Rabbi's Blog

This week’s Dvar Torah is sponsored in memory of Reb Tzvi Yeshayahu ben Dovid, Mr. Tzvi Rosen z”l, on the upcoming Shloshim of his Petira this Monday night 28 Teves.

This past week millions of Americans, joined by viewers from countries around the world, witnessed the inauguration of the 47^th President of the United States of America. It was a historical day in American history, irrespective of the individuals whom we voted for, or of the outgoing or incoming administration. The pomp and circumstance accompanying transfer of leadership of our powerful government was self-evident. I felt proud as an American Jew to have the freedom and benefits to live in this host nation.

 I will be careful to walk down the center of the aisle regarding my appreciation of the transfer of leadership, an event which provides opportunity  for any new leader to build upon his or her predecessor with the intent of making a better place for all. Obviously, one can (and many do) argue whether the outcome will, long-range, prove to be  better or worse. This, however, is not my focus nor my intent. My focus is rather to demonstrate the awesomeness and the impact of how the foundation carefully paved by our nation’s founding fathers provided the way to peaceful and meaningful transfer of power regarding all areas of leadership in our great country. 

January 1996, twenty-nine years ago, a transition of sorts began to take shape here at Beth Jacob Congregation. My predecessor, HaRav Eliezer Langer, was handing the reigns over to me after a dedicated eighteen years’ service that was only preceded by the first Morah D’Asra of Beth Jacob, Rabbi Boruch Stern zt”l.  One major challenge at the time was overcoming the gap created from the time Rabbi Langer departed in January to my arrival in July. Nevertheless, with strong lay leadership and dedicated volunteers, the Shul managed to keep sailing along until my arrival. I can’t say there was a “hand-off” from one to the next; it was a rather long pass of nine thousand miles of communication and exchanges between Rabbi Langer and me. There was never a time, issue, or need during those initial six months and all the years after that I didn’t have Rabbi Langer there for me. From navigating the member roster, to incorporating specific minhagim/customs, protocols and practices of the davening, Rabbi Langer gave me the support and the full background vitally needed to navigate every situation. Come to think of it, I probably never thanked him properly for making my job easier and having such a smooth transition. So, I will say it now: “Thank you Rabbi Langer!”.

Fast forward to January 2025, twenty-nine years later, and I now find myself preparing  to hand the mantle of leadership to the deserving and capable hands of Rabbi Baruch Frankel. One of the benefits Rabbi Frankel has over me is that it took the need and, yes, the effort for him to go to a New York Yankees game to meet me for the very first time. Although I met Rabbi Frankel twice prior to his hiring, it was this very week that we met again, this time immediately after accepting the position of Rabbi of BJC. Having Rabbi Frankel here, speaking with him in person (beyond several hours speaking on the phone prior to and after his hiring) has been beneficial to him and soothing for me.

 I am certain that the complexity of details, sensitive concerns, and numerous adjustments which accompany such giving and receiving of leadership positions is common; I believe that openness of sharing and giving is essential to assure a successful leadership transition.  In Chasidic circles the dynasty is inherited by a child, but in other worlds it needs to be given over - somewhat as a gift. In essence, the best of both worlds is receiving it as an inheritance and at the same time as a gift. Through active, meaningful giving and receiving from both sides,  success is secured, and the transition is guaranteed. The best of both worlds is found in the Torah’s exchange between God and Moshe.

In this week’s Parshas VaEra the Torah states in Shmos 6:8 "והבאתי אתכם אל הארץ אשר נשאתי את ידי לתת אתה לאברהם ליצחק וליעקב, ונתתי אתה לכם מורשה אני ה' "  “I will bring you to the land regarding which I raised My hand, [swearing] that I would give it to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. I will give it to you as an inheritance, I am God.”  

Reb Zvi Elimelech from Dinov in his Sefer Toras Bnei Yissaschar, which was one of my father-in-law’s favorite seforim/books, poses a question on this verse. The word v’nasati is used when describing a gift, while morasha is a language of inheritance. Why does the Torah use different words of transfer when describing the land of Israel to the Jewish people? The Rebbi explains that Hashem promised the land of Israel to the Jewish people from a position of strength, from the inheritance of our forefathers.

In Jewish law owning something that was from an inheritance is stronger than a gift, since there is no break in an inheritance from father to son for all generations. While that sounds great for the Jewish people, there is one problem. If Yerusha/inheritance is so powerful a mechanism to transfer ownership, then Eisav and Yishmael may also be entitled to a piece of the land of Israel. Are not Eisav and Yishmael also the children of Avraham and Yitzchok? Are not they also entitled to inherit alongside Yitzchok and Yaakov? Therefore, answers Reb Tzvi Elimelech, in conjunction with receiving the land as an inheritance, the Jewish people also received Eretz Yisrael as a gift, excluding Eisav and Yishmael. So, Hashem promises to bring us to the land which we were not only entitled to inherit, but additionally received as a gift from Hashem.

A Rabbi/Rov who has the opportunity to transfer the inheritance of the Torah is a given - we are all entitled to the transmission of the Torah and its teachings. But the solidification that these feelings are mutual is tightened through the “gifting” of those reigns, creating an eternal part of the mesorah of the Yerushas HaTorah. From the earliest memories of our childhood we sing תורה צוה לנו משה, מורשה קהילת יעקב : It is the Torah that Moshe commanded us, as it is an eternal inheritance for the congregation of Jacob.  The changing of the guard and the transmission of Torah and its values will be seamless from one Rabbi to the next.

My father-in-law of blessed memory was a strong Zionist. He loved Eretz Yisrael and was proud of the fact that we, the Jewish people, are entitled to our land, given to us from both an inheritance and as a gift from the Ribbono Shel Olam. This gift is for all times; it is especially important that we understand the permanence of this gift today.  As was reflected and mentioned by one of my father-in-law’s daughters, she felt sorrow that he did not live to see the arrival of Moshiach. Yehi Zichro Baruch!

Ah Gutten Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky