Home- Work - Parshat Mishpatim 2023 5783

 

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

February 10^th 2023 -Volume 12 Issue 17 19^th of Shevat 5783

 

Parshat Mishpatim

Home-Work

 

 Children need two parents. One to do their homework with them, the other to cook, clean, do laundry, clothing-shop, food-shop, make a living to pay for all the shopping, go to parent/teacher conferences and of course to spend quality time and love with them. In Israel one has the added pleasure and responsibility to deal with all the government bureaucracy offices that seem to dominate our lives as well. Maybe children need 10 parents. But I can tell you with confidence and experience that homework is a full-time parenting job.

 

I thought I was done with trigonometry, biology, history, even chumash and Navi-at least the assignments, when I passed my regents and received my diploma.

 

"No more pencils, no more books, no more teacher's dirty looks".

 

Yet, the only thing I seem to have moved beyond is the pencils which really weren't too bad. So here I sit cracking my head on Pythagorean theorems and Isosceles triangles as my younger daughter awaits help with her "Teva/Science" homework and her questions on the story of Gideon in Navi. My children are in bad shape...Daddy/Abba, deleted this information from his brain a very long time ago. But if they want, I can teach them how to write a sometimes-humorous Parsha Email, a great inspiring fun tour of Israel or compose an amazing song. But they might just need another parent if they have plans of graduating.

 

The truth is being a parent is not an easy job, or so the more experienced one, my wife tells me. It is a constant balancing job of chores, errands, and love. How do people with 10 or 12 kids manage? I have no clue. Yet at the same time people with one or two kids ask me the same question "how do we manage with five?" (Bli Ayin Hora). I tell them to marry well. The one thing that keeps it all together is perhaps the ingrained sense of responsibility and the natural sense to nurture, that our Creator blessed us with. For most of us if someone would offer us a job cleaning floors, picking up laundry, cooking, washing dishes and doing homework, I don't think it would make it on our top ten of what I wanted to be when I grow up positions. Yet, that's what we do, and we bless Hashem daily for the privilege to be granted such a precious gift.

 

This week's Torah portion shares with us a multitude of laws that govern relationships between man and his fellow man. It starts with one's responsibility to one’s servants, his neighbors, his obligation in regard to their possessions, his obligation in regard to watching over his own possessions so they do not do damage. The Torah also delineates one’s obligations towards the unfortunate members of society; widows, orphans, converts, charity cases and those needing a loan, or a hand. The Torah even mentions consideration one must have for accidental murderers, thieves, and those that have made mistakes and wish to make things right once again. Basically, the majority of civil law can be found in the first few Aliyot of this Parsha. What is blatantly missing though is some guidance on raising one’s family. In fact, there are not too many verses in the Torah that gives us parenting tips or how to raise a Jewish family. If the Torah is the book of Jewish living shouldn't there be at least one Parsha dedicated to the eternity and well-being of our family?

 

The answer suggests Reb Yisrael Salanter the great Mussar giant (as well as many of his students), that all of the clues of how-to parent are incorporated in the laws of how one deals with society. If one understands the degree of honor, respect, and consideration one must treat one's servants with, one's neighbors with, and even those who have done wrong, then our spouse and our children are of course to be treated with the same level of dedication.

 

If Hashem provides a special place for one who kills someone to run to as a place of refuge, shouldn't our child who crashes our computer or consistently doesn't pick up their clothing be offered that same refuge? If we are obligated to take in the lost object of a neighbor care for it and seek him out to return it, are your kids lost shoes or coat (generally 5 minutes-before carpool) any less? And if we can be mandated to assist our enemy unloading his donkey from his heavy burden, is the homework burden of our children (who sometimes resemble donkeys shlepping a load with all those schoolbooks) any less of a mandate?

 

There's a great story of one of the great Mussar ethicists whose student asked him what the best way to excel in the attribute of kindness- doing chesed. His Rebbe told him that when he comes home, and his wife tells him that the children need a bath he should run to do it with simcha-joy. In that way he fulfills chesed with his wife, his children and perhaps greatest of all with himself. He points out that when the Torah describes the mitzvah of unburdening your enemy's animal it says

If you see your enemy’s animal crouching from under his burden, would you hesitate to assist him in unloading? Unload with him!

