When I was a young adult, I was so blessed to have the opportunity to study in Israel for two years. My gap year turned from year to years and had my mother not called me home I would be there till this day.
The fact that I was so enamored with Israel may not surprise many but there was an obstacle that I had to overcome.
My first year studying in the land of milk and honey was what is called a “Shmitta” year.
What, might you ask, is Shmitta?
It is the seventh year of a seven year cycle during which the Torah commands the Jews in the Land of Israel to allow the land to lay fallow.
Practically speaking, this means no agricultural work.
Just as there are six days of work and on the seventh day we rest, so too the land also experiences a sabbatical.
On December 10,1992, an article appeared in The New York Times. It interviewed the general secretary of a kibbutz, a farm collective, Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim was founded in 1944 with the intention to create a kibbutz based on Torah law. That meant that all precepts regarding agriculture would be adhered to carefully. They were put to the test immediately because the few months following their founding was a Shmitta year.
Times were very challenging, food was scarce, nonetheless the Kibbutz conquered the challenge.
I’m 1992 the author of the NYT article gave testimony that the kibbutz continued to fulfill the Torah commandments regarding agriculture saying it “takes the Word at its word”.
“The land belongs to the Almighty and not to you” said Moshe Brukenthal, the Kibbutz general secretary. “It’s good to be reminded there’s Someone higher than you”.
Leaving the farms untended can seem to portend ruin for the farmer. But there are multitudes of miraculous stories that abound regarding the Divine Providence which is extended to those who take this difficult challenge.
One famous story was reported about a Moshav which is located about 15 minutes away from Kibbutz Chofetz Chaim.
In the 1951-2 Shmitta year, Kommemiyut was a newly established Moshav which had also made the commitment to Shmitta observance. That year a massive swarm of locusts devastated the farms in the vicinity of Kommemiyut. It was reported at the time that when the locusts reached the boundaries of the Moshav they took a sharp turn leaving all their fields untouched.
This week’s Torah portion (a double one again) of Behar and Bechukotai, is the source for these laws.
In the Parsha the Torah mentions that when we learn about these laws we may become afraid that we won’t have enough food. The Torah preempts the question which is top of our minds and asks for us
“What will we eat”?

Tomorrow, Friday May 1, corresponds with the 14th day of Iyar. It will be exactly a month since Passover.
(That doesn’t even seem possible, time doesn’t fly it zips away in a blink).
The second year after the redemption from Egypt, during Passover, a group of people were unable to participate. Their spiritual condition was sullied and therefore they could not perform the Passover sacrifice.
Instead of quietly slinking off into oblivion or thanking their lucky stars that they got a pass on Passover, this group took a stand. They approached Moshe and petitioned for the opportunity they had missed.
Moshe does not dismiss them, instead he brings their case to Gd.
The response is a positive one.
Gd says yes, there is a place for you in this observance.
All is not lost.
From this interaction is born
Pesach Sheini, the second Passover.
Its message for us: is all is never lost. Even if the gates forward in spiritual growth seem hopelessly shackled shut, they are actually never locked completely. If you have a desire, there is a way through.
It is also important to note that this concept of a second chance only happened because this group took initiative and asked. Without their drive and desire to fulfill the Mitzva, no solution would have appeared.
So, tomorrow is a hopeful day.
It signifies to us that we are not bound by the chains of missed chances and can fly on the optimistic wings of opportunities to be taken.
Rabbi Yaakov Emden, 18th century Rabbinic leader, teaches that the Jews were given a second chance to bring their Paschal offering specifically on the 14th of Iyar because that was the last day when the Jews still had leftover Matza from when they left Egypt. When they finished the last of the Matza on the evening of the 15th they questioned Gd on the nature of their food supply and in the 15th the Manna began to fall. So it is as though the 14th is the end of the Exodus and the 15th marks a new stage of life in the Redemption process.
This week’s Torah portion is
entitled Emor which means “say to”. The opening sentence is Gd telling Moshe to speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron.
Every word in the Torah is meticulously chosen, so it would seem unnecessary to reiterate to the priests that they are the sons of Aaron. They are well aware of that fact.
The Sages explain that before the priests are given instruction they must be reminded of whence they come and who is their spiritual role model.
They will build on that reality to go forth.
We too need to remember what our roots are because if we strive for holiness we need to remember who came before us and who has paved the way. We stand on the shoulders of our matriarchs and patriarchs-our spiritual role models.
When we know our roots, we can spring forward.

