Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein
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Words Of Torah Dripping With Sarcasm and Condescension
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Blog: http://rabbi-pinky.blogspot.com/
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THE COLLECTED WRITINGS OF RABBI PINKY SCHMECKELSTEIN
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The Toirah is very clear about how we should treat strangers. One representative Pasuk out of many: “VeAhavtem Essss HaGer, Kee Gerim Heyissssem B’Eretz Mitzrayim” (Devarim, Perek YUD, Pasum Yud Tesssss). “And you should love the stranger, because your were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Deuteronomy, Chapter 10, Verse 19). Such references appear throughout the TANACH. However, the Mitzvah of how to treat the stranger is best illustrated early in the Torah through the example of Avraham Avinu.
At the beginning of Parshas Vayeyra, Avraham Avinu, nursing his swollen Schvantzyl after being Yikunais into Brisoi Shel Himself, rushes to welcome the three strangers that show up at his doorstep. He does not play the sick card, “Saralah, can you do me a favor and give the Schnorrers at the door $18. And don’t forget to get a receipt for our taxes!” He does not outsource to Damesek Eliezer, “Hey, D.E., there are some Mormons or Seventh Day Adventists at the door. Can you please deal with them.” He does not screen them for their Frumkeit, “Before I let you in, do you hold by the Eruv?”, or their affiliation, “Are you Reform, Conservative, Zalie, Aroini, Bobov 45, Bobov 48, Gerrer, Mooncatcher, a Litvak, or, Chass V’Sholom, a Lubavitcher?” He does not ask their sexual orientation, political affiliation, or whether they use a filtered phone. On the contrary, he organizes a meal, including Basar, Chemah V’Cholov, and Oogois for dessert. Only later does he discover that the three guests are either messengers of the Reboinoisheloilum, actual angels, or a flesh and blood manifestation of Hakadoishboruchhu Himself.
How is this possible, and what does this teach us about our own lives?
RASHI suggests that we learn from Avraham the Mitzvah of hospitality. He cites Midrashim from Beraishis Rabbi, the Midrash Tanchuma, The Little Medrish Says and the Chronicles of Narnia.
RAMBAN holds farkhert. He suggests that we are not required to be hospitable to strangers. Rather, he suggests that Avraham Avinu knew through Ruach HaKoidesh that the guests were neither Shkutzim, nor even worse, liberals. He knew that they were messengers of the Aibishter, sent to deliver an important message, as well as to drop an eighth of Kosher Kannabis (TM).
The Sforno agrees that Avraham was not interested in providing hospitality. He disagrees, however, that Avraham knew that the visitors were Malachim. Instead, he holds that Avraham saw an opportunity to make a sale, and prided himself on never missing an opportunity to “pitch” Crypto. As proof, he cites a Braisah that says that Avraham and Sarah deducted the cost of the meal as a tax deduction, labeling the expense as “Cost of Sales”. The Braisah notes that this deduction was raised during a subsequent tax audit, and that, after being found guilty, Avraham was given the choice to either pay a $100 penalty or to go slaughter his own son. He obviously chose the latter, and the rest is history.
Despite the existence of multiple opinions on the matter, the general consensus across CHAZAL is that, indeed, Avraham Avinu was a generous host to strangers, and that his hospitality was known far and wide. The Zoihar HaKoidesh suggests that Avraham regularly hosted guests from all over the Middle East: Wise men from Bavel, nomads from Arabia, and even bus loads of cheerleaders from the Canaanite University Lacrosse Team. The Zoihar notes that the presence of strangers brings Divine energies from Binah down to Tiferessss, stiffening the resolve of Yesoid, and preparing Shchina for a week of partying at an all inclusive resort in Gan Eden. VeHamayvin Yavin.
Rav Yisroel Salanter asks a beautiful Kasha, “Is it indeed possible that Avraham Avinu was so welcoming and so non-judgmental? If that is the case, was he really a member of Klal Yisroel?”
