Parashat Vayeira- Come & Eat

Vayeira eilav A-donai… v’hu yosheiv petach-ha’ohel k’chom hayom. Vayisa einav vayar v’himei sh’losha anashim… vayaratz likratam…. Vayomar “adonai im-na matzati chein b’einekha al-na ta’avor meial avdekha. Yukach-na m’at-mayim v’rachatzu rag’leikhem v’hisha’anu tachat ha’eitz. V’ekcha pat-lechem…. Va’y’maheir Avraham…. ratz Avraham... va’y’maheir…. Vayikach chem’ah v’chalav u’ven habakar asher asah vayitein lifneihem v’hu-omeid aleihem….

And A-donai appeared to him… as he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day. And he lifted his eyes and looked and lo there were 3 men… and he ran to meet them…. And he said, “My lord, if I have found favour in your eyes please do not pass away from your servant. Please allow a little water to be brought, and wash your feet, and recline under the tree. And I will get a piece of bread…. And Avraham rushed…. And Avraham ran… and he hurried…. And he took curds and milk, and the calf that he had made and put it before them and he stood by them…. (B’reishit 18:1-8)

According to commentary and Midrash Avraham and Sarah were famous for their hospitality. We see it clearly here in parashat Vayera. Avraham is always anxious for the opportunity to do hakhnasat orchim, welcoming guests. He sits watching for anyone who might pass by. Even in the heat of the day, when others would be napping, Avraham is watching. Avraham runs to meet those he sees, ensuring they will come to his tent rather than passing by. Avraham and Sarah care for their guests’ comfort, both immediate and longer, offering just what is required, but going beyond. They provides water to wash and cool their feet, a great comfort to those walking through the desert in sandals. Avraham and Sarah hurry. They do not keep their guests waiting on their schedule. To this end Sarah quickly prepares quick bread, curds and milk, easily put together for any unexpected guest. Once their immediate need is met, there is time to wait for the calf to roast. Avraham waits upon his guests. He does not sit leisurely by, but is anxious to be ready to provide anything else they may need.

In the ancient mideast, hospitality was a moral institution. To survive the harsh climate people had to be able to depend upon one another. It is a lesson that has stayed with Jews as we have spread throughout the world. “Let all who are hungry come and eat.” Go anywhere in the world and there will be a meal for you. No other people send their children half way around the world to dine with strangers.

I believe the key to Jewish hospitality is that no one is really a stranger. They are family you simply haven’t met yet. We are all B’nei Yisrael, the Children of Israel. I shared a seder in Paris. Rav Sean was given sandwiches in Marseilles. We were even given free passport pictures by a woman who discovered we were newlyweds preparing for a year of study in Israel. Our home was never empty in Pearl Harbor. If you go to the Kotel on erev Shabbat a myriad of meal invitations await you. Jews constantly pay it forward. Hospitality we receive, or that given to our family, is paid back through hospitality offered. There is a saying, “If you have room in your heart, you have room in your home.” Our door is always open. Come eat.

Parashat Lech Lecha- Torah as History

Vayomer A-donai el Avram, “Lech lekha mei’artzekha umimolad’t’kha umibeit avikha el ha’aretz asher ar’ekha.

And A-donai said to Avram, “Get yourself out of your land and of your birthplace and of your father’s house to the land that I will show you. (Breishit 12:1)

The Torah is the story of our people. While it contains history, it is not a history text. While it contains information on creation, it is not a science text. It is a book of ideology and theology, teaching us the information we need to become and remain Jews. It also does not exist in a vacuum. And although we call it the Torah she’bikhtav, even without the documentary hypothesis, it was not originally written in its current form. It is continuously revealed from Sinai on. One opinion in the Talmud is that the Torah, with the exception of the Aseret Dibrot, was given and repeated orally until Moshe wrote it down just before his death. Even in the Torah itself, Moshe paraphrases and edits.

There is a wonderful commentary called The Five Books of Miriam, written by Dr. Ellen Frankel. It contains traditional and modern commentary with a focus on the women’s point of view. The Mishnah and Talmud and the Midrash, and beyond, make up the Torah she’b’al peh, the Oral Torah, which developed over time through oral traditions that continue well past the writing down of the text. They help us to understand the what, why, and how of the Torah and our People. It is this Oral Torah that Dr. Frankel tries to capture. She begins with a poem by Merle Feld:

My brother & I were at Sinai

He kept a journal

Of what he saw

Of what he heard

Of what it all meant to him

I wish I had such a record of what happened to me there

It seems like every time I want to write

I can’t

I’m always holding a baby

One of my own

Or one for a friend

Always holding a baby

So my hands are never free

To write things down

And then

As time passes

The particulars

The hard data

The who what where when why

Slip away from me

And all I’m left with is

The feeling

But feelings are just sounds

The vowel barking of a mute

My brother is so sure of what he heard

After all he’s got a record of it

Consonant after consonant after consonant

If we remembered it together we could re-create holy time sparks flying

Dr. Frankel gives a descriptive subtitle to each parasha. Lekh Lekha is Destiny. In the parasha God tells Avram he must leave his land, his, birthplace and his father’s house. The story is Avram’s to tell, but it shares the destiny of others, of our future. It connects to Sarai as well, and to Eretz Yisrael. Tradition teaches that Sarai too was a prophet and a proselytizer, teaching and converting the women in their household. It is Sarai who suggest the surrogacy of Hagar to ensure the future of our people. And it is Sarai who says to Avram, ‘God will choose between us.” And God chooses Sarai; “What ever Sarai tells you, do.” Nonetheless, Sarai’s story is told through Avram’s eyes. However, when we delve into the written and oral together we get a fuller story, “recreating holy time sparks flying.”

Kitty Blog #22, By Gandalf the Grey

Will the torture never end?!  The food is never enough.  I managed to make that ball disappear for almost two days, but the finally found it.  Then, on Sunday Jennifer brought home a cat torture device.  I don't know what it is yet, but it's red and strappy.  Jennifer put it over my head and around my neck, then buckled something across my chest.  It's wasn't uncomfortable, but I could tell it was not something a cat should even wear.  They took it off after a minute, but it's still in the kitchen. I fear it's something I will have to endure in my stoic silence.

Pray for me.

Rob Ford and Jesus

Some Saturday nights when we're back in standard time, we tend to have impromptu gatherings at our home or the home of others.  Sometimes there's actual communication.  Sometimes we or others simply show up.  Last Saturday night was one such evening.  Like our ridiculous dinner table conversation, the conversation among the adults tends to wander, although there's usually some discussion on topics of substance.  Of course this week Rob Ford was a topic.  It seems the whole world is following the amazing and unbelievable Rob Ford saga. His ability to remain in office is epic.  I finally discovered why.  Rob Ford is emulating Jesus.

Important point of information- this is in no way meant to be disrespectful to Jesus nor his followers. Hear me out.

Conversation on Saturday had fully covered, or so we thought, the Rob Ford scandal.  Eventually talk turned to the Pope (completely unconnected).  Everyone around the table was a big fan.  We are impressed with his piety, his humbleness, and his desire to open the church to all who come to seek God.  I pointed out that Jesus went to the sinners.  He didn't expect only those of perfect faith to come to him.  (As Jews we tend to steer clear of anything Christian, probably due to a difficult history at times.  However, a lot of what Jesus said bears repeating.)  I pointed out that Jesus sat with thieves and prostitutes.  He didn't say only come to me when you've cleaned up your act.  Then it hit me- Rob Ford!  He's emulating Jesus.  With all that's happening his approval rating is holding steady.  His constituents seems to love him no matter what.  He will talk to anyone (expect the press).  He's certainly not a high and mighty politician locked away from the "lowly" citizenship.  So here it is- Rob Ford is emulating Jesus.  He may even have miracles to his name if you include managing to stay in office this long and not being indicted.  Now if he can get reelected he may even qualify for sainthood.  I think his riding would support him.

Blogging and Life

Blogging is a funny thing.  To have an interesting blog, you should have an interesting life, or be very creative about mediocrity.  Unfortunately, when life gets interesting it also get busy. This means I have less and less time to blog. While I am getting this down, we are listening to "May the Circle be Unbroken" sung by the Grand Ole Opry, followed by "Wading in the Water" sung by the South Canton Baptist Church, although Sean has begun to sing new words about the cat and Gavi and pasta which was dropped on the floor.  I should mention that the family is eating dinner behind me.

I have always wanted to write a book called "At the Rabbis' Table."  Tonight at dinner conversation has wandered from the Fudgery and their singing fudge makers to "May the Circle be Unbroken" and the Grand Ole Opry to Baptist services to doing the Kedusha to "Wading in the Water" to Kol Nidre to everyone's favourite comic character to Opus the penguin to whether he is dead (He's not.  He's just sleeping according to creator Berke Breathed) to Sean making up new words to "May the Turtle Be Unbroken" (Google it.  When I once played it for my brother he said, "That's 5 minutes of my life I'll never get back."  But the family loves it.)  Dinner is always interesting.

Anyway, I have lots to blog about, and maybe I'll soon find some time.

Thanks for reading.

May the circle be unbroken, by and by Lord, by and by....