Totally Awesome-Beshalach

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

January 13^th 2011 -Volume I, Issue 15–8^th  of Shvat 5771

Parshat Beshalach 

Totally Awesome

I’m an eavesdropper. It’s not that I sit at closed windows and doors and listen into other peoples conversations. But I just have a natural curiosity as to what other people are talking about. What that heated discussion is over there in that corner. What that couple standing in line are whispering to one another. I even like listening in to little children playing, arguing or kibitzing in the park. I’m a people aficionado and I am fascinated by individuals lives and stories. In the old days and even back in the states it wasn’t an easy task to listen in to what people are talking and thinking about. But today with the advent of personal blogs and loud cell phone conversations where ever you go. It never fails to amaze me how much people share with the big world out here that may be listening.

Here in Israel in a country where the average person has 1.5 cellphones (yes that’s a real statistic) which seem to be glued to peoples ears and mouths for most of the day. Even a non-eavesdropper who maybe trying to mind his own business has a difficult time avoiding overhearing the many people that are chattering around you. Perhaps what some might consider the greatest violators of ones personal ear-space in this country particularly on buses and at bus-stops are the hundreds of seminary girls that are here for the year in Israel. Still being a new Oleh whenever I hear English my ears perk up still. But there is no need for to strain myself too much because the chatter from sem-girls all around is so deafening it makes it hard to avoid. Shabbat plans, which teachers they like, what tiyulim they went on and how they are going to get more money from their parents are all up for grabs. But one of the most entertaining snippets I have heard quite a few times over my past few trips from these idealistic and very inspired young ladies is the way they talk about Hashem.

“Hi Chani, I just want to tell you Hashem is so awesome! I missed my bus last night and was stuck and ended up bumping into my cousin and had such a great time. Isn’t Hashem cool!”

Or how about this one?

“Malkie, you’ll never believe it I was going to go to the Kotel and I lost my purse and I davened really hard and as soon as I walked away from the Wall a solider walked over to me and asked me if this purse as mine. Isn’t Hashem amazing!!

Best of all

“Man does Hashem rock! Let me tell you Sarah, I was supposed to take this test last week and I had no clue how I was going to pass. But than I found last years exam with the answers in a friend of mines house and I like totally aced it. I love Hashem he really listened to me!”

Doesn’t that just touch your heart? Praised is the Lord of Israel who provides such difficult challenges to His daughters and what an awesomely cool and rocking Almighty who must certainly be smiling as he eavesdrops on their phone calls together with me.

But the truth is, this very personal Hashem notion is not a phenomenon that is unique to sem-girls. Whoever one talks to (or listens in to) in this country is constantly recounting their own various anecdotes about how Hashem pulled through for them in one way or another. More than anywhere else in the world one truly feels and absorbs the idea that we are living in a country that the verse tells us “The eyes of God are upon it constantly from the beginning of the year to the year end.”.

How far back does this special relationship go? This weeks Torah portion also known as Shabbat Shira the Shabbat- when we read the first song of praise of the Jewish people- begins the story of the Jewish people as a free nation. Our story starts with the first challenge

Vayehi Bishalach Pharaoh es H’Am V’lo nacham Elokim derech eretz Plishtim Ki Karov Hu.

And it was when Pharaoh sent out the Jewish people and Hashem lead us the path of the Plishtim because it was close.

Here we are, for the first time a free nation, on our way to Israel and the story starts with Hashem not taking us the straight and easy route. Rather we are going in a circle to the Red Sea. Why not the easy road? So, although the Torah continues and tells us that Hashem felt that if we would enter right away and see war we would return to Egypt. The early 12^th  century commentary of the Baa’le Tosafot gives us another explanation. He suggests that the Torah in saying Ki Karov Hu should be translated not as the path is a close way; rather that Hashem was close. Ki Karov Hu with a capital Heh- He was close to us.

Can you imagine the cell phone conversations that would have taken place?

“Miriam did you hear? Hashem took us out of Mitzrayim and we went this whole crazy path to start going to Israel. But you know what? It got really scary the Egyptians came with their armies and they were going to kill us, and we had no where to go. But all of sudden Hashem split the Sea and we saw like totally amazing miracles.”

“Zeh Eli V’Anvehu- This is my God and I will glorify him-“

“Ashira La’hashem Ki Ga’oh Ga’ah- I will sing to Hashem for he is awesomely glorious.”

He is so close to us. We burst out in song. What was perhaps one of the most terrifying moments of our nation’s history turned into the most monumental and pivotal. The first and most important lesson we received as a Nation of God was Ki Karov Hu- Hashem is close to us. We will face challenges, perhaps more than any other nation in the history of mankind. But we have a Karov. A close one… a relative... a father… that is nearby watching over and leading us on the path that He is taking us so that we may feel that closeness.

If that was the first lesson that we learned (and really the whole 40 years existence in the wilderness was truly about ingraining that lesson within us) then there is no place more that we  reap the fruits of those lessons than in Israel today. There is not a mother who has a son who is in the army that does not feel and believe Hashem is close. There is not a taxi driver who doesn’t feel that his next fare is a gift from Hashem. There is not a child or seminary girl that doesn’t deep down realize that we have someone special whom we can rely upon, talk to and praise for the tremendous gift we have of being his special nation. Hashem is everywhere. He is with us in our times of challenge, our tragedies, our times of rejoicing. And yes even in the Exile and the Diaspora. It is our job to feel that close-ness to know that He cares and to sing the songs of praise as we did back than with the same appreciation and knowledge that although we may have grown far our totally awesome Father in heaven has never left our side.

May the song of this Shabbos and every Shabbos fill you heart with joy and peace,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

This week's Email is dedicated to the incredible staff of Nefesh Benefesh Michelle Kaplan Green, Tzippi Oppenheimer, Sharona Stanhill , Steve Rosenthal and all the rest of the Go North and NBN staff who organized the fantastic Shabbaton in the Golan last week for close to 200 Olim who have recently moved to the North. It was Amazing, inspiring and certainly memorable! Thanks for all you do for us!!

Holyland Insights is now available for weekly sponsorships of the Insights & Inspiration E-mail, sent out weekly to close to 1000 subscribers. Your sponsorship is a great way to honor a Bar/Bat Mitzvah, family Simcha, yahrtzeit, friend, or any occasion while lending support to Rabbi Schwartzes efforts in furthering Jewish education and an appreciation of Eretz Yisrael. Please help us continue this weekly offering of inspiration through your generous dedication and sponsorship. To register as a sponsor or for more information, send an e-mail to this address, rabbschwartz@yahoo.com or call Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz at  050-597-0649       050-597-0649    (from States it is 011-972-50-597-0649)

**********************

 The Young Israel of Karmiel would like to invite you to join us this Shabbos once again for our heavenly services, with warm and insightful Divrei Torah in English and  Rebbetzin Schwartzes  super chulent Kiddush after davening.

