It’s YOUR day!
May 26, 2023 | This week we read a special reading for Shavuot. Read more about it here.
Here’s a little challenge. Go through the calendar and mark off special days of celebration that you can’t afford to miss. How many are there?
There’s your birthday. If you’re married, your anniversary and your spouse’s birthday. Maybe a yahrziet of a loved one. Children’s birthdays.
Are there others?
Our lives are filled with momentous occasions, but not all of them get marked in ink on the calendar. It’s really only the life-altering moments. The moments that shaped who we are. The dates that gave us our identities.
I have one more date - that fits the bill - for you to add. And it begins tonight. Shavuot The 6th-7th of Sivan on the Jewish calendar. May 26-27 this year.
Notice, I am not suggesting Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. I’m not telling you to mark down Passover or Sukkot. Because Shavuot is different. It isn’t just a Jewish holiday. It is your day. The date that gave birth to your identity and formed you. Like another birthday.
When our ancestors camped at the foot of Sinai, they experienced something that changed the course of history. They became the Jewish nation and received unparalleled Divine wisdom and values that would shape society for the entire world. Their lives were invested with meaning and purpose. The Jewish story, that you are an indispensable part of, was born.
But it isn’t only the global impact of Shavuot that is noteworthy.
If you take a close look at the 10 Commandments, you’ll notice that they are written in the singular: I am the L-rd, your (singular) G-d. The Midrash notes that every Jew present felt as if G-d was talking directly to them. Only to them. It was a moment of personal transformation. A moment of rebirth. A moment that shaped their personal identity.
This isn’t just a story of 3000 years ago. The Midrash also teaches that all the souls of future generations of Jews were present at Sinai. We also heard G-d address us. Personally. Judaism is a deep part of our identity and invests each of our lives with inner satisfaction and profound purpose.
If you identify as Jewish, Shavuot is your day. If you take pride in the Jewish values that shaped society - like social responsibility, respect for human life, equality, and purpose - Shavuot is your day. If Judaism is important to you, Shavuot is your day.
So, if you haven’t yet, mark tomorrow and Shabbat in your calendar. And celebrate it. Celebrate it with hearing the Torah reading that reenacts the 10 Commandments. Celebrate with cheesecake, ice cream and blintzes. And of course, you’re invited to celebrate it with us at Dirah, where we’ll have all of that and more.
Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Menashe
A Gift of 38 Million Dollars
May 19, 2023 | This week we read the Parshah of Bamidbar. Read more about it here.
Someone bought you a $38 million gift this week!
The most valuable book ever sold at auction was snatched up this week at Sotheby’s for a record breaking sum of over $38M. And guess what that book was? A copy of the Torah!
The Codex Sassoon - a leatherbound manuscript handwritten on 792 pages of sheepskin - has been dated to the 9th or 10th century and is the oldest existing near-complete copy of the Torah.
It was bought by Alfred Moses, the former US Ambassador to Romania, on behalf of the Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv. What inspired him to fork out such a huge sum of money for the book?
“The Hebrew Bible is the most influential book in history and constitutes the bedrock of Western civilization. I rejoice in knowing it belongs to the Jewish people,” Moses said in a statement. “It was my mission, realizing the historic significance of Codex Sassoon, to see that it resides in a place with global access to all people.”
This work - a book of Torah - belongs to the Jewish people. It belongs to you. And Alfred Moses wanted you to have it.
Over 3000 years ago, a different Moses had the same idea when he ascended Mt Sinai. The Midrash explains why the Torah was given in the wilderness - in middle of the Sinai desert - instead of in Israel or another civilized place. '“Just as the desert has no owner, so too no individual or group can claim sole ownership over the Torah. It is the possession of every Jew.”
The Torah is our shared heritage and each of us have unique claim to it. It is no more the rabbi’s than it is the layperson’s. It doesn’t belong to the scholar any more than the illiterate. The Torah is referred to as a collective inheritance. Just like someone’s estate goes to their children no matter how old, smart or worthy they are, the Torah is our birthright and is ours whether or not we have worked for it.
But it isn’t enough to have it as an inheritance - we should show up and claim ownership. Another Midrash notes that every Jew had to be present at Sinai for G-d to give the Torah. If even one person - man, woman or child - would have been missing, G-d would not have shared with us His guidebook for life.
As much as Torah belongs to all of us collectively, it also belongs to each of us individually. As valuable as the 1100 year old Codex is to the Jewish people, your copy of the Torah that you have at home or the one on your screen is just as important. You don’t have to spend $38M but you have to invest time and effort.
Next week we celebrate Shavuot, the anniversary of the giving of the Torah at Sinai. Of all the Jewish holidays, Shavuot is one that we should all feel a reason to celebrate. It commemorates a moment that formed the Jewish people and shaped history. But more importantly, it commemorates a moment that is personal to each one of us. It is when you and I received a priceless gift from G-d.
We’ll be celebrating Shavuot next Friday afternoon, May 26, with a reading of the 10 Commandments (with an ice cream bar and dairy dinner), reenacting the historic moment at Sinai. And just like the first time around, we hope every Jew can be there to accept their gift. I hope you can be there to accept your gift. If you are going to be in town next Friday, please join us for this special celebration.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Because I Said So
May 12, 2023 |This week we read the Parshahs of Behar & Bechukotai. Read more about them here.
My kids don't like when I tell them to do something "because I said so." They are willing to listen (most of the time) but want to know why. I don't blame them; I don't like being told what to do either.
Making sense of life and wanting to understand everything is a natural human instinct. And it's virtuous. But it also highlights a shortcoming. We like knowing the reason for things because we want to be in control. We're afraid of letting go and putting faith in others. We are nervous to make ourselves vulnerable and open to the unknown.
But there's value in blindly following someone you love or respect. Relationships are not built on rational understanding but on commitment and trust. When you step away from yourself, you make room for someone else.
When my children do what I've asked them to because they understand why, they remain in control. They are doing something they understand; I have just helped them reach that understanding. But if they are doing it just because I said so, then they're making space in their lives for me. They're experiencing the deep loving relationship that we share.
So reverting to "because I said so" is not just lazy parenting (although it often can be), it can be a way of communicating a profound level of your relationship. It's creating a space for a connection that transcends intelligence, in hope that your child reciprocates and accepts.
Judaism is full of rules. Torah's laws and values govern almost every area of life. We appreciate the depth and brilliance of some of the Mitzvahs and accept them wholeheartedly. But then there are some that seem to stifle us. They seem irrational, outdated or plain senseless.
The different types of Mitzvahs have different names and the irrational ones are called Chukim. Interestingly, the word chukim is related to the Hebrew word for engraved - chakuk. This is not by chance. Performing a Mitzvah that transcends rationality shows that our relationship with G-d is etched deep in our hearts. Going beyond our own reason for G-d's sake is the deepest expression of our relationship with Him.
If you view your Judaism only as a collection of moral laws and rituals, than the super-rational laws will be challenging. But if your Judaism is a relationship with G-d - which it should be - than the super-rational laws are the most precious and profound.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
A Second Chance
May 5, 2023 | This week we read the Parshah of Emor. Read more about it here.
Happy Passover!
No, I'm not a month off schedule. Nor am I losing my mind. Today is a second Passover - Pesach Sheni - when Jews who missed celebrating Passover in Temple times had a second chance at it.
Here's the origin story of this day: In the first year after the Exodus there was a group of people who were ritually impure and unable to participate in the first anniversary Pesach offering. They approached Moses and complained that it wasn't fair for them to miss out. Moses conferred with G-d, and G-d informed Moshe and the Jewish nation about a new Holiday, Pesach Sheni, when whoever couldn't participate in the Pesach celebration can make up for it.
Was this Holiday part of the original script for Judaism? Even Moses - who learned the whole Torah from G-d at Sinai - didn't know about it! Did G-d just decide to add a new element to Judaism on the spot?
There's a beautiful Chassidic teaching that explains this:
Our relationship with G-d exists on a number of levels. There is the contractual relationship we have with G-d. It is the ideal that G-d wants from the Jewish people and from humanity; this is outlined in Torah - a manual for living on the straight and narrow. From the perspective of Torah, there is no alternative to obedience. If someone breaks a Torah precept, there's no recourse. Like a business contract - if one side doesn't live up to their side of the deal they've broken the contract and the deal falls through.
But there's another dimension to our connection to G-d. We have a personal relationship with the Divine, like a child to a parent. Yes, the child should respect their parent and follow their wishes, but their relationship is inherent and not dependent on that behavior. Our relationship with G-d transcends Torah, and if we can access that depth of ourselves, and by extension that depth of our connection with the Divine, everything can be forgiven. From that vantage point of our personal relationship, everything is redefined and we are always given another chance.
The group of Jews who came to Moses knew that there was no room within Torah to allow them to participate in the Pesach offering - they were ritually impure. From the contractual perspective they were off the hook. They would have to wait until the next Passover.
But their souls felt incomplete. They had a deep longing for the spiritual experience of the sacrifice. Their complaint to Moses was an expression of their transcendent connection with G-d; it overrode the Torah relationship dynamic and elicited a new opportunity for them to connect with G-d. Their desire to celebrate Passover opened a new channel that formed a new Holiday on the Jewish calendar for eternity.
We can learn from them in our lives:
If something happened that makes us feel distant from G-d or from our loved ones and friends, it can often feel like there's no way back. Trust has been broken and the relationships compromised. Or when we feel distant from ourselves because of things that we've been through, we feel broken and lost. Logically, the situation doesn't allow us to connect.
But if we can find within ourselves our core identity, a point of self or relationship that is essential and can't be compromised, we can see ourselves - and connect with others - in a new light. When we are sincere and vulnerable, we discover a place within ourselves that leads to renewal and we always have a second chance.
So today is a celebration of second chances. If you've lost faith in yourself, give yourself another chance. If a relationship has soured, give it another chance. And if you feel distant from G-d, give your relationship with Him another chance. Because He is always open for another chance.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
3 Tips on Loving Others
April 28, 2023 | This week we read the Parshahs of Acharei Mot & Kedoshim. Read more about them here.
There are some people that we naturally gravitate towards and like. And then there are people that just make us nervous. We are each unique and there are going to be people that rub us the wrong way. Yet Judaism encourages us to love every single human being. Not just tolerate, or even like - but love!
"Love your fellow as yourself," the famous dictum from this week's Torah reading, is easier said than done. Rabbi Akiva famously said that this was the most important principle in the whole Torah, but he didn’t explain how to do it. How can we actually respect and feel lovingly towards every human being?
It turns out that this verse isn't only an instruction to love others; a close reading shows that it actually also provides tips on how to do so. There are three Hebrew words that shape this most famous Mitzvah - and each word guides us in how to be able to fulfill it.
LOVE - Ve’ahavta
There's an anecdote of a person devouring a tuna steak and saying "I love fish". A wise man overheard this and critiqued him: "If you really loved fish, you would have let it live - you don't love fish, you love yourself!"
The precise meaning of love is vague, but one thing is for sure - real love is selfless. The first step to loving others is to start thinking about what you can give them and not what they can give you. Don’t think about what how they make you feel, but about how you can make them feel. When you approach people with an other-centered mindset, it changes the way you interact.
YOUR FELLOW - Lerei’acha
See in other people the things that you share, not your differences. We may all be so different, but there’s so much we also have in common. Look at another person as a “fellow” - defined by Merriam Webster as "an equal in rank, power, or character." See another person as a human being just like you, a beautiful person created in G-d's image.
AS YOURSELF - Kamocha
If you don't love yourself, you can't love others. Only once you learn to value yourself are you able to value and respect others. People with low self esteem feel judged, and project that by judging others. When you are comfortable in your own skin, you don't look at other people as threatening your existence and you can appreciate them for who they are.
Love. Your fellow. As yourself. If we can all practice this, we'll have a much better world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Be Judgmental!
April 21, 2023 | This week we read the Parshahs of Tazriah and Metzorah. Read more about them here.
In this week's Torah reading we learn an important lesson about judging others.
We're generally taught not to judge other people. "Don't be judgmental." We hear that all the time. But that's virtually impossible. We are human beings and we naturally judge others and jump to conclusions. Life would be too difficult to navigate otherwise.
The Parshah gives an alternative approach. We read about the metaphysical skin disease, Tzara'at, that would afflict a person who spoke negatively about others. When a person was diagnosed with this condition, they were considered ritually impure and had to be quarantined and spend time alone outside the city until they healed.
An interesting detail of this law is that only a Kohen (priest) could diagnose this condition. The greatest rabbi and expert couldn't pronounce this person impure while even the most unlearned Kohen could (after consulting the expert). This is unique in Jewish law and the reason for it is profound.
There are many other ritual impurities in Jewish tradition, but none quite as severe as this. Tzara'at is the only impurity and warranted complete isolation. The reason is simple: this person engaged in anti-social behavior. Instead of allowing them to erode the fabric of community, they were to be excluded from society until they can be socially rehabilitated.
But no matter the rationale, this was a severe punishment. And Torah was sensitive to the plight of this individual. That is why only a Kohen was empowered with this diagnosis.
The Kohanim are lovers of the people. The first priest Aharon is said to have "loved peace, chased peace and loved every person (Ethics of Our Fathers 1:13)." Even today, the priests are enjoined to bless the congregation with love - a responsibility they fulfill during the prayer services on Festivals (and in daily prayers in Jerusalem).
Only someone coming from a place of love could be trusted to judge the person with Tzara'at. Only someone who cared for the individual was allowed to subject them to the harsh treatment of social isolation.
This past Shabbat, as I was studying a chapter of Ethics of Our Fathers, I realized that Judaism actually encourages us to judge others. The text reads: "Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perachiah would say: appoint a mentor, acquire a friend and judge everyone favorably (Ethics of Our Fathers 1:7)."
We most definitely should judge people, but we should judge them favorably. Instead of distancing ourselves from other people and remaining indifferent to them, we are encouraged to actively judge them from a place of love and concern. Instead of withholding judgement and remaining neutral, we should assume the best and give people the benefit of the doubt.
This is true of judging random strangers online and true of judging our spouses and children too. There's room for criticism and discipline, but only if it is motivated by love and concern. It is also true of judging ourselves. It is ok to be self-critical but only when it comes from a place of self-love and a desire for growth. If it is just negative self-talk then it is unwarranted and unhealthy.
So next time you find yourself judging someone, check yourself to see where it is coming from. Only allow yourself to judge them from a place of love, care and concern. That judgement is favorable to them and to yourself. Otherwise you have no right to judge.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Incremental Growth
April 14, 2023 | This week is Shabbat Zachor and we read the Parshah of Shemini.
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We had a really beautiful Passover, thank G-d. And I hope you did too. But now it is over. We are back to normal life and all too quickly the beauty of Passover fades into memory.
Passover is a radical divergence from routine. It is an island in time that stands apart from our regular lives. We deep clean our homes, stop eating normally and dive into three-thousand-odd years of history. In the moment it is beautiful and moving. But as soon as the curtains close, life goes back to normal and we go back to being our normal selves. The injection of faith wears off.
That is how it was at the first Passover too. The Jews experienced transcendent miracles that unraveled the very fabric of existence. In those moments they were moved by the Divine experienced and overwhelmed with love and awe of G-d. But the experiences didn’t change them. After they successfully crossed the Sea and life went back to normal, they quickly reverted to their regular selves - complaining ungratefully and dealing with crises of faith.
The Exodus happened to them and wasn’t a result of their efforts. It was an external force - G-d - that was pulling the strings and they were passive actors. The world around them changed but they didn’t.
That’s why they didn’t receive the Torah right away. For the Jews to become a nation under G-d and be ready to experience the Revelation at Sinai, they needed to grow and develop. They needed to be more spiritually mature. That takes time and work. Fast-tracked growth fades easily. Real growth is slow and incremental.
In Jewish mystical tradition, the human psyche is divided into 7 character modes or categories of emotional response. The inner work that the Jews needed, was to work through and nurture these 7 areas of the inner self. That’s why they stood at the foot at Sinai to receive the Torah exactly 7 weeks after the Exodus.
To break it down even further, each of these 7 character modes can be divided further into 7 - and each day of each week was an opportunity to work through a specific area of their character and behavior. Shavuot - the giving of the Torah - was the culmination of Jews’ slow and steady growth.
We mirror this effort every year, and between Passover and Shavuot we count the Omer. We count 49 days - 7 weeks of 7 days each - to prepare ourselves for Shavuot when we relive the giving of the Torah. Each day of this count we pick one aspect of our emotional capacity to grow and develop. It is a small movement but it adds up.
If Pesach is a temporary peak and escape from the stresses of life, the Omer period is a time for steady, incremental growth, within our daily lives. It may not seem like much, and you may not even sense any growth, but the small steps forward eventually add up to a giant leap. As the beginning of this message shows: the letter “i” is meaningless, but one letter turns into two, then three and eventually an entire concept is illustrated - “incremental growth.”
As we emerge from the Passover break back into the routine of life, let’s use each day to grow a little and work on one aspect of our character. This steady incremental growth will help us develop and grow into better versions of ourselves.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
P.S. There’s a custom to study Pirkei Avot/Ethics of Our Fathers during this time period - to reflect on our timeless tradition of ethics and learn to apply them to our modern living. You can read the text and teachings of Ethics of our Father here.
Telling Your Own Passover Story
April 7, 2023 | This week we read special readings for Passover. Read more about it here
The Smith's were proud of their family tradition and decided to compile a family history as a legacy for their children and grandchildren. Their only problem was how to write about great-uncle George, who was executed in the electric chair. They finally hired an experienced author who wrote:
"Great-uncle George occupied a chair of applied electronics at an important government institution, was attached to his position by the strongest of ties, and his death came as a great shock."
A story is more than a collection of facts, it is a narrative that is weaved together from those facts.
Our lives are stories, and it follows that the way we perceive our past shapes who we are in the present. We are not defined by what we've been through or what we have done, but by the way we look at those things and the narrative that we create with them. We can't change the past, but we can change the way we tell it - and that makes all the difference.
Interestingly, this is a subtle theme in the Seder. As you read through the text of the Haggadah this evening you’ll notice that it’s actually hard to find the Exodus story. There’s a lot of commentary, introductions, and analysis - but the basic storyline isn’t clear.
And even the story that we do tell doesn't come from the original Exodus story in the Torah. The Haggadah tells the story from a different set of verses - the script that a person would say when they brought their Bikurim, first fruit offering, to the Temple. Part of the ritual was to briefly recount the origins of Jewish history that led the Jews to the land of Israel where they enjoy its wonderful fruits. This short speech includes 4 sentences on the slavery and liberation from Egypt - and those form the basis of the retelling of the story in the Haggadah.
There's a profound reason why it was designed this way. Leaving Egypt is not only a moment of history but a national story that shaped the Jewish nation. A narrative that shapes each of our Jewish identities. It is our story. On Passover, we don't repeat the version of the story as it happened, but the way we experience it. We can’t read the story the way it is told by others. Each of us have to tell the story ourselves.
The Haggadah provides the framework, but every family that sits at the Seder has to recount the Jewish origin story as they experience it. That is why the base text is the one Jews would tell later when they reached the promised land. The details may sound the same every year in every home, but it's a whole different story. What leaving Egypt means to me is different to what it means to you. The story I will tell tonight will be different to the one you do. And that is the brilliance of the Haggadah.
What story will you tell this evening? What relevance do you find in the ancient story of the Exodus? What does it mean to you to be freed from your own Egypt - the things that hold you back from growth and spiritual advancement?
Wishing you a meaningful and joyous Passover - a zissen Pesach!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Gratitude: A Messianic Moment
March 31, 2023 | Parshat of Ki Tisa & a special reading of Tzav
Gratitude is more than just a tool to make you feel better. It can have profound cosmic impact and can elevate you beyond the tensions and turmoil of life.
The Torah reading this week continues to elaborate on the sacrificial offerings in the Temple. We are introduced to the Thanksgiving offering that was offered in gratitude to G-d. This offering was unique: we are told that in the Messianic era when the Temple will be rebuilt, all personal sacrifices will cease except for the Thanksgiving offering.
The sacrifices were an attempt to move closer to G-d from a place of imperfection. The animal represented an inner animal - the destructive tendencies of ego. Offering an animal on the altar symbolized an effort to sacrifice a person's ego and pride to connect with G-d.
The Thanksgiving offering was different. Giving thanks is an expression of humility. The Hebrew word for thanksgiving, Hoda'a, also means submission or admitting. To thank someone is to escape the selfish human condition and recognize the other. When a person thanks G-d for the blessings in their life, they have escaped from their ego and transcended their inner animal. They have accepted the divine hand guiding their life and made peace with it.
When Mashiach comes, the world will be perfected and there won't be any evil, jealousy, and selfish pride. We will no longer be plagued by the inner animal that needs to be sacrificed. We will already be in sync with our purpose and creator. But the Thanksgiving offering will be more relevant than ever, expressing our constant gratitude and validation of G-d's presence in our life.
This Sunday - 11 Nissan on the Jewish calendar - marks 121 years since the birth of the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. The Rebbe was a mentor and spiritual guide to millions around the world, and during his lifetime, he championed more than anyone the realization of this Messianic dream. In his letters, conversations and public talks, he constantly encouraged people to make the utopian vision of the Messianic era a reality in their lives - one moment at a time.
We haven't yet experienced the realization of the global Messianic redemption and there's still a lot of pain in the world. We struggle with inner imperfections and with outer adversaries. But we can still create personal Messianic moment in our lives. We do this every time we do a Mitzvah. We do this every time we put our needs aside for someone else. And we do this when we are grateful to G-d for our blessings.
When you are stuck in the struggle and focus only on your challenges, they consume you. There is no room for joy, as your problems take over your every thought. However, if you can find a way to focus on the blessings in your life and feel grateful for them you can rise above the troubles that rage inside you, sense G-d's presence and feel joy, a taste of Mashiach. The humility and selflessness that you feel in that moment dissolves all negativity and invites a powerful Divine force into your life.
For a few minutes every day think about how much you have to be thankful for. Offer a prayer of gratitude to G-d for the blessings in your life. Thank those around you for being there. For those few minutes, your troubles fade away and you will experience the peace and tranquility of Mashiach.
The morning liturgy has a series of blessings thanking G-d for the simple blessings in life that is a powerful reflection on gratitude. I suggest you say those, and then add your own list of things you're grateful for. By offering thanks for the good in our life, we can escape the chaos, and bring a Messianic consciousness into the world.
As we approach Passover, the celebration of our nation's first redemption, may our efforts herald the complete global redemption when the world will collectively experience an awakening - in the words of Maimonides (Laws of Kings 12:5): "In that era there will be neither famine nor war, neither envy nor strife, because good will emanate in abundance.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Menashe Wolf
The Art of Sacrifice
March 24, 2023 | Parshat of Ki Tisa & a special reading of Vayikra
Napoleon said: "Great achievement is usually born of great sacrifice." Any meaningful achievement requires sacrifice. To build relationships, you have to sacrifice your own needs. To chase your dreams, you have to make sacrifices. To get in shape, you have to sacrifice your comforts.
But not all sacrifices are worthwhile.
We often look back with regrets about the sacrifices we made. The things we missed out on. The meaningful opportunities we squandered for the sake of other, less important, things. Too often people sacrifice important things for lesser meaningful things that seem urgent. How can we know which things are worth sacrificing and which are worth sacrificing for?
This week we begin the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, where we read of a different kind of sacrifice: the detailed laws of the animal sacrifices offered in the Temple.
Torah's teachings are eternal, and although the particulars of the offerings aren't relevant today, they teach us important lessons about when to make sacrifices in our lives and what to sacrifice.
From the many details of the Temple sacrifices, here are two that can help us navigate the choices we make in life: Firstly, Jewish ritual sacrifices were for animals, not humans. Secondly, the Hebrew word for sacrifice is Korban, which literally means to come close.
These details provide two criteria to determine whether our sacrifices are healthy ones that will propel us further in life or whether they will result in an unhealthy suppression of self.
"What are you sacrificing?" We are a mix of ethereal human instincts and ephemeral animal instincts. We are torn between an altruistic self that is driven by meaning and purpose and our ego that is selfish and pleasure driven. A healthy sacrifice is when you sacrifice something that stems from your base "animal" drives. Pursuing something that will force you to sacrifice your values, or compromise your "human"-driven dreams and hopes, is an unhealthy sacrifice.
Make sacrifices on things that are driven by pleasure or ego, things that will bring you short-term enjoyment, honor, or the like.
"Where is the sacrifice going to get you?" The sacrifices were not just ritual killings, they were an exercise in becoming close to G-d. We need to always look to the end result of our pursuits to see whether they warrant sacrificing for. Not every goal is important enough to make sacrifices for. Only make sacrifices if the result will lead you closer to the things that you hold dear.
