Asked and Answered- Parshat Va'eira 2026 5786

 Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

January 16^th 2026 -Volume 16 Issue 13 27^th of Tevet 5786

 

Parshat Vaiera

 Asked and Answered

 

So, you've got questions? Well we've got answers. That's the name of this week's parsha. Va'eira- I appeared. I will show you. Hashem is gonna do some God-splainin. We left off last week with Moshe being understandably upset. Here he goes to Pharaoh. He does what Hashem told him to. He "Let-my-People-Go'ed" him. And things just got worse. What is this, a game?

 

"Why are you doing bad to this nation?"

"Since I came things just started getting worse"

" Why did you send me for this mission".

 

Moshe's question that left off as a cliffhanger last week, is not just his question. It's all of ours. When is this going to end? What's the point? Why does it seem it's getting worse? My daughter, Elka, just asked me in the car the other day a similar question, because we are living on major Mashiach energy in our family these days. What's the big deal that Hashem is taking us out, and what are we so grateful for? Isn't He the One who sent us there in the first place? I mean I hate to break up the party here, and really saying this as chazal say l'shaber es ha'ozen- to break your ears- with a question most frum Jews should probably think, but are too scared to ask… but are we grateful to Hamas for letting out our hostages? To a large degree, Moshe wasn't too frum, maybe because he didn't learn in the regular traditional cheder system, to ask the questions. Why are you doing bad to the people? What's with October 7^th, the Holocaust, Crusades, with dead babies, slaughtered wives, with burnt houses and cars, with parave chulent. OK maybe not the last one…

 

Well, the wait is over, boys and girls. It's answer time. Hashem tells Moshe that the reason all of this is happening is so that He can reveal His name to us. So that we may know Him like nobody, not even our Patriarchs ever knew Him before. Remember what last week's parsha and in fact this entire book is called? Shemos. Names. Well last week we met our names- which incidentally Chazal tell us we never changed all the years we were in Mitzrayim. Well, this week it's Hashem's turn. It's time to enter the school of Names.

 

What is the name of Hashem that we are meant to learn? Yud, hei, vav and hei, is the way it's spelled. But we're not even allowed to say it. See, until then, Hashem tells Moshe to his and our deep troubling and painful question, we only knew Him as El- Shad-ai, the God who is enough. That's not his real name. The real name is Hashem, the name that connotes his Omnipresence. The name of haya, hoveh and yihiyeh- past present and future; above time and space. That's what this is all about. It's why everything is happening. Because it seems Enough isn't enough.

 

Now I don't know about Moshe, but I'm not sure that's a good enough answer for me. I mean if the Enough name was good enough for Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov, I'll take it. And the truth is if He really wants us to know that other name of His, why can't he just take out a building or something and called Hashem Towers. Why can't He just tell it to us? I'm happy putting it on a bumper sticker on the back of my car, and even making up a song "oy ti di doy doy doy Thank You Hashem..". Why's that a reason for 6 million? For October 7^th? For ten plagues and for shlepping this whole story out in Egypt. Just put us on a plane and we're off. Then blow them all up for the sky. Hit their beepers. Who needs frogs and lice?

 

The answer though is powerful and relevant. The word yada-to make known isn't just knowledge. Our Patriarchs also knew Hashem intellectually. Yada though is biblical knowledge. Like Adam knowing his Eve. It's internalized. It's becoming one with the concept. Hashem in this process of taking us out of Egypt wasn't trying to save us and by sending us down there He wasn't trying to punish us. Egypt is the called the kur ha'barzel- it's the smelting pot. It's forming us. It's burning a new reality into our souls. It's inscribing this knowledge of Hashem into our essence. That's how we become eternal. That's how the Shechina will ultimately at the end of this book of Names, of Shemos, reside in our midst. Within each and every one of us.

 

See the name Sha-dai, is Hashem, as Rashi tells us, hiding his name. He created a world of hiddenness. A world of nature- teva which is gematria of Elokim. We know He's running and managing the world. He's behind the scenes. But that world looks like reality. We can't see or internalize the reality behind it. Sha-dai is how we relate to Him, when we want our tzoris to be over. That Hashem should just end and be enough because we are in so much pain. Shadai is a response to the external circumstances we are experiencing. But that's not really knowing Him. It's not being married to Him. It's not becoming One with Him. It's not heaven meeting earth.

 

The difference is between having a great live-in help and a spouse.  Your live-in is your cook. She cleans, she does your laundry, she makes a mean chulent, she's even great to schmooze with and pretty to look at, and laughs at your jokes. But you don't really know her. You're not one with her. Although you probably couldn't make it without her. Alternatively, for my women readers. It's having a live-in butler. He takes out the garbage, fixes everything before you even ask, makes his bed, puts down the toilet seat, and even pays your bills, and drives you to where you need to go and after a long hard day will take your kids to the park and maybe even give you a rub down and massage your shoulders. Ok… I'm getting into trouble here, I'm sure some of you want the number to these people. That's Kel Sha-dai- they take care of everything. Hey bring blessing until your mouth can no longer say the words dai dai dai… But that's not Hashem.

