The Pearl in his Crown- Parshat Vayikra 2023 5783

 

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

March 24^th 2023 -Volume 12 Issue 23 2^nd of Nissan 5783

 

Parshat Vayikra

The Pearl in His Crown

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Our sages tell us that the month of Nissan “took 10 crowns”. It was the first of Creation, The day when the Shechina returned to our nation, Hashem’s Mishkan was coronated and it was the day when the first Priestly blessings were given amongst others. This year it took another “crown”. It took the precious neshoma of my wife’s youngest sister Yehudis Penina bas Avraham Tzvi, may her memory be blessed. It seems the ten crowns weren’t sufficient for this month to take. The crown needed it’s precious yiddishe ‘pearl’ to adorn it as well. And there was no pearl more precious and dearer than Yehudis was.

She was so young. She had so much love to give. She had only just a few years ago found her bashert; her soulmate Yoily, after so many years of davening, of emuna that one day she would find the neshoma that 40 days before she was born would complete her. Yoily was certainly her bashert. She had so much love for him. She was so happy when I first met the two of them together. He fulfilled her and she him. They were each other’s worlds. They had both found happiness.

Yet, it seemed that Hashem felt that those few happy years together was all that she needed to achieve what she was sent down this world to accomplish. The pearl was needed for the crown. And we, her husband, her siblings-step and half as well,which were just as precious and dear to her as all of her other ones, her parents, loved ones, her friends and all that were privileged to know her and receive her love and be touched by her spirit, warmth, smile and laugh for 41 short years are left here bereft with only her memory and her inspiration left.

It doesn’t make sense that we should be eulogizing Yehudis. That anyone should. It doesn’t make sense that she’s not here. She was the cute little sister of my wife. She was our flower girl. She was my children’s favorite aunt. The one closest to them in age that they could relate to. Her laugh. Her smile. And yes, her emuna that everything is from Hashem. That whatever suffering she had- and she had so much at the end, was what Hashem wanted for her. That she could get better. That miracles can and do happen. That she would have a life, a family. That she would be with us and us with her, for a lifetime. We just didn’t know how short that lifetime would be…

But Rosh Chodesh Nissan she was called back. This month of the ‘crown-taking’ is one that Jewish custom has it, that no eulogies are said, and thus I shouldn’t be giving one. You always have to love those people that start off their forbidden eulogies by saying “this is not really a eulogy”.

It is a month of joy. It is a month of redemption. It is a month of the inauguration of the Mishkan, of the Kohanim, of the Nesi’im- princes and of Kings. But I realized this morning perhaps an even deeper reason why no eulogies are recited this month. Why there is none that are recited today on this Rosh Chodesh- the head of the entire month and of all months. For today is as well the yahrtzeit of two other people for whom no eulogy was really said. Two people for whom no eulogy needs to be said.

Rosh Chodesh Nisan is the only other Yartzeit, besides for Rosh Chodesh Av when Aharon Ha’Kohein we are told died, that is recorded in the Torah. The Torah doesn’t tell us the date when Moshe Rabbeinu dies, when Avraham Avinu or any of the Patriarchs, Matriarchs or 12 tribes died. Yet on Rosh Chodesh Nissan-the day of no eulogies, on the same day that the Mishkan of Hashem was inaugurated, there was another parent that was burying his children. It was Aharon Ha’Kohen whose two children Nadav and Avihu were taken. It is their Yartzeit today as well.

When Aharon is told, his response is one silence and acceptance. There is no eulogy. There is no mourning on this special day. And perhaps from that time on there never was. Moshe tells Aharon that the two of them were even greater than him and Aharon themselves. That they were sacrifices that were brought up in the Mishkan to sanctify Hashem’s name.

B’krovai eh’kadeish- I become sanctified with those that are close to Me.

Those are the pearls and precious stones for My crown. There is nothing to mourn because they are right here next to Me. They adorn the Melech. It is that silent acceptance of Aharon, in the face of their brutal and incomprehensible “untimely death” on this special day when I came down to rest My presence back in my nation and build My home on this world, it is that incredible emuna that makes Me sanctified. It is that unwavering faith that we don’t understand everything… anything… that is the crown. That is how I can come down to this world. That is how the world can be redeemed in Nisan.

Yet, Moshe tells us that despite that there is no eulogy, that there is no questioning, yet he says there is crying.

V’acheichem kol bais Yisrael yivku es ha’sereifa asher saraf Hashem- And your brothers, all of Israel, will cry the fire that Hashem burned.

