Words From Rabbi White

Dear Shearith Israel/Chevra Shaas Mitpallelim

Our Israeli friend Dr. Gehr observes yahrzeit for his father Werner (Ze'ev ben Avraham) this Wednesday 2 Tammuz;

This Thursday 3 Tammuz, the Miller family observes the yahrzeit of their "pater familias," and our late President, Yosef ben Hayyim, Joe Miller.

Next Shabbat, 5 Tammuz, Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe for their father, David ben Alexander, Sender Goldstein.

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Mazal tov to Yehudah Haimovici on his upcoming Bar Mitzvah.

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This Shabbat we bless the month of Tammuz, which will be on Monday and Tuesday. For those who miss my Yiddish announcements: "Der Molad vet Zayn zuntog bai tog, zeks un draisig minutn mit fuftsig chalokim noch drai." [= Monday, 36 minutes and 50 chalakim after 3pm.]

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HOW FORMER US PRESIDENT HELPED ME UNDERSTAND THE PARASHA:

Every student asks the question: what did the meraglim, the spies, do wrong? Moshe had selected 12 spies, each one a leader of his respective tribe. The Hebrew term is "nasi'," which literally means a person who is raised above the others, and happens to be the word in modern Hebrew that means "president." 

Moshe asked them to tour the land, and bring back a report: describe the land, the strength and numbers of the people; if the cities seem fortified. He also asked them to bring back samples of the fruit.

And they did as he apparently had asked. They said it's a good land, but the inhabitants are too powerful.  It is a land that "eats its inhabitants." This report caused the Israelites to want to turn around and go back to Egypt.

As a result, the Israelites had to wander in the desert for 40 years, and the spies were killed in a plague.

However, we can ask: what did the spies do wrong? The answer we have given in previous years was that Moshe had requested just a report on the facts [The old-timers among us will remember Jack Webb on Dragnet, "just the facts, ma'am."] Moshe didn't ask for an opinion.

But now we can say even more. The meraglim should have returned right away to Moshe and offer their report privately. It is clear that instead of that, they publicized it to the masses. Let Moshe, who had sent them on the mission, deal with it. Know when and how to speak!

The big news here in US, news that is dividing the nation, is the trial of former President Trump, as he has been indicted on 37 charges, and could face jail time.

Now, we are indebted to President Trump for many things that he accomplished in his presidency, such as the recognition of Golan heights, and sanctions on Iran.  Yet, I can't help but be reminded of one of the first agadot that I learned when I was very young, illustrating the verse in Mishei chapter 18: "death and life are in the hand of the tongue." Unfortunately, for all his brilliance, the former president did not know when it is appropriate not to speak. There was no excuse for his handling of classified documents, and his response to such.

Let us pray for good news for the US, for Israel, and for the world.

Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Menahem White