from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim
Schwartz
"Your friend
in Karmiel"
August 4th
2023 -Volume 12 Issue
43 17th of Av 5783
Natural
Heeling
Yair is a friend of mine. But he’s a bit different than you
and I. We live in the city or the suburbs. We have a house. We get our food
from the supermarket or lately it seems more often than not at hotels for
breakfast, falafel and pizza stores for lunch and some nice restaurants for
dinner. Oyy the rough life of being a tour guide. We spend an inordinate amount
of time on our phone and computer. We have children that see Dadddy do that and
can’t wait till they grow up and do and have all that too.
I’ll never forget how a few years ago I took my little 5
year old Tully along with me on Friday afternoon to Tzfat, and showed him all
the sites. What most enthralled him though was all the free drinks and ice
creams many of my frequent restaurants and kiosks were giving me and him as we
passed by-in appreciation of the frequent customers that I’m there with. At the
end of the day Tully warmed my heart when he turned to me and said
“Daddy, I also want to be a tour guide like you”. After a few minutes though he became very somber and
concerned and looked at me and asked
“Do I have to be fat to be a Tour guide…?”
Well that’s one question that my son won’t have to ask me
anymore...
But anyways, back to Yair. Yair is different. He is not fat.
In fact he is skinny. He does not live in a city, suburb or even a house. He
lives in the forest. Yaar Baal Shem Tov to be precise. He is married with 5
kids. I believe that he might have a computer. His phone is definitely not
anything too ‘smart’. He does have a nice piano though, out there in his small
home-made shack in the woods. He also has a hand operated washing machine that
he’s quite proud of having made.
Food? Well, Yair and his lovely wife Tovi and their children
are vegans. They only like to eat what’s natural. Unlike me who also likes natural
though I define it as food that doesn’t bite me when I put it in my mouth, they
only eat things that comes out of the ground. No milk or cheese either.
“Just like Adam and Eve in the garden of Eden” he tells me. He does have goats though, but that’s just
because he like the sounds that they make.
The water they have on good days comes in from a pipe that
runs a few kilometers from a natural water source nearby. It gets clogged up,
but they don’t need so much.
“Vegans, don’t really sweat” he tells me.
He does have solar panels that provide some electricity for
their lights. He feels like he’s cheating a bit by doing this, and even points
out to me that even the energy efficient LED bulbs he has attracts bugs, which
natural fire wouldn’t- he claims. Although I remember getting bitten up by all
the campfires I used to go to. But maybe because those mosquitos also wanted a
taste of those hotdogs or s’mores that I had just eaten, that of course
wouldn’t be found in Yair’s ‘natural’ lifestyle. Yet, Yair explains guiltily,
that although he’s still cheating with that electricity, it’s because he’s
originally a city boy, (raised in Telshe Stone) and he’s still in the process
of weaning himself off of that as well. As I said Yair’s different than you and
I.
Is this fair for his children? He asks me if my lifestyle- our
lifestyle is fair for ours. I visited him this past week and asked him if I
could bring anything. He asked for two bags of ice cubes. It was after all 115
degrees outside. I can tell you, I have never seen children so enthralled with
ice cubes in my life. It would’ve taken me buying my own children a brand new
I-Phone with unlimited data and texting to get even half the excitement that
filled Yair’s home. Ice cubes…
I can tell you that Yair’s children (all but the oldest
incidentally born ‘naturally’ in the forest) are some of the truly happiest
children I have ever met. Each day they come home from school excited over the
different activities that they do. Renovating their bedrooms with newer and
prettier stones that they fine, carving out wood, making pottery art taking
care of their goats, and running freely through the mountains of the Galilee
with their pet dogs. When, their father comes home all the children come
running up to see him and greet him, excitedly showing him all they have done
each day. My tourists that I brought with me to visit him, remarked how they
only wished their children would look up for a minute from their computers to
even nod at him when he walks into their room. So, his words echo in my mind,
is our lifestyle truly being fair to our children? Fair to ourselves?
Don’t get worried. I’m not going vegan or moving out to a
forest anytime soon. It would be hard to write this weekly E-Mail from there.
But my visits to Yair never fail to inspire me. His incredible ability to see
beyond the “norm” and to have the resolve to do something and be different to
live and raise his family in what he calls an “authentic, natural lifestyle”.
His love and connection to the Eretz Yisrael and how he doesn’t want to taint
that with anything “made in China”, any South American beef, or anything to
distract him and his appreciation of what the Torah describes in this week’s
Torah portion repeatedly as the “good land”, is one of the most
beautiful things I can only aspire to feel. I admire his and his wife’s
determination to turn off all the noise, all the media and commercial
manipulations, messages and alternative distractions and pursuits that I think
we can all acknowledge dominate our existence. The noise is so loud, we can’t
hear the sound that I hear at night at Yair’s den, the stillnesss of the earth
and land and even of Hashem calling out to me anymore. Somehow “natural” seems
tempting even to me.
