Parashat Bechukotai
May 24, 2022
Seth Pertain, High School Talmud Teaacher
We are not on the same page.
I am writing on a train that will be departing Jerusalem in a few minutes, on my way to the airport to return from accompanying our seniors on their final journey with us as students at Leffell. As an American visiting Israel, I could not help but realize that Israelis are simply not aligned with the rest of the world at the moment.
Our current schism began on Pesach this year. Jews in Israel celebrated a seven-day holiday that ended on Friday night. Jews throughout the diaspora celebrated an eight-day holiday that ended after Shabbat. While those in Israel went on to read Parashat Acharei Mot, the rest of the world read it a week later. This misalignment meant that I completely missed Parashat Emor when traveling to Israel. It also means that while I’m returning to Parshat Bechukotai this week in the States, I already heard it last Shabbat in Israel.
I am writing on a train that will be departing Jerusalem in a few minutes, on my way to the airport to return from accompanying our seniors on their final journey with us as students at Leffell. As an American visiting Israel, I could not help but realize that Israelis are simply not aligned with the rest of the world at the moment.
Our current schism began on Pesach this year. Jews in Israel celebrated a seven-day holiday that ended on Friday night. Jews throughout the diaspora celebrated an eight-day holiday that ended after Shabbat. While those in Israel went on to read Parashat Acharei Mot, the rest of the world read it a week later. This misalignment meant that I completely missed Parashat Emor when traveling to Israel. It also means that while I’m returning to Parshat Bechukotai this week in the States, I already heard it last Shabbat in Israel.
The next time all Jewish communities across the world will read the exact same Torah portion will not take place until the last Shabbat in July, during a period of time known as “בין המצרים” (Bein ha’Meitzarim). Often referred to as “The Three Weeks” in English, it is a period of mourning on the Jewish calendar that ends with the saddest day in the Jewish year. On the Shabbat right before Tisha B’Av — the anniversary of the destruction of both Temples in Jerusalem as well as other calamities throughout Jewish history — all Jewish communities throughout the world will read Parashat Devarim.
There are certain Torah readings that can be doubled up to keep the Jewish calendar flowing properly. There are actually earlier opportunities in the year to have a double parashah. I have wondered over the years why we wait so long to realign the Jewish community in Israel with Jewish communities throughout the Diaspora. I am going to propose an answer that I feel leads to a deeper truth among Jews. Bein ha’Meitzarim has historically been a time of tragedies in Jewish communities. There is a strong custom not to do anything that might be considered dangerous during this time period, which often includes traveling. Our realignment happens during the toughest time of the year for the Jewish people.
There’s something curious about being part of such a diverse people who have so many diverging customs built into our practices. However, it’s comforting to know that no matter where we find ourselves, in our toughest of times, we’re all on the same page.
Shabbat Shalom!