And Hashem came down onto Mt. Sinai...and Moshe went up to the mountain. Hashem came down and Moshe went up Rabbi Friefeld teaches that Hashem brought His Torah down into man amd man was thereby elevated.
Yerushalmi Bava Metziah Chapter 2 Halacha 5
Shimon ben Shetach worked with flax. His students bought him a donkey. They found on the donkey a neckless with a precious stone on it. They told him you will never have to work again. he said "did the owner know he sold it?" They said "no" He said "then return it" They countered "although one may not cheat a gentile keeping a lost object is permitted" He said "do you think I am a common person who wants to make money. having gentiles praise Hashem is worth more to me than all of the money in the world". Shomon ben SHetach derived this from another episode where the sages burchased grain and found a sack of money in the grain pile and returned it. the soldiers they returned it to said "blessed is the G-d of the Jews". R' Shimshon Pincus asks why didn't they praise the one who returned it to them why did they praise HaShem? He answers that they understood that no man would come to such exemplary conduct on his own it could only be through Hashem. That is the value of having a Torah.
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Friday, May 22, 2009
Parshas Bamidbar
Josh has now completed the trifecta having led kabbalas shabbos last night , shacharis this morning and now mussaf. Please join me in wishing a hearty yasher koach to Josh and to his Bar Mitzva teacher David Frankel. Mazal Tov to Ben and Hilda Weissmann and Marylin Lowenstein the proud grandparents. Of course to David and Nancy, Elana and Shira and Simon (the family dog) who sadly couldn't be with us today. As we all shep nachas on Josh's accomplishment I would like you all to join me as I shep nachas on the birth of our grand daughter Tehila Rachel whose kiddush was scheduled to have taken place in Jerusalem a few hours ago. So my heart is filled with joy over events and in the Holy City of Jerusalem. I feel that this is no coincidence and that Josh's Bar Mitzva and Jerusalem are intertwined.
42 years ago the neighborhood that my daughter lives in today was in Jordan. The yeshiva my sons in law study in was as far from hostile Arab machine guns as we are from GA perimeter college. The broad plaza in front of the Western Wall that Dena prayed at Wednesday night was a narrow alley used by Moslem's as a trash dump. Then exactly 42 years ago yesterday the 28Th day of Iyar all of that changed. In six miraculous days the world turned over.
In the early months of 1967 Israel was threatened by 500,000 Russian equipped armies intent on driving the Jews into the sea. On June 5th at 7:46 am Israel launched a surprise air attack. Flying under radar Israeli jets attacked Egyptian airbases. In three hours the Egyptian air force by far the largest of the Arab countries, ceased to exist. In truth the movement of the Israeli air force had been picked up by Jordanian radar. They immediately radioed Egypt the encoded signal for war. However the previous day the Arab countries had changed their code frequencies and the Egyptians had not yet made the adjustment. They never got the message. Next Israeli ground forces attacked the vaunted Egyptian army. Without air cover the Egyptians panicked and fled in to the Sinai desert. Ultimately to die or be captured in the thousands by hundreds of Israeli troops. Actually the main tank force of the Egyptians surrendered when confronted by a small brigade of Israeli tanks. The surrendering officer claimed he had seen hundreds of Israeli tanks approaching him.
To the east lie Jordan and the British trained Jordanian legion. King Hussein had been warned by Israel "Join not my enemy lest I engage you also in battle" but the king wouldn't or couldn't heed the warning. He began shelling Jewish west Jerusalem and on June 6th Israeli troops turned their attention toward the Holy City. At two am a lone scout was doing reconnaissance of the principal Jordanian outpost to the east of Jerusalem Ammunition Hill. It was pitch black on a moonless 28th night of the lunar cycle. The scout stumbled and fell into a trench. There were people in the trench. He realized he had fallen into the fortifications on Ammunition Hill. He began firing from his hip. What ensued was a brutal battle but the Jordanians assumed that they had been outflanked by the Israelis. 36 I sraeli soldiers lost thier lives but they took Ammunition Hill and the path was open to the old city. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122473
At this point I read from the transcript of the tape made by Israeli radio reporter Yossi Ronnen as he entered the old city together with the troops. To read the story of the tape go to http://info.jpost.com/1998/Supplements/30years/ronen.html To hear the actual recording go to http://www.isracast.com/article.aspx?ID=374
On June 7th the 28th day of Iyar the shofar was sounded in front of the Western Wall. On June 14th the army pronounced the city secure and open to civilian traffic. The next day was the holiday of Shavuos which will begin for us Thursday night. Traditionally Jews stay up all night learn Torah in anticipation of the anniversary of the giving of the Torah which is the holiday of Shavuos. That year in the darkness Jews left their homes in the wee early hours and walked to the Old City. As they approached the Old City they were joined by streams of others coming from all directions all walking silently in anticipation of the great event. They were going to pray at the Western Wall the remnant of our Holy Temple a site that Jews had been barred from for 19 years. In all 200,000 came to the Western Wall that Shavuos and the experience has been repeated annually on shavuos night. Ten years later I was among them.
