Beha'alotcha-My Sabba's Yahrtzeit

This d'var Torah is an excerpt from a d'var torah that I gave on June 13, 2009 in memory of my Sabba on his yahrtzeit. His yahrtzeit is this coming Shabbat, so I thought that it would be fitting to post it.

First, I would like you to consider the picture of the menorah from the outside of the knesset building. What images come to mind? What colours do you notice? What do you think the menorah symbolizes?

Green-reminds me of the colour of the olive oil that used to be used for the menorah.

The menorah was mentioned in Zechariya’s vision in the Haftara of this week's parsha: (Chapter 4, verses 2-3)

ב וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֵלַ֔י מָ֥ה אַתָּ֖ה רֹאֶ֑ה וָיאֹמַ֡ר [וָֽאֹמַ֡ר] רָאִ֣יתִי ׀ וְהִנֵּ֣ה מְנוֹרַת֩ זָהָ֨ב כֻּלָּ֜הּ וְגֻלָּ֣הּ עַל־רֹאשָׁ֗הּ וְשִׁבְעָ֤ה נֵרֹֽתֶ֨יהָ֙ עָלֶ֔יהָ שִׁבְעָ֤ה וְשִׁבְעָה֙ מֽוּצָק֔וֹת לַנֵּר֖וֹת אֲשֶׁ֥ר עַל־רֹאשָֽׁהּ: ג וּשְׁנַ֥יִם זֵיתִ֖ים עָלֶ֑יהָ אֶחָד֙ מִימִ֣ין הַגֻּלָּ֔ה וְאֶחָ֖ד עַל־שְׂמֹאלָֽהּ:

I think that it is interesting that in this image, Zechariya envisions a “menorat zahav”/a golden Menorah with 2 olive branches (shnaim zeitim) on the right and left side of it. I like this image, the contrast of the green olive trees with the bright golden light of the Menorah.

Many think that the menorah is a symbol of the unity of the Jewish people. So, with that symbol in mind, I would like to go back to the olive trees and light images. The fire reminds me of the Jews who fight the battles, like the Maccabees, or the modern day Israeli soldiers, or even those who fight for Israel advocacy on college campuses. I associate the olive branches with more serene and peaceful images such as those who study or work the land. Both types of leadership are needed in order for the Jewish people to continue.

This haftarah is also read on Shabbat Chanukah. I remember lighting Chanukah candles with my Sabba, Rabbi Israel Silverman. I remember looking in awe at Sabba and Savta’s beautiful Chanukiah while he gingerly and carefully lit each candle. But what I thought was fascinating as a girl, was that that they used oil to light the candles. I think that it was important for them to use the oil because of this classic image of the Menorah from the Beit Hamikdash and from Zechariya’s vision.

Also, Sabba gave a number of sermons about unity and unanimity. He stressed the importance of people have different approaches to life and different opinions, because that is how people learn and grow. But, he also put an emphasis on the importance of unity, and especially Jewish unity. In other words, it is good that we are all different and have different opinions, but that we should remember to maintain Jewish unity and work together to preserve the Jewish community/klal yisrael. These were not just words or ideas to Sabba, he also acted this way and served as a role model to all of us grandchildren. He would always welcome different people from different levels of observances and political views into the house for Shabbat meals. He not only spoke fondly of his JTS professors, but also other rabbis from outside the Conservative movement, including Rabbi Green and Rabbi Baskin.

I think that the lesson of unity is an important one for us to remember today. It is up to us to remember that both are important and necessary in order to make sure that we as Jews can continue to grow.

In order to make sure that we are building more families and growing as a Jewish people, some of my close friends are getting married in the next few days. Mazal Tov to Rachel and Josh and Hilary and Effi. I am excited to celebrate with you!

Here is a cocktail recipe that has a combination of yellow and green:

key lime pie martini

1) take a lime wedge and squeeze lime juice on the rim of the martini glass
2) hold the glass with the rim facing the graham cracker cookie bits and rub the rim onto the cookie bits
3) add:
1 or 2 shots of vanilla-flavoured vodka (or 1 shot of vodka and add 1-2 drops of vanilla extract)
5 drops of lime juice
1 or 2 shots of pineapple juice
4) mix together
5) add the lime wedge to the drink or place on the rim of the glass

Bamidbar-in the desert...

Bamidbar: In the Desert...

Some of you already know that I do not like the desert (sorry, Josh! I know that you're building a kibbutz in the desert of Israel, but I just am not a fan...at least not yet). It's bare, it's too brown, and it's way too hot. But, because there is so much history in the desert and so much importance in the desert, I am trying to find ways to connect to it.

I just read a fantastic d'var torah by Rabbi Sacks which I am posting a link to here:

http://www.chiefrabbi.org/ReadArtical.aspx?id=537


He mentions an idea that I really like and I think that I've heard before, so I apologize if this is not a new idea for you. The letters in the Hebrew word for desert wilderness "daled, bet, resh", are the same as the Hebrew word for speaking. I was thinking about this and about how The Jewish people really became more "People of the Word" in the midbar/desert, which is exactly what Rabbi Sacks wrote! So, as we transition to a new book called bamidbar and transition to a new holiday, Shavuot where the Jewish people built their connection to the written word of the Torah, I hope that we can all continue to work on our midbar work and dibur (words) work!

Here is a desert cocktail recipe:

1 shot of a melon liquor
1 shot of vodka
-2 shots of orange juice
-1 shot of Sprite or lemon seltzer
-add a slice of either lemon or orange (or both) to the martini glass
-stir and enjoy!

Behar/Behukotai/Yom Yerushalayim

From Fields of Gold to the City of Gold

I would like to share this text from myjewishlearning.com at this link:

http://www.myjewishlearning.com/culture/2/Music/Israeli_Music/Folk_Music/Naomi_Shemer.shtml

In 1967 Shemer wrote "Jerusalem of Gold" for the annual song festival. She recalled:

The idea I started with was the Talmudic legend I remembered from my school days about Rabbi Akiva, who lived in poverty, in a hayloft with his beloved wife Rahel, who had been disowned by her father. As he plucked the hay out of her hair, he promised her that one day he would become wealthy and buy her a Jerusalem of Gold [an item of jewelry]. Our teachers, Shoshana and Amminadav, taught us many similar legends. The phrase "Jerusalem of Gold" suddenly shone in my memory as if to say, "Here I am," and I realized it would be the cornerstone of my song.

It was night by the time I sat down and wrote the song. I began with my fresh, innocent memories of my visits there during summer vacation, and then I continued to "She sits alone" and "captive in her dream," and to the ancient phraseology which had just presented itself to me as if to say, Take me and do with me as you will.

The paratroopers who liberated the city sang the song on the Temple Mount and by the Western Wall. After the war, Shemer added another verse beginning "We have returned to the wells." When she sang the new version for the paratroopers and they applauded her, she told them: "Actually I should be applauding you, since it is much easier to change a song than to change a city."

I found those words to be inspiring: it is much easier to change a song than to change a city. Yes, it is easier to change your words and to tune your kinor (harp/violin-which is referred to in the Jerusalem of Gold song). However, I hope that all of us find songs, poems, books, articles, or other words which inspire us or challenge us to change our behavior. This Yom Yerushalayim, let's celebrate by singing and work towards a better world.

This Shabbat, I am not only thinking about Parshat Behar-Behukotai, where golden (and not so golden) laws are given, and Yom Yerushalayim, which celebrates the city of gold, but also of someone else who loves the colour yellow (and I think gold): my cousin Adina! Mazal Tov on your Bat Mitzvah and I can't wait to celebrate with you!

A golden cocktail:

Golden Punch:

1 shot of limoncello OR lemon-flavoured vodka

1 shot of orange juice

2 drops of grenadine (optional)

1 shot of pineapple juice

1 slice of lemon

-mix all together in a glass (make sure that it's frosted!)

-serve!