Rabbi Goldsmith Exodus Chapter 1: http://youtu.be/WekT8W8kwxg
Category: Torah Thoughts on the weekly portion
“Ve’emunatcha Baleylot”- Mikeitz-Chanukah December 3, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
The portions of Yosef come to light during the darkest days of the year always at the end of Kislev. Something happens in the dark – the light of Chanukah is revealed. Something happens to Yosef too as he dreams in the dark of night. Pregnant with revelation, Yosef understands that all that transpired in his father’s life- so too he is to experience. He is taken out of his home, separated from his brothers. He sees that in Potiphera’s house all he does, he succeeds, like his father in the house of Lavan. He doesn’t make an effort to “call home” even when 22 years have passed by. Like Ya’akov who had to go into exile in order to build the physical house of Israel being the tikkun of the revealed world. But the buck stops there for him. Yosef is sent by Hashem to the most cultured, civilized modern society of that time, Mitzrayim. Our holy torah never uses the word dark, aside from one instance: to describe Mitzrayim. It is to this place that Yosef falls, deeper than any pit, where the occult ruled and belief in One G-d did not exist. Here the Tzaddik superseded his father in the trials of the darkness of Egypt. He wrestles with more than angels; his job is to “bring up” the holy sparks that reside even there. Only the Tzaddik has the ability to hold the candle of righteousness and show the true light in a place so seemingly alive with culture that accompanies the fat of the land. When he is tested by the most beautiful woman that lived on earth at that time he saw the living picture of his father and prevailed.
By the same token, The Macabees raised the torch of torah light in a time when Greek culture ruled, even in Israel. The objective of Greek culture was the worship of the body and philosophy. Instead of the holy light of the Temple, they erected pagan idols and set up violent gladiator games that they considered sport in coliseums. They forbade the Jews to worship the torah, the sacred times of the year, Shabbat and of course the brit (the Yesod, thus rejecting Yosef haTzaddik who was sent to sanctify the physical world.) Therefore before Chanukah it was considered a dark time not only because there was no light in the Temple but because the traditions passed down from father to son were either abolished by mandatory rule or forgotten due to assimilating into the Greek culture. Chanukah is not only the winning of a physical battle but the time that the holy light prevailed over the darkness of the carnal culture of Greece that threatened to abolish Judaism completely. That is why this is such a blessed time.
The seasonal Chanukah couldn’t be better timed. As we add another light to the menorah, the days of the year begin to lengthen too. The book of Chaggay even speaks about the auspicious time of the 24th day of the 9th month (kislev) as being the window of opportunity for the dedication of the Temple.(way before the second Temple!)- “But now consider from this day onwards, from the twenty forth day of the ninth month, from the day that the foundation of the lord’s temple that was laid, consider it. From this day I will bless you.”
Let us take this opportunity to remember that it is NEVER totally dark. It is up to each and every one of us to spread the light. Greece was the FIRST country to come to Israel’s aid in the terrible fires on the Carmel. May we hear only besoorot tovot, yeshuot venechamot.
Shabbat Shalom, Chanukah Sameyach Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Vayeshev November 26 2010
Leah Goldsmith
Dear readers- As I turned on my faucet to get ready for Shabbat – I really almost looked up into it to see if water would come out. Israel has been in a drought for the last 5 years. By the time we read the portions of Yosef, which is usually Chanukah time, here in Israel it is raining. Yosef and rain come together. Yosef, who brought the bounty gave only credit to Hashem, for interpreting dreams, for the foresight to save food and water before the drought, for the plenty of this world. As the Yesod, he is the pipeline that channels all of these blessings into practical use in our material world. So, as I was feeling apprehensive to say the least about my dying grass, my worry for the Kinneret that is drying up, my sorrow at the Civil Administration’s destruction of one of the only steams-pools in this area near Eilon Moreh this week, the phone rang and it was a friend of Itamar- someone like yourselves, whose name is Brian Dellaca calling from Australia to say Shabbat Shalom. I told him I was pretty shaken up knowing that all the reservoirs in the Golan are bone dry, the Kinneret is a meter under the red line, the Dead Sea is drying up, and the only underground aquifers that exist in Israel are under negotiations to be given away to a Palestinian State, and that I’m afraid to water my trees. He simply said, ” Go outside with an umbrella!”
