TORAH PORTION AND PIRKE AVOT for May 22-23, 202

As of this morning, the Arizona Department of Health Services website continues to report an increase in the number of COVID-19 cases but no related deaths in Cochise County. On the other hand, on May 20 the Sierra Vista Herald/Bisbee Review reported a COVID-19 related death of a male over the age of 65. So, we say Kaddish for him.

 

Although several public places in Arizona are easing their shelter-in-place requirements, Temple Kol Hamidbar remains closed for the meantime. Until such time as we are able to meet again confidently in person, weekly emails with the Torah Portion and pertinent items for each Shabbat will continue to go out. 

 

For its message of hope and help during this and other times of fear, you may want to meditate upon Psalm 121: Esa Einai (I lift my eyes).

 

CONGRATULATIONS

Mazal Tov – Mazal Bueno to all those students who officially graduate in this month of May. The following blessing is requested for you:

 

May the Eternal One bless you and keep you.

 

May the Eternal One look kindly upon you and be gracious to you.

 

May the Eternal One reach out to you in tenderness and give you peace.

 

Këin Yehi Ratzon (Let It Be So)!

 

PARSHA

The Torah portion for this Shabbat is B’midbar (בְּמִדְבַּר – Hebrew for “in the desert of” [Sinai]) Numbers 1:1-4:20. This portion begins the Book of Numbers (B’midbar). The parashah tells of the census and the priests’ duties. 

 

From ReformJudaism.org:

On the first day of the second month, in the second year following the exodus from the land of Egypt, the Eternal One spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai, in the Tent of Meeting, saying: “Take a census of the whole Israelite company…” – Numbers 1:1-2

 

SUMMARY:

• God commands Moses to take a census of all the Israelite males over the age of twenty. (1:1-46)
• The duties of the Levites, who are not included in the census, are detailed. (1:47-51)
• Each tribe is assigned specific places in the camp around the Tabernacle. (1:52-2:34)
• The sons of Levi are counted and their responsibilities are set forth. (3:1-3:39)
• A census of the firstborn males is taken and a special redemption tax is levied on them. (3:40-51)
• God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the responsibilities of Aaron and his sons, and the duties assigned to the Kohathites. (4:1-20)

 

ROSH CHODESH

Rosh Chódesh Sivan – begins Saturday, May 23 at sundown and extends through Sunday, May 24.

 

From My Jewish Learning:

MACHAR CHODESH 

If Rosh Chodesh occurs the day after Shabbat, then the Shabbat is termed Shabbat Machar Chodesh–literally, “tomorrow is the [new] month”–and has a special haftarah, I Samuel 20:18-42, that relates an episode with David and Jonathan involving the new moon.

 

From “Mishkan T’filah / A Reform Siddur”:

’ROSH CHODESH – FOR THE NEW MONTH p.519:

Our God and God of our ancestors, may the new month bring us goodness and blessing. May we have long life, peace, prosperity, a life exalted by love of Torah and reverence for the divine; a life in which the longings of our hearts are fulfilled for good.

 

PIRKËI AVOT 

It is traditional to study a chapter per week of this section of the Mishnah for the six weeks between Pesach and Shavuot:

 

From Wikipedia.com:

Pirkëi Avot consists of the Mishnaic tractate of Avot, the second-to-last tractate in the order of Nezikin in the Mishnah, plus one additional chapter. Avot is unique in that it is the only tractate of the Mishnah dealing solely with ethical and moral principles; there is little or no halacha (laws) found in Pirkëi Avot.

 

Pirkëi Avot is typically printed with a sixth chapter, which however was originally part of the minor tractate Kallah Rabbati and not part of the Mishnaic tractate Avot. [It] was added for liturgical reasons, so that a chapter could be recited on every Shabbat between Passover and Shavuot. 

