Learning from a Modern Miracle

BH

“Lech Lecha Meartzecha” – The three words that this weeks Parsha begins with. This phrase means “go forth from your land.” I can’t help but think… All this talk about 33 Chilean miners, being trapped in a mine for 69 days, and being rescued from the land during the week of Lech Lecha.

In the Parsha, G-d is telling Avraham (Abraham) to go forth from the land in which he is currently situated and to relocate to another land. G-d does not tell him where, nor does he tell him for how long. What Avraham does know is that this new locale will provide better life for him and the descendants G-d promises him in the second verse of the Parsha.

In Chile, 33 miners were tested, in what can be compared to a similar situation as Avraham’s. August 5^th, 2010, a mine collapses in the region of Copiapó. 33 miners are feared gone, as the entrance/exit is now blocked, they are more than 2,000 feet below the earth’s surface, and there emergency food supply is only expected to last 3 days at best.

It’s a dark and gloomy situation, with literally no vision of a viable rescue. Yet, a few weeks down the line, rescue workers discover that all 33 are alive, and have maintained good spirits and health with the help of one another. An open modern day miracle! However, the ordeal is far from over. Nearly two more months will pass before these men will see daylight again.

Avraham was sent from his mine, the land of Charan, to the surface, the Holy Land. It wasn’t an easy ride, but a ride worth the wait. It’s easy for us to read the story of Avraham year after, but I’m not certain we have ever had a “current event” that helps us really understand.

Avraham discovers that there is a G-d. He makes it his mission to spread the word. Some choose to listen, others scoff. The world continues, idol worship and other forms of deities come and go. Today the entire world, whether they choose admit it or not, sees the hand of that G-d that Avraham discovered.

G-d tested Avraham. Time and time again. Avraham continuously chose to accept G-d and obey his command. Today we must still see ourselves as Avraham. We must “go forth from our land,” meaning, out of our comfort zone and toward a lifestyle that G-d shows us. We are to take the leap and we will be led to great reward.

On a closing note, while speaking of “Lech Lecha” – “going from your land” – I would like to share some happenings in my personal life.

This week, I relocated from Brooklyn, NY to Montreal, Canada. I went from my land, my comfort zone, to a new location to explore new experiences. While I had been in Montreal for my high school years, this time would be different.

This time, I am a young professional working with the staff at Chabad @ McGill University in Montreal’s downtown. In the spirit of Avraham and this week’s Parsha, I hope that this relocation – this “going forth” - will reap reward and happiness.

Shabbat Shalom from the Chabad Center (or is it "centre" now that I'm in Canada :) ?) at McGill University in Montreal, Canada.

(Learn more about (or donate to :) ) Chabad @ McGill by visiting www.ChabadMcGill.com)

Choosing Life to Live

Please accept my apologies for the late email. My new yeas resolution will be to get better with the timing of my pre-Shabbat emails. Please, hold me to it.

(This email is memory of Michoel Aron ben Avraham - Michael – Noeth hy”d, who lost his life in an act of cowardly terror on September 11^th, 2001 at the Pentagon. Michaal’s, and all the other innocent victims’ yahrtzeitz were Thursday of this week, the 23^rd of the Jewish month of Elul.)

This Shabbat* is the last Shabbat of the Jewish year 5770. In the coming week we will celebrate Rosh Hashana and the beginning of what we pray will be a happy, healthy and successful new year for ourselves, all Jewish people and the world as a whole. Welcome to 5771.

With the approach of Rosh Hashana and the culmination of the month of Elul, we will aim our focus of the last few days of 5770 to offer our prayers for world peace and gainful life. We are taught that during the month of Elul the King is in the field, HaMelech BaSodeh. The is to mean that G-d our King of Kings is easily accessible during the 12^th month to receive our prayers and requests for the new year.

Knowing that G-d is listening at this time – and not only listening, but seeking our interaction – What will you say? What will you choose?

Interestingly, during the first of this week’s joint Torah portion of Nitzavim and Vayailech we are actually given a tip. In fact we are given an answer.

