True Martyrs

What is a "martyr"? Plainly stated, it's a person who dies for G-d. Judaism does not ask for martyrs. We're generally told (except for three specific instances) to live for G-d and keep the commandments and not to die for G-d. But sometimes we're not given a choice, and the choice is made for us.

The Holocaust was an awesome event. Six million Jews were murdered. One and a half million of them were children - the next generation gone. We were singled out and destroyed.

These martyrs - who were they? They were ordinary people, who in normal times were mothers and fathers, businesspeople, lawyers, students and children. Not unlike us today.

These martyrs did extraordinary things even living within the hellholes called the Camps. Mothers performed brit milah/circumcisions on their sons knowing that at least their baby would die as a Jew. Shabbat candles lit. Shofars blown. Assimilated Jews saying the Shema on their way into the showers - professing in the one and only G-d. Those being carried to the cremetorium singing their own Kaddish, praising G-d.

These are martyrs. These are people to aspire to be.

We are the living. But what are we living for? For ourselves? For immediate gratification? The physical or the spiritual?

Do we take advantage of everything at our fingertips? Kosher food? Shabbat? The Jewish holidays? Do we appreciate any of it? We have it all. Our martyrs only dreamed of it.

As we approach Shavuot, the Giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, we need to look back at Yom HaShoah, Holocaust Remembrance Day, and see not only destruction - but also life. These people lived for something bigger than themselves. They saw the big picture.

The Nazis were bent on destroying the Jewish People. But they can move to the back of the line. There were others as well interested in the same goal. As we say in the Passover Haggada, "in every generation" there are those who came to destroy us. However, G-d in His mercy didn't let that happen. We are an Eternal People when we hang onto Eternity.

To paraphrase Mark Twain. The Jews have seen the Persians, the Greeks, the Romans, the Crusaders, and the Nazis all rise to great heights. We have also seen them all crumble into the dustbins of history. Who are we? We are the Jews. We have Eternity. We have the Torah.

Never Again - The Empty Mantra

Here we are, commemorating Holocaust Memorial Day a week before celebrating Israel's 60th birthday. This is the day where we bring out the Holocaust survivors to listen to their stories of survival and victimhood. This is the day we sit around wondering what went wrong in Europe and mumbling to ourselves "Never Again".

"Never Again"? What shouldn't happen AGAIN?

That there shouldn't be anti-semitism in Europe?

That the world should love the Jews and find somewhere for us to go to live in safety?

It would be funny if there weren't lives at stake. Anti-semitism isn't dead. In fact it's alive and kicking in Europe. Jews are still scared to be outwardly identifiable as Jews. Talking to an English friend she was surprised to find that it isn't normal to be yelled at on the way to synagogue.

The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights has published a report on anti-semitism in Europe. Here's a shocker: Anti-semitism isn't dead in Europe. Jews are being attacked. Do we hear a peep from anyone Jewish or not? No. Should we be surprised? No.

Israel is the country that the world gave us as payment for our destruction. The same world that couldn't manage to find a place for the Jews awaiting the fires of Aushwitz. The same United Nations whose Human Rights Council last month voted 40 out of 47 to elect

Jean Ziegler, the co-founder of the "Muammar Khaddafi Human Rights Prize", as an expert advisor representing the Western world. And for its new Palestine expert, the council chose Richard Falk, who, like Ziegler, accuses the U.S. of being responsible for many of the world's ills and describes Israel in Nazi terminology.

Yes, today it is a safer world for Jews. But wait. There are plenty of people who say that if Israel would have existed during World War II, that the Holocaust would never have happened. Such optimists. I too am an optimist, but I temper that by being a realist.

A couple summers ago Israel engaged in a war with Hezbollah in Lebanon after the kidnappings of her soldiers. Israel ended the war with absolutely nothing to show for her efforts. Our soldiers are still being held. Hezbollah is currently re-arming itself with the "see no evil" attitude of the UN blue helmeted soldiers nearby.

