FAMILY

     As our entire family gathered together, at the Seder, to commemorate "Geulat Mitzrayim" a simple yet profound word came to mind in describing my emotions. That word is "Togetherness.".

     Pesach, more than any other Yom Tov, bespeaks the quality of the family as they gather together from near and far in a mood of loving unity and true fellowship.

       At the first Seder we were instructed "איש שה לבית״".  Each family was instructed to observe the ritual of the Seder "Together", likewise down through the ages the call has been for "Togetherness" as a close knit family unit. 

    Judaism has always emphasized that with "Togetherness" comes hope and strength . There Is no doubt that this act of "Togetherness", makes our Seder truly special.  This feeling is not to be left behind after the Seder - it is to be brought into our daily lives - not only with our immediate family, but to all members of the Jewish People . 

     Today, more than ever, the call goes out to everyone to exhibit greater concern and empathy for each other, realizing the true fulfillment of the ultimate act of "Jewish Togetherness."

    In the words of a Hassidic Philosopher, "There is no room for G-D in him who is full of himself". This is our message that we take with us from our Pesach Seder; to make every effort to maintain a dedicated "Togetherness" that will truly help to usher the time of Moshiach and our true Geulah Shlemah .

      

EXCITEMENT and ANTICIPATION

As we approach the Yom Tov of Pesach we can feel the excitement and the anticipation in the air. It is at this time that I remember vividly the words of our Rebbe, The Rav, Harav Soloveitchikזצ׳ל :  

                           איו קדושה בלי הכנה

          

    One can not truly achieve the ultimate Holiness without intense preparation .

There is no Holiday that can compare to Pesach when it comes to preparation and there is no doubt that the more preparation we do, the greater the feeling of Kedusha permeates our spiritual being.

    This may be the reason, that after all our preparation, we begin our Seder with קדש, the Sanctification of the Yom Tov, telling the world we are ready to live a life of קדושה, a life of freedom, a life of Torah and Yirat Shamayim.

     One of the main aspects of Holiness, is the Santification of Time to reflect upon our past history and how it must continuously motivate us to greater spiritual heights. This is the essence of the Mitzvah of Sipur Yeziat Mitzrayim, not only to tell the story of the Exodus but to actually relive that experience, by fulfilling all the Mitzvot at the Seder. Thereby, bringing the story into a state of reality. Critical for this fulfillment is the need for Retrospection. As the Rav suggests - to transport that glorious exodus from the distant past into a creative living experience in the present.

     The next important component in relating the story is Anticipation in our projection of our Aspirations into the future.

      Finally, when we retell the story of our Exodus using Retrospection and 

Anticipation -it will, ultimately, lead to a great sense of Appreciation and Hodaah and Hallel to Hashem for all His Beneficence and Brachot that He constantly bestows upon Klall Yisrael.

  "לפיכך אנחנו חייבים להודות    " It is therefore our duty to,thank, praise, laud, glorify, exalt, honor, bless, extol, and adore Him who performed for our fathers and for us all of these wonders".

    These words of the Passover Hagadah set the tone for the entire evening as we experience the Seder. Clearly we express our thanks to G-D, as we commemorate the greatest events of history, the exodus from Egypt which impressed itself indelibly upon the whole Jewish tradition.

    Pesach is a new way of looking at the world. It is seeing things not only as they are but what they can be. It tells us that in moments of deepest suffering there is still hope. In times of stress, there is still reason to hold fast to one's faith. It teaches us that the human spirit, when there is the sense of faith, can triumph even over subjugation and oppression. It provides us with a most important ingredient without which we could not live, " A promise for the future."

     The Abarbarnel said " The first Redemption is a testimony to the Redemption of the future". He saw the Passover of Egypt as the first in a process which constituted the testimony for the full Redemption of the Jewish people in the future.

     Reb Shlomo Carlbach said: " I do not know when the Redemption will happen, I do not know exactly how it will happen. It is true I may not have all the answers, but one thing I do know beyond a shadow of a doubt, is that the Mashiach will come." 