Aharon is silent, yet the nation, his brothers and sisters are all kol bais Yisrael- we are one house, we are one family united in this tragedy. We are crying. We’re not crying and even mourning their death, Moshe tells us. Rather, we are crying for the fire that Hashem had to send to bring that awareness of how special, how dear and how precious they were, and how holy they are to Him in such a fiery way. In a way that we realize that this is not something that is the normal way of the world. In a way that is even so painful to Him- as it uses that special name of mercy of Hashem in describing this fire that He brought. It is the sereifa asher saraf -the merciful Father in heaven.

It is the happiest day of the world since Creation, when Hashem’s presence was about to finally come down. It was not a day for tragedy. It was Nisan. Yet, it was on this day that Hashem in His mercy and caring for us needed to send us a message; to make us cry and appreciate how precious our lives are. How precious every act we do is. How we can’t take for granted one moment, one second, one act, one mitzva, one good deed and one smile that can light up the world. Aharon is silent, but Moshe tells him that we his brothers are crying and will always remember the fire and loss that is the legacy and final message his sons have left us in their deaths on this Rosh Chodesh Nisan.

There is something else precious about the crying of the nation. The Imrei Shefer says an unbelievable idea. He quotes a verse in Yirmiyahu

Al tivku la’meis v’al tanudu lo- do not weep for the dead and do not lament him

Becho becho l’holeich- rather weep you shall weep for he who is leaving

Ki lo yashuv od liros Eretz moladato- for he will not return to see the land of his birthplace.

 Our sages explain that the one that you should cry for is not the dead, rather it is for he who is leaving this world, they explain, without children. For they have no one that will carry on their legacy.

 He thus explains that Aharon was not mourning his children’s death. Rather it was the fact that they didn’t leave anyone to carry on their name and their legacy. They didn’t have kaddish zuggers. And in that case they would have to come back again to fix their sins. They were not at rest. Moshe told him therefore told him that when someone dies without children, if those that were close to him cry for that fire. If those dear ones shed tears and take up their lives, they keep their inspiration alive. Becho Becho- cry and cry for them. Then those special souls taken without children will never have to return to this world. They will remain the crowns of Hashem. The tears of Klal Yisrael will raise up any sparks left. They will be their children. They will be Yehudis’s children. And she will be at rest. She will not need to return to fix anything left. Her job is finally done/ Her suffering is finally over. She will adorn that crown of Hashem.

 This week we begin the Book of Vayikra, the book of the sacrifices. We don’t have sacrifices today, but on that first day of the  inauguration of sacrifices, Hashem taught us that the death of the righteous, their inspiration  and the tears that we shed over them can be and is just as powerful to connect us to Hashem. To bring us closer. Our parsha tells us that every sacrifice needed salt and wine libations. One of the students of the Gaon of Vilna the Margaliyos Ha’Torah writes that our salty tears shed over their death are the libations of the korban that is their deaths. It is why it says that the brothers of Irael will cry “es ha’sereifa” the word ‘es’ means ‘with’ the fire. Our tears are the salt and the libation that accompany and are poured over that sacrifice. It’s what makes the holiness eternal. It’s what brings us closer to our Father and Him closer to us.

 Yehudis suffered so much with her terrible illness over the past few years since it took over her holy precious body. Treatments, Chemo, prognosis after prognosis and such terrible suffering. Yet, she accepted that suffering and she fought hard to live longer and longer. She felt she had so much to live for. So much love to give and share. So much to experience and so much light to bring to the world. So many people to make smile. So many friends to cherish. She didn’t want to leave.

 Reb Yonasan Eibushitz in his eulogy on his father-in-law writes something so powerful and so earthshattering. He explains that righteous people do not leave this world until their body and soul agree to leave. Hashem fulfills the will of the righteous. It is only when they feel that they have completed what they were put here in this world to do. However many times, the tzadik’s soul does not want to leave this world. It feels that is has so much to give, so many to bring close and so much it can still do. And one’s soul cannot leave their body and return to Hashem until it is ready.Therefore Hashem brings pain and suffering upon their body until their soul can not bear to see the suffering of their body anymore. Despite that it is willing and wishes to remain and do more. Yet, it’s time is up. That suffering of its body finally connects the tzadik to his own core. It becomes at rest. It resigns itself that its job is over. It’s time finally to let go and come home. The rest of your brothers of Israel will cry that fire. Will live that life for you. Your job is up. We will be your children.

