Lech Lecha

Parashat Nitzavim-Vayelech "Taking The Right Path"

2013-08-27T12:54:00.000-04:00

So, here we are at the end of the summer. It’s back to reality. So many are packing up and heading back to school, and the stores are stocking their shelves with various school supplies. Where does the time go? It feels as though we were just boarding the buses for our departure for our 2013 summer at Camp. And suddenly, we woke up, and the chill of autumn was in the air, and we knew that summer was coming to an end.

Life is like that.

Now, as the year draws to a close, we’re up to the last Parashat of the year, the double portion Nitzavim-Vayelech. As we leave one experience and begin a new one, we know that we will be faced with new challenges. We’ll make mistakes along the way. Will we see that? Hopefully, we will try to do what is right, follow a path that is good, toward blessing and peace.

Parashat Shoftim - Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue

2013-08-05T07:00:00.000-04:00

This week we are reading Parashat Shoftim, Judges. The Israelites have finally entered the Promised Land after the death of Moses. God predicted that once they settled and were comfortable in their surroundings, they would see that the other nations around them had Kings as rulers. God knew that the Israelites would also want to choose a Leader as their authority.

"You shall appoint magistrates and officials for your tribes, in all the settlements that the Lord your God is giving you, and they shall govern the people with due justice." (16:18)

"You shall not judge unfairly: you shall show no partiality; you shall not take bribes, for bribes blind the eyes of the discerning and upset the plea of the just" (16:19)

"Justice, Justice shall you pursue, that you may thrive and occupy the land that the Lord your God is giving you." (16:20)

After making these rules for the one that was chosen, God emphasized that the king must be "one of your own people".

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg "can project the daunting stillness of a seated monarch."1

Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg as Camp Rabbi
Camp Che-Na-Wah Minerva, NY

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg has the words from this Parashat adorning the walls of her chambers: "Justice, Justice, shall thou pursue." (16:18) In an essay titled "What Being Jewish Means To Me", Justice Ginsburg described her Jewish predecessors on the Supreme Court as using "law as protector of the oppressed, the poor, the minority, the loner."

"I am a judge born, raised and proud of being a Jew. The demand for justice runs through the entirety of the Jewish tradition. I hope, in my years on the bench of the Supreme Court of the United States, I will have the strength and the courage to remain constant in the service of that demand." Justice Ginsburg has said that Jews in the United States today face few closed doors, and thankfully do not fear letting the world know who we are. The security she feels is shown by the artwork that she displays...."Zedek, Zedek tirdof--Justice, Justice shall you purse." They are constant reminders of what judges are expected to do.

1Toobin, Jeffrey.:"How Ruth Bader Ginsburg Moved The Supreme Court."

Parashat Eikev - "Bringing You Into A Good Land"

2013-07-22T07:34:00.000-04:00

This week we are reading Parashat Eikev. Moses reminds the Israelites of all of the gifts that God has given them, that they will continue to be blessed and they will be able to enter the Promised Land, a few enemies defeated along the way…of course, with the help of God. Moses recalls the years of hardships that they had endured, but despite it all, they survived. God watched over them, and will continue to do so, but they must promise to keep the commandments.

Moses reminds them that they must always remember to give thanks for the land and the gifts that God gives them, and be grateful for the forgiveness that was given to them and to their ancestors.

We can’t forget that this group of Israelites that Moses was addressing did not have THE experience of Sinai. The experience is what their parents had told them. And Moses is aware of that:

“Take thought this day that it was not your children who neither experienced nor witnessed the lessons of the Lord your God” (11:2)

Moses wants the history from the Red Sea to the border of the Promised Land to be told and re-told to this new generation who will travel the long road to the Promised Land. He needs them to be motivated, and to understand that they are a part of the covenant that goes beyond those that left Egypt and reached Sinai.

How do we fit into that long chain of tradition today? We weren’t at Sinai, but our ancestors were. We no longer use stone tablets, but we are still a part of the story. We must continue to empower and inspire future generations to know the story, to tell and re-tell it, so that they understand that each one of us are here because they paved the way for us, as we must do for future generations.

Parashat Vaetchanan - How Will We Learn From Our Mistakes?

2013-07-15T09:24:00.000-04:00

This week we read Parashat Vaetchanan, and the Israelites are ready to enter Canaan. Moses speaks at length with his people, instructing them on his legacy.

Moses asks God to reconsider his decision. God has forbidden Moses’ entry into the Promised Land because of his prior acts of impatience and disobedience. Moses pleads with God, but God does not listen. The law is the law. The punishment will stand.

Moses can see the Promised Land from afar, but he shall never enter it. Moses has an opportunity to speak to the Children of Israel and offer them advice, and tell them to follow God’s laws faithfully. He tells them not to repeat his mistakes, so that they may live a full life, and thrive in the Promised Land.

How will we, as a society, learn from our mistakes?

Many of us heard the verdict of the George Zimmerman Trial this past weekend. We cannot change the verdict. But, there is more that we can do as a society so that future generations have a better chance of living a full life. President Obama said:

“And as we do, we should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to widen the circle of compassion and understanding in our own communities. We should ask ourselves if we’re doing all we can to stem the tide of gun violence that claims too many lives across this country on a daily basis. We should ask ourselves, as individuals and as a society, how we can prevent future tragedies like this. As citizens, that’s a job for all of us. That’s the way to honor Trayvon Martin”. In addition to Gun Control, will Florida finally review the Stand Your Ground Laws, so lawlessness can be prevented, rather than encouraged?

Vaetchanan….I implore you. We must join together, so that the mistakes are NOT repeated.

Parashat Devarim - Moses Begins His Farewell

2013-07-08T09:56:00.000-04:00

This week we begin the final book of the Torah…Devarim.

