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4 HASHALOM February
2017
February 2017
HASHALOM
5
Adirect flight isn’t
always best
MISHNA IMPOSSIBLE 7
Tractate Berachot 4b
Tractate 4b deals in the main with whether the evening Shema
should be said before or after the Shemoneh Esreh (aka the
Amidah, and referred to in the Tractate as “The Prayer”). Yet, in
amongst this discussion, was another diversion and something
that I kept coming back to.
Whilst supporting a previous discussion, the Gemara refers to the
angels, Michael and Gabriel, and how “Greater is that which is
said with regard to the angel Michael than that which is said with
regard to the angel Gabriel”.
Following on from that came this gem – “the angel Michael goes
to perform his missions in one flight, the angel Gabriel goes in two
flights, Elijah goes in four flights, the Angel of Death goes in eight
flights but in a time of plague it goes in one flight”.
Further commentary by Rashi and Maharsha explain – Michael is
appointed to carry out missions of mercy and thus goes directly
to his destination without pause. Gabriel is appointed to execute
missions of strict judgment and is thus required to pause on the
way to give the guilty party time to repent. Similarly, the Angel of
Death stops seven times along the way to give his victim multiple
chances to repent.
I couldn’t understand why I kept returning to this small paragraph,
but I did so a number of times. It seemed so meaningful yet I couldn’t
put my finger on why. I am loving the thought process though – I find
myself spending time just mulling about what I have read (to the
extent that I understand it or can follow the logic) and what it might
mean. It is like a mental mini-break! So different from the thoughts
that fill my head daily and which usually demand my attention.
Anyway, whilst taking a slow walk yesterday, it dawned on me.
Buried in those few lines was an incredible principle – Michael
was on a mission to do good, so he didn’t waste time and hurried
to carry out his mission. Gabriel and the Angel of Death , on the
other hand, were executing judgment and were being as slow as
they could. This is how it should be. We all should rush to do good
and not allow ourselves to be distracted from a positive purpose.
However, we should be slow to judge others, and should give
them the benefit both of the doubt and of the chance to improve.
Yet – it seems we apply the opposite. We are quick to judge, slow
to forgive and even slower to help our fellow man!
Maybe we need to change our thought process – in our own
lives, we should rather think about whether we want to receive a
Michael or a Gabriel? If we needed help, would we really be happy
to just wait until it suited others? If we were facing judgement,
would we seriously insist on a quick execution?? And, if we would
want to receive speedy mitzvot and slow judgment, surely we owe
that to others as well?
By Warren Shapiro
ISRAEL
Pretoria, South Africa
– The Embassy of Israel in Pretoria read with
great disappointment the hateful and rambling statement of South
Africa’s African National Congress attacking both Israel and a prominent
South African politician who is currently visiting our region.
Ambassador Arthur Lenk stated: “In recent years, the ANC’s aggressive
anti-Israel statements and bias have separated it from the positions
of a vast majority of African states and the views of millions of South
Africans”. Once again, the ANC used anti-Semitic language that is
beyond the pale in the 21st century. In the past it has used horrific
Holocuast imagery to attack Israel. This time it talks of political parties
being ‘funded and controlled’ by supporters of Israel, using the oldest
and ugliest tropes about Jews in politics.
The absurd abuse of the historic word “apartheid” in connection with
Israel is patently untrue and ugly. Israel’s vibrant democracy, economy
and society empowers people of all races, faiths and backgrounds. It is
the only place in the Middle East where women, Christians and gays
have full rights. Arabs play a role in every aspect of life in Israel. To use
such a word is, more than anything, an insult to South Africans of all
backgrounds who actually fought against apartheid.
Israel remains the only democracy in the Middle East. It has shown
repeatedly that it is ready to make peace, as it did with both Jordan and
Egypt. South Africa’s history teaches that peace only comes through
dialogue and negotiation and Israel remains ready to negotiate, as
Prime Minister Netanyahu clearly stated at the United Nations General
Assembly last September: “Israel is ready, I am ready to negotiate
all final status issues.” If the ANC was a true friend to Palestinians, it
would encourage the Palestinian Authority to learn from South Africa’s
history and negotiate with Israel to make peace. Instead, it seems to
merely support “solidarity” by aggressively singling-out Israel and
hurting chances for peace.
Israel remains committed to continuing its partnership with South
Africa and its people on all matters, including topics that can help
improve lives such as fighting drought, increasing food security, health
care technologies and developing innovation. As a neighbor to Africa,
Israel is a strong believer in cooperation across the continent and
believes that our commonalities are far greater than any disagreement.
The ANC has fallen a long way since the inspirational days of Nelson
Mandela who, while clearly had differences with Israel, visited in 1999
and met with Israelis across the political spectrum. His words “I cannot
conceive of Israel withdrawing if Arab states do not recognize Israel
within secure borders” gave his critiques meaning and value. Today’s
ANC seems not ready to talk, listen, travel or interact. And it attacks
people who do. What a loss for South Africa and the world.
Hula Valley gives refuge to birds who, choosing not to continue to Africa, feast on eight tons of corn a day
By Times of Israel staff
Fly and feed:
Tens of thousands
of cranes winter, and
eat, in Israel’s north
It may be the height of the winter migration season fromEurope to Africa,
but tens of thousands ofmigratory birds have opted to remain in the north
of Israel over the winter months, rather than continue on their journey.
Scientists estimate that some 42,500 Gray cranes stayed this winter
in the Agamon Hula Lake, feasting on crops and nesting in an artificial
lake. To protect farmers’ livelihood, the government feeds the cranes
up to eight tons of corn a day.
With hundreds of bird species passing through each year, the Hula
Valley in northern Israel is one of the prime bird-watching spots in
a country that has gained a reputation as a place of pilgrimage for
ornithologists.
The Hula Valley became a prime bird-watching spot by accident.
Drained of its swamps in the 1950s, the valley was re-flooded four
decades later when KKL-JNF realized the drainage had damaged the
local ecosystem. Farmers began planting corn and peanuts in the
newly re-moistened soil — exactly the crops cranes like to eat.
With a location at the nexus of three continents, and a climatic diversity
that ranges from arid desert in the south to a cooler mountainous
region in the north, Israel draws about 500 million birds annually from
550 species.
The entire continent of North America, which is 1,000 times Israel’s
size, sees barely twice as many species.
EMBASSY OF ISRAEL
PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
13 January 2017
Gray Cranes flocking at the Agamon Hula Lake in the Hula
valley in northern Israel, December 7, 2016. (AFP/Jack GUez)
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