POTENTIAL FOR GREATNESS

G-d has implanted in every one of us the potential for greatness and whatever profession we choose in life will depend greatly on all the opportunities that we are given. To achieve that greatness depends upon how we perceive ourselves.

Our priorities depend on what is essential for a good and decent life. We are encouraged to pursue these priorities and view life in a positive way. Too often, what seems to us as a successful life in others, may merely be an illusion and a false reality that is only surface deep and cannot be called a true success or a Iife of happiness.

I realize, more and more, that life is often judged by ones fiancial status. This may be what our lives have become , due to our societal priorities, and indeed might be what we are all judged by. 

“But is that really IT?”

When we begin to see life in a more positive way -to see all the positive aspects of our lives and continue to travel on our own selected road, then life has greater meaning and becomes more appreciated.

As I always say “Enjoy the journey, it belongs to us and to no one else -and that which is ours is the glorified road to true happiness.”

With these thoughts in mind, I am reminded of a truly insightful commentary made by 

Rabbi Aharon Soloveitchik זצ״ל on this week’s Parsha, Beshalach, wherein we are told of the miraculous intervention by Hashem permitting the Jewish People to cross the Red Sea to safety, fleeing from the onslaught of the Egyptian army. After successfully, reaching the other shore, Moshe led them in the singing of the שירת הים.

Why did it take them so long to sing a Shirah to G-D, when they should have done so immediately after they miraculously left the Egyptian bondage?

Rav Ahron, makes a basic distinction between the miracles the Jews witnessed in Egypt proper and the ones they experienced at the Red Sea.

The difference between the two sets of miracles correspond to the difference between two Hebrew terms meaning salvation; הצלה and ישועה.

הצלה is a term that connotes an act of salvation during which the party being saved remains completely passive.

ישועה on the other hand, is a salvation that comes about through the efforts and the active participation of the party being saved.

In Egypt the process through which G-D redeemed the Jewish People involved הצלה, when the people remained totally passive while Hashem did everything on His own to bring about their redemption.

However, at the Red Sea, Hashem’s salvation was a ישועה that required the nation’s active participation. In fact, חזל teaches, that Hashem did not split the Sea, until Nachshon jumped into the swirling waters and until the water reached the nostrils of the Jews.

Thus, we see that when the Jews experienced the wonders at the Red Sea, and became active participants in the miracle of salvation, they were encouraged to sing a Shirah to Hashem.

We see that the active participation by the people was a necessity, to show their total allegiance and commitment to Hashem, to bring about their salvation. Indeed we believe that Hashem performed miracles in the past and we are confident that He will do so in the future and we must show our total allegiance to G-D. We evidence this by our actions, and our willingness to be participants in the unfolding of Jewish history rather than just being observers.

This is true as a nation, and even more so as individuals. For life to be successful and productive, we need to get involved and become participants in our life endeavors, in achieving our goals.

Our Emunah must continue to be strong, and at the same time our self confidence and our inner convictions must propel us to the next level of our personal growth, leading us down the path to greater human achievements. 

The real purpose of life is not to get ahead of the next person, but to conquer ourselves. Meaningful life is not measured in years, but in deeds, and not by how long but by how well. 

Experience is not just what happens to us. It is what we DO with what happens to us. 

The lesson is quite simple, it is important to cultivate the art of being grateful of life itself, of keeping our minds open to harmony and love. 

We make our world better by starting with ourselves and to live our lives in a way that transcends our personal existence. 

“A good Jew is anyone who wants to be a better Jew”

    These are times that encourage us to sing songs of praise to Hashem, and to live lives that are in itself a song of Holiness and glory to all of mankind. 

  As we celebrate טו בשבט this week , let us plant trees of life that will bear spiritual fruit for future generations. A life of Torah and a life of  Erleckeit, for then we will be able to sing in unison    עץ חיים היא למחזיקים בה. 

