Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 31 December 2021 Parsha Va'eria

Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. It is the end of the secular year and what a year it has been. Now, as we deal with even more uncertainty when it comes to the pandemic it is comforting to be able to turn to something concrete. Something that we know and that is Torah. This week we read Parsha Va'eria (Exodus 6:2 - 9:35). The word va'eria in Hebrew means "I appeared". We find it in the opening line of this week's parsha, "G-d spoke to Moses and said to him, "I am Hashem: I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob as El Shaddai, My Name Hashem I did not make Myself known to them." 

What's Going On?

If you remember, at the end of last week's parsha Moses complained that G-d had sent him to Pharaoh in vain. Not only did the King of Egypt not let the Jews go he doubled down on their workload and made life more difficult for them. Moses is distraught not because he failed in his mission but that the rebuke from Pharaoh lessoned the Egyptians fear of G-d. It is the job of Moses (and every Jew) to uphold G-d's reputation as the Almighty.

This is why observing the mitzvot of the Torah are so important. The commandments are there to help us in our life's journey so that every day, and in every way, we are honoring G-d. So we must speak the truth and live our lives always on the side of G-d and not bring dishonor to His name.

And so, this week G-d seeks to reassure Moses by saying, "Sure Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were great guys that had special gifts but you, Moses, are the greatest of all and because of that I'm going to let you in on a little secret. You get to know my real name." 

The message is that we all need reassurance in our lives...even Moses.

A Little Wine?

Just a bit further we read Ex. 6: 6-7 and if what you are about to read has you leaning a bit to the left and thinking about wine it should. Why? because this is something we read during our Passover Seder...and the drinking of four cups of wine.  It is the "Four Expressions of Redemption". Ready? "Therefore, say to the Children of Israel, I am Hashem, and I shall take you out (1) from under the burdens of Egypt, I shall rescue (2) you from their service, I shall redeem (3) you with an outstretched arm and with great judgements. I shall take (4) you to Me for a people and I shall be a God to you; and you shall know that I am Hashem, your G-d who takes you out from under the burdens of Egypt."

So, not only does G-d seek to reassure Moses and place him in a different role but he, again, makes a promise. Pretty cool huh?

Double Speak?

We now come to something that seems a bit odd. G-d, sort of says the same thing...twice. "G-d spoke to Moses and Aaron and commanded them the Children of Israel and regarding Pharaoh, king of Egypt, to take the Children of Israel out of the land of Egypt" (Ex. 6:13). 

This verse appears redundant. Just two verses earlier, the Torah says, “G-d spoke to Moses, saying, `Come speak to Pharaoh, king of Egypt, that he send the Children of Israel from his land' ” (Ex. 6: 10-11) Rashi explains that the second verse means that G-d told them to speak respectfully to the king of Egypt.

Is this not a bit strange? Moses was going to warn Pharaoh about the ten plagues that he would suffer. In the presence of all the ministers in the palace, Moses was going to speak harshly to Pharaoh. How can this be respectful?

Rabbi Yehudah Leib Chasman says that there was no way out of delivering the warnings to Pharaoh. However, although what had to be said had to be said, it could still be said respectfully rather than with indignation. Indeed, we see that when Moses told Pharaoh about the plague of the firstborn, at which time Moses was angry, he nevertheless said, “Then all these servants of yours will come down to me and bow to me, saying, `Leave – you and the entire people that follows you' ” (Ex. 11:8). Rashi says that Moses really meant that Pharaoh himself will come and bow to him and plead for him to take the Israelites out of Egypt, but out of respect for the king he said “all these servants of yours will come down to me and bow to me”

What Can We Learn?

Rabbi Avraham Twerski (z"l) writes that the Torah is teaching us that even when we must reprimand or punish someone, we should make every effort to avoid insulting him. This is so important in disciplining children. Obviously, children must be reprimanded when they do wrong, and sometimes it is necessary to punish them. However, we should be most cautious to do so in a manner that does not humiliate the child or crush him.