This week we have another double Torah portion. Acharei Mot and Kedoshim. The first means after the death. The second means holy ones.
There is an old joke that my Dad zl used to say.
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim.
Which means that human nature has a tendency to whitewash the mistakes of someone who has passed on.
So after the death-Kedoshim, they are only remembered as holy ones.
Ok. Not his best.
This week I had an experience which completely changed my understanding of the phrase that has been created by the juxtaposition of two names of Torah portions.
Acharei Mot speaks about working through atonement specifically via Yom Kippur and its particular service. Yom Kippur is a time when we face the mistakes we have made and strive to atone. The soul is pure but a human being errs. How do use these missteps to help us grow and be more connected.
That is the essence of holiness. Taking the steps to be connected to the Divine. Within each of us resides a spark of Gdliness. Our job in this world is to fan that spark and to become more Gdly.
How does one accomplish such a feat?
The Torah portion of Kedoshim gives us 51 commandments to help us become holy.
The Torah portion of Kedoshim is 64 verses and it packs a powerful punch as it is loaded with these 51 commandments which direct us how to become moral and ethical people.
In a word - Gdly.
Topics covered in this pursuit of Gdliness include not perverting justice, not gossiping, employment of accurate weights and measures -being honest in business, rising before the elderly, love your neighbor as yourself, and do not hate and do not take revenge
Holiness is bred by having upright standards between people.
“Holiness wanders throughout our life, touching on the myriad pursuits of our day to day existence”. Rabbi R. Tradburks.
It is an uplifting thought. We can turn our daily actions into holy pursuits and that fans the sparks of Gdliness.
This is a lovely and inspirational aspiration. The Torah knows we can step up and gives us directions on how to access our intrinsic holiness.
It’s accessible to us all.

Today was garbage day pickup in my neighborhood.
I drove down the street and saw two different neighbors taking out their trash.
Very pedestrian activity.
Very normal behavior.
I didn’t think much of it.
As I drove on - I had an epiphany.
These two people had something in common.
These two people are not just “regular” people.
Each of these people experienced great challenge in their lives and prevailed.
Each of these people were faced with very grim outcomes to their situations and they overcame nonetheless.
Sometimes during the course of those events they appeared surly or short tempered. But they were navigating harsh circumstances. They were sensitive to the comments made by others who did not understand the depth of the pain they were experiencing.
Yet they persevered and now were blissfully ignorant of my thoughts on their successes as they were engaged in the mundane activity of taking out the trash.
I know this about them because they happen to be my friends.
But if you did not know their story you would never know these are actually heroic individuals.
Just watching them take out their trash makes them seem so average because you just see a tiny fraction of who they truly are at their core.
But to me they are superheroes.
Hanoch Daum is an Israeli comedian. He plays to sold out crowds and writes books which are parodies on Israeli life.
That is who Hanoch Daum seems to be.
But there is much more than meets the eye.
Hanoch Daum has become the spokesperson of the Israeli man or woman about town.
In many of his posts he doesn’t focus on humor. Instead he tells the back story we would not know about a brave soldier who lost his life in service of our country. He will highlight the story of a soldier who has lost most of his livelihood as he has been at service and Hanoch will post about the soldiers business and ask the country to support him. Of he will highlight the greatness of our soldiers and pray we will merit their sacrifices.
Hanoch posted a picture today of an amputee. A man who lost his leg in combat.
The picture evokes sympathy. We feel so sorry for this young man and the loss of his limb and the reality that this disability will hamper him forever.
But then we read the soldier’s letter that Hanoch posts.
Hanoch shares the soldiers story. His name is Amit Brenner and he has created a speech about his situation called “A leg will not grow”. In his speech Amit shares that the unfortunate loss of his leg, the incident that has happened to him is just a tool. “The real message is about the day after. On how we choose to look at reality as a starting point and not as the end of the road, on appreciating the obvious and the resilience that each of us has inside - even when it seems everything has fallen apart.”
Amit Brenner seems to be a handicapped individual, but that is a very narrow view of who he is. Amit is actually a soaring spirit whose feet don’t touch the ground.
And Hanoch Daum is not simply a comic, he is a prophet of positivity, an elevated person who uses his platform to lift all in his orbit by seeing them for who they really are.

