Iyar 6, 5778, 4/21/2018
 Having the Seder at homeIt is no exaggeration to say that the Jewish world is founded on the night of the Pesach Seder. God calls out to usIt is the still small voice that is heard that rings in our mind and pricks our conscience. The logic behind Sabbath prohibitions :Vayakhel-Pikudeiif the Jewish people were prohibited from building and constructing the Mishkan/Tabernacle on Shabbat then why were they allowed and in fact commanded to operate and conduct the sacrificial service in that building on Shabbat? Purim will be celebrated eternally, even when the Messiah comesAt first glance, this seems to be a very strange observation. We are not the CrusadersOur enemies are deluded by recollections of the Crusades, where after centuries, the Christian invaders were forced to relinquish their power and territory in the Middle East. Lending money to a fellow JewLending money to others and helping them to extricate themselves from otherwise burdensome circumstances is a positive commandment of the Torah, but it sets out the rules. European countries say "not me"The late Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Shamir, once said that anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe is placed into the population with its mother’s milk. For Tu Bishvat: Israel's agricultural blessingsThe infamous Peel Commission issued its learned conclusions in 1936 stating that the entire land of Israel – then Palestine under British mandate – could not support a population greater than 2 1/2 million souls. And now... Democracy is messyThe old religious – secular bugaboo has reared its head once more and as usual harsh and unnecessary invective is being employed by all sides of this debate. A burning desire to replace wrong with rightMoses' life is characterized by a burning passion for justice. O! JerusalemIt is not so much that the world wants Jerusalem – after all it was a wasteland and backwater location for many centuries whether under Christian or Moslem rule – it is simply that the world does not want the Jews to have Jerusalem. Vayigash: In this world good has to be its own rewardGood deeds do not necessarily mean a tranquil and untroubled life for those who do them. PassingsEvery generation has special people that affect the lives of many of their contemporaries as well as the lives of later generations. G-d deals them out sparingly, but there is always at least one. The brotherrs who could not speak peacefully to one anotherWould that we be in the midst of a reconciliation, as took place in the story of Joseph. The UN and IsraelIt helped create Israel but has attempted numerous times to destroy it as well, while the Muslim world would have solved the 'refugee' problem had the UN not helped perpetuate it. ConfrontationsDeep down in the hearts of all concerned, there is the fear that the last chapter in this struggle has not yet been written. US Jewish leaders are fighting the wrong battleAmerican Jews may know that somehow they are the people of the book but they don't know what book is being referred to. There is little hope for their eventual survival as a vital part of the Jewish people. People of the tentsJewish existence as a reminder of spiritually and decency. Balancing today's normsExtremism rarely if ever results in the sanctification of God’s name in the world. The wreckage of empty wellsWe have always longed to be fresh, new and different than our ancestors. And we have paid dearly for it. 100 years since the start of Communist ruleHistory is a brutal teacher. It does not support false doctrines. A century of BalfourThe Balfour Declaration was an emotional impetus to the idea that the exile of Israel could and would diminish and end. The vanishing American traditional JewThe reason for the waning of the Conservative Movement. The angels that walk among usCivilization is the story of human transformation. The frist wandering JewIt wasn't just a travel experience, it was a lesson for generations to come. After the holidaysThere are no Jewish holidays until Hannukah. We hve to make do with memories of the holidays of the month of Tishrei, about to end. Sukkot: Finding a place for the soulIn a way, Sukkot is a natural continuation of Yom Kippur. The annulment of vows on Yom KippurWhy are we so confident that Heaven will agree to this and truly wipe that slate clean for us? Belgian chickensWe are invested in scandals, personal failures and rumors, and the great issues are ignored. What Moses said came trueSimply put, the vindication of the prophecy and words of Moshe themselves are one of the strongest pillars of faith upon which Judaism and the Jewish people rest. Lost causesIt is as though all of our battles have been won and there are really no new worlds left to discover and conquer. Ki Tetsei: TemptationUsually we do not carry out the acts that tempt us simply because of lack of opportunity and not necessarily because of our piety. Seeing correctlyOnly clear vision can lead to wise and correct choices.Re'eh: Sight and visionThe commandments that the Torah enjoins us to observe are a form of corrective lenses to aid us in seeing things clearly and accurately. Eikev: Step carefullyWhat does Eikev represent? Shabbat Va'etchanan - Nachamu: Hope brings consolationThe Jewish people always believe that there are better days ahead. Fake religionThe attempt of the Moslem world to elevate their dispute with Israel into a matter of jihad and holy war has left the world vulnerable to fanaticism and unending violence. Wandering JewsToday's largest Jewish communities are different, but can still work together. Thoughts on the haredi anti-IDF rally in New YorkThe recycling of ideas that have been proven to be mistaken blocks the chance of accepting reality. Behaalotcha: The light of the Temple menorahTorah from the Rabbi of Beit Knesset Hanasi, Jerusalem, noted author and lecturer. Bamidbar: Counting means loveThings of value require counting and cataloging. That is human nature. Focus or vision?One sees only the trees, the other the forest. Jewish do-gooders: Naivete is worse than ignoranceBelieving in the possibility of Utopia on earth when bombs are going off in marketplaces is worse than ignorance.Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: We need the mitsvotJudaism is in the details of observance. Tazria-Metsora: In Jewish life, less is moreWhy and how tsoraat affects three categories of human life and society – the human body, clothing and houses. Deviating from Torah law leads to consequencesThe Talmud states that consuming non-kosher food stops up the hearts of otherwise good Jews.Parshat Tzav and Shabbat HagadolTthe connection between Tzav and Shabbat Hagaol explored and explained. Vayakhel-Pekudei: AccountabilityTransparency and accountability in the parsha. Stuck in the middleReal life dilemmas mirror Israel's situation all too well. Is he a little too Jewish? Is Israel?There is no question as to David Friedman’s abilities or credentials. The problem with Friedman is that he is too openly Jewish for the Reform Movement.Damage controlThe laws and consequences of human behavior. The real test of new Jewish movementsOpen Orthodoxy wants to make Judaism palatable to modern trends. But that is all they are - trends. The paradigm for Jewish survivalThe entire story of the Jewish people descending into Egyptian slavery and then being extricated is essentially supernatural in detail.Crises in Jewish historySome crises are gradual and some sudden.Jacob lives onYaakov recognized the different personalities, qualities and talents of each of his children and grandchildren. Our brother Joseph stands before usIt is hard to change one's mind when it means changing an entire mindset. College campusesWe are back to the days when Jewish students kept a low profile. |
