Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
May 4th 2012 -Volume 2, Issue 26 –12th of Iyar 5772
27th Day of Omer
Parshat
Emor/ Lag Ba’Omer
Rabbis
with Guns
It was
about two years ago and my first time giving a speech in Hebrew. My new friend
Rav Yedidya Atlas, the IDF Major of the ground forces and my liaison to the
Israeli Army Rabbinate, tried to quell my nervousness with what he thought was
a reassuring statement. He told me that the added benefit of being a Rabbi in
the Israeli army over being a regular congregational Rabbi is the fact that you
get to carry a gun. Not bad, a captive audience. The only thing he cautioned me
is that the downside is that your ‘congregation’- the soldiers, carry guns too…
So don’t speak too long, he warned.
So
there I stood before a roomful of IDF Rabbanim Tzvaim-Rabbis of the Israeli
Army, tasked with my first mission of sharing with them some inspiration. I
felt totally overwhelmed. These were modern day heroes. Each had themselves
served in the army before they chosen to further dedicate their lives caring
for the Neshama- the Souls of its armed services. Can there be a greater
task than to raise the holiness of those that place their lives on the line
each day for the protection and preservation of the Jewish people in Israel ?
Friends of mine in America had told me that my outreach work in areas out of
mainstream Jewish communities was ‘out in the trenches’. But these guys truly
were on the front, of perhaps what is one of the most significant lines of
which the Jewish people stand upon.
So what
did I say? How did move them? What words could I have use? I would tell you
but… it was in Hebrew so you wouldn’t understandJ. Needless to say,
thank God, it went well, I thought. Instead I will share with you the idea that
I didn’t have time to share with them. (Remember they did have guns.) Yet, I
believe it speaks to all of us and it touches upon our season.
This
weeks Torah portion begins with the commandments regarding our more biblical
Rabbanim Tzvaim-the Kohanim; the priests of Israel . In times of war it was the
Kohen’s job to inspire our warriors and to provide their spiritual needs. The
Parsha tells us that the Kohein had specific laws of Kedusha/ Holiness. He was
forbidden to come in contact with things that would make him un-pure, he was
limited in who he was permitted to marry. Even more than that the Talmud
derives from the verse Vi’Kidashto- And You shall make him holy-
that the Jewish people themselves were authorized to force him to maintain his
high spiritual state. Fascinatingly enough from that same verse, we also derive
the specific commandment to honor the Kohen. We give him the first portion by
the meal, we honor him with the first Aliya to the Torah and in many areas he
is given preferential treatment. He gets the spiritual ‘Platinum Card’.
What is
the reason for this special treatment? So the verse continues and tells us
Es
Lechem Elokecha Hu Makriv, Kodesh Yihyeh Lach, Ani Hashem MiKadishchem- For he
offers the ‘bread’ of Hashem, He shall be holy for you I am Hashem who makes
you holy.
The
Torah Temima notes that the obligation to honor the Kohein comes from the end
of the verse; he should be Holy to us. We are obligated to honor the
Kohen so that we can develop an appreciation of the nature and glory that comes
with a fulfilled spiritual existence. We can’t fight and win the battles and
challenges that face us on the battlefield, in our homes and our personal
lives, without tapping into our inner holy essence. The Kohein, our Rabbis and
the Torah offer for us and to us the bread of Hashem. We need to feel it and
deeply sense how powerful and incredible it is. If we do, than as the verse
concludes, we can appreciate that Hashem Himself has given each and everyone of
us that same Kedusha; that same beautiful piece of Him that resides in each of
us.
This Wednesday
night and Thursdaywe celebrate that more mystical holiday of Lag Ba’Omer. Here
in Israel, I look our my window each afternoon and I see children shlepping
wood, logs, beds, closets and setting up pyres for the bonfires that will take
place. The holiday celebrates the break from the deaths of the students of
Rabbi Akiva who died from a plague during this period of the Omer count. It
also commemorates the passing of the great sage of the Mishna Rabbi Shimon Bar
Yochai, whom the secrets of the Kabbalah and the Zohar are attributed to. The
bonfires are meant to be a great big Yartzeit memorial candle for him and his
legacy. What is the legacy of the Rabbi Shimon and his teachings? It is that
there is a hidden spiritual world. The universe is much more than what
our eyes and ears perceive. We have a neshoma that is reaching, like the
flames of those bonfires, to connect our worlds. To harmonize them. To make us
whole. To make us holier.
We are
all soldiers and we are all priests. We have missions to accomplish, goals to
achieve and enemies that we each face. But we also have a secret weapon. It is
burning inside of us aching to be released. Let’s light that fire together.
Let’s shine our flame.
Have a Great Shabbos,
Rabbi
Ephraim Schwartz
This week’s insights
is dedicated to the modern day Kohanim who dedicate their lives to bring the
light of Torah and the beauty of Yiddeshkeit to our brave soldiers in the
Israel Defense Force And to the wonderful families who joined us to bring them
Yom Ha’Atzmaut BBQ..
Check out the link
below for pictures and articles
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RABBI SCHWARTZ FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“EXPERIENCE:-The name men give to their Mistakes.”
RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-
Nachal Ein Bokek- Right across the street and under the bridge from the hotel area on the south side of the Yam Hamelach-Dead Sea is a wonderful hike through the beautiful Judean Dessert. With running water and small sliding waterfalls from the natural springs shaded by the beautiful Eshel/ Tamarisk trees Nachal Bokek is a great place to bring your entire family to hike at the lowest place on planet earth. One can also see the ruins of the ancient Byzantine fort that was once here that protected the crossroads of the border to Moav and Edom. There is the option to hike up past the falls to get a glorious view fo the entire Dead Sea hotels and mountains. It is not a 5 minute hike though J and make sure to bring water and hiking shoes for that part of the hike.
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