Children who were insulted when they were disciplined are likely to develop feelings of shame and worthlessness which may accompany them throughout their lives. If parents would realize how destructive low self-esteem is to their children, they would be much more careful in how they discipline them. Emotional abuse of a child is as serious an offense as physical abuse. Yet, parents who would never think of breaking a child's arm or leg may not give much thought to the words they use in a reprimand.

Children must be taught right from wrong, but they should be helped to retain their dignity.

The same can be said about...adults...no?

Shul News

We've set aside January 14 and 15 for services and for our Midrash. We'll meet for services at 7:00PM on Friday the 14th and then for our Torah Study (Midrash) on Shabbat the 15th at 10:00AM. Hope to see you in Shul!

Shabbat Shalom and Happy New Year!

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 23 December 2021 Parsha Shemot

Welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Before we get into this week's parsha know that we'll have services in January on Friday the 14th at 7:00PM and then our Midrash on Shabbat the 15th starting at 10:00AM. Hope to see you in shul.

Parsha Shemot

We now begin the Book of Exodus or in Hebrew Shemot. Shemot is Hebrew for "names" and comes from the first line, "And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming to Egypt; with Jacob each man and his household came." (Exodus 1:1) Wait! Were not the Children of Israel already in Egypt? After all, we just finished reading about Joseph and his brothers and Joseph died in Egypt. Why would the Torah backtrack and suggest that they were just "now" coming to Egypt?

The rabbis tell us this is a transition sentence. While Joseph was still living the Egyptians found favor among the Jews. Now that Joseph is dead the Egyptians regard the Jews as being from outside of the country. Strangers in a strange land and so the evil begins...

Fear - A Great Motivator

It is here were we begin to see a far too familiar pattern when it comes to the hatred of the Jewish People. "A new king arise over Egypt who did not know Joseph." (Exodus 1:8) And this new king teaches his people that the Jews are too many, too wealthy and implies that they are the problem. Instilling fear and loathing among the Egyptians. How many times have we seen this play out? 

In every generation there arises a new king that must find a scapegoat for his own failings. For thousands of years that scapegoat has been the Jew. Yes, others are also included. They might be the Irish who were escaping the famine but then the Irish prospered and the despised were the Italians. Then the Italians prospered and the despised became the Jews of Eastern Europe. Or collectively the White People found ways to eradicate and enslave the indigenous people of America. Not satisfied, the majority culture imports slaves from Africa and that Original Sin is still with us.

In our own day we are told that migrants from other lands are taking our jobs and destroying our culture and we are to despise and fear them. It is an old and successful tactic and we should call it out whenever it happens.

The Plot

Pharaoh tells his people that the Jews are outsiders, even though they had lived in Egypt for a hundred years. And that, "...we must deal harshly with them". This is yet another familiar trop. What Joseph had done for Egypt no longer matters. This "what have you done for me lately" kind of anti-Semitism is another all to familiar phenomenon of Jewish history.

And so the plot begins. The first test is to gauge the patriotism of the Jews by building cities to safeguard the wealth of Egypt. The Midrash teaches us that even Pharaoh joined the work detail to show that "everyone must help Egypt in it's time of need". Once the "volunteers" were mobilized it was easy to move on to the next step.

Ramban comments that Pharaoh goal was not slave labor but the total extermination of Israel because he considered them a threat in the event of an invasion. But knowing the people of Egypt would not go along with the outright murder of the Jews, Pharaoh had to work the plot in stages because he needed the consent and cooperation of the Egyptians. 

First was a labor tax reserved only for the Jews. Then ordering the midwives to secretly kill male babies. Then having every Egyptian throw the babies into the river. Finally sending soldiers to search all Jewish homes for hidden infants.

Does any of that seem...familiar?

But, There Is A But

Pharaoh has given his orders but at every turn there are disruptions. Those disruptions come to a head with the birth of Moses. The irony that Moses life was saved by the daughter of Pharaoh and that he was raised under the doting care of the very king that ordered his death is not lost on us. There is a verse in Proverbs 19:21. "Many designs are in a man's heart, but the only with the counsel of Hashem will they prevail."

