Lady In Velvet Recedes In The Nights Of Goodbye (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Dark Star")

           It’s not every day that we attend the funeral of a King or a Queen. Yet, earlier this week, a billion people tuned in for part of (if not all) Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. For about a week, the coffin bearing the Queen lay in State in her beloved Scotland and then was brought to London. Along the way people stopped and respectfully acknowledged the coffin’s passing by. Once in London, Queen Elizabeth lay in state for several days and millions of people stood in line, some time for as much as 30 hours in order to be physically close to the coffin, and pay final respects. On the day of the funeral, millions lined the route as the coffin was brought to Westminster Abbey where the funeral service was conducted. During this time, it was clearly evident that all of the Royal Family wanted the coffin to be accessible to all of the Queen’s subjects. She did not lie in State for only the noble class. She did not lie in state for only white Englishmen. She did not lie in state for only a certain gender, or only for the wealthy privileged class. Anyone and everyone who stood there at the appropriate moment caught a glimpse and had a moment of closure.  

            This week’s Parsha is the Parsha Nitzavim. According to the Aggadah, this is the recounting of Moshe Rabeinu’s last day of life. Unafraid of his imminent death, he gathers his family: Rosheichem, Shivteichem, Zikneichem, v’Shotreichem, Kol Ish Yisroel, Topchem N’Sheichem V’Geircha Asher B’Kerev Machanecha Meichotev Eitzecha Ad Sho’eiv Meimecha – The heads of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, all the men of Yisroel; your children, your women, and the stranger who is in the midst of our camp, from the woodchopper to the one who draws water (Deut. 29:9-10). Moshe imparts the last vestiges of wisdom to his children and his people. Moshe wants to make sure that everything is in order when he dies and Joshua takes over. Moshe truly has been blessed. He has had the blessing of old age, and here God has granted him the gift of saying goodbye in perhaps the most wonderful fashion. God has commanded Moshe to say his goodbyes and impart the final vestiges of wisdom.

            We are taught that death is a part of life. Yet many of us are afraid of death. Many of us believe that we should shield our children from death, sadness and loss. However, when we read Parsha Nitzavim, we learn that while impending death is sad, death in the manner of Moshe’s can take on an aura of holiness – of Kedushah. It is in holiness that we attain the highest level of life, a life that is directly connected to God. When death comes like this, from God, with an opportunity to say Goodbye- with an opportunity to impart wisdom to one’s children, death is not mundane, death is not ordinary, but rather holy and part of life, the final expression of holiness in a very physical endeavor. When we talk of strength, we, unfortunately, think of the person who lifts a lot of weight. We think of the person who doesn’t cry, who remains stoic if he/she is all torn up inside. At this time of year, from Elul through Sukkot, when we recite the 27th Psalm and conclude with the words Chazak v’Ya’Ameitz Libecha, v’Kavei El Adoshem – Strengthen yourself, and he will give you courage; and hope to HaShem! We now understand what it means to strengthen oneself.  Moshe had that kind of strength. To be aware of the end of life, to prepare for it, to draw loved ones toward and tell them how we feel is the epitome of courage.

           In a sense,  Queen Elizabeth’s funeral wasn’t just a sacred ritual in which respect was paid to the deceased. Even in death, the Queen managed to allow her people to engage in a holy endeavor.  By giving her subjects the opportunity to come together and offer “final respects” we are reminded to reaffirm and celebrate life no matter how difficult, no matter how troubling. This Shabbat is the final Shabbat of the Jewish year. The  Jewish People are days away from celebrating Rosh HaShanah, (Jewish New Year). Rosh HaShanah is also known as Yom HaDin (Judgment Day). So while there is joy at arriving on the brink of a new year, perhaps there is a bit of anxiety while awaiting Judgment. However, during this anxious moment, we are reminded that we are all gathered and standing in judgment. Every Jew, from every walk of life, stands before God in Judgement, stands before God for a moment of accessibility.  

