From the Rabbi
Rabbi Robert L. Wolkoff
Previous Messages
The Round Tables of Our Lives
Dear members and Friends,
As we begin the month of Sivan, we are looking forward to Shavuot, the festival of the harvest. Shavuot is also the time when we are standing before God to receive the Torah — the Law. Shavuot, then, celebrates both material and spiritual harvests. During the festival, it is customary to read the book of Ruth, which describes the season of the harvest. However, it is also a tribute to King David, the great-grandson of Ruth and Boaz. The ancestors of the Jewish Messiah embody the spirit of the Torah — accepting and loving the other. On Shavuot, while we are reaping the physical bounty, we are reminded of its spiritual source — God blesses us if we know how to bless others.
On Shabbat and holidays, in the first part of the blessing after the meal, we sing, “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. Though he goes on his way weeping, bearing the store of seed, he shall come back with joy, bearing his sheaves.” Psalm 126 is also known as Shir Hama’a lot — the Song of Ascents. We sowed in tears of slavery in Egypt; we then ascend the 49 steps (the counting of the omer) until we get to the real harvest in the presence of God. There, we are reaping in joy, as God’s law is joyful, liberating.
God sets the table for us; we come from work hungry and sit around the table. It is not surprising that the code of Jewish law is called Shulchan Aruch — Set Table. In Psalm 23, King David thanks God: “You set a table before me in front of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.” In life, God sets a table for us, and it is up to us to make the most of it. Are we going to accept the others whom God has placed at our table?
Last Sunday, our synagogue hosted the East End Jewish Community Council’s first annual Rabbis and Lay Leaders dinner. After months of hard work, there was one more thing to do. Once the tables were set, I walked around the room and placed nametags according to what I thought would be the best order of seating. It felt like serious responsibility, deciding who will sit next to whom. For one night, I was setting the tables. The rest would be up to God and the people in the room to make the best come from it. Happily, it was successful.
May we all learn from Ruth and Boaz to follow God and accept others around the table of our lives.
Chodesh Tov,
—Rabbi Gadi
Israeli Elections
Dear members and friends, Hello from Rome.
As we transition from winter to spring, from the month of Adar to the month of Nissan, and from the Book of Shemot (Exodus) to the Book of Vayikra (Leviticus), I am also transitioning. After a few days in Israel, I am spending the next few days in Rome before returning to the U.S. During my time in Israel, I participated in the country’s 20th election, which was often referred to as “a democratic celebration.” Israel voted to keep Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister, but the election campaign touched on aspects of tension within Israeli society, and also added tension in the country’s relationship with the United States. Reflecting on this rich week in Israel and the results of the election, important questions are raised — mainly whether Israel is going in the right direction. Like many issues about Israel, the answer is: It’s complicated. But to try to simplify it a bit, Israelis voted on two main issues — security and social/economic, not necessarily in that order. In fact, the perception of which issue is more critical to Israel at this time determined the way most individuals voted. So far so good. But like the Talmud, it’s not the question that makes it complicated, it’s the many answers; what is good for security and what is good for social/economic involve a full array of perspectives, many of them not mutually exclusive. In broad terms, the division between Right and Left in Israel is the perspective of which issue is more critical: Security leans Right, and Social/Economic leans Left. The more centrist parties claim they are equally critical, that they are two sides of the same coin. In the case of Israel, I tend to agree with the latter notion, but for now, let’s look at the two separately. When we look at Israeli security, is Israel in a good place? That depends on whom you ask, and it depends on whether the perspective is “can it be better?” or “can it be worse?” Let me explain. No one claims that security in Israel is ideal, just like no one claims that the social/economic conditions in Israel are ideal. For example, Fact: There was a war with Hamas in Gaza only a few months ago during the summer of 2014, when rockets and missiles were shot at Israeli civilians for almost two months. Perspectives: The Israeli government managed the conflict well, and was able to achieve quiet without entering Gaza with ground forces and dragging the country into a worse conflict. So it could have been worse. On the other hand, would it have been better if Israel had maintained better diplomatic relations with the Palestinians? If so, perhaps the situation would not have escalated in the first place. Similarly, let’s look at the social/economic situation. Fact: Israel’s living cost is high, as the ever-rising cost of