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Parshas Vayishlach - It's Night & Day                12 Kislev 5778

11/30/2017 09:52:51 AM

Nov30

My grandfather, A”H, came to the United States from Russia in 1911 and soon after fought in WWI for his new country. Both my parents were born in the US. We were instilled with a sense of Hakaras Hatov / gratitude for the freedom and liberty that we enjoyed as Jews living in a guest homeland. As a young boy, I remember each morning pledging allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. In  summer camp we lined up during flag raising and lowering every day.

Many Shuls across America have flags displayed somewhere in or on the property. A few years ago, Beth Jacob purchased a few large American flags to put out on Independence, Memorial, and Veteran’s day. I have one of our workers prominently place the flags along the fence on College Avenue to display our patriotism serving as a sign to the Jews of the community and to the gentile community at large that we are proud Americans living in this country. We put the flags out over the weekend and usually leave them up for a few more days into the week. A few weeks ago, I received a forwarded text from a member from a neighbor of his. The text read as follows: “Hey, tell someone at Beth Jacob that it’s disrespectful to have US flags out on the fence without lighting at night. But I did think it was nice to have them up for the Veteran’s Day weekend.” Sure enough, I checked to see if there is some rule regarding flag display…and…. Of course!  There is flag etiquette! According to the US Flag Code, all American flags should be displayed from sunrise to sunset every day. Lowering the flag at night is an ultimate sign of respect for Old Glory. But, like many rules, there is an exception. You can keep your flag flying for 24-hours so long as it is properly illuminated during all hours of darkness. There is no rhyme or reason provided as to why the flag if flown at night should be illuminated.

Apparently, nighttime, a period of darkness, has some negative vibes. There are many many places in the Talmud which mention the dangers of travelling at night - particularly alone. In this week’s Parsha Vayishlach we read a very short story that mentions the reality of night time. The Torah states in Bereishis 35:8 “VaTamas Devorah Meinekes Rivka VaTikaver MiTachas L’Beit El Tachas HaAlon, Vayikra Shmo Alon Bachus”: “Rebecca’s nurse Deborah died, and she was buried in the valley of Beth El, under the oak. The place was named Weeping Oak”.  Rashi brings down the Midrash Rabba 81:5 which explains that even before Yakov finished mourning for Devorah, his mother Rivka died. This is supported by the explanation a few verses later where it states that God blessed Yakov. The bracha with which Hashem blessed him was Birkas Aveilim, a blessing to comfort mourners as he, Yakov, was informed of his mother’s passing. But why would we mention Devorah’s passing and not say anything when his mother Rivka died? The word ‘Alon’ in Greek means ‘alone’, signifying ‘desolate’ or ‘solitary’.  Rivka was buried in the middle of the night, so that no one should be able to curse her and say: “it was from her womb that the wicked Eisav emerged”. Therefore, the Torah did not even want to announce the passing of Rivka because it may have drawn out negative commentaries.

You may have read something earlier and asked yourself, ‘Why did Yakov mourn for Devorah, the nursemaid of Rivka?’ The Midrash informs us of the identity of Devorah and the significance of the Torah’s mentioning her death. The reason Yakov mourned her (Devorah) was because she was Rivka’s mother. Another noteworthy point on the recording of Devora can be seen in contrast with another death and burial, that of Rochel Immeinu. In Bereishis 35:19,20 the Torah states: “VaTamas Rochel, VaTikaver B’Derech Ephrata, Hee Beit Lechem. VaYatzeiv Yaakov Matzeva Al ‘Vurasa, Hee Matzeves K’Vuras Rochel Ad HaYom”.- “Rachel dies and was buried on the road to Ephrat, now known as Beis Lechem. And Jacob set up a monument over her grave. This is the marker of Rachel’s grave until today.” Rav Moshe Feinstein, in his sefer Kol Ram on Chumash, points out the variance between the deaths of Devorah and Rochel: After mentioning the death of Devorah, the Torah mentions some type of eulogy. With regard to Rochel, however, it mentions the idea of burial. There is no question that Yakov also eulogized Rochel, but the prime importance was the burial. Devorah’s final resting place was named (Alon Bachut) after the eulogy. Rav Moshe explains that there are many great people who pass away who are not well known; their loss is only felt after listening to the eulogy. It is through the Hesped/eulogy that the living are able to get a glimpse or an insight as to who and how great this person (who they didn’t know) was and to begin to appreciate the void which has been left as a result. It is the eulogy that informs us of who this person was. Perhaps that same idea applies here;  we hear very little about Devora but learn about her through her eulogy. The result of the eulogy was the naming of that place ‘Bachut’ which means to cry. It was necessary to cry over her upon hearing all these things that they did not know about her. Night is a time of darkness and the unknown.  It is only with daylight, morning, when things are revealed. We do not know or understand when in darkness. So too, the eulogy sheds light as to who the person was and as a result we can recognize the greatness of Devorah. She was a great woman and an integral extension of Yaakov’s house.

There is no mention of crying at the death of Rochel. Nevertheless, we are sure that people and her family cried over her death;  it was not necessary for the Torah to mention it. Rochel was the Akeres HaBayis, the mainstay of the home. She was one of the four foremothers and the closest to Yakov. Since she is well-known, the Torah need not mention the people crying over her. Therefore, the verse states she was buried immediately, and the place is mentioned so that her children would have a place to go to pray. 

Death, darkness, night and the flag all seem to share some commonality. Just as the eulogy of someone who was in the dark becomes illuminated through speaking of their accomplishments and values, so too the flag at night must be lit up as well. There are a few customs regarding the flag, particularly around death. I see the irony in the selection of this dvar Torah taken from Rav Moshe. Here is a small fascinating tidbit about Reb Moshe Feinstein. On the night of Taanis Esther, 5746 (1986), R’ Moshe was niftar. The levaya on Taanis Esther morning in New York City was like none that New York had never seen; about one hundred and fifty thousand people accompanied R’ Moshe on this step of his final journey. Even the American flag on the East Side was flown at half-mast as the non-Jews’ sign of mourning that the leader of the Jews had died.

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky

Fri, March 29 2024 19 Adar II 5784