ARE WE LISTENING?

While perusing my e-mails the other day I was very disturbed to read that the University of Tel Aviv decided not to sing the Hatikvah at their graduation, in deference to the Arab students attending the University. They chose, instead, to sing “You and I will change the world” by Erik Einstein.

  This is so disturbing to me.  In our wildest dreams would we ever, think to replace these magnificent words; “As long as the heart within a Jewish soul yearns, our hope is not yet lost to be a free nation in the land of Zion.” 

  How can such meaningful words of inspiration and hope, for our glorious country, be replaced to pacify a segment of the population that wishes to destroy the Jewish people?

  How pathetic that academia bends, in submission, to such absurd and embarrassing requests. Let us see any Arab university forego their national anthem for some Jew in their university. 

  The questions I pose are “Who are our modern day Korachs?” and in life experiences, "When, if ever, is controversy allowed?

   In this week’s Parsha, Korach, we are introduced to a Machloket, between Korach and Moshe. It is true that Chazal describes Korach as a פקח, a very intelligent and scholarly man and, yet to our dismay, his way of life is sinful and, more so, his actions of controversy are both unrealistic and destructive. 

  One can say that not all controversy is bad and Chazal may agree with this but insist that controversy is acceptable when done לשם שמים  for Heavens’ sake and done with mutual respect. 

  My direction is not to admonish Korach, though, I agree, he acted in an egregious fashion and should be admonished for his actions. My aim, through this blog, is to search for an understanding of when and how disagreement can be acceptable. 

  This reminds me of a couple that came to the Rabbi with a marital situation, and were told to go home and argue.  They said, “That is what we have been doing ever since we married, arguing.” To which the wise Rabbi replied, “You have not been arguing, you have been quarreling. You have been talking monologue, without either one listening to the other, just a running monologue. Now, I want you to dialogue with each other. I would like you to have an argument in which you not only express your opinion, but also listen to the view of your partner. Maybe you will learn from each other something important to maintain a true שלום בית.” 

  If this be true in our domestic lives, how more so is this attitude necessary in our Judaic way of life and especially in our relationship with each other. 

   Our Torah relates that after Korach leads the revolt against Moshe and Aaharon, Moshe sends a message to Korach. 

  וישלח משה לקרא לדתן ולאבירם, inviting them to meet and discuss the situation and to see if they can negotiate a solution to the problem. And Korach and his hordes reply,” לא נעלה, We will not meet, we do not want to talk, because we simply have nothing to say to each other.” 

   I must suggest that these two words are the most devastating words in our lexicon,” לא נעלה,  It is our way or no way.” This to me is blasphemous. 

   What I sense in Yahadut, today, is the lack of communication.  This, to me, is most destructive.  This lack of communication is causing a schism in our Jewish Society.

  It is true we may not agree with each other in many areas of Judaism.  That is evident. But we must still, continue to dialogue with each other and to maintain an אחדות, in Judaism, and the expression of  לא נעלה needs to be removed from our lexicon. 

    There is too much polarization going on in Jewish Life, and disagreement may be acceptable when done לשם שמים and סוף להתקים, for the betterment and the continued future of עם ישראל. 

   These are times that we must learn from the incident of Korach, “We need to live together in peace and with mutual respect.” It is time we learn to agree on how to disagree as befits the followers of Moshe and not of Korach. 

    On a tangential level, we may not always agree with President Trump, but let us agree that he took the initiative to sit down with a despot like Kim Jong Un of North  Korea, and decided  that they needed to  listen to one another rather than just saying, לא נעלה, and, hopefully, some type of peace can ensue to avoid a military devastating battle.

   Life on all levels needs open minds, listening ears, and receptive hearts to assure a world of peace and tranquility that is so needed in our tumultuous society. 

    With such a positive and open way of life and with our great dependence on the fulfillment of the will ofHashem, our lives will be לחיים ולברכה. 

