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WHAT DEFINES A JEW

Fri, 18 Mar 2016 1:01:00 PM

Two holocaust related news items caught my attention this past week.

The first newsworthy item, was a story from Guinness World Records which confirmed that a 112-year-old Israeli Holocaust survivor Yisrael Kristal is the world’s oldest man. Kristal was born in Zarnov, Poland on September 15, 1903, and later relocated to Lodz where Kristal worked in his family's confectionary factory.

When the Jewish quarter of the city became a ghetto under Nazi occupation, Kristal was eventually sent to Auschwitz. His wife was killed but he survived, weighing just 37 kilos (81 pounds) at the end of the war, daughter Shula Kuperstoch said. “But he gained strength and eventually traveled to Israel.”

He moved to the northern city of Haifa and opened a candy store, and he also remarried. In a 2014 interview with Israeli media, Kristal was asked what he ate to live so long. “There wasn’t always food in the camps. I ate what I was given. I eat to live, and I don’t live to eat,” he said.

An accompanying picture in the article leaves an indelible impression. A picture of an elderly Jew, proudly wearing a Yarmulke, an obvious statement of the enduring staying power of the nation of Israel.

The other story which caught my attention was an article penned by a nationally syndicated news commentator regarding senator Bernie Sanders. Mr. Sanders was asked by Anderson Cooper in a recent Democratic debate whether he was intentionally keeping his Judaism under wraps.

“No,” answered Sanders: “I am very proud to be Jewish.” He then explained that the Holocaust had wiped out his father’s family, and that he remembered as a child seeing neighbors with concentration camp numbers tattooed on their arms. Being Jewish, he declared, “is an essential part of who I am as a human being.”

The writer goes on to point out that with this answer Mr. Sanders had offered up another way through which American Jews are increasingly defining their Judaism. There are those who define themselves with being practicing Jews. They run the spectrum of being completely Shabbat observant, to consuming Kosher both at home and out of the house.

Then there are the cultural Jews. Jews who define themselves as Jewish by the values of "Tikkun Olam". Seeing Judaism as an expression of the zealous pursuit of social justice. Love thy neighbor, clothe the naked, and protect the environment.

Traditional Torah ritual and practices are thus replaced with the rituals and zealousness of advocating as "religiously" as possible the idealism of repairing the world through social activism.

Finally, we come to those of our coreligionists who define themselves by the Holocaust. And this is precisely what Bernie Sanders answered. To him, and to increasing member of the Jewish community, the Holocaust is what defines them.

Now, whilst the memories created by Holocaust studies are indelible, and the trips to Poland and other East European Shtetels can be an incredibly powerful experience -- one which if done right can lead to a stronger identification with our rich Jewish history and learning -- they cannot take the place of remembering the past to live the present.

A people with a history and Torah well over 3,000 years, enriched by the great spiritual axiom of living a life imbued by the spirit of Torah and Mitzvahs, dare not focus only on how those who were murdered as Jews, but must instead place an emphasis on how those very same people lived as Jews.

This Shabbos serves as a timely reminder of this. For it is on this Shabbos that we read about our erstwhile enemies, Amalek. We are commanded in the Torah to "Zachor" -- remember -- what Amalek did. For by remaining vigilant to the memory of Amalek, we remain faithful to those Amalek tried to do away with, those beautiful people who were murdered for one reason only: Because they were Jews.

We keep alive their memory by dedicating ourselves to a life of Torah no matter the trying circumstances. Not unlike the first hero of this article-- Israel Kristal.

Memory is sacred, but victimhood cannot be the foundation stone of Jewish identity. The Torah has 613 commandments. The philosopher Emil Fackenheim famously said that the 614th is to deny Hitler any posthumous victories. I beg to differ. The essence of 613 commandments are all about denying Hitler any posthumous victories.

Just ask 112 year old Israel Kristal.

a serious call to action

Fri, 4 Oct 2013 2:05:00 PM

A recently released study caught my attention this week. The study making the rounds concerns the state of American Jewry by the Pew Research Center’s Religion and Public Life Project, and according to this study, things are looking pretty grim. Take a look at some of the conclusions of this study:

The intermarriage rate, a bellwether statistic, has reached a high of 58 percent for all Jews, and 71 percent for non-Orthodox Jews – a huge change from before 1970 when only 17 percent of Jews married outside the faith. Two-thirds of Jews do not belong to a synagogue, one-fourth do not believe in God and one-third had a Christmas tree in their home last year..

Or this tidbit:

according to one of the study’s lead authors, the most significant finding is that one-fifth of American Jews don’t even call themselves “Jewish” when asked about their religion!