שבת 

ENCHANTED POSSIBILITIES

   As I pen this blog, I began to think of the extraordinary amount of times that I spoke in so many different venues, on so many different topics, but my mind and heart were enthused when I was asked to join a symposium in Boynton Beach, on an intriguing topic, “The role of grandparents in modern times”. The topic was very interesting to me because it gave me an opportunity to reflect how times have changed, and in a dialectic sense I realize that in reality that things really have stayed the same, but are just clothed in a modern version.

Turn with me to a dialogue between Moshe and Pharaoh in this week’s Sedrah.

Moshe insists that Pharaoh release the Jewish People from bondage. Pharaoh replies,”לכו עבדו את הי , go worship the Lord your G-D.” To which Moshe replied, “בנערינו ובזקנינו נלך, I am sorry Pharoah, our youth and our elder statesman, will go together.”

Moshe knew, well, that the future of the Jewish World depends on its’ youth, and, more so, that our youth and our elders must walk together, in harmony.

We realize, more and more, that with all the assimilation taking place, if we don’t have our youth with us, then there is no tomorrow. But they must become בנערינו , our youth, yes they must always remain, “Our”, not hostel, or in opposition to our Judaic way of life, and our Torah oriented lifestyle. We must continue to strive and work with our youth to be Part of us and not Apart from us.

We, the adults, must be able to open our eyes to the issues that our youth present to us and to act accordingly, in a way that they will feel welcome and encourage more curiosity on their part and never to be threatened by their questions. 

  We may then come to understand, in a more intellectual and emotional way, the plague of darkness. As the Torah describes this, “ויהי חושך אפלה בכל ארץ מצרים , it was total darkness.”Those Jews living among the Egyptians were not affected by the darkness. One wonders how this was possible?

The Torah Temima comments on this dilemma. He states, “There was plenty of light and the sun did not cease to pour forth it’s rays, rather

“דינים החושך היה לא באויר רק בעיני האנשים.” He suggests that, “Hashem caused some kind of membrane to cover their eyes, possibly cataracts, so that the light could not penetrate to the retina.

  The darkness that they experienced was not merely the darkness of the night, it was absolute darkness of the blind.” In other words, the darkness was a barrier within them that shut out the light and precluded any meaningful social contact.This was a crucial part of this plague.

I find this P’shat fascinating and I would take it a step further.

So many of us are blind to our fellowman’s plight and needs, as if “suffering from a plague of darkness

We may be on the upswing in our Halachic observances, בן אדם למקום, but I question how we are seeing and viewing the needs of others, and fulfilling the great mitzvah, בן אדם לחברו. .

In lieu of these comments we need to address my earlier remarks regarding, “How are we dealing with our youth of today, especially as we see so many are falling by the ‘Judaic Wayside.’

Our task is to uncover the darkness of indifference and non observance, by turning to their needs and doubts and bring the light of fellowship and patience into their midst. 

“Fortunately for our children, the uncertainties of the present always give way to the enchanted possibilities of the future “

                   

THINK HIGHER

   This past week a teenager approached me and bewailed that he is facing many problems in school and it is affecting his relationships at home.  He asked, "What can I do about my dilemma?" After analyzing the issues he shared with me I said to him, "You can do it! You can rise above the problems! You can grow! You can achieve greatness! Look at life in an optimistic way, be hopeful, positive and have a helpful approach to your life". 

    After this encounter, I began to focus on this week's Sedrah Va'era, and realized that it may very well be possible that Moshe had a similar problem, when he said to Hashem, “How can I go to Pharoah, when הן בני ישראל לא שמעו אלי ואיך ישמעני פרעה ואני ערל שפתים.” Here we learn that Moshe felt inadequate, “Who am I, that I should go to Pharoah, even my own people don't listen to me?” Here we sense that Moshe felt incapable of fulfilling the will of G-D, due to his personal handicap. Hashem reassured him that he would succeed with Aaronat his side. 