Make sacrifices that will lead you to be a better person. Make sacrifices that will help you build relationships and be closer to the people you love. Make sacrifices that will put you on a path of life of meaning and purpose. Make sacrifices that will bring you closer to G-d.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
The Prayer On The Corner of the Page
March 17, 2023 | This week we read the Parshah of Vayakhel & Pekudei a special reading of Hachodesh
I don't know if you notice it, but on almost every letter that I write and flyer that Dirah publishes there are a couple of letters in the top corner: either BH or BSD.
This is not a branding signature or barcode, but a prayer code. BH stands for "Baruch Hashem / Blessed is G-d" and BSD is an acronym for the Aramaic words "B'Siyata Deshmaya / with the help of Heaven."
I’m not the only one that does this. It is a pretty wide-spread Jewish tradition write this at the top corner of letters. The significance of those 2 or 3 letters appearing on documents, books, and signs is profound, and stems from this week's Torah portion.
Success is a funny thing. We are always working towards it, but we can never be certain we'll achieve it. It requires a lot of effort, but all the effort in the world doesn't guarantee it. No matter how talented we are, no matter what resources we employ, and no matter how hard we work, we can't control the outcome of our labor. In every project and endeavor, our efforts only create the right space, and we hope it gets filled with success.
This is the role of prayer. Faith and prayer don't absolve us from making our best effort, but they ask G-d to bless our efforts with success.
In this week's Torah reading, the Jews finally completed the building of the Mishkan. After months of construction, hundreds of thousands of volunteers, and a lot of money invested, the home for G-d was ready. The stage was set, but the act hadn't started. Everything was perfectly in place, but the Divine energy wasn't flowing through the space.
Moses realized that the Jews' efforts on their own won't necessarily bring the Divine presence to rest in the Temple. They needed to be blessed for their project to achieve its ultimate success. So he blessed the people: "May it be (God's) will that His Holy Presence (Shechinah) rests upon the work of your hands and let the delightfulness of the Lord our God be upon us." His prayer was successful and the Divine presence settled into the Mishkan.
Writing BH or BSD is an acknowledgment that success is ultimately in G-d's hands. It expresses that when we are successful, we acknowledge that it was a blessing from heaven.
Keep this in mind when you work hard in your office, when you invest energy into parenting at home, and when you do anything else. Realize that your best efforts are only the first part of the equation. We need the blessings from above for our hopes to be realized.
May we all be blessed with success in all areas of life!
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Don’t Crash Land
March 10, 2023 | Parshat of Ki Tisa & a special reading of Parah
The hard part of having an amazing experience is dealing with its aftermath.
Often when we have a transcendent moment or experience we come crashing down afterwards. We have a hard time integrating what we gained back into our day-to-day routine. We crave to experience that sensation again and are left with an emptiness in its wake.
This is what happened with the Jewish people after the Revelation at Sinai. They had such an intense spiritual experience and within a few weeks they did the unthinkable and served the golden calf. How could they do something so blasphemous after their personal experience of the Divine?
It was precisely because of their peak experience that they ended up falling so low in creating a false God. They were so moved by the revelation that they were left craving to have that same experience again. So they tried creating it themselves with an artificial God.
I am still on a high from an amazing Purim. Not a substance-induced high, but an authentic spiritual, emotional and mental high. It was incredible to come together as a community and to see so many people genuinely happy and celebrating together; from the Megillah at Dirah on Monday with standing room only to the incredible community celebration at Bison & Bourbon on Tuesday with over 400 people, the communal energy and palpable joy was transcendent. Thank you to everyone that joined and made this Purim so special.
But now Purim is over, and the challenge is to channel the immense joy into a positive flow of inspiration. We need to avoid the mistake our ancestors made in the desert in the aftermath of their spiritual high. How can we do that?
Perhaps we can find an answer from the context that Torah situates the story of the Golden Calf in. The story is told in middle of the narrative about building a Mishkan, the temporary Temple. Between the commandment to build it and the actual construction, Torah interupts with the mistake of the Golden Calf.
I think the message here is profound: Both the Revelation at Sinai and the Temple were defined by a sense of the Divine presence being with the Jews. But there was a fundamental difference between them. Sinai was an inspired moment that swept the Jews off their feet. It happened to them without effort on their part. The Temple required human effort to construct a home for G-d. It was the work of man that created a space for Hashem in their community.
The Jews were wowed by the events at Sinai, but didn’t do anything to harness that energy so it faded and left a void. By situating the golden calf in the Mishkan narrative Torah is telling us that the way to sustain a healthy spiritual enthusiasm is to build a Temple - a space that you carve out for Hashem in your life. If you allow the energy to wash over you and pass, it will fizzle out and leave you wanting. But if you put in effort and build a structure that can maintain it, it will last.
Purim is exciting. Celebrating and dancing with so many Jews is inspiring. But now we have to do something practical in out own lives to house that holy inspiration. We have to construct a Temple: add a Mitzvah, schedule a time for prayer or study, create a permanent space that the enthusiasm can be contained.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
G-d is Now-here
March 3, 2023 | This week is Shabbat Zachor and we read the Parshah of Teetzaveh.
The Purim story is an all-time classic. It has politics, violence, relationship sagas and every other ingredient needed for a great drama. But there's something missing from the script that sets it apart from all other Biblical stories: G-d.
There's absolutely no mention of the divine. G-d doesn't do any miracles, no one asks Him for advice or direction, and there isn't even an explicit mention of the Jews' prayer during this tumultuous time.
Was G-d not present in Persia? Why don't we hear about Him in this story? And how did a political drama - absent any religious overtones - make it into the Biblical canon?To add to this, the rabbis understood the Purim story to be more profound and significant than any other in the Bible. Maimonides writes (Laws of Megillah and Chanukah 2:18) that in the times of Mashiach all of the books of the prophets will be discarded except for Esther. Apparently there's more to this story than what meets the eye.
The Zohar reads G-d into the Megillah, saying that whenever the word King is mentioned in the story it is a reference to the King of Kings, i.e. G-d. But how can we reconcile that with the plain reading of the text?
One of my teachers used to explain this with a metaphor. He'd say that you only feel your limbs when something aches or you have an injury. When everything is healthy, you don't notice your body. Your body is so much a natural part of you that it doesn't register.
G-d isn't absent in the Megillah. The reason that we don't notice Him is because He is ever-present in the story. His presence was so profound that it could not be captured. G-d's involvement was so deep in the Purim narrative that He was not an overlay to the story but the story itself. He wasn't an actor, but the script.
When there's a miracle or divine intervention, it is an injection of the divine to disrupt the natural order. The miraculous stories are inspiring and open our eyes to a transcendent divine reality that can override nature. But in the seemingly regular unfolding of events of the Purim story, nature itself was a divine vehicle. The story helps us appreciate that G-d isn't an outside force, able and willing to intervene in the world when necessary, but the underlying energy of the world itself.G-d isn't mentioned explicitly in the Megillah because the whole story is really about Him. To speak of Him as an individual actor is to diminish His role as the guiding force of all of the actors.
Have you ever felt that G-d was missing from your life? Did you question why there was no overt sign of Him? If you pay close attention, we can see the divine beneath the surface of every part of our lives. Perhaps in the moments of life where He is harder to find, He is there more intimately than ever. So close to you, in fact, that, like your own constant heartbeat, you don't notice Him.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim,
Rabbi Menashe
A Day of Love: We Need Everyone
February 24, 2023 | Parshat of Terumah
As you may have heard, there have been calls from alt-right and neo-Nazi groups to call tomorrow a Day of Hate against Jews. I have been in contact with the NYPD and they have assured us that there have been no credible threats and are hopeful that there will be no incidents. Despite that, there will be a heightened police presence over the weekend and we should be vigilant.
As much as I hate to say it, we have something to learn from the Neo-Nazis.
No, I have no sympathy for those hate-filled human beings. But there's something about the Jews that they understand. They don't discriminate between us. In their eyes, there's no difference between a secular Jew and a Chassidic rabbi. They don't divide us by our politics, affiliations, or denominations. To them, we are all the same. We are one people. We are Jews.
In this week's Torah portion, we read of an impressive building project undertaken by the Jewish people in the desert. They put their heads and hands together to build the Mishkan, a portable Temple for G-d.
What was unique about this building project is the sheer amount of people involved. Every Jew alive then - estimated to be a few million - had to participate. Everyone had to donate to the building fund.
Why didn't they select a group of philanthropists instead of enrolling everyone in the project? Couldn't they secure funding from a few foundations?
The Jews weren't just building any building. They were making a home for G-d. They were creating a portal for the divine. They were constructing a sacred space that was going to serve as a source of light for the world.
To construct a finite edifice - with a length, width and height - that can contain the infinite is no ordinary project. The rules of spiritual home building are different from regular building practices. G-d only rests in a place of harmony. Spirituality can only be found in unity. Inspired living can only be achieved in an inclusive environment.
For the physical Mishkan - and later, the Temple in Jerusalem - to be a home for G-d, Moses needed the support of everyone in the community. The slightest hint of exclusivity would have ruined the entire project. If one Jew - no matter their age, gender, wisdom, or skill - would have been left out of the project, the Mishkan structure would have been built and may have been beautiful, but it would not have housed G-d. It would be a home, but a vacant one.
Every one of us is important. We each have a unique role to play in our quest to make this world better. We may look different, behave differently, and not see eye to eye on some pretty big issues - but we are all one people. And we need to work together to create a world where G-d is comfortable. If even one Jew isn't included, we can't complete the project.
To create a spiritual environment we need to include everyone. Lord Rabbi Jonathan Sacks once said of the Rebbe's efforts in the aftermath of the Holocaust: "If the Nazis searched out every Jew in hate, we will search out every Jew in love." If haters unite us in their hate, this Shabbat let's stand tall and reach in together with love.
First of all, as a community, we need to promote kindness, acceptance, and respect. Secondly, let's share our Jewish experiences and opportunities with others - invite someone to celebrate Shabbat with you, join a friend in helping a worthy cause, or schlep a neighbor along to a class or service.When we all get along and work together to create a better world, G-d will surely be present in it.
*******At this moment, let’s stand proud as Jews and show up to celebrate our Judaism together. Join us for Shabbat!
We’ll be having Kaballat Shabbat services this evening at 5:15pm at KUMON.
On Shabbat morning, I will be walking to services in Park Slope proudly wearing my Tallit. Marching through the Brooklyn streets with a visible sign of our Jewishness will demonstrate our Jewish pride. I’ll be leaving at approximately 9:15am. If you would like to join my Tallit march on Shabbat morning, please email me (menashe@dirahbrooklyn.org) to confirm time/place to meet up.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Two Words That Shaped History
February 17, 2023 | Parshat of Mishpatim
They are arguably the 2 most important words to ever have been uttered. They set off a chain of events that shaped history. Revolutionary when they were originally said thousands of years ago, they still ring profoundly true today.
When Moses relayed G-d's intent to give them the Torah, the Jewish people responded: "Na’aseh ve’Nishmah," we will do and we will listen. With that bold statement, they committed themselves to the Divine mission of Judaism to bring G-d into the world.
This very brief affirmation was not just a simple commitment. The precise formulation encapsulated the depth and breadth of the Jews' relationship with G-d. The great Talmudic sage, Rabbi Eliezer, said that at the moment the Jews spoke these words, a heavenly voice rang out: "Who has revealed to My children this secret which only the ministering angels make use of? (Talmud Shabbat 88a)"
Just what sublime secret do these words contain? Here is one possibility.
The word nishmah connotes an active listening, a sort of appreciation or understanding of what is being heard. Na’aseh ve’Nishmah - Following and Understanding - are two sides of a healthy relationship, a balance of give and take, a combination of commitment and appreciation.
Imagine a relationship where your spouse always agrees with you. Where they checked in their emotions and needs at the door of the marriage, have no personality of their own and follow your every whim. It may sound enticing for a moment, but in reality, that's not a relationship at all. If you're significant other has no mind of their own the only person you're having a relationship with is yourself.
On the other hand, imagine the flip side, if your spouse only committed to you on their terms. When it worked for them, they'd be there for you. When they were in the mood, they'd show you love and support. When they agreed with you they'd follow through on what you wanted. That's not a relationship either. Even in the moments when they were showing affection, it's not you they are loving, but themselves. Their relationship is with the version of you that fits inside them, not with you.
Even more than regular relationships, the Jewish people's relationship with G-d is deep and complex. We are simultaneously described as romantic lovers, a loving parent-child relationship, and an obedience-based master-servant relationship (among others). The balance of all of these dynamics are neatly encapsulated in Na’aseh ve’Nishmah. The Jews' declaration harmonized the tension between obedience and appreciation, faith and reason, submission and self-actualization.
We will do - we will commit ourselves and accept what You say, but we will listen - we will actively debate Your Torah, argue it, wrack our brains over it, and do our best to relate to it and appreciate it. We will do - we will act in a way that follows Your directive, but we will listen - we will develop as people and internalize the values and ethics that Your Mitzvot convey. We will do - we will have absolute faith, but we will listen - we will search for rational proof and experiential affirmation.
This balance is the magic of Judaism. When we commit to follow (na’aseh) then we have the audacious license to debate and interpret the Torah and even creatively contribute to it (nishmah). When we are firmly committed beyond question (na’aseh), then our doubts are also acts of faith (nishmah). When we act as G-d wants us to (na’aseh), then our emotions and motivations will follow suit (nishmah). When we make space for G-d (na’aseh), then we will discover the space for ourselves too (nishmah).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
The Echo-Less Chamber
February 10, 2023 | Parshat of Yisro
Before social media was conceived, G-d had the ultimate influencer moment: He went live with Moses with a viewing of over 600,000 to promote His new product!
But what was unique about this viral message is that it wasn't sounded into an echo chamber. In fact, reading into the words of the Torah, the Midrash shares a curious detail about the events at Sinai: G-d's voice had no echo.
This is a strange thing to highlight. It's impossible for us to really imagine what it means that G-d spoke to the people. What does it even mean for a formless force to "speak"? Did G-d sound like a booming voice over a megaphone? Were the commandments like an electronic transmission into their consciousness? We can't know exactly. So why is the echo detail so important - or even relevant?
We can appreciate the message of the Midrash if we look into what an echo is and how we experience it in our own communication.
An echo is a fascinating natural occurrence. Noise travels and reverberates off surfaces to create the impression that the sound is being repeated. But an echo means that the sound didn't get absorbed into the walls that are rebounding it.
When we speak to people, we often look for their tacit agreement and acknowledgement. We want our opinions to be bounced back. That's why we gravitate towards people that already think the same way that we do. But then we lose the ability to really influence people. Real communication should be geared towards absorption. This happens when the people we speak with don't instinctively agree with us but our words give them food for thought that they can chew over and let them sink in, creating the space for real influence.
The purpose of G-d communicating the Torah to the Jewish people at Sinai wasn't just to transmit a set of laws. Truthfully, the Jewish people already knew most of the Mitzvot - as they had been passed down in the family tradition from Abraham. And even if there was a need to formally codify Judaism, G-d could have just as well published a book and distributed it to the masses.
The awe-inspiring event at Sinai had a different agenda. G-d didn't just want obedience or submission, he wanted His words to shape the Jewish people and be absorbed into their consciousness. He wasn't looking for the Jews to echo His words; G-d wanted His presence to shape reality and seep into every element of the world and every physical and conceptual inch of existence. He was imparting influence not information.
Following up from what I wrote about last week - that the splitting of the sea was a shift in the Jews' consciousness - the giving of the Torah at Sinai had that same affect on reality at large. The words of G-d didn't bounce back. They were absorbed into the environment and created a seismic shift in the world, merging heaven and earth.
This shift was only the begining. It created the potential for us to awaken a Divine consciousness in reality through our appreciation of the Torah and living with its precepts. When we do a Mitzvah, we're not just following Divine instructions. We are embodying the Divine and unleashing G-d's presence in the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Splitting the Sea of Consciousness
February 3, 2023 | Parshat of Beshalach
Does it ever happen to you, that you see someone all the time, but when you finally get to know them they suddenly look different? Your newfound understanding and appreciation of who they are alters the way you see them, changing their face and transforming their whole demeanor.
This week we read about the splitting of the sea. What is often misunderstood is that the miracle was not only utilitarian. In fact, the Jews never actually crossed the Sea of Reads. They arced back and disembarked on the same side as they had entered. So the goal wasn't purely practical, but spiritual. G-d wanted to give the Jews an awakening that would change the way they see the world forever.
While the Jews had left Egypt a week prior, Egypt hadn't left them. They were still stuck in the sunken Egyptian mindset, which they had developed over the centuries of slavery. They saw the world through the lens of the Egyptian’s depraved consciousness. The splitting of the sea opened them up to a higher consciousness - a divine consciousness - and helped them gain a fresh perspective of reality. According to the Midrash, the Jews at that time had a transcendent experience of the Divine, where the simplest Jew saw what even the greatest prophets did not.
Dry land is representative of our perceived reality - the materialistic and immediate here and now. The sea, which hides the beautiful life within it, is a metaphor for the spiritual depth that is hiding beneath the surface of reality. The waters splitting and becoming dry land represented an unveiling of the spiritual core of reality, where the inner purpose of existence was readily sensed and seen. At that moment, the world of the sea - the unknowable sublime divine reality - split open before the Jews, revealing a Divine vision of the world. And then new dry land became visible - their renewed appreciation of the world’s purpose changed the way they saw the world and created new pathways of consciousness. Their dry land experience or daily life was redefined - forever.
The physical splitting of the water was a material reflection and manifestation of this transcendent experience.
This is not only a historical account. The splitting of the sea is something we can experience too. The splitting of the sea was an introduction to receiving the Torah at Sinai and its experienced defined the Jewish mission. Judaism is a path to recreate the splitting of the sea in out lives.
Generally, we see the world through our limited earthly vision. We are stuck in a "dry land" mindset - a materialistic reality of ego and jealousy that is plagued with poverty and illness, war and hate. Judaism is an attempt to liberate the world from this experience and promote a "sea" reality - a divine consciousness that alters our perception of ourselves, others and the entire world. The Torah is an entryway to the Divine vision of reality that opens our eyes to higher spiritual perspectives. Each Mitzvah is a partial splitting of the sea, drawing back the shades and allowing the divine spirit to seep into our reality.
Through investing in the spiritual path of Judaism we elevate our lives and the world.
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Shedding Light on Paralyzing Darkness
January 27, 2023 | Parshat of Bo
How unbearable is darkness? The ninth plague that struck the Egyptians hardly seemed like a plague at all. Every evening we experience the dark and we make it through to the next morning. Did G-d run out of creative ideas for plagues?
When a room is dark, everything is still there, only you can’t see it. Emotionally, being in a dark place means that you aren’t able to see the blessings and opportunities that are around you. It can be the darkness of loneliness - when you don’t sense anyone in your life that cares - or depression - when you can’t see things in your life that seem meaningful.
Perhaps there was more than a physical darkness that engulfed the Egyptians. The way the darkness is described in the parsha is: “They did not see each other, and no one rose from his place for three days.” The plague turned the tables and uncovered the Egyptians as true slaves - stuck in the dark - and the Jews as having inner freedom - seeing the light. It exposed the Egyptians as bereft of a sense of brotherhood and higher purpose.
The first thing we are told about the Egyptian condition in this plague is that “they did not see each other.” They were only concerned with themselves. They didn’t feel responsible for each other.
In his Holocaust memoir, If This is a Man, Primo Levi describes the days after the camps were liberated from the Nazis. He writes that at one point, some of the inmates offered to share their bread with one another, and to him that signaled that they were free men. As prisoners each of them were concerned only for their own survival. But as free men they could see each other’s pain and share their resources.
The first thing we do at the Seder - even before we tell the story of the Exodus - is to invite all those that are hungry to join our Seder table. We say this sitting in our homes and the invitation isn’t heard beyond our walls. But this is the first commemoration of our freedom: we express care and concern for one another and look out for those that need help.
The second thing we’re told is that they didn’t get up from their places. Their lack of purpose and meaning paralyzed them. They were overwhelmed by the darkness that engulfed their existence.
At the same time we are told that “but for all the children of Israel there was light in their dwellings.” The hallmark of Jewish life is community and purpose. We care for each other and look out for the needs of the oppressed.
When we are there for each other and care for those that need our help, our lives are filled with meaning and purpose and there is light in our lives and homes.
As ambassadors of light, our role is to brighten a dark world. To spread kindness and purpose and bring the values that we have received from our heritage to light up the lives of others.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Breaking the Stress Cycle
January 20, 2023 | Parshat Va’eirah
It’s an irony of life: We are often too busy with our problems that we miss opportunities to solve them. We become so consumed with our stresses that we lack the headspace to work through them.
That's exactly what happened to the Jews in Egypt when Moses came to free them. You would think that people languishing in slavery would jump at the opportunity of freedom and welcome the news of their exodus with open arms. But that isn’t what happened. When our ancestors were told by Moses that he had been sent by G-d to take them out of Egypt, they simply ignored him. His message of hope fell on deaf ears.
It's not that they didn’t believe in G-d. They had faith in a family tradition passed down from their grandparents that G-d would redeem them. So why did they ignore Moses?
The verse actually tells us why: "They did not listen to Moses because of their shortness of breath and hard labor. (Exodus 6:9)" They were so overwhelmed with their work that they couldn't listen to a way out of it.
It wasn’t just that they were too physically drained, but they lacked the mental and emotional capacity. The Hebrew word for breath (neshimah) is related to the word for soul (neshamah). Their souls were tired. Their spirits were run down. The years of slavery had worn down their spiritual capacity. They lacked the faith and vision to imagine a new reality of freedom.
The response from G-d was for Moses to keep going with his mission - eventually, his sacred message from G-d would broaden their spirits and they’d be able to see past their immediate troubles. Indeed, that is what happened.
There's a poignant lesson to learn from their mistake. When we are feeling overwhelmed or stressed, it is important to step back from whatever it is that is weighing us down and allow ourselves to breathe. Often, the more we engage with the problems we are facing the less opportunity we see to solve them. We have to consciously make space for hope. We need to step back and broaden our spirit.
When you’re going through something difficult, take a spiritual breather - a few moments of sincere prayer, a short Torah study session, go and help someone else with their problems. It will give you more strength and expand your spirit. And, who knows, you may just find a resolution to your problem that was lurking there all along.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe
Spiritual Climate Change
January 13, 2023 | Parshat Shemot
I've been thinking a lot this week about the Jewish slavery in Egypt that we read about this week in the Parshah. What attitudes lay behind the Egyptian's vicious abuse of an entire ethnic group? How could a nation have been so cruel to enslave the Jews?
Traditional sources address this in varying ways. One approach that is particularly enlightening looks at the Egyptian reliance on - and subsequent worship of - the Nile River.
Ancient agricultural societies relied heavily on rainfall. The exception was Egypt. Their water supply was almost all culled from the Nile. Because of the dry climate they couldn't rely on rain water and their fields were irrigated by a pipe system from the Nile. Their drinking water came from it. The Nile was their life source and as such became a deity.
This reliance on existing natural resources, which were predictable, led the Egyptians to be self-absorbed and indifferent towards faith. While most ancient nations developed some system of spiritual worship to elicit divine compassion for much needed rains, the Egyptians were complacent with their supply of water.
This spiritual indifference is symbolized in the nature of water itself. Water is cold. Lifeless. It projects apathy. The Egyptian worship of the Nile River was symptomatic of their lack of spiritual excitement and their numbness to the divine pulse of the universe. The Egyptian spiritual climate was cold.
Their divine apathy led to interpersonal apathy. This indifference allowed for degradation of human life. The Egyptians didn't care for the suffering of their Jewish neighbors. They didn't blink an eye at the cruelty of Pharaoh's laws. They had no feelings towards the Jewish people or towards a moral right.
This explains why the first plague was turning the water of the Nile into blood. Beyond just being an attack on their most precious resource and deity, this plague aimed to unravel the root of the slavery.
Blood is warm and pulses with life. It is the very material of life. Turning the water to blood embodied a warming of Egyptian culture, introducing warmth and emotional sensitivity to the Egyptian consciousness. This spiritual climate change began the process of transforming Egypt, eventually
unraveling the slavery.We all have our own Egypts and Pharaohs that we struggle with. We are slaves to our bad habits and vices. We can sometimes disrespect people that are different to us. Often the root of these demons is an inner numbness. We lack purpose and motivation. We don't feel an inner excitement for life. We're not guided by a higher purpose.
