Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts - The Rebellion

Welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa. Each week we look at the weekly Torah Portion and try to make some sense of it in our times. This week we read Parsha Korach (Numbers 16:1 - 18:32) and how this fits into the times of today. Let's go! 

This week we read about how the people who seemed to always be complaining now gather in open rebellion against Moses and Aaron. It all starts when Korach, a Levite, is passed over for the leadership of his tribe and challenges Moses over the position of High Priest. No good rebellion can be "sold" as a means for personal gain, so Korach convinces 250 men of renown that they must stand up for a matter of principle – that each and every one of them has the right to the office of High Priest (which Moses had announced that G-d had already designated his brother, Aaron, to serve). 

What happens next is amazing.  All 250 followers of Korach accept Moses' challenge to bring an offering of incense to see who G-d will choose to fill the one position. This meant that every man figured he would be the one out of 250 to not only be chosen, but to survive the ordeal. Moses announces that if the earth splits and swallows up the rebels it is a sign that he (Moses) is acting on G-d's authority. And it didn't end well for the rebels. But, we're not over.

The very next day the entire Israelite community rises in a second rebellion and complains to Moses, "You have killed G-d's people!" The Almighty brings a plague that kills 14,700 people and only stops when Aaron offers an incense offering.

It is settled when Moses tells the leaders of each tribe to bring a staff with their name written on it.  Those "sticks" are then placed in the ground and only the staff of Aaron blossomed and delivered almonds.

OK, so what can we learn from this that is impactful in our time?

in the Ethics of Our Fathers there is this saying: 

“Any controversy that is for the sake of heaven will endure.
A controversy that is not for the sake of Heaven shall not endure”

The saying is about two great Torah scholars (Hillel and Shammai) who would argue even the smallest point of the Law. Their "controversy", even though sometimes heated, was for the sake of explaining the Torah and by that was for the sake of heaven.  So, it is today. During our Midrash (We've gotta get back to that friends!) we often do not agree on some points of the Torah.  Some of us are Jewish, some Christian, some...well...maybe neither. But, our discussion is an attempt to help each other better understand points that are inspired by...faith.

Today, as a nation, we are in great controversy. It seems to be everywhere. These disputes over equality, health care, politics and more must happen but, will they endure? The answer is, "It depends."

If one side of the dispute is to argue against the positions of what the Torah tells us...they will not endure. So, what does the Torah tell us? The direction we are given is that we are to care for each other, to not put a stumbling block in front of the blind, to give generously to those in need, to protect the widow, the stranger and the child. If we argue against those points the position is, according to our faith...false.

The next time you witness a controversy consider if what is being said or acted on is faithful to the sake of Heaven.

May you have a blessed Shabbat. 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 19 June 2020

Welcome to Torah Thoughts our weekly look at the Torah Portion of the week from the Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa which is based in Mason City. Today, along with a look a this week's portion a word about the celebration of Juneteenth. Let's get started.

This week we read from Shlach, Numbers 13:1 - 15:41. Shelach, in Hebrew, means "send" and comes from the first sentence in this reading, "Hashem (The Name) spoke to Moses, saying, 'Send forth men, if you please, and let them spy out the Land of Canaan that I give to the Children of Israel; one man from each of his father's tribe shall you send, every one a leader among them."

Right away we see something very different in what G-d has said.  Notice it is less a commandment and more a "suggestion" as He says, "Send forth men, if you please, and..."

Why?

The people had come to Moses and asked him to send spies to check out the land. Even though G-d had said they would be protected and it was His gift to the Jews the people still...doubted. Sound familiar?  And, so, Moses wishing to placate the people said he would do what was asked of him. In reality, Moses thought that by agreeing to sending spies the people would be satisfied and not wish the action to go forward. Oh, but he was wrong.

The twelve spies went out and when they returned from their 40 days of work two, Joshua and Caleb, reported that it was a land of "milk and honey". However, the other ten spies shared frightening stories of what they saw.  The people made the choice, once again, to doubt G-d and they sided with the majority.

The result was a national hysteria. The people were scared and they begged Moses not to enter The Land. The result was that G-d said they would wander in the desert for one year for every day the spies were on their mission. So, for 40 years, until the doubters had died...the Jews wandered.

There is so much to unpack here: That the people doubted is nothing new. Their lack of faith even in the sight of great miracles is astounding but easy to understand. How many of us doubt? It is going on in our nation today. Conspiracy theories, just like those that came back with the ten spies, invade our lives...and we doubt reality. Why? Mostly, like our ancestors, we are afraid and fear makes way for doubt.