In Parashat Devarim, Moses begins his final sermon to the Israelite people. He is pouring out his heart to the people that he has been leading, and it is his final opportunity to speak to them. They will soon cross over into the Promised Land without him, and he has chosen a new leader to guide them. This Parashat sounds different than the ones that we just left in Bemidbar. None of that: “The Lord spoke to Moses and said:” There’s more patience here, more guidance, more listening. Moses’s sermon recounts those days when the Israelites left Egypt to freedom, and the conquests that they made against enemies throughout the years. These Israelites are the first generation that was raised by former slaves. Moses warned them not to abuse their power and how they treated those that were weak. "For you were strangers in the Land of Egypt." Since we ourselves were slaves, Moses was afraid that we might abuse our power.

In fact, Moses was very concerned that the Israelites would be consumed with the idea of power. To combat these influences Moses gives laws to the Israelites to limit their use of power.

Devarim is about listening, and recalling, and being socially conscious

It’s about remembering our past, so that we can move forward into our future.

Parashat Mattot-Oaths, Vows, and Never Remaining Silent

2013-07-01T09:25:00.000-04:00

This week we approach the conclusion of the Book of Numbers, and we read Parashat Mattot. The portion talks about the subject of "vows" and "oaths" that we make. We know that words are powerful, and we should always think carefully before we use the gift of words. The focus is really about the vows that women make.

"If a man makes a vow to the Lord or takes an oath imposing an obligation on himself, he shall not break his pledge; he must carry out all that has crossed his lips. If a woman makes a vow to the Lord or assumes an obligation while still in her father's household by reason of her youth, and her father learns of her vow or her self-imposed obligation and offers no objection, all her vows shall stand and every self-imposed obligation shall stand. But if her father restrains her on the day he finds out, none of her vows or self-imposed obligations shall stand; and the Lord will forgive her, since her father restrained her." (Numbers 30:4-9)

Most of us today find this a bit shocking....all those feelings that stir within us about the nature of relationships and social status. But, it's true. When a man made a vow or took an oath, he was required to "carry out all that has crossed his lips". While women were allowed to make vows, these could actually be cancelled out by the male authority in her life if he renounced the vow when he heard it. So, providing that he does so quickly, and not keep silent, the women's father or husband can cancel out the vows made by a woman. There was no option to keep silent. Silence was giving it an OK. Once you knew what the vow was, and you didn't speak up, you were now responsible for it. The motivation was to become accountable for what was going on around you.

So, if vows were so important, why could a woman's word be virtually wiped out by her husband or her father? That doesn't say much about the value of a woman's word in Biblical times. We HAVE come a long way. All people ARE created equal. (That means race, gender, class, religion sexual orientation, disability, what we look like, or where we come from) A person's gender shouldn't affect their ability to achieve great things. Equal Opportunity means Equal Opportunity.

We can never remain silent. Once we do, we are saying that everything is OK. If we disagree with something, we must speak up right away. It's our obligation to do so.

Parashat Pinchas - The Daughters of Zelophehad

2013-06-24T23:04:00.000-04:00

This week we read the story of the daughters of Zelophehad. The portion begins as God instructs Moses and Eliazar to conduct a census of the people. God then instructs Moses to distribute portions of land to the descendents of each of the clans. Larger clans would acquire larger portions of land than smaller clans. But, the women were not included in this process. A man named Zelophehad had just died, and was survived only by daughters. Therefore, Zelophehad’s daughters, were not entitled to any land at all.
The 5 daughters come forth and stood before Moses, Eleazar the priest, the chieftains and the whole assembly at the entrance of the tent of meeting. They proclaimed that their father has died. The daughters tell the assembly that their father had no sons.

They plead to everyone present:

“Let not our father's name be lost to his clan just because he had no son! Give us a holding among our father’s kinsmen!” (27:4).

After the women make their plea, Moses takes the case in front of God. God tells Moses:

“the plea of Zelophehad’s daughters is just: that Moses should give them a hereditary holding among their father’s kinsmen and transfer their father’s share to them. (27:7)

Miraculously, God changes the law for all times and for all daughters. Zelophehad’s daughters make it possible for daughters to inherit land when there are no sons or brothers. This was a momentous achievement for women of this time.

And what a powerful lesson for us today. The daughters of Zelophehad should inspire us that we can shape our destiny, and we do have the ability to move mountains, and change laws...even ones that were handed down at Sinai.
May we all have the courage to take action when necessary in order to make change for the better.

Parashat Balak- The Power Of Words

2013-06-17T07:48:00.001-04:00

This week we read Parashat Balak. It's all about Communication. In it, there's a donkey that talks and sees visions. There's a non-Jewish prophet that speaks with our God. He is sent to bring curses on the Israelite people, but instead, he brings blessings. This is a story of turning curses into blessings, and of learning how to use positive words to build a nation up, rather than tear them down.

Balak, the King of Moab, saw that the Israelites were prospering well, and was starting to feel uneasy about them. Perhaps they would want to take over his space. So, he hired the Prophet Bilaam to curse the Jewish people--"Now, please go and curse for me this nation, for it is too mighty for me; perhaps I will prevail, smite them, and drive them from the land..." Bilaam takes the job, but, again and again, his curses are turned by God into blessings. It's as though every time he tries to curse the Israelites, beautiful words come out. Words have so much power.....Some are like magic spells.

Each time we speak, we have the opportunity to take advantage of this incredible gift...when we say "thankyou", "I love you", "No"...even when we respond to someone that is asking for charity. At that moment, are we worthy of that gift?
Maybe we should say a prayer before we opened our mouths, and prayed that we wouldn't cause any damage with our speech. Interesting.

