All About the Pita- Parshat Va'etchanan / Nachamu 2019 / 5779

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 16^th 2019 -Volume 9 Issue 45 15^th of Av 5779

Parshat Va’eschanan

All About the Pita

 

It was an offensive question. I can put up with most things. Anti- Israel rhetoric, chariedi or alternatively chiloni-secular Israeli bashing. New Yorkers making fun of out of towners or FFB’s ragging on BT’s. I can even put up with kvetching about Israel. As well I can understand if one has some medical condition. But this person was not celiac or anything. He merely didn’t want to wash or bentch. “Is there any place where we can get a gluten-free lunch?” Really?! Gluten-free shwarma? That’s about as sacrilegious as a parve chulent. If you have a problem with something Israel I can deal with that…but you don’t want to wash and bentch. You’re gonna pass up the only place in the world where you can actually get a decent falafel, where the falafel balls don’t get made until you order them- that’s the secret by the way- just because you don’t want to spend an extra few minutes thanking Hashem for your meal. Gimme a break. He didn’t even look like he needed a diet. At least not compared to his tour guide…

He needed some ‘splaining too… And I obliged.

“Do you realize that every single one of your ancestors prayed, ate, bentched and dreamed that when they said the words in their grace after the meal- their “bentching” that

 Nodeh lecha Hashem Elokeinu- We wish to thank you Hashem our God

 al shinchalta la’avoseinu – that you inherited to our ancestors

eretz chemda tova- A desirous good land

 u’rchava – that is spacious

Baruch Atah Hashem al Ha’aretz v’al hamzon- Blessed are You for the land and Your sustenance

They dreamed of being here, experiencing Israel, of tasting its bread and saying the actual blessing on that fruit of the land, the great gift of Israel here in Israel. I wonder what they are thinking up in heaven right now as you look for Gl***n –free bread, to avoid saying that blessing. Think of all the bentchings you have made in America all these years when you recited these words and I’m sure you as well dreamed of saying them in Israel. Or at least wish you had kavana when you said them. And now you are here! How can you miss out on that opportunity? You should want to wash three meals a day just to be able to say those words and thank Hashem.

He looked at me and smiled, as if he understood why I look the way that I do… But he thanked me. Then he washed. Then he ate- an awesome falafel, by the way and then he bentched. Probably the best bentching he had all his life. And if that isn’t worth it my friend, then you really shouldn’t take me as your tour-guide.

I saw an incredible insight this week on a conversation that that Moshe had with Hashem and a mistake that many of the commentaries go out of their way to correct. One that I believe is essential to appreciating an aspect of Eretz Yisrael that far too many of us sometimes forget about.

The Parsha begins with Moshe imploring Hashem to allow him to come into the land of Israel. The Talmud brings Rav Simlai who reveals to us what Moshe’s request to come to Israel was all about? Moshe didn’t want good Israeli shwarma or falafel balls. Moshe didn’t want to take pictures on an army base. Moshe didn’t even want to come to Israel to experience a Rabbi Schwartz tour of the country- as shocking as that may seem to many. Rav Simlai tells us

(Sota 14.) Rabbi Samlai taught: For what reason did Moses our teacher greatly desire to enter Eretz Yisrael? Did he need to eat of its produce, or did he need to satisfy himself from its goodness? Rather, this is what Moses said: Many mitzvot were commanded to the Jewish people, and they can only be fulfilled only in Eretz Yisrael, so I will enter the land in order that they can all be fulfilled by me

So, Moshe wanted to come here because Israel is spiritual. He wanted to fulfill the mitzvos whe wanted to get close to Hashem. Certainly not for the mundane fruit or good things that they have here in Israel. Lesson it would seem from this gemara is that one should be here and want Israel for the spiritual reasons. And that is unfortunately I believe one that is given over way too often.

But that’s not the way our Rabbis and commentaries looked at it. In fact it’s not the way you look at either when you make the al hamichiya blessing every time you eat a non-bread grain product- think cookies cake, or fruits of Israel, or drink wine. We say

V’ha’aleinu l’socha v’nochal m’pirya v’lisboa mituva- Hashem should return us to Israel so that we may eat from its frutis and be satisfied with its goodness.

The point that we ask Hashem to return us to Israel is for the delicious fruits, pastries and wine that we have here. Not for the Torah, not for the commandments, not for the mikvas, and not for the Temple. It’s all about the Pita.  Now to be fair the Tur says that his father the Rosh didn’t say this sentence particularly for this reason. But we do and the Bach explains why.

The Shechina of Hashem is in the land of Israel. The fruits that grow in Israel get their nourishment from the Divine presence itself. And one who eats from their fruits receives that spiritual sustenance as well.

