His Job Is To Shed Light, And Not To Master (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Lady With The Fan/ Terrapin Station Suite")

Several weeks ago, an article appeared in the New York Times, dated February 17^th entitled “Most Visible Jews Fear Being Targets As Anti-Semitism Rises”. The article explained that since Pittsburgh and Poway, synagogues and day schools have responded with increased security measures. However, the more recent displays of anti-Semitism have been less focused upon Jews who happened to be at those Jewish institutions and now anyone that “looks” Jewish. Just the other day, in a small town outside Rio De Janeiro, a Jewish man was beaten as thugs yelled anti-Semitic epithets. The 57-year-old Jewish man converted to Judaism 30 years ago and was wearing a Kippah. The recent anti-Semitic attacks in the New York Metropolitan area was aimed at those who wore the typical “Black Hat” uniform: a male wearing a black hat, dark suit, white shirt, and beard. As a step towards shining a light upon the rise of anti-Semitism, the Jewish community of New York had organized a series of “No Hate No Fear” solidarity marches. New York’s mayor created a new position: Office For The Prevention of Hate Crimes. Deborah Lauter, who worked for many years at the ADL has been named to the position. In an interview she gave to the Times of Israel, Lauter explained that prevention begins with education, dialogue and getting disparate communities to engage with each other.

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 longer 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 understanding 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 lawgiver, has been tasked 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.

Man Oh Man Oh Friend Of Mine; All Good Things In All Good Time (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Run For The Roses")

     It was an incredibly busy week for our family. I picked up our 15-year-old and 17-year-old daughter from summer camp. Upon our return, laundry was brought in, and then my wife and three teenage children had our first and last family dinner. The next morning, we dropped off the two teenagers, who had just returned from camp, at their grandparents home in Upstate New York. After about a 30 minutes visit, my wife, our 19-year-old daughter and I got back into the minivan and drove to New York City. By 9 P.M., we dropped our daughter’s bags off at her dorm room. After a nice dinner and a nights sleep; we returned to her dorm, stood in line for her key and then mom and daughter got our daughter settled into her dorm room and began her week of orientation before she starts classes at University. As Mom was helping our daughter get settled, I drove back to pick up our two kids who had spent 36 hours with their grandparents. Mom flew back from New York and while we drove back home. The next morning, the two high school age kids went to the oral surgeon and had their wisdom teeth removed. After everything was finished, and the oral surgeon told me about the post-op care, she commented about the fact that we had brought two kids in on the same day to remove wisdom teeth. She thought that it was very smart to do because it was time for both of them to have the teeth removed, and everything happens in its due time. So why wait?

     This week’s Parsha is Eikev. Here, in his second discourse, Moshe explains to the new generation how the second set of tablets that contain the Aseret Dibrot came into being. He explains how God forgave the parents of their idolatrous behavior in regards to the Eigel Zahav (Golden Calf), and all B’nai Yisroel must do essentially 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 into Canaan and conquer the land even if they are outnumbered. God already demonstrated that he will protect his people. He did so during the Yetziat Mitzrayim (Exodus), and he did so over the past 40 years in the wilderness. As long as B’nai Yisroel keeps its side of the B’rit, God will continue to protect his people. V’Haya Im Tishma’u El Mitzvotai Asher Anochi M’tzaveh Etchem Hayom L’Ahavah Et Adonai Eloheichem Ul’Avdo B’Chol Levavchem Uv’chol Nafshachem. V’Natati M’tar Artzechem B’Ito Yoreh Umalkosh V’Asaftah D’Ganecha V'Tiroshcha v’Yitzharecha – It will be that if you hearken to My commandments that I command you today to love Hashem your God and to serve him with all your heart and with all your soul, then I shall provide rain for your Land in its proper time, the early and the late rains, that you may gather in your grain, your wine, and your oil. V’Natati Esev B’Sadcha Livhemtecha V’Achalta V’Savata – I shall provide grass in your field for your cattle and you will eat and be satisfied (Deut 11:15). Among the rewards is grass for our cattle and we will eat and be satisfied. In this second paragraph of the Shema, we are told that there is a reward for our obeying God’s commandment.

