GO FORTH

    As we begin Sefer שמות, we.  are introduced, for the first time, to our great liberator, our masterful teacher, the ultimate representative and messenger of G-D, our beloved  משה רבינו.  Moshe was unique in every way.  His personal characteristics reflected a combination of attributes and standards for all of us to follow.  Moshe was the first to lead the Jewish People into history and has remained, for everlasting time, our inspiration and our emulating example, enriching our spiritual lives.

   Moshe showed us that Judaism is not only theology but a way of life that projects our actions as an expression of the will of Hashem that has become our Judaic hallmark throughout history. 

   The Torah states   ויצא אל אחיו "Moshe grew and went forth to his brethren and saw their burdens." The most crucial word is ויצא, "He went forth." Moshe was not content to live within his own environment. He went forth to see how others lived. He wanted to be able to influence his society to improve their way of life . 

    Too often people become prisoners of their own narrow environment, of their specific economic and social group, oblivious to what is happening around them. There is a need, as Moshe did, to ויצא, to move out of oneself, out of ones own personal interests and become less trapped by ones egos and open ones eyes and hearts to the needs of others.  

    This ויצא, takes  us out of the "I" and brings us into the "We", thereby forging a stronger אחדות between man and his fellow man.

  Moshe could have been living a more luxurious life in the palace of Pharoah, but his strong sense of Humanity and  his recognition of his identity with his people drew him out into the world of his brethren.  He began to identify with the woes of others and found a new life, a life worthy of reaching out. 

    Moshe reacted with his heart and eyes.  He reacted to their pain and acted upon their suffering, even to the extent of putting his life in jeopardy.

  Moshe had a throne, but he lost it and gained immortality for the sake of the betterment of his people.  In doing so he became the celestial flame igniting the Jewish world with great spirituality that has sustained Judaism's vibrancy down through the ages. 

   Moshe is our Rebbe and has become our emulating figure, showing us the need to reach out to others and become less absorbed in ourselves. 

    Today is the yarzheit for my Beloved Mother 

ריבה בת יחיאל ע׳ה.  She was truly a person that personifies this concept of  ויצא.  Her life was always thinking of others and how she could be of help to her family and those around her. May her memory be a Blessing to everyone who was touched by her generosity and love. 

     

                                                   שבת שלום

ALL IN THE FAMILY

     I cannot emphasis, enough, the importance of the Jewish family.  The true Jewish family encompasses love, mutual help, understanding and growth to build the kind of attitude that will make self respecting and responsible human beings. Every, smoothly functioning society knows that family comes first.

     A home is the sanctuary where the real presence of family life and family love dwells.

     It is interested to note that our Torah reading this Shabbat Vayachi, tells us that Yaakov calls his Family together to give them a Bracha. He intimates that only when they avoid dissension will the Bracha be fulfilled. Yaakov seemed to be afraid that perhaps one of his children was unworthy and will not carry on his legacy and way of life into the future. His children, I am sure were dismayed that their father would think ill of anyone of them and not be assured that his legacy will go forth into future generations.

     To reassure their father they said in unison,  שמע ישראל הי אלוקינו הי אחד, fear not Israel our  father Jacob, we are all together and we will always continue  your legacy and  your tradition.  There will always be אחדות, in our family. When Yaakov heard their response he cried out with great jubilation   ברוך שם כבוד מלכותו לעולם ועד.

     Like Yaakov, our father, when we recite the Shmah on a daily basis, we, equally, begin to reassure ourselves that our future is in tact and that we live with confidence that all is well in our respective families. However, the surety of such an outcome can only be attained if we put the effort into our family life to see to it that it grows with love and fidelity.

     The Rav emphasized that by developing proper human relations structures, the Jew learns how to love, revere, and serve G-D. The Rav goes on to say, that in our Jewish tradition, parents not only must impart formal knowledge to their children, but must form, with them, an existential union and provide them with a total experience that integrates them into the  covenantal Jewish community. 

     To achieve these goals in our Family institution requires submission to divine norms creating bonds of love amongst all the members of the family.

     Let us continue to strive to build our families with love and understanding.

                                                   שבת שלום 

 

JEWISH COURAGE

       A noted author defined courage as "The strength never to let actions be influenced by fears."  Courage does not mean 'not to be afraid, not to have any fears.'  Even the bravest of men have fears.  Courage means to let our sense of right lead us, not our sense of fear.

    It is in this light that the opening sentence of our Parsha this Shabbat, Vayigash, speaks to us; ויגש יהודה -

 יהודה approaches Joseph, the viceroy of Egypt. While everyone was afraid to speak up,while all others remained quiet qwhen injustice was being perpetrated, יהודה and יהודה alone  acted with courage and stepped forward to express his indignation over Joseph's action.

   Yehudah does not fear standing and acting alone when he sees wrong being done to his family. Too often people refuse to act even when they know it's wrong. They just don't want to get involved.  This is our greatest human frailty. 