The joy the liberation the sense of blessing and goodness of wholeness and love that Jews in Israel in America behind the iron curtain felt at that moment cannot be described. We felt proud and we felt right.
Josh in a perhaps in smaller way perhaps but you very deservedly share those feelings. you have been victorious. you must feel the love and joy that surrounds you in this room. We all feel proud and we all feel right. Josh you have been blessed by G-d with great gifts. You are an excellent student in Judaic and secular studies. I could talk about the immediate source of these gifts that would be your parents but I am under a severe gag order. Of all of your gifts in my opinion the most outstanding gift you possess is your easy natural way with people. People are comfortable around you. Because of this you have the ability to make a great impact on the world around you. The pride you feel in being Jewish, your involvement in services and your Torah learning can be a beacon to others. These same gifts are also. A challenge similar to that faced by the State of Israel and the Jewish people 42 years ago. Would we appreciate all of the miracles and give thanks to G-d for all he has done for us or would we focus instead on self congratulatory adulation of our military prowess and intellectual abilities all the while looking down our noses at the feeble minded enemy. Even in religious circles could we reach out and embrace our begging to be inspired brethren or would we bind ourselves in knots of bickering and factionalism. Now 42 years later we are living the results. The Palestinian problem, Israelis as oppressors, return to pre '67 borders and a virulent anti - semetism that makes the international acclaim of Israel in June '67 seem like a dream.
So Josh remember this moment of joy and love. Appreciate who you are and all of the gifts you possess. Dedicate yourself to acknowledging G-d who has blessed you and always always remember. Treasure your parents because they are most extraordinary and we love them.
42 years ago the neighborhood that my daughter lives in today was in Jordan. The yeshiva my sons in law study in was as far from hostile Arab machine guns as we are from GA perimeter college. The broad plaza in front of the Western Wall that Dena prayed at Wednesday night was a narrow alley used by Moslem's as a trash dump. Then exactly 42 years ago yesterday the 28Th day of Iyar all of that changed. In six miraculous days the world turned over.
In the early months of 1967 Israel was threatened by 500,000 Russian equipped armies intent on driving the Jews into the sea. On June 5th at 7:46 am Israel launched a surprise air attack. Flying under radar Israeli jets attacked Egyptian airbases. In three hours the Egyptian air force by far the largest of the Arab countries, ceased to exist. In truth the movement of the Israeli air force had been picked up by Jordanian radar. They immediately radioed Egypt the encoded signal for war. However the previous day the Arab countries had changed their code frequencies and the Egyptians had not yet made the adjustment. They never got the message. Next Israeli ground forces attacked the vaunted Egyptian army. Without air cover the Egyptians panicked and fled in to the Sinai desert. Ultimately to die or be captured in the thousands by hundreds of Israeli troops. Actually the main tank force of the Egyptians surrendered when confronted by a small brigade of Israeli tanks. The surrendering officer claimed he had seen hundreds of Israeli tanks approaching him.
To the east lie Jordan and the British trained Jordanian legion. King Hussein had been warned by Israel "Join not my enemy lest I engage you also in battle" but the king wouldn't or couldn't heed the warning. He began shelling Jewish west Jerusalem and on June 6th Israeli troops turned their attention toward the Holy City. At two am a lone scout was doing reconnaissance of the principal Jordanian outpost to the east of Jerusalem Ammunition Hill. It was pitch black on a moonless 28th night of the lunar cycle. The scout stumbled and fell into a trench. There were people in the trench. He realized he had fallen into the fortifications on Ammunition Hill. He began firing from his hip. What ensued was a brutal battle but the Jordanians assumed that they had been outflanked by the Israelis. 36 I sraeli soldiers lost thier lives but they took Ammunition Hill and the path was open to the old city. http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/122473
At this point I read from the transcript of the tape made by Israeli radio reporter Yossi Ronnen as he entered the old city together with the troops. To read the story of the tape go to http://info.jpost.com/1998/Supplements/30years/ronen.html To hear the actual recording go to http://www.isracast.com/article.aspx?ID=374
On June 7th the 28th day of Iyar the shofar was sounded in front of the Western Wall. On June 14th the army pronounced the city secure and open to civilian traffic. The next day was the holiday of Shavuos which will begin for us Thursday night. Traditionally Jews stay up all night learn Torah in anticipation of the anniversary of the giving of the Torah which is the holiday of Shavuos. That year in the darkness Jews left their homes in the wee early hours and walked to the Old City. As they approached the Old City they were joined by streams of others coming from all directions all walking silently in anticipation of the great event. They were going to pray at the Western Wall the remnant of our Holy Temple a site that Jews had been barred from for 19 years. In all 200,000 came to the Western Wall that Shavuos and the experience has been repeated annually on shavuos night. Ten years later I was among them.