That got me thinking again about Yosef Hatzaddik. How much have we said about Yosef already. We could go on until tomorrow. What would he do? The idea of feeling potential and mapping out a plan is what the yesod is all about. It’s about preparing the vessel. It’s also about blind faith. We don’t ever hear Yosef bellyache. I am sure he did a lot of praying too. Yosef is the person, a symbol of the process of our redemption unfolding also now in these days. If Hashem has promised, Hashem will do. It’s up to us to follow the techniques of Yoseph, conserving water, using grey water techniques, wetlands from sewage, and come up with new ideas that will bring the continued blessing to the Land. But first we have to pray:
A Prayer for Time of Drought “Answer us, Creator of the Universe, with the attribute of mercy, the One who chose His people Israel to proclaim His greatness and honor. The One who hears prayers, give rain and dew on the earth, satisfy the entire world from Your bounty, and fill our hands from your blessings and from riches, the gift of Your hand. Protect and save this year from everything bad, and from all types of destructive agents and from all types of suffering, and provide it with hope and peace as its goal. Have mercy and compassion on us and all our produce and fruits, and bless us with abundant rains, that we may merit life, satisfaction, and peace as in the good years. Remove from us plague, the sword, and famine, evil beast, captivity, and despoilment, the evil urge, and bad and harsh events. Decree for us good decrees from before You, let Your mercy be revealed over Your other attributes. Treat Your children with the attribute of mercy, and accept with compassion and desire our prayer.”
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Vayishlach November 19 2010
Leah Goldsmith
Our Rabbis tell us, Ma’aseh avot siman lebanim- What happens to the fathers is a sign of what will happen to the future generations. This applies to the soul, the time, the place. Parshat Vayishlach is an even lesson for us on placating or going in advance, armed and ready. Ya’akov prepares gifts, taking the edge off of things and cooling the air. His brother, Esav says “I have plenty”(meaning I have a fortune but I want more). Ya’akov says, “I have all that I need”. He bears gifts. The story line of the parsha moves along from a situation of negotiations through diplomatic relations to the family of Yisrael taking matters into hand when Dina was forced upon in the land of Shechem, where the brit hurts. They came to a radical decision premeditating to wipe out the enemy. Ya’akov is distressed in this situation too but another tragic incident overrides all the previous tribulations. The love of his life dies and Rachel is left at the crossroads of Bethlehem. There, chazal tell us she waits for her children to return from their long sleep in the exile to their rightful borders, waiting to be reunited with Yisrael.
Every turn of events takes us to a new turn in the road of our Patriarchs, on a different vertebrae on the spinal cord of the backbone of the land of Israel thus laying the groundwork through trials, as we have already seen with Abraham. The first stones of our legacy were placed and oil was poured down as a brit for time immemorial. Tears too. As things turn out, we find ourselves in a similar situation today. We placate. We negotiate. But there is also a time to protect the honor of our sister, our mother. The message of hope and steadfastness, of permanent faith is what Ya’akov/Yisrael passes on to us. He is the shaliach. (Emissary) These are the messengers he is sending to us about the gift of Eretz Yisrael, then, now and forever!
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Chaye Sarah October 30, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
Chazal tell us that Yitzchak mourned for his mother three years. This is outstanding in that a person generally mourns for a spouse for 30 days and one year for a parent. There are different ideas about why Yitzchak mourned overtime. (Sarah passed away upon hearing that her only son was taken to the akeida.) What we do know is that he was finally consoled when Rivka came into his life. Rivka touches him, entering into his spirit to the quick. Yitzchak resembled his father, Abraham in a way that no-one could doubt their father-son relationship, the impression of Abraham’s face on his son’s, though internally they were profoundly different. One had active attributes, one passive. One held the domain of Chesed and one of Gevurah. Rivka resembled Sarah, Yitzchak’s mother, not only superficially, but profoundly in her core essence. In the way that Sarak knew who would build the nation of Israel, classified to Yitzchak, the refining process was done by her, Rivka knew this too. Sarah fought for the sole inheritor- Yitzchak (your son, your only son). Rivka does the same for Ya’akov, sifting out Esav. In these attributes Sarah and Rivka won the status of the deciding factor of who continues into the next generation of Judaism, the mother.
