Sunday, November 22, 2009

PROTESTING THE POLICE AND PROTESTORS

PLEASE check out this story

http://www.vosizneias.com/43500/2009/11/21/israel-charedim-police-clash-at-fresh-jerusalem-rally-against-intel-plant

To be sure the seeing the violation of Shabbat not necessarily a matter of personal choice. The experience of Shabbath is an actual nearly tangible thing therefore witnessing the violation of Shabbath by other Jews is a painful experience.
The protests at the Intel plant and the carta parking lot are shameful because of how the holy is being damaged.

It escapes me why in a era of governments being stapped for cash and Mayor Barakat wishing to enhance the city's stature as a destination why squander resources on quelling Shabbath Protest when they could dealt with Sunday -friday? Wht is there no attempt at conversation? I may be well to wonder how much Chilull Shabbat was caused by the protest? Additionally the unwillingness of the municipality's unwilling atitude is profoundly disturbing as it seeks to nulify a significant percentage of Jerusalem's Jews.

Could anyone who care even a little about Jewish unity not be scared and somewhat sickened by these reports and that no respect was given to an elderly Rav one of the nation's leader's. Shame on a state and education system that fails its pupils and their parents by not imparting a sense of context,identity and heritage. How sad the Chariadimg appear unable to communicate meaningfully without violence.

Thursday, November 19, 2009

RABBINC RIGHTS JUDICAL WRONGS

Justice Benish’s recent ruling that wrested authority for Kashrut certification from the Rabbinate only serves to reaffirm my developing theory that those who embrace liberal –leftist ideology live in a reality parallel to our own..

The present has its roots in the past. American law has its origins in the common law of England which in turn has connections to the Roman civil law who in turn took legal principles from the Greeks who had contact with the Prophets, Scholars and scribes of Israel .

Similarly, Israeli Law is a patchwork of Ottoman, British and the sensibilities associated with generic values associated with liberal democracies. As necessary the courts will look at Jewish legal sources and in fairness probably more often than other jurisdiction though it does not enjoy the status it should have in the Jewish State. The Jewish Legal Heritage represents over three thousand years of scholarship and precedent

All jurisprudence has its origins in what came before. Though circumstances can and do change the variations are transient whereas the essentials of the human condition remain a constant. Therefore even though technology and standards of living can change ancient principles are still applicable in the present day. This is why a legal system needs a sense of fidelity to history as this adds authority and reliability to a particular society’s legal system.

The study of Mishpat HaIvrei, academic study of Jewish Law is a recognized discipline in Law Schools throughout the world. As an Attorney and Rabbi and even more so as a Jew it would be a source of pride and demonstration of the nation’s eternal nature that the Israel’s judiciary and Supreme Court embrace as well as respect the Jewish Legal Heritage.

Israel ’s Supreme Court and in particular under Justice Barak and now Justice Benish displays what comes across as a disdain to Jews and Judaism. When the Supreme Court recently ruled that Jews have a right of worship on the Temple Mount as well as some other positive rulings it was viewed as a cause for blessing He Who works miracles. The Court has long inserted itself in the Rabbinate’s jurisdiction in conversion,divorce and kosher certification. The present ruling reported by Israel National News .Arutz -7 The Ashdod Rabbinate withdrawing Kosher Supervision from an establishment operated by a Jew who claims belief in the object of Christian veneration. It was reported that the Court declared that;

. . . Halakhic [Jewish legal] standards that measure when one’s personal kashrut claims may be believed are not part of the “hard core” of kashrut laws to which the State of Israel is obligated. Therefore, the fact that the rabbinate does not "trust" the owner is not sufficient reason to withhold the kashrut certification (INN/A7 news story 11/18/2009)

Such a ruling further strips the rabbinate of authority and credibility. It is equally astonishing that the Chief Rabbis, Rabbis Amar and Metzger or other rabbinic associations have not pledged to protest/defy the Supreme Court’s ruling. Nor has legislation been proposed in the Knesset to fix this situation. Why ? Is there a lack of commitment or intimidation? Or does inaction to restoring the rabbinate’s honor stem from a sense of despair?

The frontiers of arrogance are apparently being mapped out by Justice Benish and her ilk. Ruling that Kosher certification has a secular definition that lie beyond the reach of rabbinic authority reads like a Purim satire. Again not just to those who already observe Torah and Mitzvoth but any proud Jew’s passions should enflamed. This issue is a further symptom of the worldview that cannot see the imperative to retain all of Jerusalem, how Mama Rachel weeps at her children having to encase her tomb under a bunker or how our grand parents in Hevron are surrounded by hostile neighbors and on and on. Those who subscribe to Justice Benish’s way of thinking see operation cast lead as collective punishment of Gazan Arabs or see a realistic option in engaging Iran in real diplomatic dialogue.

