from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
June 10th 2022 -Volume
11 Issue 35 11th Sivan 5782
Parshat Behaloscha
It was a radical change for me. See, in Seattle most of my shul did
not read Hebrew. I would encourage them to daven in English
while I read the prayers out loud in Hebrew. Davening wasn’t
meant to be their Hebrew reading practicing time, rather it was meant to be
their conversation with Hashem and thus should be in the language they
understood. I used to intersperse our Shabbos morning service
with explanations. Throughout each Shabbos morning service I would
stop and talk about different parts of the tefilla; he blessings,
the different psalms, Shema, e and of course the main silent amida
and its structure. It was interactive. It made the teffila more
meaningful and it challenged me to find new insights and ideas into the prayers
I had been reciting since youth but sadly never really appreciated the depth
that can and should be found in them. It was one of the main reasons I got into
the field of Jewish outreach work in the first place. To make my yiddishkeit more
real, inspirational and truthfully holier. There’s nothing like a few newbies
drinking it all in to give you a sense that we truly have something special.
Now I’m generally a fast davener. The words just
flow out as soon as I take my three steps back and forward and shift into gear.
I’m talking to Hashem and frankly I’m a fast talker. When I was back in yeshiva
though I would shlep my davening out really
long in order to look really cool and yeshivish- isn’t it amazing
what yeshiva guys think is cool? But I would find that while I did that I
generally spaced out in the middle and found myself thinking about my upcoming
exams. How I was going to get out of shiur or just where I was
going to go out for dinner. Because it was Wednesday night and in yeshiva they
were serving that old macaroni again, and Carvel had a buy one get one free
sundae on Wednesdays. Now I would usually go with Rechnitz but he wasn’t
feeling well, I didn’t see him by lunch. But maybe he was just cutting out of
the exams that we had. So maybe I can go with Goldberg or Bassman….hmmm… Modim
anachnu lach- bow down. Oops I’m in middle of Shemona esrey. See what I
mean.
As I got older, I became more focused on just talking to Hashem.
Saying the words of the prayer that I knew by heart and actually saying them
and pretty much only them to Hashem. No extra thoughts, no space-outs, no ice
cream. The trick I found was speed. If I was standing or drifting too much, I
would lose it. This worked out well in my Seattle shul because they were
reading in English and I didn’t want to lose them either by having them wait
for me. We were all happy. We all talked to Hashem and then we had chulent.
Upon moving to Israel and starting my shul here
though it was a decidedly different type of congregation. Almost all my
congregants were religious and davening for years. Many of
them were yeshiva graduates and black hat Kollel guys. They had loooong Shmona
esrey amidas like most yeshiva guys do. After a few weeks it became
patently obvious that there was a problem with the Rabbi- namely-“moui”. Because rather
than what happens in most shuls where the congregation waits for the Rabbi to
finish praying before continuing with the repetition of the amida, I
was waiting for everyone else. I remember calling up my Rebbe and telling him
how awkward it was being the first to finish. He reassured me that I wasn’t the
first one. I had good company. No less of a Rabbinic figure than the great Reb Chaim Brisker had the same
problem.
It seems, he told me, that Reb Chaim also used to daven pretty
quickly. Upon receiving his first rabbinic position his congregants began to
complain. "What type of Rabbi do we have, who finishes davening so
fast.?!" One of his backers on the board decided to try to
preempt the problem and sat down with the Rav and told him what the problem
was. The congregants were disappointed that the Rav finished davening so
quick. It doesn’t look right. The Rabbi should be praying longer than the
congregants not shorter. Reb Chaim asked the friend what he should do. After
all, he said the prayers, he was done. There was nothing left to say. What does
he want from him? The friend hesitantly suggested that perhaps the Rav would
just remain standing in one place, as if he were still davening ,
perhaps he could be thinking about a Rambam or something else in learning
during that time and then take his steps back a few minutes later. Rav Chaim
looked at him and smiled. “I’m already doing that…” he said. Boom!
