Sorry I'm somewhat late, but there's still time to participate. I am privileged to receive emails in advance of events like this from the Rav. This campaign began yesterday, the 26th of June, and ends Erev Shabbat the 29th.
"I started writing books back in 1985. It was just my way of sharing information that I believed everyone had to know in order to live a more fulfilling life. The introduction of the Internet made that even easier, and by 1993 I was writing an essay on the weekly Torah portion, sending it to people around the world via Project Genesis, now Torah.org.
"The more I learned, the more I felt a need to share what I was learning, especially when it came to ideas that I knew many might never see, but should. This became an imperative for me when a lot of that knowledge had something to say about our particular period of time, Jewish history in general, and redemption specifically.
"By 2004, I had started by own non-profit organization, Thirtysix.org. Kabbalistically, the number alludes to the “Hidden Light of Creation,” the basis of all Torah knowledge. It was chosen with the hope of Thirtysix.org being a vehicle to share the depth, beauty, and wisdom of Torah learning with every person I am able to reach, which over the years has amounted to tens of thousands. There have been essays, books, videos, podcasts, etc., and judging by the feedback, they have positively impacted the lives of many.
Now I’d like to intensify and expand that impact. This is why Charidy.com has agreed to help me run this 72-hour, $72,000 campaign. Your support makes you a partner in my work, and together we can have an amazing impact on the future of the Jewish people."
in honor of my wedding anniversary (Hebrew) and my sister's birthday (secular), which were both yesterday...
There are many reasons why one of the Jewish People's greatest sins (but by no means the greatest) is called Het haEgel חטא העגל, Sin of the Golden Calf. The Red Heifer, Parah Adumah פרה אדומה, is said to be the repair of this sin, as in, the mother cow comes in and cleans up her baby calf's mess. (The Temple Institute is still working on getting our 10th Parah Adumah.) Other than that, we don't fully understand the commandment of the Red Heifer.
The cow is perhaps the most valuable creature on the face of this earth! Why do you think that, in English, we have an expression for anything that is a consistent source of a large amount of money compared to what was invested: cash cow?
Bulls are good for two things: being the other half of producing more cattle, and their meat and hides (and maybe other products) when slaughtered. So I wonder why the male calf gives the sin its name, rather than the female (the feminine of "calf" in Hebrew is eglah עגלה). After all, the Wikipedia link above confirms that the term cash cow refers to the dairy cow, the female of the species that remains alive to continually provide for our (as well as her baby's) welfare. Feed her, give her space and a herd to enjoy it with, protection in the winter, and let her get pregnant every year, and you get a lot back for it. (The factory farms and those who use a lot of artificial insemination and feeding their cows foods they are ordinarily unaccustomed to are not the model to think of. They invest a lot, so their return-on-investment isn't as great - also considering that many people think their methods are abusive to the animals. I am thinking here of the homestead — the family farm and animals associated with it - which I'd like to see more of in Israel.)
Cattle in general are so valuable in so many ways for so many things in this world that it makes sense that the story of one of our biggest sins has to do with them. However, they are creations just as we are, and so is money and everything material; we have no reason to try to appeal to them to bring us only what their, and our, Creator, can and will, if we ask Him, and do what He asks of us.
A tiny sampling about cows, farms and homesteading:
Soldier removes flag from a fellow soldier's condemned home. Hebrew sign: "I'm on reserve duty and they're destroying my home!" (My rough translation - CDG) (source)
Last week, on Tuesday the 12th of June, the last day of Sivan on the Jewish calendar (also known as Rosh Hodesh Alef Tammuz), witnessed the destruction of 15 homes owned by Jews in a small town called Netiv haAvot, by Israeli soldiers. I'd thought this was over now that we have the Regulation Law (but some think this is the last one before the law takes effect - if so, it had better be THE LAST.). It seems that even with the best of intentions, no law that was meant for the welfare of the Jewish People in the Jewish Homeland will stand against the forces of evil. The Arab who was supposedly the owner of the land still has not given his proof, and yet the homes on it will be destroyed anyway. See more about him, below.
