Going Back Home
It all begins in this week’s Biblical portion, the saga of Abraham, the first Jew. And if we but scratch the surface of this ancient tale, we will discover that it is the story of every Jew. According to our sages, the road traveled by Abraham on his way to becoming the father of the Jewish nation is the path that every Jew must take.
The first command given to our forefather is referred to in Hebrew as, “Lech Lecha” which literally translates as, “Go to yourself.” An interesting concept, but how does one actually journey to one’s self? In Kaballah, the Jewish mystics clarify the statement by reminding us that man is a composite of body and soul. The…
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G-d Is Life & Life Is a Miracle
Biblical laws are not always easy to stomach, intellectually that is. Some are even difficult to swallow: they just don’t make sense to the modern mind. This certainly applies to the third Book of the Torah, Leviticus, which is replete with graphic rituals for animal sacrifices. But even within the third Book itself, two sections, Tazria and Metzora almost sound like ancient hocus-pocus. These two readings detail the conditions of a leprosy-like malady that affected one’s skin, clothes, and even the walls of one’s house.
This spiritual ailment was caused by the conflict between the Divine soul and the physical body in which it was trapped. Throughout history there have been two distinct and opposing ways of confronting this discord:...
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Our Greatest Threat Is Success
Here is the goal: A land with streams and pools of water, with springs flowing in the valleys and hills. A land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills. “ When you have eaten and are satisfied, bless the L-rd for the good land he has given you. (Deut. 8:7-11)
Here is the worry: Be careful that you do not forget the L-rd…Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, when your herds and flocks grow large and…
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Jewish Wealth (15:11)
Once upon a time, a wealthy chassid received a letter from his Rebbe about a fellow chassid who was in desperate need of 200 rubles. True, the wealthy disciple regularly contributed to his Rebbe’s charitable activities, but this particular request arrived at a financially inconvenient time. After some deliberation, the chassid decided that he was unable to respond positively to the request.
Soon thereafter, the chassid’s fortunes began to falter. First, one business venture failed, and then another, and before long he had lost everything.
“Rebbe,” he cried, when he was finally granted a private audience, “I know why this has happened. But was my sin so terrible to deserve so severe a punishment? And is it right to punish…
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Bentching for the Land of Israel
In the wake of that painful decision - three years ago, this week - to evacuate Jews from Gaza, the debate concerning the destiny of Zionism was renewed. Here are the views of two ‘modern’ thinkers. “The Jewish settlers…dream…to create a ‘Greater Israel’ with Jewish settlements wall-to-wall…In such a state, democracy will have to bow to the rabbis. The Knesset, the government, the Supreme Court, will be allowed to continue to exist, provided that the rabbis approve of their decisions…If we, secular Israelis, erase our own existence, the settlers will shower us with brotherly love. But if we insist that we have a different vision for Israel, we immediately become traitors, Arab-lovers or even Nazis.” (Amos Oz, Israeli novelist and…
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See What I’m Saying
Would you rather be blind or deaf? If you had to make a choice, which would you keep; which would you give up? This week’s opening verse: “See, I have placed before you today, blessings and curses,” (Devarim 11:26) is perhaps suggesting that G-d ‘needs’ us to see. But surely we are not talking here about actual sight: after all no blessings or curses were physically visible! Torah is simply describing intellectual concepts, and the word ‘see’ refers to comprehension as in, “Do you see what I’m telling you?” or, “I see what you mean.”
Interestingly enough, there is another famous Biblical term that symbolizes understanding: “Hear, O’ Israel, G-d is our L-rd, G-d is One.” Once again, we are…
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A Tale of Two Birds
Whoever authored the statement, “Birds of a feather flock together,” was surely not referring to the raven and the dove. Though given the same task by the Biblical Noah, their paths never converged, not then - not now.
Let us travel back in time to the beginning of this strange ‘bird’ story. In the year 2105 BCE, the entire human race (a party of four men and four women) shared a boat riding out the Great Flood. That’s only one more person than the shipwrecked castaways of Gilligan’s Island. There are two major differences between these “Survivor” sagas. One was a comedic, TV fantasy, the other was an all-too-real-life-drama; the first troupe spent their time in leisure worrying about themselves,...