The joy the liberation the sense of blessing and goodness of wholeness and love that Jews in Israel in America behind the iron curtain felt at that moment cannot be described. We felt proud and we felt right.
Josh in a perhaps in smaller way perhaps but you very deservedly share those feelings. you have been victorious. you must feel the love and joy that surrounds you in this room. We all feel proud and we all feel right. Josh you have been blessed by G-d with great gifts. You are an excellent student in Judaic and secular studies. I could talk about the immediate source of these gifts that would be your parents but I am under a severe gag order. Of all of your gifts in my opinion the most outstanding gift you possess is your easy natural way with people. People are comfortable around you. Because of this you have the ability to make a great impact on the world around you. The pride you feel in being Jewish, your involvement in services and your Torah learning can be a beacon to others. These same gifts are also. A challenge similar to that faced by the State of Israel and the Jewish people 42 years ago. Would we appreciate all of the miracles and give thanks to G-d for all he has done for us or would we focus instead on self congratulatory adulation of our military prowess and intellectual abilities all the while looking down our noses at the feeble minded enemy. Even in religious circles could we reach out and embrace our begging to be inspired brethren or would we bind ourselves in knots of bickering and factionalism. Now 42 years later we are living the results. The Palestinian problem, Israelis as oppressors, return to pre '67 borders and a virulent anti - semetism that makes the international acclaim of Israel in June '67 seem like a dream.
So Josh remember this moment of joy and love. Appreciate who you are and all of the gifts you possess. Dedicate yourself to acknowledging G-d who has blessed you and always always remember. Treasure your parents because they are most extraordinary and we love them.
Friday, May 15, 2009
Parshas Bahar - Bechukosai
Before we talk about the parsha let me share with you a fun thing that happened to me and can happen to you. I was going through the toll booth on North 400 this past week. I pulled up to the cashier and handed her my dollar. She took it and said to me "well how do you do my darling daffodil". Not the type of interaction I normally expect at the toll both. However this time I was not surprised because the week before I had driven through the same toll both and was greeted with "how are you my Honey Suckle". Of course I drove away with a smile on my face and whatever I was late for didn't seem so bad anymore. Look at the power of a toll both operator to impact the world.
Parshas Bechukosai the second of two we read this morning describes in great detail how good it can be if we go in Hahsem's ways and how bad it can be if we do not. As is our way we scrutinize every word of the Torah and take note of all details. One of them is in the very opening sentence of our parsha. "im bechukosai talachu" if you go in my ordinances . Not 'if you observe the Torah 'or 'if you do the commandments' or even 'if you go in my ways' but 'if you go in my statutes'. Why talaychu - go and why bchukosai- statutes as opposed to commandments or laws.
The author of the Rebbe of Slonim in his work Nesivis Shalom offers that the Torah is describing something other than observance of the mitzvos. It is talking about going through life according to its statutes or as we might call it not just living according to the letter of the law but living in the spirit of the law. Although Torah law seems to regulate everything it really does not. The myriad of decisions that we make on a daily basis are not governed by Torah they couldn't be. The Torah doesn't tell us what school to send our children to or whether or not we should but the new or used car. Well since the shuls president is a used car dealer perhaps that one is more obvious. But the Torah does inform those decisions. That is because there is a spirit to the Torah and when one goes talaychu according to that spirit their decisions will be consistent with Torah.
Now you will surely ask How does one identify that spirit and go according to it? That is where the first part of the sentence comes in. Bechukosai. The midrash says shetihiyu amaylim batorah. that you should toil in Torah. The chukim are the statutes that we don't readily understand. None the less we toil to find meaning. We analyze them for the lessons they teach us. That process which we call Talmud Torah is how we come to be one with the spirit of the Torah. In modern times a phrase has been coined for this called "daas Torah" or how the Torah thinks. People who have invested their time and energy in understanding the Torah develop a feel for it and can often answer questions and make decisions that are consistent with Torah thought.
