Insights
and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
April 20th 2018 -Volume
8 Issue 26 5th Iyar 5778
Parshat
Tazria-Metzora/Acharey Mos-Kedoshim
Transitioning
Transition; that’s the word that keeps passing through my mind during this
pretty packed week and half. I personally haven’t undergone any major changes.
I’m still working on getting comfortable with that new grandfather title and
role. Rather I’ve been on the outside this week, an observer, a people-watcher,
and perhaps even what our sages refer to as a maven or yode’ah Ha’itim-
someone who watches and understands the different times, moments and
transitions.
In truth it’s the right week for transitions
as the Torah readings this week are different in America and Israel. In Israel
we reading Acharey Mot and Kedoshim in America Tazaria Metzora. Both are double
portions both are transitions.
I guess it started out watching my grandson
have his pdiyon haben- the fascinating ceremony as he is redeemed by his parents
from his sanctified level a s first born son, whose life belongs to Hashem in
exchange for Hashem saving the Jewish first-borns when he killed the Egyptian
ones. We wait 30 days until we do that, as the 30 day mark is when a child is
in the clear of being at risk for neo-natal death. It is considered a viable
birth. He has transitioned fully into the world of the living. And right away
the first thing that we do focus on what his role will be in this world.
It doesn’t get more Jewish than that. A doctor?
A lawyer? A Rabbi? The parents redeem him from the Kohen and dedicate him to
this new world where they recognize that he has a role to fill, and that role
interestingly enough is one that might take him out of the Temple and the
service of the Kohanim, that he is otherwise been dedicated to.
In Israel this past Shabbos we read Parshat
Tazria and Metzora and in America they are reading that portion this week.
Tazria begins with that transition. A child is born, the parsha begins. Boys
have one rule, girls have another. Each one of them the parents have different
obligations. Different processes of purity after the birth, different types of
of offerings and sacrifices. Birth offerings, sin offerings, birds, sheep for
the wealthy for the indigent. The Torah wants us to not to take for granted
this significant milestone. There is perhaps nothing more natural than
child-birth. At the same time there is nothing more miraculous. No time,
perhaps where we ever feel that close to Hashem. Where we feel God-like, as we become
His partner in bringing life to this world. So many things could have gone
wrong. Do go wrong, many times. So the Torah tells us to mark this with the
rituals of post- childbirth. As well the pidyon haben is done when everything
is natural. This is the first born of the mother, there is no casarean
sections, no previous miscarriages. When everything seems most natural that
Torah wants us to take note and recognize that this is a transition and a time
to reflect and plan forward.
Its interesting that the parsha of Tazria is
juxtaposed with Metzora. It contains the laws of this spiritual malady that
take hold when one does not pay attention to ones life. When one speaks Lashon
Hara, when one acts haughtily, stingily. When one pretty much does whatever he
or she in the mood of doing without thought of the significance of one’s
actions. The remedy the Torah tells us is Tzora’as. Things start to go back.
His body has a form of spiritual decay. Kind of like food that sits out and
doesn’t’ stay fresh. We get moldy. We have to change everything to get back in
the game. We go out of the camp, we redo our house, our vessels, our clothing.
WE have to examine everything. We need to recognize that life doesn’t just
happen. We have to move with the program, grow with the program and become what
we were meant to.
As well this week, I flew to the States. It’s
always a jarring experience for me. How little America has changed. Same fancy
shuls, same fancy houses, same people running, shopping, buying, selling and
yes learning and praying as well. It’s a whirlwind. Israel doesn’t feel that
way.
Here I feel that more people are taking life
with more appreciation for it. People don’t move as fast, don’t feel like
they’re trying to escape as much. They’re busy, talking, laughing, raising
children and worrying about them. There’s a lot more arguing about life and its
meaning and how the world should be run over here. There is a sense that my
life has a lot more significance here. One might say it’s because we live in a
constant state of terror threat. Every day may be your last. And although that
is certainly a Jewish perspective to live with as our sages say that a person
should always “repent a day before he dies”. I don’t think that it is the
reason why people live that way. I just think that we appreciate that our
living here in Israel is a transition in Jewish history.
America
is same old same old 2000 years exile. Israel living is the beginning of the
redemption. It’s the ingathering of Exiles. It’s the process of fulfilling our
divine mandate of shining our light, Hashem’s light out onto the world. Yeah….
