Parsha Mishpatim
Last week, we read that Moshe was judging the people from sunrise until dusk. What was he judging? What laws did he teach to the people? This week our Parsha starts out with the answer and the basic laws between man and his fellow.
21:1 Now these are the ordinances which thou shall set before them.
And these are the ordinances: Wherever it says, “these” [in the Torah,] it [(this word) is used to] separate from what has been stated previously. [Where it says,] “And these,” [it means that] it is adding to what has been previously stated (Tanchuma Mishpatim 3). [Thus] just as what has been previously stated [namely the Ten Commandments,] were from Sinai, these too were from Sinai. Now why was the section dealing with laws juxtaposed to the section dealing with the altar? To tell you that you shall place the Sanhedrin adjacent to the Beth HaMikdash (other editions: the altar). — [From Mechilta] That you shall set before them: The Holy One, blessed is He, said to Moses: Do not think of saying, “I will teach them the chapter or the law [both terms seemingly refer to the Oral Torah] two or three times until they know it well, as it was taught, but I will not trouble myself to enable them to understand the reasons for the matter and its explanation.” Therefore, it is said: “you shall set before them,” like a table, set [with food] and prepared to eat from, [placed] before someone. — [From Mechilta, Eruvin 54b] Before them: But not before gentiles. Even if you know that they [gentiles] judge a certain law similarly to the laws of Israel, do not bring it to their courts, for one who brings Jewish lawsuits before gentiles profanes the [Divine] Name and honors the name of idols to praise them (other editions: to give them importance), as it is said: “For not like our Rock [God] is their rock, but [yet] our enemies judge [us]” (Deut. 32:31). When [we let] our enemies judge [us], this is testimony to [our] esteem of their deity. — [From Tanchuma 3]
2 If thou buy a Hebrew servant, six years he shall serve; and in the seventh he shall go out free for nothing.
Eved can be servant or slave. If it is a non-Jew, he is for life if a Jew only six years sold himself for being poor and staving or for stealing by the Beis Din. He is a servant and if the master only has one pillow or blanket, he gets it according to Halacha. He can be freed to marry the rich man’s daughter. For example: A Torah Student does not realize that a drought or famine is upon the land for he is too busy in his studies and the rich man gathers stores for he foresees business and other economic trends. The rich man may after seeing the manners and quality of his servant, free him with a dowry for his daughter. Just as the poor girl is freed to marry the man’s son in the Pasukim below. It is as Rabbi Itamar Auerbach Shlita pointed out less of a slave than a Baseball Player with a few million-dollar contract sold from team to team.
3 If he come in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he be married, then his wife shall go out with him. 4 If his master gives him a wife, and she bear him sons or daughters; the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself.
Some people sold themselves into servitude to feed their families. (Modern equivalent is working for a company like Ford, Boeing, Westinghouse, etc. where one gets enough income to take care of the family needs.) The Hebrew Servant receives compensation. However, if the master has bought a non-Jewish slave, he can give her off in marriage to the man. Jewish Masters were forbidden under flogging from Beis Din to take advantage of the non-Jewish Slave but could free her, since she had a Mikvah Conversion to marry her as a Jew. [This is not like the slavery in the southern US where the female slaves were abused by their masters. Former Segregationist Senator Thurmond acknowledged after he tried to make atonements for his earlier behavior that he had a black daughter from a black mistress.]
5 But if the servant shall plainly say: I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free; 6 then his master shall bring him unto God, and shall bring him to the door, or unto the door-post; and his master shall bore his ear through with an awl; and he shall serve him forever.
Why the ear and why the door post? Which ear? Our Rabbis teach us that the Jewish Man who heard ‘I am the L-RD … you shall not have any gods before you … to serve them’; should have gone free, trusted in HASHEM and earned money on the outside to purchase his wife and children from the former master. He also got compensation and could have used that. But he instead chose the master. Therefore, let him have his earlobe bored to the door post as the blood of the Pascal Lamb was sprinkled there to symbolize freedom. The Rabbis learned the right ear from the Cohain who was anointed on the right side of his body (Vayikra 8:12). The forever is until the Yovel aka Jubilee Year and then he is freed with compensation.
