POWER OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT

    As we approach the inspiring Yom Tov of Rosh Hashanah it is well to consider the idea that, "Life is change." In fact, life is 'constant' change. Life never stands still. This is what makes life such a great challenge, for we always realize that life is always in the process of "becoming."

  With this idea in mind we can come to the following conclusion, "life is not about comfort but it is about choosing meaning." 

   Today more than ever we must begin to find the "meaning" in life and then to begin to achieve that "meaning."

   With this thought in mind, I recall an awesome story that continually inspires me during this very spiritual time on our Jewish calendar, when we beseech Hashem to bestow his Divine Blessing upon us.  

    The Klausenberger Rebbe came to this country after the Holocaust, where his wife and his 11 children perished. The first Shabbos he was in America the Torah reading included the section known as the 'tochecha'- the curses that will befall our people if we stray from G-D and His Torah. The custom is that the Torah reader reads this part of the parsha very softly and rushes through it. The Rebbe upon hearing him read in this unusual fashion, began to shout

 "Hecher, hecher, hecher, louder, louder." The Baal Koreh  continued to rush through the reading, and the Rebbe in a loud voice said, "Chap nisht, chap nisht, slow down, slow down."

   After the davening the worshippers inquired of the Rebbe, "Why did you you react in such a way?" The Rebbe replied, "I want G-D to hear each word and to realize that each one of the curses has been fulfilled. Now it is time for Hashem to send us His Blessings.  

   What an awesome statement of life, to inspire us to live lives that will inspire Hashem to  infuse our actions with Blessings. 

    The Klausenberger Rebbe did just that. He went to Israel and built a magnificent  moshav and a hospital, and began to reach out to so many people with acts of Chesed. This is the way to change our lives and to bring the true Yeshuah to 

עם ישראל. 

These are the days that I strongly believe in the power of the human spirit. These are times that need the concept that we live בצלם אלוקים and to project this image  in the way we react to the needs of mankind. 

    Will the Shofar be blown and will we react to its call to man to change his behavioral pattern and bring a sense of Arevous that will herald a time of peace and tranquility to עם ישראל? It all depends on all of us as יחידים as well as involving the entire כלל.

  I wonder "Will we hear the Shofar of Geulah, and how will we react to its call?״

   Please share, with me, your 'personal feelings' and 'thoughts' as we approach these Days of Awe.  

   Wishing everyone a שנת חיים טובים וארוכים.

    

           

   

SEARCHING

As we prepare for the Yamim Noraim it is important to realize that this is a time of introspection and even more so a time for self-evaluation. These objectives may, at times, be very difficult to achieve, but know well that it is worth our while to make every effort to achieve this goal, if we want to begin this New Year in the right frame of mind. 

   Mimi reminded me that life is a search. This is true. We are all searching for something to make life more meaningful and more so, more enjoyable and anxious free. So many of us are searching for greater prosperity, for better health, for compassion and for so many true love. Too often in our search, we lose sight of the blessings that are at hand and fail to recognize the many blessings we already possess. When we are attentive to all our Blessings, we surely will find the contentment that we are searching for, bringing much joy and happiness to our lives.

   A colleague of mine once commented that the character of an individual can be appraised by his personal pronouns he is in the habit of using. The one who expresses himself frequently in the assertive “I” is an egotist who represents the narrow and selfish view of life. 

   I am reminded of a story that I recently related at an Aufruff, to encourage a special path for the newly married couple to follow in their life’s journey together. The story relates that there were two friends who wanted to perpetuate their memories. One cut a great obelisk from a quarry and engraved in bold letters his name and placed it besides the highway for all to see.  There it stood for centuries as a useless monument to a self-centered person. The other friend dug a well besides the desert highway and planted palm trees around the well. In the course of time that spot became a beautiful oasis where the weary traveler stopped to quench his thirst, to feed upon the fruit and to rest his tired body under its shade. 

    I began this blog speaking about our search in life, and now I ask, “What do we want in life, is it to build an obelisk or to create for ourselves and for others a magnificent oasis? The answer will determine what our priorities in life are and more so give us a direction in life’s searches.

    Are our pronouns a big “I”, or are we characterized by the pronouns “They” and “We”?

     These are very serious and complex times and we must strive for the spirit that speaks of togetherness, of sharing and cooperation, or we are doomed to failure. Remember, it is the “WE” slogan in the home that produces harmony and Shalom Bayit. It is the “We” ideal that will bring greater security and peace in our society. 