Now I don’t know if it’s a true story or not. But it certainly
made me feel a whole lot better. If it could work for Reb Chaim then although
I’m certainly nowhere near that great giant’s level and I’m sure that he
accomplished more in his short prayer and had more kavana and
connection with Hashem than I will ever have on my deepest Yom Kippur tefilla.
But if he could get away with it with his baalei batim /congregants
than I could mine as well.
The truth of the matter though there is something to be said for
short and sweet prayers. Our sages tell us
Shulchan Aruch OC (1:4) Tov me’at im kavana
mei’harbos b’lo kavana-
It is better to have a little bit of supplications with intent and
concentration than a lot without intent and concentration. This is even a law
that is brought in Shulchan Aruch- the code of Jewish Law and the Taz even
suggests that too much prayer can be a reason why he might have less kavana.
But even prior to the Shulchan Aruch we find this concept in last
week’s Torah portion of Naso- for those of us in Israel and this week’s Torah
portion of Behaloscha. At least according to the brilliant insight of the Ksav
Sofer and with it perhaps an even deeper idea as to why one should perhaps
focus more upon the succinctness of their prayer rather than trying to pack in
as much as you can.
In Parshat Naso we are given the mitzva of the blessing of the
Kohanim. In Israel we get to hear that every single day and twice on Shabbos!
It’s awesome and worthwhile to move here just for that blessing. The Torah
tells us Hashem commands Moshe to tell Aharon and his children
Bamidbar (6:23-28) This is how you shall bless the
children of Israel, saying to them: "May Hashem bless you and watch
over you.
May Hashem cause His countenance to shine to you and favor you.
May Hashem raise His countenance toward you and grant you peace.
"They shall bestow My Name upon the children of Israel, so
that I will bless them.
It’s a holy blessing. The perfect blessing …After all Hashem
Himself created it for us. Yet… I don’t know about you, but most people
probably wouldn’t mind Hashem throwing in a line or two about some “real”
things. Maybe that I should have a good living? Maybe that I should marry off
my children? How about health, or wisdom? I mean don’t’ get me wrong. I have
nothing against favor, peace and countenance (whatever that is… it sounds
good). But I’ve got some real things I could use as well. Once Hashem is
commanding the Kohanim to give us a blessing, what’s wrong with them asking us
what our problems are and then having them bless us based on our needs?
He answers incredibly with a powerful Midrash. It says the
Jewish people upon hearing this commandment for the Kohanim told Hashem, just
the opposite. They said
“You have commanded the Kohanim to bless. All we need is Your
blessing and from Your mouth…”
Hashem responded and told them
“Fear not, even though I told the Kohanim to bless you I will
stand with them and bless you.”
The Ksav Sofer explains that the Jewish people understood that
despite the fact that the Kohanim might bless them even for their particular
personal needs, but ultimately Hashem is the only one that really knows what is
right for me. Maybe it would be a terrible thing for me to be rich. Maybe it is
the right time for me to get married, to have children or even to be healed
from my illness. Maybe I am going through whatever challenges I have because
that is precisely what is right and even better for me. I want Hashem to bless
me. All we really need is what He determines is best for us. Hashem answers and
tell the Jewish people, “Don’t worry it will be me giving the blessing."
Their blessing- their words are only there to rest My presence upon you. But
ultimately your blessing will come from Me.
In an almost identical idea he explains Moshe’s prayer for Miriam
his sister who was stricken by leprosy. Moshe prays for her to be healed in the
shortest prayer in the Torah
Bamidbar (12:13) Kel na refah na lah- Please Hashem
heal her”
That’s it. Four words. Talk about a short Shmona Esrei… Rashi on
the spot notes the brevity of Moshe’s tefilla and comments
“Why did Moshe not pray at length? In order that the Children
of Israel should not say ‘His sister is in distress, and he stands and prays a
great deal’
Talk about bad, kvetchy, fault-finding
congregants? The man’s sister is sick, and you begrudge him a long prayer on
her behalf?! How could anyone blame him for praying long and hard for her
healing? Answers the Ksav Sofer that the meaning of Rashi is quite the
opposite. See, really all one needs to do is have a short prayer, quick and
short to the point. You know what you would want and need. Ask Hashem for it
and you're good to go. A long prayer just shows a lack of faith, as if I am
trying to direct Hashem to do what I think is right for me.
