Joseph & His Brothers

'Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Please come closer to me," and they drew closer. And he said, "I am your brother Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. But now do not be sad, and let it not trouble you that you sold me here, for it was to preserve life that God sent me before you.' (Genesis 45:4-5)

​

In this week's Torah portion, Vayigash, after an intense and moving dialogue between Joseph and Judah, Joseph finally reveals himself to his brothers, that he is the viceroy to Egypt's kingdom and their long lost brother. Our Sages remark that the shock and surprise they felt at that moment is akin to the shock we will feel at the time of the redemption and coming of Mashiach, when we will understand God's Presence was here all along.

What's so powerful and insightful here is Joseph's magnanimous reaction to his brother's ill treatment of him in the past. Hated by his brothers, Joseph was thrown into a pit and instead of killing him, his brothers sold him to a caravan of Ishmaelites. We know the rest of the story, as Joseph moves from servant to prisoner, and then rises to 2nd in command of the strongest nation of his time, with the vision and interpretation of Pharaoh's dream that famine was on its way that ultimately saved not only Egypt's people, but the entire Middle East. 

How often do we focus on the deeper reasons behind what happens to us? Judaism teaches that everything that happens to us has a Divine plan and significance behind it. Yes, those that execute those plans toward us have free choice to do so, but that event was meant to happeneither way. It is up to us to choose to focus on the messenger of that plan, or the Director of the plan behind it all. Joseph chose to live his life according to the latter. He was meant to experience hard times, to descend into Egypt and servitude, in order to save the world. His brothers did wrong him, but he chose not to dwell on their mistake, but on the Divine plan behind it that was no mistake at all. 

{Mind and perspective are crucial to interpersonal peace. At the end of Ch. 12 in his magnum opos, Tanya, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi writes a radical idea when we are wronged: So, too, in matters between man and his fellow-man. As soon as there rises from his heart to his mind any animosity or hatred, God forbid, or jealousy, anger or a grudge, he will bar them from his mind and will, refusing even to think of them. On the contrary, his mind will prevail over and dominate the feelings of his heart, to do the exact opposite of that which the heart desires, namely, to conduct himself toward his fellow with the quality of kindness and to display towards his fellow a disproportionate love, in suffering from him to the furthest extreme, without being provoked into anger or to take revenge in kind, God forbid, even without anger; but, on the contrary, to repay offenders with favors, as taught in the Zohar, that we should learn from the example of Joseph’s conduct with his brothers, when he repaid them for the suffering they brought upon him, with kindness and favors.}   

Like our forefather Joseph, let's try to focus on the deeper plan and not on the superficial experiences that occur to us. This doesn't mean to roll over and accept abuse, but rather to recognize that those around us have zero control over our fate, and that what happens to us has a deeper purpose.

Shabbat Shalom!    

The Flames of Chanukah

There are only a few things in this world that a person can gaze at for a while and get lost in. One of those things is a flame of fire. As it flickers upward and back down again, tearing itself away from its contact with wick or wood, it somehow radiates a quiet tranquility. We are now in the midst of the 8 nights of Chanukah, commemorating the victory of Jewish freedom over hellenist Greek oppression - light over darkness. As we watch the candles dance on these nights of Chanukah, what lessons can we take into our lives from the flickering flames? 

  

A small candle lights up a dark room. Like the candle in the dark, our individual actions and positive thoughts and speech, can have a strong effect on our surroundings, especially in an area of spiritual darkness. 

Growing slowly, one candle at a time. Why don't we light all 8 candles each night? The lesson in lighting only one more candle each night, is that we must strive to grow as people and as Jews, one step at a time. One mitzvah, one action that we connect with. That type of growth is slower, but lasting.
One candle can light infinite others. When lighting from one flame to another, notice that the original flame loses nothing. When helping others, we may think we are diminished - our time, financially, emotionally. But the truth is that we gain and fortify ourselves greater than before. And the ripple effect of our actions can carry on infinitely. See this video for  an awesome example of this. There are so many other lessons, but let's end with this:

"The soul of a person is a candle of G-d" [Proverbs 20:27]. The soul descends into a body and material life, in order to carry out its individual mission on earth. On one hand, our souls desire to leave the "wick" - the body - and return to its source in heaven and spiritual bliss, like the candle always yearning upward. But ultimately the soul's purpose is on the wick, for only in the body is it able to perform its crucial mission of making the world a beautiful, G-dly place. Maybe the reason we like to stare at the flames of the candles, is because we are really staring into ourselves.

