Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend
in Karmiel"
October 30th 2020 -Volume
11 Issue 3 12th Cheshvan 5781
Parshat Lech Lecha
The Man in the
Mirror
It's story week for our Insights and Inspiration. I've got a few so
you might be in for the long haul this week. But I figure what else do you have
to do important anyways? If you did, you would have unsubscribed long ago. So
the first story is a classic Rebbi Nachman of Breslav story, although it's one
that is told in a lot of cultures, it's fascinating to hear how his ending is
different than theirs. But we know the Jewish version is always going to have a
different slant. The most profound one.
So there's this king- there always is- who has a beautiful new
palace. The palace has these huuuge walls. You've never seen walls this big. In
fact, they were the biggest and greatest walls ever. Nobody makes walls like
this king makes walls. (Sorry, I've been bingeing way too much politics this
week.) So the king hired these two great artists to decorate them. He wanted
the most incredible mural in the world on these walls. One that would depict
the entire kingdom, the glory of his office, the MAGAnitude of all that he
brought to the kingdom in the four years since he had become the greatest king of
the greatest country of the world. (I really have to stop this.) Each artist
would have a wall and they had one year to complete their painting.
Artist number one, let's call him Michelangelo, got to work right
away. He built scaffolds, hung tapestries, ordered the finest watercolors and
brushes and began working fervently. He would rise early each morning, meditate
for an hour and then, as if in a trance, would paint until the late hours at
night. And what a painting it was turning out to be. Lakes, rivers, valleys,
mountains of all our colors and sizes, Cities, towers skyscrapers and castles.
There were of course the requisite naked angel babies with harps and the glory
of the king could be seen in all of it.
Artist number two, Yankel, was a little different. He would come
each day and go to the Mikva in the shteeble next door and then have a
cup of coffee with the boys. He would go in and daven, stick around for some
herring, kichel and bromfen afterwards. Make a l'chaim or
two. He'd do his daf yomi and then stroll over to the palace and just chill. Write
an E-mail or two on his phone. Listen to some shiurim here and there.
Think about his previous tours that he used to give in another life. He'd call
his wife, bother his children and then it was time for lunch. You get the
point… He pretty much didn't do anything. Not that I can relate at all…
The date was getting closer. It was the last week before the king
came to check out the work. The people in the palace were in shock. What was
Yankel thinking? Michelango's painting was the most incredible thing in the
world and Yankel's wall was still bare. Va'yavo ha'yom- the day finally
arrived. It seems that Yankel had gotten up early that morning, as his wall had
a big sheet over it, just like Michelangelo's, waiting to be revealed with pomp
and a big rally when the king arrived. Well, Air Force One pulled up, the king
pulled up to the palace, the crowds went crazy the music started to play and
then the moment finally arrived. A hush overtook the room, the lights went down
and all eyes turned to Mikey's wall. The sheet came off and everyone was in
awe. It was glorious. No one had ever seen anything so magnificent in their
lives. The king was clearly pleased. Yankel's turn was next. Once again there
was a hush, Yankel stood proudly next to the King and the great sheet came off
and….it was the almost the exact painting. There was one difference though.
Actually there were two differences, but only in Rebbi Nachman's version.
The first difference was that the picture of Yankel had an ornate
golden frame around it. But besides that the painting was exactly the same. The
hills, valleys, the palaces and skyscrapers they were all there. The reason why
it was exactly the same was because what Yankel had done was hang a mirror on
the wall that reflected the other wall brilliantly. What a cool Jewish idea! That
is the end of the story in most versions. The Arab folklore version of the
story is that the king rewarded Mikalo with treasure chests of gold and
diamonds. When Yankel asked what his reward was, the king told him that he had
given it to him. It was in the mirror. A cute ending. Maybe even a Jewishy one.
But Reb Nachman had a different take. In his version the King liked Yankel's
"painting" even more than the other one and he rewarded twice as much.
Why?
Story number 2. This one, though I'm telling you, but not for the
reason or lesson you might assume. This story took place a few years back in a
yeshiva in Netivot, Israel. It seems that the Rosh Yeshiva was having a
challenging time with a student. The boy wouldn't follow any of the rules. Not
a day went by that there wasn't trouble with Berel. The Rebbeim befriended him.
They spent extra time. They offered him rewards, they threatened. They tried
connecting him with older boys that could influence him. Nothing worked. Not
only was he doing bad but he was taking more and more boys down with him. It
seemed that there was nothing left to do but to expel him. But of course before
doing something as dramatic as that they knew that a Gadol had to be consulted.
