IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRESENCE

Parashat Bechukotai

Torah: Leviticus 26:3 - 27:34 (Chazak!)

Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19 - 17:14

Iyar 22, 5784 / May 31 - June 1, 2024

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In honor of my upcoming birthday, I have created a mini-fundraiser for Temple B'nai Hayim on Face Book. If you would care to donate, you may do so here:

https://www.facebook.com/donate/453578700655833/ 

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. No meeting on June 3. On June 10, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 211 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'...א"ר אבוהו כל שאומרים בפני המת'  

"R. Abuhu said: "Whatever is said in the presence of a dead body..."

Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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IN THE PRESENCE OF THE PRESENCE

"And I will set My tabernacle amidst you; and My soul shall not abhor you." Leviticus 26:11

The Hebrew word for tabernacle, mishkan, has the same root as the word shekhinah, meaning "Divine Presence" or "Sheltering Presence". The idea is that the Shekhinah dwells in the mishkan. (See also Exodus 29:45 - "And I will dwell [v'shakhunti] among the people Israel") So, where was the Shekhinah before the tabernacle was built? And where has it been since the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem? More particularly, where has it been during all the travels and travails of the Jewish people?

Tabernacle in the wilderness, J.J. Derghi, 1866. Wikimedia

The answer is in the verse itself. Read it as "I will set My Presence amidst you." Wherever and whenever we are, the Shekhinah, God's Sheltering Presence, is always in our very midst.

In traditional siddurim, one finds the bedtime Sh'ma. Within that set of prayers before sleep there is this reference to four angels and the Shekhinah: "In the name of the Lord, the God of Israel, may Michael (the one like God) be at my right hand; Gabriel (God is my strength) at my left; before me, Uriel (God is my light); behind me, Raphael (God heals); and above my head, the Divine Presence of God."

The late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach set this to music, and it sounds like a sweet lullaby. You can hear it here, performed by Reb Shlomo: 

https://youtu.be/_FhRjZeb_Z0?si=OMQQOM4zO38WmHko 

The Hebrew words, transliteration, and translation are available here:

http://rav-rich.blogspot.com/2016/05/angel-meditation.html 

It can be a very pleasant and relaxing experience to quietly recite or chant this prayer. Wherever you are, wherever you lay your head, know this - the Shekhinah is with you. 

Rest easy.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

.הרחמן הוא יברך אותנו כולנו יחדי בברכת אחוה ובברכת אהבה ובברכת שלום

May the Merciful One bless us, all of us as one, with the blessing of brotherhood, the blessing of love, and the blessing of peace.

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management: 

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”. 

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”. 

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.

YOUR SIBLING'S KEEPER

Parashat Behar
Torah: Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27 (Ashkenazim); Jeremiah 32:6-22 (Sephardim)

Iyar 17, 5784 / May 24-25, 2024

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This d’var torah is offered in memory of all US military personnel who died in the service to our country. Please fly your flag on Memorial Day in their honor.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for Sarah Raizel bat Elisheva, Elie Ya'akov ben Pesha Leah, and Yaffa bat Blimah.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On May 27 (yes, Memorial Day), we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 211 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'...א"ר אבוהו כל שאומרים בפני המת'  

"R. Abuhu said: "Whatever is said in the presence of a dead body..."

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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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 pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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YOUR SIBLING'S KEEPER

"And if your brother becomes poor and his strength fails him, you shall support him, whether he is a convert or a resident alien, in order that he may live with you." Leviticus 25:35

The great Kabbalist of Tz'fat, Rabbi Moshe Alshikh (1508-1593), notes that earlier verses were in the second person plural. That is, the Torah had set up a social regime to be followed by the community as a whole. In our verse, however, the Torah switches to the singular. He says that, when a person needs help, everyone tries to shift responsibility to someone else, claiming that some other person is more closely related or has more means to help, or... You get the idea.

R. Alshikh says the singular verb teaches that each of us, individually, is responsible for helping the poor. One cannot absolve oneself of this obligation simply by referring the poor person to someone else.

