EVIL INCLINATIONS

Parashat Acharei Mot

Nisan 29, 5782 / April 29-30, 2022

Torah: Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30

Haftarah: 1 Samuel 20:18-42 (Machar Chodesh)

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This d'var torah is offered in memory of Susan Arbetman, mother of Marilyn (Martin) Lee, who passed away on Friday. Susan was one of the last remaining survivors of Auschwitz. Thursday, April 28 is Yom Hazikaron laShoah ve-laG'vurah, The Day of Remembering the Shoah and the Heroism, colloquially known as Yom Hashoah. 

I offer the following in her memory as well, and as a caution to us all.

"Memory is redemption; forgetting is oblivion." This quote from the Besht (Baal Shem Tov, founder of Hasidism), found at the entrance to Yad Vashem, the Shoah Memorial Museum in Jerusalem, can be read in different ways. First, remembering the dead is a form of tichiyat hameitim - giving life to the dead - a form of redemption - while forgetting them is consigning them, their lives, their accomplishments, their aspirations, to oblivion. This is what the Nazis hoped to accomplish against an entire people. Second, remembering is a way in which the rememberer redeems him/her self and the world from oblivion. As the well-known Santayana quote says, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it". This is what will happen if those who tire of remembering, or worse, those who deny the events, should ever take over. By remembering, we save ourselves and our world from oblivion.

Y'hi zekherah barukh - May the memory of Susan Arbetman be a blessing to her family and friends.

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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.

Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/  

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Lunch and Learn is going on hiatus for the month of May, as I will be traveling quite a bit. We meet Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live, and may be going back to in-person as well starting in June. We’ll be continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On June 7, we'll be at page 5 (my pagination) of Chapter 6 of BT Berakhot (40a) - "Raba the son of Samuel said in the name of R. Chiya:...” The reading may be found at: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOGujnXBhbJalQbfp3vPpK7TeeZejXZo/view?usp=sharing 

Previous chapters of Ein Ya'akov are available as follows:

Chapter 1: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Jt-NLamlIiAGpBhU7WNrCVZGBYhHHWCN/view?usp=sharing  

Chapter 2: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vJHoKQJwoObg2ygnnXc7qIV5Adgcvswc/view?usp=sharing 

Chapters 3 and 4: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TpQwHh2XyWT9XYQ5OAjwxDbuVpXbzIDY/view?usp=sharing 

Chapter 5: 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/18naYXIfd37WqagfJ5UfJoH84amqt2-tA/view?usp=sharing 

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Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com   
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source. 
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EVIL INCLINATIONS

“And he will take from the congregation of the Children of Israel two kids of goats for a sin offering …” Leviticus 16:5

Rabbi Israel Salanter (founder of the ethical self-discipline movement Mussar) taught that there are two kinds of yetzer hara (evil inclination): 1. that which comes from bodily lust; and, 2. that which entices a person to sin as an act of defiance. He cites a teaching from the Talmud (Berakhot 54), which says that the unusual Hebrew formation in the Sh’ma of “with all your heart” (בְּכָל לְבָבְךָ - b’khol l’vav’kha instead of בְּכָל לִבֶּךָ -  b’khol libekha - two “beits” instead of one) means that we can and should use the first type of yetzer hara in combination with our yetzer hatov (good inclination) for good purposes – e.g., utilizing one’s lust for power to channel it into accomplishing much for the benefit of society. On the other hand, with regard to the second type of evil inclination, that of defiance, one should flee as far as possible from it.

The commentary Tzvi Yisrael says that Rabbi Salanter’s teaching is borne out by the two kids that are the sin offerings of Yom Kippur. Regarding the evil inclination coming from lust, Lev. 16:9 says, “Aaron will sacrifice the goat”, meaning this evil inclination must be channeled into service of God. Concerning the other kid, representing the evil inclination of defiance of God, Lev. 16:10 says it must “go for a scapegoat into the wilderness” – one must drive it away and stay as far as possible from it. (From Itturei Torah)

The difficult part of all this is recognizing which evil inclination we are dealing with. For that, we must really know ourselves – and that is what Mussar and cheshbon hanefesh (accounting of the soul) are all about. Who says that Yom Kippur only comes once a year?

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus

Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RabbiRichardFlom 
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
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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 

FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR … RESPONSIBILITY?

Nisan 21, 5782 / April 21-22, 2022 - Pesach - Day 7
Torah: Exodus 13:17 - 15:26

Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: 2 Samuel 22:1-51

Nisan 22, 5782 / April 22-23, 2022 - Pesach - Day 8
Torah: Deuteronomy 14:22 - 16:17
Maftir: Numbers 28:19-25
Haftarah: Isaiah 10:32 - 12:6

Additional reading: Shir Hashirim - The Song of Songs

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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.