 Yehudis went off in peace with her family around her singing the songs that gave her so much comfort and so much love these past few months. She was given the opportunity to say good-bye, to express her appreciation to all that came and visited her whom she felt that gave to her-despite that all that came felt that we got so much more from her. She returned her soul to Hashem with Shema on her lips. She was an olah Temima- a pure offering. Parshat Vayikra this week is that call that Hashem called her from his heavenly abode and she is His crown.

 Nisan is the month of the Geula. The king needs His crown before He comes down to His eternal palace that will be built here this month. May the neshoma of our sister be the last korban Hashem needs to take. May she be the last pearl for his crown as we cry for her fire and her light. And may the neshoma of Yehudis Penina bas Avraham Tzvi be a meilitz yosher for her family and loved ones that should be comforted and souled with all those that mourn Tzion and Yerushalayim. Tihei Zichra Baruch.  

 

Have comforting Shabbos,

 

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

 

This week's Insights and Inspiration is dedicated as a zechus for Yehudis Penina bas Avraham Tzvi Z”L. May her holy neshoma have an aliya and may she be a meilitz yosher- a divine advocate to Hashem to bring consolation to all of those that mourn her and will miss her.

May her special husband Yoily, know no more tzaar, her mother and her siblings that cared so  much for her be comforted, and may all of us that she was dear to and loved fill that tremendous void she has left behind with merits, closeness and the simcha that she gave us as she will be our inspiration forever.

Tihei Zichra Baruch- may her memory be a blessing.

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Galus america

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This is a really great book, I'm so glad that my son become a rabbi, tour guide, and author rather than a Doctor or a Lawyer ."-My Mother

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YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

 

“A tropn libe brengt a mol a yam trern.”- A drop of love can bring an ocean of tears.

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

16) The style of architecture which characterized construction in Tel Aviv in the 1920s is called:

"___________ architecture".

What characterizes the "International Style" of architecture?

A) combining different architectural styles from around the world

B) Renaissance symmetry and sloped roofs

C) simplicity and avoiding excessive ornamentation

D) aspiration to height and gliding arches

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE WEEK

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oZzoP8xsPDM   - Ki Hinei Ka’Chomer a beautiful rendition from Bustan

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8pGeGgXQ00   -Gil Asher – Olam Shel Ahava- world of love

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzGPU_DWIuU   – One of the most powerful videos I’ve seen… a Jew comes to demonstrate against Judicial reform, against Chareidim, Against religious coercion- he then hears the song of Shabbos and his neshoma awakens… you have to see this…

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bV3XUiUbCAM    – Moshe Shneider The time is Now beautiful

 

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

 

Naaman- 680 BC- Last week we introduced the concept of the Christians stealing Jewish stories and biblical figures and turning them into pre-configurations of the bubbeh maysehs of their New Testament. Well this week we continue the saga fascinatingly enough with Elisha bringing “salvation” to the righteous gentile general of the nation of Aram named N Naaman who suffered from leprosy.

 

Now the nation of Aram is located in Syria and is a larger region that goes all the way up to Turkey. It’s there where Avraham starts from in Charan, it’s where Yaakov hangs out by Uncle Lavan (Ha’Arami- as we say by the Pesach Seder) and its where 11 of 12 tribes are born! It’s where we shtam from. The King of Aram had waged war on Achav the previous king and Naaman had been the general that actually carried out the Divine punishment by killing Achav in battle. Hashem, our sages tell us, did this to show that He held this goyish general in higher spiritual esteem than He did the King of Israel. Pretty remarkable and an important lesson that we don’t have a monopoly on the favor of Hashem. Now although Naaman was an idolator, unlike Achav, Hashem didn’t hold it against him, because that what the culture he was born it- which is another important lesson. Yet, Hashem wanted to give him an opportunity to discover the truth. And what better place to do that than Eretz Yisrael!

 

Yet first Naaman had to be humbled and thus he was given leprosy. When he captured a young Jewish girl in one of his incursions into Israel, she advised him to go to the prophet of Israel in the Shomron who might heal him. It seems that even back there was an idea of going to tzadikim for yeshuos! And even goyim would buy into that…

 

Naaman turns to his King who then forwards this request to the King of Israel Yehoram. And here’s the tragic part of the story. Yehoram, didn’t believe that Elisha could do the job. He was angry and bitter at Elisha who had rebuked him for his idolatry, and he therefore saw this request as a ploy from Aram to wage war on Israel. So he rent his clothing and mourned. Crazy! Yet think about it in modern terms. Imagine the King of Syria or Iran wants a bracha from Reb Chayim Kanievsky to heal him. How do you think Bibi would react? How about if Lieberman, Lapid or Bennet were Prime Minister? Do you think that they would be fine with those “Chareidim” bring the salvation of Klal Yisrael. That’s what was going on…

 

Yet, Elisha hears about this and sends a message to Yehoram, that he will heal him. Let him come. And so Naaman journeys to Elisha. What happens? Stay tuned next week….