7 And if a man sells his daughter to be a maid-servant, she shall not go out as the men-servants do.
Now if a man sells his daughter as a maidservant: Scripture is referring [here] to a minor girl. I might think that even if she develops signs [of initial puberty, the father may sell her]. [But] you must agree that a Kal Va Chomer [the inference of a major rule from a minor rule] applies here namely if she who is already sold goes free with signs [that is, when she has signs of initial puberty], as it is written: “she shall go out for nothing, without money” (Exod. 21:11), which we interpret as referring to the signs of initial puberty, does it not make sense that she who is not sold [and has initial signs of puberty] should not be sold [at all]? - [From Mechilta, Arachin 29a] [At the moment when a female has two pubic hairs, usually when she is twelve years old, she is no longer considered a minor. She is then called נַעִרָה. She is, however, still under her father’s jurisdiction until six months later, when her breasts have developed to a certain stage. Then she is called בּוֹגֶרֶת, a mature girl. In the case of a Hebrew maidservant, the father may sell her only when she is a minor, not after she has become a נַעִרָה. She shall not go free as the slaves go free: [I.e.,]-like the emancipation of Canaanite slaves, who go free because of [the loss of] a tooth or an eye. [See below, verses 26, 27.] This one [a Hebrew maidservant], however, will not go free because of [the loss of] a tooth or an eye, but she will work for [her complete] six years or until the Jubilee year or until she develops signs [of initial puberty]. Whichever comes first will be the first [event] to affect her emancipation, and [her master] will reimburse her for the value of her eye or the value of her tooth. Or perhaps this is not so [i.e., the intention of the verse], but “she shall not go free as the [male] slaves go free” [meaning] after six years or in the Jubilee year? Therefore, the Torah states: “Should your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman, be sold to you…” (Deut. 15:12). This compares the Hebrew woman to the Hebrew man in regard to all the ways he can be emancipated: just as a Hebrew man goes free following six years [of service] or in the Jubilee year, so too does a Hebrew woman go free following six years [of service] or in the Jubilee year. What then is the meaning of “she shall not go free as the slaves go free”? [This means] she shall not go free with [the loss of] the tips of her limbs, as do the Canaanite slaves. I might think [then] that [only a Hebrew maidservant does not go free due to the loss of the tips of her limbs, but] a Hebrew man does go free with [the loss of] the tips of his limbs. [Therefore, the Torah] compares the Hebrew man to the Hebrew woman: just as the Hebrew woman does not go free with [the loss of] the tips of her limbs, neither does the Hebrew man go free with [the loss of] the tips of his limbs. — [From Mechilta]
Why would a man want a Jewish Servant Girl? The answer is given clearly in Pasukim 9 and 10 below. For she might be a daughter of a poor Cohain or Levi with good Midos (personality traits) and therefore her dowry was not important to the rich man.
8 If she please not her master, who hath espoused her to himself, then shall he let her be redeemed; to sell her unto a foreign people he shall have no power, seeing he has dealt deceitfully with her.
If she is displeasing to her master: [Meaning] that she does not please him to the extent that he would [want to] marry her. — [From Mechilta] Who did not designate her: For he should have designated her and married her, and the money paid for her purchase is the money of her betrothal. Here Scripture hints that it is a mitzvah [for the master] to perform יִעוּד, designation for marriage, [with the maidservant] and it hints that she would not require any other betrothal. [I.e., neither money nor articles of value would have to be given to the girl’s father in order to marry her. The money the father originally received for selling his daughter now would become the money of betrothal from her master.]-[From Kid. 19b]
I know of no other culture that purchases poor female servants so that she can be a wife for life and raise the rich man’s children not as a servant but as a full marriage partner and mother (not a paid governess).
9 And if he espouse her unto his son, he shall deal with her after the manner of daughters.
And if he designates her for his son: [I.e., if] the master [chooses her as a wife for his son]. [This] teaches [us] that his son also stands in his [the master’s] place to designate her if his father so desires, and he does not require another betrothal, but he [can] say to her, “Behold, you are designated to me with the money your father received [originally] for your value.” -[From Kid. 18b] According to the law of the daughters [of Israel]: Meaning sustenance, clothing, and marital relations. — [From Mechilta]
And without the commentary, you would think that the poor man sold his daughter to be a Cinderella. Not quite so but rather he contracted her out for marriage as she was underage and he decided that she would be better off in the house of the rich man than suffering from poverty.
10 If he take him another wife, her food, her raiment, and her conjugal rights, shall he not diminish.
Richman buys the daughter of a poor Talmid Chacham in order to be his wife as she has been brought up in a house where Teruma, Maaser are taken and the best behavior of Derek Eretz (manners and ethics according to the Torah). However, the girl does not meet his expectations or his son does not like her, he has to let her go free. Not marrying the girl or his son marrying her is dealing deceitfully with her for the father wanted his daughter ‘set for life’ and perhaps a help in his old age.
