Archive for Rabbi Avi Matmon

Parshat Noach

October 13, 2013 Achdut- Unity, G-d and Us, Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Responsibility No comments
First Portion
* They must have been pretty bad, for G-d to say “THATS IT, I’VE HAD IT!! I’M DESTROYING THE WORLD!”
* G-d gave Noach 120 years to build the ark to give people a chance to repent and join Him.
* Why is the flood called MAY NOACH – the waters of Noach, the flood of Noach? In other words, why is his name attached to it? It was Noach that G-d empowered the gift and ability to sway others into repentance. Unfortunately, he didn’t step up to the plate. So he takes the responsibility for other’s misdeeds. It’s important to realize that we to have a responsibility for our brethren and not take the deaf-ear New York approach and mind my own business. Some of us have tremendous capabilities and could influence others.
* G-d asked Noach to build the ark himself. Why weren’t others involved? Why didn’t he contract the work to the Mexicans?….cheaper labor. The Torah teaches a very important concept; when someone creates something himself, the creation is an embodiment of himself; his essence, his merits are found in the creation. He was the Tzadik in his generation and G-d found favor in Noach. That favor carries a lot of weight. Maybe now one can understand the controversy, in Israel, many years ago, with playing the music of the composer Wagner, a member of the Nazi German regime. Music is very penetrating and when listening to it, one absorbs the essence, character of the composer. One must be careful listening to some Rock n Roll songs composed by drugged out, suicidal, angry, depressed individuals. Maybe now, one can have a better understanding of copy-caters who mimic what the songs suggests. Another important note, we also find on Pesach; many eat MATZOH-SHMURAH baked by a Jew. There is no soul in machine matzohs.  It is all circuits and wires.  Matzoh has to be made by a Jew, and every Jew has the status of pure kedusha (holiness), no matter what level he is at. Matzoh is such an important commandment; it should be baked by a Jewish soul. Deep down, every Jew has a pure soul.
* Stealing was common; swapping wives was the norm; they would have two wives, one for pleasure…..so what else is new? We see that in our society today. What do you think a mistress does, bake cakes? In addition to what we have mentioned, it would be quite common where they would perform marriages between humans and animals; cross breeding was the norm. That society would crave for any pleasure. There would be no rules, unlimited access.
Second Portion
* Noach was 600 years old when entering the ark. He was joined by Na’ama, his wife, and his three sons and their wives.
* Controversy whether Na’ama was the same person, who was the granddaughter of Kayin. Apparently, there are those that say all of mankind stems from the third son of Adam, Shet.
* Na’ama was an innovator, creating voice singing.
* Cham, one of the sons of Noach, breached the law of abstaining from cohabiting in the ark. The Torah hints, relationships were forbidden, by listing men and women separately. Cham’s wife gave birth to the giant Sichon while in the ark. In truth, Sichon had been fathered by Shamchazael (one of the angels who, before the mabul, descended to earth, to live there as human beings.) Cham came to his wife to save her face. For this deed, which was perpetrated in the dark, Cham was repaid measure for measure; he emerged from the ark dark skinned and all his descendants are also black forever.
* Apparently, Noach only entered the ark when the waters were rising. Commentaries say this was the result lack of belief in G-d.
Third Portion
* Why did the animals die? They didn’t have freedom of choice to do wrong. (See article)
* Only the fish survived because they had not sinned like the other creatures.
* G-d closed the fountain of the earth and sent a wind to disperse the water. Only three hot fountains continued flowing in memory of the flood. One of them is the well-known hot springs of Tiberias in Israel.
* The raven and the dog were the others who cohabited in the ark.
Fourth Portion
*The righteous Noach didn’t emerge from the ark until G-d gave him permission to do so.
*A fundamental change which occurred after the flood was between man and beast. Before the flood, man was promised control over the animals. However, after the flood there was no longer that promise. Instead, the decree was, as long as man is true to his G-dly image, he will not be afraid of them. G-d also put fear of man in animals. Furthermore, as a reward for taking care of the animals, man was given permission to eat them.
Fifth Portion
* A rainbow is a covenant that G-d will not destroy the world again. The rainbow didn’t appear in two generations. One of which was the time of Chizkiyahu where the Jewish nation was known to be righteous. So they didn’t need that protection.
Sixth portion
* Why was Cham blamed for castrating Noach? It was his son, Cana’an, who actually performed the despicable act. Cham merely told his brothers about his father’s nakedness. Why was he at fault? Apparently it was the way he told his brothers. He told them in a derogatory fashion with the eyes rolling, a giggle, and a sly “hey, look at our drunken father”, while Cana’an heard their conversation from afar. The reaction by Cham triggered Cana’an to look down and lose total respect for his grandfather which permitted him to perform the audacity. Cham paved the way by ridiculing his father and figuratively put the knife in his hand.
Seventh Portion
* Why did G-d disperse the unity of the tower of Bavel?  Doesn’t he like unity more than anything? We know they plotted against G-d; however, UNITY IS SPECIAL!! Apparently, it wasn’t a sincere unity. They were united for the sake of the goal, for the sake of the organization. You had to be a company man. One has to sacrifice for the company. If a brick falls, they all mourn. However, if a fellow worker, company man slips, falls and gets killed, apparently, they didn’t care as long as he was replaced efficiently.

