Nose Masks- Parshat Behaloscha 2020/ 5780

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

June 5^th 2020 -Volume 10 Issue 33 12^th Sivan 5780

Parshat Behaloscha

Nose Masks

Wasn't the plague of wild animals running around and destroying everything in the streets after the plague of the pandemic of dever back in Egypt? I don't know it seems like things are a bit backwards over there in the States by you guys. What's going on? Looting, rioting, burning, killing, forget about all the anti-semitism that is coming out of the woodwork now. It's been coming out more and more over the past year, but  with all the latest riots and images of shuls and stores being destroyed, desecrated and defaced with swastikas and hate one can't help but to recall memories of Kristalnacht. It's gotta make you want to get out of there and escape to safer borders here in Eretz Yisrael already right?  Don't worry we're here for you. Har Tziyon tiheye pleitah- Eretz Yisrael will always be that place of refuge, the prophets told us. So come on home.

What amazes me is how quickly the mass mobs deteriorated into chaos, murder, looting and rioting. Racism is bad, I agree. There's nobody better than the Jewish people that know and have experienced being hated because of who we were, of being treated as inferiors, of being persecuted. But the closest thing I've ever seen to a Jewish riot has been the race to the social hall for a chulent Kiddush or Motzai Yom Kippur the rampage out of shul to get to the Break-fast or for that first pie of Pizza after Pesach. Y' know the important and understandable things in life. But about us getting killed, abused, racially slurred, targets of hate? We would never riot about anything as petty as that. Just don't take our chulent away. Perhaps recently for a handful of loonies in Lakewood or Villaimsburgh don't take our minyanim away either.

Now I know, that there are certainly a majority of people that are protesting and marching that are not engaged in this lawlessness and crime. They decry the 10's of thousands that are using this as a pretext to wreak havoc and get 'free' stuff they never could otherwise get and that until now they have been egregiously kept from having. These "legitimate" "peaceful" protestors as well are outraged though. They are mad. This is not just African Americans that are protesting from what I saw. Not by a long measure. These are colleges students, old people, young people middle-aged men and women of all colors and stripes. Anyone that has been sick of being cooped up for the past three months in quarantine is out of the box, hitting the streets and yelling and screaming. The cause is just. "We are all George Floyd"… or not.

See that's where you kind of lose me. Poor George, who certainly didn't deserve what he got is not me. George who was high on methamphetamines, cocaine in his pocket, besides having Corona and not practicing proper social distancing obviously, had a rap sheet longer than my belt which was not small even before I 've been sitting on the couch for 3 months. He's been in jail more times than I 've been on a diet including for sticking a gun to a pregnant woman's belly who he held  up in her house with three other armed men. That was just one of the many assault, drug and robbery charges that he has done years in prison repeatedly for. The guy was a hardened criminal and a true danger to society. That still doesn't give a cop a right to do what he did, or justify I'm sure all the racial profiling and DWB's (driving while black) that happens to my African American brothers. But this guy should certainly not be anyone's poster boy for any legitimate cause.  His death, although unquestionably by the brutal murder from a local supposed officer of the lar, is no loss to the world. We are all certainly better off without George and probably would be better off without that cop as well.

The truth is though we are living in an era of rage and hate. People are just angry and hateful. Now, I don't think that's true one-on-one, in person with individuals. I think most people are actually independently happy, grateful and feel blessed in life. But it's when we all get together, it seems the only topic of conversation is hateful stuff. The Trumpies hate the lefties, the liberals decry the hate they feel the Republicans are spreading by spreading their own hate. The religious against the ant-religious, the chareidim against the secular, the blacks against the whites. It just feels that we are living in a toxic world. "Hurricane Floyd" is just the beans that let out all the gas. (I know you're getting sick of chulent metaphors but hey, they're better than corona jokes). The media is always talking about 'justified outrage' and being rightfully incensed and angry. Is there really such a place in Judaism for such an attitude?

Let's take a look at the Torah and particularly this week's Torah portion and you tell me what you think. Parshat Behaloscha recounts a few stories where it seems at a first reading we may have inherited this tendency from our Creator. It's an interesting parsha that seems to be divided into three sections and in fact our sages tell us that has the status of three different books. Book one begins with the mitzva of Aharon to light the Menora and how all the candles should face the middle candle. It then moves on to the dedication of the Levi'im whose job it would be to connect the Jewish nation to Hashem. It discusses the placement of each of the tribes and their flags as they would travel in relation to the Ark. It talks about how all our travels are by the word of Hashem and the clouds of glory and the pillar of fire that would lead us and the trumpets that would be used to call us as we traveled and went to battle. Seemingly a pretty peaceful section. The second part of the parsha after singing the vayehi binsoa that we say each time we take in and return our Torah in shul is downhill. It's anger, death, plague and fire. Basically it's bad news.