     The reward for obedience is so simple and perhaps so uninspired. The reward for obedience is rain in its due time. V’Natati M’tar Artzechem B’Ito- then I shall provide rain for your Land in its proper time (Deut. 11:14). Rashi, the great 11th-century French commentator, explains that “in its proper time” means that the rain will come at night so as not to cause inconvenience. Alternatively, Rashi explains that “in its proper time” means late Friday night when everyone is in their homes. For farmers, that is truly a relief. For those of us who are not farmers, the reward as simple as it is explicitly stated; it is incredibly profound. Rain in its due time means that there is order, that life and nature will progress in an orderly and natural manner. Things will happen in due course and our job is to respond and behave appropriately.

     Moses reminds the people that life happens in due course, That our reward for observance is the reassurance that the life So as our 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son lay on the sofa recovering, as we change their gauze, and feed them ice cream, I am reminded of the oral surgeon’s comments. Everything happens in its due time. Children grow up, they go off to college (university), they get their wisdom teeth out, they graduate, they make a life for themselves. For some reason, as I watch my kids sitting quietly, eating some ice cream, amid the incredibly busy week, the nearly 1000 miles that were driven in three days, I have found great comfort that life’s reward seems to be that life happens in its due course.

Peace,
Rav Yitz

But The Darkness Never Goes From Some Men's Eyes (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "Throwing Stones")

Why did he have to do that? Why did Trump invoke Israel and antisemitism when siting four Democratic Congresswoman of color as, Socialist, haters of America and finally telling them to “go back where they came from” if they hate America so much? I am not a fan of three of the four congresswomen. I don’t like Ocasio-Cortez; I don’t Tlaib, and I don’t like Omar. I don’t like their policies regarding Israel, I don’t appreciate their comments regarding Jews and Israel. I also know that I would never have voted for them. They are 4 votes in the Democratic Caucus and if they were smart and so politically astute, they would focus more on keeping quiet,  trusting Nancy Pelosi, and focus on getting rid of Trump, rather making provocative statements on Twitter in order to get more followers.  However, of all people to use  Israel and Anti-semitism as a standard when trying to find a convenient political target to replace Hilary Clinton and “Lock her up”.  Trump was the guy who managed to find moral relativism in Charlottesville. Trump and his anti-immigration, pro-conspiracy international kabal inspired a gunman to kill Jews in Pittsburgh, and inspire another crackpot to manufacture pipe bombs and send them to at least two Jewish liberal billionaires who support left-wing liberal causes.  Trump is the guy that racists love. Trump is the guy that Neo-Nazi and white supremacists love. Trump is the guy that is praised by David Duke. So why did the guy that white supremacists and neo-Nazis love so much, why did he need to cite ‘anti-semitism’ and ‘love for Israel’ as part of his “America, love it or leave it” racial scree? Make no mistake, I can’t tell you how many observant Jews have said, “you know the President is right, they (the four freshman Democratic congresswomen of color) are anti-semitic and anti-Israel.”  I wince as I remind them of Charlottesville, Pittsburgh, and Poway because I understand that Trump has managed to weaponized Israel and Anti- Semitism among Jews, thereby making the Jewish community even more disunified.

                 This Shabbat we read from Parsha Balak. Balak was a Moabite King. After watching what B’nai Yisroel had done to the Ammonites, Balak was distressed. He realized that fighting B’nai Yisroel with a regular army was doomed to fail because he realized that God had blessed them. Being a clever king, Balak surmised that the only way to fight B'nai Yisroel was to fight them on a spiritual level. Since God blessed Bnai Yisroel, Balak wanted to find someone to curse them. There lived a prophet, a “Prophet Consultant,” a “hired gun” if you will, named Bilaam. King Balak hired Bilaam to curse B’nai Yisroel. Bilaam is visited by God and told not to curse B’nai Yisroel. Bilaam ignores the visitation. On his donkey heading towards B’nai Yisroel’s camp, and preparing his curses, the donkey stops. Although Bilaam could not see the angel standing in the middle of the road with a sword drawn, the donkey did. As a result, the donkey refused to continue forward. Finally, Bilaam realizes that there is a divine force in the middle of the road and must confront it. Bilaam listens and heads toward the camp. Looking down upon the encampment, Bilaam blesses B’nai Yisroel with words that we say upon entering into any synagogue, words that we teach our children at the youngest of ages. Ma Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov Mishkenotecha Yisroel – How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places O Israel – Kinchalim Nitayu K’ganot Alei Nahar K’Ahalim Natah Adoshem Ka’Arazim Alei Mayim – stretching out like brooks like gardens by the river, like aloes planted by Hashem, like cedars by the water (Num 24:5-6). Try as he might, Bilaam is unable to curse Bnai Yisroel, rather he blesses them.

The Jewish people always have one or two questions when assessing people and governments. “Is it good for the Jews? Is it good for Israel?” Obviously, depending on the definition of “good”, the answer will vary. Also depending on which version of Israel matters, democracy or Jewish,  the answer may vary. Even how one understands “Jew” will cause the answer to the question, “is it good for the Jews” to vary. Certainly, Bilaam must be good for the Jews. Yes, he may have started off as wanting to curse the Jews, but that was because Balak hired him to do it. In the end, he not only offered a blessing, but we invoke that blessing every morning. Mah Tovu Ohalecha Yaakov – How Goodly are your tents O Israel. Those words of praise must be good for the Jews and good for Israel, right? Bilaam can’t be such a bad guy. No, the real bad guy must be Balak, the king of Moab, he is the guy that wants to curse Israel.  In the Talmud, Tractate Taanit 20a, R’ Samuel Bar Nachmani, suggests that the blessing isn’t really such a blessing. Bilaam invoked the mighty Cedar by the river when he blessed the Jews. Cedars do not grow in well-watered areas, its stock does not drive up new shoots and it has few roots. A wind from the South will uproot the Cedar and lay it flat on its face. Soon after this episode of Bilaam blessing B’nai Yisroel, he will devise the plan for Balak’s attempt to destroy B’nai Yisroel. It is Bilaam who brings the daughters of Moab in order to entice the men of B’nai Yisroel so that they begin acting like Moabites and the other idol-worshipping nations and dividing a nation.  So maybe Bilaam is not such a friend to the Jews after all.

                How bad is Trump for the Jews and Israel? He is awful. I don’t want Israel to be political fodder for the Republicans or Democrats. Support for Israel is in America’s best interests. When Israel gets weaponized by one political party against another, it is bad for Israel and it’s bad for the Jews. That’s how a right-wing, anti-immigration anti semite walked into a synagogue in Pittsburgh and started shooting. That is how and anti-semite, who believes that there is an international conspiracy taking over the world, walked into a synagogue in Poway and began shooting. Yes, it’s bad for the Jews because Trump and his weaponization of Israel and Jews create additional rifts within a Jewish community that will always be divided because of observance. It’s bad for Israel because it creates increased alienation between it and the less observant diaspora Jews. This phenomenon is played it in terms of generations and observance and contributes to the concern why Israel receives tepid support if any from the young, non-observant Jews. So regarding four woman of color, one of whom represents a district that historically was a Jewish neighborhood in Minneapolis, they are four women with four votes in Congress. They can have a twitter following of millions and millions but, only the people in their district can vote for them. So if the people in their district don’t vote for them, they are no longer in congress. If they decide to run for the Senate, even with all their millions of twitter followers, only those in corresponding states could vote for those women if they decide to run for Senate.  However, the President can affect foreign policy. The President can create an atmosphere that legitimizes racism, that looks at all brown skin people trying to immigrate to the United States as “illegal”, can appoint Supreme Court Justices, can sell the virtues of American and pervert is Democratic ideals in order to enrich himself. And that is bad for the Jews. Anything or anyone that threatens liberal democracy is ultimately bad for the Jews. History teaches us that we don’t do well in totalitarian governments. We didn’t do well in Communist Imperial Russia nor did we do well in Fascist Nazi Germany.  So maybe being loved and praised by Trump isn’t such a good thing especially when all the racists and white supremacist agree with him.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Heard A Voice A-Calling, Lord You Was Coming After Me (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia - "Bertha")

My children love to play games with me. No, I am not talking about “Monopoly”, or cards, or any of those kinds of games. My children like to play a game called: “Ignore”. Have you ever heard of it? I am convinced that every home that has teenage children plays some iteration of the “Ignore” game.  I remember playing it with my parents when I was a teenager.   The game can be played at any time of day and under nearly any circumstance. The rules of the game are rather simple. The parent initiates play by calling out to the teenager by making a request of him/her. The teenager ignores the first request. The parent generally should wait not less than 30 seconds but not more than 60 seconds before calling out to the teenager with the same request. Again, the teenager ignores and again after another 30-60 seconds, the parent calls out for the same request, only louder and more specifically. “Hello, I am talking to you” or “can you hear me? I am talking to you.” Now the game changes slightly. The teenager needs to respond, and generally, the response involves a grunt, “Huh” or a question such as “what?” or a statement such as “Ok, Ok, I heard you” or “Ok, I’ll do it in a minute”.  Keep in mind, that those statements are code for “I am ignoring you doing something else that I prefer to be doing rather than anything you request.” Now the game escalates, the parent needs to close the physical gap, stand in front of the teenager and issue the request, thereby making the teenagers ability to ignore much more difficult. The teenager can escalate by ignoring or declining to fulfill the request. Now, the parent faces three alternatives and needs to quickly assess the importance of the request. If the request is unimportant, then the parent can end the game by ceasing to make another request. If the request is important then the parent can utilize leverage in a loud threatening way. However, this usually leads to a delay in fulfilling the request by engaging in a fight, at which point the teenager wins the “Ignore” game. The third alternative requires great discipline but offers the greatest possibility of a parent’s victory. The parent needs to get the teenagers attention and to focus upon the request. To accomplish this the parent still utilizes leverage however does so in a quiet disarming manner. When I was a teenager, I knew that when my father took off his glasses and squint/glare like Clint Eastwood and spoke quietly, that it was time for me to listen, and fulfill whatever request was being made. I never mastered the Clint Eastwood glare like my father. Instead, I try to close the physical distance, and with as much calm in my voice, as I can muster, I turn the request into a transaction. While my father relied on his inner Clint Eastwood stare; I rely on my inner Don Corleone and try to “make an offer they can’t refuse”. I try to speak quieter in a colder more calculating manner and begin with a confirmation that they will ultimately fulfill the request.  Then I make a business arrangement and tell them that I know what their more imminent requests will be and that I won’t be able to fulfill them unless my request is imminently filled. We agree on a reasonable timeframe for the request to be fulfilled and with mutually agreed upon deterrents to prevent potential “forgetfulness”. Then I say “thank you” and the Ignoring game concludes.

This Shabbat we begin the third book of the Torah, Sefer Vayikra by reading from the Parsha with the same name VaYikrah. For all of Bereishit (Genesis) and the first half of Shmot (Exodus), we read narratives. The Second half of Shmot, we read the blueprints of and then the actual construction of the Mishkan – the portable worship station that would accompany Bnai Yisroel on their Trek towards Eretz Yisroel. Now the Torah takes a break from narrative and construction. Now we begin reading the various types of offerings that Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, will make on our behalf. These offerings are the various means by which the individual or the community is able to approach Hashem. We approach Hashem for a variety of reasons, including special occasions for personal reasons: repentance, thanksgiving, and special occasions for communal reasons: seasonal festivals, or daily service.