 

Sticks and Snakes

October 13, 2013 G-d and Us, Jewish Values, MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson No comments
          Rabbi Oelbaum asks a question about a very famous but peculiar incident between G-d and Moshe (the greatest leader in Jewish history) in their earliest meeting:
          Why did G-d ask Moshe to throw down his stick? It turned into a snake. Then He asked him to grab it by its tail, where then it turned back into a stick. What the purpose of all that? What a way to introduce yourself!
Was He training Moshe to do magic tricks? Shame there were no rabbits and a top hat around.
          This was the same stick that Adam had in the garden of Eden. The stick was passed down through the generations. Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaacov all possessed it. Yaccov brought it down to Egypt who later on gave it to his son Yosef. After Yosef died, the Egyptians ransacked Yosef’s house and it ended up in in Pharoh’s palace where it made its way mysteriously to the possession of Yitro (Pharoh’s adviser). It was stuck in the ground, unattainable, in Yitro’s property until Moshe came and pulled it out. In order to understand the answer fully lets bring this example:
King Solomon, the smartest man that ever lived
          Shlomo wanted to understand where the demons get their power. Through his intelligence and ingenuity he managed to capture the head demon, Ashmadai, who said “Let go of me and I’ll reveal to you my secret”. Shlomo did just that but Ashmadai proved to be too clever for the smartest man who ever lived and turned the tables on Shlomo. He over powered the king and threw him half way across the world. Demons’ powers are based on imagination. Ashmadai assumed the role, the identity of king Shlomo. When Shlomo informed people his identity they laughed. “You? The king? Ha! You’re just some homeless begger”. No one believed him. The Sages describe Shlomo’s uphill battle back to the throne. First he was “sholet al maklo”- he had control of his stick. He took small steps and slowly began to take control of his life.
          When G-d approached Moshe he wanted to teach him an important lesson in life. “You, Moshe have a stick in your hand, a holy stick, one that has been passed down for generations. If you let go of the stick; if you lose control, then the stick, the holiness, the tradition, the Torah, your essence, will turn into a snake. The snake is the embodiment of evil; it’s the ultimate negative force. However, if you hold on, if you grab control of your life, you can turn a bad situation into something positive.”
         We started a new year and G-d willing we should all have a happy and sweet year. We have to remember, though, life can be tough.

          Tragedy can affect our behavior, our ability to function, and our overall sense of well-being. The intensity and ways we express our reactions will vary depending on our personal experience, general mental health, other stress factors in our lives, our coping style, our ability to self-monitor our emotional state, and our support network. Perhaps if we know who’s pulling the strings, if we understand we are not fully in control of our vehicle, then we will be able to cope with life.

Noach’s Ark

October 13, 2013 Jewish Values, MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson No comments

          WHY THE DELAY IN HAVING KIDS? THIS PERIOD WAS A BABY BOOM TIME!!!
          ‘And Noach was five hundred years old when he gave birth to Shem. Cham and Yafet’ (Berashit 5:32) Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz quotes Rashi (main commentary on the Bible) in the Medrash (book explaining the Bible) and asks a question “Why did Noach have kids so late?” The average age in that time period to have children was at one hundred. Did he have infertility problems? Why did G-d hold back?
          G-d said, if Noach’s children will turn out bad then they will drown like the rest of mankind, and if they’ll be righteous then they will burden their father by building more ships. For this reason, G-d waited five hundred years for Noach to have children, preventing Shem, Cham, and Yafet from confronting that scenario.
          Rav Chaim asks a very obvious question on this Medrash. It’s understandable a degenerate society can corrupt and influence. Therefore, one would not want his child to associate or ‘be around’ them. So out of protection to minimize the damage, G-d delayed the arrival of the children. However, if the children were able to be strong in their belief in G-d and persevere, why would that be a burden to build more ships? On the contrary, every father dreams and wants his child to follow in his footsteps at any cost. He should be happy that his sons want to build more ships and follow G-d’s command. Furthermore, we learn later on by Abraham how painful it was for him not to have children. So is it worth it to put someone in anguish by preventing him not to have kids just because not to burden him of building more ships?
          Rav Chaim introduces us to a concept in the Torah with the help of these two examples. Elisha the prophet was Eliyahu’s student (the famous Eliyahu Hanavi who was given the power by G-d to revive the dead.) Rav Chaim points out something astonishing in which Elisha instructed Gichazi, his assistant, to take the prophet’s stick and give life to someone.
         Apparently, one can transfer power to an inanimate object, and furthermore a second party can do the task.
          We find Chana, the prophetess, sewed a coat for her little boy, Shmuel, which he wore all his life. He did not separate from this coat till the day of his death at old age. The sages say that the coat grew with him. What was so special about the coat?
          It was essential for Shmuel the Prophet to wear this coat because it enhanced his spiritual state to great heights. Chana, his mother, who had tremendous love for G-d and the nation of Israel, sewed the coat and put her heart and soul into every stitch. These strong feelings were transferred to Shmuel by wearing the coat and enabled him to have such tremendous dedication to G-d that the scripture equates the Prophet Shmuel to Moshe and Aharon, the leaders who led us out of Egypt.
          Furthermore, astonishingly, we find in the Torah (Shemot 20:23) that the altar in the temple should only be built by stone and not metal (steel) because the latter connotes weaponry. This is quite the opposite of what the Temple stands for – peace, tranquility and kindness. The altar is meant to increase one’s life and not the opposite, which metal (swords, knives) represents. When we were fortunate to have the altar in the Temple, we could use it to atone for our sins. Today the Shabbat table replaces that symbol where the kindness (inviting guests) and love (that we show to our family) atones for our sins. For this reason there are some communities that remove all utensils before one recites the bircat hamazone – grace after meal
But the question is asked, that if swords don’t kill, people do, why is the inanimate object implicated as well?
          Rav Chaim seems to be implying that it goes beyond the concept of ‘association’. There are negative and positive forces that we create which penetrate the object. It is interesting to note that ‘the hot hand’ is definitely applicable today. Many years ago when I began my career in the colored stone business, my father took me on a buying trip to Bangkok, Thailand. I noticed my father buying rubies from a particular vendor even though he was more expensive than the guy down the block. I asked, “Hey Pop, why are you buying from him? He’s more expensive.” He answered, “I have a bracha with this vendor even though he’s at a higher price, I will sell it, whereas the other vendor, even though it’s a great deal, I’ll have a hard time moving it.”
          Getting back to Noach, the scripture mentions ‘Noach found favor in G-d’s eyes’; that he, and only he was to be the redeemer. Although his sons might have been tzadikim in their own right, it was Noach who had the power. It was he who had to toil and work for 120 years. All his efforts will penetrate the ark and make it the vehicle to the new frontier. Rav Chaim teaches us that the concept of influencing materials in this world is not just on a physical level but on a spiritual one as well. This gives credence to the idea of a “magic wand”!!!!
          The Torah hints through the scriptures that man had such an influence on nature during Noach’s time that the animals behaved in a degenerate way like humans. The animals were cross breeding with other animals similarly like man decadent lifestyle. For this reason the animals had to be destroyed along with mankind.