 

The problem with that guy or girl is that ultimately as important as they may be in your life. At the end of the day, they're not part of you. If it’s a choice between them and your kids, your parents, or your brother and sister and maybe even your spouse… They're not coming on the train with you. They're not the ones that you're going to build your house together with. Because they're just problem solvers. They're not your essence. Your air. They're not who you are and what you want to be. And guess what? If you had everything going perfect, a little AI app or robot that cooked, cleaned and took care of all of your enemies for you, you really could do without them.

 

That's not what He's looking for to us. The function of the entire world is that there is a nation that embodies Hashem. That His Shechina is one with us. That the whole world can look and see a nation that reflects that light. There's no light in E-l Shad-ai. There's only the removal of darkness. And thus we needed the Egypt experience. That's why He brought us there and He's still doing that today.

 

See, despite all my warnings and doomsday speaking and really heartfelt concern for most of my brothers and sisters in America and outside of Israel about the insane rising anti-semitism and all of the writing on the wall that hasn't been like this really since pre-Holocaust, I know it really doesn't make a difference. Jews are not going to leave and run and even come home because it's dangerous. We never do. We didn't back then. We won't today. God forbid… and I mamash mamash mamash mean that… if a group of terrorists went around America tomorrow and Kristallnacht 1000 Jewish shuls and communities in one day, I don't believe most would pack up and leave and move to Israel. They'd condemn the violence. They'd perhaps encourage Jews to get guns and learn how to shoot. They'd shomrim up and they'd appeal and finagle that the government provided better security guards and cameras for Jewish school and shuls. Sure there would be some "scaredy cats" (who to be honest probably weren't really making it anyways) that might make Aliya. But at the end of the day, You know and I know most aren't leaving.

 

Do you know why? Because E-l Sha-dai isn't really a good enough reason to pick up and move and change my whole life around. I'll manage and it will be enough over here. This is my home. This is where I'm comfortable. It's where my kids are doing good in schools. Where I don't have to worry about them being drafted. Where I speak the language. It's enough. It's dai over here. Eretz Yisrael is of course a nice dream and the Bais Ha'Mikdash would be great. But frankly, What I've got going with my daf yomi shiur and my nice shul and chinuch and rav and Kehilla are pretty much enough as well.

 

Hashem told Moshe, the reason why it's gotten worse before getting better, is because I need to take the Egypt out of the Jews. Mi'mitzrayim ga'altanu- He redeems us from the Egypt that is inside of us. That is part of us. That we identify with and He's going to put us in a smelting pot to burn it all out and show us and reveal to us that we are eternal. That Hashem is within us. That we can't live without Him. That we have no identity or reality without that Bais Hamikdash. Because the entire world is really just Him and we are His partners in that creation and world. I'm not Ephraim Schwartz in 2025 living in Karmiel and yesterday I wasn't me living in Iowa or Virginia and neither is Chaim Yankel in Lakewood. We are all one nation and one people and one shared soul from three thousand years ago until today. We're one body. We're one soul that is transcends time and space. We are one with Him.

 

The ten plagues and Exodus from Egypt which is a mere harbinger of all the future redemptions is really that message to us. We become alienated and persecuted from being the top echelons of Mitzrayim to the degree of slaves. Yet, we're still attached. We just want the tzoris to stop. We want it to go back to what it used to be. They groaned out to Hashem, not for the revelation of His glory, not to become who we need to become. But rather from the hard labor and persecution and from anti-semitism. Hashem wanted to show Moshe and us, that never works. That's not what this is about. Rather Hashem will then begin the process of showing and teaching us how when the river turns to blood, it doesn't hit us. Neither do the frogs. Neither do the wild beasts. Neither does the hail, the darkness. Nothing. We have light. We're above the "reality of this world. We're connected to Hashem. We're eternal. Then He can bring us home. Then He can bring us to the land promised to our forefathers.

 

That's really what the fulfillment of the covenant to Avraham was. We would inherit this land. An inheritance is not an acquisition. An inheritance is a connection that is personal and emotional and part of my identity. It's my father's land that he got from his father and his father. That's not something you sell or trade. I don't care how good the meat-boards are somewhere else. It's also not something that you just let someone convince you to hand over to someone else just for peace. You fight for it. You die for it. You kill for it. Because it is you. It's the only way you can become you. Because it's the only place you understand, where the Shechina can shine it's light out from and where you can reveal that mandate from. It's your name. It's your neshoma.

 

Hashem told Yaakov and Yosef told his children that we would be redeemed with the words pakod yifkod. That Hashem would count us. He would appoint us. He will redeem us. Those were the words Hashem told Moshe to tell the Jewish people and that is in fact the end of the Book of Shemos. Eileh Pikudei Ha'Mishkan. This is the counting of the Mishkan. It's fascinating as well that the word pakod is also used in the Torah when Hashem impregnates Sarah, or Chana or other Matriarchs. Pakod isn't just counting or even redeeming. It's breathing new life and purpose into a nation. It's a new sense of identity. The promise to Avraham was that his children would be go down to Egypt and then be "born again". We would have new life breathed into us. This is why the story of our exodus from Egypt is so important to us. It's also why it's so important to the world. Because it's when we began the process that we are, hopefully now, culminating. That we are revealing.