One way to turn ourselves around is to introduce a spiritual awareness and emotional excitement into our lives. To spend a few moments being centered to feel the life-force of G-d radiating everywhere. How can we turn out water to blood? Try diving into a new Torah study goal or spending a few moments in prayer. Maybe do a random act of kindness. Celebrate the warmth of Shabbat. These injections of spiritual life can get your blood going to warm your insides and melt away your inner Pharaoh.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Embrace Your Blessings
January 6, 2023 | Parshat Vayechi
"Life wasn't meant to be fair."Growing up, that is what my mother would tell me when I would complain that others had something that I didn't. Now, as a parent myself, I find myself sharing a similar sentiment to my children - but with a slight, yet important, difference. Life wasn't meant to be equal, but it is fair.
This is highlighted in this week's Torah portion.
Jacob was nearing his death and turned to bless his grandchildren Menashe and Efraim, the sons of Joseph. Joseph positioned the boys so that Menashe, the firstborn, would be on Jacob's right and Efraim on the left, intending for the older brother to receive the primary blessings symbolized by the strength of the right arm. Jacob crossed his arms and blessed Efraim with his right hand while Menashe had to settle for the secondary, left-handed, blessings.
We could have forgiven Menashe for being offended and feeling cheated - like his uncle Esau felt after Jacob stole his blessings. Esau was furious after the blessing saga and pledged to kill Jacob. Yet we don't find any backlash from Menashe. Unlike Esau, he seemed to accept what came to him without complaint.
Jewish tradition understands blessings as channels to express an already existent potential. Blessings are compared to rain; just like rain can only help the growth of a plowed field or planted seed, blessings can only come to fruition for people that are disposed for them. This is why blessings are so precise and personalized. There's no benefit in getting a blessing that isn't matched for you. Without the potential that it is geared for, it will have no impact.
Esau either wasn't self-aware or simply didn't care. He wanted whatever looked and felt good - even it is wasn't for him. But Menashe was well aware of his own strengths, talents, and shortcomings. He accepted that although his blessings may have been objectively inferior, they were right for him. They would help him develop and blossom in his unique way, even if it meant that others would outshine him in other areas.
The same theme is repeated when Jacob blessed his twelve sons before his death. Each son received a unique blessing tailored to their character and life. Jacob knew his children well and saw their individual potentials. The short but incredibly incisive blessing that each child received alluded to their past and predicted their future. He knew that to thrive, each of them would have to shine in different areas. Each would have to focus on their unique strengths and talents.
This is a challenging lesson, but an important one. Your blessings are tailored to your character, strengths, and circumstances. You were born to make a unique contribution to the world. You don't have to be the best at everything and don't have to feel pressured to keep up with other people in all areas of your life. You have to be the best you.
We have to learn to embrace our unique circumstances, blessings, and sets of strengths - and celebrate them. In the words of Oscar Wilde: “Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.”
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
It’s Not About the Gift
December 30, 2022 | Parshat Vayigash
I have been inundated with ads selling “the perfect gift” for my New Year’s gifting (-is that even a thing?).
The truth is, more often than not, giving is not about the gift itself, but the gesture and love that the gift communicates. It isn’t so important what you give, but that you thought of the person and gave something. You’re not giving the value or utility of the gift - you are showing that you appreciate them. The gift is just a vehicle to express that.
This week we read the conclusion of the saga of Joseph and his brothers. After 22 years of estrangement, Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers and the siblings are reunited. The first thing on Joseph’s mind was his father: “Is my father still alive?” He rushed the brothers to go back to Israel to bring their father, Jacob, to Egypt and sent them off with 10 donkeys filled with fine delicacies.
The extravagant gift seems kind of curious. Jacob was going to be escorted immediately to Egypt, and the trip was going to be a short one. There wouldn’t be time to enjoy the huge amounts of food that Joseph sent. Why force the brothers to travel with overweight baggage and make their journey more arduous?
Joseph knew that the gift was over the top, but he wanted to show the proper respect to his father. After 22 years of not seeing each other, he wanted to convey his utmost love. The over-the-top gift was a gesture of his overwhelming emotions. It wasn’t about the usefulness of the gift, but the message it conveyed.
This week, we have felt the overwhelming generosity of so many people. It has been moving to see the breadth of support for Dirah during our year-end fundraising campaign: Let’s Grow Together. The sheer number of people that have shown their support for this cause - creating Jewish life and community for people in our neighborhood - has been inspiring.
You see, fundraising isn’t only about collecting money. Of course, Dirah relies on community support to operate, but there’s a lot more to it than that. Each donation - no matter how small or large - tells the story of Dirah’s impact. Each gift is a show of appreciation, recognition and support. Each contribution is a validation, someone saying that they believe in this mission and cause.
And in Jewish tradition, giving charity is more than a nice gesture - it is a Mitzvah. When we give tzedaka, we connect with G-d and our life purpose. And we are open channels of blessings. No matter the amount - be it $1, $18 or $1800 - giving is a sacred act and a mitzvah!
I want to sincerely thank everyone who has taken part of this campaign and showed their love and support. There have been more than 130 of you! And if you haven’t yet, there’s still more time to partner with Dirah before the end of the year and express your gratitude and support at www.dirahbrooklyn.org/grow.
Thank you and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
A Deep(fried) Message from the Latkes and Donuts
December 23, 2022 | Parshat Miketz
It's 5 days into Chanukah, and we've had too many donuts and latkes. Yes, Jews love food and donuts and latkes taste good - but there must be something more to the heart-attack-inducing selection of Chanukah treats.
In Jewish mystical sources oil has profound significance. It was chosen for the Menorah in the Temple - and to be part of Chanukah ritual for eternity - because of its unique properties. One of those is that oil is insoluble. No matter how much water you try to dilute it with, the oil will remain separate from, and rise above, the water.
There's a deep(fried) message there. It’s easy to be swept with the tide of culture and to have your uniqueness diluted by the standards of society. We often make the mistake in thinking that we need to fit in to be respected. The logic goes something like: (a) to have more influence we need people to like us, and (b) for people to like us we need to please them, and (c) to please them we have to be like them. In reality, nothing can be further from the truth.
The lamps of the Menorah teach that oil - which doesn't mix in - makes the light shine strongest. Trying to fit in will never work, because your core self cannot be diluted. It's our unique and unshakeable spirit that makes us shine.
This is what we celebrate on Chanukah - on a communal and individual level.
As a nation, the Jewish people are still here despite persecution and assimilation. We celebrate our flame that refuses to be extinguished. We are like oil that remains wholesome despite all attempts to drown it, and continues to respond to adversity by rising to the top.
As individuals, we each have a pure soul that cannot be corrupted or influenced. We are flasks of oil. To find meaning and have an impact we must embrace our individual identities and be confident in our purpose. Staying true to who you are and having the courage to be different leads others to respect you.
So while you're enjoying your oily treats and kindling your Menorah lamps, think about what your inner oil is. Consider what gifts G-d gave you that you can share with the world. Find what makes you special and celebrate it. Let your soul shine with the fuel of your oil, and you'll make the world a brighter place.
Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
A Light Created By Darkness
December 16, 2022 | Parshat Vayeshev
(Last years Menorah lighting at Carroll Park/ Photo credit: Heidi Paster)
Chanukah is exactly the holiday we need for our times.
2200 years ago, within the walls of the Temple in Jerusalem, Jewish life radiated. It was a space where the divine presence was manifest, where Judaism shined bright. When the Temple stood in Jerusalem, there was comfort and security for the Jewish people everywhere.
This idealic reality was reflected in the Menorah. Its light filled the Temple and radiated to the world, broadcasting a bright message of faith and divine consciousness.
That came crashing down when Antiochus and his Syrian-Greek army tried to root out Judaism and suppress Jewish observance, threatening the end of Judaism. Although the Maccabees stood firm and miraculously overcame the mighty army, restoring Jewish life back to normal, damage was done.
The Rabbis sensed a darkness in the world that was imminent and real. They realized that there may come a time when the radiating lights of the Menorah could be extinguished, when the future of Judaism will be threatened. To combat this darkness, there was a need to dig deeper and uncover a light that would remain untouchable by opposition.
They responded with the holiday of Chanukah. It would be modeled after the Menorah, to recall the source of light in the Temple, but with two key modifications.
Firstly, the Temple Menorah was kindled during the day, reflecting bright, peaceful times; the Chanukah Menorah would be lit at night, designed to uplift the dark moments. Secondly, the Temple Menorah had 7 branches, a number that symbolizes the regular cycle of life (think 7 days of the week); the Chanukah Menorah would have 8 candles, reflecting the need to push a little beyond our limits.
These two differences are related. When life was calm, the routine light of the Temple Menorah did its job. But it wasn't enough to guarantee the Jews' light would remain bright through turbulent times of moral darkness. To overcome evil we need more than business as usual. To combat the darkness, to shine a light of moral and religious clarity during the night, we need a powerful light that comes from deep within us. We need to discover supernatural strength, and invest extra effort, beyond our 100%. We need the 8th candle of the Chanukah Menorah.
This year is the 2161st Chanukah and unfortunately the darkness is still present, making the Menorah message as relevant as ever. To shine light in the darkened world around us, we have to commit to being beacons of light beyond our comfort levels. We have to live to the 8th degree, pushing ourselves a little beyond what we think possible. By doing radical acts of goodness, we break through any barriers and shine light into the darkest places.
As we kindle the Chanukah lights this year, let's take a moment to find that light within us and commit to doing good beyond our comfort zone.
The Menorah is supposed to radiate light in the night, to shine beyond the walls of our homes spilling its light into the street. That's why we'll be lighting the Menorah at Carroll Park over Chanukah (join us on Tuesday for the community lighting and Chanukah celebration), bringing the light and joy of Chanukah to the world. We can all can do the same thing in our homes by putting the Menorah in the window facing the street. Even if you actually light the candles elsewhere in the house, you can put an electric Menorah in a place that's visible to the outside. This way, we all have a part in making the streets shine with the light of Chanukah.
Shabbat Shalom and Happy Chanukah!
Rabbi Menashe
The Secret to Jewish Survival
December 9, 2022 | Parshat Vayishlach
In September of 1989, the Dalai Lama met with a group of Rabbis in New York. One of the topics that he wanted to discuss was the Jewish secret technique to survival in exile. Despite being scattered around the world for thousands of years, facing persecution, expulsion, and genocide, we are still here celebrating and practicing Judaism. What is the secret to our survival?
Had you been at that meeting thirty three years ago, what would you have responded?
Some people point to the hand of G-d in history as the reason we are still here. In fact, they say that this is proof that G-d exists - how else would this tiny nation that has faced so much adversity survive? True as that may be, there must be a more practical explanation too.
Perhaps the answer lies in our name - B'nai Yisrael, the children of Israel. Of all the forefathers we are named after Israel, which was Jacob's other name.
Jacob had a challenging life. He had to run away from home because his twin brother Esav wanted to kill him. He ended up with his uncle, Laban, who cheated him and took advantage of him. Despite all that, he managed to succeed. He didn’t become a victim to his circumstances and was able to find light in the dark moments.
In Jewish tradition there are three daily prayers, each of which was composed by one of the forefathers. Abraham was a trailblazer and innovator. He found G-d in the emergence of a new day and prayed in the morning - Shacharit. Isaac nurtured Abraham’s mission and was the steady anchor in making the vision sustainable in the long term. He found G-d in the process of the daily grind and prayed in the afternoon - Mincha. Jacob was the first to pray at night - Maariv. In the dark of night, when all hope seems lost, Jacob was not afraid. He didn’t give up. On the contrary, he found G-d in the dark and challenging moments of life. When everything was stacked against him, he was inspired. He innovated the capacity to pray in the night.
It is easy to see the good in our lives when it is light. When everything is going well, we feel expansive and free to sing and pray. It is comforting to pray to G-d when things are running smoothly. But in the dark moments of fear and anxiety, when the world seems to close in on us, it is a lot more difficult. We tend to shut down and retreat into ourselves. Jacob introduced to the world how to pray to G-d - how to be thankful and hopeful - in the dark times.
Last night, at our inaugural DirahTEEN event, we discussed the symbolism of light - a key theme of Chanukah. One idea that was mentioned is the power of light to shine through the deepest darkness. One little ray of light spreads around the room and pierces the darkness. One small ray of hope can light up the most challenging moments of your life.
The Jewish nation owes our survival to Jacob, who bequeathed us with spiritual grit and resilience. Let’s continue to be inspired by Jacob and be ambassadors of light even in the darkest moments.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Confronting Hate
December 2, 2022 | Parshat Vayetzeh
When “the Jews” and “Nazis” are trending on Twitter, you know that we are in a troubling time. The vile antisemitism that has been shared in recent days and weeks on public platforms, by public figures, is deeply disturbing. As a grandchild of Holocaust survivors, I never thought I would hear the rhetoric that I have this week. But I did. And it is only getting louder.We read in the Torah portion this week about Jacob running from Esav, who was angry at him for “stealing” his blessings and had verbalized his intent to kill him. Jacob settles in Charan with his uncle Laban, marries and builds a family. After 20 years away from his parents, Jacob decides it is time to head back to his home town.
The story continues in next week’s parshah: on his way home, Jacob gets news that Esav was chasing him with an army of 400 men. His hatred still hadn’t dissipated after all those years. Jacob was justifiably afraid. He feared the worst and prepared for war.The night before their meeting, Jacob is confronted by an unidentified person and the two of them wrestle all night long. Tradition has it that his wrestling partner was a G-d-sent angel.One explanation of this enigmatic episode suggests that Jacob was tempted to change course to avoid confronting Esav. The assailant was sent by G-d to stop Jacob's escape and force him to stand up to his brother, allowing G-d's promise of protection to be realized.After struggling all night, Jacob eventually continued on to meet Esav. Overwhelmed by Jacob's love, Esav's hate melted, and the two embraced and wept on each other's shoulders. When confronted head-on, the evil dissipated in the face of love, respect, and compassion.The struggle between Jacob and Esav is symbolic of the eternal tension between good and evil.
Inevitably, the forces of Esav in the world will always rise up against the Jacobs. We can try to ignore them and pretend that they won't reach us. We can hide under the radar of those that hate us. We can run to safer communities and more secure places. We may personally succeed to be sheltered from the reach of antisemitism, but it will continue to exist. And inevitably it will simmer and rise. It will get stronger. It will spread.The Torah narrative implores us to confront evil. We have the responsibility to stand strong and tall, to show up in the face of antisemitism. We have to be vocal in our condemnation of hate. We have to be unabashedly proud Jews.
And in the end, good will prevail. G-d promised Jacob then, and His word rings true for us today. Good will always overpower evil. Love will outshine hate. When Jacob stood strong, Esav was humbled before him. When we stand strong, we will overpower the dark forces of hate.
At this moment, let’s do what we can to band together and support each other. Let’s strengthen our commitment to our Jewish heritage, values and communities. And let’s continue to spread goodness and call out hate whenever we can.May we see the ultimate fulfillment of this promise, echoed in the words of the prophet Zechariah (Zechariah 13:2): "And it shall come to pass on that day... and the spirit of contamination I will remove from the earth."
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Giving Thanks
November 25, 2022 | Parshat Toldot
"Do you celebrate Thanksgiving?"
I got this question many times over the last couple of days.
Although not a Jewish holiday, per se, Thanksgiving has a very Jewish theme. And although I'm not a native of America, my children are 6th generation American and we are incredibly thankful for living in this wonderful country. So, yes, we do enjoy spending the family time and focusing on being thankful to G-d for our blessings.
Being thankful is at the heart of Judaism.It is the first word on our lips each morning as we wake up: “Modeh Ani Lefanecha - I am thankful to You G-d for another day of life.”I want to share a beautiful Thanksgiving teaching that I shared on Yom Kippur this year:The highlight of each prayer service is the Amidah - the personal silent prayer, where we figuratively enter G-d's presence for a private conversation. Since not everyone is familiar with the prayers, the Chazan repeats the entire Amidah aloud, allowing everyone to participate in the prayers by listening to them.With one exception. There's one paragraph of the Amidah that we don't rely on the Chazan's repetition, and the congregation interjects to chant this paragraph themselves. This is the Modim prayer - the prayer of thanksgiving: "we thankfully acknowledge You..."There's an incredible lesson here. While there's so much we can delegate and automate, we can't delegate gratitude. We can rely on others to pray on our behalf. We can appoint people to give charity on our behalf. We can set up apps to do things for us. We can hire people to take care of almost all of our responsibilities. But we can't offload the duty to be thankful. That is a personal responsibility that has to come from within.In Jewish tradition, giving thanks is closely linked with humility. The Hebrew word for thanks - Hoda'ah - is the same word as submission or acknowledgment. (Coincidentally, it is also related to the Hebrew word for turkey - Hodu). To thank someone is to sacrifice your pride to acknowledge and recognize what they have done for you. Gratitude is deeply personal.We all have so much to be grateful for. On this wonderful Thanksgiving weekend, let's pause for a few moments and thank G-d for the blessings in our life and thank those around us who help us realize these blessings.Shabbat Shalom and Happy Thanksgiving,
Rabbi Menashe
The Ultimate Giving Pledge
November 18, 2022 | Parshat Chayei Sarah
What would it take for you to give away your entire life's savings - literally every possession that you own? Imagine the Giving Pledge on steroids: instead of half your wealth, all of it; instead of after death, right now during your lifetime.
No. This isn’t a fundraising pitch. But it’s an interesting question to consider. Is there a cause that is more important to you than everything you own? Take a moment to think about what is so fundamental to who you are and central to the purpose of your life - that you would be willing to sacrifice everything for.
If you're looking for some inspiration, take a look at Abraham. In this week's Torah portion we read how Abraham sent his servant Eliezer on a mission to find a suitable wife for his son Isaac. Abraham pulled out all the stops to make sure Isaac found the perfect wife. He sent Eliezer off with 10 camels laden with jewelry and gifts, and on top of that, we're told that "all the best of his master was in his hand," which the commentaries explain to mean his entire estate. Abraham signed over every last penny of his to use if necessary to pull off this match.
What was so urgent and important about this cause that warranted Abraham's irresponsible generosity? Yes, Isaac was a 40-year-old bachelor, but there must be something more to this hoped-for marriage that inspired Abraham to splurge his entire life’s savings.
The mystics explain that the marriage of Isaac and Rivkah (the first marriage of a "Jew" from birth) was a cosmic merger of spirit and matter. Isaac, the perfect and wholesome child of Abraham was a symbol of the divine spirit, the soul. Rivkah, who came from an upbringing of corruption and moral depravity, symbolized the material world, the body.
Their marriage was more than just two people finding love. It would set the tone and lay the groundwork for the Jewish mission for all of history - to merge matter and spirit; to bring heaven down to earth; to animate the material world with the light of G-d.
Abraham was aware of this, and it was the realization of his life’s mission. Isaac and Rivkah were going to actualize his monotheistic revolution is the most profound way possible. This union was so important to him that nothing else in his life was of any value if it were not to materialize. He was willing to give everything away to ensure its success: to elevate the material world with spiritual meaning.
This absolute dedication of Abraham can serve as a guiding light to us, his descendants. We are all here for a purpose. We have a divine mission. We're empowered to bring light into the world, to bridge the gap between the material and the spiritual. Judaism is essentially the actualization of Isaac and Rebecca’s marriage, lending immense spiritual significance to our everyday life. Each Mitzvah is a portal for the divine light to resonate in the reality we inhabit. Every act of kindness elevates the world.
This weekend is the international conference of Chabad Rabbis. Thousands of my colleagues from around the world have gathered in Brooklyn for a weekend of networking, development and spiritual recharge. I have spent time over the last couple of days rubbing shoulders with people who have thrown everything away - living far from their families and native communities, having little access to kosher food and Jewish education, shouldering the burden of funding themselves and their institutions - in order to create and strengthen Jewish communities and spread the light of Judaism to every corner of the world. They are inspired by Abraham's sacrifice and I, in turn, am inspired by theirs.
We're all heirs of Abraham, and each of us has a role to play in the drama of history. Let's learn from our forefather and find areas that we can commit ourselves in a stronger way to making the world a more refined place and connecting it with its Creator. We don’t have to throw everything away, but we should be willing to sacrifice something.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
The Defining Jewish Trait
November 11, 2022 | Parshat Vayeirah
At this week’s Jewish Sparks session, students crafted their own personal Tzedaka (charity) box and had a discussion about charity.
Although we give them a coin every week to give to charity, the idea of helping others financially is a little removed from them. They don’t work hard to earn a living, nor do they relate to the struggle of poverty (thank G-d!).
So we asked them to suggest alternative forms of charity - things that they could implement in their lives. They came up with some great examples: “Give clothing to those that don’t have;” “Welcome guests into your home;” “Help a friend who is struggling with their school-work.” These practical forms of charity resonated with the children, and made it relevant to their lives.
In this week’s Torah reading we learn why G-d chose Abraham to be the father of the Jewish people: “For I have know that he educates his children and household to keep the way of the Lord to perform righteousness (tzedaka) and justice.”
Abraham’s commitment to righteousness, to helping others, spilled over to his family. He wasn’t content with being charitable himself. He was careful to include his children in the good that he did. He made sure to educate them to continue his legacy of hospitality and concern for others. He inherited to his children not only his wealth, but the tools to be generous in sharing it.
Kindness is one of the hallmarks of the Jewish people. In fact, this verse led King David to understand that being kind and charitable is fundamental to being Jewish - leading him to reject potential converts who didn’t display this trait (Talmud Yavamot 79a).
There is a lot of negativity in the world right now. And, unfortunately, an outsized portion of it is directed at us, the Jews. Antisemitism is on the rise.
Of course, we need to speak up against the hateful rhetoric and do what we can to combat it. But most importantly, we have to be living proof of the good that the Jews do for the world. Our best response to hateful things being said about us is to show the world how false the libels are. By continuing to spread kindness and love we will overshadow and conquer the hate.
Kindness in in our DNA. We are predisposed - through our heritage and education - to be generous and giving. Let’s continue the legacy of Abraham and make every effort to spread kindness. We can be a light unto the nations, leading by example and educating others to be kind as well. And if you are blessed to have children, think of ways to include them in the charity that you do, raising the next generation of Jews who will make a positive impact on the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Abraham and the NYC Marathon
November 4, 2022 | Parshat Lech Lecha
I love the NYC Marathon. There's a unique community feel about it that brings the entire city together. It is uplifting to watch ordinary people push themselves to do extraordinary things. The commitment and motivation of the runners are inspiring.
I was speaking to a few friends who are running on Sunday and the way they defined their goals struck me. Unlike a usual race, most marathon runners are not in it to win. They know that others will run much faster than them, but it doesn't faze them at all. The runners are motivated by the challenge itself. Their goal is not to win but to complete; not to outrace others, but to achieve their own PB (personal best).
This is such a powerful message for life.
Abraham, our forefather, was arguably the biggest influencer in world history. Over half of the population today trace back their spiritual heritage and beliefs to him. His road to success was not easy - our sages point to 10 significant challenges that G-d subjected him to bring out his best potential.
The secret to Abraham's growth and eternal legacy was his courage to be himself and not conform to social pressure. He was called Ivri (Hebrew), an allusion to his differentness. This week's Torah reading opens up with G-d's first calling to Abraham: "Lech Lecha - go to yourself."
He didn't measure himself by the yardstick of those around him. His moral and spiritual compass was guided by truth, not popularity. While his neighbors were worshipping pagan deities that made them feel good, Abraham discovered faith in a transcendent G-d. While his peers were chasing gratification and pleasure, Abraham heard a moral calling. He dared to be different.
As heirs to Abraham's faith, we have to have the courage to look inward and work on being the best we can be. To chase our own dreams and reach our potential. The only person we should be trying to be better than is the one we were yesterday.
We were gifted a wonderful heritage of Torah wisdom and divine Mitzvot. It can be daunting to follow this calling when everyone around us is not. But we can summon the courage of Abraham and live a life that is in sync with our inner calling.
We are all recipients of G-d's message: "Lech Lecha - go to yourself;" instead of looking around us to be influenced by - and compete with - others, we ought to be to look inward and chase our own PB.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
How To Build an Ark
October 28 2022 | Parshat Noach
The first DIY project on record is in this week's Torah reading: Noah was given directions to build an Ark. Without so much as an IKEA handbook, he single-handedly built a 450 foot water-worthy, flood-proof yacht.
We don't know if Noah was handy or had any engineering training, but necessity is the mother of all invention and crisis breeds competence. He knew that a flood was threatening to wipe him out with the rest of the world, and his only chance of survival was to complete the complex construction.
