Parashat Ki Teitzei- Caring Is Sharing

Lo t’ta’eiv Adomi ki achikha hu lo-t’ta’eiv Mitzri ki-geir ha’yiyta v’artzo.

You shall not hate an Edomite, for he is your brother; you shall not hate an Egyptian because you were a stranger in his land. (D’varim 23:8)

When we think of the hardships the Israelites, and later the Jews, have had to endure throughout our existence, it is a wonder that, as a people, we are generally optimists. There’s a poignant scene towards the end of Fiddler on the Roof where someone says to the Rabbi, “Rabbi, we’ve been waiting for the Messiah our whole lives. Wouldn’t now be a good time for him to come?” The Rabbi answers, “We’ll just have to wait for him someplace else.” It’s a scene the Jews have repeated over and over since Jacob went down to Egypt. With this scene playing out so many times throughout history, we could be a very bitter people. We could be isolationist and angry, frustrated and hate-filled. We’re not. As a people, Jews have been more accepting, more understanding than any other group. In times of need and crisis, we have provided help to nations around the world, nations that were not always our friends. As well, Israel exports research and technology around the globe. Here are just some of those exports:

• Medical technology- The PillCam is a swallowable pill-sized camera used to detect and visualize GI tract disorders, not to mention the advances in surgical tools and techniques.
• Irrigation technology- Drip irrigation and micro-irrigation was pioneered in Israel to save water through measured and precise crop irrigation, which prevented much unnecessary moisture loss through evaporation.
• Alternative Energy- Whether geothermal, wind, or solar, Israel leads in the development and manufacture of alternative energy power plants and materials, for example the Pythagoras solar window.
• Agricultural advances- Whether it’s milking technology that makes Israel a leader in milk production or the development of the cherry tomato, farmers and researchers from around the world use Israel’s advancements to reach new markets and improve those they already have.
• Transportation Systems- MobileEye, an early warning system now in use in vehicles to prevent collisions. MobileEye works with GM, BMW, and Volvo, just to name a few. TourEngine reduces fuel consumption and emissions through thermal management improving combustion and hybrid engines.
• Computer technology- Need I say more than the Intel Chip. What about flash drives?

Companies and communities have innovation centres in Israel. Israeli universities welcome thousands of international students every year. Many come from Arab and African nations to study environmental, irrigational, and agricultural sciences to bring home.

As a nation, it would be easy to focus on ourselves, to be unconcerned with what happens in other countries. However, Israel has always been focused beyond our borders and beyond our own. Rashi explains the inclusion of the Egyptians in D’varim 23:8 by separating the leaders from their people. It’s not easy to do. It’s much easier to refer to “them” no matter who “them” might be. It’s much easier to identify people with their leadership. However, the Torah doesn’t let us take the easy way out. We must look beyond the simple to do what’s right. Rashi teaches that while the Pharaohs inflicted slavery upon the Israelites, the Egyptian people welcomed them as guests. We remember that and pay it forward by welcoming all and sharing the technology and advancements that will help to make our world a better place for all of us.

Parashat Shoftim- Keeping The Vision On Track

V'hayah kh’shivto al kisei mamlakhto vkhatav lo et mishnei haTorah hazot al-seifer milifnei hakohanim ha’l’viyim. V’ha’y’tah imo v’kara vo kol-y’mei chayaiv l’ma’an yilmad l’yir’ah et-Adonai Elohav lishmor et-kol-divrei haTorah hazot v’et-hachukim ha’eileh la’asotam.

And it shall be when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, that he will write himself a copy of this Torah in a book, out of that which is before the priests the Levi’im. And it will be with him, and he will read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear Adonai his God and to observe all the words of this Torah and these statutes and do them. (D’varim 17:18-19)

It is a universal truth that power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely. It is also true that people seek leaders, and in doing so, give those leaders power. These are truths that the Torah understands and seeks to balance. It is expected the Israelites will want a king, a head of state, to be like the nations that surround them. More so, as a nation, there must be one individual who can speak to other nations. This is necessary for trade and for peace. Yet, the Torah still works hard to ensure that Israel will not simply be “like all the nations around,” nor will the king be. We have been told that we are to be a nation of priests, where all are holy, and so too the king must be.

To that aim, as a protection, the king is commanded to write out his own copy of the Torah, and once that is done, to read it daily. It’s a good educational model, employing three modalities. The king will experience the oral teachings of the Kohanim and Levi’im. He will personally write his own copy, and he will have to read from it every day. The hope is that using his ears, his eyes, and his hands the king will absorb these lessons so they become part of who he is.

