Category Archives: Tetzaveh

5773, Exodus, Ibn Ezra, Parsha, Tetzaveh, The Times of Israel

Rabbinic Stone Healing

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[First posted on The Times of Israel: http://blogs.timesofisrael.com/tetzaveh-rabbinic-stone-healing/]

Ibn Ezra Exodus: Tetzaveh

Rabbinic Stone Healing

“The art of medicine consists of amusing the patient while nature cures the disease.”

-Voltaire

Western medicine is typically disparaging of any treatments that cannot be confirmed by a peer-reviewed double-blind study with a well defined control group, often heavily financed by pharmaceutical companies. Eastern medicine on the other hand, forays frequently into the realm of superstition, idol-worship and outright chicanery.

Jewish sages throughout the ages tended to adopt the medical practices of their time and place, and sought where possible to exclude useless or problematic “medical” trends.

Ibn Ezra makes mention of the “powers” of stones which to Western ears may sound like nonsense. However, in his comments on Exodus 28:9, he expands about “a stone that if worn on a finger, the person will see his dreams. And this should not be a surprise, as each stone has its unique powers. There is a stone that attracts metal, and one that stills the blood, and one that flees from vinegar and one that always breaks into triangles.”

Perhaps there is some truth after all to healing properties of some stones?

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

To the speedy and complete healing of those suffering from all and any illness, especially the flu that seems to be affecting many this season.

5771, Exodus, Kli Yakar, Parsha, Tetzaveh

Clothes Make the Saint, Sometimes

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Kli Yakar Exodus: Tetzaveh

Clothes Make the Saint, Sometimes

From the mists of antiquity there comes a tale. The tale is of a Persian king who inherited some special garments. The king is one that Jewish tradition names Achashverosh. The garments were none other than the robes of the High Priest of Solomon’s Temple in Jerusalem.

According to the Kli Yakar (Exodus 28:42), Achashverosh wore the garments for a specific purpose. He ties that purpose to an unusual story in the Babylonian Talmud (Tractate Sabbath 31a). A gentile wished to convert on one condition – that he could wear the garments of the High Priest. What’s this obsession with his clothing?

The Talmud explains that the garments of the High Priest had unique properties. They had the power to absolve a host of sins. The Kli Yakar theorizes that both Achashverosh and the potential convert wanted to dress their way out of sin. They both wanted to elevate themselves. They just wanted a short-cut with these magical threads. However they both ignored the fact that it only works for the High Priest. Only an individual who has reached that elevated level can make use of these special tools. Dressing a certain way might make one think they have reached a specific level, but the Kli Yakar reminds us that there are no shortcuts and one has to elevate themselves by actions beyond a change of costume.

May we dress in clean, modest, good taste, without seeking extra magical powers from our wardrobe.

Shabbat Shalom,

Bentzi

Dedication

To the memory of John Christopher Godfrey, who passed away suddenly, in the midst of his conversion process. His dress matched his personality. Always happy, energetic and inspiring. He will be missed.

Exodus, Hizkuni, Parsha, Purim, Tetzaveh, Uncategorized

Cover Up or Die

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Exodus Hizkuni: Tetzaveh

 

Cover Up or Die

Almost every year, for the last 13 years that I have been in Israel, the day of Purim has been a cold overcast day. In many parts of the world, this would not seem unnatural, but in Israel, there is often not only pleasant weather, but actual heat waves immediately before and after Purim.

There is a story behind this story. I was told that many years ago, a Rabbi in Israel (I don’t recall his name) cursed the day of Purim. He was shocked by the immodest costumes that were being worn. He then proceeded to pronounce a curse that the day of Purim should always be cold so that costume wearers would have no choice but to wear something that covers up more.

In the description of garments worn by the High Priest, there is a related theme.

“And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach. And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die; it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed after him.” Exodus 28:42-43

Rabbi Hizkiyahu ben Manoach (Hizkuni) explains a very simple rationale why the priests will die if they do not cover up. It is not an issue of glory or presentability. It is merely an issue of modesty. Whichever priest dares to dress immodestly in front of God, will die.

Having grown up on the beaches of South America, I was aware of a different level of modesty than many of my friends from northern climes. I have come to the conclusion that there is both a subjective cultural norm as to what is modest as well as an objective one. What may be most important about modesty in my opinion though, may actually be the intention behind the clothing.

May we always dress appropriately for all occasions.

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach,

Bentzi

Dedication

To dermatologist Dr. Ingrid Uzun Pocubay. She tells people to cover up for entirely different reasons.

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Exodus Hizkuni: Tetzaveh

 

Cover Up or Die

 

Almost every year, for the last 13 years that I have been in Israel, the day of Purim has been a cold overcast day. In many parts of the world, this would not seem unnatural, but in Israel, there is often not only pleasant weather, but actual heat waves immediately before and after Purim.

 

There is a story behind this story. I was told that many years ago, a Rabbi in Israel (I don’t recall his name) cursed the day of Purim. He was shocked by the immodest costumes that were being worn. He then proceeded to pronounce a curse that the day of Purim should always be cold so that costume wearers would have no choice but to wear something that covers up more.

 

In the description of garments worn by the High Priest, there is a related theme.

 

“And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover the flesh of their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach. And they shall be upon Aaron, and upon his sons, when they go in unto the tent of meeting, or when they come near unto the altar to minister in the holy place; that they bear not iniquity, and die; it shall be a statute for ever unto him and unto his seed after him.” Exodus 28:42-43

 

Rabbi Yaakov ben Manoach (Hizkuni) explains a very simple rationale why the priests will die if they do not cover up. It is not an issue of glory or presentability. It is merely an issue of modesty. Whichever priest dares to dress immodestly in front of God, will die.

 

Having grown up on the beaches of South America, I was aware of a different level of modesty than many of my friends from northern climes. I have come to the conclusion that there is both a subjective cultural norm as to what is modest as well as an objective one. What may be most important about modesty in my opinion though, may actually be the intention behind the clothing.

 

May we always dress appropriately for all occasions.

 

Shabbat Shalom and Purim Sameach,

 

Bentzi

Dedication

 

To dermatologist Dr. Ingrid Uzun Pocubay. She tells people to cover up for entirely different reasons.

 

5769, Exodus, Parsha, Sforno, Tetzaveh

God: Up Close and Personal

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God: Up Close and Personal

God commands the Children of Israel to build a Sanctuary for Him. He goes into excruciating detail as to the entire minutia of the construction, the sacrifices and the priestly service. In the midst of the divine shopping list, He states that He will dwell amongst us and be for us a God (Exodus 29:45).

The statement seems both obvious and redundant.

Rabbi Ovadia Sforno wonders as to the extraneous phrase and offers a theologically important opinion:

“And I will be their God: To direct their affairs without an intermediary.”

Sforno is promoting the concept that divine plans and orders are placed upon mankind via a host of angelic middlemen. However, when it comes to the Children of Israel, God takes a personal and direct role. We get His full and undivided attention for good or ill, as it were.

Other peoples and nations suffer through the celestial bureaucratic machinery that has its own rules, regulations and patterns of nature. The Jewish people on the other hand have the ear of the head-honcho himself, who can quickly and easily bypass his own henchmen and intervene, sometimes dramatically, in the lives of His people.

Sforno continues:

“And they will not need fear the heavenly signs, for they will be more honored before Me than the heavens whose movement is directed through the angels.”

Sforno seems to be implying, that the Children of Israel are not only immune or protected from the effects of the “natural” world as directed by his ethereal minions, but in a sense, are even above them.

He ends his comment with the following powerful statement:

“And as a result of all this their eternity is ensured.”

It is not without reason that the Children of Israel have been named by some, the Eternal People. It seems that by being so closely connected and identifying with the Eternal One, by fulfilling our mission as individuals and as a nation, we also join the institution of Eternity.

May we make our homes places where He would be comfortable hanging out, and eternally merit feeling His proximity.

Dedication

To Isaac Asimov. One of my favorite authors and one of the greatest science fiction writers ever. Though he was a self-avowed atheist/humanist, I believe this Russian-born, Brooklyn-raised, Columbia-educated Jew was an ‘ehrlech yid’ at heart. When writing the word “Eternity” in capital letters, I couldn’t help thinking of one of his great books: “The End of Eternity”.