All of this took place on the 9th day of the Hebrew month of Av and according to tradition G-d declared, “You cried on this night for no reason. I will give you a reason to cry forevermore on this day.”  And so it has been. From the expulsion of the Jews from Spain on the 9th of Av in 1492 as well as the expulsion from England. It was on the 9th of Av that both Temples were destroyed. It was on the 9th of Av that World War I started as Germany declared war on Russia.  It was on the 9th of Av that the Warsaw Ghetto was obliterated. If you want more examples here is a link.  Coincidence?  Hardly.

Here, also, is an interesting fact that links to this story. This is the basis of the Minyan. While one may pray at any time and by ourselves there are specific prayers that should not be uttered unless there are ten Jews present. In the Orthodox world it is ten men in our other denominations the Minyan may be mixed...men and women. How is that linked to the Spies? 

We find in Leviticus, “And I shall be sanctified in the midst of the children of Israel” (22:32). The same word also appears in the verse: “Separate yourselves from the midst of the congregation” (Numbers 16:21).

This word, “eidah – congregation” is found as the description of the group of ten spies who rendered a negative report on the land of Israel: “How long shall I bear with this evil congregation which murmur against me?” (Numbers 14:27). Hence, the Talmud derives from here that to sanctify G-d in a congregation – the congregation must consist of at least 10.

See what you learn here...

Finally, there is this major link to the story:

United we Stand; Divided we Fall

Think of this for a moment as we witness the tearing apart of our society. We are divided on COVID19; Fact or Fiction. We are divided on the world stage; Friends or Enemies. We are divided along economic lines; Rich or Poor. We are divided along racial lines; Caucasian, Black. Asian, Latino. We are divided on law and order; Law Enforcement or Public Safety. We are divided on issues of orientation; Gay or Straight.  We are divided on religious lines and the list goes on and on.

Where is the unity?  Are we repeating history as we doubt the greatness of our people?

Today is Juneteenth a day that marks the freedom from slavery in our nation. While the Emancipation Proclamation was handed down years earlier it was not until June 19, 1865 that slaves in Texas were notified they were...free. That event has been largely scrubbed from our history books and so today many people have no clue as to what Juneteenth means nor do they know of the Tulsa Massacre or the Red Summeror, the bombing in May of 1985 as police dropped a bomb onto the compound of MOVE, a black liberation group.

And so we doubt that there is any need for racial, economic and social justice...even when it is right in front of us.

Unity is not a bad word and while we may never be totally unified it is up to us to find common ground and then go about the business of fixing what is broken. It is not easy work but, if we pay attention, we know the danger that exists if we fail.

May you have a peaceful and meaningful Shabbat.

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 12 June 2020

Thanks for coming by Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. Each week we look at the Torah Portion of the week and try to make sense of it in our modern world.  This week we read Parsha Beha'alosecha (Numbers 8:1 - 12:16). The word Beha'alosecha means two things, both "step-up" and "kindle".  It has to do with the first line in this week's parsha: "Hashem (the name) spoke to Moses, saying "Speak to Aaron and say to him: When you (step up to) kindle the lamps, toward the face of the Menorah shall the seven lamps cast light."

Sort of an odd way to say, "light the lamps" right?  There is a point to the passage.  You see there were (and are today in every shul) a menorah with seven lights. Three on the right and three on the left with the middle light a symbol of Shabbat. Here, in this Torah portion we are learning another meaning. The lamps were all directed inward, toward the middle light (G-d). The three on the right symbolize those who engage in spiritual pursuits, while the three on the left symbolizes temporal activity. What the Torah is teaching us is that all of our actions/activities should be toward the service of G-d.

In this portion we also learn that the first Pesach is celebrated since leaving Egypt. The Almighty instructs the Jewish people to journey into the desert whenever the ever-present cloud lifts from above the Tabernacle and to camp where it rests. Moses is instructed to make two silver trumpets to be sounded before battle or to proclaim a Yom Tov (a holiday).

Wait! There's more!

The people journey to the wilderness of Paran, during which time they rebelled twice against the Almighty's leadership. The second time they complain about the boring taste of the maneh and the lack of meat in the desert. The Almighty sends a massive quantity of quail and those who rebelled died.

Moses asks his father-in-law, Yitro (Jethro) to travel with them in the desert, but Yitro returns to Midian.