Most of us aren't threatened with a flood or given instructions by G-d to build an ark, but we do face something analogous to Noah's crisis that should mobilize us to create the equivalent of Noah's ark.
Going through life, we encounter waves of pressure which push us in many directions, often threatening to sweep us away. There are social pressures from our friends, neighbors, and society. We are forced into decisions by financial pressures. Advertisers, Hollywood, and the media all try to sway our thinking in so many directions. Work responsibilities and financial commitments wash over us like giant waves. It sometimes feels like we are just trying to stay afloat, bobbing up and down in an endless sea of doubts.
Just like Noah, we have what it takes to construct a life raft - the tools to sail safely and float above the waves that threaten to crash down on us.
The Chassidic masters point out that the Hebrew word for ark, תיבה/Teiva, has a dual meaning. In addition to ark it also means word. This wordplay is significant. Noah built a physical ark from wood; we build our conceptual ark with words.
Judaism places a strong emphasis on the power of words, and in particular on the words of Torah and prayer. The timeless words of the Torah anchor a person in a life of focus and meaning. Torah wisdom provides context for life and gives meaning to every moment. Immersing in Torah study builds an ark that protects you from being pushed around by the forces that try to influence your life.
The words of prayer, too, create a mental safe space to retreat to remain immune from the varying pressures of life. Prayer is therapeutic and transcendent. It puts you in touch with your deepest self and connects you to a higher truth. It builds a relationship between you and G-d that imbues life with meaning and direction.
Even if you don't have much experience, you can utilize the tools that Judaism provides to find balance and stability in the rich words and texts of Torah and Tefilah. Today, more than ever, when society seems to be falling in all different directions, we can use the clarity and direction that these spiritual sanctuaries provide.
Jump on the ark-wagon and dedicate some time this week to prayer and Torah study. Reach out if you want to schedule a time to study or host a class as part of the Salon Study Sessions.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Why Days Begin at Night
October 21, 2022 | Parshat Bereishit
There's something strange about the Jewish version of time: the Jewish day begins at nightfall. Shabbat is not Saturday; it begins on Friday evening and runs through to nightfall on Saturday.
This understanding of time is rooted in the creation story that we read this week as we begin the Torah anew.
In describing the process of creation, the Torah narrative finishes each day's work with "... And it was evening, and it was morning day number ____." Evening was brought into existence before morning, and since then, our counting of time has followed this pattern. Night precedes day.
We usually think of G-d as the source of light and life, yet the first divine expression in creation was night. Darkness preceded light. Why would G-d design the world this way? Is darkness more powerful than light?
There's a profound message here. Woven into the fabric of existence is that light will always come after (and sometimes from) the dark. No darkness is too heavy, no challenge too great; there's always light at the end of the tunnel. G-d wrote into the script of life that the darkest night will eventually succumb to the light of day.
Woven into the fabric of existence is the idea that although we live in an imperfect world, we have the capacity to heal it. Judaism acknowledges that darkness and evil exist, but it provides tools to shine light to overcome it. Our job in this world is to shine light, and even in a world that seems to be as dark as night, our light can - and will - bring the dawn of day.
On a personal level, the creation story teaches that despite our challenges and weaknesses, we can live happy and fulfilled lives. We all have some inner darkness that we struggle with. Instead of beating ourselves up over it and getting stressed over our stresses, and upset at ourselves over our weaknesses, we should acknowledge them for what they are. We weren't born to be perfect. After all, G-d created the night first. But at the end of the darkness there's always light. We can work to improve ourselves and find the light in our lives no matter what we are going through. In this world, it's inevitable that after night comes day. The divine creation gives hope that we will all eventually find that light.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Our Collective Bar Mitzvah
October 14, 2022 | This week we read a special reading for Sukkot.
It's like a Bar Mitzvah on steroids (minus the DJ). The collective Jewish community has spent the past year studying the Torah and is about to reach the end. We haven't only learned one parshah, we've covered all of them!
Each week we read - better yet, perform - one of the 53 Torah portions in the synagogue on Shabbat. But that's not the only interaction we have with the text. Just like a Bar Mitzvah boy spends months studying his portion to prepare for the big day of his reading, the community as a whole spends the week leading up to each Shabbat studying the communal parshah, analyzing it, interpreting it, and mining new depths of the text. Although it's only the Rabbi who has to prepare a sermon and the Torah reader that needs to know the tune, every Jew is a partner in Torah and has an equal share in its learning.
At the end of Sukkot we read the final parshah and celebrate Simchat Torah. One person is designated as Chatan Torah, the Groom of the Torah, a representative of the community to say the blessings and read the final verses - but it's customary for every person in the Shul to receive an Aliya on Simchat Torah, even young children. On that day in the Shul, we are all the B'nai Mitzvah.
One reason that the Torah cycle was designed to finish at this time of year is to capitalize on the high of the High Holiday season. We've been on a spiritual roller coaster, from Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur to Sukkot, and there's a unique Jewish spirit that's alive now more than ever. You see, the Torah celebration is not just on the completion of a study cycle.
Just like a Bar Mitzvah is not a celebration of the child's Torah reading performance - we celebrate the child, not their accomplishments - similarly, on Simchat Torah we celebrate our relationship with Torah that is much deeper than just cerebral. More than deep wisdom, Torah is our divine heritage and the beating heart of the Jewish nation. After the High Holidays and Sukkot, we feel the deep connection we have to G-d and His Torah.
That's why we dance with the closed scrolls on Simchat Torah instead of only reading them. Every Jew, no matter how much they've learned or know, has an equal part in the Torah celebration. Our entire being, from head to toe, from mind to movement, is caught up in the joy of Torah.
So join Jews around the world this coming Monday and Tuesday and celebrate your Judaism and the Torah. The Bar Mitzvah won't be the same without you.
We’ll be joining with Congregation B’nai Jacob for Simchat Torah festivities (scroll down for more info) and look forward to celebrating together with you.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Menashe
The Happiness Hut
October 7, 2022 | Parshat Ha'azinu
Before there's even time to breathe after Yom Kippur we launch into high gear for Sukkot - the Festival of Joy.
We live in the most comfortable time in history. Our homes are fitted with running water, electric lighting, and heating. We have leisure time, a concept that would have been foreign to the average person not too long ago. We have infinite information at our fingertips. We can travel the world in just hours. We can video chat with anyone anywhere in real-time.
Yet we are not, as a society, happier than our ancestors were. Depression is rampant. Suicide rates are high. Overall, we have a hard time finding real happiness.
The subliminal message that today’s society preaches is that to be happy you must buy the latest gadget, upgrade to a fancier car, or build a nicer home. But this formula for happiness isn't working.
Sukkot, the Festival of Joy, teaches an alternative formula for happiness.
To experience the joy of Sukkot we step out of the comfort of our homes, leaving behind our elaborate furniture and treasured belongings, and embrace the fragile structure of the Sukkah.
To be happy, Sukkot teaches, we have to focus less on what we have and more on who we are. Happiness is the experience of living a life that expresses who you are, and of being true to yourself. External possessions and stimuli only distract you from knowing and experiencing yourself.
The Sukkah teaches us to be vulnerable and allow ourselves to be fragile. It teaches us to let go of the expectations we have for ourselves and the images we try to project of ourselves and accept who we are as a work in progress. It teaches us to strip away our masks and be comfortable in our rawness and metaphoric nakedness.
When we step beyond the facade of possessions and status and begin to feel ourselves, we can begin to feel happy.
But Sukkot takes that teaching one step further. The Sukkah structure is meant to recall the clouds of glory that protected our ancestors in the desert. G-d's presence was palpable to the newly founded nation as they wandered in the wilderness.
When we let go of the self we have artificially created, we can feel the self that G-d created. When we let go of the version of ourselves that we have created in the image of others, we can experience the self that is created in G-d's image.
By stripping away the barriers we have erected for ourselves - and going into the Sukkah - we can sense our inner soul, and by extension, G-d's presence. And that is the greatest experience of happiness we can have.
I hope you can join us to celebrate in the Sukkah - on Friday, October 14 - at Shabbat in the Hut.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach!
Rabbi Menashe
The Year of Gathering
September 30, 2022 | Parshat Vayelech
This week's message is a little longer than usual and is an excerpt of my sermon at Dirah on the First Day of Rosh Hashanah. If you haven’t yet, please make your reservations for Yom Kippur here.
This year is a special year. Well, every year is special - the Kabbalists speak of the brand new energy that each year brings - but this year is especially so. It is the year of Hakhel. A year of community.
We all know the value of community. Last summer, the air conditioner in my kids' room broke. It was a sweltering hot day, and I needed a replacement urgently. Before going out to buy a new one, I posted on the Buy Nothing Facebook group to see if anyone had a unit that they no longer needed. That same day I was able to pick one up from a neighbor. And we both gained: I got a working AC and they felt good that they helped a neighbor - and got a chunky unit out of their storage space.
But there's more to a community than just mutual benefit.
In Temple times, every seven years was Shemitah - a Sabbatical year for the land and farmers. This past year was a Shemitah year, and farmers across Israel took a year off from working the land.
Following the Shemitah year, there was a mass gathering on Sukkot of the next year. A gathering called Hakhel.
Millions of Jews from around the world - men, women, and children - would make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and gather in the Temple. The highlight of the event was the reading of the Torah from the King, the leader. It would have been a sight to see: the streets of Jerusalem flowing with flocks of diverse Jews all heading to, and spilling out of, the Temple. The Temple itself would have been bursting at the seams, with people packed in like sardines.
What was the point of this gathering? I can only imagine that most people weren't able to hear. Even those that heard, plenty wouldn't have understood the Biblical passages being read. The young children who were shlepped along definitely didn't appreciate the reading. Yet they all came; Torah instructs everyone to gather (in this week's Parshah) and gather they did. In truth, the Jews didn’t come to see or to hear. They came to gather. To experience.
You see, there's something incredibly powerful about community. Something more than just functional.
I once learned from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks that there are actually three terms for community employed in Jewish tradition: Edah, Tzibur, and Kehilah. Although used interchangeably, they differ slightly in their connotation. Edah (literally, witnesses) is a group bound by shared experience and fate. They have a strong sense of collective identity. Tzibur (literally, pile) connotes a group that is diverse and fragmented. They are bound by nothing more than proximity. Kehilah (literally, gathering) is a different type of community. It describes a group of different and diverse people who are bound by a collective goal. They are united by a sense of belonging to something larger than themselves. This is the ideal Jewish community. This is what the Hakhel gathering (from the root Kehilah) accomplished.
This form of community was highlighted in the aftermath of the Golden Calf. When Moses came down the mountain and witnessed the betrayal of the Golden Calf, he smashed the Tablets in protest. Just weeks after experiencing the Divine revelation, the new nation had served a foreign deity.
Now Moses faces the herculean task of regrouping the Jewish and helping them recover from this tragic mistake. The first thing that Moses did to restore the Jewish nation was to gather them together. Vayakhel.
Moses knew that the antidote to the Golden Calf, the strength of the Jewish people, was to be found in sacred community. In Kehilah. In uniting the people for one goal.
At that moment of gathering, he taught them two Mitzvot: to observe Shabbat - a holy day of rest - and to build the Mishkan - the sacred home for G-d. In these two commandments, he shared the secret to community building. For a community to form it has to be driven by a goal higher than itself. Shabbat creates a community in time and the Mishkan a community in space.
For better or worse, work divides us. Some people have great jobs while others work menial jobs at minimum wage. Others still are out of work altogether. In the workplace, we're all looking out for our own individual interests. But Shabbat is the great equalizer. We all rest the same. During the week we are creators - and we create differently, even competitively. On Shabbat, we step back to appreciate our role as creations of G-d, and that unites us. Shabbat designates one day of the week for us to be together. To be equals in a shared mission and faith.
Our homes also separate us. The walls of our houses create boundaries. My home is my space and your home is yours. Some homes are beautifully decorated with expensive furniture while others are sparse and simple. But the sacred communal space of the Temple belongs to everyone equally. It is where we come together seeking truth, transcendence, and G-d. In that search, we are all equal. As Shabbat does in time, the Temple designates a geographic place where we feel as one and join together in community.
The point of the Hakhel gathering was not (just) to hear the Torah being read. It was for Jews to gather and feel a part of one nation. It was for every single Jew to feel they belonged. They belong to something larger than themselves. To sense their collective faith in G-d. The mass gathering created a community. It formed a Kehilah.
This year is the year of Hakhel. And it couldn't have come at a better time. We need it now more than ever. After over two years of being wary to gather, we need the warm embrace of community. After more than two years of hesitating to join gatherings, we need to grab every opportunity to get together.
In the Hakhel of old, the priests would walk the streets blowing trumpets, calling everyone to gather. Today, in the absence of the Temple, we are all priests. We can all be ambassadors of gathering. Find every excuse to bring people together. Bring your family together on every possible occasion. Bring your co-workers together for a party or a discussion. Invite friends to your home for a Shabbat dinner. Host gatherings of all types. Include people in your micro-community. And together we can all join in the macro-community.
At Dirah, we are making every effort to increase community and gather together more often. We are undertaking two initiatives to mark the Year of Gathering. Following the two-pronged community building plan of Moses, we'll be increasing community in time and space.
1. Community in Time: We will be having Shabbat services every Friday evening. Instead of periodical Kabbalah Shabbat, we'll now be gathering every week.
2. Community in Space: It is a dream of ours that Dirah can secure a permanent space, which would enable us to increase our programming and bring everyone together more. G-d willing, this will be the year! In the meantime, in the absence of our own formal space, we can make every home into a sacred space of community. We are offering you to host a study/discussion group in your home. Invite a few friends, choose a topic, and we will come over to lead a discussion.
I hope we can all participate together in this Year of Gathering and continue to build and nurture our wonderful community.
I am looking forward to seeing you all at these gatherings!
Shana Tova and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Renewal and Rosh Hashanah
September 23, 2022 | Parshat Nitzavim
Something most of us have learned the hard way is that we need sleep to function.
For a long time, this phenomenon bothered me, partly because sleep eats up so much of our lives, and partly because I didn't understand why it had to be this way. Couldn't G-d engineer a more efficient product? Couldn't we have been designed to have enough energy to last a lifetime?
Lately, though, I have come to appreciate the brilliance of this biological design. It's not only the body that needs to rest each day, the conscious soul needs to too. Sleep makes each day a fresh experience. Imagine you had a really bad day, and by the time night rolls around, you are sad, annoyed, and not in the mood for anything. If your day would continue forever you would be stuck in that cycle of depression. Instead, you go to sleep and wake up reenergized. In the morning you are a new person with new energy, ready for a new start.
By forcing us to reset ourselves in order to reenergize, G-d ensured a fresh start every day. Each morning, the soul returns like a new birth, giving us a lease of life.
Spiritually the same thing happens to the world on Rosh Hashanah. Each New Year the world is invested with energy to sustain it for one year. According to the Kabbalists, on the eve of Rosh Hashanah, there's a moment of cosmic sleep before a rebirth when new energy invigorates the world for the new year.
G-d could have invested energy at creation that would sustain the world forever, but He chose to provide one year of life at a time, to make each year new. Just like you feel refreshed each morning, on a much larger scale, Rosh Hashanah is a potent time to refresh your life.
What does this rebirth look like? How can we access this renewal and harness it to make refreshing changes in our lives? This is one of the themes that we’ll be exploring throughout the Rosh Hashanah explanatory services this week - and something that is embedded in the sounding of the Shofar. I hope you can join me to participate in the discussion and hear the piercing sounds of the Shofar.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Don’t Give Charity
September 16, 2022 | Parshat Ki Tavo
Judaism doesn't believe in charity. The closest word in Hebrew is Tzedakah, which is rooted in Tezedek - justice or righteousness. Giving to the poor is a responsibility not a luxury.
The social contract outlined in Torah is as radical as it is simple. Every producing person has to set aside a (somewhat significant) portion of their earnings to give to those less fortunate.
In the ancient agricultural society there was a complex 7-year cycle of taxes and tithes, as we read this week: “When you have finished tithing all the tithes of your produce in the third year, the year of the tithe, you shall give [them] to the Levite, the stranger, the orphan, and the widow, so that they can eat to satiety in your cities." But the modern application is much simpler: Designate 10% of your net income to give to those in need.
It's not an easy thing to part with your hard-earned money, especially if you yourself are just getting by or even struggling yourself. But a simple re-framing of perspective can make it easier.
As hard as you've worked to get where you are and bring in the money that you do, there's a great deal of good fortune that has gotten you there. The income that you have is a blessing from above. This is true whether you are living very comfortably or pinching pennies. The amount that you make, however much or little, is somewhat beyond your control - a gift from G-d. And He has earmarked part of that blessing for others. In His kindness, G-d has designated you to be a banker, trusting you with the finances that are meant to be passed on to help others.
This is a profound Jewish value that can change the way we look at and interact with the less fortunate. Personally, I have implemented this into my banking and it's a game-changer. We created a separate Tzedaka checking account. Every time we deposit our earnings, we transfer 10% of it to that account. That money isn't for us. When someone needs our help or an organization reaches out for funds we are so happy to give. We don't feel a pinch or the slightest hesitation. The money is literally sitting there waiting for us to give it to them.
With this attitude you never "give charity". You're not giving of your money to the less fortunate; their money was temporarily entrusted in your hands. You don't feel pained when you encounter someone in need and have to dip in to your account to help them. You're not parting with your money. Instead, you have a fund that you are looking to distribute. There's a pool of income that is designated for the less fortunate and you are the trustee.
We are promised in Torah that when we give graciously, we also gain: "You shall surely give him, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him; for because of this thing the Lord, your God, will bless you in all your work and in all your endeavors." If we open our hearts and hands to those that need, G-d will open the channels of blessings for us too.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Don’t Fall Off the Roofs You Build
September 09, 2022 | Parshat Ki Teitzei
The higher you climb the further you can fall. The more we progress as a society, the higher the stakes get. When you're at the peak, mistakes prove much more costly.
In this week's Torah portion, we read 74 of the 613 Mitzvahs (that's over 10%!). One of them is the responsibility of a homeowner to build a fence around the perimeter of their roof for safety: "When you build a new house, you shall make a guardrail for your roof, so that you shall not cause blood [to be spilled] in your house, lest someone fall from there."
Like everything in Torah, this idea operates on many levels. Beyond the practical function of the Mitzvah lies a conceptual reading with a spiritual and moral teaching.
To maintain the things we build, we have to create boundaries. If we permit ourselves to grow without limits, our successes end up being employed against their own interests. We have to have morals and values that guard our success and protect us from falling. We have to build fences around our buildings.
This is true of society at large and in our personal lives too. The most precious parts of our lives are the most fragile: our family relationships, our personal spiritual and mental health and even our material successes. We have to create healthy boundaries and center ourselves to our core ideals and values to ensure that we can stand atop of our achievements and not allow them to bring us down.
The Mitzvot, rituals and values within Judaism provide a healthy framework for practical and spiritual boundaries that ensure the structures that we build throughout our lives are stable and protected. As we approach the New Year, let’s put some thought into investing in these fences. What Mitzvah can you add that will center you and ground you in a healthy way?
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
A Spiritual Safe Space
September 2, 2022 | Parshat Shoftim
Do you have a sanctuary to immerse yourself in to escape from your worries and fears? Is there an activity that you do to reconnect with yourself and leave behind the stresses of the workday, the pressures of society and the craziness of life? Where - or what - is your personal refuge?
When the Jews entered Israel they were charged with establishing Cities of Refuge. These spaces were designed to provide accidental killers a place to run to and find safety from the relatives of the dead who may be after their blood. But more than just being places of safety, the Cities of Refuge also served as remedial programs, providing the accidental killer with the time and resources to immerse themselves in Torah study, giving them an opportunity to consider the gravity of their actions and atone for their behavior.
Like the geographical places that provided protection for people on the run, there are conceptual places of refuge that can provide mental and spiritual safety from the negativity of this world. The Torah, the divine wisdom that is accessed through the study of our texts and traditions, has been a refuge for Jews for millennia. Immersion in the study of the transcendent wisdom has allowed us to survive as a people for thousands of years, shielding us from forces - both physical and spiritual - that have threatened to destroy us.
Today more than ever, we could benefit from temporary escapes into the wellsprings of Torah. Wherever we turn, we are constantly being hounded with ideas trying to influence our minds and hearts. From brands pushing their products on billboards and social media to commentators selling their beliefs on the radio and TV, our society is an endless marketplace of ideas competing for our attention. With all of the noise and distraction, it’s hard to know what is real, and even harder to remain true to who we really are.
Torah study anchors us in a transcendental truth, provides the wisdom and tools to live an enriching life, and gives us insight into our inner selves. Spending a few minutes each day engaging with Torah texts, can give us context and perspective to understand the world and help shape the narratives of our lives. The spiritual depth and practical wisdom in the Torah texts are the perfect antidotes to the craziness of the world we live in.
The month leading to Rosh Hashanah - Elul - has been labeled the City of Refuge in time. It is an opportunity to step back before the New Year and realign ourselves with our calling and begin the new year on the right foot.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Now Is The Time To Climb
August 26, 2022 | Parshat Re'eh
Meaningful achievements come through consistent effort and disciplined preparation. To run the marathon, you need to train for weeks. To read your Bar Mitzvah portion, you need to practice for months. To practice law or medicine, you need to study for years.
Spiritual achievements and experiences are no different. To grow and connect with something deeply, you have to prepare for it. Just like physical strength is built by exercise, spiritual growth is attained by ongoing intentional practice.
Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur are the big days on the Jewish calendar. They are the spiritual peaks of the year. But you can't reach the peak without first climbing the mountain. The Kabbalists pointed to the month leading up to the High Holidays, the Jewish month of Elul - which begins tomorrow - as the real time for growth. Like Rosh Hashanah, we blow the Shofar every day of Elul, but it’s a very different experience.
The founder of the Chabad movement, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, likened the opportunity in Elul to a king traveling in the field. When the king is seated on his throne in the palace, access to him is limited. And even those that are allowed entry are humbled by the encounter. But when the king is traveling through the field everyone has access to him, no matter their social standings, worthiness or attire. And they can approach him in their work-clothes, in their natural environment.
The High Holidays are akin to visiting the king in the palace. The services are serious and solemn. We follow a precise formula of Shofar blowing, praying and fasting. The experience is deep and moving, but it's rigid and formal. It's disconnected from our real-life experience. We have to escape our regular routine to enter G-d's presence.
But in this month without Holidays, we have easier access to G-d and can connect with Him on our turf. We connect with Him within the course of our regular lives and work schedules. G-d is accessible to us wherever we are.
So don't wait for the High Holidays to get inspired. Instead, spend a couple of minutes each day for the next month doing something good. Add a prayer each day. Give a little extra charity. Spend a minute or two in spiritual self-reflection. These small steps will create real growth, and ensure a successful year ahead.
To capitalize on the potential of this month, I will be sharing a short thought every day (besides Shabbat) for the next month leading up to Rosh Hashanah exploring the spiritual themes of growth, repentance, and renewal. You can join these mini-lessons on our Facebook page and Youtube channel, or you can email me to have it sent to you.
Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov,
Rabbi Menashe
The Blessing of Neediness
August 19, 2022 | Parshat Eikev
We hate having to rely on others. It's uncomfortable. It makes us feel weak. It means we can't do it ourselves. But this vulnerability is what creates relationships and community. If we were completely self-sufficient we'd never reach out to other people and build friendships. We wouldn't band together in communities to support each other. Our supposed weakness is really a strength.
The same is true on a broader scale with our collective relationship with G-d. When the Jews were about to enter Israel, Moses contrasted their new Homeland with the country they had come from: While the crops in Egypt were watered from the Nile River, Israel relied on rainwater to sustain its growth. In Egypt, the irrigation was man made and completely under the control of the people. In Israel, the rainwater was unpredictable and they would be at the will and mercy of forces beyond their control.
Moses wasn't trying to discourage the Jews on the eve of their long-awaited entry to Israel. Recognizing the limits of human ability and achievement and the inherent instability of our societies is actually a blessing. Acknowledging our weakness and limits causes us to reach out to the Creator and elicit His help. It opens a space to connect with G-d and develop a relationship with the Divine.
The Jews’ eventual dependency on a blessing of rain in Israel was actually a positive. It would ensure that they maintained a relationship with G-d and never forget about their Father in heaven. It would strengthen their faith and encourage a strong religious life. Their vulnerability was the cornerstone of their relationship with G-d.