Alternatively, the Talmud tells us that sometimes it is
appropriate to think a lot during prayer. That is when you are davening for
someone that you are not so close with.
“A person who is praying for his friend should pray until
he gets sick over him.”
To ask Hashem on behalf of someone else, one needs to feel the
pain and trouble that the person they are praying for is in. You have to
entirely feel as if you are the one that is sick. That you personally
are the one that needs the healing hand of Hashem. You need to empathize
entirely and then turn to God. But that is only necessary for someone you’re
not close with.
If Moshe would’ve prayed for a long time for his sister, it
would’ve been a desecration of Hashem’s name, the Ksav Sofer suggests Rashi is
saying. The people would’ve said, ‘Why does he need so long to pray for her?’.
She’s his sister. He should be able to empathize right away. He should be
feeling her pain immediately and quickly telling Hashem to heal her. Perhaps he
has a grudge against her. Perhaps he was offended. Maybe he’s not so close to
her as he should be. Therefore, Moshe davened a short prayer. He didn’t have
any ill will against his sister. He felt her pain and he understood that proper
prayer is short and concise without any need to tell Hashem how to do His job.
Reb Chaim Kanievsky Zt’L was one of the greatest Rabbis of
our times. People would come from all over the world for his blessings and to
ask for his prayers on their behalf. The multitude of stories about his
incredible power of saying just a few words and boom that always were on target
are way too many to chalk off to legend. The man was connected upstairs and the
things that he said and the blessings he gave worked. But what was fascinating
and frustrating to most people that went to him is that his entire blessing or
prayer never consists of more than a few words. His most common blessing was
not even a word, it was just an acronym of 2 words. ‘BooHa!’ which
stands for bracha v’hatzlacha-blessing and success. I always joked
that when I get to that level I’m just going to say Boo! But Reb Chaim was
no joking matter.
Most people assumed that the reason he was so concise is
because he didn’t want to disturb himself from his learning Torah which he was
constantly studying. And that’s definitely true. But I believe that Reb Chaim
if he felt it was necessary would’ve disturbed his Torah for hours to help and
to do anything for another Jew. Rather, it was because Reb Chaim understood the
lesson and secret of the Ksav Sofer; of what prayer and blessing is all about.
Less is more when it comes to davening. Don’t elaborate on the
blessing, make it as simple as possible. Let Hashem stand next to that simple
blessing and may He be the one to bless you with what is right. Telling Him
what to do detracts from what is right. All you need is a little BooHa and
you’re in good hands.
Yet, people still tried to tell Reb Chaim a little more.
They’d grab his hand and try to explain fruitlessly what they really wanted. It
usually didn’t help. And perhaps it doesn’t help in our own prayers as well. I
know I could get in trouble for this idea, but hey, this is not a weekly
publicly read magazine J. It’s just us friends here I don’t have to be as
politically correct J. But it’s something to think about when we daven. Perhaps
just focus a bit more on the words our Rabbis told us to say and leave out all
the extra thoughts and ideas we feel we need to give to Hashem when we daven. A
little with concentration could be more. It could be Tov- as our
Rabbis said. Now if only I can figure out how to make these E-Mails
shorter as well….sigh….
Have a GS or
a SS,
Rabbi
Ephraim Schwartz
This
week's Insights and Inspiration is sponsored by my dear friend and avid Holyland
reader (especially the Era’a and Places column) Ezra Cohen in honor of his niece Ruthi’s Travises
wedding this past Tuesday in Modi’in. Mazel Tov to his sister Eeta, our good
friend from Norfolk on this beautiful Simcha… May you only have simcha and
nachas from all your kinderlach and may the young couple grow together to build
a bayis ne’eman b’yisrael.
Mazel
Tov!