The great lesson here is that G-d is in control. No matter how much we think we are in control and no matter how much a society thinks it is in control the real control is in the hands of Hashem. But...and this is key to our discussion, if we are not abiding with G-d and we fail to see the truth we are doomed to make the same mistakes as Pharaoh.

This is why we study and learn. Our goal is to peel back what we think we see and understand what is happening through the eyes of G-d. We have been created to honor Him and the best way we can do that is by being true to the Mitzvot...and do them.

Shul News

This past week we gathered at Adas Israel for the burial of Sharon Kropman. In testimony to the goodness of humans was the outpouring of love and care and compassion for her brothers, David and Elliot. From members of the congregation to friends and family things are being put in order for the surviving siblings. While I'm not permitted to offer details know that when humans are called on to do the right thing and it is done...G-d truly blesses those responsible. 

Once again our January service will take place on Friday the 14th at 7:00PM and our Midrash will be on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM.

Shabbat Shalom and see you in shul! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 9 December 2021 Parsha Vayigash

Hello and welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa which is based in Mason City. I hope you had a wonderful and meaningful Chanukah. A reminder that services will be this Friday the 10th at 7:00PM and our Midrash will take place on Shabbat (Saturday) the 11th at 10:00AM at the shul.

This week we read Parsha Vayigash - Genesis 44:18 - 47:27 (Vayigash is Hebrew for "he approached".) "Then Judah approached him (Joseph) and said..." What Judah, the brother that sold Joseph into slavery, does not know is that he is about to speak to his...brother. It's an amazing story as Judah makes the plea that he, rather than young Benjamin, should stay in Egypt as a captive slave, while the others go back to Canaan and bring their father Jacob to Egypt.

It is quite the speech and then something dramatic happens.

Everyone Out

The Torah has spent the past two readings leading up to this moment when Joseph revels himself to his brothers. But, before he does so he commands that all the Egyptians leave the room.  Why?

There is a well-known tradition in Judaism that there are four levels of existence in the physical world: 1) inanimate objects (e.g. rocks) 2) living objects (e.g. plant life) 3) things that live and breathe and move about (e.g. wildlife) 4) animate objects that have the power of speech – mankind.

Speech is such a powerful ability that only humans have. With that power comes great responsibility. It is said that the very first act of evil was when the snake "spoke" to Eve and convinced her to eat from the Tree of Knowledge. In our world the use of speech to spread a false story is called "gossip". It's interesting that even that word sounds a bit like a snake hissing.

Loshon Hora

According to the Talmud (Arachin 15b) gossip is considered a more severe transgression than the three “cardinal sins” of Judaism: 1) murder 2) idol worship 3) illicit sexual relations. Loshon Hora is Hebrew for the "evil tongue" and is absolutely insidious, and yet the almost uncontrollable desire to repeat it is universal. In fact, the Talmud laments that nearly everyone one is guilty of some form of gossip.

Why is gossip so evil? Because it is so often untrue and the person who is the object of the loshon hora is unable to defend him/her self because often it is something not actually said to...them.  And so it can circle around in public without being confronted.  Loshon hora then is much different than a public lie known as motzi shem ra or slander. Why? Because the outright lie can be struck down when made in public...or so it would seem. Our nation has been going through the "Big Lie" for months and even though it is false there are still some who believe.

Back to Joseph

In this week’s Torah portion, we find the climactic confrontation between Joseph and his brother Judah. This dramatic scene is the conclusion of a story line that spans three Torah portions and describes the somewhat uneasy reunion of Joseph and his brothers, and later, an emotional reunion with his father who thought him dead for twenty-two years.

But before the big revel Joseph does something interesting: Joseph could not endure the presence of all those that stood before him and he commanded; “Remove everyone from before me!” Therefore there was no one with him when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers (45:1).

