Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
September 7th 2018 -Volume 8 Issue 46 27th Elul 5778
Parshat Nitzavim/ Rosh Hashana
Father, Kids, Kings and
Servants
My daughter, son-in law and grandson have been
living with us for the past month or so. The “so” being maybe more than that.
God-willing they’re moving to Karmiel and they came to check it out for the
summer, while my son-in law found some work and an apprenticeship here as well.
Now I’m no Archie Bunker, I would never call my son-in law Meathead. He’s got a
job and even sidelines in a dairy restaraunt and it would be basar v’chalav to
call him that. I love him and really respect and appreciate the fact
that he married my daughter and gave us the most incredible grandchild ever.
He’s an incredible baal middos and yarey shamayim and harder
worker than I’ll ever be and a far better father as well from what I can tell. But
part of the original marry-off-my-daughter plan was that they would move out of
my house. I think they missed that point.
It was a
one way trip down that chupa. I said baruch shpatrani at the
time. See by boys we make that blessing absolving us of any responsibility for
our children by their Bar Mitzva; when we send them away to faraway out of town
yeshivos and they came home only every few months and you tell them you
love them on the phone. Daughters get a little more time living at home. But
after my son-in-law broke that glass under the chupah the game is supposed to
be over. She’s his responsibility. Rivkah moved her bed and put up her posters
in Shani’s room already.
I love
having them for Shabbos and am actually excited about them living a few blocks
away from us-when their house will be ready…But we’re downsizing the Schwartz
house. I did my crying-baby-in-the-night thing already. I outgrew having to
watch out where I step so as not too trample any crawling beings. I thought I
was finished with the smell of dirty diapers and I liked finding food that I placed
in the fridge still there the next morning. Our house is always open to my
children. they know that. Their mother holds the door open for them. She would
have them live here forever. She would make an addition onto our house. Me? I’d
cash out and buy a little cabin and have a spare bedroom for the grandchildren
to visit every once in a while.
Now the other thing about kids is that they seem
to be eating me out of house and home. We’re buying like 10 gallons of milk
every few days. Cereal goes like water, we’re out of nosh, and we’ve eaten
herds of animals and poultry over this summer. Now during the summer I wasn’t
home for most of it. I was eating out with my tourists. But the past two weeks
is my vacation time and there’s no food in the Schwartz fridge anymore. I keep
buying and it keeps going. Kids do that to you. And of course they don’t chip
in for any of the expenses. I wouldn’t even take it if they offered. They know
that so they don’t… I guess. Yep they pretty much get a free ride on life. It’s
good to be a kid.
Now I know my mother and father are reading this
right now and are kvelling. This is the nachas they have been
waiting years for. They are remembering how I used to come visit them regularly
as well. Well visit their meat packed freezer downstairs, that is. I cared
about them and didn’t want those steaks they had to spoil in there. I cared
about their blood pressure and made sure they didn’t have too many pot roasts sitting
around tempting them. I wasn’t sure why they would buy 5 turkeys but I assumed
they just wanted me to have one or two as well. And of course all the
accoutrements, including paper plates, ketchup and anything else that would fit
in my suitcase. What goes around comes around they are saying. Ahh well I guess
the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree. Unlike the steaks I bought that are
disspearing from my freezer. Yeah its good to be a kid. In fact it seems that
if one had a choice maybe we would stay that way for ever.
Which brings me to Rosh Hashana, of course. See
perhaps one of the most repeated and sung refrains on Rosh Hashana is the
concept of us being children of Hashem. After we blow the Shofar we sing
Hayom Haras Olam- Today is the birthday of the world
Hayom Yaamod Bamishpat kol yetzurey olamim- Today will stand in
judgement all of Creation
If we are like children- have mercy on us like a father has mercy on
his children
And if we are like servants- our eyes are turned to You until You are
gracious to us and bring out like a light our verdict Awesome and Holy one.
