Adas Israel - Mason City, IA

Torah Thoughts 13 January 2023 - Shemot

Welcome, again, to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. This week we begin a new "book" of the Torah, Shemot. The non-Jew would know this as Exodus. Shemot means "names" as in, "And these are the names of the Children of Israel who were coming to Egypt with Jacob... (Ex. 1:1). Shemot is also the name of this weeks Parsha (Ex.1:1 - 6:1). My deepest thanks to Rabbi Yitchak Zweig for these thought starters.

Life in Egypt

This week's portion tells a story often repeated throughout history: The Jews become prominent and numerous. There arises a new king in Egypt “who did not know Joseph” (meaning he chose not to know Joseph or recognize any debt of gratitude). He proclaims slavery for the Jewish people “...lest they may increase so much, that if there is war, they will join our enemies and fight against us, driving (us) from the land.” (Ex. 1:10)

This is the root of Antisemitism. 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 also characterizes them as being “a problem.” Thus, we became Egypt’s “Jewish Problem;” a label that has stuck and tragically followed us through three millennia of existence.

Pharaoh’s solution, as we know, was to enslave the Jews. This was the beginning of a horrific trend of persecution, expulsion, and extermination suffered by the Jewish people for thousands of years, culminating in the “Final Solution” to this “Problem” put forth by the evil Adolph Hitler – may his name be eternally blotted out.

Digging Deeper

In order to understand this issue a little deeper we must examine how the Torah characterizes it. This week’s Torah reading includes a fascinating insight; “And they (the Egyptians) were disgusted because of the Children of Israel” (Ex. 1:12).

The famous Biblical commentator known as Rashi explains this verse to mean: “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”.

These seem to be two unrelated issues. Having a thorn in one’s eye would clearly be painful, but what does this have to do with being disgusted with one’s life?

The Meaning

From here we see an incredible insight, one from which we may derive the true root cause of antisemitism. What frustrated the Egyptians about the Jews? The Torah states it very clearly: “The more they oppressed them the greater the Jews grew in number and in strength” (ibid. 1:12).

Watching the Jews ascend to ever greater heights, no matter how poorly they were being treated, was supremely painful to the Egyptians. Why was it so painful to them? Because seeing the Jewish people flourish even under the most difficult circumstances made them “disgusted with their own lives.” The Jews transcending their oppression was like having “a thorn in their eye.”

Perhaps the real reason that Jews have been tortured, exiled, and massacred for thousands of years is because our success in each and every place we have been has made the local population feel terrible about themselves and highlighted their own inadequacies.

Today

The Jewish people – wherever they were – built Jewish communities and social infrastructure. As new immigrants they worked extremely hard and sacrificed a lot so that their future, and the futures of their children, would be secure. Coupled with a mentality of being industrious and contributing to the greater good, they also established powerful systems of commerce. Thus, after a couple of generations, they became quite successful and the local populace took notice and began to resent them. Does this sound like early 1900s China, Eastern Europe before the Holocaust, or present day United States? Today, we hear cries about how “Jews own Hollywood,” yet the industry was built by immigrant Jews who weren’t allowed into other professions. When looking at the pattern, it’s scary to think about what might come next.

The Lesson

I will leave you with a parting thought on the subject. As we know, everything that happen in this world is ultimately decreed by G-d. We  must ask, what is G-d trying to teach us by all these recent incidents of antisemitism?

Consider how when a nation gets attacked by an outside force it inevitably draws the people together in unified bond (think of the patriotism following 9/11 or how the war with the Russians has united the Ukrainians). I believe the message that we need to internalize is that we must stop the petty infighting between ourselves, our communities, and our people. Because if we don’t create a unified nation, G-d will surely send an enemy to attack us that will then unite us – but it will likely come at a high cost.

So let us make the effort on our own to end all the petty arguments and divisiveness within our people, and usher in G-d’s ultimate redemption of the Jewish people and the entire world.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 28 October - Noah

Welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. Before we get into this weeks parsha know that we have set aside Friday the 18th of November at 7:00PM for services and our Midrash will be on Shabbat the 19th at 10:00AM. Both at the shul.  Hope to see you then.

