Rabbi's Blog

The Jewish people are known to be stubborn and stiff necked. There is no question that we have earned these titles by our actions. When it comes to following rules, we feel those rules were established for everyone else, but not the Jews. Isn't it ironic that the Jews, of all people, who have six hundred thirteen Biblical commandments, hundreds of rabbinic laws, tens of enactments and thousands of customs, think that common law doesn't apply to them. Let me share a few examples of this Jewish attitude towards common law.

There is a joke that is told at this time of the year. A plane full of passengers has just touched down on the runway at Lod International Airport in Israel. The pilot announces: " those of you who are still in your seats, have a merry X-mas, and those of you who are already standing in the aisles......have a happy Chanukah." The rule on every plane coming in for a landing and then approaching its assigned gate is that no one is to unbuckle his seat belt until the plane has reached the gate and the pilot shuts off the seat belt sign and announces that it's O.K. to stand up. Why is it that Jews don't feel compelled to listen to that rule?

For the most part, It is no longer necessary to make public announcements at weddings, theaters, and the like to ask that all cell phones and beepers be put on vibrate mode or turned off. The exception to this rule is at Jewish functions and gatherings. At every Jewish function, be it a Bar Mitzvah celebration or a funeral, an announcement is made regarding cell phones, and invariably some 'nice' person does not heed this warning. Even in Shul during services people are asked to turn their phones off or at least put them on vibrate or silent mode in order to maintain decorum and a proper atmosphere in Shul. Why is it that we Jews have a problem following rules and giving in to authority?

The simple approach to this persistent problem can be answered with the following possibilities: Since the Jewish people have so many laws, rules and regulations mandated by God, they feel they don't have to listen to the man- made mores of society. A second suggestion is that Jews feel that "those" laws simply don't apply to them. Those rules and regulations were made for everybody else; not for us. A third choice, which I hope I am incorrect to suggest, is that we the Jews could care less about rules which others make up. I would like to suggest a fourth reason: Jews have difficulty with authority. The fact that the Torah has to command us to honor parents, elders, kings, etc. indicates a pattern that we don't naturally want to honor them. Although we should honor certain people, we don't really want to, therefore the Torah commands us to do so. There is an innate resistance to follow and obey rules and regulations which stem from authority.

The backdrop of the past few weeks' Parshios has been the stand-off between Yosaif and his brothers. From the earliest times of Yosef's life, he felt and experienced the animosity of his brothers. Through Nevua/prophecy Yosaif was destined to be a king over his brothers for that time period of history. Later on Yehuda would assume the mantle of leadership and become the king of Israel, in Israel. But for now, Yosaif was groomed by his father who gave him the royal coat at the tender age of seventeen. In this week's Parsha Mikeitz, Yosaif actually ascends to the throne of Egypt, appointed by none other than Pharoah himself. The dream, the actual prophecy that Yosaif had was realized when his brothers bowed down to him.

The brothers, to the very end, could not accept the fact that they were wrong. Even as Yosaif, prior to revealing his identity to his brothers, tried to extract an apology from them, they never showed true regret or remorse for having sold him. They thought they were right.Yet despite their Svara - logic - they were really wrong. They lacked the vision and ability to see the entire picture that Hashem had painted. Therefore, they continued in their attempts to rebel against Yosaif, whether they knew it was he or not. In Bereishis 42:10-11 "They said to him, 'No, my lord! Your servants have come to buy food. We are the sons of one man; we are truthful; your servants have never been spies." Only later in verse 42:21 when the brothers spoke amongst themselves did they say "we are guilty concerning our brother". If a person sins and recognizes his guilt, understands and admits that he erred, it is possible to forgive him. On the other hand, if he thinks he is right and remains steadfast in his conviction and rebelliousness, then there is no atonement for that person. When the brothers said to Yosaif we are truthful, Yosaif came down hard on them and called them spies. Finally, when they accepted their guilt, Yosaif was able to have compassion on them and forgive them. Later in Parshas Vayechi the brothers are still concerned that Yosaif did not forgive them and was going to take revenge after Yaakov died. Perhaps they had this feeling because they were thought to be insincere earlier on.

A similar theme runs between Mikeitz and Shabbos Chanukah . Parshas Mikeitz is always read on Shabbos Chanuka. The Rabbis of Blessed memory go out of their way to mention that barely one hundred years after the story of Chanukah there were no descendants of the Chashmonaim left. This was due to the fact the Chashmonaim were Kohanim, and in addition to taking on the Priestly role they also assumed the kingship. This was a serious mistake as they had no business or authority to do so.

The lessons of Chanukah and the story of Yosaif and his brothers teach us a lesson: we must accept the rules and the laws of the Torah with a complete picture . Too often people feel they are authorities in every area, that they can decide and independently interpret what the halacha and laws should be and that there is no reason or need to accept or to obey laws or rules instituted from "other" authorities. We need to understand the full picture and to place ourselves within that picture: common law, respect for the conventions of the society within which we live, so long as those laws follow the tenants of the Torah, have the force of law.

Ah Gut Shabbos and Ah Lichtiga Chanukah Rabbi Avram Bogopulsky