Admit it you are humming those words right now. Eeemmmm
kabaannim eeeemm k’avadimmmm. The question is what are you thinking when you
recite those words. How do we want Hashem to view us? Like children or like
servants? I think I’m not the only one out there that would choose children. As
I said it’s good to be a kid. We all know the parables about the judge or the
king who has a servant that angered him, but the kid is not nervous because he
knows it’s his father that is the one who will ultimately pass the judgement
and verdict. It can’t be that bad. So why do we even entertain the thought up
there that we are not children? That perhaps Hashem should look at us like
servants? Particularly if we all know we’ve been pretty lousy servants. We were
really never into the blue collar slavery thing. Now if you need a good
accountant or dentist, tour guide or actuary then we’re the nation to call. (By
the way see how I did that there? I just threw in tour guide between Dentist
and actuary.. as if it it’s a real job…I’m sneaky that way)
The truth is that it is not only in that prayer
that we come to Hashem with this double approach. Another central prayer that
we recite is none other than Avinu Malkeynu. Now start humming that one.
Avinu Malkey ey ey nuuuu… Avinu Malkey ey ey nuuuuu…Asey imaahnuuu
Tzedaka vacheh- ehsed …. See how many E-mails do you get that make you hum?
But anyways this song as well talks about Hashem as our Father and our King and
therefore Hashem should give us things and forgive us and write us in all the right
books. Now why isn’t it enough to say that Hashem is our Father. I know the
song wouldn’t sound as nice if it went Avinu Avee ee ee nu… but what’s
the benefit of standing in front of a King, or being a servant if we can just
be children of Hashem. Children, that the Torah and Talmud tells us that we
rule halachically we are considered even if we do the worst sins in the world.
So why bring it up at all?
I saw two beautiful insights that are worth thinking
about as we say these words. The first is about us, the second is about Hashem.
When we come to Hashem and we ask him for all of the things that we want and
need for the coming year, we sometimes-perhaps most times, forget about the
most important thing to ask for as well. That we want all of these things to
serve Hashem. Yes we are children of Yours, Hashem, but unlike children who
want to take and take and take from you. We are coming to You not to clean out Your
fridge of goodies that You have stored away. Rather we are coming to ask You
for Your sake To better serve You. If we are children than have mercy on us
like children, but we prefer to come to you as servants. That you should see
how essential we are in establishing Your Kingdom in this world. How we can be
the ones that could and want to shine that “light” from your verdict; your ohr
mishpateinu to the entire world. That is how we turn to you and that is
really what we are here about.
Now is this really true? Do we really want money
to serve Hashem better? Is that why we want His blessings? Is that why we want
life? Peace? Forgiveness? Or is it so that we could continue meandering through
the ho hum daily routine of our lives; working 6 days a week to pay the bills,
tuition and then one day make enough money to put away for a vacation, an
addition on the house and a nicer car. It’s a question we are meant to grapple
with. It’s one that if we answer correctly might allow us to focus on the
things that have eternal significance, rather than the temporal ones that will
only last at best the mere few decades that we inhabit this planet. It might
inspire us to make some changes. To reprioritize. To do teshuva. We
recite these two phrases repeatedly and even sing them each time we hear that
shofar because it brings us back to the beginning. To the time when Hashem
first blew his spirit inside of us. When He made us His children, but we knew
it was so we could make Him our King. That’s our work for Rosh Hashana. And it
is the mindset of servants that we are meant to come to Hashem with our
requests.
The second idea that follows this one is Hashem’s
role. See a father can be a lot more merciful than a king. The father will
overlook things. The father will find the good. The father will go to bat for
his children and even let them clean out his fridge. But guess what? The Father
has limited funds. He’s a tour guide for gosh sakes! How many times can he go
to Rami Levy and restock? There are bills to pay and as much as he would love
to give you everything he had if he could, he can’t. So we turn to Hashem and
ask Him to look at us like a Father. But as well we want more than that. We
want things that a father can’t afford. We want a whole world to be at peace.