Rebecca is no pushover. Yes, she falls off the camel (out of being struck by “Cupid’s bow) but she demonstrates amazing strength when telling her parents she is leaving with the servant to join the family in Israel. Rivka leaves her homeland (following the traits of Abraham and Sarah). She has an objective but doesn’t realize that her role right now is to console the bereaved Yitzchak. Consolation (nechama) means moving from a state of emptiness and sadness into a feeling that life is filling up those empty places. Happiness is filling and sprouting new life. This is what Yitzchak felt on the day he met Rivka. This being the continuation of Sarah, his mother living in his wife. Therefore he took her to Sarah’s tent, and not Abraham’s (who was still alive).
Today, as we experience the “post akeida” of the holocaust and the sacrifices of the long bitter exile that left us scarred and bereaved. We are consoled with being returned to our land. But we cannot yet be content because again, two souls share the same womb. History repeats itself. The image of our Matriarchs fills up the barren and lifeless hills and dales. Our ancient cities are refortified. Thousands of children play in the streets. But we still do not know the peace of a New Jerusalem. It is time to remember Rebecca and Sarah, buried in Chevron. It is time to realize the lessons their lives have taught us. Their impression is ingrained in the torah and in us.
(much of this torah was influenced by the teachings of HaRav Yitzchak Shapira, shlita)
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
Lech Lecha- Vayera – Sarah, Mother Earth and….. October 22, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
Chazal dedicate many discourses to the superpower traits of the Matriarchs and prophetesses. “Bezchut nashim tzadkaniyot nigalu Yisrael memitzrayim”- “In the merit of the righteous women, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt.” (Midrash Shmot Raba- Alef) “Nashim zerizot bemitzvot yoter meanashim.” Women are quicker to do mitzvoth than men” (Midrash Raba). “Isha kesheyra osa ratzon baalah.” ” A good and kosher woman performs her husband’s will- by creating it in the first place or rectifying it-“. What better Mashpiah (a person that motivates others) comes to mind than our first matriarch Sarah. Isha kesheyra is also read as Isha KeSarah- the woman, the motivating Sarah.
Sarah and Abraham are 2 equal heavyweights that place themselves on the bedrock of the Holy Land. They are seekers and movers. The blessings, promises and later dreams experienced by Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Yosef were all brought to fruition by their partners, their wives. In these parshiyot we perceive Abraham as the personification of righteousness, inc., but Sarah his hidden right hand (“where is Sarah?” “In the tent…”) had the last word. She set out to an unknown Land, setting up shop in the land of G-d’s word. She was promised a multitude of children but was tested in patience until her womb actually opened up and actualized this. Hashem says to Abraham, “All that Sarah tells you, you must listen to her voice.” She settled all the scores. The union of Abraham and Sarah is likened to when Hashem created mercy and judgment and brought them together. Sarah is considered the rectification of Chava “the mother of all life”. Our Rabbis tell us that her will to initiate and lead the way, a new way of belief in one G-d were in the merits of her extraordinary intellectual skills and sensitivity to that special moment of emotion that could only convey strong faith in also those who turned to her and joined her in the mission. She welcomed people but also knew how to put down the line if she had to and was the mother of all converts to belief in Hashem.
The rituals Sarah performed were blessed abundantly. Her dough won fortunes favor and provided for multitudes. The cloud of Glory rested on her tent and she had the ability to arouse the upper worlds as she kindled the lights of Sabbath, rectifying the lights that were put out after the first sin in the Garden of Eden. The candles actually burned from one Shabbat to the next. In kabbalah it is explained that the sphere of Malchut (kingship) reflects the feminine dimension. On the human body it is represented by the mouth which is why Sarah’s voice must be heard. During the long exile that the Bnei Yisrael experienced out of their Land, Malchut could not receive direct influence from the other spheres, likened to a husband and wife separated. But in these days that the redemptive process is revving up and falling into play, the verse from Jeremiah 31:21, regarding the redemption, “A woman of valor will be the crown of her husband”- describes how Malchut, the woman of valor- and the Land of Israel ,the lost bride- comes back, and is returned to her husband. This describes a time of awakening when the Land shakes off the dust and cobwebs and gives forth her fruit again (because she remained for the most part barren for two thousand years) – igniting malchut, kingship. The final phase is the crown placed on the head of mashiach- this is when all the spheres come into Malchut and rise into Keter (the crown).