Noah

This week we read Parsha Noah (Gen. 6:9 - 11:32) and we start with: "These are the offspring of Noah - Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generation..."

What does it mean to be “Righteous” and why, after we are told that Noah was “righteous”, are we given the names of his sons?  The answer to that means that being "righteous" extends to our children, our off-spring. If we do what the Shema tells us to, "teach these words to your children" then our children can carry on the identity of being righteous. But, of course there is always "free will".

Twice during this reading G-d says he will destroy to world…and tells Noah that he and his immediate family will be spared.

Noah did EXACTLY what G-d commanded and it took him 120 years…  Noah…did what G-d commanded…but was it enough? That is the major question to ask about this reading.

Let's Go Back

In last week’s Torah Portion we have G-d asking Cain… “Where is Abel your brother?” The answer is stunning… “Am I my brother’s keeper?” The sages say that the rest of the Torah is intended to answer that question…to the affirmative. In other words, we are.

But let's go further back. Abraham and Sodom – G-d will destroy but Abraham “lawyers up” and starts a dialogue with G-d. He asks what will it take to not destroy the city? Fifty good people? Forty? Thirty? Twenty? How about ten?

We move to Moses…who is on the mountain receiving the Torah…the people pressure Aaron to build a new “leader” (Note it was NOT a god) to take the place of Moses…because they did not listen to the exact words of Moses…he was gone too long. G-d sees what the people did and says he will destroy them. Moses Pleads with G-d…to not destroy the people saying it wouldn’t look so good. But if he went ahead and wiped out the nation he tells G-d to "Blot out my name from your Book!" What does G-d do? He turns aside his anger and relents.

So, let’s go back to our story….Noah does exactly what is commanded of him…however he never…not once…calls out to G-d to help save humanity…not even one more person. By doing so we can understand that while Noah was "righteous in his generation" he never, asked G-d to spare humanity. Which is exactly what a truly righteous person should do.

The Rainbow

After the Great Flood the Almighty said, "My rainbow I placed in the clouds, and it will be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth" (Genesis 9:13). What lesson can we learn from the rainbow?

The rainbow symbolizes peace and unity. A rainbow is made up of various colors and shades of colors and although they are very different from each other, they come together to make one entire whole. Similarly, people are very different from each other. They come from different national backgrounds, and they have different personalities.

However, if they will look at themselves as one unit there can be peace and harmony despite the differences between them. This is basic for the existence of the world and for the welfare of individuals. For this reason the rainbow is the symbol of the covenant between the Almighty and the earth.

Whenever you see a rainbow, or a picture of a rainbow, let it be a reminder to work towards harmony with other people even if there are major differences between you. While differences in interests and personality might make it difficult for you to become close friends with a specific person, you can still have a harmonious and peaceful relationship with that person.

Services and Midrash

A reminder that we'll gather together in November on the 18th and 19th.

Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom.

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 26 August 2022 - Parsha Re'eh

Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. A reminder that we'll be getting closer and closer to the High Holydays. In fact we'll celebrate the Eve of Rosh Hashanah on Sunday the 25th starting at 7:00PM at shul. Then on the 26th of September we will hold services starting at 10:00AM. Just wanted to get this out to you as soon as possible so you might plan ahead. Also, starting on Saturday after Shabbat we'll be 40 days away from Yom Kippur.

This week we read Parsha Re'eh you will find that in Deut. 11:26 - 16:17

Parsha Re'eh

This week we we are given a choice.  The Hebrew word "Re'eh" means "See" as in, "See, I present before you a blessing and a curse..." This is the first line and it has to do with all of the 
commandments. That if Israel is true to them Hashem will bless the people and the land. However, if not...well, that's not so good.  We are warned not to follow other gods.

The portion continues with rules and laws for the Land of Israel, primarily oriented towards staying away from idol worship and the other religions in the land. In verses 13:1-12 you will find the section that caused a missionary’s face to blanch and silenced him from continuing to proselytize a renowned rabbi.

Wait, What Does This Mean?

