Tag Archive for Keruvim

Parents communicating with children: The Jewish way

November 1, 2015 Uncategorized No comments
This article was constructed with the help of either writings, lectures or shiurim of Rabbi’s Noach Isaac Oelbaum, Baruch Dopelt, Asher Hurtzberg , Yossi Bilius and Dr. Abba Goldman


Why did G-d love Avraham so much?
 Since the beginning of time man would travel to many places. Upon ones journey one inevitably is forced to acquaint himself with other passengers who are from different walks of life. The subway of New York City is the best example. Often one sees someone he knows even the slightest and he will begin to schmooze. That’s nice isn’t it; perhaps one can say there is a very pro-human side to travel.
  On one occasion two important figures in the world, although with different philosophies on life, the great Torah sage, Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky and the Secretary-General of the Israeli Trade Federation, Histadrut, happened to be sitting next to each other, on an El Al flight; both were in first class… While conversing on the flight with the great Rabbi he was impressed with the caring service the Rabbi’s, presumably, personal staff was giving him. Through the course of the flight they would come and make sure his pillow was set correctly or they would ask him how his meal was and if he needed anything. The Secretary General commented to the elderly Rabbi “that’s some dedicated staff you have working for you”. The Rabbi answered back “you’re mistaken they’re not my staff; they’re my son and granddaughter”.   He was amazed at the dedication of the son and granddaughter had given to the elderly Rabbi. As related in the book, Reb Yaakov: His Life, pp.218-219: “He confided sadly to Reb Yaakov that he almost never saw his grandchildren and his children only rarely. Rav Yaakov explained to him that the difference in their relationships to their children and grandchildren could be traced to their differing views of Creation … ‘You … believe in the Darwinian view of life as the result of random, purposeless events,’ he told [him], ‘so as far as your descendants are concerned you’re just one generation closer to the apes than your children are. That make the younger generation more intelligent and sophisticated than the previous. The children are less monkeys then us. The philosophy is that they’re smarter then you. We, on the other hand, do not believe that we are superior to our ancestors. Quite the contrary. For us the central event in history was the Revelation at Sinai. The generations immediately after that Revelation lived in awe of their parents as people to whom G-d actually spoke. And their children in turn viewed them with veneration for having known those who heard G-d speak. And so it is with each passing generation. Every generation looks at the previous as great and with the utmost respect. My children and grandchildren honor me as one who had contact with spiritual giants whose greatness is almost beyond their comprehension, and therefore they attribute to me a wisdom and spiritual sensitivity that they do not possess.”
This is the second week we read about our forefather Avraham, the grand-daddy of them all. One may say an extraordinary human being to say the least. The Torah says that G-d loved Avraham.

