Insights and Inspiration
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
Where Am I?
This
week we have a strange conjunction of parshiyot. (Huhhh… where's the funny,
personal anecdote or story that starts
your weekly E-Mail… to draw me in... to get me to read the first few lines at
least??? Don't worry its coming… stick with me we're having fun). We read
Parshat Tetzave, a parsha filled with all the exciting details of the clothing
of the Kohein, and we read Parshat Zachor- the Parsha read annually before
Purim to remember that famous first battle against God and our eternal nemesis
Amalek. Both of these Parshiyiot are always read before Purim and although they
seemingly have nothing to do with each other, they both have a very important
common denominator that relates to the upcoming holiday. Can you figure out
what it is?
OK think for a minute or two… I'm sure you
have come up with some ideas. But that's not why you come here each week. You’re
here to know what I'm thinking. Or at least for some of the jokes or Youtube
links or maybe even for some cool places in Israel, (definitely not to respond
to my repeated appeals for money-can still contribute http://holylandinsights.blogspot.com
). So here's what I see as the very blatant and troubling connection between these
two parshiyot. Neither one of them mentions my name. Yes, I know that must
bother you, though probably not as much as me. Now the commentaries are very
busy with other less important questions such as why Moshe's name is not found
in the entire Parsha (the only one since he first came on to the scene until
the end of the Torah). They also see a connection between the omissions of
Hashem's name in the story of Purim in the Megilla as well. You can check out
those commentaries or my blog (http://holylandinsights.blogspot.co.il/2012/02/its-good-to-be-da-king-parshat-tetzaveh.html
- why not make a donation while you're there as well J ). The question that we
need to deal with pre-Purim today though is where am I- Ephraim Schwartz- in
this story?
Now
some of you might suggest that since Parshat Tetzave is a Parsha that talks
about fancy clothing, and all that know me know that is not necessarily one of
my strong points. I can barely keep a shirt clean from coffee stains for a day;
forget about keeping it tucked in. So it is in fact quite appropriate that my
name is hidden from this Parsha. Additionally, you might say, that since memory
is not necessarily my strong point as well, I pass all questions of birthdays,
ages of my children and anniversaries over to my better half, it is also would
be quite understandable that my name not be mentioned in Parshat Zachor- the
portion of remembrance. Those of you that are more astute though might point
out that although my name is not mentioned, In Parshat Tetzaveh it does discuss
the the Tour'im (spelling my own) of the rocks of the Choshen/breastplate
and the megilla does discuss as well the Tour of each of the handmaidens and
particularly the Tour of Esther Bas Avigayil Dod Mordechai ai ai ai
which are both a reference, of course, to me being a tour guide. The story of
Amalek also repeatedly mentions what happened Ba'Derech obviously on a
tour leaving Egypt. Yet perhaps we can find something more inspirational and
not as self-promoting as this E-Mail has become. Let us enter the realm of Megilat
Esther- the revealing of the hiddenness…
It
is interesting to note that the first battle against Amalek takes place under
the leadership of Yehoshua who was indeed from the tribe of Ephraim. It is a
fascinating thing that although Moshe was capable of pretty much singlehandedly
bringing down Hashem's wrath on Mitzrayim and destroying the world empire, when
it comes to Amalek he chooses to utilize Yehoshua-until this point an unknown
person. The Ibn Ezra explains even more mysteriously that it is precisely
because Yehoshua came from the tribe of Ephraim that he was chosen. Because
within Ephraim is the power to destroy Amalek.
Who
is Ephraim and where does his name come from. The Torah tells us that when
Yosef is in Egypt he names his younger son Ephraim- Ki Hifrani Hashem
Bi'Eretz Onyi- Hashem has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction.
The commentary of the Ba'alei Tosfos shares with us a deeper dimension to this
name, suggesting that Yosef names his son after the two "ashes/Efer"-
Efrayim being two. The first is Ash is Avraham who upon pleading for the people
of Sodom described himself as Afar V'Efer- dust and ash. The second ash
was Yitzchak who although was never actually sacrificed or burnt on the altar
that his father bound him upon- yet in the spiritual world it is considered as
if Afro Munach Li'fanei- His ash is placed before me. Rav Moshe Shapiro
notes the significance of this in quoting a medrash on the words of Zachor
Es Asher Asa Lecha Amalek- Remember the two remembrances (to destroy the
memory of Amalek and to remember what they have done) as it says in Iyov/Job
13:12 " Zichroneichem mishlei Efer -your remembrances are like ashes".
The Medrash explains homiletically "If you are like Avraham who was compared
to ashes then you will merit (to succeed)". The key to the battle of
Amalek is our memory of that comparison to the ashes our ancestors compared
themselves to; the ashes for which the tribe of Ephraim are named.
Rav
Shapiro elaborates and explains that the difference between dust and ash is
that dust has no past, but it can be used to build and create a future with.
Ash, on the other hand, comes from something with a past but has no future.
Avraham and Yitzchak, upon whose merit we are sustained by and who created the
foundation of the Hashem's presence in this world and in our holy nation, could
have felt a tremendous amount of fulfillment and accomplishment in their lives.
