Jewish pride (National Post, 23 Dec 2009, Page A21)

A letter to the editor I wrote about Chanukah got published!

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Jewish pride

National Post
23 Dec 2009

Re: Jew Versus Jew, James Ponet, Dec. 18. James Ponet has deemed it his duty to tell us the dirty little secret that everyone (including religious Jews) already knows about — that the history of Hanukkah includes a Jewish civil war. What possibly could...read more...

Tech Tags: National Post newspaper LETTERS

Chanukah 5770!

Unbelievably we are arriving at Chanukah! I feel like we just celebrated Rosh HaShanah and then ... here we are.

Chanukah is not a Jewish alternative to Christmas - although some may think so around about this time in the malls. In fact, the history of Chanukah took place before Christianity existed at all.

Our narrative begins in 336 BCE - when Alexander the Great conquers the known world at the time. Alexander dies in 323 BCE, leaving his kingdom to his generals to fight it out amongst themselves. The kingdom gets split into parts - the Seleucids Greeks - located in the Syrian area of the empire end up in control of Israel. In 168 BCE, Antiochus IV begins sending out his decrees against the Jewish religion.

The Hasmonean Revolt lasted from 167-165 BCE (when the Maccabees recaptured the Temple from the Greeks) and from then until 140 to drive the rest of the Greeks out of Israel.

Antiochus wasn't out to destroy the Jews physically - to wipe us out like Hitler - but rather to destroy us spiritually. There were three specific decrees:
1. Banned Shabbat
2. Banned Rosh Chodesh/Beginning of the Jewish month
3. Banned Brit Milah/Circumcision

Banned Shabbat
Shabbat is a very special day. Since it does come once a week, people have a tendency to take it for granted. The question is - why is the Shabbat all that important to the Jewish People? To continue that question, why would Antiochus think that this was an important way to destroy us?

What is Shabbat? It's the seventh day of the week. The day, we know, that after six days of creation, that G-d "rested" and therefore we rest. On Friday night we make kiddush over wine. The kiddush includes these words...

You are blessed, Lord our G-d, the sovereign of the world, who made us holy with His commandments and favored us, and gave us His holy Shabbat, in love and favor, to be our heritage, as a reminder of the Creation. It is the foremost day of the holy festivals marking the exodus from Egypt...

It's not only the Creation we are reminded of, but also the Exodus itself. The Exodus is a turning point in Jewish history. We go down to Egypt as a tribe of 70 souls and are taken out by G-d as a nation.

Creation included everybody - all nations, everywhere. The Exodus was specific to the Jewish People. During the kiddush on Friday night we are saying that G-d takes a personal interest in us as a people - and in our everyday ordinary lives. G-d didn't just create the world and walk away, rather, G-d cares about each and every one of us. By banning the celebration of Shabbat - the Greeks were saying the exact opposite... G-d is impersonal and cannot be accessed by ordinary people. This is not Judaism. We do not need a middle-man to reach G-d.

Banned Rosh Chodesh/Beginning of the Jewish month
In today's world this would not have been a big deal. Knowing when the beginning of the Jewish month falls requires us to check our calendars and move on with our day. However, at the time of Chanukah, this was a big deal. The entire procedure of announcing the new moon (and the new month with it) required time and effort.

While all this is true, we must understand why the banning of Rosh Chodesh is important. If you don't know when the beginning of the month is - you won't know when the holidays fall. You won't know when to celebrate any of them whether it's Rosh HaShanah, Pesach, Sukkot or Shavuot, all holidays established in the Torah. Once Rosh Chodesh is eliminated, those holidays are soon to follow.

Banned Brit Milah/Circumcision
The Brit Milah symbolizes the direct connection between the Jewish People and G-d. By not allowing us to perform the brit milah the Greeks were effectively destroying the physical mark that identifies us as Jews.

All of these decrees were specifically designed to destroy our spiritual lives as Jews. By examining these decrees one by one, we can see how the Greeks were attempting to eliminate our connection to our heritage and to our G-d. They didn't want to to destroy us physically - like in Purim - but rather to make us like everyone else. We shouldn't be any different than our neighbors.

We celebrate two miracles on Chanukah.
* The first is the military victory - the few Jews against the many Greeks.
* The second is the miracle of the oil. The small flask of pure oil lasted eight days - long enough to make more pure oil for the Temple Menorah.

The Military Victory-
We have to remember that the Jews of that day were not warriors, they were farmers or merchants. The Greeks were an occupying force in the land - in other words soldiers. Mattityahu, father of Judah Maccabee, began the revolt only when the spiritual life of the Jewish People was in danger, not before. The revolt was not about political freedom - but about our spiritual lives.

The Oil-
When we light candles/oil - we think about the light of the Torah. The Torah is compared to a candle's light. While we are used to flipping a light switch to get our light these days - imagine a dark room with one candle. That one candle is enough to dispel a lot of darkness all on it's own. The Torah is a candle that we can illuminate the world and our own lives with.

