Parshas Pinchas

Only in Yerushalayim- Reflections upon returning from Jerusalem.
The sounds of children crying others squealing in delight and water in the kitchen. It sounds like a recipe for trouble and sure enough it was. I went to the kitchen to find the sink running and water being splashed by some very delighted children on some very unhappy children. But did Zayda break up the party? No he watched and smiled. It turns out the kids were playing parah adumah which happened to be that weeks Torah reading. The ultimate variation of tag one child tags another and says "your taamei". Then of course the poor thing cannot be left in a tamei state so the "Cohen" has to "sprinkle" them with water. So did Zaydeh do anything about it? No he watched and smiled and left the water for someone else to clean up. Kids will be kids but these kids have a Torah frame of reference.

On my way to the airport I asked the cab driver if he had ever been to America. He said he had planned to but it didn't work out. He has since gotten married and is settled in Israel. "And why don't you move to Israel?" came the expected rejoinder. "Because I am a Rabbi of a Congregation" I replied. This answer seemed to be satisfactory. Why was it a satisfactory answer?
While in Israel I participated in the wedding of Aaron and Shoshana. Standing under their Jerusalem chuppah with the Judean Hills in the background I listened as a Rabbi was called to the chuppah and recited the following blessing. Many the barren one (Jerusalem) rejoice as her children are gathered in to her in joy. Blessed are you Hashem who gladdens Zion and her children. This bride and groom are certainly the children of Zion. They intend to spend their lives in Israel and even if they should find themselves somewhere else I can guarantee you they are in Israel. This wasn't just a wedding. This was the fulfillment of prophesy. How did that prophesy come about. It began right here in Atlanta Ga. Aaaron Fruchtman and Shoshana Schroeder who were raised here. They went to Braves games and shopped at Perimeter mall. They lived the life of American Jews identifying with their place of residence as their homeland. Then they stepped into shul. In shul they were introduced to a new paradigm. The began to recite prayers as we did just five minutes ago. 'May it be your will Hashem that you bring us in joy to our land and plant us within its border'. Our land? What about the land of the Braves? Oh you mean we really come from a different land, we really have a different identity. Through the shul, teachers youth and college programs they developed a Jewish identity. Once having discovered their true identities they showed us who they really are by acting upon their discoveries. It was those actions that brought them under the beautiful chuppah in Jerusalem.
So why is being a Rabbi a good excuse to stay in America. Because each and every one of us has a true identity. That identity cannot be found on the streets of Dunwoody but it can be found on the streets of Jerusalem. But how do i get to Jerusalem if I don't even know that there my true identity awaits me? There is another place where I can find myself. I can find myself within the walls of the shul and in our Bais hamedrash where the words of the Torah can be heard. That is why the Talmud teaches that when the Moshiach comes the synagogues and study halls of the diaspora will move to Israel. They will move to Israel because until Moshiach comes the synagogue and the Bais Hamedrash are Israel. They are the four cubits of the law that we can shelter in and connect to ourselves and not be lost in the great outdoors of the diaspora. It is the job of the Rabbi and the shul to maintain and nurtur that spirit. That is in essence what I responded to the cab driver and that plus 185 shekel will get you from Yerushalayim to the airport.