Natural Heeling- Parshat Eikev 2019 /5779

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 23^rd 2019 -Volume 9 Issue 46 22^nd of Av 5779

Parshat Eikev

Natural Heeling

Yair is a friend of mine. But he’s a bit different than you and I. We live in the city or the suburbs. We have a house. We get our food from the supermarket or lately it seems more often than not at hotels for breakfast, falafel and pizza stores for lunch and some nice restaurants for dinner. Oyy the rough life of being a tour guide. We spend an inordinate amount of time on our phone and computer. We have children that see Dadddy do that and can’t wait till they grow up and do and have all that too. In fact, a few years ago I took my little 5 year old Tully along with me on Friday afternoon to Tzfat, and showed him all the sites. What most enthralled him though was all the free drinks and ice creams many of my frequent restaurants and kiosks were giving me and him as we passed by-in appreciation of the frequent customers that I’m there with. At the end of the day Tully warmed my heart when he turned to me and said “Daddy, I also want to be a tour guide like you”. After a few minutes though he began to ponder and turned to me with a more somber and concerned look and asked “Do I have to be fat to be a Tour guide…?” Oyy…Good question, my son… good question.

But anyways, back to Yair. Yair is different. He is not fat. In fact he is skinny. He does not live in a city, suburb or even a house. He lives in the forest. Yaar Baal Shem Tov to be precise. He is married with 5 kids. I believe that he might have a computer. His phone is definitely not anything too ‘smart’. He does have a nice piano though, out there in his small home-made shack in the woods. He also has a hand operated washing machine that he’s quite proud of having made. Food? Well, Yair and his lovely wife Tovi and their children are vegans. They only like to eat what’s natural. Unlike me who also likes natural though I define it as food that doesn’t bite me when I put it in my mouth, they only eat things that comes out of the ground. No milk or cheese either. “Just like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden” he tells me. He does have goats though, but that’s just because he like the sounds that they make. The water they have on good days comes in from a pipe that runs a few kilometers from a natural water source nearby. It gets clogged up, but they don’t need so much. “Vegans, don’t really sweat” he tells me. He does have solar panels that provide some electricity for their lights. He feels like he’s cheating a bit by doing this, and even points out to me that even the energy efficient LED bulbs he has attracts bugs, which natural fire wouldn’t- he claims. Although I remember getting bitten up by all the campfires I used to go to. But maybe because those mosquitos also wanted a taste of those hot dogs or s’mores that I had just eaten, that of course wouldn’t be found in Yair’s ‘natural’ lifestyle. Yet, Yair explains guiltily, that although he’s still cheating with that electricity, it’s because he’s originally a city boy, (raised in Telshe Stone) and his still in the process of weaning himself off of that as well. As I said Yair’s different than you and I.

Is this fair for his children? He asks me is my lifestyle, our lifestyle fair for ours. I visited him this past week and asked him if I could bring anything. He asked for two bags of ice cubes. It was after all 115 degrees outside. I can tell you, though I have never seen children so enthralled with ice cubes though in my life. It would’ve taken me buying my own children a brand new I-Phone with unlimited data and texting to get even half the excitement that filled Yair’s home. Ice cubes… I can tell you that Yair’s children (all but the oldest incidentally born ‘naturally’ in the forest) are some of the truly happiest children I have ever met. Each day they come home from school excited over the different activities that they do. Renovating their bedrooms with newer and prettier stones that they fine, carving out wood, making pottery art taking care of their goats, and running freely through the mountains of the Galilee with their pet dogs. When, their father comes home all of the children come running up to see him and greet him, excitedly showing him all they have done each day. My tourists that I brought with me to visit him, remarked how they only wished their children would look up for a minute from their computers to even nod at him when he walks into their room. So, his words echo in my mind, is our lifestyle truly being fair to our children? Fair to ourselves?