What kind of craziness is this? David Bedein calls this, along with the destruction of Amona, Migron and Gush Katif, the process of YESHACIDE. I agree, but more likely it will be called NATIONAL SUICIDE in the end. Because our own Supreme Court (Baga"tz), which promotes this sort of thing, doesn't seem to realize that it is in the process of destroying itself and the country by acting in this manner in the periphery. Great timing, guys. Way to go...this is, in a way, worse than Ariel Sharon's timing of the expulsion of Gush Katif. Right on Rosh Hodesh.
What, are we supposed to somehow go along with them even though they have reversed course many times in our short history as a modern nation? Even the worst kings of Israel in Bible days weren't as bad as these people are now. Some of them, like Omri, actually accrued merit for ADDING a city to Israel*. That's right: This evil king and his army, with the blessing of HQB"H (G-d Himself!), conquered a place and made it part of our blessed land (and if I understand correctly, that city was SAMARIA/Shomron/שומרון). Nowadays, agenda-makers here have been competing to SUBTRACT land, and the cities and towns that would be built upon it, for decades. Since 1967, at the very least. Shame on them!
I would not like to go back to Omri's day and age, thank you. We need to move FORWARD, towards REDEMPTION.
Several observations:
1. Instead of allowing things that should not be in "G-d's country" (gay pride parades and Xians who feel that they are to take over our fair state for their mangod (or godman, or whatever way they want to call him this week) for whom we are just a placeholder), the Jews of Israel, including in the Tel Aviv bubble, ought to be paying attention to what is going on here. After all, the Israeli government promised us a law that would prevent Gush Katif from happening all over again. And it's happening again, in stages! WHY?
2. The world is watching and drooling over our imminent destruction. Death to the Jews, they cry. IT MUST STOP FOR YOUR OWN GOOD. Our destruction now is YOUR destruction shortly thereafter. Better to count on Jeremiah 31 (עברית | English) of the Jewish prophets, the very end of the chapter. Basically, it says that when the last Jew dies or is killed, the end of the entire universe is imminent - and there is not long to wait!
3. My husband told me that people were protesting - tire burning at the Metzarim Bridge, at the entrance to Yerushalayim, and holding up traffic as others have done before and gotten attention. On Wednesday he told me it was about the gerush from Netiv haAvot. It only hurts innocent people, innocent Jews. There must be a better, more effective way to present grievances to the public, and to get our government to stop these g'rushim. Do you know that Magen David Adom is right up the street from where you were? If someone were in need of an ambulance, they would have DIED because you were blocking the way. Getting kicked out of your house is surely bad enough; but being a contributor to someone's death because you were in help's way is FAR WORSE.
I smelled something burning strongly from my apartment that afternoon. Here's the article.
I know that protesting and demonstrating has been the Israeli way (borrowed from the Communists and mocked in Orwell's 1984 download free audio | online PDF) since the beginning, before the state was official. And tire burning gets the world's attention; just look at the Gaza terrorists who burn our fields and deprive us of food in the process, while we send them truckloads of goods, including...food! But we must find a better way to resolve these problems.
Here's one to work on: the ISRAELI LEFT pressured an Arab to claim ownership of the land in question this time. They would not let the Arab take compensation instead of expulsion. Attributed by Mordechai Sones for Moriah Kor of Arutz-7, here's how he responded:
Kor said the Arab responded he would have preferred and would have been
happy to receive financial compensation, but since leftist movements
under the direction of attorney Michael Sfard had already begun the
legal work "it was uncomfortable for him" to give up the expulsion
process and make do with compensation.
I see no sense in going further until we can make Israeli encouragement of others' taking over the Land of Israel TOTALLY unacceptable, in any way, on the part of any group of Jews, whether inside or outside the Land: Legally, socially, scripturally and morally are three ways; nay, four, that I can think of. After all, the Jewish rights to the Land of Israel supersede the handing over by any one individual (or any number of individuals or governments) of parts of the Land that was graciously given to us by our Creator. Even one entire generation of this nation cannot speak for all the past and future ones.
Maybe if Israel applies ISRAELI LAW to the disputed territories, thereby asserting sovereignty, we might be able to correct this?
