OUR CALLING

 

The call of humanity fascinates me and the call of Hashem to the Jewish People inspires me.

 It is said "If G-D gives you something you can do, why in G-D's name wouldn't you do it".  

 

 It is with these thoughts in mind that I share with you a most awesome and inspiring experience that I had this past week. Mimi and I with over 18,000 men, women, and 4,000 High School and college students young attended the AIPAC Policy Conference in Washington D.C.

    It was amazing that all those who attended have a deep seeded feeling for the State of Israel.  Their allegiance to Zionism cuts across all lines of religion and creed and their goals are to influence the United States government to help assure the survival and security of the Jewish Holy Land. 

   I was overwhelmed with emotion to hear the testimony of so many and of their love for our homeland and I can understand and envision what a future messianic period would look like, "ביום ההוא יהיה הי אחד ושמו אחד - when all the world will stand up and declare the oneness of G-D. 

    The slogan of the conference was "Many Voices - One Mission." As Jews, we would never deny the importance of 'Our Mission,' the survival of our Jewish State.  We must welcome, with open arms, everyone who wishes to help us with this goal and we must do so with love and friendship. With their help, and the help of Hashem, we will declare with all our might, עם ישראל חי. 

                                                                                                                                 

 

  The Sedrah this Shabbat is Vayikrah. The opening words are ויקרא אל משה וידבר הי G-D called to Moshe and said.... ; The question that troubles so many Torah commentaries is “Why was it necessary for Hashem to call Moshe and then state what He wants of him. Why not go straight to the וידבר, and tell Moshe what He wants of him?”

    Rashi in his inimitable fashion suggests that the idea of "calling" reflects a calling out of love and endearment. I sense that, more than ever, our times demand a calling from one Jew to another.  Not a mere calling, but an intensified relationship between one Jew and another. In the words of Rashi;, “A relationship with חבה, loving and understanding - A relationship that fosters peace and friendship.” 

      This idea can be extended by the interesting fact that we begin out Seder with an invitation to all who are in need, הא לחמא עניא. These words express an important directive in Yahadus. As Jews we need to reach out to others. Judaism is not an exclusive club but rather an inclusive religion, inviting everyone to be part of our glorious way of life. The fact that we will read extensively in Sefer Vayikrah about Karbanos, suggests that the word קרבנות, is derived from the word קרב. Through our Karbonos, we come closer to Hashem. I am equally suggesting that as we come closer to G-D, we need, desperately, to come closer to each other. These are crucial times for עם ישראל and our main goal is to forge a greater alliance of Judaic brotherhood/ sisterhood that will bring about a true and solid unified people. 

    This is what I saw and felt at the convention. This is what I sense is needed for כלל ישראל, at all times. Enmity must be removed from our way of life and replaced with respect, warmth, as one brother/sister to another. 

  Permit me conclude with the following idea, "There is a calling for all of us.  Every human being has value and purpose. The real work of our lives is to become aware, to become awakened and to answer the call." 

  This is a propitious time as we prepare to celebrate the Yom Tov of Pesach, speaking of our past Geulah and to focus, as well, on the bringing of the final Geulah for עם ישראל.  This can only be achieved if we synchronize all our efforts with respect and love for each other, leading to our גאולה שלמה to see our glorious state of Israel living in peace and security. 

 

                 שבת שלום ומבורך

TORAH MADNESS

    Our country is experiencing a sports phenomenon which is occupying so much of our time, - March Madness for collegiate basketball. Any sports enthusiast during this time acts in such a frenzy and has put aside all of their activities just to give all their attention to this madness. I must admit that as I observe this phenomenon, I am greatly impressed by their passion and their overwhelming attention to each and every game. It is at that moment that I would hope that this self same passion should be channeled towards more important objectives in life, i.e. attending minyan , a set time for daily learning, for acts of chesed, family interaction, etc. It is with this  thought in mind that I share this Devar Torah with you.      

