VaEtchanan

ואתחנן

Shabbat Shalom

Moshe's phyisical connection  with the land is on the other side of the river, for the tribes of Reuven, Gad and Menashe. He creates cities of refuge. He does what he could to lead and to help. Unlike half of this congregation who never lifts a hand when it comes to cleaning up Kiddush. You think Mrs. Schwarzberg gets paid to clean up...We all know the janitor won't help...He's got a pension... 

(4:41-44) And Moshe sets up cities of refuge for people who kill by accident. Without knowing. Kind of like a place for people who do not know CPR and haven't studied first aid.

This is created because the police force is not efficient.

That is why we are now creating a congregation for people who messed up by accident.

Over there, we will place the youth group who had a water fight in shule and have caused water damage to the walls. We will place Chaim and his mishpuchi who do not stop talking in the middle of services, fighting in front of the shule. And the Klein mishpuchi for not yelling enough at their daughter, Sefa, for wearing a flat brimmed baseball hat, with the word 'Swag' on it. And Sefa for wearing the hat. We will send the Gabbaim for not calling me to the Torah every Shabbat...

It is important to have cities of refuge to keep people safe, who might have messed up, but do not deserve to die...

More importantly, to keep our community safe of idiots.

Cities of refuge. A place for them to flee. To not be in our way.

***These are excerpts from the sermon. For the sermon in its entirety, come see David Kilimnick perform at the Off The Wall Comedy Basement, in downtown Jerusalem.
David also tours as a Maggid with very few stories, if you invite him.
Shabbat Shalom