from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
November 11th 2022 -Volume
12 Issue 4 17th of Cheshvan 5783
Parshat Vayeira
Vote for…
I hate politics. I like politics. I hate liking
politics. I like hating liking politics...For those of you living in a cave you
may have not noticed Election season is at its peak. In Israel I can tell you
that even in caves that I have visited there will be political graffiti on the
wall. “The nation is with Bibi” “Kahana Chai!” “There is a
future with Atid” “Gimmel, the party of the Rabbis”.
I first got interested in politics when my
parents used to force us to watch the evening news at dinner each evening and I
realized that the more I engaged them in a conversation about politics and
world events the less chance they would remember to ask me about the test I
took in class or the homework I never completed. Later on, my interest grew and
developed as I started working on college campus and realized that I had a
choice to make- it was either going to be connecting with my college students,
who assumed I was this closeted Orthodox Rabbi, over college football
conversation or politics. Frankly, the thought of having to talk about
7-foot-tall angry madmen killing themselves over a ball as they ran around a
field jumping all over one another made me want to lay down flat on that field.
So instead once again I pursued and engaged in many deep and earthshattering
political discussions. So I guess you can see like every good politician I got
into politics for my own self-interests. No homework. No football. If only our
politicians would be so honest.
The truth is I hate politics. I am cynical by
nature, especially when it comes to politics and I get annoyed hearing the
lies, the bad-mouthing, and the innocent and naïve passion that many people
talk about a particular party or candidate with. As if voting for this person
or party will dramatically alter the universe bringing either world peace, love
and harmony and social security benefits, while the other will bring World War
III, the collapse of the financial world as we know it and extend the ban on
fountain soda soft drinks to the entire planet. I found it ironic that after
one candidate after another never turned out what they promised they would be
or do and election after election proves that, people are still buying and
drinking the Kool-Aid that we have anyone to rely upon and that’s worth
spending a bit of energy on besides Avinu She’bashamayim- our Father in heaven.
At the same time I enjoy the fact that people
are actually engaged in conversation that has to do with the well being of the
world. Election time is when we try to figure out how we can improve tomorrow.
It’s a time when we can examine where we are and what we have succeeded and
failed in accomplishing. Years of Yeshiva and Talmudic training has taught me
the significance of the “conversation” and brainstorming that comes when two
opposing views are forced to match up against one another. Politics has the
ability to do that, and I enjoy the discussions that challenge my pre-conceived
notions and perhaps give me an appreciation of a new way of thinking.
Sadly though politics, promises and ideas rarely
lead up to the utopia that they promise. The great politicians change (or
reveal their true colors) once they get into office and the same old realities
of a world that is moving on its own pace, in its own direction, in my opinion
down...down...down still lack the leadership that can bring it all together. So
I hate liking it because of that disappointment. Yet, at the end of the day it
turns me once again to that source of true direction-up above in my prayers-
each day.
“Return our judges (leaders) as it once was and
those that guide us as it was in the beginning and remove from us the grief and
misery. And rule over us You alone with kindness, mercy and justice”.
And once again I appreciate that Hashem gives us
this election day once again so that we may like hating liking it and long for
His true leadership.
Yet, it is election time and in honor of that I
will share with you two fascinating insights from this week’s Torah portion,
that address an incredible question I heard this year about two people who have
a political agenda. One fails. One succeeds. Who would you vote for?
The Torah tells us this week about Hashem’s most
major global decision since the Tower of Babel and the flood. He decides to
declare his war on evil, particularly the anti-chesed, licentious city if Sodom
and it’s 4 boroughs Amora, Adma, Tzvoim and Tzoar (not that there’s anything
wrong with living in a city with 5 boroughsL). Avraham, being the religious
spiritual leader of the not-so-free world is brought in on the discussion to
overturn these cities and he begins his political wrangling with Hashem. Maybe
there are 50 righteous people? 45? It won’t play good in the press if you kill
innocent and wicked together. Collateral damage is political deicide. Maybe 30?