 

The Rebbe said the reason one might hesitate is because he feels that he is losing or assisting his enemy. However, the Torah tells us in truth what is happening is that he is himself burdened by his feelings of hate or anger and by working together he too will be unburdened. Unload!-Azov Ta'azov IMO- Which can also be translated as leave "you shall leave with him". Put one’s personal feelings behind and you will find that you yourself are being helped.

 

There is no place this truer, the Rebbe said, than when it comes to one's family and children. Too often our own personal stress, needs and projected expectations weigh us down and pre-occupy us from helping out those that are most important to us. The greatest chesed is when we can put those down for a bit (and many times more than a bit) and help unburden the load of those that we care the most about. In doing so we will find that we ourselves will become unburdened. The chesed that we do with our loved ones can be the greatest chesed. It's not always easy but that what our real homework is really all about.

 

Have a moiridikeh happy Shabbos Mevorchim Adar!

 

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

 

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

 

“Eyn mame dergreykht mer vi a hundert lehrers.” One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

11) The highest summit in the Galilee is on Mount:

Which of the following is the highest above sea level?

A) Karmiel

B) Nazareth

C) Beit Shemesh

D) Mitzpe Ramon

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

 

https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/layehudim  –

Getting into Adar Mode with my La’yehudim song

 

https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/eitz-chayim    -In honor of the second Parshas  Matan Torah- My amazing inspiring beautiful composition Eitz Chayim

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kzF2pvTT1Yc – An awesome Lecha Dodi in Tzfat with Malchus, Kempeh, Aharon Razel, Zanvel Weinberger, Levi Falkowitz and more… Pretty amazing.. you don’t want to skip this..

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-erxz2eRmI  – nothing Like Chanan BenAri songs being sung by a chasidish guy Yanky Hill..

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_CeMYTczzII – In the wake of the recent attacks a beautiful composition by Mendel Roth- Eretz Al Tichasi Damim

 

https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/yizkeraim   - And on that musical note my Yizkereim memorial song

 

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

 

Elisha’s Cave?- 690 BC- Mazel Tov! The Shunamite woman had a son that was granted to her from the prophet Elisha. At first she declined any special recognition for all the service and special hospitality she had provided for him in her Shunamite house, which we said was in the modern day Arab village of Sulam, at the foot of Mt. Tabor in the lower Galile. She was after all very old and this would be a tremendous miracle. Yet, Elisha promised her that all would be alright and the child was born. Yet not long afterwards as he grew older he was out in the field and he suffered from sunstroke. It’s a dangerous time of year around Sukkos time. It’s not too hot so one doesn’t feel the heat, yet the sun is bright and can dehydrate you. They bring the boy home to his mother and lo and behold, he dies in her lap. This is not a good thing.

 

Yet, this remarkable woman has faith that Elisha had promised her all would be well. So she calmly takes the child and places him upstairs in the attic where Elisha’s room was. She then tells her husband that she’s taking a donkey to go pay a visit to the prophet. He’s a bit taken by that. The Navi tells us that he asks her why she is going? It’s not Shabbos, it’s not a holiday. Why would she go visit the prophet. Our sages learn out from this discussion that one should visit their Rebbi on Shabbos and Yom Tov, by the way. She pushes her husband off and heads off to Mt. Carmel where Elisha is.

 

Interestingly enough there is a cave on Mt. Carmel that is known as Eliyahu’s cave. It would seem that this is really more of a Christian made up site than an actual Jewish site, as it seems clear from the Navi that the cave that Eliyahu hid from Achav was in Midbar Yehudah- far from Mt. Carmel. Yet throughout generations Jewish pilgrims have prayed there from the period of the Geonim making it one of the oldest Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel. In fact the Mabit who lived in Tzfat in the period of the ARI in the 16^th century mentions and annual Hilula there and the Ohr Hachaim Ha’Kadosh in the 17^th century even spent Yom Kippur there. Yet, the site itself dates back to the Byzantine period long after Eliyahu and it was certainly used as a shared Christian and Jewish site.