Why does he do this? The great commentator Rashi suggests that that Joseph could not bear the thought of all the people who were normally in a king’s presence being present when he revealed himself to his brothers because they would be mortally embarrassed by their shame (for having sold him into slavery). He therefore ordered them all out of the room prior to revealing himself to his brothers.

But There Is A...But

Meanwhile, the 16^th century sage known by his acronym – Maharal, in his commentary on Rashi, is bothered by Rashi’s assessment that Joseph was concerned about their potential embarrassment once he revealed himself to them.  Maharal seems to conclude that Rashi is wrong and he suggests an alternative reason for their embarrassment, and why Joseph asked all the Egyptians to leave. He notes that in last week’s Torah reading we find that Benjamin was accused of stealing Joseph’s “magic” goblet. Maharal therefore concludes that their embarrassment was rooted in the accusation that they were common thieves. It is for this reason, he explains, that they were embarrassed and that Joseph ordered all the Egyptians out of the room.

The Answer Is...

As Rabbi Zweig writes: "Rashi didn’t agree with Maharal’s assessment of what happened with Joseph and his brothers. Being accused of stealing the goblet, while terribly unpleasant and outrageous, wouldn’t lead to embarrassment. After all, they knew they didn’t steal it and that it was a false accusation.

However, being faced with their treachery of selling Joseph into slavery, which would clearly become public information when Joseph revealed himself, would lead to an incredible humiliation for their past misdeeds and this shame would be particularly magnified if anyone else were present. That’s why Joseph ordered everyone out before he revealed himself to his brothers."

This also gives some insight into Joseph’s remarkable character: he ignores the fact that he was so incredibly wronged by his brothers and could have called them out, but Joseph wasn’t interested in teaching them a lesson – all he wanted was reconciliation.

The Reunion

Of course the brothers are shocked. They suspect Joseph’s intentions, but accept his offer to bring the extended family to Egypt. Jacob is initially numb and disbelieving of the news, but becomes very excited to see his son.

The Torah recounts the 70 members of Jacob’s family who went down to Egypt. Jacob reunites with Joseph, meets Pharaoh and settles with the family in the Goshen district. During the famine, Joseph buys up all of the property and people in Egypt for Pharaoh with the grain stored during the seven good years.

Shul News

It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Sharon Kropman who died this past week in Mason City. Sharon, the sister of David and Elliott, had been in ill health for some time. An accomplished nurse, Sharon had removed herself from many public gatherings but when I would visit with her she continued to be upbeat.  Funeral arrangements are in process.

A reminder that services will be at the shul starting at 7:00PM on Friday and our Midrash on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom.

 

 

Torah Thoughts and Chanukah Part Two 3 December 2021

Happy Chanukah and welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City! Glad you are with us.  This week we read Parsha Mikeitz (Gen. 41:1 - 44:17) the word "Mikeitz" means "the end" and we find it in the first sentence of this week's reading, "It happened in the end of two years (to the day): Pharaoh was dreaming..." And so we begin another chapter in the life of Joseph.

Twelve years Joseph has been in prison. The rabbis tell us that he was now thirty-years old. His father, Jacob was 120 and Isaac 180. It was during this time that Isaac died. Here Pharaoh dreams he is standing by "the river". That would be the Nile which was a critical player in the agricultural success of Egypt. The dream deals with what Joseph will later describe as "seven years of bounty and seven years of famine". It is at this point where the "Chamberlin of the Cup-bearers" remembers Joseph. Pharaoh is intrigued and calls for Joseph to be released to explain the dream because his "wise men" could not come up with an answer.

Joseph's Interpretation 

We all know the story. Joseph not only is able to explain what the dream means but also give to Pharaoh a way in which to protect the people from the coming famine. In other words, Joseph invented his own...job and was named Viceroy.  To have attained this level of trust and responsibility at the age of thirty speaks to the maturity of the young man and his ability to actually get things done.