The Eliyahu Rabba notes even further that if one looks at the words of the Talmud It says did Moshe “need to eat from its fruit or need to satisfy himself with its goodness”. The question was that Moshe was on such a high spiritual level he didn’t require the food to connect him to Hashem, but in the words of Reb Yaakov Emden

“One certainly should recite these words (in al hamichiya) Even though its says that Moshe didn’t require it for the fruits of Israel give on strength and wisdom as it says the air of Israel makes one wise. And we definitely need them…”

Reb Yisrael of Ruzhin adds a different aspect and answer that differentiates between Moshe and the rest of us. The fruits of Eretz Yisrael possess the power to give one the fear and awe of Hashem. One who merits to eat from them will find it to be a segula to aquire this trait. Yet the Talmud tells us on the verse “What does Hashem ask of us merely to fear him” That although for the rest of us this is a pretty big deal but for Moshe it was a small thing. Moshe possessed and embodied the concept of the awe of heaven. Thus he did not need those “awe-some” spiritually- nutritiously packed fruits that the rest of us do.

Moshe was not permitted to enter the land, because Moshe’s job was to bring down the Torah to this world. His job was to bring us up to the land of Israel. He was the bridge between heaven and earth. The work of Yehoshua and Calev and the Jewish nation that came into the land was to plant and bring that holiness from the ground out. To eat and enjoy the fruits and through them to connect in song and praise to our Creator. The One who gives us it all. Sure there is spiritual things in Israel and holy sites in Israel that one can tap into. That each of us need to connect with. But the physical delicious things in this country are perhaps even more amazing. It’s easy to find Hashem in the Beit Midrash or by the Kotel, but our job is to find Him and reveal Him in a Falafel, in a shwarma in a good refreshing slice of watermelon. The best in the world.

This Shabbos is Shabbat Nachamu, we are consoled by Hashem for loss of Yerushalayim. We will return. We will rebuild. We will replant. The Haftora concludes with the ultimate way that we will come back

“Lift up your eyes on high and see, who created these”- Look out at the hills that have been desolate for millennia. See the fruits, the crops, the trees and the lush valleys and see our Creator. Our Father who is preparing our home/ His home once again for His and our return. Take a bite. Have a glass of wine with it. Clean it off with a fruit salad. It’s the best you’ll ever have and your tour guide will be grateful. I promise.

Have a delicious Shabbos and a comforting Nachamu,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

  

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RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Besser ain freint mit gekechts aider hundert mit a krechts.”- Better one friend with a cooked dish of food than a hundred with a sigh.

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HmYGUvR3J4– Yossi Green Brand new Tu B’Av together

https://youtu.be/ZP6ZN_rlKc4    – Moishe Mendlowitz singing Nachamu by SY Rechnitz beautiful

https://youtu.be/7VGpiOPmnMM -Nachamu Ami new song by Shlomo Katz

https://youtu.be/VyYg-em4OLM   – Pinny Shachter Tu B’Av dating song make it a million

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

Q   Soft-shell turtles can sometimes be seen in:
a) Dishon Stream
b) Yarmuk River
c) Nahal Alexander
d) Saar Stream

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S “LOMDUS” CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

Parshat Devarim– So Lamdanim are always trying to one up each other in lomdus. I make a statement, he responds why that is lomdushly incorrect. I bring a proof to my opinion. He shows me how that proof is different than the argument that I am trying make. I show him how the sources understand it to be like I am explaining and then the crowning glory is that when I show him that if he would like with precision and be midayek in the words of the source he would say they are in fact saying exactly what I am saying. That’s called a lomdushe conversation. It’s fun. You should try it some time…

I had one last week I’ll share it with you because I only had the last piece this week. So this one is for you Rabbi “J”. The conversation began like I have with many of my tourists about the idea that the Ramban notes that the mitzvos that one fulfills in chutz la’aretz- the diaspora, are fake. OK not mamash fake, I just say that for drama, effect and to be provocative. But he explains that the essence of the commandments are really for us to come to Israel and preform them here. By us preforming the mitzvos here we are developing a nation and place from where we can shine out the light of Hashem to the world. It makes sense. It’s pretty obvious when you read the Torah and see the many mitzvos that seemingly have nothing to do with Israel but Hashem, still connects them to living in the land and fulfilling the mitzvos.

Now of course, one is obligated to fulfill the commandments biblically even when one is not in Israel. One gets reward for observing them and punished for not just as if he or she was in Israel, although it is arguably more significant when one observes or sins in Israel. But the mitzvos outside of Israel are more there to keep one in practice until one has the opportunity to fulfill them in Israel. It’s like a soldier that has to do the military exercises in training in boot camp rather than one that actually is carrying out the battle plan in the field.

Now the Rabbi I was having this conversation with his family with got a little nervous as I was saying this. So he of course being a lamdan argued and mentioned the midrash brought down in the Talmud of Sota in this week’s Torah portion that tells us that Moshe wanted to come into the land of Israel to fulfill the mitzvos that one could only fulfill in the land of Israel. So one can infer from that it was only the mitzvos that Moshe couldn’t fulfill outside of Israel that troubled. If the logic was as I was suggesting Moshe should have wanted to come to Israel to fulfill all of the commandments. Not just the ones that could only be fulfilled in Israel. It must be that the Mitzvos in chutz la’aretz that he fulfilled were not lacking anything.

It was a cute lomdushe question which didn’t argue with the logic that I was suggesting that the purpose of the mitzvos is to be fulfilled in Israel. He was just trying to prove me incorrect by showing me from Moshe that the mitzvos fulfilled in chutz la’aretz can be fulfilled perfectly. As Moshe wasn’t troubled by not fulfilling them and they were not used in his argument to Hashem to allow him in the land.