I call this day upon heaven and earth as witnesses. I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse. And you shall choose life, so that you and your children may live. (Deuteronomy 30:19)

Great, we are told in the Torah that we should choose life. You may be asking yourself, I need this email to tell me to choose life at this time? Who would choose death?

Well, let’s take a look. There is living and there is existing. When we approach the King who breathes life into us, the G-d who provides for us and the master who has come out to see us, what will we ask for? Will we ask for health and wealth so we can sit around simply existing, or will we ask for wellbeing and livelihood in order to live?

What’s the difference? For one, existing can be viewed as selfish. Living is including others. Living involves giving back. Living is making a difference. To choose life means to choose to live a meaningful life, a life committed to values and a higher purpose.

Will my presence on this earth make a difference? That’s the question we need be asking ourselves at this time. Would anyone in the long run even realize I existed? Is my life productive, worthwhile?

When the first Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, wanted to bless one eof his followers, Reb Yekutiel Liepler with wealth, Liepler declined. He said he was afraid it would distract him from more spiritual pursuits. He was afraid it wouold distract him from “Living!” The Rebbe then offered to bless him with longevity. This, Reb Yekutiel feared wouold lead to a long but empty life.

Reb Yekutiel chose to “live” rather than “exist.” He chose to live a life that would be purposeful, productive and really would make a tangible difference.

As we stand just five days before Rosh Hashanah, and ahead of “Motzei Shabbos Selichos” – the supplication prayers we offer the Saturday night prior to Rosh Hashana**, let us resolve to choose life. Let us live lives of Torah values and noble deeds. And may we be blessed with a good and sweet new year.

*This Shabbat, while it is the Shabbat before a new Jewish month, will not include the customary “blessing of the new month” as do other Shabbats prior to the new month. According to the Chassidic Master, the Baal Shem Tov, "G-d Himself blesses the month of Tishrei, and it is with the power of this blessing that the people of Israel bless the other months of the year."

**The Selichot prayers are offered every year on the Saturday night prior to Rosh Hashana. (unless Rosh Hashana is on Monday or Tuesday, when the Selichot would be conducted the previous Saturday night.) The custom is to do the Selichot on Sunday morning but at the earliest time possible on Sunday. Thus, we offer the prayers on Saturday night, just after the halcahik midnight passes (just about 1:00 AM in most places). For more about the Selichot prayers and for the full Hebrew-English text, please visit: http://tinyurl.com/6moefg.

Holiness in the IDF

BH

Back from the Holy Land once again.

Mayanot Israel – Birthright Bus 559:
- Forty American college students or recent graduates
- A charming student leader
- A “Spiritual Guide” (me )
- A youthful Israeli coordinator
- A humorous tour guide
- An adored security guard/medic
- An obnoxious bus driver
- Eight very special Israeli soldiers.

For the third time this year, I trekked through the Land of Israel in lighting speed with my Mayanot group. Caesarea, Tiberias, The Golan and Galil, Tzfat, Tel Aviv, the Negev, Jerusalem and more – all in 10 quick days. Sure, I’ve seen 98% of the sites before, but this time it was different – and I’m not only referring to the above 100°F weather. What I speak of is my “crew” – the staff and participants of Mayanot 559.

On this trip, as in the past, my group and I shared many special moments. TEN members of our family celebrated their Bat Mitzvah at the Western Wall! Also at the Kotel, FIVE 559ers entered Jewish manhood as a Bar Mitzvah. ELEVEN of us adopted Jewish names for the first time in our life. In addition, FOUR of our sisters kindled the lights of Shabbat for the very first time and EIGHT of our brothers performed their first donning of Teffilin.

So, there you have it; the numbers of Mayanot 559. There were many great moments for our group as we celebrated together, danced together, prayed together and grew together.

After presenting all these number, there is one that particularly sticks out for me, especially this week. “Eight very special Israeli Soldiers.”

