MAN IS NOT AN ISLAND UNTO HIMSELF

The Hebrew poet, Chaim Nachman Bialik,  when describing the Jewish Holidays said,  “If the Holidays seem empty to you it is because we are empty and if they are full of insights, it is because we come to them with open minds and open souls”. This idea can be applied to our textual study of the Torah, specifically, to a very interesting episode in the lives of Moshe and the Jewish People as described in this week’s Sedrah of Chukas.

 I am referring to the story, that we are all familiar with, when Moshe commits a grave sin. The Jewish people asked for water and Moshe was told:קח את המטה והקהל את העדה אתה ואהרן אחיך ודברתם אל הסלע לעיניהם ונתן מימיו והוצא להם מים מן הסלע

To take his rod and speak to the rock and water will gush forth. From the text we read that G-D told Moshe to speak to the rock rather than to hit the rock.  The act of hitting the rock by Moshe caused him to lose the opportunity to enter the Promised Land.  I am sure many would ask, “Was it such a dastardly act that warranted such a drastic punishment?”  There have been many reasons given by many distinguished Poskim. One reason was that Moshe did not sanctify the name of Hashem amongst the people  which would have been achieved by merely speaking to the rock which would have shown greater Kiddush Hashem than hitting the rock. 

Another reason we can understand by this act was that  Moshe expressed anger,  which was not the way a leader should act.

However, I am still searching for a more insightful answer.

Permit me to direct your attention to the words that Moshe uses in admonishing the people for their lack of faith in G-D

Moshe says “Shimu na hamorim”, “Listen, you rebellious people.” The word Hamorim, is a very harsh expression, “Why are you such ingrates that you dare to speak this way after all that Hashem did for you.   Where is your faith and reverence for G-D?”

Though the People needed to be admonished for their action, we need to look at the verse more carefully which will clarify  why Moshe was punished.

 The torah states,”שמעו נא המורים המן הסלע הזה נוציא לכם מים"

“Listen now, Oh Rebels, shall “WE” bring forth water for you from this rock?” I put emphasis on the word “WE”, which implies, that Moshe and Aaron by themselves had the power to produce water from the rock. Moshe should have said “Shall HASHEM bring forth water from this rock?”  I, strongly, feel that this is the reason why Hashem said to Moshe and Aaron “You have not sanctified my Name to the Jewish People”.

The Lesson is quite simple. We may all succeed in all our endeavors in life, but at all time we must never  lose sight of the role that G-D plays in our successes. We need,  at all times, to use  all our G-D  given  capabilities and qualities to achieve our goals and then turn our heads to Shamayim and say Thank you Hashem for being there  for me and encouraging me on the דרך האמת    for which I am most grateful and appreciative.

This idea can indeed be extended to our Parents, to our Grandparents and to all who have paved our road to success. “ Man is not an island unto himself, he is part of a greater nuclear family.”

Hakara Hatov can go a long way in making our lives more meaningful and successful.

DREAM ON

 

This past week I had a true nachas experience of attending the graduations of three of my grandchildren from elementary school. During the exercises I heard insightful messages from a number of graduates. The main theme that was repeated was ‘Dream of a Glorious Future’. They expressed their appreciation to their respective families and teachers encouraging them to pursue their dreams to make them a reality.

            As I listened I was reminded of an idea I once suggested about ‘Dreams.’  When life gets hectic, it can be hard to remember what our dreams are. We need to take a little time each day visualizing our dreams.  Not only will they start to feel possible, they will become possible. To achieve this motivational directive we must act with truth and sincerity.

 

            This idea was poignantly suggested in our Parsha this week when Moshe was faced with the controversy with Korach, a man who may have dreamed of being a leader and went about fulfilling his dreams in an insincere and dissenting fashion.

             As we read in Pirkey Avos

 כל מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים סופה להתקים ושאינה לשם שמים אין סופה להתקים ,איזו היא מחלוקת שהיא לשם שמים זו מחלוקת הלל ושמי,ושאינה לשם שמים זו מחלוקת קרח וכל עדתו

 

    The flaw in Korach’s personality was not that he differed with Moshe, but that he was not motivated by sincerity and honest dissent. He utilized unworthy and unscrupulous methods. In a word ‘He spread lies and falsehoods to achieve his goals in life.’

            Judaism does not shy away from controversy and differing opinions as long as they are לשם שמים ,for the betterment of Yiddishkeit.  However, if they are merely used as a means to destroy our Judaic way of life then they must be obliterated for the sake of our survival as an Am Kadosh.

            Our Gemara records, many times, the Machlokes between Hillel and Shamai, Interestingly, they always did so with mutual respect and were always open to the other’s opinion and never were they stubborn and resolute in their opinions. They were not relentless and incorruptible in their ways.

            As long as our controversies and opinions are L’shem Shamayim and we do so with the idea that we are motivated towards the goal of Sofo L’Hitkayem, to assure the future of Am Yisrael, then and only then is differences of opinion acceptable. This was not true for Korach. His goal was self aggrandizement and the defeat of Moshe and for such a demoralizing attitude defeat is the only answer.