Now the son marries the girl and perhaps she turns out to be a good wife but too fat or thin for his romantic tastes so he takes on a beauty queen. The son must supply her with her needs and marriage nuptial rights so that the new wife will not detract from her rights.
11 And if he do not these three unto her, then shall she go out for nothing, without money.
And if he does not do these three things for her: If he does not do any one of these three things for her. Now what are these three things? He should designate her for himself or for his son [as a wife], or he should deduct from the money of her redemption and allow her to go free. But this one [master] designated her neither for himself nor for his son, and she could not afford to redeem herself [even after the deduction]. — [From Mechilta] She shall go free without charge: [The text] adds [another means of] emancipation for this [maidservant] beyond what it provided for male slaves. Now what is this [means of] emancipation? וְיָצְאָה חִנָם informs you that she goes free when she shows [initial] signs [of puberty], and she must stay with him until she develops [these] signs. If six years pass before the appearance of these signs, we have already learned that she goes free, as it is said: “Should your brother, a Hebrew man or a Hebrew woman [be sold to you, that one] shall serve you for six years” (Deut. 15: 12). What then is the meaning of “she shall go out without charge” ? If the signs [of puberty] precede the [end of] six years, she shall go free because of them. Or perhaps it means only that she goes out when she reaches maturity [i.e., at twelve and a half years]? Therefore, Scripture says: “without [payment of] money,” to include her emancipation at maturity. If both of them [i.e., that she goes free “without charge” and “without money”] were not stated, [and “she shall go out without charge” was stated,] I would say that “she shall go out without charge” refers to [her being freed at] maturity. Therefore, both of them were stated, so that the disputant has no opportunity to differ. -[From Mechilta, Kid. 4a]
12 He that smites a man, so that he dies, shall surely be put to death.
Because he laid in wait to murder his fellow.
13 And if a man lie not in wait, but God cause it to come to hand; then I will appoint thee a place whither he may flee. 14 And if a man come presumptuously upon his neighbor, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from Mine altar, that he may die.
He cannot hold on to the Altar but will be pulled off to die. Since the Mikdash was built, one is not allowed to hold onto the Mizbayach.
15 And he that smites his father, or his mother, shall be surely put to death. 16 And he that steals a man, and sells him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.
These are some of the Commandments spoken in the Asera Dibros.
17 And he that curses his father or his mother, shall surely be put to death.
And one who curses his father or his mother: Why was this said? Since [Scripture] says: “any man, any man who curses his father [or his mother shall surely be put to death]” (Lev. 20:9). [From there] I know only that if a man curses his father [he is liable to death]. How do I know that if a woman curses her father [she too is liable to death]? Therefore, Scripture says [here]: “And one who curses his father or his mother….” It makes an unqualified statement, meaning whether it is a man or a woman. If so, why does it say, “any man who curses” ? [In order] to exclude a minor. -[From Mechilta]
24:12 Six days thou shalt do thy work, but on the seventh day thou shalt rest; that thine ox and thine ass may have rest, and the son of thy handmaid, and the stranger, may be refreshed.
Another reminder to observe and remember Shabbos each week.
13 And in all things that I have said unto you take ye heed; and make no mention of the name of other gods, neither let it be heard out of thy mouth. 14 Three times thou shalt keep a feast unto Me in the year. 15 The feast of unleavened bread shalt thou keep; seven days thou shalt eat unleavened bread, as I commanded thee, at the time appointed in the month Abib--for in it thou come out from Egypt; and none shall appear before Me empty; 16 and the feast of harvest, the first-fruits of thy labors, which thou sow in the field; and the feast of ingathering, at the end of the year, when thou gather in thy labors out of the field. 17 Three times in the year all thy males shall appear before the Lord GOD.
Pasuk 15 The first sentence defines the what holidays. In Pasuk 17, we learn that each male must appear before HASHEM.
18 Thou shalt not offer the blood of My sacrifice with leavened bread; neither shall the fat of My feast remain all night until the morning.
We are warned against the eating of blood or forbidden fat of any animal.
And there will be an Angel that will guide and fight for the people who are to enter the land.
26 None shall miscarry, nor be barren, in thy land; the number of thy days I will fulfil.
There is a warning on observing the Mitzvos upon entering the land.