          Why man has such an influence on the world?

          G-d created the animals in one instant. In contrast mans creation was a process.
          Why the difference between the creation of the two?
          The first hour G-d thought about creating man; the second hour he asked the angels their opinion. We learn even though one thinks he’s the greatest, he should always ask advice. The third hour G-d gathered dirt from the four corners of the earth. The fourth hour He gathered all the materials together; The 5th hour He created the body; the 6th created a golem, a walking body; on the 7th, man was able to speak – He instilled a neshama-soul.
          The way G-d created man is the way man can manipulate and influence on the world. He can take an object, a chair, a table, or an animal, and gradually elevate it to spiritual heights. We see this concept performed daily by reciting a bracha on a certain food. The piece of food is then elevated by the recitation.
          The Zohar says we are movers and shakers; we are constantly increasing and decreasing spirituality around us. Unfortunatly the opposite holds true as well. We have the power to infuse the world with kedusha, and Tumah (evil) as well.

Road Rage

October 13, 2013 Jewish Values, MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson No comments
          This past year, there were 1500 injuries and 400 serious injuries from road rage; some of which caused fatalities. It’s strange, but it seems like no one is immune to this increasing phenomena; even yours truly. I remember one morning last summer, while I was driving, a speeding vehicle buzzed past my car and the driver screamed, ‘Jew!!’ It was unexpected, so I jumped. Obviously, the driver’s intention was to purely shock and agitate me, and he accomplished his mission. What was surprising about the incident was my reaction. Instinctively, I was about to press on the acceleration pedal and ram my old jalopy 1996 Toyota Camry into him. Those brief moments were filled with all the emotions of startled surprise to rage. All I could think was “How dare you!!”. Seconds later, I came to my senses realizing I have a kippa on my head and I have to live up to a certain dignified standard. Also, why would I want this low-life in my life for any extended period; the few seconds that he was in view was enough. I hope with G-d’s help to never see him again. Lastly, I have a busy life as is, so I don’t need the headaches.
          But to think, the scariest and most disappointing notion is that for those few seconds, I was tempted to violently react in the most horrific way. I was going to use the car, a vehicle that has helped transport my family and I to many productive functions, as a weapon of destruction. For those brief moments, I was not in control. I can’t help but think that if the scenario was slightly different and he would have agitated me a bit longer or if I had a rough morning before, would I have acted on those initial impulses?

          What is it about driving that transforms mild-mannered, nice people into rash road-rage racers? I know many of these people. In real life, they are courteous, responsible and family oriented, I guess like myself! On the road they mutate into monsters. How? I think it has to do with the feeling of control. Take the wheel and you assume control. You direct and your car obeys. You choose the route, destination, travel time, speed and driving style. This is your journey. What you haven’t necessarily considered is that you don’t control the traffic volumes, the red lights, the drivers next to you or ahead of you. You actually control very little of the journey. When it doesn’t go as expected, you get upset, angry or even aggressive. And all because you thought you were in control. Interesting insight into life, this road rage is. Believe you’re in control and you’re bound to be frustrated; perhaps pseudo-control is the best description. Accept that there will always be variables outside of your control, and that your job is to know how to respond to them, and you will remain calm…and happy.

USE THE KIPPA AS A TOOL TO HELP ONE NOT TO OVER REACT OR……

          Understandably, a kippa, which I obviously wore at the road rage incident, is a tool. It reminds oneself about the pride of being a Jewish mench (odam) and the ability we possess for self-restrain. With it, we have to adhere to a higher standard of behavior. We won’t let our emotions get the better of us. After all, this is one of the primary lessons we learn in Yeshiva – control your mind over emotions. I know many who take off their kippa’s in order to not have to live up to those standards. They want to behave in a decadent way, at least for the evening night out. “I’m on vacation from being civil”.

          Although wearing a kippa brings out the best behavior in an individual, at times it can put us in a difficult predicament. Let’s take our example; when one wears a kippa and as a result is being singled out because of his “Jewishness”, does he fight back against anti-Semitism? What about protecting our pride and the pride of our people? Should we just be a bunch of wimps and not react?

          We asked Dr. Goldman, a Psychologist at Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim, on how he explains road rage. He says we first have to understand what makes us so defensive and tempted to react. The doctor explains that the anger reaction stems from pride; the ego has been hurt. We have to learn from King David. When David ran away, Shimi ben Gera insulted him and he did not react right away. David didn’t allow “road rage” to take the better of him. This is a person who was able to control himself while in the moment. He didn’t give an immediate irrational response. Apparently, it was very difficult for him to control himself, but, because he represented G-d, he did.

          Dr. Goldman said that one has to believe and say “I can take these insults. I’m okay. I’m not less of a person than I was before the insults.” It would be a sign of insecurity if one would let it get to him. Ah, but the kids are watching as I’m being insulted and I shouldn’t react? The good doctor says one should handle the insults with dignity, then the kids will respect you. You’re not a baby. Don’t let it bother you. If they see that you are not bothered and affected by those insults, they will respect you more. The notion of the ‘American cowboy’, to take care of him at the ‘OK coral’ is nonsense. One has to understand, one can lose everything in one moment. Is it worth it?

          We see control is something one has to master. Interestingly the kippa and the car, in our story, were two tools that could have been used to benefit us or to hurt us. It’s up to us how we use them; they can be weapons or peacekeeper; that depends on us.

          This is best illustrated by Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz famous discourse on parshat Noach titled ” Noach’s Arc”. Rav Chaim takes the concept of “the tools of life” to a different level.

Modern Day Zealot?

September 30, 2013 G-d and Us, Jewish Values No comments

Excerps from the teachings of Rabbi’s Jay Shapiro, Akiva Grunblatt, Yossi Bilus and Dr. Robert Goldman

 

The term “zealot”, in Hebrew kanai frequently used in plural form, (kana’im)), means one who is zealous on behalf of God. IS ZEALOT SOMETHING WE CAN RELATE TO TODAY? Is it possible that “zealot” can be applied to many aspects of our lives?

