From the Rabbi

Parshat Shoftim, Deuteronomy 16:18 -21:9

Eric — 2009-08-18T14:57:50-08:00

One of the most famous passages in the Torah is found in this week’s portion, Shofetim. It comes in the context of the instruction to the Israelites to appoint magistrates and judges to administer a fair system of laws and administrative organization upon the land of Israel. The tribes will soon cross over and re-settle the land and once they have established their towns and villages, the Israelites will need a system to govern themselves and carry out the rule of law.

“Justice, Justice shall you pursue’ (Deut 16:20) teaches our Torah portion this week. Of course this can be viewed as only advice to those judges and magistrates and administrators who will be charged with these duties. This is according to the great commentator Rashi quoting the Sifre. He says the reason the word justice is repeated is to indicate that the judges should judge the people with righteous judgment. This means that they must be fair and honorable and scrupulous in their judgments.

Parshat Re’eh, Deuteronomy 11:26 -16:17

Eric — 2009-08-10T09:28:51-08:00

This week’s portion Re’eh sets before us blessings and curses and reminds us that it is our choice between the two. God gives us the free will to choose a life of blessing and abundance or a life of curses and lack.

But what is part of the formula for this? Is it just a matter of obedience to God’s laws when we come into the land? What about outside the land of Israel? Can we still have a life of abundance and blessing?

Parshat Ekev, Deuteronomy 7:12 -11:25

Eric — 2009-08-03T11:02:27-08:00

This week’s Torah portion, Ekev, offers the children of Israel strong parenting advice. Moses is continuing his address and counsel to the People of Israel before his death. He has so much to share with them. He is trying to impress upon them their need to be loyal to the covenant and to keep far away from idolatry even as the encounter new people in the Promised Land and begin to settle there.

In this week’s portion, Moses reminds the Children of Israel that their example will matter. He exhorts the community beginning in chapter 11, “Love therefore Adonai your God and always keep God’s charge, God’s laws, God’s rules and God’s commandments” (Deut. 11:1). But Moses is keenly aware that this isn’t only because it will bring reward or satisfaction to the adult generation. But more importantly it is a teaching to be passed to future generations. Moses continues, “Take thought this day that it was not your children, who neither experienced nor witnessed the lesson of Adonai your God- God’s majesty, God’s might hand, God’s outstretched arm; the signs and the deeds performed in Egypt against Pharaoh king of Egypt and all his land…but it was you who saw with your own eyes all the marvelous deeds that Adonai performed.”(Deut. 11:2-7).

Parshat Ve’etchanan, Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11

Eric — 2009-07-28T10:22:15-08:00

Our portion opens with a continuation of Moses’ anger and hurt at not being able to cross over to the Promised Land. He has just ordained Joshua ben Nun as his successor in front of the people. But Moses is bitter. He blames the people for his not being able to cross over with them. “God was wrathful with me on your account and would not listen to me” (Deut 3:26). Instead of seeing that the future required perhaps a different set of skills to bring the people into the next phase of their journey. Moses is 120 years old at this time according to our Sages. He is tired and his faith though strong in God –his faith in the people has been tried. The leader must have hope in the people that they lead. And Moses feels betrayed now by the people. It is definitely time for his farewell speech.

Parshat Devarim, Deuteronomy 1:1 -3:22

Eric — 2009-07-21T15:18:33-08:00

The fifth and final book of the Torah begins with this week’s portion Devarim. This book of the Torah is also known in tradition as Mishneh Torah. Traditionally, this book of the Torah is attributed almost fully as the authorship of Moses except perhaps the last eight lines that Joshua is said to have written following Moses’ death overlooking the Promised Land. Deuteronomy is Moses’ farewell sermons to the People Israel. He urges their faithfulness and observance in following God’s eternal covenant made with them (even though they were not the generation that stood at Sinai, having been born in the desert). The theology of Deuteronomy is clear with the repetition of the Ten Commandments and the Shema and V’ahavta that appears in Chapter 6. God is One and the people have an obligation to love and honor God with all their being.

Parshat Mattot-Maasei, Numbers 30:2 -36:13

Eric — 2009-07-13T12:03:19-08:00

Another double portion, Mattot-Maasey is this week’s Torah reading. This is the end of the book of Numbers. And it is the last military campaign of Moses before his death on the heights overlooking the Promised Land. The campaign is against the Midianites and not only do they slay the five kings of Midian but they also put Balaam son of Beor to death. This is the Balaam who blessed the people Israel rather than curse them doing God’s work even as he was called by the Midianite King, Balak.

Parshat Pinchas, Numbers 25:10-30:1

Eric — 2009-07-07T09:31:50-08:00

In this week’s portion Pinchas, Moses learns that he will not be able to cross over into the Promised Land. After being a faithful servant of God, one who dedicated his life work to shepherding this difficult people from slavery to the steppes of Moab at the edge of the Holy Land, he will not be able to enter. Instead God tells him that he will ascend the heights and there be taken to his kin. In other words he will die on the mountain overlooking the Promised Land –only to see it –never to experience it.

Parshat Balak: Numbers 22:2 – 25:9

Eric — 2009-06-29T15:42:56-08:00

This week’s portion, Balak, is the story of the Midianite priest Balaam who was summoned by the Moabite king Balak to curse the Israelites. The Israelites were on their trek north encountering the local peoples and sometimes engaging in battle as they prepared themselves before crossing the river Jordan into the Promised Land. King Balak was nervous about the Israelites engaging Moab in battle as they had the Amorites and thus wanted all the protection he could muster including the protection of their gods.

