GREEN LIGHT CAMERA AHEAD

   Very often we enter the synagogue and there is a sign "Please turn off your cell phones" and most of us abide by this request to assure proper decorum.  This past week, while at services, someone forgot to turn off their cell phone and the message that rang out for all to hear was 'Red Light Camera Ahead.' Though it was an inappropriate message to be heard at that time, the lesson was very insightful. It told us that there is a need to slow down, even to stop all our activities, to take  hold of ourselves and to begin to ask, "Where are we all headed and why are our lives running 'helter skelter?' This is a lesson to remind us how to proceed in life in a most successful and secured way, 'Red Light Camera Ahead?'

    There are many Parshiot in Bereisheet, especially this week's Parsha of Toldot, which are reflective of the dictum מעשה אבות סימן לבנים "The lives of our forefathers are indicators for their children."  I sense that this is especially true of our Patriarch יעקב. His life epitomizes the lives of all Jews who are destined to live in the גלות. A great part of Jacob's life was not in the Holy Land but rather in the גלות and yet with great perseverance and loyalty he remained dedicated to his heritage.  Yaakov preserved his moral religious integrity and identity in a climate so much against human dignity. His commitment to the G-D of Avraham and his commitment to the Promised Land were not affected in any way by his sojourn of 20 yrs in Charan. 

  The Rav said, "That  Hashem wanted one individual to prove to the world that one can maintain their dedication and identity in a G-Dly way of life no matter where they live." Hashem chose Yaakov to be that person to prove that it can be done. Yaakov was chosen as an instrument of the Hashgacha Pratis to prove that Yahadut is universal.  

        When Yaakov said אם לבן גרתי ותרי״ג מצוות שמרתי  , he was telling the world that he did not assimilate , and did not integrate into Lavan's society and community.  He refused to accept their morals, their code of ethics, and their lifestyle. 

     The Ramban said, "Not only did Hashem prove this point through an individual,Yaakov, but by doing so was emphasizing that if an individual can do it , then a nation can do it as well."

    We can add to this idea of מעשה אבות.  When Yoseph saw how his father Yaakov lived a life of G-Dliness in the Galut, he undoubtedly became inspired and emulated his father by living a spiritual and saintly life in his Galut of Mitzrayim. 

        This is such an important lesson, especially in our day and age when we are experiencing a Galut Society of such debauchery.  It is important for us to maintain and live a life of high morals and to be dedicated to a Torah way of life.  

  We can say that כל התורה כולו יכולה להתקים בכל מקום ובכל זמן. "The Torah life is not dependent upon geography or chronology." Wherever we may be scattered, we will live a moral, ethical life as our Torah and Halacha prescribes for us. We have the Mesora of, מעשה אבות, to continue to inspire Jewry throughout all generations. Torah is alive in every fibre of our existence, for we are the children of Avraham, Yitzchak, and Yaakov. 

       With such a heritage we can say with much confidence "Green Light Camera Ahead".