     One wonders at times what happened to the idea of Kol Yisrael Aravim Zeh Lazeh?  

    What makes for a good life one may ask? My answer seems simplistic but in truth it is profound, “Life is a test in how we deal honorably with our fellow man, how we experience the G-Dliness within us and how we renew our faith in G-D manifesting itself by advancing the goals of Torah in our lives. 

  Yes U’vachartah B’chaim, Choose Life.  A life that is a Blessing to Hashem and to Mankind. 

 May this coming year bring life and happiness, peace and prosperity, salvation and joy, to all of us,  to our loved ones and to all mankind.      

     

      

   

SHOFAR OF OPTIMISM

    "Life is a journey not only a destination."

 I recall a song whose lyrics were "What  will we do when we get, where we are going?"

  This is especially true  as we prepare for the Yamim Noraim, a time of true introspection.

   Understandably, this time of the year is a tense time for  many of us, because of the uncertainties and apprehension about the year ahead. We can hold on to the shofar of optimism, feeling confident that with our hopes and positive aspirations, we can walk into the New Year of blessing and feel confident that we will encounter a G-D that is sustaining, affirming and renewing. 

    To accomplish our visit with this vision of a bright future requires a change in how we act to each other. Only then will we  experience our true and long lasting redemption. 

    Our Torah reading for this week,Parshas Ki Tetzeh, emphasizes many important directives to achieve this ultimate goal of behavioral changes that are required during this time of introspection . 

   The Torah states"לא תראה את שור אחיך או את שיו נדחים והתעלמת מהם השב תשיבם לאחיך״

"You shall not see your brother's sheep driven away, and hide yourself from them, you shall surely bring them back to your brother."

 The crucial words of this Halacha is again emphasized  in a few sentences later, לא תוכל להתעלם, you cannot hide yourself. This means that you shall not be indifferent to your responsibilities. Once we become aware of the needs of others we have an obligation to reach out and help. The more we become aware of our fellowman, the  more responsible we become and the less indifferent we will be to the needs of others. 

    לא תוכל להתעלם,  This must be our theme and slogan in these times of confusion and in a world of indifference.  These words must be inscribed  in our hearts and minds as we become aware of ourselves and at the same time aware of the world around us, to help bring about our true salvation and the redemption of mankind. 

    In Israel there are two huge bodies of water: Lake Kinneret in the north and the Dead Sea in the south. Along the banks of the Kinneret there is flourishing vegetation, but the area along the Dead Sea is barren and desolate with only meager brush, no flowers, no fish, no fowl. The reason is simple; Lake Kinneret is full of life because it receives water from the Jordan River and gives it's own waters to the Dead Sea. On the other hand, the Dead Sea only receives, and has no outlets.

   The lesson is simple. It bespeaks of our needed attitude during these days of preparation for the most sacred days on our Jewish calendar, to always live a life of giving. The word give in Hebrew is ונתנו, which is a palindrome, suggesting that when we give we will always receive, even more.

     We need to have a Kinneret type of objective to bring about a שנת חיים ושלום לנו ולכל ישראל. 

    שבת שלום

   

     

RESPONSIBILITY

   In a shiur that I  give on Wednesdays , I emphasized an important idea in Yahadut that Judaism often emphasizes; "Life is precious and beautiful." In fact, the reward of G-D is ,למען יאריכון ימים, granting us length of days. In essence, the more life we have, the better it is for us. Life is to be seen as a privilege not as a burden. 

   In our society today, Jews enjoy a level  of prosperity and freedom that is unprecedented in the history of the Jewish people. However, I sense that the more comfortable our lives are, there are those who take these blessings for granted. 

    Often forgotten that there are many contributing factors to our success. There are those who ignore the many blessings, i.e.,family into which they were born, the schools attended and the communities in which they were raised. All of these factors play a vital role in our lives, and so often they are taken for granted. There is a need to instill in the lives of our children the important idea of הכרת הטוב, which sadly is ignored in our successful lives.

  The story is told about Hymee who was a good man but a bit stingy. He would always bargain and haggle for a better price. He, especially, hated paying his medical fees. One  day while eating, a fish bone became lodged in his throat and within minutes he  could scarcely breathe. His wife, frantically, called the family doctor, who arrived just as the patient's face was turning blue. The physician quickly removed the bone with a pair of forceps. When he began breathing normally, although overwhelmed with gratitude to the doctor for saving his life, the doctors fees were a bit worrisome to him. Trying  his best to keep the costs down he turned to the good doctor and asked, "How much do I owe you for this small two minute job?" The  doctor, who knew his  patients  miserly habit too well replied, "Just pay me half of what you would have when the bone was still stuck in your throat."

