VIGILANCE

   "The rung of a ladder was never meant to rest upon, but only to support you long enough to enable you to reach for something higher."

   This idea is expressive of a true Judaic way of life. We are all looking for spiritual highs in life and very often these feelings of spirituality come to us in a jolting transforming way.

   We read last week how the Jewish People reacted with great enthusiasm by pronouncing נעשה ונשמע  as they stood at Mt. Sinai receiving the Ten  Commandments from Hashem.  

   This week's Parsha begins with the Hebrew letter vav"ו" as a continuation of last week's Sedrah - as Rashi suggests ואלה מוסיף על הראשונים, to emphasize and show the need for the same enthusiasm and passion to be exhibited by עם ישראל in their adherence of the laws of Mishpatim as they demonstrated at Sinai. 

  With this thought in mind,I am reminded of the Gemorah which states:

על שלשה דברים העולם קים, על האמת, על הדין, ועל השלום. 

By three things is the world sustained, by truth, by Justice, and by peace. 

   The Gemorah goes on to say , that justice, truth, and peace are, in reality, one. If justice is executed, and truth is vindicated, peace results. How true this is and how sorrowful it is that our world today neglects this idea of the need for truth and justice and because of this neglect, our world suffers from a serious lack of peace. 

  Yes, we must first have the Ten Commandments, and the acceptance of Hashem as our Supreme Being, and then we must pursue all the dictates that we find in ואלה המשפטים, enunciating the power of justice and truth. 

   It is written that one of the Greek philosophers was asked, "When will man achieve a life of Justice?"

He replied, "We shall receive Justice when those who are not injured are as indignant as those who are. 

   Looking  around we see the injustice that has taken hold of our country with so many acting with violence, and even more with their expression of hatred and Anti Semitism that is espoused daily throughout  our country and especially on our college campuses. I cannot countenance to those who rationalize to me with "Well that's society". No! That's not society.  That is us. We are so complacent that our own children do not realize what's going on. They have become, as we have, indifferent to this serious problem. We may not be able to cure the ills of society, but we must speak out vehemently against this abhorrent exercise that they call 'freedom of speech'. Hatred and anti Semitism is not and must not be a rationalization to achieve our freedom of speech. Know well that this rationalization is pure hatred of the Jew and is against the State of Israel. 

         The world is experiencing so many rallies and protests against societal complaints, legitimate or not.  This must be our cue to begin to rally vociferously for our Judaic causes and especially to show the world that Israel is and will remain forever a Jewish State. 

 These are our Mishpatim of life and the more we raise our voices in a positive way the more the world will realize that עם ישראל חי. 

       Every day that we wake up, is a good day. Every breath that we take is filled with hope for a better day. Every word we speak, is a chance to change what is bad into something good. 

 לא עליך המלאכה לגמור ולא אתה בן חורין להבטל  ממנה

                                שבת שלום ומבורך

RENDEZVOUS WITH G-D

   This Shabbat we will read about the most awesome experience in the lives of עם ישראל, the Revelation of G-D at Har Sinai as He gave them the Aseres  Hadibros. The heavens opened and a symphony of sound bursts forth, not just any sound but it was a miraculous palpable sound perceived by everyone. This journey to Sinai on the way to their promised land was to create a glorious rendezvous with G-D. 

    As we stand when the Ten Commandments are being read in our Synagogues, we need to feel, once again, as if Hashem is giving us the Torah today as He did on Mt. Sinai. We stand, to reenact that moment of Revelation and place ourselves on that heightened spiritual level of Kedusha, when we once again rendezvous with G-D. Through this shared experience we produce a unity of purpose and a glorified destiny. 

      This can only be accomplished when we feel a deep sense of respect for each other. 