Shabbat Shalom & a very happy Chanukah to you!

The Light of Joseph

In this week's Torah Portion, Vayeshev, we are first introduced to the great Joseph: "Yakov settled in the land of his father. These are the descendants of Yakov: Yosef was 17 years old." It's not by coincidence that every year the Torah portions about Yosef fall during the holiday of Chanukah (begins this Tuesday Night). Every holiday is associated with a forefather; Avraham with Passover, Isaac with Shavuot and Yakov with Sukkot. But who best exemplified the light of Chanukah?

     At the beginning of the Torah's account of creation, G-d fashions a special light and hides it, calling it "good" - tov. Tov in hebrew is numerically equivalent to 17, the age of Yosef in this week's Torah portion. If that wasn't enough numerical connection for you, on Chanukah we light a total of 36 candles, and Yosef's mother Rachel died at the age of 36. Leah's Hebrew name equals 36, and Yosef's father Yakov was away from his home for 36 years. 

     In the book of Ovadiah (1:18), we read: "The house of Yakov will be fire, the house of Yosef a flame, and the house of Esau straw, and they will ignite them and devour them." Esau represents spiritual numbness, the darkness of exile full of assimilation and spiritual insensitivity. Yosef represents the light of the Jewish soul, able to illuminate this darkness with his flame of goodness and holiness like the menorah of Chanukah at night, even amidst the temptations and loneliness he experienced in Egypt.
   
     As we watch the candles flicker on these upcoming 8 nights, let us meditate on their strength and power. A little bit of light dispels a lot of darkness. We light only one additional candle each day. We learn from this that our inner character growth can be slow and incremental, as long as it's real. Then it will last.

Happy Chanukah!

-Rabbi Daniel Bortz

A Walk on the Beach

~ This Torah thought is dedicated to those killed in Jerusalem this past week, and the comfort of their families. May Israel see no more pain ~

And Isaac said to Jacob, "Please come closer, so that I may feel you, my son, whether you are really my son Esau or not." So Jacob drew near to Isaac his father, and he felt him, and he said, "The voice is the voice of Jacob, but the hands are the hands of Esau." 

​

There's a known story told in Islamic tradition. A father and son are walking along the beach towards the time of sunset. During this special moment, the father turns to his son and says: "Son, I love you." 

As they continue walking, the son turns to his father and asks, "how much do you love me?" The father responds: "With all my heart." The boy then asks, "Father, how much do you love God?" To which the father responds, "With all my heart." 

With a perplexed look, the boy asks his father one more question. "Father, how can you love me and God with all your heart?" Taken aback by this deep question, the father is very affected by it. The next morning, he packs up his bags, kisses his family, and ventures off into the mountains to dedicate himself only to God.

This story, a concept of spiritual asceticism prevalent in many religions, might not sit well with someone in the Jewish community. The reason is, that the Jewish view on attaining a true connection with God isn't through shunning materiality and human relationships, but is actually the exact opposite. Our physical lives and our relationships -  when approached correctly through the teachings of the Torah - are actually vehicles for connecting to the Divine. 

In this week's Torah portion, Jacob dresses in the clothes of his brother Esau, and receives a blessing from his father Isaac. On a deeper level, our Sages ask, why did the holy Jacob need to disguise himself in his murderous brother's clothing? The explanation is, that Jacob represents the soul, and Esau the body. In order to truly connect with God and draw down Divine blessing, the soul must be in a body and involve itself in elevating the world around them through the Mitzvot.

Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom! 

The Ark of Shabbat

B"H
In this week's Torah portion, we read the story of Noah and the flood (now a major motion picture), which was brought upon the earth because of the rampant immorality of the time. Noah was told by God to build an ark over a long period of time, to inspire those around him to repent before the upcoming flood. But to no avail. As the rain began to fall and the flood waters rose, only Noah and his family entered the ark which provided them with warmth and shelter for the coming year. Finally the waters began to recede and Noah's ark came to a rest. Noah and his family left the ark in order to rebuild the world in a righteous manner.

​
Every event of the Torah has a practical application applicable to our lives today. Hassidic Philosophy explains the story of Noah in a deeper way. In our day, the flood waters that threaten to drown us aren't liquid in nature, but represent the physical and material worries that inundate us. For someone who desires to live a meaningful life, how is it possible to get beyond all of our financial distractions and life's hassles and worries?

The answer to our problem can be found in what God told Noah to do when confronted with a flood: "Enter the ark." For us today, we are being told: "Enter that place where you can find the inspirational warmth and protection to propel you over the powerful waves of this world."

