The Anonymous Moses

This week’s Torah reading of Tezaveh is the only weekly section since the birth of Moses not to mention his name. An entire portion of Torah, describing the building of the Tabernacle, and the name of Moses does not appear! One explanation is that this weekly portion always coincides with the date of Moses’ death. (This date in the Hebrew calendar is the 7th day of Adar.) I would like to suggest another explanation.

The Tabernacle was the forerunner of the Temple in Jerusalem. It was a sign of the closeness between G-d and His people. The spokesperson for the Tabernacle was clearly Moses. He had to give its accounting, make its appeal, charge its supervisors, etc. When something is so bound up with the personality of one person, a fear becomes prevalent. What will happen to the Tabernacle after Moses dies? Can the Tabernacle retain its sacred quality after Moses departs the scene? In order to re-assure the Jewish people, the Torah omits the name of Moses during this week’s reading. The message seems to be that no one is indispensible. The Jewish people, and its institutions, are greater than any one person.

Parents are essential in the growth of children. However, at some point, the wise parent knows it is time to let go. A child needs to be prepared to think for themselves, act on their own, etc. The effective parent knows when to step aside and when to allow the child to become independent and self-assured. Moses knew that the sacred quality of the Tabernacle would continue after he was gone. So too with parents and children.

As parents we need to teach our children the ethics and morality of Judaism. We take our precious legacy, pass it on to our children and then we “let go”. This is how Jewish existence will be guaranteed and kept ever vibrant. We are all links in the chain that is Judaism; no more and no less.

The Cherubim

The Ark, we learn this week, was topped by two Cherubim, which had the faces of children. The Abarbanel wonders how this image was permitted and not banned as a “molten image”. His answer is that the same Torah that forbids images, made an allowance in thus case for such an image. The question we need to ponder is what are we taught by the child-like image atop the Holy Ark.

Rabbi Reuven Margolis views this all in a symbolic fashion. The Ark symbolizes ethical perfection. It is important to achieve ethical perfection. However, the Cherub image of children “tops” all else. We have the ultimate task of teaching Jewish values and ethical teachings to our children, as they represent the future. In a similar vein, the great teacher, Rabbi Meir Shapiro once stated that the Cherubs must be made of gold, not silver or other metals. When we act for our children, we must do so with a “golden” approach.

I once saw a quote that “Children are G-d’s promise of the future. ” A rabbi who was known as being very much at ease with children was the late Rabbi Yaakov Kaminetzky. His smile and warmth when he interfaced with children was legendary. Rabbi Kaminetzky was once asked why he had this affinity for children. His answer was simple: “They are generations closer to the Messiah than I am.”

Holy People

In this week’s Parsha we read: “You shall be Holy People.” Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Kotzk tells us that this verse does not mean to emphasize the word “holy”. Rather, the Torah is emphasizing the word ‘holy”. As the Rebbe explains: G-d has many angels in Heaven. He does not need more. What G-d does need is holy “people”. We have something to offer that is unique and valuable. We are human and yet we have the charge to strive for holiness.

We take much for granted. We read about angels and wonder what type of holiness they possess. What we fail to appreciate is that the great holiness demanded by the Torah is the holiness of which we are capable.

The most precious gift we all possess is family affiliation. It is likely that more people have been “turned on” to Judaism by sitting at a family Shabbat dinner, than through any other means. The beauty and holiness of family, when combined with the beauty and holiness of the Sabbath, is overwhelming. We all have this gift, but do we appreciate it? G-d has ample angels but He longs for more holy people.  This is where we all fit into the Divine picture. G-d is waiting for you; do not disappoint Him.

Two-Sided Tablets

The Ten Commandments were written on two sides of the Tablets. One side (the right) was designated for Laws between Man and God while the other side was for Laws between Man and Man. An obvious question is why is the Law concerning respect for parents is considered to be a law between Man and God. The answer for this comes from the Talmud. The Talmud stated that every person has three Creators, God, mother and father. The message is obvious; our parents are considered to be worthy of the respect we accord to the Divine.

Man learns how to behave by imitating the behavior of others. We learn how to give and how to love because we all experienced these feelings as young, helpless children. We learn how to be “givers” in life by the example set by our parents. In this respect, as sustainers of life, our parents are deemed to be a partner of God.

