Ki Tetze- Be a Jew and a Mentsch in the Street

Ki tetze… When you go out…

Jews pay attention to what other Jews do in public.  This is a fact known in the community, and one I have written about.  We are conscious of who is a Jew, at least in name, and how s/he acts in the world.  Parashat Ki Tetze gives us at least part of the rulebook for our interactions in the world.  It is a rulebook ahead of its time, beginning with laws governing basic human kindness during a time when might made right.

The scope of interaction is vast.  We begin with the capture of women in war, certainly a giant step from the reality of the day.  Following are the rights of the firstborn, although this too reacts to the displacement of a first wife for a more beloved one, the disobedient son, basic laws of kindness- to the other people, to the dead, and to animals.  The issues of adultery and divorce are addressed, as well as rape.  Sexual acts, the most intimate of interaction, are given a holy structure.  In its proper place it is elevated and holy, but outside that place it is debased.  This is far from the ritual sexual excess of some groups at the time, or the sinful view of sex from later ones.  Even in a time of arranged marriage, the importance of the developing relationship between newlyweds is stressed.  The slave trade is legislated away.  Needs are addressed.  Money lending and vows are recognized as part of society, but limits are set.  Fair treatment of workers is stressed.  Injustice and dishonesty condemned.

The parasha opens with the words ki tetze, when you go out.  What follows are rules of war, but the opening words set the tone for the rest of our reading.  When we go out how do we act?  Are we a Jew at home and a merely a mentsch in the street?  Should we not be both at all times?  To see our laws as pertaining only to our private lives, but not when we go out is not acceptable.  Neither is it permissible to ignore the view of the world when we do go out.

The parasha ends with a reminder timche et zeicher Amalek mitachat hashamayim lo tishkach; blot out the memory of Amalek from under the Heavens; do not forget.  Amalek is condemned for his cowardly attack of the weakest of society at the rear of the Israelite procession.  His memory illustrates the opposite of what we are commanded to do.  When you go out care about others.  Protect the weak.  At all times be both a Jew and a mentsch.

There But By The Grace of God Go We

On Thursday Gavi and I spent a wonderful day together at the Empire State Building.  We went up to the observation deck; took lots of pictures, bought souvenirs, and ate hot pretzels.  We also spent about 40 minutes standing near the 5th Avenue entrance waiting for our ride.

On Friday, just feet from where Gavi and I had stood, police shot Jeffrey Johnson, while nine bystanders were struck by stray bullets.

Gavi and I had hitched a ride into the City with my brother, who was going to meet his architect at his apartment, currently under renovation.  Russ dropped us at 36th and 6th.  While Gavi and I walked to the Empire State Building I gave him a lesson in walking in New York.  Lessons for the day included going with the traffic flow (you keep walking in the direction you need to go as long as the lights are with you, only crossing the street if the light is in your favor, or you have reached the point when you must).  There was also the "Never pick anything up from the street in Manhattan" and "New York pretzels are best with mustard."  We had a lovely day.  It was a Gavi talking day from the moment we exited the car to the moment we got back in.  We examined the view in every direction.  Gavi found Central Park, where we'd been the day before.  I pointed out Macy's and the Met Life building, where my father worked for many years.  Gavi found the many NYC bridges and the Statue of Liberty.  He took dozens of pictures.  I spoke with a woman from the Midwest with a son approximately the same age.  She found it funny that I'd grown up in NY, spent most of my life, and had never made it to the top of the Empire State Building before.  She gave Gavi 50cents to use the binoculars.  As a tourist, she  had come wonderfully prepared.  I, a New Yorker, came with nothing.  When we'd seen enough, we headed to the gift shops (yes, shops).  We left with key chains (Gavi collects), hot pretzels (including one for Keren), and an NYPD hat.  We went outside to wait for Russell, and watch New York go by.

About sixteen hours later, Steven Ercolino was shot by Jeffrey Johnson on 33rd Street.  After killing Mr. Ercolino, Johnson turned the corner onto 5th Avenue into the sights of two NYC police officers.  Johnson opened fire.  The officers returned fire.  Nine bystanders were hit exactly where Gavi and I stood sixteen hours earlier, and where I had actually planned on being that day.  My original plan was to head back to NYC on Friday (after a day in Central Park on Tuesday).  Russell had to meet his architect, and only Gavi really wanted to see the Empire State Building, so we hitched a ride on Thursday.

There, but by the grace of God go we...

Shofetim- Morality, Virtue, Justice, Decency, Uprightness, Goodness, Etc., Etc., Etc.

Tzedek tzedek tirdof.                        Justice justice you shall pursue.

Tzedek tzedek tirdof. These words have become as much a motto for the Jewish people as the Shema. We are so often told the reasons for our actions are “because we were slaves in Egypt.” We interpret this as a call to act righteously, justly, and to pursue that which is fair, moral, and proper. 