Why did G-d love Avraham more than anyone?
Was it because:
*The Medrash describes Avraham as a charismatic towering popular figure that had a certain magnetism to attract many to his home where he did kindness. “Kindness is what the world is built on” and it’s G-d type of language.
 One may ask how Avraham received his prophecy. Prophecy is learned studying G-d work; one has to place tremendous thought and concentration with meditation. How was it possible that Avraham achieved that level where he spoke to G-d, he always was entertaining guests? His hospitality was second to none. Where did he have the time?
Since kindness is the fundamental building block of the world one can achieve prophecy and closeness to G-d equating it to the time spending learning G-d’ work.
* Avraham’s analytical highly intelligent mind was crucial in his ability to come to the understanding himself that there can only be monotheistic concept. This was unheard of. The mindset of just having one G-d irked many people and went against societies pangenetic beliefs. The new wave philosophy of our forefather placed Avraham’s life in danger. Let’s just say he was the lone ranger who had guts for he stood up for what he believed in and not succumbing to the pressures of society. The term Hebrews was conceived from Avraham’s nick name “Ha-Ivry”which cenotes “ev’er”-the other side of the river.  The world was hinting then that we, the world are on one side and you, Avraham are on the other. I’m sure this sounds familiar to all who are reading this.
*Avraham was thrown in a burning furnace on behalf of G-d’s honor.
* Avraham was the first to be circumcised following G-d’s instructions.
* Avraham listens to G-d whether it was on command to leave his homeland, to slaughter his beloved son, Yitzchak. One of the ten big tests G-d placed upon him.
*Avraham was… “a big fan of the New York Mets”.
Well reader, there is a smorgasbord of choices….Please, choose, which one of Avraham’s tremendous traits did G-d love?
Which is the one for which G-d said I will make you into a great nation?
Perhaps there’s something else we overlooked.
We read in this week’s parsha:
     [18,19] “For I have loved him for he commands his children and his household after him that they keep the way of G-d.”
Shockingly, it’s not any of those noble famous actions that we have grown accustomed to admire about the great Avraham – our forefather. What G-d loves about Avraham the best, is the fact that he’s able to communicate the message. He’s able to talk the same language as his kids. There is no generation gap. There are no cultural differences. Avraham is the great communicator of all time. His kids listen to him.
There were others in his generation that believed in G-d. However, none of them were able to communicate and deliver the message to the next generation.
Even the notorious evil Eisav, his grandson, adored and listened to Avraham. Avraham had Eisav contained and made tremendous in roads into his development. However, the Midrash states that the day Avraham passed away Eisav was in a state of shock and despair and committed five major averot -sins – including murder and adultery.  We can only imagine what Eisav would have become if G-d gave Avraham a few more years.
This is the gifted trait that Avraham passed down to us the ability to communicate to the next generation. This is what keeps the chain continuing: generation after generation.
One of the most mindboggling extraterrestrial miraculous episodes in our Torah involves the two Keruvim (Keruvim [Cherubs]: angels-resembling young children; relief images of two winged cherubim were part of the cover of the Holy Ark in the Temple). Many commentaries mentioned that it wasn’t two young children as the popular assumptions are of the two Keruvim but one was an image of a man the other was of a child. Interestingly, it resembles a father and son. The reason the Keruvim-the father and son were placed on the cover in the Holies of Holies, the most important place in the world, the heart and soul of the children of Israel, is because this is the lifeblood of the Jewish people; this is the continuity of our nation, it is the father and son relationship, the parent – child relationship, the Rebbi/Morah – student relationship which keeps our people alive. It’s the pulse of our existence. It’s a must to perfect and to nurture the communication. There should be a flow between the one passing down and the one receiving. No clogged arteries please.
However, there is one piece of the puzzle missing. What will make the chain from generation to generation more secure is a an important verse found in Parshat Lech Lecha
[15,2,3,4]
 2. And Abram said, “O Lord God, what will You give me, since I am going childless, and the steward of my household is Eliezer of Damascus?”   ב.וַיֹּ֣אמֶראַבְרָ֗ם אֲדֹנָ֤י יֱהֹוִה֙ מַה־תִּתֶּן־לִ֔י וְאָֽנֹכִ֖י הוֹלֵ֣ךְ עֲרִירִ֑י וּבֶן־מֶ֣שֶׁק בֵּיתִ֔י ה֖וּא דַּמֶּ֥שֶׂק אֱלִיעֶֽזֶר:
3. And Abram said, “Behold, You have given me no seed, and behold, one of my household will inherit me.”   ג.וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אַבְרָ֔ם הֵ֣ן לִ֔י לֹ֥א נָתַ֖תָּה זָ֑רַע וְהִנֵּ֥הבֶן־בֵּיתִ֖י יוֹרֵ֥שׁ אֹתִֽי:
4. And behold, the word of the Lord came to him, saying, “This one will not inherit you, but the one who will spring from your innards-he will inherit you.”   ד.וְהִנֵּ֨ה דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֵלָיו֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר לֹ֥א יִירָֽשְׁךָ֖ זֶ֑ה כִּי־אִם֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר יֵצֵ֣א מִמֵּעֶ֔יךָ ה֖וּא יִֽירָשֶֽׁךָ:
These pasukim are crucial to understand in the proper development and relationship between parents and kids, between teacher and student. The commentaries interpret Avraham’s concern that even my trusted servant Eliezer who will transform my words exactly as I said is not the optimal choice. Why not? Why is Eliezer not good enough?  He is transforming the holy words of Avraham just as he said it. You can’t get more perfect than that.
When a servant repeats what one said, he is still a servant; we are not passing down the tradition to a tape recorder. Yitzchak, Avraham’s son who inherited the mantle and passed it down to his son, absorbed the words of his father, however, was able to make his own input, his own emotions, his own intellect, his own strengths along the way. As we learned: Yitzchak had quite a different personality than his Father. He was a “no non-sense” type (Gevurah).  His approach was the antithesis than that of his father’s soft-kindness. The difference was legendary. However, their communication was also legendary. Although he passed it down to his son unchanged: Yitchak’s own flavor was added to it. And so it was for generations after. Each father passed the words of G-d with his KOCHOT-strengths, his personality, his creativity.
Interestingly, each child is different and has to be approached and taught differently. Children are not tape recorders (remember those things) and it will be a tremendous injustice to treat them like the factory assembly line. One will be depriving the child in making his unique input in this world if they’re not approached in a way that is appropriate for them.
                              

INTERESTING NOTE
Does one ever wonder that there are two times in the entire Torah that the parsha starts with the word Toldot. The two are found by Noach-ELEH TOLDOT NOACH and by Yitzchak- ELEH TOLDOT YITZCHAK.  The Torah hints that by Noach the next word after  – ELEH TOLDOT NOACH is NOACH. Noach, who was a tsaddik, however he produced, at best, someone equivalent, nothing more – maybe less, to himself. However, the words after ELEH TOLDOT YITZCHAK  is “the son of Avraham”. The chain was passed to Yitzchak. It follows in the verse AVRAHAM HOLID ET YITZCHAK – Avraham gave birth to Yitzchak creating a new creation. For Yitzchak developed into his own whole person. He loyally followed the tradition; the chain was passed to him. However, Yitzchak was able to create and rise to another level.
 We all want our children, students to be better than us. We want them to reach their potential and exceed our level. To do so: one has to give individual attention to each child.
It says in the morning prayers in the Halelukas which is found in the Pesukey d’zimra section “young men and also young women, old men and young men”. This seems incorrect, it should say “old men and old women” why is it out of sequence?
If one doesn’t have the proper tradition and communication between the elders and the young, one cannot reach the opportunity between man and woman.