 

Now although, the story of Eliyahu running away from Achav didn’t happen here. Yet, from this story of Elisha on Mt. Carmel, and the previous story of Eliyahu and the prophets of Baal that took place by the Muchraka monastery at the tip of the Mountain, it seems that this Mt. was certainly a place where Eliyahu hung out as well as his students. So perhaps this could be the cave of Elisha as well as Eliyahu, maybe using his Rebbi’s cave. The building, by the way, which used to be a cold damp cave was recently renovated and is really nice and worth the visit.

 

What takes place next, when she arrives there? Stay tuned...

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE HOMEWORK JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

Why did the boy eat his homework? Because his teacher said it was a piece of cake.

 

If school isn't a place to sleep then home isn't a place to study

.

Teacher says to little Mary, "I want you draw a picture of a house" Little Mary says "That must be my HOMEwork"

 

Yankel came to cheder all puzzled and said to his teacher "Rebbi will I get into trouble for something I haven’t done?"

He said "No, why?"

Yankel said " Because I haven’t done my homework.”

 

My daughter was doing her homework and asked me what I knew about Galileo. I, proudly and confidently, told her that he was just a poor boy from a poor family. (If you don’t get this… you need to rhapsodize a bit…)

 

Hey, Berel! You think your teacher knows that I help you with homework?

 I think she does, mom!

She said it was impossible to get so many wrong answers on my own.

 

Father: When Abe Lincoln was your age he walked 9 miles to school and did homework by candlelight.

Son: When Lincoln was your age he was President.

 

I always put my glasses on when doing Math homework. It improves division

 

"Dad, can you help me with my homework?"

"Sure son"

"What are 5 mammals that live in the ocean?"

"3 whales and two dolphins"

"Thanks dad"

"Anytime"

 

Me: Do you want help with your homework?

Son: No you make it worse Me: I do not!

Son: ok what's a “naysayer”

Me: Easy. That is a horse

 

Little Ahmed is doing his anatomy homework.

He comes upon a question: "What separates the head from the body?"

Ahmed answers: "The axe"

 

Russia's Three Steps to Homework

Step 1. Putin it off

Step 2. Stalin

Step 3. Russian to finish

 

FROM a Real Letter to God Homework assignmnet

 

Dear God, Did you mean the giraffe to look like that or was it a mistake?

Dear God, Instead of letting people die and having to make new ones, why don't you just keep the ones you have now?

Dear God, Who drew the lines around the countries?

Dear God, Thanks for my baby brother, but what I prayed for was a puppy.

Dear God, It rained during our whole holiday and my father was so mad he said some things about you that he shouldn’t have. Please don’t hurt him.

Dear God, Please send me a pony. I never asked for anything before. You can look it up.

Dear God, If we come back as something, please don't let me be Jennifer Levy, because I hate her.

Dear God, I want to be just like my daddy when I get big, but not with so much hair all over.

Dear God, I think about you sometimes, even when I'm not praying.

Dear God, I bet it is very hard for you to love all the people in the world. There are only four people in our family and I can never do it.

Dear God, Of all the people who worked for you, I like Noah and David the best.

Dear God, I read Thomas Edison made light. But in Hebrew school, I learned that you did it. I bet he stole your idea.

Dear God, I don't think anybody could be a better God. Well, I just want you to know that I am not just saying this because you are God already.

Dear God, Maybe Cain and Abel would not kill each other so much if they had their own rooms. It works with my brother

 

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The answer to this week”s question is D – I like easy questions, especially ones tha mention my home town of Karmiel. But really everyone should know that Mt. Meron is the highest mountain in Galile- even if you never went on  a tour with me. As well Part 2 is pretty easy as well as As Beit Shemesh is in Shefela- lowlands, Nazareth is in Lower Galil- as is Karmiel which borders the upper and lower Galil on Highway 85- the emphasis is of course on the word Low in both of those. Mitzpeh Ramon though in the Negev is about 900 meters high above sea level. It’s in the South so some might think that makes it not high, but of course North and South geographicaly have nothing to do with elevation. So that’s of course the right answer. Making the score now 8.5 for Schwartz and 2.5 for Ministry of tourism on this exam so far…

Parenting 101- Vayeira 2015/5776

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

October 29^th 2015 -Volume 6, Issue 3 16^th Cheshvan 5776

Parshat Vayeira

Parenting 101

Parents disagree sometimes. We have an important role in life as Jewish parents. We are raising the next generation of our holy nation. It is they who will succeed and bring the world to its ultimate fulfillment on the slight chance that we don’t achieve that in our lifetime. Slight chance… of course. So charged with that important task, it's understandable that two very different people with two very different backgrounds and upbringings would have differing opinions on what is the best way to raise these children. How to discipline them, when they should go to sleep, how much emphasis should be put on their home and school work, what extra-curricular activities they should participate in, what is considered a healthy meal and what types of influence they should be exposed to.