America with all its kosher pizza shops and Kosher eateries With all its Orthodox
Jews in the White House, it’s lobbyists and representatives in congress and the
Senate. With all its incredible chesed organizations, its yeshivas, its study
halls and even its Torah and mitzvos, just don’t feel to me as having anything
near the Jewish or even religious significance as one more Jewish baby being
born in Eretz Yisrael, one more house or apartment being built or bought, one
more Jewish solider swearing to defend with his life our homeland and every Jew
no matter where they are.
As I returned to Israel I began to look at the
double portion that we read here this week. I had after all four Torah portions
to prepare for in one week. I thought about the juxtaposition of the two
portions we read here in Israel. Acharey Mot-after the death of the
children of Aharon, the first parsha which discusses the laws of the Yom Kippur,
atonement service and the laws of forbidden and illicit relations. And
Kedoshim- becoming holy, the varied laws and commandments that that run the
entire gamut of areas of life of which the observance of them will sanctify us
and separate us from all the other nations of the world. There is a wry joke
that is said of how whenever anyone dies the eulogies will inevitably make the
deceased sound like the greatest tzadik and forget all the terrible
things that the person may have done. It is based on the names of these
regularly juxtaposed parshiyot; Acharey Mot- after they die, then
Kedoshim- they become holy.
I thought about these parshas and their
message of transition as I sat in Moscow Airport on my layover to Israel. And
had a choice of three different minyanim to daven from. There were chasidim,
Sefardim and plain old American Jews all putting on tallit and teffilin
and praying in varied corners and gates of the airport. I watched in wonder
and thought about how not even 35 years ago this would have been unheard of.
The KGB arrested people for praying, I had Rabbis that smuggled in mezuzot
and matzas for Jews that hid their Judaism for fear of death. But the world had
changed. It had moved on. There are American magazines in the airport, and
Chabad guys putting teffilin on Jews in the streets as thousands of
Jewish children are learning Torah in the hundreds of schools in Russia. The
former Soviet Union was dead and the kedusha, perhaps in the merit of
those that sacrificed their lives to bring out that holiness, was no
flourishing. I don’t think anyone there appreciated it. They just took it for
granted. Why not? Let’s daven in Moscow airport. But nor me. I was in
transition mode and this was incredible.
Finally I arrived back in Eretz Yisrael. Home
sweet home. I came home though to perhaps the most meaningful and significant
transition that this country has. I returned to the siren of Yom HaZikaron- the
Israel memorial day for its 23,646 soldiers and victims of terror that have
lost their lives for living here, defending our country, because they were
Jews, the ones that may not have been so holy in their lives but in their
deaths there is none that can enter into their sphere. The truth is this
transition began a week ago with the commemoration of Yom Hashoah- Israeli
holocaust memorial day when the State remembers the 6 million that were
murdered by the Nazis and all their merry helpers. These memorial days are
really the perfect transition into perhaps the most celebrated day in Israel;
Yom Ha’atzmaut- Israel’s Independence Day. One can’t appreciate the present
without recognizing the past and seeing it as a transition. When we have a Tazria-
a birth of a child, a nation, a transformation in our life we have to be wary
of not becoming a Metzora someone that just lets it sit and become stagnant.
When we experience a death, a tragedy, a loss- Acharery Mot. We should await
and anticipate the Kedusha of that moment. The Yom Kippur, the atonement, the
holiness and the opportunity for new relationships, new opportunities a new
explosion of sanctification into a world that is moving faster and faster to
its fulfillment. To the end game. To Mashiach.
We are reading different parshiyot in America
and in Israel. They are different but they are the same. They are both parshas
that teach us to take note of the incredible times we are living in. We may not
be on the same page but we are both heading through transformative times, which
brings me to one last transition. We are in the period of Omer right now. Today,
Friday is the 20th day of the 49 day counts as we move from Pesach
to Shavuot. Form Exile to becoming a nation that received the Torah. It is a
time of growth and transition as well as anticipation of that most incredible
revelation. At the same time, fascinatingly enough it is a time of mourning. We
don’t listen to music, make weddings and take haircuts or shave. During this
period the 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva died, whether of a plague or in the
battles of Bar Kochva. As well it is during this period that the Crusades took
place when almost 30% of the Jewish population was wiped out in the 11th
and 12th century. It is mourning and it is growth, it is exile and
it is redemption and becoming, it is remembering the past and seeing how it
moves us to an incredible future. It is Tazria and Metzora and Acharey Mot and
Kedoshim.
As the sirens end and the festivities of
Israel’s 70th birthday dwindle down, I think about how far we have
come. I have just read an article written by the nephew of the founder of the
anti- Zionist, Neturei Karta Rabbi Yehuda Meshi Zahav on his appreciation of
what has changed since the founding of the State. It’s a worthwhile and
fascinating read (https://www.theyeshivaworld.com/news/israel-news/1506537/you-were-wrong-a-letter-from-yehuda-meshi-zahav-to-his-uncle-rav-amram-blau-founder-of-neturei-karta.html
)
The world is moving faster and faster. The
Kedoshim of the past’s merits have brought us a country where even the most
secular Jew is singing songs of praise to Hashem. Our first exile from our
Temple lasted 70 years. We have now been returned for 70 years to our home. May
Hashem now this year bring us to that final transition with His return to His
home as well.
Have transformative Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim
Schwartz
*********************************************************************
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S
FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
“Nit mit sheltn un nit mit lakhn ken men di
velt ibermakhn.”- Neither
cursing nor laughing can change the world
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF
THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
Q: The previous name of Kfar Tavor:
a. Mess’ha
b. Ja’uni
c. Sejera
d. Umm-Juni
RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL VIDEOS OF THE WEEK
https://a7.org/media/a7radio/misc/video/18/apr/hared%2018-4.mp4 - Incredible
video of Chariedi children being taught about Yom Hazikaron by Viznitze
Chasidic teacher Rabbi Bombach
https://youtu.be/kxzEGSmgYl4?list=PL4FBDAAD0572A52D7
– Eyewitness to history- 1948 American Volunteers to War
of independence-inspirational- What would you have done!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6UcozPpJvs
– Maccabeats Megillat Ha’Atzamut- not my
favorite Maccabeats composition but hey it’s Maccabeats right?
https://youtu.be/oxzR9Z-kG6Q
- Shlomi Shabbat and KolKulam with 12,000 people
singing Al Kol Eileh magnificent almost impossible not to get chills and
emotional…
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S HAFTORA CONNECTION OF THE
WEEK
Tazria/Metzora Story Haftoras are always more interesting,
but they are even better when the parsha itself has no stories in it. This week
the two Torah portions contain the various laws of Metzora, Tazria deals more
with the process of becoming a metzora and how, where and the different
variations of the tzaras-physical blemish manifestation of a spiritual malady,
occur. Parshat Metzora on the other hand deals more with the purification
process from it. The Haftora though which is a story from the book of Kings
contains some metzoras that seem to play a role in the story but seemingly we
always try to find a deeper message and connection that our sages are trying to
tell us that reflect on the entire portion.
The story is that the Jewish King of Israel,
Yehoram, is facing a siege by the king of Aram. Food is sacrce and people are
starving. The King blames the prophet Elisha… it’s always the Rabbi’s fault,
right? For his prayers had not been answered. He prophetically tells the King
that the next day
Kings II (7:18) “a seah of fine flour will sell for
[merely] a shekel, and two seahs of barley will sell for a
shekel in the gate of Samaria.'
The Kings doubting servant is rather skeptical
and mocks Elisha and Elisha tells him that as a result of his lack of faith he
will not enjoy the miracle.
That is the backdrop, the haftorah tells us
then of the story of the four lepers that having been quarantined outside of
the camp, make their way to the Aramean camp and find it empty. It seems Hashem
had performed a miracle and made it sound like great armies were approaching
and the Arameans fled, leaving everything behind. The Metzoras ate to their
hearts content and then decided to share the news with the camp and the King.
Although he was skeptical at first the Jews went out and celebrated when they
found the former army camps full of food. They celebrated and took all the
stuff. In their haste the skeptical servant got trampled just like Hashem had
promised through the prophet.
