Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
May
26th 2016 -Volume 6, Issue 34 18th Iyar 5776
Parshat Bechukosai/Lag Ba’Omer
A Worth-y Dance
He was close to 85 years old and he was staring at the burning
embers of the Lag Ba’Omer bonfire. He didn’t make it to Meron this year. In
fact it had been difficult for him to go for quite a while. The crowds, the
traffic, the packed mob scene, it wasn’t for a man his age. But he always made
a bonfire. He always sang songs about Rabbi Shimon, the great sage in whose
death the great light of the Zohar was said to be revealed. It was a day that
moved him.
Rav Chaim Druckman’s student asked him when the first time he went
to Meron was as he was sitting their watching the bonfire. He told me that it
was in 1945, when he had just turned Bar Mitzva, the year he made Aliya escaping
the inferno that burnt in the Holocaust on an ‘illegal’ refugee boat. When
asked what it was like he told his student that he can’t even describe it. But
he wanted him to appreciate it.
“Realize” he told him “there are more people
that went up to Meron this year (close to 600,000) then there were in the
entire Israel at that time in 1944.” Look at how far Hashem has brought us.
Look at the miracle that we are now celebrating. The burning embers, the sparks
that can never be extinguished. That is the symbol of Rabbi Shimon. That is the
light of the Torah that despite all the forces of the world to wipe us out. The
brighter we will always continue to shine.
I’m not 85 yet. My first Meron experience wasn’t 70 years ago it
was close to 25 years ago. But even in that short quarter of a century-man it
hurts to even write that much time about myself, it makes me sound old- it has
certainly changed. Back in my day it was as well a pretty packed mountain top.
I remember the bonfires, the people slaughtering sheep for their BBQ’s, the
little three year old boys getting their first haircuts and of course the
endless singing and dancing all night and day long. But it wasn’t 600,000
probaly more like 50-100 thousand pilgrims that came to celebrate. Today it’s absolutely
a different world. Tens of tents set up with free food, literally bumper to
bumper human traffic, no cars allowed up anymore shuttle buses only. But the
one thing that has stayed the same is the diversity of the people that are
there. religious, secular, sefardic, ashkenazic, zionist, hareidi they all join
hands. They all are dancing together. They are all drawn to the grave of this 2nd
century sage. Rebbe Shimon connects them all together.
If you ask me Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai at first glance doesn’t seem
to be the person that would be so popular. In many ways the Talmud description
of much of his views seemed extreme. It was he who spoke bad about the romans
when Rabbi Yehuda was praising him-which ultimately led to his fleeing and
hiding for 12 years in a cave with his son. It was he as well that when he came
out of the cave “wherever he would look turned into a pile of bones” as he
couldn’t stand to see people not utilizing their time for non-spiritual
pursuits, until Hashem sent him back to the cave for another year, lest he
destroy the entire world. It is famous explanation to reconcile the
contradictory statements of the Torah that one should study Torah day and night
and that one will be blessed with gathering in his harvest by saying that when
one is full engrossed in doing the will of Hashem the gentiles will harvest for
him. The blessing of a full crop that would necessitate leaving Torah to study
it, is only when we are not doing the will of Torah. These extremists’ views
from the looks of the people dancing certainly don’t seem to be the figure that
they would be celebrating over. So why Rabbi Shimon. What made him the magnet, that
since the period of the Ari”zl in the 1500’s Jews have been flocking
increasingly to his grave?