 

By creating a new minyan, for example, does that constitute being a new zealot?Are there valid reasons for establishing a new minyan? It all depends on the motives of the person. If he is doing it solely for the purpose of improving a problem then it is great. However, there can be underlying reasons, such as honor or reward, which can be a real issue. What are the criteria required for establishing a new minyan? Some considerations (not an exhaustive list) for why people might want a new Minyan:

1. Different style of reading or custom (perhaps very few people in the community pray this different custom at one time, but now more people with that custom have moved to the community).

2. Personal grievance (shared by the group).

3. Convenience (location and/or scheduling).

4. Too friendly (ie., too much talking).

5. Not friendly enough (ie, no socialization, even at permitted times or after prayer).

6. Personal preference (speed, speeches, announcements, Mi SheBerachs, etc.).

 

Are there hard and fast requirements for establishing a new Minyan? Guidelines? If a Minyan is established not in accordance with the requirements/guidelines, does this preclude someone from attending the Minyan, whatever his motivations might be?

 

It’s funny how people get inspired differently these days. Today there is a major Baal Teshuva movement on the rise. Jews who had little or no affiliation to Orthodox Judaism are embracing it through many avenues. Some have been influenced through the experience of spending Shabbat with a family. The Shabbat table is tailor-made to remedy a dysfunctional family. Some found Judaism through intellectual means. Some unfortunately, through their difficulties or problems they faced in life. I heard something profound by one such individual. “If G-d wants you to get close to him, he will try various ways for one to connect. He’ll even crush and squeeze you till there is no choice but to recognize him, which will force you to see the light and to embrace him”. In essence that person will be considered LUCKY!!

 

We say a few times in the 2nd blessing of the Amida (the silent prayer) ” the ALL MIGHTY revives the dead”. Why the repetition? There are some people who are spiritually dead and cannot be revived. In essence G-d is saying “AH leave him alone”. However, you!! I want you to come back. I’ll give you an opportunity. The fact that there are occurrences in our lives which can be construed as a sign, remind us that WE SHOULD GET UP AND SMELL THE COFFEE! Everything that happens to us in life is from above and shows us that it is never too late to become more observant of G-d’s commandments. Ah, but I have a career. A family. A life. I don’t have time for such stuff. Well, there are plenty of fine Orthodox Jews who are juggling both career and a vibrant progressive and fulfilling Torah life, and are leading happy lives.

 

An individual confessed to me that when he finally realized G-d and was ready to change his life, he went to a private room and cried. He relayed that at that moment of realization he felt so close to G-d, he knew he found the truth. The special and lucky individuals who have become inspired are called Ba’alei Teshuva.

 

This weeks parsha we read how Pinchas was enraged with the actions of Zimri ben Salul, who challanged Moshe’s authority by taking a non-Jewish woman into the tent, in front of the entire nation to have an illicit relationship. Pinchas was so furious with the audacity of Zimri that after receiving permission from Moshe, he entered the tent and speared the two sinners to death. His brazen act of zealousness was praised by G-d and he was rewarded greatly.

 

Is there such a thing as being a zealot today? G-d says and I paraphrase “A place where a Baal Teshuva stands no one can stand in his place.” Meaning, he is special to G-d. After all, it’s a hard and brave step in life. However though, some problems may arise. The Baal Teshuva who is supercharged with enthusiasm can be over-zealous. He is so eager to do G-d’s will that he might look down at people that have not “seen the light” like he has. One falls into a trap that ” I’m holier then thou”. One of the most important ingredients in Judaism is strengthening character traits. Tolerance and patience is important, especially for people who have risen to greater heights. They are challenged not to look down at people below them but rather help them grow.

 

When Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai came out of the cave he was learning in, he saw a man wasting his time. With just one stare, this holy tzadik was able to kill the man since he could not tolerate his lackluster attitude. G-d said to him “go back to the cave you are not ready to live with people. Train yourself to be patient”. A lesson to learn from this is that don’t act on impulse. Think first and always ask advice from someone who is greater than you in Torah knowledge. Some people make the mistake of doing something l’shem Shamayim yet they don’t realize that they are simultaneously hurting others. Sometimes keeping one’s mouth shut is the best remedy, because if one gets involved then he can make the situation worse.

 

Being a zealot does not work very well in marriage. There’s an old expression; “A woman has the last word in any argument. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. A real zealot is who has an unconditional love for Hashem and does His will with no ulterior motives. We cannot achieve such a high level in our day and age since there are underlying reasons why people do good deeds (such as honor, reward, etc.). Pinchas however, was able to achieve such a lofty level of holiness where everything he was doing was purely for the sake of G-d. This was Pinchas’s greatness that is still remembered till this day.

Some Insights into the Mezuzah

September 17, 2013 Mitzvot and Traditions No comments

 

In this week’s Parsha, G-d commanded that the Israelites inscribe the Torah on twelve gigantic stones.  Some say it was written in seventy languages; some say only the commandments were written. What’s the purpose of this commandment which was placed in Gilgal, at the entrance to Eretz Yisrael?

 

One answer is the stones signified that one was about to enter the land of Torah. Just as a Jewish home is distinguished by the mezuzah at the doorpost; so a huge monument at the border of Eretz Yisrael reminds the traveler that the purpose living there is to keep the Torah.

 

We have 613 commandments in the Torah, do’s and don’ts. There are only two mitzvot where one gets severely punished if one does not do a “do it”….and that is brit milah and korban Pesach (sacrifice). Seemingly, these two commandments are very important and it’s the first two commandments we had. The brit – Avraham was commanded to do on himself and his children. The korban Pesach was mitzvah number two. G-d said whoever did not perform circumcision cannot participate in the korban Pesach. Therefore, that night, many Jews, who were lax in this area, circumcised themselves. Then they were instructed to put the blood of the brit milah and korban Pesach on the doorpost which protected them from death of the first born. G-d skipped over the doorposts with the blood.

 

G-d said, because you did these two mitzvot you will be redeemed.

