Chaverim Yakarim As many scholars have noted, the plagues that struck Egypt during the Exodus can be interpreted as being assaults on the various gods of Egypt: the Nile, the sun, even to the firstborn of Pharaoh. But after the “official” plagues have ended, one more Egyptian god will come under assault. “Speak to the whole community of Israel and say that on the tenth of this month of them shall take a lamb to a family, a lamb to a household” (12:3). God told the Israelites to acquire a lamb—which is not just an animal, but an Egyptian animal god. In other words, it seems as if God is telling the Israelites to get themselves an Egyptian lamb-god and therefore buy into the Egyptian religious system—which means becoming good Egyptians. The Israelites must live with their lamb-gods for four days. That’s enough time to become comfortable with their new gods. It is also enough time for their Egyptian neighbours to have seen them and to have therefore assumed that the Israelites are (finally) prepared to fit into Egyptian life.Not so fast—The Israelites then slaughter their lambs. They dab the blood on the doorposts of their houses—in a place where everyone can see it. That is why a midrash portrays God as understanding that “as long as the Israelites worship the Egyptian gods, they shall not be redeemed. Withdraw your hands from idolatry and take a lamb, and therefore slaughter the gods of Egypt and make the Passover.” The slaughtering of the lambs, therefore, did not only symbolise physical freedom and national redemption. It was also an outward manifestation of freedom from Egyptian idolatry—and, with that, the Israelites are ready to truly make their break with Egypt.Today, killing lambs is not our idea of a good time, nor is it a symbolic act. But when our ancestors made their courageous break for freedom they had to break with every aspect of their enslavement. May we find the courage to break with poisoning traditions in our lives, which limit our own freedom as we enter this new secular year.Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi Adrian M Schell (Source: Rabbi Jeffrey Salkin)
Author: Rabbi Schell
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Parashat Bo: Fighting the gods of Egypt
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2018 is coming to its end …
Chaverim Yakarim —dear friends 2018 is coming to its end, and while we traditionally use the High Holy Days to look back, I’d like to invite you to do so, one more time. 2018 came with hopes, hopes for freedom, success and growth—some became true, but we also have to carry forward some of them to the next year, too.2018 brought with it many small and big changes: on a political level, for the Shul and in our private lives. It is not a platitude to say that life is full of changes, and that changes in general are important to move on, but once again, for most of them, we will see only in 2019, how much they will have impacted our lives, and whether they came for the better or the worse. 2018 broke several times our hearts—when we had to say good-bye to wonderful life companions, when crime and hate challenged us, and when we have witnessed that suffering has not diminished, butincreased the last 12 month.We also have shed tears of joy—seeing our children growing up, new children born into this world, new love emerging out of hopelessness, and friendship growing into strong bonds of solidarity. These moments of happiness, warmth and triumph are the ones we should take with us, when we enter 2019.2019 will be again a year with ups and downs, tears of joy and sadness, changes, challenges, growth and hopes, and it is my wish for all that 2019 will be little bit better, a little bit more joyful, and that you we will have the chance to realise one or two more dreams.May God bless you all—Happy 2019—Rabbi Adrian M Schell
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Chanukah is where we take one step beyond
Chaverim,There is also a very strong link between our portion of Mikeitz and Chanukah (besides that it is read during the chanukah week almost every year). At the beginning of this week’s reading, Pharaoh has a dream about seven cows coming up from the river. These cows were healthy looking, robust, full of flesh. Following them were seven other cows that were gaunt and ugly. The gaunt ugly cows ate the fleshy cows and left no trace of them.Seven is the number which connotes this-worldliness. Seven cows emerged from the Nile. There are seven colours in the rainbow; seven notes in the diatonic scale; seven days in the week.However, Chanukah is the festival where we celebrate eight; when we connect to that which is beyond this world. Chanukah is where we take one step beyond and recognise that miracles are real—that God is real. When we witness that a prisoner can rise to become a vizir, that a small group can become victorious against a overpowering force, and that the dreams of dreamers can become reality.Chanukah is the time to light up the darkness in order to see that there are these and more miracles happening around us, all the time. Big ones, such as a new life born into the world, or a smile from someone who recovers from an injury, or small ones like a perfect summer day—you call it.Chanukah is the time to thank each and everyone of you for the light, hope and joy you brought into my life and into the life of our congregation. May in return God’s light shine upon you and be gracious to you. Chanukah Sameach—Shabbat ShalomRabbi Adrian M Schell