The first incident is the Jews complaining again. It doesn't even tell us what it was about, although the Rashi's gives us a little insight. Let's take a look at a few.

Bamidbar (11:1) The people were looking to complain, and it was evil in the ears of Hashem. Hashem heard and Vayichar Apo-His anger flared, and a fire from Hashem burned among them, consuming the extremes of the camp.

Mitoninim- were looking to complain: [The term] Mitoninim-denotes a pretext. They were seeking a pretext to turn away from the Omnipresent (Hashem)

evil in the ears of the Lord: A pretext that was evil in Hashem’s ears, for they intended that it should reach His ears and provoke Him. They said, Woe is to us! How weary we have become on this journey! For three days we have not rested from the fatigue of walking.

Vayichar Apo-His anger flared: [He said,] I meant it for your own good-that you should be able to enter the Land immediately.

Wow! So it seems that we Jews were kvetching after 3 days on the road, about how much longer is this trip already going to shlep already. (Remember this is before the 40-year decree). And Hashem seems to have "lost it" sending a fire out and burning people up. Moshe steps in and gets Hashem to put out that fire but it was bad. It seems Hashem as well has a boiling point.

But it does not end there. Right afterwards once again the people are complaining about the Manna. The Jewish media seems to be rattling things us with "fake news" about how great Mitzrayim was where they would get lots of free herring and pickles. Maybe that's why that is the staple of an Israeli Kiddush… Once again Hashem get angry and stuffs them with quail until they die with the meat still in their teeth as it says

Bamidbar (11:33) The meat was still between their teeth; it was not yet finished, V'af Hashem Charah- and the anger of Hashem flared against the people, and Hashem struck the people with a very mighty blow.

And if that wasn't enough for you there is one more story in the parsha as well where the people were crying and from the story it would seem that we would find the first public Jewish official "peaceful protest".  It doesn't help though Hashem gets just as angry. What was it about? Listen to an amazing Rashi's description.

Bamidbar (11:10) Moshe heard the people weeping with their families, each one at the entrance to his tent. Vayichar Af Hashem -Hashem became very angry, and Moses considered it evil.

Rashi- Families gathered in groups weeping so as to publicize their grievance. Our Sages say that the meaning is: “concerning family matters,” that is, because intermarriage among family members was forbidden to them. 

What an angry Parsha! What an angry God! If we are meant to emulate the ways of Hashem is anger a justified emotion or expression. Rage? Wrath? How different this book is from the peaceful uplifting first part of this parsha. Is there a connection?

To really understand this on any type of deep level, we have to understand where anger comes from. It would seem one gets angry when things do not work out the way we want them to. We have certain expectations, ideals, values and when we are hit with the jarring lack of them being taken from us we get upset and ultimately angry. The more blatant, the more unexpected, repeated and egregiously those expectations are knocked down, the angrier and angrier we get it. That makes sense for us you see. But that doesn't really work for Hashem. See, Hashem is all-knowing. He is all-powerful. He controls and allows everything to happen and He knows beforehand what will happen. So how do we relate to the concept of anger or wrath when it comes to Hashem?

So to understand let's begin with a little Hebrew lesson. You will need it if you are moving here soon anyways so let's dive in. There are a few words for anger in Hebrew. The most basic one is ka'as. That is one that is not usually used in reference to Hashem although it is used when it talks about people getting angry. The word that is used repeatedly in our parsha to describe Hashem's wrath is "charon af"  and it's a strange one. Af- in Hebrew is your nose. Most of the commentaries describe its usage as the nose flaring up in anger anthropomorphically (I'm not teaching you English, look that one up yourself) for Hashem's anger. The Ksav V'Hakbala though, shares a mind-blowing and incredible interpretation thought and insight that has never been more relevant and never been more experienced by mankind than over the last few months. I almost fell off my seat reading it.

He writes that when Hashem gets "angry" there are two approaches He has and tells us about in the Torah. One is hester panim- He hides His face from us. His anger comes as a response to us acting and behaving in a way that does not want His presence amongst us. We complain about our journey and don't realize He's doing it for our good. We complain about the manna which is symbolic of us complaining about our livelihood and the circumstances and way He gives and challenges us with it; it's not as easy as we fooled ourselves into believing it would have been if we remained in our godless Egypt. We complain about the restriction on our lifestyle and our expressions of our faith and natural desires that the Torah and mitzvos seem to impose upon us. The response of Hashem is to then hide Himself. He covers up his Face and divine countenance, which was which was only was there for our good, so we can't seem Him anymore. And chaos then reigns.

The Ktvav V'Kabala gives us a vivid picture of that description. He tells us

"Hashem turning his face is not, god forbid, Him turning His face entirely to the side and away from us. Rather it is as someone who is covering His face with his hand to make shade and block out the light. So he can still see his friend…only through the cracks of His hand.

Charon af- though is not that. charon is from the word achor- stepping back, holding back. When Hashem has charon af the face is not covered up. It is not hidden entirely. It's just up to His nose. In our modern day terms. Hashem is wearing a face mask. His af is held back. That chor- or hole with which we breathe out that divine spirit that has been blown into us, is covered and blocked. We are gagging on the goodness He gives us and we can't express it. When we complain or rage and can't see how much the air that we breathe in is from the life that He gives us and out of His love from us, it is taken away. The face mask is put on. Life becomes stifling. We can't breathe. It's hot as fire and we beg for his light and air one again. Then Hashem is yashiv apo- He returns His "nose" to us. We breathe in that heavenly spirit He blew in us when we were first created.

When someone is angry they tell you to take a "breather". Take a deep breath and inhale from your mouth and exhale slowly through your nose. That exercise calms one down, because it reminds us that we are alive. Hashem is providing our ruach, our spirit. He is in control and there is no bad that can come from Him. Parshat Be'Haloscha is the inhale and exhale. We begin with all our candles turning towards the center. Towards the central light that is Hashem. The Levi'im are the ones that will connect us to that light. They are the "organs' that translate that holy light for us to integrate it in our lives; The teachers of the Torah, that life force. With them and the Ark we travel throughout life and realize that is only from the directive of Hashem. We lead a life that sees and understands that everything that happens is for our good. It is out of love. The fire guides us and the clouds protect us. We are the camp of Hashem.

The end of the parshais the other side of that coin. It teaches us the lesson tellst we have to consider when we are wearing these masks daily. Hashem is wearing one too. The fire of anger is raging. The plague is rampant. We need to breathe again. We need to turn our eyes to Him and remove that mask. We need to be that holy camp that guides the entire world away from these masks of rage. It's why we were chosen.

Wild animals riot and ravage because they never had the spirit of Hashem blown into their nostrils as did mankind. Humans were given the capacity to recognize Hashem in the air that they breathe and the sanctity of life. All life. All colors. Life is holy. But the way to teach that lesson to the world is by removing the hate and anger and breathing in that life of Torah and exhaling it back into the world. When we are wearing our masks perhaps for me the greatest challenge is that people can't see me smile. I miss giving those smiles to the world. I miss getting them from the world. When Hashem's wearing His mask, we can't see His love and smile to us. It's time to remove those masks. V'Hirba l'hashiv apo- remove that mask from Your nose and smile at us again. Hashem Hoshiya Ha'melech ya'aneinu b'yom koreinu- may Hashem our King save us and once again may we feel Him on the day that we call Him.

Have a an exhilarating Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

" Ka'as vecheyme mach a mentsh far a beheyme"- Anger and fury turn a man into a beast

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email
 

30) British military cemeteries can be found in:

A.    Be’er Sheba and Ramle

2. Jerusalem and Ashdod
3. Haifa and Katzrin
4. Gaza and Nitzana

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

https://youtu.be/IzvOEJS7T3g  - Mordechai Shapiro great song Hakol Mishamayim redone with great new meaning.- I like it better than the original

https://youtu.be/BzAtvrZSWnQ   - Micha Gammerman's newest cartoon Shabbat song video great!

https://youtu.be/hkBRhkbxR7s  -it's a week late but still Shavous Mode. Great new song from Shwekey Hashem mi'sinai Ba

https://youtu.be/Q17w7TVRdiA - My good Friend Rabbi K! Ki Lecha Naeh newest song…

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S PARSHA/MITZVA CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

Parshat Behaloscha-Pesach Sheni– the Make-up sacrifice-The mitzva of Pesach Sheni is probably one of the most unique mitzvos in the entire Torah. First of all it seems that this mitzva was only given at the behest and request of the people that missed the first korban Pesach because they were tamey. This leads to a fascinating discussion as to the question of the idea that all the mitzvos were given on Har Sinai. The Chazon Ish suggests that although the mitzvos were all given to Moshe but they were not given over to Bnai Yisrael until it was appropriate. This would explain a lot of commandments such as Amalek, the prohibition against Moav and Ammon marrying and others that seem to only take place after stories in the Torah.

