from the Holy Land from Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz "Your friend in Karmiel" June 26th 2026 -Volume 16 Issue 35 11th of Tamuz 5786
(LAST WEEK'S And THIS WEEK'S EDITION although both contain are on both parshas! Click here below for print edition And parshat Chukas and Korach II ( Weekly Newsletter - Parshat Chukas & Balak )
And parshat Balak (Weekly Newsletter - Parshat Balak )
So one day the Baal Shem Tov was walking down the street and he bumped into Mashiach. It happens sometimes. It can happen to any of us. He might be that shnorrer bothering you while you're davening at the Kotel, trying to get that one last zechus, we need to bring him. It's why he's disturbing you. The annoying person that cuts you off in traffic, he might just be in a rush to bring the redemption. Or maybe even the holy street-cleaner, preparing the holy streets for the Shechina.. He could be the soldier who came to your shul to daven Mincha, on the way back from battling Amalek. You'll only know if you talk to him a bit. The Baal Shem Tov, I guess did. Maybe we should start a bit as well. So the Baal Shem, of course asked him the question that any Jew would ask. The question that we've been asking for millennia, but these days it's every time we listen to the News, whenever we daven, when we look at the results of the primaries in America, the craziness in Europe and the absolute nuttiness and self-destructiveness of what we seem to be doing to each other here in Israel, while our enemies are laughing their tuchas off.
"Eimasai ka'asi mar- when are you coming already, man…"
I always liked the "man" at the end of that question.
As this most famous story of the Baal Shem, goes, Mashiach responds famously,
Ki'she'yafutzu ma'ayanosecha chutza- when your wellsprings pour out to the world.
When the teachings of the Baal Shem and Chasidus spread to the world. That's the way that Chasidim always understand the story. It's what started the Chasidic movement. It's the heart and basis of everything that it has been dedicated to and that the entire world, bot the Lithuanian and even secular Jewish world is somehow connected to on some level or another. It's Uman. It's Kerister. It's Carlebach. It's Kumzitz sing-alongs. It's spreading joy. Od Yoter Tov. It's Mashiach energy. It's Aliyah to Israel. It's the Sefat Emet. It's deep Jewish thought. It's Tanya. It's Chabad Houses and Tefillin stands. It's dressing like a Jew unabashedly in public. It's Jewish pride. It's a cry and a longing for unity and revelation. Those are the wellsprings of the Baal Shem. That's when Mashiach is coming.
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, asks an amazing question on this story though, and turns it all on its head. This is the week when we read the story of Hashem turning the curses of Bilaam into blessing. It's the week when donkeys talk, when wicked people become prophets and where Mashiach first makes his prophetic appearance.
For you in America that are still reading Chukas, it's also a week when the tumah of death becomes holy. When the pure Kohen who performs the purification Red Heifer ritual becomes impure in the process. It's the parsha when we're meant to talk to rocks to have their wellsprings pour out rather than hit them. It's when Moshe and Aharon can't come into the land. It's the parsha when the other side of the Jordan which isn't part of Israel turns out and flips around and becomes Israel. It's the turnaround everything on its head week.
It's also the week when the 17th of Tamuz will turn into a holiday instead of a fast day, God willing, this Thursday. But that's only if we understand the depth of bringing out that wellspring. And for that the Rebbi turns it all around on its head, with this incredible question and insight. Because to be honest. We really need to turn this whole thing around, don't you think?
The question he poses is that seemingly, the Baal Shem Tov who was a fairly learned guy, should've known that this question is one that is already posed in a story in the Talmud (Sanhedrin 98.) where Rav Yehoshua Ben Levi also asks Mashiach the exact same question using the same words. "Nu Man, when ya coming already?" And Mashiach there famously responds, that he is coming today. Hayom. Today however is a reference the Talmud tells us of the "Day- if we will listen to Hashem's voice". The Baal Shem knows this gemara, asked 1500 years before him by this 3rd century Rabbi. So what's he being a nudnik for. Mashiach already said he'll come when we listen to Hashem.
Perhaps even more fascinating and revealing the Rebbi notes is that Mashiach in this story doesn't give the same answer to the Baal Shem Tov. He doesn't do the cryptical "today… if you…" thing. Seemingly the Baal Shem Tov was on track, as the answer switched. So the Rebbe quotes the Riyatz who explains this story, that what the Baal Shem Tov was asking and telling Mashiach… get ready for this… Is that day is already here. We've all heard the voice. We've all done what we need. We're here in the car. Where are you? When are you going to get into the driver's seat?
Slow down, a minute. What does that mean. Really? We're all there? We're all ready? We've all returned? I've heard of fake News before, but c'mon, what's the Baal Shem trying to pull over Mashiach's eyes? I mean I don't even think that CNN or Tucker could sell a lie that big. The problem is that it's not a lie. Because Mashiach doesn't deny that claim. He agrees with the Baal Shem Tov. He doesn't say, you're not ready. The nation hasn't done teshuva. Their a bunch of sinners. They have smartphones. They fight. They live in America comfortably. They don't have what it takes to kill their enemies. Mashiach doesn't tell the Baal Shem any of those things that I say all the time. And that pretty much every pulpit Rabbi preaches to their choir about what every else needs to do.