As has become a popular component of Taglit, our now close-knit family grew by eight for five of our 10 days. Those eight being “Chayalim” – Soldiers - in the Israel Defense Forces, the IDF. All from very different upbringings from each other, these eight young men and women quickly morphed into important roles on our trip. Our American youth and Israeli took “integration” to a new level. Friendships grew quickly and everyone was learning each others’ cultures.

The American student and the Israeli soldier – today’s Jewish youth. From very different backgrounds and levels of observance our crew quickly learned that our soldiers were special people. For hours and hours, every day, our remarkable gang-of-eight spoke of their love for Israel and their privilege of defending her.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe held the IDF troops in high regard and Mayanot 559’s Chayalim are no different. The Rebbe once stated that those that have total willingness to defend our Land and our people 24/7 are of a different level. These are people that even have the ability to bless others.

This week’s Parshah, Ki Teitzei states (Deuteronomy 23:15) "V’hoya Machanecho Kadosh “And your [military] camps shall be holy.” This is where the Torah tells of several requirements that need be performed to ensure that the Jewish military camps are regarded as holy and are presented that way.

After five days with our IDF troops, I see this verse still very much in play. I overheard one of the soldiers discussing with an American participant. His display of Jewish pride made me shiver. I was amazed. During that conversation I heard him say several times how privileged he is to fight for the Jewish people.

All eight of our soldiers made it their duty during five short days to deliver this specific message. While some of them are admittedly not observant by any stretch, their sense of Jewish pride and honor pierces the highest ceilings! To me, this public display of Yiddishkeit – Judaism – makes today’s IDF camps Kadosh, holy.

I have led three trips, and if my math skills serve me right, that means I have now had 24 proud IDF members in my groups. While all of them, and even throw in the three security guards I’ve worked with – all former soldiers – have displayed unbelievable pride and honor, this group taught me a few things.

In five days with my most recent group of soldiers I learned the importance of speaking out for your cause, even when it may not be popular. Not every American kid agrees with them, but they simply did not stop. They were going to inform their new friends about their selfless defense of the Jewish state and of the Jewish people.

Pride. Honor. Self-sacrifice. This ensures that your military camps will be holy.

This defines our Chayalim.

May G-d bestow unlimited blessing upon our brave brothers and sisters that stand guard over our Holy Land!

Competition: It Helps us Grow

BH

A little boy runs into his public school three minutes after the final bell. Huffing and puffing he twirls around a corner, his school bag flopping through air. He makes a dash down the stretch to his first-grade classroom and comes to a crash landing at the door. The teacher has already begun and she won’t let him in.

The little boy knocks, but to no avail. In despair, he sets his backpack on the floor, sits down next to it with his back against the wall, lowers his head and begins to sob. After a few moments he hears a voice. “Evan, this is G-d. I hate to see you so sad, why are you sitting in the hallway crying?”

Momentarily startled, Evan lifts his head and looks around but sees no one there. He speaks out into the empty hallway. “I’m sad and I’m crying because they won’t let me into the classroom.”

G-d calmly replies, “Don’t worry son; these days, they won’t let me in either!”

- - - -

I mention this joke for a reason. We as people – especially Jewish people – have been conditioned to question G-d. We all secretly convince ourselves that we could even do a better job creating the world if we were given the chance. In truth, that’s Jewish mentality!

In this week's Torah reading, Parshat Re’eh, it states, "Behold I place before you today the blessing and the curse," i.e., good vs. evil, life vs. death. This in itself develops many questions. Why create evil? Why make it a choice? Why not just create everyone happy and peaceful?

Rabbi Elisha Greenbaum, a writer for Chabad.org actually makes a comparison as such:

“A few years ago members of the Department of Education issued had a “brilliant” idea: from now on no scores were to be kept when umpiring kids' sports. Losing, competing and all those other nasty vices went against the latest political correctness manifesto.” Writes Rabbi Greenbaum.