Perhaps what is even more significant and revealing about this study, is the lack of retention of Jews by their denominations. Simply put: none of the adaptations, changes and allowances all in the name of "modernity", have had any meaningful impact (if at all) in stemming the tide of assimilation! A Shanda!

True, there are some serious questions about the method used in gathering this data, regardless, it doesn't look pretty out there.

The question we must ask is: What to do with all this raw data? Whilst this study is sure to lead to a lot of hand-wringing in the American Jewish world, the most important take-away from this study must be worthy of finding a working model going forward.

In a remarkable example of the miraculous working of divine providence here, this study was released during a week in which we read, study, and live with the Torah portion about the story of Noah and the great flood. Here we are introduced to the life and times of Noah and his family, and it is from precisely this story that can provide the antidote to this study.

We learn of the three stages of Noah's life: His life before, during and after the great flood. Before the flood, Noah's mandate was to build an Ark to protect and save himself and his family. During the flood Noah's mandate was to actually enter the Ark. And finally, after the flood, Noah and his family were commanded to actually leave the Ark.

The Torah isn't merely telling us a fascinating historical tale; The Torah is providing us the necessary tools to ensure survival during our own turbulent times: Build, enter and leave the Ark.

In order to effectively insulate oneself from the pernicious influences that are all around, one needs a firewall. The Baal Shem Tov points out that the Hebrew word for “ark,” teivah, also means “word.” We can all survive the floods which tend to engulf our lives through immersing ourselves in the holy “words” of Torah and prayer.

But this is not sufficient. What about those who will not or did not make an Ark? Are we to completely "write off" a significant portion of our brethren for their lack of preparedness? Of course not! Here we learn of the final mandate Noah received which was precisely this: Leave the Ark. Just as soon as the waters of the flood had receded, Noah and his family were commanded to leave the Ark.

There comes a time when one must leave the ark. One must venture forth to the outside world, beyond the hedges, and make a mark. The great reserves of spiritual fortification, the knowledge of Torah and Mitzvohs one has acquired, will now be translated into action by sharing them with others less fortunate.

Hand-wringing is futile if it doesn't lead to some real effective change. Real change that is measured by it's success in maintaining a bond and commitment to Judaism for over 3300 years. It's time to head out into the whole wide world and share these gifts with others.

A Prince's name!

Fri, 26 Jul 2013 2:38:00 PM

The resounding Mazal Tov's came thick and fast this week -- they were the felicitations extended for the great joy upon the birth of a heir to the British throne (and those subjects of the commonwealth). Perhaps, as an ex pat Brit, born and bred in England, I am seen as an extension of royalty. Quite frankly, I was somewhat surprised at the exhaustive attention paid in the media to the waiting game for the birth of the new baby. It didn't end there, either. As soon as the announcement was made, heralding the birth, the next phase of this event started -- the great anticipation of what this little prince was to be named.

And so it was that we learned the name of the new prince: His Royal Highness, Duke of Cambridge, George Alexander Louis. The young prince was named for his great great grandfather -- also a King -- as well as other royal forebears.

We are taught that the names we are given are not only for identification purposes but also indicate the very essence of a person. The Talmud relates that one of the greatest sages, Rabbi Meir, was blessed with the uncanny ability to know a person just by hearing the name. Truly an amazing feat, but this is not the Talmud's intent in relating this anecdote. The real purpose is to convey a sense of the awesome responsibility we have, knowing that the names we bear can influence positively the outcome of our own lives. They allow us to reach the great potential of the illustrious forebears we are named after -- and, by extension, the great achievements of those that they, in turn, were named for.

you don't know which way the wind's going to blow

Thu, 4 Jul 2013 8:12:00 PM

"Seriously in life, you don't know which way the wind's going to blow and it was truly the wind and it blew fast and sudden".

This comment caught my attention earlier today. They are the words of one of the evacuees of our states deadliest fire in history, describing the horrible turn of events that led to the death of 19 of our bravest.

We often take for granted the sacrifice of our first responders, overlooking the human faces of the brave men and women behind the shiny red trucks...it is a tragedy like this, that will forever remind us of the constant peril our firefighters selflessly face protecting us. We can never repay these nineteen men and their families for their service and the ultimate sacrifice they made on our behalf.

Their sacrifice and example will not go to waste. Lessons will be learned -- and applied -- allowing for better prevention and safety measures going forward, there will also be calls to find a better way to mind our forests and precious resources.

But there's a deeper lesson here, and it's a message that is ripe for sharing as we gear up for the onset of the High Holidays.