 

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S JOKES OF THE WEEK

 

Yeah… sorry just not in the mood this week… next week I promise double…

 

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The answer to this week”s question is C –This is one of those questions that most tourists are not interested in, yet it’s an important one for the tour guiding course. See, most people don’t really care about architecture, certainly not modern architecture. And 1920’s is considered modern in this 4000 year old country of ours. Yet, it is the Bauhaus architecture that was imported here by German Jews that came from Germany before the war which was known for it’s simplicity, which is basic square buildings on second stories with the carports underneath that would be cool and shaded that you see all over Tel Aviv that in fact gave the city it’s UNESCO World Heritage status as the “White city”. So yeah, it’s important to them. And of course I got it right as they knocked it into our heads. So that makes the score as of now  13.5 for Schwartz and 2.5 for Ministry of tourism on this exam so far…

No Comment- Parshat Behar- Bechukosai 2021 /5781

 

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land

from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

 "Your friend in Karmiel"

May 7^th 2021 -Volume 11 Issue 30 25^th Iyar 5781

Parshat Behar- Bechukosai

No Comment

It probably ranks up there as one of the top most quoted Rashi's in the entire Torah. That's saying a lot because Rashi has a lot to say. You know the old joke they say about how Rashi comes home one day and his wife asks him what he thinks of her new dress. Rash takes a look at it and points out that although it is a beautiful color it seems that the sleeves are slightly long and narrow. In addition, he tells her that the truth is the dress is somewhat redundant as in her closet there is a similar dress that she had recently purchased that was just as pretty. Finally, he notes that there is a store not too far away that seems to have the same style clothing at a better price.

Rashi’s wife throws up her hands in frustration. “Do you really have to comment on everything?!!”

I don't know if there are any other Rashi jokes out there. But you knew if there was I would find them for you.

But anyways, Rashi comments on everything. Yet the first Rashi in this week's parsha of Behar which will go on to teach us the laws of Shemitta and the Yovel year begin with the words that Hashem told this to Moshe "Be'Har Sinai" on Mt. Sinai. Comes Rashi and asks the famous question…. (you have to say that with the yeshivish questioning niggun)

"Ma inyan Shemitta etzel Har Sinai? -What does Shemitta have to do with Mt. Sinai?"

Weren't all of the mitzvos given on Sinai? We don't find this introduction given by any of the other 613 commandments given in the Torah. Why specifically here does it introduce this mitzva by telling us that this was Sinatic as the fancy biblical scholars like to refer to it. A good question. His answer though? It's a little bit puzzling.

"Just like Shemitta all of its rules, details, and specifics were said at Sinai so to all the Mitzvos were said on Sinai."

I'm confused. We knew that all the mitzvos were given on Sinai already in the question. The question- the way I understood it- was why was Shemitta specifically singled out? As well, why would we think that the details and specifics weren't given by Sinai? Finally, is there really a difference if it was given at Sinai or Hashem just told Moshe them afterwards? I mean, Moshe's a pretty trustworthy guy… One of the 13 principles of faith is that we believe that everything he says is true. In fact, the most of the 5^th book of the Torah of Devarim are his speech to us. That's 20% of the Torah. So everyone knows the famous kasha of Rashi, but do any of us really understand his teretz... his answer?

Parshat Behar is generally read together with the next parsha, as we conclude the book of Vayikra this week. Parshat Bechukosai, the 2^nd parsha is one of the scarier parshiyot as it contains in it the horrifying tochacha, the terrible punishments Hashem will inflict upon us for the non-observance of His mitzvos, or as it begins if we do not listen to his Chukim- his laws. Punishment after punishment, horror after horror, exile after exile; the Torah pulls no punches. The conclusion of this admonition or tochacha is

Vayikra (26:46) These are the the chukim and mishpatim- the laws and the Torah that Hashem gave between Him and the Children of Israel in Mt. Sinai in the hands of Moshe.