It's a Family Affair

We are now told of an amazing family story. Joseph is blessed with two sons by his wife Asenath who was the daughter of a pagan chief. Joseph names the firstborn Manasseh for, "G-d has made me forget all my hardship and all my father's household". He names the second son Ephraim for, "G-d has made me fruitful in the land of my suffering".

There is much to unpack here. The wife of Joseph is a high-ranking Egyptian who has married a foreign slave. She well might have been the dominating force in the family yet she allows Joseph to honor G-d by naming the children. The Torah tells us that she adopted Joseph's spiritual and moral outlook. To be the only Jew in Egypt and to be married to the daughter of a pagan priest...yet raise the children who remain a model yet today is truly a miracle. In fact, to this day Jewish parents bless their male children with the words, "May G-d make you like Ephraim and Manasseh." Note that it is Ephraim, the second born, that is mentioned first. Why? Note what his name means. It is a reminder that everything we have comes not from our effort but from the hand of God. Stunning...no?

The Reunion 

Now we come to one of the most dramatic stories of the Torah. The brothers of Joseph make their way to Egypt because their father, Jacob, tells them there is food in that land.  They meet with Joseph but they fail to recognize who he is. After all he was either dead or a slave in a distant land now years later. 

Joseph now "turns the screws" and puts his brothers in an uncomfortable place. They are commanded to produce Jacob and Benjamin but at a cost.  Joseph accuses them of being spies and puts them through a series of machinations in order to get them to bring his brother Benjamin to Egypt. Then Joseph frames Benjamin for stealing his special wine goblet.

It is high drama that continues next week.

Chanukah

Yes, we are still lighting candles and playing Dreidel. It is the Festival of Chanukah. Oh, how I wish the other festivals would garner the same excitement. That Sukkot and Simchat Torah would be so widely observed. But, we will take what we can get...and continue to teach and learn about our other amazing holidays and festivals.

So, here we are at Chanukah. What are the interesting parts of Chanukah that can be found in the Torah? The festival begins on the 25th of the Hebrew month of Kislev. Did you know that the 25th word in the Torah is "ohr" which means...light? Amazing that this festival is connected with...light.  But there is more:

The 25^th of Kislev was already very significant in ancient Jewish history. The temporary Temple that the Jewish people constructed under the direction of Moses during their 40 years of wandering the Sinai desert was completed on the 25^th of Kislev. Additionally, the foundation stone for the Second Temple (515 BCE) was laid on the 24^th of Kislev and the celebration took place that evening (the 25^th of Kislev).

Then we have the story of Chanukah Gelt..or money. It is tradition that we offer small amounts of money to children during the festival and that we also give "gelt" to charity. But there is history here as well. Chanukah gelt is linked to the miraculous victory of the Maccabees over the ancient Greeks. To celebrate their freedom, the Hasmoneans minted national coins. In 1958, the Bank of Israel issued commemorative coins for use as Hanukah gelt. That year, the coin bore the image of the same menorah that appeared on Maccabean coins 2,000 years ago.

The great sage  Maimonides writes that the mitzvah of lighting the Chanukah candles is greatly beloved and one must make every effort to fulfill this mitzvah. He ends with the following beautiful sentiment, “Light in the home promotes shalom (peace) and the Torah was given in order to promote peace in the world.”

Finally...

One final thought about Chanukah from Rabbi Yitzchak Zweig: "The miracle of Hanukah shows us that a little bit of purity can go a long way. The greatest developments in world history did not take place because of large armies or mega corporations. Effective change for the better comes from individuals with courage and heroes of faith. It’s not the firepower of an army that wins the battle, but rather it’s the purity and conviction of its cause that is ultimately victorious."

December Services and Midrash

We are attempting to put together our calendar for this month. I'll be sending out notices regarding our next service date and you can also check our Facebook Page. Currently I am hoping we can come together next Shabbat on the 10th and 11th. I'll let you know

Thank you for reading and may you have a wonderful Shabbat and a very Happy Chanukah!