One of the prominent teachers of Jewish Ethics was Rabbi Eliyahu Dessler. In an essay, Rabbi Dessler speaks of “givers”. He states that we labor under a false impression if we believe that parents give so much to their children because they love them. Rather, Rabbi Dessler teaches, parents give so much to their children, they therefore grow to love them. The act of giving is the act of loving. For this reason, the Torah places such a premium on the respect we owe our parents.

The Song of Miriam

This week’s Parsha contains the Song of Moses, known as the Shira. It is a song of praise upon the Exodus from Egypt. This song of praise contains some of the loftiest language found in the Torah. What is curious is the fact that after the Song concludes, the Torah tells us of Miriam’s Song. According to the Torah, Miriam took musical instruments and sang a song with the women. The excerpt given to us by the Torah is identical to the Song of Moses theme. The questions we confront is why the Torah felt the need to give us the extraneous material that merely duplicates that which has already been described. Why do we need to know that Miriam had a song of praise comparable to Moses? Moses was the nation’s leader; Miriam, a righteous woman, was not in an equal position. Why is she mentioned at this time?

An answer offered by Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik is that Miriam gets her “due” at the time of the Exodus due to a past deed she had performed. Miriam stood by the basket of Moses when he was placed in the Nile. She guarded the life of Baby Moses. When Moses reaches his pinnacle of success, Miriam is given mention due to the value of HaKarat HaTov–the need to be grateful. The Torah “thanks” Miriam for her selfless act at this time in order to show how she facilitated the Exodus story. She too is therefore mentioned at the time of Redemption from Egypt.

The Sefer HaChinuch tells us that respect for parents, a paramount obligation, is based on the human obligation to express gratitude. Our families may not be perfect but we must take the time to be thankful for what they have done and will continue to do. It is true for parents, siblings and children. Being grateful is a basic Jewish value; have you told a loved one ‘thank you” of late? It is always a good time to do so.

The Passover Feast

This week’s Parsha of Bo deals at length with the Mitzvah of the Passover sacrifice and Meal. (Today of course that meal is referred to as the Seder.) The Sefer HaChinuch asks the question as to why so many mitzvot are connected to the preparation of the Passover sacrifice and meal. He explains that because this ritual is so essential to Jewish life  we reinforce its significance by many mitzvah activities.

What message might we take away from the Passover sacrifice? The Torah tells us that this Passover meal had to take place in a group setting. In effect, the Passover meal was the first mandated family meal. Years ago, the Jewish sociologist Marshall Sklare analyzed why the Passover Seder today is the most widely-practiced Jewish ritual. He conjectures that part of the reason is that the meal is festive, it it is fun, and it takes place in a family circle. It is instructive that so basic a holiday ritual is celebrated in the family setting. The Torah seems to be telling us of the importance of the family structure in Jewish tradition.

Years ago I heard a lecture by Rabbi Zalman Posner of Nashville, TN. Rabbi Posner asked the question as to what part of Jewish life was absolutely essential for Jewish  continuity. He suggested that Jewish life needed neither synagogue life nor Temple nor rabbinic leadership to survive. What it did need was an active and engaged family structure.

Home, according to the poet, is the place where “when you go there, they have to take you in.” This week’s Parsha reminds us that the family is the center of our tradition’s vitality. May we never forget this truism.

Great Wealth

This week’s Parsha brings to a stir the process of Redemption that eventually leads to the Exodus from Egypt. This process was foreseen by Abraham who was told of bondage and freedom. He was told in prophetic terms that “After this all they will leave with great wealth.”  Why is this promise relevant to the prophecy? Furthermore, is wealth a “payoff” for generations of bondage? As the rabbinic maxim goes: “We tell the bee neither your sting nor your honey”. What is the essence of the promise of great wealth?

Rabbi Dr. Joseph Soloveitchik answered these questions in a most brilliant way. He interprets the “great wealth” to be of a moral nature. The Jews would be under the thumb of the Egyptians for so long they would never, upon attaining freedom, wish to abuse or torment others. The emphasis the Torah places on properly treating society’s weakest elements (e.g. orphan, widow, poor) is a manifestation of this sensitivity. It is a “great wealth” indeed to value the rights of all. The Torah society knows no distinctions between classes and social groups. We too have suffered in our history. Why would we wish to mistreat others in turn?

