SERVE WITH JOY

As we try to live life to the fullest, I remember a wise philosopher who said, "While setting goals for the future is important, make sure you give yourself a chance to enjoy your life as it is. Be grateful for each day and take the time to enjoy the life you are living right now". 

   Yes, we need to enjoy the moment.  We are, too often, so anxious ridden that life just seems to pass us by. 

   This, very thought,  relates to the Mitzvah of Bekurim,which we read about in this week's Sedrah 

Ki Tavo. 

   The Torah relates, “When you will come to the land of Israel,  you shall take of the first of all the fruit of the land , which Hashem gives to you and you shall bring them to the Beit Hamikdash, as an offering to G-D". 

   The Torah concludes the Mitzvah of Bekurim with the following words, ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך ה׳ אלוקיך ולביתך .... "You shall rejoice in all the good which Hashem your G-D has given to you and your household". 

   Bekurim, though not brought in our day and age, has a lesson for all time which needs to become an integral part of our way of life. 

   The Mitzvah of Bekurim teaches us that before we enjoy the Blessings which Hashem has bestowed upon us, we must first give back to G-D what belongs to Him. In a sense Bekurim, of today, can be seen as a means of Tzedakah, of giving back to Hashem  that which He gives to us, through helping others, and being empathetic to the less fortunate, and making the lives of others more comfortable and less anxious ridden. 

   However, that is only a part of it. The Torah wants us to rejoice in our lot, with our family and friends. The message of Bekurim is loud and clear- ושמחת, be happy, rejoice, for all that we have is a gift from G-D and in giving this gift to us He wants us to find happiness. 

   I was watching our grandchildren swim in the ocean as they were conquering the waves that were thrusting them to and fro and arriving safely on the shore. At that moment I realized that's what life is all about.  There are so many times that we feel we are being thrown around by the many occurrences in our life, that with the help of G-D, we have learned to weather those storms and arrive safely to meet another  glorious day. 

   At that point we are enjoined to remember the dictum, ושמחת בכל הטוב אשר נתן לך ה׳.  With our Faith in Yahadut we will rejoice with the Blessings of Life, and recognize how fortunate and appreciative we truly are.

   I remember a cute story regarding a teacher of the kindergarten class in a religious school, who, one day, brought a child to the principal because he had a theological problem. The principal remarked in jest to the teacher, “How, on earth, can a five year old have a theological problem?” 

The principal, then, asked the youngster what the difficulty was and he replied,  “My teacher said G-D is everywhere,” the principal nodded his head in agreement, “Well, said the youngster, I don't want G-D anywhere - I want G-D somewhere!!!”

   Out of the mouths of babes. 

   He was referring to one of the fundamental problems of religion. Religion emphasizes the vast gulf that often separates man from his Creator. It is at that moment that we remember Bekurim, bringing us closer to G-D and to man and, all along, enjoying that journey as we rejoice with Hashem, and express our happiness and contentment with life. 

   As we approach the Yamim Noraim, we are encouraged to live a Spiritual Life, to partake of the Divine Blessings that will afford us a life of happiness and joy.

   As the Psalmist says, 

“עבדו את ה׳ בשמחה"

“Serve G-d with Joy, Come Before Him with Song”

              

 

   

 

IN SEARCH OF BLESSINGS

        There are times, as I reflect upon our  society, I come to realize we are living in an "Age of Anxiety.” 

   Man is, forever, in search of Blessings. Even, within these periods of anxiety, we are constantly in want of enjoying whatever Blessings are doled out to us, realizing that even with these Blessings comes some anxiety. This is evident when someone asks, “How are you?” We respond, “Well, thank you, בלי עין הרע.” We are always in fear that these Blessings will be taken away from us.

   Why, I wonder that in the hidden corner of our heart, we harbor a gnawing concern, wondering will our Blessings continue and last?

   Let us think of our immediate Blessings - our children. They are indeed the most precious gifts bestowed upon us by Hashem. No one can deny, with this precious gift from Hashem, comes anxiety from one stage of growth to the next.  However, even greater thought comes with the realization of the parental responsibility of cultivating and preserving the Blessings that parenthood conveys upon us.

