Chanuka and the American Dream

A few years ago Assaf Wole, an Israeli columnist, wrote a cute piece about two children – one Ultra-Orthodox and one secular – questioning their fathers about the essence of Chanuka. With his great knack for satire he portrayed the secular father trying to avoid discussion of the religious motivation behind the Maccabees’ revolt and the Ultra-Orthodox parent squirming when his child begins to understand that the righteous Maccabees actually went to the army. In all seriousness, there is much to be learned from Chanuka as to the way of life towards which we should be striving.

My father referred me to an article written by Rav Avigdor Amiel before 1948[1]. Rav Amiel points out a very interesting fact: the only Jewish holiday that commemorates an event that occurred in the land of Israel is Chanuka! He continues to argue that the main message to be learned from this holiday is that there was a time that we lived a natural Jewish life in our own land and that it will one day return.

What is a ‘natural Jewish life’? It’s living the American dream – in Israel! It is the harmonious blend of spirituality and materialistic abundance. It means that all Jews in Israel are entitled to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I have a great appreciation for religious censorship because it tends to highlight great books and passages that I would otherwise not be aware exist. One of my favorites is the Chatam Sofer in his commentary on tractate Sukka 36a (won’t be found in new editions, but Bar-Ilan’s Responsa Project has a good old edition that has it).

The Chatam Sofer writes that it is a mitzvah to work the fields of Israel and gather its produce as the Torah promises great agricultural abundance and commands us to go out and collect the fruit of our toil. He claims that just as no one would contemplate giving up wearing tefillin due to being preoccupied with Torah study, so too there is no concept of bittul Torah in regards to agricultural activity in Israel. The Chatam Sofer concludes with suggesting that this concept is valid not only in regards to agriculture rather to any profession that strengthens Jewish life in Israel. I can definitely understand why this passage was censored…

So, as we cherish the beautiful family moments we share during candle lighting on Chanukka, let us reflect on the glorious Jewish era that we were privileged to in the past and that is slowly but surely returning as you read these lines.

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[1] http://hebrewbooks.org/31851 page 24 and on. 

Removing a Limb to Save the Body

This is a sad day for the state of Israel. The former president, Moshe Katzav, will be spending the next 7 years in jail after having his appeal rejected by the Supreme Court. In fact, this is not only saddening news but it is quite embarrassing as well.

Deliberately, I haven’t been following the details of the case. I felt no need for that and also think that much of what has been discussed is inappropriate, to state it mildly, for the Shabbat table - just a random measure I’ve set as a way of defining what’s worth listening to. But in my eyes the significance of today’s ruling is way beyond that which Mr. Katzav did or did not do.

Today Israel shows its people, and the entire world as well, that it does not hold a double standard towards any individual regardless of his or her status or contribution to society. Even if one day it will be proven that this whole saga is an awful mistake and that the former president did not commit any crime, we should remember this historic day as a time when Israel, once again, proved itself to be a truly democratic and free country.

Yes, it is expected that the Jewish state act within the highest standards of morality, yet in no way is it to be taken for-granted. Once again we have gotten a glimpse of the beautiful Middle Eastern gem twinkling in the dark. 

Homeward Bound

The news that Gilad Shalit will be coming home came just as much as a surprise as did that of his kidnapping. I remember thinking on that grim day in June 2006 that surely by nightfall the IDF would have launched a mission to release him (just as they did with Nachshon Waksman in 1994, although it wasn't on the day he was kidnapped). Little did I know that a 5 year saga had just begun.

It will take some time to fully digest the complete extent of this leap forward, both emotionally and politically. But now is the time to set aside all arguments and opinions and focus on one beautiful aspect of our people that is being displayed for the whole world to see: We care about every single individual and we will never ever forget or let go. This characteristic is rooted so deeply in our souls that we may mistakenly take it for-granted.

Different people had different ideas about what they could and should do for Gilad. Sometimes these ideas were passionately debated and one side would adamantly oppose the other's actions. But whether it was through prayer or rally, Facebook or Youtube - we were all there. We cannot imagine things being any different.

