TBE B'nai Mitzvah Commentary: Gabriel Parker on Vayikra, March 25, 2023

 

Video of the service:

 

Gabriel’s Dvar Torah:

My portion, Vayikra, describes an ancient system of worship that seems very strange and is not at all like the way we worship today.  For one thing, the main feature was the killing of animals offered to the priests by the Israelites. This might seem merciless, but most of these animals were then cooked and eaten by the priests.  Jerusalem must have like seemed like the world’s biggest barbecue place – which all you meat eaters can appreciate. 

Still, killing animals doesn’t seem like the best way to run a religious service. I’m glad we don’t do it anymore. And so is my dog, Biscuit. 

This system ended when the second temple was destroyed by the Romans in the year 70 CE.

When that happened, everything changed dramatically.  The old leaders, the Cohanim, no longer served a purpose, because the sacrifices could not continue.  So, a new form of worship was created – prayer.

And new places to pray, synagogues.  

And new leaders – rabbis. 

And the most important object was not the animal or the altar – but the Torah, which could be taken anywhere.  So, Jews could form communities everywhere.

At that moment, Judaism changed completely.

But here’s the point. We don’t do them, but we still remember the sacrifices, and we recall them in many ways in our rituals. Some people actually do want to bring them back – but we’re not going to go there.

Why don’t I love the idea of animal sacrifices? I must confess, I am an animal lover.  Biscuit, who unfortunately couldn’t be here today, would agree with me that sacrifices and shedding blood in a place of worship are not a good idea.  So I’m glad we moved on to different things, like prayer, a little bit of wine and delicious hallah.

I don’t understand why God would accept the gift of a sacrifice of one of God’s own children.  And yes, I think animals are also God’s children, just like we are.  I think we were all created in God’s image – we just happen to be in the form of God’s most evolved image.

And even more than that; since I think of a soul as a form of consciousness, I believe that animals have that too.  They are also sentient beings who can think and act.  It’s hard to believe that God would have wanted one of his creatures killed as a gift.  In fact, rather than sacrificing animals, my mitzvah is to help animals in need of help.  In honor of Biscuit, I am donating money to ROAR, the Ridgefield Operation for Animal Rescue.

Fortunately, we’ve been able to adapt and change from the ancient system of worship.

The prayers and Torah and haftarah readings that I am leading, are just as powerful in their own way as the old sacrifices used to be.  And there’s a lot less to clean up.  But at the same time, I realize that new forms of Judaism may evolve over the coming years.  In a real sense, I am where the past and future come together.

As I am the connection between past and future, so is every other Jew.  Each of us can make meaningful choices and changes to Judaism and wider world.

While Judaism is nothing like it was back in temple times and nothing like it will be in another thousand years, there is something that links it all together – and right now that thing is me.

Even here at Beth El, my family forms a link that has lasted for five generations.  And who knows, maybe in a hundred years, someone from my family will be standing right here – another generation coming up to the Torah.

As I become a bar mitzvah today, I realize that Judaism is forever changing, dor l’dor, as they say in Hebrew, and today I take my place at the forefront of a new generation.

Assorted Screen Grabs:

In this Moment: Israel: Jewish AND Democratic; a unicorn and a classic movie; finish lines and picket lines; happiness, tyranny and water lentils

 

