Godly Graffiti- Ki Tavo 2013/5773

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 23^rd 2013 -Volume 3, Issue 43–17^th of Elul 5773

Parshat Ki Tavo

Godly Graffiti

Kilroy was here. As American troops landed at various ports during World War II they left that silly little cartoon of a man with a big nose peeking out over a wall with the famous line "Kilroy was here" to show that they had come, conquered and taken care of business. The origin of Kilroy, it seems, started with this guy J Kilroy who would inspect the rivets on the ships and left his scrawl there to show that it had been inspected properly. So as the soldiers saw it at various unlikely spots on the ship's hull the symbol became a talisman of the omniscience and inscrutability of Kilroy and of the American troops conquest, victory and protection. There's nothing liking vanquishing your enemy and leaving your signature right there on the battlefield. It is a basic human need to want to leave your mark for the world to see.

That doesn't really explain though, why exactly Kilroy's name used to show up on our Yeshiva bathroom's walls. I mean, I know the Yeshiva food was a little hard to digest, and yes it's true some of my classmate's greatest accomplishments and epiphanies took place in those hallowed stalls. At times, as well, it did even resemble a war zone. But still… Kilroy? The oy part I got but the K-I-L-R really didn’t fit in. Although on second thought maybe the idea of Kilroy's cartoon guy with the big nose peeking over a wall was that we felt we were always being watched. Or perhaps it was a yeshivshe interpretation of the actual Kilroy peeking over a bathroom stall…hmmm…Thank god we had plenty of time to ponder this… But I  digress. Back to our Torah E-Mail.

The truth is, it is not only US soldiers and bored Yeshiva guys. From the early Egyptians with their funny hieroglyphics (camel, Egyptian prince with left hand pointing up and right pointing down, bird, snail, frog, arrow, spear,  pharaoh- roughly translated as- did you hear the one about the Jew that crossed the sea?), the ancient Greeks with their Alpha Omega, Zeta, Upsilon symbols that they left on every college campus they founded, or the Romans with their arches and gateways that were built just for glory in every country they conquered-like a doorway with no walls-one of which can be seen in the old city of Jerusalem today (called Ecco Homo-but that’s a whole different story), each great nation wanted the world to know that they had arrived. It's interesting for those of you who have been at Masada if you make your way to the far southern end there is an ancient water cistern with Hebrew graffiti all over it-No its' not Roman, they didn’t really write Hebrew, it is from the early Zionist youth groups that would hike there before the founding of the State. It was the early 1900's equivalent of "I-climbed-Masada-and-all-I-got-was-this-lousy-T-Shirt" souvenir, it seems.

Which of course brings us around to this week's Torah Portion, the Parsha of Ki Savo-When you will come to the land. The Parsha begins with what the Ramban/Nachmanides suggests is the final mitzvot of the Torah (although there is hakhel and writing a sefer torah following this, it seems that these are the last regular mitzvoth for the nation), the mitzvah of reciting and rejoicing when one brings one new fruits and ones tithes to Jerusalem. It's a wonderful ending to an incredible slew of commandments. Be happy. Recognize your historical connection to your forefathers who were promised this land and appreciate that all that you have, produced and are blessed with comes from Hashem. And then the Torah tells them/us of the first thing they are meant to do when they come into the land. Take twelve big rocks and write… Kilroy was here-oops… I mean write the Torah upon them…in 70 languages for all to see.

Now besides the incredible difficulty of schlepping these big rocks and writing all of the mitzvos upon them, the book of Yehoshuah actually tells us that all of this took place in one day. On the 10^th  of Nissan of that fortieth year in wilderness we crossed the Jordan river by Jericho. Joshuah split the Yarden, just as the Red Sea split when we left, we then hiked all the way up into enemy territory about sixty miles up to Shechem and Mt. Eival, all few millions of us, set up these stones, recited the list of blessings and curses as the 12 tribes stood on opposite ends of the mountain, took down the rocks and headed back to down to Gilgal where they set up the Tabernacle…Talk about a long day. This left, of course, just a few days for our mass circumcision (which was put on hold in the wilderness due to medical concerns) and of course Pesach cleaning. One can imagine the Jewish women were not too happy to have to do it all on their own especially with their kvetchy husbands and able body yeshiva boy sons laid up in bed recovering. You know that somebody had to ask the question-Why? What is this all about? Yes, there was no shortage of questions that first Pesach Seder night, at least for those that were able to keep their eyes open after that very tiring-though exhilarating week.

The 15^th century Spanish sage Don Isaac Abarabanel, who was himself expelled along with his fellow Jews from Spain after hundreds of years sojourn in that great country that many thought would be there final resting place-after all it was wonderful, comfortable and Jews were successful as Torah and the economy flourished there-until it didn't (something to think about for those living in similar situations today. I won't mention any names of countries or of States that are so United-it can never happen here-not here…), suggests a beautiful insight. He notes that wherever one goes in the world one can see ancient pillars and monuments attesting to the great victories and conquests that each nation has had. Everybody has a Kilroy. Everybody except the Jewish people, that is. For our nation upon entering the Land of Israel-Ki Tavo El Ha'Aretz, were different. We were not conquering a land. We were returning to one. Just as our forefather Abraham upon his arrival's first stop was to the valley of Shechem were he built his altar on Alon Moreh and Hashem promised that his descendants that they would inherit the land, so to we would came back to that same place. Just as many centuries before our forefather Yosef was sold and started our Exile to Egypt from that ancient city of Shechem, so his descendants would first stop there to return his bones for burial in the homeland he never was able to return to.