It was very moving to hear clips of Martin Luther King’s “dream”  of the time where people would judged by characcter and not the color of their skin. For America, that day has arrived. For our community, it behooves us to act as always with dignity and respect for all people. The fear of Pres. Obama is some circles is almost manic. We judge all people as worthy and being in G-d’s image. This opportunity to extend our respect and good wishes to our new President, however we voted, is the latest manifestation of the “great wealth” we possess.

“Beloved is Man for he was created in the Image of G-d” (Pirke Avot).

A New King

Many articles have appeared on the question of whether or not parents will allow their children to stay home to see President Obama sworn in. It is after all an historic event and truly unique. Historians often select certain days as truly historic; days you will remember where you were when you heard the news. (More often than not such days, unlike Inauguration Day,  are actually days of great loss and tragedy.)

The late Hamilton Jordan, a cancer victim who survived longer than the doctors had predicted, wrote a book entitled “There is No Such Thing as a Bad Day”. In many ways these words are true. Life is meant to be enjoyed not merely endured. Divorce mediation is an optimistic process. It is, in many ways, life affirming. Even after divorce. there are “good days” ahead. If you end one chapter of your life with dignity and class, you will be ready for the important days that lie ahead. There is no such thing as a bad day. Lead your life, and make your decisions, accordingly.

Joseph and the Brothers-Part II (Parshat Vayechi)

We find an interesting discussion between Joseph and the brothers and the end of this week’s Portion. The Brothers tell Joseph that Jacob had told them before his death that they were to tell Joseph of his dying wish…that Joseph grant the brothers final forgiveness. (Think of a president who grants pardons shortly before he leaves office.) The commentators greet this discussion with a healthy dose of skepticism, as nowhere in the Bible do we even find a discussion between Joseph and Jacob on the details of the gruesome deed that brought Joseph to Egypt. Why did the Brothers concoct this story? If indeed it was untrue, is not Truth considered the “signet of G-d”?

One answer proposed is that the Brothers were indeed falsifying events, but one may lie for the sake of peace. Thus one may tell a friend, for example, who just purchased a new garment, in a “final sale”, that it looks great even where the true sentiment is quite the opposite. This teaching is not meant to vitiate the importance of truth. Rather it highlights the desired goal of peace. (Indeed the priestly blessings we still recite in our prayers end on a note of peace.)

This thought supports basic human conventions we all engage in. When our two-year old asks “Do you like my picture?” we say “It is great” because indeed art is in the eyes of the beholder. The rabbis tell us that we greet the bride with the compliment that she looks beautiful that day because all brides do indeed look beautiful. The way we enhance the esteem of our loved ones is by finding that which is laudatory and complimenting that portion of their lives. We strive for truth but peace trumps all,

On the Sabbath we greet others with “Shabbat Shalom” ; may it be a peaceful Sabbath. Our spouse is compared to the Sabbath as is the Jewish people. May we learn to greet one another with the blessing of peace, not necessarily the amost-equal value of truth.

Jacob and Joseph

In this week’s Torah portion we read of the reconciliation between Joseph and his brothers. It is a beautiful section that deals with forgiveness, repentance, and renewed harmony. One question remmains after we complete this narrative: Why did Jacob favor Joseph? Did he not know that he was engendering potential enmity and jealousy? How unwise were the actions of Jacob? How do we understand them?

I saw a comment by an Israeli educator this week (I do not recall her name). Jacob had a life filled with peril. There were encounters with Esau and Laban. He saw the ravishing of his daughter Dina. His beloved wife Rachel had an untimely death. Jacob’s life was bitter and difficult.

Jacob saw Joseph, first-born of Rachel, as an extension of himself. He would make Joseph’s life easier and more cushy than his own had been. Joseph would be raised for leadership and kingship. Alas, Jacob’s plans boomeranged as Joseph had a life even more tempetuous than did Jacob. We can’t always pave the way for our children to succeed. We can make the efforts, maximize the potential for success, but we can’t protect our children from life’s challenges. This was the true error of Jacob’s way.

Rose Kennedy once said that when she smiled at her child, she felt this was a gift to her child and to her/his children as well. There is much we can give our children. What we cannot do is live life for them or protect them from the inevitable adversity that visits us all. Rather we need to prepare our children to face adversity head on when it will occur. This is where the love of a parent, and parental education, can make a great difference. Jacob however wanted to guarantee success and happiness for Joseph. This alas is not possible.