I say this at a time when the whole world can clearly do the math and see how much in fact we care:

"JERUSALEM — Israel and Hamas, two of the Middle East’s most implacable foes, announced Tuesday that they had reached a tentative agreement brokered by Egypt to exchange more than 1,000Palestinian prisoners for an Israeli soldier held captive in Gaza for more than five years." 
(Ethan Bronner, NY Times October 11, 2011)


The disproportion is not hard to detect. The only reason it can be this way is that we are the ones who fully appreciate Gilad Shalit as a human being, as a Jew and as a soldier.

Child Sacrifice in the Modern Age

For a long time, I did not understand why the Torah commands us to fight idolatry so fervently. Why are we so intolerant when it comes to belief systems that do not accept God as the King of Kings?

It was during a field trip in college that I began to comprehend what the Torah was saying on the subject. We were in the valley of Ben Hinom, south of the Old City of Jerusalem, when the instructor read us a description of the worship practiced in that very valley a few millennia ago. He read from Midrash Tanchuma (Va'etchanan addition b) that describes in detail how parents used to sacrifice their children to the idol Molech. It was nauseating and I could hardly stomach it. But until now, the part that strikes me the most in this vivid and gory description is that the priests used to beat the drums very loudly lest the parents hear the child cry and change their mind.

People tend to think that the horrific practice of child sacrifice is no more than a vague and distant historical memory; however, I personally believe that it is alive and well.

Yes, there are savages among us who think it a pious act to slaughter three month old babies (they'll go for 3-36 year olds too)[1]. They honestly believe that by such a cowardly act they will be closer to God[2]. All I can wish for them is that they find out for themselves as soon as possible the true reward for their actions.

The drums can be heard too in this renewed version of 21^st century Molech worship. To dull the natural repulsion of these grotesque acts they begin educating early on that the greatest religious act one can preform is to kill Jews, preferably children[3]. They'll spread lies about IDF soldiers and deny the holocaust as well. Anything to make sure not one drop of morality accidentally seeps into their awareness.

We, citizens of the free world, are at war with those who sanctify death. It is important that we acknowledge that. We must in return do our very best to sanctify life. 

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[1] http://challahhuakbar.blogspot.com/2011/03/palestinian-terrorist-murders-five.html

[2] I do not mean by this that they are not monotheistic; rather I claim that the same dynamic that existed in the worship of Molech exists today. The belief that murdering a child can be a holy act is the essence of both philosophies.

[3] If you don't believe me I suggest you watch this documentary by National Geographic (on the third page of videos). A picture is worth a thousand words. http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/videos/feeds/cv-seo/Full-Episodes/All-Full-Episodes/

The Asassination of the Prime Minister of Israel

I was probably not older than 12 when I was watching a movie with my mother about JFK's assassination. I can so vividly remember my mother proudly telling me that something like this could not happen in a Jewish state, and I was overcome with that sense of pride. Who could have known then that in fewer than 3 years this proud statement would brutally be proven to be erroneous.

The significance of  Yitzchak Rabin's assassination is beyond politics. At the time of the murder I was not a supporter of Rabin's views and actions. In fact, I believed that what he thought would bring peace would in fact bring upon us greater bloodshed. But I cried that Saturday night, I cried bitterly. I cried over the pure sense of pride that had been instilled in me and was now senselessly shattered. We were no longer any different or better than any other nation, at least in regard to violence.

Unfortunately, I was unable to digest those feelings through the normal process people must go through when faced with a traumatic event. The next morning we awoke into a state where it was embarrassing and possibly even dangerous to wear a kipa on ones head. The entire Religious Zionist community was being vilified for the prime minister's death. It isn't very easy to mourn appropriately when you are unjustly being blamed for the murder of the one who is being mourned. Definitely not when you're a teenager.

The situation hasn't changed much in regard to who is held responsible for Rabin's death. Every year Rabin's memorial day becomes a whole political production where if one wishes to mourn the inconceivable assassination of Israel's leader after 2000 years of exile, he must accept the views and actions of that same individual. Memorial day is and has been a rally at which Yitzchak Rabin is simply being exploited for political gains. Regrettably, the state of Israel hasn't  instituted this tremendously significant day as a national day of mourning introspection.

But now that I am an adult, I can grasp complexities that eluded me in the past. I can finally fulfill my personal need for bereavement - no less for the innocence that was lost than for the individual who was murdered. It really doesn't matter what your beliefs are, the fact is that something so enormous occurred on the night of the 12th of Cheshvan, 15 years ago, that we should all stop and reflect on it - regardless of what others are doing.