   

WORDS THAT INSPIRE

The words and expressions we use are determinant factors in how we respond to our experiences. As we go through life we are, often, careful in the words we use. We are challenged to recognize the value of words and how they affect others with whom we are dialoguing with.

  Many are blessed with the gift of gab to use wordsto transmit pictures, frames of mind, information and, especially, emotions, in a very positive way. 

  As I speak of words, this week's Parsha Shlachcomes to mind.  I am referring to the incident with the Meraglim, the Spies, who were sent out to assess the Promised Land to see if the Jewish People were capable of defeating the present occupiers.

  Twelve representative leaders were sent to spy. Ten returned with a negative report, while two, Yehoshua and Calev, returned with a very optimistic report. 

   To truly understand the outlook of the Spies we must hear their words as they gave their respective reports and assessments of the situation. 

  Ten said, unequivocally, לא נוכל, "We cannot go forward."  While Calev said, כי יכול נוכל לה, "Let us go ahead and we shall be victorious."

 One report utters words of defeat of devastation, לא נוכל, “We can't do it. Give up the idea.”  Whereas. Calev, in his optimistic outlook and his strong faith in G-D, states words of encouragement and words of faith, כי יכול נוכל, "We can do it. We can and must go forward to bring about our salvation.” 

   Simple words, expressing hope and confidence, can change the history of mankind and, surely, the history of the Jewish People. The choice is ours, יוכלor לא נוכל. This will determine our destiny and our future.  

  This past week I had the pleasure of speaking at a Bris.  I mentioned in my remarks how special it was that the new baby and his older brother were, both, named after survivors of the Holocaust. Their namesakes were men who, even in the midst of purgatory used words of hope and faith, "We will and must survive."  They said יוכל, "We can and must do it for the future of our family and for the future of עם ישראל."

    We can take pride in our courageous martyrs of the past, for they were never were defeated.  They always felt נוכל. Their words were positive. They are our emulating examples.  

   While standing and observing the procedure of the Brit Milah the baby began to cry.  At that moment I recalled what I had read in Gemorah Nedah. 

  The Talmud teaches us that while we are still in our mother’s womb, a lamp, held by an angel shines over our head and in whose light we learn the entire teachings and words of the Torah and we can see from one end of the universe to the other. Before we are born and sent into the world, the angel taps us on our mouth, creating the Philtrum, the indentation on our upper lip causing us to forget all the teachings and words we had learned. 

     Having this in mind I could understand why the baby was crying, for he had forgotten the words of the Torah.  I, then, in a very ‘mysterious’ way, whispered to him, “Life is not a process of learning something new but rather of remembering what one already knows.” 

   What a tremendous lesson for life. We must continue to learn and to explore, and to listen, attentively, to our inner soul, and to remember what we already know. 

   Life is a world of נוכל, and all we need to do is retrieve that דרך האמת  שהוא דרך הי, for then the words of Torah will have a life of its own. 

   

              "We are not just users of words, we are their creators"

  

                             

                                        

OUR FLAME OF JUDAISM

  Winston Churchill said "It is not enough to float; we must swim against the stream". This phrase is so appropriate in reflecting on the status of the Jewish People's lives in the Diaspora and even, more so, for our brethren in Israel. These are times when great effort is needed to ward off the extensive anti-semitism that is being promulgated in our society and especially in the colleges throughout our country. 

I am beginning to realize that our Jewish survival is greatly dependant on our Akshanut, on our stubbornness, and on our resilience and on our resistance to the many onslaughts that are being viciously thrown against us by the many anti - semites and anti Israel antagonists. 

We are swimming against the tide and we need to swim well to beat our opponents. 

How, you may ask, can we achieve this important goal of Jewish survival? Our answer can be found in this week's Parsha. 

The opening verse states, בהעלותך את הנרות אל מול פני המנורה יאירו שבעת הנרות, Aharon was instructed to kindle the Menorah and the seven lamps shall give light in front of it. 

