Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
January 20th 2017 -Volume 7
Issue 13 22nd Tevet 5777
Parshat Shemot
Chow Up!
He spoke of watermelons and I
have forever been inspired. For many years as a Kollel student in Yeshivas Bais
Yisrael in Brooklyn, I had the privilege of attending the great Mussar Lectures
of Rav Avigdor Miller. One of his primary themes was recognizing the incredible
wonders of the universe in the every day things we take for granted.
Watermelons were one of his favorite topics. It is one of my favorite desserts.
It was a match made in heaven.
Let’s start with the watermelon
seeds, a great roasted Israeli delicacy. I’m sure you know that when you bite
into a juicy watermelon they are extremely slippery and they fly out of your
hand or mouth. This is unlike orange seeds which are not. The reason according
to the Department of Agriculture report (so I’m told) because the watermelon
seeds are palatable and therefore need protection so they will fall on the
ground and be re-planted, whereas orange seeds are bitter and will naturally be
discarded by the eater. The watermelon vines thus know that its eaters might
eat them and creates a special mucus around the seed to make it slippery. The
orange tree obviously knows that its eaters don’t like bitter things so it
doesn’t have to. It also implies that these trees and vines know that the
future of their species depends on the protection these seeds.
Next, the fruit itself has an
enticing, red, luscious, look. In fact almost all fruits have very delectable
colors. Being made for the consumption of human beings it must know that we
have an appreciation for colorful food and makes sure it stands out just
perfectly. Fascinatingly enough, its outer non-edible shell and even its
inedible rind is green a different color, the color of unripe fruits, so that
we know not to eat that part. As anyone knows, that unripe fruits and melons
can cause stomach cramps. The green protects it from animals eating it, as it
blends in with the color of its vines, until it becomes ripe when we can
partake in it.
The texture of its taste is also
incredible. It is soft and yet has a little bit of crunch, it is juicy but not
liquidy. Science and technology, with all their wisdom, still cannot create
anything even close to the texture of a watermelon, an apple or an orange. Yet
a tree with some sunlight, water and soil, and with the all the programming
instructions and raw materials contained in the small factory of a seed,
produces daily these miraculous little products that are perfect for sustaining
and delighting humanity. How do you like “dem” apples J?
This week’s Torah portion in a
very subtle way shares with us an incredible insight into not only in how we
can become Rabbi Milllers, but even how we can become like Moshe. We begin the
book of Shemos this week and we are told the story of Moshe Rabeinu. Raised as
an Egyptian in the house of Pharaoh, he was put on trial and escaped the death
penalty for murdering an Egyptian. He fled to Midian and became a shepherd in
the home of a former Idolatrous Priest Yisro. He certainly would seem to be an
unlikely figure to be the great Jewish leader that would bring about the
redemption and to be God’s personal spokesperson for all times. Yet, the Torah
tells us about the transformative moment when Moshe the Egyptian shepherd
becomes Moshe the Leader.
“An angel of G-d appeared to him in a blaze of fire from
amidst “the bush”. Moshe saw the event and behold, “the bush” was
burning in fire and yet “The bush” was not consumed. Moshe said, ‘I will
turn from my course and see the marvelous sight — why does “The bush” not
burn?’ Hashem saw that Moshe turned from his path to see the sight and He
called out to him from amidst “the bush and said, ‘Moshe Moshe… ‘”
This narrative, from the moment that Moshe notices the burning bush
until Hashem speaks to him from its midst, seems overstated. After Moshe sees
the amazing sight, why does the Torah mention that Moshe says “I will go look
at the amazing sight?” Further, why does the Torah preface Hashem’s charge
to Moshe with the words “Hashem saw that Moshe turned from his path to see
the sight, and He called out to him from amidst the bush?” It seems that
only after Hashem openly acknowledges Moshe’s interest in the spectacle does he
call out, “Moshe, Moshe,” thus beginning the process of redemption.
