Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
December 26th 2014
-Volume 5, Issue 10 -4h of Tevet 5775
Parshat Vayigash
Tis the season of….presents
It's a
time for presents. Yes, it's that time of year again. In fact since
Thanksgiving's Black Friday people across the US of A have been buying, buying,
buying presents. It's even become a national event. I'm humbled by this great
gesture. After all not everyone's birthday turns into a national occasion to
buy presents for me. Even though the non-Jewish world has every right to
celebrate my birthday and to buy me presents. I mean imagine the tremendous
darkness and lack of chulent that there was in the world before I was born and
then moved out to all of these "goyish" cities/States like Iowa,
Virginia and Seattle and shared that special Schwartz Yiddishkeit with them.
But even the Jewish world it seems has chosen to begin to incorporate present
giving into their Chanuka celebrations in honor of my Hebrew birthday as well.
I think the Jews are also happy that I ended up moving to Iowa Virginia Seattle
and even Karmiel where I am not interacting with too many Jews and therefore
only having a limited amount of damage. Regardless it's really quite touching
all the same.
What? You say
that the presents are not for me? The holiday season isn't about my birthday?
They're about some other Jewish kid! Hey, why does he get a big party and not
me? What did he do? Who died and made him god? And I thought that fat Rabbi in
a red suit with a white beard was about what I would look like if I continued
to eat latkas and if I did my own laundry. And I thought the nativity scene was
what Maimonides Hospital looked like 44 years ago? Oh well..sighhh.. Anyways
for those that want to celebrate my birthday the address where to send your
donation is below. Trust me it will be put to a good cause. It will certainly
make this Rabbi happy and is a much more worthwhile way to spend your holiday.
Your kids have enough electronics already. Your husband enough ties, your wife
enough jewelry and your co-workers enough…I don't know what you get them. But
have you ever met a Rabbi in Israel with enough donations?
Now besides
the world getting into the present mode this week, The Torah portion as well
shares with us the story of exchanging presents. How do you like that tie-in J? Yup this week's portion
Parshat Vayigash-my Bar Mitzvah Parsha, (pretty cool that I got a Parsha that
talks about presents how's that for a not-so-subtle hint) talks about the
reunion of Yosef and his brothers. This is in fact the first time in the entire Torah where we have all twelve tribes
together. All our parents. One big (happy?) family. And thus the first Jewish
family reunion started. There is food of course. All are seated around one big
table. There's talk of family back home, there are tears, favorites,
accusations, a fight almost breaks out, lots of invoking of Hashem's name, you
know your typical Jewish holiday meal.It ends of course as all of these things usually
do with a "let's do this again real soon" and of course Yosef giving
his brothers presents for the road. But like all Jewish things and particularly
Torah things there are always hidden messages in the presents that are given so
let's go through them and see what we can glean from them. Maybe even get some
ideas for our own present giving this Rabbi Schwartz birthday season.
So here we are
Bereishit chapter 45:21-23 Yosef sends wagons (in Hebrew the word is Agalot)
and food for the way. Food is of course very important. Somebody has to take
the leftovers. And thus the custom of a "little something for the
road" has begun. And then interestingly enough Yosef gives each of the
brothers a set of clothing. This is interesting. No, and I don't mean that of
course when anyone is coming to Israel they should bring a suitcase of clothing
with them back, although my wife would certainly appreciate it. Perhaps another
Jewish custom started J. No I mean to think a little bit about the significance of clothing to
these brothers. 22 years previously the last time Yosef saw his brothers, was
when they took off his clothing and threw him into a pit and then sold him down
to Egypt. The brothers then took Yosef's famous colored coat and dipped it in
blood and showed it to their father Jacob. Hmmmm is there a subtle message in
this clothing giving of Yosef? Perhaps it is the ultimate way of him showing
his forgiveness and no hard feelings. Perhaps, the clothing is a sign of
redemption for the brothers. In fact the word for clothing is Chalifot-
to change, to turn over a new leaf and put on a new garment. It's interesting
to see how in previous portions we are told the story of Yehudah who has to
redeem his garments that were given away in the story of Tamar and how Yosef
himself runs away from the wife of Potiphar as she was seducing him leaving his
garments behind. Yosef has worn many clothes since he was thrown in the pit. The
slave garb, the prison garb and now the royalty garb. The gift of clothing is
that we can change ourselves the same way we can change our garments.
Moving on to
the next gift we see that Yosef does something strange in that his brother
Binyamin receives 5 changes of clothing and an extra 300 coins. Now yes Binyamin
was his only full brother, the only other child of his mother Rachel. But
really? Do you want to play this favorite game once again in front of the
brothers? Haven't you learned? Is there anyone more than Yosef that has learned
this lesson?