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THANK YOU TO ALL OUR “MITZVAH MAKERS“
Under the leadership of Rabbi Sa’ar Shaked, Rabbi Adrian Schell and Reeva Forman, members ofthe Gauteng Progressive Jewish community came together twice to help the less fortunate ofHillbrow as part of the Mensch Mitzvah Day (17/18 November).After celebrating Havdalah together at the new Bet David Campus, around 50 Mitzvah-Makers made more than 1,000 sandwiches and collected soft drinks and sweets for the children. On Sunday morning, the group met again at Temple Israel in Hillbrow to hand out the food packages. Face painting and candy floss stations made the day extra sweet and fun for the kids, as did Jazz-musicians Siphiwe Shiburi and Yonela Mnana who entertained the adults.“It was wonderful to see members of our Shuls working hand in hand to bring some tikkun into this world. At Temple Israel we witness day by day how much help is needed in the neighbourhood and it is my hope that this Mitzvah Day inspired many to continue their good work, following the wise words of our Sages that “one mitzvah leads to another”, said Rabbi Schell
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One Mitzvah leads to another, while one sin leads to another,and when one acts justly it is very good. – Pirkei Avot 4:2
Chaverim,This Saturday evening and Sunday morning, we join forces with our friends from Temple Israel and Beit Emanuel to help others. Every year in November, Jews world-wide dedicate one Sunday to do good, and to talk about it. All the other times, we should just do good things without talking about it, but this time is different. We are going public, because we want more people to follow our lead and to go out and help, as one mitzvah leads to another.Our kindness and our actions—no matter how small—matter. The way we treat each other matters. We see that clearly in our Torah portion. Jacob has left Canaan, and has come to Haran, whereupon he sees Rachel and sees the stone covering the well. It should say “there was a large stone on the mouth of the well” but that’s not the actual order of the text. It actually says “the stone was large on the mouth of the well.” The s’fat emet understands this as a metaphor: the stumbling block—our evil urge—may be everywhere, but it is heaviest and largest on the mouth of the well. What is the well? Our words, our mouths, our hearts, our intentions, our own actions. Once Jacob understands the situation, he, by himself, removes the stone from the well. He takes the action. He does what is right at that moment. His actions improve the fate of the shepherds around him.Jacob’s actions matter and so do ours. When we choose to act with kindness, even if the action is small, it changes the life of that person. If you follow the lead of others, or an inner drive, it doesn’t matter, just do it.I am looking forward to seeing many of you on Saturday night and Sunday morning. Details about the Mitzvah Day can be found on page 1 and on our Facebook page: https://tinyurl.com/yb4cedu7 .Please join us. Thank you.Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Adrian M Schell (Source: Yair D. Robinson)
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Parashat Toledot: Never again
Chaverim,Water is life. Our bodies are mostly water. Our planet is able to sustain life largely due to its abundant supply of water. The symbolism of water flowing and nourishing the thirsty land is easily understandable, even by those who have never lacked rain. So, what can we learn from the image of a well, that has been intentionally filled with earth so that it no longer functions as a well? If water is life-giving, then a stopped-up well is the opposite. Why, then, did the Philistines, as we read in this week’s parashah, Toledot, fill up the wells that had been dug in the days of Abraham and tell Isaac to leave the region? Why were they ready to make the land uninhabitable?I interpret it as an early attempt to stop Jewish life, one of many that we Jews have had to endure over history. The Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Pogroms in eastern Europe, Nazi-Germany, and even this horrific attack on the Jewish community in Pittsburgh, they all shared one goal, making Jewish life unbearable; from preventing Jews to study Torah to forbidding Jewish rituals, from expelling Jews to physical prosecution and then to annihilation. Jewish history is full of stopped-up wells.