The Hebrew word for "ark" is tei-vah. Ask any Israeli what that word means, and they'll respond: "Word." The "ark" we must enter in order to successfully survive the material flood waters, is the words of prayer and Torah learning. These words help us navigate above the flood of everyday worries, and help guide our lives in a peaceful and purposeful manner. 

Every morning we wake up to the same flood waters, prodding us constantly pursue material gain as an end unto itself. Prayer, and the learning of Torah, strengthen us to remember to every day treat every person we meet with respect and fairness. Inspiring us to affect positive change in our day. To realize a higher purpose in our dealings with the world. Business is to be conducted honestly, while money will be used help our children's education and others around us. 

This is our daily "ark." But God Knew that we would need an extra-special ark that could strengthen us for our entire week of immersion in the flood waters of life. And that's Shabbat. This Shabbat, over 450 cities across the world will be joining together to celebrate one Shabbat, known as "The Shabbos Project." San Diego's can be found at: www.shabbatsandiego.org. Shabbat is a day to reflect and remember the purpose of life, and to gather inspiration and strength for the coming week. Every artist, from a painter to a musician, requires a time to pause in his work in order to reflect on the direction and quality of his piece. 

Imagine you were gazing at a beautiful painting. Admiring the vast intricacies and amazing colors of this work of art, you came to feel great respect for the artist's painting skill. But what do you feel about the artist himself? What do you know about him at all?

The 6 days of the week, from Sunday to Friday, are times when we can appreciate God's beautiful world. On Shabbat we have the opportunity to connect with God beyond His creation and artwork, with the artist himself, celebrating this day of rest with Him.

May we all enter whichever ark we can, to help propel us over the flood waters of life and enter the world to build it into a more pleasant, happy and meaningful place.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rosh Hashanah - The 6th Day

The Rosh Hashanah service centers around the sounding of the shofar. The shofar blasts are a wakeup call to examine our deeds and turn to a more wholesome and Jewish way of living. They also symbolize the coronation of God as King; much like trumpets at the anointing ceremonies of old. A question may arise: How can lowly mortal beings have an ability to anoint an Infinite God? Imagine walking into your back yard one afternoon. You spot a small anthill and, walking up to it, announce proudly that you are king of this great ant nation. It's absurd. To be a true king, one has to have a nation of a relatable quality.

​

The answer is very powerful: We can anoint God as our king because we are close to Him. When God formed each aspect of creation - from the angels in the highest of heavens to the lowest creatures of the sea bed, the Torah says: "He Spoke." But when He created man and woman, the Torah says God "Blew" a soul into their bodies. Metaphorically speaking, there is a clear difference between speech and deep breath. One can speak for hours without pause, for one uses his external breath with a minimum output. A deep breath however, comes from the innermost depths of a person, and therefore leaves him quite breathless. When God created each of us, He placed a precious soul from His innermost depths within our bodies. Our nation therefore, is close to Him, and able on Rosh Hashanah to crown Him as King for another year. Incredibly, our Sages say He cannot be King unless we do!

This also explains why Rosh Hashana - celebrating the Beginning of the year and of original creation - is actually marked on the 1st of Tishrei, which was the 6th day of creation, when Adam & Eve were formed. The Mystics explain that this is because God's Intention for all of creation, was all for the sake of the human being. On that original Rosh Hashanah day, King David in Psalms describes what happened in the Garden of Eden: "Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow down; let us bend the knee before the Lord, our Maker." (Psalms 95:6) Adam brought the animals and all of creation together, to recognize God's role in their lives. We are here in order to perfect creation, the only ones able and entrusted to bring the world to an awareness of truth.

May you and yours be inscribed & sealed for a good and sweet year!

Soul Effects

~ This is dedicated to God's protection over our brothers in battle in Israel. May we all pray for them and increase in goodness in the merit of their safety ~

A preschool teacher was once teaching her class. Taking out a few pictures depicting the weather, she points to the first picture which depicts a sunny day, and asks: "Class, what's the weather here?" 

"Sunny!" Everyone yells.

How did they know? Simply because they saw the sun and its rays. Next came a picture depicting a rainy day. The children all guess correctly again, pointing to the dark clouds and numerous rain drops.Out came the 3rd picture.

"What's the weather here?" asks the teacher.
"It's windy!" Everyone yells.
But how did the children know? Unlike the sunny day or rainfall, there's no wind to point to. 

