Engraved. Forever.

BH

This week’s Torah portion is called Shemini. Shemini - which means “the eighth” - discusses the day following Aaron and his sons’ seven days of inauguration as Kohanim, priests.

While on the subject of Shemini, the eighth, I’d like to discuss a different occurrence that happens on the eighth day. The Brit Millah, a Bris.

This past Sunday was the holiday of Purim. Purim at Chabad McGill is always known as the best Purim party in town! However, nothing could match up to this year. The Bris of the Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s first born was held on Purim.

In front of a packed house, the Mohel performed the bris and the child was named Tzvi Hirsh, after his great-grandfather, the grandfather of his mother (and myself).

Hundreds of people graced Chabad House over the Purim weekend, and Sunday at the Bris was no different. Though, I’d like to focus on another eight - eight guests that inspired me most.

Being the Chabad representatives at McGill, Rabbi and Mrs. Weiss have met hundreds - or more accurately, thousands - of students. They have created friendship and relationship with many of them.

Testament to this came in the form of eight McGill Alumni who’s presence displayed the unique relationship and deep friendship that was created.

After we read Shemini this week, we add an additional reading, that of Parshat Parah. Parah discusses the actions of the Red Heifer. The portion begins “Zos Chukas Hatorah.” The root of the word Chukas - chok literally means ‘engraved.’

Chabad Houses have sprouted all over the world. Relationships, friendships, and more have been created. But something special stood out about this.

Eight people, all former McGill students travelled to Montreal to attend the Bris. They didn't come from 30 miles away. The closest were from Boston and Toronto. Others travelled overseas, from Paris, London, Vienna and one even attended from Mexico City.

Keeping in mind the word “Chok” I think its safe to say, the Chabad House at McGill has engraved a love for Judaism in these people. And I believe its even safer to say that the friendship Rashi and Shmuly have created with these folks is engraved in their hearts. Forever.

Eight students, from far and farther came to celebrate with their Rabbi and Rebbetzin.

But more importantly, they came to celebrate with two of their best friends.

Joy in the Face of Evil!

BH

During this past week I’ve had a lot on my mind.

As Shabbat ended last week I was shocked to hear of the terrorist attack claiming the lives of five of our brothers and sisters. Murdered. In their home in middle of the night. For one reason. Simply, because they were Jewish.

Sunday morning I celebrated as my cousins, whom I work with at Chabad of McGill, gave birth to their first, a beautiful baby boy.

As this Shabbat comes in I prepare to rejoice ahead of a wild kind weekend. A busy and fulfilling, tiring yet inspiring weekend.

Beginning tonight, with Shabbat dinner, where Chabad is expecting the largest crowd of the semester. Why you ask? Well, after the birth of the Rabbi and Rebbetzin’s baby boy, were having a Shalom Zachor - a party to welcome him.

Tomorrow night, at Purim, were expecting hundreds of students to join in for the pinnacle of Jewish joy. Sunday, we’ll G-d willing be having a bris at Chabad House.

Wow. Just writing about it all causes me to lose my breath!

All this together has had me thinking. What is the purpose? And Specifically, I have been thinking about what the holiday of Purim actually means to me and the Jewish people today.

This Shabbat, at the synagogue, we will be reading a supplementary Torah reading called Parshat Zachor - the Parsha of remembrance. Within Zachor we are told to wipe out the name of Amalek. We are to remember the atrocities caused by his nation, and obliterate his name.

We are told to wipe out his name, and we are told not to forget.

Confusing? Only slightly. I have my view on what that means - and what the holiday of Purim means today.

Purim is our most joyous holiday. We celebrate. Some of us drink. We eat. We dance... pure partying! Why? What is it all about?

The easy answer is that we are remembering the miracle that happened when Haman attempted to wipe out the Jewish people. We were saved, in miraculous fashion and thus celebrate.

This past week five of us were murdered for being Jewish. Have you seen Jewish people bowing to the violence? Are the Israeli people backing down? Will they retreat and give up our Holy Land?? NO!

We must obliterate the name of Amalek by bringing an end to evil in the world! We must not stop there. We need to implement the remembrance part!

By obliterating alone, we move on, satisfied that we have conquered the obligation. But by remembering, we not only eradicate evil, we infuse new light. New joy!

We remember what Amalek did to us - and continues to do - and march forward. We reflect in the loss of innocent lives at the hands of a modern day Amalekite, then we turn to the world and show them who we really are!

This will NOT deter us! We will proceed to add joy to the world!

We WILL celebrate Purim!

Humbled on the Slopes

BH

As you probably know, I have spent the last six months in Montreal, Canada devoting my time to working with the Jewish communities of McGill and Concordia Universities. What you may not know, is what I like to do with some of my free time.

Living in Quebec, with dozens and dozens of ski slopes within a two hour radius, it was something I felt I needed to try. Gave skiing a couple shots then took the leap to the snowboard... and haven’t turn back.

While riding up the lift, the cool breeze wafting along my face, I always watch the people below zipping down the run. However, I particularly enjoy watching the energy and enthusiasm young children have while riding along. I always think to myself, “That kid cant be more than eight years old! If he can do that so easily, then hey, so can I!”

