Shaaallllooommmmmmmm Sweeeeeeetest Friends!!!!!!!
A huuuuuge mazel tov to my beloved friend, ohev Torah, Talmid Chochom, supporter of Torah, baal middos to the highest degree, Rabbi Chaim Shenkman and his equally special Rebbetzin Shira on the Bar Mitzva of their sweet and wonderful son Boruch Yitzchak!! May he grow up to be a light [he is from Edison so that is a GREAT place for light!:-)] unto the whole world with limitless simcha, prosperity, health and fulfillment!!
This dvar Torah is dedicated to the good health and well being of my beloved mother Henna Miriam bas Chana. She is NUMBER ONE on my list of all time great Jewish mothers and Bubbys and deserves many many many more happy and healthy years.
Also, to all of my sweet friends who are helping me on my mitzva mission here in the US. May they all be blessed in this world and the next with limitless shefa and simcha!
This Shabbos I will be doing my mitzvos in Aliyos D'washington [Washington Heights]. It ain't Israel but it was a safe haven for German Jews and for that we thank Hashem and George W. I should be zoche to make Aliyah to Israel once again soon...
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"I don't approve of political jokes. I have seen too many of them elected...."
"There is not White America. There is not Black America. There is only RED AMERICA! Let us give this country back to the Indians whom we stole it from."
A slightly edited line from the Republican Convention.
In this weeks parsha we read of Hashem's command to appoint Yehoshua to replace Moshe as leader.
But some things are apparently missing.
National Conventions. Rousing speeches. Lobbying and campaigning [how did a "g" sneak its way in there?]. Endless discussions about which candidate is better and how poised each of their children were. None of that. [So many people were impressed with Donald's kids. I am not arguing, but for me it would be NO NACHAS if 4 out of my 5 children were goyim...]
The Medrash relates that Moshe said that since his time is limited he would like to pass on the baton to George Bush Junior. Woops. I mean li-havdil a TRILLION havdalos - his children. They saw him in all of his glory. They know what it takes to be a leader. They have the DNA. They have the great last name "Rabbeinu". Let my sons lead, implored Moshe.
Hashem answered [in my words] "Sorry. You have it wrong. There is a MUCH MORE WORTHY CANDIDATE. His name is Yehoshua and he is your student. What makes him worthy? Not his leadership skills, not his vast experience in politics, not his military expertise. None of that. Just this. [Now Hashem's words]: "He used to serve you a lot, give you great honor and arrange the benches in the Beis Medrash." That's it?
That's it!
Jewish leadership isn't about public opinion alone [but see Brachos 55 אין מעמידין פרנס על הציבור אא"כ וכו]. People are swayed by the demagogic abilities of the candidates, by their good looks [or that of those around them], by their [often] empty promises of change and good fortune in the future and by many other factors which have nothing to do with their worthiness of the leadership role.
A leader needs HUMILITY and Yehoshua had that. A leader needs to be one who NULLIFIED himself to a higher source which enabled him to integrate and assimilate many of the positive qualities of his superior. He needs to be one who is dedicated to the community, even at the expense of his own honor [arranging the benches - no honor there. Just a "simple" shammes...]
A thief stuck a pistol in a man’s ribs and said, “Give me your money.” The gentleman, shocked by the sudden attack, said “You cannot do this, I’m a United States congressman!”
The thief said, “In that case, give me MY money!”
Sweetest friends. Let us not waste our valuable time and Divinely endowed ability to speak on this silliness. It is all cold cuts [namely - baloney!]. Everybody knows deep inside that you can't trust 'em and everything they say and do is carefully orchestrated in order to win public opinion.
A politician was a guest speaker at the golf club dinner. As the politician stood up to speak, a few of the men saw it as an opportunity to sneak off to the bar. An hour later, with the politician still talking, another man joined them. “Is he still talking?” they asked him.
“Yes.” the other man answered.
“What on Earth is he talking about?”
“Yes.” the other man answered.
“What on Earth is he talking about?”
“I don’t know. He’s still introducing himself.”
Of course it is our duty to vote for the lesser of the two evils but certainly not to waste out time on needless discussions, sending around articles on the campaign so that others waste their time as well and of course not to hinge our faith in them. Faith should be reserved for the One Above.
With blessings for a sweet Shabbos and hopes that we see true Malchus - namely Malchus Shomayim, in our days, I sign off...
Bi-ahava