            I recall the legend of the wise man who watched the building of the Temple at work. He approached one of the masons and asked “What are you doing?” To which the mason replied, “Foolish man, can’t you see I am cutting stone”.

            The wise man approached a second worker and asked the same question, to which the reply was, “I am working for 10 shekels a day to feed my family”.

The wise man then asked a third worker “What are you doing?”

His reply was “What am I doing? Why, I am helping to build the Temple of G-D”.

This is our lesson of the day. Korach was destroying the Judaic way of life while Moshe was building for the future, and it was for this reason his dreams were fulfilled.

“Happiness is the state of consciousness, which proceeds from the achievement of our values”

Let us dream of a better tomorrow and let us do so with respect and menshlechkeit .Then and only then will we see the Jewish People in all their glory.

                It is at this time we pray for the safe return of the three young boys, who were abducted, to their families and K’lal Yisrael; Eyal Yifrach and Gilad Shaar and Naftali Frenkel.ושבו בנים לגבולם.

IDENTIFY YOURSELVES

    Carl Rogers, one of the most influential modern day thinkers, developed a theory referred to as “Client Centered”. His theory enunciated the self concept, which reflected upon how a person perceives himself and how he perceives the world around him. If a person perceives himself in a positive way, then he will be motivated to live life in a positive and constructive way. However, if he has a distorted self image then he may begin to withdraw into his own cocoon and be very negative in the way he sees himself and the world around him. Our goal in life is to have a good self image that will motivate us to achieve our goals in life with great dedication and productive results.

    In our Parsha this week, Shlach, we are told of that infamous story of the Meraglim, the 12 spies that were sent by Moshe to spy out the land of Canaan before they were to proceed to the Promised Land. I am sure we all are familiar with the fact that 10 of the 12 spies came back with a somewhat dismal report, ‘  ושם ראינו את הנפילים בני ענק מן הנפלים ונהי בעינינו כחגבים וכן היינו בעיניהם

 ‘And there we saw in the Nephillim the sons of Anok and we were in our own sight as Grasshoppers and so we were in their sight’

    As we hear their report, we immediately react to these great leaders who, not only, saw themselves as Grasshoppers, but they also reflected on the fact that the Nephillim also saw them as Grasshoppers.

   What a distorted self image.  It is bad enough to be seen by others as Grasshoppers, insignificant, but to see themselves in the same derogatory way is truly a denial of one’s self which ultimately can lead to  self destruction.  This indeed, in my opinion, was the true sin of the Meraglim.

   This attitude must not prevail in our lives and in the lives of our children. We must rid ourselves of our own self negativity and replace our perception of ourselves with a positive self image leading to a positive self esteem. As human beings, and more so, as Jews, we must see the great potential that Hashem has blessed us with to go forth in life to achieve our true self actualization. We must never belittle ourselves and see ourselves as Chagavim, but, rather, to walk with pride and confidence projecting a good self image that will bring about greater respect and admiration from others.

 This idea must also be the attitude for our State of Israel.  Artzeinu Hakidosha must never see itself as Chagavim, insignificant and second class citizens to other world powers, but rather to walk with pride and confidence.  With this pride and confidence we will not let the world trample upon our glorious land as they did only a short time ago.

 Life is magnificent and we can truly be productive in so many ways as long as we have a good “Self Image” as a Jew and as a person created in the Image of G-D.

OUR BELOVED RUTH

    As we approach the Yom Tov of Shavuot, my mind seems to turn to the true heroine of this Holiday, Ruth. She indeed represents all that is beautiful in Judaism and, more so, she epitomizes true dedication to a Torah oriented way of life. Not only did Ruth join the congregation of Hashem, but for her commitment to Yiddishkeit she merited to become the ancestor of the Moshiach. A tremendous  Z'chut for a Jewish Woman.

    This achievement indicates that her conversion was not simply an exterior type of conversion, but rather a true metamorphosis at the core of her being.

    Ruth is cataloging her transformation when she declares to her mother-in-law Naomi " כי אל אשר תלכי אלך עמך עמי אלוקיך אלוקי" "Your G-d is my G-d.  Wherever you go, I shall go.  And your people are my people."  It is a change of belief, a change in nationality, a change in lifestyle, and a definite change in theology. Ruth does not run away from accepting a new way of life, but rather she runs after her new identity with great enjoyment and awareness.

   More so, Ruth becomes the epitome of loving kindness. Her ancestors were so cruel that they would not give the Israelites travelling through the dessert a piece of bread or a drink of water and here was Ruth acting in total opposition by assuming responsibility for her mother-in-law and for all her needs by  working in the fields in a truly humble fashion.

    Ruth and Shavuot speak of change. The story tells us we can overcome any obstacles that stand in our way and it is  relating to us that individuals can transcend their environment and engender change.

   This is my lesson for this Shavuot, and may we be Zocheh to meet the progenitor of Ruth, our Beloved Moshiach in the very near future.