Whadaya know? We encounter Mt. Sinai once again.  The Rashbam in fact notes that this is really the conclusion that began from the beginning of Behar. The theme and subject of the admonitions are primarily for the sin of non-shemitta observance that was in that parsha. The repeated number '7' themes of the punishments in the parsha and various other verses pretty much give that away. If we read the parsha as being the conclusion, it really opens up a whole new world of understanding. It's not the laws or even mitzvos and its details that the Torah is reminding us come from Sinai. We knew that already. Rather Hashem is reminding us that the horrifying tragedies, suffering and harsh unfathomable judgements Hashem will pass upon us that were given us there as well. In other words-we knew what we were signing up for…

Rav Gedalia Shorrer notes a fascinating Midrash in the beginning of the parsha. The Midrash tells explains the verse in Tehillim-

Psalms (103:20) Barchu Hashem Malachov- Hashem is blessed by His angels

Giborei Koach Osei Devaro- Those mighty in strength, who perform His word

L'ishmoa L'kol Devaro- to listen to the voice of His word.

The midrash explains that the giborei koach- the ones of great strength that are even mightier than the angels who bless Hashem are none other than the observers of Shemitta. Rabbi Yitzchak explains the greatness of these individuals in that regular people like me and you fulfill a mitzva for a day, for a week, maybe for even a month. But these farmers who close up shop and just let anyone come in and take anything, and better yet, they even pay taxes on the field still. They take all that and watch it all happen and are silent? They are able to suppress their natural instinct to cry out and protest or complain? That takes strength. Those are the ones that preform the word of Hashem. They are the one's listening to His voice.

The Midrash tells us another example of these Giborei Koach, these mighty ones. This time though it's not just farmers. It's all of us. When we stood at Mt. Sinai. Hashem asked us- as He did all the nations-if we wanted to accept the Torah. And we answered "Na'aseh V'Nishma". We will do and we will listen. We accepted the will of Hashem. We didn't know what He would demand of us. We didn't care. It was irrelevant. We had no questions. We had total faith.

Like the farmer who is silent and accepting of the will of Hashem who remembers that commitment we made at Sinai, each Jew has that same challenge in the wake of anything that happens that we don't understand. All of the Mitzvos were given on Sinai, no questions asked. Hashem told us that there would be times when we would sin, times when He would need to be harsh with us. Times even, perhaps, when things occur in this world that seem unfathomable. They are Chukosai- they are My decrees. We need to walk in them. We need to just be silent. It is hard for me to say and write this and even harder to fulfill this. When something terrible happens our natural knee jerk is to ask why? How? What does this mean? We are torn, we are broken, we are trying to seek meaning. We can't fathom a merciful loving Father could do this to His children. Those voices are us speaking. Perhaps even yelling or crying. Those voices are because it is so hard to accept Chukosai- Hashem's unexplainable decrees. It takes Giborei Koach that are even greater than angels to be silent. To remember we are the nation of Na'aseh V'Nishma. To remember that this was also given on Sinai.

There is a Mishna in Avot we studied this past week, that lists the 7 differences between a Golem and a Chacham. Fascinatingly enough it's not what I thought before I saw the Mishna. In fact, it's the opposite. My knowledge of the "Golem" unfortunately is kind of infantile. I used to read these comics in the Jewish Press about the Golem and for a period of time there was even this "Mendy and the Golem" comic book series that I used to get. Frankly, it was a like a bad Jewish superhero fiction Superman with a yarmulka. When I was older I read this Gershon Winkler book the Golem that gave me nightmares for years. (His Dybbuk book was worse- I only found out recently that the man wasn't even frum and was rather a practitioner of what he called Aboriginal Judaism"…oyyy). But the one thing that they all had in common was that the Golem couldn't talk. I thus assumed that a Chacham is actually someone that speaks a lot of wisdom. I think all of us assume that is the case. The Mishna though tells us exactly the opposite. Golems talk. Wise people, true Chachamim though are just the opposite. They know how to be silent.

Almost all of the 7 Middos- attributes of the wise man as opposed to the Golem are centered on his ability not to talk. He doesn't speak before someone greater than him. He doesn't interrupt while someone else is talking. He doesn't express his opinion or response immediately. He only asks and responds to the point and he doesn't say things he hasn't heard and acknowledges when he is wrong or that he just doesn't know. The opposite of that is the Golem.

Do you know what a Golem is? It's somebody that when something happens has to start spouting reasons for why this happened. What sins caused this. What everyone has to fix. What the police should've done. What the Rabbis should've done. They talk and they talk and they talk or in today's world they forward whatsapps, they post blogs, they tweet. They think they are Rashi and they need to comment on everything. They don't know how to stand in awe of the Almighty and just say Na'aseh V'nishma.