The answer, Rabbi Miller would suggest was that it was precisely
this criterion and test that clinched Moshe for the job, He turned from his
path to see. The Kotzker Rebbe suggests that the bush was always there burning
and not being consumed, as is the implication of the text referring to the bush
as “The bush”. Yet until Moshe nobody ever did more then maybe slow down
their camels, clogging up the camel freeway, look out their turbans and say “Hey,
check out that cool bush burning”. They didn’t see the obvious miracles.
They didn’t recognize that there must have been a message, a Hand, and a
Greater Power that was involved in this World. They refused to get off their
path and open themselves up to the True one. Moshe did and it was his defining
moment. When Hashem saw the intellectual curiosity and willingness to examine
and re-examine his path, his world and his ways, he began to speak for the
first time with Moshe. He knew he had the perfect man to lead and transform a
nation from 210 years of brain-less, mind numbing, and order-following slaves,
into one that would be bold and holy enough to challenge all of the world’s
conventions and lead them to the path of truth.
We don’t have bushes burning today to wake us up. We already
received the Torah, we left Egypt, and we have the knowledge. But, are we
somehow living in the fast lane and missing the inspiration that surrounds us?
What are you thinking about when you’re eating a watermelon? Are you chowing
down instead of chowing up? Has that been something that has brought you closer
to the loving masterful Creator that placed it there on your plate? If not,
than are we any different than those who missed out on the Bush. Creation is
remarkable. It bespeaks a designed universe created for us. Hashem wants us to
appreciate the love of his universe in the same way a mother, wife or chef
would want their children, husband, or dining connoisseurs to appreciate the
delicious meal that she worked so hard to cook, prepare and present the day
they came home from culinary school. Can you imagine having that appreciation
each day of your life? I don’t have to imagine it. The image and lectures of
Rabbi Miller will always be with me. I have enclosed a youtube video below of
him. May his life continue to be an inspiration.
Have a
fantabulous Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim
Schwartz
This week's Insight and Inspiration has been
sponsored by my parents Abe and Esther Schwartz in honor and as a merit for my
father's parents and aunt whose yahrtzeit is this week Moshe David ben Hersh
and Zelda and Itka Sarah bas Yisrael Mordechai all of them holocaust survivors.
My Bubby Zeldy raised her sister raised my father on their own and remained
committed after all that they had been through to raising him with Torah values
even in the most financially challenging of times. She was a tremendous Baalas
Tzedaka that dedicated her spare moments to raising funds for needy families
and to a large degree it is in her merit that all of her descendants live lives
and have families that remain true to the life of Torah that she inspired. May
their memories be blessed.
**********************
RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL VIDEOS OF THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fUZsmxUxfBk&t=554s
– VerPlanck- a pretty funny clip from a yeshivish TV sitcom- The Shidduch
and Red Heifer
https://youtu.be/87XlDRjmPME – Rare footage of Chafetz Chaim
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S
FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
“A mentsh zol leben shoin nor fun neigerikeit
vegen”- A man should stay
alive if only out of curiosity.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF
THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
Q. One of the leaders who led the Return
to Zion immediately following Cyrus’ Declaration was:
a. Ezra
b. Nehemiah
c. Gedaliahu Ben Ahikam
d. Zerubbabel
a. Ezra
b. Nehemiah
c. Gedaliahu Ben Ahikam
d. Zerubbabel
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ILLUMINATING RASHI OF THE
WEEK
We’ve pointed out many times that Rashi’s role
is not to quote Midrash and quite the opposite actually is true. If the Midrash
contradicts the simple understanding of the verse Rashi will generally not
mention it unless it explains the simple meaning of the text. So whenever Rashi
mentions a Midrash that seems to contradict the simple phsat it behooves
us to explore what we may have missed in the text.
Take this week’s portion of Shemot for
example, when Hashem commands Moshe to go down to Egypt He tells him that he
need not fear the death sentence that was given to him by Pharaoh for having
killed the Egyptian there.
Shemot (4:19) For all of the men that seek your death have
died.