 
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/  

Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On April 26, we'll be at page 5 (my pagination) of Chapter 6 of BT Berakhot (40a) - "...אמר רבא בר שמואל משמיה דרבי חייא" - "Raba the son of Samuel said in the name of R. Chiya:...” The reading may be found at: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOGujnXBhbJalQbfp3vPpK7TeeZejXZo/view?usp=sharing 

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com   
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source. 
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FREEDOM’S JUST ANOTHER WORD FOR … RESPONSIBILITY?

"And it came to pass, when Pharaoh had sent the people away that God did not lead them through the way of the Philistines, though that was near, for God said, 'Lest the people repent when they see war, and they return to Egypt.'" Exodus 13:17

The Women's Dance

The Torah reading for the 7th day of Pesach includes the famous Song of the Sea. This song is the Israelite victory song, a paean to God after the destruction of the Egyptian army at the Reed Sea. But the victory and song follow just a few verses after the Israelites complained to Moses about their fears, and their desire to return to Egypt. In its first fragile moments, while the oppressors were still around, freedom was a scary proposition! Who will feed us? How will we survive? Who is this Moses? Where are we going? What are the Egyptians going to do to us? Let's go back to the security of slavery! We miss it! And the kvetching begins again shortly after the Reed Sea events. All the while, Moses must have been thinking, "What have I gotten myself into?"  

Rabbi Barukh Abba Rakowsky suggests that the Israelites had dreamed only of being free of their hard labor, but had not dreamed of total liberation from slavery. Absent such a dream, God feared that the first time they faced difficulty they would want to return to Egypt and to slavery. That is why God sent them "the long way". Maybe that is why the Israelites spent 40 years in the desert.

One thing that is abundantly clear throughout the Torah and rabbinic texts is that we each have responsibility - to God, to ourselves, to each other, to the world. Freedom, whether from slavery, or from political oppression, or from chemical addiction, or from anything that prevents us from living up to our potential, often frightens us, because then we are responsible for at least trying to live up to that potential.

That is the difficulty to which Rabbi Rakowsky refers. Slaves have no choice but to do what they are told - so they are not responsible for their actions. Similarly, according to Jewish law, slaves are exempt from many of the mitzvot - but free people are obligated for observing all of them. This means that we are not truly free until we accept responsibility for ourselves and take up the challenges of life.

 

Mo'adim L'Simchah! Shabbat Shalom! 

Seasons of Joy and a Shabbat of Peace!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RabbiRichardFlom 
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
---------------------------------------- 
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 

ON CHAMETZ AND THE FIFTH CHILD

Nisan 15-16, 5782 / April 15-17, 2022

Torah Day 1: Exodus 12:21-51

Maftir Day 1: Numbers 28:16-25

Haftarah Day 1: Joshua 3:5-7; 5:2 - 6:1; 6:27

Torah Day 2: Leviticus 22:26 - 23:44

Maftir Day 2: Numbers 28:16-25

Haftarah Day 2: 2 Kings 23:1-9; 21-25

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PESACH IS COMING!
 
My 5782 Pesach Resources - Pandemic Edition #2 is available at: 
https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2022/03/pesach-resources-5782-pandemic-edition-2.html 
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This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.

 
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/  

Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On April 19, we'll be at page 1  (my pagination) of Chapter 6 of BT Berakhot (35a) - "...כיצד מברכין על הפירות" - "How shall the Benediction on fruit be said...” The reading may be found at: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOGujnXBhbJalQbfp3vPpK7TeeZejXZo/view?usp=sharing 

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com   
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source. 
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ON CHAMETZ AND THE FIFTH CHILD

Chaverim Yekarim / Dear Friends:

I want to share some thoughts with you as we prepare for the Festival of Pesach.

We should consider the nature of the chametz we are commanded to eliminate from our homes and elsewhere for the duration of the holiday. We generally think of it as bread, yeast, leavening, whisky, beer, and the like, which is correct - at one level. But at a deeper level, our rabbis have taught that chametz is symbolic of pride and an inflated ego. Just as leavening causes dough to inflate with the creation of bubbles of hot air, so do our egos often cause us to fill up with pride and the belief in our own self-importance. Chametz also means vinegar, which is made sour by fermentation - so only certain types of vinegar are permitted on Pesach.

The lesson to be learned is that we need to remove not only the physical chametz, but also the spiritual chametz - the chametz in our souls. We can shrink our souls to their most basic components, reducing bitterness and egos so that we can truly appreciate what it means to be the stranger and to address the needs of others. "For you know the soul of the stranger" - the suffering soul of the alienated. That is why the Seder Shel Pesach opens with the words, "Let all who are hungry, come and eat! Let all who are in need, come and celebrate Pesach!" Pesach is not just about us - it's about us attending to the physical and spiritual needs of the Other.

