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Real Soul Food - Shoftim 5786

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Over the centuries people have eaten whatever they had available. There was often no understanding of the relationship between particular foods and their health. There were those who studied this relationship and learned about which foods are healthy and which are not. Some chose to eat healthy foods, and they enjoyed the benefits, both short and long term.  It was always much easier to just eat whatever is easiest to prepare. The good stuff may not taste as sweet, salty or crunchy and requires more thought and self control.  Then came the fast food. Instead of planning and cooking, or spending a lot of money and time in an upscale restaurant, you could pick up some delicious food, not even needing to get out of your car. It was advertised as delicious and convenient and healthy. (You could even get a piece of lettuce with the burger!)  the idea caught on like wildfire and spread throughout the world. What an easy way to provide for our nutritional needs. What fun!  ...
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Miracles Miracles - Re'eh 5786

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  There are many different types of tests that we face in life.  There is the test of suffering and the test of abundance.  Will we continue to keep our faith and serve Hashem under duress, and will we recognize the great gift of abundance that Hashem has given us and respond with greater fervor in our observance?  There is the test of temptation to sin that we all face every day.  There was the test of the “Akeida,” when Avraham was called upon to sacrifice his son, and other tests that great Tzaddikim have faced to expose their deep, unshakeable faith. I think it is fair to say that the test that Moshe describes in this week’s Parsha, Re’eh, is a major challenge, especially for our generation.  “If there will arise among you a prophet or dreamer, and he gives you a sign or a marvel, and the sign or the marvel of which he spoke to you takes place, and he says, ‘Let us follow other peoples’ deities, which you have not known, and let us worship them.’ You mu...
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The Real You - Eikev 5786

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“And now, Israel, what does G-d, your G-d, demand of you? Only to revere G-d, your G-d, to walk in all His ways, to love Him, and to serve G-d, your G-d, with all your heart and with all your soul... by keeping G-d’s commandments and rules, which I am commanding you today, for your own good.”  (Devarim 10:12,13.)  These are Moshe’s words in his parting words to the people, as he prepares them for life without him in Israel.   (Pardon the interruption.  We have invited a Scholar in Residence next weekend, Rabbi Avroham Jacks, August 7-8, in partnership with the Torah Science Foundation.  He is a very interesting speaker and will address some of the issues at the forefront of our consciousness these days.  Please see here for details.) This is somewhat shocking: “What does G-d, your G-d, demand of you, “ONLY” to revere G-d etc.?” As the Talmud puts it (Berachot 33b):  “Is reverence [of G-d] a small thing?”  For someone to live with reverence o...
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Behind the Curtain - Tisha B'Av/Va'etchanan 5786

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On Tisha B’Av morning, (which happens this Thursday,) we read a special Torah reading.This reading is actually also part of this week’s Parsha, Va’etchanan (Devarim 4:25-40).  It begins with Moshe warning of exile in case we stray from Torah, and continues with a promise that we will never be cast away from Hashem.  Moshe reminds us of Hashem’s great kindnesses, taking us out of Egypt with great miracles and wonders, splitting the sea, giving us the Torah, and leading us toward the Land of Israel.  Moshe exhorts us to do Teshuva, to return to Hashem, and assures us that He will never forget His covenant with us. Then Moshe tells us to remember a very important and foundational principle of our faith (verse 39):  “You must know today and consider in your heart that G-d is the G-d in heaven above and on earth below; there is none other.  (Note that is only the simplest way to translate this very intricate and mulit-faceted verse.) There are books written to try to...
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Yes, You are loved - Devarim 5786

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Moshe’s physical time on Earth was coming to an end.  He spent the last 40 days of his life preparing the Jewish people for their new life in Israel without his personal leadership.  Like a loving leader and shepherd, he reviewed the laws that would keep our people through all the lifecycles and challenges of the future.  He also talked about their missteps, and sometimes it can sound harsh.  But when we look a little deeper, with the perspective that Moshe had sacrificed so much for his people even when they had sinned, we can see the love in his words.   An example of his devotion to his people was after they had sinned with the Golden Calf, worshipping an idol 40 days after Hashem had revealed himself to them at Mount Sinai.  Hashem had threatened to annihilate them and make Moshe himself the patriarch of a new nation.  Moshe asked Hashem “if [you don’t forgive them] erase me from your book.”  The Torah which was Moshe’s great life’s accom...
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Greater Israel? Matot Massei 5786

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  I have a question for you.  First some background.  The original land Hashem promised to the Jewish people was from the river to the sea, from the Mediterranean to the Jordan river.  This was the land that would be divided amongst the 12 tribes.  Then the two mighty kings on the east side of the Jordan made a fatal mistake.  When Moshe asked Sichon, the king of the Emorites, to let them pass through to enter the promised Jewish land, Sichon refused and went to war.  With Hashem’s miraculous help, the Jews won and took his land, as well as that of the mighty Og, who also initiated war against the Jews.   The tribes of Gad and Reuven saw luscious grazing land east of the Jordan river for their vast amounts of sheep and cattle, and came up with a novel idea.  How about we settle here instead of our designated lands on the west of the Jordan. Moshe was upset.  “Are you trying to do what the spies did, refusing to enter the land and tu...
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Fast Food for Thought - 17 Tammuz 5786

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  Today, Thursday, is the 17th of Tammuz, a fast day commemorating the Romans’ breaching the walls of the City of Jerusalem, leading to the destruction of the Holy Temple three weeks later.  There were several other calamities that happened on that day, and you can read about it here .  The fast is observed by not eating or drinking all day until nightfall (9:05 in Palo Alto), saying special prayers called Selichot and Aneinu, increasing Tzedakah, and spending time contemplating the meaning of the day.  We recognize the need to strengthen our bond with Hashem, and to turn the tide on the exile through Teshuvah.   There are different ways we can approach this.  One is to focus on the destruction and pain and suffering.  Another way is to focus on changing the situation and bringing about the redemption and the rebuilding of the Holy Temple (in a peaceful way).   We can take this second approach a step further.  When Moshiach comes, t...
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