    Let us conclude the Seder with dancing and singing with our family and our friends convinced that this is the year that we will usher in the 

גאולה שלמה .

  חג כשר ושמח

   

REACHING OUT

    The  Hasidic sage Menachem Mendel , the Kotzke Rebbe, was troubled by the phrase in Shemot, which says that Pharaoh's daughter saw the basket in which Moshe was placed stuck in the rushes "ותשלח את אמתה ותקחה" - "She sent her maidservant to fetch it."

    Our Chachamim noted that the word אמתה is ambiguous. It can mean either her handmaid, the usual translation, or her arm. Our Sages say that the basket was beyond her reach, but a miracle happened and her arms were extended for that moment enabling her to rescue the child, Moshe.

    The Kotzke Rebbe asked why Pharaoh's daughter would even try this  rescue, knowing fair well that the basket was too far to reach?

    He answered, "When it comes to doing a Mitzvah, particularly the supreme Mitzvah of saving a life, it is not for us to make any calculations but rather we must try to do whatever we can, even if the odds seem to be against us.  We must have faith and hope that Hashem will do the rest."

   Miracles do happen and we may be able to achieve more than we ever thought possible.

                    As Chazal  says:לא עליך המלאכה לגמר ולא אתה בן חורין להבטל ממנה

"It is not your duty to complete the task, but you are not free to desist from it"

    This thought is especially true when it comes to showing compassion to others. Too often we experience "compassion  fatigue" and it's exactly at that moment we need to go the extra mile and extend our arms, as Pharoah's daughter did and to do what ever we can and leave the rest to G-D.

   There is so much pageantry to the Yom Tov of Pesach that enthralls me every year. This truism is present because this Yom Tov is unique in a very intriguing way. It is a Yom Tov, par excellance that centers around so many invited guests who truly enhance the Seder experience.

    The best compliment we can pay our past is to prophetically and kindly face today and tomorrow. However, more than these invited guests, Pesach brings together other guests, though we may not see them or count them among the living. They are our parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, with whom we share this Holy evening as we use their dishes, their Kiddush cups, their Matzoh covers and above all their stories which we relive with beautiful and fond memories. 

     This is our glory: living in the present, but at all times bringing along the past in looking towards a glorious future.

      The arms of our past are reaching out to us with a great sense of compassion and saying,"Please remember our glorious heritage. As you retell the story of the Exodus, always include the stories from our personal past. In this way our presence will be felt in a most inspirational way."    

      When we will open the door and stretch forth our hands to welcome Eliyahu Hanavi we will do so with great hope and faith that he will herald the true Messianic period in our timel

ACHDUT

   I pen this blog from Boynton Beach, Florida where we are enjoying a well deserved vacation. Although we are having "fun in the sun" our minds begin to think about the forthcoming Yom Tov of Pesach, as we read Parshas Hachodesh this Shabbat. A Parsha that speaks about Chodesh Nissan, the glorious month wherein we will celebrate our Yom Tov of Geulah.

  When the Jewish people came to Egypt it  states:

 "Each man and his household came" -  איש וביתו באו - they came as a "clan".

  However, when the time came for the Geulah, when Hashem addressed Himself to Moshe, it states:

"ועתה לכה ואשלחך אל פרעה והוצא את ״עמי״ בני ישראל ממצרים

"And now go and I shall dispatch you to Pharoah and you shall take My people, the Children of Israel out of Egypt." Hashem refers to the Jewish People as an עם, a People.

 The term עם is similar to the word עם 'IM' 'WITH" suggesting a sense of togetherness and solidarity. In Egypt, the Jewish people were not very spiritual due to the slavery conditions, but they did, at all times, exemplify a people of kindness and concern for each other. It was this solidarity that brought about  the Geulah and the final redemption.  We learn from them that the most important attribute of the Jewish People is an expression of Chesed and solidarity with each other as was evident even during the trying times of slavery. As a free people we need to find in our hearts a sense of fellowship and brotherhood to lead us to that final Geulah Shlemah.