   This Shabbat we will bring to a close Sefer Sh’mot , and in unison, we will call out in resounding voices, חזק חזק ונתחזק. We reflect, at this time, the historical journey of the Jewish People from their debased lives of slavery on to the glorious road of Geulah, eventually leading them to the Promised Land. 
   I am reminded of the story of the little girl who refused to go to sleep in a neighbors’ house unless the bedroom door was left open. “Why? Are you afraid of the dark, a big girl like you?” teased the neighbor. “Yes, I am”, replied the girl. “But you are not afraid of the dark at your home” she said. “I know”, answered the little girl, “but in my home that's "my" dark.”
   Reflecting on the little girls’ answer made me think about the requirements to build the Mishkan at this point in the lives of the Jewish People. At this point in their spiritual journey, came the command  to build their own sanctuary, a place of Sanctity, a place of their ‘own’, a place to meet Hashem that will dispel the darkness of Galut and replace it with a Z’man G’eulah. 
   The question posed to me, “Was the Mishkan a sanctuary for G-D or for man?”
The obvious answer is- “It was built for both.” 
   I sense that Hashem, in His infinite way, recognized the need to part of the people, to be part of the human race.  He could not achieve this goal from high above, in the heavens, He needed to come unto mans turf, for only then will He be able to elevate man to a higher and more sublime plateau. 
   Man will recognize that his need for true fulfillment can only be accomplished when he feels a closeness to G-D and that this Mishkan will serve this sublime  purpose. 
   The Mishkan, in all its glory, will serve as a place for man to meet G-d and in doing so the spirit of man will be infused with the spirit of Hashem. 
   There is a fascinating Medrash reflecting on what took place after the completion of the Mishkan. The completed Mishkan was brought to Moshe and the people stated, “עשינו כל מה שצויתנו, we did all that you told us,but we are sorry to tell you, אינו עומד, the structure does not stand, it continues to fall. “Why, they inquired of Moshe, is this happening?” Moshe was equally confused and asked Hashem himself, “Why is this happening?”
G-D replied, “כדי שידעו כל ישראל , שאם על ידך אינו עומד שוב אינו עומד לעולם "So that all Israel may know that if it is not established by your hand it will not be established at all.” 
   The lesson is quite simple: a Sanctuary, a Synagogue, has to possess the imprint of ‘Torat Moshe’ otherwise it cannot endure. Torah must be the means to reach our objectives and goals in life. 
   Extending this thought, it is wise to realize that the word Mishkon is similar to the word Mashkon, collateral. What Hashem was saying to the Jewish People, at this time in history, “I want the Mishkon to become a Mashkon, and even more so I want the Jew to be a Mashkon for the world. Man the Mashkon, became now a Mishkon , a Sactuary, a Tabernacle for all the world to dwell in. 
  This Mishkon/ Mashkon can only be erected in a way that will assure its permanency is by building it  

 על פי הי ועל תורת משה. 
   With this thought in mind we can readily understand why we bellow out in pride at the conclusion of the Sedrah, חזק חזק. We hope and pray for the strength that emanates from Hashem to make us a strong and permanent Mashkon, collateral, to assure we, ourselves, become the true Mishkon, wherein Hashem dwells. 

 These are days when we begin to prepare for the Yom Tov  of Pesach and we  realize how  important preparation is for the true  fulfillment of this Yom Tov.  If this be true for a Yom Tov, think how much more preparation is necessary to bring about the full redemption of man and for Man/Woman to become the glorious  Mishkon of Kedusha and thereby heralding the Geulah Shlemah.  

