WHERE ARE YOU. איכה

   As we approach the sacred day of Yom Kippur, I am reminded of an insightful quotation; "You can preach a better sermon with your life than with your lips”. 

   That, I believe, was the question that Hashem asked Adam after he sinned, "איכה,where are you?" Not in a geographical sense, but rather, "Where are you in the context of your relationship to G-D and to humanity."

   To often we become so involved in our daily mundane activities, that we fail to focus on the truly important aspects of life that really define us - family, friends and especially our responsibilities to our Torah way of life. To bring us back to this important reality we need  Yom Kippur to awaken in all of us our true priorities. 

   There is always a certain peace in being what one is - in being that completely.  

   The Rav, in analyzing the tephillos of Yom Kippur, especially the Musaf Amidah, explains the words ובכן תן פחדך, "Instill Your terror upon Your works," refers to the idea that since mankind does not take the initiative to recognize G-D's presence on earth and since man does not arouse himself from his self righteousness and idolatrous faith in his own self, we appeal to Hashem, Himself,  to awaken man, to hear his quest for  איכה. This may be the only way we will be aroused from our complacency. Otherwise, we may not come to the realization to what extent our actions have alienated us from G-D.  

   This form of introspection and realization of our inappropriate behavior will, hopefully, lead us to the next Bracha, וכן תן כבוד הי לעמך, "Hashem, bring honor to mankind and especially to the Jewish People." 

  This פחד and כבוד will propel all of us to a new and righteous journey of a life of blessing and peace.

  בספר חיים ברכה ושלום, ופרנסה טובה, נזכר ונכתב ונחתם לפניך,אנחנו וכל עמך בית ישראל, לחיים טובים ולשלום 

            שבת שלום ומבורך ושנה טובה

CHANGE FOR LIFE

   During these days before Rosh Hashana, the constant refrain is "Change", or, better yet, it is time to do "Teshuvah". This concept is a meritorious one, but the fulfillment of being able to change, for many, is not an easy task. In fact, in today's society I find that many are just not able to grasp the idea of improving themselves through change and surely find great difficulty to begin the process of Teshuvah.

   For many, actions seem to be in total opposition to this idea of wanting to change certain aspects of one's behavior.  The new attitude in our world today can be summed up by the words that are used when I ask, someone, a simple question about their life's situations.  I asked a student why he wasn't applying himself more studiously to his school work, and his reply was simply, "Rabbi, Whatever". When I inquire of an adult regarding their actions and/or their situation in life, very often the reply is, "It is what it is". 

  Here we have life's answers for everything, 'Whatever and It is what it is?' I hope not!

  These phrases are so negative and can be so damaging to our growth, our betterment, our change  and surely for our Teshuvah. 

   I once read that these answers can be referred to as 

" Tautophrasal Evasion", defined as, "I am not spending anymore effort on this matter, and nothing is going to change, so just get used to it." 

   I can just imagine this attitude when we go to a Doctor and we ask him, "What can we do about the situation?" and he responds, "Well, it is what it is". 

   These two responses, 'Whatever and It is what it is,' are the most devastating expressions in our human lexicon.  They make life so helpless and even hopeless. That is not what Judaism prescribes for life, especially during this period of beseeching the Almighty for  a new year of health and prosperity. 

   Surely, we can say "Que sera, sera-Whatever will be, will be." However, in doing so, we are taking our G-D given qualities and options to better ourselves out of our hands and thrusting them to the wind. This is not an option and I personally, refuse to act this way. 

   As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, let us work to replace the "It is what it is" with "It will become what it ought to be". This is the true idea and directive to achieve the ultimate act of Teshuvah. 

    This is extremely true as we embark on a more observant road in our Judaic way of life and in the way we act to one another. Yes, we need to remove the oft time quoted words, "It is better than nothing", for that is just as bad as "It is what it is & Whatever." 

  Now is the time to take responsibility for our actions. Now is the time that certain attitudes need to be changed. Now is the time for Teshuvah, that will make our lives more meaningful and make us more responsible. 

   The beauty of life is to know we have  G-D given capabilities. Let us begin to use them as we approach this new year of 5778. Let it be year of change and a year of improvement that will lead us to a year of Bracha and Yeshuah. 

    Wishing all my blog friends a year of  שנת חיים וטובים. 

  Please keep in touch , I would love to hear from you.

  Danny Mehlman

                    שנה טובה שבת שלום

 

  

A STILL SMALL VOICE

  The recent hurricanes came in a most destructive fashion and have exited leaving so many homeless and emotionally distraught. 

  Reflecting on this situation, permit me to share with you a disturbing and very probing telephone call from an acquaintance of mine. He asked me how I was doing and then came the question, "With all this devastation should we say that this was an exhibition of  הסתר פנים, when Hashem, hid himself from our world.  Is this what our Torah meant, G-D hiding his face from mankind?"

  The question had greater meaning, for in this weeks Torah reading נצבים-וילך we will hear the frightening words,

         ועזבתים  והסתרתי פני מהם. ואנכי הסתר אסתיר פני...   

"I will forsake them and I will conceal my face from them" 

   This statement, as we know, refers to the time when the people of Israel will go against Hashem, by living a life of sin, causing Hashem to conceal Himself from man. 