Israel gave away the Gaza strip with the assumption that somebody cared. Instead, rockets are landing in Ashkelon. (Never mind Sderot, they're old news but still receiving rockets.) And since Iran is such a good friend to the Arabs living there - it is a matter of time before those rockets land in Tel Aviv.

Israel is weak. Jews are weak. Why? Jews are afraid to show strength. We'd rather be victims than "aggressors". We're uncomfortable with power. We apologize every time we defend ourselves against people who hate us.

"Never Again" is an empty mantra mumbled by people who feel the need to do something but are impotent. We need to stop apologizing for offenses real and imagined. We need to stand up and say "I am Jewish!" and not apologize quickly afterward for being proud.

The Holocaust was not singular event in Jewish history. Our history is replete with horror. We are targets because we are Jewish. We focus on the Holocaust because it is the most recent destruction in our history of 4000 years.

The question is not "Why did this happen to me?" That is a voice of a victim. We must no longer be Jews with a ghetto mentality. How can I make the gestapo love me? What can I do to make the world love me? How can I assimilate myself into the culture around me enough so that I don't look too Jewish?

We Jews are the makers of history. We have seen it all, done it all. The question that must be asked is "Why am I afraid to say that I am Jewish?" The follow up question for all Jews then becomes "What does it mean to be Jewish?"

We are G-d's People. G-d gave us the Torah as a guidebook and the Land of Israel as a place to live as Jews. No apologies are ever needed.

Take a look at "Never Again."

Tisha B'Av - The Ninth of Av

Yes, I'm back in the States. I walked off the plane last night about a half of an hour before Tisha B'Av was starting. I passed through customs washed my hands and sat along the side of a wall in baggage claim eating a pita and egg with ashes realizing that I was no longer in Israel.

I guess that it is fitting to do Tisha B'Av outside of Israel. Not that Israel is any better off than we are here being that people are partying on Ben Yehuda just down the street from the ruins of the Temple. (Although on a positive note, I had a short conversation about that we souldn't need to fast on Tisha B'Av with a lady who worked in a pharmacy in Geula - where else?) But here in America I can say that I'm not even able to be at the ruins at all.

Why are we still mourning the Temple? Who cares? I didn't really understand these questions until about a week ago when it was clearly defined by Rav Berkowitz. All trouble stems from not having the Temple. This includes all difficulties. People who were at a crossroads in their lives, who needed direction would simply go to a prophet who would tell them what their purpose in life should be. Easy as that. This is the concept of clarity. Closeness to G-d meant clarity. We need to understand how horrible it really is to be unclear - not to know what we are meant to accomplish in this life of ours. We go through each day - going to our jobs, hopefully doing good things but without a clue what the end goal of our life really is.

People are in pain. People need health and money. All of this would be solved with Moshiach.

Mourning is realizing what we are missing. It is hard to mourn when we don't know what we are missing. We may not be able to miss the Temple, but I am sure that we can see the pain of others. I am sure we can see the pain in our own lives. We need to take the opportunity of Tisha B'Av to realize that this pain, in whatever form it takes, can be fixed by the imminent arrival of Moshiach and the Redemption. It is when we identify this pain as the result of the destruction that we can truly mourn for what is lost.

May Moshiach arrive quickly and this day of mourning can be turned into a day of rejoycing with HaShem.

Guarding Our Speech

I'm really on my way to bed, but wanted to share a few ideas before I get there.

I attended the Shmirat HaLashon (Guard Your Speech) gathering that takes place every summer usually during the last nine days of the three week period between the 17th Tamuz (when the walls were breached) and the 9th of Av (when the Temple was destroyed). Since the idea is that the Temple was destroyed due to senseless hatred, we take this time to watch what comes out of our mouths.

This year this gathering seems to have rattled me a bit... in a good way.

Everyone needs to understand, this is a gathering of women. A huge gathering. Last night was the Hebrew speaking gathering and tonight was the English speaking gathering. Imagine - thousands of women (really!) getting together to hear words of Torah - how to use our speech properly. Like was said tonight, it's not only about what not to say.. it's also about what should be said. We can build as well as destroy. It was truly awesome. I hope to type my notes and post them soon.

Binyanei HaUma is the hall where this takes place. It's a rather large hall which can accommodate hundreds, if not a thousand people. When you come in and walk up the stairs there is an open area where tapes and CDs of classes and speeches are being sold for the specific reason of learning how to use our speech properly. Or just how to treat each other properly - the commandment of treating each other like we ourselves would like to be treated.

I started the evening the way I always do. I hung out in this area so I could look at all the people walking through. I love doing this because I always see people I know and get a chance for two minutes to hang out and talk to them. Of course by doing this I missed Rabbi Orlofsky's opening remarks (he was the MC for the evening, brilliant as usual).

I got to my seat and listened. I had some trouble getting into it at first, but finally focused and took notes. Rabbi Orlofsky made an interesting point I believe toward the end of the evening. He said that usually they have this gathering during the nine days, but since Binyanei HaUma was being renovated, they were holding the gathering earlier in the three weeks. Really, he made the point, was not that we were having it early - but it was perfect timing. It was perfect timing due to the fact that we were having a war in north and south of the country. And of course, any Torah is bound to have a positive effect, please G-d.

Also, toward the end of the evening, there was the announcement that anyone who had extra space in their home, or even an extra apartment to please contact Mrs. X since Mrs. X was spearheading trying to place people who were leaving their homes in the north and needed a place to live. Amazing. He gave out her name, telephone number, and address. Mi K'amcha Yisroel, who is like you Israel?!

I was sitting in the nosebleed section, way up top, and after the speeches I wandered slowly out to the stairs. I stopped at the top of the stairs overlooking that main area I mentioned before and to watch all the women walk down the stairs opposite me and through that main area. Hundreds streaming through - with their notes, with new ideas, with new books and tapes and new perspectives.

I then remembered that some years ago I was at Binyanei HaUma for the same gathering, and found myself in the basement of the building (looking for the bathroom). While in the basement I found that they had sectioned off in a way that it was accessable some Roman ruins that they had found. That's how they do things here in Israel since if you dig down, everything is from ancient times.

It seems that the 10th Roman Legion had camped where the hall is today. If I remember the plaque correctly, the 10th Roman Legion was the same group that actually destroyed the Temple. Crazy. The same place where the actual Romans camped that destroyed our Temple is where thousands of Jewish women learn Torah, the very same Torah the Romans tried to destroy three thousand years ago. Where are those Romans? Do they exist? No. But we do. We still do not have our Temple, but we still have Torah, there are still Jews in the world, and there is even a political entity that Jews claim as an independent state (no matter your opinion on the matter). The Romans are long gone, and what have they left us? Buildings made of rock. The Torah is eternal and as long as we Jews are connected to the Torah - we are eternal as well.

What an amazing night. On my way out I stopped at one of the tables that had books on it. It was a two volume set of mussar books based on the Chofetz Chaim's book. I asked how much it was - she said it was free. There was a man who had a sick daughter who sponsored the book in order that it should be learned in her merit that she should be healed quickly and completely, please G-d this should happen. Where in the world do we see such a concept? It's so connected with spirituality it's mind blowing to see someone who has that reality in the front of their mind. Learn Torah so my daughter will be healed?! Wow. Mi K'amcha Yisroel?!

We were reminded that it was because of the women that we were redeemed out of Egypt, and it will be because of the women today that Moshiach will come and redeem us again the final time. Whether male or female, G-d created the world for us. Rabbi Tauber explained that we must use our talents in the service of G-d. They were given to us for a reason, to bring us closer to G-d. The world was created for us, we need to understand how important we are, and understand the amount of power for good was given to us as G-d's creations. We not only have rights, but responsibilities as well. We are responsible for Torah and Mitzvot. We are creations trying to do what our Creator wants from us as best we can.

It is so overwhelming. But we need to remember that Judaism is not an all or nothing religion. We ask questions, we move ahead, and sometimes we move backward. Something I've learned over the last three months of physical therapy - take it slowly, step by step, one foot in front of the other. Sometimes you need crutches, sometimes you can do it yourself. And amazingly somehow, you've gotton to where you were trying to go. The key is however, we need goals. It's impossible to go somewhere when you don't know where you're going. I'm talking to myself here. I'm typing and realizing that I'm really just talking to myself. Thank you G-d for allowing me a clue of what I'm supposed to be doing. I hate to go to bed now, I'm afraid it'll all slip out while I'm sleeping.

Good night all.

Jesus and Homeless People

I was on my way to school this morning and was only a couple stops away from my apartment when I heard a guy groaning about how something hurts him and whining that he was going to be late for work. I look over at him and he starts into a spiel about how he isn't an entertainer, but he's here to tell us about Jesus. We need to take care of each other, and men shouldn't run after men. Women shouldn't run after women, probably said something about needing to be saved etc. etc. etc. As soon as he started I looked at my watch and it was seven minutes after 7am. Way too early for this sort of thing. Thankfully he was only on the train for one or two stops.

I'm waiting for my next train and I hear some woman calling out about Jesus et.al. I checked my watch again, it was 7:25am. Way too early for this. Two Jesus people before 7:30 in the morning, what the heck. Although it did cross my mind to go over and argue with her just because. The feeling passed quickly.

On the first train ride, there was also a homeless fellow asking for money. He's the first of the day. It got me thinking how it's possible that there's no one for this person to go to. How is that possible? Absolutely no relatives? Friends? We need to take a moment and appreciate the people around us, especially family. That's what keeps being pounded into my head when one after another keep asking whether on the subway or on the street.

Pesach/Sefirat HaOmer/Shavuot and Personal Growth

Right now we are celebrating the holiday of freedom, Passover (Pesach). But what are we celebrating freedom from? It is freedom from and freedom to do something else. It is freedom from slavery as well as freedom to become the Jewish People.

Pesach is an opportunity to free ourselves. Originally it was the time where G-d freed us from Egyptian slavery, which included both physical and spiritual bondage. At a time in history where we as people and as Jews are physically a free people, how are we supposed to understand the idea written in the Haggadah (the book read at the Passover Seder) that we too are supposed to see ourselves as having left Egypt?

It is difficult to put ourselves in a mindset that understands that we are enslaved. We do not have to be physically enslaved to try to wrap our heads around the concept. We are slaves to our desires. Our desires might be the need to be liked by others. It may include the need to buy more material things to make us happy. These are things that restrict us from doing what is necessary to do in our lives, to allow ourselves to grow as Jews.

We may decide that we would like to attempt a mitzvah that we have not tried before, but because it may look strange to other people, we decide not to bother. This may include keeping kosher, lighting Shabbat candles, or not going out on a Friday night. It all comes down to the limitations (not even physical ones) that we place on ourselves, and the limitations we allow others to place on us. We are afraid of what others will think of us. This is slavery.

We must remember that the goal of the Exodus from Egypt was that G-d was redeeming us to be His People. This was not just a group of slaves “escaping” from Egypt. This was an incredibly special event, an event which defines the Jewish People. This is the beginning of the beginning of Jewish history.

“The Haggadah quotes two verses describing the redemption; one in the singular, one in the plural. There are two aspects of redemption: the redemption of the Jewish People as a whole; and the particular redemption of each individual.

Both elements are essential. Each person must experience a personal exodus from his boundaries and limitations. However, beyond this individual experience, he must await the ultimate redemption of the entire people. Indeed, it is our faith in that redemption that grants each of us the potential to leave our individual exiles” -- Rabbi Yehudah Arieh Leib of Gur

[taken from the The Chassidic Haggadah]

Unfortunately, most afternoon Hebrew schools end without having the time to talk about Sefirat HaOmer or Shavuot. Sefirat HaOmer is the 49 day period where we are counting the days until Shavuot, the time when we received the Torah from G-d at Mount Sinai on the 50th day. The day that the 12 Tribes that made up the Jews, became the Jewish People, G-d’s representatives on Earth.

This period of time, Sefirat HaOmer, is a time of personal growth. This is the time where we can make the most impact on our personal characters. The Jews leaving Egypt were at a very low spiritual level and were redeemed based on the merits of the four matriarchs: Sarah, Rivka (Rebecca), Rachel and Leah, and in the merit of the Jewish women of Egypt. G-d needed to give these newly freed slaves time to become free in their minds and to work to bring themselves to a high enough spiritual level to receive the Torah.

The same way we must see ourselves as leaving Egypt, we also need to see ourselves as receiving the Torah at Mount Sinai. We need to create ourselves anew as individual Jews and as a nation.

Sefirat HaOmer is an opportunity for no matter what we have been doing all year spiritually, we have a period in time to rededicate ourselves to G-d, the Torah and to our mission as Jews. In general, over the course of the year we are striving to make ourselves better people, however it is easy to get discouraged and annoyed for not making progress. Sefirat HaOmer is a limited time where we can make a concerted effort to break new ground.

Shavuot, the holiday celebrating G-d giving us the Torah, is the culmination of this work. This is the day we have been waiting for. We too were standing at Mount Sinai receiving the Torah (albeit in spiritual form) becoming the Jewish Nation. Shavuot is again the day we will stand at Mount Sinai in order to receive the Torah again for the first time. This is a proud moment. A moment that defines us as individuals and as a nation. Like the Torah says, we stood at the foot of the mountain like one man with one heart. Unified by becoming G-d’s people. We were no longer 12 disparate tribes, but one nation.

Some mark the night of Shavuot by staying up all night learning Torah. But no matter how you mark this day, it is the day that we began looking forward to on Pesach, seven weeks before. This is a period of growth. Let us take advantage of it and move back toward being one man with one heart.

Chazak. Be strong.

Chag Sameach. Have a good Holiday!

Next Year in Jerusalem!

Vayikra: Parshat Shemini

There are two major issues which take place in this parsha. The first is the death of Aaron’s two oldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. The second is the discussion about kosher animals.

The first topic is the one of the death of Aaron’s sons. This is a tough one to think about. Aaron is not only Moses’ brother, but was also the High Priest. His sons were also priests who worked in the Tabernacle. They had made an unauthorized offering, which G-d through Moses had asked them not to. But how can we condemn them for trying to go over and above what was expected of them?

Aish HaTorah brings an interesting story to try to help us understand.

What is interesting is that the kosher discussion follows. This is where we gets the rules which explain the basic outline of what we are looking for in kosher animals. We learn that a kosher animal has split hooves and chews its cud. Fish need fins and scales. Seafood is not kosher. We also know that we do not birds that are carnivorous are not kosher either.

We believe that the character of what we eat has a direct impact on our character. We don’t eat predatory birds. We don’t want to be predatory types of people, taking advantage of others. We also kill the animals we eat in a “kosher” way as well in the most humane way possible.

These are only a couple examples of why we eat kosher. There are some who suggest that we no longer need to keep kosher since they are only ancient rules to staying healthy. In ancient times people did not eat pig because of trichinosis, but nowadays we no longer have to worry about that and therefore eating pig products isn’t a problem.

While the logic is interesting, the premise of the idea in wrong. We don’t keep kosher because it’s healthy. While certainly there are side benefits, both spiritual and physical, these are not the reasons we keep kosher. We keep kosher because G-d instructs us to. G-d’s giving us an opportunity to bring spirituality to the physical. Our job in the world as Jews is one of bringing G-dliness into the world around us. Here we have instructions of how to go about doing it.

Where Nadav and Avihu made their mistake in trying to decide what they thought would bring spirituality into the world by going beyond what G-d wanted, we can learn from their error. We know what G-d wants since it’s written there. It’s not up to us to decide what G-d wants, and feel that it’s out of date in our modern day. Perhaps this is why the story of Aaron’s sons is followed by the rules of kosher. Eating kosher is an everyday example of us being able to carry out something that G-d wants.

It all comes down to integrating Judaism into our lives. How do we do that? We check into each week’s parsha to find out what we can learn. It’s not only about the learning, but about the doing. All the best. Shabbat Shalom.