This age of technology has brought words into our lives even more than ever before. Sometimes, our lives are so busy that our words just fly by without us even thinking about them. We tweet in 140. We post our life stories on Facebook, and we text in shorthand. But, before we press that "Send" button or quickly say something, maybe we could try to stop...even for 1 second, and think of the damage that we could do with our words...or the blessing that we can bestow with it. It's our choice. And our power!

because it is literally an Earth-moving statement – to change your life. For more than a decade, technology has brought words into our lives more than ever before. No longer are words just what we hear, write or read – they have become what we create and how we interact with the world around us.
We all grew up believing the children’s rhyme, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” Yet, at a certain point, you realized that was completely untrue and that words could hurt, just as you learned Pluto was a planet but many years later find out it is just a ball of ice no longer classified as a planet. Words, my friends, change everything! Words have a dramatic effect on what we know, how we interact with people and the decisions we ultimately make. Words can influence us, inspire us or just as easily bring us to tears.
Words change our relationships, our demeanor, our entire system of beliefs, and even our businesses. Being a planet or not being a planet makes a major difference, just as the words “I love you” or “I hate you” have majorly different meanings behind them. Words have a powerful and undeniably overwhelming influence on us – for good and, at times, for bad. Think for a moment how words have changed your life:

Marry me! It’s a girl! You have cancer. We lost him. You’re hired! You’re fired. We won! We lost. Guilty. Not guilty.

It may not seem intentional, but it has been. At the core, a large “organization of words” shift has taken place right in front of us. As a result, words have forever changed our lives and will continue to change our lives as never before. For the majority of us, not a single day goes by when we fail to interact and create relationships with words. Take Google, for example. Google is a company with a focus on classifying and organizing words. It is a very simple focus, really: to be better than any other entity at organizing words. Now, they may say they organize information, including documents, videos, photos, maps and more. But at the core, they are all words. A document may have many words, but they are always organized in a theme, and a theme can generally be focused to a sentence or title, and a title to a primary subject or word. The same goes for videos, photos, maps and more.
Imagine you are in a doctor’s office and you are told, “you have cancer.”
A single word “cancer” just changed your life and the lives of everyone close to you. Clearly, you listen to what your doctor says, but then you go to a place you know you can get a lot of answers – a search. You may do this when you get home to your computer or tablet or immediately on your mobile phone. But nonetheless, you begin to create and interact with the words by typing a few into the search box: “what is cancer” “cancer treatments” “cancer cures” “cancer survival.” Cancer comes in many forms, so perhaps your search is more specific: “what is triple negative breast cancer” “triple negative breast cancer treatments.” As you type, the words interact with you, providing answers to your questions. As a result, you learn of clinical trials as a treatment option, so you again leverage the interaction with words: “clinical trials for triple negative breast cancer,” and you find a powerful option that gives you another word – hope. Then and there, words and our relationship to them cross over into something that changes our life once again – twice in the same day, perhaps.
The meaning and value of words have become largely dependent on real-time demand, and therefore, the perceived value is determined solely by the epicenter of time and need. In other words, it’s determined when a moment in time crosses paths with a particular individual’s needs and the two interact. In the new economy, words also have an economic value. Therefore, a search for “cancer” is infinitely important and invaluable for the person that was just diagnosed, while the words “free shipping” may be most important and valuable for someone about to buy a “42inch 3D TV,” and both words have monetary value to some third party (i.e. a research institute or Sony) as well as the provider (i.e. Google or Amazon).
Services like Twitter have also focused on words (very few, in fact, given the 140 character limit), defining trends via hashtags (a word following a # – i.e. #cancer). That said, words transcend both search and Twitter. Words have become the key to everyday life. In our vehicles, many of us use words to get assistance, either via a service such as OnStar (I need help, my car won’t start) or via GPS (and don’t turn left when told to turn right, or the next word to leave your mouth may well be S%*T).
On eCommerce websites, such as Amazon.com, FatCork.com, BestBuy.com or even ColonialCandle.com, words change our experience: Free shipping, We recommend, One Click Checkout, Out of stock, Pre Order, etc. The way we interpret the end result of each of those seemingly simple words changes our present and future behaviors in real time. In fact, free shipping is still considered one of the top triggers to purchase.
In the media industry, search – both paid search and organic (SEO) – is a huge segment of the industry developed around and focused on the use of words. Words have implications in both paid search and SEO. One of the biggest factors includes relevancy: how relevant are the words searched – to the text ad copy – to the words on the landing page – to the words on the website? They are all interconnected. Words have interconnected us with technology.
- See more at: http://www.askingsmarterquestions.com/words-have-the-power-to-change-our-lives/#sthash.oc1jQXHL.dpuf

Marry me! It’s a girl! You have cancer. We lost him. You’re hired! You’re fired. We won! We lost. Guilty. Not guilty.

Parashat Chukkat - Do You Really Need That Stick?

2013-06-10T08:48:00.000-04:00

“The Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ‘You and your brother Aaron take the rod and assemble the community, and before their very eyes order the rock to yield its water. Thus you shall produce water for them from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their beasts." Numbers 20:7-8

This week we read Parashat Chukkat, which describes the Israelites’ hardship in the wilderness, the announcement that Moses will not enter the Land, and the deaths of Miriam and Aaron.

We read about the famous story of “striking the rock,” that terrible decree on Moses, who was supposed to speak to the rock when the people cry out for water. Instead, he struck it with his staff, and was told that he will never see the Promised Land.

So, what did Moses do that was so bad that would have warranted such a harsh punishment? It’s pretty clear that Moses was supposed to speak to the rock, not just whack it with a stick. If Moses had spoken to the rock rather than striking it to draw out the water, the Israelites might have witnessed quite a miracle...possibly even more than the 10 plagues or the parting of the Red Sea. It would have shown the great power of God. And, that's what Moses was supposed to do...to show how great God was.