The Shabbat Announcements are sponsored by Cynthia and Adam Parker in honor of their son,  Gabriel, becoming a Bar Mitzvah. In This Moment TBE in Israel: Finish Lines & Picket Lines Above: TBE's Talia Raich completing last week's Jerusalem Marathon. Below: Democracy protesters outside Tel Aviv Museum, photographed by TBE's Carol Krim Israel: Jewish AND Democratic The recent passing of Topol brought many of us back to his landmark roles, particularly Tevye in the film version of "Fiddler on the Roof." He has been eulogized, deservedly, as Israel's greatest international star, its "most famous export since the Jaffa Orange." But within Israel, he would have to climb very high to eclipse another actor and singer, who for over fifty years has been Israel's Frank Sinatra, an actor, TV personality and musician with a voice beyond compare, Yehoram Gaon. Gaon is not nearly as famous as Topol outside the country, but at home he is a treasured institution, and one with crossover appeal, generationally and, more important, ethnically. On a Saturday night in the the summer of 1973, as part of my teen tour, I had a true Israeli experience - a trip to the movies, where we got to see whether Israelis really did roll empty soda bottles down the aisles (they did) and spit out the shells of sunflower seeds, howitzer-like (yes again). The theater was packed, in part because Israelis didn't yet have much to watch on TV, but also because of the featured film. And for this teenager on his first trip to Israel, the movie was life-altering. "Kazablan," considered Israel's "best and most beloved musical," is part "West Side Story" and part "Fiddler on the Roof," with a touch of "Jesus Christ Superstar" and early '70s blaxploitation flicks - but with a much happier ending than either "Fiddler" or "West Side Story," (and, depending on who you are rooting for, "JC Superstar" as well). Gaon plays a Moroccan-born misfit, a Sephardic street gang member in Jaffa who falls in love with a wealthy fair-skinned Ashkenazi woman. Israel's ethnic divide plays itself out before us, as it does to this day. The current constitutional crisis has its roots in longstanding grievances felt by North African and Middle Eastern Jews who experienced systemic discrimination dating from the earliest days of the state. These Israelis have long felt that the courts were stacked against them. The judiciary has always had an Ashkenazic imbalance. That said, it is equally clear that these imbalances can be corrected, with a little tinkering - okay, maybe a lot of tinkering - which would include a constitution, and most especially a bill of rights. The closest Israel came to enacting a constitution has been a series of Basic Laws, in particular one enacted in 1992 enshrining human dignity and liberty as a foundation of the state. The draconian measures being cynically enacted right now are intended to do far worse than settle old scores. The goal is to intensify ethnic grievance and parlay it into the end of democracy through the elimination of the judiciary as the only check on the power of the intertwined executive and legislative branches, all centralized in the person of Prime Minister Netanyahu. Some call that a dictatorship. But the plan is not working. The old grievance fault lines are not holding, and the country has united, shockingly but resoundingly, against the coup. Most of those in power realize that now. The question is whether any of them have the courage to jump ship and overturn this overturning. In "Kazablan," this Ashkenazi - Sephardi battle take center stage alongside generational, religious and economic conflicts. This tension is alleviated by some of the greatest songs ever written for the Israeli stage and screen. Two of the songs form a perfect backdrop to our current quagmire, and they present the only way out. Click below to see the full film with English subtitles, a real treat if you have a couple of hours to spare. One of these songs is, "Kulanu Yehudim," ("We Are All Jews,") about 14 minutes in. It celebrates the common destiny that links all Jews together, despite our many differences, and it mocks those overblown superficialities that divide us. Sometimes it seems like Jews argue simply for the sake of arguing. The second song is "Democratia," ("Democracy"), about 40 minutes in, another rousing showstopper, exposing the imbalances of Israeli politics amidst the cynicism of those who have never gotten their due. Despite the cynicism, you don't walk away wanting to junk the whole system. It's a flawed system, the song is saying, but it's OUR flawed system. See the lyrics of "Democratia" below, translated by Seth Ward. This brilliant musical demonstrated, fifty years ago, that the only road to harmony is one where those two songs, and the principles they enshrine, can coexist in the same libretto. This week it was revealed that Israel placed fourth on the world happiness scale, its highest placement ever. The survey was taken before this horrid new government took the reins and began trying to ruin the country . No doubt the happiness score would be lower if measured now, but if the country comes through the current crisis with its democracy intact, it will be that much stronger for having fought through all the grievances and cynicism that kept Kazablan from receiving the respect he so coveted (his signature song speaks to that - about ten minutes in. "Kol HaKavod" became the best-selling record up until that time in Israel's history). When I came out of that movie theater in Jerusalem, my connection to Israel was cemented even more firmly than it had been already. Yehoram Gaon played the perfect antihero, one that could cure us of our addiction to the Americanized, sanitized and idealized Ari Ben Canaan of "Exodus." Kazablan gets into trouble, but he dreams of his mother's Sabbath table back in Morocco. He's Sephardi and proud, Jewish and proud, Israeli and proud. I even went and got myself one of those Kazablan caps and wore it out. The message here is that Israel, at its best, does not have to compromise between being Jewish and democratic. If "Kulanu Yehudim" and "Democratia" could coexist in one musical fifty years ago, Jewish peoplehood and democracy can now as well. It doesn't have to be a compromise. It's not a zero sum game. If Israel can figure out how to become a more perfect union, then the Jewish people as a whole will become more perfectly united. Israel's other minorities will benefit as well. And all the divides will begin to heal. The alternative is an abyss too perilous to contemplate, an Israel where, in a circular firing squad death-dance of the macabre, the