Believe It If You Need It Or Leave It If You Dare (Robert Hunter & Phil Lesh - "Box of Rain")

As many in the West celebrated the return of American prisoners who had been held in Iran, and Iran celebrated its return to the “nations of the world” because it had purportedly fulfilled its first obligation in diminishing its Nuclear program; there are those who are naïve enough to think that the world is a safer place, that our faith in humanity and reason should be restored, and even the most despotic, and evil governments want to live peacefully among the nations.  However despite this “good news” two incidents occurred in Israel that remind us that not only is the world still very dangerous, but left many testing their faith in any kind of peaceful solution in Israel.  Early in the week, two Israeli woman were attacked by Palestinians and stabbed. One woman, Dafna Meir, a mother of six, was slain by a Palestinian in her home in Otniel as she successfully stopped the attacker from murdering her children.  Soon afterwards, and while a police/military dragnet searched for Dafna Meir’s murderer, a pregnant woman was stabbed in Tekoah. For anyone who still thinks a two state solution is the most viable long term solution to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict; that faith continues to erode. I know my faith in a two state solution continues to erode. At this time of turmoil, this time of questioning and during the erosion of faith in a peaceful outcome in Israel, Hadassah Froman has managed to keep her faith. Hadassah Froman is a frum (Orthodox) Israeli. She is the mother in law of the young pregnant woman who was stabbed in Tekoa. Hadassah’s late husband was the late peace activist Rabbi Menachem Froman.  In an interview with Israel’s Army Radio, Rebbetzin Froman said that “Israel was ‘mishandling’ the delicate fabric of its relations with the Palestinian, and needed to make a greater effort to distinguish between those Palestinian who support terrorism and those who want to live in peace. Rebbetzin Froman continued by explaining that Israel needs to reach out to those Palestinians that wan to “Co-Exist”, to live in peace, and by strengthening those Palestinians, by supporting those Palestinians and keeping those Palestinians safe, it would go a long way in promoting a two state solution.

This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Shira (Shabbat of Songs) because of the "songs" or poetry in both the Parsha, Beshallach, and in the Haftarah. In Parsha Beshallach, B'nai Yisroel finally leaves Egypt. Pharaoh sends them out and they hurriedly leave. Three days later, B'nai Yisroel arrives at the Yam Suf, the Reed Sea, which is along the Mediterranean coast. With Pharaoh's army behind them, and the Sea in front, B'nai Yisroel is trapped. Then the sea opens up, B'nai Yisroel crosses through and arrives safely on the other side. The Egyptian army gets caught in the sea - bed as the waters comes crashing down. Out of joy and relief, B'nai Yisroel composes Shirat HaYam, the Song of the Sea. No sooner are they finished celebrating, then they begin complaining about the lack of water and food. God provides water and Manna. However, B'nai Yisroel is still not safe. Now they are attacked by the indigenous tribe, the Amalekites. B'nai Yisroel must put aside its hunger and thirst and fight for their lives. They do, and they are victorious. The Parsha ends with God commanding Moshe to blot out the very existence of the Amalekites.

From the time B’nai Yisroel complains to Moshe about the oncoming Egyptian army and Yam Suf that lies before them, to the lack of water, lack of food and lack of meat, one could understand the entire Parsha as God testing B’nai Yisroel’s faith. With all the complaining, with the refrain of the people cynically asking Moshe if God brought them out of Egypt to have them die in the wilderness, or die on the banks of the Yam Suf; it is very easy to view these newly released slaves as not at all ready to engage in a covenantal relationship with God since they lack faith. However the Midrash in Shmot Rabbah teaches us that Nachshon ben Aminadov from the tribe of Judah went first into the Reed Sea even before it split open. In fact the waters didn’t open up until he was completely submerged. Only then did the waters open due to his faith and the rest of B’nai Yisroel followed.  The sea didn’t part because of Moshe’s praying on behalf of the people; it split because of one man’s Emunah, one man’s faith that taking the next step forward would ultimately prove to be the step that saved a nation.  As a result Nachshon’s faith, the tribe of Judah would have dominion over Israel.

I am always intrigued by those who have the ability to keep faith under the most trying circumstances. I am amazed by the stories of those who questioned yet kept their faith in God during the Holocaust. I am struck by those who have faith in the decency and goodness of humanity when they themselves carry the scars inflicted by those whose souls are infected with darkness of terrorism and extremism. I am amazed by those who have faith in prospect of peace and co-existence despite the pain they have experience by the murder of loved one at the hands of those who don’t want to co-exist. To those people of faith I applaud knowing deep down that I should follow them, fight the terrorist agenda of living in fear.

