Tag Archive for Temple

Are you a member of a Bet Haknesset (Synagogue)?

February 8, 2015 Uncategorized No comments
Dr. Robert Goldman, Excerpts from Rabbi Gedalya Shore” Or Gedalyahu”, Rabbi Yossi Bilus 
 
 When you see the destruction that the Nazis brought to jewish establishments throughout the areas they invaded it’s remarkable that this beautiful synagogue survived. – Stadt Tempel Synagogue Vienna, Australia
 
What do you like the most about going to Synagogue? 
 
One of the things that I like is the Kiddush after services. Even though I come from a home with great cooks, my mother while I was growing up and my wife now, and they cook up a storm for the Shabbat meals, nevertheless, one still looks forward to eat at Shul and have a lechayim or two with the Chevreh (guys). Hey, that’s tradition!! 
 
Earlier in my marriage, when we were living in Brooklyn, I used to pray during the weekdays at a wonderful place with a great bunch of guys. We would learn Torah together after services and attend each others’ smachot. The chevreh would make any excuse to throw a kiddush. Whether it was for birthdays, anniversaries or just for feeling good, a nice spread would be presented. The kiddushes would be so frequent that they would taste a cookie and figure out what bakery it was from. Experts, that’s what they are; I love those guys. I must say, it was a lot of fun with some great memories. 
 
 
Synagogue hall in Samarkand
Were we focusing too much on the physical pleasures of life? Is that what Synagogue is all about? Was our social butterfly skills exercised a bit too extensively? After all, “They shall make me a MIKDASH sanctuary and I will dwell among them”(Shemt 25:8). Rashi, one of the mainstream commentaries interprets the word MIKDASH as a house of holiness-a structure from which holiness will emanate to the nation. 
 
A tremendous question is asked: Didn’t we learn in grade school that G-d is everywhere? How many of you remember the song: HASHEM is here HASHEM is there HASHEM is truly everywhere UP, UP DOWN DOWN RIGHT LEFT AND ALL AROUND THAT’S WHERE HE CAN BE FOUND!!” If that’s the case, who needs a sanctuary!! I got my home; I’ll pray there.” 
 
Eldridge Street Synagogue was the first great house of worship built in 1887 by East European Jews on New York’s Lower East Side
Secondly, why does the verse say ” I will dwell among them”? If the verse is speaking about a sanctuary, it should say ” among it”. 
We can learn many of our answers from this true story about a courageous young woman who became a ba’alat teshuva because of an Orthodox Synagogue experience. Growing up in a Reform home she on rare occasions would attend her parents’ Temple. The congregants were quite passive. Everybody was quiet except for the Rabbi. He was the entertainer; he conducted the whole service from A-Z, with a little help from the organ player. One day, her friend invited her for Shabbat and asked her to attend a particular Shul that they prayed at. After the services, they would all go home to this friend who hosted the Shabbat meal. 
 
She was quite astonished at the reaction of the congregants. Many would pray in their own way, their own style. Some would mumble: some would cry: some would shake their fist: some would just shake sideways or up and down. There were those who would pace up and down the aisle. However, incredibly, even though they seemed different in their prayer to G-d, they were in unison with each other as a congregation. When the Chazzan recited a kaddish or BARCHU, the whole congregation answered together. She noticed the tremendous freedom of expression and the ability from everyone there to find G- d in their own way. There was a genuine feeling of trying to get close to G-d. She also noticed after the services individual groups making kiddush on grape juice and then partaking of the food presented. No one would eat before they recited brachot. She was impressed with the individuality, at the same time floored at how everybody came together as a congregation by eating and drinking together. Similarly, we find the same at the Kotel which is our Temple in Yerushalayim. One can sense the KEDUSHA-holiness. Many people pour their heart out at the wall. There too, there is individuality; however, a feeling of togetherness is felt. 
 