   This entire scenario proves to me that Hashem feels that every person is capable of overcoming their personal handicap, whether it is physical or it is emotional. No one should be obsessed with a feeling of deficiency. 

  Too often, when like Moshe, we feel incompetent, because we tell ourselves we are, and when we think we are, the result is we live life in the negative lane, resulting in a non productive life and a life of suffering.

   We all need to hear the encouraging words of Hashem,that worthy efforts can help to overcome any feelings of inadequacy,  and not escape the realities of life, but  face the obstacles that so many face and to feel that with our faith in The Almighty, we will be able to succeed. 

   Let us realize that not only Moshe felt unequal to life's task, many people do. 

  Success does not always lie in achievement but, even more so, lies in the degree of effort that one is willing to strive for to reach their goals in life. 

   I have witnessed, repeatedly, that progress and growth are made possible through the help and guidance of others and by the applications of pure common sense. No one can get anywhere alone. I refuse to believe the quotation, "Self made man.” Such people are blind to the many Blessings around them, and, for many, the words Appreciation and Thanks are foreign to them.  

    There is non- contentment and dissatisfaction with ones lot that brings about this feeling of inadequacy. 

    “לא עליך לגמור. It is not our duty to complete the task,” but neither are we free to desist from being involved in the effort of trying to accomplish the task. 

    We are living in an age of challenge and must face that challenge and stand up with our faith. 

  To this end we need to Think Higher, not to think, merely, ephemeral, the now, the immediate enjoyment, for there is much more to our faith. 

  Eli Weisel tells the story of a poor Chasid in Eastern Europe who had no fish for Shabbat, yet he felt he needed fish lest the Shabbat meal be dishonored. He was so unhappy, that his wife decided to do something. Disregarding the freezing wind and snow, she went to the river, dug a hole in the ice and caught a fish. 

  She returned home, prepared the Shabbat meal with great joy and her husband began to eat the fish with great appetite. 

  At one point, she made her husband stop eating and said, “Dear Chaim, I know that you are hungry, and I know it's a mitzvah to put your heart and soul into your Shabbat  meal, but, please remember I risked my life to catch this fish, so while you’re eating, try not to think about the fish- but Think Higher !!

  This is our lesson of today.  We may be inundated with problems, we may find success in different aspects of our lives, but we always need to THINK HIGHER.  With that attitude, life becomes a gift. Always remember to THINK HIGHER.  

  

 

 

 

COURAGE AND CONSCIENCE

   Tonight on the 19th of Teves, is the Yahrzeit of my beloved Mother, 

Rae Mehlman,ריבה בת יחיאל ע׳ה

  I worshipped the ground she stood on, for the way she dedicated herself to our family, especially for her devotion to our father and her love of her children and grandchildren. She was truly the spiritual and physical glue that kept our family together and inspired all of us to greater heights of 

G-Dliness and Menshlikeit. As I remember her, this week's Parsha comes to mind, as we are introduced to the leaders of עם ישראל, while they were in Mitzrayim. In addition to Moshe the מנהיג של ישראל, we are introduced to a group of outstanding women, who were the true saviors of Israel, during a very difficult time in Galut.

    For me there were six heroines, all courageous women. This chapter in our history began with יוכבד, the wife of Amram, and mother of Miriam, Aaron, and Moshe.  At the height of Egyptian persecution she feared no one and continued to have children.  She gave birth to Moshe, even after being threatened by the King, that all future children would be killed at birth. 

        The second is Miriam, who kept watch over baby Moshe as the ark floated down the river, until Basya, the daughter of Pharaoh retrieved the basket.  While holding the baby, Miriam suggested that he be nursed by a Jewess. With this act she exhibited fearlessness and presence of mind. 

  With these righteous women, we must include the two midwives, Shifrah and Puah, who frustrated Pharaoh’s attempt at genocide. However, their fear of G-D, did not permit them to kill the male Jewish children at birth, and with great courage and G-Dlinesss they disobeyed the King's order, placing their lives in jeopardy. 

