Behar Bechukot 5785

A beginning note: We are deeply saddened by the murder of Yaron Lischinsky, 30, who grew up in Israel and Germany, and Sarah Milgrim, 26, who was from Kansas. They were murdered this past Wednesday evening in Washington on a street outside the Capital Jewish Museum, where the American Jewish Committee was hosting a reception for young diplomats. The two young Israeli Embassy workers were just beginning their lives together. No words can express our anger and frustration with the current state of anti-Semitism and anti-Zionism that led up to this attack by what is at this moment believed to be a lone gunman, who was making a statement related to the Palestinian people. We pray for their families and for their cohorts who serve Israeli embassies and consulates throughout the world. We pray for their security and the safety. We pray for the end of this tragic war, the elimination of Hamas, the return of the remaining 58 hostages, and for a day when the world will once again allow Israel, Israelis, and Jews to live in peace, security, and harmony throughout the world.

Behar Bechukot 2025

What is the value of your own personal worth? Some may see it in terms of their stock and bond holdings, their financial worth and all their worldly possessions. Others may envision their worth based on their relationship with family, friends and others who have come into their world. A third group may base their worth based on the tzedakah they have given, either monetarily or in time and effort. A fourth group may use the criteria of what others say about them, and the reputation created.

One thing that Lisa and I found out this week  was how do others look at the things we value. It was quite revealing as Lisa’s ninety-five-year-old mother passed away and we joined together with our family in her home. What items did our family want to keep as a possession to remember Lisa’s mother Trudy by – a picture, a piece of furniture, art work, dishes that have sentiment attached to them, a watch or piece of jewelry. And why do I share that last thought? There are so many possessions that an individual considers to be precious in one’s life. But do the ones who may have lived with us have that same sense of connection, and how does that reflect upon us?

In our Torah reading for this Shabbat, Behar and Bechukatai, we are commanded to redeem our relatives or their home if they have fallen into financial hardship, so that they do not become indentured slaves for a set period of time or lose their possessions to creditors to pay off their debt. What was their value? Was it based on what they owed or was their worth based on their physical ability to work? And is that how one should be valued?

Rashi adds that in the event of financial hardship, when a member of a family chooses to redeem the individual who is in a moment of hardship, the individual creating a foreclosure of property or the one who pays off the debt placing the individual into what was called a Hebrew slave, was not allowed to prevent the redeeming of the relative.

The question still remains as to what was the value associated with the soul of an individual or a home or a personal possession?

Take a moment and look around your home and ask yourself what is it that defines “you?” Then turn to a relative and ask them to find something in that room that they believe defines you? You might find the answer quite illuminating.

Lisa and I would like to express our appreciation to all of you for your notes, your calls, your emails and messages during this past week. We appreciate that you gave us the space to allow us to go through the bereavement process.Trudy’s memory will always provide us with moments to reflect on what made us all love her for who she truly will always be.

As some of you heard on our first night back to minyan, this past Tuesday evening, we were touched by one group who came into the house to offer their condolences and the words they said about her. While we often hear kind words from caregivers, what struck us in a most touching way, was when the waste management professionals stopped their truck on their route in front of Trudy’s home and came in to tell us how much they appreciated her. They told us of how in the hot summer she would wait for them to give them bottles of water, or if they took an extra bag or two how she tipped them, always with a smile and a thank you. Or her cleaning lady who came in with her fiancé to tell us how it wasn’t just about cleaning the house, but the love that she shared with her when she came to clean or when he came by. Strange as it may seem, from caregiver to cleaning lady each thought of one item in the house that they thought represented Trudy. Lisa and her brother Randy turned to them and said “would you like to take the item?” They were overwhelmed with tears when they heard that we wanted them to have a keepsake of a memory of Trudy. And beyond the love of a mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, and aunt, we sensed the true value of who Trudy will always be to others. And for that we are all grateful.

Shabbat shalom,

Bring them home now!!!

Am Yisrael Chai.

Wishing you a meaningful Memorial Day Weekend.

Rabbi K