The Abarbanel continues and explains that the most important and primary act that we, the Jewish nation, had to do when first returning to the land, was to lay down those stones. Unlike the Romans, Egyptians and Greeks before them or the Spaniards, Turks, Americans or even early Zionists after them, our stones were not testaments to our conquests or our might and victory; rather they were our "old testament", our Torah, our tradition, our recognition that this land was given to us by Hashem and that we had an eternal covenant to maintain and to fulfill in inheriting the land. The Abarbanel so poetically describes the two mountains and the valley in between as our gateway to the land, two doorposts-mezuzot. Upon those doorposts we would have our Torah inscribed to always remind us and to serve as a testimony to the world.

"So that you may enter the Land that Hashem your God, gives you, a Land flowing with milk and honey, as Hashem, the God of your forefathers, spoke about for you".

Before entering ones new home, we place a mezuzah upon the door. The final sentence of that mezuzah that is on the home of every Jewish house for millennia wherever we may be found throughout the Diaspora is

"In order that your days and your children's days may be increased upon the land that was sworn to your forefathers to give to you like the days of heaven upon earth."

When we kiss our Mezuzah before entering our homes we not only are recognizing that Hashem has given us our home and all our possessions, but that our home is really in Eretz Yisrael, that our home in Eretz Yisrael has a Mezuzah on it as well that we all swore an oath and entered into a Divine covenant to uphold. Our monuments, our first graffiti, rock engraving when we came to Israel was that we don't need Kilroy, Rome, America, or even the extraordinary forces of what Yaackov Shweky most recently called "the greatest soldiers in the world-chayalei Yisrael". We are under the protection and order of Hashem and his Divine Promise. All that we need is for us to uphold our agreement, fulfill our mandate and share the joy and happiness that the entire world will know that Hashem's presence on this world will bring.

 As we approach Rosh Hashana the New Year, when all of our prayers revolve around the return and anticipation of that great day, it is worthwhile to ponder and reflect if we are truly doing all we need to live up to our ancient agreement. Are we as excited about the Torah, our mitzvos, our special role in the world as we were when we stood upon those mountains by Shechem on the day we first came home? If we do then we will once again merit hopefully this coming year to fulfill once again the mitzvos of Ki Tavo El Ha'aretz-when we finally all come back to our home rebuilt.

Have a spectacular Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

To all of my beloved readers I would like to share with you the opportunity before the High Holidays to share in the merit of supporting our programs and projects. These weekly Insights are part of our larger project of supporting our congreagation that brings Jews from all backgrounds together, encourages and assists new Olim in moving to Israel as well as spreading Torah and love of Jews and Eretz Yisrael to the world. It is a great merit to have in your hand as you approach Hashem these Holy Days and your support can help us firther our programs. Please click on the following link below on our blog  for our High Holiday Young Israel campaign. Online PayPal or credit card contributions can be made in memory of a loved one, and in honor of  Simcha or a mere appreciation for your weekly E-Mail J)  

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Ephraim Schwartz

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Thanks so much for your support!

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RABBI SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 (answer below)

(can you believe we actually need to know where Johns parents lived?)

Which of the following was a non-millitary monastic order established in the land of Israel during the Crusader Period?

(a) Templar

(b) Hospitallier                                                                                                                

(c) Franciscan                                                                                       

(d) Carmelite

 

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 RABBI SCHWARTZES QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." – Ronald Reagan

RABBI SCHWARTZES JOKE(S) OF THE WEEK
 There was an old fellow that had a patch of land and it included some creek bottomland that was all scrub, brush, and rocks. And finally, he set out, and he started clearing and hauling the rocks away and clearing the brush and everything. And then he started fertilizing and cultivating and planting, until he had a real gardenspot there. And he was pretty proud of it. And one morning after the church service on a Sunday morning, he asked the preacher if he wouldn't stop by and see what he'd accomplished and what he'd done. Well, the preacher came out and he looked at this, and he said, ``Oh,'' he said, ``I've just never seen anything like it.'' He said, ``The Lord has certainly blessed this land. Look at those melons. I've never seen anything so big.'' And then, he said, ``That corn, I've never seen corn taller than that.'' Well, he went on about this and everything was, ``The Lord has been good to this place, and bless the Lord and what He has done.'' And finally, the old boy was getting a little more fidgety, and finally, he said, ``Reverend, I wish you could have seen it when the Lord was doing it by Himself!