 

We are living now in the footsteps of that redemption. The situation is getting worse and worse. why, how, what are all questions that people are asking. But Hashem tells us that this is not a time for questions. It's a time for the preparation for revelation. It's the time to understand who we really are and are meant to be. What are purpose is? Why are we supposed to come home? What does Hashem want us to do here? When I say us, I don't mean you. I mean us. We're all one. We all need to be one and focus on that oneness. We need to focus on His one-ness and revelation. On our inheritance. On our place. His and our place. A place that we will reveal the Shechina to the whole world from.

 

The month of Shevat is when the sap comes up from the ground. The month of Adar is the month when Persia/ Iran falls. When it all turns around. Pesach is around the corner. This year we won't have four questions. We have all of the answers already. The only one question is will you be here with us.

                                                               

Have a fantastic Shabbos and a blessed Rosh Chodesh Shevat

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz 

 

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

 

" Barat zikh mit vemen du vilst; un tu miten aigenem saichel.."- Ask advice from everyone, but act with your own mind.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

 

16. The expression “no prophet is accepted in his home town" refers in its original context to

the city of______

 

What is the Magnificat canticle?

 

A. A psalm of thanksgiving to God by Mary, mother of Jexus, which appears

in the Gospel of Luke

B. Christian adaptation of the “Song of the Sea” that appears in the Bible

C. The prayer Jesus taught his disciples on the Mount of Olives, which

appears in the Gospel of Matthew

D. An accepted Christian equivalent of the Jewish Kaddish prayer

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1jZYDIOl9SM  – Shwekey's latest Shabbos Drop Seudas Shabbos- what amazing songs! It gets better each week

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ii4qo8cqtjE  - You gotta watch this amazing tour of Har Ha'Bayis tour It's fascinating!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNqwyCle1mM&list=RDKNqwyCle1mM&start_radio=1  – New 8^th day Shabbos State of Mind

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ynjKx7VKaQo&list=RDynjKx7VKaQo&start_radio=1 – I love these Hesder yeshivos Ruach check out this Liorer libi- wow!.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Lion's Den- 370 BC- It was a crazy time. The 70 years of galus was almost up. Darius, had wiped out Bavel- Iraq. Daniel was his right hand man. He was the prophet that was foretelling of the impending redemption, like Moshe. And yet, just like in the story of Mitzrayim, things got worse before they got better. Daniel like Moshe was sentenced to death for davening to Hashem. The difference though was that Darius appreciated Daniel and didn't really want to see him killed. Yet, his hands were bound by the Supreme Court back then and as we repeatedly see in the future story of Purim the laws of Persia were sacrosanct. And the law said that anyone praying to anyone but Darius for their requests were to be thrown into a lion's den.

Now the truth is this entire law was only written by Daniel 's jealous enemies in order to see him taken out. It's usually the way the goyim work historically as well. Even in Mitzrayim all the Egyptians had to throw their babies in the Nile in order to get the Jewish redeemer out of the picture. Yes, Goyim will sacrifice their own freedoms and children to stop us. And the truth is that Daniel himself wasn't even breaking the law as he wasn't making requests in his prayers he was davening to Hashem and praising him and asking forgiveness. But the facts don't matter. He was arrested and the charge against him that even Darius couldn't argue with was that their can't be any exceptions to the law. There was no pardons allowed Daniel would be thrown into the den.

Darius apologized to Daniel before throwing him into the den, but he told him that he wasn't so worried for him. He would daven for him. Hashem would save him. He was the goyish king and leader of the free world that believed in Hashem and in Daniel and he Jewish nations God that saves them miraculously.

So Daniel was thrown in. The lion's chilled with him all night long. Darius prayed for them and in the morning he called down to him and Daniel came on out for a cup of coffee. The miracle happened he was saved. Darius then sent out a proclamation declaring that the God of Israel was the true God. No one can mess with the Jews. He chucked in the conspirators. And the whole world stood in awe of Daniel and the God of Israel. This miracle could've and would've been the end of the exile. We would've then headed back to Israel. Daniel begins to see that the time is ripe. Yet, it doesn't happen. Why not? An angel reveals the answer to him… and to us… next week.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE ASKED/ANSWERED JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

My wife asked me what "mansplaining" means. ...now what am I supposed to do?

 

I asked what LGBTQIA means. But I never get a straight answer.

 

A boy asked his Bitcoin-investing dad for $10.00 worth of Bitcoin currency.

Dad: $9.67? What do you need $10.32 for?

 

Yankel was a large company owner was once asked

How do you motivate your employees to be so punctual?"

He smiled & replied, "It's simple. I have 30 employees and 29 free parking spaces. One is paid parking."

 

My 7 year old son came in from school today and asked me:

"Dad, what kind of mouse can walk on 2 legs?"

"Erm, I don't know" I replied

"Mickey Mouse" he replied laughing

"Dad, what kind of duck can walk on 2 legs"

"Donald Duck" I replied

"No, all ducks, silly"

 

My interviewer asked me to describe myself in one word.

