Respect, Unity, and Hebron
What is interesting are some of the blessings, customs, and connection to the Land– Hebron that is so relevant and influential today that appear in the Parsha (weekly Bible reading). One could say these 3 are the bedrock of our tradition and history.
Yaakov’s blessing to Ephraim and Menasha which we say every Friday evening when blessing our children
Genesis 48:20
ויברכם ביום ההוא לאמור בך יברך ישראל לאמר ישמך אלהים כאפרים וכמנשה וישם את־אפרים לפני מנשה׃
And he blessed them that day, saying, in you shall Israel bless, saying, God make you as Ephraim and as Manasseh; and he set Ephraim before Manasseh.
Hamalach prayer which we say every night before going to sleep
Genesis 48:16
המלאך הגאל אתי מכל־רע יברך את־הנערים ויקרא בהם שמי ושם אבתי אברהם ויצחק וידגו לרב בקרב הארץ׃
The Angel who redeemed me from all evil, bless the lads; and let my name be named on them, and the name of my father’s Abraham and Isaac; and let them grow into a multitude in the midst of the earth.
Burial in Hebron — Our eternal connection to the Land
Genesis 50:13
וישאו אתו בניו ארצה כנען ויקברו אתו במערת שדה המכפלה אשר קנה אברהם את־השדה לאחזת־קבר מאת עפרן החתי על־פני ממרא׃
For his sons carried him to the land of Canaan and buried him in the cave of the field of Machpelah, which Abraham bought with the field for a possession of a burying place of Ephron the Hittite, before Mamre.
What is interesting is the brotherly harmony and unity that is present in the Parsha. Indeed, Rav Yitzhak Breitowitz brings up some fascinating insights. When asked what the greatest fear facing the Jewish people In Israel today, the lack of unity was given more prominence than the Hamas, Iran, War, and others. He quoted Josephus saying that Jewish infighting was so prevalent, that if the Romans hadn’t destroyed Jerusalem, we could have destroyed it ourselves. Indeed, this is a matter of grave concern.
Rabbi Breitowitz who is a senior educator at Ohr Sameach and is Haredi said that we do not need to demonize others when they have a different opinion. He brought up the example of the Religious Affairs Minister Matan Kahana who is strongly national Religious and is leading with reforms to the Kashrut and Conversion process. He basically said that even though there may be opposition to these positions in that they may not be in line with Haredi Hashkafa , this could be debated, but in no circumstances should the minister be called derogatory names.
In essence, we need to respect and embrace our differences and have respect for the honour of the other. Indeed, this is both a Jewish and worldwide problem. He goes on to say that in order to merit Mashiach — redemption we need to act nobly with regard to our fellow man.
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Hebron and rights to Israel
I refer to my 2nd blog on the Parsha — which i called Lies, Murder, Hebron which I penned after learning about the killing of Yehuda Dimentman.
Not only that, but we as Jews are also still the only country in the world where our rights to our land and to exist are questioned. As we see in the Parsha our roots go back to eternity. So, why is there an obsession with the Jews and Israel? I will not even try to answer that. This is very prevalent, and this article highlights some of these prejudices — THE LUXURY BELIEFS OF WESTERN ANTI-ZIONISTS
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This week , Reb Nachman Futterman a devoted Chassid of Reb Shlomo passed away, Nachman Yerachmiel Ben Yehuda Leib and Golda may he be a meilitz yashar for all Klal Yisroel.
Moshe Rothkopf relates this story of brotherly love “Reb Nachman was the President of the Carlebach Shul at a time of transition and chaos, he led the Shul with clarity of purpose and an equanimity that embraced everyone and made them feel this was their Shul. This was most characterized by creating a space that the two holy twins, Reb Shlomo and Reb Elichaim, could preside and give over their own unique forms of Avoda Hashem, and often together. Nachman was the embodiment of the Carlebach teachings. He was a sea of calm, Emunah, aitza tova, good advice, to all that entered his space, to all that entered his home that he built with Miriam. If ever one can praise Hashem for putting together perfect zevugot it was Nachman and Miriam, may she live long and healthy and continue to inspire the Klal and reap nachas from all her children physical and spiritual.
Nachman, you enriched a generation. May Hashem give you your place in Gan Eden with ALL your holy rebbes. They have been waiting for the President to organize this chaotic Geula. Love you always”
So, let’s sum up this up — Brotherly love and respect, unity , helping others are needed ingredients for a better world and the age of Redemption.
For the full YouTube recording, which includes a fascinating story about the formation of Christianity and Peter the first Pope who was Jewish. Fascinating stuff.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbWNXEQAT7A
I am also sharing this story of Nachman as it illustrates the power of everyone to connect to others, or God forbid to make people unwelcome.
A Ray of Light by Nachman Futterman z’l
Nachman Futterman lived in Jerusalem with his wife and children. His search for spirituality began in the 1970s, when he experimented with Eastern yoga and then connected with an interfaith rabbi who was good friends with a swami. Afterwards he joined Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach’s synagogue on the Upper West Side.
He visited Israel for the first time in 1984.
“Of course, I was planning to go to the Kotel (Western Wall) for Shabbat. After all, the Kotel is the holiest place in Israel, which is the holiest country in the world. I was really looking forward to the experience. I remember going to the Kotel, walking up to a minyan, and then feeling as if I were being pushed away. I walked up to another minyan, and again I felt as if I were being pushed away. This kept happening again and again. I got to a point where I turned to God and said, “Maybe I don’t belong here.” I walked away from the Kotel and started crying. I had travelled so far to come to the holiest of places and I was not comfortable praying there! It occurred to me that perhaps this whole religious thing was not for me. When I was really at the end of the end, I noticed the section of the Kotel that is inside a tunnel. I felt as if there was a ray of light emanating from there. Something was drawing me, beckoning me to enter. I went inside and saw two old men with white beards and shtreimels singing the Breslov song “Sab’einu (Sate us).” Their faces were shining! I was mesmerized. As I was standing there, a stranger (who later became a good friend of mine) patted me on the shoulder and asked, “Do you know who these guys are?” “No, who are they?” I asked. “They’re Breslover Chassidim. Would you like to meet them?” I did. I told him that I was staying at the King David Hotel. We made up for him to meet me and my friends on Shabbat morning to take us to the Breslov shul in Mea Shearim. That Shabbat, we prayed Shacharit in the Breslov shul and ate lunch with Reb Moshe Bienenstock. That was my first Shabbat in Israel. God had brought me straight to Breslov. It was most amazing.”
https://medium.com/media/c173e917ea1991d16299ae8bd592611e/href