Words From Rabbi White

Dear mitpallelim,

TOO BAD JOHN HINCKLEY JR HADN'T STUDIED IBN EZRA

This week we read the 10 commandments. They are very logical: believe in God; do not worship other divinities; don't take the name of HaShem in vain; remember Shabbat; honour parents; don't murder, commit adultery, or rob. But the conclusion of the 10 Commandments is a bit perplexing. We are told not to covet your neighbour's house, wife, or animals. One might well ask: how is it possible to avoid having a desire to want something that belongs to someone else?

Some of you might remember that back in '81, there was a young actress Jodie Foster, who had appeared in several movies, and was a student at Yale. A young man from Oklahoma named John Hinckley had developed an obsession with her, and even moved to New Haven to be near her, although she rebuffed all of his advances. Eventually, he came up with an idea to attract her attention: he attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagen. Reagen was wounded in the attack, as were three men accompanying him, one of whom eventually died from his wounds.

The great Sephardi commentator Avraham ibn Ezra asked the question: "Many people are astonished by this mitsvah: "how is it possible for a person not to covet something that in his heart is beautiful." Ibn Ezra gives us an example, as an answer: "let's imagine a man from a hick town who happens to see a beautiful princess. He will never even imagine to have physical relations with her, because he knows that is impossible. And he knows that he cannot grow wings to fly up and take her away from her palace." And thus, continues ibn Ezra, every intelligent person knows that there are things beyond his reach. That is why, continues ibn Ezra, an intelligent person will not even imagine taking something by shenanigans that is not his.

According to ibn Ezra, that is the reason for having a commandment "do not covet." [Hmm. Could you ever imagine an American President thinking he could annex Canada as the 51^st State?]

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The 10 Commandments are in the 6^th aliya. Many people have a custom to stand during the reading of the 10 Commandments. If one does stand, it is preferable to stand during the entire 6^th aliya.

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The haftarah, which is chapter 6 of Isaiah, describes how Isaiah became a prophet. Many commentators feel that chronologically, this should have been the first chapter.

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On Tuesday, 20 Shevat, I observe yahrzeit for my mother, Chana bat Tsvi Hirsch, Anne Shapiro White.

21 Shevat, the Haimovicis observe for their father/grandfather/great grandfather Yeshua

On the same date, Mariam Mintz and Stanley Goldstein observe for their grandfather

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Shabbat shalom, shalom `al yisrael,

Rabbi Menahem White