The children could see the effects of the wind - the leaves flying off, the man and kite bending backward, and more. Love works like this as well. It can't be seen, weighed or heard. But its effects on our lives are clear. 

Radio waves as well. They're everywhere even though we don't see them. If one brings a radio into their room and turns it on, the waves can be heard; they just needed a proper vessel to be expressed. 

The soul too can't be seen and it can't be heard. But its effects are apparent. Like radio waves, the soul too needs a body to express itself and to carry out its purpose. Through a smile, a laugh, a tear, or a moving experience, we can see hints of the soul. 

If we look at the Hebrew words for wind and rain, we discover something fascinating. Wind is Ruach, as is the word for soul/spirit. Spirituality/matters of spirit is known as Ruchaniyut. Like the wind in the picture, the spiritual can't be seen. Rain in Hebrew is Geshem, and  physicality is called Gashmiut. Rain, like all things physical, is clear and apparent. 

Judaism teaches that a spiritual, Godly life force exists and sustains all of reality. It may not be seen, but through its effects - such as the movement of life and the Divine Providence in our lives and so much more, we can deduce its existence. Each of us are holy souls passing ourselves off as just pieces of flesh (some with better abs than others). The challenge is to notice that which isn't readily apparent, to see with our mind's eye, sensing the subtleties of this world, the silent underlying force pulsing through our bodies and this universe. Sometimes it doesn't take a miracle or momentous occasion, but rather a simple, subtle, silent moment in nature.

...And a great and strong wind splitting mountains and shattering boulders before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. And after the wind an earthquake-not in the earthquake was the Lord. After the earthquake - fire, not in the fire was the Lord. And after the fire came a still, soft voice. (Kings 1, Ch.19:11-12)

Shabbat Shalom from Tzfat, Israel!

Preparing for Battle

This past week, hundreds of rockets have rained on Israeli cities from the Gaza Strip. Despite the fear felt within Israel and in the Jewish community, there has also been an amazing display of unity and resilience among our worldwide community. While casualties on both sides are regrettable and awful, the ability for a free nation to provide safety and normalcy to its people when attacked is a necessary and fundamental right. Make no mistake, it is Islamic terror groups in Gaza (and now Lebanon) who are forcing Israel into action, not vice versa.

​

Years ago, I met a French man who had immigrated to Israel in the late 1980’s. In 1991, while living in Tel Aviv, Saddam Hussein rained 39 scud missiles on his city. When the dust had settled, not one Israeli had been killed by the rocket fire. To give us an idea of how incredible this was, one scud missile in February of that year struck a U.S. army base in Saudi Arabia, killing 28 and wounding 98. This man was so moved by the miracles in front of his eyes, that he renewed a stronger bond to Judaism and God in his life.

Does Judaism emphasize practicality and safety, or pure faith and trust in God's assistance? One of the earliest examples of dealing with threat of conflict in the Torah is seen with our forefather Jacob's meeting with his brother Esau and his army. First, Jacob sent messengers of good will and peace to his brother. He asked that he forget the old grievances of the past. Jacob had experienced great hardship during the past twenty years under the conniving Laban, whereas Esau was now a great chieftain. The messengers returned with disappointment. They had failed in their mission, and reported that Esau and his army seemed in the mood for a fight.

Jacob had no choice but to prepare for battle against his brother. He wisely divided his camp into two, so that one could escape if the other were defeated. Only then, feeling that safety and deliverance were in the hands of G-d alone, he prayed that He be with him in this fight against the superior troops of Esau.

Even though he had prepared for war, Jacob did not abandon hope for a friendly settlement with Esau. He sent servants bearing rich presents for Esau, to try and arouse his compassion. At the same time, he fervently prayed to G-d to turn Esau’s anger into a feeling of brotherhood.

Peace talks have failed time and again. The prospect of a lasting and practical peace for both sides must be pursued, but in the meantime Israel must deal with the reality of the situation, preparing for war as Jacob did, all the while praying to G-d for protection and a successful outcome. Just as the rockets of the Gulf war in 1991 couldn't kill any Jews, the hundreds of rockets in 2014 have failed as well. G-d's protection in the times of Jacob apply now more than ever. The Iron Dome has proven a true gift from G-d, through the incredible intelligence and ingenuity of Israel's Technicians at Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd.

But what can we can do to help? Just as Jacob placed his faith in Divine protection, while doing everything he could practically to achieve success, so can we. Together with advocating for Israel's right to self defense in our newspapers, on social media and on radio, our prayers and good deeds can serve as a spiritual boost of energy to our Israeli family. We have the right to bare arms with the Mitzvah of Tefillin, and light up the darkness of the world with Shabbat candles Friday evening. May our prayers and increase in goodness lead G-d to finally end conflict and pain for our people and the world, once and for all, speedily in our days.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!