  My final Hall of Fame woman, is Tziporah, a daughter of a Midianite Priest, who was willing to accompany Moshe on an arduous trip and task to bring the Geulah for the Jewish slaves in Egypt, despite the fact that she had no reason to risk her life. In fact, later, she saved Moshe from death, when, courageously, seeing her son was not circumcised, did so on her own. 

  We must, always,, remember the daughter of Pharaoh, Batyah, who was willing to go against her own fathers orders, and rescued a Jewish child, and brought up Moshe as her own, thereby, saving his life. 

  These are women, who were truly,נשי חיל, women to whom we owe our very existence, women who must become our emulating examples, by which to follow, for with them at our side, our future success as עם קדוש, is assured.

  These are our Women of Courage, and more so our Women of Conscience, who refused to be defeated when it came for them to rise to the ethical occasion of bringing about the glorious future of עם ישראל.

        We are always to be reminded of an insightfulYalkut Shimoni, "אין הדורות נגאלין אלא בשכר נשים צדקניות שיש בדור, A generation is only redeemed by grace of the Righteous women". 

      The question I pose, “Are we ready to stand as courageous as they were, to fend off the assimilation that seems to be engulfing our Jewish Society and their mores that are threatening especially our youth throughout our country?”  

      These are difficult times for K’llal Yisrael, and for Eretz Yisrael.  Now is the time to lift our voices in prayer, 

   “ וגאלנו במהרה למען שמך  Redeem us speedily for the sake of Your Name!!”

   At the same time, as we pay homage to our mothers, let us not take them for granted and continue to use their lives as our emulating examples of kindness and benevolence for ourselves and for our family. 

 

 

          

 

      

 

 

 

TRIBUTE OF BLESSINGS

   There is a tendency to search for many avenues to receive the Brachot of Hashem, for ourselves and for our families. Too often our search, will encourage us to travel to distant countries to receive these Blessings, while all the time, our most generous Segulot and Brachot, are available on a daily basis, and all it takes is that we live as Erlichin Yiden,Upstanding Jews. This is easily achieved, when we recognize, with love and with reverence, that our Torah and our Yiddishkeit, in general, are our true "Chiyus", our Main Lifeline. With an act of humbleness we beseech G-D, that His infinite Brachot will be evinced and given full expression. 

   These ideas regarding Brachot, are more evident from this Week's Parsha  of  Vayache, wherein Yaakov, resting on his death bed, brings together his family and presents his last will and testament bestowing his Blessings on each and every child, in a most meaningful way. These Blessings were not only for the present moment, but, more so, they will be a Tribute of Blessings for everlasting time. 

    In this context, I am reminded of the words of our beloved Rav, Rabbi  Soloveitchik,זצ״ל, explaining that a Bracha always comes at the end- after the act is completed. The Rav said, "We see this when Hashem created the world, and with the building of the Beit Hamikdash, where the Bracha was only given upon its completion." The reason for this is that a Bracha expresses the desire, "That what I strove to produce should continue." 

  The Ramban, reflecting upon the creation of the world where it states, “וירא אלוקים כי טוב.After every creation by Hashem, He saw that it was good, therefore worthy of קיום, of being permanently established.” This was Hashem’s Bracha after creation, a Blessing that what was created should continue.

    The same applies to people. The greatest Bracha, is to know, that whatever a person worked for in life will not simply disappear, but rather continue on for future generations. 

  In fact, the Medrash states that Yaakov placed his grandchildren אפרים and מנשה, on his lap, like a true grandfather would and  hugged them and Blessed them. At that moment Hashem revealed to him, with רוח הקודש, that they will indeed follow in Yoseph’s footsteps and fill his place in life. There is certainly no greater Bracha for a father to hear that his future is intact through the next generation. When Yoseph witnessed that amazing relationship with his Father Yaakov, his natural response was to bow in gratitude. We see how beautiful it is and how great it is to give thanks when one experiences and receives good tidings about the future generation. 