Peace,

Rav Yitz

Don't You Turn Around, No Don't Look After You (Robert Hunter & Jerry Garcia- "Gomorrah")

I had a chance to speak to a friend of mine who lives in Jerusalem. The attacks have become personal for him as there had been an attack at the bus stop that his son’s use for school. On the day that he and his wife decided not to use the bus but rather begin driving their son’s to school, there was an attack that afternoon at the time they would have been arrived home from school. Needless to say, he and his wife were a little bit shaken up. Make no mistake, my friend has no love for the Palestinian leadership that incites this behavior. He is hardly a Peace-Now kind of guy. He readily acknowledges that there is no-one from the Palestinian leadership with whom to talk much less negotiate. However, he also feels the same way about Israel’s Prime Minister, Bibi Netanyahu. He points out that he along with 70% of Israelis are dissatisfied with how he is handling the crisis. He explained that whatever the Prime Minister is doing is not working. He points out Bibi is no longer believable. My friend points to the example that when Bibi exclaims that there is no change in the status quo regarding the Temple Mount; neither Israelis nor Palestinian believe him.   Why? Because Bibi is still looking backwards and invoking the Holocaust and the role that the Grand Mufti of Jerusalem played in the Holocaust.  For my friend, whose grandparents were survivors, and whose parents were born in DP camps, invoking the Holocaust is a code for no answers, no solutions for the future but rather comfort in looking back.

This Shabbat we read from Parsha VaYeira. The narrative and adventures of Avraham the Patriarch continue. While healing from his ritual circumcision, he fulfills the mitzvah of Hachnasat Orchim, hospitality. He negotiates with God and reduces the number of righteous people that must be found in Sodom and Gomorrah in order to prevent its destruction. The narrative of Avraham is interrupted as we read the narrative of Lot, the two Angels (the same two that had visited Avraham at the beginning of the parsha), the destruction of the city, and the impure relationship that results when the survivors think that world has been destroyed. The narrative returns to Avraham as its focus and he and his wife Sarah give birth to a son (Yitzchak), the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael (Avraham’s first born son and his concubine) and the final test of his belief, the Akeidat Yitzchak – the Offering of Isaac.

                During these adventures, during these tests, it is fascinating to watch Avraham deal with each new issue, each new tension and arrive at solutions. Avraham always looks forward. Avraham looked forward towards Sodom and Gomorrah while God talked to Avraham about his intention to destroy those cities. When he is commanded to banish Hagar and Ishmael, Avraham looks forward toward where they will be going and gives them food and water in order to survive the journey. When asked to sacrifice his son, Isaac, Avraham doesn’t look back, he looks forward, towards the mountain where the sacrifice will supposedly occur. Compare this with Lot and his family (Gen 19:12-26). When it became imminent that they needed to leave. Three times the angels tell Lot it’s time to leave. First Lot tells his children to leave, although there is no indication that Lot and his wife intent to go. The second time, the two angels lead Lot, his wife and children out; but Lot still can’t just leave! VaYitmama – still he lingered (Gen 19:16). Even when God’s messengers grab Lot, his wife, and his daughters by the hands and led them out of the city VaYomer Himaleit Al Nafshecha Al Tabit Acharecha v’Al Taamod B’Chol HaKikar Hahara Himaleit pen Tisafeh- Flee for your life! Do not look behind you nor stop anywhere in all the plain; flee to the mount lest you be swept away (Gen 19:17). Lot can’t just move on. He stays to stay and negotiate, figuring he can flee to a nearby city.  Finally, they begin making their way towards the alternative destination VeTabeit Ishto M’Acharav Vathi  Ntziv Melach  But His wife looked back and she became a pillar of salt (Gen. 19:26) Ramban explains that she looked back to make sure her daughters were following. What parent would flee and have the children (little or young adult) behind them? A parent would either have the children in front of them or be holding their hand while fleeing. So what other reason was there to turn around. Like her husband, who had such a difficult time to move forward, Lot’s wife want to turn around one last time in order to see the life and the world she was leaving. She was merely emulating Lot. However she did it “one more time”. From the Angels perspective enough was enough.

                Sometimes moving forward can be very difficult. It can be especially difficult if there is a lack of commitment to move forward. Sometimes even with a strong commitment to move forward, the obstacles are too overwhelming. Sometimes it can be scary to go forward by oneself even if they know that it is the correct path. Sometimes moving forward means sacrificing a job, or power, or popularity. Sometimes moving forward is so emotionally paralyzing because it opens a whole new series of unanticipated consequences or even anticipated consequences with unacceptable solutions. Certainly it is important to understand the past since it helps to deal with the future. However, one must avoid being enslaved by the past.  For Lot, as well as his wife, their sense of purpose was linked to life in the city… Sodom, or any city, it didn’t matter. Clearly their reason for being was not demonstrating faith in God. As my friend points out, Bibi’s reason for being is that he is tough when it comes to dealing with the Palestinians and passionately defends Israeli lives. But if the Palestinian issue is solved, and Israeli feel safe, and the problems appear to have been diminished, then what is Bibi’s reason for being? So Bibi looks back and makes sure that the lake of safety and the state of tension is linked to the Holocaust in order to make people feel more unsafe and more anxious so that he is needed even more. “How’s that working out?’ my friend asks. Surprised by his cynicism, my friend reminds that the cynicism belongs to the leadership on both sides.

Peace,

Rav Yitz