7
Tammuz 5774 / 4-5 July 2014
Torah: Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
Haftarah: Micah 5:6 – 6:8
Calendar of Events and Dedications follow. Full calendar and
lots more info about our community available at: http://www.bethmeier.org
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the
source.
--------------------------------------------------------------
THE BEST PLACES
"How goodly are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O
Israel." Numbers 24:5
Bil'am, the sorcerer with the alleged ability to put curses on
other people, was hired by the Moabite king, Balak, to curse the
Israelites. God permits him to utter nothing but blessings. The
blessing above is the most famous of these, and is said or sung as we enter a
synagogue to begin the prayer service.
Over the millenia, innumerable commentators have offered
explanations for this verse. A particularly meaningful one, for me, is given by
the 16th century Italian, Rabbi Ovadiah Sforno. Citing other verses as
proof texts, he says that "tents" refers to the House of Study – the
beit midrash or yeshivah. The "dwelling places" are the House of
Assembly – beit k’nesset - synagogue.
Certainly, these are the places where the vast majority of us have
our encounters with God - studying holy texts and praying. I would like to
take a broader view, by reading the terms "tents" and "dwelling
places" in a more literal way. For one thing, we don't need to study
or pray only at the beit midrash or beit knesset . We can do those things
virtually anywhere. We can turn any place into a beit midrash, so long as
we are engaged in the work of studying our holy texts. We can turn any
place into a beit k’nesset, so long as we are offering up sincere
prayers. But there is more, much more, to practicing Judaism. And
there are more places, many more places, for practicing Judaism.
I believe we should read "dwelling places" as our homes,
the places where we spend the greatest portion of our time. Then
"tents" are temporary places, whether workplaces or summer vacation
spots or hospital rooms or supermarkets. These tents and dwelling places,
which may be anywhere, are the locations where we put what we learn and pray
for into action - the rituals for Shabbat and Yom Tov, kashrut, tzedakah
(charity), gemilut chasadim (deeds of lovingkindness)- any and all of the
commandments. In short, wherever you are is the best place for practicing
Judaism and encountering God, so long as you put forth the effort to make it
good.
Have a wonderful Shabbat and a safe and happy Independence
Day!
Rabbi Richard A. Flom
Congregation Beth Meier - Studio City, CA
www.bethmeier.org
Visit me on Facebook
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Calendar and Dedications
Candlelighting: 7:50 pm
Friday: CBM office closed
- Happy Birthday, Uncle Sam! NO Shabbat evening service! Parking
impossible due to CBS fireworks.
Saturday: Shabbat morning
service – 10:00 am.
Tuesday: NO Lunch and Learn –
Rabbi Flom away. Resumes July 15.
This d'var torah is offered in memory of Gilad Shaar, Naftali
Frenkel, and Eyal Yifrach. May their memories be a blessing for their families
and kol am yisrael – and all the Jewish people.
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Avram
Yisrael ben Channah (Robert Flom), Miriam Minya bat Alisa Batya, Sarah Mindel bat Toby, Howard
Ehrlich, Jerry Forman, Debra Freeman, Ira Goodman, Pamela Huddleston, Rose Jordan, Jayne
Kaplan, Annie Rivera, Leo Roos, William Rosenson, and Helen Schugar.
Please let me know if there is anyone you would like to add to the
refuah shleimah list or if there is anyone who may be removed from the list.
My weekly divrei torah are also available via the Cyber
Torah e-mail list.
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
To request dedications of Cyber Torah in honor of a
simchah, in memory of loved ones or for a refuah shleimah send an e-mail with
your request to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail with the
subject heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah” to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net
