from the
Holy Land
from
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
"Your friend in Karmiel"
January 6th 2023!! -Volume 12 Issue 12 13th of Tevet 5783
Parshat Vayechi
The
Rebbi was excited. It had been 19 years since he had last been by “Der Mama”.
Before 1948 when the Jordanians had taken control of this holy site the Rebbe
had regularly visited and davened by Kever Rachel. It was a place where he felt
most connected. Where his tears and supplications for redemption surely would
mingle with Mama Ruchel’s in shamayim. He could spend hours there and he
did. But for 19 years Beit Lechem was “occupied territory” by our ‘cousins’ as
was Chevron and the old city of Yerushalayim and the Kotel. We had no access.
We couldn’t come and pray at our holiest sites. For 19 years we were in galus
in our own land. And now we had finally returned. In the most miraculous 6 days
in modern history in 1967 Klal Yisrael could once again come back to our Tattehs
and Mammehs and join our tefillos to theirs. And the Rebbi was preparing
for his first visit.
Together
with his Chasidim they piled on to the bus. The Chasidim that were with their
Rebbe were as excited as he was. They couldn’t wait to see their Rebbe’s
enthusiasm, heartfelt tears and prayers as he came back to his Mama that he had
been longing for so long to visit. They were expecting to see the Rebbe jump
off the bus and run to that holy site and bow down and pray and cry and hug her
ancient tomb and stones. Yet, they were a bit taken aback when the Rebbe announced
that before they went in he would be holding a big tish. A festive meal with
food and drink and Torah and song before going inside to daven. The tish
lasted for about an hour. It was heartfelt, joyous and inspirational. The Rebbi
shared beautiful words and would continuously hand out more and more shirayim
of fruits, fish and all of the food that he first tasted to his chasidim on
this momentous occasion. The anticipation was building but the Rebbi waited,
making sure that everyone had eaten their fill first. Finally as they bentched
the Rebbi turned to his chasidim and explained the reason for the tish.
“Everyone
knows how long I’ve waited to visit and see and daven by “Der Mama”. As much as
I long to see her though” he said. “She’s been waiting to see her children back
again as well. Now everyone knows though that the first thing a Mama wants to
know when she sees her children, the first question she will ask her long lost
sons is “Hust de shoyn gegessen? – Did you eat already mein teihereh kinder- my
dear children. Mama Rochel wants to know her children had a good meal before coming
to visit her. She’s worried for us. I wanted to give her nachas that the first
thing we do when we come to her- like any good Mama, would be to sit down by
the table and eat before talking to her, before telling her about our long journey,
before asking her to pray for us, with us for the geula. I wanted to give her
the bissel yiddishe nachas- that a yiddishe Mama has when she knows her kinder
are well fed…”
It’s
a great story. I told it to my tourists when they were deciding whether to go
out for dinner before we davened at Kever Rochel or to wait until afterwards.
The Rebbi I believe I heard the story about was the Tolner Rebbe. {Although I
didn’t have any luck googling it- if you know differently please let me know..
You can always count on your good faithful tour Rabbi tour guide to find a good
meaningful reason to justify eating before davening- which I knew they wanted
to do. It’s why people pay me the big bucks 😊. No reason to feel guilty, I told them. The
Mama wouldn’t want you to come hungry to her. Ess mein tehiereh kind- ess gezunt
ah heit. We’ll have plenty of time to talk afterwards.
This
week’s parsha Vayechi, the last of the Sefer of Bereishis recalls to us the
death of Rachel. Yaakov, asks his son Yosef to take him out of Egypt and bring him
back to Mearat Ha’Machpela to bury him there. At the time he tells Yosef that he
shouldn’t feel bad that his own mother Rochel is not buried at Mearat
HaMachpela. She was buried in Beit Lechem on the side of the road instead. The
reason for this is he explains, our sages tells us and brought down by Rashi is
And
I buried here there - and did not carry her even the short
distance to Bethlehem to bring her into a city. I know that in your heart you
feel some resentment against me. Know, however, that I buried her there by the
command of Hashem”. And the future proved that Hashem had commanded him to do
this in order that she might help her children when Nebuzaradan would take them
into captivity. For when .they were passing along that road Rachel came forth
from her grave and stood by her tomb weeping and beseeching mercy for them, as
it is said, (Yirmiyahu 31:15) “A voice is heard in Rama, [the sound of
weeping … Rachel weeping for her children]”, and the Hakadosh Baruch Hu,
replied to her (v. 16) “There is a reward for thy work, says the Lord etc. (v.