                                              שבת שלום ומבורך

 

A CALL FOR UNITY

 

   Permit me to share the following story with you: The pilot of a plane going from New York to Miami in a storm, suddenly puts on the microphone and announces to his passengers, "I have some good news and some bad news. The bad news is that our compass is not working, and we have no idea where we are or in what direction we are heading. The good news is that we are maintaining our forward speed of 700 hundred miles an hour.”  After reading this story I would like to pose the following question, “Are we sharing this problem with the passengers on this plane?” Look around our world.  Have we lost our compass and don't seem to have a flight plan for our society and sadly we are going forward at intensive speed. Today, more than ever, we begin to realize that our life has no meaning unless there is a flight plan and a compass connected to our Judaic way of life. 
   With this thought in mind, the opening words of this week's Sedrah are most instructive to our way of thinking. The Torah states   כי תשא את ראש בני ישראל לפקודיהם ונתנו איש כופר נפשו. When the census of the Jewish People was taken, Moshe was instructed not to count heads but rather to ask everyone to donate a half a shekel and to count the half shekels to ascertain the number of Jews present. 
   Many ask, “Why is a half shekel used and not a whole shekel? Why couldn’t they just count heads?”
   The collecting of the half shekel suggests that a Jew is never alone.  He/she always need the other.  We are never complete until we become one with each other. 
   The idea of not counting heads by number, which we don't even do when we are counting to see how many people we have to make a minyan, is to teach us that we don't treat people like numbers.  When we count by numbers we overlook the uniqueness of each individual person. There is this fear that we are dehumanizing people.  There is that  fear of treating them as if they were only numbers, and losing sight of that which makes each one important and priceless and special.    Every person being created in the image of G-D has the potential to achieve greatness.  Therefore, they are deemed worthy to be recognized for their individual achievements and are not to be lumped together as a mere number. 
    These are important times for, us, as part of the Jewish People to successfully move into the next era and have greater Jewish unity. It is true that we can disagree on different ideas and outlooks regarding so many modern topics facing Judaism, but when it creates a schism between traditional Jews then we are on the road that is unbridgeable. 
   Let us agree to disagree but let us not create a schism that will destroy the fabric of true Halachic Judaism that has been our foundation and our strength throughout the ages. 
    5777 is a  call for unity and for our religious survival. 
   The more one enters into cooperative relations with others, the more personality one succeeds in achieving. 
שבת שלום ומבורך

THE RELEVANCY OF PURIM

   As we prepare for the Holiday of Purim I am intrigued as how the theme of of Purim relates to our modern day society.

   With this thought in mind, permit me to share with you a very interesting and thought provoking idea that our Rebbe, Rabbi Joseph Soloveitchik zt"l reflected upon regarding the Holiday of Purim.

   Rabbi Soloveitchik outlined how the Megillah of Purim was not intended to be part of the Biblical Canon.  Initially, the story of Purim was transcribed by Mordechai, and shared far and wide with the Jewish community as an "Igeres", a letter.

   Esther wrote a letter as well, which was, basically, a repetition of Mordechai's initial request, seeking to establish the 14th and 15th of Adar as Purim for all times.  

   "What did she ask for?" said Rabbi Soloveitchik, "Whatever she wanted had been fulfilled.  Her request for the establishment of the holiday was granted." Esther's request, he explained, was that this "letter" be elevated to the level of כתבי הקודש.

Once that happened, the message of מגילת אסתר -now one of the books of the Torah - became more powerful and eternal.

    "An Igeres is a story - a true story," said Rabbi Soloveitchik. "I don't want to mitigate the importance of an Igeres.  But once the recounted Purim story became an actual Book of the Bible, there's a new dimension to the Megillah.  The Megillah is, now, part of the Torah."

    Rabbi Soloveitchik shared his philosophy that "any book of the Torah must be a source of Torah knowledge, a source of halachot, of rules, of conduct, a source of morality, a source on which one may draw from time to time, when he's in doubt and/or in confusion. An Igeres is an historical document not a source of knowledge."  Biblical stories stressed Rabbi Soloveitchik, are not merely stories.  There are laws and directions in life to be learned from these narrative moments in Torah - its relevance to today and always.