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SHABBOS DAVENING SCHEDULE
SHABBOS
BEHALOSCHA
EARLY SHABBOS MINYAN- 6:00 PM MINCHA
PLAG MINCHA – 6:17 PM
CANDLELIGHTING
– 7:19 PM
KABBALAS
SHABBOS- 7:35 PM
SHACHARIS
– 9:00 AM
Final time for Kriyas Shema – 9:04 AM
MINCHA- 7:05
PM
MAARIV –
8:40 PM (ten minutes after tzeis)
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The Young Israel of Karmiel would
like to wish a hearty Mazel Tov on the two community Simchos this past week to
the “founding” pillars of our community.
Mazel Tov to Rabbi Moshe and Ahuva
Goldbaum on the wedding of their son Eliyahu this past week.
And Mazel Tov to
Rabbi Yaakov and Yedida Zubin on
the wedding of their son Aharon today! It’s so wonderful to see the two
families who’s sons were in my Yonah’s
class get married. Much of his and our families and many families of Olim who
have come to Karmiel have benefited from them paving the way for us as Anglo’s
or English speakers that have helped us all integrate and built our flourishing
communities. May the young couples build Batei ne’eman B’yisrael L’sheim u’ltifferes
and be a source of much yiddishe nachas to all of us.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH
PROVERB OF THE WEEK
“Ess, bench, zei a mensch!” Eat. Bentch
and be a mentch!
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
31) A holiday celebrated by Jews belonging to the Ethiopian
community: _________
In the tradition of the Ethiopian Kingdom, the origin of their
connection to Jewish culture and Jerusalem goes back to the days of:
A) King Solomon
B) The exile of the Ten
Tribes
C) King Herod
D) Ethiopian Emperor Haile
Selassie
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE VIDEO OF
THE WEEK
https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/yesimcha
-In Chuzt La’aretz you have the Kohanim blessing in the Parsha…
well you haven’t heard it right before unless you know my beautiful Yesimcha
that contains it… Yitz Berry arrangements beautiful harmonies.. you need to
hear this trust me…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H8VoPv4FDeM
- Lipa Shmeltzers beautiful and
moving video Abaya and Rava…recorded at their grave not far from me…
https://youtu.be/mHtTH_3qzjA -Rabbi Wallerstien Zt”l on his
Shloshim so beautiful and sad what a loss “Ever feel like a loser”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ghv7JBiRosc
-Good Bye Uri Zohar- another great loss to our generation
memorial in Hebrew
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fIDR9SnBw7c
-I’ll admit I’m not the biggest Mordechai
Shapiro fan (OK I’m not the fan of most new pop style music) but I can’t get
enough of this song… Ana Hashem.. its truly magnificent…
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S PARSHA/SHABBOS
CONNECTION OF THE WEEK
Holy Meat - Behaloscha
– This week we get into the meat and potatoes of our sojorn
in the wilderness for forty years. Or maybe a more Jewish word for it would be the
chulent of our desert stay. See, the parsha tells us how the Jewish people
started to kvetch. They desired meat. “Enough with the Manna” they said. We
need some good flaysh and we remember the free fish (probably lox, smoked fish
and herring) we had back in Egypt. And so Hashem gets angry, Moshe gets angry. Hashem
tells them they will have plenty of meat- just to show them that He can… and
then he smites them in a huge plague. Ouch! It’s a strange story and it needs
explanation.
The Pri Ha’aretz explains that it seems strange that they
wanted meat. Didn’t the Manna taste like whatever they wanted. Also, what would
be so bad if they want a nice kosher steak for a change? It’s not like they
wanted something not kosher. They only ate Badatz? And what was this with the
fish? A second ago they wanted steak and now they’re reminiscing about herring
which they claim was free- but c’mon we know that the Egyptians- like the Nazi’s
in the concentration camps weren’t giving
anything for free.So what’s up here?
He therefore explains that what the Jewish people really
wanted was food that would increase their desire. The reason why we like meat and
food in general is because it awakens the beast within us that is hungry. It’s not
about nutritional content or even good taste or flavor. It’s that it makes us
want more and more. It nurtures our animalistic side and brings it to the
forefront. The Manna didn’t do that. It had all the nutrition and all the
flavor of whatever we wanted, but it was purely spiritual. It didn’t do
anything to increase more physical desire. In fact that was the reason Hashem
concoted it for us in the first place. We were meant to grow into entirely
spiritual beings in the wilderness. It’s why we were surroiunded by the clouds
of glory and we were literally living in the shade of Hashem and eating holy
food from His table. The only thing the Manna gave us was a desire for more
spirituality. Not more chulent or steak.
