When Simple People do Great things - Pinchas

 This week's portion Pinchas, opens with a special reward and blessing given to Pinchas. 

In last week's portion we read how the Jewish people were enticed to sin at the advice of the wicked Bilaam. The stupor of sin was so great that the prince of the tribe of Shimon, Zimri publicly challenged Moshe as to the status of he woman he wanted to be intimate with. Of course, Moshe told him that since the Torah was given, a person had to convert to Judaism in order to become a permissible mate. When he proceeded to do what he wanted, Pinchas arose from the crowd and "zealously" killed Zimri and the woman Kosbi. The plague that had broken out came to an end as a result of his actions.

In this portion of Pinchas, he is rewarded with a covenant of Shalom (peace) for stooping the public abomination. A simple person doing something great.

This weekend we celebrate July 4th, America's Independence Day. Lest we forget some important history, in 1776 the framers and signers of the constitution were traitors. Those that wanted to see freedom and liberty were considered radicals. But they persisted and fought for what they believed in. Their courage and vision shaped the greatness of the USA -  a place where we are free to live, worship, and respects our inalienable rights. Once again, simple people doing great things.

This weekend also marks the first Yahrtzeit (anniversary of passing) of the 130 beautiful souls who died in the July 4th Hill Country floods. It's hard to imagine that just last summer, we were on the front lines of a massive natural catastrophe, just minutes from Boerne. In those days and weeks, the amazing police, fire, EMS, emergency responders, volunteer rescue squads, and thousands of citizens that helped in any and every way possible, was truly extraordinary. Once again, simple people, doing amazing things.

As we go into this Shabbat and national 250th anniversary of the founding of our great country, lets not forget that while not perfect, we live in a country that is blessed in so many ways. Each of us has the opportunity to do amazing things, even though we may be simple people.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy 4th of July!

Emor - Holy Defilement

Holy Defilement 
Parshat Emor

In this week's Parshah of Emor, we read of the laws of the Kohanim (priests) and what they may do, who they may marry etc. One of these laws is that a Kohen may not become ritually defiled to a dead body. As a Kohen must always be ready to serve in the Bet Hamikdash, it is expected that he will maintain a higher level of ritual purity at all times. In modern times, while we do not have a Bet Hamikdash, nonetheless, Kohanim are careful with these laws, including  not entering a cemetery unless it's the funeral of an immediate family member. 

The exception to this law is something called a Met Mitzvah - a scenario where a body is found and there is no one to take care of it and bring it to burial. In that case, every person, even the Kohen Gadol (high priest) has the sacred obligation, and must tend to this body bringing it to a Jewish burial!

This past Sunday evening, I received a phone call from a colleague in California who's congregant had lost a brother in Boerne. The deceased was found after about two weeks, and after finally tracking down his only relative in California, a cremation was going to be done because of cost and no one to deal with a burial. The rabbi pleaded with the relative not to do a cremation, as it is contrary to Jewish law, and that he would reach out to the local Chabad rabbi. 

Over the next two days, with the help of the Jewish Federation, Jewish Family Service, and Congregation Agudas Achim, we were able to arrange a funeral. The plot was donated, the checks were written, and a Met Mitvzah was buried according to our Jewish traditions in a Jewish cemetery. 

This entire experience left me extremely touched and reflective. The lessons I learned were (1) the power of community when we come together (2) the beauty of our traditions and Mitzvot, and (3) the relevance and importance of the work I strive to do in my capacity as a rabbi and shliach.

Tzav - The Constant Fire

Portion of Tzav
The Constant Fire

Our Torah portion of Tzav opens with a variety of commandments regarding the offerings in the sanctuary. The first command is regarding the first service of the day - Terumas Hadeshen - removing the ashes of the altar. This service was both spiritual in nature, and also practical as build up of ashes on the altar needed to be removed. 

Additionally, the Torah commands that there must be a constant fire burning on the Mizbeyach (altar).
 "אש תמיד תוקד על המבח לא תכבה - The fire on the Altar shall be kept burning on it, it shall not be extinguished" (Vayikra 6:7). 

There were three different pyres of wood where sacrifices were burned. According to the Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 7:5) this is extraordinary, as the altar of Moses' Tabernacle was used for approximately 116 years (39 in the wilderness, 14 in Gilgal, 13 in Nov, and 50 in Gibeon), and the flame was kept burning, continually all those years. 

The Baal Shem Tov (founder of the Chassidic movement) offers a novel interpretation on this verse. He explains the verse in the following way, changing the structure.
"Esh Tamid Tukad Al Hamizbeyach - The fire on the altar shall be kept burning on it"
"Lo - then the negativity"
"Tichbeh - will be extinguished".

In other words, when the fire and flame of Yiddishkeit burns bright, automatically, the negativity and darkness dissipates. 

As we enter the Passover holiday, perhaps this is the message and truth we all need to hear. We will never be able to extinguish all the hate and negativity out in the world. If we become consumed with trying to dump put the buckets of darkness, we are in fact wasting our time and energy, as it is a futile effort. Instead, we ought to focus on keeping the fire and enthusiasm burning brightly. That is the secret that has kept our people for so long. That is the real story of Passover and our continuity.

A little light dispels much darkness.