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Prophecy’s Proof
G-d constantly speaks. Some of His words form a stream of divine energy that maintains the world’s existence; other communications are directed to a prophet. Their purpose is not to reveal the meaning of life, or to legislate new laws. That’s covered in the Bible. Instead, prophecy was used to foretell the future, redirect a wayward Jewish society, warn of dire consequences, deliver a private message to a king, or convey a one-time-only command not contained in the Torah.
Thus, Isaiah was sent to describe the Messianic era; Jeremiah the destruction of the Temple; Samuel to inform King Saul to wage war; and Elijah to conduct the famous duel on Mount Carmel. But no prophet ever said anything that was…
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Open Your Jewish Hand (21:7)
Approximately twenty five years ago two Israeli scientists, Dr. Leo Sachs of the Weizmann Institute and Dr. M. Bat-Miriam of the Israeli Institute of the Biological Research, came forth with an astounding theory. They analyzed the fingerprints of 4,000 Jewish immigrants and after careful analysis the scientists came to the conclusion that Jewish fingerprints show identical common traits which are not discernible in other races or groups of people. In other words, the Jew has a distinctive fingerprint!
Whether we accept their assertion or not, and whether further evidence will be discovered to either bolster or demolish their research, has yet to be determined. But this I do know, that in fact there is a time-tested and proven method of…
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Are You a Good Investment? (20:1)
These next two sections in the Torah deal with issues resulting from being in a state of war. Among the specific issues are the kohen who exhorted the people not to fear the enemy, a delineation of who was exempt from the fighting, details of how a siege should be conducted, and the subsequent treatment of certain captives. Surprisingly enough, in the midst of all this warfare, which is by its very nature destructive, the Torah demands that we do not destroy the local trees of the cities we are besieging.
In truth, this commandment is not limited to trees in the heat of battle, but is extended by our Sages to not waste anything needlessly. This Biblical passage is…
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A Sanctuary in Time (19:4)
David furtively looked around. As he scanned the short span of highway that led to the city gates, he breathed a sigh of relief. The road was clear. He emerged from the thicket and moved towards the walled city. Suddenly from behind a rock, he saw whom he feared most, the brother of the man he had accidentally killed. Drawing upon a source of energy he was previously unaware of, he dashed to safety. He had entered a city of refuge.
In this week’s Biblical portion we read about the ancient cities of refuge manned by the Levites, to which a man who had killed accidentally could find sanctuary. In a well known Chassidic comparison, the final month of the…
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A State Is Not a Society (17:16)
Can there be a mitzvah that the Torah is ambivalent about? Apparently the commentaries believed so. Thus, while Maimonides regarded the appointment of a king as a bona-fide command, Ibn Ezra read it as an option. Abarbanel went further; he saw the passage as a mere concession to human weakness.
Indeed, the very wording hints to a hesitancy on the part of the Torah. First is the unique prologue which foresaw the Jews asking for a king in order to be, “Like all the nations.” This runs counter to the purpose of most mitzvohs, which was to make Israel distinctive and holy.
Second is the list of caveats placed upon the king: not to multiply wives, horses, or wealth. It…
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Government & Rabbis (17:15)
Is there a Jewish theory on government? Should a democratically elected Knesset have to listen to Rabbis? What if the issue is Synagogues to be destroyed in Gaza, or settlers removed from Hebron? Perhaps Rabbis should be consulted about houses of worship, but ignored when the topic is Movie Theatres open on Shabbat? What do you think? What does the Torah think?
Today’s Biblical reading addresses the topic of government, and asks the question, how should the nation be ruled? Before we consider the Torah’s answer three background propositions should be born in mind.
The first is that biblical Israel did not represent a “religion” in the sense that word conveys today. Religion as practiced currently is a way of…
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Tzedakah & Religious Economics (15:7)
Tucked away in today’s Torah reading, almost as an aside, is one of Judaism’s most majestic institutions, the principle of tzedakah. “If there is a poor man…in any of the towns of the land…do not be hard-hearted or tight-fisted…rather, be open-handed…”
Historically, tzedakah lies at the heart of Judaism’s interpersonal duties. Indeed, G-d singles out Abraham to be the founder of a new faith, “So that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the L-rd by doing what is right and just (tzedakah u-mishpat).”