I tried to knock down his question by saying that just because Moshe didn’t use them as part of his request to Hashem doesn’t mean that it didn’t trouble him. Rather he used the bigger argument. There were mitzvos that he couldn’t fulfill at all, like the teruma and maser tithes, or the sabbatical laws. Sure, the other ones he could’ve performed better in Israel, but why mention them. There were some he couldn’t fulfill at all and those were the ones that he mentioned. That was my answer at the time. He wasn’t so happy with it, I wasn’t either. It was a dichui- a push-off… but as we say in yeshiva… “you could say better..”

This week B”H I was able to look at the quoted above Talmud and in fact the Talmud says exactly what I said. He misread it, as did I and I believe that most do when they read or learn it. It in fact says precisely that all the mitzvos can’t be fulfilled unless one is here. Read it yourself…

(Sota 14.) Rabbi Samlai taught: For what reason did Moses our teacher greatly desire to enter Eretz Yisrael? Did he need to eat of its produce, or did he need to satisfy himself from its goodness? Rather, this is what Moses said:

Now pay attention to the words in Hebrew and english

Harbeh mitzvos nitztavu Yisrael- Many mitzvot were commanded to the Jewish people, -  

V’ein mitkaymin elah b’Eretz Yisrael –and they can only be fulfilled only in Eretz Yisrael, 

Ekaneis ani l’Eretz kidei she’yitkaymu kulan al yadi- so I will enter the land in order that they can all be fulfilled by me

It does not say that the only some of them can be kept in Israel, rather that all need to be fulfilled there. It doesn’t say we have a lot of mitzvos and there are those that can only be here in Israel- rather it says that we were given many mitzvos and they- all of those mitzvos that were given to the Jewish people can only be fulfilled in Israel. Again not to say that they can’t be observed outside of Israel. But the kiyum- the ultimate essence and true fulfillment can only be in Israel. That is exactly what Moshe was asking for. The Talmud he brought to upshlug me- is of course the greatest proof to my point. Boom!

And thus ends another lomdushe conversation… Never mess with the tour guide/Rabbi J

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

The Unconquered Terrotories 1245 BC – Israel was never meant to have a two state solution to it. This was meant be the one place on this planet that Hashem’s presence was meant to shine out to the rest of the world from. He doesn’t like pagan neighbors. His people, us, who were charged with building and preparing this land for Him, were cautioned repeatedly that the nations that were here were meant to be thrown out and/or killed. Game over. This was going to be a holy land, not a “Jewish”  “democracy” and “national homeland” in the Middle East. There should be no Cananites, no Jebusites, no Emorites, not pagan temples or altars, no churches and no mosques. It’s only holy if the Jewish people understand that there is only one God, one faith and everything else is pretty much baloney and it is our job to teach the world that. End of story.

But we failed. We were enticed by the money they could pay us in taxes and what they might provide for our economy. We got tired of warring, fighting and killing. We had enough land to plant, to grow, to live what do I need the whole thing for? Forget about what the media or the UN might say. They might… uh oh… pass a resolution against us. Oy vay! And so the Navi tells us Hashem got annoyed with us. We had forgotten what we were meant to do and what Israel was meant to be. So Hashem sent them against us. The entire book of Shoftim is that story.

The Jewish people as well didn’t understand that by allowing the gentile nations to remain in Israel it would ultimate influence us un-spiritually. We followed their leads, worshipped their idols, watched their shows, listened to their music and embraced their cultures. How ecumenical of us! We thought what could be the harm, if we let them stick around. We are strong enough in our own faith to persevere. We saw miracles. We would never buy into this baloney. What could be the harm of letting them hang out here? We were wrong. And that is the second story of Shoftim. The children of Israel leaving the ways of Hashem and straying after the nations they allowed to remain here.

So what were the portions that remained unconquered? The Navi tells us that Binyamin’s portion Jerusalem was left in the hand of the Yevusites and many of the valleys of their portion remained with the Canaanites. In the North Menashe did not conquer Beit She’an in the East Dor on the coastline and Megido in the center. Zevulun left Kitron- which is near the site of modern day Hoshaya and Ephraim left Gezer in the hands of the Cananites. The portion of Asher extended into Lebanon but they did not conquer Sidon, or Achziv right near Nahariya or Akko. 

Fascinatingly enough the tribe of Naftali, where I live in the Upper Galile and around the Kinneret, left the majority of the area in the hands of the natives. I say that is fascinating, because that remains true today where 80% of the Galile is in Arab hands. Finally as we will discuss later the portion of Dan to a large degree was almost always in strife with the Philistines and other nations that they repeatedly battled.

Can you imagine what it would have been like if we had done what Hashem told us to do back then and rid the country of our enemies. How many lives would have been saved? How many wars would not have to be fought? How much less assimilation there would be and how much holier of a country we could have established? Can you imagine if we did that today?

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S JEWISH FOOD JOKES OF THE WEEK

Young Moishe asked his father, "Totty, was Adam Jewish?"  
His father, an expert at Talmudic reasoning, put down his sefer and thought for a moment.  
He replied, "If we can determine that Chava was Jewish, my son, we would at once see that Adam was Jewish".  Therefore, we should instead ask ourselves, "Was Chava Jewish?"  
"To answer that, we have only to ask the question, "Would anyone but a Yiddeshe Momma say, 'Here, have a piece of fruit'?"  