Throwing a boy out of yeshiva these days it seems is considered- dinei
nefashos- a life and death decision. (Man, things have changed since the
days when I got thrown out of yeshivah-os) a gadol needs to be asked.
So he headed off to the gadol hador; Reb Aharon Leib Shteinman.
As he sat before Reb Shteinman and presented the boy's case he told
the Rav that he felt that he had done all he could for him. Rav Shteinman after
hearing all of the issues raised his head and asked the Rosh Yeshiva what the
boy's name was. When the Rosh Yeshiva told him it was Berel, Rav Shteiman
continued and asked what the boy's mothers name was. Hmmm was this some
spiritual-mystical-name thing that Rav Shteinman was searching for? He knew Reb
Chaim was big into having "the right" names, but he didn't realize
that Rav Shteinman was in to that as well. Regardless the Rosh Yeshiva didn't
know the mother's name, but he assured Rav Shteinman that he can call and find
out. But at that, something changed in Rav Shteinman's normally calm and
peaceful demeanor.
He looked at the Rosh Yeshiva in shock. How was it possible that he
didn't know the name? Didn't you just tell me that you did everything you could
for him? How can you say you did everything if you have never davened for his success?
If you have never implored shamayim to give him a lev tov, help
him with his challenges, lift him up and inspire him. What type of Rosh Yeshiva
are you if you don't know the name of the boy's mother so you could properly
pray for him? Is it any wonder that the boy would not be successful if he
doesn't feel that his Rebbi cares enough to even pray for him?
Now I know that you think I'm telling you that story to show you
how important it is for Rebbeim to care for their students is. Or alternatively
to show you what a gadol b'yisrael is that has such deep penetrating
insight in to the mindset of a student or to the obligation of a teacher. But
that's not what the story is about in my eyes. It's about something much deeper
and more powerful. It's the difference between Avraham of this week's parsha and
Noach in last's. It's the difference between a Jew and a gentile and according
to the Baal Ha'tanya it's the difference between a chasid and a misnagid
as well.
But let's start slow before we get to the final story and
explanation of the first two. The Tifferes Shlomo of Radomsk asks what was the
difference between Avraham and Noach. The Torah tells us that Noach was a tzadik.
In fact, he's the only person in the entire Torah called a tzadik. He
stands against his entire generation and he rebukes them certainly as Avraham
would've. I'm sure Noach offered classes, did outreach work and
tried as hard as he could to get them to repent. He was a tzadik
after-all. And yet he failed. Rashi notes that had he lived in Avraham's
generation he would not have been considered at all. Avraham on the other hand
was successful. He is the father of our nation. This week's parsha tells us
that he came to Israel with the souls that he made in Charan. There were 10's
of thousands of souls that he inspired to believe in Hashem and abandon
idolatry. This was more than just that Sarah made a better chulent than
Na'aama, Noach's wife. What was the difference? What was Noach missing? What
did Avraham get?
Reb Shloimeleh thus quotes the holy Zohar that tells us that
Noach's failure was that he didn't daven for his generation. Had he davened he
may have been successful. Avraham on the other hand davened for each of his
students. He even implores Hashem on behalf of Sodom. He prays on behalf of
Yishmael (loo Yishmael yichiyeh lifanecha), he doesn't stop praying. He
teaches his nephew Lot to daven and his prayer to be saved when he is fleeing
also works. Hagar prays, Yishamel cries out to Hashem, as does Eliezer. It
seems Avraham's yeshiva is all about prayer. That is the difference between
Avraham and Noach
But then the Radomsker goes deeper. Why didn't Noach pray? And
here's where it hits home the most. The reason he didn't daven was because he
didn't think it was up to him to change Hashem's will. He didn't think his
prayer would make a difference. He didn't feel Hashem wanted him to try to
daven and save the sinful, evil world that was not repenting. He didn't see
himself in the mirror.
Do you know what the second difference was between Mikey's painting
and Yankel's mirror was? Reb Nachman says, it was that when the king looked at Michelangelo's
painting he saw the glory of the kingdom, but he didn't seem himself. When he
looked in Yankel's mirror the king saw his own image there looking back at him.
It was the king being revealed in the kingdom. But even more significant to the
Kings image that he saw was that he saw Yankel who brought that image out to
the world standing next to Him as his partner in that glorious picture. The
point that Noach missed is that Hashem wants us to change the world with our
prayer. He created us and wants to see us standing next to Him and create new
and better realities with our Tefilos that didn't exist until then. We are
meant to be part of the picture.
Noach indeed eventually learned that lesson, just a bit too late.