We all have vulnerabilities and weaknesses. We can choose to let them weigh us down or allow them to be catalysts for strong relationships with our friends and neighbors, and with G-d.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Life is a Jigsaw Puzzle
August 12, 2022 | Parshat Va’etchanan
Life is like a jigsaw puzzle. There are so many pieces that all look different and, at first, don't seem to fit together. But ultimately, the scattered pieces are part of one whole and match perfectly to collectively create a single picture.
The most basic Jewish belief is that there's one G-d. It's the first of the 10 Commandments. It is the highlight of the Shema. But what does it actually mean? It is not just a numbers game, one versus many, but a revolutionary shift in perspective.
Belief in monotheism is not only about G-d, but a perspective on our experience of reality too. Having one G-d means that there is order to the chaos. It means that there is a singular beginning of existence, and everything is a result of that oneness. It means that there is a unified purpose to all of life. It means that everything is here for a reason - including me and you. It means that all life is sacred.
In this week's Torah portion we read (Devarim 4:35) "that the Lord He is God; there is none else besides Him," and (Devarim 4:39) "that the Lord He is God in heaven above, and upon the earth below; there is none else." A careful reading shows that not only is there no other G-d besides Him, there is no other. Period. The Chassidic masters noticed this and highlighted it. We don't just believe in one G-d; we believe in Oneness, and that is G-d. Every part of life and existence is a fragment of the Singularity. Everything is G-d.
Like pieces of a puzzle, the myriad details that make up our lives and all of reality are each seemingly separate. They have different colors, designs, and shapes. Each is unique. But together they form a unified picture. When pieced together, you can see that all along they were part of one whole.
Just knowing that we are all pieces of one large puzzle is comforting. Recognizing that there's a unified purpose and plan, even without knowing what it is, changes our perspective. But we shouldn't stop there.
G-d created the splintered puzzle and handed it over to us with a tutorial to help us piece it together. He gave us the Torah, the blueprint of the world. The moral, spiritual and practical guidance in Torah provides the bigger picture that we can work off to repair the fractured world. Every Mitzvah that we do creates harmony. Each good deed fits pieces together and allows some of the bigger picture to shine through.
Our role is to return the fragmented pieces of reality to their Oneness. To connect each dot to its source in the Creator and uncover the spirituality in every piece of existence. To fit the pieces together to create a singular beautiful picture - a utopian society that is in sync with its purpose and creator. This is the Messianic reality that we are waiting for, praying for, and most of all bringing about through our actions.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe
Disagree with Dignity
August 5, 2022 | Parshat Devarim
We all dream of a kinder and more respectful world. But what does such a world look like?
Do we hope for a time when everyone agrees about everything? Such a society would be boring, unimaginative, and suppressive.
Do we wish for a world of radical acceptance, where everyone is free to say and do what they want? That would lead to anarchy and an immoral society where people get away with everything.
The truth is that we are all different, and it's only natural that we see things differently. Being accepting doesn't mean that you can't disagree - just do so respectfully. Being kind doesn't mean you have to let everyone do what they want - just tell them off with dignity.
This week we begin the 5th book of the Torah, Devarim (Deuteronomy) where Moses spends the final 37 days of his life lecturing the Jewish people (a sermon that spans the entire book of Devarim), using their past mistakes as a springboard for an ethical and spiritual vision for their future in Israel.
Moses could have let the Jews' past mistakes slide - let bygones be bygone. He could have ended his career (and life) on a high note, being adored by the people. But Moses knew that these were important lessons, and it would be beneficial for the Jews to hear this criticism, even if it would make him less popular. To ignore their past failings would be to accept them, and not help the people learn and grow.
So he set about preaching to the people, but he framed his strong rebuke in the most respectful way. Even though his criticism was pretty harsh, Jewish tradition sees it as an exemplar of sensitive dialogue. Here are a number of examples:
▪ Moses waited until the end of his life to air his criticism. The Midrash (Sifrei Devarim 2) learns from Moses: "There are four reasons why you should rebuke someone close to your death: So you don't rebuke them repeatedly; so they don't feel shame in your presence; so you don't bear a grudge in your heart (for the rebuke not being heeded); and so that the rebuke leads to peace."
▪ Moses used vague references to their failings instead of spelling out their mistakes publicly. Rashi points this out in his commentary: "it makes no explicit mention of the incidents [in which they transgressed], but rather merely alludes to them, [by mentioning the names of the places] out of respect for Israel"
▪ Moses gathered all of the Jews together to tell them off. The Midrash explains that this was to give everyone a fair chance to defend themselves.
Moses' example teaches us how to disagree with dignity, rebuke with respect, and maintain respectful conversation even when we feel that others are wrong or have made terrible mistakes. Using this template, our society can be kind and embracing even while having absolute standards, and we can all be respectful to everyone even while strongly disagreeing with them.
This Shabbat is the 9th of Av - the anniversary of the destruction of the Temples. Because we don't want to display sadness on Shabbat, we observe the mourning rituals and the fast of Tisha B'av on Sunday. According to tradition, the Temple was destroyed on account of baseless hatred and Jewish infighting. It stands to reason, then, that through love and acceptance we can bring about its renewal. While we mourn the loss of the Temple this week, let's take a lesson from Moses and make an effort to treat everyone with respect and dignity and show sensitivity to others, even those we disagree with.
Wishing you an easy and meaningful Tisha B’av.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
The Journey is the Destination
July 29, 2022 | Parshat Matot-Masei
Imagine a person who has been put on a diet. On their way home, they walk by a café and see their favorite dish being served. They're tempted to go in and order it, but knowing that their new diet doesn't allow it, they control themselves and walk on. As they keep walking, the urge grows stronger. Finally, after 10 minutes of struggle, they succumb and walk back to order the dish for lunch.
Conventional wisdom looks at this person as having failed. They didn't keep to their diet. Our society rewards people for results, not efforts. We celebrate reaching our goals, and don't care much for the work it takes to get there. The bottom line is the only thing that matters.
But what would the dieter's personal coach say? "Wow! You controlled your urge for a whole ten minutes. What an amazing start!" Looking at the person and valuing their struggles helps appreciate how each moment of control is a success.
This week's Torah reading details the Jews' encampments throughout their 40 years in the desert. Although it records the destinations they camped at, it is titled Masei - Journeys, emphasizing their efforts along the way. There's an old adage: "Fool's gold is at the end of the rainbow. The real gold is on the way." More important than where the Jews reached is what they did to get there. Every day is another story, and every moment another battle. Each small step in the right direction is a giant leap and each little victory is invaluable.
The Baal Shem Tov taught that the 42 journeys of the Jews from the birth of the nation until it reached its Homeland are reflected in each of our lives. We go through many stages and phases, challenges and successes. At different times in our lives, we are camped in different places - geographically, mentally, and emotionally. Yet we aren’t defined by the places we’ve reached, but by the journeys we’ve undertaken to get there.
G-d sees each person as an individual and each moment as eternity. He is like a personal coach who recognizes our struggles and appreciates our progress. This is a profound mindset shift. Life isn't about succeeding, but about trying your hardest. You are not judged by your overall achievements, but by your performance each moment. Success is not measured by which rung of the ladder you've reached, but by the direction that you're headed. The journey is the destination.
If you're going through a challenging time - know that the place you are in now is only temporary; it is for some reason a part of the journey to your Promised Land. If you are fairly comfortable in your current place in life - know that you have further to go and grow. Don't be complacent. Journey on.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Making Daily Sacrifices
July 22, 2022 | Parshat Pinchas
After I pulled some muscles in my neck a couple of weeks ago I made a commitment to exercise regularly. I got in touch with a friend, who is a workout enthusiast, to help create a workout routine.
After sending me a daily routine, he emphasized that more important than what I do each day is that I do something every day. The best workout routine is the one you do consistently. The ideal exercise plan is not an occasional workout, but a steady routine.
It turns out that the soul operates the same way as the body.
There's a wonderful debate in the Midrash about which verse in the Torah is the most important. Several rabbis offer conventional responses: "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "Hear O Israel, the Lord is our G-d, the Lord is one" among them. One of the group, Rabbi Shimon ben Pazi, suggests an unlikely verse about the daily Temple offerings from this week's Torah portion, that the Midrash ends up siding with: "The first lamb you shall sacrifice in the morning and the second lamb you shall sacrifice in the evening."
Of all the theological principles and social values in the Torah, is the daily sacrifice really the most foundational?
It's not the meaning of the sacrifice that makes it the most important verse, but the fact that the same exact sacrifice was offered every morning and evening without exception. There are plenty of Jewish highlights, practices, and ideas that excite the mind and warm the heart - these are the heavy workouts for the soul. But more important than these big ideas is the ongoing commitment to Jewish living day in and day out.
Our relationship with G-d is cemented in the consistent effort we invest. If a commitment to daily implementation is missing, all of the big ideas are worthless. And if it's there, everything will come along with it. Just like a relationship is built on consistent expressions of love over the occasional expensive gift, G-d appreciates our consistent sacrifices. Our souls are nourished by the small good things we put into our regular routine.
And the verse emphasizes a need for consistency in the morning - the bright times in our life when we are inspired to follow through on our commitments, and in the evening - the dark and challenging times when we may not be in the mood.
It could be a commitment to pray every day or light Shabbat candles on a consistent weekly basis or have regular Torah study sessions. These commitments don't make the headlines and may not make you feel inspired, but they are your ongoing expressions of commitment to Judaism. They are the ideal workout for the growth of your soul relationship with G-d.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
A New Appreciation for Stars
July 15, 2022 | Parshat Balak
It's hard to do it in Brooklyn, but there's something magical about looking up at the sky on a clear night and seeing the dazzling array of stars. Tiny specks of light dot the night sky in a mesmerizing pattern, serving as a window into the vast universe around us.
Now that inspiring sight is but a few thousand stars that can be seen with a naked eye. Earilier this week NASA released pictures from its James Webb Telescope that were absolutely beautiful and inspiring. It's beyond me to fully appreciate the scope of what they portray, but at the very least they paint a vivid picture of a world so vast and detailed. Scientists estimate that there are 200,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 stars out there in the universe! Each of those stars is a world of its own, being born into existence with a dazzling array of radiation light and dust. Each with its unique age and frequency.
Before the telescope was dreamed of, only one person had ever seen the stars from this angle. In Genesis, G-d took Abraham on a journey beyond the Earth's atmosphere and told him "Look at the stars. Are you able to count them?" Abraham saw the cosmic light show and was blown away. G-d promised him that his offspring will be as astounding. In this week's Torah portion, the non-Jewish prophet Bilam blesses the Jews with the same symbolism: "A star goes forth from Jacob."
We can look at the images of the vast universe and dizzying number of stars and be impressed at how small and insignificant we are, or we can marvel at it in awe of the One who created it all. We are told that G-d counts the stars and individually names each one of them (Psalms 147). It may be beyond us to appreciate, but every one of those balls of energy has a unique identity, purpose, and function.
Like stars, each of us shine individually and uniquely. From our vantage point on earth, the stars in the heaven seem tiny and insignificant. But when you see them up close, you realize how powerful, significant and bright each one is. Humans are the same. We sometimes feel so small and insignificant. Or we judge others to be insignificant But when you zoom in on each individual person, we are all incredibly majestic and beautiful bundles of light, radiating positive energy.
And like stars that historically served as guides in the dark night, we each radiate a bright light that can positivley influence our surroundings and be a moral and spiritual guide to the world around us.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Is the Universe on Your Side?
July 8, 2022 | Parshat Chukat
Have you ever felt that the universe was on your side and everything just worked out and fell into place the way you wished it to? Or, the opposite, have you sensed a negative force that made every little thing into a giant task?
According to the Jewish mystics you might not have been imagining this. And what's more, the spiritual teachings of Kabbalah and Chassidus explain that reality is shaped by our attitudes and whether things beyond your control work in your favor may very well be caused by your mindset.
This Chassidic variation of the law of attraction is highlighted in this week’s Parshah. After Miriam died the miraculous rock that provided water to the wandering Jews in the desert dried up. The people quickly became thirsty and complained to Moses. G-d instructed him to speak to the rock and it will produce water.
As Moses approached the rock, he turned to the onlooking nation in a fit of anger and said: "Now listen, you rebels, can we draw water for you from this rock?" Then, instead of talking to the rock, he struck it with his staff and water flowed.
Moses had been instructed to talk to the rock, not hit it. The greatest of all Jewish leaders had faltered. G-d was disappointed at the missed opportunity to sanctify Him and it was this mistake that ultimately cost Moses his opportunity to lead the Jews into the land of Israel.
Why did Moses hit the rock instead of talking to it? And why was that such a big deal?
The Chassidic master, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, provides a deep insight into this story. G-d designed the world to facilitate humanity's quest to live an elevated life. As long as we live in sync with this vision - a life of kindness, respect, and meaning - the world will naturally - by design - conform to assist us. But when we lose sight of the divine purpose in our lives and the depth and value of other people, we undermine this hierarchy and reality doesn't bend to the mental space we occupy.
Were Moses to have been in an inspired mood, the inanimate rock would have conformed to his will and provided water at his request. But in his dispirited state of anger, when he was momentarily blinded to the Jews’ beautiful potential, he didn't see the world as a reflection of G-d. In that moment of failure, the rock wasn’t beholden to him. It would not conform to his word without being forced to by the hit of his stick and he had no choice but to hit the rock. Hitting the rock was only a symptom of the problem; his sin was losing faith in his people and in the divine image inherent within them.
When we have sincere faith amazing things happen. When we are inspired by our purpose in this world and inspired to see the beautiful divine depth in every person around us, we sense the beauty and harmony in the world. And reality around us aligns itself to confirm that. Things fall into place for us. Things work out in ways we could never have expected. When we aim to uplift people, doors open up for us. When we try to make the world a more G-dly place, nature becomes our assistant.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
What Defines a Good Leader?
July 1, 2022 | Parshat Korach
It was a political scandal that threatened to tear apart the Jewish community. Moshe had appointed his brother Aaron to the position of High Priest, and people complained of nepotism. Korach, Moshe and Aaron's relative, riled up his friends and neighbors and led a rebellion against his cousins.
After the attempted coup was quashed, G-d designed a test to prove the legitimacy of Aaron's appointment. Each tribe would put forward a barren staff to be placed together in the Temple. The staff that blossomed overnight would determine who G-d had chosen to be the spiritual leader. Indeed, Aaron's staff blossomed supernaturally and sprouted almonds, while the others remained plain.
The test was meant not only to show who should lead, but to teach what leadership is. The role of a leader is to see people's potential and help them blossom. A leader is someone that can take a barren staff--a dry, lifeless stick--and make it flower. Every person is created in G-d's image and has a unique and incredible potential. A true leader recognizes that and knows how to unlock that potential and help the person utilize it.
For me personally, and for the Jewish world at large, this Shabbat is a very special day - marking 28 years since the passing of the Rebbe - my mentor and spiritual guide to millions. The Rebbe was a profound leader and visionary who inspired and led a Jewish renaissance in post-Holocaust Judaism - perpetuated by a cadre of thousands of Chabad Shluchim couples around the globe. Although time keeps pushing us further from when the Rebbe lived and breathed among us, his leadership and impact only continues to grow.
There are many things to say about the Rebbe, but one thing stands out in particular. He genuinely cared for every individual. He saw each person’s potential and did what he could to help them blossom. He sensed their divine soul and fanned its flames. He encouraged and guided people to unleash their unique spirit and often saw in them budding talents and a flowering potential that they themselves were unaware of.
To the community leader struggling with self-doubt, the Rebbe helped him see his value and impact. When Elie Weisel had lost his ability to feel after the Holocaust, the Rebbe restored his faith in himself and G-d. One person the Rebbe encouraged to become a rabbi; another he steered away from the rabbinate. Out of a genuine love for humanity, the Rebbe aimed to guide each person towards their unique calling.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks summed it up well when he said about the Rebbe: "Good leaders create followers; great leaders create leaders."
Whether or not you consider yourself a follower, if you are reading this you have been impacted by his leadership. In honor of the Rebbe, do something extra this week to blossom a little more. Add a Mitzvah. Study a little Torah. Help a friend. Try your best to live up to your unique potential.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Subjective Reality
June 24, 2022 | Parshat Shelach
It is often hard to distinguish facts from opinion.
I have a pretty diverse social media feed. It never ceases to amaze me how every story can be painted in such different ways by different people - and somehow always in line with their respective views. Everyone is convinced that their spin on the story is an undeniable fact. It is as if there are multiple concurrent realities existing independent of each other.
But this is not a new phenomenon. There's precedent for it in this week's Parsha.
The Jews had sent a delegation of leaders on a mission to scout out the land of Israel in anticipation of their advancement to conquer it. Of the twelve representatives that were sent, 10 came back with a disparaging report (Bamidbar 13:28): "The people who inhabit the land are mighty" and (13:31) "they are too strong for us," and (13:32) "the land eats its inhabitants." The Promised Land, they claimed, was a sham. Only two of the spies -Yehoshua and Calev - firmly disagreed with their colleagues' assessment and encouraged the nation (14:7-8): "The land we passed through to scout is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord desires us, He will bring us to this land and give it to us."
They had traveled across the same country, seen identical views, and interacted equally with the same locals. These were honest people ("men of distinction" - Bamidbar 13:2) and not suspect of projecting falsehoods to advance their agendas. How did a group of people who had toured the exact same country come back with such different reports? Which group was telling the truth?
The answer is simple and profound. There is no objective reality. We all experience the world around us through the deep-rooted filters of our mind. The spies each had life experiences, philosophical perspectives and spiritual expectations that shaped what they saw. They weren't distorting the facts, nor deliberately fitting them to their agendas. They were honestly describing the situation that they experienced. They all saw the same thing, but they each processed it differently.
Those spies that didn't feel comfortable about the conquest of Israel innately noticed the negatives and legitimately didn't see how or why they would conquer this land. Yehoshua and Calev, who both had profound humility and deep faith in G-d's words, were sure that this was the Promised Land. There was no question in their mind whether this land was appropriate or if conquest was feasible - G-d had told them that it was their destiny to own it.
Where the others saw obstacles they saw opportunity. Where the others noticed pain, they saw potential. While the others questioned if, they only wondered how.
With the gift of hindsight, we can learn from these two great Jewish leaders to shape our vision positively. When we are aware of our own inherent biases that shape our worldview, we can self-correct. Knowing that our minds are shading the reality we experience we can intentionally create positive biases that allow us to experience life with more happiness and fulfillment. We can almost choose our own reality. Developing a kind, positive, and tolerant posture will change the way we see the world and experience life.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Breaking Down Religious Hierarchy
June 17, 2022 | Parshat Beha’alotecha
"If you are a rabbi," a child I was studying with recently asked me, "does that mean you're closer to G-d?"
Every part of our society is hierarchical; in schools and workplaces there are chains of authority; in politics and academics there are people closer to, and further from, the top of the ladder; there are the wealthy who have access to more, and the poor who have those channels closed to them. It's no wonder that the student thought the same about Judaism, that some people have a closer connection with - and deeper access to - G-d than others.
And while it's true of a Jewish community - only the Kohen could serve in the Temple, a rabbi may have religious authority, etc. - nothing could be further from the truth in regards to Judaism itself.
This week's portion talks about Aaron, the high priest, kindling the Menorah. The mystics explain the 7 branches of the candelabra as symbols of the diverse strands within the Jewish community. Each branch symbolized another type of person, with their unique way of thinking, believing and acting.
Every branch of the Menorah carried an equal flame, communicating an important and deep truth. There are many pathways to heaven. The flame, a symbol of a passionate relationship with G-d, can be accessed equally by everyone, regardless of their character, background and path in life.
We can each connect with the Divine with our unique set of qualities and circumstances. Each time we pray, do a Mitzvah or connect to G-d, we ignite the spark that burns bright in our souls and fuel the flame of sacred light.
If one of the branches wasn’t lit, the Menorah wasn’t complete. We need every one to contribute our unique light for our collective Menorah to spread its light and brighten the world.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Be Unique, Not Different
June 10, 2022 | Parshat Naso
Can you imagine what your Instagram feed would look like if every one of your friends posted the exact same pictures?
That's exactly how this week's Torah portion reads. To dedicate the Mishkan (the portable Temple that the Jews had in the desert), the leaders brought elaborate offerings on behalf of their tribes. They all gave the exact same offering, yet Torah lists each one individually, repeating the detailed description for each of the tribes. The redundancy makes this week's reading the longest of the year! Why wouldn't the Torah just say it once and tell us that each tribe brought that offering?
There's a deep lesson embedded here. You don't have to act differently to be unique. You don't have to rebel against the culture to express your individuality. When you invest your energy into something, it will stand out, even if other people are doing the exact same thing.
The leaders all gave the same offering to G-d, yet each one was different. The gifts may have looked the same on the surface, but the unique set of experiences and perspectives that they were brought with made them exceptional.
Going back to the Instagram feed. Imagine if your friends posted those identical pictures, but with different filters, hashtags and captions. That would make for an interesting browse.
This is an important lesson in all areas of our lives, and especially in Judaism. The Mitzvahs seem to try to make us conform, to behave the same way as everyone else: we all pray the same text, eat the same food and observe the same rituals. But nothing can be further from the true intent of Jewish practice. We may be posting the same picture, but with very different filters and hashtags. My prayers and your prayer - although maybe identical on paper - are outpourings of different hearts and souls. Your observance of Shabbat may look the same as mine, but it should feel a lot different. After all, your experience and appreciation of the day of rest is shaped by your life circumstances and experiences, something I'll never have.
Let's embrace our individuality, and appreciate its expression even in the common things we do.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Stronger Together: A Shavuot Message
June 3, 2022 | Parshat Bamidbar
A man on his death bed summoned his children around him. Using his last ounces of energy, he handed each one a twig and asked them to break it. The children snapped their twigs with ease. Then he handed out a tied bundle of twigs. “Now,” he said, “please try breaking this bundle.” Despite their best efforts, none of the children succeeded. “You see,” said the father, “as long as you all remain united, nothing can ever break you. But if you decide to be on your own, be aware that a lone person is as feeble as a thin twig.”
This coming Sunday and Monday is the festival of Shavuot, the day G-d gave us the Torah. At Sinai, G-d insisted that everyone be in attendance, from the one-day-old baby to the weak and elderly senior, and everyone in between. In fact, the Midrash says that the souls of all future Jews - including each of us - were there too. Why was this so necessary? Couldn’t those who were there simply relay the message/experience to their families back at home?
G-d was teaching us that for this ‘Jewish idea’ to work it will require that we all do it together, in unison. No one can claim superiority or more rights to the Torah. Nobody can fulfill their G-d-given destiny on their own. We all need the support of the entire Jewish community.
Now more than ever we need to be strong and strengthen each other. Our strength comes from our shared vision, our unified voice, our unbreakable solidarity, and our love and concern for each other.
They say, “If you want to walk fast, walk alone. But if you want to walk far, walk together!” Let us go far, together. We are one people. Let us stand strong and proud. Let us lead the way in turning this world into a more peaceful and purposeful place.
Here's one practical way of uniting together: Jews across the world will be celebrating Shavuot by re-living the Sinai experience with a Torah reading of the 10 Commandments. Wherever you are, find a synagogue to go to on Sunday morning and unite with your brothers and sisters around the globe. If you are local, please join us at the Dirah Shavuot brunch and ice cream party on Sunday morning where we'll be reading the 10 Commandments. Scroll down for more information.
Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach,
Rabbi Menashe
A Spotlight on Lives Lost in Uvalde
May 27, 2022 | Parshat Bechukosai
There was no mass shooting in Texas this week.
No, I'm not a conspiracy theorist or raving lunatic. My heart is broken over the senseless murders with the rest of the country. But I believe that we should retire “mass shooting” from our lexicon.
The term mass shooting lumps the victims together in one story. It focuses on the murderer and makes him the subject of the story. When our focus is on the victims, on the innocent and beautiful lives that were so viciously taken prematurely, each one is its own world. Each murder is a story of its own. There wasn't a mass murder. There were 21 murders.
This morning I read a short description of each one of the murdered. Each with their own life story, their hopes and dreams, and their own mourning family left behind. It wasn't one story of murder coming out of Uvalde. It was 21 stories.
I don't think that this is pure semantics. There are many factors that share responsibility for the overwhelming amount of violence in this country, but at the core of it all lies a basic lack of respect for others and a lack of appreciation for human life. We are each created in the Divine image. The Talmud teaches that G-d originally created only a single human being to demonstrate that each individual is an entire world. Someone with even the most rudimentary awareness of the infinite value of each and every individual would never dream of harming them.
Yes, we have to decry hate and push for safer laws and policies. But if those are our only reactions, we make the incident about the perpetrator and what we can do to make it more difficult for people like him to do this again.