 

The RAMBAM writes, by walking in and out of our houses we kiss the mezuzah to remind us of the fundamental principles of our religion. We are reminded of going out of Egypt. The brit mila is also a declaration acknowledging G-d and the korban Pesach – a declaration to do the commandments. These declarations which consists of the Shema and VEHAYA IM SHAMOAH is found in the parchment in the Mezuzah. 

Parshat Ki-Tavo

September 17, 2013 G-d and Us, Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Mitzvot and Traditions, Pidyon Haben No comments
 
First Portion
* Many commentaries including the RAMBAM – Maimonides – say the whole issue of the commandment of bikurim, (first fruits are brought from the seven species – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates which the land of Israel is most famous for), is to stress man’s total submission and appreciation to G-d. When a land-owner notices that the first fruits of any of the aforementioned begin to ripen in his field, he ties a thread around it to mark it bikurim. When it ripens, he takes it to the Temple, as part of his tithe. The first fruits of the land were chosen to express this basic principle, because whatever is first is always precious to a person.
The same concept applies to pidyon haben – redeeming of the first born son. It’s special because it has enhanced the status of man to father; there is a continuity of the new father where he has the opportunity to pass down the Jewish tradition which he has received from his father. The precious valuable commodity firstborn belongs to G-d and the father proudly redeems the boy. The ceremony consists of the father purchasing back his son from any Kohen (they are G-d’s representatives) for five silver coins. The ceremony is conducted on the 30th day from birth. If one is not redeemed on the 30th day, he can still do the procedure in his lifetime regardless if his father is alive; he can redeem himself. The reason bikurim-first fruits – is emphasized is because after the Israelites entered and settled in the promised land, Israel, we must take great care to ensure we don’t have any delusions that it was because of my strength that I have attained this wealth. Every year that our ancestors brought bikurim was testimonial that the earth is G-d’s. It’s not our land, it’s His. So bringing the first which is always so special would be a meaningful gift to G-d. There are a number of firsts which are important to discuss. How important it is therefore for a woman to hold herself until her wedding and let her husband be the first. It is a tremendous added plus to the relationship. Unfortunately, at certain times in our history we were tremendously subservient to our gentile oppressors who demanded that the first night would belong to the gentile officers before the Jewish groom. The enemy knew they would dampen and sour the relationship and bond which would have a detrimental lasting effect on the newlyweds. This is, by the way, one of the curses which we find later in the Parsha. “You shall betroth a wife and another will take her.” We also find that the acts of smelling, touching, seeing, and hearing for the first time, is a lot more pleasurable at first. Human nature has always anointed the first in every aspect of life, as special.

Second Portion
* Interesting to note – there is no commandment in this Parsha where the owner gives the teruma and ma’aser. However, the commandment is on the declaration of the Teruma and ma’aser (end of Pesach fourth and seventh year). We see how the Torah finds speech crucial in the ongoing daily activities of man. What distinguishes us from the animal kingdom, who can physically receive and give, is the power of speech.

Third Portion
* The question is asked who has a greater reward, someone who is obligated to do a Torah commandment or someone who doesn’t but does it anyway? The answer is someone who has the obligation and does it. A person who inherits an obligation is struck a psychological burden on himself therefore greater is his evil which prevents him from accomplishing the mandatory task. The other with no obligation feels lightweight. It’s an easier feeling when one can pull out at any given time with no obligations.

Fourth Portion
* The Jews were instructed that as soon as they enter the land they should erect monuments and write the Torah on each. Rav Sadya Gaon says only the commandments that were written but not the full text.

Fifth Portion
* Moshe commanded that on the day the Jews enter the land under his successor’s leadership, they were to travel directly to Mt. Greezim and the adjacent mountain, Mt. Aival, where the twelve tribes will be divided equally on each mountain, and they will pronounce G-d’s blessings and curses. The kohanim, Levites, and the ark would remain in the valley between the two mountains. The levi’im then would begin the recitation of the blessing and the two sides will answer amen. Why did G-d command the Jews to listen to curses and blessings on the day they entered the holy land? This was a new covenant, a new acceptance of the Torah in the land itself. The two mountains would serve as two internal witnesses who remind the Jews of their pledge to keep the Torah in the land of Israel.

Sixth Portion
* “Bless shall you be when you enter and bless shall you be when you leave.” This is a very popular slogan which is found in the entrance in many Jewish homes. You shall leave this world as free of sin as you were when you came into it (Rashi).
* “G-d should place you as a head and not as a tail.” This is one of the brachot we say symbolically to have a good year on Rosh Hashanah. It is possible that one can be a leader to some but to be a follower to others. G-d promises that if Israel is worthy, it will be respected by everyone and subservient to no one.

Seventh Portion
* Many times in our lives, human nature dictates, we do not appreciate or are sensitive enough to fully comprehend the event that occurred most recent in our lives. It takes some time to digest. Moshe has tried to inject an awareness drug so they can comprehend now what has transpired and put the wilderness years into perspective. Unfortunately, for us we cannot fully understand or appreciate until the event, time, or individual is gone.