     Permit me to paraphrase Danny Ayalon, Deputy Foreign Minister of the State of Israel, "We may not achieve uniformity , but we need to achieve unity."

   I echo his words in these times because of an attitude that is prevalent, which I refer to as  the "one-up-man-ship" syndrome.  We must work 'together' to achieve the betterment of mankind and glory of Judaic living.

  It is time to recognize the great need of Achdut or else we will not achieve the title of עם, of being a true עם קדוש and an עם סגולה.

   Let us recite the הא לחמא עניה this year, with the great כונה that our future as עם ישראל is greatly dependent on our solidarity and a true אהבת ישראל.

   We will ask at the Seder "Why is this night different from all other nights?" My answer is "This is a night of brotherly love, of unity and  concern for one and other."

    Remember well that when we realize we are part of the same Human family, then we will come up with real and everlasting solutions.

    The best compliment we can pay our past is to prophetically and kindly face today and tomorrow.

YES and NO

   Our Torah reading this Shabbat discusses the laws of kashrut - what one may ingest and what is prohibited. There are many reasons given by Chazal to explain these laws and to a certain extent we rely on the important reason that it is a Chok.  Hashem told the Jewish people to obey these laws and we do so with great confidence that it is beneficial for us to follow the dictates of the Torah, unequivocally .

   However permit me to suggest a simplistic and yet a profound underlying idea for the observance of the Kashrut laws.

  I sense more and more that we are living in a very permissive society. There is a cartoon by Jules Feiffer; The first panel says "The teachers are afraid of the principal." The second panel says,"The principal is afraid of the school board."  The third panel says, "The school board is afraid of the parents." The fourth panel says, "The parents are afraid of the children." And the last panel says, "And the children are not afraid of anyone."

    That is what happens in a permissive society, parents are afraid of, chas v'shalom, lowering their child's self esteem that too often they are afraid to say "No" to their child's wishes. It is then that our Father in Heaven says that there are times we need to say "No" and to evidence this Hashem instituted the laws of Kashrut, to tell us life is not always "Yes". There are times we need to control our desires and "Mommy and Daddy still love you" even when they say "No".

     Life has greater meaning if we learn the lesson of Kashrut, a lesson of control, a lesson that says not everything is allowed , a lesson that teaches us that a "No" can elevate us to a higher state of Kedusha.

   

   Permit me to share with you a parable for life; A disciple of a Chasidic Rebbe became angry with him and wanted to embarrass him in public. He caught a little bird in his hand and approached the Rebbe with the following question."Tell me wise one, what do I have in my hand?"  The Rebbe, noticing the fluttering motions, quickly apprehended that it was a bird and told him so. The angry disciple continued,"Now tell me, is the bird dead or alive?"

   If the Rebbe were to say "living" the disciple planned to crush the bird quickly and prove him wrong. On the other hand, if he were to say dead, he would simply open his hand and let the bird fly away. In either case, he would prove the Rebbe wrong before his pupils and thereby embarrass him.

   The determined disciple once more demanded, "Tell me , is the bird alve or dead?"

   The Rebbe paused for a moment and replied, "THE ANSWER MY YOUNG MAN. IS IN YOUR HANDS."

    Indeed my friends , Judaism tells us that our life depends upon how we react to life's predicaments and at that moment we need to remember the laws of Kashrut and how we are in control  and to realize  that In life there are times we say "Yes" and equally there are times we must say "No" and not to fear the reaction to our "No."

    As a sports ethusiast I join with others during these exciting days of Collegiate Basketball -March Madness.  These outstanding players understand the importance of proper mechanics in the art of shooting the ball.  It is important that after the shot is taken you need to follow through.  

Let us use this same idea of following through in a positive and active way in Judaism.

