Seidemann: A grand parade

Posted

From the other side of the bench

By David Seidemann

Issue of May 28, 2010/ 15 Sivan 5770

I noticed it as soon as my family and I entered our host's home this past Shabbos for the luncheon meal. Perched atop the china closet was a Torah scroll wrapped in a blue velvet cloth. I remarked to my host that the scroll must be at least 50 years old. He replied that it was more than twice that age. Our host proceeded to tell us the story of how the Torah scroll made its way from a small village in Europe to Israel before finally making it to America. Through its journey, the scroll survived wars in Europe and in the Middle East. If only that Torah scroll could talk and bear witness to what it saw.

The Torah was owned by a brother and sister in Slovakia who were orphans. There was no money to inherit, no clothes and no fine silver. All that was left for this young boy and his sister was the Torah scroll that they had seen their father use. It laid undisturbed for a few years as this young boy became a man and his sister became a young woman. When the orphans' wedding day arrived, they realized that they had no money. The rabbi of the community decided that to pay for the weddings, the family Torah scroll would be sold at a raffle. 50 tickets were to be sold to raise 5000 crowns.

My host's uncle purchased one of those tickets and was the winner. When he went to the orphan's home to pick up his prize, the young man refused to hand over the Torah. ”But I have the winning ticket,” exclaimed the elderly gentleman who was my host's uncle. ”I know,” replied the young man, ”but we only sold 30 tickets and we didn't raise enough money for me and my sister to  survive."

The elderly gentleman reached into his pocket, took out another 2000 crowns and paid the young man the shortfall. The gentleman left with the Torah scroll wrapped in his arms.

That Torah which came to this man's hands because of a true act of kindness survived a war hidden underground. It made its way to Israel where  it survived attacks on  the buildings that housed it. Within the last few years the original purchaser passed away and left a wife and two sons behind. My host in Lawrence this past Shabbos was the man's nephew. After his uncle's passing, my host approached his aunt about taking the Torah. She was reluctant at first but then consented, remarking that her two sons were not religious and would not have any use for a Torah scroll. .

Now this Torah scroll is far from kosher. Letters are missing and the parchment is cracked. To restore to the Torah for use once again would be quite difficult. But until then, until it is made kosher again, the Torah will be treated with reverence and respect, not only for what it once was, but for what it might become. None could argue that since the Torah is not kosher, it could be ignored, denigrated or despised.

And so I am baffled again after returning from this year's Israeli Day Parade. After witnessing multitudes of Jewish organizations, as well as an African-American marching band and other non-Jewish groups, I am baffled by the conspicuous absence of some of the organizations that occupy  the right-wing of our Jewish society. I've heard the arguments. Since the state of Israel is not being run in a 100-percent religious manner it does not need to be supported.

But those arguments don't make sense to me. If you don't believe that Israel is in its splendor as it was in the time of our ancient temples, then at worst, it is no different than a Torah scroll that was once kosher but has been rendered temporarily not kosher. The state, like a Torah scroll, cannot be ignored or ridiculed. Rather it should be cradled and worked on until it regains its old splendor.

There are those of us that believe that Israel retains its original splendor and holiness even today. But for those who don't believe that, I would like to pose a question to them, is the land better off in the hands of those that would rid it of any vestige of holiness? Would those same people cast a non-kosher Torah scroll to the ground to be trampled by our enemies?

Every letter on the parchment, every blade of grass and  grain of sand in the land of Israel is precious. And it's a lot safer in our hands than anyone else's hands. Wouldn't it be a grand parade if all Jews on all extremes of the spectrum recognize that?