This week in the portion of the Torah we’re introduced to Abraham, the first Father of Judaism. He’s known to have many virtues, one of which is kindness. To commemorate Abraham’s ability to enhance and popularize the trait of kindness, a story must be told about a few of his descendants. One would think Abraham, our Father, would be proud of them.
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
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Tag Archive for Parshat Lech Lecha
A Warning for Computer Lovers
There is a primary concern over an addiction, which has been spiraling out of control, and that is the use of the internet. The damage this addiction can do is something many are unaware of, although one can argue that the knowledge one can attain from the internet is enormously unlimited. There are the shiurim of Torah one can see live or taped. Maybe read a newsletter email like this one with a cup of coffee and a quick thought, and one can have an instant schmooze on the weekly parsha (although one can say it’s not a quick thought as I proclaim, but the time span is more like a cup of coffee and a seven course meal).
I was once stopped at a wedding where a woman said she listens to my shiurim on Torahanytime.com on a Friday in the kitchen while preparing for Shabbat; that’s cool, the chickens and me. Here is a woman who utilizes her time to the maximum. She’s preparing for Shabbat as well as pulling in a shiur (as long as her young kids are taking a nap). In a high demanding New York environment, we have to squeeze as much juice from the demanding lifestyle, Kol Hakavod! So, we see the internet could be a tremendous benefit. However, it can be dangerous.
Pornography is easily accessible at your fingertips. People can lose track of time by getting caught up in so many seductive areas. Chat rooms are especially tempting for women meeting random gentiles online, although indirectly, and it’s only typing; but shockingly, one hears stories of one thing leading to another and they are frequently alarming. The addiction of gambling is especially abused on the internet. One can categorize them, day-trading being one of them. We are obsessed at looking at people doing things where we are left inactive and not practicing our social skills properly. There used to be an expression describing excessive TV watchers as ‘couch potatoes’; computer watchers should be called chair potatoes. Those of us, who use the computer for constructive purposes for job-related or intellectual stimulation, have forgotten about our physical bodies. Does anybody remember how to do a pushup? The sages say that after 120 years, the body and soul will separate. We’re a little early for that, aren’t we? Rightfully so, the New York Board of Health is concerned over obese children because of too much computer time. Now they’re putting two evils into one with the invention of the smart-phone; a computer and a phone.
I remember a number of years ago when I was in the jewelry industry in the city, I left my phone in my office. I must say it was quite relaxing; I felt liberated. But I’ll be the first to say, I need all that technology. But as Dr. Goldman (psychologist for Yeshiva Chofetz Chaim) says, ‘Don’t let it run you, you run it’.
We have a tremendously difficult task ahead of us, especially when technology is getting more and more enticing. The key is ‘control’. We have to control ourselves so it won’t get out of hand. |
Did Avraham Know How to Make Sweet and Sour Meatballs
Our forefather, Avraham, who was famous for his signature hospitality, once asked Shem (Malki Tzedek), the son of Noach, who was in the Ark with his father and brothers, “in what merit did you go out of the ark?” Shem replied, “In the merit of the kindness that we did there.” What kindness?” Avraham asked, “Was there for you to do in the ark” Were there poor people there? Only Noach and his sons were there, so for whom did you do kindness? “For the animals and birds” answered Shem “We did not sleep. We just served one after the other all night.” Thereupon Avraham said “Had they not done kindness for the animals and birds, they would have not have left the ark. Only because they did CHESSED did they go out. If I do it for people, how much more so!! It said, soon after his meeting with Shem, Avraham went and planted an ESHEL. ESHEL in Hebrew is spelled ALEF, SHIN, LAMED. And the acronym for those three letters ACHILA – food, SHTIYA – drink, LEVAYA – escort. So a good host has to feed the guest with food, drinks, and escort them four steps when they leave. I, Rabbi Avi Matmon, have a signature dish which has become rather popular around here; it is ABBA’S FAMOUS MEATBALLS. What better time to disclose this recipe then Parshat Lech Lecha, which happens to be the first Parsha I’ve learned back in the first grade and also brings out one of Avraham’s, our forefathers, virtue. First, a little background; I discovered it when I was in the Jewelry business. Once I was in the booth of a good friend of mine, Yale Zoland of Zoland and Sons Jewelers, when I happened to ask “hey does anybody know a good recipe for meatballs” Just then a lady who happened to be at the counter of his booth, said “I have an amazing recipe”. So here it goes:
1 spoon of Heinz chili sauce 1 and half spoons of grape jelly 1 spoon of brown sugar 1 15oz can of tomato sauce 1 lemon half spoon cornstarch for texture
Mix all in a pot, stir on low flame for 1 hour and 15 mins; pour on uncooked meatballs (standard meatballs recipe); cover and put in oven 20 min; uncover for another 20 mins 350 degrees. WALLA!!!
If you want to be a good host and help your wife. These are delicious meatballs for people who love to eat. They’ll say “NOW, THAT’S A HOST.”