Sarah, as “Ezer kenegdo”, the perfect example of the support her husband needed in order to complete their mission serves as a perpetual illustration to the new trailblazing settlers that arrived after the long exile, even after the State of Israel was formed. The biblical areas, the most sacred and revered by the Jewish people were the places most under dispute because the nations of the world, for the most part, do not want the crown placed on Mashiach’s head. They object to the reunion of the “husband- the Jewish people” returning to the wife- the Land of Israel”. Even the governments of Israel who have not received the direct influence of Malchut still hold secular views, not fully valuing the treasures of the historical legacy returned to us. Even after the 1967 wars of the Arabs against Israel and the miraculous returning of these precious lands to us, the consensus was “leave it alone”. The readiness of the settler woman to sit in tents, in flimsy makeshift structures in order to establish new yishuvim (communities, settlements) forced the governments of Shimon Peres, Yitzchak Rabin, Menachem Begin and others to move families into more durable dwellings, whether it was into nearby army bases or administrative buildings. The willingness of mothers to stay with their young children in conditions that excluded even running water and electricity prompted the bargaining with government officials that eventually led to the establishment of permanent buildings, and permanent communities revived on the very ancestral sites of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs. In fact, most of the advances that came about in settlement activity were a result of “her” selflessness. Putting all other goals of professionalism and academics on the back burner, fulfilling the idealistic dream was “her” immediate self fulfillment. She called the shots. In “her” merit, the ranks swelled from a handful of women and children holding chanukah candles in the pouring night rain at Sebastia, and the sleeping bags and bottled water on the floors of the Park Hotel in Chevron, to close to 300,000 in a span of three decades. Dressing up as archeologists at Tel Shilo or being bulldozed eight times from Rujeb (now Itamar)- there were plenty of stories of simple beautiful Mashpiahs that brought mother earth to life. There should be libraries full of them.
Dear Readers, Two great movements sprouted around the time I was born, Zionism and Feminism. I don’t know about burning bras, but I do agree with Opra Winfrey when she said, “Rejoice in your womanhood!” I say also, “Rejoice in your Land”. It’s one and the same. Rabbi Yitzchak Ginzberg touched upon the subject and said, “If one would like to strike a modern chord, one would say that the possibility of a rectified feminism is one of the signs of the approaching redemption of our present level of existence.”- RECTIFIED feminism in the sense of being satisfied in who you are, in your feminine identity and not aspiring to negate it. And not trying to negate who you are in your inner core connection to your Land, to your voice. Ladies and Gentlemen, the Shechinah is coming home!
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
Vezot HaBracha – This is the blessing 2010 September 22, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
This is the last parsha of the Torah. It is also the last day of Moshe Rabbeinu’s life. He stands on Har Nevo and Hashem shows him the panorama of the Land of Israel according to the root essence of each tribe in its portion. The field of view the torah described is only five of the tribes: Dan, Naftali, Ephraim, Menashe and Judah. Internalizing into the inner core essence of each of these tribes, Moshe prophesizes the entire stream of Jewish history running its course until the end of days. Rabbi Yitzchak Ginzberg gives a detailed analysis into the spheres of these tribes: 1) Dan- Righteous indignation- like the smoke and fire that burns evil in the world – in a sense- holy anger- on a practical level- the army of the Mashiach (as it says in the prophets that the enemies weapons will burn for 7 years) 2) Naftali- laughter- When Mashiach will be able to include the holy sparks of what was perceived as evil into good. This produces laughter and brings joy to the soul, the joy of the shell being incorporated into the core (like laughing in the face of evil) 3) Ephraim- Marital union- in practical terms- the settling of the Land of Israel as Am Yisrael is considered the land’s husband. Moreover, the Jewish people will procreate, bearing more and more Jews who will live in all parts of the Land of Israel. The picture on the flag of Ephraim was one of a baby. (This growing process is alluded to in the blessings given to Yosef- Mashiach ben Yosef is the physical foundation of Israel in it’s redemptive process in the merit of |Shomer Habrit| Yosef, who guarded the Brit. 4) Menashe- The inner sense of smell – being the Judge, as Mashiach, the true Judge will rule Israel and all the world. The nose and the mouth correspond to Daat, the inner knowledge of the soul – through spiritual smell and taste. 