KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

 

Parashat Sh’lach L’kha

Sivan 23, 5784 / June 28-29, 2024

Torah: Numbers 13:1 - 15:41
Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. NO Lunch and Learn on June 24. On July 1, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 212 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'... הנוהו קפולאי'  

"There were gravediggers ..."

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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KEEP YOUR EYES ON THE PRIZE

"And it will be for you as a fringe, that you look at it, and remember all of the Lord's commandments, and do them; and that you do not rove after your own heart and your own eyes, after which you might go astray." Numbers 15:39

"The heart and the eyes, they are the spies of the body, acting as procurers for its sins. The eye sees, the heart covets, and the body sins." Rashi (citing Tanchuma)

This verse, also part of the third, concluding paragraph of the Sh'ma, refers to the commandment to wear tzitzit, fringes, on the four corners of a tallit or other garment. The late, great Torah teacher, Nechama Leibowitz, finds Rashi's statement "rather strange". Why shouldn't we look about at the world, and take it all in? After all, didn't God create it?

Tzitzit with the Tekhelet strings attached.

The answer may be found in the type of looking that we do. When we look at God's creation, we can appreciate it as something much greater than ourselves, of which we are a very small part; or, we can look at it as something which we covet, believing that we are greater than creation – and its Creator.

Our purpose in the world is not to take whatever we want, whenever we want it. Rather, we are to serve as God's partners, albeit very limited partners, in maintaining, repairing and improving the world - and ourselves! (See Genesis 2:15; Leviticus 25:23). We do this through the performance of mitzvot. Focusing on the tzitzit keeps us on task when our minds start to wander. Put on a tallit, look at the tzitzit, and remember why you are here!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, TBH

"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"

"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”

BT Yevamot 88a

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management: 

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to:  ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to:  ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.

THE CHILDREN OF AARON

Parashat Beha’alot’kha

Sivan 16, 5784 / June 21-22, 2024

Torah: Numbers 8:1 - 12:16
Haftarah: Zechariah 2:14 - 4:7

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This d’var torah is offered in memory of my cousin, Patricia "Didi" Barkan, who passed away on Monday, June 17. Y'hi zekherah liv'rakhah - her memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. NO Lunch and Learn on June 24. On July 1, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 212 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'... הנוהו קפולאי'  

"There were gravediggers ..."

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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THE CHILDREN OF AARON

"Speak to Aaron, saying, 'When you light the lamps, the seven lamps shall give light in front of the menorah (the candlestick).'" Numbers 8:2

The Midrash, Bamidbar Rabbah, says that Aaron was upset. The heads of all the tribes, except Levi (the tribe of Aaron and the kohanim, and he was the head of Levi) had offered sacrifices (see last week’s Parashat Naso). He feared the Levites were being punished because of his sins. Rather, teaches the Midrash, Aaron and his descendants were given a greater honor - the lighting of the menorah in the tabernacle. Sacrifices would be offered only so long as the Temple stood, but the lamps would always give light in front of the menorah, and all the blessings God instructed the kohanim to bless the Jews with (see Naso, Numbers 6:22-27) would never be abolished.

The Knesset Menorah, Jerusalem (German Wikipedia)

Ramban (Nachmanides), in his commentary, wonders what this really means. After all, the menorah was not lit after the destruction of the Temple - it didn't exist either. He says the reference is to the menorah of Hanukkah, for that would go into exile with the Jews after the destruction, just as the blessings offered originally at the dedication of the desert tabernacle would be given to the Jews forever.

Hanukkah Menorah (Getty Images)

The interesting thing about all of this is that, just as every Jew can (and should!) offer the blessings of the kohanim over his/her children (see last week's blog, https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2024/06/the-power-of-god-is-in-your-hands.html), so is every Jew obligated to light the menorah of Hanukkah every year. The real comfort to Aaron is not simply that his descendants get to light the menorah. It is that all Jews are in a sense his descendants, for we are a "kingdom of priests (mamlekhet kohanim) and a holy nation (goy kadosh)." (Exodus 19:6) We are all Aaron's children - so long as we keep the lights burning and bring blessings to our people.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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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 

THE POWER OF GOD IS IN YOUR HANDS

Parashat Naso

Sivan 9, 5784 / June 14-15, 2024
Torah: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah: Judges 13:2-25

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On June 17, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 212 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'... הנוהו קפולאי'  

"There were gravediggers ..."

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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THE POWER OF GOD IS IN YOUR HANDS

"And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying: So shall you bless the children of Israel, saying to them: 'May the Lord bless you and guard you. May the Lord cause the Lord’s countenance to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May the Lord lift the Lord’s countenance to you and grant you peace.' And they shall put My name on the children of Israel, and I will bless them." Numbers 6:22-27.