“The only problem” continues Rabbi Greenbaum, “ was that the kids didn't buy it. Sports, by definition, are competitive. Without a method of keeping score, with no winner or loser, the exercise becomes pointless.”

This past week I attended the JCC Maccabi Games in Richmond, VA as a volunteer. I realized first hand that taking the “competitive” out of sports would be ultra silly. 800 young Jewish athletes from across the USA, Canada and Israel came together to compete – not just to play.

The competitions however aren’t based on hate; they are based on love and friendship. We are playing with each other as Jewish people. These young athletes aren’t growing up with hatred towards others for having lost along the way. It’s in fact the exact opposite. When one team loses, they in turn learned how to better themselves to prevent the same result next time.

In life we have the same exact scenario. God created good and evil. There is a reason he didn’t create a leveled playing field. Would that not pull the purpose out of what we do? If there was no evil to overcome, what would be so wonderful about “good”? It wouldn’t be “good” it would just be!

At the Maccabi games, I volunteered for three days to man Chabad of Virginia’s booth at Hang Time, the “chill area” for the athletes. We had Teffilin, Shabbat candles, prayer books and more. I was amazed at how many people came over to the booth to participate.

These athletes knew that in everycompetition, you need help to win and for many of them, that help came in the form of G-d. Even in a society where so many grow up questioning G-d or even choosing to not believe, the Maccabi athletes proved something to me: No matter what walk of life, we all believe that there is “something” out there that can help us.

“We did the Tefilin at the games last year and we won every game! We want G-d on our side again!” exclaimed one young man who was on his way to a soccer match. Dozens of girls took home their very first set of Shabbat candles and over a hundred boys donned teffilin, dozens for the first time!

Without a scoreboard, the Maccabi Games become pointless. Without good and evil, life becomes pointless. The way it was set up, leaves us with a purpose and a desire win.

If you have followed me in the last couple of years, you’ll know that I have done many thing like this. I’ve been to far flung places to assist Jewish people with their observance. I’ve led Passover in Africa, I’ve led dozens of American college students on trips to Israel, and now, I have volunteered at the Maccabi games.

Each time, it’s a new experience and each time I am re-inspired. Even in my own backyard.

Comfot, Comfort. Its On the Way!

This week’s Parsha is called V’Eschanan. In the Parsha, Moshe (Moses) tells the Jewish people how he begged G-d to allow him to enter the Holy Land. G-d refuses instead asking Moshe to ascend a mountain from where he will be granted a view of the land.

Moshe continues his “repetition” of what the Torah has taught up until this point. He describes the Exodus from Egypt and the Giving of the Torah. Moshe calls them unprecedented historical events in human history. Moshe said the following: "Has there ever occurred this great thing, or has the likes of it ever been heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire... and live? ... You were shown, to know, that the L-rd is G-d... there is none else beside Him."

Mosh goes on to predict that in future generations the people will turn away from G-d, worship idols, and be exiled from their land and scattered amongst the nations but will ultimately, re-seek G-d and His commandments.

Our Parshah also includes a repetition of the Ten Commandments, and the verses of the Shema which declare the fundamentals of the Jewish faith: the unity of G-d ("Hear O Israel: the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one"); the mitzvot to love G-d, study His Torah, and bind "these words" as tefillin on our arms and heads, and inscribe them in the mezuzot affixed on the doorposts of our homes.

This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachamu” – the Shabbat of comfort. The name of the Shabbat comes from the haftarah in which it states “Nachamu nachamu ami-Comfort, comfort My people, says your G-d” (Isaiah 40:1). This is the first of seven “Haftarat of Consolotaion” that follow Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av.

The Jewish people have been compared throughout history to the cycle of the moon (which can also be an explanation as to why we operate according to the lunar calendar). We have grown and diminished. We have been at full glow, and we have been utterly invisible. On the 15^th of every month, the moon is full. We are taught that this day is special as it continues to teach that we need to be at our fullest level of joy and happiness.