Passover is coming.
In these hectic days before the holiday we are engaged in a myriad of preparations.
While I too have been immersed in the mundane activities of cleaning shopping and preparing I am struggling with remaining connected to our brothers and sisters who are living in a war zone in Israel.
I don’t want to lose sight of what they are experiencing.
This desire to remain focused has led me to think about ways to do just that.
I’ve been trying to make sure to include a prayer daily - sometimes saying a chapter of Psalms (available on Jwcatlanta.org) or I offer up a personal self made prayer.
I make a point of calling family in Israel daily to let them know I am thinking of them.
There are many options to give charity to worthwhile causes in Israel and that is another way to stay connected.
I read constantly about developments and stay informed about the incessant rocket barrages.
I marvel at the resilience of our people as I read real time accounts of bravery.
There is Ido, the young man who takes an elderly lady to the bomb shelter every time there is an alert.
Or the memes about Israelis lining up to buy coffee immediately after being released from the safe rooms.
The empty nesters who go down to communal bomb shelters armed with giant coloring books and assortments of crayons to keep the children busy.
And the impromptu concerts and matchmaking sessions that spring up all around the country.
I talk to my Mom on the phone in Jerusalem and hear the siren blaring in the background and she calms me by saying she survived The Blitz in London in WW2 and this too will pass.
Her faith inspires me.

Sometimes fame comes by chance.
Recently there was some speculation regarding the viability of Bibi Netanyahu.
To put the rumors to rest, Bibi Netanyahu’s media team circulated a post of the Prime Minister in a coffee shop. The intended outcome was to show the world that Bibi Netanyahu is alive and well and all he was dying for was a cup of coffee.
The unintended result?
The quick capture of the charming smile of the young woman who served as the barista.
She happened to be in the right place at the right time and overnight became the darling of the internet.
This week’s Torah portion is VaYikra which refers to the fact that Gd called out to Moses.
The word is VaYikra and it ends with the Hebrew letter Aleph.
Strangely, the Aleph is written in a smaller font than all the other letters.
What is the reason for this typesetting change?
If you leave off the letter aleph from the word VaYikra, the remaining word is VaYikar.
The difference between those words is quite subtle.
VaYikra denotes closeness and intentionality.
Gd specifically called out to Moses to begin a dialogue.
VaYikar denotes a meeting by happenstance. Just like the barista who happened to be in the right place at the right time to access her moment in the sun, so too VaYikar would create a sense that Moses was not called by Gd specifically, rather he just happened to be in the right place at the right time to serve as Gd’s messenger.
What’s the difference?
This little aleph is a symbol of Moses extreme humility.
When Gd was dictating the words for Moses to write down Gd chose a word which denotes the unique relationship that Moses enjoyed with Gd.
Other prophets received prophecy in a much less intimate manner. They just happened to be in the right place at the right time so Gd would confer a message in that context.