housing attests. As a result, a whole generation of people in their 30s and even young 40s cannot afford to move out of their parents’ houses or are forced to continue to rent housing with little hope of ownership in sight. It’s also true that many young couples are forced to move back with their parents as the only way to save toward a place of their own. Perspectives: On one hand, even though Israel’s cost of living is high, the government was economically prudent, thus avoiding a worse fate as a result of the 2008 global economic crisis, which caused the collapse of various world economies. The other perspective would be that Israel’s cost of living doesn’t have to be this high; the government has enough money and other remedies to offset prices. There is yet a third perspective: The center claims that security and socioeconomics are two sides of the same coin. Less tourism and foreign investment flow into the country’s economy in times of unrest and, at the same time, Israel must spend a significant portion of its GDP on security instead of investing it in its own economy. This results in a growing poverty class. In summary, the results of the election showed one important fact: As much as Israelis are concerned about economy and security, security takes precedence. The Likud party, with Netanyahu at the helm, can claim several victories. They won 31 seats in the Knesset, which constitutes more than a quarter of the 120 seats. Also, the party accomplished this standing alone, unlike the previous election, which called for conjoining with Israel Beitenu to win more votes. This election seems to have drawn a clearer line between the two sides of the aisle; security won. The people of Israel have spoken: Benjamin Netanyahu will continue as prime minister, yet challenges remain. Many conflicting ideas, wants, and needs must learn to live together in a coalition of at least 61 Knesset members. My hope is that the next 120 Knesset members will remember that they represent the ancient model of Anschei Hakneset Hagedola — the 120 People of the Great Assembly. Let them not wipe out the progress made in religious pluralism and acceptance of minorities.
Chodesh Tov, —Rabbi Gadi Capela
March
This is Arthur, like the palm tree that takes many years to grow, tall like the cedar in body and spirit that keeps celebrating life.
Dear members and friends,
It was nice to take a break from the snow on the East End to travel to Florida for Arthur Levin’s 100th birthday. Mazel Tov again, Arthur, and as we say in Hebrew, “ken yirbu” — may there be many more! It was also wonderful to be with many of our Florida contingency and, of course, the rest of the Levin family.
Since the party occurred on a Friday night, it was appropriate to sing the last lines of Psalm 92 from Kabalat Shabbat — the welcoming of Shabbat: “…The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree; they shall grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon. They shall bear fruit even in old age; they shall be ever fresh and fragrant…” This is Arthur, like the palm tree that takes many years to grow, tall like the cedar in body and spirit that keeps celebrating life. And then he danced, beautifully and gracefully. Arthur, you are an inspiration to me and to all who know you.
It was also nice to take a break from the news, especially now, in the beginning of the month of Adar, the month of Purim. This is the month we are encouraged to increase in happiness. Happiness in Judaism many times is parallel with light and the closeness to God. For the next three weeks in the synagogue, we will read about the building of the Mishkan — the sanctuary for God’s name. We see that both concepts are bundled together. In the place that should bring us closest to God on earth, there are many references to light. First, the Ark — Aron in Hebrew is the container of the Or — light — a reference to the spiritual light of Torah.
Then we have the Menorah that holds the physical light. And as the Midrash tells us, the gold that all the vessels are made of is a material that was brought to the world in order to mimic light. It’s a sign of comfort that God’s presence is in the light.
The shape of the Menorah is half a circle, as if to complete a full circle with the rainbow after the flood of Noah — the Menorah and the rainbow completing a circle of light. Like the seven colors of the rainbow that make a unified light, the Menorah with its seven candleholders needs to be of one block of gold, shaped as an opposite rainbow, like the mirror image of heaven on earth.
But what makes the Mishkan really shine, I believe, is a concept the commentator Keli Yakar brings out. He says of the measurements of the vessels of the Mishkan that some have whole cubit feet and most are with halves. When it comes to the earthly matters, we need to remember that we need each other and that we are never complete alone. The Altar, however, is whole cubit feet measurement. When it comes to our sacrifices, like our prayers, we are alone with God. As we continue to pray for peace and harmony in this world, to bring the real light to earth is to know how to be alone with God and together with people.
Happy Adar,
—Rabbi Gadi
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