This tragedy serves as a metaphor for the vicissitudes of our own lives. We really do not know which way the wind's blowing...yet we can do something about it, for today, we are all firefighters. There's a conflagration that is burning out of control out there. It is the raging fire of spiritual apathy, and Jewish assimilation. Our mandate this season, is to bravely stand up and be counted now, and, like the brave firefighters fighting the Yarnell fire, to keep at it selflessly and constantly until the fire is quenched.

May the families of our most brave find comfort and strength in this most trying trial.

mold or gold?

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 4:50:00 PM

2/14/2013

An interesting "Geico minute" caught my attention earlier today. Sir Alexander Fleming was a young bacteriologist when an accidental discovery led to one of the great developments of modern medicine on this day in 1929. Having left a plate of staphylococcus bacteria uncovered, Fleming noticed that a mold that had fallen on the culture had killed many of the bacteria. He identified the mold as penicillium notatum, similar to the kind found on bread. On February 14, 1929, Fleming introduced his mold by-product called penicillin to cure bacterial infections.

Wow. Mold, of a similar kind to those found on bread. Moldy bread, that most of us would in all likelihood consign to the dustbin. Yet, in a most fortuitous turn of events, it was discovered to contain the necessary ingredients for Penicillin. Incredibly, we are surrounded by things that we choose to believe are not necessary or useful to our lives, and it takes an incredible stroke of G-dly intervention (some would say, a stroke of "luck") to show us that we have good reason to be thankful that we do not live in a universe without bread mold.

We find a similar idea in the Torah's description of the construction of the tabernacle. The tabernacle was to be a construction of immense beauty and wealth. The tabernacle was to serve as the "grand central" of Jewish life. It was to be fashioned out of gold, silver, and copper, and a host of other materials, precious and not so precious.

The gold and silver represent wealth. They have great intrinsic value, they glitter and outshine all else. But the other implements used in this project, including the copper, would seem somewhat out of place in a building that was to exude wealth glitter and status!

Yet here the Torah lays out a blueprint for living a meaningful life: Not all that glitters is gold. and it is not only gold that glitters. G-d wants of us to "construct" a dwelling place in the physical world. This is to be accomplished by combining the material and spiritual together, and synthesizing them into a beautiful and perfect harmony. And this is achieved on all levels of our universe, utilizing all kinds of items and from all types of people.

Sure, it might take an expert to discover that what we think of as "mold", is as valuable as gold; but if today in history teaches us anything, it is that oftentimes the greatest gold glitters right there, hidden in plain sight.

The 3 D's Of a winning strategy

Tue, 20 Nov 2012 4:02:00 PM

The reelection of the President to another term in office is history now. And of course, it didn’t take long for the political pundits and Monday morning quarter backers to weigh in on why the race ended as it did.

As a self-confessed political junkie, I too feel quite qualified to weigh in on this topic from a "Rabbi's eye view".

Allow me to lay out three important lessons from this particular election cycle.

This election was won / lost due to three primary reasons. Let's call it the three "D''s: Definition, Delay and Details.

DEFINITION: Throughout the spring, the losing side of this election was subjected to an intense barrage of never ending negative advertising that all but defined negatively whom and what the standard bearer represented. That the receiving end of this did not even attempt to try seize the initiative early on was a terrible mistake. And an elementary one at that.

This should serve as a lifetime lesson for all of us. This trype of approach is one doomed to failure. We dare not allow for events to shape our lives. As in "reacting" to events instead of being proactive. Being defined instead of defining who we are.

We must define (inspired by our holy Torah, of course) the parameters of how we intend to perform the holy task of being an Ohr LaGoyim -- or light unto the nations -- and be very much in control of our own narrative.

DELAY: The losing side relied heavily on an end-game strategy of waiting for the debates to shift / pivot the story to an angle they wished to promote. This of course is (and was) a correct course to follow. allowing for a strong finish. However, to succeed in this requires a zero sum total effort of giving 100% of oneself, 100% of the time.

How often do we hear of the grand plans people make for when they retire…the learning they plan on doing when they’ve reached a point of a less structured or demanding lifestyle...Or the places they plan on visiting someday.

Well, that someday is now. And It is about this sense of invincibility that our sages warn – if not now, when!

DETAILS: Ground Game. Focusing on each and every detail and of each and every person. Details, details, details… amazingly, it may very well have boiled down to the simple ground game that the winning side had kept in place since the last election. (which speaks volumes about being in a constant state of campaigning). The much vaunted outreach effort of those in the winning team, was arguably the greatest reason they won.

This is also very much the story of our lives. Focusing on reaching out to our children, loved ones or even friends. Thinking of their needs and concerns, and doing this every day (not only for four years!), and most importantly, of never ever, giving up on anyone.