That’s what they were complaining about. They wanted that
physical desire back. That’s what Moshe and Hashem were so upset about. It’s like
Hashem took out the tumor within us and even gave us a cancer and disease free
ciggerette to smoke that was just as perfect as the good old Marlboro’s and here
this guy is kvetching that he wants his old cancer sticks back… Not smart.
He continues and
says that it was the seemingly unrelated free fish they complained they missed
as well was about. Fish symbolize desire. They swim in the sea of desire where
they are surrounded by water all the time. Free, doesn’t mean that it doesn’t cost
anything. Rather, our sages teach us, it is free from Mitzvos. Meaning they
wanted food that was purely physical without any spiritual strings attached. Because
there is one way that we can have a physical enjoyment of food that feeds our
physical desire as well as a spiritual desire and that is if it is a mitzva to
eat that food. Like the Gaon of Vilna says about Matza for example. Every bite
is another Mitzva- and we should physically enjoy it. We are raising up our animal
side in the process. That’s a good thing.
Shabbos is that day as well, when we do that each week. Interestingly,
there’s a mitzva to eat fish and meat on Shabbos. The best tasting ones, the ones
that bring out our most and deepest physical and animal desire. Because on
Shabbos that act of eating is pleasuring the physical side in the form of a
mitzva. The body won’t bring you down on this special day, because the act of
eating in honor of the day that Hashem rested and that is dedicated to
recognizing Him as the Creator and our Redeemer is in itself a holy act. We
have sanctified it with the Kiddush introduction each meal. We are not
kvetching but basking in the knowledge that Hashem loves us and has given us
our bodies to be uplifted and to enjoy His delicious holy meat. So pull up a
chair and dig in, boys…
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN
ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
Now today Tzarfat is the
name of the country France. However that’s not in Tzidon which is
in Lebanon. Although, interestingly enough, Lebanon was in fact a
country that was created by France after World War I when it was put
under the French Mandate after the dissolution of the Ottoman Empire
who had joined the Germans and lost to the Allies. Anywhere Tzfat and South
was put under the British mandate who then created Egypt, Saudi Arabia
and Jordan. While North of Tzfas was French who created Lebanon,
Syria and Libya. So who knows maybe this is prophetic. But Tzarfat
near Tzidon where Eliyahu was sent was far away from Achav
and the center of Jewish life. It seems Hashem was getting Eliyahu for
his eternal journey to far flung places.
There Eliyahu meets this woman and he asks her to bring him
some water. When she obliges, despite the fact that she doesn’t have much herself,
he ups he ante and asks her for some bread. Israelis never are shy about
things. She pretty much tells him that all she has is a little flour and oil
and some twigs left for her and her orphan son, but hey, she’s happy to give it
to him if he likes and make him some bread.
Whenever I read this story it
reminds me of those awkward moments I and many have had on our year in Israel
when we go to people’s houses for Shabbos and it is clear they don’t have much
to eat for them and their family. They then tell us to take more…All the while
we can see them glaring at their children and telling their own kids not to
dare touch another piece of food as there’s not enough… Yeah… awkward..
Eliyahu though is ready for this. He tells her to take the oil and
flour. Make some bread and give him the first piece and he promises her that
all will be well. The oil and flour she has will last miraculously for as long as
there is a famine. And so it was. This was a huge miracle and like most Jewish
things there’s an argument about how it worked. Was it that the food just
expanded and grew? That the jugs never
emptied and new food was created out of thin air? Regardless it was a miracle
that one couldn’t really witness as Hashem’s miracles are generally hidden from
the eyes. It’s His style.