How’s about 20? 10? Avraham, realizes that this conversation was pretty much
not going anywhere and Hashem had pretty much set his mind up and if there were
no righteous it really was a lost cause so he goes on home. The divine plan is
then set in motion.
But then salvation comes from a seemingly
unlikely figure; none other than our good friend Lot. Yes, Lot, who left
Avraham to seek out his fortune in this wicked of all cities. Lot, who was
willing to let the mob take and defile his daughters rather than lose his
reputation. (Lot, who is incidentally revered in Christian and Muslim
tradition- you can understand why there might be theological problems with
these faiths.). Yes, Lot upon fleeing the city turns to Hashem and asks him to
save the city of Tzoar
“I’m sacred to run to the mountain- this city is
close, it’s smaller, save it so I may live”
A very heartfelt plea, don’t you think? But what
do we know? Sure enough, Hashem responds
“I have found favour for this thing as well for
you. I will not turn over the city as you said.”
Pretty amazing! Avraham, the beloved of Hashem,
father of many nations for whom it says Hashem created the entire world in his
merit as he ended 2000 years of spiritual darkness can’t save the city. But Lot
almost on an aside conversation as he barely gets away by the skin of his own
teeth and as the Torah tells us only in the merit of Avraham is able to pull
the salvation of this city out of his hat. As we say in Yeshiva... What’s Pshat?
The answer, Rabbi Noach Weinberg says, can be
understood in two ways. One, Avraham was looking for Tzadikim. Lot on the other
hand didn’t even bother trying to find Tzadikim he said it’s Mitz’ar-
meaning smaller or younger- meaning its sins aren’t as bad; they’re not as
wicked. That is the merit that worked. Reb Noach takes from that message that
perhaps sometimes it behooves us to not always look at the world as who is
righteous or not. Hashem judges at times and will give merit to the -"at
least they’re not as bad as the other guys" group as well.
It’s a view to keep in mind when we approach our
political debates in not over-exaggerating the rhetoric about the terrible
opposing candidates maybe. No one is a Nazi or a murdering terrorist. Defining
the level of evil and perhaps even finding some untapped potential for righteousness
in that might be significant as well. On a more religious level as well the
message is that no one should ever feel that someone is beyond saving or
reaching out to. If Tzoar could be saved without any righteous people than
there is certainly no Jew out there that we should feel is beyond us trying to
connect with and sharing our special heritage with.
The other lesson that he suggests is that we may
approach the difference between Avraham and Lot in that for Avraham it was a
matter of global concern. As the Father of the nations and the person
responsible for bringing the knowledge of Hashem and his ways to the world, the
city of Tzoar had to make sense to fit into that plan. Frankly they fell very
short. And as much as he personally might have wanted to save them, perhaps he
foresaw that without the righteous people in the city to help them and guide
them they would just get themselves in more trouble. Lot on the other hand was
the ultimate politician. He wanted to save Tzo’ar for one reason. He needed to
a place to live and he was scared for his life; Your typical self-interest one
issue voter.
When you have your life on the line and turn to
Hashem with the most heartfelt prayer ever- “Help me- save this city I have
nowhere else to turn” than even when the scales of justice are entirely
turned against you. Even when the decree has been finalized. The power of that
one heartfelt prayer to our Father in heaven can change it all. Lot felt his
life was invested and connected to the fate of Tzo’ar and his prayer was able
to accomplish where Avraham’s was not.
Was it a good thing to save Tzo’ar this wicked
city? Was Lot right? Discuss. It’s your Shabbos table homework. Would you vote
for Avraham or Lot? Well, if you live in a place like those five boroughs that
might make a difference. But most importantly how deeply do we feel about the
issues that we are talking and debating about in regard to our candidates. Are
we wasting our time? If we truly feel that issues such as Israel, the economy,
Torah, health care, justice, peace, security and most of all Hashem’s presence
on this world are important enough beyond sticking a ballot in a box, are we
prepared to do something to make this world a better place? The lesson from Lot
is that we can change the world if we feel that are lives are dependent on it.
