28 Tammuz 5773 / 5-6 July
2013
Parashat Mattot - Mase'ei
Torah: Numbers 30:2 - 32:42
Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4; 4:1-2
Torah: Numbers 30:2 - 32:42
Haftarah: Jeremiah 2:4-28; 3:4; 4:1-2
Please feel free to pass this on to a
friend, and please cite the
source.
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Kosher Words, Kosher Things
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Kosher Words, Kosher Things
"If a man makes a vow to the Lord or
takes an oath prohibiting something to himself, he shall not profane his word;
all that has come from his mouth he must do." Numbers 30:3
"Any articles that can withstand fire,
you shall pass through the fire, and they shall be pure, except that they shall
be purified with the water of sprinkling (water imbued with red heifer ashes);
and that which cannot withstand fire you shall pass through the water." Numbers
31:23
Vows and oaths have extraordinary power
- they can turn ordinary objects into things of holiness or prohibition. "I
hereby vow to donate this silver cup to the synagogue"; "By my oath, I will not
eat meat for six months" - these words have transformative effect over mundane
things. This is why Jewish tradition frowns on the recitation of vows and
oaths.
Changing the (ritual) nature of objects
is accomplished either by words, according to the first verse, or by kashering,
making them fit to use, as stated in the later verse. What about the
converse? What happens if you profane your word?
If an object is kosher, and is used only
for kosher purposes, it remains kosher. If it is defiled, it requires an
elaborate process of kashering. Similarly, if you want to retract a vow, the
rabbis devised a ritual for doing so. If you have already violated your word,
you must do teshuvah - the steps of repentance. Just as it is far easier to
maintain the kashrut of an object by not defiling it, so is it easier to
maintain the purity of our words by fulfilling them.
So perhaps it is not coincidental that
the Hebrew word for "things" and the Hebrew word for "words" is the same word -
"devarim". Our words have meaning and power that are tangible. Be a man or
woman of your word.
Peace and blessings. Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00Congregation Beth Meier
Studio City , CA
http://www.bethmeier.org
Visit me on Facebook
"For the sake of Zion I will not be silent; for the sake of Jerusalem I will not be still." Isaiah 62:1
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Candlelighting: 7:49 pm
Candlelighting: 7:49 pm
The Beth Meier
office will be closed on Thursday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Happy Birthday, USA !
I will be conducting my first services as rabbi of
Congregation Beth Meier on July 5 & 6. Shabbat evening service - 8:00 pm;
Shabbat morning service – 10:00 am. Please join us!
Lunch and
Learn
On Tuesdays at noon,
I lead a 90 minute discussion on a Jewish topic of interest. Next meetings are
on July 9, July 23 and July 30. Everyone is welcome to participate. Lunch is
provided - donation requested.
Our readings for the
next few sessions are an article by Professor Leon Kass and responses to the
article, available at:
http://mosaicmagazine.com/supplemental/2013/06/loyalty-service-and-the-god-of-israel-a-response-to-leon-r-kass/
Congregation
Beth Meier Membership Meeting
Save the date for a
Congregational meeting on Sunday, July 28 at 4:00 pm. This is
a great opportunity for CBM congregants to meet me and share and discuss our
hopes, dreams and goals for our Beth Meier community.
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This d'var torah is
offered for a refuah shleimah for Dov Nechemya Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah,
Eve Beatty, Beth Goldstein, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Frank
Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty
Schmerling.
Please let me know
if there is anyone you would like to add to this list, or if anyone's name may
be removed from this list.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via free e-mail subscription to Cyber Torah.
Cyber Torah list
management (no salesman will call!):
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
Send requests for dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah, in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