I replied “vague”

He asked, “can you elaborate?”

I said, “yes".

 

My swimmer friend asked me “what’s your favorite stroke?”

Apparently the one that killed Margaret Thatcher wasn’t an answer.

 

I asked my German friend, “What’s a three letter word for compete?”

Friend: Vie.

Me: Because I’m trying to finish a crossword.

 

I met a Jewish girl and she asked for my number. I told her we use names here. OUCH!!!

 

My wife asked why I was whispering.

I told her that Mark Zuckerburg might be listening.

Then she laughed, and Siri laughed, and Alexa laughed.

 

A journalist asked Tim Cook why iPhones are so expensive

"Well", said Tim Cook, "that's because the iPhone replaces a whole bunch of devices. A phone, a camera, a watch, a music player, a video player, a PDA, a voice recorder, a GPS navigator, a flashlight, a calculator, a portable gaming console, and many other things. Surely, a high price is worth paying to replace so many devices!"

"Then why are Androids so much cheaper?", asked the journalist.

"Because," said Tim Cook, "an Android replaces just one device. The iPhone.

 

Chaim was a 100-year-old man and his 98-year-old wife Suri were once asked  for their health secrets. Chaim said "I'll tell you my secret. I've been married for 75 years. I promised my wife when we got married that when we quarrel, the loser has to walk for 5 kilometres. So I've been walking 5 kilometres every day for past 75 years! "

Everyone applauded and asked again "But how come your wife is very healthy as well?"

Chaim answered "That is another secret. For 75 years every single day she has been following me to make sure I really walk the full 5 kilometres!"

 

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The answer to this week's question is A– So this is actually a fascinating question and learning experience. I assumed the statement ein navi b'iro- there's no prophet from one's own city is actually chazal. I figured it was talking about Elisha or even Moshe in this week's parsha where the commentaries mention it. Yet, it seems that this is actually first sourced in the the New Testament about Yoshka and Nazareth where he's from. It's really not a Jewish source. Although interestingly enough it's quoted by many Rishonim and even acharonim like the Chasam Sofer and others. I googled it and in fact Reb Nebenzahl was opposed to even using those words and there are really articles written on this anomaly of a Christian quote used by sages, when usually they steal everything from us. The gemara does in fact use the concept in regards the non-appointment of Rebbi of Reb Chami to position because of that similar reasoning. So perhaps (or most certainly) like all things they got it from us. Yet, the source and reading of that quote is actually earliest that we have from their Testament.

Now part II of the question I did get right as I'll never forget the church they shlepped us to in Ein Karem in Jerusalem that has this Magnificat "prayer" in a bunch of languages. Why do I remember it because it's mostly Tefillat Chana that they stole and distorted a bit. So there you do have a classic case of unoriginal Christians stealing things from us. So I got that one half right and the new score is Rabbi Schwartz having a 11.5 point and the MOT having 4.5 point on this latest Ministry of Tourism exam.

Holy Heretic- Parshat Re'eh 2024 5784

 Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

 

August 30^th 2024 -Volume 13 Issue 45 26^th of Av 5784

 

Parshat Re’eh

 Holy Heretic

 

He was excited to have his honored brother-in-law, the holy “Flame” or the “Saraf”, Reb Uri of Strelisk visit him that weekend. It was going to be a big Shabbos in Kosov and Reb Menachem Mendel sent out the word that all should come to the synagogue, as just to see the holy prayers of Reb Uri was a sight of a lifetime. The legend was that Reb Uri held the keys that locked Gehenom up over Shabbos and the souls that were released from there for Shabbos didn’t return until after Reb Uri’s havdala, which could take over an hour. This was not a Shabbos to miss.

 

Already on Thursday the locals came over to their Rebbe’s house where Reb Menachem Mendel (the founder of the Kosov and Viznitz dynasties) greeted each of his chasidim and townsfolk and spoke with them. There was one chasid however, whose heart was broken and who wasn’t satisfied with a  mere blessing. He had once been a wealthy man who had supported much of the needy causes in the town. The wheels of fortune had turned on him and now he had lost it all. To make matters worse, the poritz from whom he had rented his lands demanded payment and had threatened to take his wife and children and lock them up until his outstanding debts were covered.  Reb Menachem Mendel realizing the severity of the situation, told the broken chasid to go into his brother-in-law and ask for his advice as to what he should do.

 

With trepidation, the man entered the holy office where Reb Uri was sitting, learning and praying and he tearfully told him his sorry story. Reb Uri, being moved by his story told him that he would bequeath to him all of the merits of the Mikva that he, Reb Uri, immersed in the next morning with all his lofty kavanos and mystical tikunim. That should provide him with all he needs. The poor yid walked out perplexed, what could a Mikva dip do for him? He had bills to pay now. But one doesn’t argue or ask on a Rebbi, so he bit his tongue and accepted it. However when he told Reb Menachem Mendel about the strange conversation and offer of his brother-in-law, the Rebbe sent him back in and told him to tell Reb Uri a message that “A Mikva dip is not how we pay back debts”.

