Words From Rabbi White

MONTREAL, JE T’AIME!

This past week, I made a brief trip to la belle province. Comme je me souviens, the Jewish community of Montreal is wonderful. My dear friends the Gehrs, who have been visiting from Israel in Montreal, had spent Shabbat in Teaneck with my family, and on Sunday morning we began our drive to Montreal. While there, I was hosted by my dear friends the Finegolds. 

Sunday afternoon, I met many friends at the unveiling for Malcolm, and then on Monday visited Herzliah (where I had been connected for 46 years) and the Spanish. From there I had to straighten out some business at TD, and then went to the airport to catch my flight home.  It was so hot in Montreal that I thought we had driven to Florida by mistake! (LOL)

I saw that it is not acceptable to the gouvernement to say “hi.” That’s OK. We can say “shalom!”

Here’s an interesting difference between Montreal and the NY metropolitan area: after I finished my business at the TD bank, I called a cab to Dorval airport. The fare plus tip came to $40. When I arrived at Newark airport, the cab to my home in NJ cost $115  (=$156 Canadian!)

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The gemara (Megilla 31b) quotes Rabbi Shimon ben Elazar, who said that parashat ki tavo’ always comes before Rosh HaShanah (actually 2 weeks before) as a prayer that all of the potential curses mentioned in the “rebuke” of ki tavo’ should culminate before the new year. Indeed, this year especially, we pray that we should see the end of all the terrible things that have been happening to our people, both in Israel and in the diaspora.

Likewise, we continue with a haftarah of comfort from Isaiah. (This week, from chapter 60, is #6 of 7.) “qumi ‘ori” says Isaiah in the name of HaShem. That is, “light up, for your light has come, and the glory of HaShem has shone upon you.” HaShem tells us that “nations will come to your light.” “Just lift up your eyes, O Jerusalem, and see all of your children coming back to you.” Isaiah continues by saying that nations will be pouring their money into our land, and foreign workers will come to build up our walls. Instead of being an outcast among the nations (like in the UN) we will become the glory of the world. All our people will be righteous and they will inherit the Land. HaShem promises that our small nation will become mighty, and in the proper time, He will bring all of this about!

More than ever, we pray for the speedy realization of these words!

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Parashat ki tavo’ begins with the declaration made by the farmer when he brings his first fruits to the kohen. We are all familiar with the text, “‘arami ’oved ‘avi,” as we say it every year at the Passover seder.  What do those 3 Hebrew words mean? It is usually translated “my father was a wandering Aramean,” referring either to Abraham, who wandered from his native land to Canaan; or to Jacob, who had to wander many times. 

Yet that is not how the author of the hagadah understood those 3 words. The hagada’s interpretation is based on the ancient Aramaic translation of Onqelos, which in turn was followed by Rashi. That approach understood that ”’arami” refers to Laban, and “‘oved” is a transitive active verb meaning “to attempt to destroy.” [I could elaborate, but I don’t want to make this “blog” to technical. If you wish a lengthier explanation, write me at 551-206-0395.]

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Shabbat shalom, peace in Israel!!!  Rabbi Menahem White