Let's read the next verse. If you toil in Torah I will send your rains on time. The Hebrew word for rain geshem is the same as the word for material sustenance which of course rain is the source of. The Rebbe of Slonim says that when one is living according to the spirit of the Torah his rains meaning his material choices come at the right time. Hahsem sends him the opportunities and the decisions at the most opportune times when these decisions can be made in consonance with the Torah. A client may call to say I'm going to be in town on Tuesday or I'm going to be in town on Saturday. In the first example my geshem is coming on time . Of course the second example requires a decision. A few verses later it says if you do not toil in Torah you will end up not observing and you will even find the statutes loathsome . This only makes sense because one who has not connected to the spirit of the Torah will surely find it loathsome.
Before Torah study there is a prayer we offer. If says I thank you Hashem for having me be part of the study hall and not one who hangs out on the corner. For we toil and they toil. We toil and receive reward and they toil and don't receive reward. Who says people outside of Torah don't receive reward? The Chofetz Chaim explains that outside of Torah reward is only for achievement. If doesn't matter how long and hard the pitcher works if he can't get the curve ball to drop dead as it crosses the plate like John Smoltz could there will be no reward. Inside Torah reward is for the toil not the accomplishment.
We have just participated in Yonahs Bar Mitzva. Yonah your parents have made some important decisions in the spirit of the Torah. You and your siblings are all attending GHA and yeshiva. Ten years ago your family decided to affiliate with this synagogue. We are happy they did because we are celebrating this simcha together today. Your parents didn't just send you to school or join a shul. Your mother toils for the institutions she believes in. She shops for Ariel kiddushes and sits in front of Kroger on a hot day selling YA honey. Sharon is a dedicated super volunteer. You Yonah have toiled immensely to achieve what you did this morning. I know because I periodically snuck in to the back of the room when you and Rabbi Cohen were practicing. You were frustrated and didn't think you could do it. Rabbi Cohen was also frustrated. But you persevered and so did he and your toil was was your success. It doesn't matter how much you you read, the whole parsha , or half or one aliya or even just recite the brachos. It all matters how much toil you put into it. So I will conclude by giving you the blessing we all called out as we finished the book of vayikra this morning. It is the blessing that we recite when we achieve any milestone in Torah because to continue the toil in Torah we need Chazak chazak vnischazed - may you be strong, strong and be strengthened.
Parshas Bechukosai the second of two we read this morning describes in great detail how good it can be if we go in Hahsem's ways and how bad it can be if we do not. As is our way we scrutinize every word of the Torah and take note of all details. One of them is in the very opening sentence of our parsha. "im bechukosai talachu" if you go in my ordinances . Not 'if you observe the Torah 'or 'if you do the commandments' or even 'if you go in my ways' but 'if you go in my statutes'. Why talaychu - go and why bchukosai- statutes as opposed to commandments or laws.
The author of the Rebbe of Slonim in his work Nesivis Shalom offers that the Torah is describing something other than observance of the mitzvos. It is talking about going through life according to its statutes or as we might call it not just living according to the letter of the law but living in the spirit of the law. Although Torah law seems to regulate everything it really does not. The myriad of decisions that we make on a daily basis are not governed by Torah they couldn't be. The Torah doesn't tell us what school to send our children to or whether or not we should but the new or used car. Well since the shuls president is a used car dealer perhaps that one is more obvious. But the Torah does inform those decisions. That is because there is a spirit to the Torah and when one goes talaychu according to that spirit their decisions will be consistent with Torah.
Now you will surely ask How does one identify that spirit and go according to it? That is where the first part of the sentence comes in. Bechukosai. The midrash says shetihiyu amaylim batorah. that you should toil in Torah. The chukim are the statutes that we don't readily understand. None the less we toil to find meaning. We analyze them for the lessons they teach us. That process which we call Talmud Torah is how we come to be one with the spirit of the Torah. In modern times a phrase has been coined for this called "daas Torah" or how the Torah thinks. People who have invested their time and energy in understanding the Torah develop a feel for it and can often answer questions and make decisions that are consistent with Torah thought.
Let's read the next verse. If you toil in Torah I will send your rains on time. The Hebrew word for rain geshem is the same as the word for material sustenance which of course rain is the source of. The Rebbe of Slonim says that when one is living according to the spirit of the Torah his rains meaning his material choices come at the right time. Hahsem sends him the opportunities and the decisions at the most opportune times when these decisions can be made in consonance with the Torah. A client may call to say I'm going to be in town on Tuesday or I'm going to be in town on Saturday. In the first example my geshem is coming on time . Of course the second example requires a decision. A few verses later it says if you do not toil in Torah you will end up not observing and you will even find the statutes loathsome . This only makes sense because one who has not connected to the spirit of the Torah will surely find it loathsome.