Our “ground game” is a little easier. For our playbook is the Torah; and the Torah, of course, is extremely detailed and attuned to all of our strengths and weaknesses. It is also a surefire path to victory, of a life blessed with success materially and spiritually.

a peculiar trip

Thu, 2 Aug 2012 11:45:00 PM

A peculiar thing happened to me on a recent trip. I was scheduled to fly from Phoenix to NY by way of Chicago, and I ended up flying from Miami to Hartford instead!

My trip began pretty regularly at first, with a fairly uneventful flight from Phoenix to Chicago. It was in Chicago where the excitement began. You see, my flight to NYC was delayed somewhat due to “unforeseen” circumstances. So I tried – and succeeded – in changing my itinerary to travel on another flight to NY, which, after spending over three hours on the tarmac was canceled due to inclement weather in the greater NY area.

The good folks at American Airlines assured me that they were looking out for my wellbeing, and had in fact rescheduled me on yet another flight that would get me in to NY in the late afternoon on – get this – the next day! In fact, they had scheduled me for a flight that would leave Chicago at 7:00am to Dallas, where I would then catch a connection to NY!

To say that I was not happy, would be an understatement. But I also realized that this was not the fault of the airline, in fact, all flights leaving from Chicago to the NY area on that particular Wednesday afternoon, had been grounded due to the dangerous storms in the greater NY area. I also realized, that this too, is for the good, and that divine plan required me to deal with whatever role G-d had in store for me even if it entailed an extra few hours (or days) in Chicago.

At some point, I decided to try my luck once more, and approached a gate agent and asked if he would be able help, and mentioned to him, that perhaps, he would be able to get me on to a flight that would head to Hartford, CT instead. He was certainly helpful, but not hopeful that he would succeed. In fact, he did tell me how lucky I was to be on a flight for the next day, as there were many others, that would be waiting a number of days, to reach their destination.

But he took a look, and informed me that the latest flight with American Airlines to get into Hartford, CT, was a flight from Miami, FL that would arrive in Hartford at 12:00AM. But, he cautioned me, there was no guarantee that any flights would be heading to Hartford, and I could very well be stuck in Miami for the night; so what would you prefer, a night in Chicago or a night in Miami he asked?

What a question; Miami of course. And this is how I ended up as the final passenger on an American Airlines flight from Chicago to Miami.

My seatmate, it turns out, was a Jewish lady. A scion of a famous Rabbinic family, renowned for their diligence and commitment to Torah study and its dissemination. It seemed (based on external appearances) that she was not of the same stock as her family pedigree; -- though she was immensely proud of her lineage and heritage. It also turned out that she knew an aunt of mine, and had at one time been close enough to my aunt that she served as an “escort” or perhaps it was "bridesmaid" for my aunt and uncle at their Chuppah (wedding) ceremony.

The journey ended up being a fascinating mix of Jewish geography, philosophy and of course Torah, as the three hours of travel time flew by! It was a journey that, I would like to believe, was the mysterious plan of our divine creator -- to be in that place at that time, to lift up (and to be lifted by) another soul in its respective journey.

Later, while I was flying from Miami to Hartford (I did catch the connection after all, and the flight was cleared to go..), I reflected upon my day, that this was no ordinary journey, for on this particular trip, the journey itself was really the destination!

Sometimes, the experiences we call “journeys” are really destinations. And conversely, the destinations are really journeys. This is G-d's way of guding us in our journey of life too. Our task is to be mindful of this at all times.

life has no remote

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 1:34:00 PM

Life has no remote. Get up and change it yourself!

Wise advice, my friends. Hopefully, we will have the fortitude to apply that advice in our own lives as well.

I was conversing recently with one of our members who bemoaned the challenges he faced in so many different areas of his life. From financial pressures, to family tensions, his outlook was one of abject defeatism.

I can't make it Rabbi, I am finding it impossible to continue like this.

Listen, it's not a challenge that is unique to this gentleman. In life we all face obstacles in our quest for a better life. But our attidudes must reflect our commitment to "get up and change it ourselves" as well as complete focus on trying to find the best way forward.

Take a look at this week's Torah portion which details the story of the spies (or "scouts", really) who visited the land of Israel, to "check it out" while the Jewish people were travelling in the desert. As we know, 10 of the 12 spies returned with very negative reports about the land; and we know that in their pessimistic (and misguided) reports, they said that the Promised Land would pose an impossible conquest for the Jewish nation.

As a result, the Jewish people gave up any hope that they would ever enter the land and were therefore condemned to wander for 40 years in the wilderness, -- and it was their offspring who ultimately merited to enter the promised land.

What exactly was their sin that they were so condemned to punishment? After all, they spoke the truth as they saw it; was this not their mission statement? (to "report the facts"?!?)