THE SPANISH AND PORTUGUESE SYNAGOGUE (NY
Let’s get back to the question of “Is G-d everywhere? If so why do we need a sanctuary?” Before the sin of the golden calf there was a bracha ” In every place where my name will be mentioned, I will come to you and bless you”. Here G-d’s Omni-presence was apparent in each individual. Everyone had the ability of reaching G-d in a way that was similar to a congregation (minyan of 10). However, after the sin the power to bring the brachot was summoned to the Temple. The Temple, though, only was able to function when the Jewish congregation was present. G-d didn’t come visit, perhaps on rare occasions. But for the most part we had to go to G-d. If one recalls in our Jewish history how three times a year all Jews would travel to the Temple, it was a time of honor; it was a time where collectively, Jews joined together in unity. It’s where all Jews called each other chaverim, friends.
 
Today, the Temple is replaced by the Bet Haknesset (shul). The Sages say when the MASHIAH will come all the shuls will travel to Israel. The reason is that the Shul and the study hall are the life and soul of the community. It’s a place where we come together as worshippers, friends; it is where friendship is solidified; it is where unity is encouraged. In the Temple individuals would bring their own sacrifice. However, all were in unison and answered to the high priest. 
 
For this reason, there is a NER TAMID-ongoing light in each Bet Hakneset. We are reaffirming our loyalty to G-d and declaring that the Golden Calf will not recur. There will always be a light, an Omni presence, 24/7 in our Temple just like there was a ongoing light in our Temple way back then. This represented the ongoing presence that G-d is there and will never leave us. 
 
What is pigul?
 
  It’s very important that no conversations other than prayer should be conducted in the synagogue. One has to have concentration on what he is saying. In the times of the Temple, one would bring animals to sacrifice instead of the individual Jews bringing them. The owner of the animal would place his hand on the animal’s head and recite what the sacrifice is for. If there was any delay in the ritual, and he did not sacrifice on time, or he did not have the proper concentration when specifying the sin, the sacrifice is nullified. This is called Pigul. Therefore today since we emulate the actions of the Temple through prayer we must have the right intentions and concentration when praying. 
  Great Synagogue on Dohany Street, Budapest
 
Quiet demeanor required 
 
The Sages warn us that we must have a quite demeanor in Bet Hakneset. Raising one’s voice is forbidden, especially at a fellow Jew. If that occurs then G-d’s Omni-presence will depart. Whenever there is an embarrassment in shul, G-d’s presence will leave. The Sages learn out this lesson from this verse: “The Dove did not find a resting place for her feet only in KNESSET YISRAEL. The resting place will only take place if there is peace and tranquility. 
 
Allen Dershowitz, the famous American lawyer, attends synagogue every Shabbat. Interestingly, he’s not observant. “So why does he go?” one may ask. Dershowitz’s family wasdestroyed and decimated by Nazi Germany. Hitler said I want no trace of Jews in this world. Dershowitz said with a snicker, ” 70 years later, generations later, if one goes to Synagogue one sees Jews still coming with their children thriving in their Judaism while Hitler and the Nazis are dead. Every time I go to synagogue I feel like I’m sending a personal message to Hitler saying with a smile, “See? You were wrong ;We are alive and well.”

Avoiding Another Tragedy

July 24, 2013 Achdut- Unity, Jewish Values No comments
The new generation didn’t understand their elders; sounds familiar doesn’t it? The young were sick and tired of Rome, the occupiers, lording over them. The new blood developed a backbone; the cast of characters consisted of hotheads, Mafioso, zealots, and a few Rabbis. But in hindsight, it was very dangerous to be Mr. Macho Maccabee; it was the wrong time. Hillel, the great sage, warned the Jews to keep a low profile and let sleeping dogs lie. However, the Jews were divided into bitter rival factions and the friction between them was heard all the way in Rome. Each group portrayed the other as disloyal to the Roman Empire. The straw that broke the camel’s back was the Kamtza-Bar-Kamtza story. One of them received an invitation mistakenly meant for the other. So he came to the party thinking the host wants to reconcile their differences. When he arrived, the host was shocked to see him and ordered his butlers to kick him out. Trying to reason with the host was futile; he even offered to pay for half the party as long as he wouldn’t embarrass him so people shouldn’t see him being thrown out. The Rabbis attending, unfortunately, didn’t intervene. This was a tremendous mistake and a lesson to be learned, to save your fellow from uncomfortable situations.  After being embarrassed by being kicked out, he went to the Roman authorities the next day with a vicious scream, where disloyalty was very apparent, against the Empire. The Romans had enough and the war began. Do we fight them or do we lay low? Every faction had their opinion – who was right? A bitter divide was apparent in the midst of our people.