As Avi Abelow of Israel Unwired wrote: "...it is sad to see Jewish homes destroyed in our Jewish homeland. There will always be those who won’t just protest in silence but ensure that the public sees that the destruction of any Jewish home in our homeland is wrong."
With the help of HaQadosh Barukh Hu ! בעזרת הקב"ה
*This Wikipedia article states, likely falsely, that Omri's name is either Amorite or Arabic. Actually, the root עמר that forms his name is Omer, as in Sefirath haOmer - the measurement of barley we bring after Pesah.
***
R' Sprecher presents an inner spiritual look at Moshe and Qorah's controversy. Here's a question for you, my gentle reader: Regarding the pro-Arab Israelis who incited the destruction, and the judges of the Supreme Court, who decided the fate of the 15 built stone homes - not caravans - of 20 families - in Netiv haAvot (R' Richter, in the video immediately linked to, was there and gives his account of events) and other Jewish communities in Yehuda and Shomron: Are they more like Moshe (reincarnation of Hevel/Abel), or more like Qorah (reincarnation of Kayin/Cain)? Watch and decide for yourself.
Are we able to defeat the Giants? The Torah tells us that
the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael were y’lide ho’anaq, remnants of a race of
Giants. When the Meraglim returned with their report, they announced: “The
people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very
great, moreover, we saw the children of Giants there.” (Bamidbar 13:28)
And again, (Bamidbar 13: 32,33) reference is made to the ANSHE MIDDOTH, the men
of great stature, and the N’FILLIM, the primeval Giants.
The Torah wants to impress upon us the fact that not Bigness was to conquer and
hold the Holy Land – but Greatness. The Spies used the wrong measuring rod of
Bigness, and that was their tragic and fatal error. However, G-d desires
Greatness NOT Bigness.
This view of Bigness vs. Greatness is expressed in many places in Tanach.
Yitzchak referred to Eisav as BNO HAGADOL (his big son) (Bereshit 27:2). And
the Talmud comment, G-d said to Yitzchak, “By your standards Eisav may be Big;
but by My standards Eisav is a dwarf among dwarfs.” (Bereshit Rabba 65:11)
In the 16th Chapter of Shmuel Aleph we are given a beautiful description of the
Biblical concept of Greatness, as opposed to the popular concept of Bigness.
The prophet Shmuel is sent to Bethlehem to select a successor to Shaul Hamelech
in the kingship. One by one, Shmuel looks upon the sons of Yishai and thinks
that this one or that one is the anointed of G-d, but G-d says to him: “Look
not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature… for it is not as a person
sees; for person looks on the outward superficial appearance, but G-d looks into
the heart of a human being.” (Shmuel Aleph 16:7).
And so it is Little David, though short in stature, who is selected, not by the
standard of Bigness, but by the measuring rod of Greatness.
Bigness is measured from the chin down, but Greatness is measured from the chin
up. A person may be the biggest and tallest player in the NBA and still be a
mental midget.
The Greatness of a People is no more determined by their number than the
Greatness of a person is determined by his height. This is certainly true in
the case of Israel. As the Torah says: “For you are a Holy People to your G-d,…
G-d did not choose and desire you because you were more in number than any
people, for you are the fewest of all nations…” (Devarim 7:6,7).
We were selected because of Greatness, because of being an AM KADOSH (a Holy
People) and not for our size and numbers. When we are counted it is from the
chin up that we are counted – KI TISA ET ROSH – “when you raise up the head…”
(Shemot 30:11). The Torah also says NASO ET ROSH, “When you lift up the head…”
(Bamidbar 4:22).
Judaism is a religion which does not stress Bigness. For Bigness, a key word in
our society today, is very often bought at the expense and pain of others.
However, true Greatness is attained by developing the best talents within
ourselves.
That is why the AM KADOSH (the Holy People) never had to fear the B’NEI ANAQ –
the Giants. For ultimately our spiritual Greatness will triumph over the Giants
mere Bigness.
Thus, the end of the Parsha of the Spies deals with the Mitzvah of Tzitzit. Rav
Joseph B. Soloveitchik ZT”L explains that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit is a
symbol that all events in life are as profound and mysterious as the deep blue
sky. The Talmud in Menachot states that the blue Techelet of Tzitzit reminds us
to look up at the blue heavens and admire the incredible, vast expanse of
endless space, leading to its Source, the EIN SOF – G-d.