   As Rabbi Soloveitchik approached the conclusion of his lecture, he asked his listeners, "What Jewish law can we learn from the Purim story told in the Book of Esther."

   There are multiple laws that can be derived, but the Rav was searching for the one that stood apart from the others.  "The Central Halacha in מגילת אסתר," he answered, "is the duty of the individual to sacrifice his life, if the destiny and the future of the community is at stake." And someone - in this case Mordechai- may, also, coerce him or her to give his or her life if it will save the people.

    Rabbi Soloveitchik seems to suggest that Esther's determination to have "Her" book, included in the Biblical Canon, went beyond a formal recognition of the salvation afforded the Jewish People.  Her major intent may have been that her personal sacrifice, where she was willing to give of her life, and could have, in fact, lost her life, would be conveyed to the generations as a proper approach for each Jew to take, when they have the opportunity, to act on behalf of their People.  After all, the other halachot observed during the holiday, show Purim to be a celebration of Jewish connection, shared fate and shared fortune.

    These are difficult times facing the Jewish People throughout the world as we experience anti-Semitic threats.  The Rav's understanding of Purim should give us greater strength to be pro-active in deterring these acts of hatred as Esther and Mordecai acted in Persia all those years ago.

   May this Purim bring salvation to the Jewish people throughout the world and may we be blessed with a lasting and permanent peace for the State of Israel.

A Freilechen Purim to all.

פורים שמח

EMPOWERMENT

  As I begin to study this week's Sedrah, Terumah, we learn how Hashem directs Moshe and בני ישראל  to build the Mishkan, the word that comes to mind is empowerment. 

  The word Empowerment reflects the development of knowledge, skills, and abilities in the learner to enable him to control and develop his own knowledge,skills and abilities.

 The upshot of empowerment is to, eventually, gain greater awareness and control of the self. It is a means to an end, not an end in itself. Empowerment  encourages people to gain the wherewithal that will allow them to overcome obstacles in life and ultimately help them develop the G-Dly that is within them. 

  It is in this light that I sense that Hashem wanted man not only to build a Physical Mishkan , but more so ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם, the emphasis is on the word  בתוכם, in man himself. Thus, we see that what Hashem wants from us, as Jews, is to become a מקדש מעט, a miniature sanctuary by the way we act and behave to one another. This is the true empowerment that Hashem sees as the goal of Humanity and especially the goal of Jewish People. 

  In a true sense empowerment, then, becomes an invitation for responsible initiative. 

   As humans, we need to start realizing that we possess an internal light, that may be the most important human endowment we receive at birth. It is this spark of divinity that distinguishes us as being part of the human race and if we but open our hearts to this idea, I am sure that we will be able to hear the soft whisper of G-D in man. 

  "The spirit of man is the candle of Hashem aglow in all of us". 

   This internal light confers upon us supreme value, which makes each of us unique and special. We are a sacred refraction of Divinity. 

   This thought comes to mind as we prepare for the Holiday of Purim. We begin to realize the holiness of Esther and Mordechai, and why and how they were willing to lay down their lives for the Jewish People.  Indeed it was that spark of divinity that spoke to them and gave them the fortitude to rally all their physical and spiritual strength to save the Jewish People. In doing so, they realized that they could not do it alone and so the instruction was ,לך כנוס את כל היהודים, gather all the Jews together , for with אחדות, with all our internal lights, we can beseech the Almighty to bring about our salvation. 

   This is our Mishkan, this is our Mikdash, this is our glory and this is our empowerment.It may be dark and gloomy outside but within us  we can keep aglow the candle of Faith. 

     It is with such an attitude that we are confident that Hashem will dwell within each one of us. As we become filled with the G-Dly, we will then achieve the dictum of,משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה. May this month of אדר be our אדרת אמונה that will bring about the fulfillment of the words of the Megillah. 

ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה. 

                                     שבת שלום ומבורך