One of the most interesting words in the Torah that gives rise to the Oral Torah, later what has become the Talmud, is this from verse 12:21: "You will slaughter animals […] according to the manner I (G-d) have prescribed.” Nowhere in the Torah are we instructed in the manner of shechita, ritual slaughter. One might conclude that there was a very sloppy editor. Or one might conclude that there are additional teachings (the Oral Law/Talmud) clarifying and amplifying the written Word. Which, by the way, we can totally buy into.

Choosing is Important

The source of the Chosen People concept is brought this week: “You are a nation consecrated to God your Lord. G-d has chosen you from all nations on the face of the earth to be His own special nation” (Deut. 14: 1-2).  So, what does that mean?  Are we better than everybody else? No and that idea has, over the centuries caused many deaths among Jews as those who are not Jewish somehow are out to prove they, not the Jew, is chosen. But, they are mistaken. We are chosen for responsibility, not privilege – to act morally and to be a “light unto the nations.” There is great responsibility in being Jewish and doing with G-d asks of us.

The portion then gives instructions regarding: permitted and forbidden foods, the Second Tithe, remissions of loans every 7 years, treatment of those in need (to be warm-hearted and open-handed), a Jewish bondsman, and the three pilgrimage festivals (Passover, Shavuot, Sukkot).

In other words...so much packed into this week's Parsha.

The Number 40

Finally let's look at the number forty. It plays a huge part of our faith.  It represents change or a transition. For example, there were forty days of The Flood, forty years in the wilderness, forty measures of water in a mikvah, forty days and nights that Moses was up on the mountain three different times. But, perhaps the most important of these interesting times would be the forty days that Moses was back on the mountain to bring back the second set of commandments. At the end of each of those forty days/nights there was a dramatic change.

Those forty days that Moses was back on the mountain and came back with the second set of unbroken tablets began on the first day of the Hebrew month of Elul and ended on Yom Kippur. 

That forty day period begins, for us, on Sunday and, yes, ends on Yom Kippur.  So?  One of the things the rabbis tell us is that we must use these forty days from Sunday the 28th of September (1st of Elul) to October 5th the first day of Tishrei to produce...change. A meaningful change in our personal/religious life.

Perhaps to get "back on track" with out studies. Or get into the habit of giving charity every day. Or to start each day by saying the Shema. Or by making sure we get to the shul for services and the Midrash so we can learn and grow and...change. 

Let's not waste a moment.

Shabbat Shalom!

 

 

Torah Thoughts 12 August 2022

Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. We're grateful you are with us again. This week we read Parsha Va’etchanan (Deut. 3:23 - 7:11) which is Hebrew for "I implored" as in, "I implored Hashem at that time saying..." You'll find this in Deut. 3:23.  What is going on is that Moses, after being told he would not be able to enter Israel once again prays to G-d that he might.  He figured that following the battle with Sihon and Og that, perhaps, G-d would grant him his request. Hey, you can't fault him for trying.

And, The Answer Is...

No. We have to remember that Hashem always answers prayer.  Sometimes it is "yes" sometimes it is "no" and sometimes it is, "not yet". Sure that's hard to take but it's the way this all works. In the end G-d knows what is best even if we don't.

Back to Work

So, Moses gets the answer and right away gets back to work.  He tells the people that they are not to add or subtract from the words of the Torah and to keep all of the Commandments. He then reminds them that G-d has no shape or form and that we should not make or worship idols of any kind.

Here then is where we learn why there are no images in any shul. There are, perhaps, some stained glass but you'll never see an "image" that might be mistaken for G-d.  Now you know...

Cities of Refuge

We next move on to the cities that were designated as places of refuge.  Bezer, Ramot, and Golan are designated as Cities of Refuge east of the Jordan river. Accidental murderers can escape there to avoid revengeful relatives. They then wait there until tried.  This is another example of justice first rather than revenge. 

The "Big Ten"

The Ten Commandments are repeated to the whole Jewish people. Moses expounds the Shema, affirming the unity of G-d, Whom all should love and transmit His commandments to the next generation. A man should wear tefillin upon the arm and head. All Jews should put a mezuzah (the scroll is the essential part) upon each doorpost of their home (except the bathroom).