Ronald Reagan

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RABBI SCHWARTZ YOUTUBE LINK OF THE WEEK

Ronald Reagan humor at it's best-now that was a president!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch_popup?v=wrRTau5jusU   

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RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-

Yad Kennedy- High up in the hills over Yerushalayim near the yishuvim of Ora and Aminadav is the heart of what is called the Kennedy Peace forest is a memorial to the 35^th president of the United States who was assassinated in 1963. JFK himself was a supporter of the Jewish National Fund and at a dinner once said " What work could be more heartwarming or more enduring than the great forest at Jerusalem. Your children and grandchildren when they visit Israel will find your monument". The memorial and forest which were donated from Jews from all 50 states is in the shape of a tree trunk cut short with 51 pillars corresponding to the 50 states and…not not israel the wanna be 51^st J L but Washington DC. On the memorial one can see the emblems and insigna of each State as well as a glorious view from this highest mountain top of the Jerusalem hills (2700 feet) of the hills and valleys of the Jerusalem mountains. Inside the monument there is a library of JFK as well as an eternal flame that burns. Dedicated on July 4^th 1966 with thousands of US dignitaries this forest and its memorial stand as a testimony to our two nations historic connection.

Answer is C- I believe the answer to this question is the Carmelites. The Templars and Hospitaliers were both militarily armed crusader orders that were sanctioned by the Pope to offer "protection of the Temple and the pilgrims that would come from Europe to visit their "holy sites". They made a lot of money and were in general pretty slimy people. The Fransiscans who were not a military order and were charged with protecting the holy sites were not much better-at least in Spain being the ones behind the inquisition and all, but I don’t believe they were established in Israel until after the Crusader period. Which of course leaves the Carmelite who were pretty hooked on Eliyahu Ha'navi seeing in him the heralding of the "Messiah" and being reincarnated as some early Christian "fathers of the church". Ironically enough right where Eliyahu had his miracle with the prophets of Ba'al where he destroyed their idols and idolators they have built a church with a big statue of him which I'm pretty sure he will take care of when he comes back. But over all unlike Eliyahu they were a pretty peaceful lot and they were establishe during the crusader period so I guess they are the right answer.

Lost and Found- Ki Teitzei 2013/5773

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 16^th 2013 -Volume 3, Issue 42–9^th of Elul 5773

Parshat Ki Teitzei

Lost and Found

It was a nice thing this Jewish outreach gig that I worked at my years in America. I was able to continue my Jewish learning studies, give some classes, but mostly it was about meeting people, having coffee and sharing our Shabbos table with the so many of our brothers and sisters that were sadly deprived of genuine Jewish experiences growing up. In many case many of our students and members had never really "done" anything Jewish until later in their lives. For some reason the generation after the holocaust left many of the new immigrants with a fear of appearing too Jewish. Many of the old generation, the "greeners",due to the perilous and traumatic times that they lived under, themselves were deprived of a meaningful Jewish education. An education or an upbringing that gave them an understanding or appreciation of what it meant to be a Jew…what a Shabbos was…why their heritage was so special and worth continuing. In the darkness of post-war Europe it was hard to see the light. It was my job and privilege to restore that appreciation of our treasured heritage to the many who had never experienced it. It was a job no like other. And I loved it.

I used to tell my students that sadly, I was raised religious and observant. It was all natural to me. I couldn't eat a pork sandwich or flip on a light switch on Shabbos if I wanted to. My body just wouldn't do those things. (Lashon Ha'Rah and some good gossip though for some reason wasn't the same thing…even us FFB's have to have some challengesJ). Yes, I was raised observant, but yet my soul still wanted to feel Jewish… I wanted the inspiration, the excitement, the newness and vibrancy of Judaism. Don't get me wrong. I loved being religious, I just knew that it could be fun, exciting and inspiring as well, and for that reason I went into the Jewish Outreach business. There's no way to be excited about Judaism like selling it…sharing it… and living it with a community that is hungry for all the delicious "chulent" that Judaism has to offer. And to be able to get a salary, provided by generous donors that also wanted to see our siblings afforded the opportunity to taste the joy of their heritage, was like icing on the cake, or wickles on my chulent. (You can tell that it's getting close to Shabbos and the aroma wafting out from my crockpot is starting to get to meJ).

It's been about three years since I left the world of Jewish outreach. I miss those days. I miss the 20-30 people at our Shabbos table, my Sunday morning "breakfast club" Krispy Kreme and Torah classes, my college campus lunch and learns and all our holiday and social gatherings. I love Israel and I love my shul and I certainly get all excited when we have one of our Chiloni/secular neighbors pop in and ask to be Bar-Mitzvahed or for a Shabbat Chatan, but it's not the same. So now I'm trying to get "high" being MeKarev/bringing close my other religious born colleagues as I share with them some of my excitement from the past. Yet every so often I close my eyes and picture myself with a bunch of newbies once again; davening in English, breaking their teeth on some of the chhhhet sounding words, swaying awkwardly, but talking to Hashem in the most real of ways. I miss them. I long for the "me" that I found with them.

This weeks Torah portion, Parshat Ki Teitzei, shares with us an even deeper insight into a subtle mitzvah that adds an additional dimension to the "Kiruv/Outreach lifestyle" that seems to be not just for Rabbis. The Torah commands us in what at first nod seems to be a basic ethical concept.

You shall not see the ox of your brother or his sheep cast off and hide yourself from them; you shall surely return them to your brother.

A simple enough mitzvah it seems. After all it is your brother's sheep and we all know the golden rule. Love your fellow like yourself. So go give it back to him. Yet the language is still kind of strange. The 'cast off" sheep. Don't hide yourself. It could've been said a lot easier.

