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!

Emor/Lag Baomer

Parshat Emor and Lag Ba'Omer: Walk in Fields of Gold

This coming Sunday is the joyous holiday of Lag Baomer, when we reach the 33rd day of the counting of the omer. That means that we are more than half-way towards the whole receiving of the Torah thing, however you choose to think about it. People usually celebrate on this day by having a picnic outside in open fields. Many Jewish schools take students for a field trip that day to a field! Some others choose to get a haircut that day, usually by a respectable hairdresser, not on a certain hill in Tzfat, Israel (Josh-DON'T DO IT!).

Rituals, such as counting the omer, help us to communicate with ourselves and with God. Back in the day, it used to be through sacrifices, which I am not such a fan of, as many of you know. But in this week's parshah, there was one type of sacrifice which intrigued me. It combined the fruits of the vineyard with the "fruits" of the field, such as barley or wheat. So, I felt inspired to make a special Lag Ba'omer/Emor shot recipe (don't worry: it's not 33 shots!! I would never recommend that kind of behaviour. But, if you happened to have about 10 people over and everyone had 3 shots each, and then 3 people had 3 additional ones, that would be above and beyond!)

Lag Ba'Omer: 33 shot recipe:

-shot of tequila
-3 grapes
-sprinkle of beer

procedure:

-put a sprinkle of beer on one of your wrists
-drink the shot of tequila
-eat the 3 grapes

Have a meaningful Lag Ba'Omer!

Ahrei Mot-Kedoshim

First Fruits

When I was reading through this week's parsha, I came across these verses:

Lev 19:9-10 "when you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard bare, or gather the fallen fruit of your vineyard; you shall leave them for the poor and the stranger"

So, not only is it important to make the land grow, but it is also important to share the fruits with those who need it. I love that lesson!

I remember when I was in Israel visiting the Goldstein family's new place and their beautiful garden. They had a number of trees, some of which were already growing fruit! I got especially excited when I saw the pomegranate tree because I love pomegranates....we started asking them about the fruits and when they could start eating them. And, Warren Goldstein reminded us of this rule: "wait until the third year, for I am the Lord your God" from this week's parsha!

I'm not a farmer, I barely see trees! I am a city girl all the way and love it! But, I do try to appreciate the world of nature and everything, especially considering that today is Earth Day. I also think that there is something noble about settling the land, because it's about something greater than you.

So, here is a drink to help to remind us all of the land and how to make it grow stronger and stronger:

White Wine Sangria

-bottle of white wine

-slices of strawberries, blackberries, kiwi, melon, apples, and/or other fruit that is available

-1 cup of orange juice

-pitcher

-put the wine, fruit, and juice in the pitcher and let it sit for a few hours before drinking

-pour and enjoy!

Tazria-Metzora

Green counteracts red

There's a lot of red in this week's double parsha: the leprosy, the scars, the sacrifices to cure the leprosy, and...lots of other red things. Many people have commented recently that a Bloody Mary drink would be very fitting this week! And, while I appreciate the enthusiasm for my blog, that is not the direction that I wanted to go this week.

This past week, there was another dark day of Yom Hashoah when we took time to remember those who perished in the Holocaust. This coming Monday is Yom Hazikaron, when we remember the Israeli soldiers who sacrificed so much for the State of Israel. And, right after Yom Hazikaron, there is Yom Ha'atzmaut, the day that we celebrate Israel becoming a country!! I remember during my third year of university, when I studied at Hebrew University, asking my Israeli cousins about this. I said that I thought it was strange that these two days were side by side and I didn't get how you could go from a state of seriousness, mourning and sadness to happiness and joy. How do you counteract the red? They answered my question with another question: how can we celebrate our achievements without first acknowledging the sacrifices and obstacles that we had to overcome to get there? It is so true. Before celebrating the great achievements of present times, we must remember the past and how we got there.

This Yom Ha'atzmaut, some of us will get a chance to read the special haftarah for the day. Isaiah beautifully contrasts images of the fire that devours the sinners of Zion (33:14) to the purity of the rivers and streams of the golden Jerusalem (33:20-21).

I wish for all of us to find a way to remember the past and then transition to celebrate Yom Ha'atzmaut smoothly and in song. If you need a little help with the transition, perhaps a refreshing cocktail drink will help!

A Refreshing Drink in Celebration of Yom Ha'atzmaut:

If you are fortunate enough to be in Israel, you can use this recipe:

1 part arak

1 1/2 part Eshkoliot juice drink

mix those together and add 3 sprigs of nana leaves to the pitcher. Leave the mixture in the fridge for at least 2 hours. Then serve with a lime wedge and enjoy!

If you live outside of Israel, you can use this adapted mojito recipe:

2 part rum

5 slices of lime

1 part lemonade

mix those together and add 3 sprigs of mint leaves to the pitcher. Leave the mixture in the fridge for at least hours. Then, serve with a lime wedge and enjoy!

This blog is also about green things in honoUr of my brother David who just received his Green Card! Mazal Tov, David!

Shabbat HaGadol=Kos G'dolah?

Shabbat HaGadol is this week, the last Shabbat before the holiday of Pesach. I turned to the Haftarah of Shabbat Hagadol to see if the reading from the prophets could help to inspire me. I noticed that the prophet of Elijah is mentioned at the end of the haftarah. He slips in just at the end, encouraging people to change their ways for the better, just like many other prophets.

After the Jewish people are described as people who have forgotten the ways of the Torah, Elijah is mentioned:

" Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord. ²⁴ He shall reconcile parents with children and children with their parents, so that, when I come, I do not strike the whole land with utter destruction.

Lo, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before
the coming of the awesome, fearful day of the Lord."

I think that it is fitting to be thinking about Elijah as the holiday of Pesach is coming because we are all supposed to welcome Elijah into our homes during THE night of the seder (note: I said the night, as in one night of the seder, GO ISRAEL where they only have one seder. Totally the only one needed..). Elijah has always been a mysterious prophet and one with a bit of a gentle side to him. I think that maybe because of this gentle side, in this haftarah, Elijah is comforting and dealing with parents and children. For me, this brings up a memory of sederim in my childhood when we would open the door for Elijah to come. Then, we would all watch Elijah's cup to see if the wine would go down.

I think that this custom is a wonderful one because it encourages us all to open our doors, not only to Elijah at the end of the seder, but also to those who need a place to eat and drink, like at the beginning of the seder. So, please take a message from Elijah to change and to keep your door a little more open to those who need it.

For this week's cocktail, I propose a drink that is kosher-for-Pesach-friendly, just in case you finished off your hametz-alcoholic beverages! It is also reminiscent of Elijah's cup:

Wine-Sangria-Spritzer:

-for very tasty results, prepare the drink at least 4 hours before serving

-pour one bottle of wine into a pitcher (preferably red, but white works too)

(to support my brother Josh's favourite area of Israel: try to buy wine from the Negev region, but other wine works too)

-slice half of an orange and half of an apple and put the slices in the pitcher

-add about 1 cup or more of lemon-lime flavoured seltzer right before serving