A very distinguished orthodox rabbi dies and goes to heaven. When he arrives, he’s greeted by an angel.
The angel says, “You’ll be pleased to hear that in honour of your arrival, a special banquet has been prepared. You will be served only the finest meats, fish and pastries.”
“Who prepared the banquet?” the rabbi asks.
“Why, none other than Moshe Rabeinu,” answers the angel.
”And who is the mashgiach?” the rabbi asks.
“Why God himself,” replies the angel.
“Thank you very much,” says the Rabbi, “but I’ll just have the fruit plate, if you don’t mind.”
Little Yossi and his family were having dinner at his bubbe's house.  
When everyone was seated, the food was served. As soon as little Yossi got his plate, he started eating from it right away.
"Yossi, please wait until we say our prayer," said his father.
"I don't have to," Yossi replied.
"Of course you have to," said his mother. "Don't we always say a prayer before eating at our house?" 
"Yes, but that's our house," Yossi explained. "This is bubbe's house and she knows how to cook." 

A Doctor was addressing a large audience in Miami. "The material we put into our stomachs is enough to have killed most of us sitting here, years ago. Red meat is awful. Soft drinks corrode your stomach lining. Chinese food is loaded with MSG. High fat diets can be disastrous, and none of us realizes the long-term harm caused by the germs in our drinking water.
"But there is one thing that is the most dangerous of all, and we all have, or will, eat it. Would anyone care to guess what food causes the most grief and suffering for years after eating it?"
After several seconds of quiet, a small 75-year-old Jewish man in the front row, raised his hand and said, "Vedding Cake?

An Italian, a Frenchman and a Jew arrive in Heaven and each is judged. The angel escorts the Frenchman to his heavenly reward. They enter a beautifully arranged banquetting hall with all the foods that a French connoiseur could dream of. All the delicacies of a lifetime.
The Frenchman turns to the angel and says "this can't be mine. I was immoral most of my life and was hardly G‑d fearing."
The angel replies "There is a hitch. Everyday at 5:00pm they will bring in a large pot of soup boiling hot. You will be immersed in it. If you can take the pain you can partake of the banquet."
"Sorry" said the Frenchman "I just could not tolerate the pain."
The Italian too is taken to his reward a similar banquet with pasta ohn a shiur, and all the best Italian foods. Again a similar dialogue takes place, the Italian admitting to a life of financial fraud and debauchery. He too is advised that at 5:00pm each day he will be immersed in a boiling hot pot of minestrone and again states that the pain would be too much to bear. 

Finally, the Jew gets taken to his eternal rewards. A Reich special with all the galeretta, chopped liver etc imaginable. He too cannot believe his luck.
"I never went to Shul, hardly kept shabboss and Kashrus was honored in the breach. How can this be mine?"
Again the same response; "5:00pm each day, boiling hot chicken soup. If you can take the pain the banquet is yours."
"Fine said the Yidel, I'll take it". "Excuse me" says the angel but the Frenchman and Italian both declined, what makes you different?"
"I know Jewish functions" he replies "5:00pm is not 5:00pm and the soup is never that hot."

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Answer is C–  It’s Alexander, people. I really didn’t expect any of you to get this one right besides lucky guessing. Although fascinatingly enough as I looked online it seems that these huge turtles that are in Nachal Alexander, north of Netanya, and were pretty much the only natural place to see them have actually started migrating to Nachal Kishon- not Dishon as they tried to trick you above. That’s where they originally were before it got so polluted. But since having made a huge cleanup effort the Turtles are back! Mazel Tov! Well I got that one right to and so the score is Schwartz 34 and 6 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam so far.

Not Mourning Tisha'a B'Av- Parshat Devarim/ Chazon 5779/ 2019

Insights and Inspiration

from the

Holy Land
from

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

"Your friend in Karmiel"

August 9^th 2019 -Volume 9 Issue 44 8^th of Av 5779

Parshat Devarim/ Chazon

Not Mourning Tisha B’Av

 

I have a problem with distorted history. You know how we always like to look back and think about the alteh heim. How great it was. How holy everyone was. How much better it was in simpler times. It may be great to build up the previous generations and give our children something to aspire to become and achieve. But let’s get real. Life was bad. Life was always pretty bad for the Jews. We talk about “golden ages” in our history, but anyone that reads a bit of history will realize that we haven’t gone a century or two without incredible persecution, anti-semitism and expulsion. As well we haven’t gone a century or two without Jews forgetting all of the terrible things that continuously happened to us mere decades before and deluding themselves into thinking “but now it’s different”. Now we have learned. The “world” will never allow it. We are more civilized, we are advanced, they are our friends. They need us. We are too influential. We have lobbies. Uh huh…As King Solomon and all the prophets teach us “same old –same old…”

I admit, I’m no different. It’s hard to wrap my brain around the concept that normal, nice, seemingly moral people, civilized nations, and regular Moms and Pops could become so hate-filled, so rabid, so evil as to do the things that were done to my nation. I read the stories. I guide in Yad Vashem. I have given classes on Jewish history and I have even shed tears as I read about all the different eras when we have been killed, massacred and been taken like sheep to the slaughter. It is an essential part of our prayers. When we recite tachanun each morning we beseech the almighty

“Habeit Mishamayim U’ri’ey- look down from heaven and see that we have become an object of scorn and derision amongst the nations; we are regarded as sheep to the slaughter, to be killed, destroyed, beaten and humiliated”

“We are exhausted but allowed no rest”

“Why should the nations say ‘Where is there God now?’”