This, the Shema, is the first thing a Jewish child learns and it is also the final utterance. So central is the Shema to our faith that it is seen as the reason we are here and gives us clear direction as what we should do...daily.

Intermarriage

Here is the thorny issue so many people have a hard time understanding. Here Moses relays the commandment that the people should not marry a person of another faith. You can read the commandment in Deut. 7: 3-4.  "You shall not intermarry with them, you shall not give your daughters to his son, and you shall not take his daughter for your son. (and here is the reason) "For he will cause your child to turn away from me and they will worship the gods of others..."

Look, I get it but realize that far too often in a mixed marriage there is a lack of staying true to our faith. In fact it is the leading cause of Jews to leave and then, sadly, never come back. I have spoken about this many, many times and yes, it is difficult. Because I'm told, "But, I love her/him!" As true as that is also understand that the non-Jewish partner believes that your children will burn in hell because of their decision to not follow their faith. What can that say about a healthy relationship?  

Midrash & Services

We've decided to hold services on Friday the 19th of August starting at 7:00PM and our Midrash (Study Session) will take place on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM. We hope you'll come and learn with us. And, yes, your questions are always answered.

See you in Shul! 

 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts 28 July 2022 - Mattos-Masei

Hello and welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa based in Mason City. Glad you're with us again. A reminder that we'll be holding services at the shul on Friday evening and our Midrash (Torah Study) is on Shabbat starting at 10:00AM. Hope to see you with us.  This week we read Parsha Mattos-Masei which you can find in Bamidbar (Numbers) 30:2 - 36:13. Let's go...

We Need A Leader

If you remember last week Moses, knowing he will not be allowed to enter the Land of Israel asks G-d to appoint a successor. Someone that will "go in with Israel and go out with Israel".  What does that mean?

Often, when it comes to battle, kings would sit in their palace or at the rear of the army. Yes, they might have been there but they were not engaged. Moses, who had led the people into and out of battle many times requested that the next leader do the same.  That leader was Joshua who would go in and come out with Israel.

But Wait!

This week we read the Hashem tells Moses to go into battle and take vengeance on the Midianites in retribution for the licentious plot the Midianites perpetrated upon the Israelites. Remember Bilaam and Balak and the 24,000 who died due to the "cavorting" with the daughters of Midian? 

But in a strange twist Moses appoints his nephew Pinchas to lead the army into battle. Why would Moses defer to another when G-d tells him to go and smite the Midianites?

Being Thankful

Here is where the story give us a great lesson. If you remember, long ago, it was Moses who was on the run for killing an Egyptian Taskmaster who was beating a Jewish slave.  Where did he end up? In Midian where he also married a woman from Midian. The people there sheltered Moses for years and now, to lead an army to destroy Midian, was just too much. 

We are told that he could not do such a thing because he was so thankful for his treatment there.

The Lesson

The lesson here for us is to always be...thankful. G-d has created an amazing world for us and our responsibility is to remain thankful. Every day, in every way we should than Hashem for the wonder that is the world and for the faith that we have.  This is why there are so many blessings in our lives. For when we get something new, when we eat bread, when we eat, well, anything. When we get up in the morning and when we lay down at night.  Blessings of being thankful.

After all, it is in our name. We are Jews from the Hebrew word of Judah which means, you guessed it, "Thanksgiving".

We can do no less.

One other thing we learn from this Parsha is how to make things...utensils...kosher. We'll talk about it. 

See you in Shul! 

 

 

 

Torah Thoughts - Parsha Bechukotai - Lev. 26:3 - 27:34

Greetings friends of Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Grateful that you've come by for a bit of Torah Learning. This week we read about the many blessings we are to receive IF we follow the commandments. What is interesting is there are commandments that have benefits to others in this world. And there are commandments that accrue to our tally of good which are rewarded in the after-life. This is what the Mishnah means when it says that the “fruit” (i.e. the “interest”) is enjoyed in this world, but the “principal” remains for the World to Come. Make sure you open your Chumash (Bible if you will) and read these first lines. Amazing!

This Week

This week's Torah portion is introducing all the benefits that G-d provides in this world as the result of observing the mitzvot (commandments). What is interesting is that the commandments related to social justice are the only mitzvot that are rewarded in this world as well as the next.