The fifteenth of Av has an even greater display of joy, as it follows the deep sorrow and mourning of the ninth of Av. The light and joy which follows darkness have an added, unique power. Hence, the Haftarah directly after the ninth, and immediately preceding the fifteenth is “double certain” that consolation will follow, as it states twice, “comfort, comfort my people!”

The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us that even if we are still at a point of descent into darkness this idea can still help us. The darkness and desolation are not a cause for despair: on the contrary, they point to the greater joy which will follow. The Rebbe stressed that the greater the darkness is, the greater the light and joy that follow will be.

Recognizing this allows us to always find comfort and consolation, even at the darkest moments as individuals, in our lives and as a people, in our history.

Immediately following our darkest day, we are promptly told that comfort will follow. Twice! We should all take a moment to remember this in our lives at during our difficult moments. We must remember that any dark situation MUST mean that light is coming! Dark is dark… and we can’t fight dark with a weapon. The only way to fight darkness is by adding light!

One small candle in the biggest of rooms will still provide light! One small mitzvah – good deed – in what can seem to be a dark world will also provide light.

Let’s do our part to add the light and joy of Torah and Mitzvot to the world!

Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, NY

A Special Vision

BH

This Shabbat, the one immediately preceeding Tish’ah B’Av (9th of Av)* is titled Shabbat Chazon – A Shabbat of Vision. The word, and title, come from the first verse of the Haftarah; “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem” .

The haftorah is the third of a series of three "haftarot of affliction." These three haftarot are read during the “Three Weeks” period** between the fasts of 17 Tammuz and the upcoming 9 Av.

Isaiah speaks to the Jewish people regarding a G-dly vision he experienced, chastising the residents of Judah and Jerusalem for having rebelled against G d, criticizing them for repeating their errors and not abandoning their sinful ways. He uses pretty harsh terminology to relay his message. He compares the Jewish leaders to the rulers of the evil Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah then changes tone, calmly encouraging the people to repent and to perform acts of goodness and kindness towards the needy, orphans and widows. The haftorah concludes with a promise that G d will eventually reestablish Israel's judges and leaders, when "Zion shall be redeemed through justice and her penitents through righteousness."

The first verse of the haftarah speaks of a vision. What does it mean to be visionary? What does it mean to have a vision for your life and pursuits?

At its face value, it means to develop goals and objectives; it means taking future potential into consideration and aiming for a specific goal. It is the realization that there “is more to it” than what we see now. "Now" is the reality; but “vision” can alter the way it is perceived. Vision brings excitement and focus.

The problem is that with the time, dreaming becomes more difficult for the realistic person. Disappointments will catch up to you and take its due toll. That raises the question; At what point do we realize that our “focus” and “goals” are really just dreams?

Answer: Never!

A brighter future is always to remain our priority! Of course, we must take realism and actuality into consideration, but none of that discounts a better tomorrow! Consider this: Our Holy Temple, along with our entire Jewish Commonwealth, was destroyed by the Romans almost two thousand years ago.

It's been rough ever since, and we're fully aware of our reality. Every year, on the fast of Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, we mournfully remember the destruction and recognize the pain we are currently in. Yet, the Shabbat right before is called "Shabbat of Vision," referencing the “vision of Isaiah" regarding the destruction of the Holy Temple.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, an eighteenth century Chassidic master, taught us that the title "Shabbat of Vision" actually refers to the literal vision of the future that G-d gives on the Shabbat before our day of mourning. We are shown a vision of a rebuilt Temple, a reconstituted People and better world.

We are better prepared to mourn, knowing our hope – our Vision – never dies. The “Shabbat of Vision” assures that our recognition of "now" doesn't beat our hope for the future. Of course, you know well that I can’t see this Divinely-granted vision with my own physical eyes; but if G d's showing it to me, it must be resonating somewhere in my soul.

So this Shabbat, I'll prepare to tackle reality on Tisha B'Av by first searching myself to find G d's vision of a beautiful future.

Will you join me?