The portion this week is called Eikev. It’s an interesting
name for a Parshah. The word literally means heel. Yes, like on the bottom of
your foot. Its title for the portion comes from the first verse which uses the
word in an entirely different way. The verse reads and
And it shall be Eikev
you will listen to my laws and you will observe and perform them and Hashem
your God will guard for you the covenant and the kindness which he swore to
your forefathers. And he will love you and bless you and multiply you…
The commentaries all struggle to understand the context of
the word Eikev here. Some suggest it should be read in exchange for
listening to my laws, others understand the word to mean as a result of
following the laws and yet others see it as meaning that as soon as you follow
my laws. Rashi however diverts from his usual way of interpreting the verse
according to the simple meaning and reads the word as heel. And understands
that Hashem is telling the people to be diligent about those simple mitzvahs
that one might neglect and step on with his heel. I find it fascinating that
our holy language of Hebrew this one word can mean all of the various
interpretation. The question is what all the other translations of the word
have to do with a heel.
The great Rebbe of Sassov suggests an interesting
homiletical interpretation. He said if a person will listen to his heel than he
will have these laws and he will guard and observe them. I’ve had long hard day
hiking in the desert. And I know what my heels are saying to me. But the Rebbe
was referring to something else entirely. The heel is the lowest and hardest
part of the body. It has the thickest skin. It’s not easy to get through to the
heel. But the heel is the part that most connects to the ground, to the earth.
If we listen to the heel meaning try to understand what the most natural state
of the world is asking from you to do, instead of just marching forward to
wherever the rest of the body wants us to go. Then inevitably we will find that
we would observe the mitzvos and bring the world to its fulfillment.
I’ve thought about this idea a lot since visiting Yair. He’s
listening to his heel. He only wants to connect to Hashem through the holy land
of Israel whose cry to him he is listening to. The natural state of the world
sings praise to Hashem. How often do we stop to hear that song? Do we let it
touch and move our spirits? Are we treading on holy earth with heavy boots and
shoes with our earphones plugged in our fingers texting and our minds online?
Have we lost our connection to the beauty of Creation that is waiting for our
composition, longing for the blessing that we are meant to bring as soon as we
bring that song to its incredible climax? The Torah portion of Eikev is
replete with this idea. The natural state of the Land and its blessing is
dependent on the mitzvos that we do and the sanctification we bring to the
land. The rains will fall or not fall based on our heeding our Eikev. We
will win or lose our battles and challenges Eikev. Nachmanides notes
that the heel is bent and curved. From the bottom it moves up. It is the
natural circle of life and the Torah and Mitzva lifestyle in the land is
what will allow the earth and blessing to flow.
Perhaps the most poignant idea that I heard about the Eikev,
though is one I heard from Rav Moshe Shapiro. He suggested that generation
before Mashiach comes is called the Ekvita D’Mashiach, the heels of
Mashiach. For the generation before Mashiach may be the toughest and the
thickest skinned and the hardest to penetrate and elicit and emotion, feeling
or sensation from. The apathy will be overwhelming. Yet there is one thing that
can get through to the heel. That he suggests is a little tickle. It doesn’t
need any big booms or slaps. One just needs to tickle it with love and laughter
and just watch that heel start to kick and jump. Now you know why there’s a
joke in my weekly E-Mail J.
We have finished our period of mourning for our Temple. We are in what our
sages refer to as the 7 weeks of comfort and consoling. It’s the time for
healing. It’s the time when we can get out and listen to our heels as we
explore the beauty of the world that Hashem has given us. It’s the time when we
can bring a smile and a hug to someone who needs it. All we need is that
tickle. Mashiach is awaiting our heels.
Have a Heeling comforting Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
************************
YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK
“Besser
a krummer fus aider a krumer kop.”- Better a crooked foot than a crooked mind.
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
33)
The Sidonian Cave and the Polish Cave are located in:
Which
of the following peoples lived south of Jerusalem during the Hellenistic
period?
A) the
Samaritans
B) the
Hittites
C) the
Edomites
D) the
Itureans
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MmNhTAlh4qM
- 9- Days are over
and all the new music hits the web… making up for lost time we kick of with my
buddy Nissim and Gad Elbaz’s latest Ata Hu Ha’Melech
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKmM3bXzQxE
–Toda Lecha Rebbe in Hebrew version
from Benny Freedman!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFsGFIgelfw
– L’Kavod Shabbos- Kempeh’s latest Leccha Dodi
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pofu45lPHIk
– As Joey says… We have 7 Weeks of
consolation and this is his latest addition of the comfort with Nachamu
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hAPaY0ZqO_8
– No clue what this is some Yiddish
“The office’ type of video yiddish comedy show called “Balagan” ? What do you
think…?
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES
AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
The End of the house of Achav-. The Kings of Yehuda and Yisrael have
been killed by Yehu, and last week we learned about the vengeance or
rather justice meted out against Jezebel as per the prophecy of Eliyahu
HaNavi and Elisha. Yet Yehu’s job is not over
yet, his reign of justice, vengeance and terror against the enemies of Hashem
and Achav’s house is still not complete. See, Achav had a big
family. The Navi tells us that he had 70 children…not bad… Yehu didn’t
want any backstabbing going on and Hashem had decreed that Achav would
not have any remaining “wall-pishers” or male progeny left over. So in
order to see that taken care of he comes up with a plan to build support.