Fascinatingly, the Mishna equates the study of Torah to all the mitzvot. (See you are not wasting your time here!)  In other words, aside from the self-improvement and connection to the Almighty that comes from Torah study, there are tangible benefits to this world through the study of Torah was well. This would also explain why Rashi understands that the rewards that follow the observance of “My statutes” refers to one’s immersion in Torah study.

Perhaps this is what the Talmud is referring to when it says, “Torah scholars increase peace in the world” (Brachos 64a). The Talmud chose to end its very first tractate with that statement, explaining that those Torah scholars are builders of the world and they increase the peace within it. The Torah, after all, was given to us to both improve ourselves and the world around us and we must make every effort to see that mission fulfilled.

Meanwhile

While this week's portion begins with the multitude of blessings you will receive for keeping the commandments of the Torah (truly worth reading!). It also contains the tochachah, words of admonition: “If you will not listen to Me and will not perform all of these commandments…” There are seven series of seven punishments each. Understand that G-d does not punish for punishment’s sake; He wants to get our attention so that we will introspect, recognize our errors, and correct our ways. G-d does not wish to destroy us or annul His covenant with us. He wants us to know that there are consequences for our every action. He also wants to get our attention so that we do not stray so far away that we assimilate and disappear as a nation.

A Word About Prayer

This past week has jolted us, once again. So much senseless pain in the world.  I was struck by something, very simple, which was tweeted by Rabbi Mark Asher Goodman just this past Thursday: "In Judaism, if you say a prayer over something and then fail to do the requisite action that follows, like saying the blessing over bread but not eating it, it's a bracha levatla - which is a sinful act."

He goes on: "If you pray for victims of gun violence but do nothing. It is a sinful act."

Prayer and Action...

Shabbat Sholom and thank you for reading. 

 

Torah Thoughts 13 May 2022 - Parsha Emor

Welcome to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. Thank you for coming by. This week we read Parsha Emor which is in the book of Vayikra (Leviticus) Chapter 21 - 24. Let's go!

Lag B' Omer

As you might remember we are counting up the 49 days until Shavout or the giving of the Torah. This Shabbat is the 28th day of the Omer. The Omer was a barley offering from the first harvest that the Jews would bring to the Temple in Jerusalem. Omer is actually a measurement of volume roughly equating to three quarts.

Forty-nine days are counted from the second day of Passover until the fiftieth day, which is Shavuot – the holiday celebrating the receiving of the Torah on Mount Sinai. There is actually a mitzvah to count each specific day, which is done at the completion of Ma’ariv, the evening service.

This coming Thursday is Lag B' Omer which means the 33rd day of the Omer. It is historically significant for multiple reasons. On this day, the plague that was killing Rabbi Akiva’s disciples stopped. It is also the yahrzeit (yearly anniversary of the death) of Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai, reputed author of the Zohar, the book of Jewish mysticism. Tradition has it that the day of his demise was filled with a great light of endless joy through the secret wisdom that he revealed to his students in the Zohar.

In Israel, there are huge bonfires across the country. From Pesach onwards, the children gather fallen branches and build pyres often 20 or 30 feet high. Then, as it grows dark, they are lit and the sky is filled with flames (and smoke). The fires are symbolic both of the light of wisdom Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai brought into the world and as a “yahrzeit candle” in memory of his passing. Haircuts and weddings take place on this date and there is much festivity including dancing, singing, and music.  See what you learn here?

Parsha Emor

This week's portion sets forth the standards of purity and perfection for a Cohen; specifies the physical requirements of sacrifices and what is to be done with blemished offerings; proclaims as holidays the Shabbat, Pesach, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot. Yes, each one of our holidays are set out in the Torah.

It reminds the Jewish people to provide pure olive oil for the Menorah and designates the details of the Showbread (two stacks of 6 loaves each, which were placed on the table in the portable sanctuary and later in the Temple once a week upon Shabbat). The portion ends with the interesting story of a man who blasphemed G-d’s name with a curse. What should be the penalty for this transgression? Curious? Leviticus 24:14.