Altering Life in the Blink of an Eye
There are times when it seems that all one’s effort is for naught. No matter how much one tries, it just doesn’t go. It’s similar to when one puts their car in neutral and presses the gas. The vehicle doesn’t move. It doesn’t help if one presses on the accelerator with more force. Absolutely nothing helps. This is how many of us feel sometimes. Does this sound familiar?

  Rav Henoch Liebowitz z’l teaches us something very inspirational in this week’s parsha. When the two angels came to Lot’s house revealing that the city and all its inhabitants would be destroyed, Lot informed his household that they would have to leave quickly. However his future son-in-law laughed at him. “How can this city be destroyed? The economy is bustling” the son-in-law said. “The kids are playing in the street and there’s not a cloud in the sky; it doesn’t seem like anything is going to happen”. Boy, was he surprised; he and the entire city were destroyed. Interestingly, even though he ridiculed Lot, the son- in-law was a believer of G-d. So why didn’t he comply? Rav Henoch says, human nature is such that one doesn’t believe change will take place. Everything will remain the same. This is what the son-in-law believed. Perhaps that’s why a person never is able to comprehend that he will die one day. It could happen to my friend but it can never happen to me.

  Just like change took place in a blink of an eye for destructive purposes, so too one can believe that changes can occur in the blink of an eye for the good. One can be single for twenty years and one day he dates a girl and in a couple of months is engaged to be married. The same goes with having children – one may think life follows a script however the captain of the football team doesn’t always get the head cheerleader. Life takes funny bounces and sometimes for the good.

  Rav Henoch is trying to teach us one never knows. In the blink of an eye our prayers can be answered.

Parshat Highlights
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First portion
* We would like to believe we are not the same people we were years ago. Everyone would state, they have matured, been educated and have learned from life’s experiences. This is the general attitude of humans. Well, I hope we have matured and become better people. It’s frustrating to see those that have not.

In this weeks

We need comfort, thats the truth!

August 24, 2015 Uncategorized No comments
This article was constructed with the help of either writings, lectures or shiurim of Rabbi’s , Berel Wein, Daniel Travis and Dr. Abba Goldman,  Rabbi’s Noach Isaac Oelbaum

 

Parashat VaEtchanan always has an upbeat feel to it since it always falls on Shabbat Nachamu, the first of seven Shabbatot of consolation after Tisha B’Av.  This Sabbath is traditionally called the “Sabbath of Comfort.” which   takes its name from the haftarah from Isaiah in the Book of Isaiah 40:1-26 that speaks of “comforting” the Jewish people for their suffering.  Yours truly  got married at a later age, and for many years this Shabbat is associated, in my mind, with big singles weekend events which was conducted up in the Catskills kosher hotels. My personal experience, there wasn’t much comfort at all attending those events.

However, there is a deeper look at the concept of comfort and consolation that must be explored. Since grief, pain, disappointment and loss are all part of the story of every human being, it is remarkable how little attention most people pay to the necessity of dealing with misfortune – of how to achieve comfort and consolation. We are all actively engaged in attempting to avoid problems and pain – and correctly so – but deep down within our being we know that no human escapes tasting the bitter cup that life always brings with it. So it would be of aid to all of us to investigate how to deal with sadness and bring consolation and closure.

Furthermore “to comfort” is mightily important, and is a vital weapon,  in the progress of life. Nonetheless, one has to understand what actions and ramifications fall under the category of  “to be comforted” and “to comfort” for that matter.

There is an incident that occurred last year that I would like to share, which is etched in my mind since for it touched about people I grew up with and perhaps we can have a bit more clarity of “comfort”. I beleive its a powerful lesson to say the least.

Howard Johnsons in Rego Prk Queens in the 1960″s

I was part of a small patched up community consisting Bukharian, Avgani and Persian families migrating last from Israel, and settling in the Boro Park, Rego Park Forest Hills area in the 1960’s.  As children we looked up to the older teenagers, for they were considered both Americans as well as the Israeli flavor of our parents, which was more pronounced in them since they were born there. There was an older girl, and I best remember her as the girl with the white hat which she wore with her white dress, whom had, with other teenagers her age, approximately ten years our senior, a tremendous influence on us. Many years later, I remember watching My bar mitzvah video and sadly, seeing her as a newlywed schmoozing with guests and gleaming proudly from ear to ear with her husband of a few months, at my smorgasbord party  realizing in hindsight that a few years after that moment she will be divorced and being a single mom of her only child; she never married again

It was the beginning of chol hamoed last year where I received a call from my childhood friend stating that the girl with the white hat is in the hospital and I should visit her. He insisted I should not delay because she has approximately a week to live. I was stunned after hanging up the phone.

I called up a relative, who actually was in her class in grade school, and we both made the trip to North Shore Manhasset Hospital.

We met the son in the hallway and he confirmed the diagnosis. It was strange and eerie walking into her hospital room. The girl with the white hat although looked like a terminally ill cancer patient, was sitting up and was fully aware, memory intact, and speaking without any effort. The one flaw in her was that she was in complete denial of her grave condition. She kept on repeating “am I going to be okay?”. Unfortunately before realizing her condition I advised her that she should make peace with those people that she might of left hanging, only  realizing later after she ignored the statement that it was inappropriate.  Although I believe its vital that if one knows he’s not going to be in this world for very long that they should  tie any loose ends. However!! One has to assess one’s condition and cautiously with sensitively, approach the   situations appropriately.

After about seven days, I got a text as soon as  Simchat Torah ended, that the girl with the white hat had indeed past away. The relative whom I went with to the hospital had visited her again 3 days before she died and said she was still fully aware, memory intact. He then said something interesting she received a visitor for an old friend and she asked him as well as others “am I going to be okay?” where then the friend countered in a strong confident voice with hand motions and all “of course you’re going to be okay we’re walking out of this hospital tomorrow hand and hand. Why don’t you pick your favorite restaurant  and we’ll go next week. We’ll have a blast like the good old days”. My relative questioned the old friend’s response stating that its inappropriatly misleading. He said comforting someone is one thing but lying is out of line.

Well, what do you say my fellow readers?  Was the old friend inappropriate?

 

 

Interestingly, one will find a mind boggling approach from our Torah and the lesson is from the famous incident of Abraham and his three guests.

Avraham  lifted up his eyes and saw three men standing a short distance from him. (Bereshith 18:2)

The three strangers who visited Avraham were not men at all; they were angels disguised as men. Since Avraham had been experiencing a great deal of pain following his brit milah, God brought a heat wave to the region so that people would not travel. This would give Avraham a chance to rest, for he would not be bothered by guests. However, seeing that Avraham was distressed by the fact that no guests were coming to his home, G-d sent three angels disguised as men to visit him

We find the three angels coming to Abraham with a number of tasks, one of which is to tell Sarah that she will have a baby. The angels made a point of inquiring about Sarah, ‘Where is your wife, Sarah?’ so as to endear her to her husband’ (Bava Metzia 87a). The question that the angels asked, set up a response by Abraham (she’s in the tent) and through those words that he uttered, made him realize the exceptional modesty his wife possessed. Therefore, she would become even dearer to him.

 

We find something interesting in the Gemara in Ketubot in which we see that it is permissible to lie to a groom and tell him ‘your wife is such a beautiful Kallah (bride)’, even though she’s not. But for the sake of endearing the wife in the groom’s eyes, a little white lie is permissible. Commentaries on this Gemarah extend this idea. For example, if one purchases an item, let’s say a tie, and you meet him for coffee, even though the tie is not nice, one should lie in order not to make him feel bad; (If there is no refund policy.)

 

Furthermore in the parsha, we find Sarah could not believe the good news of her upcoming pregnancy. But she had an interesting response about her husband, ‘How can we have kids? My master is old’. But G-d misquoted her to Abraham, saying only about her ‘I have aged’ (not mentioning Abraham). G-d lied for the sake of shalom (peace), so that her words should not offend Abraham. This, despite the fact that Abraham was indeed old (he was 99) and would certainly have realized that she had no ill intentions when she had said it. Yet to avoid that tiniest possibility of friction, to refrain from diminishing somewhat the peace and harmony (shalom bayit), G-d altered her words.

There were two lies in this story line.  In circumstances in which it is clear to everyone involved that an untruth is being told it is not considered a lie.. For this reason, we may disguise ourselves on Purim, or dress in costume for a performance – even if our identity is unrecognizable – without fear that we are deceiving others.. Since everyone knows that the mask hides someone, we need not concern ourselves with the ramifications of using a ruse. Avraham, on the other hand, did not know that his “guests” were really angels. Was he not being deceived into thinking that his visitors were men? Was he not being deceived about what his wife thought of him?

The Gemara cites the story of Rav Akiva and his wife who were extremely poor and possessed nothing more than straw to sleep on. God sent the Prophet Eliyahu to them, disguised as a beggar, to ask them if they had some straw to spare. Rav Akiva and his wife, who had been feeling the privation of their dire financial situation, found new hope in the realization that someone else was even poorer than they were. For the sake of alleviating their anguish, Eliyahu was permitted to impersonate a beggar in need of straw..

 

From the above incident the Gemara derives that in a situation in which someone needs comforting, the halachah permits us to act like Eliyahu.. For example if someone complains to us about his monetary problems, we may tell him that we are experiencing financial difficulties of our own, even if this is not so. Similarly Avraham, the pillar of kindness, was greatly distressed that he did not have a single guest. The angels alleviated his spiritual pain, and performed a tremendous act of kindness by coming to Avraham dressed as mortal beings.     In order to preserve harmony between Avraham and Sarah G-d told a little white lie.