   This may be the reason why the Torah speaks which such fright about the בן סורר ומורה in this week's Sedrah - a realization that with children comes anxiety. We pray for them to be our Bracha and the trust that Hashem places in us will be one of Serenity and Nachas. 

   There is one word of caution when it comes to raising children. Using the word YES for all their requests may be fine for their needs, but does not guarantee their love and, especially, their positive behavioral patterns.   A  NO, once in a while, may show a child, that true love and parental guidance will be a molding force in their achieving magnificent Midos, and leading them on the Derech of Menschlikeit. 

   Good habits do not develop over night. The pattern begins much earlier, and it revolves around the learning of self discipline, at an early age. 

   A positive act of tradition and Torah service brings to the person performing that act of goodness and kindness, unforeseen opportunities to perform other acts of goodness and kindness. 

   With these thoughts in mind, I am reminded of another Mitzvah in this week's Torah reading - the Mitzvah of 

השבת אבדה, the Mitzvah of returning a lost article to its rightful owner. 

   We, of course, are referring to any lost object, even someone's animal. 

In my mind I wish to extend this Mitzvah even beyond the physical, and suggest that we are also responsible for our brethren's spiritual property. We are obligated to return all of our fellow Jew's 'Torah Share'. 

   The Or Hachaim, says that our Torah was given to each individual and to the Jewish People, in particular. 

   Moreover, every Jew has a unique share of the Torah which belongs only to him. When a Jew goes off the Derech, and is seemingly lost to K’lall Yisrael, then every Jew has an Acrayut, to return that lost soul back to his rightful position in his Torah Share and reconnect to the true Torah Derech. In doing so, we are fulfilling the mitzvah of השבת אבדה, fulfilling our responsibility, both in our relationship to our children and in our relationship to our lost brethren. The Torah is reminding us that we are, truly, partners with every Jew, sharing the great goal of illuminating Hashem's “Light in the World.” 

    Let me conclude these thoughts with the words of 

Robert F. Kennedy "Some see things as they are and ask why? I dream things that never were and ask why not". 

   כי תעשה הישר בעיני ה׳ "And you shall do that which is right in the eyes of G-D". 

    What a dream, what  a reach for the sublime. 

      

    

 

RESPONSIBILITY

“People don’t care about how much you know until they know how much you care”

   We, each, determine our own behavior. We are responsible for the way we act and react. That is why we must think for ourselves regardless of outside pressures. We must have the courage of our convictions.

   I remember speaking with a survivor of the Holocaust.  He told me his objective, while in the camp, was self-preservation and how to help his family and his friends survive, as well. 

   He shared with me what Chazal said, “Every person should have two pockets in his garment. In one pocket he should have a piece of paper saying בשבילי נברא העולם The entire world was created for my sake. In the other pocket, the note should read, אנכי אפר ועפר, I am but dust and ashes. Then, he told me, “I read the note describing myself as ‘Ashes and dust’ while I was in the concentration camp. However, when I arrived in the glorious state of Israel, I took out the note, which read, ‘The world was created for me.’ 

   This was a blessing and a lesson of a survivor, whose life was to move forward and to build a sanctuary to G-D out of a life of turmoil.

   For us, in our day and age, the main word that is necessary is “Responsibility”. What doesResponsibility do for mankind, we may ask, and how can we truly become a responsible person?

   My answer is forthcoming from this week’s Torahreading Shoftim. 

At the end of Sedrah we are introduced to a very interesting directive, called, עגלה ערופה. The Torah states, “If a murdered man was found in an open field and the murderer is not known, there is an act of expiation that has to be performed by the elders and the judges and the people of the city nearest to where the crime was committed.

   After the ceremony, the leaders of the city must wash their hands and make the following declaration; “Our hands have not shed this blood nor have our eyes seen it, forgive us Hashem.” 

   What a striking doctrine, one that makes us wonder, “Would we ever think that the leaders of the community would do such a dastardly act that required them to make such a statement?”

