Rabbi Levin's Blog

We spent the last two days reconnecting to Hashem, reaching into the depths of our soul and finding the essence of who we are - His people.  We crowned Him as King, and He once again found pleasure in us mortals making the choice to accept our role in the world.  Rosh Hashanah is the time of renewing the bond, reaffirming that Hashem created us and gave us a mission.  In fact, the entire universe and all the spiritual worlds that preceded it were created by Hashem in order for us humans to choose to serve Hashem.   Specifically because we naturally tend to just follow our own needs, when we choose to rise above that and do what Hashem wants us to do, that brings Him real pleasure. This is the annual work of Rosh Hashanah, for us to show our commitment and for Hashem to “renew the lease” on the world. Now it’s time to start examining how we have been doing on that commitment.  The next eight days are called “Days of Teshuva.”  Everything has a season, a...

Parshat Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashanah.  Our Sages taught that one connection between the two is a mystical interpretation of the first verses of the Parsha.  The simple meaning is that right before Moshe passed away, he charged the people with a covenant and an oath between Hashem and all the people: “You are all standing today before G-d, your G-d — the leaders of your tribes, your elders, your sheriffs, and every Israelite man, your young children, your women, and your converts who are in your camp, from your woodcutter to your water-drawer — in order to perform a ritual by which you will enter into a covenant with G-d, your G-d — and to take His oath to uphold it—which G-d, your G-d, is making with you today.” (Devarim 29:9-11) In addition to the actual event that happened then, there is an eternal message here that relates to all times.  “Today” refers to the special day of Rosh Hashanah, the birthday of the world.  On this day the e...

I had a very interesting discussion with a person I have known for many years.  While he is not connected much to observance of Mitzvot, he described to me the great spiritual path he has found.  He told me about going deeper and deeper into various levels of consciousness, finding nothingness and then the light behind it.   After explaining to him that the ultimate mystical and spiritual secrets are found in the Torah, we discussed the primacy of practice.  We are here on Earth to fulfill Hashem’s will, and that is specifically to work within the darkness of the physical world.  Mystical meanings bring life to the Mitzvot, but without physical practice, there is no true connection to Hashem.  I was struck by the relevance of this discussion to this week’s Parsha, and it is actually a mystical teaching that brings this idea to light. One of the most beautiful pilgrimages to the Holy Temple that farmers in Israel would observe was the “Bikkurim,” bringing th...

  How often do we get “can’t miss” offers?  They used to come in the mail. “A sale you can’t miss.” “An opportunity for you! Don’t miss it!”  Now it seems we are bombarded with these urgent offers every day all day on our phones. We have become jaded and actually cautious. I hardly believe any of them.  But… there are in fact opportunities that we should take notice of and not miss. Sometimes we have a life-altering opportunity but we are too busy to take notice and let it slip between our fingers.  Rosh Hashana is hard to miss. It’s safe to say that any Jew who feels a connection to Judaism and Jewish communities notices Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. The synagogues fill up, the impressive voice of the cantor and the unique High Holiday liturgy and melodies move us. The sound of the Shofar penetrates our hearts and the priestly blessings uplift us. The special foods we eat, Challah dipped in honey, apple dipped in honey, and as I learned when I came to California...

“You must appoint judges and sheriffs for yourselves in all your cities...” (Devarim 16:18).  These are the opening words of this week’s Parsha, Shoftim.  The simple meaning of course is that in the land of Israel, courts should be set up in every city, with officers or “sheriffs” to enforce the laws and the courts’ rulings. But “cities” is a loose translation of the text.   The actual Hebrew word the Torah uses for “cities” is “She’arecha” which means “your gates.”  Also it is written in the singular, not plural: “Titen lecha,” (not titnu lachem) appoint (or place) for you - singular, in all your - singular - gates.  (The plural of gates would be Sha’areichem”)  So the verse can be read as: Set up for yourself judges and officers at all your personal gates. In an address to children in 1985, the Rebbe commented on the verse and this interpretation.  It is possible that a person might think that if we can get away with doing the wrong thing and n...

We are about to usher in the month of Elul this weekend.  On Shabbat we will say the “Bircat Hachodesh” - blessing the new month.  Immediately after Shabbat we go into the first day of Rosh Chodesh.  While technically the last day of the previous month, it is referred to as “Rosh Chodesh Elul,” and we begin to say the additional Elul prayer, Psalm 27, twice a day. (The first day of Rosh Chodesh is kind of a transition between the previous month and the next.)  Then on Monday, the second day of Rosh Chodesh, is the actual beginning of the month, and we start blowing the Shofar every morning after services. The month of Elul is a remarkable opportunity.  I’m going to use an analogy that many people can relate to during these summer days.  Imagine you are going on vacation for a few days to an exotic location that you have never seen before.  You can just go there and try to figure out  where to go and what to do when you get there.  Chances are...