In addition, unlike most mitzvos that any Jew can do them, the only way to fulfill this mitzva is if you miss the first one. It's a makeup mitzva. The Gemara has a dispute if this is in fact a makeup mitzva that stands by itself, or the original mitzva with a second chance to fix the first one, or if it is even a holiday and sacrifice itself that only the person that missed the first one is obligated in. There are halachic differences in all three of those similar sounding nuances. Ponder them, it's interesting.

Now in the times of the Beit Hamikdash the korban pesach would be brought by anyone who had not brought the first one for whatever reason. The Chinuch tells us that it is not only impure people, or those that couldn't travel or make to Yerushalayim because of circumstances beyond their control or even negligence. Even if someone intentionally missed the first one they are obligated to bring a Korban Pesach a month later on the 15^th of Iyar. The pesach would be brought in the same way as the original. It was roasted, eaten with matzos and maror and without breaking any bones or leaving anything over. One would as well recite the Haggada and Halled when it was brought and tell over the story of Pesach. The only difference is that one could have Chametz in their house and even eat Chametz right afterwards. Cool! A Pesach Seder without all the cleaning.

Today we don't have the Korban Pesach however we still have some customs associated with it. The day is considered one that is a quasi holiday where we do not recite tachanun or make eulogies. Some even have a custom to eat matza on this day. The lesson of this sacrifice that is so meaningful is that it is never too late to see the miracles of Hashem. No matter what a Jew missed or has done, his soul experienced leaving Egypt and that bond we share with Hashem. We even have the power so to speak to demand from Hashem the ability to bring that korban and express that love and appreciation despite the fact that they were not commanded in it. May we soon merit to remove all of our tuma'ah be joined with all our brothers and sisters in these offerings in the Beis Hamikdash rebuilt.

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

The Miracle at Mitzpa-851 BC – I don't know about you, but there are a lot of things that I say in my prayers that I have no clue what they are about. I mean the basic obviously day to day stuff and Shabbos and holiday standard prayers, I'm good with that. I had a rebbi that made us use Artscroll or even Soncino interlinear translated siddurim to learn them all. And I actually listened to him. But when it comes to things like selichos, or the extra piyutim that we only say occasionally on fast days or holidays there are things I know I'm saying that I have no idea what they are about. Which is fine. Hashem knows what they mean, and I'm doing my best and saying the right formulas. But the truth is they are said so fast and there's so many of them there really is no time to look them up and even if I did occasionally I don't know if it would actually sink in any long term memory.

But once in a while you get one in something that comes up in my learning and it clicks…oh that's what I was saying. Those are great moments. The story above the miracle at Mitzpa, that I learned for this week's column is one of them. For at the end of one of the selichos we ask Hashem to answer our prayers like he answered Avraham in Moriah, Aneinu –answer us like our forefathers by the Yam Suf, Daniel in the lion's den etc etc etc….and it names a bunch of different people and places Hashem answered. And I know most of them. But Aneinu K'shanisa l'Shmuel ba'mitzpa not so much…Well here's the story.

After the return of the Aron to Kiryat Yearim where it remained for about 20 years, the Mishkan moved from Shiloh to Nov which has really not been identified although it is likely in the area of Shuafat. Shmuel in that time would travel all over Israel and inspire the people to repent. Then he finally decided to make a large "asifa" gathering. All the Jews were invited to come to the city of Mitzpa.  The city of Mitzpa is the same that was mentioned in the Pilegesh Ba'Givah story not long ago and has been identified as either being Tel El Natzba which is right near Kalandia and Atarot on the edge of the West Bank of which half of is it in Area A forbidden to Jews. Alternatively, it could be Nebi Samuel where the tomb of Shmuel has been associated with being. Certainly a tour guide can be comfortable sharing this story there.