   Comical as it may seem, it is true that we become too miserly when it comes to our feelings of appreciation and the recognition from whence comes our blessings. If this be true with our relationship between man and his fellowman, how much more so is this true in our relationship between man and Hashem.

    Life, in general, must be cherished and, at all times, must be valued. We are created בצלם אלוקים, in the image of G-D, and we must always act to each other as ערבים זה לזה. 

      This idea comes to mind as we discuss at the end of this week's Sedrah Shoftim, the mitzvah of עגלה ערופה,  referring to a case where a corpse is found in the field and the murderer is not known. In response, the city elders and the Kohanim participate in a unique ceremony. They decapitate a calf in a valley and declare, "ידינו לש שפכו את הדם הזה

"Our hands have not spilled this blood."

  This entire exercise seems so difficult to understand . Would we ever think the leaders of society would commit such a dastardly act that would require them to make such a statement. 

    Surely the leaders are not guilty. Why then would the Torah require them to go through this entire experience?

  The answer to this dilemma is one word "responsibility".  In a democratic society we must hold accountable all our leaders, especially our religious ones. Why you may ask? Because we must consider to what extent they have created a climate in which such a crime can be committed. All this is to establish responsibility. Are our leaders acting in such a way that they can state unequivocally ,that their hands are clean, and we have done all we can to make our society a safe and secure one for all of its citizens. 

    The lesson is so important in today's times. The eglah arufah ceremony is an elaborate ritual, that is meant to be educational that will lead to a transformative process in improving our society ,with greater respect for all its inhabitants whatever their status may be.  

     Indeed I believe it's a lesson of כל ישראל ערבים זה לזה. This is the month of Elul, as we prepare for the יום הדין, and a time to take responsibility not only for ourselves, but for others as well. 

   Let us make sure that we can always say, when we see ugliness raise it's head, that ידינו לא שפכו את הדם הזה ועינינו לא ראו, but rather we pay attention to the plight of others and in doing so Hashem will pour forth His blessings upon us for the good we do for others. 

שבת שלום

   

ROSH CHODESH ELUL

   This is the special Shabbat of Rosh Chodesh Ellul, a month that significantly represents אני לדודי  ודודי לי, a true love affair with G-D, binding us closer to Hashem as we prepare for the ימים נוראים. The question we need to address, "How do we prepare for this great Rendevous with Hashem" 

         Know well that the ultimate goal of Judaism is to attain a state of Kedusha,that will bring about an עם קדוש.

        To really achieve that magnificent state of Kedusha, we must try to be עומד לפני הי, and this can be readily achieved when we are עבדו את הי בשמחה ,of serving and deifying Hashem in a state of Simcha.

   The Rav explains the entire idea of Simcha in a truly magnificent and inviting way. He does so, by reflecting the many times that the word and the directive of achieving Simcha is seen in this week's Parsha of Re'eh. 

   Herein we see that the Torah speaks about the שלוש רגלים, the three pilgrimage festivals, of Pesach, Shavuot and  Succot.

 The main theme of these ימים טובים, is to experience an intense feeling of Simcha. The Torah constantly mentions Simcha in the context of being, עומד לפני הי  of being and feeling that one is in the presence of G-D.

     The Rav explains that there is an intrinsic connection between Simcha and being in the presence of Hashem. Being in the presence of G-D encourages and obligates one to rejoice and to be משמח to the fullest extent. 

  Our physical visits to Yershalayim, during the Shlosh Regalim will uplift us spiritually and bring about a wonderful feeling of being in the presence of Hashem resulting in a euphoric state of Simcha. 

  It is with this idea in mind that. I remind everyone that Rosh Chodesh Elul is a propitious time to realize that we are slowly but surely beginning to stand before Hashem. The blowing of the Shofar during the month of Elul  is to signal  and to remind us of this most exhilarating spiritual time and to rejoice , yes rejoice , and to be Mesameach, for this great opportunity to be עומד לפני הי, of standing in the presence of Hashem. 

   This awesome feeling of  עומד לפני הי should engender an intense  feeling of Kedusha, and  a greater desire to change our ways. We will then become more motivated to recognize that we are standing in the presence of Hashem.  With such a positive attitude we will surely achieve the ultimate state of Simcha for ourselves, for our families, and for Klal Yisrael.

   

שבת שלום וחדש טוב.