 In the Schwartz family for example on the above issues without naming sides here, so as not to influence anyone's opinion here, there is one parent who believes in corporal punishment and yelling at their children when they get on his their nerves, who believes fundamentally in that wise adage of he who spares the rod spoils the child. Feels that bed time is when they conk out on the couch as long as they are not bothering him them. Believes that homework is very important and that the child should develop early on skills to do it on their own so that they will be better equipped to handle challenges in life-for the parent will not always be around to help them with it and that what would happen…? That same parent see's nothing wrong with chips, pizza and leftover chulent as containing all the basic elements of a nutritious meal and has no problem with extra-curricular activities that do not cost money like playing with lego (as long as it is cleaned up and not left all over the floor-all the time and running up and down the street a lot of times which is very good exercise and does not have to be boring and is really not that concerned about scary violent movies particularly Star Wars and Harry Potter which contain very spiritual elements and the secrets of the universe. The world is a scary place and it's about time they started getting used to it.

Then there's the other parent. Parent number two believes that it is important to talk to one's child repeatedly in soft and caring voice-even though they're not paying attention. Corporal punishment should only be used as threat in the least scary of term in only the most extreme situations and can be couched in innocuous phrases such as "you just wait until Parent one comes home". They also feel that bed-time should be a time of bonding with stories of educational value despite the fact that the rest of the house is falling apart and they might have to run a clothing sale the next day and parent one has no clean socks in his drawer. Meals should contain things like protein and stuff that grows from the ground preferably green and our children should take lessons in Piano, violin, art, karate and/or tai kwon do (which the other parent seemed to thing was some Chinese dish) , little league and horse therapy. Money is no object when it comes to offering our children the opportunity to find their hidden talents-as deeply buried as they may seem. The other parent does not appreciate violence of any nature either. It is from the dark side.

So how do you resolve these types of conflicts between two seemingly well-intentioned adults who want only the best for their children? In the Schwartz family it took some time and years until this was worked out. But it was finally decided that the parent that remembered when the children's birthdays were, how old they were and how many hours they sat in painful labor bringing them into this world should have more of a say than the other parent despite the fact that the other parent might have Rabbinic ordination and years of Talmudic wisdom and is really an excellent tour guide. There was some objection at first, but after a few vegetarian dinners and nights on the living room couch offered the right motivation. As long as I don't have to do the homework and can have my pizza and chips.

It seems that this disagreement about how to raise Jewish children really goes back to the beginning of our people-hood though. This week's Torah portion spends quite a bit of time and ink describing the first set of Jewish parents and their challenges and disagreements. Certainly when we study and learn about our Patriarchs and Matriarchs, who were the greatest individuals of all mankind, we can never attribute our petty foibles to their great and spiritual challenges and discussions. After-all Hashem never appeared to me and you. Yet the Torah means for us to learn from them. So let's take a look and see what we can find.

So we have Avraham, who in last week's portion was promised children that would become a great nation and yet his wife and life-partner Sarah remain barren. Sarah comes up with a kind of a novel out-of-the-box approach and recommends that her husband take their maid servant Hagar (no not the horrible guy from the cartoon) to be his wife, perhaps that will change their "karma" and she will then have children. Incidentally our sages tell us that Hagar was no simple cleaning lady, she was in fact the daughter of Pharaoh in Egypt that had tried to take Sarah to be his wife. So this was a girl with a royal upbringing. Which perhaps might explain why right after she immediately becomes pregnant she started acting like a JEP or Jewish Egyptian princess that she was-sorry I couldn't resist. Sarah-whose name actually means princess, obviously realizes that this is a problem and in no uncertain terms tells her dear husband that something must be done and Avraham after close to a century of marriage knows better to argue with the woman and Hagar is pretty much made to feel uncomfortable enough to flee. An angel appears to her and tells her to go back home, obviously this Hagar was not a simple person as well. After-all Sarah wouldn't just choose anyone to be her husband's wife.