The answer lies in their conclusion that the spies added that the people had no chance of being able to enter and settle in Israel. This was not something they were asked to do. Expressing the challenges is fine. Drawing a conclusion and refusing to execute the mission, is not.

So too it is in the present; we must never waver lose heart from challenging circumstances. Sure, go ahead, and "scout the landscape" to find the best way forward.

But never give up hope. For this is a recipe for failure, both on a personal level, and on a communal level.

A Facebook post is forever

Fri, 27 Apr 2012 7:25:00 PM

A man went about the community telling malicious stories about other people. Later, realizing the hurt and damage he had caused, he began to feel some remorse. So he went to the community rabbi for help in righting the wrong. The rabbi told the man, "Take a feather pillow, cut it open, and scatter the feathers to the four winds, and then come back to me”. The man thought this was a strange request, but it was a simple enough task, and he did it gladly.

When he returned to tell the rabbi that he had done as ordered, the rabbi waited 10 minutes then said, "Now, go back and gather together all the feathers, and mind you, make sure not even one feather is missing!

The man stared at the rabbi in disbelief. “That is impossible, Rabbi! "How am I to be expected to fetch all the feathers that went with the wind".

“Yes,” said the rabbi, and nodded gravely, “that is how it is: once a rumor, a juicy piece of gossip, a ‘secret,’ leaves your mouth, you do not know where it will end up, and you can never get it back.

Sergeant Gary Stein, a 26 year old Marine, was given an “other than honorable” discharge from the US Marines because of comments he posted on Facebook. Stein, who has spent all his years since high school graduation as a member of the marines, and has served in Iraq, was essentially fired "without benefits" on Wednesday.

Stein does not like the President(to say the least).And, Stein is the creator of the Armed Forces Tea Party page on Facebook, where he posted some of his strongly felt opinions about the President.

It would appear that in one of the more egregious comments (some would say, comments that reflect insubordination) Stein declared that he would not follow orders from the President that he considered illegal. And, that "Obama IS the enemy", and other similar comments.

In a related interview on msnbc.com, Stein regretted his posts, and wished he could take back some of the posts he had written. “People ask me, ‘Would you go back and change those words?’ I would most definitely,” Stein told msnbc.com. “I would articulate my point better.”

Of course his words cannot be taken back. Neither can anyone’s words be taken back, any more than feathers thrown into the wind, can all be picked up after they have blown away. In fact, this is why the responsibility of watching what we say is so important. For the full consequences of our words, especially words that are then put into print, can never be fully assessed.

Interestingly, engaging in idle chatter and gossip, is expressly forbidden in Jewish law. And an extensive program of repentance and personal redemption, was required of one that unfortunately did engage in this practice. One of the final stages in this lengthy process, required the “gossiper” to take two “pure birds” as an offering.

The sages of the Talmud address the possible reason for this particular step, and by doing so make a remarkably salient point that speaks volumes of human nature and psyche. The bird say the Talmudists, is a reminder to the sinner that this type of sin is the direct consequence of engaging in verbal ”twittering!” Not just evil or malicious gossip, mind you, but even the “garden variety” type of gossip that all too often leads to slander.

While contemporary society seems to have embraced all forms of "random communication" (i.e., "status updates" on Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare et al), still the Torah wants us to know that there really are no “casual” or “random” gossip. We must concern ourselves with valuing and appreciating the true measure of all of our words.

It all boils down to this: we are endowed with a gift that no other creature is given: the ability to communicate by the spoken word. It is indeed a gift, but it is one that must be taken out and displayed carefully, and only for a truly beneficial use.

The winning numbers

Fri, 30 Mar 2012 2:35:00 PM

The harsh reality is that the odds of winning the $640 Mega Millions jackpot are slim. How slim 1 in 175,711,536 slim to be exact!

This of course won’t put a damper on millions of us going out and purchasing at least one ticket, and there is nothing inherently wrong in dreaming big is there. We, of course, will only find out that we purchased the winning ticket many hours later, due to the timing of the draw on a Shabbos evening, but never mind, let’s not get a head of ourselves now.

I will not pretend to be disinterested in this mania, and, I do have a confession to make: I too, purchased a ticket -- (and, yes, the new shul will be ready by the high holidays, of course).

It was only the allure of over half a billion dollars that perked up my personal interest in getting a piece of the pie. The greater the payout, I figure, all the more reason to buy a ticket.

Of course this is flawed reasoning. It is a matter of statistical fact, of course, that the more participants there are n this game, the greater the odds are of not winning anything. But such is human nature. We are instinctively pulled in by the magnetism of an ever greater -- (and possibly elusive) -- prize.