Supreme Court strikes down a Knesset ruling intended to strike down the Supreme Court, and the military and police are forced to decide which government to follow. Oh yes, and the defense minister has threatened to resign if the new laws go through. The next few weeks will be fateful ones, in Israel and America too, where democracy will also continue to be tested by the expected indictment of a former president (multiple times). So much is at stake right now, and the outcome remains very much in doubt. Tevye and Golda packed and left Anatevka. Tony and Maria met their tragic demise on the streets of New York. But Kaza did not run or die, and new possibilities sprouted from the Jaffa sand. The film could not end more optimistically, despite all the damage done. Fittingly. "Kazanblan's" finale takes place at a bris (another great song). We need to give our current drama a happy ending too. Move over Topol, move over Yehoram Gaon.... ...There's a new kid in town. Noa Kirel, 22, the perfect fusion Israeli, of Sefardi-Ashkenazi-Mizrahi descent, has burst onto the music scene and will be Israel's featured singer at this year's Eurovision contest. Here are 18 things to know about her. The 19th is that she is considered one of the favorites to win the contest. And her song, "Unicorn," has a fabulous message that can be understood on a number of levels, from building confidence and pride for young girls, to overcoming old prejudices, to being change agents. Anyway, here's the official video, and beneath that, a new video highlighting Israel's illustrious Eurovision history. A welcome break from current events. Recommended Reading and Watching Thursday's Israeli Front Pages Jerusalem Post Yediot (Hebrew) Ha'aretz (English) Ha'aretz (Hebrew) The story below is from Thursday's front page of Ha'aretz, English and Hebrew. News 12 coverage of Ronnie Fein's Passover cooking demonstration on Monday at TBE. Israel soars to 4th place in global happiness list, highest since ranking started (TOI) - Anat Fanti, a social science researcher at Bar Ilan University, said that if the survey had been conducted after the judicial overhaul was revealed, “its results would be different and Israel’s ranking would have been harmed.” She told the Ynet news outlet that the ranking could be explained by a strong economic recovery following the coronavirus pandemic, as well as “the level of hope and optimism among some populations as a result of the broad unity government” led by former prime ministers Naftali Bennett and Yair Lapid, though that government was despised by many in the right wing. See The World Happiness Report, and the Executive Summary See also Jewish Journal: What Makes Israelis So Happy? This Passover, Israel will recall ancient freedom under the threat of modern tyranny (David Horovitz, TOI) - As I write these lines, the so-called “Constitution, Law and Justice Committee” in our sovereign parliament is initializing legislation that if, or more probably when, enacted into law next week, will begin the process of providing our duly elected prime minister, Benjamin Netanyahu, with many of the autocratic powers of a modern-day pharaoh. The legislation, with which Netanyahu’s minions were still tinkering this week even as they crushed opposition objections to its democracy-destroying terms, shatters the independence of our court system. It will enable Netanyahu’s majority coalition to fill the next two vacancies on the High Court when its president, Esther Hayut, and a colleague reach retirement age this fall, to then appoint one of those two new appointees as court president, and gradually but inexorably politicize the entire judiciary. As our overlords steamroll their laws through parliament, Israel’s Zionists, patriots and democrats will attempt to legally resist. The political opposition, and a range of activists, will petition those High Court justices to strike down the legislation before it can strike them down. But were the court to rule in favor of preserving its essential independence, this, in the skewed vision of our “justice” minister Yariv Levin, “would mark the crossing of every red line.” Directly threatening Israel’s top court, the self-styled champion of Israeli democracy declared on Monday: “We certainly won’t accept it.” If the Netanyahu coalition’s brutal insistence on unleashing its revolution just in time for Passover should highlight anything, however, it is that the revivedJewish sovereign nation cherishes its freedom and will not easily be denied it. Netanyahu won the election, but not a mandate to empty out the democracy that restored him to power. Why is Netanyahu setting U.S.- Israel relations on fire? (Ha'aretz) -The Disengagement Law is a new level of disrespect from Israel, embodying everything Washington could possibly find offensive Key Coalition Figure To NY Rabbis: We’re Not Interested. Clergy grapples with how to support a state they love and a government they fear (Gary Rosenblatt) - "Israelis used to say ‘save us from Iran’ and now they’re saying ‘save us from becoming Iran.”  Noa Tishby talks about judicial reform on 'Real Time with Bill Maher (JPost) - “What's happening in Israel right now, what we're seeing is literally democracy on full display. It's actually quite extraordinary. So, let's backtrack for a little bit. So, a few months ago Benjamin Netanyahu won the election and because of how the parliamentary system is built in Israel, he started this coalition, which is on the extreme side, it's right-wing, more religious. As it happens in the US, when new governments come in, they jump in to make sweeping changes quite quickly, and that's what this government decided to do,” Tishby continued. “They suggested a judiciary overhaul, which is going too far, and the Israeli people are basically rebelling against it.” See video here Israeli Democracy Faces a Mortal Threat (David Grossman, The Atlantic) Tectonic plates are shifting beneath our feet. I imagine that the people who are trying to hijack the country, who have the audacity to rewrite the Israeli legal system, were not expecting such widespread and zealous resistance. Even the protesters, those who object to the so-called reform, seem surprised at their own founts of fervor, passion, and courage. Hundreds of corporations and organizations, individuals including current and former Shin Bet and Mossad officials, tech executives, El Al pilots, and many other public and private entities are joining the protesters’ ranks every day. Thousands of reservists, who constitute the army’s backbone, have announced that they will not report for duty. Even retirement-home residents in wheelchairs