It's Even Worse Than It Appears (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Touch of Grey")

           Earlier this week in Israel, a planned 5000-person demonstration against the new radical, right win, ultranationalist, ultraorthodox government that received 30,000 more votes than the other coalition,  became in reality, a demonstration of more than 80000 people. Friends of ours who live in and around Tel Aviv attended. The demonstration was not about issues of domestic policy or a peace plan. No, this demonstration was about the fundamental nature of Israel’s government. This was a demonstration about a country remaining a democracy that guarantees rights to all citizens no matter gender, sexual orientation, or denomination of Judaism.   Tom Friedman wrote a very difficult and troubling OpEd piece in the January 18th,  New York Times that challenges Jews,  those who describe themselves as friends of Israel, and what U.S. policy should be toward any country that has dangerously veered away from Liberal Democratic values and turned towards the authoritarian world like Turkey and Hungary. For the sake of Israel’s democracy, Friedman suggests that  The President, the most powerful spokesperson for Democracy, needs to convince Netanyahu that an authoritarian illiberal Jewish country is bad for the Jews and not in the West’s interest. 

          This Shabbat we read Parsha Va’Eira. In this Parshah, God reassured Moshe after Pharaoh mocked and dismissed both him and Aharon. God explains the plan to Moshe that Pharaoh’s heart will be hardened after each plague but eventually, Pharaoh will capitulate. God explains the various stages of redemption. The plagues begin. We are supposed to understand that each of these first seven plagues is more severe than the previous plague: Blood, Frogs, Lice, Wild Beasts, Animal plague, Boils, and Hail. Moshe requests that Pharaoh allows B’nai Yisroel to worship God for three days, Pharaoh sometimes acquiesces sometimes he doesn’t. Sometimes he asks Moshe to pray on his behalf and sometimes he doesn’t. One thing is clear, whenever Pharaoh gets his way (a plague ceases), something that would clearly indicate the power of God, Pharaoh acts almost like a child. He returns to his arrogant self-centered nature. Finally at the very end of the Parsha, after the plague of Hail has devastated the land and killed anything that was outside, Pharaoh expresses the evolution of his belief system.

          Two men, Moshe and Pharaoh experience a type of revelation. Each man’s revelation is shaped by who they are, their life experiences, and their outlook on the world. Each leader will experience something very different than what fits their current theological system. Moshe is told by God, “Ani Adoshem VaEira el Avraham El Yitzchak v’ El Yaakov B’Eil Shaddai U’Shmi Adoshem Lo Nodati LaHem – I am Hashem, I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El Shaddai, but with My Name Hashem, I did not make Myself known to them (Ex. 6:2) For Moshe, his revelation assumes questions.  Why did you, Hashem, reveal yourself one way to Abraham Isaac, and Jacob, and another way to me?  God will reveal himself to Moshe through “Signs and Wonders”.  V’Yadu Mitzrayim Ki Ani Adoshem, BinToti et Yadi Al Mitzrayim V’Hotzeiti et Bnai Yisroel MiTocham – And Egypt Shall know that I am Hashem, when I stretch out My hand over Egypt; and I shall take the Children of Israel out from among them (Ex. 7:5). With each ensuing plague, Pharaoh and Egypt will experience God. For Pharaoh, the embodiment of a system that did not permit questions, the revelation was much more absolute and stark. That revelation would manifest itself in a series of plagues.

          Pharaoh’s world is harsh, he felt threatened by a minority culture and he believed that Egypt was threatened by that same minority culture. As a result, the blood, the frogs, the lice, swarms of wild beasts, livestock disease, boil, hail, locusts, and the death of the firstborn were perceived as plagues and God was perceived as a harsh judge with little mercy. Moshe had experienced kindness. His mother hid him in the basket, and Pharoah’s daughter drew him out of the basket and raised him as her own. After he demonstrated kindness to the slaves by attempting to protect them, he leaves Egypt and demonstrates kindness to Yitro’s daughters. Yitro takes in this stranger as his own son, and eventually, Moses marries Yitro’s daughter Zipporah.  Zipporah demonstrates kindness to Moshe when she perceives that his life is endangered because he didn’t circumcise their son in a timely fashion (Ex. 4:24-26). Because Moshe experienced kindness throughout his life and he demonstrated kindness to others; it only makes sense that God is not so much a harsh judge as God is merciful and kind.   Netanyahu managed to import the newest American products: a MAGA attitude for his 30,000-person majority, a mistrust of the judicial system, and the authoritarianism that has become popular in certain parts of the world. The cost will be devastating. By continuing down the path of authoritarianism and renouncing the civil rights of many of his citizens, Netanyahu brings his own plague upon Israel. 