It seems necessary for the Rabbinate and all well meaning folks to rebuff the Supreme Court’s insult and to seek out the assertion of authority not in the spirit of arrogance but as an expression of self esteem. Now as the Jewish character of the state is openly challenged both from within and without. Now, is the time for Israeli government to embrace Judaism’s heritage in the state’s public life

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Hevron Matters

Normally this blog offers insight to political issues but the improtance of Hevron in the Jewish consciousness makes placing this Dvar Torah here. Each evening the declaration of faith contained in recitation of Shema is prefaced by stating that “ . . . they [the words of Torah] are our life and the measure of our days . . .” The Ba’al Haturim ZT’L ZY’A among his observations on Bereshith 1:1 notes Bereshith is an acrostic for From the beginning G-D saw that Israel will accept the Torah. Therefore, these and other sources imply a powerful connection between Israel’s connection to Torah and creation itself. Consequently, words of Torah on a particular matter have the effect of intensifying the concentration of D-vine energy associated with that particular thing. As Hillel taught (Avot 2:7) “ . . . the more Torah, the more life . . . .”

Therefore even though Chaye Sara touches on topics as fundamental as marriage or injecting spirituality in the midst of the workday, it is particularly important to dedicate words of Torah about Avraham Our Father A’H acquiring the Machpelah field and cave.

23:17-18,20 gives detail about the conveyance of Efron’s property to Avraham. The property is identified in detail, both the cave and field. Further the forum before which the land was purchased is also recorded. Rabbi Moshe Alshich ZT’L ZY’A commenting on 23:20 emphasizes that the transaction was not private between Avraham and Efron. Avraham was concerned the right to own burial property was restricted to residents and transients Therefore Avraham could have paid Efron the 400 shekels mentioned in 23:16 and the transfer could blocked by the Bene Chet council. Avraham wanted nothing to be left for chance this deal was to be unassailable. Additionally, Rabbi Meir Yechiel HaLevi of Ostrovitza ZT’L ZY’A in Ohr Torah calculates how the price paid by the progenitor of the Jewish people secured a place for each Jewish soul from the settling of Eretz Yisrael till the year 6000, by which Mashiach shall arrive.

Certainly, the notion that our father Avraham secured for each Jew a place in Eretz Yisrael is profound in of itself. However, the open question remains why Hevron?
Rashi ZT’L ZY’A (12:2) explains based on the Midrash Hevron was called karat Arba because four couples were buried there, Adam and Chava, Avraham and Sara, Yitzchak and Rivkah and Ya’akov and Leah . The original city was founded during the generation of dispersion according to Sefer Chibat Yerushalim (pg 194). The original city served as a Levite city and as a city of refuge, consequently the cave of the Machpelah was outside the city where the residents would observe the laws of ritual purity in a very carefully. However when the present city of Hevron was built it began with the cave of Machpelah as its center. The Ohr HaChaim ZT’L ZY’A comments on 23:2 contrast the two names Kiryat Arba and Hevron as how those buried there were truly unique. These righteous personages had departed a place made from the four primordial elements, fire, air , water and earth to join together (in Hebrew, Chibur) the physical and spiritual worlds first while alive in a body and then afterwards when the body is left behind but the soul connects between Heaven and Earth. Rabbi Nathan of Breslov ZT’L ZY’A observes concerning 23:17 that the property changed hands between Efron and Avraham. Both the Seller and Buyer are connected to dust, Earth. Efron is symbolic of the aspect of dust , dirt as a lifeless, lethargic indulgent clod whereas Avraham who declared himself as nothing more than “: . . Ashes and Dust . . . .” (18:27). Avraham emulated the aspect of humility present within dust and dirt Instead of indulgence Avraham’s dustiness left his heart open to others’ needs and to faith. Further Rabbi Nathan notes this was Kiryat Arba where the four couples represent both masculine and feminine aspects of spirituality. The person buried and to be buried in the Machpelah were tireless persons dedicated to seeking an ever closer relationship with G-D. Those persons interred were humble and open and actively seeking growth.

The example set by the founding families symbolizes the sea change made by Avaraham in the human condition. As Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak Kook ZT’L ZY’A declared just six months after the Arab riots and massacre of 5689/1929 why Hevron matters and must remain settled by Jews;

“The memory of the Patriarchs and Matriarchs as well as the cave of the Machpelah connects us, the present generation with Adam. Such a connection casts Jewish nationalism in an eternal context with strong ties to the roots of creation itself is all dependant on Hevron, ”

(R’YAH HaOriot, V’HaAvoth pg 104 )

Hevron and the Machpelah convey the fundamental notions of what Judaism’s core values this why Hevron Matters till today and throughout time.