Perhaps what’s interesting about this story as well is that Hashem
was using this as a teaching point to Eliyahu. It’s easy for Eliyahu
to be judgemental and quickly decree a famine on the Jewish people for their
sins. But take a look at what starvation and poverty looks like up front, Eliyahu.
See you also have mercy and compassion on people. You want miracles to take
care of them. Well, so do I Hashem will tell Eliyahu soon. But first
there’s one more story that Hashem has to pull off for Eliyahu to come around.
Stay tuned next week.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE SERMON JOKES OF THE WEEK
Rabbi Greenberg was known for his lengthy sermons, noticed Berel
get up and leave during the middle of his speech. Berel returned just before
the conclusion of the service. Afterwards the Rabbi asked him where he had
gone.
"I went to get a haircut," was the reply.
"But," said the Rabbi, "why
didn't you do that before the service?"
"Because," Berel said, "I
didn't need one then."
Rabbi Rosenberg was in the midst of one of his infamous lengthy
sermons when all of the sudden, a large plant fell over right behind the pulpit,
crashing to the ground.
Rabbi Rosenberg turned around to see what transpired, then
turned back to the congregation, smiled sheepishly and said, "Well,
that’s the first time I put a plant to sleep."
A Rabbi, a cantor, and a synagogue president were driving to a
seminar when they were kidnapped. The highjackers asked the three of them to
hand over all of their money and jewellery. When they replied that they hadn't
any, the hijackers told them that immediately after their last wishes were
fulfilled, they would be killed.
"My last wish," began the Rabbi, is to
give a fascinating, complicated, long sermon that I have always wanted to but
never been allowed to give."
"We will grant your wish," the hijackers replied.
"My last wish," said the cantor, "is to
sing a beautiful, Yemenite style song, one of my own compositions lasting two
hours. I have never been allowed to sing it."
"We'll let you sing it," replied the hijackers.
"What is your last wish," the hijackers asked
the shul president.
"Please, please shoot me now.
"
After a performance a
cantor - trying to impress- tells the crowd that his voice is insured with
Lloyds of London for 1 million dollars. A voice from the back of the room says
"so what did you do with the money?"
A Rabbi recounted this
story: With all the instant messaging and texting lingo going around - with
abbreviations like "LOL" and "OMG" and "BTW" - I
asked a young lady named Baila if she would be going to shul this Shabbat, and
she replied to me "JFK."
"JFK? What does that mean?", I asked.
Baila answered politely, "Just for Kiddush”.
A Rabbi was giving a speech and as Rabbis sometimes do, kept
going on and on, and after going way over time he stopped and realized and he
apologized saying "I'm sorry, I left my watch at home". One disrespectful
guy in the crowd yelled, "But Rabbi, you have a calendar right in front
of you!"
Yankel listened to the Rebbe at shul one Shabbos morning and
when the Rebbe asked those with special requests to come to him at Seuda
Shlisheet/(3rd meal) , Yankel came.
When it was his turn, Yankel sat down and the Rebbe asked,
"What do you want me to help you with?"
Yankel said, "Pray for my hearing, Rebbe."
The Rebbe put one hand over Yankel's ear and his other hand on
top of his head and prayed a while.
Then he removed his hands and asked, "Yankel, how is
your hearing now?"
Yankel answered, "I don't know, Rebbe. It's next
Wednesday at the courthouse!"
********************************
Answer
is B -I just love it when it works
out that the questions from the tour guide exam which I post here in order of
the exam relate as well to the time of year when I post them. It’s like the
hand of heaven is making this happen adding divine ruach hakodesh to what at
first glance seems like random questions. Well this one is of course easy. The
Parochet is the cover of Ark and it is of course meant to symbolize the
covering in front of the Ark of the covenant- aron ha’bris in the Mishkan and
Temple No although this is a pretty easy question for us religious Jews I
imagine the Arab or Christian wannabee guides will get this wrong- as I would
when it comes to the nonsense names of parts of their false places of worship.
Information I pretty much deleted after I finished my exam. Sooo in honor of
Shavuos the day when we go the Torah covered by the Paroches I got this one
right and the score is now Schwartz 24 and 6 for MOT (Ministry of
Tourism) on this exam.
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