of the poverty all around us and be sure to do something about it.  The kids are getting fidgety, “Yes Uncle Bernie, we know, and we will, but first, tonight is Pesach and we are celebrating our freedom and we are getting hungry.” So we managed to keep Uncle Bernie quiet long enough to work our way through the middle of the Hagaddah and are beginning with the Seder meal. He likes my wife’s chicken soup, he loves the hard-boiled egg in salt water, and apparently it reminds him of his upbringing in Brooklyn. Then dish after dish is placed upon the table, potatoes, chicken, brisket, some type of vegetable kugel, and other things that I have no idea what they could be. Does Uncle Bernie compliment my wife? No. Uncle Bernie complains that there is too much food and we should have given it away to the poor and the needy, and he refuses to eat. Standing on principle, or rather sitting on it, he begins another diatribe about Jews and too much food.  He even mentions that his mother would cook too much on certain occasions.

There it is, there is my opening. Under my breath but loud enough for Uncle Bernie to hear, I say “Sure, like May Day but definitely not on Shabbat, God forbid.” Now the gloves come off. While chewing some chicken, Uncle Bernie, who reminds me of so much of Larry Sanders yells at me, “I am just as Jewish as you are you self- righteous spiritually vapid slave.” Everyone stops and awaits my response.  “No, Uncle Bernie. You are a Jew. Your mother was a Jew.  Make no mistake, you are not just as Jewish. Nor am I self-righteous. I am observant. I believe in the particularism of Judaism as well as its universal values. However I do not sacrifice one at the expense of the other. For me, Pesach is NOT a one and done. Pesach is the embodiment of the hard work of raising a family, of passing along Jewish knowledge, of passing along the joy of being Jewish. It is not basking in a Judaism of ethnicity based upon a Brooklyn accent, bagels and lox, working on a kibbutz one summer. I am much more interested in the Jewish legacy that I leave with my kids. You know Uncle Bernie, I am sure that many Jews derive great pride in the fact that a Jew is running for President. Not me, I can’t tell you how upset that you are the one running for President. I wish it was Uncle Joe (Lieberman). You know why? Uncle Joe is Jewish. He isn’t just a Jew. Uncle Joe observes, he is proof that you strike a balance between the secular and the sacred; between the holy and the mundane. He is proof that you can raise kids and they will remain connected to a community and to a people. Uncle Bernie you can’t say the same thing. Your version of Judaism dies with you. Your version of Judaism with only universal values, while appealing to Millennials, will, unfortunately lead them astray once they get married, have kids, feel a bit mortal and want their kids to have a relationship with their grandparents. Beside a Judaism solely based upon Universalism demands very little if anything from its adherents. As a result there is nothing to pass down to the next generation.  You know Uncle Bernie, even Uncle Mikey (Michael Bloomberg) running for President would have been a better alternative than you. Although he is not so observant, Uncle Mikey is totally respectful, he would never think to call me self-righteous. Don’t think that I can’t see your sarcastic smirk because he is a multi- billionaire and the .001% of the 1%. You know how much Tzedakah he gives? You know how much he gives to charity, to Israel? Yep, Uncle Mikey doesn’t just talk a good game. Uncle Mikey puts his money where his mouth is. Tell me Uncle Bernie, you spent all these years in the Senate, what did you accomplish? You yelled a lot. You waved your arms a lot. You railed against many things that, I agree, were often hypocritical. But you know something Uncle Bernie, you spent so much time not being, not being a Democrat, not being Jewish, not being from Brooklyn ( you left when you were in your early twenties and moved to Vermont),  and don’t get me started about your behavior in New York State these past couple of weeks. Sure do the ethnic Jewish thing in New York. Big deal! For the rest of the primary states you don’t talk about being Jewish. Remember Uncle Bernie, in order to get stuff done you need to be a part of something”. 

“Tell me Uncle Bernie, do you know that the Midrash tells us that only 1/5 of the Jewish slaves left Egypt. The rest stayed in Egypt. I won’t say that you deny your Judaism, that is an insult to your father’s family who died in the Holocaust, and I don’t care if your social circle of friends in Vermont are Jews or not. But tell me Uncle Bernie, you have spent so much time trying to minimize the Particularism of Judaism and focus on the Universalist values, would you have left Egypt? After all, those who left, by definition had a sense of faith, they felt a sense of “choseness”. They had accepted the ideal that one must be different in behavior (ritual circumcision) all year round in order to participate in the Pesach offering. They were willing to create institutions and adhere to them rather than rid themselves of them. So tell me Uncle Bernie would you have been one of the 20% that left or remained with the 80% in Egypt. I can’t help but think that since you consistently align yourself with the 99% you would have found comfort with the vast majority as opposed to those who were truly revolutionary and willing to follow someone who was an incredibly uninspired speaker, Moshe.”

For the first time, Uncle Bernie is quiet. He finishes eating. Of course he doesn’t’ stay until the end. He didn’t really want to discuss anything. He didn’t really want to participate in the give and take of ideas and argument. He wanted to yell, and rage at all the problems but not offer solutions, nor enjoy the moments he had with us. So Uncle Bernie left, sure there were some food stains on his blue sport coat but I wasn’t going to say anything. And as we all exhaled deeply we were all happy to see Elijah come by for his cup of wine.

Peace

Rav Yitz