Before Torah study there is a prayer we offer. If says I thank you Hashem for having me be part of the study hall and not one who hangs out on the corner. For we toil and they toil. We toil and receive reward and they toil and don't receive reward. Who says people outside of Torah don't receive reward? The Chofetz Chaim explains that outside of Torah reward is only for achievement. If doesn't matter how long and hard the pitcher works if he can't get the curve ball to drop dead as it crosses the plate like John Smoltz could there will be no reward. Inside Torah reward is for the toil not the accomplishment.
We have just participated in Yonahs Bar Mitzva. Yonah your parents have made some important decisions in the spirit of the Torah. You and your siblings are all attending GHA and yeshiva. Ten years ago your family decided to affiliate with this synagogue. We are happy they did because we are celebrating this simcha together today. Your parents didn't just send you to school or join a shul. Your mother toils for the institutions she believes in. She shops for Ariel kiddushes and sits in front of Kroger on a hot day selling YA honey. Sharon is a dedicated super volunteer. You Yonah have toiled immensely to achieve what you did this morning. I know because I periodically snuck in to the back of the room when you and Rabbi Cohen were practicing. You were frustrated and didn't think you could do it. Rabbi Cohen was also frustrated. But you persevered and so did he and your toil was was your success. It doesn't matter how much you you read, the whole parsha , or half or one aliya or even just recite the brachos. It all matters how much toil you put into it. So I will conclude by giving you the blessing we all called out as we finished the book of vayikra this morning. It is the blessing that we recite when we achieve any milestone in Torah because to continue the toil in Torah we need Chazak chazak vnischazed - may you be strong, strong and be strengthened.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Parshas Emor
Parshas Emor continues the theme initiated in last weeks parsha. Kedusha / holiness. Kedusha is a challenging topic because it is something that the Torah exhorts us to do and we are not really sure we want to do it. Of course no one wants to be a sinner. Everyone wants to be ok with Hashem but this concept of kedusha seems a bit much. Am i willing to never really having any fun or enjoy this world? Kadosh people seem to be very admirable but they always speak softly, smile and never get a good joke. I have been blessed to know people who I feel are truly kedoshim and I would like to share three observations about kedoshim.
Observation #1
Just like everyone else in this world Kedoshim are committed pleasure seekers. Kedoshim are not unimpassioned people who have given up on pleasure to be satisfied with whatever comes their way. Kedoshim have come to understand that there is great pleasure in doing the will of G-d. They have found a thrill in it that makes other pleasures pale in comparison. Kedoshim are very focused and very ambitious. Kedoshim want their pleasure and are willing to pay a great price to get it. When they identify other pleasures as interfering with thier chosen pleasure namely doing the will of Hahsem they actually come to disdain it that other pleasure. A recovering drug addict once told me that as soon as he got high he tried to come down. Now that doesn't make any sense. You spent all the time and energy stealing the money, finding the dealer then finding some safe place to do the drugs at least get into it. Enjoy it. But no. As soon as he has the pleasure he realizes that the indulgence isn't really getting him anywhere and he wants to get as far from it as fast as he can. The kedoshim are the same way. They want to get as far as possible from things that distract them from their chosen pleasure even though these things might be enjoyable in their own right.
So observation number one about kedoshim is thatthey want pleasure as much as everyone else and they are more ambitious and focused on their goals than most people. They are just looking for a different type of pleasure.
Observation #2
Kedoshim know that kedusha is not found in a single place or circumstance. Kedusha is found in the french quarter of New Orleans, kedusha is found in front of the Western Wall on Friday evening and kedusha can be found in the social interaction at the kiddush we all will partake of in a few moments. When opportunities for kedusha present themselves Kedoshim have an eye for them and are willing to grab them. This usually means they are willing to pay a price for their kedusha. The kedusha seeker at the western wall may have spent his savings on the trip to Israel. The kedusha seeker in New Orleans may have struggled greatly to ignore the competeing pleasure being offered outside his front door. The kedusha seeker at the kiddush may have to walk away from an innapropriate conversation or engage in a conversation with an uniteresting person. Sometimes the kedoshim have to supress anger or the desire for revenge or a myriad of other human traits. What makes kedoshim different is that they identify the kedusha opportunity and are ready to pay the price to acheive their goal.
A third observation. Kedoshim are not angels or saints. They are not beyond making mistakes and don't always choose kedusha. The real difference between them and others is that they are not affraid of kedusha they value it. If so we can all have kedusha. All we have to do is be willing to try something new.