   As we search for ways to achieve Brachot, we need to look at what might be a disturbing factor in achieving that goal. To begin with, my immediate thoughts reflect a severe dilemma that exists in our modern technological society. We seem to be suffering from an epidemic of loneliness. I believe that it is a result of our total dependence on our tech devices.  We are plugged in constantly to our smartphones, our PCs and our I Pads.  Our machines are taking over for our human communication, and when we are in need, we have no one to lean on and this can be devastating, denying the Brachot of life. Without the family and community communicating with each other, loneliness takes over and life becomes depressing. This was Yaakov’s greatest fear going down to Egypt.  

   Brachot are present when we get to see our dreams fulfilled, especially, when it comes to children and grandchildren. 

  Our Avot and Imahot, are our inspiration. Through them, we pray that our Brachot will be fulfilled.  As Jews we will travel the spiritual road that they have set forth for עם ישראל, and thus guaranteeing that our future will be a glorious one, bringing our ישועהvery quickly. 

    

ARE YOU RESPONSIBLE?

   An employer, interviewing an applicant for a position, said to the candidate, “For this job I want a responsible man.” The man responded, “Then you want me. For everywhere I worked, whenever anything went wrong, they said I was responsible.” 

   How comedic this story is, it is so true. When we say the word responsibility we mean the ability to respond as one human being to the needs of another human being. 

  It is with this idea in mind we can reflect, on this week’s Parsha, Vayigash, upon the actions of Yehudah as he faces up to Yoseph.  

  The Torah states ויגש יהודה, Judah came forward. Herein, we see that Judah took his life in his hands, by facing up to Joseph, a man who, as we learned, held life and death in his hands. 

   This was an amazing show of courage by Yehudah, as he challenged the Ruler on behalf of his brother, Benjamin.  It was a true show of a man acting with great responsibility. After all, he promised his father that he would bring Binyaminback home, safely, and as Binyamin was seized, he could not stand idly by, at the thought of loosing another brother.

   As I walked through the Museum of Jewish Heritage, this past week, seeing how the Jewishpeople lived gloriously prior to the Holocaust, and how they were, ultimately, decimated in Europe, my inner being cried out , “Where were all the good people? Why weren't they accepting responsibilityfor the lives of others? Where were the Yehudahs’ of that generation?” 

  The lesson is for all of us, “Do we take back our streets or do we close our eyes from taking responsibility and let the vicious and immoral behavior continue to threaten our very existence?”  

  Permit to share a fascinating story that I read recently - In the early part of the twentieth century, there was a Rabbi whose name was Rabbi Henry Cohen. He was from Galveston, Texas, a port of entry for many ships, bringing immigrants to this country. Among those immigrants was a Russian who was arrested when he landed. There was an extradition order waiting for him. The Czarist government wanted him back because of some crime he was accused of committing. After visiting the prison and talking to him, the Rabbi was convinced he was entitled to political asylum. 

The Rabbi went all over and spoke to the “powers to be” to convince them to let this Russian immigrant in. Rabbi Cohen, even, went to the Supreme Court.  He, finally, appealed to the President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt. After much pleading, the President denied his request, saying to Rabbi Cohen, "Much as I admire the way you Jews stick up for each other and try to help one another, I can't see any reason for intervening".

   "Jew?” said the Rabbi.  “Who said that this man was a Jew? He is not Jewish, and in fact, he is a Christian.” 

 “A Christian?” said the President in surprise. “Why then are you concerning yourself with him?”

   “Because he is a Human Being,” answered the Rabbi. 

  Theodore Roosevelt was so impressed that he gave the order of extradition to be canceled at once. 

  Rabbi Cohen was a spiritual descendent of Abraham and, especially, of Yehudah, stepping forward to save another at all costs. 