What is Kosher?

You might remember that during the recent Midrash we started talking about this interview with Rabbi Levi Goldstein who works with the Orthodox Union to inspect food manufacturers to insure they are kosher or helps them become kosher. It is a fascinating conversation and I hope you'll click the player and give it a listen. There is so much to learn and myths to dispel and my friend does a great job explaining so many things. Oh, and, he's been traveling the roads of Iowa for the past 18 years doing this amazing work. Take some time and give it a listen.

Partly Personal

I'm writing this from a hotel in Washington, D.C.  I've been here on assignment over the past several days. It's always an amazing journey. The days have been spent in meetings with congressional staff and our Iowa delegation. I'm here with nearly 200 business, non-profit and elected leaders from Central Iowa discussing a variety of items that are of great importance to not only the Des Moines Metro but the entire state. While we are in polarizing times you need to know that, often behind the scenes, there is an amazing amount of work being done on a bipartisan level. It may not always seem that way but I can tell you, with the exception of a few partisan "jabs" there is a commitment to become much more civil in, at least, the dialog with those of us who are here.  Just thought you should know.

Have a wonderful Shabbat and thanks for reading! 

Torah Thoughts 29 April 2022 - Acharei Mot

Welcome back friends to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. We hope you had a wonderful Passover as we now are counting up the days until we reach the giving of the Torah or Shavout. It is called "Counting the Omer" and it is done the night before each day, beginning this year on April 16, 2022 and ending on June 3, 2022. So you know today (Friday the 29th) is the 13th Day of the Omer.

Speaking of days this past Thursday was memorable for two reasons. First of all it was Holocaust Memorial Day. The day we remember and respond to the horrors of that time. And, indeed, today seems so much like what we have witnessed in the past. Evil exists and must, like Amalek, be blotted out. Thursday was also the Workers Memorial Day. Fifty-three years ago the U.S. Congress passed the Occupational Safety and Health Act, promising every worker the right to a safe job. We still have far to go. On Thursday, in Iowa, the names of 71 individuals were read. Seventy-one. They were the names of workers, firefighters, police officers who died last year due to illness contracted on the job or of injuries inflected at work.  The two days have much in common and it was fitting that both happened just this week.

Acharei Mot

This week we read from Lev. 16 - 18. There are many lessons here and some of them should be very familiar because one of the sections is read during Yom Kippur. But, I'm getting ahead of things.  This week we read about the prohibition of acting with cruelty. We are told not to engage in the evil that was Moloch. Moloch was a Canaanite deity that we find in several biblical sources as being associated with the practice of child sacrifice.

According to the great biblical commentator Rashi (Leviticus 18:21), service of this deity consisted of handing over your child to the Moloch priests who would then burn them by passing them through fire. Rashi elaborates with more detail as to the exact worship of Moloch in his comments found in the book of Jeremiah (7:31). The famous Spanish biblical commentator, Nachmanides, notes this ritual sometimes resulted in the child’s death.

One would think we would not need a commandment to defy this evil...but we get it anyway. In this week’s Torah reading we find that G-d expressly forbade the Jews from doing what was done in Canaan: “You shall not give any of your children to devote them by fire to Moloch, and so profane the name of your G-d” (Leviticus 18:21).

Then, again, At the end of this week’s Torah reading we find: “Speak to the people of Israel, and say to them, I am the Lord your G-d. Like the practices of the land of Egypt where you dwelt, you shall not do; and like the practices of the land of Canaan, where I bring you, you shall not do...” (18:2-3).

The Lesson

The teaching should be clear. We are not to join in on the practices of those who are of other faiths. Look, it's not because non-Jews practice anything as abhorrent as child sacrifice. Just the opposite our non-Jewish friends and neighbors are commanded to uphold the laws of the Torah. They talk about it all the time.

No, the prohibition of joining in on those religious events is all about assimilation. It can be spiritually intoxicating to deny the mitzvot and eat what you wish, celebrate as you wish, engage in religious services that are not...Jewish. And we can feel welcome and, I will admit, find some comfort there. However, that is the issue. Being a proud Jew who strives, every day, to become better is what we are all about. We've been doing this for thousands of years and the Torah, in this parsha, is telling us to refrain from engaging in the practices of others.