Jewish women are awesome.
Our recent Jwcatlanta trip to Israel gave us a peak at some inspiring Jewish heroines.
Our itinerary was focused on meeting inspirational Jewish women.
What was doubly inspiring was meeting the unexpected. Some of the most uplifting stories were the unscripted ones, the people we met “along the way”.
For example, we were privileged to meet Karina Chepelinski, third generation chocolatier, who transported the family business from South America to the Golan Heights. Karina boasts three degrees and combines the secrets of her family with modern technology to create delicious chocolate. She and her husband chose to live in the remote Golan Heights area as Karina felt that they could make a larger impact, both personally and professionally, in a small outpost city.
Karina’s embrace of the observance of Shabbat to empower her family coupled with her idealistic visions and business acumen, makes her a strong Jewish woman worthy of emulation. One our courageous women asked Karina if she could identify one of her strengths. She replied by saying she sees the strengths in others and enjoys the opportunity to empower people which ultimately lifts everyone in collaboration.
This attribute was clearly evident in her choice of the young woman who gave us the official tour prior to meeting Karina herself. Karina saw the charm and eloquence of this lovely guide. We enjoyed her explanations and the little bit of her own life story which she shared with sparkling wit.
It emerged that this young lady was engaged. Her fiancé was in the process of making Aliya and was unable to work. The parents did not have the financial wherewithal to help. So this young lady was making her future happen. Undaunted by her circumstances and undeterred by the lack of financial support, she cheerfully undertook 3 jobs to make her dream come true.
Her narrative became even more compelling as she shared that she had been close to death no less than three times during her army service. She showed us the lethal pieces of shrapnel that had been surgically removed from her body during those events. She carries these as a reminder to be grateful for every day and to make the most of each moment.
What kind of DNA courses through the blood of the women of the Jewish people?
We encountered so much bravery in the face of great loss and challenge.
Who are these lionesses?

This week’s Torah portion is called Ki Tisa, and it contains within the eternally impactful story of the Golden Calf.
Moses has gone up on Mt Sinai to receive the Torah. He does not return to the Israelite camp on the day he is expected, and in their panic, the people create an idol. As Moshe descends the mountain, he sees the pagan celebration and drops the tablets upon which Gd had inscribed the Ten Commandments.
Gd proceeds to inform Moshe that the Jewish people will be destroyed and a new nation stemming from Moshe himself will take their place.
Despite the intense shock Moshe must have felt in that moment, he keeps focused on his mission. In the most extreme example of Azus d’Kedusha, holy brazenness, or holy chutzpah, Moshe demurs. He tells Gd that if the Jewish people will not be forgiven and indeed destroyed, he wants no part of it. In fact, he tells Gd to erase his name from The Book, the Torah itself.
In this statement, Moshe is willing to sacrifice it all for the Jewish people. That is true leadership.
Moshe is not focused on himself.
He regards his primary mission as a shepherd, corralling his charges and bringing them along the path.
It is a very big statement Moshe makes.
Gd does hear Moshe’s plea and forgives the Jewish people, but only thanks to Moshe’s intervention.
While Gd extends a reprieve, there is in fact a portion in which Moshe’s name is not mentioned. From the time of Moshe’s birth until his death, his name is mentioned in every Torah portion.
Except one.
Even though Gd is addressing him, Moshe’s name is not mentioned. That is because he did say he would be erased from the Book and that was a statement made by a righteous person, and a statement by a righteous person comes to pass.
That portion was last week.
Moshe’s name is not mentioned once in the Parsha of Tetzave. Even though the Parsha begins with the statement “and you (Moshe)shall command the Jewish people” his name is not used.
Leadership means that the needs of the group come before one’s own.

Every detail matters.
A friend of mine was starting her career as an interior designer. She was awarded a plum job and excitedly began her work.
She measured diligently.
She chose fabrics with care.
She studied color palettes until she had created the perfect kitchen and all its components.
Before her eyes, she saw her vision coming together. Then the day came for appliance installation. The gleaming fridge was rolled in to be placed in the appointed spot and to her horror it did not fit. Somehow, the measurement had just been a “tad” off. All the cabinetry surrounding the fridge had to be reconfigured.
Just an inch made all the difference.
This week’s Torah portion is called Terumah which means donation. In the first capital campaign in Jewish history the crowd funding worked and there were too many donations brought to help build the Tabernacle!
That is something every Jewish organization has hoped to replicate since.
The Torah portion speaks about the creation of the Tabernacle and all its vessels in exquisite detail. Every inch is recorded.
Each technical detail is accounted. There is a robust list of materials and colors, nothing is left to chance.
Sivan Rahav Meir collects the wisdom of the Sages to give light to the need for such detail.
Judaism is not only focused on the big picture, the details are crucial. Jewish law is called Halacha which speaks to the fact that it is a road map for living, the manual on how to find our way. Therefore the details are provided, as even the smallest one can make all the difference.
Our Sages notice that when the Torah narrative describes the creation of the world, it is chronicled in 30 verses. All the information regarding the creation of the Universe, is shared with us in those 30 sentences. However, when the Torah describes the construction of the Tabernacle, the narrative is told in an immense amount of verses, 450 to be exact.
The commentaries explain that the Torah’s purpose is not to narrate what Gd does in the world. The focus is on people and what their job is in this world.

