SPEAKING AND SAYING

17 Iyar 5773 / 26-27 April 2013

Parashat Emor

Torah: Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23

Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

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Speaking and Saying

And the Lord said to Moses, "Speak to the priests the sons of Aaron, and say to them, 'None may be defiled for the dead among his people.'" Leviticus 21:1

 

Rashi, quoting B. Talmud Yevamot 114a: "Speak" and "say" - to admonish the big ones regarding the little ones.

 

Porachat Altah Nitzah: This is to warn leaders (literally, "those standing at the head of the people") to make themselves small, so that they do not step on the heads of this holy people, that they not be prideful and lord it over the people.

 

Our commentators see in the linguistic redundancy a hint at something more. Rebbe Elimelekh of Lizhensk is even more forceful. He suggests that the more powerful one is and the more one is known (or perhaps, believed) to be a tzaddik, a righteous person, the more scrupulous one needs to be about even the least significant commandment or character fault.

 

More and more frequently, it seems, we hear political leaders, captains of industry and other powerful figures in our society tell us we must "tighten our belts" even as they make excuses for their excesses (that necessitated the belt tightening!) and justify them as entitlements that come with their positions.

 

Lord Acton wrote: "Historic responsibility has to make up for the want of legal responsibility. Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." He might have been referring to this week's parashah - the unbridled exercise of power causes one to be defiled, one whose sacrifices (and good works) are thereby unacceptable to God, one whose soul can be irreparably damaged.

 

We need leaders - but we need leaders who know and respect their limits. Authority without responsibility is a license to do unmitigated damage. When will we ever "get it"?

 

Speak to our leaders, and say to them.

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00

Burbank, CA

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"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: 7:15 pm

 

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 30, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. 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.

 

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.

 

My weekly d'var torah is also available by 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

 

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WHAT THE WORLD NEEDS NOW

10 Iyar 5773 / 19-20 April 2013
Torah: Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27
Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15 (Ashkenazim); Ezekiel 20:2-20 (Sephardim)

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What the World Needs Now

"You shall not take revenge and you shall not bear a grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your fellow as yourself; I am the Lord." Lev. 19:18

"As the home born among you, so shall be the stranger that dwells with you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt; I am the Lord your God." Lev. 19:34.

In her book, "New Studies in Leviticus", Nehama Leibowitz wonders what exactly is meant by "as yourself" (kamocha). She points out that the Rabbis had said that to love another as one's self cannot be taken literally. She refers to the commentary "Biur", which says, "It is hardly conceivable that the Almighty should command something which is beyond human capacity." Rather, says Leibowitz, do not read "as yourself", but instead "who is like you". That is why the Torah says, "For you were strangers in the land of Egypt." Because you know the heart of a stranger (Exodus 23:9), you must love the stranger rather than treat him the way you were treated in Egypt.
 

Nehama Leibowitz (1905-1997)



Leibowitz’ reading raises another issue. The word "ger", translated here as "stranger", has two meanings - "alien" and "proselyte". The Rabbis understood the “stranger that dwells with you” in the latter sense. They understood "you were strangers" in the former sense. Then Leibowitz’ understanding of "kamocha" as "who is like you" would suggest either that the Israelites had become Egyptian proselytes, God forbid, or that "the stranger that dwells with you" means any stranger, regardless of religious practice.

Far be it from me to suggest that the Rabbis misinterpreted this verse; but I wish to propose a broader meaning. The "stranger" is a closely related case to "fellow". Just as you are to love your fellow, who you recognize to be like you, so should you love the stranger who, as it happens, whether alien or proselyte, is also like you.

Recall that every person is created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26). Perhaps that is why the second verse has the phrase "your God" - as a reminder. So every person can become "your fellow" whom you love and who loves you in return - but only when you acknowledge that every person is "like you".

Have a wonderful Shabbat!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom – ZSRS ‘00
Burbank, CA

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 (Los Angeles): 7:09 pm

I'm conducting services this Shabbat morning at 9:30 am at Congregation Mishkon Tephilo, 206 Main Street, Venice 90291. Torah study follows Kiddush.

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 23, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. 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.

The Days of Remembrance program conducted by the Burbank Human Relations Council will take place on Tuesday, April 23. A brief program and presentation will be held at the Burbank City Council meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a full program and speaker at 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Emet, 600 N Buena Vista St., Burbank.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all those injure in the Boston Marathon terrorist bombings.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.

My weekly divrei torah are also available via 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

A MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH

3 Iyar 5773 / 12-13 April 2013

Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Torah: Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33
Haftarah: 2 Kings 7:3-20

 

Sundown Sunday through sundown Monday is Israel’s Memorial Day, Yom Hazikaron. May the memory of those who died defending the state of Israel be a blessing.

Sundown Monday through sundown Tuesday is Israel’s Independence Day, Yom Ha'atzma'ut. Yom huledet sameach, Israel! Happy 65th birthday!