Part two of this story takes place in this week's Torah portion after Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak and she begins to notice that Hagar's little Bar Mitzvah boy Yishmael is beginning to go down a path that would not be the best influence on little Yitzchak. Our sages note that when the Torah tells us that Yishmael was "playing" with Yitzchak the word playing was merely a polite euphemism for idolatry, murder and illicit relations. Not the best kid to have around in the home of someone who is destined to be by the end of the Parsha the pure offering to God and the grandfather of the tribes of Israel. In quite a memorable speech and with no room for any uncertainty Sarah tells Avraham

"Send away this maid servant and her son, for the son of this maid servant will not inherit with my son with Yitzchak."

It is not easy to miss the subtlety over here. Remember Yishmael is also Avraham's son. His oldest and first born child after 90 years of waiting. To the wife that his wife had given to him. Yet Sarah is quite clear. This is her son; the maid servant's son. As special as she may be she ain't your real wife and he ain't your real son. This is not what we are here to do. If you missed that the Torah is quite clear in the next verse

"And this matter seemed very bad to Avraham in regards to his son".

Now Avraham pretty much knew his children's birthday as well as Sarah did so there had to be another way to work this thing out. So Hashem steps in and who does He side with?

And Hashem said to Avraham 'It should not be bad in your eyes on the lad and on your maid-servant. All that Sarah says to you listen to her voice because it is through Yitzchak that will be called your seed.

O.K. so first of all note Hagar is not your wife, she is your maid-servant. Second of all the child is called the lad but Yitzchak is your real seed. And in case you didn't get it and feel bad Hashem continues

"And also the child of the maid-servant I will make a great nation for he is your seed"

Yishmael is not your child. He is the child of the maid servant, he is your seed though-although unlike Yitzchak your seed will not be called through him. But he will be great because of those good genes you gave him. Avraham, now having clarity on the situation rises the next morning and fulfills this test as well that Hashem placed before him and puts his faith in Hashem and sends Yishmael and Hagar out camping. Interestingly enough once again angels come rescue them for Hashem heard the crying of Yishmael and even more fascinating and quite the incredible epilogue of the story after passing of Sarah Avraham remarries Hagar and Yishmael himself is noted to have done Teshuvah and comes back to bury his beloved father. The extent of his Teshuva is so remarkable that one of our greatest sages-who's buried right up the road from us in Karmiel is none other than the great high priest Rabbi Yishmael Kohein Gadol. It seems that it became an acceptable and even righteous name to name ones children. Although I haven't heard it given recently…

Our sages though note something interesting about this first argument between parents about the raising of this first Jewish child. The first thing though to note is the special relationship between Avraham and Sarah. By none of the other Forefathers and Mothers does it refer to them in the same way as the Torah does Avraham and Sarah. For repeatedly Sarah is called Eishet Avraham Sarah the wife of Avraham. Rivka, Rachel, Leah are never referred to as the wife of_____ yet Sarah in almost every chapter is always connected to Avraham as his wife, his spouse, his partner. What's also fascinating as well as we don't as well find by the other Forefathers any fights or arguments about the raising of their children. Sure they each had their challenges. Esau was no picnic and neither were the 12 tribes and the Fathers and Mothers certainly had different approaches and opinions on how to raise them. Yet it is only by the husband and wife team of Avraham and Sarah that the Torah shares with us that there was disagreement and even conversation and communication about how to deal with the raising of their child. Lesson one perhaps you have to be a team a dedicated husband and wife and then it is alright to disagree about how best to raise the children. Perhaps that is even the only way that critical communication can happen.