We opened this up with the loss of millions during the Holocaust. It is said that we have lost more due to assimilation which is tragic. Every day we have a choice, which is also in this week's Torah potion, to do what G-d asks of us.  "Carry out my laws and safeguard my decrees to follow them; I am Hashem your G-d. You shall observe my decrees and my laws, which man shall carry out and by which he shall live...I am Hashem."

Remember, it's not a...suggestion.

Thank you for reading and about our next Midrash. I'll be out most of May but if you would like to gather for a Virtual Midrash on Shabbat the 7th day of May I can make that happen. Be watching for the email newsletter next week that will also have the ZOOM Link.

On other thing: On Monday of next week my guest will be Rabbi Levi Goldstein who, for eighteen years, has worked for the Orthodox Union traveling Iowa making sure various items are...kosher. I'm really looking forward to this conversation and yes...I'll make sure to send it along. 

Thanks again and Shabbat Shalom! 

 

 

Torah Thoughts - Teach Your Children - 21 April 2022

Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. Thank you for coming by for a quick read. 

Passover Thoughts

The first two days of Pesach are full holidays as are the final two days. That Passover started on Shabbat and now ends after Shabbat on Saturday evening means that food and everything we do to prepare for the Sabbath has to take place on Thursday. It has been a whirlwind to say the least.

A quick thank you to everyone who came to our Community Seder and then on Shabbat to our Midrash ass we learned even more about the laws and customs of Passover. As always it was great to be with everyone and to study and learn. Several folks were absent as Pesach collided with Good Friday.

Teach Your Children

What comes of a revolution? So often we find that those who were oppressors are overthrown by the oppressed through some violent activity only to, in time, become the oppressors. The faces change but the suffering remains. We've seen it hundreds of times in hundreds of places.  So how do you insure that a revolution toward freedom does not repeat that same system?

Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l wrote an interesting piece on the topic that I'll share with you here.  

The books of Exodus and Deuteronomy take a different route altogether. It’s astonishing how, reflecting on the Israelites’ journey from
slavery to freedom, Moses keeps returning to one subject above all others: how we teach our children. “When your children ask you this, you should answer them that.” “Teach your child on that day.” “Say to your child ...” Four times Moses speaks about the duty of parents to educate their children, handing on to them their people’s story until it becomes their own.

That’s what we do each year on Passover as we gather in our extended families to re-enact the night long ago when our ancestors readied themselves to leave Egypt and begin the long walk to freedom. It’s a remarkable ceremony, the oldest continuously observed religious ritual in the world, going back thousands of years. We still eat the matzah, the dry unleavened “bread of affliction,” and taste the maror, the “bitter herbs” of slavery. And children are still at the heart of this celebration. For we can only tell the story in response to questions asked by a child. That’s why, for many of us, our earliest Jewish memory is of asking the “four questions,” beginning with “Why is this night different?” We remain faithful to Moses’ mandate: first teach the children.

The world we build tomorrow is born in the stories we tell our children today. Politics moves the pieces. Education changes the game. If you want a free society, teach your children what oppression tastes like. Tell them how many miracles it takes to get from here to there. Above all, encourage them to ask questions. Teach them to think for themselves. Get them to continue the heritage not through blind obedience – the world’s worst preparation for liberty – but through active, challenging conversation across the generations. That’s how we learned, as children, about the long walk to freedom. It’s how we came to take our ancestors’ story as our own.

Amid all the talk about the challenges facing the world in the twenty first century – climate change, the global economy, political turmoil, the impact of the new technology – far too little is said or thought about education, and even when it is, it focuses on the wrong things, such as technical skills. Education is the single most important determinant of the future of the human race, and what and how we teach our children is the most important decision we can make.

We have to teach our children that freedom only comes when you respect the freedom of others, that it involves responsibilities as well as rights and that it means making sacrifices for the common good. G-d, the supreme power, intervened in history long ago to help the supremely powerless, a nation of slaves, and ever since, His work must be ours. Nor can we teach these things without giving children the space to ask, question and challenge, thereby learning the dignity of dissent, itself one of the elements of freedom.