      I am reminded of the story, which is told about a modern,successful man who, apparently, had "everything" but he was constantly gnawed by some strange, vague feelings of endless emptiness causing him to feel upset, and frustrated.  He decided to see a psychiatrist.  The latter spent a two hour introductory session with the patient.  During this time, the patient did all the talking,and shared his feelings with the doctor. He told the doctor, "I worked hard all my life.  I always looked out for myself.  I pioneered a great industry.  I never asked anyone for anything.  I am a self made man", etc.  At the end of the session, the patient asked, "Well doctor, what do you see is wrong with me? I have everything.  I've done a lot in my life, but I am not happy."

    The doctor replied "Something is seriously wrong with your eye-sight."  "My eye-sight?" cried the patient, "My vision is O.K.  Besides  you are not an eye doctor.  I came to see a psychiatrist."  "You misunderstood me," said the doctor, " What I meant to say was, 'There is something wrong with your

 I-SIGHT.' You always say I,I,I did this and I did that.  You see yourself too much to the exclusion of all others and this causes your disturbance."

   With this thought in mind we begin to reflect upon one very interesting directive that Hashem gave to Am Yisrael at Har Sinai,as the Jews were eager to receive the Luchos.  They gradually started to walk closer to the mountain , when suddenly Hashem calls out to them "השמרו לכם עלות בהר" the people may not go up the mountain. One wonders why was G-D so emphatic with the prohibition of climbing the mountain?

     Herein is an everlasting lesson for the Jewish People. The authentic progress of man does not consist of only moving forward but rather moving "inward". The crucial message that accompanies the revelation at Sinai was that the goal of man is self transcendence, rather than transcending to the mountain peak. Progress is determined by what occurs to our personal selves. 

  Hashem asks man to engender a transcendental occurrence to his personality, to the "I" of man rather than a mere physical progress.  

    This sublime goal can only be realized through Torah living, which places us on an elevated plateau of קדושה, bringing about a greater אחדות ואהבה בין אדם לחברו. 

   Stand if you wish when the Aseres Hadibros are being read in Shul, but begin more to stand side by side in respect and tolerance for one another, that will help to bring about the ביאת גואל צדק , in our time. 

  "If you can take care of the internal, you can easily take care of the external. Then you can latch on to the eternal". 

                                  שבת שלום ומבורך

OUR TREES OF LIFE

    This Shabbat is  referred to as Shabbat Shirah as we read of the inspiring miracle which occurred at the Sea of Reeds as the Jewish People were escaping the onslaught of the Egyptian army.  The Sea was before them and they were awaiting the great miracle of Hashem to split the Sea permitting them to walk through on dry land to safety.

  This Shabbat we also commemorate the holiday of Tu B'Shvat, our Jewish Arbor Day and as the Mishnah states it is ראש השנה לאלנות. It is interesting that our Torah compares Man to a tree. This comparison is to inspire us to be like a tree. For as we look at a tree and it's beautiful foliage we realize that all its beauty is a result of the fact that the tree has deep roots in the ground and that it is nourished and sustained by earth around it and by the rain that pours down by the grace of Hashem. 

    Man equally needs strong roots and the blessing of G-d, to bring forth beautiful and spiritual foliage-children and grandchildren who will continue to be inspired by their parents and grandparents to continue their magnificent heritage and continue to bring Nachas to their respected families and for  Hashem as well. 

  These are times that we need to instill in our children's lives a greater sense of Yiddiskeit and a greater dedication to Torah and Mitzvos. 

   Let us become the trees of Torah for the future, עץ חיים למחזיקים, and to inspire others to a greater love and devotion to Torah and it's way of life. We may not have to cross the ים סוף, but we all,at some time, need to cross many highways  and byways to achieve our goals in life and we could always use the miraculous intervention of Hashem to bring about our hopes and our dreams. 

    May this New Year see that the fruit of our efforts be realize and may the Brachot of Hashem always be upon us. 