Let me close with a story of a kedusha seeker. This man founded a charitable institution in Israel. He visits Atlanta every year or so and I have come to know him over the years. A few years ago Purim was on shabbos. This man was celebrating at a very festive Purim meal. When every ones 'heart was good with wine' someone started singing shabbos songs. Soon everyone joined in and they were all singing shabbos songs with gusto. Then someone said " this is a holy moment, lets use it to improve ourselves. We should all accept upon ourselves right here and not to do something to improve our shabbos experience". They all agreed but no one was sure what to do. Then someone said "Every fridaythe siren sounds 40 minutes before sunset reminding everyone that shabbos is approaching. Lets accept upon themselves that we will be ready for shabbos by that time as it is suggested in the holy books so that they may go to shul with tranquility and recite the Song of Songs". It sounded like a good idea to many people. One person took out a piece of paper and wrote up a contract that all of the undersigned agreed that until next Purim they would be ready for shabbos when the 40 minute siren sounded. When the paper came around to him this man was excited by the idea and he signed it. (not everyone signed the paper).
Soon after Purim this man was in the NY fund raising. Late Thursday night After an appointment he got in his car and proceeded to call his next appointment. All of a sudden the flashing light came on and he was pulled over. It is against the law in NY to talk on a cell phone while driving. The Hispanic offer asked for license and registration and went back into his car. The fellow waited and waited and waited. Forty five minutes went by. He was terrified and he was missing his appointment. Finally the cop came back and said get out of the car. He got out. The cop said we have a problem. A year ago you were photographed going through a red light here in NY and we sent you a ticket. You never paid it. I should impound your car and throw you in jail. You will have to spend the night in jail and go before the judge tomorrow. There is only one problem the Hispanic cop said. Tomorrow is shabbos. By the time you see the judge and arrange bail you will never get home in time for shabbos (and he said it just like that). Therefore I'm asking you to please promise me you will clean up these tickets immediately. The man promised he would and he was sent home appreciating that he had made a commitment to shabbos and shabbos made a comittment to him.
Observation #1
Just like everyone else in this world Kedoshim are committed pleasure seekers. Kedoshim are not unimpassioned people who have given up on pleasure to be satisfied with whatever comes their way. Kedoshim have come to understand that there is great pleasure in doing the will of G-d. They have found a thrill in it that makes other pleasures pale in comparison. Kedoshim are very focused and very ambitious. Kedoshim want their pleasure and are willing to pay a great price to get it. When they identify other pleasures as interfering with thier chosen pleasure namely doing the will of Hahsem they actually come to disdain it that other pleasure. A recovering drug addict once told me that as soon as he got high he tried to come down. Now that doesn't make any sense. You spent all the time and energy stealing the money, finding the dealer then finding some safe place to do the drugs at least get into it. Enjoy it. But no. As soon as he has the pleasure he realizes that the indulgence isn't really getting him anywhere and he wants to get as far from it as fast as he can. The kedoshim are the same way. They want to get as far as possible from things that distract them from their chosen pleasure even though these things might be enjoyable in their own right.
So observation number one about kedoshim is thatthey want pleasure as much as everyone else and they are more ambitious and focused on their goals than most people. They are just looking for a different type of pleasure.
Observation #2
Kedoshim know that kedusha is not found in a single place or circumstance. Kedusha is found in the french quarter of New Orleans, kedusha is found in front of the Western Wall on Friday evening and kedusha can be found in the social interaction at the kiddush we all will partake of in a few moments. When opportunities for kedusha present themselves Kedoshim have an eye for them and are willing to grab them. This usually means they are willing to pay a price for their kedusha. The kedusha seeker at the western wall may have spent his savings on the trip to Israel. The kedusha seeker in New Orleans may have struggled greatly to ignore the competeing pleasure being offered outside his front door. The kedusha seeker at the kiddush may have to walk away from an innapropriate conversation or engage in a conversation with an uniteresting person. Sometimes the kedoshim have to supress anger or the desire for revenge or a myriad of other human traits. What makes kedoshim different is that they identify the kedusha opportunity and are ready to pay the price to acheive their goal.
A third observation. Kedoshim are not angels or saints. They are not beyond making mistakes and don't always choose kedusha. The real difference between them and others is that they are not affraid of kedusha they value it. If so we can all have kedusha. All we have to do is be willing to try something new.
Let me close with a story of a kedusha seeker. This man founded a charitable institution in Israel. He visits Atlanta every year or so and I have come to know him over the years. A few years ago Purim was on shabbos. This man was celebrating at a very festive Purim meal. When every ones 'heart was good with wine' someone started singing shabbos songs. Soon everyone joined in and they were all singing shabbos songs with gusto. Then someone said " this is a holy moment, lets use it to improve ourselves. We should all accept upon ourselves right here and not to do something to improve our shabbos experience". They all agreed but no one was sure what to do. Then someone said "Every fridaythe siren sounds 40 minutes before sunset reminding everyone that shabbos is approaching. Lets accept upon themselves that we will be ready for shabbos by that time as it is suggested in the holy books so that they may go to shul with tranquility and recite the Song of Songs". It sounded like a good idea to many people. One person took out a piece of paper and wrote up a contract that all of the undersigned agreed that until next Purim they would be ready for shabbos when the 40 minute siren sounded. When the paper came around to him this man was excited by the idea and he signed it. (not everyone signed the paper).