This week’s Torah portion Bechukosai contains in it the
laws of vows that someone pledges according to the value of a person. Someone
has a child perhaps and would donate money of his value, or he wants a personal
redemption, or perhaps a special merit for a loved one. The Torah gives a price
list depending on the age and gender of the person. The number is a Divine
number. All men, for example, that are the age of 20-60 are 50 shekel. This has
nothing to do with how much the persons earning potential would be, this is
just the number that Hashem gave to each person in how much each particular
class is valued at in regards to these particular pledges. The Ishbitzer Rebbe
notes an absolutely incredible point from this law. He points out that when the
Jews sinned with the Golden Calf their atonement was meant to be that each person
would give a half shekel coin. Think about this. Perhaps the worst sin in the
Torah. Literally 40 days after we had the revelation at Sinai the Jewish the
Jewish people were dancing and singing and prostrating themselves before an
idol. It probably looked like Meron. However, the Ishbitzer says, what is the atonement
that Jewish people are given for this seemingly horrible sin? Each Jew was
mandated to give a half shekel. That’s right a half shekel. I was never good at
math, so the Ishbitzter does it for me; that’s exactly 1% of his value. 99% of
the Jew even after the worst sin is still pure. 99% of him does not need an
atonement. The worst damage, a Jew can do to that holy soul that burns inside
of him is only the smallest portion of who he is. But to quote Rabbi Shimon Bar
Yochai “All Jews are like princes of the King”.
The portion of Bechukosai is the 33rd portion of
the Torah. The portion that deals with the laws of Erechin-these vows of
the value of a person also contains 33 verses. These are meant to be
corresponding to the 33 verses that deal with the blessings and curses. If you
had a doubt whether the reading of this week should really be according to the custom
of Israel…. Bechukosai is the portion of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai who
died on the 33rd- Lag of Omer. Rabbi Shimon is the individual that
when he came out of the cave and he saw a Jew dancing with two haddasim-myrtle
branches running in honor of Shabbos said to his son “see how precious the
mitzvos of Hashem are to His children”. Rabbi Shimon is the one who when
his son went to someone to get a blessing and he was cursed instead, counseled
him that every curse is really a blessing in disguise, a blessing that is yet
to be realized. Rabbi Shimon as well said that despite the mandate to study all
day and all night and not waste that tremendous soul of ours, one can fulfill
one’s obligation of daily Torah study by reciting just the verse of Shema each
morning and each night. One verse. Rabbi Shimon understood that despite how
different we may look and we may even behave, we all are 99 percenters. We are
the children of one King. That, my friends, is something to dance about.
Have an ecstatic Shabbos and a Lag Samayach,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
***********************
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S VIDEO OF THEWEEK
https://youtu.be/rQnTodvonmk –Lag Ba’Omer Meron 1935 Wow!
http://www.chabad.org/multimedia/media_cdo/aid/2584337/jewish/Experience-Lag-BaOmer-in-Meron.htm
–Yishai Fleisher Meron
experience
https://youtu.be/j5S_uY4riOw -Funny
Gefilte Fish tribute song-Yiddish speakers will really enjoy!
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF
THE WEEK
“
A melocheh iz a melucheh, ober men hot nit
kain minut menucheh.”- A trade makes you a king but robs you of
leisure
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S JEWISH PERSONALITY AND HIS
QUOTES IN HONOR OF THE YARTZEIT OF THE WEEK
“If I were present at the giving of the Torah
on Mount Sinai, I would have demanded two mouths: one for continuous study of
the words of the Torah, and the other for eating However this would not be very
wise, since even now when man has but one mouth, he says so many wrong things.
How much more so if he had two!”
“Man should rather jump into a fiery furnace
than offend another in public”
“There is nothing in the world that stands in
the way of Teshuva-Repentance”
Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai – 18th
of Iyar early 2nd century -Every year, when Lag BaOmer (18 Iyar) comes
around, we remember the great and holy Tanna (Mishnaic sage) Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai, who died on this day about eighteen centuries ago. To this
day, pious Jews make an annual pilgrimage to Kefar Meron, in the Land of Israel,
to pray at the tomb of this great and holy scholar.
When Shimon was
a young boy, he studied in the great academy of the scholars of Yavneh, founded
by Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who died just about the time that Shimon was
born. Shimon’s principal teacher was the famous Rabbi Akiva, who had his
academy at Benei Berak. So attached did Shimon become to his master, Rabbi
Akiva, that the latter called him “my son.”
