BUILDING AND DESTROYING

Parashat Noach
Cheshvan 6, 5784 / October 20-21, 2023
Torah: Genesis 6:9-11:32
Haftarah: Isaiah 54:1-55:5
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This d'var torah is offered in memory of all the dead Israelis and other residents in Israel, whether murdered by Hamas or in combat, and of the dead civilians in Gaza.
 
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my uncle, Merwin Erenbaum, whose yahrzeit falls on Monday, October 23, corresponding to 8 Cheshvan. Y'hi zikhro liv'rakhah - May his memory be a blessing.
 
This d'var torah is offered in memory of my zayde, Sam Flom, whose yahrzeit falls on Tuesday, October 24, corresponding to 9 Cheshvan. Y'hi zikhro liv'rakhah - May his memory be a blessing.
 
This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the Hamas terrorist attack and in fighting against terrorists.

This d'var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Chanah Bella bat Kreina and Devorah bat Feigel.
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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. 
We're continuing to read and discuss the Midrashic collection Ein Ya'akov. On Monday, October 23, we'll be at BT Shabbat 118b, page 189 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 – "R. Jose said: 'O that my lot fall among those who cause the resumption of study…'"
Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) is available for on-line reading or as a downloadable PDF at:
https://hebrewbooks.org/9630   
A pointed Hebrew text version with different pagination is available at Sefaria: 
https://www.sefaria.org/Ein_Yaakov?tab=contents  
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Check out our wonderful community, and get lots of info about our various programs and becoming a Member at: https://bnaihayim.org/ 
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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 should read at: 
https://midrashsrp.wordpress.com 
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Please feel free to pass this on to a friend, and please cite the source.
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BUILDING AND DESTROYING
 
“And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children. In righteousness shall you be established; be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from ruin, for it shall not come near you. Behold, they may gather together, but not by Me; whoever shall gather together against you shall fall because of you. Behold, I have created the smith that blows the fire of coals, and brings forth a weapon for his work; and I have created the destroyer (“mash’chit”) to lay waste. No weapon that is formed against you shall prosper; and every tongue that rises against you in judgment you shall condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their due reward from Me, says the LORD.” (Isaiah 54:13-17)
 
More than a few people will read these verses from this week’s haftarah and conclude that God will be with the State of Israel and help deliver victory in the struggle against Hamas and all the other monstrous terrorists seeking to destroy the state and its inhabitants. I hope and pray that is so. But there is a caveat within – Israel must establish itself “in righteousness”.
 
Nothing in these verses gives carte blanche for the wanton taking of innocent civilian lives. Israel is not the “destroyer” (the “mash’chit” – see also Exodus 12:23) that mindlessly kills all in its path. If the IDF’s principles of "tohar haneshek" (purity of arms) and "havlaga" (restraint) really mean something, then Israel must control the mash’chit that rages within so many hearts, trying to break out and destroy. Israel cannot debase itself in this way.
 
There is a Rabbinic teaching on verse 13 above. It’s found at BT Berakhot 64a:
 
R. Eleazar said in the name of R. Hanina: “The disciples of the wise increase peace in the world, as it says, ‘And all your children shall be taught of the LORD; and great shall be the peace of your children.’ (Isaiah 54:13) Read not banayikh [your children] the second time, but bonayikh [those who understand; or, your builders]. ‘Those who love your Torah will have great peace, and nothing makes them stumble.’ (Psalms 119:165) ‘May there be peace be within your walls and security within your gates. For the sake of my brethren and companions I say, May peace be within you. For the sake of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.’ (Psalms 122:7-9) ‘The Lord will give strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.’” (Psalms 29:11)
 
Last week, some days after the end of Sukkot, I finally took down my sukkah – and I remembered that it had taken me some time, over two hours of sweating in the hot sun, to erect the frame and walls. But it took less than 15 minutes to take it apart and store all the components. Building a sukkat shalom, a shelter of peace, takes much more time and effort than destroying one.
 
Shabbat Shalom.
 
Harachaman hu yivarekh otanu, kol yosh’vei teivel, kulanu, yachad b'virkat shalom.
May the Merciful One bless us, all the inhabitants of the world, all of us, as one, with the blessing of peace.
 
Rabbi Richard A. Flom - Rabbi Emeritus
Temple B'nai Hayim
http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/  
.אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם? הַלוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם
Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.
Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1
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