Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
May 22nd 2015 -Volume 5, Issue 28 -4th
Iyar 5775
Parshat Bamidbar/Shavuot
Romantic’a
“It sounds romantic” the Rabbi said to me. It wasn’t
the first word that came to my mind, as I had been describing to him my vision
of opening a new Torah center here in Israel. One that would bring together all
Jews, from all backgrounds and orientations. One that would assist new Olim
immigrants to the land of Israel and help them and their families integrate
into Israeli society. One that would shine out to the rest of the country how
we can as a people live in harmony and build a home that our Father in heaven
would be proud of here in the holy land. One that would inspire all those that
still linger in the diaspora to leave their comfortable yet-so not spiritual, so
not divinely natural nor so not right homes and move to the land that we were
always meant to live and develop. A small house of the Lord, which would
inspire the heavens to already bring the ultimate home back again. No Romantic
wasn’t the word I would have used.
But he was right. It was romantic. Obviously not in the
roses, wine and hotel lounge kind of way or of the cheesy hallmark card type
either. Both of which you gasp at the price you’re paying for something you
know is five times of what it should cost. But you shrug your head and still
that voice in your head, convinced that it is ultimately worth it (and it
usually is). No this was different. This was real romance. It was that
ephemeral feeling and tug in your heart that you get when the sky is blue and
the world seems like it could be perfect The type of love makes you feel that
you will forever remain with that silly grin on your face as absolutely nothing
could ever shatter that love, no matter how wild and crazy it seems.
It’s the word that has been lingering in my mind the past
two weeks. Like a quiet whisper, a cell-phone on consistent vibrate ‘romantic…romantic…romantic…’
I even bought my wife flowers but it doesn’t still. I pass glorious mountains
and valleys and hear them singing...romantic...I turn on the radio and
hear the national anthem…I think of Mashaich … romantic… I open up a
text to study and prepare my Dvar Torah or class…and I feel that tug… that
longing…can they hear and see it too? Can we really do this? The world seems
possible. All it takes is a little money and a lot of love.
The truth is, in Hebrew there is no real word for Romance. Romantica-
was the best that those imaginative authors of the modern Hebrew language could
come up with. Because in true Hebrew-Lashon HaKodesh- the holy tongue,
only words that have a true basis and essence in the spiritual have
translation. Not fantastical notions of the imaginary. So there is love-
Ahava (its roots in the word to give) and even Cholat Ahavah which
is lovesickness; that longing to give and to be part of something greater. But
that indefinable and elusive romance is just not a holy word. Biblical romance
is for a higher purpose; it is a game plan in reality to achieve the
attainable.
Yet, this is the season that brings out that feeling. The
spring is coming to an end. The birds are chirping the flowers growing.
Creation has started anew and we are part of it. We even feel that we can be
the center of it. It is in this season each year that we celebrate and
commemorate the holiday of Shavuot- the day when we graduated from being just a
former and recently freed slave nation to becoming the ‘Priests to the
world of God; his Chosen people. Being free and the exciting story of the
miraculous Exodus, captures the imagination and is the thing of movies. Romantic’a.
But the realization of our mandate, the acceptance of an entire people of the
commandments of our Creator, that my friends is true love.
The fourth book of the Torah that we begin this week,
almost always before Shavuot, is called Bamidbar-In the Wilderness. It
begins with Hashem speaking to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai where we
received the Torah and experienced en masse His Revelation. The Midrash asks
why was the Torah given in the Wilderness? Couldn’t God have found a nice air
conditioned Heavenly Palace from which to call his Press conference? The
Midrash responds, that it is to teach us that the Torah is compared to the
desert that is open and accessible to all humankind. The Torah as well, as it
says (Isaiah 55:1): Let everyone who is thirsty, come for water- is free
and open for all those who wish to drink of its wisdom. The wilderness is a
place that is quiet, empty, and barren is perhaps a Romatic’a type of place for
some. Being one with nature- as they say in Seattle quite often. Romantic’a.
But a Torah that is each of our heritages, one which you do not have to be a
great scholar, a wealthy person or even one with any background in learning to
partake in? That is a gift of true love. We have a Book that has the answers to
all our questions, that gives us strength, inspiration and guidance for every
aspect of our lives. It’s ours. The world is possible with it.