Instead, we should also channel our outrage to spread the value of life. Instead of speaking about the murderer and his motives, let's share stories about the victims and the lives they could have had. Let's champion life instead of decrying murder. By mourning the loss of life more than the rise of hate, we send a deep message that goes to the root of the problem, inspiring people to not even want to do something similar again.
Most of us aren't in positions of leadership and can't create global change, but each of us can do our part. We can let the people around us know that we value them for who they are and that their lives have meaning. We have to champion the infinite value of human life and spread awareness of its sanctity. We can encourage our children, coworkers, and friends to help others and respect them. We can empower each other to recognize our unique potential to make the world a better place.
It may not seem like a lot, but you never know who is affected by your message and who needs it right now.
May the families of the victims be blessed with comfort, and may we be blessed with peace.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
The Busyness Trap
May 20, 2022 | Parshat Behar
Recently, a Bar Mitzvah boy that I was learning with was supposed get back to me about something, and told me: "Rabbi, I'll let you know when, and if, I have a few moments free in my schedule this week." Our society celebrates being busy and it feels like we are always trying to cram more into each day. Even children nowadays are busy, their schedules are filled with every possible activity and enrichment program.
But there's a fine line between being busy and being productive. Being busy doesn't mean you get more done or feel more fulfilled. If anything the opposite is true. Being busy is distracting. When you have so much going on, there's no time to think about what your real priorities and goals are, and how best to achieve them. Not only is it less productive, some of the most important things in life are sacrificed on the altar of busyness: meaningful living and spiritual growth. There's simply no time for them.
Judaism has a built-in mechanism to save us from the busy trap. Every seventh day is a day of rest. A day off from work and pursuits. A day off from being busy. Shabbat is a time to pause and reflect on your place in the world. It is a day to think about the Creator and realign yourself with your vision and goals. It's a day off from outward productivity that allows for inward reflection. Forcing us to take time off is G-d's way of helping us be more spiritually productive.
This week's Torah reading introduces the Shemitah year that takes this idea even further. Every seven years the land had rest and all agricultural work had to stop. Everyone who worked the land (which was what practically everyone did back then) took a sabbatical. (Incidentally, this is actually where the word 'sabbatical' comes from).
While Shemitah is described as the land resting, it was more about the people who worked the land. To protect them from falling into the busyness trap - of working constantly to do more without thinking what the more they want is - G-d instructs the Jews to take a sabbatical and spend time studying Torah and reflecting on life. The gap year gave them a perspective that carried them through the next six years of labor.
This Jewish calendar year is a Shemittah year. In Israel, the land is resting and farmers are taking a year off from their work. We're not farmers, but we can still practice the Shemittah ethic.
We’d be more productive, feel better and be better people if we took some time off from being busy and spent a few moments reflecting on our purpose. A few moments a day for prayer connects us with our source of meaning. A few moments a day of Torah study connects us with our purpose. And, of course, on a weekly basis, celebrating Shabbat anchors us in our life's mission.
Shabbat and Shemittah are gifts that we should accept with open arms.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Small Steps of Growth
May 13, 2022 | Parshat Emor
We all have areas of life that need improvement, and although we are aware of them - and want to get better - we have a hard time actually making change.
The problem often is that we look at the big picture of the issue: “I want to be a kinder person,” I want to be more present for my spouse/kids,” or “I want to be more organized.” We want to change ourselves wholesale and the task is too ambitious and daunting. It’s impossible to completely change our personalities and habits overnight, if ever.
This is one of the messages of the Omer count, when we count the time between Passover and Shavuot.
The Torah instructs us to count 7 weeks from after the first Seder night until Shavuot - reflecting our ancestors’ countdown from leaving Egypt to receiving the Torah at Sinai. But then Torah adds that in addition to counting 7 weeks, we should count the days too - 49 days. If it weren’t a whole number - say 6 and a half weeks - I’d understand why the need to count days. But once we are counting 7 complete weeks, why is it a Mitzvah to count the days too?
The counting isn’t just to know when to celebrate Shavuot - it is to prepare ourselves for the special day. Kabbalah divides our personality into 7 character traits or emotions. This is the symbolism of the 7 weeks we count - each week we are meant to be improving in one area of our inner selves as we prepare to re-accept the Torah: the first week is chessed / kindness, the second week is gevurah / discipline etc.
And herein lies the profound lesson of counting the days as well as the weeks. It is impossible to approach self-growth in broad terms. Instead we have to break it down into small, manageable steps and tasks. Instead of trying to be a kinder person, consider what I can do today to someone specific that would be kind. Instead of turning into a super-organized person, think about how to structure one particular part of your life.
In this vein, instead of working on 7 broad areas of character, we break each of the 7 areas of our personality into smaller subgroups. And each day, we work on one small area of growth.
Small and gradual steps work to incrementally grow and improve, until you become a better person. Try it for 49 days - growing a little each day - and you’ll see remarkable results.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Do You Have a Mentor?
May 6, 2022 | Parshat Kedoshim
"Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is knowing not to add it to a fruit salad."
We live in an era of information. Thanks to Twitter we know everything that is going on in the world - and virtually everyone’s reaction to it - in real-time. Thanks to Wikipedia we can pull up everything there is to know about any subject. Thanks to Google we can find answers to any question we have in seconds. Thanks to Facebook and Instagram we know more than we need to about our friends’ lives.
But what do we do with this information? How should we process it to make sense of the world and figure out our lives? How do we utilize it to make the world a better place? Information is a very powerful machine - but until it's "switched on" and guided with direction, it is pretty useless.
This is the role of wisdom. The Hebrew word Torah comes from the word "Hora'ah" which means guidance. Torah is a source of wisdom that gives life context and purpose and provides meaningful direction. When you invest time studying Jewish texts, you discover that they provide a wellspring of guidance and inspiration on just about every topic and decision.
But we naturally have an inbuilt bias. We see things from our personal vantage point and have a hard time seeing the context beyond that. Even with the spiritual guidance of Torah, we easily end up slanting the texts to conform to our agenda.
There’s a custom to study Ethics of Our Fathers in the six weeks between Passover and Shavuot - one chapter a week. This past Shabbat I was studying the first chapter and one of the teachings caught my attention: “Joshua the son of Perachia would say: Assume for yourself a mentor (Avot 1:6).” Everyone needs someone to guide and direct them.
The role of a mentor - be it a parent, teacher, rabbi, friend, or whoever else - is not to impart knowledge, but to provide the context to contextualize the knowledge we intake and harness is to guide our choices. We need someone to look up to that can give us a moral compass and a meaningful context to navigate our lives.
Let's spend less time searching for knowledge, and more time seeking wisdom. Start by exploring the vast wealth of Torah resources out there - and find yourself a mentor to guide you on this wisdom journey.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe
Love Isn’t Everything
April 29, 2022 | Parshat Acharei Mot
Rabbi Akiva, one of the greatest Jewish sages, famously commented that "Love your neighbor as yourself (Leviticus 19:18)" is "the most foundational principle in Torah."
But not everyone agreed with him. His student and colleague, Shimon Ben Azai, argued that the most important verse was the passage in Genesis that describes the inherent worth of every human being as created in the Divine image: “in the likeness of God He created him (Genesis 5:1)”. In this view, respecting your neighbor, as a reflection of the Divine image, is more important than loving them.
The limits of Rabbi Akiva’s position actually played out in his lifetime. Between Passover and Shavuot every year is a period of national mourning (we don't have weddings, haircuts, etc.) to commemorate the tragic death of 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva. Tradition has it that the spiritual cause of this calamity was the lack of respect that the students had for one another. Imagine that: The students of Rabbi Akiva, the archetype of love for each person, had such disrespect for each other as to be deserving of paranormal punishment.
Loving someone doesn't always lead to respecting or tolerating them. In fact, the opposite can be true. We each see things our own way and often can't appreciate that someone else may have a different, and equally valid, approach. Loving each person like yourself can lead you to project your feelings and experiences on them and want them to fit your vision for them. Rabbi Akiva's students felt so strongly for their convictions and loved their colleagues so deeply that they wanted them to see things the "right way", i.e. their way.
I've noticed this a lot as a parent. When I have a way of thinking about something or doing something, I want my children to follow the way I do it and envision them following the path that I pave for them. My loving instinct is to try to fit them into the mold I envision for them, for their benefit of course. But my children don't always think like me. They are their own people and have their own personalities and ideas.
Herein lies Ben Azai's profound addition. Besides loving each person, you have to also respect them. Every human being is created in G-d's image and is deserving of profound respect. Respecting their infinite value as a reflection of the Divine image leads to appreciating them for who they are and for what they bring to the table.
When interacting with my children, I have to keep reminding myself of Ben Azai's principle: they too are created in G-d's image, and I have to respect their unique personalities and perspectives.
Rabbi Akiva's and Ben Azai's views are not mutually exclusive. We can, and should, love every person while also respecting them. My role as a parent is to lovingly nurture my children's distinctive personas in the best possible direction. Each of our roles as members of society is to lovingly go out of our way to do everything for another person while respectfully listening to them about what their needs are.
May our love and respect undo the tragedy of this time period and transform the mourning to joy with Moshiach.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Splitting the Sea of Our Consciousness
April 21, 2022 | Tonight through Saturday celebrates the “Second Days” of Passover
Does it ever happen to you, that you see someone all the time, but when you finally get to know them they suddenly look different? Your newfound understanding and appreciation of them alters the way you see them, changing their face and transforming their whole demeanor. This is exactly what the second half of Passover is about.
Passover is a commemoration of the past, an experience in the present and also a hope for the future. According to the Chassidic mystics, the first half of Passover commemorates a redemption of the past - the Exodus from Egypt - and the second half - when we commemorate the splitting of the sea - celebrates the future redemption.
The miracle of the splitting of the sea was not only utilitarian. Contrary to public perception, the Jews never actually crossed the Sea of Reads. They arced back and disembarked on the same side as they had entered. So the goal wasn't purely practical, but spiritual. At the sea, the Jews had a transcendent experience of the Divine, where, according to the Talmud, the simplest Jew saw what even the greatest prophets did not. The sea splitting was a material reflection of this experience.
The land and sea are metaphors for our consciousness. Generally, we see the world through our limited earthly vision. We are stuck in a "dry land" materialistic reality of ego and jealousy that is plagued with poverty and illness, war and hate. Judaism is an attempt to liberate the world from this experience and promote an immersive "sea" reality - a divine consciousness that alters our perception of ourselves, others and the entire world. Each Mitzvah is a partial splitting of the sea, drawing back the shades and allowing the divine spirit to seep into our reality. When we truly get to know the inner workings of the world, we see it in an entirely different light. The Messianic age - when the seas of G-d-consciousness are split wide open - is a time when we experience the redeemed world.
While the Jews had left Egypt a week prior, Egypt hadn't left them. The splitting of the sea was intended to schlep them out of their sunken Egyptian mindset and open them up to a higher consciousness, a divine consciousness. The world of the sea - the unknowable sublime divine reality - split open before them, revealing a G-dly vision of the world, and created a new dry land - new pathways of consciousness. The Jewish people then had a fleeting experience of the Messianic age.
Each year on its anniversary, we remember this and attempt to make that momentary experience an established reality. There's a beautiful custom established by the Baal Shem Tov to finish Passover with the Meal of Moshiach - a 'Seder' of sorts, to harness the spirit of freedom and redemption of Passover and channel it as a force of positive change in the world. We translate the Exodus of the past into the present and work on creating a better future - a redeemed world, where we are liberated from jealousy and hate, poverty and illness, ego and anxiety.
We will be joining Chabad of Park Slope for a Moshiach Meal on Shabbat, April 23, for an evening of song, storytelling, and insights, and enjoy a home-cooked dinner with Matzah and wine (see details below).
Chag Sameach and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Memory, Not History
April 15, 2022 | This Shabbat is Passover
Tonight, millions of Jews around the world will sit down at the Seder table and recount the ancient story of the Exodus from Egypt. But if we pay close attention to the traditional text of the Haggadah, we can conclude that it is not the ancient history that we are interested in, but the experience of being Jewish in the present.
Instead of reading the original detailed story as it is recounted in Exodus, the author of the Haggadah decided to complicate things and quote a concise version of the story and expound on it to extract the complete story-line. The chosen text is from a declaration that Jews would make when they offered the first fruits (Bikurim) in the Temple. Each word of the brief declaration is analyzed in the Haggadah until the details can be understood. Wouldn't have made more sense to read it from the original source where the story is straightforward?
The story as recounted in Exodus is recorded in the objective third-person voice of a narrator; it is telling the story from the point of view of history. But the declaration made at the time of presenting Bikurim is the personal expression of the fruit-bearing Jew. It tells the story from the recollection of the Jew who experienced the Exodus.
The Exodus narrative is a record of Jewish history; the Bikurim narrative is a record of Jewish memory.
By telling the story through the voice of personal experience, the Haggadah is teaching us a fundamental tenet of Judaism. Judaism is not a history, theology or philosophy - it is a way of life. We don't learn about Judaism, we experience it. We don't believe in the Torah, we live it. On Pesach eve we don't tell over the story as it happened but the way we, the Jews, remember it.
Judaism is not a story about our past, it is the narrative of our present. The ancient stories are valuable inasmuch as they shape our minds and lives in the here and now.
As you sit tonight at the Seder, spend a few moments to reflect on the role Judaism plays in your life and how the Exodus story can be translated into your own personal experience.
Chag Samaeach and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Do One Thing - It’s a Big Deal!
April 8, 2022 | Parshat Metzorah
A philanthropist once approached the Lubavitcher Rebbe with a large sum of money that he proposed donating to a worthy cause, but with one proviso: “Rebbe, I want it to go towards a groiser zach (Yiddish for a big project).”The Rebbe, who oversaw plenty of causes that needed funding, urged the man to donate the funds to Chabad Rabbis who would buy and distribute Shmura matza to the Jews of their respective communities.The magnate was unpersuaded. “No, Rebbe, you’ve misunderstood me. I want it to go towards something permanent and substantial. Something that will last for a long time. You know, like a building that will carry my name.”The Rebbe’s reply was brief but classic. “If you want a building, there are plenty of other communities where they’ll be happy to build a fancy building, but if you ask me, what I call a ‘groiser zach’, it’s making sure that one more Jew has a Shmura matza for the Seder”.The Rebbe was a global Jewish leader who was sought out by dignitaries and politicians, yet he never lost sight of the individual. He cared for each person and believed deeply in the value of a singular act. Every person mattered. Every act counted.In the Rebbe's weltanschauung, one more person having Matzah for their Seder was tantamount to a societal revolution. The small act of the Mitzvah will reverberate with nuclear potential in the person's life and have a cosmic impact. It truly is a big project.This week America will mark Education and Sharing Day, the annual day established by Congress and proclaimed by the President in honor of the Rebbe’s day of birth. This year is particularly important, as it marks 120 years since the Rebbe was born in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. To mark the special occasion, New York state has proclaimed 120 days of Education in the Rebbe's honor.We can all honor the Rebbe’s legacy this week. In his honor, let’s pledge to do one more good act - one Mitzvah - and that can have infinite impact. To paraphrase Neil Armstrong: That’s one small act for man, one giant impact for mankind.
There’s an online campaign, where Jews around the world are pledging a Mitzvah in the Rebbe’s honor. If you have been inspired or touched by the work we do or by Chabad’s efforts elsewhere, consider paying it forward by pledging a Mitzvah here: www.onemitzvah.org.
To honor this milestone and further the Rebbe's impact and vision, Dirah will be providing Shmurah Matzah to 120 homes in the community. This "big project" will inspire tens of Seders and grant hundreds of people the opportunity to enjoy the authentic, hand-baked Matzah at their Seder, with the potential to ignite 120 homes with the fire of Jewish faith and endurance. Claim yours here.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Human Spring
April 1, 2022 | Parshat Tazria with a special reading of Parshat Hachodesh
Spring is in the air. It's such a pleasure to walk down the street on the warmer days when you can sense the season on people's faces and in their voices. Everyone seems happier and more chirpy. It's as if the human soul is a tree - it opens up and buds with excitement as the warm weather comes.
There's a little-known blessing made during the Spring season. It expresses the experience of rebirth and highlights the beauty of nature. The blessing is recited in the presence of a fruit-bearing tree during the Jewish month of Nissan, which begins tomorrow (on Shabbat). It thanks G-d, "Who has made nothing lacking in His world, and created in it good creations and good trees to give mankind pleasure."
I love this blessing and look forward to it each year. It is packed with so many meaningful meditations and imparts a sense of wonder at the perfection of nature. It is perfectly poised to harness our excitement for the new blossoms and the transcendent experience of beauty and channel them towards spiritual awareness. The closer we pay attention to the world around us, the closer we come to G-d.
Like the trees around us, we too are created perfectly in G-d's image. We have a budding potential to live life to its fullest. Our souls lack nothing.
Sometimes we go through a patch of winter and don't see the immense purpose or value in our life. We lack energy and color. We don't experience beauty. We don't see our work bearing fruits. But inevitably spring will come when we experience a rejuvenation. Our potential, that we had all along, blossoms. Our lives become colorful and animated. We burst with motivation and purpose.
These Spring moments help us realize what we had under the surface all along, waiting to burst forth. They open our eyes to who we really are and what we were created to achieve. They help us recognize that G-d truly "made nothing lacking in His world, and created in it goodly creatures."
As the flowers begin to blossom around us, let's utilize the season of growth and work on seeing ourselves and others through its lens, valuing the amazing potential and infinite worth within of every individual.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Holistic Diet
March 25, 2022 | Parshat Shmini with a special reading of Parshat Parah
Organically grown. Ethically sourced. Pesticide free. Farm to table. Natural ingredients. No added preservatives. Non-GMO verified. No MSG or trans-fat. These labels scream out to you wherever you look in a grocery store.
We are more conscious than ever of the food we put in our mouth. We care not only about the quality and taste of the finished product, but also about the process it underwent to get onto our plates. Our modern sensibilities recognize how and where our food is sourced and processed effects our health and well-being, as well as the environment and society. So we take a close look at the food labels before we make any purchase.
But there's another label to look for if you're conscious about a holistically balanced diet: a kosher symbol.
Judaism takes food certification one step further. Not only does it track the quality of the food and the process that it undergoes, it is concerned with the nature of the foods themselves. Like the old adage says, you are what you eat. Torah believes that the character of the original ingredients impact the consumer. The laws of Kosher may sound like an archaic diet plan, but according to the Jewish mystics, they reflect a progressive and holistic culinary approach.
All animals and plants have a soul - a personality and character that is embodied in the food that is made from them. Besides nutrients that energize our body, foods have a spirit that energizes our souls. Some animals have an energy that promotes violence, anger and ego. Eating products made from them triggers these troubling traits in the person and is detrimental to emotional and spiritual well-being. Other foods are made up of a more positive character and contain positive energy, that we can benefit from through consuming them.
Kosher laws are designed to navigate the complex spiritual world of food. For a spiritually balanced life, Torah provides a strict framework of Kosher dietary guidelines to help avoid eating foods that embody negative character and encourages us to digest foods that provide an energy that promotes spiritual health and sensitivity.
So if you're concerned about keeping a balanced diet, look out for the kosher labels too. They'll add an integrated spiritual component to your healthy lifestyle.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Another Day of Purim?
March 18, 2022 | Parshat Tzav
Its the morning after Purim and I am trying to collect my thoughts. It was an incredible Purim at Dirah - our first one - and I am so thankful to G-d and to all the people that joined and helped make it so special. From the full room of wonderful people who came together to hear the Megillah on Wednesday night to the more than 100 homes that we visited to deliver Mishloach Manot gifts, to the amazing Community Purim Celebration - it was so beautiful to celebrate together with the community.
But that was yesterday, and now it’s today. The past is only meaningful in as much that it shapes the present and the future. More important than what happened yesterday is who you are today because of what happened. That’s where the second day of Purim comes in.
Purim is the only Jewish holiday that is celebrated on different dates in different places. Walled cities, including Jerusalem, celebrate Purim a day after the rest of the world, in what is known as Shushan Purim. Shushan was the capital of Persia in the Purim story, where the battle to defend Jewish lives raged an extra day. To commemorate that, Mordechai instituted that walled cities, similar to Shushan, celebrate Purim on the 15th of Adar instead of the 14th.
When I was studying in Israel, my friends and I made sure to celebrate two days of Purim. We spent the first day of Purim in the north of Israel and traveled back to Jerusalem for its Purim the following day.
I'm no longer living in Israel, and I don't know if I can handle two days of Purim anymore. But even outside of the walled cities, Shushan Purim is marked as a special day. It’s not a full-fledged Purim, but it serves an important function.
Shushan Purim is a day to reflect on the holiday that was and feel the effects it had on us. The word Shushan is etymologically related to the Hebrew word meaning rose, Shoshana. A flower is beautiful, but it is pretty small; it’s fragrance, though, spreads around the room.
Like a rose, the greatness of Purim is encapsulated in the smell it gives off. Shushan Purim is when we smell the perfume of Purim. When we no longer have the thing itself but still access it through the fragrance it left behind.
We’re not wearing costumes today, but we can still feel as free to be ourselves as we did when we were disguised. The party is over, but the joy and friendships remain. The Megillah is not being read again, but the messages of the story are still on our minds. Purim itself has passed, but its inspiration is still with us.
Purim is one day of the year, but having a day on the calendar earmarked for post-Purim reflection ensures that we walk away from the holiday uplifted and invigorated. It helps carry the Purim spirit and joy into the rest of the year. The fragrance of Purim may smell differently for different people, but let’s all take the joy, community, and spirit of Purim and inject it into our post-Purim lives.
Happy Shushan Purim and Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Should We Cancel Purim This Year?
March 11, 2022 | Parshat Vayikra
There’s a war raging in Ukraine with millions of people displaced or in fear of their lives. A threat of a world war is looming over our heads. How should we be reacting?
This has been bothering me over the past couple of weeks. How can we go about our lives regularly while the world faces upheaval and crisis? I posed this question to the students of the Meditation from Sinai course that we concluded this week: Didn’t it feel strange to be sitting and discussing spirituality and growth while people are fighting for their lives across the ocean?
Yet, it seems that despite our interest in the war in Ukraine, and despite the funds that we donate, we are going about our lives business as usual. Our daily routines are unchanged.
I’ve been asking myself the same question about Purim. Is it appropriate to celebrate Purim right now, when the world is going through so much pain? Perhaps, I have been wondering, we should cancel Purim this year? Or, at the very least, tone down the celebrations?
As these thoughts were swimming through my mind last week, the venue that we had rented for Dirah’s Purim celebration messaged me they had to cancel our booking for reasons they couldn't discuss. Even when I pressed, they refused to give an explanation why.
Was this a sign that we should cancel Purim this year? Perhaps this was G-d sending me a message. Maybe a Purim celebration isn’t appropriate right now. I wasn't sure.
As we scrambled to find a new venue and I continued to mull over this question, an answer dawned on me from the Purim story itself.
Purim is a story of faith in the face of crisis. The Jews in Persia did not submit to the terror of Haman, and instead remained committed to G-d despite the threat of their annihilation. And when they refused to be shaken, everything turned around.
Everything that seemed certain and stable was revealed not to be. The king who hated the Jews discovered his queen was one and began to favor them. Haman who wielded undisputed authority in Persia and built gallows to hang the Jewish leader was deposed and hanged on that very gallows. Royal messengers who advertised a day designated to slaughter Jews were dispatched to spread a message of support to the Jewish people. G-d is missing from the story, yet He is behind every part of it. Purim is a celebration of irony. Its slogan is Venahapoch Hu - everything was turned upside down.
And perhaps a Purim celebration is the irony we need right now. To celebrate despite the darkness in the world. To trudge on in the face of despair. To laugh despite the pain. To have faith when all hope seems lost. To find G-d when He is hidden.
The Purim story teaches us that when we act this way, we create a new reality. We show that the evil forces that seem overbearing are not. We reveal stability in an unstable world and the instability of the terror that seems stable.
So, I concluded that the show must go on. We should celebrate Purim this year. Perhaps with even more enthusiasm than other years. And, thankfully, we found a new venue for the Community Purim Celebration to support that. Please join us at 5:15 on Thursday, March 17 at Hannah Senesh Day School (342 Smith St.) for a Purim celebration for the ages.
We hope and pray that G-d will respond in kind with Purim miracles - when in an instant darkness was turned to light and sadness to joy.
Shabbat Shalom / Peaceful Shabbat,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Think About Yourself A Little More
March 3, 2022 | Parshat Pekudei
There's a common attitude that the most important thing for the religious person to think about is G-d. It's not true.
