Words From Rabbi White

Dear friends,

ELECTION FALLOUTS

Here in USA, the Jewish community has been divided over the results of the Presidential election. At Bnai Jeshurun, a liberal congregation in Manhattan, congregants came together to “sit shiva,” to commiserate about the result, and to cry over the perceived threat to democracy. At the gathering, a prominent liberal Jewish politician recited from Psalm 137, “by the rivers of Babylon, we sat and wept.” Sorry, Westmount High. Your alumna didn’t make it!!!

At the other extreme, some are calling Donald Trump “mashiach.” What!!? Well, you see that the prophet Isaiah (45:1) refers to Cyrus, King of Persia, who would allow the Jews to return to Israel after the exile, as “mashiach.” [Of course, as Rashi ad loc explains, the word as used in Isaiah doesn’t mean what we call “messiah,” but rather “the one who has been anointed for greatness.”  [And see other interpretations on that verse in Rashi, and also ibn Ezra, Qimhi, Metsudot, and at length Abarbanel, etc]. So, they feel, if the Bible can use that word in reference to Cyrus, we can use it in reference to the President elect.

Here in Teaneck, most people feel that Trump, despite his personality, was the better choice for our interests, but let us wait, see, and pray.

Americans don’t usually follow Canadian politics, but those in my community who do, are most impressed by M. Poilievre.

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Parts of this week’s parasha might seem familiar, as we read them from the Torah on the 2 days of Rosh HaShanah:

I have made the following observation in previous years, but it is so relevant this year that it is worth repeating: many years ago, when I was younger, I felt that the contemporary message from this parasha is the importance of making peace treaties. For Avraham, despite having had a difficult and unpleasant experience with Avimelech, the king of the Pelishtim, made a peace treaty with him. The treaty is described at the end of the 6^th aliya. [Note: “pelishtim” is the linguistic source of the word “Palestinian,” although there is no connection between the ancient Pelishtim and modern “Palestinians.”]

That’s what I used to think until………….

….until I saw the commentary of Rashbam at the beginning of the 7^th aliya. Rashbam was the grandson of Rashi, and is considered one of the most important commentators in the manner of “peshat.” This aliya tells the story of the Aqeidah, the near slaughter of Isaac.

Rashbam noticed that this aliya begins with the words “vayehi ‘ahar ha-devarim ha-’eile                    

He demonstrates that when a chapter begins with those words, it always signifies a direct connection with the immediately preceding story. Rashbam says it is as if HaShem is telling Avraham: “see what happens when you make a peace treaty with the enemy. Your child could be killed! This is a lesson for your descendants: making a treaty with the enemy can be very dangerous for your children. And especially since the land of the Pelishtim [i,e. Gaza] is land that really has been promised to your descendants!!!” Of course we want peace, but not at the expense of putting ourselves in danger!

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We pray that the government should make wise decisions. May there be shalom in Israel and in the world. 

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Henry Zingerman observes yahrzeit for his father Isaac this shabbat, 15 Marheshvan, and is co-sponsoring kiddush. May the neshama have aliya.

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Shabbat shalom,

Rabbi Menahem White