This seems simple enough. The men be they
Pharaoh or the ones that Rashi tells us earlier had snitched on Moshe had died
namely Dathan and Aviram. Yet Rashi leaves the simple pshat and tells us
that
“They were alive. Rather they lost all of their possessions
and a poor man is considered like a dead man.
This is certainly an interesting idea, but
where does Rashi get it from and why does he not explain the pshat the
way it states it? The truth is we know that later on Dathan and Aviram are
still alive. So obviously they are not dead. Yet again that doesn’t necessarily
justify Rashi explaining that this is Dathan and Aviram in the first place. AS the
text doesn’t name the people who Moshe intervened in saving. The Chafetz Chaim
however sees that Rashi is obviously using this explanation because it is the
only one that fits the actual text for the verse says “the men who seek
your death” If they were dead
already the verse should have said that sought your death –past tense.
It must be, the Chafetz Chaim says, that they are still alive.
The Skulener Rebbe notes how it is amazing
that the entire redemption and the delay of the 60 years until Moshe could take
them out rested on the potential for Jews such as these who would snitch on
Moshe. Even Jews who had benefitted where Moshe was defending them against the
Egyptian and they should have been grateful Yet their warped moral indignation
of Moshe having neutralizing an Egyptian terrorist who was trying to kill a Jew
which seemingly was in violation of international
law- or at least how it applies to Jews-wouldn’t allow them to be quiet. They
demanded an investigation, a commission and ultimately a sentence to be passed
against Moshe. The redemption couldn’t come until these types of Jews lost
their power… OK maybe he didn’t say it exactly like that… But you get the
point. J
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan- The Chafetz Chaim (1838 –1933) – Rabbi
Israel Meir HaCohen Kagan is commonly known as the “Chafetz Chaim,” the name of
his famous work on guarding one’s tongue. Born in Zhetel, Poland on February 6,
1838, he was taught untill age 10 by his parents and then moved to Vilna to
further his Jewish studies. Refusing the pulpit rabbinate, the Chafetz Chaim
settled in Radin (Poland) and subsisted on a small grocery store which his wife
managed and he did the “bookkeeping”-watching every penny to make sure that no
one was cheated. He spent his days learning Torah and disseminating his
knowledge to the common people.
As his reputation grew, students from all over Europe flocked to
him and by 1869 his house became known as the Radin Yeshiva. In addition to his
Yeshiva, the Chafetz Chaim was very active in Jewish causes. He traveled
extensively (even in his 90s!) to encourage the observance of Mitzvos amongst
Jews. One of the founders of Agudas Yisrael, the religious Jewish organization
of Europe and later the world, the Chafetz Chaim was very involved in Jewish
affairs and helped many yeshivos survive the financial problems of the interwar
period. Exemplifying the verses in Psalms 34:13-14, “Who is the man who desires
life…? Guard your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit,” the
Chafetz Chaim passed away in 1933 at the ripe age of 95.
The Chafetz Chaim’s greatest legacy is the 21 sefarim (holy
books) which he published. His first work, Sefer Chafetz Chaim (1873), is the
first attempt to to organize and clarify the laws regrding evil talk and
gossip. He later wrote other works, including Shmirat HaLashon, which
emphasized the importance of guarding one’s tongue by quoting our Sages. The
Mishnah Brurah (1894-1907), his commentary on the Daily Laws of a Jew (his
first series in the Shulchan Aruch), is found in many Jewish homes and is
accepted universally to decide Halacha.
Firmly believing that he was living right before the time of
Moshiach and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple, the Chafetz Chaim wrote a work
that stressed the learning of laws concerning sacrifices, the Holy Temple, and
related topics. He also published seforim to strengthen certain aspects of
Jewish life including kashrus, family purity, and Torah study.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TYPES OF JEWS IN ISRAEL OF
THE WEEK
Birthright Students – They’re all over the place in this
country. You can’t miss the buses with the big blue and white posters that say
Taglit- Birthright. Since the start of this program in 1999, that provides free
10 day trips to Israel for “young adults” ages 18-26 over a half a million
young men and women have come to Israel. The Birthright program was conceived from
what I understand by the Bronfman family and Michael Steinberg and other
significant North American philanthropist who when faced with the results of a
recent study that the majority of young Jewish adults were not likely to
contribute to Jewish causes. All the edifices and organizations that they had
built and were meant to be monuments and legacies to their family names would disappear.