We want a billion dollar Temple sitting in Yerushalayim. We want every sick person
healed. Every unmarried single to find their bashert. Every Jewish couple to merit
to have a houseful of yiddishe babies. We want those that have forgotten You to
find You again. And we have done things that are so unforgiveable that even a
Father does not have the authority to grant a pardon. Only the King does. We
are your servants. You are the King that has the whole world at your palm. You
have more than a father. You have it all. Share that light that only the
revelation of Your Kingship can, with the world. Anu avadecha V’atah adoneinu-
we are your servants and you are our Master.
You are our Father but you are also our
King.
As we enter the last Shabbos
of 5778 Taf Shin Ayin Chet the year that stood for Tehei Shnat
Alimat Chet- the year when we Hashem will hide our sins. May
this year 5779 Taf Shin Ayin Tet be the year of Aliya Tova-
amazing aliya both physically and spiritually or in Yiddish- a year of Alleh Toivos-all
the good things. A year of Ayin Tova- good eye and
a year that is in every way Al HaTeva- Supernatural.
May we all be inscribed in the Book of
life and may this be the year that our Father reveals Himself from his earthly
palace awaiting Him to the entire world as we hear the shofar blast not only of
Rosh Hashana but of the final redemption.
Have a Majestic Shabbos and a Shana Tova U’Metuka-
a sweet and happy new year,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
********************************************************
“When it comes to
one’s own children, everybody is blind..”– Oif aigeneh kinder iz yederer a blinder.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR
GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of
Email
Q. The Crusaders entered
Jerusalem in 1099:
A. At the Tancred tower
B. Near the Flower Gate
C. Through Lions Gate
D. Through Zion Gate
RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL VIDEOS OF THE WEEK
https://youtu.be/srbqz96Dzao- Shlomo
Simcha singing this beautiful moving video Avinu Malkeiu Tatenyu
https://youtu.be/anPJFBzVC2c- I’m
not a chazanus person but this Avniu Malkeinu with the now famous Shulem Lemmer
and choir is absolutely heavenly
https://youtu.be/ffymBCIznto- Ohad,
Yishai Lapidot, Itzik Dadia and Kinderlach all singing one song in a video a
beautiful original Avinu Malkeinu
https://youtu.be/IKMFDzRP9Rg - The High Holidays need a good Vse’urev
with SY Rechnitz MBD and Motty Shteimetz
https://youtu.be/nz7Xvk5D8Rs - Rachmana,
from Selichos with Shmuli Ungar
https://youtu.be/lHmd-2FxF3I - Great
Carlebach Achas Shoalti that I haven’t heard in decades sung by Mordechai
Gottlieb and Kumzitz
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S HAFTORA
CONNECTION OF THE WEEK
Parshat Nitzavim – It’s the last haftora of the seven of consolation. It’s the last
haftorah of the year and the one that precedes Rosh Hashana, the day that
Hashem not only judges the entire world, but the anniversary of the Creation of
Man. Those two sentences should get you excited and if you aren’t yet then just
read the haftorah and listen to the excitement and enthusiasm the prophet
Yeshaya has when he sees the era of the coming of Mashiach and the restoration
of Yerushalayim
Isaiah
(61:10) I will rejoice with the Lord; my soul shall exult with my God,
for He has attired me with garments of salvation, with a robe of righteousness
He has enwrapped me; like a bridegroom, who, priestlike, dons garments of
glory, and like a bride, who adorns herself with her jewelry.
I especially related to this Haftorah this week with the
engagement of my sister Rivky and the excitement by all those who have had her
in their prayers all of these years to finally find her Bashert! It’s
incredible the day finally has arrived. The bride is putting on that wedding
gown that she has been waiting all her life to wear. She is sparkling and
smiling and the entire world is as well from that glow. That is how Yeshaya
sees the day of redemption.
Ibid
(62:4) No longer shall "forsaken" be said of you, and
"desolate" shall no longer be said of your land, for you shall be
called "My desire is in her," and your land, "inhabited,"
for the Lord desires you, and your land shall be inhabited.