Standing on the Threshold of Rosh Hashana

September 17, 2013 G-d and Us, High Holidays, MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson, Rosh Hashana No comments
Rabbi Baruch Dopelt quoting the RAN hakadosh, Rabbi’s Yitzchak Aminov, Yossi Bilus Dr. Robert Goldman
          Today even a 4 year old has access to making a music video. We are so attached to the computer that some of us have become anti-social. The computer has replaced the dog as “man’s best friend”. One can proclaim that all the modern technology, things like the iphone, ipad, pc, smartphone and laptop have dehumanized us; it has influenced us to an extent where in cases we’ve been transformed and mimic the dull-machine-Mr. Spock personalities of our circuit brain friend. However, one can argue to the contrary, that focusing so much attention on these new gadgets our vulnerability and  humanity manifests itself the most.
          Such is the case many years ago at my bar mitzvah, although it seems like the stone age compared to the gadgets today. By coincidence, the photographer my parents chose to take pictures and video of the event happened to receive the latest technology on the market first, Oo la la “sound super 8mm film!”; WOW,  what a revelation!! Apparently, we were the first family to have a movie of a bar mitzvah with sound in our community.
          The element of surprise and excitement was evident the way many of the guests  stood on line to wish the bar mitzvah boy their best wishes. Today many of us are familiar with the routine and have a set standard greeting when the camera is motioned around the table. “I want to wish the bar mitzvah boy and his family mazal tov may he grow up….yada yada yada……”, however it was funny to see how people clumsily struggled to hold the big mike, some for the first time in their lives, and speak into it. The cat would bite their tongue, even though nobody else at the party was listening, and they would, in a very funny way, get camera shy.
There was one poignant moment though, bringing out the emotions and inner-feelings of some as the camera was given to three guests at one particular table. They were my parents friends and, like them, migrated from Israel to America. Seemingly they missed  the generation of their parents which they experienced as children and young adults; in other words, they were nostalgic. Their parents were immigrants themselves coming to Israel, from the old country, many years before.
One of them said “lets give the mike to him he’ll sing us an old song”. Apparently  one of the three had a nice voice and gifted where he was able to mimic perfectly the old tunes with the accent. As he was singing to the camera, with only the other two listening, they began to get misty eyed as they were reminded of their youth a world far away.

When I was 15; I remember seeing the bar mitzvah movie and thinking what audacity, what chutzpah, three middle aged men at a happy occasion crying. Their emotions seemed misplaced. It may be a time and place to get nostalgic but not to cry. Hey guys! you are supposed to make the bar mitzvah boy and his parents happy. WHY ARE YOU RAINING ON MY PARTY!……THE NERVE.

          As time went on, it’s funny, but 15 years later when I was 30; apparently I had a change of heart of those three fellows and that scene. I didn’t look at them in a negative way anymore; I understood them a bit, however there was a disinterest. One, at this age, is trying to climb the latter of success. My age group, at the time, wanted to establish ourselves financially and socially. It’s an age to built an identity. There was a sub-conscience part of us that looked at our parents for guidance and help us shape up. As our high school principal said at graduation “these graduates have the world in front of them, let them go out and explore”. There was also the time consuming dreadful process of looking for a soul mate. With all that on our plate who had time to reminisce about our young  past?  We were on a mission. We also wanted to have fun. There is excess energy that one just feels like running as fast as he can to win the race. After all we were living in the metropolis of the world.
In my mid-forties though, the attitude changed once again. One sees life totally different. There is an element of experience where one doesn’t jump into things, and I think most importantly, a certain ability to appreciate life and what G-d has on this earth. The prayer we read in the AMIDA- MODIM-appreciation becomes more apparent on the awareness scale; it’s more emphasised . There is a certain sensitivity that one develops. He sees life through a different lens. He also appreciates the past. One cannot help but to say where did that time go? Wouldn’t it be cool if technology developed a time warp?

          There seemed to be a huge transformation in attitude from the age of 15 to 45. What happened to that tough edge personality who didn’t put much emphasis on the past?

In this weeks parsha Moshe informs the people (29:3) after forty years you are now ready in all aspects of life, feeling, seeing, hearing to enter the promised land. Rashi develops this idea, saying  time had to pass and the nation had to grow up, lick their wounds from the sin of the spies and experience that chill time. A time spent wisely developing their Torah skills in order to graduate to the level of entering the land. Dr Goldman points out, we learn from here one does not fully comprehend a Rebbi’s or teacher’s message until forty years later. One can acquire a vast amount of informational knowledge and with it build the world; however it will still be somewhat on a superficial level. A vital part, an emotional edge, kicks in later.

          For this reason one has to show respect and stand up for an elder gentile as well as a Jew. Because through certain painstaking experiences he has acquired wisdom and understanding.

          The Jews who received the Torah at Mount Sinai did not fully comprehend the magnitude of the event until later. Then they had a clearer and deeper understanding of G-d’s masterpiece; they needed years to digest the monumental event. They needed time
One cannot rush time
          Rav Avni said whoever presses his luck before its time will forfeit it entirely. For example, Avshalom, who tried to dethrone his father David. He lost his life and never became king. But whoever waits for the right time will be able to survive the hour of his bad fortune.

Such was the case of two Rabbis, Rabbah and Rav Yosef. The time came for a new head of the Yeshiva. A vote was cast and Rav Yossef was chosen. Nevertheless Rav Yossef did not accept the position because the astrologist had told him that he would officiate as Rosh Yeshiva for only two years and then he would die. So Rabba was chosen and headed the Yeshiva for 22 years then Rav Yossef was chosen. He served for two and a half years before he passed away. During the 22 years Rav Yossef never had a doctor come to his house. By waiting for the appropiate time Rav Yossef gained 22 years of life.
Tractate Brachot
Jews have the power to manipulate time
          Jews have the power to manipulate time. An example of their power is kiddush, whether it be Shabbat or Festivals. The idea of kiddush-sanctify but also means separation. A Jew has the power to bless and separate the day or days and make it special.
How can you make it special?
          A Jew is able to bring back time. One has the power to bring back the first Shabbat or the first Pesach, where G-d had mercy on our ancestors and released us from torture and slavery. We manipulate time to bring that moment of mercy back. If we have the proper intention when we pray or make kiddush, we can receive the same special treatment our ancestors received because we deliberately performed the commandment at the designated times.
Why is Rosh Hashana a day of Judgement?
          It doesn’t state anywhere in the Torah Rosh Hashana is a day of judgement. It only refers to it as yom teruah,  a day of blowing the shofer. So how do we derive that its one of the holiest times of the year?

          The more popular opinion is that Rosh Hashana is when G-d created the world. To be more precise, the world was created on the 25th day of the month of Elul and after six days of creation, the day that G-d created man, Judgment day was proclaimed.
Why was judgement day proclaimed when G-d created man?
          Well,.it was an eventful day to say the least. The first hour G-d thought about creating man; the second hour he asked the angels their opinion. We learn even though one thinks he’s the greatest, he should always ask advice. The third hour G-d gathered dirt from the four corners of the earth. The fourth hour he gathered all the materials together; The 5th hour he created the body; the 6th created a golem, a walking body; on the 7th man was able to speak – he instilled a neshama-soul; on the 8th hour he created Gan Eden. On the 9th hour he warned man not to eat from the tree; an hour later man sinned. The eleventh hour G-d judged him that he should be put to death. However on hour twelve, G-d had tremendous mercy on Adam and let him live for 930 years.
 