But what were they arguing about. What was the essence of their debate? Did Sarah, the paradigm of kindness, who welcomed every guest into her home night and day-pagan or not and who even gave this woman who was the daughter of her oppressor to her husband begrudge her? It doesn't resonate and the Torah which never hesitates to share the flaws of our great people doesn't make any mention of any jealousy. And Avraham, what was he thinking? Did he not recognize that Yitzchak was his son that was meant to inherit him, and that having Yishmael who was certainly a pretty bad and perhaps even dangerous kid around needed to be sent to some rehab center somewhere? What's the real story here?

So once again our sages shed some light unto this story as they note that Hashem commands Avraham to listen to all that Sarah said to him-hinting that there was another conversation that took place. And they share with us that Avraham told Sarah I understand that you want me to send him away. But what will all the people say? Avraham who was preaching kindness for so many years sends away his oldest son and the wife that he raised to such heights! It will be a desecration of Hashem's name. And we are here to honor Hashem's name to create a world that honors Hashem. Sarah counters this argument but Yitzchak is the one with who the nation will come from and it is critical that he not be connected in any way to the desecration of Hashem's name that Yishmael is causing. Let Hashem once again judge and tell us what the right path to take is. And it is here that Hashem steps in and tells Avraham that just as in the last incident when Hagar had to be sent away, listen to all Sarah says for it is through Yitzchak that your descendants and that nation will come.

It is truly an amazing portion and insight into the building of the Jewish name from these two great individuals who for years had been focused on spreading the word of Hashem and His light to the world. Avraham-the man is focused on the big picture. We have a job to do. We may have to curtail our own spiritual perfection and environment with some less savory for Yishmael is also my son…also Hashem's son. We have to do whatever we can to increase Hashem’s glory despite the challenge. Sarah, though understands that the big picture of reaching out to the world is no longer the priority. The priority is creating a family and a nation that will inherit the legacy and fulfill the destiny of Avraham. In this case the purity of that family and the danger of any influence that would detract from Yitzchaks ability to grow to be the second of the Patriarch is what is of paramount concern. It is only after that is accomplished that Yishmael and Hagar will be able to once again return and only then can they achieve the greatness that they are meant to achieve and become.

It is not easy raising Jewish children. But our forefathers and mothers have set the path for us. One thing that is certain and that is found by all of our Patriarchs is that there are challenges involved. There are doubts, there are two paths that can be taken and there are sometimes conflicting priorities that have to be weighed. Yet when faced with those challenges ultimately we have to recognize that we are never alone. We are engaged in holy work, perhaps the holiest work and therefore we know that we have Hashem that is there to help us and guide us. Perhaps the greatest lesson is in how we have to know to turn to Him when faced with those challenges and question. Our Father in Heaven has quite a bit of experience with children that don't always turn out the way he wanted them to. Yet He is still there for us. For it is through us and our children that ultimately His name will be sanctified.

Have spectacular Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZ’S VIDEO OF THEWEEK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rQmRItglAlg  –Meir Kahane highlights-what are your thoughts?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BKzL2i0aWA –His last speech-“so you shoot the messenger”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=frY0VkSxpkc – Shlomo Carlebach (Yartzeit today) tribute concert HASC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kfn_SG7Z3Ys&list=PL9w_0PxsHZzNYIQNpDLqGGNzUxla2dKUJ    –  A really old Carlebach concert from the good ol days..

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

Der vos hot nit farzucht bittereh, vaist nit voz zies iz.”-  “He who has not tasted the bitter does not understand the sweet.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S JEWISH PERSONALITY AND HIS QUOTES IN HONOR OF THE YARTZEIT  OF THE WEEK

.“ One of the great problems with Americans is that - being a decent people - they assume that everyone else is equally decent”

“The banding together by the nations of the world against Israel is the guarantee that their time of destruction is near and the final redemption of the Jew at hand.”

“I know that elections must be limited only to those who understand that the Arabs are the deadly enemy of the Jewish state, who would bring on us a slow Auschwitz - not with gas, but with knives and hatchets”

“For so long as the Jew has even one ally, he will be convinced - in his smallness of mind - that his salvation came from that ally. It is only when he is alone - against all of his own efforts and frantic attempts - that he will, through no choice, be compelled to turn to G-d.”