We have so much to offer and so much needs to be done. Instead of “passing the
buck” to another unworthy politician, to paraphrase Ronald Reagan- “The buck
stops here”; by each and every one of us. I vote for you.
Have a spectactular Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
************************
YIDDISH PROVERB
OF THE WEEK
“Vos a ventke far
fish iz Chanifeh far melochim..”- What a fishing rod is to fish,
flattery is to kings.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE
WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gcm-QBDgnWM
-
Nissim Blacks latest song “Away from Here!”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMBsv3K3QFY
– At Shlomo Carlebachs grave yesterday
for his yartzeit…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RuAcsThqT4
– A hidden Carlebach song that I’ve
never heard Ka’asher Dibarta…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6UP8HTelNVY
-
The
great Shlomo Yamin U’smol in honor of Shabbos.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t0TGxZABZE – The latest Bardak video.. Love It!!
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
16) The leader that
established the significance of Jerusalem as central was _________
His burial place is
A) The Military prison is in
Kiryat Anavim
B) The great leaders of the Nation
section of Mt. Herzl cemetery
C) In the area of Sdei Boker
D) On the property of Machon Weizman
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S
ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
Yehoshafat - 715 BC – As opposed to the sinful and idolatrous
kingdom of the North of Israel, the Southern Kingdom of Yehuda
and Binyamin had undergone a teshuva movement under the faithful king Asa
and it continued on with his sone Yehoshafat. Yehoshafat ruled
over the expanded kingdom of Yehuda and Binyamin which went all
the way down to Beer Sheva and
even up to the North in the region of the tribe of Ephraim by Shilo
and Beit El that had been conquered by his father. He removed all of the idols and eliminated
all of the houses of ill repute that ha plagued the land. The one thing that he
was not successful in ridding the country of was that bamos- the private
personal altars that people constructed to serve Hashem. I guess the modern-day
equivalent would be the post-corona back yard minyanim. As long as the Mishkan
was around it was fine to worship Hashem with private altars. But once the Bais
Hamikdash was destroyed this was forbidden. We find remains of these bamos today,
in Shilo, Tel Dan, in Arad and Tel Beer Sheva as well as
many other archaeological sites from this era.
With
the return of the nation to Hashem an era of prosperity took over. The local
arabs and even the Philistines paid tribute to the King and the Jews.
Nations from around visited and respected the land of Israel and our sovereignty.
When we do what we’re supposed to be doing Hashem brings us blessing. Yet there
are always those goyim that want to attack us and against them- when we are
doing what we are supposed to do, Hashem brings us salvation as well.
In
Divrey Hayamim- the Torah’s Book of Chronicles it tells us the story of
how the Ammonites and Moabites come up from across Jordan to
attack us by Hatzetzon Tamar which is Ein Gedi, by the Dead
Sea area. AS well at the same time the Edomites from Mt. Seir had
the same plan and came up from their area which is South of the Dead Sea
and the mountains above the Arava valley from Eilat and the Gulf
of Aqaba up to attack us as well. Yehoshafat
declared a fast for all of Israel and davened until a prophecy came out that
there was nothing to fear this would be the battle of Hashem. We could
sit back and watch the show.
Sure enough by the midbar
of Tekoa down to Maalei Hatzitz the armies of our enemies arrived
and converged and believe it or not they all started fighting and killing each
other. That ascent would be the mountains above Ein Gedi that lead to
the Gush. For those status followers of mine it wouldn’t be too far from
the Arugot Farm today. By the end
of the day all our enemies had wiped each other out. The Jews came there and it
took them three days to take all the booty that was left behind. They named the
valley Emek Bracha which is south of Jerusalem today. By the Tzomet
Hagush there is a great lookout by roof of the mall there on this glorious
valley. The rest of Yehoshafat’s rule was peaceful and blessed and we
are told he was buried in the city of David where all the Kings of Israel were
laid to rest.
This concludes the history of the
first book of Kings. Next week we begin Melachim Beis! Mazel Tov!!