    Curiously this self same idea was expressed by Joseph, when he informed his father that he was alive. He sent a message , עוד יוסף חי,  "Joseph is alive". והוא מושל בכל ארץ מצרים, "And he is master over Egypt". This added information was to inform his father that he was the master over Egypt, and he need not worry that Egypt and its culture rules over him, for he is still his son and holds dear to his teachings and his way of life. This took a great amount of courage and fortitude in a strange and alien country.  For this reason we refer to Joseph as יוסף הצדיק.

    How meaningful it is to see that, both, Yehudah and Joseph possessed a strong belief and courage to do the right thing without fear of being castigated by others.  Their greatness was defined by their willingness to stand firm in their opinions and their objectives of life which brought honor to themselves and honor to Hashem.

   It is not enough to bemoan the wrong that exists in our world.  It is incumbent upon all of us to have the courage to step forward and demand justice and to demand righteousness and to do whatever is necessary to right the wrongs and to live our lives in the spirit of G-Dliness.

     במקום שאין איש השתדל להיות איש

                                                   שבת שלום

    

HOPE FOR THE FUTURE

   We celebrate Rosh Chodesh Tevet this Shabbat and Sunday.  The month of Tevet, typically, does not get much attention,  It sneaks in between Chanukah and Purim, giving us a break between Fall and Winter

   It is interesting to note that the month of Tevet begins on Chanukah. Chanukah commemorates a time when, very briefly, we experienced the return of sovereignty of Torah and Divine guidance by open miracles and political independence.  But, almost, immediately after Chanukah, we are confronted by the memories of the long-term loss of these sovereignties, a depressing state from which we have yet to emerge.

   The Maharal, discusses the month of Tevet.  In the Megillah, we read that Tevet is the month in which Esther was taken to King Achasveirosh's palace.  "Esther was taken to the King Achasveirosh's to the house of his kingship in the tenth month, which is the month of Tevet,in the seventh year of his rule." (Esther 2:16).

   The Maharal questions why the Megillah needs to state, both, that it was the tenth month and that it was Tevet.  The Maharal explains that the use of these expressions was to inform us that it was a cold time on the calendar and the word Tevet indicates that this was the beginning of hope.  It was a time when  things appear very bleak, yet the appointment of Esther as Queen, the indications of a new, enlightened era exist.

   Following this idea, we can realize that the month of Tevet is the month in which Winter Solstice 

occurs - the shortest day of the year.  The days get shorter and shorter as we approach it, sinking the world further and further into despair.  However, as we saw with Esther and her success we can appreciate that after the Winter Solstice, the days begin to lengthen and Light begins to shine more onto the Earth each day.  We realize that 'There is a sense of hope in the darkness, of potential growth, of future brightness.

   This is the message of Tevet: "Don't despair."  Even when things are looking bleak, we know that the sun will shine brightly once again.  May we live to see the day when the Light of Hashem will be at its full power.

   To all, a Shabbat Shalom and a Frielechen Chanukah and may the lights of our Chanukah candles inspire us to bask in the light of Judaism and live with hope and optimism.

               חג שמח שבת שלום

CHANUKAH

    As we prepare for the Yom Tov of Chanukah, this thought came to mind:

    Chanukah is more than a mere historic date.  It conveys an important religious lesson and the interpretation of ideals which are of vital significance at ever age.  The message is evident as we light Chanukah candles every evening of the Yom Tov and recite “Hanerot Halaly Kodesh Haim V’ain Lanu Reshut Lehesh Tamesh Bahem.”  “These candles are holy and we are not permitted to make any use of them, we many only look at them.”  This statement reflects a difference between the Shabbat candles and the Chanukah candles.  That, unlike the Shabbat candles, which are used to illuminate the house,  the Chanukah candles are holy and what is holy can be used for one purpose only, to be gazed at and contemplated.

     There is something remarkable about this idea.  That which is holy many not be used for any other purpose, no matter how worthy the cause may be.  There are certain things that are valuable in and of themselves,  even if they serve no other function.  True, this may seem so un-American.  The ideal of America is to be practical and our guiding philosophy is pragmatism. The question we always pose in pursuing any course of action is of “what use is it?”  Otherwise it is useless.

     Chanukah takes exception to this.  The candles have no purpose, for they are holy.  This pragmatism must stop at the Menorah.  One should gaze at the light, contemplate what they represent and not exploit them for their own use.

     We need this lesson today.  Human life like the Chanukah lights may be enjoyed but not used, explored but not exploited.  Not to manipulate people for ulterior motives.  To do what is right, for it is the “holy” right and not always to act with the question of ‘What is in it for me?’

     Let us remember the words of the Navi  Zechariah,   לא בחיל ולא בכח כי אם ברוחי אמר הי 

“Not through Army and not through strength but through My Spirit, said Hashem.”     

                                            חג שמח.  Freilechen Chanukah