Achav’s base as
we said was in Shomron. And imaginably that’s where his kids were raised
in winter and summer palaces- yes our sages tell us that they had their own. So
he sends messengers to the servants and caretakers of Achav’s children and
challenges them to anoint one of Achav’s children as King and to fight
him. The servants are terrified, despite living in the well fortified city of Shomron
that held out against the Aramean siege for a long time. Today the city
of Shomron is in the Palestinian Area A and is called Sebastia
a city that was built by Herod and can’t be visited.
So the servants all submit and pledge allegiance to Yehu,
which is just what he wanted to hear. However he wanted more than just
words. He wanted heads to roll. And he demanded that they bring him the heads
of all 70 kids. The next morning there they were sitting in baskets on Yehu’s
front porch. Pretty brutal… Yehu, then gives his big speech. He tells
everyone that no one can ever claim that he is a traitor and a rebel, as they
are all in on it now. As well he tells them that there is nothing to feel bad
about. They are carrying out the prophecy of Eliyahu. This is the will of
Hashem. A new era is about to be heralded in and they are on the right team. Welkam
to Eezarael…
If you think the blood and gore is over yet… we still got
plenty more coming next on the hit list the families that support the King
of Yehuda, Achazaya and the prophets of the Baal.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE FOOT JOKES OF THE WEEK
Why isn’t your nose 12 inches long? Because then it
would be a foot
Why couldn’t the two feet get along? Because they
both thought they were right.
Who always goes to bed with his shoes on? A horse
How did the bubblegum cross the road? It was stuck to
the bottom of the chicken’s foot.
What is the fastest way to go to the moon? Tickle the
bottom of an elephant’s foot!
What type of hat does a leg wear? A knee cap.
What did one knee bone say to the other knee bone? “Let’s
get out of this joint.”
What are a plumbers favourite type of shoes? Tap shoes
What kind of shoes does a plumber hate? Clogs
If athletes get athlete’s foot, what do terrorists
get? Missile-toe.
What does a shoemaker use to repair shoes? Toe-nails
What is the foot capital of Canada? Toe-ron-toe
(Toronto).
Did you hear the joke about the gym sock? You don’t
want to. It stinks
Did you hear about the American podiatrist and the
English chiropodist? They were arch
rivals.
Yankel had broken down on the side of the roah. He flagged down a passing motorist and asked,
'Can you help me fix my car?' 'Sorry,' the motorist replied. 'I'm not
a mechanic - I'm a podiatrist.'
'Well', said Yankel 'can you give me a toe?'
When you are on good terms with your dermatologist,
ask this question: "When you started your practice, did you start from
scratch?"
Why did the podiatrist want to change careers?
Because he always felt defeat.
Dr. Goldberg the podiatrist was sitting in his office
holding his head, when the nurse came in she asked him what was wrong. He
looked like he was having a rough day. He said “yeah I started this morning
on the wrong foot!”
A man walks into Moshe’s shoe shop and tries on a
pair of shoes.
"How do they feel?" asks Moshe.
"Well the left one feels a bit tight,"
replies the man.
Moshe looks down at the shoe on the man’s left foot
and says, "Try it again, this time with the tongue out."
"Well, theyth sthill feelth a bith
tighth."
********************************
The answer to
this week”s question is C -. The last
question on the exam! And of course I got it right B”H!! So the Sidonian cave
and Polish cave are both burial caves in Beit Guvrin/ Maresha national park the
ancient roman city that is actually a UNESCO recognized site. It’s not a place
I really guide much although many of my tourists go there for the “Dig for a
Day” archeological activity and find cool
stuff there. The site was a major Roman city with one of the only Amphitheaters
in Israel and many burial caves from Sidonim that lived there as well as the
Cistern that Anders Polish army hung out in and wrote Warsaw Poland 1943 when
they were exiled from Poland to London by the Nazis in WWII. The second part of
the question was also fairly easy. The Itureans were in the North from Lebanon,
Hittites were in Chevron area and in biblical period. The Shomronim were in
Shomron today’s West Bank in the center of the country. So that leaves Esau or
Edom always in the South. So the final
score is 24.5 for Schwartz and 8 for Ministry of tourism on this exam.
If we gave each
question 3 points as there are 33 questions I would’ve gotten a 75 on this Exam
which is a passing grade and all you really need. However, the truth is you
only have to answer 30 out of the 33 so I can eliminate 3 of the questions that
I got wrong and that would give me an 85 a much more respectable grade. When I
originally took the exam I believe I got an 84, so I guess I haven’t lost my
touch.
NEXT WEEK WE START
BRAND NEW LATEST SUMMER EXAM!!! JOIN the Fun and see who you do…