Mincha is 4:25 PM
Shabbat morning Services 8:30 AM
can’t wait to see you

RABBI SCHWARTZ FUNNY  YOUTUBE VIDEO OF THE WEEK IN HONOR OF THOSE BLACKBERRYS!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v8Bfggcb308

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

KFAR HASIDIM-  A SMALL YISHUV IN THE WESTERN GALIL THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1920’S  BY THREE CHASIDIC REBBES- THE YABLONER , THE KOZNITZER AND THE “PIONEER REBBE-HA’ADMOR HACHALUTZ”. THIS WAS THE FIRST ALIYAH OF ITS KIND WHERE RELIGIOUS HASIDIC YOUNG MEN CAME TO DEVELOP AN AGRICULTURAL FARMING COMMUNITY AND MAINTAINED, RATHER THEN THREW OFF THEIR RELIGIOUS GARBS AND TRADITION. UNLIKE BNAI BRAK WHERE THE RELIGIOUS JEWS OPENED STORES AND BECAME BUSINESS MEN FOR THE FIRST TIMES, THESE YOUNG YESHIVA STUDENTS BECAME FARMERS. NEEDLESS TO SAY THEY HAD NO CLUE WHAT THEY WERE DOING AND IN A FEW YEARS THEY WERE STARVING AND NEEDED TO BE BAILED OUT. THE YISHUV WAS EVENTUALLY BAILED OUT BY POALEI MIZRACHI AND TODAY IS A MIXED SECUALR AND RELIGIOUS (NON CHASIDIC) COMMUNITY. BUT THERE ARE STILL SOME GREAT PICTURES OF RABBIS WITH LONG CURLY PAYOT AND TZITZIT BLOWING IN THE WIND KNEE DEEP IN MUD DIGGING AND PLOWING GROUND WITH THEIR COWS.

Flight of Light- Bo

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

January 7^th 2011 -Volume I, Issue 14–2^nd  of Shvat 5771

Parshat Bo 

Flight of Light

“Kol Hakavod!” that is warm and incredible response that I have heard repeatedly from the average Israeli  I meet and who of course immediately inquires as to what I am doing here in this country. I always find it fascinating how shocked and surprised they are that an American would even consider making Aliyah. Yet this year alone Israel once again set the record for the largest Aliyah in 37 years with over 19,000 Olim; a 16 percent increase over last year. From North America alone there were 3,980 Olim that came ,(my family therefore makes up about a 17^th of 1 percent of the Olim this year :)). From Russia to Latin America- Venezuela- had a 280% increase- Australia, Belgium and New Zealand, Jews are coming home. There is even data this year, of small numbers of olim who have arrived from China, Monaco, Japan, Hong Kong, Honduras, Malta, Singapore, South Korea, Kenya and Rwanda. Not sure how many of them are Jewish. But hey, when we left Egypt according to the Medrash there were between 120 and 240 thousand non-Jews that left with us as well.

Yet as celebrated as this number is there are still millions of Jews for whom Aliyah is not even a consideration. Whereas in the past it was the poverty of Israel, the impossibility of travel overseas, and the repressive governments under which the Jewish people lived in the Diaspora, today there are new factors that hold Jews from returning to the land of our forefathers. Until about 5 years ago it was the material and economic comfort that Jews in North America were basking in that made the notion of Aliyah an inconceivable dream. We were sitting in our nice houses, with our two cars, our fantastic vacations and our wonderful lifestyles without a worry in the world watching our bank accounts and 401’s grow and we were happy. Today…not so much, to put it mildly. For many however, it the question of raising their children in a culture that is foreign to them (how sad that the Jewish country is considered foreign) that prevents them from considering Aliyah. Yet once again, there are so many that are having just as many problems raising their children “Jewishly” with all the challenges and temptations that American culture brings them as well.  So what is it? Why aren’t more Jews coming home?

This week the Torah portion tells us the story of the “First” Aliyah. The Torah tells us that 600,000 men between the age of 20-60 left Egypt. If you add in infants, teenagers, seniors and women the number who left Egypt was close to 3 million. That is a lot of Jews. Yet at the same time the Medrash and the text itself alludes to the fact that this was only 20 percent of the total Jewish population. Meaning close to 12 million Jews remained and did not take the free Moshe Rabeinu- Nefesh B’Nefesh camel ride ticket out of Egypt. Even with the promise of the incredible financial grants and subsidies that the Egyptian Army had so generously lent them on their departure and the great booty they picked up on the “banks” of the Red Sea- excuse the pun:). How can it be? What were they thinking? Egypt was in ruins, what was there to stay for?

The question is truly a difficult one. One that is difficult for us to answer particularly with our always 20/20 historical hindsight. There are some commentaries such as Rav Shimon Schwab that suggest that the number is exaggerated and that the Medrash is alluding to the potential future generations of those that didn’t come out rather thena literally to the much smaller number of those that perished. Rav Yackov Kaminetzky suggests that those that did not leave was because of religious reasons. They claimed that the 400 years of exile that was foretold to Avraham was not up yet. It was too early to go. We are meant to remain in Egypt. Perhaps that was why so many stayed.Yet others suggest that it was the over-patriotism of the Jews (what had gotten them in to trouble in the first place-when the slavery first started voluntarily). The Jews saw Egypt in devastation and felt that they had to remain to rebuild it. There was another Egyptian buck to be made; they could redevelop the whole country. There are many propositions, yet in the end it is still very difficult to conceive.

Perhaps one can suggest that the answer to why they did not leave can be reflected in the plague upon which Hashem chose to punish them. Rashi quotes the Medrash that these Jews that refused to leave- and even tried to convince their brethren as well to stay- all died in the plague of Darkness. It seems strange that they all had to die during this one plague. They could have died by any of the other plagues or even in the interim years of slavery that led up to the redemption. Yet Hashem chose the plague of darkness. 

The truth is the plague of Darkness seemingly is one of the least intimidating plagues. It certainly wasn’t as painful as boils or lice, as terrifying as wild beasts, frogs, or hail and certainly not as financially devastating as locusts or pestilence. Why is this plague the final blow before the death of the first born? The answer is because the function of the plagues at this point was no longer as much to punish the Egyptians as it was to send a message to the Jews.