It is an interesting thing to have a job that is also who you are. There are few in the world. If you work in sales, when you go home at night, you can, and should, leave your job behind. The same holds true for most. But if you are a head of state, you can never leave the job behind. Every hour of every day you are your job. Doctors may be on call, but not 24/7 every day of the year. Teachers’ hours extend well past the school day, but once done, they are done, and even get summers off. But some, like heads of state are on call every hour of the day, every day of the year. Even once leaving the position, you never know when you will be called upon to fulfill the role.

I remember a picture of PM Harper early in his term. He had taken his son to school. It was a normal parent thing to do. But PM Harper isn’t a normal parent. He is the Prime Minister. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t at the office. The Prime Minister is never off the clock. The press and political commentators picked apart every aspect of the drop-off, from what he was wearing to how he said goodbye to his son. How does one stay grounded and focused amidst that? The Torah’s answer is to remind the leader daily of who he leads, why he leads, and how he is supposed to live. It is a regular refocusing. Every day the king will be reminded of the compassion commanded by our Torah, of our history, of the limits to his power. Every day he will have to think about the people he leads so they should be real to him instead of abstract.

It’s easy as leaders to think we know what is best. A leader should have a vision. Without it where will s/he lead? But just as important is a connection to the foundation upon which s/he stands and the people s/he leads.

Parashat Re'eh- Imagining Our Own Redemption

Va’avartem et-haYardein vishavtem ba’aretz asher-Adonai Eloheikhem manchil etkhem v’heini’ach lakhem mikol-oyveikhem misaviv viyshavtem-betach.

And you will cross over the Jordan and settle in the land that Adonai your God causes you to inherit, and He will give you rest from all your enemies around, and you will dwell in safety. (D’varim 12:10)

When God brought the Israelites out of the land of Egypt, they came to the shores of the Reed Sea. Caught between the water and the pursuing Egyptian army, the Israelites cowered in fear. They were angry at their situation, at Moshe and at God. The text tells us that Moshe stretched his staff over the water. The wind blows, and eventually the sea splits. The Midrash, however, fills in the details. Midrash teaches that Nachshon ben Aminadav took a first step. He waded into the water determined not to go back to slavery and oppression. At first nothing happened. Nachshon continued in. Still, nothing happened. Nachshon moved further still. Only when the water was up to his nose, only when his choice was to sink or swim, only when God saw that he, though afraid, wad determined to follow this path, did the sea finally split.

Right now the verse, “And you will cross over the Jordan and settle in the land that Adonai your God causes you to inherit, and He will give you rest from all your enemies around, and you will dwell in safety.” Seems ironic at best and an outright lie at worst. With the horror of the terror tunnels and a Rosh Hashanah attack fresh in our minds, how can we see rest from our enemies? With the threat of missiles being launched at our people, how can we dwell in safety? I imagine this may have been similar to what the Israelites must have felt stuck between the dual threats of the sea and the Egyptian army. I assume they too felt the helplessness that I, and many others, have felt this summer. But then, one man realized that feeling helpless did not have to equal feeling hopeless. Nachshon ben Aminadav set out in the worst of situations to take control and determine his own future. In Birkat HaMazon there are additional short prayers added after the required brachot. One of these says, “Harachaman, Hu y’vareikh et-M’dinat Yisrael, reishit tz’michat g’ulateinu.” “May the Compassionate One bless the State of Israel, the beginning of the promise of our redemption.” Redemption is not easy. We are caught between the sea of public opinion and the armies of terrorism. So many of us feel helpless. We are angry. We are afraid. But we must not be hopeless. So many times we have stood on this precipice. Each time we have moved forward. Although we feel the waves bombarding us, we must continue in, moving forward, knowing that our actions determine our own redemption.

Parashat Ekev- Put These Words Upon Your Heart- Go To Jewish Summer Camp

V’samtem et-d’varai eileh al-l’vavkhem v’al-nafsh’khem ukshartem otam l’ot al-yedkhem v’hayu l’totafot bein eiyneikhem. V’limadtem otam et-b’neiykhem l’dabeir bam b’shiv’t’kha b’veitekha uv’lekh’t’kha vaderekh uv’shakh’b’kha uv’kumekha. Ukhtavtam al-m’zuzot beitekha uvish’arekha.