Peace,
Rav Yitz

Red And White Blue Suede Shoes, I'm Uncle Sam How Do You Do?; Give Me Five Stay Alive, Ain't No Such Luck I Learned To Duck (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "U.S. Blues")

           With the beginning of the July, I cannot help but think about the importance of July 1st Canada Day and July 4 U.S Independence Day, sacred days for both my adopted country and my country of origin, These first few days of July remind me of the importance of liberal democracy, on this continent and throughout the world. As Winston Churchill said, “democracy is the worst form of government except for all the others that have been tried”.Yet despite Churchill’s insightful words, democracy and democratic institutions are under pressure, especially in two of the three democratic countries that should be beacons of democratic light throughout the world: Israel and the U.S. In Tom Friedman’s June 28th New York Times Editorial, entitled “The victory-at-any-cost mentality of the Trump far right — which was vividly described in Washington on Tuesday during Cassidy Hutchinson’s testimony to the Jan. 6 committee — is part of a broader trend of deeply anti-democratic values that are at odds with what many Americans and Israelis still aspire to. If this trend prevails, it will tear apart both societies, which is why the soul of Israeli democracy and the soul of American democracy is on the ballot in their next elections”. However, Friedman takes solace in the one-year experiment of Israel’s outgoing governing coalition comprised of center left/right wing/and Arab parties that managed to govern, pass a budget for the first time in 3 years, and essentially govern based upon democratic ideals, facts, and hope instead of fascism, alternative facts and fear. Friedman also found solace in the recent testimony before the January 6th committee of a 25-year-old white house staffer who came forward and told the committee all that she saw, all that she made notes of, and all the conversations she had. Friedman reminds us that democracy depends upon the ability to govern from the center, not the extremes, and there comes a time when individuals must always remember that the first loyalty is to country, constitution, and the rule of law and not party or individual. 

          This morning we read from Parsha Korach. Following their punishment of wandering for forty years because of their initial belief in the ten spies’ false report, Korach, a member of Moshe Rabeinu’s family stirs up trouble. Moshe’s authority is questioned, those who rebel are punished, and those who were silent bystanders were also punished. The Parsha concludes with God speaking to Moshe and enumerating Aaron’s priestly responsibilities, all of the entitlements, and all the sacrifices that come with the position

          Clearly, the most poignant moment in the narrative is the confrontation between Korach, Datan and Aviram, and all their followers with Moshe and Aaron. After witnessing Miriam becoming a leper for speaking against Moshe (Parsha B’Halotcha), after witnessing God’s anger and Moshe’s defense of the people in Parsha B’Halotcha and Shlach Lecha, the rebellion is very troubling. Moshe is shocked by it. He is hurt by it. The fact that he didn’t want the job in the first place, the fact that he went to bat for his flock time after time, leaves Moshe questioning his purpose.  Vayishmah Moshe Vayipol Al Panav – Moshe heard [the complaints] and fell on his face (Num 16:4).  Why did Moshe fall on his face? The Medieval commentators offer a variety of explanations.  Chizkuni, the 13th-century French commentator explains “Moshe fell to the ground in humiliation [at Korach accusation]. Rashi, the 11th-century French commentator explains that “Moshe fell in despair, he felt powerless to appeal to God for the fourth time. He defended the people after the Golden Calf, when they complained for no good reason, and when they heeded the spies." However, there is another and, perhaps, more modern reason why Moshe fell upon his face. Moshe was not humbling himself before Korach and the rebels. Rather he was publicly demonstrating that he was humbling himself before God, Torah, and its institutions. Moshe publicly demonstrated that his own ego and welfare were subservient to God and Torah. Korach’s rebellion and the fact that Korach did not fall upon his face indicated that Korach put himself above Torah and the community. Moshe was trying to save and preserve Torah, God, and community at his own expense.  Korach was clearly trying to promote himself.