One has to realize a major fundamental concept that has been misinterpreted.  Its one of the most famous word not only with us Jews but infact the world; the definition of the word EMET. Western concept of EMET-truth is defined as- facts no mater what the consequences are.. The Torah definition is: if there is no kindness to Emet it is not Emet. If one hurts someone with words even though its factual it’s not Emet. One has to live life according to whats right strait-yashar. The Angels changed the story and told Avraham Sarah will have a child; factual is not correct.. How to be kind is the EMET. What is important is not being perverted by self-interest.

The girl with the white hat was in denial. She wanted to hear reassurance. She wasn’t interested in factual, Deep down she knew her faith. The old friend was correct in reassuring her everything will be okay. That is true comfort. He was kind to her at the end of her life. That is Emet.

An impactful EMET is what happened to our people at our lowest point in our history. The most intriguing and fascinating items of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are the Keruvim. They were found on top of the Aron. They were two child-like faces with wings pointed upwards. When the Israelite’s were close to G-d, they would embrace each other, and when the Jews were not on the standards that they should be, the Keruvim would face away from one another.

Shockingly when the Romans destroyed the Temple they mockingly brought out the Keruvim and showed everyone that the two childlike figures were hugging each other. They should of been in opposite directions.

G-d wanted to show the Jews in this time of defeat in this time of trouble, in this time of devastation and death, the lowest point in Jewish history G-d loves us. That is the ultimate reassurance!! This is against the facts. However the Emet is the Jews will build the third temple again. G-d was showing the ultimate comfort

 

Father and Son Relationship

February 16, 2015 Uncategorized No comments

Father and Son Relationship

The most intriguing and fascinating items of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are the Keruvim. They were found on top of the Aron. They were two child-like faces with wings pointed upwards. When the Israelites were close to G-d, they would embrace each other, and when the Jews were not on the standards that they should be, the Keruvim would face away from one another.

The sages say, when G-d wanted to give the Torah to the Jews, he asked for a guarantor. So the Israelites replied “Our Forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Yaacov would be perfect.” G-d refused, stating “They owe me. How can they be guarantors?” An example was given, if a man wants to borrow money from someone and demands a guarantor, and the potential borrower says how about Joe? The potential lender refuses stating “how can he be a guarantor? He owes me money himself.”

G-d said to the Jews” bring me someone that doesn’t owe me.” The Israelites answered back “We know someone who doesn’t owe You a thing, the children; they’ll be the guarantors.”

Apparently, there are a number of different opinions as to who exactly were the Keruvim; some say it’s a boy and a girl; others say it was a boy and a man. Yechezkel’s vision was that of a boy and a man.

What’s the meaning of having a boy and a man on the faces of the Keruvim? Rabbi Noach Isaac Olbaum explains this is the essential part of

Judaism. It’s the father and son relationship that’s crucial to the continuous existence of our nation. It’s the father’s obligation to pass down the tradition to his son. Without a doubt, the fact that the Keruvim were placed in the holies of holies on top of the Aaron shows the importance of the relationship between the father and son. You can’t get holier than that place.

Therefore, we have to examine and fortify our relationship with our children. It should be healthy and communicative. The parody of the American dysfunctional family is brought out very well in the satirical TV series, The Simpsons. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen television and that show in particular. The show, indeed, well written, was very funny but very sad; but most important, a very true portrayal of many family structures, or I should say dis-structure in the western world.

The Torah emphasis the importance of the bond of father and son and the crucial treasure the Torah, passing down the tradition, that’s at stake. So perhaps what we could do is go out for a burger with our son; have a catch when the weather gets nice and most important, learn Torah with him. It’s important and it’s a priceless moment.

Pagen Ritual or the Truth

February 16, 2015 Uncategorized No comments
 
 

The obvious question that everybody on the planet asks is: “aren’t the KERUVIM-the angel like statues on the ARON a form of idol worship?”

 

Even if the Jews of that time period were 100% believers, wouldn’t it still be putting a stumbling block in front of a blind man, considering that this was the number one temptation of that time period?

Boy, the KERUVIM sure seem to go against a prime directive of “do not make for yourself any carved idols or any likeness of anything that is in the heaven above or here on earth below” (Shemot 20:4). We all know how our forefather, Avraham, broke all the idols in his father’s store. Then he placed the hammer into the hand the the biggest idol and when his father came in, Avraham simply pointed to the last remaining idol, and said he did it!

 

Speaking of Avraham, we find a similar incident. What made the test of the AKAIDA (G-d told Avraham to slaughter his beloved son) more difficult was that all his life he was preaching to  the world “it’s not proper to sacrifice your children to your gods” and here he is, Mr. self-righteous doing the same!

 

Similarly, the Romans ridiculed us after they conquered and destroyed our Temple. They brought out the KERUVIM and said “look they worship idols just like we do, they are no different”.