See, Mashiach, like the Baal Shem Tov, had a far better eyesight then we do. He wasn't like Bilaam that was shesum ha'ayin- that could only look at Israel with that negative eye and find all of our problems and things that aren't really about every single Jew in the world. Rather, like Hashem opens up before this idiot donkey-sleeping with goys to see, the Baal Shem and Mashiach see lo hibit aven bi'Ya'akov- there is no sin in Israel. There's no trouble in Israel. We all hear Hashem's voice. Are tents are amazing! They're perfect. That flame is burning so bright in each of us. All that other stuff. It's just external. It's the shmutz that may have gathered on the unbelievable perfect shining glorious diamond that is even the most far Jewish neshoma. We really are there. We just don't see it yet. We don't have the Baal Shem's vision.
Mashiach thus tells the Baal Shem, that he will come as soon as his ma'ayanecha spreads and pours outside. The word ma'ayanecha is not just wellsprings, but it's also his ayin- his eyesight. He will come when we all start to see the world and our fellow yid with those special holy eyes that only sees the holiness in each Jew. That sees the Jewish people, who a few minutes after Bilam's curse turned blessing is sinning with the daughters of Moav. That sees us even after the vicious fights and battles of Korach of brother against brother. That can look at our nation this week on the 17th of Tamuz when Moshe came down with the Tablets 40 days after we received the Torah and saw and heard Hashem on Sinai, and still advocate for us and get us forgiveness, as Moshe did. When we can take those wellsprings and vision of the Baal Shem Tov and Mashiach as we look at our brothers and sisters even to the outskirts- the chutza- to the furthest Jews in the world. That's when he will come. That will be the redemption.
Mashiach first appears in the Torah when even Bilam can see this. It's to show us that if he can see it we should as well. It's what Moshe and Aharon needed to learn by just talking to the rock and believing that miracles can just happen for our nation because we are so holy even when it seems we're complaining and fighting, because we're not rebels, like he said, but rather beautiful gems, with the holiest souls that could never be tainted. If we see that and we have that vision, then eiver la'yarden can turn into Israel. Then the impurity of death, can become pure again. Then the whole world will see Hashem's presence, that we claim we want to see and have been davening for so long to merit to be able to feel. But it has to start with seeing Him in each other.
The Navi tells us that the fast days of Tisha B'av and the other fasts related to the destruction of the Temple will turn-around and become days of celebration. In the case of Tisha B'Av the turn-around for the day of the destruction of the Temple will be the day that it is rebuilt. What would therefore be the turnaround for the day of the 17th of Tamuz when the walls of Jerusalem were breached? Seemingly, I always understood that it would be the day when the walls will be rebuilt. Yet, this year I heard from my Rebbi a different take. He suggested that we don't want walls around Jerusalem. Walls are a sign of weakness. They limit us. They keep us in ghettos and gated communities. They keep the holiness of the Bais Ha'Mikdash on that mountain top. We don't want walls.
Rather, what will happen god-willing this week when the 17th of Tamuz turns around into a holiday. The walls of Jerusalem will be breached once again. Yet, this time they will go from the inside outside. Yafutzu ma'ayonesecha chutza- the wellsprings will pour forth through them. The vision of the Baal Shem Tov will become the way the whole world sees us. They will see the one united holy spark that we see in one another. They will see how wonderous the tents and dwelling places of Israel. Our doors are not opposite one another; we don't want to see anyone else's flaws. Rather we want to see the Mishkan the Beit Ha'Mikdash, the Mashiach in everyone. When we see that it will pour out to the world and Mashiach will come. Hashem will return. Because we all have heard Him. We've heard His voice. We've done the "Today" show. It's now time to start broadcasting it out.
Have a spectacular Shabbos and may we all have a festive 17th of Tamuz! Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
************************ YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
" A gutn mentsh vet di shenk nit kalye machen, a shlechtn vet der beys-hamedresh nit farrichtin.– A tavern can't corrupt a good man, and a synagogue can't reform a bad one.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK answer below at end of Email
5. The book “Onomasticon” describes Israel’s geography during the ______ period. Which of the following interchanges is named after a significant event from the Tannaitic period (period of the ‘Tannaim’)? A. Somekh B. Anava C. HaTishbi D. Tel Kashish RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kgml8SiNun0NnxNTDt0fqS9xioBPOORnA&si=XrIt06VRDIdweErm – So excited for this latest Dovid Lowy gorgeous release Kirvas! Mamash!! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Z5KWsMI93I&list=RD1Z5KWsMI93I&start_radio=1 - Gorgeous Eitan Katz Ma Tovu! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXXQjP1PGd8&list=RDqXXQjP1PGd8&start_radio=1 - Remember this oldie Shalsheles Ma Tovu? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91xWSl11f0c&list=RD91xWSl11f0c&start_radio=1 – And of course the Shwekey MA MA MA classic.. now you're good… Which did I forget? RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK The Registry -345 BC- I think its pretty obvious to all of us that study Torah to realize that it's a pretty important book that doesn't have irrelevant or unimportant things written in it. There's a message something that we need to learn and study from. A prophecy that speaks to me today. That being the case it is fascinating that there are a few chapters in the Books of Ezra and Nechemia that I imagine if most of us skipped through it we wouldn't feel we're missing out on much. Because they're just a list of names. Families. All those that went up with Ezra to the land of Israel. It's an Aliyah census.
