W'ater You About?- Parshat Beshalach 2020/ 5780

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

Febuary 7^th 2020 -Volume 10 Issue 16 12^th Shvat 5780

Parshat Beshalach

Wat' er You About?

 It is a wet winter here in Eretz Yisrael. According to the news reports, January saw two weeks of rain of over 100MM, that's the most since 1969!  See what a good Seattlite Oleh can bring to this country. Although from what I understand they broke the record there as well with 30 days straight of rain… another reason I'm glad I escaped that city…. It's, how different I feel about rain in America versus here in the Holy Land. As I told my shul here that in Israel when it rains you feel a sense of blessing, everyone is excited and appreciative of the much-needed water and plod happily through the puddles. In America though it just feels, gloomy miserable and depressing-icky.. wet... sloshy... cold. You just wanna roll over and go back to bed. Not that the rain in Israel finds favor with my tourists who somehow felt that they would be coming to our Mediteranean climate country and have their rain rain go away attitude. But hey, they were the ones that said V'Sein Tal U'matar and Morid Hageshem that morning. Is it my fault that Hashem answered their prayers?

 So what does a tour guide do when his tours cancel because of rain? We head to the Beit Middrash to grab in some extra learning of course. Trying to escape the damp weather, I open the weekly Torah portion for some cut and dry Torah reading. Whadaya know? My luck, this week's Torah portion is of course the wettest one in the entire Torah. The portion starts off with the great conclusion of our Exodus at the Red Sea. Water turns to dry land for the Jews and for the Egyptians ...not so much. A few days later when the Jews run out of water they come to a wonderful place called Marah-bitter- because of the undrinkable water they found there. Yet miraculously Moshe throws a stick in and it turns sweet. 

Shortly after that the Torah tells us they come to a place called Eilim where they find 12 springs of water-obviously symbolizing the 12 tribes of Israel. And just when you thought you pretty much had enough water stories for one Parsha, the Torah tells us one final one, the incident of Masa-UMeiriva -(testing and quarrelling), where it seems from the commentaries understanding of the text, that there was once again a complaint of the water not being sufficient enough for the Jews satisfaction-as if we are ever satisfied!- and Moshe is commanded to hit the rock (after he complains that the people are getting ready to stone him in their doubt of God and his leadership) and water pours forth.

This rock seemingly continues to do accompany them for the next 38 years until much later in the Book of Bamidbar when we once again-are told the final water story when it seems the water runs out and Moshe makes the egregious error of hitting the rock once again instead of speaking to it as commanded.

 Yes it is a wet wet Parsha...The question is why? What is it about water that the Torah seems to put such an emphasis on its role in the development and becoming of the Jewish people? Even more interesting perhaps is that the story of the destruction of Egypt starts with smiting their source of water-which in fact they worshiped- the Nile River and their end is also through drowning in water.
 For those of you that like word plays- The word for Egypt is Mitzrayim, which is made up of the letters Mayim (water) with the word Tzar, which means enemy or narrow, written in the middle r breaking up or "splitting" the word Mayim. From there they go to a place of Mayim which is Marim (bitter)- almost the same letters as Mitzrayim with just the letter Reish- as breaking up the word Mayim. And then ultimately coming to 12 springs of good water; the journey from Mitzrayim-to Marim-to Mayim has been completed. But what does this all mean?

 Rav Avraham Hakohein Kook, the first chief Rabbi of Palestine in the 1930's reveals a deep concept regarding water and the journey of the Jewish people or "birth" through the trials and lessons of water. He notes how water is the most essential element of human existence. It provides man with energy to move and to withstand outside temperatures. The lack of water creates an almost primordial burning thirst that brings man in touch with the frailty of his existence. It is for this reason that water and the thirst for it is used repeatedly as the metaphor for what one's spiritual desire and connection to God should feel like.

 "Tzam'a Lech Nafshi- Mys Soul thirsts for you," King David says, "My whole being longs for you, in a dry and parched land where there is no water." "As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God.