So that’s the story. The message I believe,
which is really the one of Tzara’s in general is that one has to try to see the
good, see redemption and appreciate that the salvation of Hashem can come from
even the most unlikely of sources. The King, the servant they look down on
Elisha, what do rabbis know from politics, from sieges, from famines. Why
should we listen to these lepers, these castaways? On the other hand the
Metzora who had previously spoken evil as well and seen only the negative here
choose to focus on hope, Hashem will provide, let’s go to the enemies camp
there will be salvation. As well they share the news with the people. They
don’t just hide it for themselves. That is perhaps the greater message and
connection our sages wish for us to reflect upon when we read this portion
Elisha
(718 BC) – The period of Elisha's prophecy in Israel was a
very crucial one. The land suffered from war and famine and was on the verge of
total collapse. It was at this time that G‑d sent the great
prophet Elisha to bring comfort and courage to the people in
distress. Elisha was constantly on the road, mingling freely with the people.
He counseled kings and offered his help to a poor widow, with equal grace. So numerous did Elisha's disciples become, that their quarters
in Samaria became too small. At the request of the young prophets, Elisha
agreed to accompany them to the Jordan, where they intended to build spacious
quarters to house all the young prophets who were eager to be near him.
Acharey
Mot/ Kedoshim- So Sefardim and Ashkenazim have different Haftorah to read this
week. The Sefardim read the haftorah of Kedoshim which is from the book of
Yechezkel and the Ashkenazim read the shorter one of Acharey Mot from the book
of Amos. Both haftorahs contain the same theme though. They are prophecies that
discuss the Jews engaging in the evil and licentious ways of Egypt or Kush (a
relative of Egypt). The navi tells how Hashem will wipe out those sinners as
the land of Israel will not tolerate this immorality. As well it foretells in
Amos of the Messianic period after this immorality is eradicated
of
the Jews returning to the land of Israel and all of the incredible porphecies
that we see fulfilled today are foretold.
Amos (9:13) Behold days
are coming, says Hashem, that the plowman shall meet the reaper and the treader
of the grapes the one who carries the seed, and the mountains shall drip sweet
wine, and all the hills shall melt.
14 And I will
return the captivity of My people Israel, and they shall rebuild desolate
cities and inhabit [them], and they shall plant vineyards and drink their wine,
and they shall make gardens and eat their produce.
15And I will plant
them on their land, and they shall no longer be uprooted from upon their land,
that I have given them, said the Lord your God.
There
is not too many mountains that one can drive through in Israel that one doesn’t
see the vineyards, the crops, the produce and the ingathering of Exiles. We are
back and forever! What an amazing Haftora to read particularly this week as we
celebrate 70 years back home.
Amos
(646 BC) – Amos began his prophesies during the period of the first temple when Yeravam ll extended the boundaries of
Israel (the Northern Kingdom) and under whose reign the kingdom of Israel
flourished. Yeravam attempted to banish Amos from the kingdom because of his
prophecy that Yeravam's kingdom would not last. Amos criticized the kingdom for
persecuting the poor and immersing themselves in materialism and luxury
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S
AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
The War of Independence 1948 – It is Israel’s 70th Birthday, you want to learn
more about the great war that led to the founding of our country when we warded
off 5 armies Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Jordan and Egypt and established our State.
Over the past few years there have been some really fantastic upgrades to the
many museums that discuss the stories of that yearlong struggle that began in
1947 with the United nations vote and ended in in March of 1949 with the
cease-fire agreement. To learn about the soldiers and fighting units one can
visit the Palmach museum and Etzel museum in Tel Aviv with their multi-media
movie presentations. In the Palmach museum by special arrangement one can even
see the film dedicated to the Gachal the foreign immigrant army units. In Kfar
Etzion the story of the history and battle of the Etzion bloc that fell on the
morning of Yom Ha’atzmaut the day of the
Ben Gurion’s declaration of
independence, is vividly told in their new upgraded multimedia museum. In
Latrun one can appreciate the remembrance wall and discuss the tank battles
that took place there on the road to Jerusalem and of course in the old city
there is the museum where one can see footage of the war for Jerusalem in 1948
and the blowing up of the Churva shul that led to its defeat and surrender.
Certainly no tour of the war of independence is complete without a visit to
independence Hall in Tel Aviv where one can visit and see displays and films
about the declaration of our State and the historic United Nations vote that
led up to it.
It is easy to celebrate the birth of
our country and to even sing songs of praise to Hashem and to make barbeques
but to really make the day meaningful it is worthwhile to become more
knowledgeable about the history, the heroism and the story that were the
founding of our country.
RABBI
SCHWARTZ’S TOP ISRAEL QUOTES OF THE WEEK
When I was a boy, the Dead Sea was
only sick. -George
Burns
The only thing chicken about Israel
is their soup -Bob
Hope
Are the Israelis friendly? Don’t ask!