But there’s much, much more at play here. The verse calls the poor person “your brother”, and it clearly means someone beyond only a sibling with closely-shared DNA. Rather, the verse implies that every human being is related to every other human being – we are all siblings. 

"The Creation of Adam" - ca. 1508-1512 - Michelangelo

The prophet Malachi (2:10) is explicit about this: “Do we not all have one father? Did not one God create us? Why do we deal treacherously every man against his brother, profaning the covenant of our ancestors?” See also Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5: “...only a single human being (i.e., "Adam", which literally means "a human") was initially created for the sake of peace, so that no one should be able to claim lineage superior to another person…” 

You and I are each our brother's and sister's keeper! If we don't support them, who will?

Shabbat Shalom! And have a meaningful Memorial Day!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

הרחמן הוא יברך אותנו כולנו יחד בברכת אחוה, ובברכת אהבה,ובברכת שלום

May the Merciful One bless us, all of us as one, with the blessing of brotherhood, the blessing of love, and the blessing of peace.

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body. 

SPEAKING AND SAYING

Parashat Emor

Iyar 10, 5784 / May 17-18, 2024

Torah: Leviticus 21:1 - 24:23
Haftarah: Ezekiel 44:15-31

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. NO Lunch and Learn on May 20. We will resume on May 27 (yes, Memorial Day), and we'll be at BT Shabbat 152b, page 211of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1: 

'...א"ר אבוהו כל שאומרים בפני המת'  

"R. Abuhu said: "Whatever is said in the presence of a dead body..."

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  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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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. (Commentary quoted in Itturei Torah)

Our commentators see in the linguistic redundancy a hint at something more. Rebbe Elimelekh of Lizhensk (1717 - 1787) is even more forceful. He suggests that the more powerful and influential one is, the more scrupulous one needs to be about even the least significant obligation or character fault. (Quoted in Itturei Torah). 

All our commentators are describing the same thing: leaders who practice ego reduction. Talk about great expectations! 

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. Even worse, they all too frequently demand sacrifices of others while carving out exemptions from those sacrifices for themselves and their friends. In Porachat Altah Nitzah's terms, they "lord it over the people."

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 understand and respect their limits (personal and legal), and who accept full responsibility for their actions and the actions of those they employ. How much more so as we in the United States go deeper into this year’s political season, and all that is riding on the upcoming elections. Authority without limit or responsibility is a license to do unmitigated damage. When will we ever "get it"? 

Perhaps we should begin by demanding more accountability and some humility by reminding our "leaders" that they are actually servants of their constituencies! (h/t John Echeto for this idea)

Speak to our leaders, and say to them.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body. 

WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO, GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Parashat Kedoshim

Iyar 3, 5784 / May 10-11, 2024

Torah: Leviticus 19:1 - 20:27

Haftarah: Ashkenazim - Ezekiel 22:1-19; Sephardim - Ezekiel 20:2-20

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

As a side note to the below d'var torah, here's a very specific way to "love your fellow" - contribute to the NALC "Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive" this Saturday. See this link for more info: https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive 

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Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On May 13, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - 

 '...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך'  

"Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”

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  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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 pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

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WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO, GOT TO DO WITH IT?

"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." (Leviticus 19:18)

Siddur Sim Shalom has the following brief kavannah - a statement of intent - immediately before Birkhot Hashachar – The Blessings of the Morning: "I hereby accept upon myself the mitzvah of the Creator - 'Love your fellow as yourself.'" Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad, placed this kavannah in his siddur as well. The reason, he said, is that the commandment to love one's fellows is the gateway to coming before God in prayer. I think what he means by that is that we cannot stand before the One we are commanded to love (Deuteronomy 6:5) until we have demonstrated our love for our fellow human beings – who are, after all, created in the Divine image. I found this quote of “an unknown Torah scholar” in Itturei Torah: "To the extent that one is deficient in 'love your fellow as yourself', one is deficient in 'love the Lord your God.'"