We know from the Haggadah Shel Pesach that there are four types of children, each of whom is to be taught a lesson at the Seder - the wise one, the wicked one, the simple one, and the one who does not know what questions to ask. We often see ourselves and others in these various models. But there is a fifth child, the one we don't ever consider, because that child is invisible or not even present! At least the wicked one is with us, even as s/he causes trouble - that child can be addressed, challenged, even changed. But the one who is so far removed, whether by personal choice or by rejection, that s/he is not present - that child is one that we need to reach out to and bring back to the community - I believe we are commanded to do so. That effort of keruv, of outreach and bringing close, requires the elimination of chametz from our very selves, because the Other is often feared (and fearful), regarded as unapproachable, undesirable, and unclean.

The Seder Shel Pesach should be more than a formulaic ritual and a good dinner. It should teach us and our children that we are obligated to remove the chametz of hubris. Pesach presents a wonderful opportunity to reconsider and reorganize our lives into a new Seder - a new order, that will improve the world and make us worthy of having Eliyahu Hanavi, Elijah the Prophet, knock on our doors.

Shabbat Shalom and Chag Pesach Sameach!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/RabbiRichardFlom 
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
---------------------------------------- 
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 

DON'T BE AN ESTRANGER

Parashat Metzora (Shabbat HaGadol)
Nisan 8 5782/ April 8-9, 2022
Torah: Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33
Haftarah (Shabbat HaGadol): Malakhi 3:4-24
 
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Community Second Seder! In Person! (And virtual). And Seder Meals To-Go! For more info, go to: 
https://bnaihayim.org/passover/ 
 
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PESACH IS COMING!
 
My 5782 Pesach Resources - Pandemic Edition #2 is available at: 
https://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2022/03/pesach-resources-5782-pandemic-edition-2.html 
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This d'var torah is offered in honor of my wonderful wife and life partner, Lynn Kronzek, celebrating her birthday on Friday, April 8. Ad me'ah v'esrim, my dear! Mazal tov!

This d'var torah is offered in honor of my aunt, Helen Schugar, celebrating her 96th birthday on Friday, April 8. Ad me'ah v'esrim! Mazal tov! 

 
This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Feigel bat Kreina and D'vorah bat Feigel.
 
Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about becoming a Chaver and our various programs, at: https://bnaihayim.org/  

Lunch and Learn meets Tuesdays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. We’re continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya’akov. On April 12, we'll be at page 1  (my pagination) of Chapter 6 of BT Berakhot (35a) - "...כיצד מברכין על הפירות" - "How shall the Benediction on fruit be said...” The reading may be found at: 
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1QOGujnXBhbJalQbfp3vPpK7TeeZejXZo/view?usp=sharing 

Rabbi Van Leeuwen has a blog which you should read at: 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
https://rebjasonblog.wordpress.com/blog/ 
 
Dr. Steve Pearlman writes up the "Midrashim of the Week", which you can read here: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com   
 
Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source. 
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DON'T BE AN ESTRANGER

“This is the law of the metzora (mistranslated as 'leper') at the time of his purification; he shall be brought to the priest. The priest shall go outside the camp…” Leviticus 14:2-3

Until his condition clears up, the “leper” remains outside the camp. The Torah says he shall be brought to the priest, then immediately says that the priest shall go out of the camp to the leper.

There is a lesson here for us. Those who are outside of our community, who are isolated or withdrawn, for whatever reason, don't automatically come back to us, even after the condition that caused them to withdraw has passed. How much the more so is this true of those who are not ready for “purification”. Consider the poor, the homeless, the disabled and the foreign-born - all of the strangers among us who are estranged from us. 

Each of us has the obligation to bring them to us, to integrate them into our community and welcome them. We are frequently told in the Torah that we must treat the stranger with love and respect because we were once strangers in Egypt (see Exodus 22:20) - we know, or we ought to know what it is like to be the Other. 

And if you say that it is the job of someone else, “the priest”, you don't get off the hook that easily. Every Jew has the holiness, the power and the obligations of the priest. God tells us that “you shall be for Me a kingdom of priests and a holy people.”  (Exodus 19:6)

Next Friday night is the first Seder of Pesach. Please, invite someone who might otherwise have no place to go to your Seder. You have nothing to lose, and only holiness to gain.
 
Shabbat Shalom.
 
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim/Congregation Beth Meier
Blogging at: http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/
Visit me on Facebook
"שתיקה כהודאה דמיא"
"Silence in the face of wrongdoing is consent.”
BT Yevamot 88a
---------------------------------------- 
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