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Home , Avigdor Miller, Bnei Akiva

cje,h vacug s; Volume 26 BECHUKOTAI No. 34 Daf Hashavua

17 May 2014 • 17 Iyar 5774 ends in at 9.47pm Artscroll p.708 • Hertz p.542 • Soncino p.777

Sayings & Concluding Thoughts – Where are the Heroes? Sayers of the Sidrah by Samuel Landau, Kingston, Surbiton & District United

For the past six months, this series has Rabbi instructed me before my wedding: “Take focused on ‘Sayings and Sayers of the Sidrah’. all those books and pour them into the cup of This was intended as an opportunity not only coffee you make for your wife in the morning.” to see how the sages of old accessed the text 3. Values. A conscience of unwavering virtue of the Chumash, but also to provide needs to be internalised, never deviating from biographical sketches of their lives and Jewish goals. This may necessitate tough and accomplishments. unpopular decisions in order to ensure the In the process of writing these articles, I have survival of and the Jewish spirit. repeatedly been struck by the disparity 4. Spirituality. To see the sparks of holiness between these heroes of and scattered in abundance across the globe. To some of the people who are today often grasp, nurture and cherish them. considered national and international super- stars. 5. Humanity. I have attempted to include accounts that testify to the fallibility of However, rather than our protagonists. These taking a swipe at any should not be seen as such superstars, I would unfortunate aberrations like to offer a few to be swept under the observations of what carpet of hagiography, qualities are needed to merit a place in the but rather beautiful portraits of individuals Talmudic Hall of Fame: that struggled, failed and then tried again, 1. Passion. You do not get to grace the pages repeatedly and relentlessly. of Jewish history unless you are deeply driven It has been inspiring to write accounts of in your love of learning and propagating these giants. I hope that you have also been and life. These sages poured inspired; not only to read of the heroes of old, their energies into this labour of love. but also to seek out today’s true heroes. 2. Vision. To see beyond the page of the We would like to thank Rabbi Landau for his volume in front of you and understand how incisive and entertaining articles over the last knowledge is actualised in the world. As my six months. The Blessing behind the by Rabbi Emanuel Levy Tochachah Palmers Green & Southgate United Synagogue

Within the greatest tragedy there can lie When the Ramban emigrated to the seeds of consolation. Much of our sidrah , he wrote these words to is devoted to the Tochachah (rebuke) , the his son: ‘The desolation and series of calamities which are destined to devastation of the Land are befall the Jewish people in the Land of Israel extensive… the holier the if we turn away from the path of the Torah. site, the more ruined it is. We learn that although we will be exiled is the most ravaged of all.’ from the Land, our enemies who dispossess us will nevertheless be unsuc- History bears testimony to the cessful in populating it.: ‘And fact that Heaven has desig- your enemies that dwell nated the Land of Israel to the therein shall be desolate in it‘ Jewish people. Only with the (Vayikra 26:16). onset of mass Jewish im- migration did the Land become On these very words, productive, and only because of the Ramban [Nachmanides our presence have non-Jews d.1270] has a famous prospered there. comment: ‘These are good Rabbi J. B. Soloveitchik (d.1993) tidings; during all our exiles, goes so far as to say that the our Land will not union of the Jewish people with accommodate our enemies… the Land of Israel is comparable for since the Jewish people to a marriage. In a marriage, left it, it has never accepted the groom cannot be wedded any other nation or tongue; even though to the bride unless he knows her. This, they all try to settle it, none has succeeded’. says Rabbi Soloveitchik, explains why the Jewish people first sent out spies to view the There could be no more prophetic words Land before settling it. Each of the spies than these. Every single nation, apart from represented one of the twelve tribes, and our own, who ever tried to settle en masse in by travelling across its length and breadth, the Land, always failed. When the Jewish the people became wedded to the Land. community was destroyed following the Only because we are wedded to it can it destruction of the second Temple, the prosper. many Greeks and Romans who had made their homes there also disbanded and It goes without saying that just as the disappeared. Both Christians and Muslims sanctity of marriage must be preserved, so recognised the holiness of the Land, but their must we protect the sanctity of Israel. attempts at settling it met with failure. The Our claim to its sovereignty rests solely on Arabs, the Turks and the Mongols also set our Torah observance and respect of the their eyes upon it, but none were able to moral code with which we were charged make the Land flourish. when we became the Chosen People. The Art of Savouring by Rabbi Josh Zaitschek, Living & Learning Education and Programs Director for the Hampstead Synagogue