If you are lost in Israel and ask directions, they don’t tell you. They take
you, then you both get lost. ~ Dave Berg
Students in Israel don’t riot.
They’re too busy arguing what to riot about. ~ Dave Berg
Tel-Aviv airport is still the only
airport in the world where each passenger is met by ten relatives. ~ George Mikes
Bad English was the second language
of Israel and bad Hebrew, of course, remained the national language. ~ George Mikes
Let me tell you something that we
Israelis have against Moses. He took us 40 years through the desert in order to
bring us to the one spot in the Middle East that has no oil! ~ Golda Meir
If we have to have a choice between
being dead and pitied, and being alive with a bad image, we’d rather be alive
and have the bad image. ~
Golda Meir
AND MY FAVORITE
On a crowded bus (in Israel), a
mother was speaking to her son in Yiddish. An Israeli woman reprimanded her.
“You should be speaking Hebrew. Why are you talking to him in Yiddish?’’ The
mother answered, “I don’t want he should forget he’s a Jew.’” ~Kirk Douglas
RABBI
SCHWARTZ’S REALLY TERRIBLE ISRAEL JOKES OF THE WEEK
A voice was heard on Israeli Radio. “This is
Station OYVEH Tel Aviv, 1830 on your dial…. but for you, 1825.”
How does the Prime Minister’s celebrate Yom
Ha’Atzmaut? BiBiQ
What is the name of the dance we do on Yom
Ha’Atzmaut? The Indepen-dance
A car hit an Israeli man. The paramedic says, “Are you
comfortable?” The man says, “Eh, I make a good living.”
A guy is partying on Rothchild and suddenly noticed he lost
his wallet. He got up on the bar and shouted, “Excuse me ladies and gentlemen,
I’ve just lost my wallet with over 500 shekels in it. To the person that finds
my wallet, I will give 50 shek!” A voice from the back of the bar shouted, “I
will give 75!”
Hear about the new Japanese Israeli restaurant. It is
called “SohSueMi.”
It’s the Maccabi Games in Tel Aviv and just before their
race, an American sprinter asks an Israeli opponent, “So what’s your best time
for the 100 meters?” “Just over 8 seconds,” replies the Israeli.”But the world
record is around 9 seconds,” says the astonished American. “Yes,” says the
Israeli, “but I know a short cut.”
Benny is on holiday in Israel and goes to a concert at the
Minkovsky Auditorium. Benny asks one of the officials, “I was wondering
whether this magnificent auditorium is named after Dovid Minkovsky, the famous
biblical scholar?””No,” replies the official, “It’s named after Harry
Minkovsky, the writer” “I’ve never heard of him,” says Benny, “what did he write?” “A
cheque,” replies the official.
Moshe was travelling back to London on an El Al flight from
Tel Aviv and it was time for the main meal to be served. “Would you like
dinner?” a flight attendant asked Moshe.”What are my choices?” he asked.”Yes or
no,” she replied
A Journalist has to write a story on the lack of meat in
Poland. So he goes off to Poland and asks the people: “Excuse me, what do
you think of the lack of meat in Poland?” All the poles reply: “Meat?
What is meat?” Seeing he cannot get an answer in Poland he goes to
the USSR and asks the Soviets: “Excuse me, what do you think of the lack
of meat in Poland?” All the Soviets reply: “Think? What is think?”
Seeing he cannot get an answer in the USSR he goes to the USA and asks the
Americans: “Excuse me, what do you think of the lack of meat in Poland?”
All the Americans reply: “Lack? What is lack?” Seeing he cannot get an
answer in the USA he decides to go to Israel, and asks the Israelis:
“Excuse me, what do you think of the lack of meat in Poland?” To which
all the Israelis reply: “Excuse me? What is excuse me?”
."
************
Answer is A – Yup, got this one wrong, I guessed Sejera. I wasn’t that far
off Sejera is the name of Ilaniya which is right next to Kfar Tavor, but ahh
well… The correct answer for this one was Messah. Omm Junni was Deganiya and
not sure who Ja’unni. Not that I think any of this information is important or
that any of my tourists would ever be interested in the old arba names of the
original Jewish villages, but I would have studied this for the exam because I
knew that they usually ask questions like this. I guess I deleted it from my
memory after the exam, if I never knew it.