It is extremely interesting to note that the Hebrew word בהעלותך, to light, is used rather than the more common word להדליק. “Why?” asks Chazal. The answer given, “The word בהעלותך has greater significance, for this word connotes, שצריך להדליק עד שתהא השלהבת עולה מאליה, that after the Menorah is lit, it must continue to burn on its own. 

What a magnificent lesson in Yahadut. First and most important, we must keep the light of faith strong and relevant for all to be imbued with its spirit and for it to continuously inspire us to reach the ultimate goals of a Torah oriented way of life. In addition, it must inspire the Jewish people in a way that will cause the flame of Yahadut to elevate them by kindling the light and the love of Torah in their hearts. 

The greatness of Moshe was his teaching the word of G-D to the people in such a way that when he will no longer be there to teach, they they will continue in his Derech and extend his knowledge into the next generation. These illuminating lights of Moshe were  lights of continuity and lights of inspiration,  guaranteeing that the Jews will survive and prosper under the rubric of Toras Moshe. 

This is our mission in life, for all to realize irrespective of who we are, or what our educational background may be, we can and we will be endowed with the Divine Spirit to keep that glowing light of Yahadut alive, inspiring others to be strong in their faith and beliefs, and no one nor any force can deter us from our mission to be a גוי קדוש וממלכת כוהנים, and ‘To be a Light Unto the Nations of the World.’ 

The question that needs to be answered, "Are we up to the  task and are we ready to shoulder the responsibility to continuously Light our Menorah of Jewish Life and never to extinguish our flame of Judaism?"

BRACHOT

 Oscar Wilde once made an interesting observation when he said "Anybody can sympathize with the suffering of a friend, but it requires a very fine nature to sympathize with a friend's success". 

  To be happy with others achievement and success, is the true test of being made in the image of 

G-D. 

  Too often man faces many dangers; the first is that we may not get what we want, and the second is that we may get what we want. Success surrounds itself with many pitfalls that are often not anticipated, however at all cost we must persevere and move forward.

 Our Parsha this week is Nasoh, wherein we will read of the Birchas Kohanim, the Blessings recited by the Kohanim on different occasions. The opening Bracha is, "May the Lord Bless you and keep you".  The opening words are יברכך הי, May G-D Bless you, and is interpreted to mean, with earthly possessions and the word וישמרך, and keep you. There is a fascinating comment on this Bracha, which states that it means, May Hashem keep these possessions from possessing you. 

   What a fantastic insight, we all too often search for riches and the end result is, we do not possess them, but rather they possess us. This is a terrible indictment of our society, which requires an ever vigilant agenda bringing about a strong moral hashgafa, to ward off some of these prosperity perils. 

   I sense now a greater understanding of the conclusion of the Bracha, 

    וישם לך שלום, for life to be a blissful one, for life to be sensitive, for life to be our glowing force , it needs שלום, a true peace between man and man and more so the individual himself needs to find his true inner peace , which can only come about when Man/Woman are experiencing the Hashraa't Ha-Shechina. In essence, the  Birchas Kohanim, is more than a transmission of Blessing, it is a direct meeting with the Shechinah. 

  What an awesome experience the Priestly Blessings are, it presents an intimate encounter in which we come face to face with the Almighty Himself. In fact the Rambam considers Birchas Kohanim, as a דבר שבקדושה, requiring greater diligence on our part and equally on the part of the Kohanim. 

  In fact our Chazal state, that G-D actually hovers over the fingers of the Kohanim, and as the Kohen stretches forth his fingers over the congregation, it is Hashem Himself pouring forth his Shefah, and His Brachot. 

  How awesome this sounds, but even more how awesome is it for Hashem at that moment in our Tephillos, to be in our midst and telling the Kohanim 

" I will take it from here" and conclude the Bracha, with words of Shalom, a word that signifies Peace  and even more reflects a state of Shlaymut, completeness that only comes at this moment  of Hashraas Hashchena. 