Don’t’ get worried. I’m not going vegan or moving out to a forest anytime soon. It would be hard to write this weekly E-Mail from there. But my visits to Yair never fail to inspire me. His incredible ability to see beyond the “norm” and to actually have the resolve to do something and be different to live and raise his family in what he calls an “authentic, natural lifestyle”. His love and connection to the Eretz Yisrael and how he doesn’t want to taint that with anything “made in China”, any South American beef, or anything to distract him and his appreciation of what the Torah describes in this week’s Torah portion repeatedly as the “good land”, is one of the most beautiful things I can only aspire to feel. I admire his and his wife’s determination to turn off all the noise, all the media and commercial manipulations, messages and alternative distractions and pursuits that I think we can all acknowledge dominate our existence. The noise is so loud, we can’t hear the sound that I hear at night at Yair’s den, of the earth and land and even of Hashem calling out to me anymore. Somehow “natural” seems tempting even to me.

The portion this week is called Eikev. It’s an interesting name for a Parshaas the word literally means heel. Yes, like on the bottom of your foot. The title for the portion comes from the first verse which uses the word in an entirely different way. The verse reads and

 And it shall be Eikev you will listen to my laws and you will observe and perform them and Hashem your God will guard for you the covenant and the kindness which he swore to your forefathers. And he will love you and bless you and multiply you…

The commentaries all struggle to understand the context of the word Eikev here. Some suggest it should be read in exchange for listening to my laws, others understand the word to mean as a result of following the laws and yet others see it as meaning that as soon as you follow my laws. Rashi however diverts from his usual way of interpreting the verse according to the simple meaning and reads the word as heel. And understands that Hashem is telling the people to be diligent about those simple mitzvahs that one might neglect and step on with his heel. I find it fascinating that our holy language of Hebrew this one word can mean all of the various interpretation. The question is what all the other translations of the word have to do with a heel.

The great Rebbe of Sassov suggests an interesting homiletical interpretation. He said if a person will listen to his heel than he will have these laws and he will guard and observe them. I’ve had long hard day hiking in the desert. And I know what my heels are saying to me. But the Rebbe was referring to something else entirely. The heel is the lowest and hardest part of the body. It has the thickest skin. It’s not easy to get through to the heel. But the heel is the part that most connects to the ground, to the earth. If we listen to the heel meaning try to understand what the most natural state of the world is asking from you to do, instead of just marching forward to wherever the rest of the body wants us to go. Than inevitably we will find that we would observe the mitzvos and bring the world to its fulfillment.

I thought about this idea a lot since visiting Yair. He’s listening to his heel. He only wants to connect to Hashem through the holy land of Israel whose cry to him he is listening to. The natural state of the world sings praise to Hashem. How often do we stop to hear that song? Do we let it touch and move our spirits? Are we treading on holy earth with heavy boots and shoes with our earphones plugged in our fingers texting and our minds online? Have we lost our connection to the beauty of Creation that is waiting for our composition, longing for the blessing that we are meant to bring as soon as we bring that song to its incredible climax? The Torah portion of Eikev is replete with this idea. The natural state of the Land and its blessing is dependent on the mitzvos that we do and the sanctification we bring to the land. The rains will fall or not fall based on our heeding our Eikev. We will win or lose our battles and challenges Eikev. Nachmanides notes that the heel is bent and curved. From the bottom it moves up. It is the natural circle of life and the Torah and Mitzva lifestyle in the land is what will allow the earth and blessing to flow.

Perhaps the most poignant idea that I heard about the Eikev, though is one I heard from Rav Moshe Shapiro. He suggested that generation before Mashiach comes is called the Ekvita D’Mashiach, the heels of Mashiach. For the generation before Mashiach may be the toughest and the thickest skinned and the hardest to penetrate and elicit and emotion, feeling or sensation from. The apathy will be overwhelming. Yet there is one thing that can get through to the heel. That he suggests is a little tickle. It doesn’t need any big booms or slaps. One just needs to tickle it with love and laughter and just watch that heel start to kick and jump. Now you know why there’s a joke in my weekly E-Mail J. We have finished our period of mourning for our Temple. We are in what our sages refer to as the 7 weeks of comfort and consoling. It’s the time for healing. It’s the time when we can get out and listen to our heels as we explore the beauty of the world that Hashem has given us. It’s the time when we can bring a smile and a hug to someone who needs it. All we need is that tickle. Mashiach is awaiting our heels.

