30 JUDAISM
24 FEBRUARY 2022
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ASK THE RABBI Looking for answers? Send your question to Rabbi@RabbiSchochet.com REMEMBERING AMALEK IN THE 21ST CENTURY Dear Rabbi There is an annual mitzvah to remember what Amalek did to the Jews on their way out from Egypt and to eradicate any memory of him. Why do we need to do this in the 21st century? Shouldn’t we move on from some of our ancient rituals that have no relevance in our day and age? I get that we celebrate Purim like any other festival. But there is no Amalek and there is no eradication required. Jonathan Dear Jonathan And what exactly did Amalek seek to do when we left Egypt? Eradicate us. Just because. Our Sages describe it as the chutzpah of Amalek. By definition, while the rest of the world stood in awe of us, the Amalekites stepped up to cool off the fervour and sew doubts in the fledgling nation’s hearts. Imagine that overwhelming sense of despair when coming out of two centuries of servitude only to be confronted with another attacking enemy. Hence G-d instructed that they be eradicated for they are a merciless personification of Anti-Semitism in its ugliest form. Now fast forward to the present. Have you seen the news? Have you watched the circulating videos? Have you read the statistics? The worst year of Anti-Semitic attacks on record. Jews being beaten randomly on streets simply because they are Jewish. Only a few short years ago we almost ended up with an apparent virulently
Anti-Semitic Prime Minister which literally left Jews across the country feeling frightened for their Jewish lives. Amalek is alive and well in various guises and manifestations. Lest we forget what Amalek did to us, we are inclined to ignore the threat which would only fester. Remembering Amalek reminds us that Anti-Semitism is alas, alive and well, and that rather than being bleeding heart pacifists, we must do everything within our ability to eradicate it once and for all.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK Dear Rabbi I’m intending to visit New York City and since you are from New York I hope you don’t mind me asking you for your suggestions of a few Jewish sites to take in. I am a man in my seventies and this will probably end up being my last trip to the Big Apple so I really want to make the most of it. Tovyah Dear Tovyah I never imagined this column would become a travel guide, but since you are asking: You could start with Le Marais, which can accommodate you over Shabbat as well. Then make your way to the Statue of Liberty - the Jews think she’s Jewish because she’s parked on Ellis Island – holds that book as though it is one of the two Tablets, and speaks with her hands in the air! On the spiritual side, a tour through Williamsburg will open your eyes to modern-day shtetl life, and of course a trip to the Ohel
Pirkei Avot Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah said: Where there is no Torah, there is no “Derech Eretz”; where there is no “Derech Eretz”, there is no Torah. Where there is no wisdom there is no fear of G-d; where there is no fear of G-d, there is no wisdom. Where there is no understanding, there is no knowledge; where there is no knowledge, there is no understanding. Where there is no “flour” i.e. sustenance, there is no Torah; where there is no Torah, there is no bread. This is one of the most well-known Mishnayot in Prikei Avot.
in Queens – burial site of the Lubavitcher Rebbe where hundreds of thousands flock to pray. You might want to also drop in on Lincoln Square Synagogue on Shabbat - just to see how services should be run and how a kiddush should be served (unlike most places in the UK). Here’s hoping you have a long life and enjoy more trips there and elsewhere in the future. PS: I’m not from New York; Toronto Canada.
WHEELCHAIRS ON SHABBAT Dear Rabbi I was born Jewish, I am a proud Jew, I was circumcised at eight days old and had a Bar Mitzvah. I was reading an article recently regarding pushing a wheelchair on Shabbat. I have never heard such tosh in all my life. It makes me feel embarrassed to be Jewish. How can it be OK to be pushed by a Jew inside an Eruv and by a gentile outside an Eruv? What utter codswallop. How can being within an area encompassed by a wire make any difference? How can any person of sound mind and intelligence believe this nonsense? I think it is nearly as mad as Muslim women being forced to cover their faces and just have slits for their eyes. Religious rules like this are plain stupid. The world would be a much happier and safer place without religion and its nonsensical rules. Steve Dear Steve So says the guy who is walking around circumcised because that too is one of the rules. Or are you one of those who
are suing his parents for their foreskin back? The contradiction in your hysterical email is quite implicit. You talk about rules making you embarrassed to be Jewish while at the same time you write about being proud of your identity. What on earth does being Jewish mean if not being a member of a particular faith religion? And religion by definition means a belief in G-d
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Dedicated in memory of Tova bas Chayim Hillel Monis and Meir Shimon ben Avrohom Yakov How to define “Derech Eretz” is a matter of discussion, but our common understanding of “Derech Eretz” as being polite to and mindful of other people, is a good place to start. The Torah teaches us how to be kind to people and one can only grow in Torah understanding and appreciation if they put into practice the Torah’s lessons. Rude and arrogant “scholars” cause a Chillul Hashem. However, one should not draw a conclusion (when seeing apparently learned people acting wrongly) that one can attain fear of G-d without studying Torah. One can
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only learn how to truly fear G-d by studying Torah correctly and from learning from G-d fearing role models, and only if one approaches Torah study with the correct level of awe (i.e. not in a flippant manner) can they hope to understand the Torah. Knowledge and understanding likewise work together and as one progresses in one, they can hope to progress in the other. Finally, bread i.e., sustenance – a person should not always consider their
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which de facto means having some directive in how this G-d wants to be served. So rather than me even bothering to explain to you the mechanics of an Eruv I would suggest you go explore the essence of your identity – deal with that chip on your shoulder – abandon your Jew complex – and then return with an open mind and a more open heart. Then we can talk.
lack of Torah knowledge to be a sign of their spiritual shortcomings. One should always look to see if there are any physical needs that are lacking when one approaches spiritual pursuits. Sometimes, if a child (or adult) is hungry they will not be able to focus on their studies and the solution may be as simple as a good breakfast! The reverse is true as well. A person who studies Torah for the correct reasons can hope to see blessing in their material endeavours too.