 

So fearfully and a bit abashedly the chasid reentered Reb Uri’s room and told him the message that Reb Menachem Mendel had given him. Reb Uri accepted the message and closed his eyes a bit and turned back to the chasid and told him that he had thought it over and decided that he would as well give him the merit of his tefillin wearing the next morning. Reb Uri’s tefillin there were those that said were so holy that they corresponded to the tefillin Hashem wore in heaven. Yet, once again when the chasid exited and told Reb Menachem Mendel what Reb Uri had told him, it wasn’t good enough and thus he found himself going in for the third time this time truly feeling like a ping pong ball between these two great masters.

 

Yet the third time, although the Saraf upped the ante even more by offering him the merit of his entire Shacharis prayers, wasn’t sufficient enough for Reb Menachem Mendel either. The Chasid however despite his desperate need was tired of being a ping pong ball and suggested maybe the Rebbe himself come with him to his brother-in-law and work this out together. So they entered the holy room of Reb Uri and the Saraf looked up at his brother-in-law surprisedly and asked “are my merits and prayers that I was willing to give this man not enough?” The holy Kossover turned to his brother-in-law and responded

“All of that is fine and good, but with a Mikva dip, teffilin and even prayers you can’t buy food in a grocery store. The only thing that we need to do here is that you and I go together and knock on the doors of the local wealthier families and raise a respectable sum for this poor yid. That’s the way that debts are paid back.”   

 

And so the two holy Rebbes went from door to door for the next two days and thus they were able to help this poor yid take care of his debts and family.

 

There is a great vort that I heard once, I think it was from Reb Yisrael Salanter, the great Mussar giant. They asked him once that it is said that every attribute and emotion that Hashem placed into our DNA could be used for good and for bad. Whether it is kindness, anger, zealotry, the power of speech and even deviousness, trickery and arrogance. Yet, they asked him, how could the midda of heresy and disbelief in God have any positive usage or outcome?

 

 His response was that when it comes to taking care of the needs of others, it is good to become a heretic. That’s why Hashem created man with the ability to deny the existence of Hashem. Don’t tell other people that Hashem will help them. Prayer on their behalf, extra merits or resolutions you may do to save people and turn around decrees in heaven, tears, Tehillim and even blessings and prayers of tzadikim are all good when one is faced with their own tzoris; their own trying times or needs for salvation. But when it comes to others, it’s best to be a kofer. Stop believing in God and get off your couch, close your Tehillim and do something real. That’s the real reason Hashem created atheism. For when it comes to another’s pain that’s what we’re supposed to be. (And you thought my last week’s E-Mail on reverse psychology and not wanting mashiach was bad… I may even have to unsubscribe from my own E-Mails soon, if this keeps up.)

 

This week’s parsha, Re’eh, fascinatingly enough does not have any commentary of the Zohar, the classic Kabbala work, which is quite unique. The Sifsei Tzadik (the grandson of Chiddushei Ha’Rim) explains this by noting the difference between the Talmud Bavli and the Zohar. The Bavli, when it brings proofs to arguments it’s making, uses the terms “Tah Shema- come and hear”. The Zohar on the other hand uses the term “Tah chazei- come and see”. The difference between the two terms are that to hear something one only needs to listen to the arguments or statements being made/ The words themselves do the talking and explanation. To see, on the other hand, one has to engage their own intellect. They have to reflect on the sights and understand the nuances, causes and meanings of what is being presented before them. It’s much deeper. That’s what the Zohar and the kabbala’s job is; to reveal the mystical meanings behind what is presented. To let you come and see what is behind the surface.

 

That is true for most parshiyot and it is necessary to get the full picture. Parshat Re’eh, though, the parsha that  begins “Re’eh- see that I place before you today the bracha and the klala- the blessing and curse,” doesn’t have any secrets or hidden meanings. It’s all there in the open. Quite the opposite in fact. The message of the parsha is don’t try to dig too deep. Don’t try to be lomdish, insightful and find explanations. The messages of this parsha are right in front of you. Just see them and all will be good.

 

 So let’s do that quickly now. I promised myself it would be a short E-Mail this week. So don’t expect any great insights or pshatim. We’re just reading the texts.

 

Number one. Follow the mitzvos. End of story. Mitzvos are good, they will bring you blessing. In fact, they’re the natural way that one achieves everything that they’re really looking for in life. The Torah tells us the blessing comes “asher tisham’a’un- when you will listen. The curses on the other hand “im lo- if you don’t:. We are naturally built to do the right thing. It’s the essence of our soul. It’s simple. Leaving the path, though… that takes talent. That takes thinking on your own and trying to convince yourself of something else. Don’t try to figure things out. Just see what’s in front of you and stay on the path.

 

Next series of lessons. Eretz Yisrael is the place to be. It’s the only place where the Shechina rests. That’s where you need to live. End of story. It’s quite simple. See that.