However, our Jewish history is also full of re-opened wells. Isaac’s digging the same wells that his father dug shows us how he reclaims his father’s traditions and ensures Jewish survival. I identify with Isaac’s actions: I have learnt to seek to reclaim the traditions handed down to us by our ancestors. I have seen how Jewish life has put out new roots in Germany. We all witnessed how Jews all over the world, us included, came together last Shabbat, mourning the victims of the Pittsburgh shooting, but more importantly, we celebrated Jewish life, too, affirming our commitment to never allow any anti-Semites to fill up our wells.Shabbat Shalom – Rabbi Adrian M Schell -
Because they lived, we will too
Chaverim—Beloved Friends, Normally, when Jews die, we recite a prayer: ‘baruch dayan ha’emet’ – blessed is the True Judge. It’s a way of saying: “the good and the bad they did, can pass with them — their soul is in God’s hands now“. When Jews are slaughtered by anti-Semites, however, there is a different prayer: ‘hashem yikkom damam’ – may God avenge their blood.It may sound awful to call for revenge in the wake of an attack. It may sound like a summons to continue the cycle of violence. Please be assured, that is not the type of vengeance we are speaking about.The best form of revenge, in the face of people who want to destroy you, is to carry on living, more than ever. Nothing pains anti-Semites and haters more than to see the people they want to extinguish go on and thrive.Last Shabbat we celebrated our Judaism proudly. We came together for our Challah Bake, we had joyful services, some of us went to the Johannesburg Pride, and on Monday we welcomed a new Baby Boy into our covenant with God. And this is exactly how we will carry on, being more Jewish. More visible. Louder. More different. More inclusive.Last Shabbat was also painful, hurtful, and shocking. Not only have we, the Jewish people, lost members of our community, but humanity has lost—as in so many other terror attacks before—wonderful souls, human beings created in the Divine image.In their honour, we will be more faithful, more humble, closer to God. Because they lived, we will too. We will outlive the anti-Semites, the haters, the racists. With our lives, we will avenge their blood.– Shabbat ShalomRabbi Adrian M Schell -
Statement on Horrific Synagogue Attack
Dear congregants,We are saddened and horrified by the hate crime and act of terrorism which happened yesterday at the Eitz Chayim – Tree of Life Synagogue in Pittsburgh, USA.Our thoughts go out to the families of the victims, the staff and members of the Synagogue, the Jewish Community, and all who mourn. We are grateful for the first responders and the police, whose actions saved lives. Our grief at the deaths of eleven people and the wounding of six more is palpable. We can see ourselves in them and in the pained faces of their surviving family members. We pray for the well-being of those who mourn their loss, and for the recovery of those who suffered terrible wounds.Our immediate reaction is simple. We urge all of you to be more vigilant and aware of any potential dangers. Speak up if you see anything suspicious around the synagogue. Together with CSO, we are reviewing and meeting about security plans currently in place for Bet David. Your security is of utmost and critical importance for us.We have had no threats made against us, nor do we have any concrete reasons for fear. Our synagogue leadership is reacting in a measured and responsible fashion, and we urge all of us to do likewise.Nearly 80 years after the Kristallnacht Pogrom in Nazi Germany we are once again reminded of the hideous evil face of anti-Semitism, and the murderous force that comes with it.Each of us has the power to be an agent of change – to promote love, respect and understanding in a world that seems to be feeding off of hatred and bigotry. Don’t keep silent, speak out, do what you can to eradicate hate, and respond to those who perpetrate it – and show people another way – a way of inclusion, love and fellowship.As a response to the rise of neo-Nazi organisations in Europe, people have joined together under a banner saying “We are more“.Yes, we are more. More than all who hate us. More than those who try to limit our freedom of self-expression. More than those who try to kill us.May God who makes peace in the heavens, bring peace to us, to Israel and all the world.Eric Milner and Rabbi Adrian M Schell
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Happy pride day Johannesburg
Chaverim—Friends,
This weekend, Johannesburg is celebrating Pride day, and by that diversity in our South African society. While the legal position of people, who identify as LGBTI* in South Africa, is not bad at all (not only in comparison to other African states but also in comparison to Worldwide standards), still many of the queer, gay and trans community suffer from great discrimination, social exclusion and marginalisation, often including physical and sexual abuse when people “come out“. It is happening in our neighbourhoods, in the countryside, and in our cities, and it is not only part of the reality outside our own circles, but also inside the Jewish community, including our own one.As Progressive Jews, we recognise the Divine image in every human being. Human dignity doesn’t have limitations. As much as we do not discriminate race, social/economical background, and skin colour, we must also uphold the rights and dignity of every person who is identifying as Lesbian, Bi-sexual, Gay, Trans, Queer, Hetero, or even not within any of those terms. As early as in the Talmud, our sages have recognised at least 7 genders, teaching us that gender-identity is more than two options*.It goes without saying … but I guess we/I have to say it again: This rabbi, our movement and our community, Bet David, has and always will welcome, respect, embrace and shower overflowing chesed (love) upon all, including people who are/identify as LGBTI*.Happy pride day – Shabbat ShalomRabbi Adrian M Schell *A handout with the teaching of the Talmud is available here: Handout More Than Just Male and Female The Seven Genders in Classical Judaism -
Lech Lecha: Hear the call
Chaverim—Friends,Our Torah Portion for this coming Shabbat is Lech Lecha. In Lech L’cha, our story focuses on our ancestor Avram. He was a wanderer who heard a divine call and went forth. God’s call to Abraham was a call to leave a position of warmth, of security and the “same good old” in order toencounter something new, something that had the potential to change the world (and I think it did). This call was the beginning of the Jewish people and our eternal covenant with God.What do you feel a call towards? How do you honour your journey, and the journeys of those who came before you? How can we all honour the wanderers in our midst?Our Torah portion call’s us, to follow Abrahams first steps. We are called to open ourselves to new ideas, new approaches and sometimes even new beginnings. Lech Lecha asks us to strive for justice, a better world, and to constantly renew our covenant with the Eternal — today,tomorrow and every single day.Shabbat Shalom—Rabbi Adrian M Schell
