Words From Rabbi White

Dear Chevra Shaas/Shearith Israel

THE COMPUTER AND THE SIDDUR

This past Wednesday night, we began saying “ten tal u-matar” in the weekday amidah. Both the Koren and the Art Scroll siddurim give instructions that this should be said in winter, as opposed to “ten beracha” that we say in summer. Therefore, this is a sign that the winter has officially begun. However, I noticed once when I was praying using the siddur app on my phone, this instruction is missing. Why? Because “big siddur” knows exactly where you are, and what day it is: is it summer or winter. So, you don’t have to guess any more what to say. The siddur tells you!  Nice, but perhaps a bit scary!??

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CAN WE SAY SOMETHING NICE ABOUT ESAV?

Last week, we wondered why Yitschak would want to bless Esav, the tough guy, rather than Yaakov, the nice brother. We noticed that the story of the blessings comes immediately after our having been told that Esav married Hittite women, an act that caused much anguish to Yitschak and Rivkah. So, I offered the suggestion that Yitschak was at least trying to encourage Esav, by asking him to bring him a meal, and thereby Esav would become sensitive to the mitsvah of honouring parents. Yitschak was thinking: let Esav have at least one mitsvah!

Actually, I neglected to mention last week that this interpretation was first brought to my attention by Rabbi Joseph Shultz, who had been the youth rabbi of my shul when I was growing up in Boston. He, in turn, had heard this idea from his father, who had been a professor in Chicago. 

As I was listening to the Torah reading this past Shabbat, I realized that the last verse in last week’s parasha fits in with this approach. For the Torah says in the last verse that Esav now married into the family of Yishmael [who, being a child of Avraham, probably had some good character traits.]  So, perhaps Esav had learned his lesson, and wanted to give a bit of “nachas” to his parents. [Although, indeed, Rashi wrote that by not divorcing his first wives, Esav was making things worse!]

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This week’s parasha is “Vayeitsei Yaakov,” meaning that Yaakov left the Land of Canaan and went on his way to his mother’s family in Haran. But the haftarah, from the Book of the prophet Hosea, begins with the words “va-yivrach Yaakov,” that is, Yaakov fled. This seems to me to be an example of what scholars can call “intra-Biblical exegesis.” In simple English, this means that Hosea is explaining to us that Yaakov did not just mosey out of the house and smell the roses on the way to Lavan, but he was scared, and he tried to get away from Esav as fast as possible. 

This also perhaps fits in with the interpretation of the early hasidic leader Rav Yaakov Yosef of Polna’ah, in his work Toldos Yaakov Yosef. The Torah said that Yaakov went to Haran. But Rav Yaakov Yosef noted that the word Haran has the same root as the word for “anger.” Yaakov was probably not completely happy about having to leave home!! 

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On Thursday, 11 Kislev, Leonard Mintz observes yahrzeit for his mother Bryna.  The neshama should have aliya.

Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Menahem White

P.S. As you know, last year I participated in a wonderful “mission” trip to Israel, organized by the Teaneck Jewish newspaper, “The Jewish Link.” They wish to have once again this year. If anyone from the Spanish is interested in participating, I highly recommend it. The trip leaves from Newark airport on January 12th, and lasts for a week. Last year, we had around 10 participants: all very friendly. We all returned inspired. Upon leaving, the guard at Ben Gurion told me, in Hebrew, “you have no idea how much we appreciate your coming here.”

The trip is being organized, on our side of the Atlantic, by Nina Glick, an editor at the Link, and former Montrealer. On the other side of the pond, it is being led by Peter Abelow, an experienced tour guide and oleh from America. If you prefer to make your own travel arrangements, and join the group in Israel, that is fine.  I myself shall not be participating since, 'im yirtseh HaShem, I shall be going to Israel in March for my grandson Shmuel’s wedding. 

If you are interested, write or call me for further info. [whitemenahem@hotmail.com]