5) Judah- Speech- clarity of leadership as all the new dimensions of the torah are revealed (Mashiach will be outspoken!) – It is said of Moshe that the Shechinah (Divine Presence) speaks through the throat of Moshe. The word of the tongue is called Milah, therefore twinning with the Brit of Yesod (Brit Milah) (The Covenant)
This is the prophecy that Moshe Rabbeinu receives as he is about to leave the world. As he enters the spheres and passes through Yesod and Malchut he KNOWS that he will return as Mashiach to redeem the world and reveal the torah again, making the ultimate and final redemption complete. We are eager to begin again the torah anew after closing it on Sukkot. If we take into our hearts the concepts revealed to us in this torah, then we join the awesome resolution to settling Israel physically, philosophically, and practically at this geula time now. It is time the life force of Am Yisrael actualizes itself. It is one thing to read from the torah, but there no illusions here. Shakespeare once said, such stuff as dreams were made on- For us it is time to LIVE the dream. Every parcel of Eretz Dan, Naftali, Ephraim, Menashe and Judah are sacred. Every inch of the entire land of Israel is fortified by the spirit of Hashem, untouchable to the contrariety and disagreement of the nations, whatever they may say. If we want it to be VeZot HaBracha- This is the blessing- let us bless Israel and activate our righteous indignation- THIS IS NOT A TIME FOR APATHY!!! This is the blessing- let us laugh in the face of evil! This is the blessing- let us settle the land and build it. This is the blessing- let us judge be’zchuyot Am Yisrael. This is the blessing- Open your mouths- say the truth- don’t be afraid of who you are! Share it with the world! This is the blessing- This is the Torah. It is not just a book you pass around. We pray that Malchut will rise into the Keter of torah for a new year full of all of the torahs revealed to us in this parsha and the coming of Mashiach, Amen!
Chag Sukkot Sameyach, Shabbat Shalom Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Matot – Masey July 8, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
“And the Lord spoke to Moshe saying: Command the Children of Israel and say to them, when you come into the Land of Kenaan, this is the land that shall fall to you for an inheritance with its borders”.
Parshat Masey begins with the motion of the journeys of the Bnei Yisrael on their pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Always on the move, each footstep and every march through the forty two stations in the desert held ramifications of “cheshbone nefesh” (soul searching). They wandered and wondered all the while asking “Where do we belong?” At the end of forty years they arrived at their final destination, to the confined borders of their inheritance. This is the merging of Chesed (motion) and Gevurah (boundaries) thus creating the vessel of the Land of Israel where the people of Israel were contained. They were told to clean the vessel of its impurity, making the place fit for holiness. This preparation had to be done by them when they arrived there. Although their travels were over, their work IN the land was not. Again, like Abraham who had been promised the land but had to pay for it, till its soil, wage war and purge it of paganism. Nevertheless, this was the ultimate prize the Bnei Yisrael received from Hashem after leaving Egypt and nursing torah, which were prerequisites for this finale.
A parable our Rabbis share with us on this play by play description of this expedition, of the effort that went into it, the no end in sight feeling of it, and the reward for it at the finish line. They tell of a King who asked his son to accompany him on a long and hard journey. Happily, the son agreed despite the time and effort he knew he had to put in. Towards the end of the trek father took son to a high hill and pointed to a castle in the distance.” This is yours, son.” It was waiting here for you all along.
The book of Jeremiah (2:2) recounts “Thus says the L-rd: I remember in thy favor the devotion of thy youth when thou didst go after me in the wilderness in a land that was not sown- Israel is holy to the L-rd”.