Tzedek tzedek tirdof. How to translate this? Tirdof- to pursue, to run after, is clear. There is an urgency in the word. The repetition of tzedek also implies urgency, a need that must be satisfied. Tzedek tzedek tirdof. Justice, justice you shall pursue is the most common translation, but there is so much more wrapped up in these words. The ta’amin, the notes by which we chant the Torah, are quick, urgent. There is no comma between Tzedek and tzedek. The repetition of the word is not a stutter, but a second affirmation of the urgency in this command. 

In the time of the giving of the Torah, the meaning was clear. But all who study in multiple languages know traduttore traditore; Italian for the ‘translator is a traitor’. Even when seeking to understand more, we limit our understanding. Tzedek is most often translated in this verse as ‘justice’, but normally it is translated as ‘righteousness’.

Tzedek tzedek tirdof- Righteousness righteousness you shall urgently pursue. That is to say morality, virtue, justice, decency, uprightness, goodness, integrity, uprightness, rectitude, and honesty*

During this time from Av to Elul to Tishrei and the Yamim Noraim, we are reminded of the damage done when we lay aside the urgent pursuit of justice and righteousness, and how important it is that we explore the full meaning of tzedek in our lives.

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* List from the Encarta World English Dictionary

Final Olympic Thoughts

The Olympics are over for another two years.  I liked it better when they were actually every four years.  We had a full year of Olympic fever and real down time between them.  I think the decision was a commercial one.  Merchandising is continuous.  We've ended this Olympics, but are already gearing up for the next Winter Olympics. 

As an ending to my Olympic thoughts I want to share two thoughts stolen from others that I fully enjoyed.

#1- The biggest disappointment of the Olympic Opening Ceremonies- David Beckham wearing a suit.  The point was made that this is a beautiful and fit man, maybe one of the best on the planet.  Would it have hurt him to don a speedo for queen and country.  Let's see what England is really proud about!

#2- It was suggested that the Olympic Opening Ceremony was satanic ritual.  The torch, the site, the rings, all was a connected to evil and Satan.  The column was like an episode of Charmed.  I loved Charmed.  I'm all for blending types of entertainment.  Thank you to this group for making me laugh out loud.  Oh, and of course to England for ensuring the site was on a center of evil.  Where would we have been without that.

I'll watch the Winter Olympics.  I'll be there from start to finish.  Looking forward to it.  See you in Russia in 2014!

Parashat Re'eh- Kashrut & Cookbooks

God said to Moshe:  You shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk.

Moshe said to God:  Oh! Ok.  So we're going to have separate pots for foods with milk and foods with meat.

God said to Moshe:  You shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk.

Moshe said to God:  Oh!  Ok.  So after we eat meat, we're going to wait three hours before we eat anything dairy.

God said to Moshe:  You shall not seethe a kid in its mother's milk.

Moshe said to God:  Oh!  Ok.  So we're going to wash our meat and dairy pots, dishes and utensils with separate sponges.

Finally God says: Oh fine. Have it your way!

While searching the web for the half remembered phrasing of the above joke, I came across a dvar by Rabbi Amy Levin, of East Greenwich, Rhode Island, USA. She too used this joke to illustrate parashat Re’eh, which, among other things, discusses kashrut. In her blog, http://www.toratyisrael.org/rabbis-blog.html, on the shul’s website, Rabbi Levin also listed three reasons for “cherishing, embracing, and committing” to kashrut. They were too good not to share.

1.  Kashrut compels us to be mindful of what we put into our mouths. Rather than grabbing what is handy, we train ourselves to elevate our choices, to infuse what nourishes our bodies with a spiritual dimension.

2.  Kashrut is our quiet rebellion. History and fate have placed us in a culture focused on consumption, on instant gratification, on latest fads . . . kashrut is an eternal, consistent core criteria, it does not change with the seasons. Kashrut is like a mast that holds steady in constantly changing winds.

3.  Kashrut: our not-so-secret handshake. It's just so Jewish. Kashrut is a way to express, and to enhance, our sense of belonging to the Jewish world. It's the way Jews eat. It's never having to be apologetic because you can't invite someone Jewish to your home. It's a way to express the Jewishness of your home and family that links you to Jews all over the world and Jews throughout history.

Kashrut makes us conscious. If we have to react to what we put in our mouths, reciting blessings before and after, then eating must become a thoughtful act. We begin to appreciate whence comes our food, and how it gets to our plate. In addition, Rav Sean and I love to cook.  We have an amazing cookbook collection. The number was over 100 at last count.  (It may rival the Hagaddah collection.) The best cookbooks share stories.  From the Junior’s! Remembering Brooklyn with Recipes and Memories from its Favorite Restaurant to Recipes Remembered: A Celebration of Survival, these share not only recipes, but also stories of our people and our struggles, and connect us through the generations.  Come to our house.  We’ll feed you, and I’ll show off the framed, faded recipe for madelbrot I used to bake mandel with my mother for each holiday.