13 And Moses rose up, and Joshua his minister; and Moses went up into the mount of God. 14 And unto the elders he said: 'Tarry ye here for us, until we come back unto you; and, behold, Aaron and Hur are with you; whosoever hath a cause, let him come near unto them.' 15 And Moses went up into the mount, and the cloud covered the mount. 16 And the glory of the LORD abode upon mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it six days; and the seventh day He called unto Moses out of the midst of the cloud. 17 And the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like devouring fire on the top of the mount in the eyes of the children of Israel. 18 And Moses entered into the midst of the cloud, and went up into the mount; and Moses was in the mount forty days and forty nights.
This is the process in which Moshe climbed Har Sinai and received the Torah. The Parsha has a lot of Mitzvos between a person and his/her fellow and damages both physically inflicted and by accident. There are damages caused by ones ox/car or animals that eat or trample (your dog dug up the newly planted flower bed as it does not have to be wandering sheep). I know that I have skipped quite a lot of Mitzvos in our Parsha this year and with the help of HASHEM, I will try to cover them slowly over time.
This little blogspot is eclipsed by more detailed commentary Cindy Posted the Chabad one: http://www.chabad.org/media/pdf/267/WDoz2671523.pdf
Schwartzie at Woodstock by Rabbi Yerachmiel Tilles
The moment that Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz Zal passed on to his eternal reward on 12th Shvat 5777 (Feb. 8, 2017), less than two months past his 71st birthday, the world became a poorer, sadder place. He will be sorely missed here at Ascent, and by tens of thousands in California and throughout the world.
I can't think of a better memorial to mail to the multitudes of this list than his own written record of his "performance" at Woodstock, as immortalized in the Rosh Hashanah recruiting flyer his Chai Center sent around a year and a half ago. Although I am a long-time professional editor, I mightily resisted fixing (tampering with!) Schwartzie's highly original, remarkable typography, spelling, vocabulary and syntax (other than reducing the size a bit so as to save reams of paper for those that prefer to read from print-outs).
Bottom line: Myriads of souls have interceded on high for the Creator to send the Anointed One, but surely he never heard it in Schwartzie-ese English! How can He resist! Moshiach now! == Yerachmiel T.
Most of us know that the most important Mitzvah (Commandment) of the Jewish New Year (aka Rosh Hashanah) is to hear the SHOFAR being blown.
What most Jews do NOT know is that for an entire month before Rosh Hashanah the Shofar is sounded in the Synagogue every AM.
I was actually @ the famous WOODSTOCK in 1969, but that's another very long, but very exciting story.
What most Jews do NOT know is that for an entire month before Rosh Hashanah the Shofar is sounded in the Synagogue every AM.
I was actually @ the famous WOODSTOCK in 1969, but that's another very long, but very exciting story.
A quarter of a century later in 1994, Woodstock II was gunu happen in the same place. I got a call from a great creative Rabbi in the Bay Area that 5 Chasidic Rabbis were planning to attend Woodstock II, and get on stage with 10,000 sweet apples and a Shofar & explain in a short little sermonette what all of it was about.
Then we would blow the Shofar & throw the 10,000 sweet apples into the crowd. There were 100's of 1,000s of people there but most of them would be able to get a bite.
I told the Bay Area Rabbi that was NEVER gunu happen.
He replied that they had a Woodstock "Sugar Daddy" that had kicked in all the expenses, so what did I care. If it didn't happen we would still have a great time meeting all those people.
So off we went on a modern day Chasidic adventure. We arrived @ the site in the Catskill Mts. in 2 cars with the cases of Apples & one Huge Yemenite Shofar.
We had a really great Shabbat. Sunday morning, we set out in a caravan of 2 cars with cases & cases of 1,000s of apples & us 5 rabbis. There were police checkpoints in a circular cordon 2 miles square to stop all vehicles. We had big blessings because every time we were stopped by the police we just showed them all our apples & chanted the new mantra loudly "These are the APPLES for the stage". After a moment of quizzical stares & facial expressions they waved us thru to the stage.
Not so simple yet.
There were two check points to stop everyone from getting on stage.
So now we 5 Rabbis are at the foot of the stage, with our 10,000 apples. Suddenly a large burly man with a petite girlfriend hanging on his arm (neither looked to be one of the Jewish faith) approaches me & without any hello or even a smile says, "How much you want for the hat?".
I was wearing a baseball cap with large CHAI on it. I didn't understand what a Goy wanted with a CHAI hat, but I didn't want to be that direct or confrontational & just come right out & ask him, "Are you Jewish?", so I said, "What's your Jewish name?".
The Dude looked @ me for a minute as if he was trying to remember his JEWISH name. Meanwhile, his Shiksa pipes up proudly with "My Jewish name is Pesha Dvawsheh!".
OK, so SHE IS A Jew. At that moment I noticed that among the many necklaces around him was an "ALL ACCESS" pass. That means that he is a somebody. Soon I find out that he's the "roadie" for Richie Havens - a real somebody super celeb in the tradition of Woodstock. Then this boovan with tattoos, etc., asks the fateful question, "What are you doing here?". I point to the cases of apples & explain that in two weeks is Rosh Hashanah & the custom is to eat sweet apples in order to be blessed with a sweet New Year. He says, "Follow me". I say I have a group of another 4 Rabbis. He motions that we should all follow him onto the stage. We shlep ALL the cases onto back stage.
Ok- so now we are all back stage - Five Chasidic rabbis (but we are dressed like "Them"), & 10,000 apples.
We are having a really great time, looking out from on the stage, about 300,000 enthusiastic rabble rousers are now staring back at us. However, the main objective hasn't been accomplished yet. We need to get the Mike & communicate our important message to all those Goyim (& a few Jews).
Suddenly, there's a big tumult. A very large black man, naked to the waist, totally muscle bound, high on a very bad trip (Angel Dust?), somehow broke thru Both security checks & got on the stage. The head of Security (backed up by 2 humongous "Blue Meanies" - heavy, non-smiling killer giants) walks right up to the Black intruder & directly confronts him.
At this point I was thinking to maybe jump off the stage, because it certainly seemed that violence was about to occur. And I don’t like the sight of blood. But, strange as it may seem, the black man seemed to reflect for a moment, then slowly turned around & walked off the stage.
I wondered why I was supposed to see that & what significance did it have for me (us?).
So I walked up to the head of Security. He looked @ me quizzically, like what do U want?
I said, I saw what you did, in that potentially dangerous situation. You stopped the whole thing before it went anywhere.
Then he smiled @ me. At that instant, I somehow thought that he's an Israeli; so I started rattling off, in speedy Hebrew, "Where have you been all my life; I’m looking for you under the benches by candlelight!".
He smiled even Larger & hugged me very strongly & affectionately. Then he said, "Dude, I didn't understand a word you said; I'm an Italian from the Bronx, but you are beautiful & I love you!".
Then he asked me the fateful question - What are you doing here?".
I pointed to the cases of apples & showed him the gargantuan Yemenite Shofar & explained that we are Rabbis & want to give the apples to the crowd & blow the rams horn & bless everyone with a sweet New Year.
He asked, "How long does it all have to take?" .
I answered, 4 & 1/2 minutes. He said, Ok you'll go on between Arlo Guthrie (that'd be Woody's son, who's actually Jewish) & Richie Havens.
And that’s what happened.
It was the largest "Congregation" I had Ever spoken for, before or since!
We blew the Shofar, threw out the 10,000 apples into the crowd (they LOVED it !).
Mission Accomplished!
Happy New Year 5776,
Schwartzie
Schwartzie
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connection: Seven days of mourning for Rabbi Shlomo-Yitzchak ben Moshe Schwartz, one of the most influential rabbis in USA, who brought thousands - yes, thousands! - of Jews closer to Torah life, and was an untiring warrior in the struggle against intermarriage and assimilation. He was also Scholar-in-Residence at Ascent for 20 consecutive summers.
Connection: Seven days of mourning for Rabbi Shlomo-Yitzchak ben Moshe Schwartz, one of the most influential rabbis in USA, who brought thousands - yes, thousands! - of Jews closer to Torah life, and was an untiring warrior in the struggle against intermarriage and assimilation. He was also Scholar-in-Residence at Ascent for 20 consecutive summers.
And: from the Jewish Journal, Feb 8, 2017
(//jewishjournal.com/opinion/214691/do-you-know-schwartzie)
(//jewishjournal.com/opinion/214691/do-you-know-schwartzie)
'Do you know Schwartzie?'
by David Suissa
(The bolded paragraph is about Schwartzie at Ascent.)
________________________________________
________________________________________
Everybody had a Schwartzie story.
I would be someplace halfway around the world and tell someone I'm from Los Angeles, and they would ask, "Do you know Schwartzie?" I would respond, "Are you kidding? Schwartzie's my brother." And then I'd hear back something like, "Well, he married us."
Everybody had a Schwartzie story.
I have a simple theory for that - he was everywhere.