Rabbi Daniel Bortz

Twins in the Womb

This Email is dedicated to our fallen brothers of Israel, Eyal Yirfrach, Gilad Shaar, and Naftali Frankel

Imagine twins living peacefully in their Mother's womb. They're happily enjoying their 9 month vacation, being fed via the navel, every need accounted for. The whole world, to these twins, is the interior of the womb. As they grow They begin to wonder: “Surely if this continues, we will exit this world one day. What will happen after we leave?”

 

​

The first infant tells the other: “I think that after this, there will be a new and great world. We will experience so much more! We will see amazing wonders over great distances, we'll hear through our ears and taste all types of foods with our mouths, we'll walk with our feet and think up endless ideas with our brains!"

The second child looks skeptically at his twin: “You’re crazy! You have a great imagination, but you have no proof. You are looking for something to calm your fear of the unknown. There is only this world that we experience. If you ask me, I think when we leave this environment, we will sink into oblivion. Nothing. A black void. An end to consciousness. This may not be comforting, but it's the logical outcome.”

Suddenly, the water inside the womb bursts. Upheaval & Turmoil. The optimistic twin exits to the sound of shouts from loving family members and friends. The second twin bewails and bemoans the tragedy - Why him?

This analogy pertains to our lives in this physical world, where a spiritual reality isn't readily apparent. However, unlike the twins in the story who had very little access to perceiving a greater reality than they're own, we have endless opportunities and insights int the spiritual, from the infinite complexities and beauty of our universe, to the wisdom of the Torah and the miracle which is the land of Israel.

As we mourn the loss of our loved ones, may we be comforted in the knowledge that there is more than what we see, and that those who leave this world, move to a better reality, greeted by loved ones.

Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem!

Counting Diamonds

"Count the heads of all the congregation of the children of Israel, by families following their fathers' houses" (Numbers,1:2).

Because of G-d's great love for His people, He counts them all the time. He counted them when they left Egypt. He counted them after they fell in the wake of the sin of the Golden Calf, to know the number of the survivors. And He counted them when He came to manifest His presence within them. (Rashi, commenting on this verse)

Every Sunday in his later years (from the age of 86-92 yrs. old), the Rebbe - Menachem Mendel Schneerson, would stand for hours on end, greeting all comers with a smile and an encouraging word, as well as a dollar to be given to charity. An elderly lady once remarked to him in wonder, "Rebbe, how can you do this? Don't you ever get tired standing for hours on end at your age?" The Rebbe responded: "One never gets tired when counting diamonds."

Unfortunately, most of us see the mud which covers up the diamond more often than not. It takes much self refinement and character improvement to be able to see good in another beyond any bad. Since the sin of Adam & Eve, the body supersedes the soul from our human viewpoint, making it much more difficult to see the soul of another; the inner good. There's "Me, Myself, and I" and then everyone else. Our job then is to become less inward focused and more sensitive to others, for each is a diamond of immense, unique value.

When looking at a star from earth, it looks the same as all of the others. But if we were to get a closer look, we would see the special, distinct quality of that unique star. So too with every person we meet. First glances may leave much to be desired, but if we make the effort to get to know the person, peering deeper, we may find a diamond inside.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Daniel

The NFL Draft

Yesterday and today, 32 million people (I'm guessing mostly males) were glued to their televisions, watching the NFL Draft (National Football League), where the top College football players are selected by one of the 32 professional teams. What lessons can we learn from a sport not known for its sensitivity and refinement?

​

I once read an op-ed in Sports Illustrated about NFL quarterback Jake Plummer. In 2007, at 32 years of age and healthy, the All-Pro Plummer was on track to make $5 million for the coming season. And then he retired. Just like that. Why leave the average American male's dream? To spend more time with family & enjoy life.

Plummer had a teammate with a fascinating life story, named Pat Tillman. Tillman also left football at the prime of his career; but for a different reason. He left to serve his country, enlisting in the army. He was soon sent off to Afghanistan, and was tragically killed in 2004. At his funeral, Plummer had this to say:

I was in the store the other day, and I saw PEOPLE magazine, and it had the cover of the 50 most beautiful people in the world, or in America, and there was a picture of Pat. It was kind of ironic because I really looked and said, What is beauty? Is beauty a pretty face, a nice smile, flowing hair, nice skin? Not to me, it's not. To me beauty is living life to higher standards, stronger morals and ethics and believing in them, whether people tell you you're right or wrong. Beauty is not wasting a day. Beauty is noticing life's little intricacies and taking time out of your busy day to really enjoy those little intricacies. Beauty is being real, being genuine, being pure with no facade - what you see is what you get. Beauty is expanding your mind, always seeking knowledge, not being content, always going after something and challenging yourself."

