PARAH ADUMAH

    At the beginning of this week's Parsha, Chukas, we read about the Chok, of Parah Adumah, the Red Heifer. When speaking of Chukim we need to focus on the words of the Or HaChaim, reflecting on the sentence, "This is the Torah's statue, which Hashem commanded". He states that Hashem  commanded to tell the Jewish People that this Mitzvah has no rationale and, therefore, there is no logical explanation. It is a decree from G-d and it is for us to obey without question.

     The most difficult part to understand when it comes to the Parah Adumah, is the process that the Kohen performs to purify the one who is Tamei, and, consequently, he himself, becomes Tamei.

     How  can that be? How can we explain that the very same ritual that purifies the one, defiles the other?

    This dilemma has troubled so many and numerous answers have been given.

     For me, the best answer was suggested by the Rav, Rabbi Soloveitchik זצ׳ל .

     The Rav said, " The Kohen has to be willing to carry out this purification ceremony, knowing that in the process, he himself will become Tamei. He knows that, if he does become Tamei he will be changing places with the person who brings the sacrifice of the Parah Adumah.  The Tamei will re-enter the community and the Kohen will have to leave the community. It is understandable, therefore, the Kohen would be reluctant to participate in this ritual." The Rav seems to suggest that this kind of conflict was going on in the mind of the Kohen who was asked to perform the sacrifice. With all these questions in his mind the kohen still answers the call. 

  He is saying to himself and the community "I love this man just as I love every member of this community and therefore in order to purify him I am willing to contaminate myself in the process. 

   What we are experiencing with the Parah Adumah is a masterful act of Gemilat Chasadim, a true act of selflessness and feelings of love for a fellow man.

  The lesson is clear - whether it is a leader or an individual, when it is necessary to get into the mud to help another we must be willing to do so even if it means getting ourselves 'dirty'.

    In general, we need to begin to love each other and to have patience with each other, to accept each other and to be less critical of each other. 

    Our hallmark must be selflessness and not selfishness. In doing so, our world will be a lot better than it is at the present time. 

     May we be זוכה to bring the Parah Adumah to the בית המקדש in our time.

 

TIKUN OLAM

    This is the time on our calendar when so many of our children and grandchildren are graduating from different schools. 

    I pose a question, "What does graduation really mean?"

    I recall the words given in a commencement address, "Life has no remote, so get up and change it yourself." How true this statement is.  

    The word commencement, though used for graduation, really means beginning. The graduate is beginning another plateau into the halls of education, into their selected professions. With great pride another plateau has been reached and yet another plateau is to be reached.

   The beauty of life is not to remain stagnate but rather to continue to grow and to achieve and accomplish more in life.

  Abraham Maslow, one of the foremost spokesman for Humanistic Psychology, developed the concept of "Self Actualization." In essence, his theory is teaching us that 'Life is to lead us on the road to actualize our potential.' While pursuing this course  we must search for our destiny with open arms, to achieve our maximum level of fulfillment.

  Too often so many children and young adults sell themselves short, because they cannot tolerate the long and arduous climb to success. We must be more encouraging to show them that the road at times may be bumpy, but it will eventually lead to a smooth and blissful life. 

   I read recently a magnificent Baccalaureate address that was delivered by Peter Salovey, President of Yale University, who happens to be a scion of the Soloveitchik family. 

     He titled his speech"Repair the World".  Dr. Salovey articulated life's mission by quoting Hillel from Pirkey Avot, "What  is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbor.  That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation of this -go and study it!"

     Then he proceeded to tell the graduates that the touchstone of the Jewish  experience is Tikun Olam, literally, To Repair the World ."Your purpose in life is to improve the world to make it livable for all people." Then he quoted Rabbi Tarfon, "It is not your responsibility to complete the work, but neither are you free to desist from it".

      It is hard to imagine the president of a prestigious university, anywhere else in the world, delivering such an unabashedly proud Jewish address. At a time when the headlines highlight anti Israel activism and open anti semitism on the college campus, it is truly a breath of fresh air to hear such an address delivered. Only in America are we privileged to hear words of our Talmud, spoken at a graduation exercise. 

    These words are not the the words spoken by Korach against Moshe and Aaron, words of destruction and maliciousness, but these are words to bring about a Tikun Olam. Korach represents persuasive demagogues who take advantage of the circumstances for their own benefit. Korach was not honest and his real motives were not for the betterment of the people. He was a man of jealousy and envy which can only lead to devastation and a denial of Tikun Olam.

     We and our graduates need to adhere to the words of Dr. Salovey and work together to achieve a true Tikun Olam, that will help usher in a Messianic time for all mankind.  

TRUTH and AUTHENTICITY

     The Navi Yeshayah wrote בפיו ושפתיו כבדוני ולבו רחק ממני "With their mouths and with their lips do they honor me,” says Hashem, “but they have removed their hearts from me" 

      This is a terrible indictment of the Jewish People. For the Jew, there must always be a strong emotional attachment to Hashem and to Am Yisrael. 