After the flood he builds an altar and for the first time he davens. He
prayed like he never did before. He prayed for all of those prayers that he
should've said in the past, but didn't because he didn't believe they would work.
The prayers he didn't say because sometimes it is just easier to build an Ark
than to believe that Hashem has actually given us the paintbrush of prayer to
change His Divine Will. Noach davened for all of the evil of the world for all
future generations. We are all alive from that prayer and altar. Hashem smelled
it and immediately made a covenant that it will never happen again. No matter
how bad we ever get. It can't happen. Hashem brought a rainbow as a sign for
that eternal covenant. The rainbow represents the colors on the canvas of
Creation that Noach just partnered and painted with Hashem. Mankind will never
be destroyed. Noach with his prayers painted that into creation. He finally saw
himself in the mirror with Hashem and understood that Hashem wants our two
sense. He wants us to partner with Him in the world. He wants us to be Avrahams
and Moshes who will argue, daven, implore and paint that perfect picture of the
world that sometimes He wants to destroy.
Hashem wants every Rebbi to know that his teffilos really
really do have the power to change that problem student. It's not just about
caring for the student. It's about recognizing the tremendous koach our tefillos
on behalf of someone who we think has no hope can turn that child entirely
around; can create a new reality. A Rebbi that doesn’t understand that is
missing the boat. He's painting his own glorious mural of his own Torah and lomdus
that he is teaching, but there is no mirror there that the King can see himself
in. There is no reflection where the king sees the Rebbi as His partner; His
artist. When Noach prayed like that, Hashem answered his prayers, the rainbow
shone and the world changed forever.
And now for the the last story or really quote from the Baal
Hatanya, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812), known as the Admor Hazakein
and founder of Chabad chasidut and ideology. When he was a young child
he was already recognized as prodigy. When he turned the age of twenty he decided it was time for him to
"exile" himself to a place to Torah for his further development.
There were two schools at the time. One in Mezritch, led by the Maggid which
focused on chasidus and primarily on avodas ha'tefilla- the
service of prayer. The other school was in Vilna and there one was taught
"how to learn" Talmud. Reb Shneur is quoted as saying that to learn how
to study Talmud he felt he could figure out already, but to know how to daven
that was something he needed to learn. So it was off to Merzitch and the Jewish
people changed forever. His teachings became the foundation of the Chasidic
movement both in learning, in halacha, philosophy and of course in prayer.
As is know the Chasidic movement in its early stages was faced by
virulent opposition by the mitnagdim-antagonists that saw them as a
threat to the Rabbinate and theTorah
centered scholarship that they promulgated. Accusations were hurled on both
sides, excommunications, a lot of "fake news" without the benefit of
Facebook and Twitters fact-checking services. There was no canceling and ultimately
both sides had leaders sent two prison by informers. Yiddelach doing the
goyim's bidding for them- "for the sake of heaven" of course'. While
in a Russian prison the Baal Hatanya was subject to interrogation and he was
asked about this new revolution and break-off called Chasidus that he was starting.
The interrogator told them that they heard of strange practices, of hours of
meditation and prayer and isolation and perhaps even incendiary groups getting
together and singing and praying for hours on end. What was this all about.
What are these new institutions he is establishing?
I won't paraphrase here. I'll merely translate the quote that was
released from the Rebbi's personal diary of that interrogation. It's too
awesome and provocative for me to even try to edit it.
"It was customary in days of old for there to be two big
buildings in every Jewish community for prayer; a Beit Knesset/ synagogue and a
Beit Midrash- study hall. The Beit Knesset was for the average layman who was
busy working all day and were more often than not were not necessarily even literate.
The Beit Midrash on the other hand were for those that were more knowledgeable.
It was a place where they could pray at length with devotion; each man according
to the ability of their heart and intellect. In fact, in our great works we
have testimonies of the great people two centuries ago (that would be in
the 1500's from his time) who would describe daily morning prayers taking 2
hours or more as a result of the devotion of their hearts.
But then came some Rabbis that weren't proper. They didn't want
to trouble themselves to daven with such intent and at great length. And since
they didn't want to find their status lowered in the eyes of the people they
thus began to degrade the importance of prayer and instead focused on elevating
the significance of the study of the Talmud. They studied in the middle of
their prayers and during the time of prayer and they prayed hurriedly without
kavana. Following this they would immediately study with their students with
great depth and sharpness in order to impress them with their wisdom and make
their own names great in the land. And thus these students themselves also
began to pray rapidly without proper intent, out of their fear of their Rebbi
who ruled over them or in order to ingratiate themselves to them.
