Dear Shaare Family,
1. The passing of Henry Kissinger last week, at the age of 100, leaves an opportunity to reflect on his complicated legacy. I am not a political scientist, but wiser people than I have weighed in- some nearly 50 years ago! On December 20, 1975, Rabbi Dr. Norman Lamm delivered a sermon at The Jewish Center titled “Kissinger and The Jews.” He opened with the following caveat:
I do not remember ever publicly discussing Secretary of State Henry Kissinger since he was catapulted into national prominence. There are two reasons for this. First,I have a natural aversion to discussing politics from the pulpit. Second, I was unsure as to whether he is - to put it quite primitively - good or bad for the Jews, or, equally important, good or bad for America.
He then went on to explain why Kissinger is bad for both.
Perhaps it is for the good of all of us, Jews, Israelis, Americans, and the world, that the tenure of this man is drawing to a close and that he will be able to return to the obscurity from which he emerged upon us. My only fear is that his policy of detente may yet prove to be more disastrous for America than for Israel. If that policy proves indeed to be a failure,and America is mortally weakened at the expense of Soviet Russia, Americans may well blame not Kissinger, but the Jews-whom Kissinger did so much to disown.
To read Rabbi Lamm’s full remarks, click here.
I would also commend to your attention a recent episode of the Jewish History Podcast with Rabbi Dr. David Katz, whose Torah and whose knowledge I’ve shared with you in the past. This episode addresses Kissinger’s complicated relationship with the Jewish community- to listen, click here.
2. Tonight, we begin lighting Chanukah candles and with it, we sing Maoz Tzur ( sung here in a setting by Italian baroque composer Benedetto Marcelo). The history of the composition of this song is a fascinating one, especially the meaning of the final words:
דְּחֵה אַדְמוֹן בְּצֵל צַלְמוֹן הָקֵם לָנוּ רוֹעִים שִׁבְעָה:
Reject the red one, into the shadows of idolatry, and revive for us the Seven Shepherds. Whether the “red one” refers to Frederick Barbarossa or Christianity itself, and whether it was an original stanza or one that was added later, is the subject of scholarly debate. See here for a defense of the latter opinion, and here for an article asserting that Maoz Tzur is one unified anti-Christian polemic.
Versions of an additional paragraph is found in several different sources, attributed to the Rema, Rav Moshe Isserles (1530-1572). Here is the one found in the work Mekor Chaim of Rav Yair Chaim Bacharach (1639-1702). The text is especially appropriate this year:
מֵ'עוֹלָם הָיִיתָ יִשְׁעִי, כְּבוֹדִי וּמֵרִים רֹאשִׁי
שְׁ'מַע נָא קוֹל שַׁוְעִי, מַלְכִּי אֱלֹ-ַי קְדוֹשִי
הַ'עֲבִיר חַטָּאתִי וּפִשְׁעִי, גַּם בַּגָּלוּת הַשְּׁלִישִׁי
חַזֵּק יִשְׂרָאֵל הַכְנִיעַ יִשְׁמָעֵאל, וּמֵאֱדוֹם תִּפְדֶּה נַפְשִׁי
You have always been my salvation, my glory who lifts my head
Listen to the sound of my entreaty, My King, my God and my holiness,
Remove my sins and transgressions, in the third exile too,
Strengthen Israel, subjugate Ishmael, and from Edom (Rome) redeem my soul
3. Today, the 24 of Kislev, was the Yahrtzeit of the great Rosh Yeshiva and spiritual leader of the Lithuanian Chareidi community, Rav Aharon Yehuda Leib Shteinman (1914-2017). Rav Shteinman was known for his vast Torah knowledge, his penetrating insight, his abundant common sense and the shockingly abstemious lifestyle he led; he lived in a tiny apartment in Bnei Brak that was hardly furnished at all; his bed was little more than a wooden board with a rudimentary mattress. He slept little, and ate even less- at the time of his passing, I read a quote from a doctor saying that his lifestyle was actually quite healthy (in particular the minimal eating) and may be a medical reason for his longevity. His will is a testament to his humility:
a. I request strongly that no one should eulogize me, not in the presence of my body or elsewhere, not to make gatherings of awakening or mourning, or any other names that obfuscate the intent to eulogize.
b. No articles should be written about me in daily, weekly or monthly publications.
c. No announcements should be posted about my funeral, whether in print, by radio or PA system. It is sufficient that ten people will attend the funeral (Note: it was attended by hundreds of thousands of people)
d. Effort should be made that there is no lag time between my passing and my burial, and the burial should occur as close to my death as possible.
e. No descriptions or honorifics should be written on my headstone, save for "Here is buried Aharon Yehuda Leib ben Noach Tzvi Shteinman."
f. The headstone should be the cheapest and most simple one, and no money should be wasted in purchasing a burial plot. If people would like to give money to charity, they should do so without the purchase of a burial plot.
g. On days when it is customary to visit a gravesite, excessive time should not be wasted in doing so. It is better to strengthen one's learning than to speak about frivolous matters.
h. If the search for a place to lead services [for the mourners] will significantly compromise Torah study, it is better to study Torah for the sake of God during that time instead.
i I ask that all those who want what is best for me to study a chapter of Mishnah until the conclusion of the 12 months of mourning; women should say ten chapters of Tehillim daily, including Shabbos and Yom Tov.
j. Please don't describe me as a tzaddik or as a God fearing person so that I will not be humiliated by these descriptions in the world of truth.
k. I strongly request forgiveness from anyone whose honor I have hurt and similarly, from anyone to whom I owe money and either they didn't know about it at all or didn't know they had halachic recourse to collect it.
l. None of my descendants should follow my body to burial, in consonance with the custom in Jerusalem.
m. Since many people have a mistaken impression of me, I advise that people should not name their sons after me, though I don't forbid it.
Finally, December 7 is the secular anniversary of my first ever trip to Dallas and Shaare Tefilla. Nine years ago, on December 7, 2014 I came for a nearly 24 hour visit, to meet with the members of the search committee, to tour Dallas and to deliver a shiur that evening at Shaare Tefilla. I am grateful to everyone who was involved in making it such an enjoyable trip; aside from the members of the search committee in general and those who attended the class, I am grateful to Mike Zucker for being my guide that day, to Rachel and Matthew Berke for hosting me overnight in their home, and Richard Rohan for an early airport run the following morning. May we all go from strength to strength!
This Week’s MSOTW