“"I prefer a powerful and proud Jewish State that is hated by the entire world than an Auschwitz that is loved by one and all"-Rabbi Meir Kahane

Yartzeit-18^th of Cheshvan this Shabbos

Rabbi Meir Kahane (1932-1990)- Perhaps one of the most radical Jewish figures and personalities in the last half century, Rabbi Kahane a Jewish visionary and activist was murdered on this date while he was leading a demonstration in New York urging Jews to make Aliya. According to some researchers he was the first American victim of the then beginning of Al Quadia of which his assassin (later convicted in the World Trade center bombing in 1993) was a member.

Raised in Brooklyn New York, Meir was a student of the Mir Yeshiva where he was very close with the Rosh Yeshiva RAv Kalmanovitz from whom he eventually received his semicha. In the 50’s after his marriage he became a pulpit Rabbi in Howard Beach Jewish Center, where he was involved in Jewish outreach work with many of the youth as well as raising the standard of Jewish observance in the congregation. He also became very active in his fight against Commuism and for assisting Jews leave Russia. In the 60’s he founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) which was dedicated to training young Jewish men in self defense. The JDL was conceived on five principles.

Love of Jewry- One Jewish people, indivisible and united, from which flows the love for, and the feeling of pain of, all Jews.

Dignity and Pride:-Pride in and knowledge of Jewish tradition, faith, culture, land, history, strength, pain and peoplehood.

Iron:-The need to both move to help Jews everywhere and to change the Jewish image through sacrifice and all necessary means—even strength, force and violence.

Discipline and Unity:-The knowledge that he (or she) can and will do whatever must be done, and the unity and strength of willpower to bring this into reality.

Faith in the Indestructability of the Jewish People:-Faith in the greatness and indestructibility of the Jewish people, our religion and our Land of Israel.

With the founding of the JDL Kahane became more radical arrested and convicted of plotting bombing of Soviet UN missions as well as attacking their officers.

In the early 70’s Kahane immigrated to Israel and started a political party based on the principles of Israel being run by Torah Law, the transfer of arabs for compemsation out of Israel proper, the banning of mixed Jewish and arab schools and culture clubs as well as intermarriage. He argued that democracy is incompatible with a Jewish State for it is religion blind and that eventually it would be feasible that there could be a greater arab population than Jews thus negating the Jewishness of the State. In the early 80’s, after being arrested 64 times for incendiary behavior, he finally won a seat in the Knesset. He refused to take the regular oath of service quoting from Tanach instead. He would regularly speak in Knesset challenging and mocking the other members. Eventually as no one would come he would speak to an empty room. As his popularity grew and it was estimated that it was even feasible he would win many seats in the Knesset his party was banned as being “racist”. This made him the first and only party to be thus banned, although all of the arab parties which have called for the death of Jews have been not considered racist when this was brought to the Knesset election committee. After that he dedicated himself to his yeshiva that he founded, his writings of many works and public lectures.

I was in Israel for the funeral of Rabbi Kahane. There were over 150,000 people there the chief Rabbis and many other eulogized him many referring to him as a modern day Maccabee. May his memory be blessed and May Hashem avenge his blood.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

Answer below at end of Email

Q. Zarit, Shomra, and Shetula are found in  

A.    Upper Galil

B.     Lower Galil

C.     Western Negev

D.    Adulam Strip

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL RASHI OF THE WEEK

Just three short words in Rashi and a whole world of insight into Pshat can be understood. This week in the Torah portion we are told of Lot welcoming in the angels into Sodom and we are told that he bakes matzos for them. Rashi then makes the startling and perplexing statement “It was Passover”.  What makes this Rashi so perplexing is that Pesach hasn’t even been invented yet? There’s not even a Yitzchak who gace birth to Yaakov who gave birth to the 12 tribes who would go to Egypt yet. What’s going on? In addition Rashi’s style as we note was not to be Midrashic but the simple understanding of the facts. The truth is there are many similarities if one considers this Rashi between the story of Lot and the destruction of Sodom and our Exodus from Egypt. Here are just a few

1)      Lot stands by the doorway protecting the angels inside similarly in Egypt the blood is put on the doorway to protect the Jews inside.

