Words From Rabbi White

Dear Chevra Shaas/ Shearith Israel

WE NEED CONSOLATION

Oy, we heard such terrible news this week concerning the 6 hostages. Let us pray as hard as we can for a “nechama,” as we have begun the month of Elul, and we read this week the 4th of the special haftarot of consolation. This week we read from Isaiah, chapters 52 and 53.

The haftarah begins (chapter 52, verse 12) with HaShem saying “I, yes I, am your consoler.”

In verse 16, HaShem tells Zion: “you are My nation.” [Unlike baseball or hockey, He hasn’t traded you in for another nation.]

In verse 17, the Prophet says in the name of HaShem, “rise up, rise up, stand up, Jerusalem” for you have suffered enough. Perhaps this is the source of the custom that at the conclusion of shiva, we tell the mourners to stand up. [The words “hit`oreri, hit`oreri” were incorporated into the ”lecha dodi” that we sing on Friday nights.]

In verse 20, perhaps reminiscent of Oct 7, we read “your sons have fainted, they lie at the entrance of streets like an ox caught in a trap.” Yet we read down to 52:2, “hitna`ri me`afar qumi,” where Isaiah tells us to “shake off the dust.” [This phrase also appears in Lecha dodi.”]

The haftarah then tells us to open our mouths and sing, for HaShem has comforted His nation and redeemed Jerusalem.

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Unfortunately, it seems like the Israelis have accomplished something this week that the Iranians had been trying unsuccessfully for a long time. They shut down BG Airport. I guess that they haven’t learned the central message of Tish`a Be’av that our ancient Rabbis tried to teach us: the Temple was destroyed due to baseless hatred! [Fortunately, the labour court made them cut the strike very short.]

So, we strive for mutual understanding, and pray for a “nechama.”

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I heard a lovely peshat on last week’s parasha. It was so nice that I didn’t want to have to wait until next year to tell it to you. In the 6th aliya of last week’s parashat re’eh, we read that if an Israelite man had to work for someone as an indentured servant, he would have to be released by the 7th year. Upon his release, his master would have to give him from the master’s sheep, grain, and wine. 

Rav Levi Yitschak, father of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, asked why specifically these three things. 

He pointed out that sheep is what we offer as Pesach sacrifice, grain is the ingredient of matso, and wine is used for the 4 cups. In other words, now that the man is free, he is reminded of Pesach, which is the holiday of freedom. 

But if the free man is given symbols of Passover, why no maror: lettuce or horseradish? The answer is simple: we don’t want to remind him of slavery, as he starts his life as a free person!

Shabbat shalom, Shalom `al Yisrael, Rabbi Menahem White