Purim -- Not Politics!

I just finished the book Let My Nation Live, by Yosef Deutsch about the Purim story and miracle. Besides being an excellent book, it does send a reminder about how everything works...even politics.

Imagine being an ordinary Jew at the time, going along your business. You attend a party at King Achashverosh's palace, a short time later it's found that the second in command to the king is out to destroy the Jewish People in all the land. Next you know the queen is Jewish, we fast and pray for three days, and somehow through a strange turn of events -- the Jewish People are saved.

You could say, "Wow, isn't it amazing how politics works. That Jewish lobby must be pretty strong, I'll make sure to support them the next time they call me for a donation."

However you would be missing the point. G-d is always in the background orchestrating the events...even if we don't see His hand clearly. Purim is an example of how G-d is always there, even in politics. While for some reason we see politics as outside the realm of G-d's involvement, this is totally 180 degrees from the truth. Politics is one the ways that G-d gets our attention.

With all the craziness in the world, from the tznunami of southeast Asia, to the persecution of Jews in Europe and around the world, to the move toward removing Jews from their homes in Israel, we must pay attention to the signs that are right in front of our eyes.

This is not to say that we should not be involved in politics. Absolutely not. We must do what we can to make a difference through natural means, however...

We must realize that politics are run by G-d. When we see events that don't make sense, we must take a minute and think about what we can learn from it. Purim is an amazing time. This is the time when the Jewish People re-accepted the Torah with a full heart.

It is time for us to do the same. I suggest that since Adar is upon us, and Purim is on its way, we need to look to the teachings of Esther and Mordechai to show us the right path. We need not be afraid of the wicked...G-d is there for us. It is up to us to show G-d that we trust in Him, and we will follow His Torah.

Let's start by saying the first line of the Shema every night before going to bed, declaring that G-d is One, and there is nothing else.

Shema Yisroel, Ado-nai Elo-heinu, Ado-nai Echad.

Listen Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is One.

We can also light Shabbat candles at the right time on Friday nights. By acknowledging Shabbat, we make clear that G-d created the world, continues to create the world, and is involved in each of our lives. Check your siddur for the instructions and prayer.

If you are already doing these two mitzvot written above, find something to involve G-d in your everyday life. G-d has to be One with you. G-d is not only for the home, G-d is for your business dealings as well as studying Torah.

On a final note, the Jewish People stood at Mount Sinai and accepted the Torah like one man with one heart. We MUST treat every Jew with respect, no matter who they are, what denomination they belong to, whether we agree with their politics. We must show love to one another, this is the only way.

Even if you are not religious, or even if you are...it is not about labels. It is about reality. Do one mitzvah. Just one mitzvah, it will make a huge difference in the world. The world does not run on politics (or money), it runs by mitzvot.

Just remember Purim -- not politics.

Parshat Trumah

This parsha speaks about the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. This was the moveable sanctuary that housed the ark and within the ark, the Tablets that we received at Mount Sinai. This portable Mishkan would later be replaced by King Solomon with the Temple in Jerusalem.

Why did we need this Mishkan? Did the Jews wandering the desert need something else to bring with them on the way?

An explanation for why we need the Mishkan and later the Temple is important to think about, even today. It is important for us to understand that it is not because G-d needs a home on Earth or that we can confine G-d to one place. Or, G-d forbid, that He assumes physical shape. We know that G-d is everywhere and is involved in everything from the large events to helping us pass our exams.

When we speak about making a dwelling place for G-d it is much more than needing a hammer and some nails. The beginning of the parsha speaks about how the Jewish People contributed to the creation of the Mishkan, and were excited to do so. Up until this point in time, G-d had been doing everything for us without us being able to repay in any small way, even in appreciation. Spirituality had been given to us. We received the Ten Commandment and the Torah a couple chapters back and we’d been appointed G-d’s representatives in the world. Now it was time for us to work and incorporate our spirituality. We wanted to contribute to this Mishkan as showing that incorporation of G-dliness into our everyday lives. The giving of the Torah was a one time event. The Mishkan was to be taken with us every day, where ever we would travel.

How does this have an impact on our lives today?