The Torah than continues and raises the bar a notch

If your brother is not near you and you do not know him, then you shall bring it inside your house, and it shall remain with you until your brother's inquiring about it, then you shall return it to him.

So now we are getting a little more serious. We're not just picking up a sheep or an ox and bringing it to the barn down the block. We've gottta take it into our home. Huh? My barn? Maybe. but it's kind of strange that it mentions bringing it into our house. And now it's someone that I don't even know! He may even live in Iowa, Virginia, or Seattle. And it stays in my house until he inquires about it! Who says he's coming? Oh… the Torah says he will.  How does it know that he's coming looking for it?

Finally, the Torah concludes with its last instruction.

"And so you shall do for his donkey, and so shall you do for his garment, and so shall you do for any lost article of your brother that becomes lost from him and you find it; you are not able to hide yourself."

And once again the Torah seems to be repetitive. The Talmud derives of course various ideas from the each of the listed objects. Yet here the Torah really seems to stretch itself with the statement that "I am not able to hide myself". Seemingly I am able to. I am just prohibited from doing so. What is going on with this mitzah?

Enter Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar the great 17^th century sage and author of the Ohr Ha'Chaim. He sees in this mitzvah as being a hint to perhaps the greatest and most important of all mitzvos; the return of Hashem's holy sheep...his children…our brothers and sisters to our Big Brother up in heaven. Perhaps they appear as if they are cast off. As the Torah tells us that in the Exile we will be cast to the far corners of the earth. Perhaps they themselves cast off their owner, their master their God. We cannot hide our eyes from them. We have to return them. They have a home, they just feel cast off. We must provide them with that home.

And if they are not just sheep, perhaps they are strong like an ox, stubborn like a donkey. Maybe they are just lost on the outside. It is just their outer garment. Any loss of your brother. As much as he is missing of your brotherhood. We must return it to him. We bring him in our home. Again and again and again, the Talmud says even 100 times, until he searches you out. The brother, the Torah guarantees us, will come out. He will eventually search for what he has lost; what he has been missing. We cannot hide and He will not hide. That inner spark, our holy brother, will be seen and will return.

The great commentary the Holy Alshich of Tzefat adds to this idea. He notes that the Torah uses the term "we are not able to hide ourselves". He suggests that the mitzvah is in fact to achieve a level where we cannot turn an eye from a brother or sister's lost object. We should actively be involved in returning until it becomes our second nature. Kind of like me not eating a ham sandwich, or like putting on teffilin daily or making a blessing before I eat. They are all things of a second nature. Similarly the mitzvah of returning our family to Hashem is one that we must make a second nature. For if that is the commandment when it concerns his physical object how much more so is it to return to Him his holy soul that is lost…his Shabbos…his royal, holy legacy and his extraordinary destiny.

We are approaching the High Holiday season. Each day in Shul the custom is to blow the Shofar to awaken our souls. "Wake up sleepers from your slumber". Hashem is calling out to us to return to him and to stop hiding ourselves in the cover of our busy hectic lives. He not only seeks the return and Teshuva of His religious and Orthodox sheep. He wants the entire flock to come home. Our "Brother" is searching us out. It behooves upon us to not only return to Him but to stopping hiding from the so many of our nation that don't even know they are lost. Don't even know what treasure they possess. We can't hide any longer. Return we shall return to Him.

Have a bountiful Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 (answer below)

(can you believe we actually need to know where Johns parents lived?)

Which were the first four churches built in the days of Constantine and Helena?

(a) The Church of the Ascension, the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fishes, The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Church of Nativity

(b) The Church of the Annunciation, Getsemane, the Nea Church, Haga-Sion Church             

(c) The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Eleona Church, The Church of Nativity, the Church of Abraham at Alone Mamre                                                                                    

(d) The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, The Church of Peter Gallicantu, Dominus Flevit, The Church of Santa Anna

 

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RABBI SCHWARTZES QUOTE OF THE WEEK

" Have affection for a fellow Jew and G-d will have affection for you. Do a kindness for a fellow Jew and G-d will do a kindness for you. Befriend a fellow Jew and G-d will befriend you."- R. Menachem Mendel of Horodok

RABBI SCHWARTZES JOKE(S) OF THE WEEK

One day a fundraiser for a Jewish institution came to the home of John McLaughlin.

"We have you down for a $500 pledge," said the fundraiser.

"But that's impossible," said McLaughlin. "I didn't make a pledge. And besides, I'm not even Jewish!"

"I'm sorry," said the fundraiser, "but our institution never makes mistakes. Are you sure you aren't Jewish?" "How can I prove it to you?" said McLaughlin. "I go to church every Sunday, my mother used to direct the Christmas play at school every year, and my father, alav hashalom, is buried in a Catholic cemetery."