Yet there always those yechidei segula- special treasured ones-in
each generation that davened at length and with devotion. They have been the
ones that are called Chasidim from the earliest times…."
Wow! I don't know if this hit you in the face as much as it did me.
Has tefilla been to me just been another mitzva I do on the side, but
learning is of course the center of it all? Can I even imagine going to a
yeshiva just to learn how to "daven"? Do I really believe that it is
in my power of prayer to change the world? I can stop Covid, I can heal the
sick and change the decree and even the will of Hashem? Have I ever spoken to
Hashem like Noach after the flood; like Avraham when he argued on behalf of
Sodom, like Moshe after the golden calf and other numerous times? Like all of our
imahos who were barren and their prayers changed that
"reality". Like Mama Rachel who has never stopped crying for her
children. Have I ever seen myself in the mirror, during my prayers standing
next to Hashem and revealing the portrait of His image and mine and marveling
at the world we have created together? We created through my prayers. Am I chasid,
or just a Michelangelo wannabe that thinks he's doing everything that he can
but missing the most essential aspect of the entire portrait. I've forgotten
that the King wants to see me next to him in the picture.
In many of our prayers and specifically when we end our shemona esrei
amida we conclude with the words yehi ratzon milfanecha- may it be
the will before You. It's a strange almost archaic way of speaking. But do you
know who else uses those similar words? Hashem, in the creation of the world. Yehi
ohr- let there be light, yehi rakia- let there be sky, yehi
meorot- let there be planets…When we daven we are creating a will before
Him; yehi ratzon. Just like Hashem had a will to create light and all of
creation, we are creating a new reality that didn't exist before we said our
heartfelt prayers to change the world. To make it a better place, a healed
place, a fixed place. A world where the shechina resides, where everyone
can see that magnificent Kingship. Hashem likes stories as much as he likes art.
He's waiting for us to complete ours. Our painted wall is almost built. We just
need to get re-elected to finish it. Ken yehi ratzon.
Have an absolutely fantastic Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim
Schwartz
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
" Emess
iz nohr gefint in der sidder.."
Truth is found only in the prayer book."
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
NEW WEEK-NEW EXAM
GRADE YOURSELF TOGETHER WITH ME ON THIS WINTER
2019 TOUR GUIDE EXAM
answer below at end of Email
1)
The rock at the tourist site in Rosh Hanikra is essentially:
A)
Chalk (kirton)
B)
Basalt
C)
Calcareous sandstone (kurkar)
D)
Dolomite
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fis5Fcke66s – Jewish singers then and now!
Came upon this it's pretty cool- check out Mordechai Shapiro, Ari Goldwag,
Benny Friedman and more…
Now that's a
vort!
Shaul vs Dovid III Zif
again- 877 BC-
Things were going Dovid's way it seems. He
made off well from naval. He had a new wife or two. But things never seem to
stay quiet for Dovid for too long. It seems Hashem wanted to give him plenty of
material for his sefer tehillim to write and daven about. So once again he
finds himself right outside Chevron and Kiryat Arba in the Midbar of those
snitchers of Zif. It's not really a story that has a location to share
although when driving South from Chevron to the southern Chevron
Hills that's the area one can talk about from the car or minibus.
"What
do you mean I can’t?" says Hymie, "Look at him, he’s a Jewish
dog."
The shammas
then notices that the dog has a tallis bag round its neck.
Hyme then says
to the dog, "Benjamin, daven for me."
The dog stands
on his back legs and says, "Woof woof, woof," then opens the
tallis bag, takes out a kippa and puts it on his head, exactly in between its
ears.
"Woof,
woof," says the dog who then pulls out a tallis and puts it round his
neck.
"Woof,
woof, woof," says the dog who then takes out a siddur and starts to
pray, rocking from side to side.
"That's
brilliant," says
the shammas, "totally incredible. You must get him on TV and the movies
and you could make millions.”
"You
speak to him then," says Hymie, "he wants to be a
doctor."
Yankel listened
to the Rebbe at shul one Shabbos morning and when the Rebbe asked those with
special requests to come to him at Seuda Shlisheet/3rd meal , Yankel
came.
When it was his turn, Yankel sat down and the Rebbe asked, "What do you
want me to help you with?"
Yankel said, "Pray for my hearing, Rebbe."
The Rebbe put one hand over Yankel's ear and his other hand on top of his head
and prayed a while.
Then he removed his hands and asked, "Yankel, how is your hearing
now?"
