Shemot 2014

One can only imagine the surprise and disappointment of Pharaoh, when after decreeing that all the Jewish males that are born should be killed, he realizes that not only is the Jewish population not reducing but is in fact growing at a rapid pace. He realized that the nursemaids were not fulfilling their responsibilities and upholding his decree. The Torah relates that he confronts Shifrah and Puah and asks them why they are bringing life to the Jewish children! The Gemara in Sotah fills in the blanks and explains that he related his frustration by expressing that they were doing the exact opposite of what they were expected to do.

One may ask what exactly the Gemara is trying to add that is not self-evident from the statement of Pharaoh. If he told the nursemaids to kill the Jewish males, and now they were saving them, of course he would be upset that they were bringing life to the Jewish nation. What is this added statement of the Gemara trying to teach us?

 A possible answer to this question may be that the Gemara is relating to us an important lesson on perspective. Pharaoh was explaining to them that by not killing, they were in fact giving life. There is no middle ground on this issue. A lack of death is by definition allowing the opposite to thrive. In life, there are very few, if any, opportunities to be “Pareve.” By helping the Jewish cause, Shifra and Puah were hurting the Egyptian aspirations.

Embedded in every act and word is a potential to uplift or cause a fall. The opportunities that each individual has to cause a Kiddush Hashem or Chillul Hashem are infinite. One can only imagine the fear and stress that Shifra and Puah experienced when they disregarded the words of the Emperor, yet they were more concerned with the words of the King of Kings, Hashem. May we merit to always maintain the same perspective and bring about the uplifting of the world.

My earliest memory of Tu B’Shevat is sitting in class and being pleasantly shocked as the principal of the school entered with a surprise in hand. We had no idea what was in the box, but it is always exciting to receive an unexpected gift. He then started handing out buxer, or what I found out later is actually dried carob. It looked very unappealing, and tasted even worse than it looked. The day improved a little when I came home and had some dried fruit that was more appealing, but dried fruit was never quite my favorite food. For many, Tu B’Shevat is a day that has little more significance than dried apricot and a lack of Tachanun. We say that it is the birthday for the trees, but what does that even mena? Is there more to this special day? What is Tu B’Shevat really all about? The first Mishnah in Rosh Hashana designates Tu B’shevat as the New Year for the trees according to the opinion of Beit Hillel. Practically, this means that the fiscal accounting cycle begins anew for the farmers as they figure out the amount of Terumah and Maaser (tithes) that need to be given to a variety of people. Once these tithes are properly distributed, the remainder of the crop is now deemed “kosher” and may be eaten.

Rabbi Moshe Feinstein explains that the farmer exerted tremendous energy and time to see his field produce its fruits. Once the produce has been harvested, he deserves to partake in the bounty for which he worked so hard. Yet, he is reminded that he must first tithe his income and only afterwards partake. There is no clear recipient of the tithes; as he is permitted to choose the Kohen, Levi, or poor individual who receives his portion. There are no penalties imposed by the courts if he does not tithe, or if he does not tithe properly. He is very much in control of his finances and only answers to his own accounting. Yet he knows in the recesses of his mind that the entire production that he worked so hard for really only belongs to him and is chullin (kosher for anyone to eat) when he does his tithing properly. The date that the accounting was completed and the tithing could truly begin was Tu B’Shevat. This day was a time of tremendous joy for the farmer, as he could say with confidence that he had fulfilled his obligations and could now enjoy the fruits of his labor with a clear conscience.

The joy of Tu B’Shevat is intertwined with the knowledge that we have taken care of our obligations to our country, our community, and those amongst us who are in need. This message is one of the primary manners in which we can have a meaningful Tu B’Shevat. For all of those who enjoy dried fruit and have figured out how to enjoy eating buxer; I wish you a tasty and delightful Tu B’Shvat. Everyone, though, can enjoy the day with the knowledge that we have put the needs of others ahead of our own.

This past week, the world heard of the passing of Essie Mae Washington-Williams at the age of 87. Essie Mae, an African-American woman, did not reveal her father’s identity until six months after her father died in 2003. Essie Mae was born out of wedlock, and her father was the late Strom Thurmond, one of the staunchest segregationists in the Senate, continuously attempting to block civil rights legislation. The news of Mrs. Washington-William’s passing occurred at the start of Black History Month, as well as a week before the birthday of Abraham Lincoln. It also happened to be during the week of the reading of Parashat Mishpatim, a section which discusses the Halachot related to slavery. As the saying goes, “timing is everything,” and in this regard, we appreciate that the timing of her passing is very apropos.