Consider this: This week's reading continues with the account of the building of the portable Temple--the Mishkan--that the Jews build in the desert. So much detail is given surrounding this building effort, making it perhaps the longest narrative in the whole Torah. To put it in context, only 34 verses are dedicated to G-d's creation of the world, while hundreds of verses are used to describe the Jews' creation of the Mishkan. Why would that be?
Here’s one idea: For G-d to create the entire universe isn't a great feat, and the way he created it is quite frankly not of our concern. For us to infuse that universe with holiness is a tremendous achievement, and the way we can do that is our business.
G-d is omnipotent and omniscient. He doesn't need our approval or help. He doesn't really need our subservience either. To marvel at G-d's greatness and strength is to belittle Him. The Creation narrative is His business, not ours.
Where we fit in to the picture, our role in this world, has to concern us. We have to constantly ask ourselves how we can rise above our mortal, temporary lives and connect with an eternal truth. We have to concern ourselves with our own behavior, and try to forge a relationship with G-d. Do we give enough charity? Are we kind to people? Are we committed to a moral lifestyle? Are we dedicating our time to the pursuit of something larger than ourselves? We have to challenge ourselves to live deeper and connect higher. That's what Judaism is. It doesn't try to change G-d, it changes us and our lives. It doesn't make G-d greater, it makes the world greater.
The Jews building a home for G-d was the realization of this vision. They uplifted the materials they used to be part of a Divine structure. They created a place on Earth where G-d's presence was experienced, a microcosm of what we are achieving in the world at large. It was the human effort to construct a better world.
So what's the most important thing for the religious person to think about? Themselves.
At this moment, with the situation in Ukraine deteriorating, we have to step up to the plate. It isn't enough to just think about the people of Ukraine and feel pity for them, we have to do our part and help out in any way we can. We have to focus on how we can help them. Whether that means giving financial support, prayer or any other opportunity that we may have - let’s invest what we can to help. Let’s think about ourselves.
Shabbat Shalom / Peaceful Shabbat,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Being a Light in this Dark Moment
February 25, 2022 | Parshat Vayakhel
We are living through history. A dark moment of history. The war on Ukraine is unsettling and terrifying. And there's really no way of knowing what will come next.
Although I have never been there, I feel a closeness to the people of Ukraine. Chabad has strong roots there (the Rebbe was born there) and there are over 250 Chabad centers across the country.
I messaged a friend of mine who is a Chabad rabbi in Kyiv (Kiev) to see how he was doing and to offer support. He told me about the sirens and bombs, and the selfless and courageous work he and his colleagues were doing for the community through it all.
What took me most about his message were the first and last words. His opening words were (he wrote them in Hebrew): ברוך ה' בסדר/Thank G-d, we are alright. And he ended his message saying: מקווה לטוב בעזרת השם/We are hopeful for a good outcome, with G-d's help.
In spite of everything going on around him, his faith in G-d was unrelenting.
______
I visited a Shiva house this week and shared a thought about the opening Mishna in the Talmud. There's a Jewish tradition to study Mishna (the compendium of collected law) in memory of a deceased - Mishna shares the same Hebrew letters as Neshama.
The first Mishna discusses the latest time one can say the Shema in the evening. Of all the important Jewish laws and values, this seems like a strange choice of where to start the Talmud from.
Turning to the mourners, I suggested that this law gives hope and strength to those who suffered a loss and encapsulates what it means to be a Jew.
Shema is the declaration of our faith in G-d: Hear O Israel, The L-rd Is Our G-d , The L-rd Is One.
It is natural to say the Shema during the "day". When life is bright and things are going well, it is easy to be thankful and have faith in G-d.
It is difficult to place our trust in G-d when we don't sense rhyme or reason or when we face challenges or witness suffering. But real faith means to trust wholly in G-d when things are dark and difficult, during the "night" moments of our lives.
This is the deeper meaning of this Mishna which teaches that we have to say Shema in the evening: We have to find ways to affirm and commit to our faith in the overwhelming darkness of tragedy.
And this is the opening law of the Jewish code, which sets the tone for the entirety of Jewish life. The foundation of Jewish continuity and survival is our ability to say "Shema" during the "night"; our ability to counter fear with faith, tragedy with trust, and suffering with solace.
________
We are witnessing a unique "night". The war in Ukraine has cast a shadow over the entire world. But we have to remain hopeful and have faith in G-d. Leaning deeply into our faith provides us with powerful weapons in our arsenal that we can deploy to help the situation. Prayer. Charity. Mitzvot. These are tools that G-d has given us to actualize our faith and imprint it onto the world to create real change.
The conclusion of the Mishna is that we may say the evening Shema "until the morning rises". I think the deeper meaning of this is that when we say Shema at night we are confident that the morning isn't far away. The faith we display in the darkness brings the light of the new day.
Shabbat Shalom / Peaceful Shabbat,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
A Tribute to a Special Woman
February 18, 2022 | Parshat Ki Sisa
Last week, we lost a giant. “Bubby Hecht” passed away at 95. Our grandmother, Rebbetzin Chave Hecht, was such a loving force in our lives and a powerful force in the broader community.
She had over 400 descendants but knew each one personally. She had a personal relationship with each of her children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren, and kept up where they were in the world and what they were doing. Yet when we were with her, she treated each of us as if we were the only ones.
Beyond her family, which was everything to her, Bubby Hecht was Jewish heroine, leader and matriarch. She was an educator and leader whose legacy and impact spanned generations. Until her final years, she oversaw NCFJE, a Jewish non-profit with a multi-million dollar budget. She founded Camp Emunah, a summer camp for girls in 1953, which she directed for 70 years - right until her passing.
She was a teacher and an empowering light of inspiration within her community. When Chabad sent a delegation to meet with President Obama in 2015 to mark Education and Sharing Day, U.S.A., in honor of the birth date of the Rebbe, she was chosen to represent. But if you had met her, you wouldn’t have known any of that.
She had time for everyone and would greet each person with her soft smile and a patient listening ear.
Bubby was a rare combination of kindness and strength. She was incredibly warm and loving yet didn’t like to tolerate nonsense. She loved and accepted everyone for who they were, but was unwavering in her values. Her work ethic was legendary but she didn’t impose it on everyone else. She was a passionate achiever but carried herself with humility.
The two primary paradigms that we have for leadership in the Torah are the brothers Moses and Aharon.
Moses was a teacher. He was the lawmaker and judge; he led with the force of his Divine authority, imposing the law of G-d on the people. Aaron was kind and nurturing. As High Priest, his role was to help the people express their deep spirituality and connect to the Divine. Moses held the law above all else; Aaron's guiding principles were love and compassion. Moses led with rigid truth; Aaron was prepared to lie for the sake of people's welfare and happiness.
This week we read one example of their differences. When the people wanted to create the Golden Calf, Aaron didn’t know how to put his foot down and say no. So he tried to stall them instead, but his plans didn’t work out; his soft kindness was actually partly to blame for the greatest fiasco in Jewish history. By contrast, when Moses got wind of what was happening he smashed the Divinely inscribed Tablets in front of their eyes, protesting their actions in the greatest possible way.
Two brothers. Two great leaders. Two very different personalities. Each epitomized their unique character.
As individuals, we have to try our best to bridge those two personalities and balance them. Bubby Hecht will be remembered as a woman who did just that. Her wonderful legacy of the organizations and camp she built and of her large and diverse family that she nurtured are testament to her unique and impactful life.
I hope that we can follow in her path and continue to learn from her.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
P.S. You can read more about her fascinating life here: Legendary Rebbetzin Chave Hecht, 95, Life-Long Woman of Action.
Life’s Playbook
February 11, 2022 | Parshat Tetzaveh
I grew up in Australia, where football is a very different game to the one played here. We did play "American football" (as we called it) occasionally, but I didn't really know enough about it to appreciate the game. So when I came over to the US, and made friends who were crazed fans, it took me a while to understand what they saw in the continuously-stopping game.
Only once I learned more about the nature of the game and the depth of the tactics did I begin to appreciate it. I realized that the football we played as kids was vastly different to the one being played by the professionals. I learned that the quarterback didn't just throw the ball in the hope of one of the players catching it, he executed a carefully practiced plan involving many of the teammates. I found out that the coach communicated with the players at each break in play and helped them navigate to a win. What seemed as people running in random directions, was actually precisely choreographed plays. I learned that football is a complex game with keen strategy and intelligent plays
I think this learning curve is a great metaphor for Judaism.
Looking at the detailed Mitzvahs and Jewish practices, you could be forgiven thinking that they are superstitious, archaic, crazy, or a host of other things. We wrap strange things on our arms, follow an intense regiment of prayers and blessings, avoid certain foods and behaviors and do a lot of seemingly random things. Our lives keep being interrupted by rituals and we listen to an unseen voice to determine every move we make.
But the astute and educated observer, who understands the "game", knows that each of these rituals has incredible meaning. The Mitzvot are precise plays, with cosmic significance and spiritual depth, that help us grow and connect with something deeper than ourselves.
To navigate this complex playbook, we have the coach's guidance in our ear. The guiding voice of G-d, heard through the Torah, provides a bird's-eye view of the game of life and directs us exactly how to navigate around any opposition.
The detailed laws of Judaism are like strategies and plans that come together to create a drive that moves us forward down the field of life towards the end-zone of a perfected self and redeemed world.
No matter who you are rooting for on Sunday - you are an actual player in the game of life. And in this game, everyone can be a winner.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
What You Get When You Give
February 4, 2022 | Parshat Terumah
You don't expect the wealthy CEO to go begging on the subway for quarters or the well-endowed college to be door-knocking for collections.
So it's surprising that when G-d wanted to build a home for Himself, he reached out to the Jews to build the Mishkan - portable Temple - in the desert. In fact, in this week’s Parsha we read how He requested that every member of the nation give towards the building fund, and asked for every possible donation.
G-d had all the means in the world at His disposal. He is the master and creator of it all. And there were plenty of wealthy Jews who could have bankrolled the entire operation. Despite all this, G-d wanted everyone's involvement: the poor to donate along with the rich, the simpletons with the elite, the sinners together with the righteous. And He wanted the cheap materials alongside the elaborate donations - requesting copper as well as gold.
With His fundraising efforts, G-d was teaching the Jews an important and powerful lesson.
He was not asking for their involvement for His sake, but for theirs. He didn't need them to give, they did. When a Jew donated towards the building of G-d's home, he or she was privileged to be engaged in a project of cosmic significance. By asking for their help, G-d was providing them with an opportunity to be uplifted and elevated.
When you give charity - of your time, money or resources - you gain as much as you give. Yes, you're helping out the poor person or the non-profit institution, but they are also helping you. The opportunity to invest in the worthy tzedakah cause gives you a chance to live for something higher.
When you give to others you gain a sense of fulfillment and purpose, achieve a heightened spiritual sensitivity and channel G-d's immeasurable blessings.
So next time you are panhandled by an unfortunate stranger on the subway, asked to volunteer for a community event or solicited by a letter in the mail, ignore your initial reaction to hold back. Instead, give what you can and say thank you. Thank them for providing you a chance to touch the Divine.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Foundational Message of Torah? Be a Mensch!
January 28, 2022 | Parshat Mishpatim
Judaism is often associated with ritual laws. If someone says that they are not an observant Jew, they probably mean that they don't keep Shabbat or Kosher or wear Tefillin.
But as important as the rituals are, Judaism is actually more than that. It is a way of life that informs every area of our experience. The Torah inspires social action and lays the foundation of a just society. It is supposed to shape our values and ideals. It is remarkable that so many of the values that we hold to be sacred in today's society stem from Judaism: the value of life; the equal worth of every person; the responsibility we have to the poor and vulnerable. These moral truths have thankfully become universally accepted, but are rooted in the Torah.
This week's Torah portion follows last week's description of the giving of the Torah, and is titled "Mishpatim" or "Laws". As its name suggests, it deals primarily with many of the civil laws that Judaism teaches, such as treatment of workers, respect of other's property, and compensation for damages. It is telling that these civil and moral laws--that teach justice, fairness, integrity, and respect--are the first set of laws that are taught following the giving of the Torah.
The Midrash suggests a profound message here, that respecting other people and resolving disputes peacefully is the foundation of Judaism: R. Shimon says: Why did Torah detail civil laws before all the other mitzvot of the Torah? For when there is litigation between a man and his neighbor, there is strife between them. Once the ruling has been given, there is peace between them.
Similarly, the sages pointed out that: The ideal of proper behavior preceded Torah. Historically, G-d entered a relationship with our forefathers based on their adherence to a moral code before He gave the Mitzvot of the Torah. Our own attitude should reflect that chronological order; treating others respectfully is the first priority in Judaism. As Rabbi Akiva famously put it: Loving your neighbor as yourself - this is the greatest rule of Torah.
So next time you come across someone who needs your help or a situation where you are tempted to do something that may hurt or wrong someone, remember, that in Jewish tradition, being a mensch is the highest priority. Being an observant Jew should include Shabbat, kosher and tefillin, but it ought to also imply having a compassionate heart and moral compass - being a mensch.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
What I Learned From the Events in Colleyville, TX
January 21, 2022 | Parshat Yisro
The events from last Shabbat in Colleyville, TX may be fading from the headlines, but they are very present - and deeply etched - in my mind. The image of a rabbi and congregants being held hostage in a synagogue by a rabid antisemite is harrowing. And frightening. And I can't stop thinking about it.
But I don't want to focus on the fear. Or on antisemitism. Or on whether synagogues need more security. No. These are important conversations, but not what's forefront on my mind. My takeaway from this story is not about feeling threatened as a Jew but empowered. Instead of being afraid to attend synagogue this week because of what happened, I want to suggest that we should all make every effort to go.
In this week's Torah reading, we read about the first convert to Judaism. Yisro, Moses' father-in-law and a priest in Midyan, traveled to the desert to join the Jewish nation. What moved him to give up his pampered life of prestige to join a fledgling nomad tribe of recently freed slaves? What inspired the first Jew-by-choice to engage Jewishly?
The Talmud records a number of possibilities.
One rabbi says that he heard about the war with Amalek - a classic case of antisemitism. Amalek didn't attack the Jews for a specific purpose. They weren't conquering or defending any land. They simply hated Jews for no other reason than for being Jews. This was the first instance of blatant and senseless antisemitism. Instead of eliciting fear, however, it inspired Yisro. If a people is being attacked just for existing, there must be something unique and special about them. They must stand for something sublime and holy. Why else would their very presence offend people? Beyond just being an ally, antisemitism inspired Yisro to want to be a part of this Jewish nation.
A second rabbi in the Talmud suggests that Yisro heard about the splitting of the sea. There were many miracles before that, so it must have been something else about the story that moved him. The Jews then were placed between a rock and a hard place, effectively hostages in the desert. After finally fleeing Egypt, the mighty Egyptian army was chasing them down and they had reached an unbreachable body of water. Despite the impossible situation, they placed their firm faith in G-d and jumped into the sea. And when they did so, they saw G-d's hand and sea split for them. G-d rewarded their faith and efforts with miraculous salvation. When he learned about the Jews’ faith coupled with heroic action, Yisro was inspired to join their faith.
A third opinion in the Talmud posits that Yisro was moved to become a Jew after hearing about the giving of the Torah. When he learned about a people who were committing to a higher code - of morality, ethics, and divine ritual - he was moved to be a part of it.
In Colleyville, last Shabbat, all three of these elements were highlighted. We witnessed the depravity of senseless antisemitism. We witnessed the faith of the hostages despite their hopeless situation, and the faith of millions of Jews, and people of all faiths, who prayed to G-d and trusted in His kindness. We witnessed the heroic bravery of the rabbi who relied on G-d and took whatever action he could to bring about G-d's salvation. We witnessed the Kiddush Hashem of the rabbi who pledged to continue living by his Jewish faith - by wearing his Kippah and keeping the Shul doors open.
When Yisro heard about these events, he was moved to become an active Jew. Let's follow his lead and allow these events to move us to greater and deeper Jewish engagement. Let them inspire us to be prouder and stronger Jews. Let's respond to an attack in a synagogue by going to Shul this week.
I'll be in Shul this Shabbat. Will you join me?Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The One-Word Antidote to Indecision Paralysis
January 16, 2022 | Parshat Beshalach
In his book Steve Jobs, Walter Isaacson writes about a decision that Steve Jobs made in 1997 that turned Apple around to be profitable: he cut the product inventory by 70%. His theory was that the simpler a product range, the easier it is to make a choice, which equals more sales. One year later, the nearly bankrupt company turned a very healthy $309 million profit.
Jobs’ insight was brilliant. People hate making decisions. When we are confronted with a decision, we often overthink and rethink and get stuck and overwhelmed. In fact, we'll often do nothing just to avoid having to choose something.
Big decisions often paralyze us. But they don't have to.
This week's Parsha picks up the story of the Jews after they left Egypt. The Egyptians regretted letting the Jewish slaves free and gave chase. The recently liberated Jews now found themselves stuck between a rock and a hard place. In front of them, blocking their escape path, was the formidable Red Sea. Behind them was the quickly advancing mighty Egyptian army.
What should they do? Of course, the Jews couldn't decide. The Midrash tells that there were 4 factions with 4 different plans. One group felt there was no choice but to surrender to the Egyptians and return to slavery. Another felt that the only way out of the predicament was praying to G-d. A third group campaigned to jump into the water and face an easy death. Yet a fourth group wanted to try their luck fighting the Egyptians.
The competing parties couldn't decide on a winner. The Jews were paralyzed by their indecision and came to Moses to ask him what to do, and he, in turn, turned to G-d for direction. G-d's response was profound in its simplicity and still resonates today. He didn't pick a side or make the decision for the Jews. Instead, he offered one word of advice, that continues to resonate today:
"The Lord said to Moses, Why do you cry out to Me? Speak to the children of Israel and ‘let them travel’ (Vayiso'u)." Stop pontificating on the best option. Stop debating incessantly over the nuances of each argument. Just move on. Just do something. Go!
We know the ending. Once the Jews put all theories aside and focused on moving forward, doors opened for them that they could not have imagined or anticipated. The sea split and they walked through it on dry land.
This is a message for each of us too. Perfect is the enemy of good. Instead of waiting for inspiration or getting bogged down by a decision, just move forward with something. Take action. Go.
A wrong decision is better than indecision. We'd be better off just choosing something - even if we're not 100% sure about it - over being immobilized by not being able to choose anything. Seas won't always split open for you, but at least you'll have a good shot at success. And you never know - things may just open up for you in ways that you could never have expected.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Time-Warping Calendar That Shaped a Nation
January 7, 2022 | Parshat Bo
The first Mitzvah that the Jews were given - while still slaves in Egypt - was to create a calendar. From that point on, the Jews would measure time based on the cycles of the moon.
There's something unique about how the Jewish lunar calendar worked. The new month was decided on the basis of a 'new' moon, i.e. the reappearance of the crescent of the moon as it begins its new cycle. But here's the catch. They didn't rely on astronomic calculations to determine the moon's cycle. The court (Bet Din) had to receive testimony from witnesses that had seen the reemerging moon and then formally declare a new month.
The calendar was completely given over to the agency of the court. If the court didn't declare a new month until the following day, for whatever reason, or made a mistake in declaring a new month early, their decision stood. They weren't just figuring out the passages of time, they were creating it.
Time itself was warped by the court’s ruling. The sacredness of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur were determined based on that decision. When to observe Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot depended on the calendar. If the court made a mistake and announced the wrong day to be a new month, the passage of time that marks the sacredness of these days would shift to the new dates affirmed by the court.
The designation of the new month based on the sighting of the moon was a small step for man, but a giant leap for mankind. The sanctity of the Holidays was in effect created by the Jewish community. In essence, the whole structure of Jewish life was handed over to the people to set in place for themselves.
This was the biggest gift G-d gave the soon-to-be liberated people. They would not only be free to calculate time, but to create it. They would control time, and not the opposite. They were empowered to not only follow a path in life dictated by G-d, but to be partners in actualizing His vision.
Our calendar no longer functions this way and is now set according to the mathematics of the moon's cycle, but the message is as relevant as ever. We are empowered by G-d to be partners in creating a better world. We define reality through our actions. When we do Mitzvahs, when we are kind to others, when we sanctify Shabbat through the candles and Kiddush, when we wear tefillin, we create sanctity and take control over our environments. Like the courts did with the calendar, we become masters over time and matter. Our actions have the potency to change the world, to alter its metaphysical makeup which changes the way we experience reality.
Don't underestimate yourself. Do something today that can change the world and shape the very fabric of existence.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Don’t Be Bottlenecked in 2022
December 31, 2021 | Parshat Va’erah
How often have you decided to do something only to find yourself being too lazy when the time comes for it? How many times have you resolved to share with someone how much they mean to you or tell someone what they have done to hurt you, but didn't follow through? How much of your life is actually in sync with how you want to live and who you want to be?
Chances are that most of us have plans and dreams for 2022. Whether we've verbalized them or not, we have a couple of positive resolutions for the New Year. But what can we do to make sure we follow through? There seems to be an infinite gap sometimes between our minds and our behavior. We have a hard time bridging what we want to do with what we do, turning an idea into action.
In Jewish spiritual texts, this condition is symbolized by the Egyptian slavery. The difference between a slave and a free person is not in the amount of work (think 90-hour-a-week Wall St. jobs) or degree of labor (think restaurant delivery workers on a frigid winter night), but in the control over that work. A slave doesn't get to decide whether or not to work, a free person opts into it. Simply put, a free person is in control while a slave isn't.
Now, when we behave in a way that goes against our better judgment, we have lost control over ourselves. We're being coerced by unwanted forces to do things we don't want to or not to do the things we want. In those moments, we are slaves to our impulses, habits, and laziness.
Kabbalah traces the root of this psychological imprisonment to the neck. In Jewish mysticism, the body form mirrors the soul makeup. The brain is in the top region of the body because it houses the mind, the dominant force of consciousness. The soul consciousness flows downwards from the mind (wisdom/judgment) to the heart (emotions) and from there to the body (behavior). The narrowness of the neck that divides the head from the body is the bottleneck where the decisions of our minds get stuck on their way down to the heart and body.
It is no coincidence that the Hebrew word for neck, oref (ע-ר-פ), has the same letters as Pharoah (פ-ר-ע-ה), the mastermind of the Egyptian slavery. Like our ancestors in Egypt, we all experience Pharoah's slavery - an inability to lead lives of integrity and have a seamless transition from thought to action. The mind-self loses control over the body-self.
Thankfully, we also have a Moses within that can help us escape this sentence. We have a soul that is charged with an insatiable desire to find meaning and achieve a positive impact. The Moses within is driven to implement our ideas and follow through on the conclusions of the mind. Giving your soul a voice in your head can turn the neck from a blockage to a filter.
So here's some unsolicited New Year's advice: on top of the specific goals and resolutions you have for the New Year, commit to spending some time nurturing your soul and empowering your inner Moses. Consider committing to a study session, a few moments of daily prayer, or a Mitzvah that is going to empower your inner Moses. The small acts of positivity will shift your disposition and help the rest of your mind's ideas flow through to your behavior.
Free yourself from the inner slavery and make this coming year your best one yet!
Happy New Year and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
For Better Relationships, Take Off Your Shoes
December 24, 2021 | Parshat Shemot
You can't experience intimacy with your shoes on.This is not some wacky relationship advice, but the message that G-d teaches to Moses in this week's Torah reading.
When Moses encountered the burning bush, G-d instructed him to remove his shoes because "the place on which you stand is holy ground." This idea is also echoed in Jewish ritual, when the Kohen is instructed to serve in the holy Temple barefoot.
The common understanding of the need to discalceate (it's a real word - Google it!) is out of respect for a holy space. But there's an alternative understanding that de-shoeing (not a real word) is not so much about the place, but about the person. Taking off your shoes is a prerequisite for having a sacred experience.
Shoes are designed to protect you from the environment. A shoe forms a barrier between the person wearing it and the potential hazards of the world beyond them. Shoes, then, symbolize the safety barriers we erect between ourselves and the world.
Walls protect, but they also divide. The defenses that we put up to protect ourselves also disconnect us from the people and places around us.
When Moses approached the sacred space of the burning bush, G-d told him that if he wanted to experience the holiness of the moment he had to put down his guard. He had to remove his shoes and step out of his comfort zone. He couldn't intimately communicate with G-d from within his own paradigm. Bearing his soles was a symbol of bearing his soul.
We may never encounter a burning bush, but we can learn from Moses' experience. Every Mitzvah is an opportunity to encounter G-d. By letting go of our own agendas and egos - removing our shoes - we can transform the moments of prayer, the acts of kindness, the observance of Shabbat and any other divine act into intimate sacred experiences.