“Listen to our voice and be gracious-do not cast us off into the hand of our enemies to blot out our name”

Do these words have meaning to me living in my nice, comfortable, home in Karmiel and with the most powerful, dedicated and holiest army in the Middle East watching my back. Does is it have any semblance of relevance to you living behind your picket fences and manicured lawns with your kosher restaurants, shtibels, synagogues and behind the wheel of your well air-conditioned, blue-toothed stereo new or leased car. Did it mean anything to the Jews of Germany, of Spain, of the Communist revolution, France, England, Babylonia, Morocco, Yemen, Syria and Africa. Or were they feeling just as comfortable as we do. Were they as excited as I am when there’s a new groom, or a bris in shul on Monday and Thursday and we don’t have to recite tachanun. When we don’t have to recite those words above that seem foreign to us.

This Shabbat is the 9^th day of Av, we will eat, we will drink, we will sing songs. In the words of our sages one can have a feast like King Solomon in his times. But it’s Tisha B’Av? But our temples were destroyed? What about all of the tragedies? Shabbos there is no aveilus. There is no mourning. It’s like not reciting tachanun when we have a festive guest. On Shabbos we are afforded a taste of Olam Haba- the World to Come. On Shabbos we are halfway there to having our Beit Hamikdash back. Shabbos is the one day that I realize what life could be like when I am basking in the divine presence. There are no phone calls, no work worries, no obligations that take me away from connecting to my soul’s deepest desire to unite with my Creator, with my people, with my family, with the entire world in a song about Creation.

It is on Shabbos that I appreciate how much I am missing out on life during the weekday. During the week, I have to run out of davening, I have no time to learn, I am wiped after the day and have no patience for my family, my wife. I can’t think about the rest of the world because I am too busy taking care of everything that needs to be taken care of.  The messages I have to respond to, the responsibilities that consume us. Yet when those candles are lit an aura of tranquility rests on the world. I am uplifted. I close my eyes and sing Lecha Dodi and I for the first time truly long for a day that is always Shabbos. I long for the Mikdash. I come close to Hashem and want Him always with me from my table that is set like King Solomon’s; Shlomo HaMelech who built that first temple. I don’t need to sit on the floor and cry on Shabbos, I don’t want the Divine presence returned because I have it so bad. I want it because I have a small taste of how good it is and I want that ta’am- that flavor forever. I want the whole world to have it.

On Shabbos as well I connect to all of our history and ancestors. They may have not Shabbos clocks to turn on their lights, Air conditioners in their synagogues or crockpots for their chulent, but their Shabbos experience was not much different than mine. The Jews in even the worst conditions had that one day of tranquility. It started in Egypt when Moshe got us Shabbos off, recognizing that it was the key to us appreciating what redemption could be like. Jews in Babylonia, in Russia, in Spain even in the concentration camp testify that even if they were forced to do who knows what, Shabbos still brought with it some medium of hope of faith and yes even of respite. When I pray on Shabbos, when I look out at my Shabbos table, I think of the thousands of years that my people have “sung the song of Shabbos” to the world. And I think of a yom shekulo shabbos- a day and era that is all Shabbos. And I long for it.

Our Temples destruction, our exile from our land and all of the pain and tribulation our people have endured is because we have lost that feeling of the unity of the world that takes place on Shabbos. The lack of appreciation of the land of Israel that led to us to cry and wander in the wilderness upon hearing the report of the spies- that is mentioned in this week’s Torah portion of Devarim by Moshe in his final rebuke to our people, is a result of not appreciating how Eretz Yisrael is essential to achieving the Shabbos of the world. We can’t really have it without being here. The world won’t be One until we light those candles here. The idolatry, murder and abandonment of Hashem and the Torah which led to the destruction of the first Temple again resonates with the break of the nation with our Creator. We had Eretz Yisrael but we failed to connect it to Hashem. We didn’t have those songs of glory that bring that peace and harmony between Hashem and His people.

It has been 2000 years of Exile that we are suffering from. Yes, suffer even in times of tranquility. We suffer even though we may not feel, even though we may not even be persecuted. We suffer because there is no era of Shabbos in the world. We are plagued with sinat chinam, which although in the times of the Temple may have meant murder and Jews killing each other in civil wars, and thank God we have moved beyond that. But we have not yet heralded in an era of love harmony and peace that only the return of the shechina can bring.; That we can taste on Shabbos, when we are hearts and souls are open to one another and to the entire world. We are lacking an era when

(aleinu prayer) “Kol bnei basar yickri’u vishmecha-when all humanity will call out in your name, to turn the earth’s wicked to you…On that day Hashem will be one and His name will be one.”

It is a time when every Jew appreciates the essential role each of us has. When we can see the beauty in each other. When we can look at the entire world and realize that they all have a part of Creation. Each being is in the image of our Creator and we will see it as the whole world is sitting at a Shabbos table, just as my children sit around my Shabbos table and I see their beauty and blessing. That is what we don’t have. That is what we need to long and pray for on a Shabbos that is Tisha B’Av.

My brother sent me a beautiful little prayer from Rabbi Asher Weiss and I couldn’t not include it.

“May we have a litvishe head, a chasidishe heart, the honest and integrity of a yekke, the temimus and purity of a Hungarian (and their cooking- my addition) the honor of Torah and its scholars of a Sefardi and the love of Eretz Yisrael of a Religious Zionist”

The perfect Jew though is not one that has all of these. But one that is able to reveal the beauty of each of us and the Hashem in each of us. Let’s all have a Shabbos meal together. If we did perhaps we would then merit it together in Yerushalayim rebuilt with our Temple and our Father at the head of the table.

Have a precious Shabbos and a comforting Rosh Chodesh Av Tov,

Rabbi Ephraim Schwartz

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RABBI SCHWARTZ’S FAVORITE YIDDISH PROVERB OF THE WEEK

“Zi veynt mit tsibele-trern”- She's crying onion tears

RABBI SCHWARTZ’S COOL VIDEO  OF THE WEEK

https://soundcloud.com/ephraim-schwartz/al-eileh-acapella  – My latest composition Al Eileh Ani Bochiya- Sung Acapella by the incredible Dovid Lowy! Listen and be inspired… and Like and share…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqqg5Hk2UHs- -The spirit lives on powerful inspirational Tisha B’aV story from Aish

https://www.alephbeta.org/playlist/king-chizkiah-the-almost-messiah    – Fascinating shiur from Rabbi Fohrman On Tisha B’Av and the Messiah that almost was… long but worth watching before or on Tisha B’av

https://youtu.be/quPe8PUjY4o    – incredible thousands of NCSY’ers by Kotel singing on Tisha B’Av… you can’t not be moved…

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S TOUR GUIDE EXAM QUESTION OF THE WEEK

answer below at end of Email

Q  A site of wind turbines for the production of electricity is found in:
A) Gilboa
B) Jerusalem Mountains
C) Tabor
D) Hermon

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S “LOMDUS” CONNECTION OF THE WEEK

Parshat Devarim– It never fails to inspire me when I see how a lamdan turns something I would’ve thought to be obvious on its head and it turns out that it is exactly the opposite of whatI had thought. Chazal tells us the Daas Torah is the opposite of the Daas Baal Habayis- that the Torah view is generally the opposite of the laymans view. The Lamdan is the guy that can usually point that out to you.

In this weeks Torah portion we have the mitzva that Moshe gave the Judges of

Lo Saguru Mi’pnei Ish- They should not fear in front of a man, for the judgement is Hashem’s.

Meaning, as the Chinuch who explains the mitzvos, tells us

“ The judge is forbidden to be intimidated by a man from giving a true ruling. Even if the man is ruffian, a brazen, thick headed person, he should not pay any attention to what damage may come to him personally from ruling justly. As the sifri says Lest one fear that this person will kill  me or my family or will burn down my cros or uproot my plantings. He should not fear him.

The minchas Chinuch on the spot says that this law would apply to non-Jews as well as they have the responsibility to set up courts and their courts should have the same level of repute as Jewish courts do.

So this is a powerful mitzva. And seemingly what the Chinuch says about this applying to non-Jewish courts makes sense. But the Klei Chemda takes issue with this. He asks the basic question. Where else do we find such a mitzva, where one is obligated to endanger his house his family his property just to give a verdict. If I see a lost object, I’m not obligated to endanger myself or even my own property to return it. Even to save another life one does not have to endanger one’s life to save him. So why over by issuing a just verdict is one obligated to go to such extreme lengths to give his ruling.

He suggests that even if the judge himself wanted to pay off the wronged party instead of giving his ruling in order to avoid the whole mess, he would be prohibited to do so. For he would be still in violation of being fearful of giving his judgement. He answers that the Torah specifically tells us that the reason for this law is that the judgement is not his. It is Hashem’s judgement that he is revealing. This is not a law between one man and his fellow. This is bein adam la’Makom, between Man and G-d.  Hashem wishes that His law and His justice be proclaimed to the world. Therefore, he is obligated to do everything he can, to fulfill this Divine Mitzva.

If that is the case, he points out, then this is a mitzva that is only applicable to Jews. Non-Jewish courts are there to create a peaceful just society. Their courts are for civil reasons not spiritual ones. Therefore, if they would be in danger of losing their lives they would not be obligated to do so for the fulfillment of this law.

Pretty amazing and insightful. It is also revealing what our courts and justice systems are meant to be. We are told the Beit Hamikdash was destroyed because of the corruption of the courts and the leaders. This was not mere civil violations, this was the withholding of Hashem’s presence from the world. May we merit to rectify this and once again fill the world with Shechina.

RABBI SCHWARTZ'S ERA’S AND THEIR PLACES AND PEOPLE IN ISRAEL OF THE WEEK

Osniel Ben Kenaz the first Judge 1245 BC – It’s funny how this column works out sometimes. This week I’m writing about the first Shofet Osniel ben Kenaz and in fact this Sunday on Tisha B’av is in fact one of the three days a year that Jews are allowed to visit his grave in Area A in Chevron. The Talmud tells us that when Moshe Rabbeinu died 3000 Halachos were forgotten and Osniel restored the Torah to its proper path. He was the half-brother by mother to Calev Ben Yefuneh and it was he that conquered the city of Kiryat Sefer/Devir- (which should not be confused with the current Kiryat Sefer/ Modi’in Illit named after the contracting company that built the first homes there uninspiring as that is). The biblical city of Devir or Kiryat Sefer is actually south of Chevron about 3 KM from the yishuv named… Othniel, after our Shofet!

As reward to answering Calev’s call to conquer the city he merited to marry his niece Calev’s daughter Achsa. An interesting name no doubt- especially since ichsa means yuck in Hebrew and she was known to be beautiful. Our sages tell us her name comes from the root word ca’as which means anger as everyone was angry with their own wives for not being as pretty as Ichsa…. Don’t ask me? I’m just quoting chazal!

Anyways it seems this Achsa was not happy with her portion as it was a field and it would be a lot of work to take care of for her husband who really just wanted to learn and teach. So her father gave her upper and lower springs along with the field. See it never hurts to ask!

Othniel as well defended the Jewish people from an attack by Kushan Rishatayim (Chazal tell us it was Bila’am or Lavan again… don’t ask me I’m just quoting) and freed us from his reign after 8 years of being enslaved by this King of Aram Naharyim which is North Syria/ Turkey/ Iraq area.

Fascinatingly enough we are told that Othniel’s main students were in fact the descendants of Yisro; The Kenni. Being converts they did not have a portion in the land and Othniel gave them the city of Yericho, the city of dates. Fascinatingly enough it seems according to Chazal they were like Bedouins who still live in that area. These Bedouin /converts would go to learn by Othniel and merited to become scholars and scribes in the Jewish world. They left their rich date palms from Yericho and headed down to Arad where Othniel lived and sat by his feet and studied.  

Othniel judged the people forty years. He defended those that were weaker than him and restored the Torah to our people. He was the perfect first judge after Yehoshua.

NO JOKES THIS WEEK IT’S TISHA B’AV

 Shame on you for looking!)

Due to the many requests here is a posting for the unique laws of Tisha'a B'Av which falls out on Shabbos and is postponed to Sunday. Everyone should feel free to ask their own local Rabbi for guidance this is just the general orthodox Ashkenazic tradition for observances of the day of the destruction of the Temple. Of course the primary obligation is remember the destruction and mourn its loss.

When Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat or Sunday

by Rabbi Elozor Barclay and Rabbi Yitzchok Jaeger

Special laws that apply when the Tisha B'Av observance begins on Saturday night.

Note: The following laws are based on Ashkenazi tradition, and some points are subject to varying opinion. When in doubt, AYLOR (ask your local Orthodox rabbi)

1. What are the main changes when Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat or Sunday?

When Tisha B'Av falls on Shabbat, the main changes are:

The fast is postponed until Sunday. 

Marital relations are forbidden on Friday night. 

Washing any part of the body with hot water for pleasure is forbidden on Shabbat. 

There is no special Seuda Hamafseket before the fast. 

Some of the laws of Tisha B'Av begin only at nightfall on Saturday night, instead of at sunset. 

Havdalah is postponed until Sunday night. 

2. May a woman immerse in a mikveh on Friday night that is Tisha B'Av? Yes. In this case, marital relations are permitted.

4. Are there any changes to the prayers in this situation? Tzidkas'cha is not said at Mincha. Pirkei Avot is not said at Mincha.

5. May one hold a public kiddush on this Shabbat? If the kiddush can be held on a different Shabbat, it is preferable to defer it. If the kiddush cannot be held on a different Shabbat -- e.g. for an aufruff (groom prior to his wedding), it is permitted.

6. May one eat meat and drink wine at the Shabbat meals? Yes. This is permitted even at Seuda Shlishit.

7. May one invite guests to the Shabbat meals? Yes. However, one should not invite guests for Seuda Shlishit unless he does so regularly.

8. May one sing zemirot at the Shabbat meals? Yes. This is permitted even at Seuda Shlishit.

9. May one go for a stroll on this Shabbat? When the ninth of Av is Shabbat, one may not go for a stroll at any time of the day.

10. May one visit family or friends? No.

11. May one learn Torah on this Shabbat? Before halachic midday, it is permitted to learn Torah. After halachic midday, many opinions permit learning Torah. If a person can limit himself to the topics that are permitted on Tisha B'Av, it is praiseworthy. It is permitted to read the weekly parsha and its translation all day.

12. May one take pills on Shabbat to alleviate the pains of fasting? It is permitted to take them on Shabbat until sunset only if they are mixed with a food or drink. One should preferably prepare the mixture before Shabbat. One may take them without water even on Saturday night, unless they are pleasant tasting.

14. Are there any changes to Seuda Shlishit? Although any food may be served, including meat and wine, and zemirot may be sung, the mood should be somewhat subdued. A person should not say that he is eating in order to have strength to fast, but he may think this. One must stop eating and drinking before sunset, since the fast begins at this time. People should be reminded about this, as it is unlike a regular Shabbat.

15. Must one say Grace After Meals before sunset? It is permitted to say the Grace after sunset, but one should try to wash mayim acharonim (after waters) before sunset, if possible.

16. May one say Grace After Meals with a 3-man zimun? Yes (unlike when the eve of Tisha B'Av falls on a regular weekday, where one should not make a zimun).

17. May one eat or drink after Seuda Shlishit? If one said Grace After Meals before sunset, one may eat or drink until sunset. It is not necessary to have this in mind when saying Grace After Meals.

18. Which prohibitions of Tisha B'Av commence at sunset? All the prohibitions except wearing shoes and sitting on a chair commence at sunset. These two activities are permitted until nightfall.

19. When should one change one's shoes and Shabbat clothes? There are two customs:

Some go to shul before nightfall and begin Ma'ariv at the usual time of Saturday night. The chazzan should say "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lechol," remove his shoes, and then say "barchu." The congregation should respond to "barchu" and then remove their shoes. Care must be taken not to touch one's shoes when removing them. The Shabbat clothes are not removed until one returns home after Ma'ariv. This is the prevalent custom in the Diaspora.

Some shuls delay the commencement of Ma'ariv, allowing people to remain at home until nightfall. At the time of nightfall, everyone should say the phrase "baruch hamavdil bein kodesh lechol," remove his shoes, and change into weekday clothes before Ma'ariv. This is the prevalent custom in Israel.

20. According to the first custom, may one bring Tisha B'Av footwear to shul before Ma'ariv?  

Even if there is an eiruv this is forbidden, since one may not prepare on Shabbat for after Shabbat. It is also forbidden to change one's shoes before going to shul, since this is disgracing the Shabbat. It is therefore advisable to leave suitable footwear in shul before Shabbat to wear after Shabbat.

21. Is the blessing recited over the spices? No. It is forbidden to smell spices, since a person must refrain from such a pleasure on Tisha B'Av.

22. Is the blessing recited over a Havdalah candle? Yes. According to one custom, it is recited in shul before the reading of Lamentations. According to another custom, it is recited at home before Ma'ariv, if there is time. According to some opinions, the blessing should be recited over two regular candles and not over a braided Havdalah candle.

23. May one wash the Shabbat dishes on Saturday night? No. They may not be washed until Tisha B'Av afternoon.

24. Should a person who is not fasting recite Havdalah before eating? Yes. However, if he only needs to drink water throughout the fast, he should not recite Havdalah.

25. Should such a person recite Havdalah immediately after Shabbat or wait until he needs to eat? He should wait until he needs to eat.

26. Which sections of Havdalah are recited? The introductory verses and the blessing over spices should be omitted. The blessing over a candle should be omitted if he already recited or heard it at the termination of Shabbat, or if he is reciting Havdalah during the day.

27. Should Havdalah be recited over wine, grape juice, or another drink? According to most opinions, beer is the most preferred drink.  

If this is not possible, some opinions prefer the use of a drink that has national importance. (A rabbi should be consulted to ascertain which drinks qualify for this purpose.) Other opinions question the use of such drinks, and prefer the use of grape juice. If nothing else is available, wine may be used.

28. If wine or grape juice is used, should the cup be given to a child to drink? If a child above the age of six is available, the cup should be given to him. If not, the person who recites Havdalah should drink the cup himself.

29. How much of the cup should be drunk? A cheekful only.

30. Are children obligated to recite Havdalah before they eat? According to most opinions, they do not recite Havdalah before eating.

31. After the fast, may one eat or drink before Havdalah? With the exception of water, it is forbidden to eat or drink anything before Havdalah.

32. Which drink should be used for Havdalah? One should use wine or grape juice. The person who recites Havdalah should drink the cup himself.

33. Which parts of Havdalah are recited? Only the two blessings "borei p'ri hagafen" and "hamavdil." The introductory verses are omitted, as are the blessings over the spices and candle.

34. When are the various restrictions lifted? Some are permitted immediately upon completion of the fast (e.g. bathing, laundry and haircuts), while others remain prohibited until the following morning (meat, wine and music).

Excerpted from "Guidelines" - over 400 commonly asked questions about the Three Weeks (Targum/Feldheim). 

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Answer is A–  Truth is if I wasn’t there all the time I probably wouldn’t know this either. It’s really a tough exam, in case you didn’t realize. I mean how are we supposed to remember which mountain had the windmills/turbines on them? Certainly in the Golan Heights there are a lot of them, as the Golan is mostly powered electrically by these wind electricity, Israel of course being the most advanced country in the world for alternative energy resources. But the answer is not the Chermon near the Golan, as I’m sure most of my tourists might have guessed, because that’s where I usually speak about it. Rather the answer is on those bald mountains-cursed by Dovid HaMelech after the death of Shaul, that we see by our Nachal Kibbutizm water hike; Har Gilboa! Well I got that one right to and so the score is Schwartz 33 and 6 for MOT (Ministry of Tourism) on this exam so far.