 

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RABBI SCHWARTZ YOUTUBE LINK OF THE WEEK

IF you were excited to do kiruv/outreach and invite some fellow jews oer here are some hilarious videos of what to do from the always funny Rabbis Salomon and Millstien

Let me know which are your favorites…

http://vimeo.com/channels/335576/page:2

and some more

http://vimeo.com/channels/335576/page:1

 

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RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-

Har Gilboa- This glorious mountain range that serves as the border between the West bank Shomron region and the Beit Shean and Jezre'el Valley, is a great and cool place to visit. With its wonderful hikes, great rappelling (in Hebrew they call it snappelling) rocks and incredible views of the Jezre'el valley and the West Bank (you can even see the border fence) a visit to Gilboa can be a full day event. One can also bring your trusty Tanach along and read about the tragic death of Shaul and Yonasan and Dovids subsequent eulogy "O' how the mighty of fallen…". In that eulogy Dovid curses the mountain range that dew and rain should not fall and nothing should grow. Even the great work of the Jewish National Fund.in planting trees on this mountain range still has left many bald spots where one can appreciate that ancient curse. There are also great 4X4 and jeep trails along the mountain route that enable you to really appreciate the agriculture and all the various yishuvim that bear the name of the family of King Shaul. There is even a great "Ski Resort" (fake snow of course) where one can feel like you are in the alps (almost..ok maybe not so much..) as well.

 

Answer is C- This one was not that hard since I knew that she built the church of Abraham in Alone Mamre and this was the only one with that choice. But in truth the mother of Constantine who was his inspiration for converting to Christianity thus changing the history of the world from the Pagan Roman Empire to the Holy Roman/Byzantine Empire, was focused on biblical sites for her churches. I just found it ironic that Abraham who our sages tell us broke all of the idols that of his father Terach should have a church with all types of icons built in his honor. I imagine when Mashiach comes and the resurrection of the dead takes place Avraham will take care of that once again.

 

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Holyland-Oleh Land- Shoftim 2013

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 8^th 2013 -Volume 3, Issue 41–2^nd of Elul 5773

 Parshat Shoftim

Holyland-Oleh Land

It is perhaps one of the most simple gravestones I have ever seen. One would think that for a man who almost indisputably had the greatest hand in establishing the modern State of Israel, we would find a monument or plaque filled on both sides commemorating his life and his accomplishments. Yet for Israel’s first and longest reigning Prime minister, the man who headed the Hagana and united all the diverse military factions, the visionary who oversaw operation Magic Carpet bringing thousands of Jews from Arab countries home to Israel, who in his early life was the head of World Zionist organization and the Jewish Agency, and who personally oversaw the flourishing of the Negev and the establishment of Israel’s national water carrier, the three line epithet on his modest grave was all that he wished it to state.

David Ben Gurion

(1886-1973)

*Alah Artzah 1906

*moved up to Israel

All he had done, all that he had accomplished in his simple eyes it all paled compared to his most significant accomplishment. He was a Jew that moved to Israel. It was how he wished to be remembered. It was what gave him all the inspiration he needed to build our national homeland.

This week my family and I celebrate our third “Aliyah”-versary. We came as a family of seven with children and we moved to the North. It’s a time in life when many advised it would be difficult. Your children are the wrong age. Finding the right schools would be difficult. The North is a hard place to live. It’s far away from everyone (we moved from Seattle Washington so that really wasn’t too much of a concern). Making a living is hard, the culture is different, the bureaucracy is crazy, housing is unaffordable, the reasons and arguments not to come were strong. Yet compared to what those early settlers had to go through, today’s Israel is a veritable Garden of Eden. They, as their ancestors before them for hundreds of year, came to Israel by foot, camel and dangerous seas to a country that was full of swamps, disease, poverty and daily dangers from the hostile neighbors that have always sought to destroy us. They came, as did we, because we felt that this was our home. This is where we would be connected in the deepest way to our history and our destiny. They came because just as much as Israel needs us we felt we needed it.

The past few weeks Parshiyot describe the significance of the land of Israel. Last week Parshat Re’eh describes the promise and the beauty of the land and our religious mandate to rid it of all forms of Tuma’ah and idolatary. Eretz Yisrael is meant to be more than a national homeland it is the Holy Land (thus the title of this weekly E-MailJ), a land where God’s presence can comfortably dwell. Next week’s Parsha will discuss the various mitzvot of the land Israel. According to the Ramban-Nachmanides all mitzvot were only given to be performed ultimately in the land of Israel. It is only here that they can be experienced in their fullest spiritual expression. And than we have this week’s Torah portion the center of this triumvirate; Parshat Shoftim which delineates the establishment of a Jewish society in Israel, the creation of a Torah justice system, its officers, its religious army, and its righteous kings.

This is perhaps the most challenging of all the commandments. In our tragic 3000 year history of being a nation there has been not more than a few hundred years when we have succeeded in creating this holy society. We have conquered land, we have expanded our borders, and we have even rid the country at times of idolatry. We have also been observant of our commandments. There have always been an enduring portion of the Jewish people who have observed Shabbat, the holidays the prayers and rituals that make up Jewish life even in the harshest of conditions. Yet our greatest failure has been to create this society of a nation of God in our Promised Land. The world needs a place which would serve as a role model of what it should look like if only His presence would be reflected in the nation of Israel.

As someone who now lives in Eretz Yisrael, this failure is constantly on my mind. What can and should I do to bring that Divine presence back? The early Zionists, like Ben Gurion planned plotted and strategized in order to build a modern state, to achieve UN and world recognition and to create a country that would be a light to the world not only in terms of the advancement of technology, wisdom and development but also as a secular humanistic ethical society built on principles of kindness, justice and democratic principles. And to a large degree they were and are phenomenally successful in achieving their goals. Israel does stand out as that nation that shines not only in the primitive Middle East but in the entire world as a leader in all of those areas. But it is still not a Nation of God. And that’s not their fault- that wasn’t their training or upbringing. It’s ours…It’s mine and yours who know better and who can do better.