The Chasam Soifer answers that in fact Avraham Avinu was not a Jew, and as a result, was Pattur from interrogating people as if he was a member of the Gestapo. He notes that Avraham was originally from Churun, he served his guests milk and meat together, and owned rather than leased his own car. Says the Chasam Soifer, “Of course Avraham Avinu was not a Jew. At most he was either a Ger, a Toishav, or a major investor.”
But Rav Kook disagrees. He suggests that LeOilum Avraham Avinu a proud member of Klal Yisroel and was indeed a sincere and gracious host to both friends and strangers. He welcomed people to his home. He served meals. He hosted parties. He even had a full sized hot tub installed behind the tent. He provided free parking to the first twenty guests. He had a Keurig so that guests could brew fresh coffee whenever they wanted. According to Rav Kook, Avraham Avinu did not interrogate people to filter out “deplorables”. On the contrary, Avraham Avinu saw the Tzelem Eloikim, the Divine essence, the Pintele Yid in everyone who crossed his threshold. Jew. Non-Jew. Akkadian. Canaanite. Egyptian. Yevusi. Everyone was welcome. As long as they could pay their bill at the end of the evening.
Rav Kook points out that we learn from the example of Avraham Avinu that we need to be welcoming to others. We need to be hospitable. Even to that Mamzer across the street, to that Yenta with the really bad Sheytel that looks like blond pompoms up the block, and to those hyperactive children that sometimes come over and insist on touching everything and then refuse to pick up after themselves.
If we look to our day, we can find that the Gedoilim of our day maintain this Mitzvah as a central pillar of contemporary behavior.
During a march through Bnei Brak by thousands protesting against the governing coalition, its judicial reform efforts and its funding of ultra Orthodox institutions, locals — who are closely aligned with the parties in government — responded by handing out water and refreshments to the marchers. (https://www.timesofisrael.com/bnei-brak-presents-how-to-turn-a-tense-anti-overhaul-rally-into-a-cholent-party/) The refreshments included Kugel and Cholent, which suggests that the locals may have been trying to give the marchers cholesterol and heart disease, but the thought still counts.
Elsewhere, some leaders of the ultra Orthodox communities extend their hospitality to going Lifnei Shurassss HaDin, beyond the letter of the law. The Yuntif of Purim is a holiday where the Ikar Mitzvois include reading the Megilla, giving alms to the poor, engaging in festive meals and sharing treats through the exchange of Shalach Manois AKA Mishloach Manot AKA Jewish Trick-or-Treating. It is of course Halacha to exchange two different types of food stuffs - each requiring a different Bracha (benediction) - with another. Traditionally this includes Hamintashen (a Mezoinois), some form of fruit (HaEitz), and a small bottle of wine (HaGafen) or other alcoholic beverage (Shekakol). But, engaging in Hiddur Mitzvah, a common practice in some communities, is to provide cigarettes to children. (https://www.timesofisrael.com/cigarettes-for-kids-purim-habit-among-haredim-must-stop-pleads-government-campaign/) And this is not an obscure act by a random communal leader. In the ultra-Orthodox town of Elad , Mayor Yisrael Porush -- the son of Israeli cabinet minister Meir Porush and grandson of legendary Chareidi political figure the late Menachem Porush -- handed out cigarettes to children, suggesting they were prizes for getting answers correct on a quiz of Toirah knowledge (“Hey kids, whoever can recite for me the Arba Misois Bes Din gets a cigarette!”) (https://www.timesofisrael.com/mayor-of-ultra-orthodox-city-elad-hands-out-cigarettes-to-children-at-purim-party/) What a TzadDick!! Not only is he being Mekayaim the Mitzvois of celebrating Purim and Hachnasassss Orchim (entertaining guests), he is also supporting the producer of Marlboro cigarettes and the Israel health system — ensuring that they will have customers for years to come!!