The answer our sages tell us was that Yosef was symbolizing to the
brothers and to the Jewish people in the future that there will come from
Binyamin a Jewish leader by the name of Mordechai. Mordechai will stand
separate from all of the Jewish people in the story of Purim. They will all be
politically correct and go to Achashveirosh's party and he will refuse. They
will bow down to Haman and wish him a happy holiday season (sorry I couldn't
resist) and he will stand tall and proud and say I bow to no one but Hashem.
Haman will incite the king against the Jews because of this Mordechai and trust
me the newspapers at that time were calling him a religious fanatical provocateur.
They will accuse him of trying to be holier than though at the expense of the Jews.
Kind of the same way that the brothers in Egypt accused Yosef of being. Yet in
the end Mordechai will walk out with 5 garments that the King, Achashveirosh
(and our sages tell us that all references to the king really mean Hashem in
the megilla), dresses him in. Yosef in his gift to his Binyamin is
telling the brothers to remember this lesson in the future. Interesting as well
Mordechai himself changes his garment to sackcloth prior to wearing this royal garment.
We all need a fresh change of our clothing to reveal our truest essense. The 300
coins, you ask? Mordechai in gematria is 274 if you add the name of Hashem
which equals 26, you've got 300 and thus the coins gift.
Finally and
perhaps most moving is Yosef's gift to his father. He sends him "like
this" ten donkeys loaded with the good of Egypt and ten female
donkeys loaded with grain, bread and food. See back then like today one
couldn't get white tuna fish in Israel or wickles (thanks Howard for bringing
me some), no Jay's potato chips or Topor's pickles either. (by the way it's
pretty cool that those are the only things that I can think of that we can't
get here...and I don't miss the Tuna that much eitherJ). So we can understand the
food thing. But what's with the donkeys? The Sfat Emet shares two beautiful
insights. The first he suggests is that what does it mean in the verse when he
sent him "like this"? It seems extraneous. So he explains that Yosef
was fearful that Yaakov would be upset when he found out what took place. So
Yosef sent him the donkeys to signal to him that this is all a divine plan. The
brothers of Yosef who did what they did are merely 'like donkeys' carrying the
good of Egypt. This was all Divinely orchestrated. We are Hashem's donkeys,
just actors in his plan for us to carry out the good that is in Egypt.
The second
message is that Yaakov years earlier had told his brother Esau when he
explained to him when he would join him and what his possession were "Yeish
Li Shor V'Chamor- I have an ox and a donkey" the commentaries explain
that Yaakov was referring to Yosef who is symbolized as an ox and Yehuda of whose
descendant will be Mashiach that will ride on a white donkey. Yaakov was saying
that I will join you when Mashiach Ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David (from the
tribe of Judah) will come. Yosef sent his father the wagons and the donkeys to
let him know that although the Exile to Egypt is no starting with his coming
down to Egypt, the redemption is already prepared and on its way as well. The
ox and the ten donkeys have reunited. Mashiach Ben David will be able to come.
Now that's a present!
The lesson of
the presents, I guess is that we are meant to get close to one another.
Mashiach is around the corner. If Yosef and his brothers can reconcile with one
another, then we certainly should be able to give presents and gifts of meaning
to one another. Our Father is waiting and longing, just as Yaakov was so long ago,
for the return of his children. For them to get together once again. To come
back home again. We need new clothing. We need to remove the ones of fighting,
hatred, and resentment. We need to see ourselves as mere donkeys of Hashem
rather than trying to manipulate the world as if it all rests on our shoulders.
Yosef tells his brothers don't get angry don't get upset…it's all from Hashem. We
have to start believing that more and more. We await that reunion when we will
say Shema Yisrael Hashem Echad as Yaakov did. May Hashem give us the
present that we have all been waiting for.
Have a really merry Shabbos,
Rabbi
Ephraim Schwartz
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RABBI SCHWARTZ'S CHANUKA YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
Festivus!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dS7-jcsB_WQ
Archie Bunker
Keeping kosher for Xmas…it is so unbelievable that
70% of Jewish homes look like this…
*****************
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S FAVORITE QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"Roses are reddish, Violets are bluish, If it weren't
for Xmas, Wed all be Jewish.. " Benny Hill
"There are three stages of man: he believes in Santa Claus;
he does not believe in Santa Claus; he is Santa Claus." Bob Phillips
RABBI
SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
(answer below at end of Email)
Q. Ethiopian immigrants were
brought to Israel in:
A.
