The best laid plans of mice and men; and then . . .
Where are we today, on this Day of Sukkot:
We can choose: inner fear or freedom from fear.
Here is our truth: choose life.
At a Yahrzeit time such as this — especially with the increasing array (and numbers) of those who continue to do us harm . . . would it be too much to hope for *a plan* that would bring us to a newfound “freedom from fear?”
We are only able to move forward with strength when we are able to recall and learn from the past, memory, mistakes, and all . . .
Sukkot can not come to an end without Yizkor, without memory . . .
. . . only then can we create a way forward from what has happened to us and by us.
This, from the Haftara today:
1st Kings 8
“(as) God (has) said,
(first to David, and then repeated, today, by Solomon)
מִן־הַיּ֗וֹם אֲשֶׁ֨ר הוֹצֵ֜אתִי אֶת־עַמִּ֣י אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵל֮ מִמִּצְרַ֒יִם֒ לֹֽא־בָחַ֣רְתִּֽי בְעִ֗יר מִכֹּל֙ שִׁבְטֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לִהְי֥וֹת שְׁמִ֖י שָׁ֑ם וָאֶבְחַ֣ר בְּדָוִ֔ד לִהְי֖וֹת עַל־עַמִּ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵל׃
‘Ever since I brought My people Israel out of Egypt, I have not chosen a city among all the tribes of Israel for building a House where My name might abide; but I have chosen David to rule My people Israel.’
וַיְהִ֕י עִם־לְבַ֖ב דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֑י לִבְנ֣וֹת בַּ֔יִת לְשֵׁ֥ם יְהֹוָ֖ה אֱלֹהֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃
“Now my father David had intended to build a House for the name of the ETERNAL One, the God of Israel.
וַיֹּ֤אמֶר יְהֹוָה֙ אֶל־דָּוִ֣ד אָבִ֔י יַ֗עַן אֲשֶׁ֤ר הָיָה֙ עִם־לְבָ֣בְךָ֔ לִבְנ֥וֹת בַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִ֑י הֱֽטִיבֹ֔תָ כִּ֥י הָיָ֖ה עִם־לְבָבֶֽךָ׃
But GOD said to my father David, ‘As regards your intention to build a House for My name, you did right to have that intention.
רַ֣ק אַתָּ֔ה לֹ֥א תִבְנֶ֖ה הַבָּ֑יִת כִּ֤י אִם־בִּנְךָ֙ הַיֹּצֵ֣א מֵחֲלָצֶ֔יךָ הֽוּא־יִבְנֶ֥ה הַבַּ֖יִת לִשְׁמִֽי׃
However, you shall not build the House of my Name. . . ”
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extra credit:
If you would like to go further, and from the source, here’s an extra thought or two:
What is the meaning of 1st Kings or Burns’ poem?
The phrase “the best laid schemes of mice and men” originates from Robert Burns’ poem “To a Mouse,” written in 1785. The full line is often quoted as “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men / Gang aft agley,” which translates to “The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry.”
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Today’s Test Question:
Can anyone let me know why this haftara is recited today?
The section of the Prophets (1st Kings) as a Haftara, excerpted above, is recited today on the 2nd day of Sukkot — and is clearly intended to recall something from the past. If you can guess, or if you know, then a Star if David is coming your way.
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Chag Same’ach to everyone — along those same lines, if there is anyone who would like to come over and have a drink (a little l’chaim) with me in our Sukkah, then please let me know. You never can know, it might just help in bringing the Messiah and in returning us as a People to an inner strength, and to a longed-for freedom from fear, the kind of which we have longed for from time immemorial, if not longer.
The past must never be erased; we are a people of memories, but only together can we create a better and more unified future, memories for a future time.
And for the record, it can all start with just a little l’chayim,
Chag Same’ach and Am Yisrael Chai, v’Kayam.
Rabbi Seth Frisch
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Again, I would like to take the opportunity to thank everyone for doing their part in helping to make “Lerhaus” happen and equally in helping to sustain its path forward from a wider discussion of the past to a deeper understanding of what it will take to move us forward to a vibrant future for all of our people. Equally, I would like to thank everyone, along with all of our friends, who have joined hands with us as we continue on this journey out of Egypt and homeward bound to a not-so-distant and ever-present Promised Land.
The real bottom line is that I am grateful to all of you for your participation and continued support. And especially for the possibility of sitting with me in this Sukkah for yet “another turn around the sun.”
Seth