2)      They Sodomites are struck with blindness which is like the plague of darkness

3)      Hashem hails down upon the Sodomites

4)      Lot is told to flee and not hesitate as the Jews are told as well

I’m sure there are many more if you consider this- that’s your homework. But Rashi seems to be telling us that it was Pesach- meaning that this is a conceptual Pesach that is happening here. And to look out for it in the text. And so we did.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL HISTORICAL EVENT THAT HAPPENED ON THIS DATE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-

Establishment of Mishkenot Shaananim  – It’s hare do imagine when one comes to Yerushalayim that until 150 years ago there was nothing besides the Old City. Everything else that you see was just empty hills and valleys. It all started this week in the year 1860 with the establishment of Mishkenot Shaananim. For those of you who have visited yerushalyim it is the little walled village with those up and down tops kind of like puzzle pieces right across the valley across Mt. Zion. The Baron Moses Montiefiore bought the land in 1855 with the $50,000 grant that was left in the will of Judah Touro a wealthy American business man who left the money for the Jews of Jerusalem.

The Jews in the old city at that time were living in terrible poverty and sickness. In addition many Christians and churches were asserting more and more control over the old city. The idea Montifiore had was to move Jews out to these nice home each with their own small yard. And he built them a windmill in order to provide them with income. He built 16 apartments and then later added 4 more. In addition he had two shuls, one Ashkenaz and one Sfard and a Mikva. His idea was that the poor of Jerusalem could come here and live nicely. His initial plan was that each family would live there for three years and then another family would rotate and come eventually all of the poor would be able to spend time living there. The problem was no one wanted to come. They were scared of the arabs and didn’t want to leave the safety of the old city. Eventually Montefiore offered a stipend for those that came and people started to come. Other neigborhoods opened after that one but Mishkenot Shaananim was the first.

Today you can visit the neighborhood. It is very upscale and artsy. The Jerusalem Music Center is located there and you can visit the windmill and even the carriage that Montifieore you would travel in is there as well.

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RABBI SCHWARTZ'S FLOOD JOKES OF THE WEEK

A lawyer and an engineer were fishing in the Caribbean. The lawyer said, “I’m here because my house burned down, and everything I owned was destroyed by the fire. The insurance company paid for everything.”

“That’s quite a coincidence,” said the engineer. “I’m here because my house and all my belongings were destroyed by a flood, and my insurance company also paid for everything.”

The puzzled lawyer asked, “How do you start a flood?”

Q: What detergent do Flood victims use to wash their clothes? A: Tide! 

A charity music single has been released in aid of the arabs suffering from the flooding in Israel...
“Raindrops keep falling on Ahmed.”

I was in Geula waiting for ages for a bus. Then what do you know, two float past at once.

You all know this one but I can’t do flood jokes without including it…

It had been raining for days and days, and a local river crested, flooding many houses. The waters rose so high that one man was forced to climb onto the roof of his house. As the waters rose higher and higher, a man in a rowboat appeared, and told him to get in. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me."

So the man in the rowboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him. The waters rose higher and higher, and suddenly a speedboat appeared. "Climb in!" shouted a man in the boat. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me."

So the man in the speedboat went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him. The waters continued to rise. A helicopter appeared and over the loudspeaker, the pilot announced he would lower a rope to the man on the roof. "No," replied the man on the roof. "I have faith in the Lord; the Lord will save me." So the helicopter went away. The man on the roof prayed for God to save him. The waters rose higher and higher, and eventually they rose so high that the man on the roof was washed away, and alas, the poor man drowned.

Upon arriving in heaven, the man marched straight over to God. "Heavenly Father," he said, "I had faith in you, I prayed to you to save me, and yet you did nothing. Why?"

God gave him a puzzled look, and replied "I sent you two boats and a helicopter, what more did you expect?"

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Answer is A- Hard and easy question. To be honest I wasn’t even sure what these things were. Are they trees, plants, or cities kibbutzim or settlements. But once you know that they are settlements, actually moshavim to be precise, then all you have to know is one of them and where it is and your alright. The only one I recognized is Zarit and it is up in the Upper Galile. In fact all three of them are here in my neck of the woods or hills to be precise. (Karmiel is the border of the lower and upper Galil). Each one of them are pretty close to the Lebanese border and the largest one Shetula has 333 residents. Why the heck anyone would need to know this is beyond me.