kl kl kl vacug s; Volume 28 LECH LECHA No. 3 UK Daf Hashavua

24 October 2015 • 11 Cheshvan 5776 Shabbat ends in London at 6.37 pm Artscroll p.54 • Hertz p.45 • Soncino p.60 Solutions in The Last Jew of Lublin the Sidrah by Yoni Birnbaum, Hadley Wood Jewish Community On this UK weekend, my ”G-d promised Avraham that he would thoughts turn to a moving experience I had always remain in the hearts of his descen- last year on a study trip to Lublin, . dants, that some residue or core or vital spark As our group was walking back to our hotel of Avraham himself would always survive late at night, we met a man who informed in his progeny to the end of time, and that us that he was Jewish and would show us a G-d Himself would guarantee that survival, that is still in use. for He would be the Shield and protect this ‘Avraham within He then took us down a us’, this (as it were) dark alleyway and up Avrahamitic gene some stairs, leading to the which is passed on only surviving shul in from generation to Lublin. Showing us a generation. partial Sefer and a damaged pair of This is the meaning which had been rescued of, "Blessed are you, O from the ruins of the Lord, Shield of Avra- ghetto, he explained that ham” (said at the start the shul now only func- Maharshal Synagogue, Lublin of every ).” tions on special occasions, Watching the joy on the face of that man, one as there is no regular minyan. of the last remaining of Lublin, reminded Yet the enthusiasm of our new-found friend me of the enduring power of that ‘Avrahamic was incredible. We davened Ma’ariv together. spark’, known as the 'pintele yid’ in Yiddish. It Although he was unable to read Hebrew, we is that same transformation of Avraham into noticed how enthusiastically he joined in the ‘a blessing’, highlighted in this verse, that Shema, clearly thrilled at the rare visit to ‘his’ gives each and every one of us, like that lonely shul by some fellow Jews. Jewish soul in Lublin, the strength and ever- present potential to connect to our eternal During G-d's first recorded communication to faith. Avraham, in this week’s sidrah, He promises him: “You shall be a blessing”. In a lecture Perhaps this is also the secret behind the in 1969 based on the writings of the power of this special Shabbat. It provides Chiddushei Harim (d.1866), Chancellor of us with a unique opportunity to connect Yeshiva University Rabbi Norman Lamm with that eternal Avrahamic spark that lies explained this as follows: within us all. Writing Headlines by Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor, Daf Hashavua

If we were asked the question “how will you him as a sacrifice. Furthermore, become great?”, we might think of the headlines Avraham was famous for his that famous people have made. On 2 June 1953 kindness and generosity, traits the News Chronicle reported ‘The Crowning which G-d had encouraged. Glory: Everest is Climbed’, celebrating Edmund Yet he was now commanded Hillary’s great achievement. On 20 July 1969, to do filicide. Avraham the Daily Mirror proclaimed ‘Man on the Moon’, passed even this unfathomably reporting Neil Armstrong’s spectacular achieve- difficult test. At the last moment, an ment. On 8 July 2013, the same paper celebrated appeared, telling Avraham to offer a ram Andy Murray’s Wimbledon victory with the instead of Yitzchak (ibid 22:12). headline ‘History in his Hands’. What would the newspapers have reported the We too might dream of the headlines written next day? ‘Devoted Monotheist Prepared to should we become great. Our aims may vary – Break New Boundaries’? In fact, the newspapers some of us may dream of becoming Prime would probably have said nothing. Minister, or of becoming a leading Unlike many, of Avraham’s other sports star or perhaps of promotion to tests, this was highly private; only CEO of a large corporation. Yitzchak was there with him, no embedded journalists. Were it However, an analysis of Avraham’s life not for the Torah telling us the suggests a shift of paradigm and details, it is unlikely that this would ambition. He was repeatedly tested by G- ever have become known. The supreme test d, in order to actualise his latent potential. of the founder of our religion would have Had he lived in the times of the printing press, provoked no headlines. what ‘headlines’ would have been written about Avraham’s successes? Similarly, the pinnacle of Yosef’s life was his resisting the advances of the wife of Potifar (ibid One of his earliest tests was being ordered by the 39:12). This earned him the title ‘Yosef HaTsadik’. mighty ruler Nimrod to renege on his Yet the newspapers would not have reported this monotheism. Avraham refused and was thrown brave deed. No-one even knew about it! Potifar’s into a fire, miraculously escaping unharmed wife, to avoid her own embarrassment, accused ( to Bereishit 11:28). Perhaps the press Yosef of attempted rape, for which he was would have written ‘Ardent Monotheist Escapes imprisoned. That was the version that was Fire Unscathed’. reported. In truth, the Torah informs us, he had In this week’s sidrah, Avraham was told by G-d risen to greatness. In the public eye, however, he to leave home (see page 3). We assume that the had become a criminal. papers would have said about his departure These episodes suggest to us that G-d’s measure ‘Sudden Departure of Avraham and Family.’ of a person reaching greatness or fulfilling their According to most commentators, Avraham’s potential does not have to be judged by final and greatest test challenge was Akeidat corresponding public headlines. Sometimes, like Yitzchak. Yitzchak was born when Avraham was Avraham, our acts of greatness are very private, 100 years old. Having been told by G-d that his maybe known only to G-d. Perhaps, like Yosef, lineage and the future of his people would go they may even be viewed publicly in the wrong through Yitzchak, Avraham was now told to offer light entirely. Shabbat UK: Raising Awareness by Rabbi Daniel Fine, Madrichim Coordinator, Shabbat UK 2014