In Or Hadash, his commentary on Siddur Sim Shalom, Rabbi Reuven Hammer, z’l, cites the famous story of Hillel teaching the Torah to a proselyte while standing on one foot: “Whatever is hateful to you, do not do to others. The rest is commentary. Go and learn it!” (BT Shabbat 31a) Rabbi Hammer adds that Hillel believes our religious practices are intended to lead us to treating our fellow human beings in this loving way. He concludes: “Thus, the ultimate test of a religious person is not specific observances, but the influence that these observances have upon that person’s actions toward others.”

The second blessing of the morning, as it appears in Siddur Sim Shalom and other Conservative siddurim, says: “Blessed are you, Lord our God, who has made me in God's image.” We thank God for making each and every one of us in the Divine image.

In summary, we cannot hope to approach the Divine, let alone love the Divine, until we acknowledge the divinity in every other human being.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

"From the place where we are absolutely right, flowers will never grow in the spring."

"מן המקום שבו אנו צודקים לא יצמחו לעולם פרחים באביב"

Yehuda Amichai

----------------------------------------------------

My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body. 

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!

Parashat Acharei Mot

Nisan 26, 5784 / May 3-4, 2024

Torah: Leviticus 16:1 - 18:30

Haftarah: Amos 9:7-15 (Ashkenazim); Ezekiel 22:1-16 (Sephardim)

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This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah and a speedy and safe return of all the hostages being held by Hamas.

This d’var torah is offered for a refuah shleimah for all who have been wounded in the terrorist attacks and in fighting against the terrorists, as well as innocent non-combatants caught in the crossfire.

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Lunch and Learn meets Mondays at 12:30 PM on Zoom and Facebook Live. On May 6, we'll be at BT Shabbat 152a, page 209 of Ein Ya'akov (Glick edition) Volume 1 - 

 '...א"ל רבי לר"ש בן חלפתא מפני מה לא הקבלנו פניך'  

"Rabbi said to R. Simon b. Chalafta: why were we not permitted to see you…”

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  

----------------------------------------------------------------------

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  

------------------------------------------------------

Please pass this on to a friend - and please cite the source.

----------------------------------------------------------------

THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH, AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH!

"And you shall observe my laws and my rules; so that when man does them, he shall live by them; I am the Lord." Leviticus 18:5

The commentary Degel Machaneh Ephraim (Moshe Chaim Ephraim of Sudilkov, (1748-1800) notes that the word "otam", meaning "them", is spelled here without the customary "vav-holem". This leaves the letters alef, tav and mem.  These same letters also spell the word "emet", meaning "truth". He says that the secret of prolonging and fulfilling one's life is to acknowledge the truth, to tell oneself the truth, and to walk in the way of truth. One thereby makes truth the foundation of one's life. This is what it means by to "live by them".

He is not referring only to honesty to others, ala George Washington or Abraham Lincoln. Rather, he means that one must live a life of sanctity, finding holiness wherever one is and in whatever one is doing; and that requires truth in every aspect of life.

It is noteworthy that, when we remove the Torah from the ark, we recite the following meditation: "Not in man do I put my trust, not upon angels do I rely, but upon the God of the universe, Whose Torah is truth, Whose prophets are truth, and Who abounds in deeds of goodness and truth.... May it be Your will to open my heart to Your Torah ..."

When we acknowledge the Torah as truth, we are able to live moral and holy lives. When we live lives of truth, we have no need to create or maintain falsehoods. If we always tell the truth, we never have to remember which lies we told to whom. It makes for an uncluttered mind and a pure heart. And that's the truth!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Richard A. Flom

Rabbi Emeritus, Temple B’nai Hayim

.הַלּוֹמֵד מִכָּל אָדָם ?אֵיזֶהוּ חָכָם

Who is wise? The one who learns from every person.

Ben Zoma - Pirkei Avot 4:1

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My weekly divrei torah are available through free subscription to the Cyber Torah e-mail list. No salesman will call! Cyber Torah list management:

To subscribe to Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Subscribe Cyber Torah”.

To unsubscribe from Cyber Torah, send an e-mail from the receiving address to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Unsubscribe Cyber Torah”.

To dedicate a Cyber Torah in honor of a simchah in memory of a loved one or for a refuah shleimah, send an e-mail to: ravflom@sbcglobal.net with the heading “Dedicate Cyber Torah” and provide details in the message body.