Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts for 24 January 2020

Greetings friends and welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. This is a weekly review of the Torah Portion before we head into Shabbat. This week we are in Parsha Ve'eria (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35) which in Hebrew means, "and I appeared" the first words spoken by G-d to Moses in this reading. "G-d spoke to Moses and said to him, 'I am Hashem. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as El Shaddai, but with My Name Hashem I did not make myself known to them."

So, what does that opening line mean?  G-d did share his covenant with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob however he did not share "the name" which, in this case, would cause us to think there is a special bond between G-d and Moses. And, indeed, there was. It was through Moses that the Torah would come to the people.  All of this, say the rabbis, is to reassure Moses even though the people now complained. But...as you know we'll get used to that.

Here too we begin the story of the Ten Plagues which G-d put upon the Egyptians not only to effect the release of the Jewish people from bondage, but to show the world that He is the G-d of all creation and history. The first nine plagues are divisible into three groups: 1) the water turning to blood, frogs, lice 2) wild beasts, pestilence/epidemic, boils 3) hail, locust, and darkness.

What is stunning about all of this is the fact that G-d, with these plagues, was attacking the gods of Egypt and in doing so was proclaiming His greatness over all others.

Likewise there is another interpretation: Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch explains that these were punishments measure for measure for afflicting the Jewish people with slavery: 1) The first of each group reduced Egyptians in their own land to the insecurity of strangers. 2) The second of each group robbed them of pride, possessions and a sense of superiority. 3) The third in each group imposed physical suffering.

Service Schedule

Our February meeting will be on Friday the 14th with services starting at 7:15PM and our Midrash (Torah Study) on Shabbat the 15th starting at 10:00AM.  All are welcome and, as a side note, didn't we have a great gathering and discussion last month?  WOW!

Shabbat Shalom and see you in Shul!

 

Torah Thoughts 17 January 2020

Hello friends and welcome to Torah Thoughts from the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City.  Thank you for coming by to learn a bit. A big shout out to all who came last Shabbat to our Midrash (Torah Study) we had a very large and energetic group. Great discussion!

This week we begin the second book of the Torah Shemot (Hebrew for "names"). The Torah portion is Exodus 1:1 - 6:1. This week we learn about the root of anti-Semitic attacks that are increasing by the week. What is it that makes some people hate the Jewish people.  Perhaps it is a blessing that we received at the very beginning. "I will make exceedingly fruitful and make nations from you." (Gen. 17:6) This is told to the Jewish people several times and, perhaps, this is the root cause for anti-Semitic behavior.

You see, G-d makes this promise to no other people and often there is jealousy. Jealousy so intense that it brings very negative impact on the Jew.

We learn that in this week's reading: "A new king arose in Egypt…he said to his people, 'Behold the Children of Israel are more numerous and stronger than we. Come let us act wisely…'" (Exodus 1:8-10).

Pharaoh was the first person to identify the descendants of the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob as a nation. Incredibly, IN THE VERY SAME BREATH he characterizes them as being "a problem." Thus we became the "Jewish Problem"; a label that has stuck and tragically followed us through three millennia of existence.

So why did this take root in Egypt?  If we read a bit more we find the answer, "And they (the Egyptians) were disgusted because of the Children of Israel" (Exodus. 1:12).

About a thousand years ago the most famous Bible commentator in Jewish history, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, explained this verse: "They (the Egyptians) were disgusted with their lives." He goes on to explain that the Hebrew word for "disgusted" comes from the Hebrew word "thorn" and the Talmud explains that the Children of Israel were like thorns in their eyes (Talmud Sota 11a).

Now we learn some amazing insight, one from which we may derive the true root cause of antisemitism. What frustrated the Egyptians about the Jews? That the more they oppressed them the greater the Jews grew in number and in strength (Exodus 1:12).

And, if somebody is doing better than you...it's time to do away with them.  Sad...but perhaps true?

What can we learn from this?  Jews have always, always been on the vanguard of social and economic reform. Finding ways to make everybody's life...better. That is why you found Jews, such as my Grandfather z"tl working long hours across multiple states to build the labor union movement that helped all people gain a better life.  It's sort of in our DNA.

Not that everybody will agree but if we work to improve the lives of all...maybe it's a start.

Shabbat Shalom...

Torah Thoughts 10 January 2020

This week we conclude the book of Bereishis (Genesis) with Parsha Vayechi (Gen. 47:28 - 50:26. The interesting thing about this Torah Portion is the name, "Vayechi" which means "and he lived" the first word in the reading. "Jacob lived in the land of Egypt seventeen years..." Why? Because the end of the Parsha is about the death of Jacob.

There is then a touching scene in which Jacob demands that Joseph not bury him in Egypt but back in the Land of Israel. Joseph says he will do that and brings his two sons Manasseh (Menashe) and Ephraim to visit with Jacob and to be blessed by him. To this day it is a tradition to bless our sons every Shabbat evening with the blessing, "May the Almighty make you like Ephraim and Manasseh".  Why is that? Because the two boys grew up in the Diaspora amongst foreign influences and still remained devoted to the Torah. It should be a blessing that we, even here in Iowa, can grow up but still remain loyal to our faith.

And, no, we do not forget our daughters on Shabbat. The blessing for them is, "May the Almighty make you to be like Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, and Leah"

We then learn that a large group from Pharaoh's court accompanies the family to Hebron to bury Jacob in the Ma'arat Hamachpela, the burial cave purchased by Abraham. 

The brothers now feared that Joseph would take revenge on them for the evil they committed long ago. However, Joseph forgives them and says, "Although you intended me harm, G-d intended it for good in order to accomplish - it is as clear as this day - that a vast people be kept alive. So now, fear not - I will sustain you and your young ones."

Quite a lesson in forgiveness and the ultimate belief that G-d has things under control.

Shabbat Services

We will meet on Friday evening the 10th of January at 7:15PM for our January service and then our Midrash (Torah Study) on this portion will be at 10:00AM on Shabbat (Saturday) the 11th.  Everyone is welcome.

Shabbat Shalom and see you in Shul!

The Torah portion ends with the death of Joseph and his binding the Israelites to bring his remains with them for burial when they are redeemed from slavery and go to the land of Israel. Thus ends the book of Genesis!