          The mercy that G-d displayed, on the first day, was a textbook blue print of the ultimate mercy ever. We said earlier a Jew has the power to bring back time, as long as it’s in the time frame of the time warp. Pesach seder is the same date as when we left Egypt. Shabbat is a day of rest as it was the same seventh day from the inception of the world.
          Rosh Hashana is the same day G-d showed his tremendous mercy.  We purposely manipulate time by making kiddush and conducting special prayers, sanctifying the day. We attempt to enhance the day to bring back the feeling of mercy that G-d displayed on that very first day Adam was created.

          Rabbi Kamenetzky once gave his son a present, a watch. The card said this is the most precious commodity you’ll own. It will guide you to organize your day and allocate time correctly.

          Another year has passed and I will be soon the same age as my father and his friends were at the time of  my bar mitzvah. Its true I understand life a lot better then when I was younger. I also realize the precious commodity ” time”; it’s marching on and not waiting for anybody. As we stand on the threshold of a new year we have to be prepared to submit to G-d what we accomplished this year proclaiming we were productive. We must draw up a plan that the coming year we will improve even more and perhaps he will say we are righteous enough to merit not just entering the promised land but entering another year of good life.

What’s the Purpose of Stars

September 13, 2013 Achdut- Unity, Holidays, Jewish Values, MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson, Succot No comments
          When G-d revealed Himself to our forefather Avraham, after Avraham committed to a life of serving G-d, He fondly promised him that his offspring will be many like the stars in the sky. Poetically, that’s nice and romantic; however, why did G-d pick on the stars? The holiday of Succot, where we eat and some of us actually sleep in these little huts. It’s not so easy to build these huts. As a matter of fact, there are a lot of intrinsic and detailed laws on how to build a Sukkah. One of which is when one puts on the SCHACH – the bamboo roof, he should be careful to leave enough space to see the stars. One may ask why?
Why do we have to see the stars through the SCHACH?
          Succot is a fitting holiday following Yom Kippur. Yom Kippur is very scary, we’re not sure who will live and who will die. Life is very short and one is not sure what will be tomorrow. During Succot, one lives in temporary quarters. Such is life – temporary. It’s a lesson to drive home – never be too sure and comfortable in life. Nothing is yours for long. Therefore, one should be more giving to his fellow man.
The sun and the moon were the same size. However, the moon wanted to have the upper hand and slyly suggested to G-d, why have two huge lights? Make one smaller. So G-d said “You know, you’re right! I’ll make you smaller”. The moon realized his ambitious desires at the expense of others, and kept quiet, accepting G-d’s punishment. G-d then created the stars around the moon, to appease the moon; their task is to illuminate the sky and to make the moon not feel lonely and the burden of the punishment. Similarly, the Jews are here to appease each other because life is too short; its temporary. So one has to make the best of life. Succot represents unity.
Living in Kew Garden Hills where the houses are attached and the backyards are very close to each other, during Succot one feels a sense of unity when everybody is out back in their sukkah, singing and eating. After a while though, everyone invites the others for a bite here and a dessert or a l’chaim there. G-d is blessing Avraham that his offspring will appease each other and together they’ll grow and be G-d’s number one representatives.

Yom Kippur

September 13, 2013 G-d and Us, High Holidays, Tefilla/ Prayer, The Gift of Speech, Yom Kippur No comments

ACT OF KINDNESS GOES A LONG WAY

Rabbi Joel was coming back from a conference in New Jersey where he figured he’d stop at the cemetery to visit the grave of his father, since it’s conveniently on the way. As he was saying tehilim at the grave site, he notices a family burying their loved one, not far away from his father’s grave. It didn’t seem they were observant and were having a hard time with some of the rituals.

After Rabbi Joel finished saying tehilim, he walked over to the family and said ‘Can I offer you my help, I’m a Rabbi”. After getting a nod of approval, he immediately helped with the rituals and then gathered ten Men and asked the sons of the deceased to say kaddish. Unfortunately, they seemed disinterested with saying the prayer that is said for the deceased and gave him permission to finish off the ceremony himself. Rabbi Joel proceeded to say kaddish and finished the necessary customs of burying the dead. On the way back on the Belt Parkway, he felt a tremendous uplifting feeling having helped out a perfect stranger getting buried properly according to Jewish law. Through the ride back, he couldn’t stop to think about the name of the deceased, ‘Sam Rosenberg’.
             That evening as Rabbi Joel was curiously looking up Sam Rosenberg’s name on the internet for any information, he gets a call from his Rabbi. After some casual greetings, he decides to tell his Rabbi the act of kindness he did earlier that day. ‘I can’t seem to find out anything about Sam Rosenberg from Staten Island’ Rabbi Joel said in frustration. ‘What’s his name?’ his Rabbi asked. ‘Sam Rosenberg from Staten Island, why do you know him?’ Let me tell you about Sam Rosenberg from Staten Island. Thirty five years ago, I was a young rabbi convincing parents from a secular background to place their child in Yeshiva. The parents half heartedly agreed as long as it was free. I was handed a list of rich-well-to-do businessmen whom might be gracious enough to help. After a few hours, I called Sam Rosenberg who’s name was half way down the list. I began to go through my pitch on how important it is to give these boys a Jewish education and we need people who can commit long term for their studies. I told him, I have five boys that need the financial help. He said to me ‘I can only finance one; THAT ONE WAS YOU!
There is an old expression, ‘What goes around, comes around’. Be aware, Baruch Hashem, kindness is contagious.
Taken by the lectures of Rabbi Issac Olbaum
          Throughout many of our prayers, the style that our great sages evoked is to have a poem, a piyut before we start. The reason is to warm the hearts of the one praying. We are not robots, we need something to get us in the mood, to get the emotions going. So we begin with a piyut. Here we begin with LECHA ELI written by the Even Ezra.