U’Lchol Bnei Yisrael Hayah Ohr Be’Moshvosam- and all the Jews had light in all of their dwelling places. The plague of Darkness was given to Egypt in order for the Jewish people, who had been living for the past 200 years in slavery, to finally “see the light”. Egypt is not your homeland. The time for redemption is coming. The lights are on and your “host” country is shrouded in darkness. It is interesting that the word Moshvosam also possesses the root Shoov- to return. There was light in their return. The question was, were they ready to step into it or not.

For a portion of the Jewish people that were so entrenched, they couldn’t or wouldn’t see past it.. Although it was clear as day that there was no real good reason to stay in Egypt. Their answers and excuses to remain in Exile until now were blinded by the light of the clarity of the miracles of Hashem. They turned off the bright light of redemption. And in the end they perished in their own self-created darkness.

There is no Shofar call yet today of the arrival of Moshiach (although who knows maybe by the time you receive this God willing there will have been :)). For many of those in Chutz La’Eretz- the Diaspora, perhaps you are struggling with the question of Aliyah. Whether it is right for your family, whether you can make it here (although if you’re from New York seemingly as the song goes you can make it anywhere…). It is not an easy decision. But if there is one thing that our Exodus from Egypt should teach us is that it is important for us to not live in darkness in Exile. We should truly be struggling with not why I should live in Israel but rather why shouldn’t I? How can I remain outside of our Holy country? What is keeping me? What did I say 5 years ago that was keeping me and has that changed? Are we shutting off our own lights and perishing in Exile, or do we finally have an opportunity to build a truly meaningful and holy Jewish existence in the Land that was created for exactly that purpose?

These are not easy questions. But ignoring them is certainly not the reason why we are in Exile. There is a tradition that although by the exile from Egypt not all of the Jews were redeemed. Yet after the giving of the Torah when we were “wed” to Ha’Kadosh Boruch Hu- (the Holy one Blessed be He) and an intrinsic eternal bond was created, we will all be part of the ultimate redemption. May Hashem bring us to that ultimate day soon, when not only will we all be here in Eretz Yisrael but we will once again have the Divine Presence in our holy Temple rebuilt once again as well. 

May your Shabbos be uplifting,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
T

RABBI SCHWARTZ VERY COOL QUIZ OF THE WEEK- TAKE IT AND READ TO THE END AND BE SHOCKED!!
http://www.ourjerusalem.com/news/story/do-you-know-your-geography-in-israel.html

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Usha-  in the southwest portion of the Galil (about a 1/2 hour from our home) there lies a destroyed bedouin village known as Husha. It matches the Talmuds account of where the Sanhedrin sat after the city of Yavneh was destroyed after the Bar Cochva revolt. A group of school children, as a school project, have begun digging there over the past few years and have uncovered some remarkable finds such as a mikva with tunnels to hide from the Romans as well as the central pillars of what could very well be the synagogue where the Sanhedrin sat. Not bad for a 6th grade school project!

Other Peoples Problems- Vaeira

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

  December 29^th 2010 -Volume I, Issue 12–22nd of Tevet 5771

Parshat VaEira

Other People's Problems

There are all types of people in life, as I've come to learn. As a Rabbi and a Jew whose job and faith is dependent on the fulfillment and expression of the mitzvah of loving every Jew, one certainly gets many opportunities to deal, interact and yes even to learn to love many people who you might never have ordinarily been particularly interested in having anything to do with. It also sometimes seems that Hashem with His ultimate desire for His children's personal growth will send you just the right people in your life who will more than anything else challenge your personal accustomed-to outlook, and assist you in expanding whatever your pre-conceived lovingness capacity may have been.

More often then not, if you're happily married and a parent like me, than those wonderful challenges will come in the process of building your beautiful relationships. Yet as a Rabbi you get to meet all those personalities, which to be kind, might ordinarily grate against your nerves. I've always prided myself on my "chilled" easy going, nature yet there are always those character traits that seem to expand my capacity to grow in loving-ness.
There's the kvetchers ("Oy there's not enough Kugel and it gives me such heartburn").
The self-centered me-only oriented ("Why can't I have triples of latkas before anyone else got 1^st ").
The wafflers (“I dunno maybe I'll come this week and bring kishka maybe I won't").
The know it alls ("I'm telling you this is the way you should make the chulent, trust me I know").
The worriers ("Are you sure it's safe to feed Tully shmaltz herring yet at only 10 months old?"…Just jokingJ).
And of course the paranoid neurotic and self-blaming (all those of you who thought I was referring to you above… No I wasn't talking about you). Not a bad list for a chilled out, easy going guy, Huh?

The secret though, I've learned in my pursuit of Middos development is to keep in mind the famous Baal Shem Tov (and Shlomo Carlebach) dictum. The flaws that we see in others are generally flaws and traits that we ourselves possess and need to work on. The more we can work on accepting and loving others the greater potential we will have to  succeed in overcoming the challenges we face in those same areas of personal development, which we may not even be aware need our attention.

This Week's Torah portion is perhaps God's greatest example to the Jewish people of the most significant aspect of their own personal growth, as seen through the perspective of another's behavior. The individual I refer to, the primary exhibit A of annoying, stifling and rather self destructive, personal behavior was no lesser of a figure then Pharaoh the King of Egypt. The overwhelming character flaw (putting aside his God-like delusions and his proclivity to bathe in Jewish children's blood) was the almost incredible degree of stubbornness and "heart hardening" that seemingly no human being could ever fathom to possess. Yet time after time, plague after plague, horror after horror, Pharaoh persists in his tracks and pathway to self-destruction despite the blood, frog, lice, beasts, pestilence, boils and hail-filled evidence that he is fighting a lost cause.

How could anyone be so self-delusional? How could anyone be so stubborn? Rav Ehrentrau suggests, as seen in all of the plagues, that Pharaoh always looked for an angle. After the plague of frogs, the Torah tells us that Pharaoh saw that there was relief…and then he hardened his heart. After the plague of pestilence he saw that there were Jewish animals that survived, that he might be able to survive from,… so he hardened his heart. And finally at the conclusion of this parsha when he sees that there is still some wheat and barley that has not been struck by the plague fo firey hail he once again he hardens his heart. There is always an angle or way out in his mind and therefore I do not have to change. Therefore I can persist in my false sense of superiority and right-ness. As long as it hasn't yet hit rock-bottom, he can continue delude himself that he will come out on top.