So when you want to draw something out of someone, how do you get their ideas and learn about their hopes, and visions? How do you communicate with them? Are you involved in an open dialogue or do you find yourself raising a stick to strike?

We all find ourselves in a difficult position, one time or another, of wanting to raise that stick. The key is, knowing when to put that stick down, and taking a step back, and perhaps miracles can actually happen.

Parashat Korach - How Far Is Too Far

2013-06-03T20:26:00.001-04:00

This is quite a week of rebellion of Moses' authority. The Children of Israel haven't been content. There's been a lot of unrest and arguing within the community. They've been complaining about everything, even the food. God is getting impatient with the Israelites, and Moses had to really build them up, so God wouldn't punish them. But, in this week's Parashat, complaining reaches an all-time high.

Korach, who is a cousin of Moses and Aaron, along with Datan and Abiram, challenged the leadership ability of Moses and Aaron, in front of the entire Community of Israel.

"They combined against Moses and Aaron and said to them, 'You have gone too far! For all the community are holy, all of them and Adonai is in their midst, Why then do you raise yourselves above Adonai's congregation?' (Num.16:3)"

Korach convinced 250 others who also want a piece of the action, but Korach seems to have forgotten something really important. Yes, the entire community is holy. He got that right. But, what Korach seems to have forgotten is that Moses and Aaron were elevated to their positions by God. They didn't select themselves.

Moses wasn't a politician. He was a pretty modest guy. He had no ambition to fight for political survival and, frankly, would walk away from it all if God would allow it.

Politics seems to bring out the worst in people. And that's what happened here.

Korach and his Cronies bitterly divided the Israelites. They set family against family and tribe against tribe. They weakened the community, instead of helping to build them up. And perhaps that's why Korach received the punishment that he got. God opens the earth, and swallows up the rebels and their families. Complete bedlam breaks out, and the people turn on Moses and Aaron: "You two have brought death upon the Lord's people!" Before the day is over, 14,000 have died from a plague. (or a Divine Plague, that is)

Wow.....Korach was certainly a menace. But, Moses allowed this tragedy to continue. Korach certainly provoked the Revolution, but shouldn't Moses have tried to be the leader, and respect another's point of view? Maybe Moses could have actually gotten Korach to work beyond his rage. Can you imagine....Moses and Korach working closely together? Imagine that!

"Princesses: Long Island" Aren't We Better Than This?

2013-06-02T19:29:00.000-04:00

Could T.V. stoop any lower? Tonight is the debut of a new reality show called “Princesses: Long Island” (Just what we need….another reality show) This one features a group of spoiled Long Island women, all in their 20’s , all Jewish. I’m already offended.

All I needed to hear was a voice from the commercial screeching, “Manishevitttzzz”!... and. I was sick to my stomach.

The stereotyping keeps coming. And this is just in the coming attractions. Looks like we’re in for lots of crying, whining, pining for husbands, trying on wedding dresses (just in case), fighting with each other, and, of course…shopping. Looks like we’re in for a stereotyped-packed train wreck that will take us through Old Brookville, Great Neck Estates, and, of course, the Roosevelt Field Mall.

But, I guess people will have to watch and judge for themselves.

I just know, that we’re worth more than this.

Parashat Shelach - Lions & Tigers & Bears, Oh, My!

2013-05-26T20:44:00.002-04:00

This week's Parashat, Shelach, has a lot to do with fear. Sometimes fear gets the better of us, and we lose our way, and too often we project this fear on others.

The Israelites are finally approaching the Promised Land. It has been such a long time. God tells Moses to send out spies...one from each of the tribes....to check out the Land. The spies were instructed to explore the terrain, the towns and the cities, and the inhabitants. They were away for 40 days (again, 40 !) and they finally returned, bearing some of the fruits of the land. They went right to Moses with a detailed description of what awaits the Israelites in Canaan, and described the beauty and bounty and called it a land that was flowing with milk and honey. They also describe the people who dwell in the land, the various tribes: Amalakites, Jebusites, Hittites, Amorites, Anankites, and the Canaanites.

Caleb and Joshua believed that the Children of Israel should move forward toward the Promised Land. But, some of the other spies start to make up stories, and tell wild tales of giants that live in the land. The Israelites start to to panic, and they rebel against Moses and Aaron, and God. Have they forgotten that God has brought them this far? Were they just going to give up without even making the attempt?

God has had enough. Moses still has a lot to do. Moses is actually thinking that the people are not ready. But, Moses calms God's anger., and reminds God of the greatness of the Israelite people. But, God does not forget. God remembers those Israelites that were particularly cruel to the Egyptians in the desert. They, in particular, will not be able to cross for another 40 years.

This is an important lesson about gratitude. I wonder if things would have been different for the Israelites if they had shown some gratitude toward God? Perhaps they all would have crossed into the Promised Land at the same time. Wouldn't it be nice if we could focus on the gifts that we have received, rather than the "what if's"? Perhaps, then, everyday would feel as though we were entering into our own Promised Land.

Parashat Behaalotecha - Building a Cohesive Team

2013-05-20T08:13:00.000-04:00

This week we're reading Parashat Behaalotecha. At the end of the parasha, there's an interesting story about Miriam, Moses' sister. She publicly criticizes her brother about his Cushite wife. She is dark-skinned, and not an Israelite. Aaron also criticizes his brother, Moses, with these words: "Has the Lord spoken only through Moses? Has he not spoken through us as well?" These sibling "discussions" were not done privately. No. They were in front of the entire Israelite Community, and Moses must have been pretty embarrassed. What happened to discussions, and family meetings?

But what happens, then, is something remarkable. Only Miriam is punished for criticizing Moses. Miriam was afflicted with leprosy for a week for her harsh words about her brother's wife. Perhaps her mistake was not seeing beyond the color of the person that was in front of her.