   Let us pray that all our Tephillos, and Brachot are Mekuyam, and that Hashem  will always dwell with us pouring forth his benevolence and his Chesed, in a way that will bring the Mashiach in our time quickly. 

  

      

 

 

MOVING FORWARD

 While preparing my blog before for Yom Tov of Shavuot, the reaction of the Jewish People standing at Har Sinai waiting for Hashem’s revelation and the receiving of the Ten Commandments, comes to mind. What an awesome experience it must have been.  Yet the Torah describes the people's reaction to the noise and the thunder as frightening.

   וירא העם וינעו ויעמדו מרחוק "The People saw and trembled and stood afar". I can appreciate their reaction.  Fear causes many of us to step back and away from the force that frightens. 

  There are times, man fears G-D and runs away from Him.  However, G-D overtakes him, and when He finds him in distress, man tries to elude Him. G-D will then be there to ameliorate his pain and bring him back from his elusive behavior. 

  This reaction between man and Hashem, brought about the presence of גלוי שכינה, resulting in the minimization of the tension between finitude and infinity. This will bring G-D into sync with man and forge a loving and caring relationship. 

  The G-D of Sinai, is the G-D of the Will, who commands the Jewish People to follow a unique way of life- a life that brings happiness and prosperity and not a life that backs away from this great source of contentment and blessing. 

  With our devotion in Tephillah, we reach up to the Almighty and feel His presence in our midst and with our study of Torah as we will immerse ourselves on Shavout night , Hashem will reach down and dialogue with us as we study His Divine word.

   Though our study will be at night, and often night represents the unknown and results in fear, for us the studying is so enlightening that the night turns into a glorious sunshine experience.

   At that very moment, when the sun comes through, it will be a Tikun, for those Jews who were fearful at Sinai and backed away. For we will be moving forward to get a better glimpse of the Shechina, through our study of Hashem's Holy Sefarim. 

  These are trying times for the Jewish People and the closer we get to Hashem, the safer we will feel, and more confident we will be in our true salvation, bringing greater glory to עם ישראל and ארץ ישראל. 

 

IN ORDER TO CHANGE, ONE MUST HAVE A VISION.  LOOK AHEAD, MOVE FORWARD AND DO NOT BACK AWAY FROM WHAT LIFE BRINGS YOU.

 

                          

 

     

 

  

  

 

LIVE LIFE

     While I was preparing to write this blog I recalled an incident that happened to me while teaching a college philosophy class. 

 A student asked me a number of questions. He began with, "Does G-D really exists"? 

 A question, I am sure many would ask but are too embarrassed. Though I was taken aback by the question I retorted, "Do you exist?" The next question was, "Is G-D good?" My retort was, "Are you good?" He then asked, "Is G-D merciful?" My retort was, "Are you merciful?" The final question was, "Does G-D really care?" My reply was, "Do you really care?"

 As this conversation proceeded I sensed the young man was asking these probing questions because something was troubling him and this classroom was a safe venue to seek answers.

  My answers were to encourage him to reflect upon the existence of G-D, in light of what it can engender in humanity. 

 The reality of G-D's existence can be answered by what affect Hashem lives spiritually and existentially through us and how His existence affects humanity in our daily lives. 

  For man to find the answers to these profound question, we must begin to realize that G-D lives through us - through our goodness - through our humanity and how we relate to each other.

  That is why we are created in the Image of G-D. Such an appellation creates a humanity which must live within the Image of G-D.  If we do so, our lives and our actions will make G-D beloved to all of mankind. 

   As I equally probe for answers, this week's Parsha B’Chucosai which is the last in Sefer Vayikrah, comes to mind.  The first few words read, "ואם בחוקותי תלכו,

“If you will follow my decrees." Then the Torah continues to instruct us how to behave. My focus at this moment is on the first word אם, 'IF'.  Such a simple word and yet it speaks volumes. Think of the word IF and you begin to realize that this two letter word IF, is a little hinge on which the door of destiny swings. 