are out on the streets, protesting what they see as the destruction of the state they fought for. Opinion: What if climate change meant not doom — but abundance? (Rebecca Solnit, WaPo) -Much of the reluctance to do what climate change requires comes from the assumption that it means trading abundance for austerity, and trading all our stuff and conveniences for less stuff, less convenience. But what if it meant giving up things we’re well rid of, from deadly emissions to nagging feelings of doom and complicity in destruction? What if the austerity is how we live now — and the abundance could be what is to come? See also Reporting on Religion & Climate Change (ReligionLink) - It is clear religion shapes environmental attitudes and practices. In turn, nature impacts how religious actors believe and behave. A team of researchers at Columbia University’s Climate School confirmed by “analyzing religious affiliation together with a variety of environment and climate change-related indicators at the country level” that religious adherence correlates with how national populations manage resources, produce emissions, and deal with resulting environmental degradation. See also A day in the life of an oak tree, from mistle thrush in the morning to mice at midnight (Country Life) Our friends the trees have an unremarkable life, or so it seems to us. They come into leaf, their fruit drops, or is gorged on by birds and the winds of autumn strip them of their dressing to leave them as the cold, bare sentinels of winter. However, if we were to stand, tree-like ourselves, in a British copse and watch a single oak tree for an entire 24 hours — say when spring hatches out of winter — what would we see? Trump’s calls for protests condemn George Soros, echo Jan. 6 — and draw Jewish concern (JTA). See also The Antisemitism Lurking Behind George Soros Conspiracy Theories (ADL) Are American Jews the most loved and hated religious group at the same time? (Forward) - Among all religious groups, Americans like Jews the most. That’s according to a Pew Research Center survey out this month. “You’d think in these dark times,” writes columnist Rob Eshman, “this bit of good news would be worth spreading. You’d be wrong.” Why don’t Jewish organizations tell this story? “It could be that it contradicts a dominant narrative of victimhood,” Rob argues. “A cynic might say no Jewish defense organization ever raised a dime telling donors that Jews are well-liked. But we may also take our good standing for granted, forgetting the past generations of American Jews that had to struggle against institutional discrimination in order for us to gain such widespread acceptance.” Jewish Americans are subject to the same problems as all Americans.“Hate crimes are up for everyone. Mass shootings are up for everyone,” Rob writes. “There is less tolerance and civility across the board.” An ADL report from last month had this headline: “Murder and Extremism in the United States in 2022.” None of the victims were Jews. Atificial Intelligence: The Newest Revolution in Torah Study? (Jewish Action) The app basically recreates a scientific edition of rabbinic texts. At the swipe of an icon you can [decipher] abbreviations and see footnotes identifying sources and subsequent quotations of the text. For example, there are later commentators who quote Moses Naḥmanides. If I’m studying a line in Naḥmanides’ commentaries and I want to know every single latter authority who quoted this particular line, I can now easily access that information. You can also see the different ways the Naḥmanides has been quoted. . . . You can actually compare all the different versions with the differences highlighted. Notes and paraphrases of later sources can be systematically identified, and digitized manuscripts can be compared. The pope’s not-so-secret Jewish treasures. What's Really in the Vatican Library? (Lawrence Schiffman) A tiny super-veg to green your meals (Israel 21c) -It’s called Wanna Greens, the brand name for wolffia arrhiza, also known as duckweed or water lentil greens. This aquatic plant looks like tiny green caviar and is the world’s smallest flowering plant. Which Alcoholic Drinks Are Kosher For Passover? (MyJewishLearning). Yes, Vodka CAN be made Kosher for Passover - though most often it's not. But really, after four cups of Manischewitz, who needs anything else? For that matter, who needs Manischewitz How to Make Passover Cleaning Manageable The Kveller Haggadah (co-authored by TBE's Gabrielle Birkner!) - The Kveller Haggadah is for curious kids — and their grown-ups. The Passover seder shouldn’t feel like a long to-do list — it’s an adventure! Designed to guide families through an epic journey from slavery to freedom, we go deep into Jewish traditions in a kid-friendly way, yet we don’t overlook the dramatic tensions of the Passover story. We created the Kveller Haggadah to promote curiosity, even when there are no easy answers. Download Hadar's Pesach Reader -The first mishnah in Pesahim tells us to search for hametz by the light of a small, handheld candle. Why use a little flame and not a torch? It forces us to come closer, notice the finer details, and discover what might otherwise be overlooked. With insights from Hadar faculty and activities for children and families, this Pesah reader is your guide for noticing, wondering, and finding new meaning in the holiday. See also The Maggid Map - a colorful guide for understanding what the different parts of Maggid are doing and how they fit together. HIAS Haggadah - With more displaced people around the world than at any time in recorded history, the words of the Haggadah are more poignant and relevant than ever before. As we read these words, we are commanded to put ourselves back into the narrative, to consider ourselves as though we, too, went out from Egypt, from the narrow place. We do this so that we may rise up renewed in our commitment to stand together as a thriving American Jewish movement supporting today’s refugees and asylum seekers. The delectable tale of the Passover marshmallow, from Egyptian Exodus to American Seder table (Forward) Pesah Potpourri: On the Origin and Development of Some Lesser-Known Pesah Customs (Schechter)  See below, the most predictable new addition to the world of Haggadahs, Haggad.AI Vayikra Parsha Packets Loose Lips Sink Relationships: Keeping Secrets - The Jewish View Leviticus and Dayenu: Developing an Attitude of Gratitude Share This Email   Share This Email   Share This Email Temple Beth El 350 Roxbury Road Stamford, Connecticut 06902 203-322-6901 | www.tbe.org    A Conservative, Inclusive, Spiritual Community

