1.
The latest incidents made me go to the Even Shoshan dictionary this week (I invested in it, not Wikipedia). This is how the name Rabbi is defined: "teacher, one who teaches his student" or "a title for a teacher in Israel, a Torah scholar who is in charge of the community to instruct it and oversee its religious life.".
Here's what it doesn't say: It doesn't say that a rabbi is supposed to perform miracles and wonders. There is, of course, value in the blessing, prayer, and spiritual effort of the rabbi (and, by the way, of every person), but Judaism primarily values the effort and the outcome, not just the results. Halacha has always prevailed over mysticism, the practical commandments were at the center, not the virtues. Hocus pocus and abra cadavera are borrowed from other cultures. This is not how a rabbi is tested and evaluated.
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One of the former students of the Safed rabbi wrote to me this week: "We fell for stories of miracles and righteous people that were floating around in the air, instead of looking at reality in its true form. I don't understand how I got carried away by all the miracles that were told to me there.".
And another important characteristic is not written in the newspaper: The rabbi is not God. One does not enslave oneself to him. One does not worship him, one works with him.
Rabbi Shmuel Tal, head of the "Torat Chaim" yeshiva, gave a special talk about recent events at the yeshiva this week, saying: "Healthy Torah leadership is one that knows how to accept criticism. A rabbi must be open to hearing criticism, and if a feeling of 'heavenly truth' that is forbidden to be questioned is created around the rabbi, this is an unacceptable reality and should turn on a red light.".
And here is another principle that is not part of the definition of a rabbi: a rabbi is not necessarily related to money, wealth, and power.
Throughout the generations and in our generation, rabbis are primarily connected to rabbis, to true scholars, and of course to the general public. This is their main occupation. Torah and kindness – yes, public relations and socializing – no. In this week's parashah, Parashah Pinchas, leadership passes from Moses our Rabbi to Joshua ben Nun. This is how the Torah describes the new leader, Joshua: "a man in whom is spirit." No magic, no publicity, no connections. Spirit.
2.
""From the 7th of Tammuz until Tisha B'Av, a negative period begins," says Meir Ariel, the late, with a smile for the camera. "This is a period that is not recommended, not for signing deals, not for going public with offerings, and not for anything that needs a blessing and that needs to succeed. This is a period that is destined for disaster.".
Meir Ariel, one of the greatest Israeli creators, died about 16 years ago. His archive is now being published. The family has chosen to publish these rare video clips on the "Liva" website, a new Internet venture dealing with Jewish culture, and run by Yair Raveh.
On Sunday, during the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, Raveh posted a short clip of Ariel online in which he refers to his decision to fast on this day, the day the wall of Jerusalem was breached at the end of the siege. Ariel was photographed driving, on his way to a performance at the Arad Festival. The road is long, the day is hot, and in the background you can hear the noise of the shuttle bus, but he, as if in another world, explains to interviewer Shosh Bozaglo about the way he perceives these special days on the calendar, which are called "the three weeks":
""These are ambiguous days, both for the past and for the future. For the past, because it is the memory of things. We mourn and regret the very situation in which we have reached such destruction or calamity, and we regret all those who died in this calamity and other calamities. The fundamental reason for the calamity is a breakdown in relationships. A breakdown in the relationship between man and woman, between the shepherd and the sheep, between God and humans. A breakdown in relationships, breaking a covenant, breaking a vow, breaking an oath, all these things. This is what is related to the past.".
Ariel is not ashamed to remain silent. He takes a few seconds' pause between sentences, to think, and then continues: "And regarding the future – it is written about these days that in the future these days of fasting will turn into joy. From mourning to joy. All these fasts and mournings of ours will turn into days of joy in the future to come. I am going for it. I believe in it.
""After all, what are days of mourning and fasting that will turn into joy? That's for those who fast, for those who suffer, for those who participate. Those who don't fast won't have this part. When there is great joy, it will pass him by, he will be on the sidelines, he won't be in the joy, he will be stunned, he won't understand what joy does. Why are you looking at me?" he laughs at the interviewer, "That's what I believe.".
3.
This week, the Adler Institute held a seminar on family relationships in the digital age. Everything we knew about parent-child relationships is changing because of cell phones. It's not just young people who are going through a virtual puberty period in parallel with their physical puberty, but also parents who may be taking their child to kindergarten, but are actually deeply immersed in WhatsApp.
The experts there talked about the current situation in Israel, but here are two fascinating examples from around the world that indicate what may await us here in the future. Both show how the modern era is full of noise, distractions, and stimuli, and how difficult it is for us to actually sit still and concentrate.
Let's start with a new trend: coloring books for adults. Abroad, this is already a well-known phenomenon. Respected book publishers in the United States and Europe are publishing coloring books with paintings of nature and landscapes, people and cities – and all of them are not for children. Tens of millions of copies have already been sold, and currently five titles out of the twenty best-selling books on Amazon belong to this genre. Incidentally, several Israeli book publishers have now decided to import this genre to Israel.
And what does this say about us and our culture? That in an age of superficiality, speed, and attention deficit disorder, our brains simply want to rest a little. With all the constant action around us, we just want to relax, sit quietly with markers, and color for our own enjoyment.
One of the first creators in this field, Scottish illustrator Johanna Basford, said this explicitly in an interview with The New York Times. When asked why humanity suddenly started taking up coloring, she replied: "It's very relaxing, it reminds everyone of childhood. It's just a rare and fun analog activity that's not tied to a computer screen or a television.".
The second cultural phenomenon comes from China, where the "Silent Championship" was held this week. Participants sat down in the middle of a busy street in Beijing and were asked to sit there for as long as possible without moving, without talking, and without using their phones.
The goal, according to the organizers: to help participants clear their heads and take a break from the pressures of everyday life, which is almost impossible for them in the modern era. The winner, by the way, is named Xin Shiyu.
On second thought, maybe Israel shouldn't import this format. We already have a similar idea: Shabbat.
• Sivan Rahav's column is published in Yedioth Ahronoth'
