Friday Night D’var Torah given at EHRS on 05/07/24
How do we choose to remember October 7th, as a life-changing event?
Shabbat Shalom,
Thank you to Rabbi Mark, Jack, the Meyers family, the Morris family, and all community members for their warm hospitality last week.
The Korach parasha – our Torah portion this week – is an interesting portion that can be discussed from several different angles, but before we dive into the parsha (don’t worry, we’ll do that tomorrow), we want to focus on the name of the parasha.
According to tradition, the division into parshiot was determined by Jewish sages who divided the Torah so it could be read in its entirety each year. After dividing the portions, they had to choose a name for each one. In some parashas, like Bereshit (the very first one that opens the book of Genesis), the name is determined by the first word in the portion. In other parshas, like Shelach Lecha, which we read last week, the name comes from one of the first verses.
This week we read the Korach parsha. In this case, the word Korach is not the first in the portion, so it could have been named differently. Our Sages choose to name the portion Korach, after the leader of the rebellion, to emphasise the importance of personal responsibility for our actions.
Choosing the name for the parsha sets a narrative— telling us that this is how we should remember this portion.
The portion could have been called Parshat Vayakom which is is first word, thus presenting it as a portion of rebellion. Because that is the meaning of the work. The choice of the name Korach sets a different tone for reading the portion.
During World War II, Winston Churchill said, “History will be kind to me, for I intend to write it.” And he did write many books of British History.
Wars, like parshas, are given names that determine how we perceive them.
The recent war in Israel also has many names. In Hebrew, it’s either “Iron Swords” or “October 7th.” In Arabic, it’s طوفان الأقصى (Al-Aqsa Flood). In English, we’ve heard it called either the “Hamas-Israel War” or the “Gaza-Israel War.” The different names express different narratives in the memory of history. Some are militaristic, some pacifist. Some show resistance, and some heroism.
One of the ways to remember a significant event like a war is through action.
In our school the Leo Baeck High School in Haifa, Israel, we emphasize the kidnapped, the murdered, and the displaced. In the early days of the war, Leo Baeck served as a collection center for donations for soldiers and evacuees, we hosted teenagers who were hiking in the Carmel forests and couldn’t return to their homes in the south. Additionally, students from our school went to hotels and organized activities for the evacuated children.
The war is a life-changing event for us and for all residents of Israel. Through our actions, volunteerism, and various activities aimed at commemorating the fallen, we establish a narrative and a way to remember the war.
Our purpose here in London and at EHRS is to help share the perspective of two young women who will be part of the future of Israel – please feel welcome to ask us about it any time tonight.
Shabbat Morning sermon given at EHRS on 06/07/2024
Shabbat Shalom,
I am Mika and I am Yuval – Naim M’od. We are both Year 11 students at the Leo Baeck High School in Haifa, Israel.
First, allow us to express our gratitude to Rabbi Mark, Jack, the Meyers family, the Morris family, and all community members for their warm hospitality last week.
This week’s Torah portion is Parshat Korach, a narrative rich in detail and complexity. At its heart lies a rebellion instigated by Korach. Korach, a cousin of Moses and Aaron, hails from the tribe of Levi, placing him among the elite of the Israelites.
Despite his privileged position, Korach protests against the perceived injustices meted out to him and the broader community. He challenges the authority of Moses and Aaron, arguing that the entire congregation is holy and questioning the notion that some individuals are holier than others.
God repeatedly reaffirms His choice of Aaron and Moses as leaders, but Korach’s defiance exacts a heavy toll. He and his followers are swallowed by the earth, leaving Moses to continue leading the Israelites, albeit without the equality Korach sought. Yet, the notion of equality does not perish; a new insurrection arises, further fracturing the community.
Korach and his faction pursued their ambitions even at the cost of sowing discord. Even after Korach’s dramatic punishment, the divisions he exacerbated persisted, leading to continued rebellion. As a symbol of dissension, Korach sought to elevate his status at any cost, ultimately descending to the lowest point—into the earth’s depths.
Despite his negative portrayal, Korach’s story presents a dilemma. Was he a villain intent on usurping his family’s leadership, or a rebel advocating for equality? Consequently, is rebellion justified, or is unity for a greater cause preferable?
The dilemma is further complicated in the haftarah. Unlike Korach’s tale, where rebellion against divine authority results in downfall, in the haftarah, the Israelites defy the prophet Samuel’s divine guidance, leading to the establishment of a monarchy at God’s concession.
What distinguishes these scenarios? How can we, as their descendants, discern when rebellion is justified and when unity should prevail?
As young women in Israel, we frequently confront this dilemma. The Israelites of Torah times, like modern-day Israelis in our Jewish state, grapple with division and fragmentation, seemingly fated to repeat history marked by internal strife.
Yet, unlike the biblical narrative, contemporary conflicts in today’s Israel see divisions set aside for collective effort.
For instance, at Leo Baeck, we established a command center for evacuees, welcoming those in need. Our community rallied to donate food and supplies, cared for the children of essential workers, and recently organized a blood donation event for soldiers.
Nevertheless, we also learn the importance of raising our voices against injustice. At Leo Baeck, our student council members visited Hostages Square, and we engage in discussions about wartime moral dilemmas in our civics and education classes. We learn to critically assess whether our actions align with our values. In a military context, we are taught about the imperative to refuse manifestly illegal orders.
In just two years, we will enlist in the army, yet the ethical challenges of military service are already pertinent. In the military, authority figures issue commands, but sometimes these orders conflict with moral principles. In such instances, we have a duty to refuse alongside the duty to serve and protect our beloved Israel, our families and our nation.
Consider the progress we have made: whereas questioning leadership in Torah once led to being swallowed by the earth, today, we learn to voice our concerns, whether advocating for unity, as we have done as student volunteers helping those who have come to Haifa from throughout the country, or excercising our duty to resistance against injustice where we have learned to perceive it.
By hosting us as two young Israelis, Edgware and Hendon Reform Synagogue demonstrates your faith in the unity of the Jewish people. Despite the Korachs on the way this is how we can journey together to a better future for Israel and the world.
Todah rabah.