Peace,
Rav Yitz 

And It Speaks Like A Life That Passes Like Dew

          Over the past two weeks, one nation mourned the loss of its Prince and several days later acknowledge the 95th birthday of its Queen. Another nation, as it does every year, remembered those who gave their lives for their country and the next day celebrated its independence. Our eighteen-year-old daughter has been studying in the latter country, Israel. she called us to describe the moving experience she had while attending a Yom HaZikaron ceremony and Yom Ha’Atzmaut celebration. It is a yearly phenomenon. Yom HaZikaron is otherwise known as Israel’s Remembrance Day or Israel’s Memorial Day. Like Canada, the United States, and nearly every other country, Israel set aside a day in which it remembers its fallen heroes, those who made the ultimate sacrifice, those who gave their lives for their country. Yom Ha'Atzmaut is otherwise known as Israel's Independence Day. Like Canada, the United States, and nearly every other country, Israel set aside a day in which it celebrates its independence. Unlike Canada, the United States, and nearly every other country, only Israel observes and celebrates these Civic holy days consecutively. The juxtaposition between the solemnity of a Remembrance Day and the joy of an Independence Day occurs in the moments between  Mincha/ The Afternoon prayer service, as Yom HaZikaron (Remembrance Day) concludes, and Maariv/The Evening Service,  as Yom Ha’Atzmaut (Independence Day) commences. As Yom Ha’Zikaron drew to a conclusion, our daughter and her classmates attended a special ceremony which included the Mincha service a candle lighting ceremony, mourner’s Kaddish, a moment of silence, and the sounding of a siren. With that, Yom HaZikaron concluded and a new day began. Moments later, our daughter and her classmates now participated in a special Maariv service full of singing, and dancing that marked the celebration of Yom Ha’Atzmaut. 

          This Shabbat, like last Shabbat, we read two Parshiot. This week we read the double Parsha of  Acharei Mot/ Kedoshim. The two previous Parshiot, Tazria, and Metzorah, essentially interrupted the narrative and the laws that had been focused upon the Kohanim. In Acharei Mot/Kedoshim, we now return to the Kohen as the central focus in the Parsha. Now that he has become spiritually pure, the Torah is now ready to teach the laws for the spiritual purity of the nation. We have focused upon the impurities of individuals, now we focus upon the community. The Kohen acts on behalf of the nation just like he acts on behalf of the individual. The Torah teaches the laws for the offerings of Yom Kippur, national atonement, and Azazel otherwise known as the Scapegoat. The Scapegoat is not offered as a sacrifice to God, but rather is sent out from the camp and left to wander in the wilderness, eventually succumbing to the elements. The second half of the Parsha focuses upon the holy and unholy relationships within the family. It is interesting to note that the list of immoral behaviors between family members is taught within the context of other nations. Also, the list of immoral behavior in terms of worship,  labour relations, and the treatment of the vulnerable are all taught within the context of other nations. Essentially other nations offer examples of immoral behavior and immoral societies.

          The paradigms for immoral behavior and immoral societies were Eretz Mitzrayim - Egypt and Eretz Canaan. One was a place of slavery where  B'nai Yisroel's national journey began. The other place was Eretz Canaan; the place where B'nai Yisroel's national journey will eventually conclude. The Torah considers the behaviors of the inhabitants of each place to be impure,  unholy, and an abomination. In both places, Eretz Mitzrayim and Eretz Canaan, the dominant culture worships death and does not sanctify life. Human sacrifices are made, the vulnerable are not taken care of, and there is no mechanism in place for a community to repent, to return to a previous point of spiritual purity and sanctity - T’Shuvah (repentance).  In fact, both places, the place of origin and place of destination are so impure, the abominations are so deplorable that to mimic such behavior is tantamount to spiritual death. Instead, the Torah implores B’nai Yisroel to mimic and imitate God, the embodiment of spiritual purity, holiness, and life. Vi’Heyitem Li Kedoshim Ki Kadosh Ani Adoshem Va’Avdil Etchem Min Ha’Amim Li’heyot Li – You shall be holy for me for I, Hashem, am holy; and I have separated you from the People’s to be mine. (Lev. 20:26). Holiness is the act of sanctifying life. Even if touched by death, as Aharon had been touched by the death of his sons, a person can engage in behaviors that sanctify life. Alternatively, a person could wallow in misery and sadness engage in behavior that demeans or desecrates life allowing his/her own spirit to die.

          Our daughter described the moments between Mincha and Maariv, the moments between the end of one day and the commencement of another day as “stark”. She described the sorrow and sadness of death in one moment and the joyous celebration of life in the next moment.  Only Israel, only Judaism, which marks the end of one day and the beginning of another day with the setting sun,  demonstrates that life and death are inextricably connected. Yes, the memories of those who died, Acharei Mot, after their deaths,  in Israel’s war and victims of terrorism were remembered. Remembering those men, women, and children had a distinct purpose. The purpose was Kedoshim, to make a place holy, and to make a particular time holy. By engaging in the solemnity of remembering, Israelis and those who observe and celebrate with Israel,  celebrated more than Independence. Israel and those who observe and celebrate with Israel celebrated the holiness of life itself. As our daughter and her friends stood in silence, couldn’t help but acknowledge celebrate the miracle that is the State of Israel.

Peace,
Rav Yitz