We are familiar with the language that usually appears when Hashem speaks to Moshe. VaYomer Adoshem el Moshe Leimor – Hashem said to Moshe saying; or VaYiDaBeR Adoshem El Moshe Leimor – And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying. Now for the first and perhaps only time, Hashem neither ‘says’ nor “speaks” to Moshe. Instead, we read   Vayikrah el Moshe -God called to Moshe (Lev 1:1). ” Imagine, God calling out to a person before speaking? The word “VaYiKRa” ends with a letter that is in smaller font size than the rest of the letters that are found in the Torah. So clearly, this type of VaYiKRa is different than the typical kind of VaYiKRA with all the letters being the same size. Rashi, the 11th-century French vintner, and commentator explain that God speaks in a loud booming voice; a voice that can shatter trees and be heard throughout the world. However, this VaYiKRa, was only heard by Moshe. The calling was done so in a loving manner. The diminutive final letter – Aleph; suggests two possibilities.  First, Hashem whispered Moshe’s name in a manner that only Moshe could hear. Second, Moshe was humble enough, as symbolized by the diminutive letter, that his soul was receptive to God’s calling. The result of which Moshe quickly and eagerly responded with Hinneni –“Here I am”.

I can’t imagine Moshe ignoring God’s calling out to him. On those rare occasions when my children don’t feel like playing their games, and they respond to my calling the first couple of times, they always seem surprised that I am nicer, easier going, and my request never seems so neither overbearing nor unreasonable. They even think that I am a good mood. Usually, their acknowledgment elicits a smile from me. I explain to them that no one likes to be ignored and that we get along so much better when we actually pay attention to one another, especially when we hear our names being called.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

What Truth Is Proof Against All Lies (Gerrit Graham & Bob Weir - "Victim Or The Crime")

Shiva for the last of the 11 Jews murdered in Pittsburgh will conclude this Sabbath. While the relatives of Rose Mallinger (z”l) sat Shiva, an election took place in the United States. When a virulent anti-semite, raging against Jews and Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society murdered Rose and 10 other Jews, Jews need to acknowledge that “it” can happen in America. As my children have watched the news about Pittsburgh unfold, as they have listened to commentators, Rabbis and civic leaders speak about it, as they listen to the President speak about it, they also  I remind my kids that “it” can happen in the U.S. My children watched the President denounced Anti-semitism; and, even though his son in law is Jewish, even though his daughter converted to Judaism, even though his grandchildren are Jewish, even though he has moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem; my children wanted to believe the President. I explained that of course we want to believe the President but then I warned them the need to do their homework and decide whether or not they should believe him. I suggested they take a few minutes and do some reading. The President uses terms like “Globalists” and described himself as a “Nationalist I suggested to my children that they should look into how those terms have been historically used and who used those terms. I suggested that they look up people like Richard Spencer, David Duke and see what they have to say about Trump. I suggested that they read an article about the rise of White Nationalism in the U.S. in the New York Times Magazine. I suggest that they look at t relationship between the rise of “Nationalism” and Anti-Semitism. That information is readily available from the Anti Defamation League

This week’s Parsha is Toldot. We read of the birth of Esav and Yaakov. Even though they were twins, we learn that these boys couldn’t be any different. Esav is a hunter Ish Sadeh – a man of the field, an outdoorsman, Yaakov is Ish Tam v’Yashav b’Ohalo – a simple man who resides in his tent. Yaakov is concerned with the Birthright, receiving blessings and the spiritual world. Esav is concerned with eating, drinking, hunting, and the physical world. We learn that just like his father, Avraham, who experienced a famine in the land, Yitzchak also experienced a famine in the land. Unlike his father, Yitzchak does not go down to Egypt. Yitzchak remains, grows wealthy, and re-opens the wells that had gone dry in his father’s day. The narrative then re-focuses upon Yitzchak and his family. Yitzchak, sensing his imminent death, wants to bless Esav. Rivka overhears this and tells Yaakov to pose as Esav in order to receive the blessing. Yaakov listens to his mother and dresses as Esav. Yaakov receives Yitzchak’s blessing. As a result, Esav is fit to be tied and threatens to kill Yaakov.

