Words From Rabbi White

My dear friends,

HOW TO TALK TO A WIFE

A fellow worshipper in the shul in which I daven here in Teaneck (Dr. Abrahams) pointed out to me that in this week’s parasha, we read for the first time that a man is talking to his wife. Avram says to Sarai: “hinei na’ yada`ti,” “now I have known that you are a beautiful woman.”

Think about it: Adam takes the fruit from Eve, but doesn’t say “todah,” and then blames her, referring to her as “the woman.” Perhaps Eve felt that since there was no person to talk to, she has to talk to the snake!!! And Noah takes his wife with him on the cruise, but we don’t read of them talking one to another. (According to a midrash, they didn’t even share then same cabin!) According to midrash, her name was Naamah. After leaving the ark, Noah drank too much wine. Perhaps, had he instead asked Naamah to join him for a relaxed glass of wine, he wouldn’t have experienced the terrible incident with his sons!! So the first person to actually talk to his wife was Avraham!

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GENERAL AVRAHAM

If you ask any child who studies in a Jewish school, what is the great characteristic of Avraham’s/he will tell you that, as we learn in next week’s parasha, he was “makhnis ‘orechim,” he invited guests. However, already in this week’s parasha, we see a different quality: Avraham was a great warrior, who with the aid of just a small band of helpers, defeated a mighty army. He also comes across as a diplomat, making peace treaties with Malki -Tsedeq, king of Shalem (Jerusalem) and with the king of Sedom (without the help of President Trump!)

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TRUCE/TRUTH WTH HAMAS

We are all familiar with the 29^th Psalm, which we say when the Torah is returned to the ark on Shabbat morning: “HaShem 'oz le`ammo yitten, HaShem yevarekh ‘et `ammo bashalom,” which means “HaShem will give strength to His people, HaShem will bless His people with peace.” The word “`oz” means “strength.” However, remarkably, the Aramaic Targum translates it by the word “‘orayta,” which means “Torah.” That is, HaShem gives Torah to His people, and will bless them with peace.

I think the explanation might be as follows: David was a warrior, and prays for strength to defeat his many enemies, such as the Philistines. The Targum, which was probably composed very much later in Erets Yisrael (between the 5^th and 7^th centuries CE) reflects a time when the Jews didn’t have military strength: their strength came only from Torah. Nowadays, Baruch HaShem, we can combine Torah and military prowess!!! Unfortunately, the Hasidim who demonstrated in front of the Israel consulate this week don't recognize that!

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Henry Zingerman observes yahrzeit for his father Isaac on Thursday, 15 Cheshvan. May the neshama have aliya.

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Last time for Kiddush levana: Wednesday night, 7:15.

Shabbat shalom, Rabbi Menahem White, Chevra Shaas