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S REALLY
BAD ISRAELI ELECTION JOKES OF THE WEEK
After the results of the Israeli Elections Joe Biden called Bennet to
wish him congratulations…
In honor of Liebermans party not making it into the Knesset there
will be a big Kiddush in Shul with sugar drinks and disposable plates and cups
Whoever used to yell at Bibi “Lech!” got instead “Lech Lecha!” and
next week they will get Chayei “Sara” (Netanyhau)
If you’re sitting on the beach and see Achmed Tibi trying to drown
himself over Bibi’s win and you have a choice to save him or eat a sandwich.
What type of sandwich would you eat Tuna or pastrami?
It’ll be interesting to see which government positions Ben Gvir
will give Bibi when the negotiations are over.
If you told a Jew a few hundred years ago that a Jew would be able
to vote for their own candidate in an election to establish a government in our
country, they would find it very hard to believe. If however you told them that
we had those elections every few months because the candidates couldn’t’ get
along with one another and would constantly topple the government they would
then find it much easier to swallow it.
We really have to do something about the relationship between the government
and it’s criminals and prisoners. It just doesn’t seem fair that there are only
120 seats in the Knesset for them to receive an office and position.
When I vote tomorrow do you think I need to bring my Teudat Zehut
or will the remember it from last time?
It’s funny after Bibi won half the country said that they are now
planning on leaving the country. You see, in one day he solved the housing
crisis.
We ask you please don’t reveal the results of the election to the
Meretz party. Their families have not yet been informed…
So an Ashkenazi man dies and comes up to heaven and as he enters
Gan Eden he sees that the entire garden is filled with smells of Matbucha and kibbeh
and he realizes that he is entirely surrounded by Sefardim. When he asks the
angel why there are only Sefardim here, the angel explained that they were all
Shas voters and Maran had promised them Olam Habah if they vote for his party.
“But then why are there some Ashkenazim, sitting there in the
corner” he asked. “Oh those” the angel said “They were part of the heskem
odafim (the extra votes agreement”) that Shas had with Gimmel.
I think the last two years I spent more time in the public school auditorium
where the voting booths were than in my daughters’ school…
The way things work after the elections. The new mayor of the city
decided that it was time to fulfill his election promise to build a new bridge
for the city. He went to the local Arab contractor, Achmed, and asked for a
quote and was told it would cost 120 million shekel. When asked what the breakdown
Achmed explained-“40 million for material,
40 million for workers and 40 million profit”
He then went to the Boris the Russian contractor and asked him how
much it would cost and he was told it would be 240 million shekel. When asked
to explain Boris said that it was “80 million for material, 80 million for
workers and 80 million profit”
Finally, to make it fair he went over to the Jewish contractor and
was quite shocked when they guy told him that it would be 400 million shekel.
By far this was the most expensive quote. When asked to explain Dudu said “It’s
very simple. 140 million for you, 140 million for me and 120 million to the Achmed
the Arab that will do the work for us.” Needless to say he got the contract…
********************************
Answer is C This one was is really a no brainer. Perhaps one of the greatest achievements and yes, even zechusim that David Ben Gurion has was that against much opposition and even practical and strategic thinking he demanded and fought for Yerushalayim to be the capital of Israel and he sent tremendous forces to fight for it in the War of Independence. He could’ve easily given up on it, he would’ve much easier been able to negotiate a Jewish state with the world if he established the capital in Tel Aviv and allowed the Arabs to keep Yerushalayim which they had a much stronger and larger presence then we did. But he understood that without Yerushalayim, we have no heart and no soul. Ben Gurion was a complicated man certainly religiously. But there is no question that he had his heart and soul dedicated to his perception of the future of the Jewish people. After his retirement from his Prime Ministership, he returned to his kibbutz Sdei boker in the Negev where he worked the fields like a simple kibbutznik and corresponded with Jewish children responding to letters that were sent to him. And thus the score now is until now as of last week Schwartz 14 and 3 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam.
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