It's not easy to be a Chacham. Chazal tell us that when Hashem showed Moshe the terrible fate of Rabbi Akiva being torn apart by his sadistic Roman soldiers he screamed out to Hashem "Is this the reward for Torah". At that moment even Moshe couldn't take it anymore. Yet, Hashem told him in no uncertain terms one word "Shtohk!-be silent" It is a decree from before Me. Silence. shteeka. That is the way of the Giborei Koach. To mourn, to reflect, to absorb, to remember Mt. Sinai and where this is coming from. It's what Hashem chose us for. It's what we signed up to do in this world. To hear that word of His and stop talking for it. It is what makes us greater than angels.

We are all Rabbis today. We all unfortunately are guilty of being Golem Rabbis though. Not Talmidei Chachamim. But we can be better and do better if we are just silent. If we just take the time Hashem wants for us to contemplate and absorb His word. This is particularly essential as we approach and prepare for the holiday of Shavuot when we stood on Sinai. When we listened as Hashem did the talking. When we knew when we heard His voice that there was nothing that needed to be asked. Nothing that we could add to the conversation. We can only absorb His words. When we did that ,the angels placed crowns on our heads and were in awe of us. If we are able to do that once again, then perhaps very soon this year we will hear that voice calling us to finally come home. When we will truly finally appreciate that Hashem is Echad. It is all Him.

Have a truly awesome Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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MY THOUGHTS AFTER THE MERON TRAGEDY

Broken Uplifted Hearts

https://youtu.be/yW5DYy4T7Io

 

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 RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

" A shveigendiker nar iz a halber khokhem." – A quiet fool is half a sage.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

27) The initials of the Irgun (Etzel) are:

A) Paramilitary Zionist Organization

B) Liberal Zionist Organization

C) National Military Organization

D) Military Organization for the Jews

 RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcpbqMK2iWw  – What a powerful Yidish Sound of Silencefrom Chaim Shlomo Mayesz

https://youtu.be/IKvEFR3_2vA   – Take us Home…Moshe Storch what a beautiful heartfelt song

 https://youtu.be/mjGQ0UaD5TY    - We need something upbeat on these days and Aaron Razels Ulu Banim Kadishin of Meron in happier days with Rabbi Shimon's invitation to join him is as good as it gets.

 https://youtu.be/nBuCW29EZfY    – Shragee Gestetner who was taken this Meron's incredible composition and song Chamol Kerachem Av-which has so much more meaning now

 

https://youtu.be/LWzYElKTyRs    -Hatzala volunteers singing on the "Madreigos Ha'damim" the steps of the holy ones of Meron

 RABBI SCHWARTZ'S PARSHA/ ERETZ YISRAEL CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

 Grown in Israel – Parshat Behar Bechukosai- The produce in Eretz Yisrael is special. It's more than special, it’s the best in the world. I don't mean that it wins awards, gold metals, or neccesarily even tastes the best- which it does all of the above incidentally. Rather the Torah tells us that the produce in Eretz Yisrael is the perfect produce in that it is everything that we need on all levels spiritual, ascetically, nutritional and satisfying. It's like the Manna from heaven and according to Rav Aharon Leib Shteiman ZT"L it's even better than the Manna.

 He notes that there is a mitzva that Hashem tells us that the soldiers of Israel would fascinatingly enough take little shovels with them to cover up with dirt after they go to the bathroom. Certainly and interesting and different mitzva worthy of a more extensive discussion. The problem with this mitzva though is that seemingly the food that they ate in the wilderness was Manna and our sages tell us that being that the Manna was an entirely spiritual food there was no waste product that would come out. So why was this Mitzva given to them in the wilderness? The answer the Sifsei Chachamim notes is that it is true the Manna didn't have any waste, but the Jews would buy food from traveling non-Jewish merchants and it was for the waste product that came from that food that the shovels were required.

 Fregt Rav Shteiman, why would they buy from gentiles food if they already had the best food in the world, that would taste like anything they wanted it to?  He answers that although the Manna could taste like anything and contained all that they could possibly need nutritionally and spiritually, it was still lacking one thing. It wasn't satisfying. They had their portion they ate it and yet they didn't feel satiated afterwards. You know Jews, we like to eat. We want doubles, and triples and more even if we got all of our nutritional needs met. It was for that reason that they bought food. He notes however that Hashem promises the Jews when they come into the land that here we will eat la'sova- to full satisfaction. We will have abundance and it will give us a sense of being full. So as you see, Eretz Yisrael produce has all of the benefits of Manna and you can have doubles as well!