 

The Abarbanel explains that images were only forbidden if it was the intention to worship them.

 

The KUZARI explains regarding the sin of the Golden calf that the Israelites did not deny G-d’s existence rather they only wanted to make their worship of Him more concrete.

 

Interestingly, G-d issued two commandments regarding engraved images that seem to contradict each other. This is reminiscent of the Talmudic dictum that “whatever the Torah forbade, it made permissible by other means”. Thus, when G-d said “do not make for yourself carved idols” He also said “make two KERUVIM”. Likewise, one is prohibited to marry the wife of his deceased brother, but is commanded to do so if he dies childless. We are forbidden to wear any garments made of wool and linen, but the next verse states “make yourself tzitzit on the four corners of your garment” and these garments may wool even if the corners are linen. The Torah states that “those who violate the Shabbat shall be killed”, yet He commands “On the Shabbat day, a two year old lamb without a blemish shall be brought”. Such an offering involves acts that violate the Shabbat.

 

All of the above do not come close to the wonderment expressed regarding the commandment of placing the KERUVIM on top of the ARON which mimics idol worship. It sounds heretical, but mustn’t we ask-“what was G-d thinking?”

 

Perhaps that’s exactly the point. We have no authority or right to probe into something that G-d did not provide us answers for. We just have to follow the commandment and do G-d’s will. We tend to forget the proper outlook we should have; our religion is a belief. That’s the challenge. Belief comes from the heart. So one should not say “HEY MAN PROVE IT”. We answer to him ” WELL CHABIBI HOW DO YOU FEEL?”

 

Still, the KERUVIM remain one of the most perplexing mysteries in our religion.

 

This Dvar Torah is the fruit of a quick conversation had with Rabbi Lenny Bromberg plus some thoughts culled from the Nachshoni.

Parshat Teruma

May 10, 2013 Highlights No comments
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In This Issue
Parshat Terumah Highlights
Taking Pride in Being Real
Father & Son Relationship
Million Dollar Smile

Parshat Terumah Highlights
 

First Portion

 

* The Jew of today goes to Synagogue daily; some go weekly; there are those who go less frequent. In essence, we are practicing what the Torah describes ‘And I (G-d) will dwell among them’ The question is asked why does it say ‘them’? it should say ‘dwell among it ‘; the subject is the sanctuary, the one central Temple. However, the spirituality of the sanctuary has been transmitted to every local synagogue and study hall where optimally the Mikdash brings a man so close to G-d, all feel Him within them, where G-d approaches each being according to what he can endure. Although our great nation is part and parcel with each other and we all follow the same central laws; however communicating with G-d is also very personal.

* When one is considering moving to a new neighborhood, one of the first and foremost items on his list are that he should seek is a temple of his liking.

* It is odd that G-d instructed us to make a sanctuary and limit the spirituality and to confine G-d to a concrete area, the Mishkan. It sounds like a contradiction to the essence of Judaic belief of G-d, which is, G-d is everywhere. However, it became essential because man needs that central figure to reinforce the strong commitment to G-d. Unfortunately the lack of temple added to the temptation that caused the Israelites to sin at the golden calf incident. For this reason, now we can answer why the sequence of events is in question because apparently the sin of the golden calf was brought before the building of the Mishkan, and here the parshiot are lined up the opposite. As we know, the Mishkan was enacted because of the sin of the golden calf. Rav Zalman Zorotzkin suggests perhaps we see a pattern how G-d runs the world; He never gives the diseases before the cure.

* Mikdash – according to Maimonides and other commentaries – means ‘house of appointment. The main purpose is to prepare oneself for tomorrow.

* Every person volunteered something that was from thirteen raw materials that was found in the Mikdash.

* The Aron (Arc) was the most essential part of the Mishkan and therefore discussed first. Apparently, it was constructed before the Mishkan itself.

 

Second Portion

* The Keruvim were the most intriguing part of the Mishkan. They were set on top of the Aron. The two Keruvim were baby-faced and had wings. If at times, the Israelites’ prayers were accepted, the Keruvim would embrace each other, and at times when the prayers were not accepted, they would turn away from each other. Their wings thrust upward signifying that man should always aspire for spiritual heights.

 

* Atzai Sheetim/cedar wood was the wood used for the Mishkan. Why did G-d prefer the wood of the Sheetim above all other kinds of cedar? The Sheetim were picked since it bears no fruit. G-d wanted to set an example for people who build a house. They should reason that if G-d constructed His Mishkan from the wood of a barren tree, we certainly should not use the wood of a fruit tree for this purpose. (One should note it is not permissible to cut down a fruit tree.)

 

 

Third Portion

 

* The menorah had seven lamps, which corresponded to the constellation of the seven stars. The seven stars represent the course of all natural events in the universe. The flames, which were lit with the purest of olive oil, symbolize the illumination of the intellect, and will rise above the mundane nature of the world. The center flame represents Shabbat, and the other six flames; three before and three after represent the days of the week, which get all their power and resources from Shabbat. The Shabbat represents time, and the Mishkan represents the place where G-d brings down spirituality.