Schwartzie, Rabbi Shlomo Schwartz, who passed away this morning after a long illness, was a Los Angeles Jewish landmark. You'd see his red beard at all kinds of Jewish events, no matter the cause or denomination.
A few years ago, as I was attending a special memorial for Rabbi Harold Shulweis at Valley Beth Shalom, I scoured the huge crowd and wondered why I couldn't see any Orthodox rabbis. Then I saw his greying, reddish beard. He was limping with a cane, walking slowly down the main aisle as people were taking their seats. I caught his eye and said "Schwartzie, I have a seat for you!" He looked at me and said, "Hey, holy brother. Good to see you."
After we sat down, all I remember him saying was, "I really loved that man," referring to Rabbi Shulweis.
Loving Jews was somewhat of a Schwartzie obsession. He was a Chabad-Lubavitcher who internalized his Rebbe's message to find the "pintele yid" in every Jew. He took the unconditional love he had for his own family and found a way to channel it to his collective Jewish family. For him, this was a natural move. I know, it sounds corny, schmaltzy, tribal, but that's who he was- a great, unapologetic lover of Jews.
That didn't mean he was naïve or didn't know the ways of the world. How could he not know? Over the years, he consulted with thousands of Jews who needed help-parents who needed help with their children, children who needed help with their parents, spouses who needed help with each other. You name the problem, he was there. He saw it all. Maybe that just deepened his love for his people- he saw how needed he was.
He was especially needed on Friday nights at his home in Mar Vista, where for decades he hosted, with his beloved wife and spiritual partner, Olivia, "Shabbat for 30 strangers." Or 40, or 50 or 60. These weekly gatherings had one unabashed objective: Get more Jews to meet and marry each other. He was a one-man Jewish continuity machine. Is it any wonder I would meet Jews around the world who would say, "Oh yeah, he married us"?
He spent most of his summers in the holy city of Tsfat in Israel, teaching at the Ascent center. This was his annual lifeblood. He felt rejuvenated when he came back, and it gave him something to look forward to every year. Maybe those weeks in Tsfat were the Shabbat of his year-his annual retreat to replenish and renew his soul. And he did it, of course, by teaching and helping other Jews.
Through his Chai Center, now run by his son Mendy, one of the ways he helped Jews was by teaching Kabbalah classes, and by throwing hundreds of joyful events where Jews of all ages would get to mingle. These events were almost always connected to some Jewish holiday. He was famous for his High Holy Day services, which he would announce by saying: "Come to the Shul that doesn't want your money."
He would always remind me of that line. It came up when I first met him, about 30 years ago, in my little ad agency in Venice. He had reached out to me to help him come up with a High Holiday brochure. He told me he was organizing services for Jews who had nowhere to go. He figured, let's make it easy for them to show up. The headline wrote itself- "Come to the shul that doesn't want your money." He just loved that line. He brought it up to me again a few weeks ago, at some fundraiser in Los Angeles, from his wheelchair.
Last year, at an event in his honor, it was fascinating to see how many Jews he touched. He engaged with Jews in Hebron and Jews in Reform congregations. He engaged with Sephardic Jews and Persian Jews. He met Jews in music festivals and Woodstock revivals. He went wherever Jews were. One of his friends and big fans was Rabbi David Wolpe, who wrote these words to me today: "Schwartzie was an igniter of souls, discovering in people a spirit they did not know they had, and bringing them to God and Judaism."
He brought Jews back to themselves, to their ancestors, to their tradition, to their community. It's hard to imagine our community without him. We can only thank God that everybody has a Schwartzie story.
Those stories will be his legacy.
Fake News that turned true. On August 27,1883 before the advent of Radio a Yellow Journalistic Article appeared about a massive eruption of Krakatoa in the Pacific. The man dreamed up the story of the biggest volcano in modern times. He wrote about it for a few days and then when he was about to print a retraction that it was a fictional story to fill the pages, a Ship docked in San Francisco and the telegrams brought the truth that such a Volcano had exploded. Did he have ESP tap into a well of souls? Nobody knows.
Constant Struggle
Our lives are constant struggle between the Yetzer HaRa and HaTov. I come across many potential Gerim and Baalei Teshuva that have little means. I, myself, was a College Student. I worked and bought from previous savings some dishes, pots, pans, and the more expensive Kosher. I was lucky for I lived in New York City. Others become vegan or vegetarian living away from the main Jewish Areas. When one travels it is tuna or sardines and whatever one can get that says Kosher (and that is in the USA). Europe is even harder and other places like South America, Africa, the Far East, Eastern Europe after Budapest or Prague things become harder and harder. Note that some countries allow pig’s milk so take that into account.