Well, as I disembark from the lift, the image of that child coasting down the Black Diamond with such ease disappears. I am now tasked with trying to ride down on my own, something that just five minutes ago I was so certain I could do. I now reevaluate.

“No way!” I yell at my teacher as he tries to encourage me to link a few turns on the hill that now seems to drop all the way to Eastern Europe. Sorry folks, but the inspiration of that child is gone. I am now a grown man, with fear of tumbling to the bottom of mountain.

I am now at the top, viewing it with a different perspective. My certainty and [over]confidence has retreated. Humbling. Very humbling in fact.
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In this weeks Parsha, Vayikra, G-d instructs Moshe (Moses) in the ways of the different Korbanot (sacrifices). However one of the most important lessons learned in this weeks portion is not about that at all.

The word Vayikra, the name of this weeks reading and in fact the name of the third book of the Torah, means “and He called out.” G-d called moses to discuss the sacrifices.

The word Vayikra is written with five Hebrew letters, the last being the letter aleph. The aleph is written in a much smaller size than any other letter found in the Torah.

This mini aleph teaches us that Moshe - whom was the one being called with the word Vayikra - was the humblest of men. Ever. He always shrunk his pride - just like the shrunken aleph - and never allowed himself to be caught up in how great he was.

Moshe no doubt knew that he was as great as he was. He knew he dealt with G-d face-to-face. He knew he was the one selected to write the Torah. He even wrote about how great he was in the Torah! But nothing. Moshe never thought of himself as great.

Moshe knew, with all his heart that the greatness he possessed had absolutely nothing to do with him! It was the creation of G-d. It was G-d’s choice to make him great so how could he take any pride from that?
_ _ _ _

I am no Moshe, that's for sure. But that aleph taught me something this week. As I’m riding up the lift at Bromont Ski Resort in the Eastern Townships outside of Montreal, I boasted myself as this great snowboarder. I got to the top and was quickly humbled.

What that aleph stood to teach me - and can serve as a lesson to all of us always - was not that I shouldn’t have given myself that false confidence to ride down, but rather, whether I can ride down at all is because of G-d.

Moshe attained his title of “greatest ever” because he attributed everything to G-d. Nothing was because of him. This is the lesson learned.

So while riding up the lift, G-d willing, this coming Sunday, my thoughts will wander elsewhere. I will be focusing on the G-d given talent the advanced snowboarders were gifted with and ability to snowboard altogether that G-d has bestowed on me.

Baruch Hashem!

Adding to the Cause!

BH

Anyone who has encountered a “Chabadnik” has no doubt heard the famous, “Did you put on Teffilin today?” The Teffilin campaign was launched by the Lubavitcher Rebbe just before the outbreak of the Six-Day War in 1967. Everyone, not just Shluchim (emissaries) and Yeshiva students, were encouraged to be involved.

My uncle, an international businessman is always equipped with a pair of Teffilin, ready to fulfill the Rebbe’s wish.

Several weeks ago, while visiting one of his factories in Kowloon, China, my uncle encountered an Israeli fellow and, naturally, asked the man to don Teffilin. He agreed and said that at age 53, he may have never done so before. Possibly at his bar-mitzvah, but he did not remember.

Several days later my uncle was at the now re-opened Chabad House of Mumbai, India with a group of Chabadniks. One made mention of a story he heard that week. “An Israeli guy in Kowloon told me someone put on Teffilin with him, possibly for the first time in his life! He wouldn't say who, but said he was touched so deeply, that he now wants his own pair!”

My uncle, surprised at hearing this, filled out the rest of the story, and the men gathered were all in awe. A simple act of putting on Teffilin with a person in Kowloon, something my uncle does with people quite often, had lit up this man’s world.
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In this weeks Parsha, Pekudei, Moshe (Moses) takes an accounting of all the material donated by the people for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Each person gave his contribution, and together, they formed a dwelling place for G-d within.

As Torah is not a history book, but rather a lifetime guide, we know that its lessons are timeless. The teachings of charity, of course, need no introduction. However lessons can certainly be derived from each individual contribution then becoming a part of the greater collection.

At that time, there was no “big donor” that was making the difference. ALL were involved in making it happen. In fact, in this weeks supplementary Torah reading, Parshat Shekalim (the first of four special supplements between now and Passover) we read that each person gave a half shekel. Nothing to big at all. But each person gave it. Together it developed into something great!
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Each of us has an opportunity to add that one small contribution to society that will add up to something great. We never know when or where it will happen, but we must know that we can make a difference. We can make a difference to one person or to the entire world.

For my uncle, it has become simple routine. Jewish people he encounters in business are asked to put on Teffilin. Some accept. Some decline. Usually, that's it. This time, his contribution to another Jew, made a world of a difference. It wasn’t a lot, but it added up to great things.

As the Lubavitcher Rebbe once said, “The very fact you know about someone who is in trouble means that in some way you are able to help. - - Otherwise, why would this knowledge have entered your world?

The Rebbe is telling us that there is always something we can do it. It may not be huge, but it will make a difference.

Never underestimate the effect of a good deed.