Things have been a bit busy around here, baby etc. but to kick off being back - I'm reprinting an article I wrote back in 2003 for the university paper in honor of Shavuot. Shavuot starts *tonight*, Tuesday, and ends Thursday evening. Here are a couple links for more information.
Shavuot with Aish.com
Shavuot with Chabad.org
June 8, 2003
3,300 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 was 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 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 had 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 together 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 Noahide Laws, 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 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 that you could have as an individual. Be great.
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Monday, February 28, 2011
Baby Girl!
You may have noticed that I have been AWOL in my writing. This is because I was blessed at the end of last month to have given birth to a beautiful and healthy baby girl. I hope to be back writing soon. In the meantime, everyone out there should have a good nights sleep for me.
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Sweet Cucumber Salad
I've heard the Jewish holidays summed up in about nine words:
Of course this isn't true for all the holidays, but it is true that food is a major part of all our holidays (except Yom Kippur, but we do eat beforehand). So I figure that it makes sense to include recipes every so often on this blog. I'm still a beginner, so please do not expect brilliant, or complicated recipes - I just want them to taste good.
I usually make this cucumber salad for Shabbat. It generally needs to sit for 24 hours before it tastes its best. But if you have less time, cut the cucumber into as thin slices as possible.
Sweet Cucumber Salad
* 1 cucumber - slice into thin slices
* 1/8 vidalia onion - slice into thin slices
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup + 3 teaspoons sugar
* 4 3/4 teaspoons white vinegar
Mix and refrigerate
** Important note - "teaspoon" here means those white, plastic disposable teaspoons.
I'm taking suggestions and ideas for recipes to post here - please try to make them as specific as possible ie. give measurements (not, "to taste" - I don't know how to figure those sort of things.) If you have any to contribute feel free to post them.
Shabbat Shalom!!!
They tried to kill us. We won. Let's eat!
Of course this isn't true for all the holidays, but it is true that food is a major part of all our holidays (except Yom Kippur, but we do eat beforehand). So I figure that it makes sense to include recipes every so often on this blog. I'm still a beginner, so please do not expect brilliant, or complicated recipes - I just want them to taste good.
I usually make this cucumber salad for Shabbat. It generally needs to sit for 24 hours before it tastes its best. But if you have less time, cut the cucumber into as thin slices as possible.
Sweet Cucumber Salad
* 1 cucumber - slice into thin slices
* 1/8 vidalia onion - slice into thin slices
* 3/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/4 cup + 3 teaspoons sugar
* 4 3/4 teaspoons white vinegar
Mix and refrigerate
** Important note - "teaspoon" here means those white, plastic disposable teaspoons.
I'm taking suggestions and ideas for recipes to post here - please try to make them as specific as possible ie. give measurements (not, "to taste" - I don't know how to figure those sort of things.) If you have any to contribute feel free to post them.
Shabbat Shalom!!!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
The Natural Miracles of Chanukah
There are two miracles that we are celebrating on Chanukah. The first is the victory of the Jews (the few) against the Syrian-Greeks (the many). The second miracle is that the oil flame that was supposed to only last one day lasted eight days.
The battle of the Maccabees/Hasmoneans occurred only after push came to shove. In other words, Jews are relatively easy going people. Assimilation of the Jews into Hellenistic philosophies and actions had been going on for quite a while before we see the Hasmonean uprising. Jewish males were participating in athletic games, and in the Greek tradition that means they were wearing their birthday suits. In order not to "look" Jewish there are records of these men attempting to "reverse" (I don't know how, and I'm not sure I want to) their brit milah (circumcision). But there came a breaking point.
While Antiochus Epiphanes declared most Jewish actions illegal, a few specific ones were:
* Circumcision
* Shabbat observance
* Torah study
* Keeping kosher
* Celebration of Rosh Chodesh/the new Jewish month
These five things are very basic to Judaism. These are the activities that identify us as Jews. It seems to me that once Antiochus began making these things not a matter of preference, but rather a dictate of law - Jews could no longer stand for the intrusion into their lives leading us to the battles we fought against the Greeks.
What's important to think about is that the Jews (I believe) did not necessarily expect to win. It was a lopsided fight - the few against the many. Some could argue that guerrilla warfare is effective enough to beat experienced armies. This may be true - but there are certainly no guarantees, especially when the 'few' are farmers and the 'many' are professional soldiers. When Mattityahu (Mattathius) shouted 'Me L'Shem A'lai' - 'Who is with G-d come with me!' He was making a clear declaration of purpose at the very outset of the war.
When Mattityahu and Judah (his son) began the rebellion there were no longer any prophets around to let them know that they would win. They prayed to G-d and went to battle and ultimately they were successful. Why do we count this as a miracle?
After liberating the Holy Temple/Bait HaMikdash from the Greeks, the Maccabees cleaned it out and re-dedicated it to the service of G-d. This is where we get the name Chanukah from. Chanukah means dedication. As they were cleaning they were looking for a jars of purified oil in order to light the 7 branched Menorah that was housed in the Temple. They found one small jug that would only last one day, never assuming anything different would happen. As we know, that small jug lasted eight days, enough time to allow the Maccabees to make more oil.
What I find fascinating in both these instances is that the Maccabees never expected a miracle to happen on their behalf. They went to battle with the Greeks because it was the right thing to do, I'm sure hoping to win but not necessarily expecting it. The same for lighting the menorah. There was no expectation for the oil to last more than the one day that it was supposed to.
There are times that we wish G-d would part the clouds above our heads and say "Hey! I'm here!" and tell us the right direction to go. However, this isn't an option since the end of the Prophetic Era. We don't have easy access to G-d in that way.
I think that we can sometimes relate to the miracles of Chanukah more than we can the open miracles of the Torah. We go about our lives doing the best we can, doing what we know is right. We can take away from Chanukah is that G-d is there for us even in the natural events in our lives. Perhaps not performing the open miracle of the oil burning for eight days - but definitely in the smaller, hidden miracles of the Chanukah battles, since we still count the victories of the few against the many as a miracle, albeit not an open one.
We should keep in mind that G-d is there for us at all points in our lives - when we feel close and when we don't. Chanukah can be there to remind us that while we do not always see G-d's open hand, we know that He's there in a hidden way supporting us.
Chag Sameach! Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah 5770 (Last year's article)
A few technical notes about setting up the menorah: (Check this video for help: Animated Menorah)
On the first night, the light is placed on the right side of the menorah, and each subsequent night lights are added to its left. The newly added light is always lit first and then the lighting goes from left to right.
The blessings are:
The next blessing is only recited on the first night, or on the first occasion that person lights a menorah during the holiday of Chanukah:
After lighting this is said:
The battle of the Maccabees/Hasmoneans occurred only after push came to shove. In other words, Jews are relatively easy going people. Assimilation of the Jews into Hellenistic philosophies and actions had been going on for quite a while before we see the Hasmonean uprising. Jewish males were participating in athletic games, and in the Greek tradition that means they were wearing their birthday suits. In order not to "look" Jewish there are records of these men attempting to "reverse" (I don't know how, and I'm not sure I want to) their brit milah (circumcision). But there came a breaking point.
While Antiochus Epiphanes declared most Jewish actions illegal, a few specific ones were:
* Circumcision
* Shabbat observance
* Torah study
* Keeping kosher
* Celebration of Rosh Chodesh/the new Jewish month
These five things are very basic to Judaism. These are the activities that identify us as Jews. It seems to me that once Antiochus began making these things not a matter of preference, but rather a dictate of law - Jews could no longer stand for the intrusion into their lives leading us to the battles we fought against the Greeks.
What's important to think about is that the Jews (I believe) did not necessarily expect to win. It was a lopsided fight - the few against the many. Some could argue that guerrilla warfare is effective enough to beat experienced armies. This may be true - but there are certainly no guarantees, especially when the 'few' are farmers and the 'many' are professional soldiers. When Mattityahu (Mattathius) shouted 'Me L'Shem A'lai' - 'Who is with G-d come with me!' He was making a clear declaration of purpose at the very outset of the war.
When Mattityahu and Judah (his son) began the rebellion there were no longer any prophets around to let them know that they would win. They prayed to G-d and went to battle and ultimately they were successful. Why do we count this as a miracle?
After liberating the Holy Temple/Bait HaMikdash from the Greeks, the Maccabees cleaned it out and re-dedicated it to the service of G-d. This is where we get the name Chanukah from. Chanukah means dedication. As they were cleaning they were looking for a jars of purified oil in order to light the 7 branched Menorah that was housed in the Temple. They found one small jug that would only last one day, never assuming anything different would happen. As we know, that small jug lasted eight days, enough time to allow the Maccabees to make more oil.
What I find fascinating in both these instances is that the Maccabees never expected a miracle to happen on their behalf. They went to battle with the Greeks because it was the right thing to do, I'm sure hoping to win but not necessarily expecting it. The same for lighting the menorah. There was no expectation for the oil to last more than the one day that it was supposed to.
There are times that we wish G-d would part the clouds above our heads and say "Hey! I'm here!" and tell us the right direction to go. However, this isn't an option since the end of the Prophetic Era. We don't have easy access to G-d in that way.
I think that we can sometimes relate to the miracles of Chanukah more than we can the open miracles of the Torah. We go about our lives doing the best we can, doing what we know is right. We can take away from Chanukah is that G-d is there for us even in the natural events in our lives. Perhaps not performing the open miracle of the oil burning for eight days - but definitely in the smaller, hidden miracles of the Chanukah battles, since we still count the victories of the few against the many as a miracle, albeit not an open one.
We should keep in mind that G-d is there for us at all points in our lives - when we feel close and when we don't. Chanukah can be there to remind us that while we do not always see G-d's open hand, we know that He's there in a hidden way supporting us.
Chag Sameach! Happy Chanukah!
Chanukah 5770 (Last year's article)
A few technical notes about setting up the menorah: (Check this video for help: Animated Menorah)
On the first night, the light is placed on the right side of the menorah, and each subsequent night lights are added to its left. The newly added light is always lit first and then the lighting goes from left to right.
The blessings are:
* 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.
* 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 person lights a menorah during the holiday of Chanukah:
Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King of the universe, who has granted us life, sustained us, and enabled us to read this occasion.
After lighting this is said:
We kindle these lights [to commemorate] the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy Kohanim. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these lights are sacred, and we are not permitted to make us of them, but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvation.
Wednesday, December 1, 2010
Chanukah Guides
It's always good to prepare for a holiday - here are two guides that you'll find useful when getting ready for Chanukah this year.
Chabad.org - Hanukkah Guide
Aish.com - Chanukah Guide
Chag Sameach!
Monday, November 29, 2010
Thanksgiving and Shabbat Dinner
This past week we celebrated Thanksgiving, one of my favorite holidays to spend with the family. There's a major concept to be learned from this holiday - the concept of haKarat haTov - Recognizing the Good. Obviously this isn't something we should only do once a year, but every day! However, the week is a hectic time and Shabbat Friday night dinner is a better time to reflect on the week past.
Shabbat is the time of the week where we take a "time out" from being the creators and shapers of the world around us to "just being" and enjoying the fruits of our labors. Friday night dinner, whether formal or not, is a great time for the family to get together (without distraction or places to run to) and actually spend an hour or two with those closest to us.
It's during this time together that I want to suggest an idea that my mother instituted years ago at our own Friday night dinners - the 3 Gratefuls. It seems that at the time the Gratefuls were brought in, our conversations at the table were not following a positive note and my mom felt that she needed to point out to us the good things that had happened during the week.
Each one of us at the table, including any guests (we tried to warn them ahead of time), had to come up with three things that we were grateful for that had occurred during that past week. There were a few rules that guided us, these were:
* It couldn't be sports related.
* It couldn't be - "thank goodness the week was over".
* It couldn't be for a future event.
Gratefuls could be small things, or big things. You couldn't opt out of doing your 3 Gratefuls either, no matter how rough the week was (and there were some tough ones). It forced us to review the week and recognize the good that happened or was done for us. It also forced us to be a part of each others lives as a family - since all week long was spent running our different ways.
One example of a Grateful by my father on Friday night is that he thanks my mother for making him lunch every day to take to work. Making a lunch may seem like a small event during the course of the week, but when my father makes note of it (every week) - it shows recognition and appreciation of the good done for him.
HaKarat haTov is no small thing. Recognizing the good - big or small, making someone lunch or getting a raise - is all about seeing your life in a different and positive way. I sincerely recommend instituting the 3 Gratefuls at your Friday night dinner - it will truly improve the way you see your life as well as serve as a bonding experience for you and your family.
Monday, November 15, 2010
Keep the Lines of Communication Open!
It's amazing how time flies - we are already at Parshat Vayishlach - the eighth, very busy and exciting chapter of Genesis/Breisheet.
I've noticed some interesting conversations that some of our ancestors have been having with G-d/HaShem over these last eight chapters. (This is not a complete listing.)
In the first chapter, Breisheet, after Adam has eaten the forbidden fruit, G-d calls out (3:9-12):
This is an amazing conversation. Adam is not taking personal responsibility for his actions, and is instead blaming it on the woman that G-d gave him, in some ways placing the blame on G-d!
In another famous conversation, G-d comes to Kayin/Cain and asks him where his brother is (4:9)
Does Kayin actually believe that G-d doesn't know what's transpired? Does Kayin really have the nerve to answer HaShem with an attitude? "Am I my brother's keeper?" Wow.
In Parshat Lech Lecha we find Avram/Abram questioning G-d about his future without children (15:1-2).
This is the same Abraham (his name will be changed later in this chapter) who left his family, his homeland all based on the word of G-d. We know that Abraham trusts G-d, but still he questions Him?
We also read about the negotiations between Abraham and G-d about the destruction of Sodom - a known evil city (18:23-32). Avram is attempting to stop G-d from destroying the city if a minimum of 10 good people were found. Ultimately, these people were not found, and the city is overturned.
What I'm bringing from all these conversations... is that there was communication between our forefathers/mothers and G-d. All relationships are built through communication - whether between person to person or between a person and G-d. Some people think that we can't question or argue with G-d. I would say that it's a good beginning to building a relationship between us and the Creator.
It's when we stop talking, questioning or arguing with G-d that the relationship begins to fail. At the point where G-d is no longer part of our private dialogue and no longer part of our thought process that the relationship is over.
We see from the Torah that keeping the lines of communication open with G-d is important. He wants to have a relationship with us. When G-d asks the seemingly obvious question to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" it wasn't because G-d didn't know where Abel was, it was in order to start a conversation with Cain - to bring him closer to G-d even after the murder took place. To bring him to teshuva/return.
We have to keep the lines of communication open. Feel free to question, argue, and discuss with G-d. At the same time don't forget to ask, thank and appreciate all those things He does for us as well.
I've noticed some interesting conversations that some of our ancestors have been having with G-d/HaShem over these last eight chapters. (This is not a complete listing.)
In the first chapter, Breisheet, after Adam has eaten the forbidden fruit, G-d calls out (3:9-12):
"Where are you?"
He [Adam] said, "I heard the sound of You in the garden, and I was afraid because I am naked, so I hid.
And He [G-d] said, "Who told you that you are naked? Have you eaten of the tree from which I commanded you not to eat?"
The man said, "The woman whom You gave to be with me - she gave me of the tree, and I ate."
This is an amazing conversation. Adam is not taking personal responsibility for his actions, and is instead blaming it on the woman that G-d gave him, in some ways placing the blame on G-d!
In another famous conversation, G-d comes to Kayin/Cain and asks him where his brother is (4:9)
HaShem said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?"
and he [Cain] said, "I do not know. Am I my brother's keeper?"
Does Kayin actually believe that G-d doesn't know what's transpired? Does Kayin really have the nerve to answer HaShem with an attitude? "Am I my brother's keeper?" Wow.
In Parshat Lech Lecha we find Avram/Abram questioning G-d about his future without children (15:1-2).
...the word of HaShem came to Avram in a vision, saying, "Fear not, Avram, I am a shield for you; your reward is very great."
And Avram said, "My Lord, What can You give me seeing that I go childless...?"
This is the same Abraham (his name will be changed later in this chapter) who left his family, his homeland all based on the word of G-d. We know that Abraham trusts G-d, but still he questions Him?
We also read about the negotiations between Abraham and G-d about the destruction of Sodom - a known evil city (18:23-32). Avram is attempting to stop G-d from destroying the city if a minimum of 10 good people were found. Ultimately, these people were not found, and the city is overturned.
What I'm bringing from all these conversations... is that there was communication between our forefathers/mothers and G-d. All relationships are built through communication - whether between person to person or between a person and G-d. Some people think that we can't question or argue with G-d. I would say that it's a good beginning to building a relationship between us and the Creator.
It's when we stop talking, questioning or arguing with G-d that the relationship begins to fail. At the point where G-d is no longer part of our private dialogue and no longer part of our thought process that the relationship is over.
We see from the Torah that keeping the lines of communication open with G-d is important. He wants to have a relationship with us. When G-d asks the seemingly obvious question to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" it wasn't because G-d didn't know where Abel was, it was in order to start a conversation with Cain - to bring him closer to G-d even after the murder took place. To bring him to teshuva/return.
We have to keep the lines of communication open. Feel free to question, argue, and discuss with G-d. At the same time don't forget to ask, thank and appreciate all those things He does for us as well.
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