Hmmm… Maybe these are important people and families? Is that why they're mentioned? Nope., well actually that's not entirely true. See, the families that went up with Ezra were all of the misfits. They were the mazmers, the chalals that came from illicit relationships, slaves that had been freed, criminals, abandoned children. Yup, these first Olim to Israel kinda looked like some of my shuls that I ran in the States. The West Seattle Torah Learning Center. In fact our sages tell us that Ezra wanted to clean out all of Bavel so he specifically searched and found all of these misfits that didn't daven in the regular shuls. All the other big machers and prestigious community members and holy rollers didn't want to come anyways. So he switched gears to take all of the shleppers.
Yet, he did something amazing with these people. He gave them jobs and positions of power. They were coming into the land of Israel and it needed to be reworked. It needed new leadership. The old school didn't get it. They were to ingratiated to the system. They couldn't see past the protocols that were put into place. Not past the bureaucracy. They couldn't see a new Israel that was different then ever before. He needed these guys. And by putting them into positions of power and responsibility, something they never had before, he gave them the confidence to build the future.
So their names are listed. Every single one. Three chapters of the books of prophets. They're eternal. They're forever. They're there to remind us and challenge us today. If we want the same for ourselves. Or do we just want to remain nameless and irrelevant and unremembered corpses in Bavel, in Persia, in London, or in Lakewood who may feel prestigious now, but in fact are totally disconnected from the eternal story of our nation. They're not about returning the Shechina. The shnorrers, mamzer, former slave who doesn't even know who his parents, is more important to you. Now if that isn't a prophecy worth recording, I don't know what is.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE EYESIGHT JOKES OF THE WEEK
Why did the smartphone have to wear glasses? It lost all of its contacts. What did one pupil say to the other? I’m dilated to meet you. What do you call a potato wearing glasses? A Spec-Tater! What do you call an optician living on an Alaskan island? An optical Aleutian. What was the innocent lens’s excuse to the policeman? "I’ve been framed, officer!" Where is the eye located? Between the H and the J. Where does bad light end up? In Prism! What do you call a dinosaur with no eyes? A ‘do-you-think-he-saurus.’ What do you call a fish with no eyes? Fishually impaired. What has four eyes and a mouth? The Mississippi. How many eye doctors does it take to change a lightbulb? One… or two?! Guess who I bumped into on the way to the eye doctor. Everyone. What do you say to a pirate with two eyes? “Aye aye, captain!” What do you say if they only have one eye? “Aye, captain!” What did the right eye say to the left eye? “Between you and me, there’s something that smells.”
A man goes to the optometrist for his eye test and is asked what he can see. “I see empty airports, empty football fields, closed theaters, and closed pubs,” he says. To which the optometrist replies, “Perfect — you’ve got 2020 vision!”
What happens after you rub ketchup in your eyes? You feel silly in Heinz sight.
Patient: “Doctor, I’ve got mustard in my eyes, and I can’t see a thing!” Doctor: “Any other symptoms?” Patient: “No, but I have the strangest feeling this has happened before.” Doctor: “French mustard?” Patient: “Yes, why?” Doctor: “It’s dijon view.”
What do you call a lotion that makes your eyes wet? Moist-your-eyes-er.
A magician runs into a man who doesn’t believe in magic. “Prove to me that you can do magic,” says the skeptic. “I bet you can’t.” With that, the magician turns the man into an eyeball. Shocked, the man says, “Well, eye’ll be!”
What do you call it when an Apple user looks you in the eye? iContact.
Your eyes aren’t real.They’re just in your head.
Why are E.T.’s eyes so big? He saw his phone bill.
A man gets an eye exam, after which the doctor has a concerned look on her face. “What’s wrong?” asks the patient. “Well, your test results don’t look too good,” the doctor says. “Can I see them?” says the patient. The doctor answers, “Probably not.”
What do you call a pig with three eyes? Piiig.
What do you call a deer with no eyes? No-eye deer.
Looking for a good eye doctor…I can’t see mine anymore.
******************************* The answer to this week's question is A– Baruch Hashem I'm back in the game here… I've been getting nervous. The Omnasticon written by Eusibius a Byzantine 4th century Bishop lists all the places in Israel and is an important historical work in identifying Biblical sites. The Somech intersection not far from Karmiel is in between Usha and Shefaram where Rav Yehuda Ben Bava gave semicha to his 5 students and was shot to death by arrows there. So I go this one right and the test continues with Rabbi Schwartz having 3.5 points and the MOT having 1.5 points on this latest Ministry of Tourism exam. |
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