We have entered the month of Elul. In a few weeks we will be standing before God and reflecting on our lives. Interestingly enough Rosh Hashanah is not a time when we pray to a large degree for any of our personal requests for the upcoming year. Although our sages tell us it is the day when we will be judged. Instead the repeated theme of Rosh Hashana is for the return of Kingship of God to the Holy Land. To have his presence once again rule the world as it was meant to be. We daven on the most important day of the year not for long life, health, Shalom Bayit, marriage, our children, or even for a better livelihood. We pray for the big picture. For the day to come when we may live a life that is a fulfillment of our chosen mandate.

If this is the focus of what will be our prayers on Rosh Hashana, then these days of Elul are meant to be the preparation for those prayers. We are in a time when we each have to start asking ourselves what we could be doing more to bring about that ultimate day, not only for ourselves and our families but for the entire nation. Just as Ben Gurion the hero of the modern state of Israel gave his entire life so that his Aliyah La’Aretz would be one that left this country in a better place than it was before; a step closer to the ultimate Redemption hopefully. So to must we plan and actualize our dreams and the hopes and prayers of all the generations before us and the will of our Father in Heaven to once again restoring the Malchut Shadai- the kingdom of heaven to his holy city. May that day come soon Be’Ezrat Hashem

Have a truly blessed Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

                                                                                          

 Insights and Inspiration this week in which we read of the mitzvah and halachot  of going to war, is dedicated anonymously in honor and appreciation of our brave Israeli soldiers that serve, with meisrus nefesh, klal yisrael, as they stand on our behalf in defense of our nation. May Hashem watch over them and protect them from harm.

Chazak U'Baruch!

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RABBI SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 (answer below)

(can you believe we actually need to know where Johns parents lived?)

According to the Christian tradition where did the parents of John the Baptist live?

(a) Qumran

(b) Ein Kerem                                                                                                                 

(c) The Monastery of St. John in the Desert near Even Sapir

(d) Qasr-al-Yahud

 

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RABBI SCHWARTZES FAVORITE QUOTE OF THE WEEK

""What matters is not what the goyim say, but what the Jews do." "- David Ben Gurion

 

RABBI SCHWARTZES FAVORITE JOKE/LINE OF THE WEEK

 

Ben Gurion-"I'll be seventy years old soon. Well, Nahum, if you asked me whether I shall die and be buried in a Jewish State I would tell you Yes; in ten years, fifteen years, I believe there will still be a Jewish State. But ask me whether my son Amos, who will be fifty at the end of this year, has a chance of dying and being buried in a Jewish State, and I would answer: fifty-fifty."

 Nahum Goldman-"But how can you sleep with that prospect in mind and be Prime Minister of Israel too?" .

"Who says I sleep?" was Ben-Gurion's simple reply.

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RABBI SCHWARTZ YOUTUBE LINK OF THE WEEK

In honor of our aliyah-versary my favorite aliyah videos

Maccabeats aliyah video-great historic clips and info

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lh-hNOLqgt0

 

My personal favorite

Come back-try not crying- I dare you..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_kxWKB5vPM

 

Welcome to the newest olim July 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xX3MRrzvAoU

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RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-

Kibbutz Sdei Boker- Established in 1952 in the negev the Kibbutz is best known as the retirement place and “dream home” of David ben Gurion and his wife Paula. It is said that he came here early in his career and was taken by the kibbutzniks literally living the dream of bringing life to the desert in fulfillment of all of the prophecys of our ancestors. Today one can tour the Kibbutz and tzrif Ben Gurion where he lived worked, and mostly wrote letters to young children from around the world who asked him the simple questions of what life in Israel was all about.

In one of the letters he is quoted as saying

The desert provides us with the best opportunity to begin again. This is a vital element of our renaissance in Israel. For it is in mastering nature that man learns to control himself. It is in this sense, more practical than mystic, that I define our Redemption on this land. Israel must continue to cultivate its nationality and to represent the Jewish people without renouncing its glorious past. It must earn this – which is no small task – a right that can only be acquired in the desert.

When I looked out my window today and saw a tree standing before me, the sight awoke in me a greater sense of beauty and personal satisfaction than all the forests that I have crossed in Switzerland and Scandinavia. For we planted each tree in this place and watered them with the water we provided at the cost of numerous efforts. Why does a mother love her children so? Because they are her creation. Why does the Jew feel an affinity with Israel? Because everything here must still be accomplished. It depends only on him to participate in this privileged act of creation. The trees at Sde Boker speak to me differently than do the trees planted elsewhere. Not only because I participated in their planting and in their maintenance, but also because they are a gift of man to nature and a gift of the Jews to the compost of their culture.

May we all soon merit to see the fulfillment of that dream….

