<<Torah Thoughts>>

Dear Friend,

This week we read the Torah portion “Ki Tavo” (Deuteronomy 26-29:8).

“Ki Tavo” contains 3 positive commandments (“do’s”) and 3 negative commandments (“do not’s”).

Our portion begins with the mitzvah of Bikkurim- bringing the first ripened fruits to the Temple. By giving the first of our crop to G-d, we recognize that everything belongs to G-d. Even if we invested much sweat and toil, ultimately, it was G-d’s nurturing kindness that allowed us to reach the point of harvest.

After giving over the produce to the Kohen, the farmer then recites a declaration which has actually been incorporated in the Passover Hagadah. This declaration is a thumbnail sketch of Jewish history. This reminds the farmer that even if he recognizes G-d’s control of nature, G-d’s power extends beyond nature into the realm of history. It is only by Divine Providence that the Jewish People were given the Land.

Our portion also contains a series of blessings resulting from serving G-d and curses for failing to live up to the Covenant. In the section containing the curses (28:45-47) the Torah says, “All these curses will befall you … since you did not serve HaShem your G-d with gladness and with goodness of heart…”

There are a number of ways of understanding this. The simple explanation is that when things were going well for you and you had something to be grateful for- you took it for granted and did not serve G-d.

A deeper explanation is that it is all in the attitude. A person may fulfill his obligations, but if he is unhappy doing it- is he called a servant of G-d?

Divine service is more than going through the motions. It is supposed to be an expression of love for G-d. Without that love, there will be no joy, and doing something that you miserable with, is truly a curse.

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The HAFTARA (excerpt from the prophets) this week is the sixth in a series of seven “Haftarot of Consolation”. These are read between Tisha B’Av and Rosh Hashanah. This week we read from Isaiah 60:1-22.

In this prophecy, Jerusalem is informed of the imminent final redemption. Jerusalem’s children, the Jewish People will return to her. After them, will come the mighty nations of the world, bearing gifts. The gates of Jerusalem will never be closed- there will be no threat to her security, she will be a great commercial center.

(Verse 14) The children of our oppressors and those who spoke against Israel will bow before us and refer to Jerusalem as “the City of G-d, Zion, the City of the Holy One of Israel”.

(Verse 18) “No longer will violence (Hebrew- “Hamas”) be heard in your Land, no longer will violent destruction occur, you will call G-d’s salvation your security fence. “

(Verse 21) “And your People, they are all righteous, forever will they inherit the Land… I am G-d, in its time I will hasten it.”

We pray and yearn for the fulfillment of this prophecy now more than ever!

If you would like to help the JLE and dedicate an edition of JLE e-news, please contact Rabbi Price (201-833-1328 or jlerabbi@jle.org)

Please take advantage of all the wonderful learning opportunities that the JLE offers!

Shabbat Shalom.

Best wishes,

Rabbi Baruch Price

POST-SCRIPT

Excerpt from article about the tragic death of Dr. Applebaum & his daughter in Tuesday’s terror attack in Jerusalem…

"I went to his [Torah class]."  "I was saved by him when I had a heart attack."  "I
was treated by him at Terem (acute care clinic) at 2 AM on Friday night for
chest pains."  "My sister was in a [terrorist attack] and he saved her life."  "I drove
him when he was escorting Rav Ahron Soloveichik Z"L in a wheelchair."  "He
saved my 2 month old baby who was not breathing."
"He...He...he....he...he..."

Rabbi Dr. David Applebaum, 50, was the angel Gavriel.  These comments are what I kept hearing as I stood amongst the thousands of mourners at the Shamgar Funeral home in Jerusalem.  The area reserved outside for us Kohanim was filled with Chassidim, [modern Orthodox], secular … every type of Jew in Jerusalem.  The streets were blocked and the crowds continued to swell in the 90 degree heat. We could hear via blaring loudspeakers the cries of the family along with the eulogies.

Dr. David Applebaum had founded the TEREM acute care clinics which operate
24/7 for immediate care for those in medical need.  The concept was new to
Israel years ago when he founded the programs.  Dr. Applebaum was a messenger of G-d to heal the sick and wounded and to restore them to life.  

His father-in-law, Rabbi Shubert Spero, a leader of the Cleveland community delivered the first [eulogy] in English.
Rabbi Spero recalled the young student who was a [close disciple] of the late
[sage of the generation], Rabbi Ahron Soloveichik Z"TL in Chicago.  A friend remembered that in the 9th grade in Skokie Yeshiva, David Applebaum was asking questions of Rav Ahron which the smicha students could not answer. 

