I 4 4 Community Torah Portion The Past Should Teach Not Be A Trap Senate had indeed named Vespasian to replace the emperor, whci had been overthrown. In gratitude, the new ruler asked Yochanan want he wanted. The Rabbi simply said, "Yavneh and her scholars." Most people assume he only wanted to establish a yeshiva there. In actuality, Yochanan received authority for the he first time I visited rabbis at Yavneh to be the new govern- Atlanta, I had the opportu- ment of Judea. nity to discuss recent politics Although the land was decimated, — i.e. the war which having a recognized government meant engulfed our country between 1861 that life would eventually return to and 1865 — with a relative who had normal, and the people lived in Georgia all her life. could survive in their new When I called it "the Civil circumstances. War," she thickened her drawl All of us are creations of a bit and replied, "It was the our experience; as we mature, War Between the States, and we enjoy exchanging pleasant it was anythin' but civil!" memories of the past with We laughed, and the con- our friends and our families. versation went on to other This exercise in nostalgia can topics. But I was given a tast e provide a pleasant refuge, of an attitude which is still especially when the present is prevalent in some parts of the beset with problems. There's RABBI JAMES South: They haven't stopped nothing wrong this, as long M I C HAELS fighting a war which ended as we don't allow the memo- Specia l to the 135 years ago. ries of the past to cloud our Jewish News How do we let go of the vision of the present. past? When events are signifi- Many years ago, I was an cant, it's hard not to relive them. But if advisor to a group of young unmarried that's all we do, we don't move on to Jews. I encouraged them to visit their the present and build for the future. local synagogue but they said, "The This week we observe Shabbat people there aren't friendly." Nachamu. It derives its name from the I'm amazed to hear that, because I first words of the haftorah, "Comfort knew the same people to be extremely ye, comfort ye, my people." By assign- warm. But when I visited that congre- ing Isaiah's words of comfort to the gation, I noticed that they spent most Shabbat after Tisha b'Av, the rabbis of the time talking about the past. A told our people that the time for new person in shul wouldn't be able to national mourning for the Temple was share those memories, so they would over. The time had come to look for- have felt ignored. And yet, if the long- ward and to build for the future. time members had thought about it, The events of the destruction of the they would have realized that the new Temple in 70 C.E. are well-known. faces represented the potential for con- Less well-known, however, is the story tinuing the synagogue in the future. of what might have been the most sig- The lesson of Yochanan ben Zakkai nificant event of that fateful year. It demonstrates that we should not focus involved Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, exclusively on the past. Instead, we the leader of the rabbinical court which should seize the opportunity to create had functioned inside the Temple for new beginnings. All it takes is a willing- many years. Due to his foresight, our ness • to try, and the belief that God is people were able to pick up the pieces with us. _ after the destruction. With only days remaining before the Romans would finish the job of __ destruction, Yochanan went to the commanding general, Vespasian, and Is the past a "safe haven" when predicted that Vespasian would shortly problems of the present are too become emperor of Rome. The Talmud challenging? How can we tells us that as soon as he said it, mes- remember the lessons of the past, sengers arrived and announced that the while still preparing for the future? Once Tisha b'Av is over, Rabbi James Michaels is rabbi of how does our mood change? Congregation Beth Israel in Flint. Shabbat Nachamu (Vaetchanan): Deuteronomy 3:23-7•11; Isaiah 40:1-26 T ■ ■ • Up to 25% Off all book invitations • 48-hour turnaround on in-house invitations • Featuring :" Stationery • Imprinted Kepot and Napkins • Computerized Calligraphy ■ 6909 Orchard Lake Road. • West Bloomfield, MI 48322 Phone: 248-855-2240 • Fax: 248-855-5411 ■ ■ www.greetingsfrom.invitations.com ■ ■ ■ f ■ ■ ■ NC. WHERE PROFESSIONAL SERVICE MAKES THE. DIFFERENCE! 248.855.8747 Call today for your free in-home consultation Formerly of The Closet Company, Inc. lkinZIWAVIVEMIVARMIKUNWIRMWMCMCOMOVIIMMEEM For An Affair To Remember fN7RfLIE Music, Entertainment and Floor Shows • Weddings • Corporate Events • Bar/Bat Mitzvahs • For More Information, Call Stella Actis (248) 879-2373 e-C7(2.*Ett ENTERTAINMENT music • dance • fun (248) 356-6000 Conversations Skyline & The Backstreet Horns