 In Egypt the one thing that was never lacking was water. The Nile itself was revered as a God that provided for men who were therefore never thirsty. As a result they indulged themselves. Our sages refer to Egypt as Shtufei Zima- flooded in licentiousness (flood being another water word). Measure for measure that flood of self-indulgence was where they would find their end.

The Jews, as newly released slaves, first lesson that they had to learn was to develop a thirst for life. Water, that life-giving force and the lack of it for the first time was a wakeup call that their spirits that had been dulled and dead for so long was now burning with a thirst to live. Yet they also had to learn that water just to fill their thirst and satiate their physical needs alone could be bitter or sweet. Having left Egypt, bitter god-less water would no longer suffice them. They needed and were given the sweetened miraculous waters of Hashem. Coming to their next stop in Eilim they were shown that the water for them was meant to be special. It was not just that Hashem would sweeten water for them, but in fact there were 12 springs that awaited them which symbolized that their water was from a deeper source. It was meant to be a spiritual connection for the 12 tribes to connect with Hashem and to fulfill their individual thirst for Him from their own independent springs of life.

 Having quelled their thirst and developed this finer more spiritual taste, the Jewish people had another lesson to learn. The water and thirst for Hashem will only come with the breaking of their physical nature that seeks only to satisfy its body and not its soul. The strangely worded verse tells us that the Jews camped in Refidim and "there was no water to give drink to the people". The commentaries note that it's not that there wasn't water for them to drink rather that the limited water they had was not "drink" for them. It wasn't coming easy and flowing anymore. Their thirst was more for the easy physical and easy spiritual path. It was a test of God and of Moshe. Here Hashem gives them lesson two, that the flow will and can come even from a rock, yet you have to make the effort to break your own internal heart of stone by maintaining your faith even when you don't see the water flowing. By utilizing your thirst for Me, to push yourselves a little harder and break that simple search for the satisfying easy sweet path, the water will flow. Hashem commands Moshe here specifically to use the staff of the miracles of the Nile. The old Egyptian water thirst was destroyed by your faith in Me symbolized by this staff. Your future challenges as well will be overcome as you once again have that strength to believe and continue to strive for greatness.

 Finally, we come to the last water incident. The water before they come to Eretz Yisrael. Once again their water and rock dries up. The Jewish people are at this point 38 years later about to enter the newest and what was supposed to be final stage of their nationhood; their promised Holyland. Here, the Rav notes, as opposed to in Masa Meriva where Moshe is told to hit the Tzur- a term that refers to a hard rock, Moshe is commanded to speak to the Sela- a soft easier pliable rock. The Land of Israel and the Jewish people in their homeland have a more natural connection to Hashem and spirituality. That burning thirst for holiness becomes a warm flame in Hashem's country. That huge heart of stone that seems unbreakable in the wilderness and Diaspora will crumble and produce soul nourishing life force with a few simple words of prayer in Eretz Yisrael. The connection to those springs of holiness can be found in the division of the 12 portions of Israel to its tribes that draw forth from them. It is here where the rain is always a bracha-blessing. It is why the measure of our spiritual connection to Hashem in the Torah is always connected to the barometer of the rainfall that we are either blessed in a plentiful way with or god forbid not meriting in receiving.

 Yet Moshe failed in his mission to give us that message and for that he was not permitted to enter the land and bring about the final redemption. So we were exiled from the land. The soft and easily accessible rock of Eretz Yisrael was desecrated by our people in our sins and lack of faith. We forgot our thirst. We were too physically satiated and didn't even notice that our souls were starving and parched. Today that we have the blessing once again to be in Eretz Yisrael, we can once again rebuild our nation by nourishing our inner thirst for a connection to Hashem. When it rains everywhere else it's wet, sloshy and icky. Here there is a sense that our prayers that we recite each morning have been answered. It is an incredible feeling to be connected to Hashem through the daily weather report. May our inspiration increase our thirst for an even greater connection to Hashem so that we may soon merit to the day when the prophecy of

Ush'Avtem Mayim B'Sason M'Mayenei Ha'yeshuah- And we will draw water with rejoicing from the springs of Salvation be fulfilled.