      In this week's Parsha Sh'lach, we are commanded regarding the Mitzvah of  ציצית;  of wearing a four cornered garment and to affix to this garment the ציצית, i.e. fringes.  In addition to the white fringes,  which are required, one is obligated to have one of these fringes  to be the color תכלת, a blue color reminding us of the color of  Sh’amayim , the blue of the sky, reflecting our spiritual attachment to Hashem.

      This thread of Techeiles, must be prepared from a dye derived, specifically, from the fish called  חלזון, Chalazon.   Any other dye is not acceptable.

  

   When the Gemarah speaks of this Halacha it states; שעתיד להיפרע ממי שתולה קלא אילן בבגדו ואומר תכלת היא, “Hashem will punish anyone who affixes a thread of blue, dyed with indigo,  a vegetable dye, and falsifies it as the real dye from the Chalazon.”

  

    In essence, the Torah is admonishing anyone who would pass off the artificial for the real. Judaism will not contend with any type of deception, or hypocrisy when it comes to our Judaic way of life. Sham and duplicity is unacceptable and must not be tolerated in any aspect of our lives. It is a sorry state of affairs when, all too often, people pretend to be righteous and decent but really are ignoble and selfish. Though they may get away with such deception, ultimately the truth will win out. 

 

    Permit me to share the following comical story;

 A comedian once commented, "I don't get any respect, why, when I was a kid, I got lost in a shopping mall, and I was scared. With tears in my eyes, I ran to the nearest security guard and asked him frantically; ‘Sir, please help me, I'm lost, do you think I'll ever be reunited with my parents?’ 

    "He looked at me straight in the eye and said, “Kid, with so many places for them to hide, I seriously doubt it.”  

 

    As jocular as it may seem, so many of us are hiding from the truth and so often live with the vegetable dye rather than with the true Techeiles. 

 

    These are times when society is so full of sham and duplicity, we are to step up to the plate and live our lives with honesty and genuineness.  

 

    We, who possess the genuine Techeiles are to show the world that our way of life is אמת ויציב because we live lives that are dependent upon אמת ואמונה with truth and authenticity.

 

   As we gaze at our Tzizit the next time we recite the Sh’ma, let the lesson of Techeiles be our guide, a Techeiles that is דומה לשמים leading us to the כסא הכבוד. For when we speak the truth from our hearts we will herald a time of peace and serenity for the Jewish People.

OUR ETERNAL FLAME

     The great educator, John Dewey, on his 90^thBirthday, was asked by a reporter, “What is good of all your thinking? Where does it get you?” Mr. Dewey replied, “The good is that you climb mountains”. “Climb mountains?” questioned the reporter, “What is the good of doing that?”

Mr. Dewey replied, “To see other mountains.”  He then placed his hands on the young reporter’s shoulders and said, “When you are no longer interested in climbing mountains to see other mountains to climb, then life is over”.

   Think of what this great educator was saying; Indeed life is to continue to move forward. At every stage in life when faced with a new challenge, man is encouraged to grasp hold of that opportunity and to use all of his G-D given qualities to succeed and not to say it can’t be done. All that is needed is to exert as much energy as possible to bring that opportunity into reality. 

    We learn in Pirkey Avot;                                                                           

“It is not your duty to complete your task, but you are not free to desist from it”.

   Our Torah reading this Shabbat is B’haloscha, wherein we read about the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan and eventually in the Bet  Hamikdash. The use of the word     בהעלותך    rather than the usual word   להדליק   to light is used to suggest that  שצריך להדליק עד שתהא שלהבת עולה מאילה                                                                          One of the requirements of lighting the menorah is that when it is lit by the Kohen the fire is to continue on its own. 

     This suggests that the essence of Judaism, the essence of this spiritual light, is to nurture in such a way that the Jewish Flame, the enthusiasm of Judaism will burn brightly by itself.  The glow is to be so strong and energetic that it will continue for everlasting time.  To accomplish this eternal burning of the Jewish flame it needs the ingredient of warmth, compassion and most assuredly patience.

   Our sages have compared the light of the Menorah to the light of knowledge, especially the study and the knowledge of Torah. For our Light of Judaism to burn continually into our next generation, we must assure that our children receive the best Jewish Education, whatever the cost may be.

    At the same time, we are to encourage more Judaic studies from our adult population. As our children see us study, they will get the message and realize the importance of their Jewish Education.

    I would like to share the following story with you; When James A. Garfield, later president of the United States, was head of an Eastern college, a man brought his son to be entered as a student.  “My son doesn’t have time to take all the required subjects,” said the father.  “He wants to get through more quickly.  Can’t you arrange it for him?”

     “Oh, yes,” said Mr. Garfield.  “He can take a short course.  But that depends on what you want to make of him.  When G-d wants to make an oak, He takes a hundred years, but He only takes two months to make a squash.”

      Human fulfillment occurs when our education teaches us how to live to be of value to others and to continue  to eternalize  the essence of Judaism. Our symbol must be our Ner Tamid, which hangs gloriously in front of the Aron Hakodesh reminded us to live as an eternal flame of inspiration.

     The message is clear and must reach the hearts and minds of all Jewry. Every Jew must, by his way of life, contribute to its glowing force. The light of Torah and Judaism will, with our help and efforts, dispel the darkness that so often envelops our society.

   כי נר מצוה ותורה אור

                            

                                שבת שלום