This coming Shabbat has many components.
We will read the first of four special Haftoras which are predecessors to Passover.
Yes.
I said Passover.
This first one is called Shabbat Shekalim when we read about the half shekels that were donated in Temple times for upkeep of the Temple and to help pay for the sacrifices that were brought in the Temple service on behalf of the entire nation.
Only a half shekel was donated by each person and each shekel represented a person.
This particular narrative reminds us that every donation, no matter how small, is significant.
Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis, current Chief Rabbi of England, teaches us that this entire Shabbat is dedicated to the concept of giving. He reminds us that giving does not only benefit the receiver but the giver as well.
He reminds us of Maimonides question regarding a donor who has a sum of 100 silver coins to donate. Maimonides asks if the donor should give all the money to one cause, or perhaps give one coin to one hundred causes?
Maimonides answers - it’s better to give 100 individual pieces to 100 separate causes.
The donor is affected by the act of giving over and over. It ennobles the character of the donor as he does 100 reps, strengthening that giving muscle.
Rabbi Mervis reminds us that the rest of the book of Shmot, Exodus will be focused on giving and donating to the Tabernacle.
So this Shabbat Shekalim reminds us of the importance of giving and seeing the one who is in need.
The next exciting event on Shabbat is the blessing of the incoming month which is called Adar.
Adar is a month of simcha or joy.
As the month of Adar approaches we are told that it is an appropriate time to add to our regular level of joy.
It seems interesting that we are exhorted to be happy, would that not depend on outside influences that “just happen”?
The word simcha is a conjugation of two words: som moach which means where you put your mind.
In other words-mindfulness.
Happiness is not just happenstance. It is a conscious decision to choose joy.
We can take any experience and with intention turn it into something joyous.
There is a Yiddish tale which takes place in the 1800s in Poland and it is about an orange. The orange was not something easily found in that circumstance. Once someone was gifted with an orange. The tale explains how the experience of that orange was turned into a smorgasbord of experience. One day they peeled it and smelled the rind. The next day they took the orange and divided it into sections, watching the juice dribble out. Only on day three was each person given a segment to enjoy.
Unfortunately I don’t eat an orange like that.
Rabbi Avigdor Miller often speaks about the love Gd shows for us by creating fruits in dramatic color with incredible flavors. Gd could have given us those nutrients in black and white tasting like straw. Instead we are regaled with a rainbow of colors and flavors.
If we experience life on that way - we can experience more joy.
I often cite the incredible organization in Israel called Shalvah which supports children with severe disabilities. This organization was founded by a couple whose healthy toddler received a tainted vaccination which left him deaf, mute and blind. They used this challenge as a catapult to greatness by establishing an organization which brings respite and succor to so many.
Their lives are forever enriched by knowing they have brought comfort to multitudes.
Once again the donor receives as much as the recipient.
Happiness is hard work, but the message is to take all the messy ingredients that life serves and use them to bake a cake.
Happiness comes from finding meaning in the mess.
This week’s Torah portion dovetails these ideas.
The portion which is called Mishpatim, details many laws of torts and civil damages.
This may seem like a bit of mundane after the fire and brimstone of the giving of the Ten Commandments. But it is actually the perfect segue to real life.
These commandments are the pathway by which we are to lead our lives.
The Talmud teaches that a person who wants to be pious should learn the laws of damages.
A pious person is called a chassid.