There is also the question of what is more important, quantity or quality. In other words, does the fact that less people are participants in the game enhance the “quality” of the individual, by increasing the odds –albeit really low, regardless – of a win? or, is it the “quantity” that triumphs, with the promise of a bigger prize to the winner?

Life itself is a mirror of this tension regarding what is more important, the quantity or quality. Conventional wisdom attaches a greater importance to quality over quantity. Every so often, however, an event occurs that reminds us to not ignore the quality of quantity (pun intended) as well.

From a Torah perspective, the quantity and the quality are both equally as important. Which is why you will find that while there is a tremendous focus on the individual's performance and service of G-d (quality), at the same time there is also a major focus on the community's performance (quantity).

I cannot divine the winning numbers for this particular game. But I can state with certainty, that the synthesis of quality and quantity, will ultimately prove to be the real winner. Oh, and of course, please play responsibly.

Slaughter of the pure in Toulouse

Thu, 22 Mar 2012 6:21:00 PM

It was very early this past Monday morning -- 4:41AM to be exact -- when my phone rang. It’s not often that the phone rings in the middle of the night, and thankfully, the particular phone that was called was not in my bedroom so I did not even hear the phone, never mind know whom it was that had called at this unearthly hour until much later in the morning; and it was then that I noticed that a friend of mine, had phoned me at that early hour.

"Strange," I thought to myself. "I wonder why he would be calling me this early in the morning"; and it was only after I listened to the early news and I learned of the Jewish School massacre In Toulouse, France, that I knew why he had called. As is to be expected in these types of situations, the initial reports were somewhat sketchy and fluid, though even at first, we learned of the loss of life of young innocent school children at the hands of a cold blooded assassin.

We now know, as first hand eyewitness reports of this massacre become available, that the killer chased after one of his victims, little Miriam Monsonego all of 8 years young, yanked her by her hair and shot her in the head at point blank range. Then, as she lay bleeding to death on the ground, he lifted up her head and shot her two more times.

Miriam, together with the other murdered victims, Rabbi Jonathan Sandler, and his two little boys, Arieh, 6 and Gabriel 3, were all murdered because they were Jewish. The heart aches for yet another senseless killing and expression of hate, but more than this, the heart aches because of the lack of answers to the timeless question of “Why?" Just how many sacrifices must the Jewish people offer up on the altar of tears that is the story of our ongoing Jewish history?… but ultimately there are no answers to these questions, and the knowledge of this makes it even more unbearable.

The Midrash Vayikra Rabbah (Parshas Tzav 7:3) quotes the great sage Rav Asi who asked, 'Why do little school children begin their [study of the Torah] with the book of Leviticus and not with Genesis? Surely, we should begin teaching them from “the beginning” and yet we begin their formal education by teaching them from the third book of the Torah! Said Rav Asi: Surely it is because young children are pure, and the korbanot (sacrifices) are pure; so let the pure come and engage in the study of the pure.

This week, in Synagogues and schools across the world over, Jewish children (and adults) began reading and studying the third book of the Torah -- the book of Leviticus. And right from the get-go, the contrast between this book and the prior books could not be starker. For it is in this – the third of the five books of the Torah – that the Torah commands us to offer of ourselves, as it were, an offering to G-d!

It is also known as the most complex and technical book of the holy law, with its intricate nuances and detailed instructions. But sacrifices are pure. They reflect a level of commitment and of bringing oneself closer to G-d, but to get closer to G-d, is to get closer also to a level where human reason does not reach, is to get closer to a place that no human mind is capable of comprehension.

Perhaps this is the deeper reason why the little Jewish children begin their serious Torah studies through studying the topic of sacrifices -- for it, too, is a subject that is so pure, that it leaves more questions than answers and it belongs in a realm -- the realm of purity -- that is wholly beyond the scope of human understanding.

I can only hope and pray that these pure offerings in Toulouse, France will be the last such offerings -- and may we very soon merit to experience the warm embrace of the closeness of G-d in an open and revealed manner in line with the words expressed by the prophet Isaiah (also to be read in the Synagogues this Shabbos as the Haftarah): My people (the people of Israel, the Jewish nation) that I have formed for myself.

a tale of two demagogues

Fri, 2 Mar 2012 1:54:00 AM

What do Louis Farrakhan and Arthur Jones have in common? Answer: Both of them recently made headlines (though you’re going to have to dig a little to read about it) with their shrill incendiary antisemitc comments.

Unfortunately, Farrakhan, the bigot that he is, needs no introduction. He has a rather extensive track record of saying not-so-nice things about Jews. Jones, however, whom it would seem is not as well known (and we hope – and pray – that it will remain that way), hopes to be the Republican candidate chosen to run against Rep. Dan Lipinski in Illinois’ 3rd Congressional District.

