Parashat Devarim - Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat of Vision
6 Av 5773 / 12-13 July 2013
Torah: Deuteronomy 1:1 - 3:22
Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27
Haftarah: Isaiah 1:1-27
Dedications and Calendar of Events follow.
Check out our web site at: http://www.bethmeier.org/
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Bearing and Sharing the Burden
"How (eikhah in Hebrew) can I alone bear your vexation and your burden and your strife?" Deuteronomy 1:12
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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Bearing and Sharing the Burden
"How (eikhah in Hebrew) can I alone bear your vexation and your burden and your strife?" Deuteronomy 1:12
Rashi: "Even if I were to say that I will do so in order to receive a reward, I may not do so."
Rashi offers the traditional Jewish take on personal responsibility. One is actually forbidden to voluntarily take on a burden that might be greater than one can bear, even (particularly?) if one does so in order to receive a reward from God and/or the community. One may not voluntarily injure oneself (except to save a life); also, too much responsibility assumed by one person can actually do damage to the community.
But what happens when one refuses to accept any share of the burden for communal needs? R. Yosef Yozl Horowitz takes Rashi's comment and stands it on its head. He says, "Traditionally, this verse is read to the melody of Lamentations (Megillat Eikhah, from the first word of Lamentations), to teach us that if a person refuses to assume the responsibility for community needs, and thinks that by doing so he makes things easier for himself, he will in the end find out that matters will be worse for him, and he will remain alone and isolated. How (eikhah) does one dwell alone?" (From Itturei Torah) As John Donne said: “No man is an island.”
We are forbidden to take on so much that we become a burden on the community. On the other hand, we are forbidden to neglect our obligations to the community. These two teachings together offer a great insight, summed up by Rabbi Tarfon: "You are not obligated to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it." Avot 2:21 If we share the burden, it's easier to bear. That's community spirit!
Shabbat Shalom! And have a meaningful fast.
Rashi offers the traditional Jewish take on personal responsibility. One is actually forbidden to voluntarily take on a burden that might be greater than one can bear, even (particularly?) if one does so in order to receive a reward from God and/or the community. One may not voluntarily injure oneself (except to save a life); also, too much responsibility assumed by one person can actually do damage to the community.
But what happens when one refuses to accept any share of the burden for communal needs? R. Yosef Yozl Horowitz takes Rashi's comment and stands it on its head. He says, "Traditionally, this verse is read to the melody of Lamentations (Megillat Eikhah, from the first word of Lamentations), to teach us that if a person refuses to assume the responsibility for community needs, and thinks that by doing so he makes things easier for himself, he will in the end find out that matters will be worse for him, and he will remain alone and isolated. How (eikhah) does one dwell alone?" (From Itturei Torah) As John Donne said: “No man is an island.”
We are forbidden to take on so much that we become a burden on the community. On the other hand, we are forbidden to neglect our obligations to the community. These two teachings together offer a great insight, summed up by Rabbi Tarfon: "You are not obligated to finish the task, neither are you free to neglect it." Avot 2:21 If we share the burden, it's easier to bear. That's community spirit!
Shabbat Shalom! And have a meaningful fast.
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - ZSRS '00
Congregation 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
Congregation 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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Candle lighting: 7:48 pm
7/12 - Shabbat Evening Family Services - 7:30 pm. Join us for a joyful service, followed by Oneg Shabbat.
7/13 – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Light Kiddush lunch follows.
7/15 - Congregation Beth Meier joins with Temple B’nai Hayim for Tisha B’Av “seudah mafseket” (the final meal before the fast) and service – meal at 6:45 pm, service with chanting of Megillat Eikhah (Book of Lamentations) at approximately 8:00 PM. Please contact TBH at: bnaihayim@yahoo.com or 818-788-4664 for more information or to RSVP for the seudah mafseket. TBH is located at: 4302 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks , CA 91403 , just south of Ventura Blvd.
7/16 – 7/22 – Rabbi Flom out of town
7/19 – Shabbat Evening Service – 8:00 pm. Services led by Warren and Melinda Trauman
7/20 – Shabbat Morning Service – 10:00 am. Baal Kriat Torah and Darshan – Moshe Blechman; Baalat Maftir – Melinda Trauman
7/23 – Lunch and Learn – noon - a 90 minute discussion on a Jewish topic of interest. Everyone is welcome to participate. Lunch is provided - donation requested.
7/28 – TBM Congregational Meeting – 4:00 pm. Meet with Rabbi Flom and the Board of Directors for all to share our goals, hopes and dreams for our community.
This d’var torah is offered in memory of my grandmother, Sarah Flom, whose yahrzeit is 10 Av (next Wednesday) and in memory of Lynn’s grandmother, Martha Stern, whose yahrzeit is 12 Av (next Friday). May their memories be blessings.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Dov Nechemya Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah, Eve Beatty, John Todd Brosky, Beth Goldstein, Pamela Huddleston, Micah Kosche, Sara Lanxner, Frank Marcovitz, Phil Raider, Helen Reiter, Len Reiter, Judith Sakurai, and Kitty Schmerling.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Dov Nechemya Hakohen ben Rachel Chaya Sarah, Eve Beatty, John Todd Brosky, 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.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via free e-mail subscription to Cyber Torah.
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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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