The joy described above could be said about any bride. But one
that has been single for so long. One that struggled with the challenge of
faith whether there is in fact someone out there for them. Would they ever find
their bashert? Will they remain forsaken and desolate? Or will there be a day
when someone will come and swoop her off her feet and say that he desires her.
That is the joy of Yerushalayim that Yeshaya is enthused about. That is the
words that we sing by each wedding
Ibid
(62:4) U’mSos chasan al kallah yasis Hashem alayich- and the rejoicing
of a bridegroom over a bride shall your God rejoice over you.
Ibid
(62:1) L’maan tziyon lo echeshe-u’lmaan Yerushalayim lo eshkot- For
the sake of Zion, I will not be silent, and for the sake of Jerusalem I will
not rest, until her righteousness comes out like brilliance, and her salvation
burns like a torch.
Ibid
(62:6-7) Al Chomosayich Yerushalayim hifkaditi shomrim- On your
walls, O Jerusalem, I have appointed watchmen; all day and all night, they
shall never be silent; those who remind the Lord, be not silent. And give Him
no rest, until He establishes and until He makes Jerusalem a praise in the
land.
RABBI
SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
The Maapilim- Israel’s
first illegal immigrant attempt- 1311 BC – Right after the story of the spies the Torah
tells us about a group of Jews who refused to deal with the fact that they had
been told they could not enter the land. They went up against the
command of Moshe and without the Ark and of course as predicted they were all
massacred by the Amalekites and Canaanites that lived in the land. Seemingly
they did the wrong thing and were punished. Is this a message that one should
not enter the land until Hashem tells us to? Until we hear the sound of the
Shofar of Mashiach. There are certainly those that have that opinion that the
Jews are bound by an oath that we will not return to the land en masse and with
force until Mashiach comes. There are others that disagree, the nations
violated their oath not to persecute us, the world recognizes the State of
Israel we are no longer here against the will of the world.
This interesting Torah
portion and story is certainly one that one can discuss with tourists here and
that I do regularly when we drive through the hot-bed anti-Zionist neighbourhoods
of Meah Shearim in Jerusalem. As well it is something that I
present when we talk about the “illegal” immigration to Israel under the
British mandate, when in response to the British issuances of the various
“White Papers” that prohibited the Jews from emigrating here in larger numbers,
we started to come anyways. When one is Netanya you can walk along the
houses by Chof Hatechelet where the Kibbutz Mitzpeh Yamim (which
eventually moved south and became Yad Mordechai) and talk about how this
kibbutz were a major part of smuggling in Jews as they would watch for boat
lights flashing and smuggle them in. As well the Detainee camp of Atlit
has an incredible museum and film there that I visit often that shows you what
life was like for the refugees both on the multi-media boat move they recreated
and in the barracks where they were kept when the British captured them. Finally of course in Chaifa
you have the Clandestine
Immigration and Navy Museum
where
you can watch testimonials of those that struggled to get in and hear the story
of the sacrifice to come to Israel. As well there are two boats that you can go
in. One called “Af al Pi Ken”- “Even So” and you can really get a feel
for the mesirut nefesh and the illegal immigration that did work!
Now can one compare our ma’apilim
with those of old. Rebbi Tzadok HaKohen suggests that the ones in the time of
Moshe had the right idea. They were right to demand to go and even if Hashem
told them not to. The rule is that one has to listen to everything the Baal
HaByis- the host tells you except to leave. The problem was it was too early.
However he says explicitly the time will come before Mashiach when we will come
up to Israel even before the time and perhaps even against the will of the
Almighty- as it may not yet be the time and we will succeed. So there’s at
least one Chasidic Rebbe out there that felt we are doing the right thing. So
when you coming?
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S JEWISH CHILDREN JOKES OF THE WEEK
There
was a rabbi known for his constant preaching about the need to nurture children
with warmth and love.
One
time he noticed some children who were playing in the freshly laid concrete
outside his newly renovated home, their little feet leaving lasting
impressions. He became irritated and started chastising the children.