The JCC’s, the Federations, the Museums and charitable organizations were at risk.
SO they did a study which revealed that Jews that had gone to Israel at least
once in their life were 85% more likely to contribute to Jewish causes and the
thus Birthright was conceived. Birthright is a nondenominational organization.
Students can choose whether they want a Orthodox, Reform, Conservative run
group-although no religious proselytization is permitted. There are nature
Birthright trips, extreme ones, alternative lifestyle one and even for people
with disabilities. The majority of the trips have the same 80% required places
and things to do. Meet with soldiers, Tel Aviv, Bedouin tent, Har Herzl military
cemetery, Dead Sea, Yad Vashem, Masada and of course the Kotel. The remaining parts
are left to the individual groups to organize. The Orthodox run ones of course
provide a real authentic Shabbat experience.
Birthright has had a tremendous
impact on Israel with over 75,000 Israelis participating in some form either as
soldiers, security and escorts for the students. Over 250 million dollars is
estimated annually is brought into Israel in tourism dollars, hotels, entrance
fees, plane and the like; a tremendous boon to our economy. As well according
to studies students that come on a birthright trip are over 50% more likely to
marry a Jewish partner and 1out of four meet their spouse on a birthright trip.
As well for many students the 10 day trip is not enough. There have been many
programs like return and learn and Birtright Next that bring the students back
again for a more serious learning and experiential period of time. I have led
quite a few of the post-birthright trips and they really are amazing.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S REALLY TERRIBLE
WATERMELON JOKES OF THE WEEK
Q: When do you go at red and stop at green? A: When you're eating
a watermelon.
Q: Why do watermelons have
fancy weddings? A: Because they cantaloupe.
Q: What do you call fruit that is a serious criminal? A: a
waterfelon.
Q. How did the watermelon feel when it went out with broccoli?
Melon-choly
There was a farmer who grew watermelons. He was doing pretty well,
but he was disturbed by some local kids who would sneak into his watermelon
patch at night and eat his watermelons. After some careful thought, he came up
with a clever idea that he thought would scare the kids away for sure. He made
up a sign and posted it in the field. The next day, the kids show up and they
saw the sign which read,
"Warning! One of
the watermelons in this field has been injected with cyanide."
The kids ran off, made up
their own sign and posted it next to the farmer's sign. When the farmer
returned, he surveyed the field. He noticed that no watermelons are missing,
but the sign next to his read,
"Now there are
two!"
**************
Answer is D – See the key word in the question is immediately. Everyone
is familiar with Ezra and Nechemia, however the Talmud tells us that Ezra did
not immediately come up after Cyrus declared the right of the Jews to return and
set up their country once again 70 years as prophesized after the Babylonian
Exile and destruction of the Temple. According to the Book of Ezra close about
42,000 thousand Jews went up mostly Kohanim Levi’im and others that would serve
in the Temple that was meant to be rebuilt. The rest of the people that came
were mostly shleppers. Ezra didn’t come up immediately because he was still
learning by his Rebbe Baruch Ben Neria the student of Jeremia. Nechemia as well
waited as he was still serving in the palace. The correct answer is Zerubavel
the grandson of Yehoyachin the former King and of Yehoshua the Kohen Gadol. The
numbers weren’t stacked well as there were close to 24,000 men and only 12,000
women and children. Talk about a Shiduch crisis. The Jews married out therefore
unitl Ezra came about 80 years later and broke them all up. Gedalia Ben Achikam
never left Israel after the destruction he was appointed governer and assassinated
by Jews. We fast to commemorate that day that was really the final blow to the
Jews post-Churban the day after Rosh Hashana.
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