 The great Bas Ayin, Rav Avraham Avrtich upon coming to Eretz Yisrael resolved that he would only eat from the produce of Eretz Yisrael. No made in America chazerai for him. This was the land and fruit of blessing and holiness. This was the only produce he would allow in his body. All was fine and good until there was a drought and famine in Eretz Yisrael. There was no wheat crop and it was very difficult to get bread and other produce. So what did the government do? It imported wheat from other countries. Sadly, today as well from what I understand the majority of our wheat and grain products is imported as well.

 Yet Reb Avraham was adamant he wouldn't eat foreign fruit. He as well brought a proof for his rationale from this week's Parsha. In the Shemitta year the Torah tells us that "What will happen if the farmer asks what will we eat in the 7^th year if we do not work our fields?" Hashem thus promises that he will provide enough in the 6^th year to last for the three years. "He will command His blessing". The Bas Ayin asks, what is this farmer nervous about. We can just import and purchase from other countries. Get your Shemitta grains from America, Russia and the Ukraine! The answer must be, because those products are a very sore substitute for the grains and produce of Eretz Yisrael. They are lacking in all of the bracha that the fruits here have. They will never satiate our souls the way the fruits here do. To tell the farmer that he can get produce from other places isn't even an option. "And it isn't one for me, as well", said the holy Rebbi. It shouldn't be for us either!

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

Dovid's Punishment; Loss of a Son- 865 BC – The first immediate consequence or punishment Nasan HaNavi told Dovid he would incur would be the death of the child that he had with Batsheva. It was not long in coming, for as soon as Nasan left, Dovid was informed that his son had taken ill. There is a lot to be learned from Dovid's reaction to this foreboding prophecy. Although Dovid heard this report from a prophet and as well he knew he was deserving of punishment, he did not give up hope. He sat next to the child's bed and prayed and fasted for a week. When his servants and the people of his house tried to talk him down, fearing that he could do who-knows-what and particularly after the trauma they must have suffered during Shaul's bouts of depression, Dovid refused their gestures. He understood and taught us that even when it seems the sword is against one's neck we must never give up hope from mercy.

 On the 7^th day when the son had died they were nervous to tell Dovid. Yet Dovid discerned their whispering and understanding and confirming that it was over, Dovid than proceeded to arise and to wash, anoint himself and eat. He had accepted Hashem's will. There was nothing left to do. According to some opinions this child died within 30 days of it's being born and mourning and shiva was not mandated, according to other opinions Dovid changed in order to praise Hashem for the bad as well for the good. When the servants expressed their astonishment about Dovid's behavior and faith. Dovid responded in words that ring true to every mourning person.

"Can I bring him back again? I will go to him, but he will not return to me!"

As every tour guide knows this is when you pull out the special text that Dovid himself composed on this occasion and try to find the emotions that Dovid experienced. It is Psalm 9

 La'Minatzayach al mus ha'ben mizmor l'Dovid-To the conductor, upon the death of a child, a song of David.

Dovid notes and finds praise for Hashem in this Psalm

I will thank Hashem with all my heart; I will tell all Your wonders.

I will rejoice and exult with You; I will sing praises to Your most high name….

 He recognizes the judgement of Hashem

 For You have performed my judgment and my cause; You sat on the throne, O Judge of righteousness…. But the Lord shall sit forever; He has established His throne for judgment. But He judges the world with righteousness, kingdoms with equity….

 He looks to Hashem for comfort and consolation

 And Hashem shall be a fortress for the crushed, a fortress for times of distress.

And those who know Your name shall trust in You, for You have not forsaken those who seek You, Hashem

 Hashem remembers the cries of the innocent and his judgement is awesome despite that we don't understand it.

For He Who avenges blood remembers them; He has not forgotten the cry of the humble.

Be gracious to me, Hashem, see my affliction from my enemies, You Who raise me up from the gates of death in order that I tell all Your praises; in the gates of the daughter of Zion I will rejoice in Your salvation.

The Lord is known for the judgment that He performed; with the act of His hand, the wicked man stumbles. Let us meditate over this forever.

 He remains with us and gives us hope forever.

.For the needy shall not be forgotten forever, neither shall the hope of the poor be lost to eternity.

 After the terrible tragedy in Meron last week these words of Dovid teach us how the righteous respond to tragedy. May we all be consoled.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S  TERRIBLE SILENCE JOKES  OF THE WEEK

 Bernie and Estelle had a big argument, which ended with neither one speaking to the other. This ‘silence’ went on for three days. But then Bernie realized he needed Estelle’s help because he had an early morning flight to catch. However, he still couldn’t bring himself to talk to her so he wrote a note and left it on her pillow. 