Answer is A- John the Baptist…sigh…in hebrew known as yochanan ha'matvil. So although he hung out in the wilderness by even sapir and the cave of the Franciscans there and he allegedly was part the Qumran Dead sea Essenes/early Christians potentially, at least that’s what  savvy Israeli tourism guides and sites who want to make money off Christian tourists will tell you, although there is no evidence to that. As well according to the new testament baptized the J-man by Quasr Al Yahud by the Jordan river. Yet, he was born in Jerusalem to his nice Jewish parents Zecharia and Elizabeth and whadaya know an angel even appeared by a spring and told em so…

John is certainly one of the interesting Christian figures as they see in the man who foretold and heralded J as being a gilgul/pre-configuration of Eliyahu Ha'Navi who we know will herald the true Mashiach…hopefully soon..

Welfare State- Re'eh 2013/5773

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 2^nd 2013 -Volume 3, Issue 40–26^th of Av 5773

Parshat Re'eh

Welfare State

"Why are there so many Beggars in Israel? Where do all these Shnorrers come from?I just want to be left alone so I can pray in peace by the Kotel-the Western Wall…the Holy Graves of tzadikim… my shul. Why can't they just get a job? Aren't the police able to do anything about them? Isn't there some type of law? Shouldn't there be…?"

"Welcome to Eeezrahel!" is the general tour guide response to the above questions. We are certainly home of many of the world's greatest shnorrers. It is true that not all of them are "holy beggars" as the great Rav Shlomo Carlebach would call them. Perhaps a few of them are unbalanced, scammers trying to make a quick buck, or sadly trying to feed their not so healthy habits. But I have always been raised that it is not my place to question. Be grateful that I am fortunate to be on this side of the wallet rather than the other side.

Why do our holy places attract these un or mis fortunate class of our people? Because they know why we are at these sites to raise our spirituality and to connect to Hashem. People that come to holy places that are trying to be holy are and should be the easiest "targets". After all, we all know just as a parent will dedicate and has a special place in their heart for their "special needs" and most unfortunate of children, our Father in heaven repeatedly in the Torah tells us that he dwells amongst the lowest, His heart and mercy are upon those that need him the most, those who have no one else. Time and time again the Torah exhorts us to care and be careful with the feelings of the widow, the orphan, the convert and the impoverished. If we really want "in" with our Father, than there is no better way than to do what we can to help out His most neediest of children. If we are asking the above questions, than perhaps we should really introspect a little bit as to how sincere we really are in connecting with Hashem. Are we at holy sites to connect to Hashem, or are we like the Korean, Nigerian, German, Russian and christian tourists that come to visit the most popular tourist site in Israel? If you are unsure, pick up one of the brown cardboard  Kippas and place it on your head. Personally I would rather take out a few shekels. Why are they there? They are there for us. Because sadly we sometimes we forget why we are there.

This week's Torah portion shares with us the significance of the mitzvah of Tzedaka repeatedly. The structure of the Parsha is fascinating. The Parsha commences with Moshe telling us to see that upon our arrival to Eretz Yisrael we will be presented on Mt Gerizim and Eival with the blessings and curses that depending on what we choose will determine our ability to be blessed in Eretz Yisrael. Our first commands are to conquer the land and destroy the evil that is there, making it ours, making it Hashems. There's a new sheriff in town and the land will finally realize its purpose as will we. We will eat. We will celebrate and Hashems presence will be known. Now the true Jewish state is not just one where we have independence, flags, an army or even kosher falafel. It's about being a launching pad for the word of Hashem; a country that mirrors His holiness. So if and when there are those even amongst us, individuals, false prophets or even entire cities that see this as being a "country like any other" or an "ancestral heritage" or even the 51^st State of the Union and try to remove us from our mission of establishing a country of God, they are meant to be dealt with harshly. This was never meant to be a democracy with freedom of speech or freedom from religion. We're here for a purpose. Sounds kind of tough but Hashem tells us he will give us the most essential ingredient for success.

"V'Nosan Lecha Rachamim I will give you the attribute of mercy and I will have mercy upon you- "

"You are children of Hashem your God… you are a holy nation and you were chosen to be a treasured nation from all the nations on the land."

This prelude to the land of Israel than concludes with the laws of Kosher that the Torah mandates which are meant to maintain our souls on a higher level- the diet of the holy, that gives us only the spiritual nutrients we need to serve Hashem; our breakfast of the champions. And than the real deal starts. Charity, charity, and charity.  Support the Levi who doesn't have a portion amongst you, the laws of Shemitta every 7 years, giving tithes to the poor, helping out the needy, granting dignity,redemption and rehabilitation to the slaves. Finally we are given a vision of the three major holidays all that are meant to be celebrated together with all the unfortunate, forlorn and needy. And thus the ultimate Welfare State has been created. Our welfare is linked with their welfare. The land's welfare will always be blessed as much as we understand that our spiritual obligations, the Torah, mitzvos and kosher laws connection to Hashem are there to create a society of caring for one another.

Rav Avraham Pam ZT"L suggests an even deeper thought on this notion on the above verse. He suggests that Hashem promises us that there will always be needy amongst the Jewish people, because we require them in order to receive mercy from Hashem. Hashem says "If you are worried about your ability to build this country, to destroy the evil, to keep the laws and to merit a continued existence in Eretz Yisrael- fear not". I will give you opportunities for mercy, people that will stretch out their hands to you, people that you can invite over for a Shabbos meal, help find their soul-mate, comfort, console, share with, listen to and empathize with or cheer up. I will even send you holy beggars that will appear to you as being needy, because you yourselves need them. Care for them. Help find them jobs. Because you have a job. It's why we are here. It's why we have the land. It's in that merit we will be able to connect to Hashem and create the country he is awaiting for us all to come home to. For Him to return his presence to.