There’s an interesting verse 25:8, “And they shall make Me (G-d) a sanctuary and I will dwell within them.”

This does not make sense. It should say, ‘They will make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell within it.’

This is the point. G-d does not need a physical house. This is the message for today. We are responsible to bring G-dliness into ourselves and our surroundings. We have to make ourselves holy by making ourselves into a Mishkan, and bringing holiness where ever we go. Holiness is not confined to the synagogue, or a place of worship, or relegated to our rabbis. It should be something that becomes part of our innate being as ordinary Jews in our every day actions.

Shemot/Exodus: Parshat Va'eira

I've decided to post my parsha sheets. None of the ideas here are original, I try to pull them from different sources and find practical lessons. I call this practical Judaism. Feel free to respond and post new ideas. Good Shabbos to all.

Since this parsha deals with the plagues, there is a wonderful book called: Let My Nation Go, by Yosef Deutsch, published by Artscroll. This is a novel written based off all the sources of the exodus from Egypt. It’s a great book, very readable, interesting and informational. Deutsch wrote two other books, Let My Nation Serve Me, picks up after the exodus and talks about the Jewish People going to Mt. Sinai to receive the Torah. The other is: Let My Nation Live, which is the Purim story. I recommend all of these.

All right, back to the parsha. There’s certainly what to learn here. This parsha includes the first seven plagues that G-d visited on Egypt.

We notice that Aaron, Moses’s brother was the one who brought certain plagues down on the Egyptians and not Moses. Aaron changed the Nile waters into blood, and brought the frogs from the river as well. Why didn’t Moshe do these himself? Because of the concept of Hakarat Hatov, recognizing the good that is done for you. According to Rashi, Moshe didn’t smite the river himself “because the river protected Moshe when he was cast into it” (7:19).

The river is an inanimate object, who cares? The point that can be learned here is that we need to sensitize ourselves to recognizing the good. If Moshe has Hakarat Hatov for an inanimate object, how much more so do we need to recognize the good done for us by people and by G-d. By recognizing the good and being grateful, it also trains us to be looking for good in our lives and gives us a more positive outlook in general.

We also notice that the magicians are able to replicate some of the miracles and plagues that Moses and Aaron do (such as making the rod into a snake, water into blood etc.). G-d was giving Pharoh a chance to look past coincidence in order to recognize Him. I was thinking that we can always attribute good things (bad too) to nature or coincidence. But in actuality we also need to look past the obvious and look for G-d’s involvement in our everyday lives.

There is a pattern to Pharoh’s madness, and his refusals to let the Jews leave. According to the Ohr HaChaim, the determining factor in his responses was whether he thought that his life was in danger. If he felt his life was in danger, he would offer to submit to G-d and other times he would not. [Just a comment here, many times we wait until we have our backs against a wall before we ask for help --from G-d or people. Why do we wait?]

1 - Blood - The plague was not life threatening because the Egyptians could buy water from the Jews or find their own water by digging new wells.

2 - Frogs - In addition to the unbearable annoyance of the around the clock croaking, the frogs actually crept into the innards of the Egyptians and threatened their lives.

3 - Lice - Although Pharoh’s magicians finally conceded that the plague could only have been brought by G-d, Pharoh wouldn’t budge, because the plague was uncomfortable but not dangerous.

4 - Wild Beasts - Anyone would have feared for his life when surrounded by beasts of the wild. Pharoh for the first time promised to capitulate to all of Moses’ demands.

5 - Epidemic - Only animals died, not people.

6 - Boils - Again, the plague caused extreme discomfort, but killed no one. Furthermore, as implied by 9:11, which does not mention Pharoh, it may be that it afflicted only his people but not him.

7 - Hail - The loud thunder and flames from heaven terrified everyone, making them fear they would suffer the same total destruction as Sodom had in Abraham’s time.

8 - Locusts - Pharoh said explicitly - remove them from me (10:17).

9 - Darkness - Pharoh did not ask Moses to pray on his behalf. During the first three days of the plague, the Egyptians could have used lanterns; thereafter, they could not move. As soon as the plague ended, he offered to let the people go, but attached an unacceptable condition.

10 - Plague of the Firstborn - Pharoh’s resistance broke down completely, for he was also a firstborn.

[The Artscroll Stone Edition of the Torah, p. 329]

Freedom

For the last few weeks, Jews across the world have been preparing for a big event. This event has been a centerpiece to our existence for the last 2000 years. We are getting ready to become a free nation.

This 8 day Jewish holiday of Passover is rapidly arriving. We begin the first night of Passover this coming Monday night, reviewing the Exodus story when we were taken out of Egypt by G-d.

This event is about freedom. However, there is a second part to this freedom. It isn’t only about freedom from slavery, or even freedom to do whatever you want. Fifty days after G-d took us out of Egypt, he brought us to Mount Sinai where he gave us the Torah, the rule book of life. We were now free to follow G-d’s rules.

The story of the Exodus is not just a historical story. We are supposed to see ourselves as having been taken out of slavery. We need to look and find something in this event that we can learn for our own personal lives for today.

Freedom does not only refer to physical freedom; such as being taken out of slavery. We can see freedom in other ways. It can also be freedom from emotional baggage. It can be freedom from bad habits. Freedom is a concept that can be applied to each person in different ways.

While freedom is an important concept, Passover is followed by the giving of the Torah. G-d did not give us absolute freedom to do whatever we choose. Freedom without rules to guide us leads to chaos. So when we come to analyze how we can apply freedom to our lives, we need to find a way to not just free ourselves of something, but to replace that empty space with something better.

An example of freedom is getting rid of a bad habit. Let’s say I have the bad habit of swearing and using my words to hurt others. We know that the power of speech is fantastic. So while words can be used to destroy, they can also be used to build. At the same time I am getting rid of my negative speech, I’ll be working on my positive speech; giving complements, and helping others.

Another example of freedom is freedom from materialism. The idea that a person is defined by the car they drive and home they live in. That whoever dies with the most toys win. Money is not inherently bad. Just as with the power of speech, money can be used in both negative and positive ways. It is for us to choose freedom from the race for the most “stuff”, and find ways to use our money to help others.

Passover is not about absolute freedom without restriction. Absolute freedom will end up in destruction. What it is about is the freedom to become a better person. It is about the freedom to create good relationships between neighbors. It is about the freedom to build others self esteem. Free yourself from the limitations you have set on yourself.

Happy Passover.

Yom Kippur

First of all, I wish everyone a Happy, Healthy New Year with only good things for the Jewish People. Second, I wish everyone a meaningful and easy fast for Yom Kippur.

Yom Kippur is known as the day of Atonement, where we try to figure out what we've done wrong and do right for the next year. It is clear from this last weeks Torah portion Haazinu that if we aggravate G-d with false gods, he will aggravate us with a non-people. We see this happening today, especially recently this past Saturday in Haifa with 19 murders. 3 children are part of that total. One family, three generations were effected. It is time to Return to G-d and the Torah. It's time to do Tshuva (return). Pick one mitzvah for the year. Do it consistantly. The only way to have Moshiach come and stop the insanity is for us to do our bit.

These non-existant Arabs calling themselves "Palestinians" are only a wake up call from G-d. Nothing more. They only have as much power as we give them by not doing what G-d wants us to do. We need to be aware of what we do and what we have to improve on. Start this Yom Kippur.

May we be all signed in the Book of Life.

Afraid of our Thoughts

We have all been taught to take charge, to make the most of every moment, work hard, and of course play hard. But have any of us been taught how to stop?

4000 years ago Jews brought the concept of a “day of rest” into the world. A novel idea. In todays world can anyone imagine not having the weekend off? While we may have those couple days at the end of the week we generally do not spend it resting. There is tons to do. Most of the time is spent doing laundry, paying bills, going shopping, going bowling, visiting friends, doing homework (just a thought), partying, sleeping, watching a movie and cleaning your bedroom. Anything forgotten?

As a result of running, we have spent all our time focusing on what’s ahead. We focus on everything else except for what the point of what having time off is. We need to stop and reevaluate ourselves and our lives. How can we accomplish this when we are constantly distracting ourselves with the above activities?

We do not know how to be alone with our thoughts. In the car, as soon as the key is in the ignition - the radio is blasting. We walk into our homes - the television is on for background noise while we putter around doing other things. We aren’t even sitting and watching what is on. We just want the noise. We cannot stand to be alone with our thoughts. Why?

Our thoughts bring to the front of our minds everything we do not want to think about. Our insecurities, our fears, and unresolved disagreements come to the fore. Instead of dealing with any of these issues we block them out with any kind of distraction we can find.

We are rats on a wheel - running without thinking. We grow up, going from elementary and middle school to high school, to the university, to marriage, to kids, to...fill in the blank. We don’t stop running.

What is the solution to all of this? Take a time out. Turn off the walkman and take a stroll around the neighborhood for an hour a week. Be alone with yourself and your thoughts. Get in your car and do not turn on the radio. Do not turn on the television when you get home. Let your thoughts flow.

Who are you? Where do you want to be in five years? Two years? Next week? What kind of person are you now and do you want to stay the way you are? Do you give charity? Do you spend enough time with your children? Sit on a bench and watch the people go by. Watch how kids react to the lions, tigers and bears (oh my!). They are mesmerized by the different animals.

Evaluate your strengths and weaknesses. See what good you can do for another person. What good you can contribute to your community. Find something that needs to be fixed and fix it. Learn something new.

Stop and think for a moment. Are we afraid of our thoughts? We must do what is done with any other fear. Deal with it. Resolve to be a better person, moment by moment, day by day.

It is time to stop and get off the treadmill of life.

Working Together to be Great

3300 years ago G-d decided to civilize the world that He had created, and gave the Torah to the Jews who He had just taken out of Egypt. This past weekend Jews around the world celebrated this holiday called Shavuot. Two major events happened that day way back then. The first as we know was the giving of the Torah, aka the Five Books of Moses, to the Jews. Second is the event of the Jews as individuals becoming a nation.

On the mountain of Sinai that day G-d put on an amazing sound and light show, surpassing any pyrotechnic party put on today and gave the Jews the Torah. There was no intermediary. G-d talked to all the people all at once and gave us the rules how to live a good life. We know ten of these rules from the famous 10 Commandments movie. What you will notice if you take a look at them is that the first five have to do with your relationship with G-d. I am the One who took you out of Egypt to be your G-d, don’t make idols and have false gods, don’t use G-ds name in vain, and keep the Sabbath holy. These are some of the rules to having a relationship with G-d Almighty (not Bruce).

If you look at numbers six to ten on those Commandments you see that they have to do with your relationship to your fellow wo/man. Honor your parents, don’t murder, don’t commit adultery, don’t steal, don’t be a false witness, and don’t be be jealous of what your neighbors got. The second half of the Commandments are just as important as the first half. You cannot be a complete person if you only keep the first half of the Commandments dealing with you and G-d and do not treat other people well. On that same note, you cannot be a complete person if you keep G-d out of your life.

The second main event of that day was that the Jews became a Nation. Before that the Jews been individuals with the same belief system, but at this point G-d formalized the relationship and created the Jewish People. The Torah is what binds the Jewish People whether the Jew is observant, or not observant, white, black, or from any part of the world.

Now that we have spent so much time on the Jews receiving the Torah and becoming a nation, there are a couple more points to be made relating to the receiving of the Torah. The first is that Judaism does not believe that a person needs to be Jewish to go to Heaven. All a person needs to do is follow 7 rules called the 7 Commandments of the Sons of Noah, since everyone is a descendent of Noah. They are: don’t murder, don’t steal, don’t worship false gods, don’t be sexually immoral, don’t eat a limb of an animal before it is killed, don’t curse G-d and set up a system of justice.

So now that it is 3300 years later what can be learned from all of this? There are two main points to keep in mind. The first is to be a complete person we need to include G-d in our lives and be involved in making other peoples lives better. It cannot be one or the other.

The second point comes from the idea that a person on their own can do great things. When G-d took the Jews out of Egypt and made them a nation, He was saying that it was more important to work together as a group. As a group and working together even greater things can be accomplished.

Connect yourself with a group with a goal worth reaching. Reach farther than you could have as an individual. Be great.