A
congregant asked, "How can you, a person who devoted his entire life to
teaching warmth to children, speak this way?"
To
which the rabbi replied: "You must understand. I love children in the
abstract, not the concrete."
In
the 1970's, a Russian school inspector is questioning the children. He points
to one of the boys and says, "Who is your father?"
The boy replies, "The Soviet Union."
He then asks, "Who is your mother?"
"The communist party," came the reply.
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be a Stankhanovite worker for the glory of the state and the party."
The inspector then points to one of the girls and asks, "Who is your father?"
The girl answers, "The Soviet Union."
"Who is your mother?"
"The communist party."
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A heroine of the Soviet Union raising lots of children for the state and party."
The inspector looks round and sees a Jewish boy tucked away at the back trying to look inconspicuous. He points and says, "What's your name?"
The boy replies, "Mendel Abramovitch."
"Who is your father?"
"The Soviet Union."
"Who is your mother?"
"The communist party."
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Mendel replies, "An orphan."
The boy replies, "The Soviet Union."
He then asks, "Who is your mother?"
"The communist party," came the reply.
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"I want to be a Stankhanovite worker for the glory of the state and the party."
The inspector then points to one of the girls and asks, "Who is your father?"
The girl answers, "The Soviet Union."
"Who is your mother?"
"The communist party."
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
"A heroine of the Soviet Union raising lots of children for the state and party."
The inspector looks round and sees a Jewish boy tucked away at the back trying to look inconspicuous. He points and says, "What's your name?"
The boy replies, "Mendel Abramovitch."
"Who is your father?"
"The Soviet Union."
"Who is your mother?"
"The communist party."
"And what do you want to be when you grow up?"
Mendel replies, "An orphan."
Mordechai,
his wife and their three children have just finished their shopping and decide
to get a taxi back home. So he hails a cab and says to the driver, "If you
turn off the meter, how much will you charge to drive us to Brooklyn?"
"For you and your wife, I'll charge just $12," says the taxi driver,
"and I'll take the 3 children for free. Is that OK?" Mordechai turns
to his children and says, "Jump into the taxi, children, this nice man
will take you home. Your mother and I will take the bus."
Mendel was passing by his Chaim's bedroom and was astonished to see that his bed was nicely made and everything was picked up.
Then
he saw an envelope, propped up prominently on the pillow that was addressed to
"Daddy."
With
the worst premonition he opened the envelope with trembling hands
and read the letter.
and read the letter.
Dear
Dad:
It
is with great regret and sorrow that I'm writing you. I had to elope with my
new girlfriend because I wanted to avoid a scene with Mom and you.
I
have been finding real passion with Stacy and she is so nice. But I knew you
would not approve of her because of all her piercing, tattoos, tight motorcycle
clothes and the fact that she is much older than I am.
But
it's not only the passion...Dad she's pregnant.
Stacy
said that we will be very happy.
She
owns a trailer in the woods and has a stack of firewood for the whole winter.
We
share a dream of having many more children.
Stacy
has opened my eyes to the fact that marijuana doesn't really hurt anyone. We'll
be growing it for ourselves and trading it with the other people that live
nearby for cocaine and ecstasy.
In
the meantime we will pray that science will find a cure for AIDS so Stacy
can get better.
She
deserves it.
Don't
worry Dad, I'm 16 and I know how to take care of myself.
Someday
I'm sure that we will be back to visit so that you can get to know your
grandchildren.
Love,
Your boychik Chaim’l
PS.
Dad, none of the above is true. I'm over at Yanky's house.
I
just wanted to remind you that there are worse things in life than a report card
That's in my center desk drawer.
I
love you.
Call me when it's safe to come home.
Four
Jewish ladies are playing a game of cards in Miami Beach.
The first lady sighs and says, "Oy..."
The second lady nods, sighs and says, "Oy vey!"
The third lady says, "Oy veys meer!"
The fourth lady chimes in: "Enough talk about the children already. Let's get back to the game."