AWAKE,AWAKE

As we prepare to celebrate the Holiday of Purim,I am reminded of the Rabbinic statement "Should all the Holidays be annulled , Purim will endure" Our Rabbis of old spoke with great foresight.They saw the inevitable future of the hatred that continues to be espoused against the Jews which is implied in the Holiday of Purim.They knew that Israel's role would demand at times agonizing sacrifices.They saw Mordechai perennially confronting a hostile world with some Haman arrayed against him.

    Leo Tolstoy wrote "Anti Semitism is a mad passion akin to the lowest perversities of diseased human nature. It is the will to hate". A study of world history shows us how true these ideas are. This is in essence the story of Purim, a story that  bespeaks Anti Semitism.

   Today more than ever the statement that" History repeats itself" is so applicable. With all of our modern advances it is a sorry state of affairs that hatred still exists in our time and  this venom of hatred is directed towards the Jewish People in particular and towards our glorious state of Israel. How ironic it must seem that the story of Purim took  place in the country that is now known as Iran, a country that is once again in the throes of hatred,killing and total disrespect for human rights. I can just see the modern Esther and Mordechai waiting fearfully for the despicable modern day Haman to vent his hatred once again against the Jewish People only this time we are blessed with a country that will protect us with a strong and indefatigable Jewish army.

      Purim comes to remind us  that we need to be ever vigilant to the hatred and venom that exist and there is an urgent need to cry out, AWAKE, AWAKE  and recognize the monsters that lurk in the world and parade around in their human religious garb, who are bent on Jewish genocide.

    Yet with all of our apprehensions we will celebrate Purim in the most joyous way because as Jews we celebrate Life. The glory of the Jewish People is that we posses the confidence of a Mordechai and Esther that there is a Divine  Providential design that will bring the Geulah Shlemah removing all hatred from our midst.

It is to this end that we need to strive and dedicate our efforts. This is the time  to rededicate ourselves to a greater allegiance and commitment to Judaism.

   It is my fervent prayer in echoing the words of the  Megillah  "ליהודים היתה אורה ושמחה וששון ויקר

"For the Jews there was light and joy, gladness and honor".   כן תהיה לנו ,So may it bar for us in our times. Wishing everyone a Freilichen Purim.

CLIMBING and STANDING

The words of Rav Abraham Isaac Kook זצ׳ל ring out to us today in a most meaningful way as he defines the פסוק from the Psalms

                   מי יעלה בהר ה׳ ומי יקום במקום קדשו

"Who shall climb G-D'S  mountain and who shall stand in His place"

   We use our legs to walk and climb. We use them as well to stand in one place.

  Climbing G-D'S  mountain suggests a spiritual ascent through intellectual enlightment and refinement of character. Torah study, in particular, is associated with spiritual growth as one gains knowledge and ethical insight. That is why Torah is referred to as דרך, a path, upon which one advances.

  As we progress, we realize that we walk and climb, our legs are apart and often in such a position we are constantly in motion. 

  It appears that Torah study is the way we climb mountains.  

   In addition to climbing these mountains of Torah we need an action  that will give us a sense of confidence and serenity.

   This action is Prayer which requires one to stand in an erect position.

    I sense, that is why Prayer is called Amidah, for to achieve the optimum affect with prayer we must stand erect. The function of Prayer is  to internalize our spiritual accomplishments and standing quietly and grounded gives us greater opportunity to concentrate and be introspective.

   In fact, when we are in this standing position we are like angelic beings. With our feet together we are creating the unity and harmony of being at one with our Spiritual state.

   This is the goal of a true Judaic way of life. We are to climb the mountain of Torah requiring much Hasmadah and effort, always climbing and moving to reach the next peak of the mountain.

  Prayer, on the other hand, indicates a more relaxed and natural position of standing in one angelic stance to internalize our feelings.

  Happiness is the achievement of climbing and standing on the mountain of G-D through the learning of Torah and standing in concentrated Prayer. Thereby, becoming enveloped in the magnificent world of Hashem.

   I invite everyone to Climb and Stand with me on this glorious mountain of Yiddishkeit.