            When Esav turned 40, he got married. As different as the boys were before this, Esav’s marriages reflect his further spiritual diminishment from his mother and father. Esav’s association with these women brings out the worst in him. Va’Yehi Eisav Ben Arbaim Shanah VaYikach Isha et Y’hudit Bat B’Eiri HaChiti V’et Basmat Bat Eilon Ha’Chiti – When Esav was forty years old, he took as a wife Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. Va’Tiheyenah Morat Ruach L’Yitzchak U’l’Rivkah – and they were a source of spiritual bitterness for Yitzchak and Rivka (Gen.26:24). There is a Midrash that tells us that once a species of bird migrated to Eretz Yisrael. The Rabbis were unable to determine whether this new species was kosher or treif. Rabbi Chiya, the leading scholar of his day, said, “Isolate one on the roof and see what kind of birds associate with it.” Immediately a raven (which is not kosher) joined the new bird. The Rabbis were able to finally determine that the new species of bird was not kosher. The same was true with regard to Esav when he married both women. They brought out the worst in him, whether it was Avodah Zarah – idolatry, or degrading himself to such a point that he did not warrant receiving the blessing. Of even greater concern to Rivkah and Yitzchak was the departure of the Divine Presence. Remember that when Yitzchak’s mother, Sarah, died, the light in her tent, the holy presence diminished. When Yitzchak married Rivka, the holy presence returned to Sarah’s tent. However, when Esav’s wives became part of Yitzchak’s household, this holy light was vanquished.

            So my kids discovered that terms like “Nationalist” and “Globalist” mean something to David Duke, Richard Spencer, White Nationalist, and the Alt-Right. My kids discovered you can learn a lot about a person by who gravitates towards that person. My kids discovered that you can learn a lot about a person by not only the words they use but how people respond to those words. Rose Mallinger was alive in February 1939 when the German American Bund Party filled Madison Square Garden for a political rally, and use those words and similar words to describe Jews. Nearly eighty years later those words and similar words have been used in arenas throughout the U.S.to stoke hate and fear. Unfortunately, my kids also learned the valuable lesson that leaders can and should be judged by the words they say, the company they keep, and who else may endorse and support those words.

           

Peace,

Rav Yitz

You Told Me Goodbye, How Was I To Know You Meant Please Don't Let Me Go (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia "High Time")

My sister and I have friends in Squirrel Hill, a primarily Jewish neighborhood in Pittsburgh. My sister lived there for nearly ten years.  So my family and I listened for the names of those 11 souls that were murdered last Shabbat at the Tree of Life shul in the Squirrel Hill section of Pittsburgh. No, we didn’t know the 11 Jews, ages 56-97. However, these men, women, husbands, wives, brothers were also mothers, fathers, grandmothers, grandfathers,  great grandfathers, and great-grandmothers. Children, grandchildren and great children will be mourning the loss of these 11 souls.

This Week we read from Parsha Chayei Sarah. This Shabbat we read from Parsha Chayei Sarah, “the Life of Sara”. It is a rather odd name for a Parsha that discusses’ Sarah’s death, and Avraham’s funeral preparations including a eulogy, crying, and the purchase of land for burial. The focus then shifts from Sarah’s death and Avraham’s caring for her to Avraham’s son Yitzchak and getting on with his life. Avraham instructs his servant to find a wife for Yitzchak from among his ancestors. The servant head back to Avraham’s homeland, he asks’ God for a sign so that he knows which girl is the right one for his master’s son. He finds the girl, convinces her to return with him, the girl leaves home and heads back with the servant to meet her new husband and her father-in-law. They get married. Avraham takes a wife and lives quietly in retirement. The Parsha concludes with Avraham’s death and the death of his eldest son Ishmael.

