18 Iyar 5768, Lag B’omer – Parshas Bechukosi 23 May 2008

Yechezkel Perokim 18 – 24

Well, I am back in the most holy City of Jerusalem. Thank you to those who came last week and allowed be to talk, I hope that you might have come away from that with a feeling of having learnt something. I was so excited to see young girls and boys getting together to learn Torah, in a very kodosh way. To see the faces of those who might read the d’var torah also helps me. So a very big THANK YOU and you should all know again that you are all very HOLY PEOPLE.

Let’s go………. There is a method of disciplining that is used in the classroom, where a teacher has three types of students. The first are those who always listen, the second are those who will listen once they have seen the types of punishment that the teacher gives out and then there are also those who even after seeing the punishments that they might encounter if they misbehave, still misbehave.

The Navi in chapter 21 is shown a vision of trees that are consumed by fire and which can not be extinguished. One tree is dry and is ready to be fire wood while the other is fresh and alive. Chazal explain that this is symbolism and that the dry trees are like those with no Torah and no drive towards Hashem and that the fresh trees are those who are full of Torah. Everyone will be punished and destroyed. What is interesting is that of the symbolism of a tree. Of course it seems the obvious option in that it lends itself to a strong image of the contrast between wood that naturally burns easily to that which does not. But perhaps the Navi specifically talks about trees and not wood, because trees understand that going against the Will of Hashem bring punishment.

During the creation of the world each item that is created is given the order by the ‘word’ of Hashem. If one looks at the creation of the trees, chapter one verse eleven, the command was “Let the earth sprout … fruit trees yielding fruit each of its kinds.” And the next verse says, “And trees yielding fruit.” What the ground did to the trees was not what it was directed to do. The command was that the tree itself i.e. the bark, should taste like the fruit of the tree and the whole thing would smell like the fruit. However, what came out of the ground was a type of trees that was have today, bark with smell and only the fruit is edible. Rashi on the possuk says that the ground was punished with Adam after his sin and that the ground grew thorns and weeds.

So we see that it is the tree that understands that to transgress the command of Hashem means punishment. So too here the Navi wants the people to understand that to transgress the Word of Hashem will mean that there will be punishment, however it seems that we never learn. We cannot be like the trees that were able only once to transgress the Will of Hashem.

Chapter 24!!! A story that we all know and cry over almost everyday. The feeling is almost the same as after hearing about the passing of a close friend or mentor. The build up over the last few weeks, all the prophecies about what might happen and how it will be. Jerusalem full of the greatest people of the time where everyone has come hoping that there they will find rest and a safe place from the destruction. But in truth nothing that can be done and Jerusalem will be destroyed with the people being killed and exile will become the new life for the Jewish people.

As we read on, the Navi himself breaks down at the vision and can no longer continue as he has seen what no man should see, the future destruction of what he loves; the people of Israel, the land of Israel and the House of God. But the Navi is not given time to sit and mourn, Hashem tells him that he should be silent and no longer cry. The Navi walks away with the message that it is too late, nothing can be done.

One can almost hear the Navi shouting from the pages in pain. The feeling of wanting to place an arm around the Navi and tell him, that yes this is painful but the people have great potential. But perhaps that is why the Navi is crying, knowing what could have been and seeing what in reality is.

What I have gained from this episode and what we have read has almost made clear the long exile that we are in now. Hashem does not punish us for no reason, we are not left ‘alone’ for no reason. Hashem told the Navi what might happen if we continue in those evil ways. So somehow over the last 2000 years, even without the Navi telling us what is wrong we should have looked and realised what the Navi was telling us. This is our guide book. We need to take these lessons and follow what Hashem want us to do.

So have a great Shabbos and enjoy, carry on with the learning. Again, I offered to those who find themselves in Israel and need a place to eat/sleep or jus chill please give me a call, everyone is always welcome, 054 345 3356.

All the best,

Natan