In 1939, George Dantzig, in his first year of Rabbi Meïr Leibush (known as the Malbim, post-graduate studies in the University of d. 1879) answers that the test of “Lech Lecha” Berkeley, arrived late to a class. He found two was to see the Land of Israel as a Land of maths problems on the board. He copied blessing. This meant realigning his perception, them down and quickly set about doing his such that when he later arrived in the Land, homework. He worked hard for a few days even a famine would not detract from viewing and then handed his assignment in to his it in this positive way (which eventually professor. A few weeks later, he received an happened – see ibid 12:10). The unique glory excited knock on his door from the professor. of the Land of Israel to this very day is not It turned out that this was not homework; just its physical beauty, but also its spiritual these were actually two of the most famous splendour and expanse. Thus Avraham would unsolved statistics problems. be challenged to understand Nobody could solve them that if a famine would greet because they were ‘impos- him upon arrival and would sible’. Yet George was challenge and ultimately unaware that they were augment his faith in G-d, ‘impossible’ and was able that itself was part of the to diligently solve them. ‘spiritual agenda’ of the Land. This test thus raised Avraham above and beyond his own Sometimes it is our own self-perceived existing notions to a higher level of constraints and limitations that can suffocate perception. us to the point of non-achievement. It may take something big, perhaps momentous, to The same is true of the need for these ten tests lift us out of our existing constructs and in general. As the first person to discover G-d notions. independently, Avraham’s own workings and calculations were augmented by these tests In Parashat Lech Lecha, Avraham is told to to reach a higher level and understanding, leave his homeland and family – a family who beyond his own ideas. had rejected him already for his monotheistic beliefs - and to go to the Land of Israel, I had the privilege of placing madrichim for where he would receive Divine blessings of Shabbat UK last year. From my limited vantage progeny and opulence (Bereishit 12:1-2). This point, afar in , I saw, felt and read is considered the first of Avraham’s ten tests. the tremendous energy and excitement of Why was this a test? He was promised wealth, a Shabbat that truly embodies the notions a dynasty and a chance to fulfil his life’s of broadening our horizons. Experiencing calling, in return for immigrating to a wonder- idealistic communal initiative, channelled ful and holy country. Furthermore, why did towards harnessing the potential of what a only Avraham have ten tests – why was the Shabbat can be, is to re-traverse the theme same not true of Yitzchak or Ya’akov? of these tests of Avraham. Insights into The Beginning of the Babylonian Exile Jewish History by Rebbetzen Ilana Epstein, Cockfosters & N Southgate Part 6 United Synagogue; US Living & Learning Educator King Yehoyakim had angered Nebuchad- months of rule, Nebuchadnezzar went to nezzar for the final time, by disregarding Jerusalem to take Yechania into protective Judea’s alliance with the Babylonian General custody. and sending troops to fight on the side of As Yechania bid farewell to the Temple, he Babylon’s enemies, the Egyptians. took the keys of the Temple to the top of the Nebuchadnezzar had no real interest in Temple itself. He shouted up to G-d, attacking Judea. However, once bewailing his generation’s inadequate care he became aware that Judea had of the Temple and its practices. He threw become problematic, he imme- the keys up in the air, declaring that the diately made his way south. stewardship of the Temple was now in G-d’s hands. It is recounted that a The ensuing part of this story is fiery arm descended and only detailed briefly in the text of swooped the keys up to the the Tanach. The (Vayikra heavens. Rabba) relates a more detailed version: 10,000 of Judea’s craftsmen and gate- As Nebuchadnezzar was travelling to keepers were taken into custody together apprehend Yehoyakim, the men of the with Yechania, many of whom were Judea’s Sanhedrin (the high court of Judea) asked top scholars. They carried on their backs him if the hour had come in which he would some of the stones of Jerusalem. destroy the Temple. He replied, “no, just give Wherever the people of Israel goes, the me the rebellious King Yehoyakim and I will Shechina (G-d’s presence in this world) goes be gone”. The Sanhedrin related this to with them. The Midrash asks, ‘where did Yehoyakim. He retorted by asking, “Why is the Shechina reside?’ and answers that my life any less valuable than someone these stones, taken from Jerusalem, were else’s?” the foundations of two in the The Sanhedrin were left with no choice. They Babylonian town of Nehardea. locked the king up in chains. Yehoyakim was Eleven years later, by the time that the last delivered to Nebuchadnezzar, already dead. of the Judeans had been exiled from their The Midrash then relates that Yehoyakim’s homeland, these artisans had already built 18 year old son Yechania was crowned by vibrant communities. The infrastructure of Nebuchadnezzar. However, after just three the Diaspora had already been established.

United Synagogue Daf Hashavua Produced by the Rabbinical Council of the United Synagogue, together with US Living & Learning Editor: Rabbi Chaim Gross Editor in Chief: Rabbi Baruch Davis Available also via email US website www.theus.org.uk ©United Synagogue To sponsor Daf Hashavua please contact Richard Marcus on 020 8343 5685, or [email protected] If you have any comments or questions regarding Daf Hashavua please email [email protected]