As Tehillim 19:2 states, “The Heavens tell the glory of G-d’s Greatness”. By
admiring and appreciating G-d’s Greatness and Goodness, we can achieve and
attain our own greatness and goodness as well.
Further thoughts from R' Ephraim Sprecher on "Naaseh v'Nishma". This week's video, on Parashath Beha'alothkha, is at the end of this article.
***
The Talmud (Shabbat) states that an
apostate said to Rava, "You are an impetuous people for you put your
mouths before your ears!"
Our mouths before our ears?!! What the apostate referred to was "Naaseh v'
Nishma", the famous phrase uttered by the Jewish People when we stood at
the foot of Mount Sinai and G-d asked us if we would accept the Torah. "We
will do, and then we will hear," we replied enthusiastically. As our
response implies, we committed ourselves to follow the Torah's Mitzvot without
first asking what responsibilities this commitment would entail.
"You should first have asked what was in the Torah," the apostate
continued. "If you felt able, then you could accept the Torah. If not, you
could then refuse it."
Our first impulse might well be to sympathize with the position of the apostate
rather than that of Rava. Why did we not first inquire from Moshe about the
Torah? Then we could have responsibly weighed the obligations that the Torah
would impose on us. Does Judaism call upon us to serve G-d unquestioningly
without asking for explanations or seeking reasons?
Are we to assume that Torah Judaism views faith and rational thought as
mutually exclusive?
We have all learned that the world is made up of atoms. In fact, no one alive
has ever viewed an atom only the energy trails left behind by elementary and
subatomic particles. In the absence of any better hypotheses, we assume the
existence of atoms.
We have all learned that the universe began with the Big Bang. Scientists tell
us that before this great cosmological cataclysm occurred, neither time nor
space existed. But what exactly does that mean?
The science believer claims a rational faith, a faith in observation and
experimentation. Rational faith serves every one of us every day of our lives.
If a physician tells a patient that he needs an operation, the patient will
probably rely on the doctor since the patient recognizes that he doesn’t know
enough to diagnose himself.
The faith, demanded by Torah Judaism, is no less rational for it is built upon
sound and logical evidence available to anyone who is honest enough to examine
it. Therefore, if G-d tells me that observing the Mitzvot of the Torah is to my
benefit, I will certainly take His advice, for He created me; He knows me even
better than a parent knows her child.
So there was nothing impetuous about Israel's acceptance of the Torah sight
unseen, for we did not accept the Torah on faith at all. We accepted it on
trust, a trust more solid than the most compelling scientific truth.
However, trust is only the first step. "Naaseh V'Nishma," the Jewish
People said. The Hebrew word, "NISHMA", implies much more than
hearing the Mitzvot. It implies studying them diligently, laboring to develop an
understanding of them and to discover meaning and relevance within them. That
which we originally accepted based on trust, we can then accept based on
knowledge.
Thus, the Midrash Tanchuma in Parshat Shemini states, "You must not allow
your Yetzer Hara to mislead you saying, ' G-d prohibits Israel from partaking and
enjoying the good things in life.' ''
"G-d replies to Israel, 'Whatever I have prohibited to you, I have offset
it by other things that I have permitted you. For example, I have prohibited
you to eat blood, but I have permitted you to eat liver which is full of blood.
I have prohibited you from eating pork, but I have permitted you to eat the
fish known as Shirbot which tastes similar to pork. I have prohibited you from
having sexual relations with another man's wife, but I have permitted you to
marry a divorced woman, who was once another man's wife. I have prohibited you
to wear shaatnez, but I have permitted you to wear a linen garment with wool
tzitzis. I have prohibited you from eating the fat of a domestic kosher animal,
but I have permitted you to eat the fat of a wild kosher animal.'
This trust in G-d has enabled us to survive as a nation since that first
Shavuot, 3,330 years ago. Always confident in the Supremacy of Divine Reason,
we stand assured in our faith and trust in G-d!
***
Current Events in the Parashah & Haftarah: Beha'alothkha