Perhaps the most potent example of hospitality is provided by Moireinu V’Rabbeinu President Donald Trump SHLITA, Melech HaMashiach. The Melech HaMashiach has spent his entire career in the hospitality business providing hotels and residencies and golf opportunities to the needy, unlike Biden, who spend the last 50 years in Washington DC accomplishing what? At his properties, the Melech HaMashiach has always served generous meals and a plethora of beverages of all sorts. But we now know that his graciousness has expanded to wisdom: According to the testimony of multiple witnesses, he has also shared Top Secret military and intelligence documents with guests - showing them to others and making them accessible in numerous unsecured locations throughout his properties. He is being Mekayaim the Mitzvois of Hachnasassss Orchim and VeHagissssa Boi Yoimum VaLayla - engaging in sharing important knowledge and wisdom day and night - all in one shot! And THAT is why he is the Melech HaMashaich! You cannot find anyone else in the world who is as giving with strangers!!!
Why, with some female strangers he even very generously “grabs them by the Erva”!
Shoyn.
We have spent much of this Drasha on the treatment of strangers discussing several contemporary examples of hospitality. But, for contrast, what is an example of being inhospitable? And how has this behavior been perceived by the rabbinic authorities of our day?
Imagine the following. A neighbor shows up at your house unexpectedly with a bunch of people. What do you do? Do you welcome them in? Do you offer them coffee or schnapps? Do you give them milk and cookies? Do you apologize that you have no more snacks, and next time, they should give you a little advanced notice? Or do you take out a gun and shoot them, blow them up, and then complain to the world about the visit, the absolute opposite of hospitality???!!!
A little over a year ago Vladimir Putin and a few of his friends paid a simple visit to the home of Volodymyr Zelensky, a Jew. Did Zelensky open his arms with warm hospitality? NO! He reacted with anger and violence. How should we understand his actions?
Fortunately, Nevuah, prophecy, is very much alive and well in our generation!! Chassidic Rebbes have it, Rosheshivas have it, and a few select others have it as well. The leading Navi of our generation on such issues Rabbi Tucker Carlson SHLITA shared the insights gleaned through Ruach HaKoidesh on his new Twitter based video streaming show. Comments Reb Tucker, “Ukraine, as you may have heard, is led by a man called Zelensky… Zelensky is too decent for terrorism. Now you see him on television, and it's true you might form a different impression. Sweaty and rat-like, a comedian turned oligarch, a persecutor of Christians, a friend of BlackRock… Of all the people in the world, our shifty, dead-eyed Ukrainian friend in the tracksuit is uniquely incapable of blowing up a dam. He's literally a living saint, a man in whom there is no sin.” (https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/tucker-carlson-twitter-video-ukraine-dam-b2352930.html)
What does the prophet Tucker Carlson tell us about the behavior of the Jewish Zelensky? Was it appropriate to deny hospitality to his Russian guests? Should he be considered a model for Klal Yisroel in our day? Of course not! Says Carlson, channeling Nevuah from Hakadoishboruchhu, Zelensky the Jew, is “sweaty and rat-like”, “a persecutor of Christians”, “a friend of (large private equity firm) BlackRock” and “shifty-eyed”.
As clarified by Reb Tucker Carlson, SHLITA, Zelensky the Jew is the classic Christ killer.
Thank the Reboinoisheloilum for Reb Tucker! Had it not been for his unique insights, I might have thought that Zelensky was heroically defending his country against brutal atrocities targeted at civilians by standing up to Putin in the way that absolutely no one in the world has had the Schvantzlach to do for the last 25 years. But no. According to Tucker Carlson, Zelensky the Jew welcomes the opportunity to persecute Christians in the mold of George Soros, the Rothschilds, Fagin, Shylock, and Judas Iscariot.
Ashrenu — fortunate are we! — that we have such leaders as Reb Tucker Carlson to show us the true path of righteousness! We are indeed a blessed generation!
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So, as members of Klal Yisroel, we must in our own lives determine how we want to live and whose example we wish to follow. We can either follow the path of Donald Trump or emulate the behavior of Volodymyr Zelensky.
Rabbi Pinky Schmeckelstein
Rosheshiva
Yeshivas Chipass Emmess
Npoj8@Yahoo.com
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