   Our world is beckoning us to step forward when injustice and killings are ravaging our country, especially, our Brothers and Sisters in Israel. It is a time for Tefillah on behalf of the victims of the recent terrorist attack in Arzeinu Hakidosha.

  Remember the words of our Sages,"במקום שאין איש השתדל  להיות איש". 

 Let us continue to meet the needs of the Jewish People, as our Biblical Heroes did, and to always find the ways and the wherewithal to work for the betterment of Jews throughout the world. 

   May we live in such a way that our Ancestors will continue to be proud of us and may  Hashem continue to shower His Blessings upon us. 

      

LIGHTS OF LIFE

   How wonderful it is when family gets together to light the Chanukah Menorah and sing the song הנרות הללו, whereby recognizing the miraculous intervention of Hashem in our lives. Singing and glaring at the flickering tapers of light emanating from the menorah, the message is clear, “We have the power to bring light to the world and to our own families, if we but make sure that our lights are קודש הם, that they are holy by the way we live, and encourage others to do so as well.” 

   At the same time, I begin to realize that darkness is not simply the absence of light, but a creation in of itself, as we say in the Brachos of Krias Shma,” יוצר אור ובורא חושך, He creates light and creates the darkness.” 

  It seems, as we observe the world around us, we realize more than ever our struggle to build fortresses of light, and at the same time to remove the ugliness of darkness that man seems to be engulfed in. At that moment we become aware that Chanukah must become our inspirational time to envelope ourselves in the light of Torah, in a way that Yiddishkeit brings light, harmony, and especially greater love into our hearts. 

  I am reminded of an insightful question that the

 Ger Rebbe asked, reflecting on the miracle of Chanukah, “We know that when the Chashmonaim dedicated the Temple they, immediately, went to light the Menorah. Not having the Gold Menorah, they took their wooden spears and shaped them into receptacles for the oil. We all know that there was no pure oil to be found, until a small cruise of oil was found and this small amount of oil lasted for eight days until they were able to make more oil, and thus a miracle occurred. Just as Hashem, miraculously, intervened for the oil to burn, why could He not, at the outset,  perform a more obvious Miracle by creating a Golden Menorah to be used rather than the wooden ones provided by the Chashmonaim?”

   The  Ger  went on to explain, “There are two aspects of the Jewish personality, there is the Chesonious, the outer part of the person, and there is the P’nemius, the inner part - one’s inner being. Hashem, purposely, did not make the miracle with providing a Menorah, for that is the outer part, the Chesonious of the Mitzvah, and for that any material could be used, but when it comes to the P’ninious which is represented by the פך שמן,  then Hashem will bring it about in a miraculous way, to emphasize the importance of the P’enimious of our actions. 

  The lesson is quite simple;  For a Jew, the Ekar is the  P’nimious, the inner being, and this must be, at all times, pure,  even if it takes a miracle to bring it about, while the outer garment of a Jew is secondary, not that important.” 

   Our aim is to invest our lives in our Penimious to have a לב טהור, a pure and understanding heart encouraging us to perform in a way that will bring about a dedicated and sincere life. 

     Yosef in this week’s Parsha, was continuously convinced, that even though his brothers did wrong to him, it was always seen as an Intervention by Hashem, and it was a fulfillment of the wishes of G-D. Yosef speaks with the purity of a heartfelt person, he speaks to his P’nimious and acts with the pure Shemen of his life, which brings a glow of light to an episode in his life that was full of darkness. We see the true personality of Yosef and his true P’nimious.  

  When we live a life which is dedicated by our P'nimious , then we begin to understand why we act according to the sage Hillel, who instructs us to light the  Menorah by beginning with one candle and increasing it with one candle every night of the eight nights of Chanukah. He does so to teach us that, מעלין בקודש

    “That our aim in life is to always strive daily to reach a higher degree of  Kedusha, and this can only be achieved by constantly being touch with our PENIMIOUS! 

   May our lives always be aglow with lights of Bracha emanating from Hashem, our true Miracle Worker.