Rabbi's Blog

We all hope and pray that by the time this article is published the
three teenage Jewish boys will be back home with their families alive
and healthy, Hashem Yishmor!

So much has been written and read, and yet I feel there is still so
much more to be said. I feel compelled to express my feelings which I
am sure I share with many others. Sadness, anger, fear, and hope have
been only a few of the emotions we, as a people, and the families of
Gilad Shaer, Naftali Frankel and Eyal Yifrah have experienced. I must
admit I feel ‘small’ when sizing up my life compared to what
these three young boys must be enduring. The amount of writing and
reporting is essential. Every update, every new article, gives us a
different angle, a different take on this continuing, wrenching
situation. I have been inspired, moved and speechless at the
incredible strength some have shown, while also have experienced
extreme disappointment in the tasteless downplaying of this horror.

We heard the mother of one of the kidnapped boys exhibit her
incredible inner strength by thanking everyone involved in the
world-wide prayers, search and political efforts involved towards
getting her son and his friends back safely. We heard the Israeli
Arab Mohammed Zoabi take to youtube openly siding with Israel,
brazenly accusing the Palestinians as terrorists. We heard the
outpouring of Tehilim recited by a brother of one of the abducted
boys, leading his Yeshiva and Yishuv in prayer. We heard about the
reciting of Tehilim in the Knesset, the Israel Parliament, by all of
the Jewish MK’s, irrespective of their religious level or
observance. We heard about the mass gatherings of prayer and
inspiration throughout Shuls and Batei Midrashim throughout the
world. Unfortunately, history repeats itself and has shown us time
and time again that it takes a tragedy of such proportions to bring
the Jewish people together. Anti-Semitism is the other negative
method of bringing Jews together. It is difficult to read and accept
the blasé attitude taken by the current administration of our United
States. Our President should be leading the charge in supporting
Israel’s right to rid itself of the terrorist cells and bring true
peace to the region by eradicating those who oppose peace.
Unfortunately, silence sends a message that these acts of terror are
acceptable.

When I watch the videos of the Israeli army working around the clock
to secure their release, I notice a sense of determination,
responsibility, and the feeling that each person can make the
difference in this mission. For us in the diaspora, the challenge
remains ’What can we do to make that difference?’ The answer is
not a simple one, nevertheless, everyone must work towards feeling
the pain and sadness as if this were occurring to his own brother or
son. Whenever we say Tehilim, think in terms of davening for your
brother or son. Additionally, make an effort to do one chessed a day
in their merit. The irony of the situation lies in the fact that this
week’s parsha Korach represents divisiveness within the Jewish
people; we, throughout the Jewish world, have turned this current
situation into a need for unity of focus and action.

In this week’s Parsha Korach we read the story of Korach, Dasan and
Aviram along with two hundred fifty men staging a rebellion against
Moshe. In Bamidbar 16:30 the Torah states: “V’Im Bree’ah Yivra
Ado-noy U’Fatzisa Ha’Adama Es Piha U’’Vala Osam V’Es Kal
Asher Lahem V’Yardu Chayim She’olah, Vee’Daatem Ki Nee’ahtzu
Ha’Anashim Ha’Eileh Es Ado-noy”. “But if Hashem will create a
creation, and the earth opens its mouth and swallows them and all
that is theirs, and they will descend alive to the pit, then you
shall know that these men have provoked Hashem!” Rashi explains
‘if Hashem will create a (new) creation’ means to put them to
death through a death which no person has died up to this point.
Ramban says the word ‘Bri’ah’ denotes the creation of a
phenomenon which has no precedent. The creation was the opening of
the earth’s mouth and will swallow them. Rashi further explains,
“If the mouth of the earth is a creation from the time of the six
days of creation then fine, but if not, may Hashem create it now.”

The Talmud Yerushalmi Meseches Kesuvos states on this verse: “a
Tzadik decrees and the Almighty fulfills”. The gemara quotes a
verse in Tehilim 57:3 “I will call to God, Most High; to the
Almighty Who fulfills my purpose”. In that context the Gemara says
the Beis Din establishes the year based upon the witnesses for a leap
year. God then establishes or completes nature according to this. It
is the strength of mankind to establish the actions of Hashem
vis-a-vis Himself or the world, particularly the words or prayers of
a tzadik. We learn from Avraham Avinu the ability to change the
decree of Sedom. The word associated with Avraham’s request was
‘Vayigash’ - and he approached, approached with prayer. The same
word is found later in Tanach by Yoav, Eliyahu HaNavi, and, of
course, Yehuda when approaching his brother Yosef in Egypt.

The Maharal explains that in all the cases in Tanach, Tefilla,
prayer, is the key to force Hashem’s will and ‘change the facts
on the ground’. One might even suggest that Hashem awaits the
prayers of His people to beg and pray for the changing of a decree.
When each and every one of us davens on behalf of someone and, in
particular, for the three missing Jewish teens in Israel, what are we
thinking? What is going through our minds? The answer needs to be
that we are thinking,that we are not only asking but demanding of
Hakdosh Baruch Hu to answer our Tefillos in the positive, and in this
case that the three teens be returned to their families quickly and
in good health. Hashem, if this is what You want then this IS what
you are getting. Mass gatherings of Jews from all over the spectrum
of religious life. We call out and reiterate to Yakov Avinu, “Shma
Yisrael H’ Elokeinu H’ Echod”, we, your children, are one
people, one voice.

Am Yisrael Chai!

Ah Gut Shabbos

Rabbi Avraham Bogopulsky

Ways to help our boys:
http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BethJacobCongregatio/1252e19a9e/TEST/90a06ff414

Personal letters of support can be sent to the families of the young
men who have been taken hostage at:

http://cts.vresp.com/c/?BethJacobCongregatio/1252e19a9e/TEST/26fc10400a/001fUFehYc_oIpC5u6ucwqSzb0EX4uq0bbc9uSmUAcWMKxrOn0C4306-x3h0GYe5n-TnXW5v3twMyWdK7jdMEwb4t2nsK0v6ahRMYtDjIvq-grfFMBOs4syKkfIsfEic34gEWPk62CH_-meCHKsgAFSXqSe5uVWFzuh76gEzGpc005F53wOUNniw==&c=6uLgtyoRZqs2PUNNT7_APBvYk68gGbkfisxZA4WxgQtmqv0uUORLMg==&ch=ELJ547mHu22qsOChP5HRcMtQpy3auwCfmUEglrfwIEL7m6j7qRMJ_A