The lesson of Pharaoh though is not merely a history lesson. It was a lesson for the Jewish people; the people who, time and time again, are referred to by God and the Torah as a stiff-necked people. A stubborn folk we are. A nation, who to our credit, refuses to be put down or disappear from the annals of history or from its legacy. Yet much to our chagrin,  we are also a nation who more often than not, persists in refraining from picking itself up from our spiritual lows and the self-destructive behavior that often tears us apart and distances us from our Divine mandate. It was for us that the lesson of Pharaoh was presented. It was for us to recognize and see first-hand the consequences of stubborn persistence to our negative ways. We were meant to recognize that we don't have to wait until it hits rock-bottom to make the changes we know we should be making. To go to the places that we will grow. To become the people and nation we have the ability to become.

It's always easy to look at others and find fault. But generally we never help ourselves in that process. If only we could all turn that mirror back to ourselves. If we could only take the judgement we sometimes place on another's flaws and reflect it back to our own areas that need change. Then and only then, will we have the ability as our ancestors did 3500 years to truly declare ourselves as a Free Nation of God.

RABBI SCHWARTZ POLITICALLY INCORRECT SEASONAL VIDEO OF THE WEEK THAT I COULDN'T RESIST SHARING WITH YOU. OY. :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7ob_xMuPbk&feature=player_embedded#!
 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

MITZPEH YERICHO and YERICHO-  A small Yishuv that overlooks the city of Yericho at the meeting point between the Dead Sea and the Jordan River ( a city that Jews do not have easy access to- not that anyone is protesting on our behalf). High on the mountain overlooking the city it is the first view that the Jews had of Israel from across the Jordan. Yericho itself has the distinction of being the city where Herod built his palace and eventually died- fun tidbit- when he died he ordered all the prisoners should be killed so that their families won't celebrate his death- nice guy- his good queen however did not obey that order.

Shemos- Making it Happen

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"

  December 23^rd 2010 -Volume I, Issue 12–17^th of Tevet 5771

Parshat Shemos 

Making it Happen

It has always been the least favorite part of my job in my field of Jewish educational outreach work. I love teaching, I love meeting people and introducing them to the beauty of their Jewish heritage. I even used to love preparing for our events, sweeping the floors, peeling potatoes, and cleaning up afterwards. I didn’t mind cold calling people and I relished new opportunities to go where no Rabbi has ever gone before. The least favorite part of my job however was the fundraising that was always necessary to pay for everything that we did.

There are some people that enjoy it. They thrive on the challenge of inspiring a wealthy individual to invest in their projects. They love knocking down doors until they make that ultimate connection that pushes their organization to the next level. But for me- I’d rather be teaching. Yet the truth is from the beginning of the Jewish people’s existence we have always had our fundraising Rabbis that would be forced to leave the walls of their Yeshivot, Batei Midrash and organizations and hit the pavement to start bringing in the Shekels that would make it all happen.

In fact it seems that the Torah wishes this symbiotic relationship. We find that the Kohanim and Levi’im who were charged with the Jewish spirituality were supported by the tithes of the people. The Tribe of Yissachar was partners with his brother Zevulun so that he could dedicate his time to Torah study. If not for the relationship between the two both would lose out. The Kohen and Levi had to go out and see and understand the challenges that face those in the fields and the work place and the tribes had to appreciate that all that they had was a gift granted to them for a purpose. It was theirs to further the greater goals and spiritual calling of creating a holier more Godly nation.

In years of plenty this is an easy beautiful relationship. It’s easy (or at least easier) to fundraise. The rich are happy to help and those with needs and great projects feel more comfortable pushing them forward. When the going gets tough though….unfortunately it becomes a nightmare for many. There is no more fun- in the draising.

Until recently I empathized with the poor and needy during those times. Yet on a recent trip to the States to assist our local Rav Ha-Roshi in raising the funds necessary for all the many organizations he personally carries in Karmiel, I finally began to see the other side of the coin (pun intended) as well.. I spent quite a bit of time with some friends of mine that in better years were doing quite well- Thank God. I saw their beautiful houses, their nice cars their ‘perfect’ lives and heard stories about their amazing vacations, and I felt happy for them. Not jealous, because frankly I always loved my job and life and really would never of traded it. Just happy for them…

But then the door bells started ringing… and ringing… and the phone calls started coming. It was endless days and nights of watching  and listening to people walk through their doors with stories that just break your heart. I visited friends of mine in their offices and I saw lines- and I’m not exaggerating- of people waiting to “meet” and receive some financial help. I have a friend of mine who told me that he has to change his phone number every few months because of the many calls that he keeps getting that don’t even allow him to get anything done. Others have told me stories of how they have to daven in shuls far from their homes so that they are not mobbed by the “pauper-azzi”( this pun thing is getting old) or sneak out back doors or early in the morning so that they are not accosted. It’s truly mind boggling. My heart started to feel for my “rich” friends. I couldn’t even imagine living like that.

And yet they continue to give. They recognize their position and their blessing and they do the best that they can to meet the needs of their brothers. It’s just as much part of their jobs and lives as their business aspect. Mi K’Amcha Yisrael- Who is like you Nation of Israel.

This weeks Torah portions the second Book of the Torah shares with us the story of the nation Israel. Whereas the first Book of the Torah is the story of the Family of Israel. Now we become a Nation- a people born out the bitterest of moments in human history (think 210 years of Jewish Holocaust-slavery, infanticide and every imaginable type of inhuman abuse) and we are told a few stories of the fabric of the leaders and the merits of the individuals that led us to our Exodus.

The Portion begins with the story of two heroic women Shifra and Puah who were midwives that stood up to Pharaoh and saved Jewish children from death. Think about it. There were hundreds of thousand of babies being born in Egypt annually. Within a few decades a family of 70 turned into a nation of a few million. Shifrah and Puah were just a small little drop in the bucket. How many babies could they have saved? What difference in the big picture did they really make? Yet the Torah shares with us their story and tells us that these great women eventually merited the greatest homes in Israel of Jewish leadership. Two women who couldn’t sit silently while their brethren suffered.

The Torah then introduces us to Moshe and shares with a few stories of the first 80 years of his life. Stories that in the big picture of his life in the palace of Pharoah could have even been forgotten. Yet they are, what the Torah tells us, the most formative and significant incidents of his life. The Torah spends time and ink telling us how Moshe’s sister watches over him as he is sent out on the sea of reeds in a little basket and how the daughter of Pharaoh goes out of her way to save him. It tells us how although he was raised in the greatest palaces in the world, he chooses to go out to the ‘trenches’ and advocate and put his life on the line to stand up for a Jew that is being beaten.

Yet Moshe’s life and world view does not end even with Jews. When he flees to Midian he stands up for Midianite women who are being threatened- the daughters of Yisro. Incidentally, Yisro as well the Talmud us as well had previously fled Egypt so as not to be party to Pharaoh’s persecution of the Jews.  Here we have small acts, yet each one of them reflects that true sense of Jewish leadership, that I cannot sit back when the needs of the Jewish people are great. I must do whatever it takes to help them. If I am fortunate enough to be in a position to help whoever it may be, than the only reason I have this blessing is to accomplish a greater good for mankind. Moshe chooses the occupation of a shepherd and the Medrash tells us that even in his care of the sheep. Each one was precious to him and into each one he put his days and nights into caring for them.

Finally the Torah portion concludes with the story of the Jewish taskmasters who endure extra beatings for their brethren who are so broken in their slavery that they cannot produce the inhuman amount of work and bricks demanded by Pharaoh. It is these taskmasters that eventually become the Sanhedrin of the Jewish people. The leaders who will in the future be chosen to represent all of the Jewish peoples spiritual needs as they enter the land of Israel. These are the stories of the Jews in Exile that the Torah teaches us and it is these stories that lead to the upcoming story of our redemption in what is known to be the Book of Our Redemption Sefer Hageulah.

It is truly a fascinating bridge between last week and this week. The end of Bereishit and the story of our exile is one of where brothers sat by and ate as Yosef was thrown into a pit and sold into Exile. They remained silent for years as Yaakov sat in pain over his  son that he thought to was deceased. The Exile happens when we don’t care and when we’re not there for one another. The Redemption happens when Jews step up to the plate and put our own comforts aside and see the needs of our brothers and sisters and do whatever it takes to alleviate their pain and suffering.

Living in Israel today one feels the Geulah, the ultimate redemption, is around the corner. There are so many with so many needs. Perhaps, more so now than in earlier times. It’s harder for people to give. It’s easier to lock one’s self away. But at the same time, so many of us are not doing that. We are stepping up to the plate. Those with financial resources are pushing themselves further. Those that can help others, be it in helping singles find their Bashert, helping children and teens with challenges, visiting the sick, caring for the elderly and reaching out to Jews who are so far from their heritage, are doing so in numbers that are absolutely astounding. In the weeks that I was in the States I saw tens of different prayer groups that were organized of women who would get together and pray for different people with needs. Yes the Geulah is getting closer. We are all becoming leaders in this needy needy generation. May Hashem see fit to bring us all to our own new and final chapter of Redemption as a family together in our home.

May your Shabbos be uplifting,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

PS- Cool important news-if you enjoy this weekly Email please forward to your friends and family and now you can share your comments as well on our BLOG

http://holylandinsights.blogspot.com/

 Would love to get more hits and appreciate all your feedback! Thanks

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RABBI SCHWARTZ QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Israel where you can experience Judaism in its natural habitat"

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

ATAR HATEVILA-  RIGHT AT THE  SOUTHERN PART OF THE JORDAN RIVER THERE LIES A SMALL LITTLE WADING AREA( ACROSS THE RIVER A STONE THROWAS AWAY LITERALLY IS JORDAN) WHERE THE PROPHET ELISHA SENT NAAMAN THE ARAMI GENERAL TO IMMERSE HIMSELF FROM HIS LEPROSY-LIKE TZORAAT. HE ALSO PARTED WAYS FROM HIS RABBI ELIYAHU WHO WAS TAKEN UP TO HEAVEN IN A CHARIOT THERE.

Any one know what else happened there (before the chrisitans stole our ritual immersion area)?

Shabbat Blessings-Vayechi

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"

  December 17^th 2010 -Volume I, Issue 11–10th of Tevet 5771

 Shabbos Blessings

I love Shabbos. I don't believe that I could even envision my life without that special day of the week. It's not merely the fact that I get to finally turn of my cell phone, my car, my running and weekly hassle. In fact I’ve probably worked harder on Shabbos than I have during the week. Torah reading, speeches, leading services providing inspiration and insights to my shul, were all part of the job of being a Rabbi  back in Seattle and Boruch Hashem here in Eretz Yisrael once again I have been blessed to start up again. (Come on over and visit our Young Israel of KarmielJ!). My love for Shabbos is also not as much predicated on the satiation of my delicious Rebbetzin's chulent or my homemade hand grated potato Kugel obsession, although, I probably couldn't imagine my life without those as well. To me Shabbos is most about that special time when once a week I can join together with my family, friends and community and bond and delight in one another. And perhaps most significantly it is the time that I truly feel that I can connect most with my Creator. It is our special day together.

One of the most special highlights for me on Shabbos is on Friday night as I sit down to my meal. After welcoming the holy angels, that our tradition tells us come to offer a blessing each week, I recite the Aishes Chayil- Women of Valor song composed by King Solomon, as an expression of the gratitude I have for my wonderful wife for being my partner in all I do. I then call my children together one by one and I offer them my weekly Shabbat blessing. The blessing I offer them is the same blessing that The Kohanim-the priest would give to the Jewish people in the Temple.

"

May Hashem bless you and guard you. May He enlighten your face towards Him and give you grace. May He lift your face up to Him and may He grant you peace."

This is a beautiful heartfelt moment and prayer that I cherish. It was something I always cherished when I would receive it from my own father (and still get whenever I'm lucky enough to be in Detroit, along with my own children who also receive Zaidy's blessing) and I hope and pray that their children will do so as well. Interestingly enough though, there is one more part of this weekly Friday night blessing that doesn't seem to have such a moving significance and and is in fact quite perplexing. I refer to the introduction that I utilize before the blessing my son, one that draws its source from this weeks Torah portion.

As we conclude the  1^st Book of the Torah the Book of- Bereishis we have come to the end of the Era of our Patriarchs and Yaakov is preparing his final blessings for his children. As he does so he also calls the children of his son Yosef, Menashe and Ephraim together and blesses them as well and bestows upon them the status to be considered as two of the twelve tribes of Israel. The Torah then quotes Yackov millennia ago reciting the words that I use as well for my weekly blessing.