      

                        שבת שלום ומבורך

לעלוי נשמת יחיאל בן יעקב משה ז״ל

DUAL PLAN

“Life is the continuous adjustment of external relations "
    This statement comes to mind as we read this week's Parsha, Parshas Bo and study the continuous dialogue between Moshe and Paroh.  Moshe, by the directive of Hashem, continues to demand that Paroh send עם ישראל out of Egypt and release them from bondage, so that they may travel to their destination   The culmination of this act is B’nei Yisroel receiving the Torah on Har Sinai. We see how Paroh's heart becomes hardened and he continues to deny Moshe's request. Only until the last Makah of מכות בכורות did he acquiesce to let them go.

    All this is truly interesting, but as a student who enjoys the study of personalities, I am intrigued by Moshe's actions and more so by the response of Paroh. We seem to be experiencing a duel between two leaders. A duel of words and philosophies. A duel that places the lives of so many in jeopardy. One wonders what the full intent of Moshe was and understandably what the full intent of Hashem was, in this duel of words.

   To answer my query in a way that will satisfy our questions, permit me to share a brilliant analysis by the Rav of this entire dialogue that pours over in so many pages of our Chumash.

   The Rav wrote that there was a schism running through the personality of Paroh. While he was certainly an evil despot, he was a person, a human being and a father. Yes, says the Rav even Paroh was created in G-D's image. 

  Hear the Rav's words well. They are not only fascinating, and truly intriguing, they can inspire us in our tumultuous world that continues to envelope us on a daily.

“When Hashem says to Moshe בא אל פרעה, come to Paroh, it is different from the wording used in the Torah in Sedrah Va'era when G-D sent Moshe to confront Paroh for the first plague of blood at the Nile River. There we find the word לך go. The words בא and לך are characteristic of the message. Moshe was told to approach Paroh as the emperor and, also, to approach "Another" Paroh: the private person, the individual. When he approached Paroh as the king, it is .לך אל פרעה - He met him at the Nile, the symbol of power in Egypt. "Address yourself to the power oriented Paroh at the source of power, the Nile. Stop him, block him, tell him there are forces stronger than him. Place yourself strongly in front of him and protest". In our Sedrah this week we find a change in language, בא אל פרעה, "Go into the king in his home, where he is an ordinary man, a person, a father. Tell him how wrong he is to throw a child into the water. Tell him about Avraham and tell him about morality. Perhaps he will respond. There is a spark of good even in the most wicked. We use the word בא when we ask someone to come closer.”

   I read and re-read these fascinating and most enlightening words of the Rav. Not only does it clarify the whole episode of the confrontation between Moshe and Paroh, it elucidates, for us, a fantastic study in the different personalities of man and how important it is to know how we are to relate to each other to achieve the optimum in human relationships. 

  The Rav suggests there are situations that require confrontation, challenge, even battle, and there are times that require a different approach. A more person to person dialogue, which is an appeal to the other's sense of decency. The plan, as enunciated by the Rav, regarding Paroh, was a dual plan. When he was challenged publicly as king and his beloved Nile turned to blood he acted in a stern fashion.  When he was approached privately by Moshe, he could let his guard down because his subjects were not watching, and could be persuaded by Moshe to do the right thing. 

   This is truly an amazing understanding of how we are to relate to one another and achieve our goals for a more humane society-especially when we realize that Hashem accompanied Moshe when he went to Paroh in his palace and together they attempted to connect with the צלם אלוקים hidden inside Paroh, the man. Moshe reached out to Paroh who may have related to him as a father or brother. Now Moshe was offering Paroh an opportunity to rise above and to respond with the greatness and grandeur befitting all children of G-D, especially a king. 

   What an amazing analysis the Rav shares with us which is a lesson to all of our political figures throughout the world and how they need to learn how to act with each other to achieve a better world for all humanity. Equally so, on a more personal level the Rav's words will show us how humanity can live with each other in harmony and friendship and when doing so we will herald a world where the משיח will be welcomed with loving arms, for then we begin to realize that we are all created בצלם אלוקים. 

           שבת שלום ומבורך