   The answer is ‘Responsibility.’ All of us, in some way or other, brought the death upon this innocent man. Crime and concern for others is the entire community’s ‘Responsibility.’ We are all affected, not only the victim. We are to begin to realize that communal Responsibility lies at our doorstep. Therefore, expiation is needed for this crime and other crimes, as well, that infest our communities, for our own self-preservation, and preservation of society.

   It is interesting that at the beginning of the Sedrah, we read of the need for proper judges, and Rashistates, 

קשוט עצמך ואחר כך קשוט לאחרים, “First start judging yourself, then you will be capable in judging others.” 

   With such introspection into our own behavioral patterns, we will be able to move forward with Hashem, walking briskly down the path of life for a healthy and constructive society. 

תמים תהיה עם הי אלוקיך , “Be complete and wholesome and totally faithful with 

G-D, resulting in a Humanity that is truly a G-Dly one.

   Martin Buber said it well, "Men become what they are, sons of G-D;

By becoming what they are, brothers of their brothers."

   Our life is a lesson that needs to confirm that the liberation, of time past, is a living reality today, inscribed in our minds, in our hearts, and in all of our deeds. 

   George Bernard Shaw wrote, "The worst sin towards our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them; that is the essence of inhumanity."

   This is so evident in the entire procedure of the Mitzvah of עגלה ערופה, as the Torah states, “Their injustice was that their eyes did not see.” They, and so often many of us, are blind to the many who suffer, for so many reasons, within our own community.  We are, too often, indifferent to others and to their needs. The aim of Yiddiskeit is to encourage and to inspire others with the dignity that befits an עם קדוש. Too often our hands are stained because our eyes are clouded. 

   I believe the Rav put our entire subject in the proper perspective, when he analyzed the Mitzva ofמת מצוה – “When a Kohen, on Yom Kippur, on his way to the Beit Hamikdash, to do his Avodah, comes across a dead person not being attended to, must defile himself and attend to the burial himself.” Herein, we see the Rav enunciate. in a poignant way, that the dignity of man takes precedence over the most important participant, in the most spiritual charge scene of the year, the Yom Kippur service. 

   We thus see that Human Dignity Trumps Ritual. 

This is an important lesson for all of us as we approach the Yemay Noraim. 

What we see is no more and no less than what we are. 

Torah is a hymn to justice, kindness and compassion. 

   Albert Einstein wrote, "Thanks to the privilege of destiny, I am conscious of belonging to the Jewish People, and just as in the past we shall create through fruitful work, values that will help to make mankind noble."

 

           

                 

CHILDREN OF G-D

      This morning, after services, a young man approached me with the following question; “In this week's Sedrah, Re’eh, what would you think is the most important message being told to us?” 

   The opening sentence of this weeks’ Parsha, immediately, comes to mind. It imparts to us the most valuable lesson Hashem has granted us, in Yahadut, that of, 

בחירה חפשית, Free Will. 

   However, my mind was going in a different direction, as I was reflecting on the behavior of so many people in our day and age – a behavior that enunciates the human proclivity for judging others. Too often we do so unfavorably because of our own insecurity. We are perplexed about our own effectiveness, as a parent, as a child, and as a mate. Whatever the reason behind our judgmental attitude, it exists in so many. 

   Because of these thoughts, my reply as to which statement I found to be most instructive was; 

   “ בנים אתם להי, We are all children of G-D” and I went on to discuss a fascinating discussion in Gemorah Kedushin with this young man.

  The Gemorah presents a discussion between, Rabbi Yehudah and Rabbi Meir, explaining the meaning of; ‘Being children of G-D.’ 

   Rabbi Yehuda, states that we are only referred to as children of G-D, when we actually act as G-D’schildren and when we abide by his Torah and observe His Mitzvot.  Rabbi Meir disagrees and says; “We are always His children, whether weobserve or not.” The amazing idea of this Gemorah, is that the final decision is made in favor of Rabbi Meir; “We are always G-D’s children.” 

    Who can deny the truism that a parent never gives up on their child, whatever their behavior may be?  In a like manner, Hashem always sees us as his children, with the fervor hope that we will find the proper Derech, and once more travel that road of observance. 

