Keep it Upbeat!
Of the many characteristics that holds our community together, one of the most important is optimism. Staying positive. It keeps us united. The Shabbat songs we sing with our families, the Maqams we brought with us from Syria, Lebanon and Egypt are upbeat, with Pizmonim – lyrics full of hope. Hope for the Final Redemption, the power of repentance, G-d’s Mercy, etc. Even the tunes of Selihot, in the High Holidays of Awe, have magical, positive notes that draw people who are not regular shul-goers, back to our Synagogues.
Why is thinking positive so important? Because negative thinking can destroy. Bilaam, the wicked sorcerer, was hired by the nations of the world to put an end to the Jews. His power was nothing more than the power to curse. Bilaam, the most negative person on earth, could wipe out the Jewish Nation with his Evil Eye. No one, nothing, could stop him. Except G-d. How does a curse or the Evil Eye affect another’s destiny?
Judaism teaches us about the greatness of Man. The power of thought and a person's beliefs are among the greatest powers in the universe.(Taanit 8a) Thinking and thought can change destiny. This is the power behind the Evil Eye. Wondering how someone deserves success puts that person under Heavenly scrutiny. Does he really deserve what he’s got? Maybe, it should be taken away from him. Negative thoughts provide power for curses and the Evil Eye.
But there is something positive we can learn from the Evil Eye. If thinking negatively, pessimistically, can hurt, what can positive thought do? What would happen if I would be optimistic about myself and others, my family and my community? If Bilaam could destroy with his negativity, surely we can build and revive ourselves and others with a positive outlook. Being positive is the magnet that keeps couples together. It is the secret of family bonding and of successful communities. And the only chance a parent has to be appreciated by his children as they grow is staying positive. Needless to say, Bilaam had no wife, no family and no community. All he had was a donkey.
The Evil Eye is mentioned in the Talmud. It does exist. People are not aware though, that it works mostly with negativity and pessimism. A person can bring an Evil Eye on himself and even on his own, beloved children, Heaven forbid, via negative thinking.
Respect, giving the benefit of the doubt, greeting each other with warmth and friendliness are the basic attitudes that keep us united. This is what brings blessing to our community. Positive thinking generates positive power and blessing. I bless you all, with positivity, love, and, don’t forget, keep singing Pizmonim!
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Maqam of the Week
For Shabbat Vaethanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11), prayers are conducted in Maqam HOSENI (Arabic: beauty) according to most Aleppo sources (Damascus sources: RAST). The highlight of the perasha is the Ten Commandments, and therefore Hoseni is applied; alluding to the Torah’s "beauty." This maqam, named after the Persian sheikh Husseini Biadur, is described as "a high Bayat," and is also applied in association with Shabuot, the festival of receiving the Torah. HAZZANUT: Naqdishakh: Da’at UmZima (page 334).
More Precious than Gold
This week's perasha is always read on the Shabbat following Tisha B'Ab. This Shabbat is knownas "Shabbat Nachamu" (Shabbat of Consolation), based on the opening words of the Haftorah: "Nachamu, nachamu, ami-Be consoled, my nation (Isaiah 40:1). Shabbat Nachamu is intended to console us after the destruction of our Temple, since our Sages teach that if the Temple is not rebuilt in a given generation, it is as if the Temple were destroyed in that generation (Jerusalem Talmud, Yoma 1:1).
Since Parshat Va'etchanan always coincides with Shabbat Nachamu, it seems logical that some type of "comfort" is found within the perasha itself. What comforting words does it share with us?
In this week's perarsha, G-d tells the Jewish people (Debarim 4:20), "I have taken you out of an iron furnace" (kur ha-barzel). The expression "kur ha-barzel" refers to the Egyptian exile. We might wonder why the Torah describes Egypt with this particular phrase, when similar words could express the same idea. For example, a prophesy in the Book of Malachi (13:19) states, "Behold a day is coming, burning like an oven." It seems that the word "oven" would be an equally fitting description of Egypt. So why does this week's perasha specifically use the imagery of an iron furnace?
We can shed light on this issue by examining Rashi's commentary on our verse. Rashi defines the word "kur" (furnace) as "a vessel within which gold is purified." We could suggest that Rashi is not merely translating the word "kur,"but is also explaining why we refer to the Egyptian exile as a"kur" (furnace) and not a "tanur"(oven). An oven is used for the everyday cooking and preparation of food. A furnace, on the other hand, has the specific function of refining gold. We can learn from here that Hashem sent us into the Egyptian exile because He considers the Jewish people to be as precious as gold. No one bothers to refine ordinary rocks, because the result is worthless; however, people will expend great effort to refine gold, because we know that the outcome is valuable.
So too, G-d sent the Jewish people into the hottest of furnaces because He knew how valuable we would be when we emerged. G-d knew that the Jewish people would be molded by the process of exile and that, through that process, we could achieve extraordinary levels. Everyone knows that through adversity, greatness emerges.
This is how this week's perasha comforts us after the desolation of Tisha B'Ab. As a nation, we have certainly gone through many forms of "kur ha-barzel" during the two millennia since the destruction of the Holy Temple. Yet our experience in this "kur" is the surest indication that we are as precious as gold in God's eyes. Even as we yearn for redemption, we must realize that G-d will do whatever it takes to refine us, so that we can become as pure and as elevated as possible.
May we each recognize our intrinsic self-worth and utilize every golden opportunity to become allthat we can be. In this way, may we merit the re-building of our Holy Temple in Jerusalem.
There is Always Hope
In the early part of the Perasha, Moshe Rabbeinu continues his rebuke ofklal Yisrael, reminding them of their special relationship with G-d and what happens if they stray from the path set forth by the Torah. The verses explain that G-d, in His great love for Am Yisrael, has given them Eress Yisrael and that they must observe His commandments in order to assure a good and long life in it. According to the Ramban (on Debarim 1:1) these verses mark the end of Moshe Rabenu's introduction to his great speech. The second section of the speech commences at the start of chapter five, in which he exhorts them to listen to the Torah and to take care to observe its precepts. This is underscored by a presentation of the revelation at Sinai, the Shema, and a list of many misvot, some repeated, others not yet mentioned.
It is curious to note that there is a short perasha recorded between these two sections. It describes how Moshe separated three special cities on the east side of the Jordan. These were three of the six cities which were to be designated as arey miklat (cities of refuge), to which an accidental murderer could flee:
Then Moshe separated three cities on the far side of the Jordan, toward the sun rising. (Debarim 4:41)
Why is this perasha recorded here? It seems entirely misplaced, unrelated to the material either before or after it. We could suggest that it is mentioned here to indicate Yisrael's enthusiasm for misvot. The Torah has just discussed the gift of Eress Yisrael to the nation, and this separation of cities shows how dear the land was to them, for they dealt with it immediately. However, this is inadequate, as the conquest of the eastern bank of the Jordan from Sichon and Og had already been described in Perashat Devarim. The separation of the cities should thus have been mentioned there. A deeper explanation is clearly necessary.
While Moshe felt it necessary to rebuke the people before his death, he was aware of a hazard which this entailed. He was concerned that when he described all of their past failings and the dangers which the future held in store for them, they would despair of ever succeeding. A terrible feeling of hopelessness might set into the people, a depression from which they might never recover. Actually, Moshe tried to offset this feeling:
And now, Yisrael - even though you have done all this [i.e., sinned], His mercy and closeness is still upon you. For all that you have sinned, He only asks of you to fear... (Rashi loc. cit.)
Although the feeling of despair is mitigated somewhat by this statement, the concern that Am Yisrael might lose hope was very real.
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