As for Aaron, there's nothing wrong with disagreeing with each other. All of those years in the desert together...someone's got to have another opinion. But, listening to those with other opinions is key. It's all in the timing. We all have the ability to share in the responsibility....its about sharing the same vision.

If we can look beyond the color of our skin, the country of our birth, our religion, physical disabilities, hopefully we can empower, guide, encourage and make space for everyone, and create great leaders that will lift us and inspire us to do great things.

Parashat Naso - The Priestly Benediction

2013-05-13T08:35:00.000-04:00

This week in Parashat Naso, we read about the Priestly Benediction. Today, the Jewish Priests, the Kohanim, have no "Temple", but there is still a service that is available to them in today's synagogue, and that is blessing the members of the congregation with the Birkat ha-Kohanim (Numbers 6:24-26):

"The Eternal shall bless you and protect you!"

"The Eternal shall deal kindly and graciously with you!"

"The Eternal shall bestow his favor upon you, and grant you peace!"

The blessing is actually 3 separate ones. The first blessing, "The Eternal shall bless you and protect you", refers to material wealth and success. It's not just about gaining, it's also about being protected from loss. The second blessing, "The Eternal shall deal kindly and graciously with you", refers to spiritual development. Hopefully, you'll understand what the right path in life is, and, of course, an excellent Torah student. The third blessing is a blessing for peace. It's a hope that you're 'chosen' by God to live a life filled with peace. To live a blessed life, one that is filled with material growth, intellectual growth, and spiritual development, one would also need the gift of peace.

In the days of Moses and Aaron, the Priests were born. It was a matter of inheritance. But, one of the most important changes over the years, was to remove rank by birth. Leadership was attained through learning.

But this blessing has come a long way. Jewish parents no longer needed Kohanim to bless their children. On Shabbat, especially, parents are now able to become like the Priests, and bestow the blessing on their own children.
Becoming closer to God doesn't require a special place or a special person. You can bless your children yourself, and make the experience an intimate one. Time to take charge of your own Jewish lives.

We Are A Work In Progress - Parashat Bemidbar

2013-05-06T11:26:00.000-04:00

"On the first day of the second month, in the second year following the exodus from the land of Egypt, the Eternal One spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai , in the Tent of Meeting, saying: Take a census of the whole Israelite company (of fighters) by the clans of its ancestral houses, listing the names, every male, head by head. You and Aaron shall record them by their groups, from the age of 20 years up, all those in Israel, who are able to bear arms. Associated with you shall be a representative of each tribe, each one the head of his ancestral house." (Numbers 1:1-4)

This week we begin the fourth of the books of the Torah. This book, known as "Bemidbar", "in the desert", is a narrative of the wanderings of the Israelites. Instructions are given to take a census of the community, listing the names of every man over 20 who is able to bear arms. Only the men were allowed to fight in battles, so, only they were counted.

But, things are different today. Who are the people in our Community? What are we concerned with? Today, we would count men and women, children and the elderly. We count those who work, and those who are unable to work, our loved ones who need care, and the ones who care for us. Today we also count those men, women and children who come to this country, that dream of a better future.

Our census is a work in progress. Parashat Bemidar shows us how our community once counted. We have come a long way. Today, we have the opportunity to dream, and we have the opportunity to count all people.

We are all the children and grandchildren of immigrants, and as a people that stands for compassion, we need to stand for immigration reform that is also compassionate and understanding. Let's never forget taking into account who we are, and who we can become.

Finding Hope - Parashat Behar Bechukotai

2013-04-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

This week, we read the double portion of Behar-Bechukotai. In it, we read in Leviticus 26: 3-12

"If you follow my laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant your rains in their season, so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees of the field their fruit. Your threshing shall overtake the vintage, and your vintage shall overtake the sowing; you shall eat your fill of bread and dwell securely in your land. I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down untroubled by anyone; I will give the land respite from vicious beast, and no sword shall cross your land. Your army shall give chase to your enemies and they shall fall before you by the sword.....I will be ever-present in your midst: I will be your God, and you shall be My people."

This is such a powerful message of hope during a time that was so difficult for our ancestors. It was hard not to give in to despair. But through those difficult days in the desert, the Israelites gained strength from each other, and built a community that performed acts of kindness and faith.

And just a couple of weeks ago, at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, on a day that celebrates Spring and Freedom, resilience and hope were tested yet again.
Oklahoma City, Columbine, 9/11, Virginia Tech, Fort Hood, Gabby Giffords, Aurora Movie Theatre, Sandy Hook, the Boston Marathon
We will not give into despair. We are resilient.
"So if you want to know who we are, what America is, how we respond to evil--that's it." said President Obama. "Selflessly. Compassionately. Unafraid."

And just like in ancient days, we will gather strength from each other. The strength is in our gathering.

Countless lives have been changed forever, and life is certainly not perfect. But, hope and faith will forever lose its meaning unless we can really appreciate the blessings that we do have. And that is the only way that we can turn our attention to moving forward toward the future.

So, we reach the end of the Book of Leviticus.

Is There A Cohen In The House - Parashat Emor

2013-04-22T07:51:00.001-04:00

Did you know that Jews have a kind of royalty? Don't get too excited. There are no castles involved here, or even a title like "Your Majesty". The Jewish Royals are the Kohanim, the priests who once served in the Temple of Jerusalem.

Jacob had 12 sons. Each son was the leader of one of the Tribes of Israel. Each tribe had a separate territory, except the Tribe of Levi. During the Exodus, when the Israelites made the Golden Calf, the Levites refused to worship it. Because of their devotion, they were appointed as the servants to God. There were members from this tribe that were descended from Aaron, the brother of Moses. They were known as the Kohanim. Aaron was the first Kohen, the first High Priest.