 

SAYINGS (Sefaria.org translation) 

From Chapter 4 [22 aphorisms]:

“Rabbi Jonathan said: whoever fulfills the Torah out of a state of poverty, his end will be to fulfill it out of a state of wealth; And whoever discards [t]he [T]orah out of a state of wealth, his end will be to discard it out of a state of poverty.” [4/9]

 

From Chapter 5 [23 aphorisms]:

“Wild beasts come to the world for swearing in vain, and for the profanation of the Name. Exile comes to the world for idolatry, for sexual sins and for bloodshed, and for (transgressing the commandment of) the (year of the) release of the land. At four times pestilence increases: in the fourth year, in the seventh year and at the conclusion of the seventh year, and at the conclusion of the Feast (of Tabernacles) in every year. In the fourth year, on account of the tithe of the poor which is due in the third year. In the seventh year, on account of the tithe of the poor which is due in the sixth year; At the conclusion of the seventh year, on account of the produce of the seventh year; And at the conclusion of the Feast (of Tabernacles) in every year, for robbing the gifts to the poor.” [5/9]

 

“Ben Bag Bag said: Turn it over, and (again) turn it over, for all is therein. And look into it; And become gray and old therein; And do not move away from it, for you have no better portion than it.” [5/22]

 

“Ben Hë Hë said: According to the labor is the reward.” [5/23]

 

From Chapter 6: [11 aphorisms related to Torah]

“Such is the way (of a life) of Torah: you shall eat bread with salt, and rationed water shall you drink; you shall sleep on the ground, your life will be one of privation, and in Torah shall you labor. If you do this, ‘Happy shall you be and it shall be good for you’ {Psalms 128:2}: ‘Happy shall you be’ in this world, ‘and it shall be good for you’ in the world to come.” [6/4]

 

“Do not seek greatness for yourself, and do not covet honor. Practice more than you learn. Do not yearn for the table of kings, for your table is greater than their table, and your crown is greater than their crown, and faithful is your employer to pay you the reward of your labor.” [6/5]

 

“Great is Torah for it gives life to those that practice it, in this world, and in the world to come, As it is said: ‘For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh’ {Proverbs 4:22}, And it says: ‘It will be a cure for your navel and marrow for your bones’ {ibid. 3:8} And it says: ‘She is a tree of life to those that grasp her, and whoever holds onto her is happy’ {ibid. 3:18}, And it says: ‘For they are a graceful wreath upon your head, a necklace about your throat’ {ibid. 1:9}, And it says: ‘She will adorn your head with a graceful wreath; crown you with a glorious diadem’ {ibid. 4:9} And it says: ‘In her right hand is length of days, in her left riches and honor’ {ibid. 3:1}, And it says: ‘For they will bestow on you length of days, years of life and peace’ {ibid. 3:2}.” [6/7]

 

COUNTING THE ‘ÕMER – preparing for Shavuot

Today is 43 Days in the ‘Õmer, which is six weeks and one day of the ‘Õmer. Day 44 begins Friday evening at sundown.

 

SHAVUOT

Shavuot is celebrated for one day in Israel and two days in the Diaspora, beginning this year the evening of Thursday, May 28. Reform Judaism celebrates one day as in Israel.

 

From ReformJudaism.org:

Shavuot, [שָׁבוּעוֹת, lit. “Weeks”] which has become known as the Festival of the Giving of the Torah, was originally a harvest holiday. Along with Sukkot and Passover, it is one of the Shalosh Regalim (Three Pilgrimage Festivals), during which people gathered at the Temple in Jerusalem with their agricultural offerings. 

 

Shavuot is known by several names: Chag HaShavuot (the Festival of Weeks), Chag HaBikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits), Z’man Matan Torateinu (the Time of the Giving of Our Torah), and Chag HaKatzir (the Festival of Reaping). Some Ashkenazi Jews may pronounce and write the name of the holiday as “Shavuos.”

 

THINGS TO DO

If you can, for Erev Shavuot, decorate your homes with freshly cut flowers and greens as well as an abundance of plants. (In my mother’s Judeo-Spanish tradition, roses are used to decorate the home and adorn the Torah Scrolls.) Read the Book of Ruth. Join an online Tikkun Lëyl Shavuot, e.g., URJ and My Jewish Learning websites. 

 

PRAYERS

We recite MI SHEBËRACH for the victims of abuse, fear, natural disasters, pandemics, violence, and war; for all those in need of physical, emotional and mental healing. “R’fuah sh’lëmah” – a complete recovery!

 

We say KADDISH YATOM for those of our friends and families who have died and been buried this last week; those in the period of Sh’loshim; those who have died in the last year; and those whose Yahrzeits/Anyos occur at this time; as well as the victims of disease, natural disasters, war, violence; and of the Holocaust, who died at this time of year and have us to say “Kaddish” for them. “Zichronam liv’rachah” – May their memories be for blessing.

 

Shabbat Shalom – Buen Shabbat, and Chag Shavuot Sameach!

-Ruben