It is not only being a relatively poor student living at home or renting a small apartment but one needs other things like a Tallis, Tephillin and books to learn how to be a Jew. Today, there is a lot on-line which is good to learn from for six days a week. But on Shabbos one needs a book to learn from.
One of the Dayanim who does approved Conversions invited a non-Jewish pro-Israel Speaker into his Synagogue but cyber-bullies started going against. http://rabbisblog.brsonline.org/bullies-go-low-brs-goes-high-sad-update-matthew-kelly-boca-raton-synagogue/
Health Minister trying to fix elder abuse in geriatric homes. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Health-Ministry-acts-to-prevent-elder-abuse-in-geriatric-institutions-482013
He killed a terrorist who was injured now he is to serve prison. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4925261,00.html
Rabbi of Ramat Ha Sharon passes away: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225561
Inyanay Diyoma
The Swamp is fighting back: http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2017/02/17/bill-oreilly-swamp-fights-back.html
Dr. Martin Sherman Ed-Op Rift over two State solution gathers force:http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20179
Ed-Op by Ruthie Blum: Trump-Netanyahu in the face of Iranians: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/17/a-bear-hug-for-all-the-mullahs-and-other-israel-detractors-to-see/
Also from Ruthie: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/16/top-trump-aide-despite-resignation-of-national-security-adviser-administration-committed-to-flynns-staunch-stance-on-iran/
From May Belfast hated: http://www.jewishpress.com/news/breaking-news/belfast-jewish-community-threatened-on-facebook-calls-to-synagogues-rabbi/2017/02/18/
Can there be an understanding US-Russia? http://debka.com/article/25933/Can-Trump-rescue-his-Syria-deal-with-Putin-
A danger to the 6th fleet, Israeli fleet and gas exploration from Hezballah: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4924392,00.html
Was general Michael Flynn thrown under the bus? http://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Politics-And-Diplomacy/Former-Mossad-chief-Maybe-Flynn-was-thrown-under-the-bus-to-protect-Trump-481953
Lieberman meets with Mattis: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/17/israeli-defense-minister-after-first-meeting-with-new-us-counterpart-the-three-main-problems-we-must-handle-are-iran-iran-and-iran/
Republicans seek more sanctions on Iran now it is up to the Democrats Chuck:http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225300
Trump’s comments on Sweden came from Fox News Documentary: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225291
Smart watch ID’s soldier’s health in battle: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225325
Trump is being tested by Russia, China, N. Korea and Iran to put his money where his mouth is. http://debka.com/article/25934/US-twin-sea-buildup-against-China-NKorea-Iran
Swears allegiance to ISIS wanted to use Sarin Gas in explosives. http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4925067,00.html
General H. R. McMaster asked people to remember the Holocaust in 2012: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/20/in-2012-speech-incoming-national-security-adviser-h-r-mcmaster-emphasized-importance-of-remembering-the-holocaust/
It is a fact that Statin Drugs have an effect on your liver. It is also a fact that in the 1980’s the over-all Cholesterol level was considered border-line at 230 which was safe and 240 was dangerous. That was of course before studies sponsored by Big Pharm. However, MD’s are convinced despite certain claims by MD’s on the internet that they help in lowering LDL Cholesterol which is the dangerous one. http://www.jpost.com/Business-and-Innovation/Health-and-Science/Cardiologists-council-Dont-stop-taking-your-statins-481949
Did Iran test a Nuclear Capable Missile? http://www.jpost.com/Middle-East/Iran-News/Report-Iran-tested-nuclear-capable-cruise-missile-480318
Israeli Expert calls McMaster the best there is: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/21/israeli-military-expert-on-newly-appointed-us-national-security-adviser-mcmaster-the-right-man-in-the-right-place-for-america-jewish-state/
Texas Teacher (looks Muslim) calls for killing Jews is suspended: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/21/texas-pre-school-teacher-removed-from-classroom-after-twitter-calls-to-kill-some-jews-come-to-light/
12 more terror suspects arrested thanks to singers in the Israeli Jails.http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225445
Obama was silent but Trump condemns anti-Semitism in the strongest of terms: http://forward.com/news/breaking-news/363733/trump-condemns-anti-semitism-in-strongest-terms-yet/
The US Navy now reveals that only 53% of its planes can fly under Obama cuts. Not only will the new Defense Secretary have cost down but the planes will fly and ships will be built as needed. http://usaspecial.co/us-navy-announces-just-badly-obama-crippled-forces-bad/
Perhaps this has nothing to do with the war of Gog and Magog but it is part of our times. An Ed-Op by Diane Weber Bederman as I don’t have the link, I post all. It is a symbol of our times that spoiled ungrateful people don’t stand at the National Anthem even though the land of opportunity has given them seven figured salaries the same goes for Movies:
A peaceful protest from the silent majority!