Have a "wetty" blessed Shabbos and Fruity Tu B'Shvat

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Fun fartrikenteh baimer kumen kain paires nit arois..."– No fruit grows out of withered trees.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

https://youtu.be/d7awxGWmIV0 - The incredible holy Beinoni Niggun of the Rebbe by Eli Marcus

https://youtu.be/D5i8PbrORWQ     Kosher Halftime Show for Super Bowl with Meir Kay Simcha Leiner and Comedian Ashley Blaker

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1fwrXL9eBo – And this one is just LOL!! TRUMP enters State of the Union

https://youtu.be/MgD1eXtVBfM- Check out the Kinneret rising and ancient mikvas and hot springs coming to life!

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

13)  Burial of dogs in the country on a relatively large scale was exposed in:

A.    Caesarea

2. Yaffo
3. Tel Qasile
4. Ashkelon

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S PARSHA/MITZVA CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

V'Anveihu– Beautifying Mitzvos – One of the high moment of our Song at the Sea when we left Mitzrayim in this week's Torah portion was when we sang out the words

Zeh Keli V'Anveihu- This is our God and I will glorify Him

There was this sense of euphoria and understanding that we were taken out of Egypt not just merely to serve Hashem but to make His presence and His commandments beautiful. In fact our sages tell us in the Talmud and Midrash that that one should glorify Hashem through the performance of mitzvot.  Therefore, one should have a nice sukkah, a nice lulav, a nice shofar, nice tzitzit and a nice sefer Torah.   Whether this mitzva is a biblical one of Rabbinic one seems (like many mitzvos) a matter of debate.  The Ra'avad cited in Chidushei Anshei Shem, suggests that hiddur mitzvah is a biblical concept.  The Ritva, writes that it is a rabbinic concept. The latter commentaries take sides of course and the matter seems inconclusive. One thing is for sure though it is certainly a key part of the way we do mitzvos.

Now what does it mean to beautify the mitzvah and how much should one spend. The Talmud tells us that one is obligated to spend a third more for a nicer object of mitzva. The question is a 1/3 more than what? There are some that suggest that it is 1/3 more than the minimal kosher one and others 1/3 more than for a nicer one that one would have taken. So for example if there are two Etrogs or if one is buying a Sefer Torah or Teffilin either pay 1/3 more than the minimal price for a nicer one or if one has a choice of two he should buy the nicer one if the price differential is only 1/3 more.

There is another interesting question is what makes a mitzva nicer? For some things its easier to tell than others. So for a scroll it could be a nicer script or more added stringencies in the writing. A cleaner Esrog with a nice shape can make it more attractive. What about Tzitzis? The talis seemingly is just a garment, the mitzva is the strings. Should one have to get a nicer garment? My Rosh Yeshiva Reb Moshe Shmuel Shapiro said that he felt one should, but when he mentioned that to the Brisker Rav he told him that then would have to get a nicer house to fulfill the mitzva of Mezuza! Maybe that's what some of those palaces I saw in Lakewood and the five Towns are all about…

There are other commentaries that suggest it's not just about getting nicer objects of mitzva it's also about how we preform our mitzvot. With proper kavana, dressed nicely, perhaps going to the Mikva to fulfill the mitzva in a purer state. My personal is hiddur that I recommend to a lot of people is to fulfill the mitzvot in Eretz Yisrael! It's where they have the most meaning. What an incredible Hiddur!

Finally just an incredible idea about this mitzva, The Jews had this beautifying mitzva as the sea split. They recognized that just as Hashem went out of His way to give us a glorious redemption with over 250 miracles by the Sea in the most amazing way when He could have just teleported us away, was to appreciate how we should in turn beautify Him. That is why we sang and promised we would do the same. May we merit to fulfill all of Hashem's mitzvos in Eretz Yisrael with the Beit Hamikdash.

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

Shimshon- Gaza-Gate  959 BC- Coming off of the week of Trump-Gate or Ukraine-gate whatever they're calling it, it's perfect timing to understand the origin of that term "gate" to describe a scandal. Now I'm sure some of you assume it started with Richard Nixon and Watergate. That's an understandable mistake as this week is the Parsha that is full of water (see above E-Mail). But like all things in the world, it really starts with us. With our Torah, with our Navi. So let me introduce you to the original Gate scandal. Shimshon's Gaza-Gate.