 

See that there are enemies and evil people and kill them all. Don’t overthink this. Don’t ask the world permission. Don’t listen to false prophets, to your brothers that tries to convince or persuade you otherwise. To the News. To entire cities that are built and premised on these false left-wing ideals of dual-existence and two-states and humanitarian aid. Destroy them. Don’t think it doesn’t belong to anyone else. Don’t let them move you from the sights of your eyes. Don’t get blinded by your intelligence, your confidence, your army. It’s what Hashem wants you to do. Conquer the land, settle the land, inherit the land, build a temple, shine out the light to the world. Stop staying in galus and foreign countries davening and crying and going to the Mikva and putting on tefillin as a merit that Hashem will magically bring you on wings of eagles here and do all the messy dirty work for you. That’s not the way you pay your bills in the makolet, that’s not the way we were meant to get the land. Be an atheist and forget about Hashem doing the job for you and just come here already. I promise He’s here waiting for you.

 

We’ll skip all of the kosher laws in the parsha- which perhaps one can argue also has become over complicated, but I’m not getting into that here… And jump to the bulk of the parsha which is the laws of tzedaka, charity, tithes, helping out the needy, giving up all claims to debts that are owed to you in shemitta, giving tips to your servants when they’re done working. Basically, in a nutshell, what Hashem wants us to see, and what we all know to be true, is that the only time we will be truly happy and accomplish all we want to do and have in life, is when we open our hearts, our homes, our fields, our wallets to those that are needy and less fortunate and blessed then us. There is no greater feeling in the world then to be the provider.

 

I’ve taken so many people this year to make BBQ’s for soldiers, to houses of needy orphans and widows, to hostage families that are suffering and can’t pay their bills because they haven’t yet seen October 8^th on this yoma arichta- this long day that the past year has become. Barring none, those experiences have been the highlight of their trips here. More than the water hikes, the ATV trips, jeeping in the Judean desert, rafting down the Jordan river and evening davening in the Kotel or Kever Rachel. Because when one gives their heart and soul and pours out their money, even more than ever before, then what in fact they are becoming is god-like. They are literally becoming like Hashem and cleaving to His ways. They are revealing their own neshoma’s deepest desire because just as Hashem is selfless and focused on doing good to the world, we are doing the same.

 

We all know this to be true. We all know how we feel when hundreds of soldiers can’t stop thanking you for taking care of them. When wounded people tell you how much your visit means to them. When you come across the ocean to visit them and when through tears and hugs that don’t stop, the families of mourners or suffering hostages tell you what your visit has done for them. You see it on their faces. You appreciate the good you’ve just done. You didn’t just tell them Hashem will be there for them, but you were a little bit of a heretic and atheist yourself and said that you aren’t waiting for Hashem. You’re doing and helping in whatever way you can. You’re a good holy heretic.

 

The parsha concludes with all the holidays, once again in the Torah. The special times during the year when we can see Hashem. When He wants us to visit Him. When we’re supposed to come to Yerushalayim to His temple. Yet the question is how can we see Hashem? He’s invisible, right? He’s infinite. He’s beyond time and space and anything that we have any mortal way of perceiving. The answer though is quite clear. Each holiday it tells us again and again, bring the widow, the orphan, the levi, the convert, the needy, the helpless, the servants with us. Take care of them. Feed them. Treat them to a Jerusalem trip. Pay for them. Put them in the Waldorf with you. As the last verse in the parsha tells us

“Ish k’matnas yado k’virkas Hashem elokecha asher nasan lach- Each man according to the gift of the blessing Hashem has given you.”

 

 If you want to see Hashem, then be Hashem. Forget about your own needs. Reach deep, take care of others. If you do that, you will experience godliness like you never have before. You will be redeemed. You will be one with Him. In fact that’s the only reason Hashem created them and you. They’re there so that you can connect and take care of them. That’s your job. That’s how you can reveal Him. That’s how you can see Him.

 

It’s not our prayers, no matter how much we shuckel and sway that allows us to see God. Even when we learn His holy word in the Torah, we are only hearing the word of Hashem. We’re not seeing Him. Hashem doesn’t just want to be heard. He’s sick of talking to us on the telephone. Just like the soldiers serving months in Gaza are sick of facetiming their children “Layla tov” each night.  He wants us to be at the Shabbos table with Him. He wants this year Sukkos to sit with us under His shade. He wants us home. He wants to be seen by us.

 

We enter this week the month of Elul. Hashem is packing His bags right now, as our kabbalists tell us and heading out to the field. The Melech is coming to the sadeh. We’re going to have a great get-together soon. It’s time for us to start packing as well. But it’s not our own bags that need to be packed. It’s the binoculars, or perhaps even more accurately the holy glasses that we will need to see Hashem when He arrives. Those “eyes” that can see Hashem, are the ones that see and have helped the poor, needy and downtrodden that we are making sure will have what they need to come with us. Eyes that see them and answer their calls will be able to see the bracha. Those eyes didn’t fall off to the cursed path and been busy with excuses that someone else will take care of them. They don’t say that the government will or should be the ones helping them. That Hashem will provide. That all we can do is to just daven and say Tehillim. If we see and we do what is before us, then we can see it all. Their eyes are turned to us, to our hearts, to our wallets. Hashem has this year given so many, more than ever, that are turning to us, because He wants all of us to have a piece of that action. He wants us all to finally See Him Home. It’s time to become a holy heretic. As I said last week… nothing else seems to be working…

