Dear Friends,
This Tuesday we observe the fast of Shiva Assar B’Tammuz. According to Rabbinic tradition, five notable tragic events occurred on this day: 1. The first tablets were shattered following the sin of the golden calf 2. The daily offering in the Temple was discontinued 3. The walls of Jerusalem were breached 4. Apostomos (an ambassador or an apostate) burned the Torah and 5. placed an idol in the Temple (M. Ta’anit 4:6).
If we understand the motivation for the Sages declaring a fast day simply as a response to tragic events, then we would have to ask serious questions as to why these events are worthy of commemoration as opposed to others. In the “grand scheme” of Jewish persecution, some of these events may seem relatively trivial. Furthermore, why mourn the destruction of the first tablets when God replaced them? Why declare a fast over the mere breaching of Jerusalem when in three weeks we observe Tisha B’av and Jerusalem’s destruction?
I suggest that the five events listed are not worthy of a commemorative fast due to severity, but there is a thematic connection of losing one’s sense of physical or spiritual security. Consider the first tablets were a divinely created physical symbol of the covenant, the daily offering provided consistency of worship, the walls of Jerusalem obviously provided physical protection, and the destruction of the Torah and idol in the temple removed the spiritual security of a permanently sanctified temple. Thus we are not mourning specific events as much as the loss of security, for without this sense of security, we live in doubt and fear of our surroundings.
Unfortunately, we have never truly regained this sense of security. For one important example, today marks the fourth year since the kidnapping of Gilad Shalit, taken in a cross-border raid. While the international community has verbally advocated for his release, they to date have done little substantive. Even today the house passed a non-binding resolution calling for his release, and the Red Cross – vocal in its criticisms of Israel – merely expresses frustration at being denied access to check on Gilad Shalit’s conditions. This intolerable situation also reminds us of our own precarious security in our own country and in the international community.
This Shiva Assar B’Tammuz, let us be aware and mournful of our own loss of security so that next year we may be worthy to truly live once again as a free and secure nation in our land.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Yuter
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Rabbi’s Corner – Feeling Good Edition
Dear Friends,
For obvious reasons July 4th is a sacred day in the American calendar as the day the United States formally adopted the Declaration of Independence. But a less remembered date is June 18th, the day the United States began the War of 1812.
My interest here is not in the war itself, but in the aftermath. Even though the war concluded without a clear cut resolution to the primary causes, the Americans considered themselves victorious and ushered in The Era of Good Feelings. After the war of 1812, the opposition Federalist party essentially dissolved leaving America with the singular Democratic-Republican Party, a term which today seems comical if not utterly inconceivable. To be sure it would be naïve to think that there were no disagreements among the members, but it is notable that such debates were able to be maintained with relative civility for approximately 8-11 years, but one can only appreciate how the lack of partisan infighting could foster national pride and unity.
And therein lies the true dual challenge of any community: how can we express disagreements without creating multiple factions, and how can we be inclusive without accepting potentially harmful ideologies. For the moment, let me suggest that perhaps the emotions may in fact assist in achieving a desired result. It is one matter to disagree – even strongly – and quite another to do so out of enmity, hatred, and rage. Exciting one’s emotions can certainly rally people towards a cause, but perhaps our passions – however justified we may feel – may in fact create an equally passionate reaction from the opposition.
Perhaps if we began our own Era of Good Feelings towards our peers, we too may achieve a period free of bitter discourse. And hopefully we may be able to do so without needing to start a war in the process.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Josh Yuter
Dear Friends,
One of my favorite writers on the internet is James Taranto who compiles the Wall Street Journal’s “Best of the Web” – a collection of links, quotes, and analysis. In his tweaking of mainstream media, Taranto often includes a “Metaphor Alert”, noting when journalists or public figures excessively use metaphors in their rhetoric as opposed. In some instances, metaphors are apt and may even assist in communicating a point, however, it they are most frequently tools of hyperbole used as short cuts to artificially manipulate others’ emotions.
For one parallel in Jewish rhetoric, the character of Korach presents such an overused analogy when advocates of one position wish to delegitimize another. The implication being that one side represents “true Judaism” (selectively and self-servingly defined in any way) and thus any opposition to that position can be compared to Korach who similarly challenged the true authority of Judaism – or at least based on one’s interpretation – and thus the opposing individual is ultimately worthy of divine destruction, or at the very minimum, communal opposition.
Even writing this Rabbi’s Corner I confess I am tempted to compare such people to Korach in terms of sanctimony, though that would obviously defeat my purpose here. Rather, I wish to focus on the response to the Korach rebellion in Bamidbar 17:16-25. Even after the plague had annihilated the rebels, Moshe still performed a miraculous act to answer Korach’s original charge, “why did you place yourselves above us?” The original accusation, however incendiary, was still ultimately addressed and refuted.
While it is tempting to employ rhetorical shortcuts to score quick point, we must always remember that sometimes people ask serious questions on our beliefs. It is easy to dismiss opposition with trite metaphors, but it is far more beneficial to ourselves and our communities if we learn to respond appropriately.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Josh Yuter
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