As an example of what kind of man Jones is, here is a comment that should make any decent person pause: “As far as I’m concerned, the Holocaust is nothing more than an international extortion racket by the Jews," Jones said. "It’s the blackest lie in history. Millions of dollars are being made by Jews telling this tale of woe and misfortune in books, movies, plays and TV. The more survivors, the more lies that are told."

A Vietnam vet, and a member of neo Nazi extremist groups for years, Jones is making yet another attempt to get himself elected. And, believe it or not, he has garnered enough signatures to get himself placed on the ballot -- much to the chagrin and consternation of the local Republican party.

Farrakhan, speaking to thousands of supporters during the 82nd annual Saviors’ Day celebration in Chicago, accused “Zionists” of trying to push America into war with Iran and dubbed Al-Jazeera, the Dubai-based news channel, as Al Jew-zeera.

“In 100 years, they control movies, television, recording, publishing, commerce, radio, they own it all,” Farrakhan added.

What struck me most about both of these unsavory characters, is the fact that although they are seemingly at polar opposite ends of the political spectrum, their bigoted language and demagoguery they speak, is a shared one.

I can't say I was surprised. I even read about this before they even knew they were going to say this!

This this coming Shabbos, which is the Shabbos before Purim, Jews the world over will be reading about the nation of Amalek, the ersthwile enemy of the Jews. The Torah exhorts us to remember at all times, what the nation of Amalek did to us when we left Egypt -- how they elected to pick a fight with the Jewish people for no reason other than to harass the "weak and weary".

But it is a common thread throughout history, there have always been those who are looking to pick a fight with the Jews. It’s as simple as that. There does not have to be any rhyme or reason to it, and we dare not attempt to rationalize that which is not rational.

We should always be cognizant of this: that it is not our rituals and customs that bring out the demagogues from their dark holes, nor our success that bothers these people; but rather, the essence of the Jew that is somewhat connected with the essence of G-d is what irks these fools.

And as we merited to celebrate the holiday of Purim, with a total reversal of fortune for the Jewish people, so, too, may we merit in our days to see continued good fortune for all of our brethren, and may there be light, joy, gladness and honor, Amen!

The high rollers, and the rest of us

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 1:30:00 AM

In the shtetl of yesteryear (and possibly, in some Synagogues today, too) there used to be an expression about those who sit by the “Mizrach Vant”. The phrase "Mizarach Vant" is Yiddish for the East wall, and as a colloquialism it refers to the “Machers” -- high and mighty of society, who, due to their material wealth were honored with a seat close to the holy ark -- generally located at the east wall, as a reflection of their self-styled importance.

(If this sounds familiar, it's probably more of a reflection of the current state of our politics, with super PACS who get to wine and dine with whichever politician is running for a particular office, then anything else...)

So it should come as no surprise the 11th commandment is “And the Lord said; let only the rich, famous and holy, donate their resources, time and energy toward my newest building project”..

If you’re looking for the source of this quote - don’t bother. It doesn’t quite say this. What it does say is: “They shall make for Me a Sanctuary that I may dwell among them”. Every man and woman, from all walks of life and of every social standing; rich, poor, famous, wise or wicked, was required to be part of this monumental undertaking.

But, wait a minute! Why on earth would an omnipotent, omniscient G-d want a sanctuary to dwell “among them”? Here, take a look at what the prophet Isaiah asks in the name of G-d, “Heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool. Where is the house you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?”

The answer to this lies in the very detailed instruction manual that accompanied this command. There are ninety six verses in this week’s Parsha that deal exclusively with the weights, measurements, sizes and materials to be used in the construction of the tabernacle.

From the gold and silver used in such implements such as the menorah, altar and vessels used in the day-to-day service of the soon-to-be-completed temple, to the copper pegs in order to keep the courtyard curtains from flapping in the wind, each and every one of these materials represented the combined effort, treasure and wealth of all of the people.

So what difference could it make whether there were copper pegs to secure the curtains or not? The purpose of these pegs, was to keep holy sanctuary tethered to the physical ground it occupied. This represented a fusion of sorts of the physical with the spiritual. And it is the Torah's way of informing us that, as the common expression goes, "Not all that glitters is gold". It's not all about the material glamour and glitz that will make the difference. It is the shine and glow of the “commoner” (represented by the simple copper peg) who makes the supreme effort to change himself, that will make a world of difference in seeing G-d's dwelling place completed or not.