And He blessed them saying By you- Becha- should Israel bless their children saying "May God place you like Ephraim and Menashe." And he placed Ephraim before Menashe

Following that directive of Yackov I bless my children and echo those same words, asking Hashem to bless my sons as Ephraim and Menashe.

The commentary's all struggle with the question of the significance of those two children in that all Jewish fathers since that time have been blessing their children with their names and that aspiration. I'd like to share with you two meaningful ideas that I believe shed light on this.

One beautiful approach suggested by the Ethical masters of the Novardok schools of Mussar in the early 19^th century is that these two brothers are seemingly the first pair in the Torah that we are introduced to that don't show any sign of jealousy for one another's preferred role and status. Cain and Abel, Yitzchok and Yishmael, Yackov and Esau, and even the twelve tribes and Yosef all seem to struggle with their stature and status in their family. Here for the first time though we find these two brothers and what do you know they get along. The Medrash tells us that Ephraim was the more scholarly of the two (And I'm not saying that just because like his nameJ) yet he does not feel jealous of his older brother’s Bechor –first born status. Even more revealing and explicit we see that Yackov goes out of his way to lay his right hand on this younger brother placing him first and yet there is no outburst from Menashe that imaginably we would expect to hear of. “Hey that's not fair! I'm the older one." They are in fact united.

The Rabbis point out that the blessing itself even alludes to that suggested  intent in the Torah’s usual subtle, yet grammatical way. The word which Yackov and the Torah utilizes to describe the blessing for all time is Becha Yevoreich Yisrael -In You-singular form-rather then the Bachem plural form- Should Israel bless their children. They were not jealous of one another, because they saw themselves as one. Just as one hand is not jealous of the other hand that may have the ring upon it. So too these brothers saw themselves as united in their mission and love of one another. It is that idea and wish that we bless and pass over to our children, that they should feel that same sense of love and utilize it to overcome any feelings of jealousy of one another.

The second idea, which perhaps draws itself in the merit of their feeling of love and unity, is that these two brothers merited to become much greater then what their potential would ever have been able to been. Centuries before these brothers were born there was a prophecy and vision that there would only be twelve tribes. It was a closed game. There was no room for anyone else to get on the court and to ever aspire to join those ranks. 12 was always seen as the magic number. Yet here we have these two brothers that were able to go beyond what was ever humanly foreseeable and achieve the lofty and eternal status of becoming a portion and tribe by which all of the Jewish people would be descended and would create its future from.

It is that blessing as well that I pass over to my children each Friday night. That they too one day will merit going beyond their foreseeable potential, becoming an everlasting eternal source that will light the world and have great merit.

So as we get closer to Shabbos I look forward again to this weekly blessing. It is on Shabbos perhaps the most when we have the freedom and ability to move beyond our own preconceived spiritual potential. It is the time when we can also put behind ourselves our competitive edge in our race to succeed in life and appreciate and even love the accomplishments of others. There are no greater blessings then those which we give our children and receive from our parents and forefathers than the ones we receive on this day. Come lets’ experience them together.

Shabbat Shalom U'Mevorach,

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RABBI SCHWARTZ BEGAN HIS TOUR GUIDE TRAINING COURSE THIS WEEK AND I WOULD LOVE IT IF YOU WOULD JOIN ME EACH WEEK BY LEARNING ABOUT ONE NEW PLACE IN ISRAEL AS I SHARE WITH YOU MY NEW POST 

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

MEARAAT MURBA'AT- THE SQUARE CAVES-  AFTER AN INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL HOUR HIKE DOWN THE MOUNTAIN AT NACHAL DARGOT (OR DARJA)  WE ARRIVED AT A CAVE WHERE LETTERS WRITTEN BY SHIMON BAR KOCHVA TO HIS GENERAL WERE DISCOVERED FROM ALMOST 2000 YEARS AGO AT THE TIME OF THE REVOLT AGAINST ROME
HERE'S SOME PICS FROM WIKIS HEBREW PAGE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wadi_Murabba'at
click on the hebrew link to see pictures.

Vayigash 2010- Bar Mitzvah Speech-less

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

“Your friend in Karmiel”

December 10^th 2010 -Volume I, Issue 10– 2^nd of Tevet 5771

Parshat VaYigash

Bar Mitzvah Speech-less

I have always loved Parshat VaYigash. As Bar Mitzvah Parshiyot go, it was a very exciting one to have had for my Bar Mitzvah. The story of Yosef’s reuniting with his father and his brothers after so many years told me the story and significance of family. Hashem’s promise to be with Yackov and the Jewish people as they made their way down to Egypt sent me a message that Hashem is always with us. There is Yosef’s leadership role in taking responsibility for Egypt, which was a perfect lesson in a Jew’s responsibility to see beyond himself and his community by living up to our mandate to be a light to the world. Yes, it was a Parsha that had the potential to give me the perfect Bar Mitzvah speech. Yet, it was the speech that was never said. I had spent months working on it. The day came and when my turn to speak came up by the Bar Mitzvah party the speech was never said, for my uncles and friends sang every time I opened my mouth to speak. It is in fact a hallowed Jewish tradition that was developed so as not to embarrass the boy who can’t speak I was told, after they were done singing. So there you have it my perfect speech on the perfect Parsha was never said.

It has been quite a while since that memorable day. I’ve had plenty of time make up for that Drasha. I’ve found mediums by which I can share my own inspiration, whether in classes I’ve given, Drashot I’ve shared, weekly Emails and most recently through my Holyland Blog. Yet, that drasha I never gave still sits in my heart. It was my first opportunity to prove myself as an adult and to deliver a message that could inspire others and perhaps even touch them. Instead I joined the singing (even after they quieted down…when my grandmother of Blessed memory threatened them with a shpritz seltzer bottle- a sight I will never forget) and learned that not every time that you want to speak you should. Sometimes and perhaps most times its better to sit back and listen than to push forward and say what you feel needs to be said.

I though of that moment and lesson fondly this week as I attended another Bar Mitzvah this week here in Karmiel when a young boy also had his drasha interrupted by the traditional singing. I was impressed by his perseverance as he repeatedly just plowed through his speech above all the singing. He finished his Drasha and sat back down, proud of the fact that he had said his speech, although I don’t believe anyone heard it. I complimented him on his speech afterwards and I shared with him the Bar Mitzvah Drasha lesson I had learned from my Rebbe when I first became a Rabbi. He told me that sometimes the speech that you don’t say can have even more meaning than the one that you do say. I know it sounds kind of cliché and it was certainly not the lesson I or he were looking to hear that night. But in truth it is probably one of the most important I had ever gotten.