Have a relaxing Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

**********************************************************

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Besser a krummer fus aider a krumer kop.”- Better a crooked foot than a crooked mind.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

https://youtu.be/ZMqomaB3wvw   – Dovid Berg great song Poteach like the singer, the video and the words…

https://youtu.be/hMmfXAdZC1g   – Ki Nacham Tziyon by Gad- arrangements by my friend Yitz Berry! Beautiful song for the 7 weeks of consolation

https://youtu.be/tyejldoEINA  -New Maccabeats Kol Haneshama with camp Kaylie

https://youtu.be/QvMw_b25qfU    – Another Yitz Berry arrangement for Avi Illson SheYavo leibidg!

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

Q   An artifact that distinctly characterizes the Chalcolithic culture:
A) Collared-rim jar (kankan sfat zavaron)
B) Butter churn
C) Axe for torturing
D) Sarcophagus

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S “LOMDUS” CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

Parshat Eikev– One of the greatest challenges of being raised as an observant Jew is that we take everything religious for granted. We do it by rote. It becomes uninspiring because it’s the same blessings, same prayers, same Torah day in and day out. Having a lomdushe streak to you though can help us overcome this challenge. A lamdan doesn’t take anything for grant. He appreciates all of the nuances and he thinks about the ideas that can be revealed and bring meaning to those words we recite. Let’s take a look at one.

This week we have the mitzva of v’achalta, v’savata, u’veirachta es Hashem elokecha- That we shall eat, be satisfied and then bless Hashem after our meal. To Bentch! In the blessing that we recite of Al Hamichiya- which is said after eating non-bread grain and fruits of Israel we say the words

U’vnei Yerushalayim ir hakodesh… v’nochal m’pirya v’nisboah m’tuva u’nivarechecha aleha b’kedusha u’v’taharah- And Yerushalayim, the holy city should be rebuilt and we shall eat from it’s fruits and be satiated with goodness and we shall bless on them with holiness and purity.

I’ll be honest I must have said this blessing millions of times and never really paid attention to the words I was saying. But it is perplexing since when do we need to recite blessings with holiness and purity. There’s no need to go to the Mikva before eating a croissant or a rugelach. What are these words referring to, asks the Brisker Rav. In addition, he points out there is a law that fruit trees are not permitted to be planted in Jerusalem (at least in the old city from the times of the Temple). So what does it mean that we shall eat from ‘its’ fruits?

So the Rav answers one question with the other, of course. There are fruits that need to be eaten with purity. They are the fruits of ma’aser sheni the second tithe, of one’s crops where the fruit are meant to be brought to Yerushalayim and eaten, b’taharah, in a state of purity. They are not fruits that were grown in Yerushalyim, but rather the fruits of the Jews from all over the country that would bring them throughout the year to our Holy city and eat them in the ultimate spiritual “State”.

Did you ever think when you were reciting this simple blessing after you noshed down some Kokosh cake or ate a beautiful cluster of grapes here that you were asking to fulfill the mitzva of eating them in Yerushalayim as your ma’aser. See how life changing a little bit of lomdus can be for you. Next time and hopefully every time you make this bracha you will have the inspiration of this fantastic idea, or any other one you may have or come up with as you recite them lomdushly.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Ehud Ben Geria the 2^nd Shofet 1205 BC – It’s hot in the summer here in Israel. You know where it’s the hottest? By the Yam Hamelach 400 meters below sea level. But you know what? It was that heat that led to the victory of the ancient Jews against the King of Moav after 18 years of persecution from our neighbors across the Jordan River. That’s something to share with your tourists in the heat!

After the death of Osniel the Jews worshipped idols and sinned, so Hashem sent big fat Eglon the King of Moav to attack them. The significance of him being fat of course was to send a message to the Jewish people that we had become fat and lazy in our ways of serving Hashem. He conquered the city of dates, which of course is Yericho as one can point out to our tourists still today how the sweetest dates in the world still come from this region. Ultimately the shofet of the tribe of Binyamin, named Ehud Ben Geira who was ambidextrous went to visit the King with offerings. Along the way he stopped off at Gilgal where the stones that had been carved out by Yehoshua as we passed through the Yarden were. Gilgal perhaps being the location of the monastery Beit Hujlah, right north of Yericho. Now how is he going to get the King? The answer the Torah tells us is that it was the summer. It was hot. The king was outside in his special locked shaded room. Ehud comes in. He passed through the security check point with his knife on his right thigh hidden. They never thought to check him there because they assumed he was a righty and it would be on his left side. He told the King he had an offering for him and a special message from Hashem. Eglon got up and Ehud-boom! Jammed the sword into his belly and his guts oozed all out. He locked the door behind him and went back to the crossings of the Yarden.