How appropriate to start off Yom Kippur with Kol Nidrai. Man was given special powers over the other living creatures of the world. He was given the gift, the power of speech. Unfortunately, it’s hard not to abuse it even though our tongue is enwrapped with teeth and a second layer of lips. It still manages to escape and put its foot in its mouth. Kol Nidrai tries to annul our careless misuse of our mouth.

* Introduction to Slichot

Betzalel, the builder of the Tabernacle in the wilderness, knew how to combine the letters (the Hebrew letters) with which heaven and earth were created. This is how he configured to build the temple. It is written in the mystic sefarim, “If the letters were to remove themselves for an instant and return to their source, the entire heaven will be an obsolete vacuum.” The Hebrew letters are the building blocks, the foundation of the world. One can understand the essence of a person through his name which consists of a combination of the alef bet. So it wasn’t the physical strength which enabled Betzalel to succeed in enacting the temple; it was the knowledge and expertise on configuration the letters.
Chas ve shalom – if we sin, these spiritual letters are erased, damaged. These are the same letters that enlighten the neshama, that the spiritual and physical world depends on. How do we fix it? How do we un-damage the letters?
If one notices many of the peyutim, paragraphs, poems are in alphabetical order Alef till taf, taf till alef (A-Z, Z-A) The philosophy is to fix the damage by reciting the letters in KEDUSHA form and in a proper state of mind; therefore, creating a positive force. Then one will re-organize, re-configure, re-structure the letters properly and fix the damage. So we find throughout the Slichot, actual in our everyday Tefillot – prayer as well, this format. A few examples: ASHRAI, ANSHAI EMUNA AVADU, ADON HASELICHOT. So it’s important to realize what the chachamim are trying to accomplish. By reinventing the letters again, it will give us a fighting chance.

* BEN ADAM
This prayer is referring to Yona, the prophet, who did not want to perform his task out of fear that the Jews will not repent. So he basically tried to phase himself out of the picture, thinking that G-d does not reveal, talk to His prophets at sea. Yona fled and took refuge on a ship. As the ship sailed, though, G-d brought upon a bad storm. People on board were terrified. The passengers and crew figured it must be someone on board that’s the cause of their misfortunes. So each one prayed to their G-d. However, none of their prayers were answered. “Someone didn’t pray.” So they searched the entire ship and they found Yona asleep. This is the basis of the prayer. “Hey man! Why are you asleep? Go call, pray to your G-d!” Before one knows it, time, life marches on. So go call your G-d before it’s too late.

* THE THIRTEEN ATTRIBUTES OF MERCY
This is the main part of slichot. The Rosh Hashanah method was malchiot, shofrot, and zichronot. Here we are shifting methods. It’s a great strategy of “Doing it for the merit of our fathers.” However, that doesn’t always work. Its limited.
VA YA AVOR HASHEM AL PANAV – G-d passed before him and proclaimed. He taught Moshe something essential, vital for survival. When Moshe was on Mount Sinai to receive the Torah, G-d showed Moshe the method and the text of the special prayer that will always invoke his mercy, unlimited RACHAMIM. G-d said “When Israel sins, let them perform the order of this prayer and I shall forgive them.” An important note, it says perform, besides recitation; one also has to perform acts of mercy with others in order to receive mercy. Only then will G-d respond.
When someone loses a close loved one, one goes through tremendous hardship in the beginning. The mere thought of the one who had passed on evokes a sharp, stinging, uncomfortable pain. As time goes on, though, the memory of the loved one is there; however, the traumatic experience has softened quite a bit. Our forefather, Yaacov, made a promise to G-d after he got up from his dream, “If G-d takes care of his servant, Yaacov, then the stone will be a covenant to you.” Apparently, Yaacov got tangled some twenty years plus in the house of his crooked father-in-law, Lavan. G-d then approached Yaacov and asked “Why did you forget your promise?” He answered, “I didn’t forget.” What did G-d mean when He said “Why did you forget?” Yaacov forgot the feeling. You don’t feel now as when you felt then. REMEMBER – ZACHOR – memory has different levels. If one wants to remember a deceased loved one with the same intensity, then he has to work, meditate to bring back that feeling. Measure for measure, G-d remembers us the same way we remember Him. Appropriately, ZACHOR LANU is sung by the chazzan with intensity to jar up feelings and memories.

THE AVODA


The Avoda re-enacts the entire crucial ceremony of the high priest entering the holy of holies where he will find out the fate of the nation for the upcoming year. If the prayers were accepted, then the high priest departs from the holy of holies alive and everybody is happy. We also go into detail of the sacrifices that occurred on this holy day. Interesting to note that one she-goat is sacrificed and the other is thrown off a cliff apparently given to azzazel – the devil. Why do we practice this? Do we really have to give something to the devil? As a result of Adam’s sin, nothing in this world is 100% good; there is always a negativity attached. An example, when we eat food, no matter how much nourishment it provides, a person will always have to relieve himself. Again, it’s the result of the punishment. So, too with the she-goat. It’s a reminder to us of the negativity that was brought upon the world.

NE’ILA
Ne’ila is the most important prayer of the year. It has to be said BEN HASHMASHOT which is between sunset and nightfall. This is the time when Adam and Chava sinned and brought death onto the world. We are trying to prevent death. The in-between time is always a crucial and intense time of life and we are often tested. When traveling and one is in between destinations, it is often dangerous, so one should say special prayers to prevent harm. There is tremendous rewards if one passes the test “in-between”. For this reason, NE’ILA is a very important tefila. Even when one departs from this world and is in between life and death, a person is tested one last time. The Mystics say it’s the ultimate test; in fact, all the marbles are being placed on the poker table. When one dies, he first goes through this momentary scary nothingness. The Satan approaches the individual and tries to convince him, “You see, there’s nothing here, it was all a farce. There is no heaven and there is no hell and there is certainly no G-d.” If at that point the individual is convinced, he loses everything. All the good he did in this world is wiped out. The crucial in-between time has to be approached very carefully and prudently.

 

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