I spoke with a guy not long ago and, as often happens, the discussion turned to the state of religion and especially for those of the “99 per cent of us” – his words – who are not important “Machers” or power brokers of the community. I tried reasoning with him that there really is no caste system in our religion, and that it is really the case that G-d values the effort of all of us. It was only when I pointed out to him the important role played by the seemingly insignificant copper pegs, that I was able to get across the importance and self-esteem of this individual.

It is left to lowly copper -- a less refined material, relative to the glitz and glamour of gold and silver -- to teach us this lesson: It's up to us to elevate the mundane (think: "coarse") by fusing it to the holy (think: "glamorous").

Swallow the Pill

Fri, 17 Feb 2012 11:45:00 AM

During the course of this week, I had the opportunity of conversing with a young man that had lapsed somewhat in his religious observance for – in his words – some negative experiences with “organized” religion.

Of course he appreciated and very much understood that the actions of one or two should not reflect negatively on the entire community, and indeed, he took great pains in informing me, that there were many of the Mitzvohs of the Torah that he and his family thoroughly enjoy, and observe! It was just that there were a “few” Mitzvohs that -- for whatever reason -- did not resonate with him, and he didn't understand (very well), just what difference it would make, if he did or did not observe those.

What a good point I thought. Why would we expect of someone to observe what they do not understand. Is there really any value in an perfunctory performance of Mitzvohs? Yes, and here's why:

If a doctor were to instruct a patient to take penicillin to fight an infection G-d forbid, would the patient refuse to take the medicine if he could not understand just how the medicine works, or would he take the medicine regardless, and then learn just how the medicine worked. One would expect that most people, would swallow the pill so to speak, and then learn how the pill works.

The truth of the matter is that this tension and struggle plays itself out in this week’s Torah portion. Following the great excitement of last week’s Torah portion; Sinai; the grandeur and splendor of the revelation of the Torah at Mount Sinai - which remains unmatched and unparalleled in human history – one would have expected some deep spiritual discussion in the following pages, and yet, as we turn the proverbial page this week, we discover in the very first verses of this week’s Parsha such seemingly obvious laws, that govern and are the basis of any civilized society -- laws that we would surely have enacted (even if only by osmosis!) even if the Torah had not mandated them.

Yet therein lies the secret of Torah’s enduring relevance both to one's personal psyche, and to our national psyche as well. The uniqueness of Torah is that in the seemingly obvious Mitzvohs, one finds the deep spiritual expression of our creator. Our approach to Torah and the Mitzvoth must never be governed by the limits of our own knowledge and the subjectivity of our opinions and experiences; for that would at best, rob one of the fulsome experience the Torah has to offer; and, at worst, it would cause a person to deny him - or herself the connection and spiritual healing the Torah has to offer.

By juxtaposing the excitement of Sinai and the laws governing interpersonal relationships, the Torah is teaching us that both the experience of Sinai, and the laws governing the punitive damages assessed to the owner of a “goring Ox”, share a common theme of reflecting the total submission in our efforts of observing the Torah, independent of our level of understanding, or -- better yet -- despite our personal definitions of what makes sense or does not make sense.

Election 2012

Thu, 9 Feb 2012 4:41:00 PM

It’s hard to miss the rancor and divisiveness that seems to be de rigueur for the current state of the US election cycle. The daily dose of mudslinging by those that are engaged in vying for the top spot as candidate for president during this primary season, is likely to get worse as we head into the real showdown , come late summer and early fall.

In keeping with the time honored stance of religious organizations not involving themselves with political matters (and I’m sure the IRS would be much happier if we maintained our impartiality), I will not comment one way or another as to which candidate or political party to vote for.

I could not help noticing, however, in the course of my studies this week, a fascinating verse in this week’s Torah portion. In describing the events that led to the Jewish people receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai, the Torah describes their arrival at Mount Sinai and their encampment there, and says that it included a complete unity – of mind and heart – of all the people of Israel!

Now, I certainly don’t have to remind you of the popular adage that where you have two Jews you will have three opinions; we know, too, that the Jewish people that departed from Egypt was not a homogeneous group of people; rather it included a mixed multitude -- an amalgam of nations, and it represented a cross section of Jews of all shapes, sizes, colors, political opinions, religious observance and beliefs. It belies the imagination; nay, it would almost seem an improbability or certainly a miracle of true biblical proportions to behold!

Ah, but they were at Mount Sinai to receive the Torah. Torah doesn’t seek to pigeonhole everyone into one mold; rather Torah teaches us that true unity is where there is diversity and difference of opinion – and yet, where our focus is on the common good, maintaining our uniqueness, of course, but nonetheless uniting as one people with one heart.

So who should one vote for? The most trusted politician of course! Then again, just what is the definition of an oxymoron?