Yankel answered, "I don't know, Rebbe. It's next Wednesday
at the courthouse!"
Abe goes into
Church, takes out the tallis, takes out the yarmulke and dresses himself, and
proceeds to pray. The Priest comes in and wants to start the Services. He
stands up and says,"Will all non-Catholics please leave."
Little Abe goes
right on davening. Next request, again, "Will all non-Catholics please
leave."
Nothing.
Finally, the
Priest gets up and says, "Will ALL JEWS please leave."
At this Abe
gets up folds his tallis and packs it away, takes off the yarmulke and puts it
away. Then Abe goes to the altar and picks up a statue of the baby Yoshkee and
says, "Come bubbela they don't want us here anymore."
A rabbi said to
a precocious six-year-old Berel, "So, you tell me that your mother davens
to Hashem for you each night. That’s very commendable. What does she actually
say?"
Berel replied, "Thank God he's in bed!"
Tully Schwartz,
the rabbi’s son once inquired, "Daddy, I notice every Shabbos morning,
before you give your sermon, you kiss the aron that houses all of the Torah
scrolls. What are you doing?"
Rabbi Schwartz
explained, "I'm davening to Hashem, that he should let me give a good
sermon."
“Hmm,” Tully
said. “So Hashem doesn’t always answer our prayers?”
Gladys Dunn
started reading some books about Judaism and decided that she wanted to start
going to shul. There was one near her house so she went early one Shabbat
morning.
The shul itself
was beautiful and the people seemed friendly but the Cantor went on and on for
hours and then the Rabbi spoke and his sermon also seemed to go on and on.
Worse, it wasn't very interesting. Glancing around, she saw many in the
congregation nodding off.
Finally it was
over. After the service, she turned to a still sleepy-looking woman next to
her, extended her hand and said, "I'm Gladys Dunn."
She replied,
"You and me both!"
Sharon is out
shopping one day when she meets Rabbi Levy.
"Hello
rabbi," she
says. "How are you? I hope you are keeping well."
"Well
if I'm not mistaken," says Rabbi Levy, "it's Mrs. Gross, isn't
it?"
"Yes
rabbi, it is," replies
Sharon.
"I haven't
seen you in shul now for quite some time," says Rabbi Levy.
"I
know," says Sharon, looking quite embarrassed, "I stopped
going to shul some time ago because every time I went, it was always
the same old thing."
"Always
the same thing?" asks Rabbi Levy, looking puzzled, "I don't
understand you."
"You
know, rabbi," explains Sharon, "KOL NIDRAY..."
The following
day the homeless man returned to the exclusive synagogue.
Frustrated, the
rabbi asked the man if he had done any introspection as he had suggested.
“Oh yeah,” replied the homeless man. “In fact,
God came to me in a dream last night to discuss it with me.”
“I see,” said the rabbi. “And what did he
tell you?”
“God asked me
what shul I wanted to daven in, and I said yours. And He said ‘Oh no, you won’t be able to get in
there.’ And I said, ‘Why not?’ and He said, ‘Because I’ve
been trying to get into that shul for years but I can’t get in.’”
Yossi was the
shames at shul and needed some supplies from a cupboard near the rabbi’s office
that was seldom used and was secured with a lock. Yossi didn't know the
combination, so Rabbi Solomon offered to give it a try.
Rabbi Solomon
placed his fingers on the lock's dial and raised his eyes heavenward for a
moment, saying a few words quietly in prayer. Then he confidently spun the dial
and opened the lock.
Seeing how
impressed Yossi was with this demonstration of faith, the Rabbi smiled and
confided, "The numbers are written on the ceiling."
*********************************
Answer is A – So I'm off to a great start with
a nice recollection to a site I used to be at sometimes a few times a week in
the good old tour guiding days of old, and that I haven’t been at for a while
now and miss. It's one of the nicest places in Israel. The chalk stone is the
soft white stone on the top which is penetrated easily by the rain water that
seeps in causing the formation of the naturally formed caves. The bottom rock
is made out of limestone which is confusingly to me called "gir"
in Hebrew. It's confusing because gir is also the word for chalk that
use on the chalkboard in class. Don't ask me… I didn't make up the language.
Now chalkstone is called kirton which is also a sedimentary rock like
limestone formed from the calcite deposits of the sea. Rosh Hanikra also has
flint deposits, which is the black stone one sees there embedded in the chalk
and limestone. It comes from some of the organisms that get deposited there.
But that's enough geology for you today.
So we start off
the new exam on top with 1 for Rabbi Schwartz and 0 for the Ministry of
tourism.