It said, "Please wake me at 5 am. I have to catch an early plane." 

The next morning, Bernie woke and found to his horror that it was 9 am. He heard Estelle busy in the kitchen and there was a note on his pillow. 
It said, "It's 5 am. Wake up."  

 

Did you hear about the composer who took a vow of silence? His friends called him Mutezart

 

Yankel was out driving with the wife. After speeding down a long stretch of road he noticed the flashing lights of a police car behind him and pulled over.

“Can I help you officer”? he said
“Do you realize that your wife fell out of the car about a mile back” says the officer.
“Oy vay” says Yankel “That's what happened? And here I thought I was just going deaf!!"

 Maurice and Sarah were getting old and Maurice felt his wife was losing her hearing. 

He decided to stage a test. One day, as Sarah read the paper, he stood a distance behind her chair and said, in a conversational voice, "Can you hear me?" Silence. 
He moved towards her. He was now 6 feet away. "Can you hear me?" Still silence. 
Finally, he moved directly behind her chair and bent over, just inches from her ear "Can you hear me?" 
Sarah replied "For the third time, Maurice, Yes I can!"

 Morris and his wife Esther went to the state fair every year, and every year Morris would say, "Esther, I 'd like to ride in that helicopter".

Esther always replied, "I know Morris, but that helicopter ride is fifty dollars — and fifty dollars is fifty dollars".

One year Esther and Morris went to the fair, and Morris said, "Esther, I'm 85 years old. If I don't ride that helicopter, I might never get another chance."

Esther replied, "Morris that helicopter is fifty dollars — and fifty dollars is fifty dollars".

The pilot overheard the couple and said, "Folks I'll make you a deal. I'll take the both of you for a ride. If you can stay quiet for the entire ride and not say a word I won't charge you! But if you say one word, it's fifty dollars."

Morris and Esther agreed and up they went. The pilot did all kinds of fancy maneuvers, but not a word was heard. He did his daredevil tricks over and over again, but still not a word. When they landed, the pilot turned to Morris and said, "By golly, I did everything I could to get you to yell out, but you didn't. I'm impressed!"

Morris replied, "Well, to tell you the truth, I almost said something when Esther fell out, but you know — fifty dollars is fifty dollars."

 

Berel Bloom had just picked up his first passenger of the evening. After about 5 minutes of driving, the passenger suddenly tapped Berel on his shoulder to ask him a question. 
Berel screamed, lost control of his taxi, nearly hit a bus, went up onto the pavement and stopped only inches from a shop window. 
For a second, everything went very quiet in the taxi, then Berel said, "Look man, don't ever do that again. You scared the living daylights out of me." 
His passenger apologized and said, "I didn't realize that a little tap could scare you so much." 
Berel replied, "Sorry, it's not really your fault. Today is only my second day as a cab driver - I've been driving hearses for the past 25 years."

 

A man joins a monastery, and takes a vow of silence, only allowed to say two words every Xmas. Every day, they grow their own food and maintain the monastery, all while silently praying.
On the first Xmas, he goes to the abbot and says, "Food's cold."

 The abbot nods and blesses him. On the second Xmas, he tells the abbot, "Work's hard."

The abbot nods and blesses him.
On the third Xmas, he says to the abbot, "I quit."
The abbot replies, "I knew it! You've been complaining ever since you got here!"

 

Two Trump supporters die and go to heaven. God meets them at the pearly gates and asks if they have any questions. One of them says, “Yes, what were the real results of the 2020 election and who was behind the fraud?”
God says, "My son, there was no fraud. Biden won the electoral college fair and square, 306 to 232.”
After a few seconds of stunned silence, the one guy turns to the other and whispers, “This goes higher up than we thought.”

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Answer is C- This one is pretty much a giveaway. You get this wrong, you really should take the exam again. The ETzeL or Irgun Tzva L'eumi started by David Raziel and ultimately led by Menachem Begin was a breakoff from the Hagana who they felt were too busy with diplomatic and defensive tactics to get the Israel State founded. They felt that offense was the best defense and they were opposed to any concessions the Hagana and liberal autocracy might make. So as opposed to the Israel defense force that the Hagana was. They called their army the ETzeL the national organized Army which has much more of an aggressive offense oriented ring to it. The LeCh"I- or the freedom fighters of Israel that broke off from them was even more aggressive attacking the British even outside of Israel.   So I got this one right too and the score is now 20 for Rabbi Schwartz and 7 for the Ministry of Tourism on this exam.