But perhaps the most Romanticized story that we read in
this season and that captures the true deeply felt love Shavuot is meant to for
us realize, is the story of Ruth that we read on the holiday. The Midrashic
version-which merely reflects and elaborates upon the text- of this heroic
Moabite convert, who became the scion of the Davidic and eventually Messianic
line, was that she was a young maiden who had intermarried into a prestigious
family under a questionable conversion status. Romantic’a. Perhaps her
husband felt that love would conquer all. It didn’t. As it seems he was
certainly insincere and died in punishment for his sin. Yet, rather than taking
the easy route out, she stayed. She ends up becoming a beggar and gleans in the
fields of her husband’s relative who was a leader of the Jews and a very old
man. As is the custom she was meant to marry her husband’s relative out of
loyalty to maintaining his line. Not Romantic. Boaz (the older wealthier
relative and Rabbi), informed her that if the first relative doesn’t marry her
then he will. Again not exactly Romantic. She agrees. Boaz asks the man. Man
says no. Boaz marries her and according to the Midrash she conceives that night
and Boaz dies. Again not necessarily little cupids flying around with arrows
and certainly not the version you can expect to come out on the Big Screen
anytime soon. But it is in fact our symbol and story of love.
I’m sure Hollywood’s version would have had two gorgeous
young looking people attracted to one another in some magical way. They are
torn apart by a wedding gone sour and yet reunited on the beautiful wheat
fields as they run- in slow motion- to one another and embrace in fulfillment
and longing as they walk off in the sunset together forever. But did either of
them ever sacrifice for one another? Is it about fulfilling their own dreams
and desires? Than it’s not real. It’s not love.
Shavout we tap into the real love. We read a story like Rus
and we see the big picture. We see and are inspired of how a former princess
can leave her entire life behind and refuse to return, even after being offered
the opportunity repeatedly, because she chose to live a life of truth… of true
love dedicated to all her Father in Heaven has in store for her. Even if it
means begging, even if it means entering into a marriage that was solely for
the purpose of producing an heir to her husband’s line. It was true love and a
higher calling, not Romance. Not Romantic’a; rather the kind of love
that all of us deep in our souls have the potential to achieve. It is romantic
to be in romance, but romance alone doesn’t bring us the fulfillment we seek.
We need to actualize that, we need to make it real.
This Shavuot we can tap into that. Feel that love in the
air. Stay up all night, go to classes, push slumber from your eyes to learn
just one more word of Torah. And celebrate how lucky we are, a nation that is
lovesick to connect with our Father and Him to us. It sounds Romantic, your
soul is whispering its call, now let’s make let’s make it real.
Have a Romantic Shabbos and Glorious Shavuot
,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
***********
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S VIDEOS OF THE WEEK
Shavuot song stay up all night starring my good friend and
fellow guide Moishe Hamburg!
The Matzah Shemita miracle plot that foiled Hamas pretty
cool!
Am Echad starring Ari Goldwag-in honor of us standing as one
by the mountain 3300 years ago
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE
WEEK
While in the states I picked up a great book with
yiidsh quotes and wisdom and I have always wanted to teach my kids Yiddish so
here we go each week another great proverb in yiddish maybe you guys will learn
it too!!
“Libeh
iz vi puter, s’iz gut mit broit.”- Love is like butter, It’s good with bread.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S FAVORITE QUOTES OF THE WEEK
“My life is a like a big
romantic comedy, Except there’s no Romance and it’s just me laughing at my own
jokes. – anonymous
“Stalking is when two people
are going on a nice romantic walk together but only one of them knows about it.”
Anonymous
RABBI
SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
(New exam this week these questions are from the
most recent tour guide exam-let’s see how I do)
answer below at end of Email
Photosynthesis
is the process of?
A.
The
transformation of light energy to chemical energy in plants
B.
The
transformation of light energy to chemical energy in animals
C.
The
production of electricity from solar power
D.
The
physics of purification of water
.RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL MIDRASH OF THE WEEK
The book of Bamidbar begins “And Hashem spoke
to Moshe in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Mishkan on the first day of the
second month (Iyar) in the second year after they came out of the Land of Egypt”.The
Midrash notes why the Torah goes out of its way to describe the date and
location here as it does not do so anywhere else.
It answers with a parable of a wealthy man who
was known to own much real estate and investments who was however unable to
find contentment in his personal life. He had just divorced his second wife the
daughter of a magnate who had embittered his days with constant bickering. His
first wife he had divorced because she was unfaithful to him. He refused to
discuss these marriages with the press and when questioned about his previous
marriages and divorces he refused to disclose any details, documents and dates
as to when these occurred. After many years his friends suggested a match for
him that was unusual for a man of his stature. The girl was from an impoverished
home yet he was assured that she had a refined character and was of noble
stock. After he had researched her and found that all that had said about her
was true he exclaimed “This time I have found the right wife! I will now
publicly announce the day of here wedding and give her a marriage contract.”
After creating mankind Hashem became so to speak disappointed
with one generation after another. The generation of the flood and the
dispersion rebled against him The Torha therefore glosses over the rise and
fall of these generations without any specific details or dates. Of their
appearance and exit from the stage of history. Regarding the Jewish people
though Hashem said “ They are different! They are from the children of Abraham
Yitzchak and Yaakov. I know that these people will always be loyal to me.