Miriam, Moses' sister, speaks lashon hora (defaming words) about Moses. She is struck with tzora'as (the mystical skin disease which indicated that a person spoke improperly about another person) and is exiled from the camp for one week.

So much to unpack.

First, we need to realize that if everything comes from G-d that when we complain about our lot and ask for "more" sometimes we get what we ask for and that's not always good.

Yitro returns to Midian and shares what he has learned about the Jews.

And Miriam learns a lesson about speaking badly about others. We are, in this story, reminded that our words...matter.  So, "Watch your tongue!" as my Mother z"l would say. 

One other thought is about where we find ourselves today, in this time.

The world order seems to be turned upside down.

Due to the pandemic those whom society looked up to: Movie stars and sports stars are no longer making movies or playing sports and so their "social value" has been diminished.

Conversely, those whom society took for granted: Nurses aides, nurses, doctors, teachers and parents...because they were always there quietly doing their job...are now lauded for their efforts.

It's sort of like everything has been "re-calibrated" and it takes a pandemic to sort stuff out.

Something to consider as we move forward.

May you have a safe and peaceful Shabbat! 

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 5 June 2020

Torah Thoughts is our weekly look at the Torah Portion of the Week from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City.  We hope this finds you and your family well.

This week we read from Num. 4:21 - 7:89 or Naso (Hebrew for "take a census" or "lift up") and it is the sixth Hebrew word in this parsha, "Hashem spoke to Moses, saying 'Take a census of the sons of Gershon..." We are continuing the assignment of various duties to be accomplished from the Levite families.

Also in this portion (Num. 6:24 - 6:26) we find  perhaps the most well-known blessing in Judaism, the “Priestly Blessing.” G-d instructs Moses to entrust his brother Aaron and his sons – the Cohanim (priestly caste) of the Jewish people – with the responsibility of blessing the Jewish people. This blessing, known in Hebrew as “Birkat Cohanim," is:

“May G-d bless you and keep watch over you.
 May G-d’s countenance be illuminated towards you and endow you with grace.
 May G-d direct His providence toward you and grant you peace.”

There are various translations of the Birkat Cohanim and no doubt you have heard several.  What G-d says after this blessing is the reason why this blessing is so very important.  

The Torah continues, “They will thus link My name with the Israelites and I will bless them” (Numbers 6:27).

The practice of saying this blessing continues even today. We hear this in the afternoon of the Yom Kippur service, spoken by the Cohanim family we are blessed to have in Mason City. ( Believe it or not, many congregations do not have that priestly link to our history.) It is also recited at the end of each of our Erv Shabbat services. And, this is really important, the same blessing is said all over he world every Friday night, before the Shabbat Meal, by Jewish parents as a blessing to each of their children.

Why? To link the name of Hashem to each of us and allow His blessings to continue.

Finally, a few words about the strife that has engulfed our nation.

Over the past week I have been to several protests in Iowa and I have witnessed some amazing things:

• The Pain is Real - It is hard to explain to many of my caucasian friends what is going on and why so many people are in the streets. Why? Because, for the most part, none of them have ever experienced what it is like to be a minority that has suffered systemic racism for several hundred years. If you don't feel it and know it...how can one relate? That is not a knock...it's simply reality.
• Listening is Important - The worst thing we, as caucasians, can do is talk. It is time to listen. Listen to the stories of the neighbors you do not know. Listen to the frustration. Listen to what is being said without judgement. If the pain is real so too are the words.
• Love Has Power - I have witnessed some wonderful moments. People comforting others with words and action. There is not a bunch of hugging going on...but you can see it in the eyes of those who care. "I love you" can be said in so many ways.

What is the Jewish response to what we see and feel and hear?  It is for us to learn and not to be indifferent. Elie Wiesel wrote:  "The opposite of love is not hate, it's indifference. The opposite of beauty is not ugliness, it's indifference. The opposite of faith is not heresy, it's indifference. And the opposite of life is not death, but indifference between life and death."

We have, since the day at Sinai, been told not to be indifferent but to have purpose.

And, finally we are told, "That which is hateful to you do not do to your fellow. This is the whole of Torah, the rest is commentary. Now, go and learn it." Rabbi Hillel.

The fundamental principal of the Torah is, "Love your neighbor as yourself." (Lev. 19:18)

We are here not to judge but to be judged. We know, in our heart and in our head what it is we are called to do.

May you have a peaceful and healthy Shabbat.