TBE Bar/Bat Mitzvah Commentary: Matthew Goodman on Vayikra / Shabbat Zachor

Shabbat Shalom!

Today has been a great day for me.  But really, it’s been a great year, especially for sports.

-       First, last March, my JCC basketball team won the county championship.

-       Then, in June, my little league team won the Stamford American little league championship and I pitched a complete game for my team.

-       Then, in the fall, my house soccer team won the soccer finals for the fourth time!

-       And, oh yes, I’m a big Red Sox and Patriots fan, and we know what happened there. A World Series and Super Bowl in the same season.

Yeah, yeah…I see your eyes roll!

I have to say, I am one lucky kid.

But with my teams winning, there are a couple of lessons that I have learned.

Lesson number one:  Winning takes a lot of hard work, focus and determination. Always try your hardest. When you are trying to win a championship, you can’t take your foot off the gas, or be satisfied before it is over, and expect to win.  Look at the Patriots. A few years ago, they were losing 28-3 in the Super Bowl. They kept working hard when the other team took their foot off the gas and thought it was over. The Patriots came back and won.

My haftarah continues the story of Amalek that was also the subject of the maftir Torah reading.  Amalek attacked Israel right after they left Egypt.  They did not fight fair – as they attacked them from behind. Israel defeated them in the Wilderness; but in my haftarah, King Saul, who was ordered to destroy them completely, let’s their king, Agag off the hook.  Because of that, the nation of Amalek survived, and their descendant, Haman, nearly destroyed the Jewish people.  The holiday of Purim, which we celebrate this week, tells that part of the story.

A second lesson that I’ve learned about winning is that you need teamwork. The winning teams that I have been on had kids that worked together and didn’t rely on one player to win. Plus, it’s important always to be humble and support each other.

In soccer and basketball, you can’t score without passing.  And in baseball, you’ve got to work together in the field to get the out and encourage teammates who are up at bat to get a hit.

Eventually, the Jewish people came together through teamwork and support for each other and defeated the evil Haman.

For my mitzvah project, I am working with two organizations. First, I am working with an organization called Little Wonder. Little Wonder helps people with cancer enjoy themselves a little bit as they go through treatment. They get tickets to local sporting events, shows, and other entertainment to give to people with cancer. Little Wonder is currently working with 21 hospitals in the state of Connecticut. This Mitzvah project is dedicated to my grandparents Beverly and Fred, who I never met because they both passed away from cancer before I was born. Thanks to you, my family and friends; I was able to achieve my goal of raising 1000 dollars in total (I have actually raised over 2000 dollars so far!).

The second organization I am supporting is called Leveling The Playing Field, which provides sports equipment to children who wouldn’t otherwise have the right equipment to play. Most of you know that I love sports and I am lucky to have the equipment that I need to play. Others are not as lucky as I am. So I am collecting sports equipment to donate to them. In this way, I’m playing a small part in doing what real winners have to do – which is to help others to become winners too.

Please consider donating if you haven’t already and thank you to those who have already donated.