During
the cruel persecution by the Roman Emperor Hadrian, when the Talmudic Academies
were shut down and the study of the Talmud was forbidden on penalty
of death, Rabbi Akiva continued to teach the Talmud publicly, and his devoted
pupil Shimon stayed at his side, until Rabbi Akiva was arrested. Even then,
Shimon continued to visit his master in prison to receive instruction there.
Only death finally separated them, for Rabbi Akiva was condemned to die a
martyr’s death forKiddush Hashem (the sanctification of G‑d’s
name).
Those
were very difficult times for the Jewish people in the Land of Israel under the
brutal persecution of the Roman Emperor Hadrian. It was particularly difficult
for the sages to study the Talmud and to conduct schools. On penalty of death,
it was also forbidden to ordain students of the Talmud. Both the ordaining Sage
and the ordained scholar were put to death if caught. The entire Jewish
religious life was in danger, until the great Rabbi Yehudah ben Baba
publicly ordained five famous scholars, defying Hadrian’s cruel decree. Rabbi
Shimon was one of these five scholars. (Rabbi Meir was another one.) The
Roman authorities were soon after these dauntless Jewish champions. The
ordained scholars escaped, but Rabbi Yehudah ben Baba was caught and put to
death.
Finally,
the cruel Hadrian died in great pain, and his decrees were no longer enforced
with the same brutality as before. Then the leading sages of that time gathered
to consider ways and means of restoring Jewish religious life. Among the
leading sages gathered at Usha, we find Rabbi Shimon again. For reasons of
safety, the sages moved to Yavneh, where they sat in conference in a vineyard.
The leading sages were Rabbi Yehudah, Rabbi Yosei the Galilite, and Rabbi Shimon
bar Yochai. Discussing what attitude to take towards the Roman government,
Rabbi Yehudah suggested a friendly one, Rabbi Yose expressed no opinion, while
Rabbi Shimon spoke very bitterly of the Roman tyrants, and advocated every
possible defiance. For Rabbi Shimon could never forget the terrible sight of
his beloved master and teacher, Rabbi Akiva, being tortured to death by the
Roman executioners. The sages were not aware that their conversation was
overheard by a certain young man, Judah ben Gerim. At one time a
disciple of Rabbi Shimon, Judah ben Gerim later turned spy for the Roman
authorities. This treacherous man reported the conversation of the sages to the
Roman authorities. At once they decreed honor and rank for Rabbi Yehudah for
speaking favorably of them, exile for Rabbi Yosei for failing to do so, and
death for Rabbi Shimon, who dared to challenge them.
Rabbi
Shimon fled for his life together with his son Rabbi Elazar. For some time
they stayed in hiding in the Bet Hamedrash (academy), where Rabbi Shimon’s wife
brought them bread and water daily. When the search was intensified, they
decided to seek a better hiding place. Without telling anyone of their
whereabouts, they hid in a cave. G‑d caused a carob tree to spring up at the
entrance to the cave, as well as a spring of fresh water. For twelve years,
Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai and his son Elazar dwelt in the cave,
sustaining themselves on carobs and water. During the time, they studied and
prayed until they became the holiest sages of their day.
Rabbi
Shimon settled in the town of Tekoa, where he founded a great academy. The
greatest scholars of the time gathered there to receive instruction from Rabbi
Shimon. Among them was Rabbi Yehudah, the son of Rabbi Shimon ben Gamliel,
the Nassi, later the compiler of the Mishnah.
One
day Rabbi Shimon met Judah ben Gerim, the treacherous spy who had caused him so
much trouble. Rabbi Shimon exclaimed, “Is this man still alive?” and soon
afterward Judah ben Gerim died.
Once
again religious persecution increased. The Romans prohibited Shabbat observance
and other important Jewish laws. The Sages decided to send a delegation to
Rome, and chose Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai to head the delegation. After healing
the Emperors daughter he was able to achieve a dissolution of the decrees.