The return of Ezra and Nehemiya
and the Magic Carpet (marvad haksamim)
B.
A’aleh BaTamar and the
Ofira Operation
C.
The “Solomon” and “Moses”
operations
D.
The Hiram and Tarshish operations
RABBI
SCHWARTZ'S COOL MIDRASH OF THE WEEK
This weeks Yaakov
finally comes down to Egypt and is reunited with his son Yosef. When he is
introduced to Pharaoh, Pharaoh asks him how old he is. He responds quite
lengthily that he was only 130 years old however the days of his life have been
few and evil; he did not achieve the happiness that his forefathers had. The
Midrash tells us that Hashem reprimanded Yaakov saying
" Are you
complaining about the evil that befell you? Did I not save you from the hands
of Lavan and Esau? Did I not return Dina and Yosef to you? And yet you grumble
and complain? I will diminish your years by the number of words you uttered
against me! Hashem therefore shortened Yaakov's years by thirty three the number
of words (in Hebrew) when he voiced his complaint. Instead of living until 180
years like his father Yitzchak he died
at age 147.
Think about that next
time you kvetch….
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL THINGS TO DO IN ISRAEL
OF THE WEEK
Experience ancient Jewish life – One of major industries
today is of course tourism…B"H. And perhaps one of the great tourist
experiences that one can have here is getting a feel of what the lives of our ancestors
were like here. So whether it is getting dressed up in ancient clothing, making
oil, pitas, wine as they did or riding on camels, donkeys or even taking a trip
to experience some of the ancient farming methods or even shepherding, one can
really get a sense of what life its simplicity, its challenges, and even its
holiness as they connected to Hashem in ways that were so much more basic than
we live today. In recent years more and more places take you are opening that are
offering these experiences. You just have to find the right tour guide of
course that can not only take you there but bring you back thousands of years
as well in the process.
******************
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S SEASONAL JOKES OF THE WEEK
Admiring
the Christmas trees displayed in his neighbor's windows, Yankel asks his
father, 'Daddy, can we have a Hanukkah Tree?'
'What?
No, of course not,' says his father.
'Why
not?' asks Peter again.
Bewildered,
his father replies, 'Because the last time we had dealings with a lighted bush
we spent 40 years in the wilderness.'
************
Mr.
Goldstein was awarded the job to paint the local Catholic Church and Convent.
After several days on the job, the Mother Superior called him into her office.
"Mr. Goldstein," she said I would like you to please change three things in the performance of your job.
Number one, please remove your painter's cap when you enter the sanctuary. Number two, please refrain from washing the paint off your hands in the Holy Water. and Number Three. Please stop calling me MOTHER SHAPIRO!!!!!
After several days on the job, the Mother Superior called him into her office.
"Mr. Goldstein," she said I would like you to please change three things in the performance of your job.
Number one, please remove your painter's cap when you enter the sanctuary. Number two, please refrain from washing the paint off your hands in the Holy Water. and Number Three. Please stop calling me MOTHER SHAPIRO!!!!!
*************
Q.
What does the Jewish Santa Claus say?
A. Ho! Ho! Ho! Anybody wanna buy some toys?
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A. Ho! Ho! Ho! Anybody wanna buy some toys?
*************************************************************
Answer is C: Since the founding of the State of Israel one of
the primary objectives has been to increase Aliya and offer a safe haven for
Jews from all over the world. Operation Tarshish although I have never heard
that name until I googled it was used for the Russian Aliya to Israel and from
my search seems to be a Christian organization that coined it to send jews
home. Ezra and Nehemia the two leaders who brought the Jews back from Babylonia
in the second commonwealth were the names used for the operation in the 1950's
to bring Iraqthi jews to Israel close to 130,000 of them! Aaleh b'Tamar was the
term coined by the Yemenite Jews who came here in 1881 which in hebre was the
year Taf Reish Mem Bet the same letters as the word Tamar from the verse in Song
of Songs by Solomon. 2,500 Jews came then when they heard that Baron Rothchild
had purchased lands here. Not sure what ofira has do with it (be happy to know
if someone else can share it with me...but it could just be a trick). Hiram was
a military operation in the 48 war. Magic Carpet was in 49 as well when about
45,000 Yemenite Jews were airlifted here. Which then of course leaves us with
Moses and Solomon which were the Ethiopian Aliyot (Joshua as well). In 1985
Moses brought about 8,000 and Solomon in 1991 brought another 14,000.
Incidentally this past year saw the largest Aliyah in the past 10 years with
over 25,000 Jews come back home!! So what are you waiting for?