Parshat Korach, Numbers 16:1- 18:31

Eric — 2009-06-22T09:35:02-08:00

This week’s torah portion, Korach, is all about the rebellion of Moses’ and Aaron’s cousin Korach. He challenges them for the leadership of the people and the priesthood. But God reminds the children of Israel and in particular, Korach and his followers that Moses and Aaron are the chosen leaders, chosen by God.

Moses quashes their rebellion and God further consolidates the power of Aaron and his descendants and the Levites as the priesthood. So that there are no further insurrections or complaints, God instructs Moses to take the staff of leadership from each tribal head and inscribe it with the name of the elder. Also Moses receives a staff from the tribe of Levi with Aaron’s name. These are placed overnight in the Tent of Meeting near the Ark of the Covenant. God told Moses the staff that blooms-that will be the one who is the rightful leader of the Priesthood. The next day-Moses brought out all of the staffs. Each chieftain identified his and of course, Aaron’s staff is the one in full bloom. “There the staff of Aaron and the house of Levi had sprouted; it had brought forth sprouts, produced blossom, and borne almonds.” (Num. 17:23). This miracle of the blooming staff, visible to all Israel, further elevates Aaron and the tribe of Levi as the priesthood. Although they had been duly ordained and installed this crowning miracle put to rest any questions of authority. This staff or Aaron’s was stored in the Tent of meeting in the holy of holies as a future testament to this miraculous elevation.

Parshat Shelach Lecha, Numbers 13:1 -15:41

Eric — 2009-06-16T09:05:28-08:00

This week’s portion Shelach Lecha speaks about the rules for those who are native born Israelites and those who are resident aliens. Several times the Torah has emphasized that there is one law for both those that are native born and those who have joined the people and reside with them. “There shall be one law for you and for the resident stranger; it shall be a law for all time throughout the ages. You and the stranger shall be alike before the Eternal” (Num. 15:15).

Parshat Beha’alotecha, Numbers 8:1 – 12:16

Eric — 2009-06-08T09:14:26-08:00

This week’s portion Beha’alotecha, describes how Aaron the High Priest is to kindle the menorah. Interestingly enough it doesn’t use the term kindle—which would read b’hadlaktcha, but beha’alotecha- which means when you raise or up or mount the candles. It is the same root as aliyah-to go up. Rashi the great Torah commentator told us that there was a step before the menorah and literally the priest would step up to kindle the lights of the menorah.

Parshat Naso II: Numbers 4:21-7:89

Eric — 2009-06-02T09:06:15-08:00

This week’s portion is the second reading of Naso. We do this to keep in line with the Orthodox Diaspora world. They still observe two days of Shavuot and Reform Judaism observes only one. But in a nod to our values of Klal Yisrael we stay on the same parshiot system.

This is a change from previous years. When the second day of Shavuot would fall on Shabbat the Reform movement was observing the next week’s portion just as they do in Israel. So for a few weeks the Israeli and Reform Torah reading calendar would differ from the Conservative and Orthodox Torah reading cycle outside of Israel. But in recent years when this has occurred, the Reform movement has split parshat Naso.

Parshat Naso: Numbers 4:24-7:89, Shavuot

Eric — 2009-05-28T13:01:06-08:00

I am sad. And I am disappointed. I am angry. Tuesday’s Supreme Court decision upholding Proposition 8 is a blow to freedom and justice everywhere and within our own community in particular. The one hand gives and the other hand takes away. The Supreme Court that just a year ago found in our Constitution the fundamental right to marry and wrote eloquently about the power and meaning of the word marriage-now says the word marriage doesn’t really matter and that gay and lesbian couples are still protected in an institution (Domestic Partnership) that is not equal. We learned so long ago that separate is never equal.

Parshat Bemidbar, Numbers 1:1 -4:20

Eric — 2009-05-20T15:46:14-08:00

Memorial Day weekend is here. For most of us this signals that summertime is about to begin. You know what they say, after Memorial Day you can begin to wear white shoes!
With summer comes the inevitable summer vacations and the dilemma of what and how to pack. Should I travel lightly and avoid checking bags that they now charge fees for? Or should I make sure to have just the right outfit for every occasion? In either case, packing for a summer trip brings both ingenuity and skill to ensure that everything fits and arrives with the fewest wrinkles!

Rabbi Eger's Board of Rabbis Installation Speech

Eric — 2009-05-15T09:47:56-08:00

Harry Truman — On Becoming a President

On April 12th, 1945, Harry Truman was summoned to the White House. Ushered into Eleanor Roosevelt's sitting room, the vice president was gently informed that President Roosevelt had died.
“Is there anything I can do for you?" Truman asked after a moment's reflection. "Is there anything we can do for you?" Eleanor replied. "You're the one in trouble now!"

I am the one in trouble now! As Vice president these last six years to Bob Gan, Yosef Kanefsky and my good friend Stuart Vogel — I can only hope to lead with as much compassion, dignity and chesed as these wonderful now past presidents of the board of rabbis. I am so honored to begin the next two years as President of the Board of Rabbis. Thank you to my colleagues for their confidence in my leadership.