Sandwiched between the deaths of Sarah, at the beginning of the Parsha, and Avraham Avinu, at the conclusion of the Parsha, we read about Yitzchak’s mourning the death of his mother. His Aveilut, mourning, comes at the time when he marries Rivkah. VaYavieha Yitzchak HaOhela Sarah Imo VaYiKach et Rivkah VaT’Hi Lo L’Isha VaYe’Ehaveha VaYinachem Yitzchak Acharei Imo – And Isaac brought her into the tent of Sarah his mother; he married Rebecca, she became his wife, and he loved her; and thus was Isaac consoled after his mother [‘s death] (Gen. 24:67. What is significant about the Torah telling us that he Yitzchak brought Rivka to his mother’s tent and not just telling us that Yitzchak married Rebecca, took her has his wife and loved her. Why does the verse begin with going into his mother’s tent and conclude with his being consoled about his mother’s death? Rashi, the 11th-century French commentator comments: As long as Sarah was alive, a lamp burned in her tent from one Sabbath eve to the next, her dough was blessed and a cloud signifying the Divine Presence hung over Sarah’s tent. When Sarah died, these blessings ceased, but when Rebecca entered the tent they resumed.

Last Shabbat, 11 lamps were extinguished, and as the children, grandchildren, and Jews of Pittsburgh begin sitting Shivah, the lights will remain extinguished. It must seem that the cloud signifying the Shechina, God’s Divine Presence, has abandoned these 11 souls. Yet we learn that Yitzchak found consolation in the support and love from his wife, Rebecca. Love, embodied in his wife; love provided Isaac consolation, allowed the lamp to be lit and remain lit from Shabbat to Shabbat. Love lights the darkness and love will help bring consolation to the children and grandchildren mourning the loss of parents, grandparents and great-grandparents in Pittsburgh. Love will allow the mourners and a community to sense that God’s presence embodied in the Divine Cloud never really left but remains a source of continued consolation and solidarity.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

But All This Favour Ended When My Brother Failed At War (John Barlow & Bob Weir - "My Brother Esau")

         

          Our tenth-grade daughter had a history test this week on WWI: the rise of militarism, nationalism, as well as Canada’s role in The Great War. Because I majored in History while in college ("university" if I am speaking Canadian), I was interested in how her teacher taught WWI.  I am always amazed how history teachers present History as a simple linear idea without any complexity or an understanding of the nature of people, tribes, and nations. As we studied our discussion moved from Nationalism, Militarism, Alliances, and WWI's aftermath and the rise of fascism. I suggested that we live in a period where fascism is beginning to re-emerge, similar to the aftermath of WWI. Two news stories, one in Poland and one in the United States went unmentioned but illustrated the complexity of the nature of people, tribes, and nations. Last week, Poland celebrated its 99^th year of Independence. At the March of Independence parade in Warsaw, approximately 60,000 people were organized and gathered to march my nationalist groups. Signs were held up that read “Sieg Heil”, "Remove Jewry from power”,  and “White Europe, Europe must be White”. Some of the marchers wore masks and waved red and white Polish flags while burning flairs. Poland's interior minister Mariusz Blaszczak praised the Poles for marching and showing its national pride. In a smaller march outside of Warsaw led by Jacek Miedlar, a former priest, urged the crowd to take action against the forces of evil that threaten Polish state: "Be ruthless, be radical in the fight against evil, lies, injustice, lawlessness, the destruction of Polish judiciary and Talmudism. Only then this war will be won, and no Jewish Marxist horde will take away our flag or the cross of Christ.”  She saw connections to the events in Poland and the “Brexit”, and the elections in France and Germany and the Neo-Nazis Charlottesville, Virginia march. We talked about the role of digital media, Breitbart and Steve Bannon who happily attracts and endorses this kind of thing. I pointed out that while on the one hand he quietly endorses and supports this kind of thinking, he also wants support from wealthy Jewish donors in order to finance political campaigns against those who disagree with his politics. He managed to garner support from wealthy Jewish donors but claiming his steadfast support for Israel. I then showed her the second article, a small article about Sheldon Adelson who finally decided to stop donating to Steve Bannon because he finally realized that fascism, of any kind, destroying democratic institutions, is fundamentally against the interest Diaspora Jews as well as Israel. Our tenth grader learned a valuable lesson about the complexities of history and well as appreciating how ideas and events are connected.

This week’s Parsha is Toldot. We read of the birth of Esav and Yaakov. Even though they were twins, we learn that these boys couldn’t be any different. Esav is a hunter Ish Sadeh – a man of the field, an outdoorsman, Yaakov is Ish Tam v’Yashav b’Ohalo – a simple man who resides in his tent. Yaakov is concerned with the Birthright, receiving blessings and the spiritual world. Esav is concerned with eating, drinking, hunting and the physical world. We learn that just like his father, Avraham, who experienced a famine in the land, Yitzchak also experienced a famine in the land. Unlike his father, Yitzchak does not go down to Egypt. Yitzchak remains, grows wealthy, and re-opens the wells that had gone dry in his father's day. The narrative then re-focuses upon Yitzchak and his family. Yitzchak, sensing his imminent death, wants to bless Esav. Rivka overhears this and tells Yaakov to pose as Esav in order to receive the blessing. Yaakov listens to his mother and dresses as Esav. Yaakov receives Yitzchak's blessing. As a result, Esav is fit to be tied and threatens to kill Yaakov.

           At 40, Esav married. As different as the boys were before this, Esav’s marriages reflect his further spiritual diminishment from his mother and father. Esav’s association with these women brings out the worst in him. Va’Yehi Eisav Ben Arbaim Shanah VaYikach Isha et Y’hudit Bat B’Eiri HaChiti V’et Basmat Bat Eilon Ha’Chiti – When Esav was forty years old, he took as a wife Judith daughter of Beeri the Hittite, and Basemath daughter of Elon the Hittite. Va’Tiheyenah Morat Ruach L’Yitzchak U’l’Rivkah – and they were a source of spiritual bitterness for Yitzchak and Rivka (Gen.26:24). There is a Midrash that tells us that once a species of bird migrated to Eretz Yisrael. The Rabbis were unable to determine whether this new species was kosher or treif. Rabbi Chiya, the leading scholar of his day, said, "Isolate one on the roof and see what kind of birds associate with it." Immediately a raven (which is not kosher) joined the new bird. The Rabbis were able to finally determine that the new species of bird was not kosher. The same was true with regard to Esav when he married both women. They brought out the worst in him, whether it was Avodah Zarah – idolatry, or degrading himself to such a point that he did not warrant receiving the blessing. Of even greater concern to Rivkah and Yitzchak was the departure of the Divine Presence. Remember that when Yitzchak’s mother, Sarah, died, the light in her tent, the holy presence diminished. When Yitzchak married Rivka, the holy presence returned to Sarah’s tent. However, when Esav’s wives became part of Yitzchak’s household, this holy light was vanquished.

Thankfully she did well on her history test. More importantly, our daughter learned a valuable lesson about alliances and connections.  Amazingly enough, it took me one evening of studying WWI with her and unfortunately it took Sheldon Adelson years to appreciate the fact that if a person endorses and ultra-nationalist agenda and is supported by neo-fascists, might not be good for the Jewish People nor for Israel. When our daughter asked why it took Adelson so long to come to that realization, I explained that sometimes people get so focused on their agenda; they only listen to what they want to hear instead of paying attention to actions and history. Our daughter then pointed out that people, groups, as well as nations must be careful who they associate with and who they attract. I suppose the next few weeks will be interesting when she studies about the Great Depression and the rise of Fascism in Europe as a prelude to WWII.

Peace,

Rav Yitz