 

Have a super special Shabbos and a blessed loving month of Elul,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

 

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

" Tsedokeh zol kain gelt nit kosten un gemilas-chassodim zolen kain agmas-nefesh nit farshafen, volten geven di velt fil tsadikim..- If one could do charity without money and favors without aggravation, the world would be full of saints.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/lecha-amar-my-versioon    - Can you believe it’s Elul already?!! I composed this song last Elul before the war and it carried me through the entire month. Please Hashem don’t hide Your face from me, from the psalm we begin saying this month of L’dovid. It truly encapsulates all of the essence of the month with amazing arrangements and vocals from Dovid Lowy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiZ5SHnekOg  – Mordechai Shapiro’s latest Va’tavo

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T1mn2-q2rJA – Shlomo Yehudah’s beautiful Ani L’dodi sung Moshe Tishler

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=23bHBmxkz5U – And here’s my friend Dovid Lowy’s Ani L’Dodi… enjoy!

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

The Lachish Letters describe events connected to the conquest campaign, that

was initiated by the ________ Empire

The findings from which of the Tels in the Shphelah (Judean Foothills) caused

debate regarding the size of the “United Monarchy”?

A. Azekah

B. Qeiyafa

C. Sokho

D. Beit Shemesh

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S PARSHA PRAYER INSPIRATION OF THE WEEK

Jerusalem – It’s such an amazing thing. It’s really to me one of the most powerful aspects of our prayer that we take for granted so much and hardly pay any attention to. It’s the direction that we daven. For thousands of years we lived all over the world. In Africa, Europe, Asia, Australia and North America. It doesn’t make a difference where Jews were, we all faced one direction when we davened. We all faced Yerushalayim. We understood that Yerushalayim is the gateway for all of our prayers. That’s where our hearts and thoughts need to be towards. That’s the way we need to face. If we do that, then that merit alone will bring all of our tefillos up to Hashem.

The Radomsker Rebbe, Reb Shloimeleh, takes this idea to a new level though in this week’s parsha. He notes that there’s a Talmud in Berachos that Rebbi Yosi entered once one of the destroyed ruins of Yerushalayim to daven and Eliyahu Ha’Navi stood at the entrance to the gate and was watching over there. The Rebbi asks why would Eliyahu be standing in the ruins of Yerushalayim and why does it even need a gate? Isn’t it ruins? He answers that the ruins of Yerushalayim and the gate that Eliyahu stands in front of our the gates of the prayers that he brings up to Hashem. Eliyahu’s job is to connect all of those prayers to the ruins. Every tefilla that we have needs to primarily be connected and at it’s essence for Mashiach. For the temple. For the redemption that he’s waiting and waiting to herald in. Eliyahu tells Rebbi Yosi that he didn’t need to come to the ruins to daven those prayers. They don’t need to be by the Kotel. They can be from anywhere on the road. As long as it’s a road to Jerusalem, where all our roads need to lead. He’s there waiting to bring them up. We just need to direct those thoughts there.

The Rebbe explains thus the verse that tells us this week of the mitzva to come to the Beit Ha’Mikdash. L’shichno tidrashu- seek out that dwelling place of Hashem, u’vasah shama- and then you will come there. Then Hashem will answer those prayers. Then Eliyahu will bring them up and bring Mashiach.

Eliyahu told Rebbi Yosi that it doesn’t have to even be a long prayer. It just needs to be about Yerushalayim. It has to be about those ruins. If one needs a shidduch, parnasa. If they need healing, comfort, consolation or a miracle, you need to turn your hearts and connect that to the ruins of Yerushalayim. To the pain of the shechina. To your desire to return and to see Hashem returned and His house rebuilt. If we do that then the point of Yerushalyim will not oonly be the compass that we turn towards, but it will truly be the center of our prayers, the gateway to heaven. The place we can finally call home.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Chabakuk 697 BC -Although we usually talk about eras and kings, the next few weeks I’d like to focus on the various prophets that lived during this tumultuous period of King Menashe. Our sages tell us that the three periods during this period were Chabakuk, Yoel and Nachum, none of them though mention Menashe as he was too wicked to even mention his name. Chabakuk, who according to our sages was one of the oldest prophets is the first we will begin with.

 

The Navi Chabakuk, according to one opinion, and for those of our faithful readers of this column will remember, was  the child of the Shunamite woman whom Elisha resurrected. The home of the Shunamite woman today, which is the only place where Reb Chayim Kanievsky would tell people to daven at, as he had a tradition from his father the Steipler that it was a special place to daven, is located in the Arab village of Sulam. The grave of that son, Chabakuk, is actually not far from there near tzomet Kadarim and the village of Chukok in the lower Galil, right off the side of Highway 65.

 

As opposed to other prophets we don’t have much other information about who Chabakuk was and his life and times. We just have three chapters in his book that give us prophecies for all times. In fact our sages tell us that there are 613 mitzvos in the Torah, yet Chabakuk knocked it all down to three words. “Tzadik B’Emunoso yichyeh- a righteous man lives with his faith”. That’s what all of Judaism and mitzvos are about. Having faith in Hashem and being righteous in following his way.

