Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
February 28th 2014 -Volume 4, Issue 20-28th
of Adar I 5774
Pikudei/Shekalim
House
of Love and Prayer
What
do you call your Shul? How do come up with a catchy name that really hits the
essence of the congregation that you are trying to establish? I’ve always found
old shuls, their histories and their names to be fascinating. In Seattle where
I lived pre-aliyah, we had the Bikur Cholim synagogue and the Sefardic
Bikur Cholim both founded by Jewish societies that were dedicated to the
mitzvah of visiting the sick. Ezra Bessaroth (Help in times of trouble)
was dedicated by a group that would raise funds for their brethren back in the
needy community of Rhodes in the early 1900’s. My shul known as the West
Seattle TLC, was an acronym of the Torah
Learning Center, as well as a play on the Tender Loving Care-( not Totally Love
Chulent as some might suspect). Currently my shul, the Young Israel of Karmiel,
is part of the International Young Israel Movement, which some have said is
neither Young or in Israel and Old America might be a better name for the
movement. But we're changing that with every new young family that moves here,
each day.
I
spent some time researching Synagogue names, as they reflect the heart and
aspirations of their founding members and many times provide insight into the
history of the various Jewish communities. In early New York you can find
synagogues as varied as the Lechet Yashur-straight walkers’ shul, the
Nefutzoth Judah- refugees or expansion of Judah Shul, The Tifferet
Mizrach- Splendor of the East, Sefardic synagogue and the Chevra Kadisha
– Jewish Burial Society or Chevra Shomer Shabbat- Shabbat observers’
shuls. My favorite Shul name was established By Reb Shlomo Carlebach in San
Fransisco in the wild hippy late 60’s the House of Love and Prayer. And perhaps
the two greatest mission statements I’ve seen were the Beth Hakenesseth Anshei
Mieletz: "Composed of a mixed element from the standpoint of age -
ranging from 21 up to heaven", and the Wall Street Shul on Maiden
Lane: "Synagogue organized by Judge Benjamin E. Greenspan in 1929 for
the purpose to help business people of Wall St., not to forget the Almighty God
and to remember they are only human beings." I wonder what the Wall
Street Synagogue would be called today?
This
week as we complete the reading of the 2nd book of the Torah
Shemos/Exodus, we read about the conclusion of the building of our very 1st
house of worship; the Mishkan or Tabernacle. The agenda for the building of
this house for Hashem, was that following the debacle of the sin of the Golden
Calf, Hashem had forgiven His people and would once again be there amongst his
nation. But who would head up this building campaign? Presumably after
200 years of building pyramids in Egypt there were plenty of architectural
talents available. But this was to be not just a nice fancy palace. This was to
be a home for God. To build it required a special talent one that it seemed
only one person of the millions solely possessed.
Moshe
said to the Jewish people,
“See Hashem has proclaimed by name Betzalel
the son of Uri the son of Chur from the tribe of Judah”.
Who
is this Betzalel? The Torah doesn’t tell us much about him. Yet the early Tosafot
commentaries note that it does tell us one seemingly extraneous but very
important detail- he was the grandson of Chur. O.K., now who was Chur?
Well rewind in the Torah a little bit. We are told that Chur was up on the mountain with
Aharon as second in command, holding Moshe’s hands during the battle of Amalek.
The Medrash also tells us that during the sin of the Golden Calf, and the panic
that arose prior to it when Moshe did not return on time, Chur tried to
dissuade the mobs who were trying to make the Golden Calf. For this great act
he was murdered by the people. And thus the Israeli method of dealing with the
political opposition was born. It's all been pretty tame since then. * Note
to self- never try to break up a good
(or bad) party, particularly one that has calves and dancing. This also
helps explain why Aharon went along with the program and tried to stall it, rather
than to try and stop them.
So
stop and think about this for a second, Rav Henoch Lebowitz suggests. Out of
everyone in the Jewish people who would you think would be the last person to
want to build this temple? Can you imagine the feelings of Betzalel? Here this
people, this mob, murdered my grandfather a few months ago. If they would have
listened to him they would have never needed this building. Hashem was in their
midst. And now God wants to forgive them?! As if it didn’t happen!? What would
we say? Could we do it?
But
Betzalel could. It could only happen if Betzalel would. He was able to forgive.
He loved the Jewish people and Hashem so much, and he understood that without a
place of forgiveness and hope where our relationship with Hashem could and
would be restored and renewed, than there would be no point in our existence.
All the miracles of Egypt and all that his grandfather had died for would be
for naught. And so Betzalel led the campaign, and the original house of
love and prayer was first established. Hashem now motivated by this incredible
act of love and forgiveness would reciprocate in kind to his repentant
children.
The
book of Shemos concludes with the blessing of Moshe to our nation that all our
work should be blessed with the Divine presence. Yet just as in that first
handiwork of our ancestors, we have to be able to build and to dedicate our
homes and all that we do with that same degree of love and inspiration that we
wish to see it blessed with. A little TLC can build a great Torah Learning
Center and a lot of love and forgiveness can build the ultimate House of
Hashem.
Have
an inspired Shabbos and happy Adar for the 2nd time!
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S FUNNY "WHAT IT WAS LIKE ON THE PLANE
THIS WEEK" YOUTUBE CLIP OF THE WEEK
BILL COSBY AND A 4 YEAR OLD ON THE PLAE
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S FUNNY AIRLINES QUOTES OF THE WEEK
"Delta Airlines is pleased to have some of the
best flight attendants in the industry. Unfortunately, none of them are on this
flight!"