Soon after Purim this man was in the NY fund raising. Late Thursday night After an appointment he got in his car and proceeded to call his next appointment. All of a sudden the flashing light came on and he was pulled over. It is against the law in NY to talk on a cell phone while driving. The Hispanic offer asked for license and registration and went back into his car. The fellow waited and waited and waited. Forty five minutes went by. He was terrified and he was missing his appointment. Finally the cop came back and said get out of the car. He got out. The cop said we have a problem. A year ago you were photographed going through a red light here in NY and we sent you a ticket. You never paid it. I should impound your car and throw you in jail. You will have to spend the night in jail and go before the judge tomorrow. There is only one problem the Hispanic cop said. Tomorrow is shabbos. By the time you see the judge and arrange bail you will never get home in time for shabbos (and he said it just like that). Therefore I'm asking you to please promise me you will clean up these tickets immediately. The man promised he would and he was sent home appreciating that he had made a commitment to shabbos and shabbos made a comittment to him.
Friday, May 1, 2009
Parshas Acharei Mos - Kedoshim
Parshas Kedoshim opens by instructing us to be Holy - Kedoshim tihiyu. The very next words bid us to to revere our parents. Has the Torah moved on to the next Mitzva without even expelling the mitzva of being holy? The student of the Torah is always aware that the divine Author uses juxtapositions to convey additional information. It seems clear from this perspective that honoring ones parents is juxtaposed to "being holy" to teach us that honoring parents is an avenue perhaps even a primary avenue to becoming Holy.
This morning we named a new daughter in our congregation. Last week we celebrated a Bar Mitzva and G-d willing will do the same next week. A few weeks ago we celebrated the engagement of two children of our congregation. All of these are Holy events. The culmination of much hard work. I have recently come to realize that there is another life cycle that is even Holier and it is becoming more and more a part of our congregation. The life cycle "event" I refer to is the care of our elderly. I find an ever growing part of my rabbinate is to provide support and sometimes advice to those in our congregation who are dealing with the challenges of elder care. This is also true of my personal life.
One of the reasons elder care challenges are difficult is because they are multi faceted including financial and emotional. However it seems to me the greatest reason elder care is so challenging is that no one prepares for it. Childbirth has classes and coaches. Bar Mitzvas have teachers and planners. Schools counselors and psychologists help us raise our children and thankfully we now have Rabbi Pollocks Jewish Marriage Initiative. Who really plans for the challenges of caring for parents as they age? This issue is especially acute in our youth oriented, pleasure seeking society which segregates people into their own age groups. Quite frankly most of us would rather not think about it. So I would like to take a few minutes to explain why I believe the Torah links reverence of parents to Holiness.
Let me be clear that the Torahs instruction to revere parents is not confined to elder care. However it seems to me that only those who revere their parents will be able to rise to the challenge of caring for them in their old age. When we revere our parents we don't hold their infirmities against them and we don't look down on them. Rather we open our hearts to them. And if we harbor unresolved issues with our parents, reverence for the fact that they created us teaches us to let our issue go. In life we can't wait for satisfaction we have responsibility.
Our elders teach of the fraility of life and the vitality we enjoy every day. From our elders we learn that all of our abilities are truly a gift from Hashem. The abilty to tie a necktie or put on a coat unassisted. We also learn that he will inevitably take these gifts back. If this is so how should we use those gifts.
Our elders often appear petty or unreasonable or obsessed with having something done just so. What do we learn about our pettiness or the unreasonable requirements that we place on those around us.
Our elders often don't care much about what everybody else is all worked up about. Fads trends and the latest 'new and improved' don't really excite them. Is there perhaps a lesson in there for us.
To me most importantly our elders teach us patience. Patience in every sense of the word. While I am learning the lesson of patience I have to ask myself where do I need to go anyway? Why is my agenda so important and of course who will wait for me when my time comes. By the way let me tell you are story of patience that occurred to me. As we all know if you need to get down Tilly Mill Rd. when the college is letting out forget it. The traffic has to stop and start as it works its way through the stoplight at N. Peachtree. Earlier this week I found myself stuck in the backup. I decided that instead of zooming ahead then parking as each group goes through the light I would just let the car idle along at 2 or 3 mph not touching the gas or the brake. Of course the traffic got way ahead of me but as they were stopped I caught up. All of this was too much for the car behind me. He honked and when I didn't speed up he zoomed around me and caught up with the traffic. Of course 30 seconds later I pulled up behind him and guess what I did? I honked. And honked again the next time I caught up with him and the next. After the third time he leaned out of the window and hollered at me "I resign from the board". Why don't we have patience? Where are we going?