The 89th showing of the Academy Awards is coming up on February 26th. It is important that we, the deplorables, show the likes of Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, Alec Baldwin, Cher, Ashley Judd, Whoopi Goldberg, Joy Behar, and the other arrogant hypocrites, that we, the backbone and decent people of America, are more united than the bitter, unhappy, angry, divisive people of the entertainment industry.
These arrogant, pompous, pampered soulless individuals declare that half of Americans are racist, sexist, and bigoted for voicing our political choice through Donald Trump. Yet there can be no doubt that the entertainment industry does more to exploit, degrade, minimize, and stereotype women than Donald Trump or any other industry ever has.
From Madonna and Miley Cyrus parading on stage with little to no clothing while grabbing their crotches and allowing fans to do the same, to movies that depict women as whores, sluts, and gold-diggers dependent on their bodies for survival, to the deplorable speeches of Madonna and Ashley Judd talking about their periods in a vile manner and talking about blowing up the White House, we must send these evil-hearted people a strong and distinct message that they do not speak for the women of this country and they are not the role models of our young daughters.
The wearing of pink does not negate the black hearts that these people have for our country and our Constitution. Nor does it negate the disdain and contempt they have for the American people and our political process.
In recent social media threads, the good people of this nation are calling for a full boycott of the entertainment industry for this unwarranted and outrageous display of petulant behavior. Some in the entertainment industry are mocking us saying, "Go ahead, we don't need you trailer trash racists."
That may be true, but these people do need our green dollars. It is important that we send a strong and powerful message to this group telling them to stick to their make believe jobs and to leave the politics of this country to the people, just as our wise and forward thinking forefathers designed.
The good people of this country are not asking you to give up movies. We are asking you to take two simple steps.
First, protest these groups by refusing to watch the Academy Awards on February 26. Simply change the channel or go for a walk with your family members and tell them how much you love them.
Second, forward this request to as many friends as possible and post it on social media to get the word out.
This will only be effective if we show the same unity we exhibited during the election. Yet how powerful will it be when the ratings for the Academy Awards fall in the toilet. It is only for a couple of hours and requires very little effort. When this happens, the arrogant entertainment industry will understand just how insignificant and powerless they are.
I am so proud of my fellow Americans who stood up and said, "Enough is Enough." Michelle may have only been proud of this country once in her life, but we the patriots have never lost our love and pride in America. The left is now up to their old tricks trying to bully the rest of us into feeling guilty.
Let them know that their selfish, vulgar, and unpatriotic behavior over this past week will not be tolerated. Let them know that we will not be silenced and that we are no longer going to be shamed for what we believe. We must continue the fight. We must shut them down now. We must show them that America will be great again no matter how filthy and disgusting they become. Boycott the Academy Awards on February 26, 2017.
ISIS gains ground in Syria near the Golan Border - Yarden: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4926370,00.html
Two State solution is dead for 10 years but a one State Solution also not feasible says former Security Chief: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225519
Saudi Spy Chief visits Israel and occupying Arabs because Iran has now a Scud C and D that can go 600 km: http://debka.com/article/25936/Saudi-spy-chief-visits-Israel-Ramallah
Mike Pence visits and pitches in at desecrated gave site: http://www.jpost.com/Diaspora/Pence-visits-vandalized-Jewish-cemetery-482344
Preventing Hezballah from getting dangerous weapons: https://www.algemeiner.com/2017/02/22/israeli-military-chief-we-are-operating-under-the-radar-to-keep-hezbollah-from-getting-stronger/
IAF shoots down an Hamas intelligence drone: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4926782,00.html
Death threats against Christian IDF Soldiers: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225565
Trump on Yehuda and the Shomron keeping the secret: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/225602
Tragedy of errors Ed-Op: http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4926564,00.html
Israel learns something from the USA appoints conservative judges:http://www.israelhayom.com/site/newsletter_article.php?id=40585
This week’s into the Fray: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/Articles/Article.aspx/20208
Have a wonderful Shabbos Rest and the Joy of the new month of Adar,
Rachamim Pauli