The very word LIFE, reflects this important idea. For we observe that in the middle of the word life, is the word IF, reminding humanity of the vast contingencies that our life is fraught with. For in the middle of LIFE for all of us is the big IF.   IF I did this or IF I did that, how different LIFE would have been for us. 

  One of my favorite poems is entitled "The Road Not Taken", by Robert Frost. 

   Once while walking through the forest, he came upon a fork in the road, where two paths branched out. Naturally, he could take only one of them, but in the poem, he wonders what would have happened had he taken the other path. The path he did take, he concludes, "Has made all the difference". 

Thinking of my student's questions and the IF of our Sedrah, I realize more and more that as we live LIFE, despite all of the uncertainties and the unpredictable contingencies of LIFE we have to accept LIFE as it is and live it the best way we know and with B’siata Deshmayah, LIFE will be a glorious experience. We cannot, no we must not, go through LIFE second guessing ourselves or wishing that things would be different than the way they are.

  We need to begin to use the IF in a positive way. That is what our Torah reading is all about. IF we want a harvest we need to plant seeds. IF we want good health we have to follow a proper diet. IF we want friendship, we must act in a friendly manner to others. IF we want an ethical way of LIFE then we need to live with morality. IF we want a home of serenity and happiness, then we are to infuse our home with שלום בית. 

   The English word LIFE contains the word IF, however the Hebrew word for LIFE, חיים, contains the name of  G-D; for the true achievement of LIFE can only be realized when it is lived with, אהבת הי ויראת הי. 

   These are trying times for עם ישראל, ארץ ישראל and for the future of humanity, and when we put Hashem into the equation and in the center of our lives then we will, with G-D's help, see the true Geulah S’hlayma heralding a time of peace and tranquility. 

 

 

 

 

PROCRASTINATION

   There is a tendency, when faced with life's challenges, to press the delay button rather than make a decision.  The result is a life of procrastination. Such an attitude denies the realization that things are happening right now and this form of procrastination takes over, obscuring our vision of living our lives to the fullest. 

  This week's Parsha, Emor, continues to speak about the Karbanot, and makes a  very interesting directive;

  לא תותירו ממנו עד הבוקר,"You shall eat the Korban, on the same day that it is brought and you are not to leave any part of it until the morning". The 

Bal Haturim applies this concept to all the Mitzvot of the Torah, and says, "לא תותירו המצות, When performing the Mitzvot, do them immediately, do not procrastinate in their performance." In essence, suggesting, "Do not leave off something for tomorrow what you can do today and that can be completed today."

  When we delay in fulfilling our responsibilities, we are showing a lack of regard for the imperatives which we should be committed to. 

  Very often a deed neglected or postponed leads to a failure to act and often even to the injunction of  “ ולא תחללו, A profaning of G-Ds name." 

  If one is truthful to himself, he would admit that putting things off is tantamount to never fulfilling  that particular chore. 

   We are enjoined to rid ourselves of our delay button, and as Chazal says, 

 מצוה הבאה  לידך אל תחמיצנה, "When a Mitzvah comes to you, do not delay, for if you do so, it will not be done at all and it becomes like chametz - it becomes sour, never to be realized. 

  The lesson is simple, "Life, when lived in a procrastinated state, is a life unfulfilled and incomplete."

   The Psalmist said it well" זה היום עשה ה׳ "This is the day that Hashem has made, on it let us rejoice each new day". 

   We need to realize that each day is another gift from G-D and that each day is to be fulfilled to the fullest and not to be postponed for another day. This awareness can, in turn, inspire us to live each day more intensely and more fully, if we learn not to be a procrastinator in life's blessings. 

   This is the Day. 

   Too often we ask the same question, "When are we going to get there?" Please know you are already there, and life is a journey, not a destination, and happiness and success is the Blessing of our decisions today not to be postponed 'till tomorrow. 

   Yes, היום עשה הי נגילה ונשמחה בו.