Many years ago, when I was at the earliest stage of my renewed interest in Judaism, I read about a most intriguing custom - the parental blessing of children on Shabbat evening. Years later, I searched everywhere for the story and incredibly, when I really, really needed to find it, I finally did:

'Sadly, in recent times, blessing the children has become generally unobserved outside the Orthodox community. Herbert Wiener, an American Reform rabbi who witnessed an elderly Jew dispensing Sabbath blessings in Safed, Israel, was moved to write: "I could not help but think of successful suburban fathers who had made comfortable provisions for their children yet would never receive the honor and respect that had fallen to the lot of the old North African Jew who could offer only blessings."' (Jewish Literacy, by Joseph Telushkin)

Only blessings! The significance of blessings is borne out in the story of Jacob's deception of Isaac, and Esau's anguished cry: "Bless me father, even me!" (Genesis 27) The idea that God permits us to give blessings in God's name stunned me – and it still does. To have such authority, such power! To be God's agent, even God's partner!

I promised myself that, if I should ever be fortunate enough to become a father, I would bless my child every Shabbat and Yom Tov. In December 1994, it came to pass, and when Robert was one day old, in the neo-natal intensive care unit, Lynn and I donned gowns and gloves and masks, laid our hands on his tiny head, and began: “May God make you like Ephraim and Menashe.” (The beginning for a daughter is: “May God make you like Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah”). Then, in keeping with the tradition, we continued with the priestly blessing above. We felt God there, blessing and guarding our son. It was awesome, and we have not missed an opportunity to bless him since.

                                  

              Jewish parents blessing child on Friday night - 1740 illumination from a mohel's notebook

You should not miss this experience either (even if your children are now adults or out of the home – you can do this by phone, Zoom, FaceTime, etc., as well). Your children's memories of receiving your blessing every Friday night will stay with them much longer than those of receiving the latest video game or toy. More than that, the idea that you become God's partner in blessing your children will stay with them and you, and empower you. When you recite the blessing, and put God's name on your children, God blesses them. Your action leads to God's action. You have the power of God in your hands.

Have a wonderful Shabbat, full of God's blessings.

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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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 

THE MOSAIC

Parashat B'midbar

Sivan 2, 5784 / June 7-8, 2024

Torah: Numbers 1:1 – 4:20

Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22

Shavuot 1

Sivan 6, 5784 / June 11-12, 2024

Torah: Exodus 19:1 – 20:22; Numbers 28:26-31

Haftarah: Ezekiel 1:1-28; 3:12

Shavuot 2

Sivan 7, 5784 / June 12-13, 2024

Book of Ruth

Torah: Deuteronomy 15:19 – 16:17; Numbers 28:26-31

Haftarah: Habakkuk 3:1-19

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Program notes:

Reb Jason is off this Shabbat. Steve Pearlman and I will be conducting Cool Shabbat Evening services (Zoom and Facebook only) at 7:00 PM.

I will also be conducting Shabbat Morning services with Steve Pearlman (in person and on-line) at 9:30 AM.

I will be offering some teaching, along with Reb Jason, for Tikkun Leil Shavuot, on Tuesday, June 11, at 8:00 PM (on-line only.

TBH Shavuot morning services with Yizkor are on Wednesday, June 12, at 9:30 AM, in person and on-line.

Email me for links.

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This d’var torah is offered in memory of my beloved father, Martin Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Sivan 7 (Shavuot 2)/June 13. Y’hi zikhro barukh – his memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered in memory of my beloved grandfather, Jacob Slome, whose yahrzeit falls on Sivan 8 /June 14. Y’hi zikhro barukh – his memory is a blessing.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On June 10, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 211 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'...א"ר אבוהו כל שאומרים בפני המת'  

"R. Abuhu said: "Whatever is said in the presence of a dead body..."

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Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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THE MOSAIC

“Every man with his own standard, with ensigns according to their fathers’ houses, so shall the Children of Israel pitch the camp; at a distance from the tent of meeting shall they encamp.” Numbers 2:2

One should not for a moment believe that this verse is a license for each of us to go our individual ways. We are indeed to maintain our individual identities, but only within the context of the larger community.

The commentary Bet Aharon (Rabbi Aaron of Karlin, 1736-1792, disciple of Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezeritch) makes this point in an interesting way. “Every Jew must know and think that he is unique in the world, and there has never been another person exactly like him. If there had been someone just like him, there would have been no need for him. In truth, every person is someone new in the world, who needs to improve his character and his Torah for the sake of his soul, until the entire world has been repaired through the effort of the Jewish people.”

Let me expand upon Bet Aharon. In my view, this applies to every member of the human race. We live in a broken world - each of us can make a unique contribution toward improving it through our moral and ethical development and then by putting our learned principles into action.

Moses with Tablets of the Ten Commandments - Rembrandt, 1659

It’s a pretty tall order. Look at it this way. Each of us is a "work-in-progress", an accumulation of mosaic tiles (nature, nurture, experience, education, relationships, etc.) that needs to be assembled into a complete, functional, and autonomous moral being; each of us is then a tile in a much vaster communal/societal mosaic for which we have individual and joint responsibility to assemble. When we put together the pieces of our own lives and our own souls, and place the tiles of our individual selves into the mosaic of the community, we are contributing to the improvement of the world as well.

It all starts with you.

Have a wonderful Shabbat! Chag Shavuot Sameach! See you at Mount Sinai!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

.הרחמן הוא יברך אותנו כולנו יחדי בברכת אחוה ובברכת אהבה ובברכת שלום

May the Merciful One bless us, all of us as one, with the blessing of brotherhood, the blessing of love, and the blessing of peace.

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management: 

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”. 

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”. 

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.