Boruch Hashem we are part of an integrated community. We share the shul lobby with wheelchairs and strollers. The verse in the Torah says mipnay sayva takum / you should rise before sayva which means we are supposed to stand when elders enter the room. How old is sayva? The mishna in Pirkei Avos says that sayva is seventy and gevuros is 80. Although people say that nowadays gevuros is the new sayva.
All of the other stages of life have their challenges but they have their rewards. Childrearing, marriage are all demanding but they have their payback. Reverence of parents seems to me to have only one reward. It makes us Holy.
This morning we named a new daughter in our congregation. Last week we celebrated a Bar Mitzva and G-d willing will do the same next week. A few weeks ago we celebrated the engagement of two children of our congregation. All of these are Holy events. The culmination of much hard work. I have recently come to realize that there is another life cycle that is even Holier and it is becoming more and more a part of our congregation. The life cycle "event" I refer to is the care of our elderly. I find an ever growing part of my rabbinate is to provide support and sometimes advice to those in our congregation who are dealing with the challenges of elder care. This is also true of my personal life.
One of the reasons elder care challenges are difficult is because they are multi faceted including financial and emotional. However it seems to me the greatest reason elder care is so challenging is that no one prepares for it. Childbirth has classes and coaches. Bar Mitzvas have teachers and planners. Schools counselors and psychologists help us raise our children and thankfully we now have Rabbi Pollocks Jewish Marriage Initiative. Who really plans for the challenges of caring for parents as they age? This issue is especially acute in our youth oriented, pleasure seeking society which segregates people into their own age groups. Quite frankly most of us would rather not think about it. So I would like to take a few minutes to explain why I believe the Torah links reverence of parents to Holiness.
Let me be clear that the Torahs instruction to revere parents is not confined to elder care. However it seems to me that only those who revere their parents will be able to rise to the challenge of caring for them in their old age. When we revere our parents we don't hold their infirmities against them and we don't look down on them. Rather we open our hearts to them. And if we harbor unresolved issues with our parents, reverence for the fact that they created us teaches us to let our issue go. In life we can't wait for satisfaction we have responsibility.
Our elders teach of the fraility of life and the vitality we enjoy every day. From our elders we learn that all of our abilities are truly a gift from Hashem. The abilty to tie a necktie or put on a coat unassisted. We also learn that he will inevitably take these gifts back. If this is so how should we use those gifts.
Our elders often appear petty or unreasonable or obsessed with having something done just so. What do we learn about our pettiness or the unreasonable requirements that we place on those around us.
Our elders often don't care much about what everybody else is all worked up about. Fads trends and the latest 'new and improved' don't really excite them. Is there perhaps a lesson in there for us.
To me most importantly our elders teach us patience. Patience in every sense of the word. While I am learning the lesson of patience I have to ask myself where do I need to go anyway? Why is my agenda so important and of course who will wait for me when my time comes. By the way let me tell you are story of patience that occurred to me. As we all know if you need to get down Tilly Mill Rd. when the college is letting out forget it. The traffic has to stop and start as it works its way through the stoplight at N. Peachtree. Earlier this week I found myself stuck in the backup. I decided that instead of zooming ahead then parking as each group goes through the light I would just let the car idle along at 2 or 3 mph not touching the gas or the brake. Of course the traffic got way ahead of me but as they were stopped I caught up. All of this was too much for the car behind me. He honked and when I didn't speed up he zoomed around me and caught up with the traffic. Of course 30 seconds later I pulled up behind him and guess what I did? I honked. And honked again the next time I caught up with him and the next. After the third time he leaned out of the window and hollered at me "I resign from the board". Why don't we have patience? Where are we going?
Boruch Hashem we are part of an integrated community. We share the shul lobby with wheelchairs and strollers. The verse in the Torah says mipnay sayva takum / you should rise before sayva which means we are supposed to stand when elders enter the room. How old is sayva? The mishna in Pirkei Avos says that sayva is seventy and gevuros is 80. Although people say that nowadays gevuros is the new sayva.
All of the other stages of life have their challenges but they have their rewards. Childrearing, marriage are all demanding but they have their payback. Reverence of parents seems to me to have only one reward. It makes us Holy.
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