Therefore just a Ketuba, a marriage document
specifies the date and place of the wedding so to the book of Bamidbar which
describes the second year when all of the Jewish people are commanded to take
their banners and flags and their places around the home of Hashem our
Tabernacle
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL THINGS TO DO IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
Observing the pilgrimage holidays
– Three
time a year we are mandated to go up to Jerusalem and see the presence of
Hashem on the mountain he has chosen for His home. In the times of the Temple,
the Mishna describes Jews from across the country sleeping in the city streets
on their journey up in order to inspire everyone else to come with them. The dignitaries
and shopkeepers of Jerusalem would come out to greet everyone and the entire
nation would gather in Jerusalem where miraculously everyone found a place to
stay, to eat, to pray. Today we do not have the Temple yet many come from around
the world to celebrate Pesach, Shavuot and Sukkot in the Holy land and in
Jerusalem. By each of these holidays there is a priestly blessing by the Kotel that
thousands participate in, reminiscent of those ancient times. I always try to
make it for the holiday of Shavuot as this was the first holiday 48 years ago
just a week after the 6 Day war that Jews were able to once again return to the
Kotel in our hands. Who knows maybe this year in the few hours remaining Mashiach
will come and we will be able to be up on top on the Temple rebuilt.
******************
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S SHAVUOT JOKES OF THE WEEK
Abe
and Sadie made a rare appearance in synagogue. It’s probably true to say that
they are not the most religious of Jews. In fact, they only go to shul two or
three times every year—and this Shavuot happened to be one of those days. At
the end of the service, Abe shook Rabbi Rosen’s hand.
"Sadie
and I both thoroughly enjoyed your service today, Rabbi, especially your sermon
on keeping the commandments."
Rabbi
Rosen replied, "It’s nice of you to say so, Abe; so why don’t you and
Sadie come here more often?"
"It’s
difficult," he replied, "but at least we keep the Ten
Commandments."
"That's
really good to hear," said Rabbi Rosen.
"Yes,"
said Abe proudly, "Sadie keeps 6 of them and I keep the other 4."
********
With Shavuot arriving soon, the Hebrew school teacher was
discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After
explaining the fifth commandment, '"Honor thy father and thy mother,"
she asked, "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our
brothers and sisters?'
Without missing a beat, one little boy answered, "Thou shall
not kill."
**************
The Morgensterns, a Jewish couple who lived in England, won 20
million pounds in the National Lottery and resolved to live luxuriously on the
proceeds. They bought a mansion in Southall and surrounded themselves with all
the material wealth imaginable. They even decided to engage a butler.
After a thorough search, they found the perfect butler—very proper
and very British. Soon after they engaged him, they told him that the following
day was a holiday where the custom was to eat a dairy meal, and that they had
invited the Cohens to join them for a dairy luncheon. They asked him to set the
dining room for four. The following morning the couple left the house to go to
Shavuot services. When they returned home, they found the table set for eight.
They asked the butler why he had set for eight when they had specifically
instructed him to set for four.
Replied the butler, "Sir and Madam, the Cohens rang soon
after you left and asked that I inform you that they would be bringing the
Blintzes and the Knishes."
***********
And of course the classic…
There is a well known Midrash about how God offered the Law to a
number of nations, which all refused it, before He offered it to the Jews. What
isn't known very well is the inside story.
God first went to the Egyptians and asked them if they would like
a commandment.
"What's a commandment?" they asked.
"Well, one of them goes, 'Thou shalt not commit adultery,'"
replied God.
The Egyptians thought about it and then said, "No way, that
would ruin our weekends."
So then God went to the Assyrians and asked them if they would
like a commandment.
They also asked, "What's a commandment?"
"Well," said God, "one says, 'Thou shalt not
steal.'"
The Assyrians immediately replied, "No way. That would ruin
our economy."
So finally God went to the Jews and asked them if they wanted a
commandment.
They asked, "How much?"
God said, "They're free."
The Jews said, "Great! We'll take ten.
****************
Answer is A: Come
on, even my 7th grader knows this. It’s botany 101. Although I admit
that Botany was my least favorite course in our tour guiding program. As my
tourists know, one of the questions that I dislike the most after- what are we
doing next, or are we there yet, is what type of plant/tree is that? I did not
grow up on a farm, fruits and vegetables come from the supermarket. Inevitably
I used to tell people that whatever tree they asked me what it was is an
avocado tree. “Really, wow cool!”. Was the gratifying response. Until once
someone asked me why there was oranges growing on the avocado tree. “Well, that’s
the genius of Israel! We can make anything happen hereJ”.
I’ve gotten a bit better though. I can now tell you what palm trees and olive
trees look like and even mangos. Everything else is still pretty much an
avocado though…
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