Think about the last meal you ate. Where was savour anything, and you should. It changes your attention after you took the first bite? everything, but it takes practice. You can do Was it on the next bite? Or did you start it right now, wherever you are: pause and thinking about all the things you had to do look around you and savour this very moment. that day? Did you really enjoy the meal as Even if it doesn’t seem to be special, savour it. much as you could have? The temperature in the room, the chair you are in, the people around you… Having trained as a chef in and working in the catering industry, I have Rabbi Avigdor Miller (d.2001) was known learned that to enjoy food to the utmost, for his emphasis on appreciating the beauty one must try to savour and appreciate all of nature and the vast wisdom of the the different tastes and textures. world that G-d created. This story epitomises his constant focus on Savouring is usually applied to appreciating G-d: food. How does one savour? For example, take a single A grandchild visited Rabbi square of dark chocolate and Miller at his home and was put it in your mouth, but don’t puzzled to see his grandfather chew or swallow it. Let it sit with his face submerged in the there, notice the hints of citrus sink. After a few moments, Rabbi and the richness of its texture as it Miller stood up, and breathed deeply. melts ever so slowly in your mouth. You “The air is so wonderful,” he said. swallow it almost regretfully after letting it His grandchild said, “Zeidy, why was your linger, fully appreciating the deliciousness of face in the water for so long that you couldn’t it. You pause to think about how the beans even breathe properly?” were grown, who roasted and grinded them and who hand-crafted them into this square Rabbi Miller replied, “On my way home, of joy. someone remarked to me that lately, the air has been polluted. Not wanting my Let’s look at what lies behind this experience: appreciation of G-d’s air to lessen, I decided You slowed down. You paid close attention – to deepen my appreciation of air. After the closer the attention, the more you got depriving myself of air for just a short while, out of the savouring. You didn’t rush to the I am now even more thankful to that we next thing. Rather you stopped and gave have such wonderful air!” some space to the activity. You were not Savouring helps us to live in the present, worried about what you did earlier or what to fully enjoy the gift of each moment that you have to do later; you were fully enjoying G-d has given us, to give that moment the the present. space and attention it deserves. It takes Savouring food is just the start: you can practice, but it is a delicious experience. This Week is Born in History by Jonny Lipczer, Educational Shaliach, Bnei Akiva of Toronto

The Third , a wave of immigration to movements were naturally rebellious, there- Palestine from , took place following fore having no place in religious society. They the end of World War I. Many of the were also worried that the group would newcomers were young chalutzim detract from their childrens’ studies. Yet (pioneers), among them ideological and Eliash ignored his opponents and started the socialist Jews who advocated a society that youth group, Bnei Akiva, which was officially would be made up of ‘new Jews’. Many of launched on Lag Ba’omer, 1929. them paid little attention to the traditional Rabbi Akiva – the great Talmudic scholar Jewish practices and laws. after whom the movement was Many religious Jews at the time named – symbolised, more than were part of a workers’ anyone else, the idea of Torah movement called Hapoel Va’Avodah. Before becoming a HaMizrachi, whose slogan was student and a teacher, he worked Torah va’Avodah (Torah and as a shepherd. Work). Due to the anti-religious The early leaders of Bnei Akiva stance of the new pioneers, sought to create a clear members of Hapoel HaMizrachi philosophical perspective within were worried that their children the ideology of the religious would not remain observant. Zionist world. The perspective A pioneer named Yechiel Eliash became epitomised by the move- suggested that a movement be ment’s motto, which continues to formed to organise and Yechiel Eliash be emphasised today: “The Land strengthen the youth, making of Israel, for the People of Israel, them proud of their religion while according to the Torah of Israel.” celebrating their . He knew that the Since Bnei Akiva was established in youth were interested in such groups, as Jerusalem 85 years ago, it has stood true to many had already joined socialist youth its ideals. Its members contribute to every movements such as HaNoar HaOved (the aspect of Jewish communal life, and more Working Youth), which is now a sister than 100,000 graduates of the movement movement of . have made Aliyah. Bnei Akiva continues to Eliash’s idea was originally met with shape the Jewish future in Israel, in Britain, opposition from those who feared that youth and across the world.

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]