During this time of Chanukah we should examine our own lives with respect to what the Maccabees were fighting against. What can we do to integrate our Judaism into our everyday lives? Ask yourself these questions:
* Do I light Shabbat candles Friday night?
* Do I know when the Jewish holidays are?
* How can I celebrate those holiday?
* Do I believe that G-d cares about me?
* How can I learn more about my heritage?

The world is many times a dark place. Each of us can be a Maccabee - bringing the light of the Torah into our lives. It is not an all or nothing process. Each new Jewish idea you learn, every Shabbat candle you light, every holiday you begin celebrating - brings another candle into a dark world and more light into your own life.

Happy Chanukah!

The How
Chanukah this year begins this coming Friday night (December 11th). We light the first candle of Chanukah before lighting our Shabbat candles. This is because once we light Shabbat candles - it is officially Shabbat and no more work can be done - which includes lighting even our Chanukah candles. [To find out more about the 'how' and the 'why' of Shabbat candles - click here.]

We continue lighting Chanukah candles until the last night - which is also a Friday night - December 18th.

We set up our candles from right to left, but always light the new candle first - which means lighting from left to right.

You can find the find the brachot/blessings in a siddur/prayer book - but here they are in English.

1. Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments, and commanded us to kindle the Chanukah light.

2. Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who performed miracles for our forefathers in those days, at this time.

The next blessing is only recited on the first night or on the first occasion that a person lights a menorah during the course of Chanukah - The Sheh'Hechiyanu Blessing.
3. Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this occasion.

For more information - including coloring pages for your kids - take a look here.

Breisheet/Genesis: Chayei Sarah - Using our Time Wisely

Sarah's lifetime was one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years... - Breisheet Chapter 23:1

This parsha begins with Sarah's death. As we see from the quote from the Torah - her life is broken into parts. There's a focus here on time.

We can divide our own lives into parts as well. Growing up, being a teenager, young adult, midlife and our older years. How have we been using our time?

We have two jobs in this world:
* To create yourself in the image of G-d.
* To make this world a dwelling place for G-d.

Everything we do should be focused on these goals. Every moment, day, week, month and year - should be examined to see if we've grown in learning Torah, doing mitzvot, helping our neighbors, and creating a world G-d would be proud to share with us.

We've all heard the expression - "killing time". Time is a precious gift, we don't know how much of it we've been allotted in this world. Why would we waste the time that we've been given?

If you have "free" moment - what are you going to do with it? Turn on the television or read a Jewish book? Give a dollar to tzedukah (charity) or buy a candy bar? Choices, big and small, face us every day - what are we going to choose?

Sarah used her time - every moment - focused on these two goals. She was a true partner with G-d. We see from her life that she knew what her job was here on earth. She knew that time matters - that we only get so much of it.

Take a moment to look at the way you spend your time during the day. Is most of it spent in front of the television? Listening to the radio? How much of it is dedicated to being a better Jew? Doing mitzvot? Learning new things?

Introduce 5 uninterrupted minutes into your day (every day) reading something Jewish that you're interested in. Not more - not less. You can even set a timer. Begin today - you will quickly see what a difference it will make.

Breisheet/Genesis: Parshat Vayeira

This is a great parsha for many different reasons. This is the parsha with the three angels, when Sarah was promised she would have Isaac, the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his salty wife, Lot and his daughters, the travels of Avraham and Sarah, the birth of Isaac, the sending away of Hagar and Ishmael and the binding of Isaac.

There is so much here to choose from.

I want to start with a side note: We start this chapter with G-d visiting Avraham. Everything is in the Torah for a reason. This is a one liner. "Hashem appeared to Avraham" - why was G-d appearing (not literally, G-d doesn't have a physical form) to Avraham? Because He was visiting the sick. This is important since if G-d takes the time out of His schedule to visit the sick, there's no doubt that we too must take time to visit the sick as well.

In Chapter 18:2-7 Three angels were sent to visit Avraham after his circumcision. The moment Avraham saw what he thought were men, he ran to greet them. This is a fellow who only three days earlier had a circumcision! Then Avraham hastened to Sarah and asked her to make cakes. Then he ran to prepare a calf to eat. All of these are hurried actions to feed the guests. Run, run, run.

What we can learn from this is that we should not let a mitzvah get cold. In the words of the Sages, "When a mitzvah comes into your hand, do not let it pass."

There are so many opportunities that pass our way that we don't take advantage of. We figure that we'll catch the chance when it comes by our way again. Whether it's keeping kosher or Shabbat, or being friendly to a brother or sister, greeting another with a smiling face, going to a Torah class, visiting someone who isn't feeling well, feeding guests, or just cleaning after ourselves so someone else doesn't have to, we cannot let these opportunities pass us by.

Rabbi Hillel said, "Do not say, 'When I have free time, I will study' - since you may never have free time." (Pirkei Avos/Ethics of the Fathers 2:4)

This is a very true statement. Free time always seems to get swallowed up by all sorts of mundane activities. We need to take the time to grab that mitzvah walking by.

[Some information is taken from Don't Look Down by Rabbi Michael Haber]

Breisheet/Genesis: Parshat Lech Lecha

G-d has told Avram and Sarai (their names haven't been changed yet) to travel to the land of Canaan. The Torah then gives us the details of their journey into the land of Canaan. Avram goes to Schem (today Nablus). G-d then promises to Avram that his descendants will be given the land. Avram builds his alter to G-d then moves on to pitch his tent between Beit-El and Ai. He then goes down to Egypt with Sarai because of a famine in the land.

If every letter and word in the Torah is significant, why does G-d bother to go through a whole detailed description of where Avram, Sarai and their group traveled? Why is this information we need to know?

The Ramban states a principle that we are supposed to learn from our patriarchs and matriarchs. This is a concept called: Ma'aseh Avos, Siman L'Banim - The actions of the fathers are a sign to the children. We learn from Avram and Sarai's actions that they were preparing for the future of the Jewish People.

Avram stopped in Schem to pray for the future battle between Jacob's sons and Schem (the leader of that city)... Avram also stopped to camp in Ai, one of the first cities to be conquered by Joshua. And of course we know all about the Children of Israel enslaved in Egypt.

What can we learn from this principle of Ma'aseh Avos, Siman L'Banim? We can see this when parenting children. Children watch everything that their parents do and say.

We have to ask:
* How is conflict resolved in the home? Is it through quiet discussion or yelling and screaming?
* Do both parents speak with the same voice? Do the parents override each others opinion when a child asks something of them?
* Are both parents expressing the same values to their children?
* Are the parents consistent with the rules of the house? Consistent with reward and punishment?
* How is Judaism being portrayed in the house? Is it an annoyance or something to be enjoyed?

All of these things are very important to keep in mind. Parents have been entrusted with young minds to guide and mold in the right way. Keep away from - do as I say, not as I do. Children watch and emulate even the smallest action. Even what parents may consider insignificant. What are your actions that are signs for your children?

Breisheet/Genesis: Parshat Noach

There are two different ways to look at the quote "Noah was a righteous man, perfect in his generation". The first according to Rashi (a commentator from the Middle Ages), Noah was only righteous in comparison to his corrupt generation. The other perspective is that Noah was righteous in spite of his generation and how much more righteous he could have been if he would have been born into a righteous generation.

Keeping this point in mind, if Noah would have been a neighbor to Abraham (who was born 10 generations later), how much more Noah could have learned from even just observing Abraham's actions. Each and every word that a tzaddik (a Torah scholar) says and the actions they take is a reflection of the Torah perspective of the world.

What we learn from this is the major importance of surrounding yourself with people you can learn from and and putting yourself in situations that are conducive to Torah learning, personal growth and refining your character. To sculpt yourself into the person G-d wants you to become.

The first verse in the book of Tehillim (Psalms) gives clear direction about who not to associate yourself with.

Happy is the man who has not walked in the counsel of the wicked, nor stood in the path of sinners, nor sat in the company of scoffers.

This one verse covers all the possible variables: don't walk with them, don't stand with them, and don't sit with them. Any association with them will take you away from the right path.

In Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers) 2:6, Hillel tells us that "...in a place where there are no leaders, strive to be a leader." What we can see is that if the proper way is not being followed, if there is no real Jewish leadership, it is up to each individual to stand up and be the one to set the example. This is what Noah did. While he did not go out and convince the people to change their ways (which is something that Abraham tried to do), he perhaps tried to lead by example.

This is a lesson we can all learn from. To do the right thing even if in the most extreme example, the entire generation has been completely corrupted to the core. Not a simple thing.

G-d the Giant Gum Ball Machine

All of us remember being kids begging our parents for a quarter to feed the gum ball machine. You know the machine. You slide the quarter into the slot, turn the crank (it was hard work), lift the silver cover... and lo and behold there was a colorful gum ball sitting there waiting for you.

It was amazing how the whole thing worked. A quarter went into the slot, a little bit of effort was expended, and a gum ball came out. We have this same idea of how G-d works. To us, G-d is a gum ball machine. Really.

We are generally good people. We give tzedukah/charity, we help our neighbors and try to do good deeds when we see an opportunity. But how many of us consciously or unconsciously do more of these acts thinking that we're going to be repaid in some sense by G-d? If I do this for You, what will You do for me? This is our relationship with G-d.

Is this how it really works? Is G-d really just the Giant Gum Machine in the sky?

Considering most of us haven't thought about G-d in a serious and mature way in years, we probably do think of G-d in this manner. And those of us who do think about G-d on a more than on an occasional moment many times do think of G-d as a someone who can give us stuff.

But what is our relationship to G-d supposed to be? The answer can be found in the Avinu Malkeinu, Our Father, Our King prayer chanted from Rosh HaShanah through Yom Kippur.

We relate to G-d in two ways.
* First and foremost, as our Father.
* Second, as our King.

There's a concept in Judaism regarding doing mitzvot (commandments). Mitoch sheh-lo ba lishma, ba lishma... a mitzvah that isn't performed with the right intention will eventually come to be performed with the right intention.

To go back to our topic. Is it okay to look at G-d as the Great Gumball Giver? Yes, as long as you keep in mind the long term plan... to do the mitzvot for their own sake - to do it for G-d.

In the beginning of the Torah, we encounter the narrative of the snake being punished for leading Adam and Eve astray. What were the snake's punishments?

...upon your belly shall you go, and dust shall you eat all the day sof your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring. He will pound your head, and you will bite his heel. (Genesis 3:14-15)

What kind of punishment is this? We can understand the eternal dislike of snakes by people. However, the part that seems to be out of place is the eating dust. Not that I'd like to eat dust the rest of my life... but this does give the snake a certain amount of freedom. There's dust everywhere in this world - the snake will never go hungry. How is this a punishment?

The lack of G-d in the snake's life is the punishment. The snake has food where ever it goes, it has no reason to have a relationship of any sort with G-d. G-d has cut it out of His life (so to speak). This is the ultimate punishment.

G-d wants a relationship with each and every one of us. He wants us to be in touch the same way our parents want us to be in touch. One of the saddest complaints is the one where an elderly person wonders why they never see their children. Many of our Jewish jokes center around these sad complaints. Parents want a relationship with their children. And children should want a relationship with their parents.

This is where the breakdown occurs. The myth of self-sufficiency. As children we are very acutely aware of how much we need our parents. As time passes we begin to see ourselves as something separate and independent from our parents. This is good and healthy - as long as we realize we still need our parents. It is certainly a different relationship than when we were children - but this is a relationship where much can be gained. We like to believe that we don't need others, that we are self-sufficient. But this is a myth - as much as we truly are independent, we also need the love and support of our family and more specifically our parents.

Avinu Malkeinu - calls upon our Father. Avinu Sheh BaShamayim, Our Father in Heaven, also wants a relationship with us - as much as our physical parents want a relationship.

When we make deals with G-d, or ask for things... I need X, Y, Z... it's the same as coming to our parents and asking for 20 dollars for gas money. Parents are happy to be a part of their child's life - even if it's just a $20 bill that keeps the connection. G-d wants a relationship with us as well. He wants to hear us ask for things we need to make our lives run smoothly. Nothing is too small for a parent or Parent that cares.

When we grow up - we begin to assess our relationship with our parents and with G-d. Do we just ask for things without considering the other party? Do we begin to think about more than our particular needs of the moment? Or do we stay that child that can't see past his own feet?

"Mitoch sh-lo ba lishma, ba lishma" - that a mitzvah done without the proper intent will eventually come to be done with the proper intent. In other words, when we ask G-d to give us X, Y, Z because we did a good deed - we're doing that good deed with the wrong intent. We should be doing it because G-d asked us to! We shouldn't be doing it because we hope G-d will notice and we'd like to get something out of it.

A clearer example is taking out the garbage. We're told by our parents that it has to go out - so we take it out. Most of the time when we do this chore, we don't do it with the proper intent. We're told (or yelled at) to do it, so we do it. The proper intent would be to consider how we are making our parents happy, or making the house a healthier place to be. Unfortunately, that proper intent doesn't always realize itself when we're children. Hopefully as we mature, we see the larger picture.

This brings us to the second part of our relationship... Our King. In the example above our parents tell us to take out the garbage. We don't always see the benefit of taking out the garbage when we're a child. Why do we have to take it out Monday night? Why not Wednesday or Thursday? It seems somewhat arbitrary. The child doesn't always realize that the garbage pick-up is Tuesday morning - and it does make a difference when you put it out on the curb. There is plenty that we don't understand until we see the larger picture.

Like our parents, our King also has given us rules to live by. They are there for our benefit - whether we realize it or not. These rules are not there to hold us back, to stifle, to limit us - they are there to help us grow, to push us to be better, to give our souls the oxygen it needs to survive and thrive.

We are all G-d children. It's okay to think of G-d as the Great Bubble Gum Giver, the same as it's okay to think of our parents as the Great Money Tree. But this isn't where it should end. G-d (and our parents) want a deeper relationship with us than the superficial one we've assigned Him (or them).

It's time to build that relationship - listen to that shofar blow, let the sound enter your heart and give a call Home. It's never a bad time to start.