The first lady sighs and says, "Oy..."
The second lady nods, sighs and says, "Oy vey!"
The third lady says, "Oy veys meer!"
The fourth lady chimes in: "Enough talk about the children already. Let's get back to the game."
Even
though they were brought up strictly orthodox, Shlomo, 8 and Isaac, 10 were
very naughty brothers. When anything went wrong in Golders Green, they were
nearly always involved.
One day, a friend visited their parents and mentioned a Rabbi who was having great success with delinquent children. As they were finding it difficult to control their boys, they went to this Rabbi and asked whether he could help.
He said he could and asked to see the younger boy first – but he must be alone. So Shlomo went to see the Rabbi while Isaac was kept at home.
The Rabbi sat Shlomo down across a huge, solid mahogany desk and he sat down on the other side. For 5 minutes they just sat and stared at each other. Finally, the Rabbi pointed his finger at Shlomo and asked, "Where is God?" Shlomo said nothing. Again, in a louder tone, the Rabbi pointed at Shlomo and asked, "Where is God?" Again Shlomo said nothing. Then the Rabbi leaned across the desk, put his finger on Shlomo's nose and shouted, "For the third time, Shlomo, where is God?"
Shlomo panicked at this, got up and ran all the way home. He went straight up to Isaac’s room and said, "We are in big trouble, Isaac."
"What do you mean, big trouble, little brother?" said Isaac.
Shlomo replied, "God is missing... and I’m sure they think we did it."
One day, a friend visited their parents and mentioned a Rabbi who was having great success with delinquent children. As they were finding it difficult to control their boys, they went to this Rabbi and asked whether he could help.
He said he could and asked to see the younger boy first – but he must be alone. So Shlomo went to see the Rabbi while Isaac was kept at home.
The Rabbi sat Shlomo down across a huge, solid mahogany desk and he sat down on the other side. For 5 minutes they just sat and stared at each other. Finally, the Rabbi pointed his finger at Shlomo and asked, "Where is God?" Shlomo said nothing. Again, in a louder tone, the Rabbi pointed at Shlomo and asked, "Where is God?" Again Shlomo said nothing. Then the Rabbi leaned across the desk, put his finger on Shlomo's nose and shouted, "For the third time, Shlomo, where is God?"
Shlomo panicked at this, got up and ran all the way home. He went straight up to Isaac’s room and said, "We are in big trouble, Isaac."
"What do you mean, big trouble, little brother?" said Isaac.
Shlomo replied, "God is missing... and I’m sure they think we did it."
************
Answer is B– This was not an easy
question and to be honest, I had no clue and probably would have skipped it on
the exam. The Crusaders were not my favorite people and in 1099 they came to
Israel to wipe out the Egyptian Muslims that were in the city. They wiped out
the Jews along the way in Europe (about 30% of the Jewish population) and
ultimately when they breached the walls of Jerusalem on Shabbos, the 17th
of Tamuz 1099 (the same day the first temple walls 1500 years prior were
breached and he beginning of the three weeks of mourning of the destruction of
the Temple) they killed 40,000 Muslim and Jewish men women and children in the
old city of Jerusalem until they were described as wading knee-deep in blood.
Although I didn’t know the answer I was curious as to where the breach was.
Although in Jewish tradition and historically we know that the prophets tell us
that “from the North troubles will come” and that’s traditionally where
Yerushalayim was breached from, so I should have realized it was the Shaar
HaPerachim- Flowers gate, but I did know that they sieged from Zion gate as
well and entered there. Tancreds tower which is right across from Notre Dame on
the West side by Tzahal street also threw me off, as Tancred was one of the
Crusader generals. But it seems that he was not successful in breaching over
there. Incidentally Arab tradition called that tower Goliaths tower because
they believed that Dovid buried Goliaths head over there. Fun Fact. The answer
though is Flowers gate and certainly not Lion’s gate where Motta Gur entered in
1967 and finally after 2000 years returned the holy city to its people.