Rabbi Spero reminisced how David came to see him in his study to ask permission to marry his daughter, Debbie.  Rabbi Spero broke down in tears.

He remembered their aliyah 20 years earlier from Cleveland to Jerusalem.  Everyone wept as Rabbi Spero recounted how all of the nieces and nephews of David Applebaum would always go to "Uncle David" for advice.

David Applebaum was present after every [terrorist attack] in the emergency room of Shaarei Tzedek hospital.  His Terem clinics serviced many people with lesser injuries from day to day.  Eight years ago, I injured my finger, and was in
such pain that I sought help at a Terem clinic.  I was told that the wait for a doctor and x-ray was much quicker at Terem than at a hospital ER.  David Applebaum emerged from the doctors' office. It was his turn to treat me.  He never met me, but immediately, his approach and bedside manner calmed me. Two years later, our daughter had fallen and her face was bleeding profusely. We took her to the clinic at 2AM on Purim night. I assumed that there would be a skeleton staff on duty.  Again it was Dr. David Applebaum, who was just concluding a [Torah class] to his staff, who was on duty to treat my daughter. He told her “now you won't need a costume for Purim. Your face is all red and puffy, just like a clown.”  We laughed and my daughter cried with laughter too.

Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau, the former Chief Rabbi of Israel spoke as the funeral participants continued to arrive and arrive and arrive. Rabbi Lau told us that he had first met Dr. Applebaum when Rav Ahron Soloveichik Z"TL was in Israel a few years before his death.  Rav Lau explained that as he went out to greet Rav Ahron, he saw this man with beard, Gemara, and water bottle pushing Rav Ahron in his wheelchair to the Chief Rabbi's office. While Rav Ahron discussed issues with Rav Lau, David Applebaum was pouring water for his rebbe and quietly taking his pulse as Rav Ahron had not been feeling well that day.

Rav Lau mentioned an incident at the ER of Shaarei Tzedek only 3 weeks ago when he visited the wounded of the Bus no. 2 terrorist attack.  As David Applebaum, the chief of ER at Shaarei Tzedek led Rav Lau from child to child, from mother to mother of the wounded, the patients began to smile and a few patients sang "Hamalach Hagoel" [The redeeming Angel] in honor of  David Applebaum. He was embarrassed in front of Rav Lau.  The image of the smiles of the wounded when Dr. David Applebaum walked into their hospital ward brought tears to Rav Lau, who commented that David Applebaum was indeed [an angel].

Tzvi Sand, the father of the groom of tonight's wedding that will not take place began to speak, cry, and ask for answers from the world. Suddenly, Tzvi took out a box containing the wedding ring which his son could no longer put on Navah Applebaum’s finger. She too was murdered last night during her last few minutes with her father, Dr. David.  

A wail of cries rose up so loud that the surrounding streets reverberated. We outside imagined that inside the funeral parlor, a ring box was displayed as Navah and her father, Dr. David lay side by side.

Tonight, Dr. David was supposed to stand side by side with his daughter, Navah.  Instead, he was lying side by side in the shrouds of death to be buried in the earth of Jerusalem. The wedding hall which was awaiting 600 guests to dance on the floor above the earth was replaced with 6000 people crying, praying, and screaming as the earth was being prepared for a father and a daughter to be buried on the daughter's wedding day.

David Applebaum and Navah had been working on the seating lists for tonight's wedding.  David wanted a break to get something to go from Cafe Hillel.  He also wanted some time alone with his daughter on the night before her wedding. Their conversation outside the restaurant was shattered by the Oslo “peace” terror.

Navah Applebaum had spent her post high-school national service working for with children with cancer. Every day, she left the house at 7 AM and returned late at night.  Navah's kids with cancer were in attendance today at her funeral.  The kids with bald heads from chemotherapy and the kids with bodies emaciated by their cancer were crying together with us as the chevra kadisha and pallbearers began to walk out with Navah's body on the stretcher next to that of her father, Dr. David.

Navah and David are now together in Heaven, perhaps finishing their private
father-daughter discussion, on a wedding day which will never be.   David Applebaum at 50 saved thousands of lives.  He gave so much.  Navah gave her last months to making kids with cancer smile. These holy righteous ones are now together forever...

To see a news clip, click the link below

http://www.israelnn.com/ae7_tv.php?video_id=502
 
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