“If a man makes a vow to God, or makes an oath to prohibit [something] to himself, he must not break his word. He should do all that he expressed verbally.” (Num. 30:3)
Oaths and vows are a natural human response in times of intense emotions. Particularly when we sense danger or trouble, we spontaneously begin to bargain with God. We pledge to improve ourselves or repay some undeserved kindness. Why do people act this way?
By Michael Freund
Earlier this week, just in advance of Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s visit to Washington, a brief flurry of excitement took hold of the media, as word spread of what appeared to be a major conciliatory gesture by the Palestinians.
In a well-timed leak, the London-based Al-Hayat newspaper reported over the weekend that Palestinian Chairman Mahmoud Abbas had offered Israel the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter of the Old City as part of a future peace agreement.
Throughout the world, Jewish people have finished this week ,the daily study of the talmudic tract Makkot. This daily system called the Dafyomi,” or a “page (Daf) a day (Yomi),” refers to the system of Talmud study started in 1923 by Rabbi Meir Shapiro, Rabbi of Lublin,and the representative of the Jewish community in the Polish senate. Rabbi Shapiro’s goal was to unite Jews all over the world by having them study the same page of Talmud each day, and to enable the great achievement of completing the entire Talmud which, with his system of a page a day, within just over seven years (2,711 pages).In addition to enabling the simple laymen to enter into the fascinating world of homiletic insight and Jewish religious law and civil jurisprudence , the daily study imparted great spiritual strength and fortitude.
In the Hellenistic mindset that has defined most of western thinking for over two thousand years, “Time” is viewed as a linear line moving from point a to point b. the Jewish and Biblical view of the world views specific dates and appointed times are gates through which time flows in a cyclical and upward spiral fashion.
Therefore the Passover season is not only a commemoration of the liberation that once was but it is rather a time that calls forth the spiritual strengths and power of renewed liberation from all the slavery that still confines us. Sukkoth is not only a commemoration of wandering through the desert for forty years and living in booths but is rather a time that is ripe for strengthening our faith and belief in a G-d intimately involved in our lives. And the fast days are times that are appointed for great tests and turbulence. They are times that can easily be filled with sadness and yet they are times that can be used for introspection and growth.
Bilaam was the prophet for the Nations who watch the progression of the Israelites into, their destiny with apprehension. He is called into action by Balak the King of Moab who has been witness to the fact that the armies of the Canaanite nations are no match for this ragtag group of people led by an eighty year old man and directed by a Divine pillar of fire and smoke. At first the king threatens, entices and commands Bilaam to come do what G-d clearly does not want Bilaam to do. Bilaam desperately wants to go, but cannot go against the express will of the Creator.
G-d makes it very clear to Balak in a night vision:
“And God said unto Bilaam: ‘Thou shalt not go with them; thou shalt not curse the people; for they are blessed.'(Numbers 22:12). Yet G-d seems to eventually give him the much desired permission, “And God came unto Bilaam at night, and said unto him: ‘If the men are come to call thee, rise up, go with them; but only the word which I speak untot thee, that shalt thou do.’ (Numbers 22:20)
Much has and will be written about the spiritual giant that was Rav Mordechai Eliyahu “Z’Tzl” . He was, as his son Rav Shmuel said, a spiritual father to many . Many will describe his courageous and unflinching stands on the sanctity of torah and torah life. Others may speak with loving words of the Rabbi who stood at the forefront of the battle to protect and secure the Land of Israel and its people. Many others will focus on his miraculous blessings and the spiritual strength he imparted to every needy and hurting soul that came to him for comfort and hope. All these are true and powerful descriptions of this towering personality.
It was a quiet Friday, one in which I wanted to study and prepare for the coming Shabbat, when my phone rang. Renee said, “Did you get the flyer? The one about the CAIR anti-Israel rally this afternoon at 4:30? I thought you might want to do something about it.”
“No, I didn’t get the flyer. What’s happening.” And that began the end of a quiet afternoon.
If one takes a cursory and objective glance at the recent history of the people of Israel and the rebirth of a Jewish commonwealth in the land of Israel, one cannot escape the resemblance to a classical Biblical text. An oppressed, dispersed and maligned people ingathered to their ancient homeland.
