6 min read
GOOD MORNING! It has been said that the history of almost all of the Jewish holidays can be summed up succinctly: "They wanted to kill us; we won. Let's eat." Why has anti-Semitism been so pervasive in so many countries, in so many time periods and for so many reasons? (One begins to wonder. Perhaps there is something wrong with the Jews and Judaism? After all, there is an old Yiddish saying -- "If one person calls you a donkey, ignore him; if two people call you a donkey, buy a saddle.")
Between the years 250 CE and 1948 CE – a period of
1,700 years – Jews have experienced more than eighty expulsions
from various countries in Europe – an average of nearly one
expulsion every twenty-one years. Jews were expelled from
England, France, Austria, Germany, Lithuania, Spain, Portugal,
Bohemia, Moravia and seventy-one other countries.
Historians have classified six explanations as to why
people hate the Jews:
As we examine the explanations, we must ask -- Are they the causes for anti-Semitism or excuses for Anti-Semitism? The difference? If one takes away the cause, then anti-Semitism should no longer exist. If one can show a contradiction to the explanation, it demonstrates that the "cause" is not a reason, it is just an excuse. Let's look at some contradictions:
Every other hated group is hated for a relatively defined reason. We Jews, however, are hated in paradoxes: Jews are hated for being a lazy and inferior race – but also for dominating the economy and taking over the world. We are hated for stubbornly maintaining our separateness – and, when we do assimilate – for posing a threat to racial purity through intermarriages. We are seen as pacifists and as warmongers; as capitalist exploiters and as revolutionary communists; possessed of a Chosen-People mentality, as well as of an inferiority complex. It seems that we just can't win.
Now we know what are NOT the reasons for anti-Semitism. Stay tuned till next week for the reasons for anti-Semitism -- or, if you can't wait, go to http://aish.com/seminars/whythejews (from which much of this material is taken) for the conclusion!
Torah
Portion of the Week
Trumah
This week's Torah reading is an architect's or interior designer's dream portion. It begins with the Almighty commanding Moses to tell the Jewish people to bring an offering of the materials necessary for the construction of the Mishkan, the portable sanctuary.
The Torah continues with the details for constructing the Ark, the Table, the Menorah, the Tabernacle (the central area of worship containing the Ark, the Menorah, the Incense Altar, and the Table), the Beams composing the walls of the Tabernacle, the Cloth partition (separating the Holy of Holies where the Ark rested
from the remaining Sanctuary part of the Tabernacle), the Altar and the Enclosure for the Tabernacle (surrounding curtains forming a rectangle within which was a large area approximately 15x larger than the Tabernacle).
Â
Dvar Torah
based on Growth Through Torah by
Rabbi Zelig Pliskin
Regarding the construction of Ark -- which would eventually hold the Torah, the Tablet containing the Ten Commandments, the broken tablet of the Ten Commandments (which Moshe broke when he saw the Jews worshipping the Golden Calf), a jar of Manneh -- the Torah states, "And you shall make two cherubs of gold" on the cover of the Ark. Why two cherubs (small winged
angels, portrayed as children with a chubby, rosy faces)?
The ark symbolized Torah study. The cherubs remind us to consider ourselves as young children when it comes to studying Torah -- to study with amazement, freshness, openness, appreciation. It is a good way to approach life!
Here is a neat website that I was going to plug anyway (before they told me the incentive): koshefinder.com It is great if you need to find a kosher restaurant, bakery or store when you travel. Also, here's how you can help the Shabbat Shalom! When you register for the free trip to Aruba, put "aish.shabbat" when asked for the
referral code. They will send us $5 just for your registering. Thanks for your help!
CANDLE LIGHTING - February 11:
Jerusalem 4:43Â Â Miami 5:53Â New York 5:07
L.A. 5:15Â Hong Kong 6:01Â Singapore 7:00
Guatemala 5:44 Honolulu  6:10 J'Burg 6:38
Melbourne 8:06Â Moscow 5:06Â London 4:49
Atlanta 6:00Â Toronto 5:24
QUOTE OF THE WEEK:
The greatest wisdom is
realizing one's lack of wisdom.
Dedicated by...
In Honor of
Jack Schwadron
all our love!
your children & grandchildren