Rabbi
Shimon bar Yochai is the author of the sacred Zohar (“Brilliance”),
containing mystic interpretations of the Torah, and chief source of the Kabbalah.Rabbi
Shimon is also the author of Sifri and “Mechilta of Rabbi Shimon
bar Yochai. May his great merit be an advoacate for all of us.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF
THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
Q. The second crusade was intended to:
A.
Liberate Acre
- Liberate the Holy Sepulcher
- Liberate Edessa
- Fight against Saladin
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL RASHI OF THE WEEK
I’m a tour guide-in case you didn’t know… So
when I see the word Tiyul- tour in Rashi, it catches my eye. Who is the
tourists in this week’s Torah portion. This week doesn’t seem to have any tours
in it. The portion deals mainly with the curses and blessings for following or
disobeying the commandments. Well in the blessing portion Hashem says if you
will walk in my laws then
“VhitHalachti Imachem- I will walk
among you and be your God, and you will be My people.”
Rashi then makes the statement- Etayeil
Itchem B’Gan Eden- I will stroll (or tour) with you in the Garden of Eden.
Wow! Talk about having an incredible tour
guide? Hashem promises that if we walk in the ways of his Mitzvos he will be
our tour guide, he will stroll with us through the Garden of Eden. Not even I can
compete with that. Where does Rashi get this from? How does he see this in the
verse? Who mentioned Gan Eden? Rabbi Dovid Fohrman notes that Rashi is noting
the strange word Mithalech which really means more like I will do
something together with someone- like Lihitkasher- to connect or call
someone. Or as well it is reflexive as if to say I will take myself for a walk.
There is another time where we have that word Mithalech? Guess where?
You got it! In Gan Eden when Adam and Eve had sinned the verse says that the
voice of Hashem was Mithalech BaGan- it was walking in the garden.
Interesting. There Hashem was looking so to
speak to walk with his newest creations. With Adam and Eve. He calls out Ayeka-where
are you? But they are not there. They are hiding. Hashem wants to be Mithalech
with someone…with us.. Where are we? He therefore has to force Himself to be Mithalech
but it is alone. Here Rashi sees in the blessing our ability to restore us to that
time. If we follow the commandments He will walk with us. He will be on a Tiyul
with us. That is what awaits us. What an incredible Rashi!
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL HISTORICAL EVENT THAT
HAPPENED ON THIS DATE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-
19th
of Iyar May 28th 1948- Fall
of the Jewish Quarter in Old City of Jerusalem -The Jewish Quarter was under siege during the
War of Independence, from December 1947 (following the United Nations’ decision
to terminate the British Mandate and establish the Jewish state as part of the
Partition Plan) until May 1948. For 150 days, the Arabs laid partial siege to
the Jewish neighborhood, while the city was under British control. During that
period a large number of incidents exacted a bloody toll on the residents and
defenders of the Jewish Quarter.
When the British left in
1948, 1,500 Arabs from the neighboring Arab states and a battalion belonging to
the Arab Legion were enlisted to attack the Jewish Quarter. The Jewish Quarter
was defended by 200 fighters from the resistance movements, the Haganah, the
Irgun and the Lehi (the Stern Gang). The defenders of the Jewish Quarter fought
for 13 successive days, driven from house to house until their strength began
to fail, their losses mounted and their ammunition ran out. Dawn broke on May
27, but reinforcements still had not arrived. It was clear to all that the end
was approaching. The enemy launched an onslaught on the Street of the Jews, and
the Hurva synagogue of Rabbi Yehuda Hassid was captured and blown up by the
Arabs. This dramatic act symbolized the end of the battle for the Jewish
Quarter of the Old City.