Wonderfully enough this weeks Torah portion begins with a speech as well. It is the longest speech of any of our forefathers. For 17 verses the Torah shares with us Yehudah’s pleading before Yosef to allow him to take the place of his brother Binyamin. Yehudah recounts in this speech the entire story of the saga of Yosef’s “disappearance”. He vividly describes Yaakov’s affection for Yosef and Binyamin, how taking this youngest son would endanger Yaakov’s life.  Finally Yehudah tells Yosef who was posing as the monarch of Egypt, about the personal responsibility he took upon himself to return Binyamin home. For those of us that have been attending Shul the past few weeks and paying attention to Torah reading we know all this already. It’s a speech  we’ve heard before. To Yosef it certainly was a speech that he didn’t need to hear. He was on the verge of revealing himself and really never had any intention of holding Binyamin in the first place. Yet he listens anyways. He lets Yehudah say his piece and then he renders him and all the brothers speechless.with five Hebrew words

“Ani Yosef Ha’Od Avi Chai- I am Yosef- Is my father still alive.”

 Vlo Yochlu Echov Lanos Oso ki Nivhalu MiPonuv- And the brothers couldn’t answer him for they were stunned before him.

Here you have the longest, most important speech that Yehudah probably spent much time preparing. Weighing each word for impact and figuring out how to muster mercy before Yosef. How to show him his humility, but at the same time his determination. Yet all of it was for naught. It was a speech that didn’t have to be said. It was a speech that in retrospect he probably felt foolish having said. Who was he Yehudah to talk about his fathers love for Yosef? Where was he years before when Yosef was sold? What can he say now?

But he says it. And it is recorded to teach us a lesson; a Bar Mitzvah lesson about speeches and about life  The Talmud tells us Reb Elazar Ben Azariah says

“Woe upon us before the Day of Judgment Woe upon for that moment of rebuke. For  Yosef said just five words to his brothers and they were speechless. What will we say when we stand before the Almighty on that great day”

 It is remarkable how deep the insights of our sages are. We read a story in the Torah and to us it feels like a somewhat repetitive narrative of the reuniting of this family. Rav Elazar however hears in this story a powerful question and insight into the life we live and the speeches we give.

Our lives, to a large degree, are really one big speech to the Almighty. How we treat one another, the choices that we make and the words that we say and use are all the words and polemic of which we will one day have to justify ourselves. There are things that like the speech of Yehudah may have seemed at the moment the right thing but in the end were just hollow words. There are others small acts, like the few words of Yosef, which will ring eternally for us. Sometimes it is important for us to have gotten up and have made a meaningful statement or even more importantly an action that will inspire and resonate. At other times it is perhaps better that we take a seat and let Hashem take charge and just join the singing and hope that all will turn out all right.

It is the speech of our lives. The ability to gauge and learn with humility how to write and develop that speech is what we are here to do. But of one thing we can be assured. Our loving Father in Heaven is listening intently; he wants to hear the end. He is standing right above us and rooting for us to accomplish all we can. We are His Bar Mitzvah children.

Have a tremendously special Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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This weeks E-Mail is sponsored by my Parents Abe and Esther Schwartz of Detroit Michigan in honor of the anniversary of mine and my younger brother Dr. Gedaliah Schwartzes Bar Mitzvah and our Birthdays!

It is also dedicated in honor of the founding of our new Kehilla and Minyan

THE YOUNG ISRAEL OF KARMIEL

Which will be having its opening Shabbat this weekend.

I would personally like to express my appreciation to Rabbi Pesach Lerner of the National Council of Young Israel in America and Rabbi Daniel “Mush”Meyer and Ceec Harrishburg of the International Young Israel Movement for their support and encouragement to undertake founding our Shul.

As well I would like to express my appreciation to Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Margalit the chief Rabbi of Karmiel who has generously allowed us to use one of the local Batei Medrash to launch our Kehilla and for welcoming us and the many American Olim that have joined us recently here in Karmiel.

To help support our Shul, sponsor Kiddush or the weekly Email or to find our more about Karmiel and our Young Israels upcoming programs please feel free to contact me at

rabbschwartz@yahoo.com

and keep reading our weekly updates.

RABBI SCHWARTZ SIGNIFICANT CAUSE AND MOVING VIDEO LINK OF THE WEEK

Thank you to all those who Emailed facebooked and called to find out if we were alright when the fire struck last week. Thank God we were out of range but it was truly devastating to hear and reas about the tremendous tragedies and casualties for the families who lost their parents and children ( a neighbor a few blocks away from us lost a son)  and those whos homes and lives are devastated. Please contribute through the Young Israel to help the families who’s lives have been affected by the horrible fire in the Carmel. May Hashem bless you with Peace in the merit of your support.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TF4ToiRq-ds&feature=related

To support the fforts please click here

http://www.youngisrael.org/pages/index.cfm/YOUNG-ISRAEL-MOVEMENT-LAUNCHES-EMERGENCY-FUNDRAISING-CAMPAIGN-TO-HELP-VCTIMS-OF-ISRAELI-FIRE

Chanuki-Yearnings Mikeitz 2010

Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

“Your friend in Karmiel”

December 2^nd 2010 -Volume I, Issue 9– 25^th of Kislev 5771

Parshat Miketz/Chanukah

Chanuki-Yearnings

I’ve always thought it to be a strange holiday. I would probably say it is also the most misunderstood and misrepresented one  as well. In America, Chanukah has served Jews as being the Jewish response to the other team’s mid-winter holiday. “A festival of Lights-Instead of one day of presents we have eight crazy nights” to quote an unfortunately ignorant put-on-your-yamaka-its- time-for-Hanukah assimilated American Jew. They light their tree, we light our Menorah, They drink eggnog, and we eat latkas and doughnuts. They’ve got reindeers, sleighs and chubby guys in red suits sliding down chimneys and we have dreidels, Chocalate Gelt, Greeks and Maccabees. Not a great response and frankly I wouldn’t mind a little eggnog.

Here in Israel, there is no other team to compete with. Yet it is still a confusing holiday to figure out. For most Israelis, tragically, Maccabee has a greater association with basketball or with healthcare than it does with Chanukah. (It is the name of the Basketball league and also the large health care provider). For many Israelis it is a holiday that celebrates Jewish military prowess and the guts it took for us to stand up to the world power of that time. Although clearly that was never the intent of the establishment of the holiday and in truth Jews historically have never celebrated military victories, viewing them as necessary evils to maintain our survival and miracles of God, rather than expressions of Jewish might.