17) for thy children will return to their own border”
The
Mameh is crying for her children. She is buried right where she’s supposed to
be so that she can awaken the mercy of Hashem with her tears that we would return
back home again.
I
saw an unbelievably mind-blowing idea from Reb Yosef Nechemia Kornitzer, a 19th
century Rav of Krakow great grandson of the Chasam Sofer and father in law of
the famous Reb Shabsi Frankel of the “Frankel Rambam” fame. He notes that on
the one hand it seems that Rochel was buried there as to be a merit for her
children. On the other hand a different Midrash seems, at first glance, to attribute
Rochel’s burial as a punishment for her hastiness. The Midrash tells us that
when Yaakov was leaving his uncle Lavan’s house by the command of Hashem, he
calls his wives Leah and Rachel to field to ask their opinion whether they are
ready to leave their home and go to Eretz Yisrael with him. The verse tells us
that the women answered as follows.
And
Rachel and Leah answered; Surely, he regards us as outsiders, now that he
has sold us and has used up our purchase price. Truly,
all the wealth that Hashem has taken away from our father belongs to us and to
our children. Now then, do just as Hashem has told you.”
We’re
in. We have nothing here with our father. He’s a liar and cheat. Let’s go home as
Hashem has commanded you.
The
Medrash though quotes Rebbi Yehuda who picks up on a nuance here.
“Why
did Rochel die on the road before arriving in Israel? Because she answered
before her sister…”
Rebbi
Yehudah picks up that in recounting the story here, the Torah says that Rochel
answered Yaakov before her older sister Leah. At first glance it seems that
this was a punishment. She should’ve let her sister speak and answer respond first.
It’s not kavodik, to jump ahead and answer. And as a result of that it
would seem she therefore is punished and she dies first. See that’s what
jumping ahead does for you. She’s not buried with Yaakov but on the side of the
road. Rebbi Yosi though in that same Midrash notes the Yaakov originally had
called to Rachel and Leah in that order to the field. Rochel didn’t jump the
gun. She was the primary wife. Rather he attributes her death to the fact that
Yaakov cursed whoever stole the idols of Lavan would be killed. Seemingly Rebbi
Yosi would be correct Rachel was called first. As well the opinion of Rebbi
Yehudah seems to contradict our Rashi and Midrash that she was buried there to
pray for her children. Which one is it? Is it a punishment or is it to daven
for us?
Perhaps
even more perplexing is why, takeh, did Rochel answer before Leah. Why
didn’t she let her older sister speak first? And finally, why does Yaakov have
to ask them if they want to leave? Hashem told him that it’s what he should do.
Does he really need to consult with them about it? What would happen if they
say no?
Answers
Reb Yosef Nechemia magnificently, that all the questions answer one another if
you understand one basic principle. The Torah law, which our forefathers
observed although they weren’t commanded to keep them is that a man is not
allowed to be married to two sisters. It’s a bad thing. Yet, the reason why
Yaakov permitted himself to do so, besides that he had divine inspiration and
knew that he needed to marry both Rochel and Leah, is because he understood
that the function of the mitzvos is to be observed in Eretz Yisrael. It’s here
where they have meaning. Everywhere else it’s just to stay in practice until we
keep them here in Israel and shine out the light of Hashem from here to the rest
of the world. Thus in Chutz La’Aretz he permitted himself to have two
sisters as wives. Yet he knew that upon returning to Israel one of them would
have to go. Somebody wasn’t going to make it there. He certainly would never
divorce a wife, so most likely one would have to die. This conversation with
his wives thus becomes much more serious.
Now
Leah, knowing that she was the first wife would probably assume that she would
enter and Rochel would die. Or alternatively, perhaps since Rochel was the main
wife of Yaakov and she really had just been snuck in Rochel’s place into the
marriage bed maybe she wouldn’t deserve to live and be buried with Yaakov.