 

The first chapter of his book deals with the great question of tzadik v’ra lo- how to deal with questions of that faith when we see the righteous and pure being punished. He mentions the word Chamas many times by the way and screams out at Hashem how can it be that Hashem watches as the wicked rebel and swallow up the righteous. The answer in chapter 2 he reveals is that Hashem told him that ‘im yismahameha chakeh lo shetavo- if he delays wait for him that he will come”. If that sounds familiar to you, yes that is the basis of our Ani Maamin. It’s from there that we have the song of faith. It’s our belief that despite the questions there is an answer that will be forthcoming, and all will be clear. We can only live with our faith. That’s all we have.

 

Finally the last chapter of Chabakuk’s book is very similar to Dovid Ha’melech’s book of Tehillim. It is a song and the only other book that uses the word “selah” repeatedly. He prophesizes of the redemption and Hashem’s revenge against our enemies. We end with a song. With a prayer. Chabakuk more than any prophet as one who came back from the dead is the one to tell us that the world is not as we think it looks. We need to see beyond what is before us in the moment. Hashem is always there and the redemption is on its way. That is the words of the prophet in those days, but for our times as well.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ATHEIST JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

What's the difference between an atheist and an evangelical Christian? The atheist is honest about not following the teachings of God

 

What do you get when you cross an atheist with a Jehovah’s Witness? Someone who knocks on your door for no apparent reason.

 

“Religion has convinced people that there's an invisible man ... living in the sky. Who watches everything you do every minute of every day. And the invisible man has a list of ten specific things he doesn't want you to do. And if you do any of these things, he will send you to a special place, of burning and fire and smoke and torture and anguish for you to live forever, and suffer, and suffer, and burn, and scream, until the end of time. But he loves you. He loves you and he needs money.” — George Carlin

 

What does it say on the atheist’s tombstone? All dressed up and no place to go.

 

A Jewish atheist hears that the best school in town happens to be Catholic, so he enrolls his son. Things are going well until one day the boy comes home and says, “I just learned all about the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.”

The boy’s father is barely able to control his rage. He grabs his son by the shoulders and says, “Joey, this is very important, so listen carefully. There is only ONE God — and we don’t believe in Him!”

 

What do you get if you cross an insomniac with an atheist and a dyslexic? Someone who stays up all night, wondering if there is a file after death..

 

Hannah comes home from her afternoon out with Arnold looking very unhappy.

"What’s the matter, Hannah?" asks her mother.

"Arnold has asked me to marry him," she replies.

"Mazeltov! But why are you looking so sad?" her mother asks.

"Because he also told me that he was an atheist. He doesn't even believe in Gehenom."

Her mother then says, "That’s alright Hannah, it really isn’t a problem. I suggest you marry him and then I will show him how wrong he is."

 

Yanky came home to his mother after running away from a few years. He was certainly not the young yeshiva student that he was when he left home after being thrown out of yeshiva. His mother turned to him and asked him if he was still religious? Yanky, turned his eyes down and told his mother that he no longer believed in God and didn’t keep the commandments anymore.

In shock and horror his mother asked him if he kept Shabbos. And once again Yanky answered that he no longer kept that sacred day, it wasn’t for him.

“What about kosher? Do you still watch what you eat?

“I told you Ma, I don’t believe in that stuff anymore..”

Yom Kippur? Pesach? The holidays? Are you doing any of those still?

“I’m sorry Mommy to disappoint you, but I have to be honest. I can’t and don’t keep any of those any more. They don’t have meaning to me..”

Finally pulling out her last card and hope for any connection to yiddishkeit, his mother from Boro Park asked…

“What about when you see a dog, Yanky? Do you still scream

“U’lchol bnai Yisrael lo yechratz kelev l’shono…”

(Thank you Saadia for that great joke!!)

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 The answer to this week”s question is B- Ok this is a legitimate hit on me by the MOT. I should’ve gotten this one entirely right, rather than the half point I’m walking away with. There’s no excuse for me, just that I’m tired and had a along week, and haven’t really toured Lachish in a long time. The letters that were found in Lachish were actually from the Babylonian conquest, rather then Sancherev’s Assyrian one that I answered incorrectly. I knew they were written to Jerusalem telling them that their city was burning down. Yet I mixed up the Assyrian conquest with teh Babylonian one that followed. Oh well.. I'm ashamed. It means I have to get back there soon. On the other hand the second part I got right. I knew that Keyafa, or the ancient fortified city of She'arim not far from Beit Sharim and where the Philistines fled to after Dovid and Goliath fought was the place where to a large degree Finkelstien and his minimalist school which claimed that Dovid and Shlomo's reign was a mere tribal clan and kingdom heretically different then what Tanach tells us werer proved wrong. This was a huge city and it was a sign that the Judean kingdom was large adn established. So at least that one I got right and the score now is  But anyways got it right so the new score is  Rabbi Schwartz 12.5 and Ministry of Tourism 7.5 on this exam so far.