This week we enter the month of Elul. Our sages tell us that it is in this month Hashem, our beloved is approaching us from the field to judge us and our country for the coming year as we approach Rosh Hashana. The work of this month is for us to go to that field and greet our king, our father. In the field outside of our comfortable houses we will meet all types that have no home. The king is there with them. Helping them is our way to show Him how dear his children are to us. They are our ticket in. Our welfare ticket. Make sure not to misplace them. It is those tickets that will bring us all of the blessings this coming year. We don't want to be just tourists here. We are here to make it our home.

Have a truly blessed Shabbos,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZES TOUR GUIDE COURSE QUESTION OF THE WEEK

 (answer below)

(now that all the easy Jewish questions are done its time for the harder non-jewish ones..it hurts my heart to have to list these again but here goes…just for you… )

What do the letters INRI on the crucifix mean?

(a) J, the Nazarene, King of the Jews

(b) J, the Mess______, ____ of God, the Sav___                                       

(c) JC, Shepherd of the Jews

(d) J the Proph____, Liberator of Humanity

(sorry I couldn't bring myself to write the full name or the full offensive choices to this question in this Torah E-Mail…even Rabbi Schwartz has limits…)

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RABBI SCHWARTZES QUOTE OF THE WEEK

"Here I stand, impoverished of deeds, trembling and frightened with the dread of He Who is enthroned upon the praises of Israel. I have come to stand and supplicate before You for Your people Israel, who have sent me although I am unworthy and unqualified to do so…"- Chazan/ Cantor's prayer Yom Kippur before the Musaf service

 

RABBI SCHWARTZES JOKE(S) OF THE WEEK

 

The shnorrer (a beggar who makes pretensions to respectability; sponger, a parasite) comes to Goldstein for his monthly handout. He knocks on the door, but there is no reply. He knocks again, and a dishevelled-looking Goldstein answers the door.
"What's the matter," asks the shnorrer. "Is something wrong?"
"I've gone bankrupt," says Goldstein, "haven't you heard?"
"Certainly I've heard," says the shnorrer.
"Then what do you want from me?" asks Goldstein.
The shnorrer says, "Ten cents on the dollar."

___________________________________________
Mrs. Berger, feeling sorry for a shnorrer (a beggar who makes pretensions to respectability; sponger, a parasite) who appeared at her door, invited him in and gave him a substantial meal: chicken, kugel, wine, and two kinds of bread - black bread and challah.
The shnorrer devoured everything he was given, except the black bread. "The challah was wonderful," he said. "Do you have any more?"
"My dear man," said Mrs. Berger, "we have plenty of black bread, but challah is very expensive."
"I know," said the shnorrer. "But believe me, lady, it's worth it

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RABBI SCHWARTZ YOUTUBE LINK OF THE WEEK

Reb Shlomo Carlebach "The Holy Beggar of Jerusalem and the song of Shabbos"

A true classic

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z1qMGsJSUtg

 

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RABBI SCHWARTZ COOL PLACES IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK-

Meah Shearim- Many of my readers are familiar with this neighborhood in Jerusalem, perhaps most known as being the chariedi stronghold in the entire country. Yet the beauty of Meah She'arim for those that can get past the posters requesting proper attire and the demonstrations that take place frequently in the Kikar Shabbat square against, what the real only remnnants of the old yishuv of Israel still live today, view as affronts to the Torah's mandates of how to live in Israel, be it Shabbos, the draft of torah students, laws of modesty and the like, is that it is the experience of walking back hundreds of years in history and feeling as if we are returned to that old time shtetl. Meah Shearim, which was found in the 1870's as the fifth community to move out of the old city walls, was started by 100 families and thus received its name from the verse of Yitzchak planting 100 portions in the land of Israel. The Gaon of Vilna suggests that the numerical value of the words Meah Shearim is 666 which is in mystical terms a number that corresponds to the redemption and ingathering of the exiles. Today in Meah Shea'rim one can see many Yeshivah students that learn in the myriad of Yeshivot in the area, mingling with the chasidim and tourists shopping for judaica, eating good old fashioned jewish "haymishe" food and holiday season getting all the necessary purchases. Friday is But come early as the stores close hours before Shabbos in preparation for this special day.  

 

Answer is A- Didn't know this back then and didn't even guess right. The correct answer is Iesus Nazarenus, Rex Iudaeorum and if I would have had patience for this question I probably could've figured out as this was the only answer that had the N for Nazarene in it. And I probably could've deducted that the I in Latin is a J as all of the answers start with the J word and therefore the last letter also must be Jews eliminating answers b & d. But I  just don’t have patience for questions like this.  Christianity is kind of not my thing. I get the stories and history parts of it but the silly parts of the ritual and symbols don't really do it for me. If you want that stuff  find a different tour guide. Incidentally the significance of these words are that they were supposedly the words that Pontius Pilate had written over the J-man's head when he was crucified.

 

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