   Therefore, since we are all בנים להי, we have no right to ever sit in judgment of others. I sense we find it extremely easy to disparage another, rather than face ourselves, honestly, with our fears and inadequacies. 

  This is true more so with our children. We are to teach them to develop more confidence in themselves and to learn how to measure their own achievements, by their own efforts, rather than to constantly compare themselves to others. 

    By the way, this truly applies as well to parents. Most of the time our children observe our behavior, and are very quick to emulate our ways, be it positive or in an adverse negative way. 

  To begin this process of Being Children of Hashem, we must develop the quality of empathy. Remembering always the dictum subscribed to Hillelin our Mishnah. 

   אל תדין את חברך עד שתגיע למקומו "Never Judge another person until you have stood in his place". 

     The more understanding of others, the more respect we will have for them, resulting in our transformation from callousness to compassion. Only then will our lives and the lives of our family be one of appreciation and self satisfaction. 

    This week begins the month of Ellul. The Hebrew word stands for many ideas. First and foremost, “ אני לדודי ודודי לי I am my beloved and my beloved is mine” referring to our amazing relationship with Hashem, as His beloved children. 

    However it also stands for איש לרעהו ומתנות לאביונים, 

  “To live a life replete with compassion and empathy for our fellowman.” 

     This is our lesson from the Sedrah of Re’eh, and from Rosh Chodesh Ellul. 

   Let us pray that we will live up to the title of being Children of Hashem, and G-D will treat us as our Father, with compassion and blessings.

       

          

  

MEMORIES

   While driving my car, I chanced upon a radio station that was playing an old, but a very memorable song, “Memories.” The lyrics made think of the importance of Wonderful Memories that often pop up, unexpectedly, 

“Memories, pressed between the pages of my mind

Memories, sweetened thru the ages just like wine

Quiet thoughts come floating down

And settle softly to the ground

Like golden autumn leaves around my feet

I touched them and they burst apart with Sweet Memories,

 Sweet Memories.” 

   Life for the Jew is comprised with so many Memories,some disturbing, but many that are cherished and visited very often. 

    I recall the words of King David, in Psalm 143, זכרתי ימים מקדם, “I recalled days of old.”  Chazal explain these words are referring to Hashem, who wrought miracles for us.  This comforted me, knowing that Hashem was there for me and will always be there, for me, in the future. 

  With this thought in mind I consider Memory an art, which needs to be cultivated constantly.  That may be the reason we begin to blow the Shofar on Rosh Chodesh Elul, a  time of introspection, a time to remember our past and a time to use those Memories to instill our lives with greater meaning. 

    I feel some pangs of anxiety, as I hear people say to me, especially, the young adults, “Move on, leave the past behind, the future is ours.” 

  True, there may be Memories which deserve to be eradicated, but even those can truly help to inspire a more positive outlook to a more dynamic future. 

    I sense, without the past, progress is impossible. Memories are like a projector, focusing our experiences upon the screen of our minds, and upon the tablet of our hearts, pointing the way to new and more glorious goals and invigorating objectives. 

  How poignant is this thought, brought home to us, in this week’s Torah reading of Ekev, wherein it states, 

   “ וזכרת את הי אלוקיך, Therefore remember G-D.” 

   What are we to remember?  We are to remember to use our Memories in a way that we never lose consciousness of our special relationship with Hashem, for amnesia spells estrangement, and ruination, while Memory keeps relationships, alive, vibrant and very connected. 

   Man does not forget. G-D does not forget. 

    We always are to remember the transcendental and we do so with our Brachot. As the Torah states,”ואכלת ושבעת וברכת את הי אלוקיך, השמר לך פן תשכח את הי אלוקיך,” 

“And you shall eat and be satisfied, and bless Hashem, however beware lest you forget Hashem, and you shall remember Hashem, for He is the giver of your power". 

   Here is the essence of the power of Memories -remember Hashem and He will always remember you for Brachot. 

     Let us share these thoughts with our children and grandchildren, inspiring them with our Memories, encouraging them to create their own Memories,that will propel them into a successful future to share their memories with the next generation. 

  Memories O’Memories, How Sweet They Are.