Rabbi's Blog

Dear OZ family,

Chodesh Tov.  We have always framed the events around us in terms of learning experiences. Jewish History must of course take all data into account to learn its lessons, but in addition, our leaders and prophets have added a moral component to the events before us. The prophets, Hoshea and Amos warned the Northern tribes that their immorality would lead to Assyrian exile. This unheeded message caused us to lose the ten tribes in 722 BCE. Yeshayahu and Micha delivered a similar message to the kings of Yehuda, who were more receptive, and Jerusalem was spared. Assyrian cuneiform chisels a message of utter destruction of the Israelite nation, but we have long outlasted them because of a promise that God made to Avraham, to Moshe, to David and to our entire nation. But when we totally disregarded any modicum of decency, and turned God’s Temple into a den of iniquity, Yirmiyahu warned his people that what happened to the ten tribes was just as sure happen to Yehudah as well. This unheeded call caused God’s Temple to be destroyed at the hands of the Babylonians.

Yirmiyahu’s audience considered his remarks treasonous. No nation, no matter how powerful, could destroy God’s Temple. Yirmiyahu warned them that in light of their immoral behavior, God’s Temple is nothing more than a heap of wood and stone, and the Temple was destroyed, Jerusalem was sacked and we lost an 850 year independence. Yirmiyahu inspired his people that while other nations destroyed by the Babylonians would dissolve into the sands of history, Israel would return after 70 years, by the invitation of the Persians. Very few Jews returned and most Jews remained in the Diaspora, enjoying the benefits of Persian tolerance. This led to a period known to our sages as ”Hester Panim”, where God’s face is hidden to the extent where we can no longer trace the reasons for the historical events around us.

Yet our sages were quick to explain the tragedies surrounding the destruction of the second Temple as caused by “Sinat Chinam”, baseless hatred. This means that we may have been able to overcome the overwhelming force of Roman might had we been more united as a people. The Roman exile had unleashed a torrent of misfortune upon our people, and “Hester Panim” at times became “Tohu VaVohu”, utter chaos, where no sense can or should be made of events. Prophets no longer deliver God’s message to us, and Chazal say that with the destruction of the Temple, prophecy is relegated to children and fools. Therefore to connect current events to specific messages from God can be childish or foolish. Yet a sinkhole that opens up in a busy Jerusalem parking lot that swallowed numerous cars on the week of Parshas Korach, must be some kind of message. Baruch Hashem damage was only done to things, not to people, but perhaps we can still take to heart the need for the dissention in Israel to be taken to a lower level. Of course each side would agree that everyone else needs to do just that. The strife sown by Korach’s revolt threatened to consume the camp of Israel until it was consumed itself by a large sinkhole.

The antidote to all this may be in the name of a person who did something extraordinary on this very day over 3,700 years ago. The Torah says that Avraham rushed and ran to serve three strangers at the heat of the day, even as he was recovering from his recent circumcision. He did this “K’chom Hayom”, at the heat of the day and Midrash Shir Hashirim Rabbah says that this was on Rosh Chodesh Tamuz, today. Surely, Avraham would want to look down at his descendants and see more peace and less strife, more good will and magnanimity. Life is opening up again. We have Kiddush to stay this Shabbos and Seudah Shlishit at shul this week! People are returning to shul. Introduce yourself to someone you don’t know. If you’re shy about doing that, use this message as an excuse to just walk over to someone in shul and start a conversation (after Davening, of course). Not all sinkholes are messages from God, but whatever makes us better people, and whatever makes us pursue good will and peace, must be a good thing.

Stay well.  Be safe and healthy.  Be excellent.

Rabbi Allen Schwartz     

Rabbi Allen Schwartz

Congregation Ohab Zedek

118 West 95^th Street | New York, NY  10025-6604

Phone 212.749-5150, ext 200 | Fax 212.663-3635

E-mail ras@ozny.org

Website:  www.ozny.org