Yet instead they understood that they are merely ash, all that they have done
in the past does not exempt them from what they have still to do in the future.
They are like ash-who still need to accomplish and can do nothing without
Hashem. Avraham said that he is dust in that his life must be focused on establishing
and building a future and his past is irrelevant. At the same time after all of
his accomplishments they understood that what they had done gave them no surety
on the future. There was no pension plan. They were ashes without the help of
Hashem and they had to build again on that faith anew.
Yosef
names his son Ephraim, as well for that reason. For although he certainly accomplished
a tremendous amount, saving Egypt, rising from the depths to a place of
prominence in Egyptian society at the same time maintaining his spiritual connection
to his father's heritage and even raising his holy children to be equals to the
tribes of Israel, he still understood that it is Hashem who made him fruitful.
He wanted his son to know that all that he built was with that sense of appreciation
that we are merely ash-but for the help of God.
The nation of Amalek that comes to destroy the Jewish people, the verse tells us, attacks us when we are weak. Why would we be weak? Didn't we just leave Egypt and destroy the world Empire? One would think we would be at our strongest and most resolute. We probably felt that we could conquer the world. But that is precisely what Amalek was banking on. We had forgotten that we are nothing without Hashem. It was for this reason that Moshe called up the emergency measures. His Navi Seal (excuse the pun). This was a battle for Yehoshua, from the tribe of Ephraim, to remind us that we are merely ash. When we looked up to Moshe's raised hands and our eyes were directed to heaven we were able to win. When we looked at our hands, we lost.
It
is interesting to note that in the Temple the first act that the Kohein would
do dressed in his regular and royal priestly garments each morning was to take
the ashes from the previous days sacrifices and place them by the ramp leading
up to the altar for all to see. As opposed to when he would take the overload
of ash outside of the camp to dispose of and he would change his garments, the
first placement was done in his original clothing. The message Rav Hirsh
suggests was so that the Kohein would understand that all of his royalty and
his having been chosen for the service of God is built on the foundations of
the ashes of our ancestors sacrifices. The clothing are merely accoutrements
that cloak the foundation of Afar V'Efer; an overwhelming and humbling
sense of humility, the two ashes of Ephraim.
As
we approach the holiday of Purim it behooves all of us in the midst of the joy
of Purim to find our place in the Torah. Where can we be found? What is our
place in our fantastic history and heritage? Ask ourselves what role we will
play in our glorious destiny? Hashem is waiting for us to rise up from the
ashes. He is looking to build us up once again to the nation that we were meant
to become. May this Purim be that final turnaround from exile to redemption.
Have
a memorable Shabbos filled with joy and cheer,
Rabbi
Ephraim Schwartz
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RABBI
SCHWARTZ FAVORITE CLIPS OF THE WEEK
One of my all type favorites (thanks to Rabbi/Major/Chaplain/Rock Star Friedman Esq who turned me on to this song) it is the holy of the holies. Listen to it ten times and you still will wonder…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJFqkLCgMJ0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t_CkbYID_UE
Purim Grogger style
(for those of you that can stand more gangnam)
https://soundcloud.com/azirosenblum/purim-grogger-style-gangnam?utm_source=soundcloud&utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=facebook&utm_content=https%3A%2F%2Fsoundcloud.com%2Fazirosenblum%2Fpurim-grogger-style-gangnam
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RABBI
SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK
(answer below)
Where did the aquaduct to
Herodium begin?
(a) Solomon's Pool's
(b) Teko'a
(c) Bat Ayin
(d) Nahal Haritun
Herodion- This
incredible building of King Herod in this seemingly non-strategic or
particularly significant part of the country, typifies Herods monuments. He
built to glorify himself and he also suffered severe paranoia. It was here when
he fled to Rome from the Parthians that he was saved miraculously and like many
of the places where he built he built here to commemorate his victory. He also
chose this as his place of burial. However since he was fearful that not too
many would want to visit his grave. He built beautiful pools, a theater that
would seat hundreds and magnificent bath houses. Also to insure that no one should
celebrate when he died he ordered all the jewish prisoners (he hadn't managed
to kill) to be killed fortunately they
were all spared.
After Herod the Jewish Revolt as well as the later Bar
Kochva revolt used this fortress as base against the Romans. Transforming the
palaces and lounges to mikvas, secret tunnels and living quarters as well as
one of the earliest synagogues from the 2nd temple period. In 2007
after years of searching Ehud Netzer discovered the tombs of Herod, tragically Ehud
fell off a bridge there while excavating and died there himself. Today one can
have a great day in Herodion climbing through the tunnels and visiting the
ruins of Herods ancient palace. On Tisha'a B'Av as well each year thousands
gather to recite kinos as the temple mount is visible from here.
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RABBI SCHWARTZ QUOTE OF THE WEEK
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Answer
Answer
is A- Herodium was
built by King Herod south of Jerusalem around the same time that he built the
temple. The water aquaducts came from the pools of Shlomo by Bethlehem where
they also went to the Har Habayit for service in the Beit Hamikdash.
