Words From Rabbi White

First of all, I must apologize for the incorrect date that I gave for Rosh Hodesh in last week’s bulletin. Fortunately, we have clever people in Chevra Shaas who caught the mistake. So, BH, I don’t think anyone was misled.

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Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe for their grandmother Mania Wittenberg on Monday, 8 av; Maggy Cohen observes for her mother Hermance Emsallem Cohen, on Friday 12 av.

We begin this Shabbat the 5th Book of the Torah, Sefer Devarim (=Deuteronomy.)

This shabbat is known as Shabbat Hazon, referring to the vision of the Prophet Isaiah, which is read as the haftarah. Isaiah’s lament over the moral corruption of the people is traditionally read, according to Ashkenaz tradition, to the mournful tune of Eicha.

At the conclusion of shabbat, begins the “week of tish`a be’av.”  [We extend the meet/wine prohibition until Wednesday noon.] So, how do we recite havdalah? Some say we can make it over wine (or grape juice,) but if there is a child more than about 5 or 6 years old, but not yet bar mitsvah, give it to him to drink. Another option is to make the havdalah on a drink such as coffee.

Those whose health allows them to do so, should fast. In Montreal, the fast begins on Monday night at 8:06, and ends Tuesday night at 8:37. [Here in Teaneck, being further south, the fast ends 11 minutes earlier. But Montrealers are a hardy people, who can withstand ice and snow and cold, so surely an extra 11 minutes are no problem!]

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Many of you remember my grandson Shmuel, who now lives in Jerusalem. He had been working at a camp here in America for the past couple weeks, and today I drove him to JFK for the return trip to Israel.  To what kind of a situation is he returning? We all wonder, how are Israelis coping with the situation?

I happened to find in my inbox today a blog that someone sent from an Israeli woman named Shira Sheps, an author and therapist, who wrote as follows:

..."An entire country can have terrifying...threats of annihilation over our heads, yet nothing truly stops, not much changes.

Work needs to be worked. Food needs to be shopped. Dinner needs to be made. Carpool needs to be driven.

.... And the waiting...After like a week, it gets boring. Sometimes you're scared. Most of the time you're really annoyed...You laugh at jokes...and keep on with your day—because You know you can't control any of it anyway.... You pray that you are safe. Will be safe. Will stay safe...

And because the sun is shining, you roll your eyes and go get coffee with a friend, or make that medical appointment.

"You look around this country, the result of realized prophecy...and you can just feel the Jewish spirit is here, there is so much beauty here, holiness here, optimism here, innovation here...hope here.

"Even with the sword hanging over our heads...So I'm going to finish my work today, and make dinner, and hang out with my kids, and joke, and wash dishes, and call my mom and put my shoes by my bed...

And whatever happens—its just not in my control, in any way, It's in God's control.

So what can I do but live?

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And so we here in North America pray for the best for our brethren in Erets Yisrael. We say extra Tehillim, do whatever we can do. Shalom `al Yisrael, and in the world.

Shabbat shalom.

Rabbi Menahem White