P.S.- The giant, Og, is named because he went to Avraham’s house unexpectedly and found Sarah baking cakes. OOGA means cakes. He was so impressed with the hospitality and the cakes, that the impression stayed with him for the rest of his evil life. |
The Prototype of Judaism
Avraham was the pioneer of combining faith and truth. It was an unprecedented first for mankind. Rabbi Akiva Tats mentions that it’s a fundamental concept in the writings of the mystics. It can be best brought out in this parable. A girl once traveled a long way from home and got lost in the dessert. She walked a long way and became very thirsty. To her relief, she discovered a well in the distance. When she finally reached the well, she discovered a rope inside. She descended down by holding on to the rope and drank. However when she wanted to climb up, she discovered she was unable to do so. She cried bitterly and called for help. Just then, a young man was passing by in the distance and heard cries coming from the well. He called out “Who is this down there? Are you a demon or a human being? The girl called up from the well relating to him what had happened to her. Then she pleaded with the voice, “Please pull me out!” “I will help you on one condition. Agree to marry me!” The girl agreed and he pulled her out of the well. They spoke to each other and both consented to marry each other. The boy promised that he would come to her parents as soon as possible and officially marry her. “Who are our witnesses that we are betrothed?” asked the girl. Just then a weasel passed by. So the young man said, “let the weasel and the well be our witnesses that we will be faithful to each other.” They parted; the boy to his home and the girl to hers. She stayed at home and waited for her fiancé to come and fulfill his promise but time passed and he never appeared. Her parents suggested other matches to her but she refused. No matter which matches were proposed, she adamantly refused. Until people just gave up hope that she’ll never get married. And what happened to the boy? After he returned home, he was very busy and forgot about that episode in the desert. He married a girl in his hometown. His wife bore him a son. When the baby was three months old, a tragedy occurred. The infant was bitten by a weasel and died. Another little boy was born to them but one day while he was playing by the well, he accidentally fell into it and died. Grief-stricken, the wife said to the husband, “Had the children died a normal death, I would have accepted the heavenly decree without questioning. But since the events were so extraordinary, we must seek a reason for this strange punishment and search ourselves for some previous guilt.” Now, the long forgotten scene in the dessert came back into the husband’s memory. Is it possible I’m being punished for not keeping my word? The wife insisted that he find out what happened to that girl. “It was your obligation to be faithful to her.” The man traveled to the town where, long ago, the girl told him she lived and inquired what had become of her. Who did she marry? “There is one old maid by the name you mentioned, but she is not in her right mind. There is no use of talking to her about getting married. If a suitor comes, she begins to act in a strange manner.” The man immediately goes to the girl’s house and explains to the father the story that had transpired long ago. “It’s my fault; I have freed myself from my wife to be true to my word and I shall marry your daughter. When he walked into her room and began to speak, she screamed like she had done with the previous suitors. Then he said two words, “The weasel and the well”. The girl fainted and when she recovered, she had gained her former composure. They were married and had children. The young man represents EMET/ truth, while the lost girl represents EMUNAH. When the girl was helplessly in the pit, that’s EMUNAH without EMET – no direction; would inevitably fall into a pit, just plain old blind faith. “Who are you” EMET needs clarification, however has no staying power. He forgets about her. EMET has no loyalty unless Emunah’s there. EMUNAH’s route is NE’EMAN – loyalty, it will always be there no matter what. The girl had other suitors; however, she was loyal. Judaism needs the Gemara learning, the logic; the EMET however needs the EMUNAH – the loyalty to continue. Together EMET and EMUNAH form a true love and a proper marriage. Avraham was the first to possess both qualities KEL MELECH NE’EMAN and propelled him to be the prototype for generations. This is what we should strive for. These are the tools needed to be a true soldier of G-d. |
The Jewish Ghetto; a Must or Not?
Is it important to live in a Jewish neighborhood with a positive influence? There are many Rabbinical students, who, when ordained, go throughout the world to help and educate their brethren in Judaism. There is a lot to learn; our religion is rich of customs, tradition, and laws which have preserved Judaism for 4000 years since the first Jew, Avraham. However, many Jews are not familiar with many important elements of our rich deep religion. So it’s our job to care about each other because we are all responsible for one another. Nevertheless, one has to be concerned moving to a non-observant neighborhood; after all, some of us have taken great pains to reach the level that we are so proud of. We must preserve our precious Judaism.
Rav Henoch Leibowitz, z”tl guarantees, quoting, the prominent and holy commentary, Sforno, “Whoever goes out and reaches out to our brethren, they and their children will not be negatively affected.” The Chachamim closely observe the first “Mr. Outreach”, our forefather, Avraham, who as the Avnai Nezer compares him to a Mikvah. A mikvah purifies individuals. However, in the process, it never becomes impure. So too, Avraham, in his education of people, was never influenced. Rabbeinu Bachai teaches us that Avraham was an exceptional human being. He had the ability, whoever he made contact with, would be healed from their depressed state of mind, and that’s how he was able to bring people back to G-d. The healing took place through Avraham’s power of speech and his soothing voice. Avraham was a charismatic towering presence; whoever would listen to him would feel uplifted. He had a precious stone wrapped around his neck and anyone who would look at it would get healed. I guess he was a jewel of a guy. After Avraham’s death, G-d took back the jewels and placed it in the sun. That’s why we say in Tehillim “The skies preach the word of G-d”. Avraham was given a gift from G-d and lived up to his billings. Interestingly, Rav Henoch mentions that G-d instructed Avraham to move out from his environment and pry away from his past, because G-d didn’t want him to get influenced. But wait, didn’t we learn Avraham was immune from outside influence? Therefore, we see that one has to be very careful. Everyone is susceptible and one should take the necessary precautionary measures to protect himself and his family. Advice might be extremely recommended. |