And you will put these My words upon your heart and upon your soul, and you will bind them as a sign on your hand and as frontlets between your eyes. And you will teach them to your children; recite them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the way, when you lie down and when you rise up. And you will write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates. (D’varim 11:18-20)

Rav Sean and I have just returned from teaching at Ramah. For almost two weeks, we went to work in shorts. We sat on the ground. We ate in a loud, crowded dining hall. We swam; we boated; we walked the running path. We created Torah lessons involving crayons, markers, and ice cream. For almost two weeks we walked the camp’s grounds. We woke up each morning. I stumbled, Rav Sean walked, to morning t’fillot (I am not a morning person). We donned our t’fillin. We spoke with staff and with campers. We had snack. We said private brachot in the earshot of staff and campers. We sat in the library. We sat in the education office. We sponsored a kiddush for our children’s eidot. It’s the most rabbinic work we do all year.

This list may not sound rabbinic. Swimming? Boating? Snack? But to be a rabbi is to lead by example. Ramah camps are attended by over 6,500 teens around the world each summer, not to mention the thousands of staff. Studies show Jewish summer camps have significant impact on the Jewish community. Specifically, Ramah graduates are three times more likely to date only Jews. They are four times more likely to attend synagogue services, and three times more likely than the general Jewish population to spend significant time in Israel. The Jewish Agency for Israel refers to Ramah as “a lifestyle.” From this lifestyle come the best of our future leaders. For 4-9 weeks children, teens, and adults live a positive, enjoyable, inspirational Jewish life where being a Jewish leader is cool, and we are part of that.

As rabbis, we are usually called upon to lead from the front, standing upon bamot, speaking at events, writing articles and letters. We meet with congregants and community members about personal issues. We plan for holidays. We lead rituals.  But most importantly we lead by live joyful, observant Jewish lives. Every day we wear the words of the Torah on our hearts and our arms. We wear them on our faces. They are in every word we say. They are posted on our doors and on our walls. Rabbinic work is to teach others to live lives of Torah and joy in Judaism. Even more so than when we are in synagogue, we teach this when you see us at Home Depot. We teach this when we are at the Superstore. We teach this when we walk upon the road and when we sit together. We teach this in canoes and kayaks and on the soccer field. We teach this through living to support our current Jewish leaders and those of tomorrow.

Parashat VaEtchanan- A Land Flowing With Milk and Honey

V’shamata Yisrael v’shamarta la’asot asher yitav l’kha va’asher tirbun m’od ka’asher diber Adonai Elohei avotekha lakh eretz zavat chalav ud’vash.

And listen Israel, and observe to do it, so that it will be good for you and that you will increase greatly, just as the Adonai, the God of your ancestors said to you- a land flowing with milk and honey. (D’varim 6:3)

There was a commercial a while ago about happy cows. It was for the Canadian dairy industry. Happy cows produce more milk. This past March, CBC News displayed this headline, “Pampered cows help Ontario dairy farm boost production.” A farm in Smith Falls gave its cows waterbeds, oscillating grooming brushes, and pedicures. But it seems that, no matter what we do here, Israeli cows give more milk, almost 10% more than cows in the US, the next on the list, and 50% more than Germany. It comes down to technology. Israeli cows live in air-conditioned barns, and wear electronic tags and pedometers to constantly update handlers about their status. At any given moment, handlers know how the cow is chewing her cud, if she is agitated or frisky, or ailing in any way. Recently, Afimilk, on Kibbutz Afikim in the lower Galilee, began adapting its technology for goats.

But it’s not just real milk. It’s about abundance. Abundance comes from desire, determination, faith, and a sense of fearlessness. It comes from a willingness to stretch our minds. The Nobel Prize was established in 1895, 119 years ago. Since then 850 prizes have been awarded to individuals. That’s an average of 7.1 per year. In 66 years, Israelis have been awarded 12 Nobel Prizes. Out of the entire world, Israel averages 5.5 Nobel Prizes per year of its existence.

So what’s the Israeli advantage? Using technology and innovation for tikkun olam, to make the world a better place. Israel is THE Start-up Nation. If you look at mappedinIsrael.com, a site of Israel’s tech ecosystem, you will see 1147 start-ups, 111 technology and idea incubators, 60 investors, and 95 community and development services centres. Innovation and adaptation blankets Israel.

Parashat B’chukotai prophesies “And you, I will scatter among the nations, at the point of My drawn sword, leaving your country desolate and your cities in ruins” (Leviticus 26:33). When Israel returned, the land would again flow with milk and honey. It would blossom with abundance. It has not been an easy summer. How can we but focus on the sirens and the death? And yet, coming out of Israel is hope and promise, humour and caring. In the midst of hate, we sing of peace. Just for a moment, imagine what we could, what we will do when this peace becomes a reality.