          From the episode of Korach, we see the first example of how messy leading a community can be in which laws are discussed and interpreted as opposed to enacted based solely upon power. From the episode of Korach, we see, for the first time, a leader placing the rule of law, a document, and its institutions above himself. In doing so, Moshe preserves the community as well as retains his role as leader.  This type of leadership can neither afford to be cynical, self-centered, nor arrogant. Rather, this type of leadership must have the courage and the patience to lead people in a direction that is required as opposed to what the people may desire. Indeed, great leadership requires the courage to rule from the middle and to preserve a community’s sacred institutions and documents even at the expense of power.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

Standing On The Moon, Where Talk Is Cheap And Vision True (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Standing On The Moon")

           Tom Friedman, in an Op-Ed piece from April 3rd, described the war in Ukraine as a world war:  World War Wired. He maintains that anyone with a cell phone and internet access can watch the war, and bear witness to the atrocities and war crimes being committed by Russian soldiers and Putin.  While the whole world and any Russian with a VPN can see what is happening in Ukraine, Putin remains incredibly popular in Russia and especially outside of Moscow and St. Petersburg. Thanks to a campaign and a steady diet of misinformation over all media outlets for decades, Putin is even more popular in rural areas and among the older generations of Russians.  If the rural communities tend to be far more isolated and have less access to mass media, or social media, then how did Putin’s decades-long and current misinformation campaign gain credence to rural, isolated communities and older Russians?  The answer seems as obvious as it is profound. People talk, people share ideas, people share information and people share what they hear whether it is true or not. 

          This Shabbat, because it immediately precedes Pesach, is known as Shabbat HaGadol - The Great Shabbat.  The weekly Torah Portion is Parsha Metzorah. Parsha Metzorah discusses the laws for Tamei/ Tahor (Purity & Impurity) as it affects human beings, and it is a continuation of last week’s Parsha, Tazria. We continue to learn intricate details concerning how an individual becomes ritually purified, his/her reentrance into the camp, and the prominent role of the Kohen Gadol in ascribing a spiritual treatment for a physical expression of a spiritual problem. Besides discussing the laws of the Metzorah, the laws of one who suffers from this skin ailment, the Parsha also confronts the issues of the Metzorah spreading to a house and the method by which that impurity is removed from the house. The second half of the Parsha concentrates on the laws of Taharah Mishpachah, the laws of family purity.

        When Tzaraat is discovered on an individual, he or she would go to the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, and undergo an examination. However if the Tzaarat spreads beyond the individual and pollutes the home: U’Vah Asher Lo HaBayit V’Higid LaKohen Leimor- “K’Negah NiReH Li BaBayit” – And he that owns the house shall come and tell the priest saying: It seems to me there is as it were a plague in the house. (Lev. 14:35) Even if the individual sees the Tzaarat, sees the impurity, knows that it is Tzaarat, the individual cannot and must not say that “It is a plague in the house,” but rather K’Negah literally “It is like a plague”. Rashi explains that “even if the individual is learned and has no doubt as to the nature of the plague, he must not utter a definitive judgment, but merely declare “it seems”.  On the surface Rashi’s comment appears to be focused upon the issue of “Purity and Impurity”, and reminding us that the authority to decide and declare Purity and Impurity rests solely upon the High Priest. The MaHaRaL of Prague (Rabbi Yehuda Loew of Prague 1525-1609) takes the lesson a step further. “Since it is but the priest who establishes the Nega (the plague and its legal implications); anyone else would not be speaking the truth.” Therefore K’Negah”- it is like a plague, and must therefore be treated and dealt with as if it was the plague.

          Here in this simple statement “K’Negah” –It seems to be a plague”, we address a health issue. We recognize the potential damage that Lashon HaRah has done. “K’Negah” – it seems like a plague is the Kohen’s diagnosis;  and once diagnosed,  the Kohen can treat the patient. We quarantine the individual/individuals in order to prevent the spread of something that looks like a plague. People who engage in  Lashon HaRah, -  Slanderous/Evil/Malicious speech, people who spread lies and misinformation, have continued enabling and supporting an authoritarian leader and his war crimes. Putin understands that speech, the simple act of people speaking to people still remains the most efficient way to pass along misinformation and alternative facts. With Pesach approaching, ChaZaL, the Rabbinic Sages also understood the significance of speech,  the simple act of people speaking to people. Is it any wonder that the most important commandment of the Seder is to tell the story of the Exodus, and tell the story of freedom? Maybe the Sages understood what Putin cannot understand. Eventually, the story of freedom will crush the misinformation and suppression relied upon by authoritarian leaders.

Peace,
Rav Yitz