With all of Moav in confusion over the assassination of their king. Ehud used the opportunity to marshal his tribe and the tribes Ephraim both which bordered the Jordan Valley (todays West Bank) to attack and reclaim our crossings to the Yarden. For these tribes as well as Reuvein and Gad which are on the eastern side of the Jordan suffered the most from this Moabite/Jordanian persecution. They were successful in these battles and killed 10,000 Moabites and secured our borders. For the next 80 years it was nice and peaceful in Eretz Yisrael.

I like to share this story as we drive up Highway 90 with my tourists from the Dead Sea to Tiverya. We pass many of the sites and the crossings to Jordan today the Adam and Allenby Bridges. As well this is the site of the battles and incursions the Israel in the Eretz Hamirdafim- the land of the pursuers where Palestinian terrorists would sneak across the Jordan after the six day war in 1968- 1970 and attack Israeli soldiers and settlers there. Some things never change.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE FOOT JOKES OF THE WEEK

Why isn’t your nose 12 inches long? Because then it would be a foot

Why couldn’t the two feet get along? Because they both thought they were right.

Who always goes to bed with his shoes on? A horse

How did the bubblegum cross the road? It was stuck to the bottom of the chicken’s foot.

What is the fastest way to go to the moon? Tickle the bottom of an elephant’s foot!

What type of hat does a leg wear? A knee cap.

What did one knee bone say to the other knee bone? “Let’s get out of this joint.”

What are a plumbers favourite type of shoes? Tap shoes

What kind of shoes does a plumber hate? Clogs

If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do terrorists get? Missile-toe.

What does a shoemaker use to repair shoes? Toe-nails

What is the foot capital of Canada? Toe-ron-toe (Toronto).

Did you hear the joke about the gym sock? You don’t want to. It stinks

Did you hear about the American podiatrist and the English chiropodist?  They were arch rivals.

Yankel had broken down on the side of the roah.  He flagged down a passing motorist and asked, 'Can you help me fix my car?' 'Sorry,' the motorist replied. 'I'm not a mechanic - I'm a podiatrist.' 
'Well', said Yankel 'can you give me a toe?'

When you are on good terms with your dermatologist, ask this question: "When you started your practice, did you start from scratch?"

Why did the podiatrist want to change careers? Because he always felt defeat.
Dr. Goldberg the podiatrist was sitting in his office holding his head, when the nurse came in she asked him what was wrong. He looked like he was having a rough day. He said “yeah I started this morning on the wrong foot!”

A man walks into Moshe’s shoe shop and tries on a pair of shoes.
"How do they feel?" asks Moshe.
"Well the left one feels a bit tight," replies the man.
Moshe looks down at the shoe on the man’s left foot and says, "Try it again, this time with the tongue out."
"Well, theyth sthill feelth a bith tighth."
.***********
Answer is A–  Hey, I got this one wrong! I confess 4200 BC is not my area of expertise… Particularly as it predates the Torah’s Creation story and age of the universe of 5779 years. So the Chalcoltihic or “copper” period which according to archeologists and scientists would predate Adam and Eve by about over a thousand years means either they got their dating wrong or they’re missing something in their factors. Regardless two of the answers I ruled out right away. Sacrophagus were Greek and Roman era way later, and even axes for torture would date to the bronze and iron era after. I went with the collar rimmed jugs because they seemed pretty ancient and I never heard or remembered anything about butter churns. I remember Avraham had butter he served to the angels in the Torah and assumed maybe it was a later invention. I was wrong. It seems butter has been around for a long time. Perhaps even a prehistoric time, as they found these churns in Beer Sheva and other Chalcolithic periods around Israel. So the score is Schwartz 34 and 7 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam so far.