Shmuel stood before the people where they all resolved to rid themselves of all of their idols. He then brought an offering on an altar that he built there. There were many halchic issues with the offering that he brought. The first was that it was outside of the Mishkan, but that type of worship on a private altar called a bama, seemed to have been permitted at that time. As well he wasn't a Kohen, but again on private altars one can get away with that. The bigger concern though was that he brought a baby lamb not even 7 days old and after slaughtering it he burnt it on the altar with its skin still upon it. The Torah clearly states that an animal needs to be at least 8 days old and its skin should be removed. Yet Shmuel did this as an extenuating circumstance to show the people that with their repentance they were like newborns entirely dedicated to Hashem. The people all drew and poured water before Hashem there to show their repentance, as if they were pouring out their hearts and dedicating themselves to Torah. And that's when the fun started…

See the Plishtim had heard about this mass gathering and felt it was an ideal time to take out their enemies- namely us. So they surrounded our camp there and meant to attack us. But before Shmuel even finished the offering and the people heard the approaching armies, they turned to Hashem and the skies began to rumble and scream. The earth began to shake and terror filled the Philistines hearts and they began to fall and flee. The Jews then girded themselves and chased them all the way to Even Ezer where they wiped them out. From that time and for the rest of the life of Shmuel the Plishtim were no longer a problem. Their cities were taken over by the Jews. Danger averted. That is the prayer we ask Hashem to answer us like.

May Hashem bring the answer to all of our prayers as quickly and as readily as he did to Shmuel

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE RIOT JOKES  OF THE WEEK

Why does a Chasan break the glass under the Chupa in New York these days? To trick the mayor into thinking it's a riot instead of a wedding.

Bibi just called Trump to offer him a two State Solution.

It's gotten so bad Mexico has agreed to pay for the wall

I had a joke about the New York Riots. But someone already stole it

These riots remind me of basketball. There are always people stealing, but you can't win without shooting.

Did you hear the latest joke about New York? It's a riot

Did you hear about the time that all the musicians in the parade dropped their instruments and started rioting? It was total bandemonium

The panda bears rioted in the streets of Beijing today . . .It was pandamonium!!!

Why do riot police get to work early? To beat the crowd.

A journalist is interviewing a riot officer about the protests occurring in his city.

Journalist: Do you find it difficult to follow orders that may harm the people protesting?
Riot Officer: I do, some of these people are my friends and neighbors. When given such a choice, the only thing I can really do is listen to my heart.
Journalist: And what does your heart say?
Riot Officer: Beat, beat, beat.

I can't believe it's riot season already… I still have my Covid 19 decorations up.

A gang made up of domesticated wheat, barley and hops plants are reported to have been looting and rioting all over the country. Police say they are farmed and dangerous.

What do Jews throw when they riot? Mozeltov Cocktails

Remember what your Rebbi said would happen if Goyim didn't have professional sports to keep them busy… I'm just saying…

One things certain… Barnes and Noble isn't being looted.

Here's a tip. Next time someone tries to sell you a Rolex on the streets of Manhattan, buy it. It's not fake.

Does anyone know if there are special looting hours for seniors?

After a series of city-wide riots, the mayor of Los Angeles imposed the harshest curfew ever: anyone outdoors after 10 pm will be shot on sight! On the very first night of the curfew, a cop shot a black kid dead at 9:45. The police chief dragged the cop in for questioning.
"What the heck are you doing shooting a guy before the curfew even started!?"
"Sir, I know where that guy lives. He never would have made it home in time!"

Have you heard about the rioting in Baltimore? So far they've caused 4 million dollars in improvements.

I know how to stop all these Left Wing College riots. Play the national anthem, they'll all sit down.

A man took his little boy to the eye doctor. When the Doctor asked him what he saw. He said that he saw riots, people dying and a world gone crazy. So the Doctor said "You have perfect 20/20 vision."

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Answer is A–  Don't get me wrong. I don't know my British cemeteries in Israel. I've never taken anyone to any, and I don't plan on it either. But I did remember one because it's cool. In Ramle`there is a grave of none other than Harry Potter. Not the Harry Potter of course but rather of a British solider that died in a shootout with an Arab gang. Now I knew there was one in Jerusalem as well. And I figured that there was one Chaifa as well as it was a big British place. I knew there wasn't one in Katzrin that was Syria back then. Also Nitzanim didn't really make sense. So process of elimination obviously was going to be Beersheva and Ramle. And it made sense as well because Beersheva also has lots of British sites. And of course that was the right answer. By the way there is one in Gaza as well. I don't think anyones been there though.. So another right one for Schwartz making the score 21 and 9 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam. Let's keep this well needed streak going!