The two words that define the singular way of the L-rd, tzedakah and mishpat, / are quite different. Mishpat refers to the rule of law, through which disputes…
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Peace: With Arabs or Jews? (12:11)
The overwhelming majority of G-d’s commandments are addressed to the individual. There is no collective mitzvah to put on Tefillin, eat kosher, light Shabbat candles or affix a mezuzah. Exceptions exist, (especially in this week’s Biblical reading) which include the three laws that devolve upon the Jewish people after they enter the land of Israel. Number one was for the nation as a whole to anoint a king; number two, to destroy the tribes of Amalek, and finally to build together one Holy Temple.
The Sages in the Talmud wondered whether these mitzvohs could be done in any random order or if there is a chronology that must be followed. In the Rabbis’ own words, “Rabbi Yose said, ‘Three commandments…
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Free Choice (11:26)
Although Judaism postulates belief in an Omnipotent and Omniscient Creator, it still ascribes the power of free choice to Homo sapiens. This fundamental concept is clearly expressed in the opening words of this week’s Torah portion, “Look, I give you this day a blessing and a curse. The blessing - that you will hearken to G-d’s commandments…and the curse - if you will not hearken to G-d’s commandments.” /
The use of the expression, “I give you”, connotes blessing and abundance. The Hebrew word for give, notein, is from the same root as the word matana - gift. How then is it possible that the term connected with blessing is also mentioned together with curses? Can a curse actually be…
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Torah or Sword - Choose (11:26)
Fanaticism is out. Radicals and extremes are unhealthy. Too far to the left is politically incorrect. But the again, so is too far to the right. Just ask Bill Clinton who understands our need to be centrist. Or refer to the growing number of moderates on both sides of the political debate. Middle of the road, might not be a good idea for those crossing a busy street, but in life that’s how you get ahead. So decrees contemporary society.
However, as this week’s Biblical portion clearly indicates, this is not valid for the people of Israel. Following the middle road is not always possible, neither for us nor for G-d as He conducts the affairs of His Chosen people….
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See Words (11:26)
Unlike other cultures, Judaism worships the word, not the image. G-d, as encountered by the Patriarchs or the Israelites at Sinai, came not as a visible presence, but as a voice - challenging, and summoning. Listen how insistent Moses is on that point: “Then G-d spoke to you out of the fire. You heard the sound of words, but saw no image; there was only a voice.”
The G-d of Israel cannot be visualized: Hence the prohibition against making images. Idolatry is more than absurd: worshipping things we ourselves have made; objects that “have mouths but cannot speak…eyes but cannot see!” The very idea that G-d can be seen is ridiculous; not because He is of great dimension, He is…
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Parents Are Teachers (11:19)
The first two paragraphs of the Shema outline a program of Jewish faith. A careful reading of both sections however reveals different visions of what constitutes belief. The first parsha sets forth an operative code of behavior. “ “You will love G-d with all your heart…all your soul…all your might.” No reasons are given, and no promises of recompense or retribution are made. In philosophical parlance, such a commandment is referred to as categorical.
The second paragraph also mentions the love of G-d, but allows itself to be strengthened by reason as well as sanctions. The very first word, “ “If you will listen,” “indicates the possibility of alternative choices. Another important distinction is that the acceptance of these mitzvot…
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Sh'ma Yisroel - Part Ii (13:11)
Our most recent Fax of Life dealt with Judaism’s most famous prayer, the Sh’ma. Not to be outdone, this week’s thought will once again focus on the Sh’ma. Viewing this week’s Fax as a sequel makes sense since the first paragraph of the Sh’ma is found in last week’s Biblical portion and the second paragraph of the prayer is mentioned in this week’s portion.
While the two passages are clearly related, sharing many ideas, they also diverge on a number of points. The contrast is most emphatically defined when one considers who is being addressed in each chapter. The first paragraph is written entirely in the singular (לבבך - your heart, ידך - your hand) while the second uses the…
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Congregation Counts (11:13)
Undoubtedly, one of the more recognizable paragraphs in this week’s Torah reading is the section that forms the second part of our daily Shema prayer. “ “V’hoyoh eem shomoia - It will be if you listen to My commandments…” is the way it begins, followed by a list of do’s. Do serve Him, love Him, put on Tefillin, teach your children Torah, affix a mezuzah - you get the idea. “That which comes next, “Kee eem shomoir tishm’run - If you will surely observe…” is of interest to the Yalkut, a comprehensive Midrashic anthology compiled by Rabbi Shimon Hadarshan of Frankfort who lived in the 13th Century. “The repetition of the Hebrew verb “Shomoir” translated here as, “surely observe” led…
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