Rochel sensing this dilemma of her sister once again jumps up to the plate and
answers first.
“Don’t
worry, Yaakov. It’s alright. We need to go home. You need to bring my children,
our children to Eretz Yisrael. If I can’t make it, I’ll accept that fate upon
myself. Chutz La’aretz is no place for our children to be. We are
strangers here. This is not our home. It’s not where we can reveal the light of
Hashem and fulfill our purpose from. Whatever it takes, whatever sacrifice I have
to make. Bring my children to Eretz Yisrael.”
In
this light what Rebbi Yehuda is saying is not that it is a punishment on Rochel
for answering before her sister. Rather it is the fulfillment of her request
that her children be brought into the land even though she knew that it would
mean she wouldn’t be buried with her husband. She would die on the way before
entering the land. But for her kinderlach…what wouldn’t a Mameh do.
It
is this same merit that our midrash tells us that Rochel is still buried there.
For when Hashem will turn his wrath upon her children and throw us out of His
land for not appreciating our mission here and for not observing the Torah and
taking in the supreme significance and holiness of the land, Rochel would turn
to Hashem and cry and pray and recall her merit. Hashem, remember how I let my
sister marry my husband, my bashert, it is for that act that I was not only
giving up my beloved and sharing him with my sister, but I was as well guaranteeing
that ultimately, I would not be allowed to return here to Eretz Yisrael and be
buried with my husband. I would die in chutz la’aretz, in the Diaspora.
I would not see the holy land. I did this for one reason. I did this so that I
would have children that would merit to live in the land. I would produce Your
12 tribes that would live here, that would become Your nation. That would bring
Your blessing and light to the world. How can You throw them out? When will you
bring them back? Look at my kever. Look what I did for Your children…
for my kinder… When can I stop crying for them? When will they come home…?
Hashem
hear that plea and tears of Rachel and He promises her two promises-
V’Shavu banim mei’eretz oiyev- the
children will return from the land of their enemies
V’shavu
banim l’gevulam- the children will return to their borders.
The
Chasam Sofer explains these two promises that seemingly seem redundant. Of
course the children will return. Hashem always planned on bringing us back
home. He didn’t create the world for Klal Yisrael to stay in exile. He knew
that we needed to come back. What are these promises? How is He reassuring
Rachel with this?
He
answers incredibly that Rochel was concerned mostly that if her children went
to Chutz La’aretz that they would assimilate there. They would feel too comfortable.
That they would love all of their posterity in those goyisheh nations
that they were bound to achieve. They would like their Pizza Shops, their Prime
Grills, their Yeshivos, their Shuls, their extravagant houses and all of their political
influence and pretty things and “friendly” neighbors that Esau sometimes
becomes to us. The children wouldn’t
want to come home. They’ll forget why we’re here. They’ll forget that k’nochrios
nechshavnu- that we are always foreigners in their land. That it’s not
where we belong. They’ll forget how much I gave up for them to come home. They
won’t come to visit the Mama.
Hashem
thus tells Rochel. Don’t worry Mama. I will return the children even before
Mashiach comes. They will come home to Eretz Yisrael and return to you… To Me…
even before the end of days. They will return from the land of their enemies.
The goyim with throw them out. They will be made to realize that they only have
one home, one place, one land that they are meant to live in. They will remember
the Mama and you won’t just be a picture that they hang on the wall of your
tomb. They will return. You will be reunited with your children even before the
geulah. Only after that will be final redemption. Only after that will they
return to their full borders. Will we get back the other side of the Jordan.
Will we return all the way up to Lebanon and down South to Egypt to the borders
I promised Avraham. Then will we return to the Bais Ha’Mikdash. Only then,
after they are here from the lands of the enemies will the Shechina
finally return and we will be redeemed.
The
Chasam Sofer writes this in the early 1800’s when the Jewish population in
Eretz Yisrael was about 6000 Jews. We were living in Europe and we thought it
was our home. Eretz Yisrael was a dream that only handfuls thought could be a
reality before Mashiach came. It was dangerous. It was desolate. It was not a
place that was seen as anyone as habitable from a materialistic and even more
significantly as a spiritual place where they could raise their children and
families as compared to the Torah empire that was in Europe. Less than a hundred
years later in 1948 the Jewish population here was 600,000. We had returned
from the land of our enemies. We realized that Europe wasn’t our home. We came
back to the Mama. The children had returned.
I
had always thought that would be the last stop. That the return from the land
of our enemies was over. The prophecy was fulfilled. V’Shavu Banim L’gvulam
is around the corner. Your children Mama Rochel understand what you gave up for
us to come home. We don’t need anymore enemies to remind us. We don’t need
another holocaust. I hope I am right. Mama, don’t stop crying for your
children. Bring that final geula. Your children are hungry. They want to
give you nachas. Our hunger though is not for a tish, or for chulent and kugel.
It’s a hunger for the shechina, for the korbanos. It’s to see
Hashem once again. Mama, your children hub nuch nisht gegessen… - we
still haven’t eaten. We’re waiting for that real tish together with you…
Have a inspiring holy Shabbos,
Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz
************************
YIDDISH PROVERB
OF THE WEEK
“Eyn mame
dergreykht mer vi a hundert lerers...”.- One mother achieves more than a hundred teachers...
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM
QUESTION OF THE WEEK
answer below at end of Email
5) A city in the Negev established in 1900 is:
Dushara, Al-Uzza and Manat are names of:
A) Stops along the incense trade route
B) Deities in the Nabataean mythology
C) Mounds in the Negev
D) Bedouin tribes in the south of the country
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO OF THE
WEEK
https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/yesimcha
– Parshat Vayechi isn’t complete unless you
sing my glorious Yesimcha song from the Parsha Yitz Berry on arrangements!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNIKkk4S1VI
– Avraham Frieds Yesimcha also beautiful
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRtnTGaK4f8
– And
of course Shwekey’s Yesimcha
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0WV-IlD87xg
- Ever
hear this Gad Elbaz Yesimcha? I never did…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cAzVgbZUT8g
– Never heard this snappy version either of Avremi Roth…
RABBI SCHWARTZ'S
ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK
War again- 704 BC –
After our introduction to Elisha we return to the Kings of Israel and
Yehudah and their wars. The King of Yehudah is still Yehoshafat the
grandson of Rechavam and son of Asa. Yehoshafat had appointed
his son Yehoram as the King in
his lifetime after he was miraculously saved in his last battle that he fought with
Achav against the King of Aram. It is in that battle that Achav
was killed. Yehoshafat was saved and obviously traumatised and he
thus appointed his son to lead in his place so that he could do teshuva. Yet,
because of that Hashem restored his title to him as well for this upcoming
battle.
Over in the North the king who
replaced Achav was his son Achazya who didn’t last too long and
his son Yehoram replaced him. Yes I know its confusing with two Yehorams
here at the same time the King of Yisrael and Yehuda. Yehoram was
better than his parents, he removed idolatry from the land. Yet the forbidden Bamos-private
personal altars that people would worship to Hashem from were still being used.
It seems even he couldn’t shut down those backyard minyanim post-Corona. Yet because
of their repentant ways he was able to reunite an alliance with Yehoshafat
and thus the table is set for the next war.
It’s fascinating to think of
our neighbors at that time in Moav and the political goings on. It seems that Mesha
the king of Moav who had been conquered by Omri and by his
son Achav had been paying tribute to the Kings of Israel of 100,000 sheep
and rams. If you figure that the price of a sheep is about 1000- 1500 shekel, your talking
about a few millions sheks. Not bad! Well, Mesha decided he had enough
and with the new king that seemed a bit more docile than his father Achav,
stopped sending that tribute. Yehoram wasn’t going to take that sitting
down so he sent out messengers to Yehoshafat and asked him to join him
in battle against Mesha. Yehoshafat agrees and he tells Yehoram
that “I am like you, my men are like yours, my horses are like yours”.
Yet in order to be most strategic about this battle and to catch Mesha
by surprise, they decide to go through the south rather than directly across
the Jordan River. Instead they would head to the Negev and around
through the land of Edom. Edom was under the control of the Kings
of Israel and no great fan of Moav either. The King of Edom joins
the fight and together they marched around to Moav and the battle is
set.
As I said the political ramifications
of this battle are historic. Israel is united in battle and the King of Edom
is joining us to fight against our neighbours in Jordan. What makes this
even cooler and more fantastic is that in the 1800’s a inscription known today
as the Meshe Stele was discovered written by the Mesha himself
the King of Moav that describes this battle. It is the oldest and
longest inscription from this time period and it corresponds mostly to the
battle that takes place written in ancient Canaanite script. What
happens by this battle? Stay tuned next week.
RABBI SCHWARTZ’S TERRIBLE
JEWISH MOTHER JOKES OF THE WEEK
Shaindy
and Moishy decided to take their little Berel from the heat of the city to his
first visit to the beach. Dressed in his little sailor suit and hat and pail
and shovel in hand, Berel happily played at the water's edge as his mother and
father spread their picnic blanket. Then suddenly, to his parents' horror, a
huge wave crashed down on the boy and then dragged him far out to sea. As
neither of his parents could swim, his mother began to wail and cry,
"Hashem, be merciful. Return our son to us!"
Suddenly
another huge wave cast the boy back up on the sand at his parents' feet.
Shaindy inspected her son and then quickly looked back towards the heavens and
said, "He had a hat!"
During a regular early morning shul service,
Rabbi Levy couldn't help noticing 21 year old Benny sitting at the back of the
shul looking very sad. He had his head in his hands. So at a convenient moment,
Rabbi Levy goes over to him and asks, "What's wrong, Benny? Tell me.
Maybe I can help."
"Oh
rabbi," replies Benny, "I just don't know what to do. Every
time I bring a girl home to introduce her to my parents, no matter how
wonderful the girl is, my mother always tells me that she does not like her at
all."
"I've
heard this story many times before," says
Rabbi Levy, "but you'll be pleased to hear that I have a tried and
tested solution for you. Next time you choose a girl, make sure she not only
looks just like your mother, but also talks like your mother, laughs like your
mother, cooks like your mother, and dresses like your mother. Believe me,
Benny, if you find such a girl, your mother will absolutely love her."
Many weeks
go by before Benny finds someone just like his mother. And not only that, but
the girl very quickly falls madly in love with him. So Benny invites her to
meet his parents and this time is feeling very optimistic that all will go
well.
At the
next shul service, Rabbi Levy notices that Benny is once again sitting at the
back of the shul looking unbelievably unhappy. So once again, during a break in
the service, Rabbi Levy goes over to Benny. "What's wrong Benny?"
asks Rabbi Levy. "Couldn't you find someone like your mother?"
"Rabbi,"
replies Benny, "miraculously, I
found a girl just like my Mom. Not only did she look just like Mom, but she
also talked like Mom, laughed like Mom, cooked like Mom, and dressed like
Mom."
"So
everything should have worked out okay for you," says Rabbi Levy.
"No,
rabbi, it didn't," replies Benny. "My father didn't like
her."
As a
fundraiser the local Hebrew School decided to hold a talent show for the
community. The night of the show finally arrived and the auditorium was packed
with community people. Judy Goldberg looked on her as her pride and joy Chezky
was playing piano and singing his beautiful composed Ani Maamin. During her
performance she noticed a man in the audience clearly moved and crying.
After the
show she walks over to him and says "isn't it touching that the younger
generation is carrying on our tradition?"
The man
says "I don't know I'm not Jewish".
"So
why were you crying?" she asks
him.
"Oh
that's because I am a musician"
A man is laying on the operating table, about
to be operated on by his son, the surgeon. The son reassures his nevous father
that there is nothing to worry about. It's a simple procedure that he has done
many times before.
The father
says, "Son, think of it this way ... If anything happens to me, your mother is coming to live
with you."
A young
Jewish man excitedly tells his mother he's fallen in love and going to get
married. He says, "Just for fun, Mom, I'm going to bring over three
women and you try and guess which one I'm going to marry."
The mother
agrees. The next day, he brings three beautiful women into the house and sits
them down on the couch and they chat for a while. He then says,
"Okay,
Mom. Guess which one I'm going to marry."
She immediately
replies, "The red-head in the middle."
"That's
amazing, Mom. You're right. How did you know?"
"I
don't like her."
It was a
terrible night, blowing cold and rain in a most frightful manner. The streets
were deserted and the local baker was just about to close up shop when Bernie
slipped through the door. He carried an umbrella, blown inside out, and was
bundled in two sweaters and a thick coat. But even so he still looked wet and
bedraggled.
As Bernie
unwound his scarf he said to the baker, "May I have two bagels to go,
please?"
The baker
said in astonishment, "Two bagels? Nothing more?"
"That's
right," answered Bernie, "One for me and one for
Bernice."
"Bernice
is your wife?" asked the baker.
"What
do you think," snapped Bernie, " would my mother would send me
out on a night like this?"
A Jewish
mother is walking down the street with her two young sons.
A passerby
asks her how old the boys are.
"The
doctor is three," the mother answers, "and the lawyer is two."
My mother
taught me TO APPRECIATE A JOB WELL DONE:
"If
you two are going to kill each other, do it outside - I just finished
cleaning!"
LESSONS MY
JEWISH MOTHER TAUGHT ME
My mother
taught me RELIGION:
"You
better pray that stain will come out of the carpet."
My mother
taught me about TIME TRAVEL:
"If
you don't behave, I'm going to knock you into the middle of next week!"
My mother
taught me LOGIC:
"Because
I said so, that's why."
My mother
taught me IRONY:
"Keep
crying and I'll *give* you something to cry about."
My mother
taught me about the science of OSMOSIS:
"Shut
your mouth and eat your supper!"
My mother
taught me about CONTORTIONISM:
"Will
you *look* at the dirt on the back of your neck!"
My mother
taught me about STAMINA:
"You'll
sit there 'till all your spinach is finished."
My mother
taught me about WEATHER:
"It
looks as if a tornado swept through your room."
My mother
taught me about HYPOCRISY:
"If
I've told you once, I've told you a million times – Don't Exaggerate!!!"
My mother
taught me about BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION:
"Stop
acting like your father!"
My mother
taught me about ENVY:
"There
are millions of less fortunate children in this world who don't have wonderful
parents like you do!"
********************************
OOPS! I
forgot to post answer to last weeks question which was who was second president
of Israel and and which Prime Minister is on Mt. of Olives
Answer is A -Yeah I knew this one.
Yitzchak Ben Tzvi was the longest President of Israel and it’s second one. He
was actually raised frum and went to cheder until he became a Zionist and lost
it. But he was fundamental in the early founding of the State in all of military units as well as the settlements. The
only prime minister on Mt. of Olives is of course Menachem Begin who didn’t
like all the liberals like Ben Tzvi in the great men of the nation plot on Mt.
Herzl and instead said he wants to be buried with the real Gedoley Ha’Umah, two
soldiers Barzani and Feinstien who blew themselves up in the British Prison in
Jerusalem rather than giving the British the pleasure of executing them. So getting
better at this my score is now Schwartz 3.5 and 0.5 for MOT (Ministry of
Tourism) on this exam.
THE ANSWER TO THIS WEEK”S QUESTION THOUGH IS
B- I got this one half right. I got the first part
wrong, It actually took me some time to figure out the right answer even on
google. I guessed Dimona which I even knew was the wrong answer, but it was the
only one that came to mind, but that wasn’t until the 1950’s so I was way off
with that… I googled oldest 1900 settlements and Ruchama came up but that wasn’t
built until 1917. So then I realized that perhaps it meant arab cities. And so
it hit me to check when Beer Sheva was founded. I knew it was an ancient city
and thought it was earlier than 1900. But it turns out that it was actually out
of use since Roman times mostly and wasn’t really established until the Turks
in 1900. So that’s the right answer. The second part I had no clue on, but I
guessed right. I knew it wasn’t the incense trade stops. Ovdat, Mamshit,
Nitzana and Shivta were hammered into my brain since my tour guiding course. So
that left three choices and I went with deities because Al- Uzza has the word
Al which is go in it. And I was right! So the score is 4 for Schwartz and 1
for Ministry of tourism on this exam so far…