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A Matter of Life and Death

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying: ‘This shall be the law of the metzora; on the day of his purification he shall be brought to the kohen (priest).’” Leviticus 14:1-2

Talmud: This is the law of the motzi shem ra (literally, one who brings forth a bad name).

The word “metzora” is usually and mistakenly translated as “leper”. But the Rabbis believed the “miraculous” disease of tzara’at (“leprosy”) to be something quite different - a punishment from God for engaging in slanderous speech. Thus, the word “metzora” is understood as an acronym for “motzi shem ra”.




The Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Israel Meir Kagan, literally wrote the book on the laws of lashon hara (evil speech) and rechilut (gossip). He teaches that the metzora, who is placed in isolation and declares himself "unclean", cannot go to a doctor to be cured. The reason is that “the kohen’s lips keep knowledge, and they seek the Torah at his hand.” Malachi 2:7 It is the kohen who declares the metzora “clean”. Just as the punishment of the metzora arises from sins of the tongue, the Torah requires the healing to come through speech.

The Chofetz Chaim does not mean merely that the social life of the metzora, i.e., whether he is to be accepted back into society, is at issue. The matter is far more critical than that. Rather, the Chofetz Chaim teaches that if one engages in lashon hara, it is like murder – like the murder victim, the reputation of a slander victim cannot be brought back to life. That is what is meant by “death and life are at the control of the tongue”. Proverbs 18:21

Mind your tongue, or be treated like a leper.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
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: 7:04 pm

Rabbi Flom is conducting services this Shabbat at Congregation Beth Meier, 11725 Moorpark St., Studio City 91604. Shabbat evening is a Family-style service at 7:30 pm followed by Kiddush and “Meet, Greet, Q and A” with Rabbi Flom. Shabbat morning service is at 10:00 am, again followed by Kiddush and “Meet, Greet, Q and A” with Rabbi Flom.

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 noon, at Congregation Beth Meier. 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.

 

The Days of Remembrance program conducted by the Burbank Human Relations Council will take place on Tuesday, April 23. A brief program and presentation will be held at the Burbank City Council meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a full program and speaker at 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Emet, 600 N Buena Vista St., Burbank.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.

My weekly divrei torah are also available via 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

CRUEL KINDNESS

26 Nisan 5773 / 5-6 April 2013
Parashat Shemini

Torah: Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
Haftarah: 2 Samuel 6:1 – 7:17 (Ashkenazim); 2 Samuel 6:1-19 (Sephardim)

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Cruel Kindness

“… They shall not be eaten…. the stork …” Leviticus 11:13, 19

The Torah refers to non-kosher birds as an abomination. Interestingly, Rabbi Yehudah taught that the stork is called “chasidah” (the kind one) because it acts with chasidut (kindness) toward its fellows. On the other hand, Rambam (Maimonides) taught that every non-kosher bird is naturally cruel. So, why is the stork considered not kosher?

Chidushei Ha-Rim ("Insights of Rabbi Yitzchak Meir", the first Gerer rebbe) says it is because the stork helps “its fellows” and no one else. He continues, “One must help all others, for a person who helps only his fellows is not kind, but cruel.”

The Gerer’s teaching is a logical extension of the more familiar teaching of Hillel: “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am only for myself, what am I? If not now, when?” (Avot 1:14)

Indeed, neither the quality nor the timing of our kindness should depend upon our attitude toward or our relationship with the one who requires kindness. The bottom line is taught in Leviticus 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor (who is, after all) as yourself.”

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
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 (Los Angeles): 6:58 pm

 

Lunch and Learn is an ongoing program of Beit Midrash Shalom that meets Tuesdays to discuss Jewish texts and other topics of Jewish interest. It is open to all regardless of affiliation. Next meeting is Tuesday, April 9, 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.

Yom Hashoah V’hag’vurah, Holocaust and Heroism Day, begins Sunday at sundown and continue through sundown Monday. It is customary to light a yellow or regular yahrzeit candle in memory of those who perished.

 

The Days of Remembrance program conducted by the Burbank Human Relations Council will take place on Tuesday, April 23. A brief program and presentation will be held at the Burbank City Council meeting at 6:30 pm, followed by a full program and speaker at 7:30 pm at Temple Beth Emet, 600 N Buena Vista St., Burbank.

This d'var torah is offered in memory of the Six Million.

This d'var torah is offered in honor of my wonderful wife, Lynn Kronzek, whose birthday is Monday, April 8. Happy birthday, dear! Ad meah v’esrim!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of my aunt, Helen Schugar, whose birthday is Monday, April 8. Ad meah v’esrim!

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Deb Berenbach, Gabor ben Devorah, Selby Horowitz, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Emily Levin, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Gil Robbins, Rachel Robbins, Judith Sakurai, Kitty Schmerling and Helen Tomsky.

 
My weekly divrei torah are also available via 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