Words From Rabbi White

Dear Chevra Shaas/Shearith Israel

REFLECTIONS FROM HANUKKAH

On all eight days of Hanukkah, we recited Hallel, which is comprised of Psalms 113-118. 

In the last chapter of Hallel, there are several verses that kept resonating with me: they seemed so relevant: “All nations encompass me, in the name of HaShem, I will cut them off.”

Before Oct 7, this seemed like ancient history, written three millennia ago. But how contemporary it now seems!! The State of Israel, surrounded on all sides by enemies determined, God forbid, to destroy it, and yet, BH, deflecting the attacks. The psalm continues, “they surround me like bees, yet they are quenched, as a fire of thorns.” And following the subsequent words of the Psalm, the Jewish people declare: “I shall not die, but live, and I will declare the works of HaShem.”

So thus, every day of Hanukkah, we felt the 3000-year-old words of King David ringing with contemporary meaning. 

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TODAY’S FRENCH LESSON

In this week’s parasha, when Yosef reveals his identity to the brothers, he gave out a cry, and “the house of Pharoah heard” it. Perhaps some literalist might wonder how a house, an inanimate object, can hear? So, Rashi clarifies that the word “house” in this verse refers to the members of Pharaoh’s household, but not to the walls of the house. Another example he brings would be the phrase “beit Yisrael.” Rashi clarifies even further by giving the translation in Old French: “maisniede.” Since I was not familiar with that French word, I looked it up in chat GPT. Here is what it said: “The Old French word “maisniede” refers to the group of people living under one roof, such as the household staff or the dependents. It is derived from the Latin word mansionata...the term often had connotations of service, implying the collective group of servants or the entire household unit.”

The word is not used in modern French. By the way, Rashi is considered to be an important source for the history of the French language. Rashi lived in the 11th century: born and died in Troyes, France. Rashi frequently incorporated French words and phrases in his commentary to the Torah, Tanach, and Talmud. (I.e., he explained difficult words according to the vernacular of northern France.)

> If any of you know M. Roberge at the OQLF, you may show this to him!

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Haftarah this week is from Ezekiel, chapter 37. It is a beautiful haftarah, describing the unity of the Jewish people.

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This coming Friday is the fast of Asarah beTevet. It commemorates the day when Nebuchadnezer King of Assyria began the siege around Jerusalem, eventually leading to the fall of the city and destruction of the first Temple. Since the prophet Ezekiel, in describing this event, uses the words “on this very day,” the 10th of Tevet is the only fast day that, if according to the calendar will fall on a Friday, will actually be observed on the Friday, and not moved to another day.

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On Sunday, 5 Tevet, Irwin Miller observes yahrzeit for his brother Monroe;

on Tuesday, 7 Tevet, Helen Scharf observes for husband Isadore; and Anna Kaufer observes for her father Leslie. May. the neshamot have aliya.

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We pray that the secular year of '25 bring good health and good news.

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Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Menahem White