          Three wealthy Jews supplied grains to the brethren in the walled city of Jerusalem that would have lasted for twenty years. One of the bravado groups insisted that the whole nation fight even though there were sufficient numbers that were against such action. They forced their hand by destroying all the grain. “Ah ha, now you have to fight.” We, unfortunately know the disastrous result.

Not getting along and hatred was obviously the main reason of the destruction of the temple. I would like to bring out  another valuable lesson from this tragic time.

A good number of years ago, a kashrut organization in collaboration with a mashgiach was certifying a restaurant kosher. The Mashgiach had various stores and restaurants under him. The Mashgiach, though, was a cocky guy;  he had the “I know how to perform my job. I’m the best in the business,” attitude. The head of the kashrut organization was a no-nonsense, impatient, short-fused type. Both, though, were very sincere law-abiding religious pious Jews. The Mashgiach’s job was to report weekly to the kashrut organization. Although it’s a formal tedious procedure, however, the by-the-books kashrut chief expected it. However, the mashgiach didn’t follow the kashrut protocol and guidelines. The head of the kashrut organization would call him periodically for reports, but the Mashgiach didn’t comply. He didn’t even bother to relay the message, “I’m handling the situation, you’re in good hands. You have to assume I’m in the control booth; it’ll be okay”. The head chief was livid that the report was not on his desk or on his answering machine. “There must be something wrong. He’s either hiding something or not doing his job,” proclaimed the chief. He then removed the kashrut certificate from the restaurant claiming non-compliant; something was fishy.

Is there anything wrong with their behavior? Should he have filled out the silly report once a week?  “Yes!” Should the kashrut chairman have a little bit more tolerance? “Yes.”  All this is emet. However, there is another important factor and that is to realize and be aware of the ramification of their actions.  The innocent store owner lost his certification, lost clientele after bouncing around from one fly by night hashgacha to another, and eventually lost his business.

Perhaps this is what the Jews in the Temple times were also guilty of. They didn’t foresee what their actions will bring; what the ramifications of their decisions would be. Was anybody thinking what would happen if they lost the war? What justification do they have to destroy the grain? This would have tired out the enemy for they would have to wait a very long time outside the fortress.

Seeing beyond the surface is vital for everyday life. When your wife or husband does or says something to hurt you, first, one should ask themselves “Did I do something to trigger her reaction?” If your kids starts to fight with each other or have a temper tantrum, the possibility exists maybe they’re hungry. One cannot react right away. If someone talks bad about you, one has to think first and ask is it a good idea to retaliate? What would be the ramifications if I do? Think of all the considerations before you react. One must think of the bigger picture of what might happen; what it would cause. We should try to see the other side. If we are able to see the consequences, we will avoid a lot of headaches in our lives and the lives of others.

Comfort Me

July 23, 2013 G-d and Us No comments
     

The Haftorah said on Shabbat Nachamu uses a strange language for comforting the Jewish people after the destruction of the Temple. It says nachamu nachamu – comfort; it should have said hit-nachamu – be comforted. Rabbi Baruch Dopelt, quoting his sources, says first of all it seems like it’s not just the Jewish people that the comfort is addressed to. We derive that also from the double repeat of nachamu. Who is the phantom second nachamu referring to?

The Sages teach us the phantom second comfort is referring to G-d. He promised that He will always be in our midst whether thick or thin, whether to share our joy or our pain; therefore He is with us in our time of despair and being comforted as well.

When one loses a loved one, he says the very important prayer: “kaddish”. The purpose of the kaddish is to exalt the name of G-d; to bring his name out in the world, and every time we do so, our deceased loved one’s soul is raised in the heavens. It’s interesting to note that in the kaddish, there is that word again ve-nechamat – and comfort. Apparently, we are also comforting G-d in this prayer of praise of kaddish. It seems like He is also being comforted for the loss of our loved one.