Parenting is sometimes not an easy thing. We spend a great deal of our lives nourishing, providing for, worrying for, and investing our greatest energies into our children only for them to leave us ultimately. The torah in this portion teaches us that the trek we make together, through thick and thin lead us to a new reality for the next generation. It is a new frontier that we helped them reach together with their faith in us. But the work is never done. It’s up to the next generation to “take the bull by the horns” because even the Promised Land that is mounted on a silver tray and handed to them has yet more tasks and more jobs to get done. That’s when it’s their turn to take over. Sadly, Moshe Rabbeinu never enters the Land. His babysitting time is over and a new page is turned in the book of the adventures of the Children of Israel. Now they had become young adults who had to go out and work for their living. They received the greatest gift in their final independence in leaving the Midbar – inheriting the Land.
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
Parshat Chukat-Torah thoughts on current events June 18, 2010
Leah Goldsmith
The world revolves on an even axis of mercy and judgment. These are the two legs that support the world. When someone has reached the level of feeling G-d, he can easily see these attributes and know how Hashem is relating to him, either in mercy (Chesed) – when he receives the gifts of bounty of health and happiness (the Good Side) or when he is given a test, G-d forbid and he has to overcome the hurdle of judgment -Din (also known as the Other Side).
When we pray to Hashem, it is usually done through supplication, an expression of mercy. We also do mitzvoth, good deeds, in happiness always because chesed “makes the world go around” and we are actually copying Hashem, who showers down bounty upon His creations. Din is what gives the unending bounty pouring down its shape. It contracts and actually puts up walls to contain the good in this world. Peace is a time of chesed. War is a time of Din.
Our holy Rabbis told us long ago that the mighty warrior who will fight the final war prays in the aspect of Din and actually descends into the throat of the Sitra Achra (The Other Side). He does this in order to redeem lost souls and ultimately destroy the entire realm of evil. This type of prayer causes the Other Side to vomit up all of the damaged souls and prayers it has swallowed, until at last, evil vomits up its very life force. This comes up in the form of converts and righteous gentiles who join the Jewish people in their day of war and redemption. G-d’s radiance and glory will then become revealed, shining so great a light even in the darkest of dark unholy places. The final phase of this process is when total truth is revealed by the Mashiach and the entire world is at peace.
As the boats from Lebanon, Germany and Iran are about to dock on Israel’s ports in the guise of “chesed” and “humanitarian aid”, those true to G-dliness know that this is just Din and a ploy to fool the world. This evil is supported by the “throat and mouth of the Other Side” – the media. Friends, there is a lot to do to fight the holy war. First, we have to pray like mighty warriors. Second- flood the State Department with letters, Third- let the truth be known. Most people are just so soaped up by the CNN and the BBC that they are not free thinkers. Free them. We urge our readers to join the Itamar Israel Support Group on facebook. Let your voice be heard !
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith
For those of you who wish to hear mussar- read my old torahs from 2009, 2008.
One very outstanding feature I noticed, going back to New York for visits through the years has been that slowly, slowly Jews have found a way to be “frum” from A-Z and also live without Israel. It wasn’t that way when I was growing up in Brooklyn. Being Jewish, regardless of your level of observance, meant your firm conviction and passionate attachment to Israel. As this process of “super- frumkite” (with all the implications of dress code and dietary stringencies) spirals into a new attitude to Israel, it is moving away from any allegiance to it.
Simultaneously it was hard not to observe all the new super kosher restaurants mushrooming on every street corner. Even in residential neighborhoods. And people, in general looked “well fed”, to say the least. There was kosher Thai, Chinese, Macrobiotic, Duncan Doughnuts (kosher!), Italian, Indian, and the list just goes on and on. The frumest of people were eating in them.
Now I’ll end with a little story-
A man entered a Food Court and ordered a meal. He placed his tray on a vacant table and went to wash his hands. When he returned – lo and behold, someone was nibbling at his food. Speechless, he sat down and decided to just eat his meal, checking out the person sitting across from him from time to time. He was hoping as he stared at the perplexing face of the stranger eating his French fries that he would have a clue about what to do… “I can’t believe this!” he started saying to himself. “He is actually eating MY food! What chutzpah!” The stranger gave him a weak smile and just at that moment he realized that his seat and tray were just on the next bench….
Shabbat Shalom, Leah Goldsmith