Remember?
13 Adar 5773 / 22-23 February 2013
Parashat Tetzaveh (Shabbat Zakhor)
Torah Reading : Exodus 27:20 - 30:10
Maftir (Shabbat Zakhor): Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah (Shabbat Zakhor): 1 Samuel 15:1-34
Torah Reading : Exodus 27:20 - 30:10
Maftir (Shabbat Zakhor): Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah (Shabbat Zakhor): 1 Samuel 15:1-34
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Remember?
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Zakhor (Remember) because of the first word of the Maftir, the additional Torah reading, which instructs us to remember what Amalek did to our ancestors on the way out of Egypt . This serves as a connection to the observance of Purim, Saturday night and Sunday, when we commemorate the defeat of Haman, a descendant of Amalek. However, I want to focus on a different kind of remembering, mentioned in the regular portion for this Shabbat.
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Remember?
This Shabbat is known as Shabbat Zakhor (Remember) because of the first word of the Maftir, the additional Torah reading, which instructs us to remember what Amalek did to our ancestors on the way out of Egypt . This serves as a connection to the observance of Purim, Saturday night and Sunday, when we commemorate the defeat of Haman, a descendant of Amalek. However, I want to focus on a different kind of remembering, mentioned in the regular portion for this Shabbat.
"And you shall put the two stones upon the shoulder pieces of the ephod, stones of remembrance for the Children of Israel; and Aaron shall bear their names before the Lord upon his two shoulders for a remembrance... And Aaron shall bear the names of the Children of Israel in the breastplate of judgment over his heart, when he goes into the holy place, for a remembrance before the Lord perpetually." Exodus 28:12, 29
"For a remembrance - that the Holy One Blessed Be He should see the tribes written before Him and remember their righteousness." Rashi to verse 12, citing Midrash Exodus Rabbah.
"Memory is the source of redemption; exile comes from forgetting." Baal Shem Tov to verse 29.
The names of the tribes were engraved on the stones as a reminder - to whom? Rashi teaches that God needs to be reminded of the righteousness of our ancestors. Perhaps it is to remind God of our righteousness; we also are the Children of Israel. Does God really need to be reminded of anything - as if God could forget! Yet many of the prayers which we regularly offer do just that.
I understand the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, as saying "no!" We are the ones who need to remember. If we are righteous, we need to remember that we once were not. If we are not righteous, we must remember that we can become so - if we try. Remembering takes on redeeming qualities, because it can compel us to perform acts of righteousness. So it is imperative to remember what you once were; to be reminded of what you have the potential to become; and to do something about it, by performing acts of tzedakah, of righteousness.
Have a wonderful Shabbat! Purim Sameach! Barukh Mordechai; Arur Haman!
"For a remembrance - that the Holy One Blessed Be He should see the tribes written before Him and remember their righteousness." Rashi to verse 12, citing Midrash Exodus Rabbah.
"Memory is the source of redemption; exile comes from forgetting." Baal Shem Tov to verse 29.
The names of the tribes were engraved on the stones as a reminder - to whom? Rashi teaches that God needs to be reminded of the righteousness of our ancestors. Perhaps it is to remind God of our righteousness; we also are the Children of Israel. Does God really need to be reminded of anything - as if God could forget! Yet many of the prayers which we regularly offer do just that.
I understand the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of Chasidism, as saying "no!" We are the ones who need to remember. If we are righteous, we need to remember that we once were not. If we are not righteous, we must remember that we can become so - if we try. Remembering takes on redeeming qualities, because it can compel us to perform acts of righteousness. So it is imperative to remember what you once were; to be reminded of what you have the potential to become; and to do something about it, by performing acts of tzedakah, of righteousness.
Have a wonderful Shabbat! Purim Sameach! Barukh Mordechai; Arur Haman!
HaRav HaGaon HaTzaddik Abba Reuven Ben Menachem Mendel Flom, Sh’lita
Der Heileger Burbanker Rebbe
Rosh Yeshivah – Lower Slobbovia
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Feel free to send this to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Rabbi Flom is conducting Shabbat morning services on February 23 at 9:30 am at Mishkon Tephilo, 206 Main St., Venice 90291. Torah study follows Kiddush lunch.
Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets most Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, February 26, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier, 11725 Moorpark St., Studio City 91604 . PLEASE DO NOT BRING ANY FOOD UNLESS IT IS IN ITS ORIGINAL SEALED CONTAINER AND BEARING A HEKHSHER AS DAIRY OR PAREVE. Lunch will be provided by Congregation Beth Meier. Donations gratefully accepted.
Beit Midrash Shalom also meets the first Tuesday of each month at Congregation Beth Meier for text study led by Rabbi Aaron Benson and Rabbi Flom. Next meeting is March 5 at 8:00 pm. Donations gratefully accepted.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, Kitty Schmerling and Helen Tomsky.
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