Rabbi Gedalya Schorr explains that this world is like one big symphony and everyone is here to play his own unique instrument that only he can. Rabbi Dopelt says every one of us came into this world on a mission to praise G-d and no one can do our mission but ourselves. When one passes away, although his mission is complete, however his departure leaves a void in the symphony; it’s a loss of praise. Therefore, G-d is grieving with us at the loss of life.

One should always know that we are not alone, whether in time of joy, or especially in a time of sorrow; G-d is always with us.

When the Bully Apologizes We Will Celebrate Tisha B’Av

July 23, 2013 Tisha B'Av No comments

This article was consructed with the help of Rabbi’s Akiva Grunblat, Baruch Dopelt, Yitzchak Aminov, Yossi Biluss, Uri Sklar
When one thinks of Tisha B’Av, immediately what comes to mind is “tragedy.” Although they are many unfortunate events that occurred on that day, the part that stands out the most is the destruction of the Temples. The first temple was destroyed (586BCE) because we, the Jews, transgressed three major violations: worshiping other G-d’s, murdering, and sexual miss-conduct. The second temple was taken away (70CE), because we had transgressed the violation of baseless hatred.
A question can be asked about this; if G-d allowed for the second Temple to be built, it must mean the Jews were forgiven for their misconduct. However, we still do not have the third temple, which means we are still not forgiven for baseless hatred.
Why?
Is baseless hatred more severe than murder??
Furthermore isn’t murder a result of baseless hatred?
Therefore why did G-d forgive us and permit the second Temple to be built?
There is an expression: “it’s a small world”, and you know it really is. We can comprehend how tiny the world really is, by understanding the true meaning of maturity. Maturity is often defined as having experience in dealing with people and situations. A person experiences many environmental changes in one’s life, whether it be by grade school, high school, college, various jobs, neighborhoods, and Synagogues. If one is really sensitive enough to notice, in every environment that he enters, the cast and characters are more or less the same. The list can include any one of these: the ‘take charge guy ‘,’the follower’, ‘the antagonist’, ‘the egotistical clad’, ‘Mr. Friendly’, ‘the jealous one’, ”the worrier’, ‘the bully’, ‘the self-righteous professor’, ‘the neat freak’, and ‘the slob’. I think I covered everybody, hmm? When the individual graduates from one setting to another, he is confronted, more or less, by a similar core group of characters. The more groups one has experienced with over the course of a lifetime, the easier it is to deal with personalities because one has seen them before. We have to be clever and learn from our past so we can master the future.
When I was in grade school, a close friend of mine turned against me, Just like that, overnight, he turned from being my best friend to my public enemy, a real bully, and he was relentless, turning many from the class against me. Over the years, I always held my head up high and proclaimed that I handled the situation well; I was poised, had a backbone and held my composure through many of his shenanigans. The rest of the class was impressed. Another antagonist in high school was problematic as well, but I learned well from that first experience.
A little while ago, now 40 years later, I bumped into that old classmate. We had a lengthy nostalgic conversation, during which he unexpectedly apologized for his behavior in grade school, and I detected on his face that he had such remorse. A few minutes later, we shook hands and said goodbye. As I was driving back home, with my son in the back seat, I shockingly noticed tears rolling down my face. I quickly wiped them away so my son wouldn’t see. Thank G-d, he was listening to the ballgame on the car radio and didn’t notice. Surprisingly, I asked myself, why was I crying? Was it possible, perhaps, that this antagonist-friend really hurt me deep down subconsciously? Is it possible “sticks and stones can break my bones but names can never hurt me”, is simply not true? I believe I felt vindicated. The fact that he acknowledged the pain he caused me felt good. Astonishingly, for 40 years, I had this hurt feeling bottled up inside of me.
Are we so sensitive? Or perhaps it’s just me? They say, when one gets older one becomes more fragile.
I would like to share the following story with you. Although I heard this story numerous times, it’s message shed some light after my reunion with my antagonist-grade school friend.