Liberty is born not on the battlefield but in homes, schools and houses of study. That is the message of the world’s oldest ritual, Passover, and its force remains undiminished today.

Powerful Message

What Rabbi Lord Sacks wrote is so powerful...especially today when there are politicians demanding that our children not be called upon to ask questions about our past and our present. I was fortunate to share a table with Rabbi Sacks when he was the Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the British Commonwealth. It was one of the high points of my trip and I credit Rabbi Lord Sacks for helping me dig deeper into our shared faith. He did that not always by teaching but also by asking questions.  We can learn much by simply asking.

Good Yom Tov and Shabbat Shalom!

 

 

Torah Thoughts 8 April 2022 - Think Pesach!

Greetings from Adas Israel the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa, based in Mason City. Homes around the world are in a flurry of activity getting ready for Passover that begins on Friday evening the 15th of April. That is also the time for the Adas Israel Community Seder which is back after a year-long absence. We will gather at 7:00PM for a brief Erv Shabbat Service and then move into the Seder. The cost for the expertly prepared meal is $30 per person, $75 for a family of four and for larger numbers please contact President Alan Steckman who can be reached at 641-424-9362 and leave a message or you can text him at 641-420-7251.  Checks may be sent directly to Post Office Box 621 Mason City, Iowa, 50402-0621.  Then on Shabbat we will hold our Monthly Midrash at the shul starting at 10:00AM. Come to both and learn even more about Passover. 

This Week...

This week's Torah Portion if Parsha Metzora (Lev. 14 - 15) as we read in the opening sentence. "Hashem spoke to Moses, saying, This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification." Metzora is the Hebrew word for a person afflicted with a skin disease then there is a commandment as to what that person must do. Key to this is that the person becomes afflicted with this skin disease because of a degraded spiritual condition. 

The rabbis say that the removal of the person from the camp allows him the opportunity to reflect on his deficiencies and to repent so that he can once again become part of the nation. As soon as that happens G-d will remove the mark and he can begin the process of reunification.

Look Back

To better understand metzora (the person afflicted) we need to look back at the Torah Portion of last week Here we learn that the skin disease has a name, and that is tzaraas.  We find that in Lev. 13:2, "If a person (adam) will have on his skin . . .a tzaraas affliction..."  As Rabbi Abraham Twerski z"l wrote, "The Talmud is very clear that the affliction of tzaraas (the exact nature of which is unknown to us) is a punishment for having spoken lashon hara, derogatory speech."

Here is where this gets really interesting. The Hebrew word the Torah uses for “person” in the above verse is adam. There are several other Hebrew words for “person”: enosh, ish, gever. The ethical writings state that each refers to a level of spirituality, and adam represents the highest level. We must understand, therefore, the Torah's choice of the word adam for a person afflicted with tzaraas.

The Chafetz Chaim said that the juxtaposition of this portion of the Torah to that of the previous portion dealing with non-kosher animals is to teach us that people who may be meticulously careful about what goes into their mouths should be equally as scrupulous about what comes out of their mouths. There are sins which a Torah observant person would never do, but as for lashon hara, it is a rare person who is saved from it. Hence, even a spiritual person, adam, is vulnerable to lashon hara.

The Lesson

Here the lesson for us all is clear. in order to refrain from becoming an outcast we much watch our words carefully. Believe me, in the passion of the moment it is easy for us to say something evil about another person. While we might "think" those thoughts once we say them the "cat is out of the bag" so to speak.

But, there is another lesson here that has to do with gossip which is also defined as lashon hara or the "evil tongue".  Gossip is the worst. And each of us are called to truly "watch our tongue" especially when hearing gossip. The correct way to deal with a person who is peddling gossip is to ask them to stop unless there is proof of the charges. Often, on reflection, if the gossip does not make sense it is a severe problem to repeat it. Deal?

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Spring Cleaning...no, really! Where do you think the whole idea of "spring cleaning" came from? Yes, once again the Jewish effort to entirely cleanse our homes of chametz...think even crumbs of bread.  You're welcome.

See you for Pesach!