And if we want to build deep relationships with our spouses, children, or friends, we have to be willing to step out of our own mindset and empathize - wholly experience the other person in the place that they are at. That requires letting down our guard and allowing ourselves to be present and vulnerable. To experience intimacy we have to be barefoot.
Shabbat shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The End of the Beginning
December 17, 2021 | Parshat Vayechi
There's a tipping point in team building when individuals merge into a collective. It's a magical moment when the group combines to create something bigger than any one of them. But it doesn’t happen on its own; it takes strength, commitment, and support.
This transition shifts the point of gravity. As individuals, each team member is concerned with themselves and is competing against the others. There's competition and discord. But as a team, they look out for each other and work together.
In the Biblical narrative, this is the transition between the Books of Genesis and Exodus. In the first book of the Torah, the emerging Jewish people are individuals. It is the stories of individual members of a singular family. Perhaps this is why Genesis is full of sibling rivalries and family feuds. As individuals, differences were fought over, not reconciled. In the second book, the children of Israel grow into a collective and develop into a nation. They become bound by a shared fate and destiny.
This process begins to take shape in the final portion of Genesis that we read this week, where we encounter, for the first time, a family that lives in harmony. Joseph's children, Menashe and Efraim, are the first siblings in the Torah to get along. And by the end of the reading, even Joseph and his brothers reconcile their differences and make up. At the end of Genesis, the seeds are planted for community and nationhood.
This is the end of the beginning of the story, and the birth of the next chapter in Jewish history. As a family of individuals is about to emerge into a nation, they and develop into a team, when each part is only as strong as the whole.
And when we read the yearly cycle of Torah, we recognize the challenge of new beginnings. When we conclude the Parsha this week, the final one in the book of Genesis, we declare “chazak, chazak, venischazek - be strong, be strong, and we will strengthen each other.” We support and strengthen each other at this crucial moment of transition from Genesis to Exodus, from individuals to a collective.
In some respects, I feel that we are going through this transition right now at Dirah. In the 10 months since we launched, we have provided so many meaningful Jewish experiences. From explanatory High Holiday services to Hebrew to You lessons, from putting up Mezuzahs to helping people put on Tefilin, from classes to private study sessions - hundreds of individuals have been touched and inspired.
As we continue to grow and gather support, the seeds of community are beginning to sprout. It hit me a couple of weeks ago when over two hundred neighbors came together a couple of weeks ago for the Menorah lighting at Carroll Park, to celebrate Chanukah as a community. That moment signified to me the end of the beginning chapter of our organization. A new chapter of our growth is emerging, where a group of individuals is being transformed into a collective, and a community is taking shape.
At this crucial moment in our community's growth, we reach out to you for strength and support. In 2021 Dirah lit a spark of community. Now it’s time to fuel the flames and make the fire roar in 2022. Please consider joining our end-of-year campaign to fuel our growth in the new year.
With deep gratitude and wishes for a Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
You Are Not A Victim
December 10, 2021 | Parshat Vayigash
Take a moment and think of the things in your life that bother you: the relationships that are complicated, the circumstances that are holding you back, the embarrassing character flaws, and your financial/emotional/health stresses. Now take another moment to think about who is to blame for them. I’m sure it's not hard to identify someone.
The problem is, that even when this finger-pointing is justified, it is counterproductive. Blaming others is a subconscious attempt to alleviate yourself from the burdens of your problems, but it actually ends up making them worse. By having a victim mindset, you render yourself powerless to change anything. Instead of shirking from the problem, you cement its place in your life.
The first step to creating positive change is taking ownership of your problems and weaknesses. Because even if someone else really is to blame, you're the one suffering.
The Biblical figure Joseph exemplified this character. He had every reason to feel like a victim. His brothers sold him into slavery - after coming close to murdering him. Because of them, he spent more than a decade as a slave and prisoner in a foreign country, alienated from his family and friends.
But somehow he thrived as both a slave and prisoner, receiving promotions and praise and eventually earning the highest office in the nation after Pharoah. He is the only person in Torah to be described as successful. He managed all that because instead of being a victim he recognized what had happened to him was by divine design. Instead of blaming others, he took ownership over his life's direction.
Nowhere is this more profoundly expressed than when Joseph revealed himself to his brothers after more than 20 years of estrangement. Instead of lashing out at them, he calmed them and said: "But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you... And now, you did not send me here, but G-d, and He made me a father to Pharaoh, a lord over all his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt."
He explained that the only reason he got this far in life is that he didn't bear a grudge against them. His success was credit to his ability to take control of his life and not shift the blame and responsibility. His acknowledgment that "you did not send me here, but G-d" is what led him to be "a father to Pharaoh, a lord over his household, and a ruler over the entire land of Egypt."
Now go back and think about those uncomfortable parts of your life. But instead of thinking about who to blame, accept them as G-d-sent and think of ways to change them yourself. Just like Joseph, you'll be happier and far more successful.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Carroll Park Shamash Thief
December 3, 2021 | Parshat Miketz and Chanukah
I am still on a high from Chanukah at Carroll Park. We were overwhelmed and inspired by the incredible show of community on Wednesday night. Close to 200 people packed into Carroll Park to celebrate Chanukah and light up the neighborhood with the lighting of the beautiful LED menorah.
At the Menorah lighting, I mentioned that someone had taken one of the Menorahs candles and spoke about the lesson we can learn from that about power of the light to overcome darkness and how each of us can be a that force of light in the world. Here is a letter I penned to the “Shamash thief”:
To the person who stole the Shamash from our community Menorah,
Thank you. You inspired me.
While there's no excuse for the damage you did to the Menorah -and I hope you have a change of heart and return the stolen light - you taught me and the community a profound lesson.
You may not know this, but after learning of your heinous act this Wednesday, I complimented you later that night at our neighborhood Menorah lighting.
You see, when I found out about your brazen theft, I was hurt and annoyed. Why would someone deface such a beautiful symbol of light and unity? Who would stoop so low? But after thinking it over, it dawned on me that you were onto something and (perhaps unwittingly) personified a profound message of the Menorah lights.
Chanukah is celebrated in the winter when the nights are getting longer and the world is becoming colder and darker. The lights of the Menorah are lit in the evening, as the darkness of night descends. The Menorah is an acute symbol of the power of light to overcome the darkness. When things seem bleak, we light the Menorah in our windows to inject light and warmth into the world. The flickering flames spread their warm light around them and brighten their surroundings.
But the flames of the Menorah are not meant to remain as mere symbols of light - our goal is to actualize their message and spread their light to all areas of our lives. The Menorah teaches us that we can each be a shining light of faith and hope in our homes, workplaces and communities. We can all be a candle and brighten the world around us and the lives of those we encounter. And like the Shamash, our flames can ignite other people's flames so that they too can be ambassadors of light.
I don't know why you decided to take the Shamash from the Menorah and carry it away with you. But I hope we can all emulate you and take the Shamash flame from the Menorah and carry it with us wherever we go. I hope that we can all become walking Menorahs - spreading light and warmth to every place and person we come into contact with.
Please return the Shamash light to its place, but don't stop spreading it's light.
Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom!
With wishes for a brighter world,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Sure as Sunrise: A Chanukah Reflection
November 26, 2021 | Parshat Vayeshev
Watching a beautiful sunrise can take your breath away, and not only because of its visual aesthetics. As you notice the first rays of color over the horizon, you experience the birth of a new day, a reawakening of life. At that moment a basic truth of nature is reaffirmed - the darkness that invaded the night is only temporary.
But imagine the first human, Adam, experiencing nightfall for the first time. He had no history to rely on and no precedent to comfort him. The world suddenly darkened with no way of knowing if the light of the sun will return. Fear and dread must have filled his heart.
Yet instead of resigning himself to a dark world without the excitement of color or the clarity of sight, the Midrash tells how he took action: "When the sun sank at the termination of the Sabbath, darkness began to set in. Adam was terrified [thinking] “surely the darkness shall envelop me” (Psalms 89:11)… What did the Lord do for him? He made him find two flints, which he struck against each other. Light came forth and he said a blessing over it."
What drove Adam to even attempt hitting the stones against each other? Was it an accident or did Adam somehow intuit the potential of fire in the stones?
One possibility is that Adam knew that the world was meant to be light. Darkness was an aberration. If all around him the light seemed to fade, he knew that there had to be a way that he could create it himself. His absolute confidence in the necessity for light led him to try anything possible to create it.
This is one of the themes, too, of the Chanukah story. Perhaps even greater than the miracle of the oil lasting for 8 days and the miracle of finding the sole untainted jug of oil is the fact that the Jews even looked for the oil in the first place! They had just fought a tough war and finally regained access to the holy Temple only to find it desecrated, defiled, and in disarray. We would forgive them for feeling overwhelmed and being too tired to dream of finding an unbroken jug of oil in the mess. Yet on the forefront of the minds of the battle-weary Maccabees was how to rekindle the Menorah and shine the light of G-d in the world. They knew that the world needed light and were confident that there existed the means necessary to make that happen. They searched for a jug of oil with conviction and created a light that continues to shine over 2000 years later.
We all experience darkness and struggles, on both the personal level and societal. One lesson we can take from the Chanukah story is not to be fazed by the darkness and always remain aware that the light is within reach. At the core of each of us is a bright, untainted light of the soul. Written into the fabric of the world is an eternal flame of hope and goodness. The night may fall and envelop the world, but the sun will always rise in the morning. Our inner Temple may be scattered, but the fuel to brighten our worlds is always within reach. If we see darkness, it is a sign that we have to be the light to overpower it.
Like Adam's flintstones and the Maccabees' jug of oil, when we do everything we can to create light, our efforts are rewarded with success and our lives will radiate with joy and positivity.
Happy Chanukah and Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Don’t Be Thankful
November 19, 2021 | Parshat Vayishlach
It is much easier to be thankful than to actually offer thanks. You don't have to sacrifice anything to be thankful; in fact, it is enriching. Feeling thankful makes you happier and has been proven to have health benefits.
But giving thanks to someone or something is a very different experience. To thank someone is to humble yourself before them and recognize what they have done for you. It is to sacrifice your pride and acknowledge the other.
Our society is very good at being thankful. It's fashionable to feel thankful and countless studies and articles have come out in recent years extolling its virtues. But this thankfulness can often be part of the ego rather than its detractor; it sometimes projects entitlement instead of negating it.
The Hebrew word for thanks is todah. Insightfully, it shares a root with the word for acknowledgment or submission, hodah. Judaism recognizes that to offer thanks is to humble yourself and acknowledge the other. That's why being thankful requires actually thanking someone. When you express the thanks, you recognize that credit must be given to someone outside of yourself for your success.
In this week's Torah portion, we read how each time Jacob experienced G-d’s assistance, he showed his recognition by building an altar and offering a sacrifice. In the Temple, too, there was a Thanksgiving offering that a person would bring to show their gratitude to G-d. In Jewish ritual, it isn't enough to feel thankful to G-d, you have to express your thanks through sacrifice.
In Jewish tradition, every morning begins with a thanksgiving ritual. Upon waking up, we wash our hands and say:
“Modeh ani lefanecha melech chai vekayam, she-he-chezarta bi nishmati b’chemla, raba emunatecha - I offer thanks to You, living and eternal King, for You have mercifully restored my soul within me; Your faithfulness is great.”
We thank G-d for another day of life. We admit our own frailty and surrender ourselves to the source of life.
So here's a Thanksgiving resolution (is that a thing?) that I suggest: Don't just be thankful for what you have - think about who you are thankful to and why you owe them thanks.
Reflect on your limits and feel grateful and humbled that G-d/your parents/friends/teachers have provided you with so much. Then, don't suffice with feeling thankful - tell them thank you.
And consider starting your day with the Modeh Ani meditation. It will frame your waking hours with a powerful sense of gratitude and humility.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Counterintuitive Path to Success
November 12, 2021 | Parshat Vayetzeh
On Veteran's day this week, I read a quote that the Marines say: "Everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to die."
There's profound wisdom here, even beyond the battlefield. We all want to be successful, but we don't necessarily want to do what it takes to get there. And that's because, quite simply, what it takes to get there is uncomfortable.
This week's portion opens with Jacob on the run. His brother Esav wants to kill him and, already in his sixties, Jacob is forced to leave his family and everything he is comfortable with and head into the unknown to start life anew, traveling to his conniving uncle Laban's home where he ends up living for 20 difficult years.
While on this precarious journey, Jacob has a dream. In his dream, he sees a ladder that is rooted on the ground and extends to the heavens. There are many layers of interpretation to this mysterious prophetic dream, but here is one of them.
It is while at Laban's home in Haran, when well into his 70s and 80s, Jacob gets married, builds a beautiful family (the only one of the patriarchs that had all of their children follow in their spiritual and moral path), amasses wealth, and develops spiritually.
Ironically, Jacob's success came when he was least set up for it. Until then, he was pampered; he lived comfortably with his family in the Holy Land of Israel; he spent his time in study and meditation; he never encountered a world that was different or hostile to him. Then he was forced to leave all that behind and travel to Haran, a city named for its moral corruption (the Hebrew word connotes G-d's anger with the city residents), where he was subjected to hard labor and had to live under a roof with a crook. Yet it is there that he flourishes, and not by coincidence.
This was the symbolism of Jacob's ladder. When we are in a compromised position, we have the capacity to reinvent ourselves and uncover strengths that we didn't know existed. When our ladder of growth starts from the lowest point (earth), it can extend to the heavens. Jacob had to leave home to become the person he was. The uncomfortable environment forced him to confront himself and dig deep to find strength and grit to overcome the hardships to reach the greatest heights.
To be successful in any area of life, you have to move out of your home - the space of your life that you are most comfortable with - and stretch yourself beyond your comfort zone. Initiate hard conversations. Navigate complicated relationships. Challenge yourself to try new things. Make the uncomfortable calls you have been pushing off. Put yourself out there.
The same is true in spiritual growth. If you want to grow and develop, you have to make an effort beyond what you are comfortable with. Give a little more charity than you think is reasonable. Don't be afraid to follow your convictions even if others will label you or laugh. Do an extra Mitzvah. If you push yourself that extra mile, you will discover an inner recess of strength and depth that you didn't know you had.
The Marines were definitely onto something, but I think the quote needs a small edit. To reach your heaven, you don't need to die - you need to fully live.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Fighting Hate with Hope
November 5, 2021 | Parshat Toldot
Is there a Jewish response to antisemtism?
We're starting a new course next week, Outsmarting Antisemitism, and I've been getting a lot of questions about it: How can we outsmart people that hate us? What is there to learn about antisemitism that would necessitate 4 lessons?
The truth is that the course is not about antisemites. It's about us. The thinking is that if the problem is antisemitism, than the resolution might just be a stronger semitism.
This week's Torah portion tells the famous episode of Jacob 'stealing' Isaac's blessings from his older brother Esav. Isaac was blind and Jacob capitalized on that by covering his arms with animal skins to give off the impression of his hairy brother. Isaac thought he recognized Jacob's voice, but when he felt the hairy arms he was convinced that it was Esav, the firstborn. He gave him the blessing, but voiced his suspicion: "The voice is the voice of Jacob, and the hands are the hands of Esav."
Commentaries explain that this statement alludes to the brothers' respective paths in life. Esav was a hunter and a seeker of power. He asserted influence with his hands, using strength to get his way. Jacob was a scholar, described as tam, translated as simple, sincere or wholesome. He asserted influence with his mouth, educating and inspiring people with his teachings. This is the deeper meaning of Isaac's words: the voice belongs to Jacob and the hands to Esav.
The Talmud says: "If there is a sword, there is no book; and if there is a book, there is no sword." Torah was given to heal the world. Its profound and timeless lessons are the backbone of modern civil society. When we study, practice, and spread the moral and spiritual values of Torah, the divine wisdom influences positive change in the world. It promotes the inherent value of each human being, creates a kinder and more civilized society, and gives people meaning that leaves them content and not searching for the attention that violence gives.
As Jews, we have not had much access to power and instead have a tradition of influencing society through our moral and spiritual teachings, the voice of Jacob.
We owe it to the world to use and share our voice, and scream it from the rooftops. On top of all other practical measures we take, we can respond to those that insist on hate by increasing our own knowledge of Jewish wisdom and sharing it with others - spreading a message of love and tolerance.
I invite you to join the fascinating new course to explore this theme of fighting hate with hope through illuminating source texts and fascinating case studies. You will leave enriched with unabashed optimism and a Jewish identity that is rooted in positivity, purpose, and pride.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Kindness: The Jewish Gene
October 29, 2021 | Parshat Chayei Sarah
I am always very reluctant to cancel a class or study session. Occasionally something comes up that is important enough to outweigh the study opportunity. This past Wednesday was one of those occasions, and I had to postpone the weekly Parsha Power discussion to next week.
A young child of a family that we are friends with has been battling Leukemia for the past 7 months received the good news that the treatments had been successful and their 4-year-old was going to be discharged from the hospital. After practically living in the pediatric ward for over half a year, they'd be coming home.
To celebrate the wonderful development, friends and neighbors planned a surprise drive-by celebration to welcome them home. It was so heartwarming to join the tens of cars, with balloons, signs, and streamers hanging out of the windows, driving past the family’s home in a procession. They were stunned and overwhelmed by the outpouring of love from their community.
After getting over the initial shock, the father of the young boy shared a few words. "We could not have done this - our little boy could not have done this - without all of you," he began. "I only have one sibling, but since this whole drama began earlier this year, I have gained tens of brothers and sisters." The power of community had got them through this ordeal and strengthened them.
I was moved by his words, and it struck me that this was the hallmark of the Jewish people, and of Judaism itself.
In this week's Torah portion, we read about Abraham's servant Eliezer searching for a wife for Isaac. He devised a plan to find the perfect young woman: he would ask her for water and see how willing she was to help him. Abraham's hallmark was kindness, and whoever was going to marry into the family and continue the tradition of the Jewish faith, needed to exhibit that trait too. No sooner than he hatched the plan, he saw Rivkah (Rebecca) approaching and asked her for water. She responded by not only getting him water from the well but also offering water for his camels.
When he saw this degree of care and empathy for a stranger, Eliezer knew that she was the one. She was worthy of being the future Matriarch of the future Jewish people. This is the central Jewish trait - to care for others and help them whenever possible.
This is what has sustained the Jewish community throughout the thousands of years of our people's history, and is what continues to be the lifeblood of our people today. Kindness is in our genes, so let’s make an extra effort to think about who can use a little help and support and be there for them.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Can You Perform a Miracle?
October 22, 2021 | Parshat Vayeirah
Have you ever dreamed of being a superhero? Do you wish you could do something miraculous? Well, I’ve got some news for you - you can!
Before you get too excited, let me explain what I mean by miracle.
A miracle is when something out of the ordinary happens, and a force that is beyond what we are familiar with breaks to the surface and suspends the natural order. Nature is set and we are convinced that it holds the ultimate power. But occasionally something happens that upends all the rules, and we are shown the hand of G-d that is stronger than the laws of nature.
Just like the world has its natural order, we each have our fixed nature. We have our strengths and weaknesses and when life is smooth sailing, there are the routines we fall back on and the limits we acknowledge about ourselves. How can we stretch ourselves beyond those limits miraculously?
The Hebrew word for miracle is nes, which is oddly etymologically related to the Hebrew word for challenge, nisayon.
In the Torah portion, we read that in choosing Abraham to be the father of the Jewish nation, G-d threw challenges at Abraham time and again to test him. These challenges were designed to help Abraham develop his inner spirit and strength and rise to his utmost potential.
The challenges forced Abraham to suspend his natural tendencies and allow his superhuman core to break to the surface - to perform a miracle. And once he found it, the inner strength that he discovered stayed with him, and his life was changed forever.
Sometimes, life throws us a curveball. We hit a brick wall or face a challenge that seems insurmountable. Perhaps a tragedy that threatens to break our spirit or a struggle that we don’t know if we can overcome.
Our natural response is to become a victim to these circumstances and cower away from them, complaining “why me?” or “life isn’t fair!” But we can choose instead to perform a miracle and find the inner strength that we didn’t even know we had.
I recently read a quote from Australian rugby player, Robert Tew: “The struggle that you're in today is developing the strengths you need for tomorrow.” Every challenge brings an opportunity for us to dig deep within the superpowers of our soul, and allow them to shine through the surface of our lives to overrule our usual, natural response.
We can all be superman, and turn our nisayon (challenge) into a nes (miracle or super-human feat).
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
The Original Non-Conformist
October 15, 2021 | Parshat Lech Lecha
“What does being Jewish mean?” This was the question that I posed to the children sitting around the table in the first cohort of Hebrew to You, our new Hebrew School model that brings tailored lessons to the homes of the students.
At first, they were too shy to offer their opinions, so I followed up with another question: “Who was the first Jew?”
Judaism doesn’t believe in history (there’s actually no word for it in Hebrew), because the stories we learn are not about the past - they shape our present. Knowing who the first Jew was would be a guide to what being Jewish means to us today.
One student suggested Moses - he took the Jews out of Egypt and taught Judaism for the first time. Another thought Adam - he was created by G-d and interacted with Him. Finally, someone said Abraham - he discovered monotheism and is the first of the patriarchs. Each of these responses had merit and provided an opportunity to explore what being Jewish is (or isn't). Is having a relationship with G-d reserved for Jews? Is practicing Judaism a prerequisite to being Jewish? (The answer is no to both.)
In the end, we settled on Abraham as the first Jew. He was chosen by G-d and told that his descendants would be His nation - the Jewish people. But what made Abraham unique? How did he earn the title Jew? And what does that say about being a Jew today?
We learned about Abraham’s discovery of Monotheism and steadfast faith in G-d. We discussed his kindness and hospitality; he had an open tent policy and would host everyone who passed by. And we talked about his advocacy for the people of Sodom. These are all central features of Abraham’s legacy and hallmarks of Jewish life.
But the term Torah chooses to describe Abraham doesn't reflect any of those qualities. In this week’s Torah reading Abraham is labeled Ha’Ivri (the Hebrew) which translates as someone from the other side. The term communicates more than a geographic place - the Midrash explains that “the whole world stood on one side and Abraham stood on the other.” Abraham was a non-conformist. He stood up for what he knew to be right, even when the whole world was against him. He literally risked his life to promote his faith and values in a society that shunned them. He even stood up to G-d when he thought that He was committing an injustice.
To be a Jew means to stand firm in our timeless Divine heritage of morals, values, and practices, and do what we know to be right even if the whole world thinks or acts differently. To be a Jew means to follow your inner calling, even if it isn’t popular. To be a Jew means to stand tall and proud of your Jewishness and not cower to the hate of antisemitism. To be a Jew is to be an Abraham Ha’Ivri.
In the end, Abraham’s vision withstood the test of time, and today, thousands of years later, he is the inspiration for billions of people. When you have the unabashed conviction to stand strong in your beliefs, eventually people come around and respect you for it.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf
Surfing Life’s Crashing Waves
October 8, 2021 | Parshat Bamidbar
The Flood of Noah was a long time ago, but its waves are still crashing down on us.
Waves are incredible forces of nature and have the power to knock you over, leaving you gasping for air under the turbulent seas. But the brute energy of the water can be harnessed to help you - ask any avid surfer and they'll tell you the thrill of catching a wave. It all depends on whether you have the tools and skills to rise above the wave instead of going under.
The turbulent waters of Noah's flood are also a metaphor for the overwhelming waves of life that threaten to drown us. From our work responsibilities to family commitments and personal challenges - we are swept by conflicting currents in directions beyond our control. The waves can pull us in directions that we don't want to go, or worse yet, totally overwhelm us and leave us gasping for breath.
How do we rise about the tide and have the buoyancy to charter our course in life? What is the trick to enjoying life instead of being overwhelmed by it? You can't stop the waves but you can learn to surf. That's where Noah's Ark comes in. The Hebrew word for Ark, Teivah, also means word. The Baal Shem Tov played on this and taught that words can be our lifeboats. Investing our energy in the words of prayer and Torah study helps anchor ourselves in meaningful truths and rise above the flowing waters.
Torah and Tefillah give us a deep sense of mission and purpose and a healthy understanding of who we are. Armed with the right perspective and connected to something larger than ourselves, we appreciate the waves for where they can take us. Family commitments become precious moments. Work responsibilities become opportunities. Personal challenges become areas of growth.
When we are enveloped in the sanctuary of the words of Torah and Tefillah - our personal Ark - we are propelled above the choking waters of life's pressures and are able to feel the thrill of riding life's waves and experience every part of life as a joyous ride.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Menashe Wolf