Many years ago, in Eastern Europe a very pious and religious looking old Jewish man with a beard entered the train and sat next to a yeshiva student. It seemed like perhaps the yeshiva student had a bad hair day because he was a little agitated and annoyed at all the little nuances that were happening around him. He was annoyed that the old man was touching his seat when he dosed off, and was defiant when the old man asked him to close the window because it was too cold. “It’s extremely stuffy in here” the young student replied. The student was getting more and more annoyed. Although one can say it’s a type of personality, this was a degree of control he had to exercise.
As the train pulled up to the station the students see’s a large crowd awaiting the arrival of the train. When the doors open, a number from the crowd moved toward the compartment where the old man and the Yeshiva student were sitting. “How was your trip, Rebbi” a few presumably students asked. They practically placed the old man on their shoulder as they escorted him to the platform. Such respect; the student was shocked. He asked the bystanders, who is this old man. “Why, don’t you know? That’s Rabbi Yisrael Salanter” one of the welcomers said. Rabbi Yisrael Salanter (AKA The Chofetz Chaim) was one of the leading Rabbis of his generation! “BOY, I’M SUCH A KNUCKLEHEAD!!” the student regretfully thought.
The student made pain staking, out of the way arrangements to meet again with Rabbi Yisrael so he can apologize. When he finally was granted the opportunity, he apologized profusely stating: If I would have known who you were, I never would have acted that way. Rav Yisrael asked what have you come to this town for. The student answered “I’ve come to learn the laws of hilchot schita- how to slaughter an animal for kashrut purposes”. The Rabbi responded “Why don’t you come learn with me; I’ll teach you”. The personal secretaries that were in the room where the dialogue between them took place were surprised at the Rabbi’s response to the student. They asked him, wasn’t it enough that you accepted his apology? Why was it necessary to offer to spend time and personally teach him?
Rav Yisrael responded “when one hurts someone it penetrates deep inside the soul. It’s difficult to remove from the heart. I could tell him I forgive you and I mean it however that might not be enough. For this reason I asked him to be his teacher. This way I will connect and warm up to him”. This is the concept that the more one gives, the more he loves. This will reassure that he has been truly forgiven
A few years ago I received a phone call inviting me to a siyum (completion of Torah learning) during the nine days. They were going to order deli from a Romanian restaurant in Chicago. One might say it’s a bit extreme to order from out of state, even though their taste in food is excellent. The problem was it’s during the nine days when meat cannot be eaten. I thought, why couldn’t they push it off till after Tisha Beh Av.
Are they that desperate for deli?
I mean, I heard of meat lovers, but don’t you think you’ve gotten a little too far?
Rabbi Dopelt who quotes the chedushai harim states; There’s an old minhag
(custom) that during the nine days Jews would make sure to have a SIYUM. They would invite many people even ones they don’t know. The reason for this is to have ACHDUT-unity. We were punished for being disunited, disloyal and having baseless hatred toward each other. Here we are showing the opposite. We are eating drinking and sharing our joy with each other. We are even sharing our joy with people we don’t know. We are showing G-d that we’ve learned our lesson and we can live peacefully with each other.
Why has G-d forgiven us for the three major sins and he has not forgiven us for unfounded hatred?
For the most part, murder is a crime of passion. A person generally has remorse. Perhaps it’s a result of a business deal gone bad. A person is in a temporary state of mind and for the most part has regret. Murder is a one shot deal (no pun intended). His desires got in the way. Generally there is no way one justifies murder unless it’s self defense.
However, with unjustified hatred, one thinks in his mind, it’s not baseless at all. He thinks he’s in the right, “I’m not the one that’s wrong”. His thinking is warped and it’s ingrained in his soul where it penetrates the victim’s heart. It’s an unseen killer because it remains in the victim’s heart. People who have baseless hatred for the most part hardly repent.
Now we can understand why G-d has not let us built the 3rd Temple. Temple is a symbol of peace. He has not forgiven us because perhaps, subconsciously, we have not forgiven each other. We don’t realize but words penetrate the heart.
It doesn’t matter whether it’s a childhood friend who turned into a bully, or somebody at work or business, we have memories of and get hurt without realizing. We therefore should be sensitive in what we say to people.
As we drove back home, my son felt good hearing the ballgame on the car radio and I felt good being relieved of a hurt feeling which happened four decades ago.