Similarly, the Talmud Yerushalmi explains that the law that a master must free his slave in the seventh year, the Shemittah year, was taught to the Jewish people when they were still in Egypt. This rule would not be put into place until they settled the land of Israel, which would not occur for another fifty years! Why was this lesson conveyed so long before the mitzvah was to become relevant on a practical level?

Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz learned a powerful message from this statement of the Yerushalmi. He explained that Hashem clearly understood the mentality of the Nation in the moments before the redemption was to occur. The Jewish People were highly in tune with the struggles and sensitivities that should be awarded to a slave. They understood very vividly how a slave dreams and longs for the day that his freedom will be restored. At that moment, they were able to connect to the mitzvah in a fashion that would not be palpable in the same manner in the years to come.

Rabbi Shmuelevitz explains that ideally, we should always place ourselves into the shoes of the recipient of our kindness, just as the Jewish People were very clearly able to connect with the plight of the slave being freed. The concept of a Jewish slave is drastically different than the common perception. The Halacha stresses that the slave was to be treated in a way that would help him retain his honor. He was to be fed before the master, and was not allowed to do certain menial tasks. The Gemara in fact relates that one Rabbi exclaimed that “to own a slave is to own a master!” Nevertheless, losing free household help can be difficult. For this reason, the mitzvah was given to the Jewish People precisely at a time that would negate this feeling—at a time that slavery was still very much a reality.

The lesson of the placement and timing of this mitzvah is still relevant to us today. Before engaging in a mitzvah that affects other people, it is important to step into their shoes and be sensitive to their realities. Very often, this perspective will guide us in a direction give us a perspective that we did not  consider previously. Ultimately, with this attitude, we are a better nation, community, and individuals.

There are times that we mess up in life, and then there are times that colossal mistakes are made. One could easily argue that one of the greatest of the colossal mistakes that we as a Jewish people ever committed was in this week’s Parsha, when the Jewish People fashioned the golden calf. Following this tragic occurrence, Hashem told Moshe that the Nation was to be destroyed entirely and begun anew from him. Moshe prayed to Hashem to have mercy and compassion, and we as a Nation were spared. One of the reasons that we are all alive today is because Moshe used the perfect argument and prayers at the perfect time. It is incumbent upon us all to appreciate and study these words, take the lessons that are within, and incorporate them into our own lives.

In a fascinating Midrash, Rabbi Levi points out that Moshe evoked the promise that Hashem had made previously to Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov, as the verse says:

“Remember Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, Your servants, to whom you did swear, and said unto them: I will multiply your seed as the stars of heaven, and all this land that I have spoken of will I give unto your seed, and they shall inherit it forever.”

He explains that Moshe asked Hashem, Are the dead really alive? Will they not come back from the dead? Hashem responded to the question by asking whether Moshe had become a heretic who denies that the resurrection of the dead will occur at the end of days. At this point, Moshe asked Hashem how it is possible, then, that Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov will be resurrected and the promise that their children will become great and populous will never have occurred!

This argument was so potent and powerful that Hashem allowed the Jewish People to continue despite their terrible sin. This statement is one that often rings true in my own mind. Presenting an image or perception, and living up to our own words and actions is a challenge that we all struggle with at times. However, at the end of the day, we are our own best enforcers.

Since I have become affiliated with the DAT Minyan and the Denver Academy of Torah, I have heard from so many people about the unique and wonderful relationship that is shared between the two institutions. I personally benefit from working closely with the school and seeing the wonderful and devoted administrators and teachers who enrich our children and our community. My personal sentiments have been echoed by many families and individuals who also recognize the important role that the school plays in the thriving environment in which we find ourselves. These sentiments carry tremendous weight, as they are more than words. They are statements which we must live up to. If something is of value to us, we must support it when it calls.

The Shul is having its Annual Event in a few weeks, and we must all show our support. It is time for all of us who benefit from the DAT Minyan to show that the benefit is something we are committed to maintain and help flourish. To reserve your space at the Event, go to www.datminyan.org/annualevent. Thank you for supporting our work at this critical juncture in our Shul’s history.