 

 

Fourth Portion

 

* There is a tremendous emphasis on wood in the Mishkan. The Temple represents peace and all the components that go with it. Our Father, Abraham, received guests, the three Angels, under difficult circumstances. The kindness which he performed by serving them under a tree; this is the kind of tree that is represented in the Mishkan. Later, Our father, Yaacov instructed his children to plant these trees in Egypt, knowing they will not find trees in the desert, where they would take the cedar wood with them.

 

 

Fifth Portion

 

* The Shulchan (table) was the medium through which the blessing of nourishment flowed to the entire world. G-d therefore commanded it should never be empty since His blessing rests on substantial matters. This was hinted by Elisha the prophet who told an improvised woman that she must have something in the house upon which G-d’s blessing could rest. It’s also important to note never to say that the bracha is finished; one should conclude ‘the bracha is plenty’.

* Some communities have a tradition to place the twelve breads that were presented in the Mishkan, and place them to say the bracha ‘Hamotzi’ at their Shabbat table.

 

 

Sixth Portion

 

* The Altar is where the sacrifices take place. Many miracles were performed in the Mishkan. It’s fascinating how a fire from the heavens comes down and consumes the sacrifice in which the individual brings; that signifies that it has been accepted. Imagine, I can’t help but think how that’s a very significant way to get close to G-d.

 

 

Seventh Portion

 

* If one notices there is no metal or steel in the temple, that is because metal symbolizes war and the Mishkan represents peace. There are communities that remove the knives from the Shabbat table meal before birkat hamazon because the Shabbat table represents the Mizbeach, and believe it or not, is a great way to get close to G-d.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Taking Pride in Being Real
   

 

 

Rashi, the main commentary on the Torah, explains, when G-d writes ‘make me a sanctuary for me’ He means solely for Me. We must ask to what extent is ‘solely for Me’.

 

King Solomon, in conversation with Hiram king of Tyre, informed him that the reason my father David did not build the Temple was because he fought many wars.

 

What was Shlomo alluding to? Was King David really so busy with battles that he had to scrap the plans to build a Temple? He did have time to write the book of Psalms, which was an enormous body of work, and probably took much of his energies from other important functions. Perhaps that’s the reason for not building the house of G-d. It would not make sense, if David had even a slight opportunity to build the Temple, he would have made it priority #1. What was the reason behind Shlomo’s statement to Tyre that prevented David, then King not to build the Temple?

 

The holiday of Purim is soon coming!! We learn something fascinating from the Klei Yakar who brings an explanation on what motivated  king Achashverosh to throw the devastating party in which the Jews participated which got them in trouble.

 

Apparently, Achashverosh married royalty. Vashti, his wife who he had killed, was the granddaughter of Nevuchanetzar. If the reader remembers, Nevuchanetzar destroyed the first Temple and took much booty from the Temple. Achashverosh was much excited about the party because he would perform a ceremony in which he assumed, would put him over the top as king. He planned on dressing up with clothes that were taken from the Bet Hamikdash, performing the Kohen Gadol’s rituals in which the Kohen performed in the Temple. As a result, Achashverosh would be unstoppable.

 

The king of Persia, as many others believed, that every time the Jews are about to do battle, they pray and do sacrifices in their Temple and emerge victorious; it’s a guarantee!!

 

Although the plan didn’t work, one needs a lot more then just the clothes and the utensils for G-d to accept one’s Tefilot (prayers). But that was Achashverosh’s mind-set.

 

King Solomon said to Hiram “My father fought a lot of wars and maybe there might have been a slight tinge of ulterior motives; the temptation was great for David, considering his position with an unstable foreign affairs policies.” G-d informed David that he will draw the blueprints, and Shlomo, his son, will build it. Shlomo reigned in peaceful times with his surrounding neighbors.

 

Are we sincere in our belief in G-d? When we give charity, how much is it? Do you really want to help or does one desire the recognition from the community that they’re a super individual? Although one should give and do good things, even with ulterior motives, the Torah believes what starts as insincere, turns to sincerity.

This Dvar Torah was given mostly by Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz who always has a way to make the individual think and to understand our conscience and unconscious thoughts and bring out self-awareness. I hope the reader enjoyed this schmooze as much as I did many years ago. It was one of my favorites.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Father & Son Relationship
   

 

 

The most intriguing and fascinating items of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) are the Keruvim. They were found on top of the Aron. They were two child-like faces with wings pointed upwards. When the Israelites were close to G-d, they would embrace each other, and when the Jews were not on the standards that they should be, the Keruvim would face away from one another.

 

The sages say, when G-d wanted to give the Torah to the Jews, he asked for a guarantor. So the Israelites replied “Our Forefathers, Abraham, Isaac and Yaacov would be perfect.” G-d refused, stating “They owe me. How can they be guarantors?” An example was given, if a man wants to borrow money from someone and demands a guarantor, and the potential borrower says how about Joe? The potential lender refuses stating “how can he be a guarantor? He owes me money himself.”