*Tish’ah B’Av – the 9th of Av is a fast day and day of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of Israel. We abstain from eating, drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather shoes and marital relations. The fast is observed from sundown on the 8th of Av until nightfall of the 9th. It is customary to sit on the floor, or low rising seat until miday of the 9th. We refrain from Torah Study unless it references laws of mourning or the destruction of the Temple. Teffilin are worn in the afternoon as opposed to the morning like usual. For more information regarding Tish’ah B’Av, please visit, www.chabad.org/697770

**The “Three Weeks” period marks a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed from the fast of the Seventeeth of Tammuz until the fast of the Ninth of Av. To learn more about this period, please visit, www.chabad.org/144558

Lasting Inspiration

BH

This Shabbat we read the portions of Matos and Maasei as a combined Torah portion. The first explains how Moshe told over the laws concerning the annulment of vows to the leaders of Israel’s tribes. The “Hebrews” head to war with Midian, citing their role in plotting the moral destruction of Israel. The Torah tells of the war spoils and how they were allocated amongst the people.

Later, the tribes of Reuven (Reuben) and Gad (which were later joined half of the tribe of Menashe (Menasseh)) ask for the land east of the Jordan (Today actually known as Jordan) to be their portion of the Promised Land, acknowledging the prime pastureland it provides for their cattle. Moshe is initially angered by the request, but subsequently agrees on the condition that they first join, and in fact lead, the conquest of the lands to the west.

The second portion, Maasei, begins with the phrase, Eileh Maasei Bnai Yisroel – These are the journeys of Israel. ‘Journeys’, as the name of the portion translates, perfectly describes our people. We are wanderers. Voluntarily or by expulsion, this is part of nearly each of us, or of our parents or grandparents. How is it that we keep going?!

However, when we left Egypt, the forty years in the desert were actually not spent in aimless wandering. Every move was "by the word of G‑d,” as the Torah tells us in this Parsha. The Torah in this very Parsha rejects the thought of G‑d abandoning us.

We, as Jewish people do not “go”; we are “sent”. He who sends us always accompanies us, whether we are aware of it or not! The Jew never felt alone, though he was surrounded by enemies. This was always and still is today the beauty of our religion.

I just returned earlier this week from leading a Taglit: Birthright trip to Israel. 40 college aged students from all over the country. Most did not know each other before, but are now best friends. These people didn’t “go” to Israel, they were “sent”! There was a reason each of them needed to be there!

For some it was to find new companionship while for others it was religious inspiration. Yet, some needed a break from reality, and others in fact needed a reality check! Our Birthright bus, titled, “Mayanot 260” contained 54 different people (40 American participants, eight Israeli soldiers that join for the opportunity of integration, four staff, a bus driver and a security guard). Each of us were on a Journey.

You could in fact look at our bus and summarize in one word – yes you guessed it – “Journeys”! Some of us were just at a stopover on our journey and for some, the journey had just begun. Four of us donned Teffilin for the first time. The girls lit Shabbat candles together as a family! Our now close family even celebrated the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah of two of our own! One of us even received our Jewish name! And even our soldiers – who put their lives on the line everyday to protect OUR homeland - were on a journey!

This was the journey of Judaism. This was the journey of friendship. This was the journey of inspiration.G-d, the one who “sent” us all on this journey through Israel, was with us every step of the way. There is no doubt in my mind. I am convinced I felt it on 10 out of 10 days during the trip!

We spent 10 days on a bus touring and studying our beautiful land. The topics discussed in the Parsha this week such as the Jordan River, Judea, Samaria and more are topics that were constantly on our minds! The journey could not have been in a better place and certainly not at a better time!

As Shabbat comes in, I recall where I was last week as the sun set. Lighting Shabbat candles with the girls of Mayanot 260 in Jerusalem followed by an inspiring Friday night service at the Kotel, the western wall. We touched the wall as we prayed and cried and as we sang and danced. What an amazing inspiration!

I told myself then, that I would not let the inspiration my group gave me disappear to fast! I would like to share some of that with you, and I hope I have!