Parashat Emor begins with the laws restricting the Priests, the descendants of Aaron, from contact with the dead: "The Lord said to Moses: Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them: None shall defile himself for any dead person among his kin." (Lev 21:1).

Even though the system of the High Priesthood no longer exists, some descendants of the Kohanim are extremely careful to adhere to the ancient restrictive rules. First and foremost, is the prohibition against coming into contact or even close proximity to dead bodies. (Mind you, the rules get a bit more lax when the deceased person wasn't Jewish, just as long as the Kohen doesn't touch the body)

There are also strict rules regarding where a Kohen can walk around a cemetery.

And, obviously from this article, there are strict rules where a Kohen can and can't fly.

‘Plastic Bag’ Airplane Passenger a Kohen Staying Pure?

Look up in the sky? Is It a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s Plastic Man – the Orthodox Jew who wrapped himself in plastic on an airplane, apparently because he is a very scrupulous Kohen.

By: Tzvi Ben-Gedalyahu

Published: April 12th, 2013 (The Jewish Press)

tell a friend

An Orthodox Jewish man, wrapped in a plastic bag in his airline seat, apparently did so because he was probably a Kohen who went to extreme lengths to make sure he would not be ritually impure if the plane flew over a Jewish cemetery.
Kohenim are prohibited from coming into contact with dead bodies, and many rabbis have taken the strict opinion that a Kohen may not ride in a plane if he knows ahead of time that it will fly directly over a Jewish cemetery. Many have ruled that if does not know of the flight plan, he may ride in the airplane.
El Al once agreed to change a fight trajectory to avoid flying over a cemetery.
The man wrapped in plastic, whose photograph first appeared on the Redditor site and later on the Gothamist site, apparently did not want to take any chances. By covering himself in plastic, he established a separation between him and impurities.
However, since he arrived at his destination safe and sound, it can be assumed there was a hole in the plastic bag so he could breathe.
Some readers of Redditor suggested that “plastic man” was making sure he would not come into contact with the woman sitting behind him, but that is doubtful since it is unlikely he carried a plastic covering “just in case.”
Or maybe he simply wanted some attention.

So, if your last name is Cohen, or Kahn or even Schwartz, you just might be a part of this priestly tribe, that are descendants of one man, Aaron the High Priest, who lived 3,500 years ago.

The Holiness Code - Parashat Acharei Mot - Kedoshim

2013-04-15T14:46:00.000-04:00

If you unrolled the Torah, and then rolled it back to the center, the 2 sides would meet just about here..at this Parashat, Acharei Mot-Kedoshim. It's the center of the Torah for a couple of reasons.

This section of Leviticus is called "The Holiness Code":

And God spoke to Moses saying: Speak to the whole Israelite Community, and say to them, " You shall be holy for I the Lord your God am holy." (Leviticus 19:1-2)

How can we achieve holiness? Where do we start?
It's obvious that we can't be holy alone. We are a part of a community.

Do not steal
Do not place a stumbling block before the blind
Love your neighbor
Do not hate your fellow in your heart
Leave the corners of the field for the poor and the stranger

This shows us that the Torah is not just a Book of laws, but it's also a lesson in righteousness. Judaism teaches us to love, and respect each other. The laws of Holiness are addressed to the entire Jewish community. The hope is to create a community of people that care about one another, and who show kindness to all. That is what Holiness is all about. There is Holiness when we care for our world, and make it a better place.

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim reminds us that at the center of the Torah there is Holiness. But, also, at the center of Community, there is Holiness, too.

From Sorrow To Joyousness - The Price of Freedom

2013-04-12T10:16:00.000-04:00

This year Yom HaZikaron is on:
Apr 14-15
Yom HaAtzmaut is on:
Apr 15-16

It's amazing that when most of our parents were born, Israel was not yet a State. When they were born maps didn't even include a Jewish State on it. We think of the State of Israel always being there.We forget sometimes, just how young it really is. This week we celebrate Israel's 65th birthday. Quite an achievement, considering the threats that Israel has had to conquer in its short life. Israel has accomplished so much in its 65 years, a true light among the nations, but before we leap into celebration, we must stop and remember. The day before Yom Ha-atzmaut is Yom Hazikaron, the Day of Remembrance for Israel's fallen soldiers and Victims of Terror.

Sirens will sound across Israel to call the nation to a moment of reflection for Yom HaZikaron. When the State was established, Israel's leaders felt strongly about connecting Yom HaZikaron to Yom HaAtzmaut. Though this is the season of our freedom, we also mourn our people's tragedy, we remember the fallen soldiers and also celebrate the independence of the State of Israel. On Yom HaZikaron are lost sons, daughters, fathers, sons, mothers, brothers, and sisters. Whether it was during one of Israel's wars, or during a senseless act of terrorism, the loss in Israel is profound.

It is not by accident, then, that we go from this day of sorrow to the joy of Yom HaAtzmaut, Israel's Day of Independence. We go from "Yagon L' Simcha" - from Sorrow to Joyousness. In doing this, we can hopefully understand what a sacrifice it was for the generations past and present to build the Jewish State.
We're always reminded of life's highs and lows, and the price of freedom.

Special Yizkor Prayer Memorializing Israel's Fallen Heroes

"יִזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים אֶת נִשְמוֹת בָּנָיו-גִּבּוֹרָיו, חַיָּלֵי צְבָא הֲגַנָּה לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בְּמִלְחֲמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, בִּפְעֻלּוֹת הֲגַנָּה, תַּגְמוּל וּבִטָּחוֹן וּבְעֵת מִלּוּי תַּפְקִידָם, וְנִשְׁמוֹת כָּל לוֹחֲמֵי הַמַּחְתֶּרֶת וַחֲטִיבוֹת הַלּוֹחֲמִים בְּמַעַרְכוֹת הָעָם, שֶׁחֵרְפוּ נַפְשָׁם לָמוּת עַל קְדֻשַּׁת הַשֵּׁם, וּבְעֶזְרַת אֱלֹהֵי מַעַרְכוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל הֵבִיאוּ לִתְקוּמַת הָאֻמָּה וְהַמְּדִינָה וְלִגְאֻלַּת הָאָרֶץ וְעִיר הָאֱלֹהִים. מִנְּשָׁרִים קַלּוּ וּמֵאֲרָיוֹת גָּבֵרוּ, בְּהֵחָלְצָם לְעֶזְרַת הָעָם וְהִרְווּ בְּדָמָם הַטָּהוֹר אֶת רִגְבֵי אַדְמַת קָדְשֵׁנוּ. זֵכֶר עֲקֵדָתָם וּמַעֲשֵׂה גְבוּרָתָם לֹא יָסוּפוּ מֵאִתָּנוּ לְעוֹלָמִים. תִּהְיֶינָה נִשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶם צְרוּרוֹת בִּצְרוֹר הַחַיִּים עִם נִשְׁמוֹת אַבְרָהָם, יִצְחָק וְיַעֲקֹב וְעִם שְׁאָר גִּבּוֹרֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל וּקְדוֹשָׁיו שֶׁבְּגַן עֵדֶן עַד

עוֹלָם. אָמֵן".

May God remember the souls of His heroic children: The fighters of the Israel Defense Forces, who fell in the wars of Israel, in defensive, retaliative, and security actions and during the fulfillment of their duty, including the souls of the underground fighters and brigades who fought in the national struggle - all those who sacrificed their lives for the sanctification of God's Name.

And with the help of God, the Lord of Israel's campaigns, they brought about the revival of the nation and the state and the redemption of the land and the city of God.
They were quicker than eagles and stronger than lions as they volunteered to assist the nation, and they saturated our holy land with their pure blood.

The memory of their self-sacrifice and heroic deeds will never disappear from us. May their souls be bound in the Bond of Life with the souls of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and with the souls of the other heroes and martyrs of Israel who are in the Garden of Eden. Amen.

We Will Not Forget - Yom HaShoah

2013-04-04T09:06:00.002-04:00

This year Yom HaShoah 2013 begins in the evening of

Sunday, April 7

and ends in the evening of

Monday, April 8

O God of Israel, we remember the countless numbers of our people who have suffered unspeakable agonies and death. Some were silent sufferers, some rebelled, all were murdered. Some are still remembered by friends and loved ones, others have vanished with no earthly remembrance. We plead that You will remember all of them, that you will hold them in Your heart, that they will find their peace with You.

God of our fathers and mothers, our eyes are now witnesses for the suffering of Israel; our hearts have been torn as we mourn for our people. We will not forget one single thing, not forget to the last generation, lest we ignore threats to our people and all human degradation, or we’ve learned nothing, nothing at all.

(Unknown)

On Yom Hashoah we remember.

We remember the young and the old...the 6 million. One and a half million children. Can you imagine. Wiping out 6 million Jews, and all of European culture, because they were guilty of...being different?
We remember what happens when hate takes over the heart.
We remember what happens when humanity turns away.
But we also remember those who who saved lives, and gave so many hope. They were the Righteous Gentiles who helped save people from death camps, and hid them, risking their own lives.
We cannot go back. We cannot change the past.
We remember all that was lost. We must teach our children.

Shema

You who live secure
In your warm houses
Who return at evening to find Hot food and friendly faces:

Consider whether this is a man, Who labours in the mud
Who knows no peace
Who fights for a crust of bread Who dies at a yes or a no. Consider whether this is a woman, Without hair or name

With no more strength to remember Eyes empty and womb cold
As a frog in winter.

Consider that this has been:
I commend these words to you.
Engrave them on your hearts
When you are in your house,
when you walk on your way,
When you go to bed, when you rise. Repeat them to your children.
Or may your house crumble,
Disease render you powerless,
Your offspring avert their faces from you.

—Primo Levi

"For us, in our time, we must confront bigotry and hatred in all of its forms, racism, especially anti-Semitism. None of that has a place in the civilized world -- not in the classrooms of children; not in the corridors of power. And let us never forget the link between the two. For our sons and daughters are not born to hate, they are taught to hate. So let us fill their young hearts with the same understanding and compassion that we hope others have for them.

Here we hope. Because after you walk through these halls, after you pass through the darkness, there is light -- a glorious view of the Jerusalem Forest, with the sun shining over the historic homeland of the Jewish people; a fulfillment of the prophecy: “you shall live again…upon your own soil.” Here, on your ancient land, let it be said for all the world to hear: The State of Israel does not exist because of the Holocaust. But with the survival of a strong Jewish State of Israel, such a Holocaust will never happen again." - President Barack Obama, on his March 2013 visit to Yad Vashem

When You Play With Fire You Get Burned - Parashat Shemini

2013-03-28T10:16:00.002-04:00

Aaron and his sons are now dedicated to conduct their sacred services to God. In this Parashat, Shemini, two of Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, enter the Tent of Meeting and apparently offer a "strange fire" to God.

"And the sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, took each person his censer and placed fire in them and laid incense thereon and they sacrificed a strange fire before God which he had not commanded them. And a fire came forth from before God consuming them; and they died before the Lord." (Lev 9:23,24;10:1-2)

This must have been some fire! And it sounds like they paid some price for it! The Torah describes a scene like some partying was going on...in other words, Nadav and Avihu were probably drunk, and incapable of performing their sacred service to God. They were warned never to drink before entering the Tent of Meeting in such a condition. But, they did it anyway. And God knew. Of course God knew. They entered the Tent of Meeting and offered a "strange fire", one that God never commanded. That was pretty unexpected and shocking, and it drew more attention to them. So, God, reacted....or overreacted....and poofed them away!

OK, Nadav and Avihu were impulsive and spontaneous, and they weren't behaving like Priests. Did they deserve to die? Moses had acted pretty irrationally when he smashed the Tablets....and he wasn't incinerated. Nadav and Avihu were Priests, Leaders, and they had to be held to a different standard.

They had to wear the proper clothes, handle the sacrifices in a certain way, and use the "commanded fire" properly. But, God needed to teach the Leaders of the community, that when you play with fire, you get burned.

See You At The Top - Counting The Omer

2013-03-26T09:12:00.000-04:00

For many Jews, the 2nd night of Passover begins the tradition of Sefirat Ha-Omer, the Counting of the Omer. It's the 49 days between Passover and Shavuot. The practice of Sefirat Ha-Omer has its roots in Jewish agricultural history: Passover saw the beginning of the barley harvest, and at Shavuot, it concluded. On the 2nd day of Passover, the 1st sheaf of a barley harvest was given as a gift to God. With this gift, the worshiper also offered matzah. Then, each day was counted off, one by one, until Shavuot. On Shavuot, they brought 2 loaves of leavened bread as a sacrifice. Matzah and bread are made from the same ingredients, but they end up differently. We don't show patience with matzah, and therefore, it is not complete. With leavened bread it is different. With bread, we have to show a different kind of care and time. Bread is the finished product. Freedom.

The Rabbis of ancient days explain that the Israelites had hoped to receive the Torah immediately after crossing the Red Sea. After all, they had just left Egypt. But, they were living in Egypt for so many years that they had suffered tremendous spiritual damage. They were not yet ready to accept the gift of Torah. So, we would need to count 49 days, each day we would rise a level from the lowest level of impurity, thereby preparing to greet the Almighty on the 50th day. Each day we would rise one level higher than the day before, all the way up to the highest level, and the opportunity to receive the gift of Torah.

This year, as we move from Passover to Shavuot, let us count up the mountain together. The message of the Omer can remind us about anticipation and patience, and also making sure that everyone is counted. We should all try to make our count more meaningful as we enter this season....and I'll see you at the top.

You Must Tell Your Child On This Day

2013-03-22T10:09:00.001-04:00

Jews around the world are preparing to celebrate the Passover holiday, which begins in just a few days. During the Seder, we recall our ancestors' escape from slavery to freedom. The holiday is to remind us what it feels like be enslaved, and fuel our love for freedom. But, the Seder is not just dinner. It's an opportunity to teach, to learn, and to call to action.

"Ha lachma anya..."

This is the bread of affliction. Let all who are hungry, come and eat; let all who are needy, come and share Pesach with us."

This is how we begin the Passover Seder. Before it has anything to say about freedom, it begins by addressing hunger and need: "Let all who are hungry, come and eat". If one is hungry, and in need, there is no freedom.

We are told that in every generation, we must see ourselves as if we had personally left Egypt. Therefore, we must take these lessons into our own lives. As we taste the matzah, we must try to understand the meaning of what we are saying at the Passover Seder.
In every generation you must see yourself as created in God's image, to do God's work on earth. You must tell your child on this day, we were created to lead all peoples to freedom, to create just and equal societies where all peoples may live together in peace.

Keep The Fire Burning - Parashat Tsav

2013-03-18T08:19:00.000-04:00

This week we're reading Parashat Tsav, and its Sacrifices again.
Why again? Sounds like last week.
Are we reading it again to make sure that we understand all of the details? There's a difference here.
Parashat Tsav is specifically aimed at the Priestly division of the Levites...the Leaders of the Community. We could say that last week's portion was the instruction manual for the individuals of Israel (just the everyday people), and this week's is the manual for the priesthood.

It opens with a command to Moses to explain to Aaron and the priesthood their duties in regard to the Altar and the sacrifices. Last week's highlighted the various offerings: sin, guilt, meal, and peace offerings. This week's continues discussing them, but this time from the point of view of the priests. Tsav outlines how the priest shall receive them and how they shall actually make the offerings on the altar. Aaron and his sons are told that they must keep the flame burning continuously. It was to be an eternal flame, therefore the ashes from the fire had to be tended to properly. Yes, the fire burns the offerings that are placed upon it, but this fire is symbolic of much, much more. This flame is symbolic of the burning spirit within each one of us. This is the light that we must keep alive. We must always offer sacrifices of prayer and deeds, and tend to the fire that burns within our own soul, so that it is never extinguished.

Reaching For Something Higher Than Yourself - Parshat Vayikra

2013-03-11T14:12:00.000-04:00

This week, we begin the Book of Leviticus. Its not one of the most glamorous books of the Torah. It’s mostly about sacrifices, skin diseases, and the rules about being a Priest. It’s called the Holiness Code, and gives us a guide for our ethical and ritual obligations. It’s about Mitzvot and responsibilities. Leviticus is like our own personal GPS, the guidebook to life.

We begin the Book with Parashat Vayikra. Vayikra begins by describing the instructions for offering sacrifices. We wonder, how does this relate to us today? Thank goodness we don’t practice anything even remotely similar to this. But, even though we no longer practice ritual sacrifices, we have found other ways to become closer to God and to achieve holiness, because that was the whole point of ritual sacrifice.

In ancient days, sacrifices were offered at specific times. Today, we offer prayer at fixed times, so that we specifically set aside some time out of our day to try to achieve that closeness to God. Even more than prayer, performing acts of lovingkindness and doing acts of community service can help us continue to be a nation that pursues justice. Sacrificing doesn’t mean to give something up. It means to be generous, and to live with an open heart, and going beyond what you ever thought you could do. This is true holiness.