 

G-d said to the Jews” bring me someone that doesn’t owe me.” The Israelites answered back “We know someone who doesn’t owe You a thing, the children; they’ll be the guarantors.”

 

Apparently, there are a number of different opinions as to who exactly were the Keruvim; some say it’s a boy and a girl; others say it was a boy and a man. Yechezkel’s vision was that of a boy and a man.

 

What’s the meaning of having a boy and a man on the faces of the Keruvim? Rabbi Noach Isaac Olbaum explains this is the essential part of Judaism. It’s the father and son relationship that’s crucial to the continuous existence of our nation. It’s the father’s obligation to pass down the tradition to his son. Without a doubt, the fact that the Keruvim were placed in the holies of holies on top of the Aron, shows the importance of the relationship between the father and son. You can’t get holier than that place.

 

Therefore, we have to examine and fortify our relationship with our children. It should be healthy and communicative. The parody of the American dysfunctional family is brought out very well in the satirical TV series, The Simpsons. It’s been awhile since I’ve seen television and that show in particular. The show, indeed, well written, was very funny but very sad; but most important, a very true portrayal of many family structures, or I should say dis-structure in the western world.

The Torah emphasis the importance of the bond of father and son and the crucial treasure the Torah, passing down the tradition, that’s at stake. So perhaps what we could do is go out for a burger with our son; have a catch when the weather gets nice, and most important, learn Torah with him. It’s important and it’s a priceless moment.

Million Dollar Smile

This coming week is my father’s yartzeit; there are many things that were special about Pop. But there’s one particular thought about him, which I put together in one of my earlier lectures a number of years ago, which I would like to share with you:

Pop and I were on a business trip in South Carolina visiting a good customer of his. He had met him years before in Dallas, where both were salesmen. Pop was working for himself while his friend was working for a major (terminology for a ‘leading’) jewelry chain. Now, this friend was running an established business of his own. In the jewelry business it’s called a ma & pa store. We were invited to this friend’s house for a meal, and after the meal, the friend, who was a schmoozer, was having an extended conversation with Pop. I was watching Monday Night Football with his kids in the other room. I can see Pop through the hall in the dining room smiling and nodding his head in approval at whatever the friend was saying. What was odd, after an hour, was that they were still having their conversation. Actually, it was the friend who was doing all the talking and Pop was just nodding and smiling. “Pop doesn’t understand English that well to comprehend a lengthy one-hour English conversation”, I remember saying to myself.

As the evening was coming to an end, the friend said to me as we were by the front door saying goodbye, “Your father and I had an amazing discussion; he’s a pleasure to be around”. In the car, driving back to our hotel room, I asked Pop what did they talk about? He smiled and giggled and said “I have no idea.” Like many conversations with Americans, my father, an immigrant, was able to build his life through one of G-d’s spiritual forces — a smile.

It says in Pirkei Avot, ‘Greet every person be’sever (with intelligence), panim (greetings; for example: hello – shalom which is another name for G-d. When we greet people, we remind each other that greetings are a G-dly trait and we’re emulating it), and yafot (smile; animals show teeth which is a sign of aggression while humans show teeth as a sign of compassion).

Rava said, if a student struggles in his studies, it’s because the teacher did not smile at him. A smile opens up the intellect. It’s a spiritual trait, which is the reason we tend to gravitate to, and therefore we are attracted to a smiley person. Politicians consciously go out of their way to smile. The Talmud says ‘White of teeth is better than a cup of milk’; meaning sometimes, under certain circumstances, it’s a better option than serving guests with refreshment or showering one with gifts.

There is a beautiful story that I once heard on the topic of smiling. Every morning, Abraham enters the plant and greets everybody with a smile. One Wednesday afternoon, Thanksgiving weekend was fast approaching and people were anxious to leave work for the long weekend. Abraham was packing the meat in the walk-in freezer when he realized – as he was attempting to leave – the freezer door is locked.

Apparently, the other workers, in haste, locked the freezer without realizing someone was in there. Abraham realized the dangerous consequences he would be in if he’s left in the freezer for an extended period of time. A few hours passed and it was time for the doorman to change shifts. However, he felt a certain uneasiness that something was missing. He mentioned to the guard that will replace him ‘”You know, there’s one guy, the smiley guy, that I have not seen leave “. The guard went upstairs to look for him and discovered Abraham, frozen, but alive, in the freezer. Apparently a smile can go a long way. This guard gets hundreds of people entering and exiting the building daily. Nevertheless, he remembered Abraham because a smile is magnetic. Humans are drawn to a smile because it’s spiritual.

For some, smiling comes naturally; however, for others, it’s not so easy. If one realizes the importance of a beautiful smile he would be at a tremendous advantage.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience

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Yale & Wendy Zoland in honor of their children; may they have hatzlacha and bracha in all their endeavors.

 

 

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