Our sages tell us that the downfall of Shimshon begins in Gaza. After his incredible defeat of the Plishtim who had tried to kill him after he had been handed over by the men of the tribe of Yehuda, Shimshon heads over to Gaza to flex his muscles a bit. Let them know that he is around and they shouldn't mess. This was not a good idea. This expression of his strength and lack of fear of them led to him "wandering after his eyes" and picking up a woman of "ill repute" there. The Philistines see this and plot to kill him. They figure they will wait to the morning and hit him as he leaves the gates of the city. Shimshon however one-ups the once again. He gets up in the middle of the night and seeing that they locked him into the city rips up the 60 Amos wide gates (about 120 feet!) and brings them on his shoulders to the city of Chevron and places them there. Now you know where the Hercules, Atlas and Superman bubbeh maysehs come from- I told you it's all in the Torah!.

Our sages see in this some interesting observations. First of all, Shimshon doesn’t' seem to have the power anymore to kill the Plishtim. He can only shlep their gates. It seems that with his sin with this woman his might and Divine assistance is fading. Second of all it's interesting to note that the measurements of these gates 60 amos is the exact measurement of the length of the Temple that Shlomo Hamelech will build. Chevron, of course is in the portion of Yehuda. The same Yehuda that seems to have stepped down from its role once again of leadership by handing Shimshon over to the Philistines. By Shimshon bringing the Philistine gates to Chevron he is sending a message that it is their tribes job to bring the redemption. To build the house of Hashem we were brought to Israel to build. Shimshon's blessing of Jacob is that he longs for the salvation. He is a lion like Judah is a lion. They both have a role in bringing the redemption. Shimshon is failing in his so he hands over the mantle to Yehudah.  It will take some years but ultimately King David will arise and establish his kingdom in Chevron…not far from Shimshon's gates. It is there Yehudah begins the return to Yerushalayim the ultimate resting place of Hashem.

I can't really take tourists to Gaza these days, and Shimshon's gates are no longer in Chevron. But the story of the lion of Yehuda and Shimshon is something I regularly point out when we look at the emblems of Yerushalayim which of course has that lion upon it.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE TU B"SHVAT FRUIT JOKES  OF THE WEEK

The local ice cream shop has introduced a new mixed fruit flavour of ice cream dedicated to the president of the United States-They call it the Im-peached orange.

What kind of fruit can you have two of, but never have one of? A pear.

What’s my wife’s favorite fruit? Honey-do.

What do you call the vanishing fruit? Disappear.

What happens when you knock over a fruit stand? An apple-anche.

What's the worst way for a fruit farmer to die? Berried alive

Why was the Apple uncomfortable in the fruit bowl? Pear pressure

 Chana a young Jewish girl walks up to Berel the fruit stand sales man in the shuk and she's crying…

Berel : Hey what’s wrong?
Chana  My boyfriend and I tried to run away and get married but we were caught by my parents. My parents wanted a big formal wedding but we don’t want to do that.

Berel: Oh I’m so sorry, can I offer you some fruit on the house?
Chana: Oh thank you, I would love some. What do you have?
Berel: Cantaloupe
Chana: OYYY…

My wife is on this tropical fruit diet. Our kitchen is full of this crazy food.-It’s enough to make a mango crazy.

What do you call a fruit that’s very sympathetic? A compassion fruit

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Answer is D–  I personally have never toured in Ashkelon- I missed that one in my tour guiding course and never went on a tour there, and thus I've never toured tourists there. Although I've been there by the beach and some water activities. Yet, in studying for my exam I had to know everything about everywhere. I don't know if I studied this then or I got the right answer from this weekly E-Mail on one of the questions from a previous year's exam. It's one of the reasons why I have this column. Anyways I remembered that the dog cemetery in Ashkelon where they found over 1000 dog skeletons each buried nicely from the Persian period (about 500 BC) in this city was a mixed Phonecian, Persian and Jewish city.  It was discovered in the 80's and is certainly one of the strangest finds in the world. But I got it right! So the score is Schwartz 8 and 5 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam.