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True Caring - Vayeira 5785

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  Empathy.  It is a powerful emotion that can change another person’s life.  Empathy means to really “get” the other person. To understand and feel what they are going through and their needs.  Empathy begins with noticing the other and their state of mind. Modern psychology places a tremendous emphasis on empathy.  There are many books and podcasts and lectures dealing with this subject, and the Torah taught us this over 3,300 years ago.  In the Parsha this week we find a demonstration of empathy by no less than the first father of the Jewish people, Avraham. The Parsha opens with Hashem appearing to Avraham.  As our Sages explain the story, Avraham was in pain after having circumcised himself three days earlier at age 99.  Hashem, Who observes His own Mitzvot, came to visit the sick.  Then Avraham looks up and sees three men.  “He saw and behold three men were standing before him, and he saw and he ran towards them from the entrance of the tent...(Bereshit 18:2)”  Avraham then pr
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Leading with Jewish Values - Lech Lecha 5785

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Abraham is the first of our three forefathers. He is, then, the father of the Jewish Nation and its founder. Yet he is referred to in the Torah as the “father of a multitude of nations.” Adam and Noach are universal leaders. Adam is the father of all humankind, as is Noach since the rest of humanity was wiped out in the Flood, as we learned in last week’s Parsha.  Our forefather Yaakov (also called Yisrael) and our Moshe Rabbeinu were Jewish leaders. The Jews are known as B’nai Yisrael - Israel’s children, and we are all descended from him (or have joined his children by conversion).  Moshe took us out of Egypt and brought us the Torah. He is to this day referred to as Moshe Rabbeinu, our teacher and leader.  Avraham has both distinctions. On one hand he is the founder of Judaism. He recognized Hashem in a time when the world was idolatrous, and Hashem made a special connection with him, promising the Land of Israel to his children and that his legacy would always continue through the
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Generation to Generation - Noach 5785

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The opening verse of the Parsha of Noach says  “ The following are the descendants of Noach. Noach was a righteous man; faultless in his generations. Noach walked with Hashem. ”    Wait a second. I thought you were telling me about Noach’s descendants. You don’t expect the Torah to shift in the middle of a sentence. Only in the next verse, after the interruption, does it state: “ Noach was the father of three sons: Shem, Cham, and Yaphet.” Rashi comments on this. “‘ The following are the descendants of Noach – Noach was a righteous man ’ - Since the verse mentions him, it relates his praise, in accordance with what is written: ‘The mention of a right­eous person is for blessing.’  Another explanation why his descendants are not immediately mentioned: It teaches you that the main progeny of righteous people is their good deeds.” In 1984, the Rebbe commented that this teaches a very important lesson for children’s education.  A preface: While Rashi’s commentary is based on the deepest Ta
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Simchat Torah Forever - ST 5785

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I grew up listening to stories about Simchat Torah in the most difficult circumstances.  My grandmother, who had been left alone to raise her children after the Soviets had arrested her husband for being Jewish, heard a rumor that there would be a secret Simchat Torah celebration several miles away from where she was living.  She took her children and walked for miles so they could see it.  It took some convincing to get the Chassidim to let her in and not worry that their secret would get out. Through thick and thin, under the most difficult and dangerous circumstances, Jews have gotten together to celebrate Simchat Torah.  In exile in Babylon, under the Romans, during the Inquisition, through the persecution of the pogroms, in Nazi death camps, Jews have observed this day with joy.  In hidden cellars in the Soviet Union, they danced in their socks and whispered the songs in order not to be caught.  I have also heard from Russian Jews that even though it was dangerous, many Jews would
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Celebration Under Fire - Sukkot 5785

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(Reminder to make an Eruv Tavshilin on Wednesday in order to be permitted to cook on Friday for Shabbat.  See the details here .) The “Time of Our Joy” is upon us.  Sukkot follows the solemn High Holidays, when we accomplished great spiritual things and brought new Divine light to the world, and now on Sukkot we celebrate that with great joy.  It is the celebration that brings the potential blessings of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur to fruition. Well, how easy is it to celebrate when Israel is facing an existential war for its very existence?  As we sit in our Sukkah and as we wave our lulav, etrog, willows and myrtle to the Hallel songs, our brothers and sisters are sacrificing their lives at war with enemies on all sides.  It seems difficult to celebrate with abandon and to express open joy, let alone to dance. In 1973, right after the beginning of the Yom Kippur war, when our enemies sought to wipe us off the face of the earth, the Rebbe addressed the same question.  This was three da
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Plain Clothes on the Holiest Day - Yom Kippur 5785

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The Kohen Gadol (High Priest) changed  his clothes five times on Yom Kippur.  This was his big day.  The only day of the year when he, and only he, was allowed into the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the Holy Temple, containing the Holy Ark with the Tablets.  (He would enter that chamber twice.)  Nowadays, we think of Yom Kippur as a day when we all participate in the services.  In those days, the participation was primarily watching the Kohen Gadol perform the service.   He would personally offer all the daily sacrifices and perform the tasks that were usually divided among the Kohanim (priests).  While doing all of that he wore his magnificent clothing - eight multicolored garments including gold thread and precious stones, with a gold plate engraved with Hashem’s name on his forehead.   The highlight of the day was when the Kohen Gadol went into the Holy of Holies to burn incense on the Ark. He would carry two pans, one with coals from the Altar and the other with incense.
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Rosh Hashanah in Practice - 5785

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I wish you a sweet new year.  May you be inscribed and sealed for a year of health, abundance and great spiritual growth.  May Hashem continue to show us great miracles and bless the efforts of our heroic soldiers who put their lives on the line to protect the Jewish people.  May we  see the release of all the hostages and the end of terrorism, and may this be a year of true peace and of redemption.  As I write this, I am listening to the news of Israel being under attack.  May Hashem protect our people in Israel and all over the world. Here are some practical things to remember for the upcoming holiday: ( C lick here for a lot more information on customs, practices and meanings.) On Wednesday, we make an “ Eruv Tavshilin ” in order to be able to cook and prepare on Friday for Shabbat.  Follow the link to see the explanation and instructions. Candle lighting is a little complicated, due to the two days of holiday followed immediately by Shabbat.  On Wednesday evening the candles are
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