  Don't think, for a moment, that I am here to reason why such a climate condition can wreak havoc on our states. What I am observing is that we are living in a world of hatred and vengeance and I can, readily, understand that such negation of Humanity can and will cause G-D to conceal Himself from us and when doing so. The world suffers greatly in the absence of G-D. 

  With this in mind, I am  reminded of a very interesting story as recorded in the Navi of Kings. Wherein, the Navi speaks of the Prophet Eliyahu, who, after being pursued by King Ahav, escaped to a mountain. While there he prayed to G-D, for help and Hashem appeared to Elijah in that mountain. The Navi, when describing G-D's appearance says,"There was a great and mighty wind, but the Lord was not in the wind. Then there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. Then, there was a huge fire but the Lord was not in the fire. Finally, there was a  קול דממה דקה  "A still small voice, and the Lord was in that still small voice." 

   Yes, my inquisitive friend, G-D is not in the Hurricanes of life. He can be found in each one of us and we are to find our answers to life deep within each of us-  by acting in a G-Dly fashion to each other, not only in times of trouble and disaster, but to glean from these hurricanes, that G-D may be hidden, but he is hidden in each of us, and these are times when we are to open our hearts to all and bring them under the canopy of G-Dliness assuring our true  תקון העולם. 

   Rosh Hashana is a day of "Hitgalut Hashem"-  a time when every creature of the world becomes aware of 

G-D's presence.  This  Hitgalut is revealed through two media. Through the physical universe which He created and through which G-D's decrees declare His presence as the מלך העולם. His glory is also revealed through His  people, עם ישראל. 

   The Jew must resolve on Rosh Hashana that he will conduct himself in such a way that everyone will be able to see G-Dliness reflected in his being. By doing so he can change the precursor of destruction to a symbol of friendship. From the Midas Hadin to the Midas Harachamim. The Rav said that on Rosh Hashana we bind the "Teruah" representing Yitzchak and his Akedah, which is symbolic of Din with a Tekiah in front and behind. For the Tekiot are symbols of "Rachamim" and represent the Chesed of Avraham, and the Tiferes of Yaakov.  

  Let us take this idea to heart as we prepare for the Yemai Noraim, when we will gather together in  Tephillah, and will hear the shofar blowing and beseech the Almighty to change our venue in life from the Teruah of Judgement into the Tekiah of Mercy. 

  Wishing you and yours a כתיבה וחתימה טובה and may we be Zoche to see the ביאת גואל צדק במהרה בימינו. 

                   שבת שלום ומבורך. 

GOOD TIDINGS

  “The most devastating human experience is the failure to remember past experiences and to learn from that past how we are to live in the present and how we can prepare for the future.”

    I speak this way as I continue to watch the disaster and devastation that has overwhelmed the city of Houston by hurricane Harvey.   Why, you may ask, am I visiting this terrible tragedy once again? I happen to come across an article that I wrote about my personal experience as the Rabbi in Lido Beach during the terrifying hurricane of Sandy that destroyed so many homes, physically, and had a great psychological affect on so many innocent men, women and children. 

   In that article I quoted an amazing and magnificent poem by Minnie Louise Haskins:
"And I said to the man who stood at the gate of the year, give me a light that I may tread safely into the unknown, and he replied, Go out unto the darkness and put your hand into the hand of G-D. That shall be to you better than light and safer than a known way."

  For those in Houston and for many who fear hurricane Irma, which is bearing down towards the State of Florida, I say, “Take all the precautions possible, and   do as much as is humanly possible. Hold dear to your B’tachon, your Faith in G-D, and together you will weather the storm.  

   As I continued to write my Blog there was a certain philosophical u turn that I began to take as I reflect upon this week's Torah reading of Ki Tavo, which describes the bringing of the  Bekurim, the first fruits, to the Bes Hamikdash as an offering of thanks for the bountiful produce. What intrigues me most is the proclamation that the farmer recites as he hands over the Bekurim to the Kohain. "You shall take of the first fruit of the land ...........ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך הי אלוקיך ולביתך 
"And you shall rejoice in all the good which the Lord your G-D has given to you and your household"

  The אור החיים, writes, “The idea of טוב in this context means, דבר הכולל כל טוב, ואין זה אלא הקדוש ברוך שהוא מקור הטוב. It refers to G-D who encompasses everything, and who is the source of all good.”

 

   Though we may experience difficult times, it may be family problems, it may health problems, it may be financial problems, it may be problems with children, we need to look heavenward for the solutions. Often these solutions are not so easy to come by, but the good can be found if we but look towards Hashem for He is the essence of good and He can turn the tide of difficulties into a state of blessings. 

 

 This may be a simplistic answer to many, but in its simplicity it is truly profound and can answer our questions in a more understandable fashion. 

 

  As we walk with the S’chinah the S’chinah walks with us.

 

The Psalmist said it well:

עוברי בעמק הבכא מעין ישיתוהו 

"They pass through a valley of tears, and convert it into a life giving fountain"

  

Let us live lives that continue to convert our troubles into Blessings and by the grace and help of Hashem we will succeed.

שבת שלום ומבורך