On May 28, the area of the Jewish Quarter had dwindled to 20 dunams (20,000 square meters) in which 1,600 residents crowded helplessly. The two rabbis of the Quarter, Minzberg and Hazan, went out to negotiate with the Arab Legion representatives on surrender conditions. The Legion officers demanded that the rabbis bring a Haganah representative and Weingarten as well. After several hours of discussions, in the presence of UN representative Dr. Azcarate, the surrender agreement was signed. The Jewish signatories were the Quarter Commander Moshe Rosnak and Weingarten; the Arabs were represented by Abdullah el-Tel, with Dr. Azcarate signing on behalf of the UN. The document was written in English and Arabic.
The defenders surrendered. 350 residents and defenders were taken captive and 1,400 were expelled from their homes. 68 people from the Jewish Quarter were slain during the six months of fighting: 39 fighters and 29 civilians. There were 180 wounded fighters in hospital when the Legion captured the Jewish Quarter. Abdullah el-Tel gave orders for the healthy fighters to be concentrated and separated from the civilians. Just thirty-five fighters lined up. The Legion commander could not believe his eyes. "You have deceived me," he said. "If I had known your true size, I would have fought you with sticks."
That evening, the residents of the Jewish Quarter, together with the severely wounded fighters, were taken through Zion Gate to the New City. The prisoners of war were conveyed to the Kishle prison, and the following day transported to Jordan.
This marked the end of the heroic struggle of the defenders of the Jewish Quarter.
On May 28, the area of the Jewish Quarter had dwindled to 20 dunams (20,000 square meters) in which 1,600 residents crowded helplessly. The two rabbis of the Quarter, Minzberg and Hazan, went out to negotiate with the Arab Legion representatives on surrender conditions. The Legion officers demanded that the rabbis bring a Haganah representative and Weingarten as well. After several hours of discussions, in the presence of UN representative Dr. Azcarate, the surrender agreement was signed. The Jewish signatories were the Quarter Commander Moshe Rosnak and Weingarten; the Arabs were represented by Abdullah el-Tel, with Dr. Azcarate signing on behalf of the UN. The document was written in English and Arabic.
The defenders surrendered. 350 residents and defenders were taken captive and 1,400 were expelled from their homes. 68 people from the Jewish Quarter were slain during the six months of fighting: 39 fighters and 29 civilians. There were 180 wounded fighters in hospital when the Legion captured the Jewish Quarter. Abdullah el-Tel gave orders for the healthy fighters to be concentrated and separated from the civilians. Just thirty-five fighters lined up. The Legion commander could not believe his eyes. "You have deceived me," he said. "If I had known your true size, I would have fought you with sticks."
That evening, the residents of the Jewish Quarter, together with the severely wounded fighters, were taken through Zion Gate to the New City. The prisoners of war were conveyed to the Kishle prison, and the following day transported to Jordan.
This marked the end of the heroic struggle of the defenders of the Jewish Quarter.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S LAG BA'OMER JOKES OF THE WEEK
Children to Pinocchio “Would you like to
celebrate Lag Ba’Omer with us?
Pinocchio “But I don’t have any branches or
wood?”
Children- :)))))
Pinocchio- :(((((((
So the Breslaver was standing by the grave of
Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai and he was pouring out his heart and was overheard
saying “Rebbe Shimon, please
HAULING BEAMS..? THAT'S FOR WEAKLINGS!
:**************
Answer is C – Crusaders were bad people. They killed a lot of Jews. In fact
most of the mourning customs during the period of Omer, began as a result of
the deaths of the Jews during the period of Omer in the period of the Crusades.
Truth is I wasn’t that interested in the Crusades, but a lot of killing, a lot of
churches, a lot of wars, yadda yadda… But there are some important dates to
know and as a result of that I could figure out the answer. The first Crusade
was 1099 and the crusaders threw out the muslims. Salaadin came back in the
1187 and reconquered Jerusalem. The Third Crusade was about getting rid of him.
Meaning the 2nd Crusade was before Saladin. As a result of that Akko
and Jerusalem and the Church where the J-Man was supposedly buried were still
under the Crusader control. Meaning the only answer that makes sense is
liberating Edessa which isn’t even in Israel. So I really didn’t care about it
as I am not a tour guide in Turkey. So there.