I have also read articles written by secular Israelis how Chanukah is a celebration of the victory against religious coercion. Again, a very strange conclusion to come to, being that the Greeks/Hellenistic Jews were really quite pluralistic; they were open to all religions and cultures. The battle of the Maccabees, quite the opposite, was for the right to have an exclusive religious Jewish practice in Israel and the Temple. Not something necessarily the average secularist would seem to find cause to celebrate.

 And perhaps best of all The Coalition of the Environment and Jewish Life’s “Light Among Nations” projects sees in the miracle of Chanukah and its energy efficient oil that lasts eight days, an opportunity to replace each of your light bulbs with a more energy efficient one. You may even win the Green Menorah award. I couldn’t make this up if I tried.

At the other extreme you have the Yeshiva/Chareidi World that sees in Chanukah (and in general all Jewish holidays to a certain degree) a celebration of the power and dedication to Torah and the service of Hashem which brings miracles to rescue the Jewish people. The Menorah of course symbolizes Torah and Light. And the pure oil, a symbol of the uncontaminated-by-foreign-culture holy foundation which the Temple and Jewish service must be dedicated with. It is a message I was raised on in my Yeshiva upbringing and it somewhat works for me. Yet this year here in Eretz Yisrael, for the first time as a resident and Oleh, I feel I must find something different. Something new…yet something old. An idea from those days- for this time.

As I went to buy oil to light with, I asked the person in the store if he had any Shemen Zayit for my menorah. He gave me a strange cutesy Israeli look when I asked him that question though-although he clearly knew what I was referring to- and corrected me in that perfect Israeli way.

“Ein Lanu La’Menorah- Lazeh atah tzarich Koehin Babeit Hamikdash. Yesh Lanu Rak L’Chanukiya.” We don’t have any oil for the Menorah… for that you will have to see a Koehin at the Holy Temple. We only sell oil for a Chanukiyah.”

What the curly locked gentleman was pointing out to me- besides of course that he was smarter than me and more fluent in common Hebrew terminologies- no duh…- was that the term Menorah is really a reference to the seven branched candelabra that was specifically used in the Beit Hamikdash. Chanukiyah- our eight branched “menorah” (9 counting the Shamash) is not the same thing. In fact the Talmud teaches us that it is prohibited to create a Menorah, or any Temple vessel for that matter, as they may not be used outside of the Temple and its service. In fact our 8 branched Chanukiyah is really only a more modern innovation. Halacha only mandates lighting the oil or a candle. It can be done on soda cans, bullet casings, or even on top of ice cream sundaes. In earlier times a Chanukiah was not even used.

As I went to light my Menorah that evening (I can’t get into the habit of calling it that yet). It struck me for the first time… I wasn’t lighting the same thing as the Temple. My Menorah was a cheap spiritual imitation of the original. Here I stand in Israel not too far from the original temple, yet I’m still not there yet. I began to long for the “real” light. I think I began to finally understand what Chanukah was supposed to inspire us to feel.

This weeks Torah portion, and the Torah portions that always surround the Holiday of Chanukah contain the story of Yosef in Egypt. It is perhaps one of the most powerful and memorable stories in the Torah. Brothers’ fight, Yosef gets sold down to Egypt, the first Jew to really be entirely engulfed in a foreign society. Yosef, as the Jews in the times of the Maccabees, as Jews in almost every era of our history was faced with the greatest challenge that has threatened our people. The threat of assimilation. The forgetting of where we came from. Of our fathers home. Of what it used to be like and how we were meant to be.

Of all our forefathers Yosef is the one who cries the most. He cries when he first sees his brothers. He cries when he they don’t recognize him. He cries as he interviews Binyamin and when he is reunited with his father. The Medrash says that just as Yosef appeased his brothers through tears, so too, will God redeem the Jewish nation through tears. What are the tears of Yosef? The tears of Yosef are those that recognize how long it’s been since I’ve been home. The tears of Yosef are the tears that question if we have become too Egyptian to even be recognizable to our own people…. to our family… to our Father. Have we become so happy with our 8 branch Chanukiyot that we have forgotten that there is a 7 branch Menorah that we are still meant to be yearning to light?

I look into the lights of my candles and I think about those days; the battles that were fought not far from my house, to insure that we didn’t become “strangers” in our own land. I think of all my confusing Chanukahs of past and how it seems so clear over here that we’re almost back again. I imagine the joy and rejoicing of what that small group of Maccabees who were brave enough to turn away from doing what everyone else was and who looked inward and backward to where the Jewish people needed to be and took that leap, when they finally saw those candles lit once again. And then I sing my Maoz Tzur- the song that concludes and has more meaning and clarity than ever.

Bare Your holy arm
and hasten the End for salvation -
Avenge the vengeance of Your servants' blood
from the wicked nation.
For the triumph is too long delayed for us,
and there is no end to days of evil,
Repel Edom in the nethermost shadow
and establish for us the seven shepherds.

Hakeim Lonu Roeh Shivah- Return us to that Menorah that has only 7 which symbolizes all of our forefathers. Chanukah need not be confusing. We are told that the light of our Menorahs are the same light that was in the Mikdash, the Temple. Gaze into it. Long for it. Celebrate it’s return and pray to see it once again soon. It’s simple enough. May we celebrate it  together soon.

Have a inspiring Chanukah and Shabbos that brings the holy light into your homes.,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK FOR SOME EXCITING NEWS REGARDING THE FORMATION OF OUR NEW ANGLO-MINYAN IN KARMIEL…ALL THOSE INTERESTED IN BEING PART OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THIS NEW KEHILLA PLEASE CONTACT RABBI EPHRAIM  SCHWARTZ

rabbschwartz@yahoo.com

In the meantime

I leave you with a

RABBI SCHWARTZ HANUKAH VIDEOS THAT SOMEWHAT MISS THE POINT BUT ARE QUITE ENTERTAINING

MIRACLE OIL

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AVpZt-MCJkw

Best part of Chanukah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZE3pyAAn28&feature=related

The Maccabeats?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSJCSR4MuhU

MAttisyahu Miracle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWnPDWz-jDs

NBA stars Hanukah messages

                               http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=STXCPg-PHhE      

ELMO HANukah

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VfChLAADS8&feature=related

ISRAEL 6 day war Hanukah?

http://www.gottorah.com/chanukahvideo.html?acp=spirit

I Wish I were a Candle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dj2LZyxNNdU