""In the event of a sudden loss
of cabin pressure, masks wil descend from the ceiling. Stop screaming, grab the
mask, and pull it over your face. If you have a small child traveling with you,
secure your mask before assisting with theirs. If you are traveling with more
than one small child, pick your favorite."".- Unknown
"As you exit the plane, make sure to
gather all your belongings. Anything left behind will be distributed evenly
amoung the flight attendants. Please do not leave children or spouses."
RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE
WEEK-
Eretz Israel Museum-Tel Aviv- This week is Parshat Shekalim and a great place to see one of
the most amazing ancient coin collections in this important museum in Tel Aviv.
Built right around an ancient Philistine site (see that also fits into the Q of
the week Tel Qasile), the museum has many of the ancient finds of this country
including idols, glass displays, a flour mill, and famous four room house from
biblical times.It also has a great Planetarium and all types of timely seasonal
displays. The Man and his Work section teaches and shows finds of all types of
ancient crafts we read about from weaving pottery making, jewelry making. I'm
not personally a big museum guy but if you enjoy history and love everything
Israel this is a great place to visit.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL GEMATRIA OF THE WEEK
Rav Shlomo Levenstein in Chaim Shel Torah
says there is a hint to this in the first words of Parshas Pikudei. Pikudei
according to many commentaries means "missing" or
"lacking". Eileh is gematria 36. "Eileh Pikudei
HaMishkan". What will happen with the Divine presence when "Pikudei
HaMishkan", when the Mishkan is missing, asks the Torah? Eileh,
the Shechina will rest among the 36 tzaddikim
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE
WEEK
(answer below at end of Email)
The coastal cities where the Philistines dwelled
are
a) Gaza, Ashkelon, Ashdod
b) Ashkelon, Gat, Ekron
c) Ashkelon, Yaffo, Ekron
d) Gat, Ashdod, Beit Guvrin
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S JOKES (collecting and
airplanes) OF THE WEEK
Flying High
An elderly Jewish couple are sitting together
on an airplane flying to the Far East. Over the public address system, the
Captain announces:
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news. Our engines have ceased functioning, and this plane will be going down momentarily. Luckily, I see an island below us that should be able to accommodate our landing. Unluckily, this Island appears to be uncharted; I am unable to find it on our maps. So the odds are that we will never be rescued and will have to live on the island for a very long time, if not for the rest of our lives."
The husband turns to his wife and asks,
"Esther, did we turn off the stove?" and Esther replies, "of course."
"Esther, are our life insurance policies paid up?" "Of course."
"Esther, did we pay our UJA pledge?" "Oh my G-d, I forgot to send the check!!"
"Thank Heaven! They'll find us for sure!!"
"Ladies and Gentlemen, I am afraid I have some very bad news. Our engines have ceased functioning, and this plane will be going down momentarily. Luckily, I see an island below us that should be able to accommodate our landing. Unluckily, this Island appears to be uncharted; I am unable to find it on our maps. So the odds are that we will never be rescued and will have to live on the island for a very long time, if not for the rest of our lives."
The husband turns to his wife and asks,
"Esther, did we turn off the stove?" and Esther replies, "of course."
"Esther, are our life insurance policies paid up?" "Of course."
"Esther, did we pay our UJA pledge?" "Oh my G-d, I forgot to send the check!!"
"Thank Heaven! They'll find us for sure!!"
The Big Squeeze
The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet.
The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.
One day this scrawny little Jewish fellow came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice "I'd like to try the bet" After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the Jewish fellow.
But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little Jewish man "What do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?"
The Jewish fellow replied: "I work for the Jewish National Fund."
The local bar was so sure that its bartender was the strongest man around that they offered a standing $1000 bet.
The bartender would squeeze a lemon until all the juice ran into a glass, and hand the lemon to a patron. Anyone who could squeeze one more drop of juice out would win the money. Many people had tried over time (weight-lifters, longshoremen, etc.) but nobody could do it.
One day this scrawny little Jewish fellow came into the bar, wearing thick glasses and a polyester suit, and said in a tiny squeaky voice "I'd like to try the bet" After the laughter had died down, the bartender said OK, grabbed a lemon, and squeezed away. Then he handed the wrinkled remains of the rind to the Jewish fellow.
But the crowd's laughter turned to total silence as the man clenched his fist around the lemon and six drops fell into the glass. As the crowd cheered, the bartender paid the $1000, and asked the little Jewish man "What do you do for a living? Are you a lumberjack, a weight-lifter, or what?"
The Jewish fellow replied: "I work for the Jewish National Fund."
****************************************
RABBI SCHWARTZ' S EXAM ANSWER OF THE WEEK
Answer is A & B: The Philistines or as we
know them from the Torah the Plishtim who are in no way connected to the
Palestinians (a term that was taken for the Arabs by themselves after the
British mandate who thus named the country). The original Philistines came from
Asia Minor in the times of the Avot our Patriarchs. They invaded Israel and
settled here but were mostly seafarers. Certainly not arabs. They built 5
cities Ashkelon, Gat, Ekron, Gaza and Ashdod. So I'm not sure who wrote this
question but both A and B seem to be
correct so if anyone knows differently let me know. If not I'll just write it
off to another brilliant Ministry of Tourism "fashla"