Such true words. I don't know if I could have this clarity if I was worshiped by millions of adoring fans, immersed in fame and fortune. Real beauty is not transient. It does not wrinkle or fade. When one dies, his muscles and wealth don't accompany him, but his Torah & good deeds do. "Beauty is living life to higher standards, not wasting a day, noticing life's intricacies, expanding your mind, not being content." Let's take advantage of every day.

True Freedom

This Monday night, we begin celebrating the 8-day holiday of Passover by having the seder, a meal full of symbols and stories commemorating the exodus of the Jewish nation from Egypt, thousands of years ago. One year, soon after World War II and the atrocities of the holocaust, there was a call from many Jewish groups in America for families to "leave an empty seat at your seder" as a remembrance for those who had perished. The Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraged families to indeed commemorate their memories, but in an active way: Fill an empty seat with another Jew at your seder. Include someone in the holiday, inspiring their connection to their heritage - this is the best response to Hitler. As we celebrate with each other this Monday and Tuesday, what's the spiritual significance of this ancient holiday that we should be cognizant of?

Jewish Mysticism teaches an incredible idea about our Holidays, Shabbat, and time itself. When you look at your past and future, visualizing it in your mind, do you see it as a timeline, going as if from left to right? Many do. Some look at it as if it's behind and in front (which can be very positive for embracing your future and moving on from your past). Judaism describes reality similar to an upward spiral, where a certain date is perfectly aligned above the same point from the year before, going all the way back to the beginning of time. This means that the spiritual energy present on that date originally, is every year re-infused reality again.

The Hebrew name for Passover is Pesach, which literally means to leap forward. When the Jewish People left Egypt, outwardly it was a group of people leaving a physical location in North Africa. But the spiritual energy present is much deeper. Egypt in Hebrew is Mitzrayim; limitations in Hebrew is Maytzarim. This is a pocket in time where freedom from our personal "Egypts" is attainable. Each of us have Egypts of limitation within ourselves we must free ourselves from, that stop us from being the best we can be. Sadness, self esteem, anger, impatience, spiritual numbness. This explains why there is such a fixation in Jewish liturgy on the exodus from Egypt, as it says: "In every generation, and in every day, a Jew must recall the leaving of Egypt." On Pesach 2014, let us tune into the special energy of the night - the ability to leave and transcend any and all limitations in our lives. God wants what's best for us; we just have to give it our best and have trust.

Most importantly, make sure to have a very happy Passover! "And you shall rejoice in your festival" (Deuteronomy 16:12).

Purim - Hide & Seek

This Saturday Night-Sunday is the holiday of Purim. On Purim, there are 4 Mitzvot we can do: Hear the reading of the Megillah, eat a festive meal, deliver a food package of two items to a friend (Mishloach Manot), and give charity to two people. This holiday, perhaps more than any other, is connected to joy and celebration. We know that laughter comes from a surprise, an unexpected occurrence (just watch any VINE, prank video or YouTube comedy). Perhaps this is the source of our immense joy on Purim, since the Jewish people surprised everyone by their being saved and victorious in such dire circumstances{See the story here}.

But what is the primary theme of Purim?

The Megillah of Esther which tells the Purim story, is the only book of Tanakh that doesn't mention G-d's name. He's "hidden" throughout, directing the events in the Jewish people's favor. This is why we traditionally eat the hamantaschen cookie which is sweet on the inside, to signify that events in our lives - while they may seem bitter at times - have a sweet inner purpose and meaning. Our job is to recognize the G-d that is hidden behind Life's events. A story which illustrates this:

Once, there was a great Rabbi who was sitting in his home learning. Suddenly, his young son burst into the room sobbing loudly. His father asked what had happened. "I was playing hide & go seek with my friends, and I was chosen to hide. I hid & hid & hid... and no one came to look for me!" The boy's father comforted him, then said: "G-d does the same thing. He hides and no one searches..."

Unlike the human game where we find a very secluded hiding place, God hides everywhere. Every moment of our lives in every location, we’re able to uncover His presence if we venture to do so. Every bit of learning, mitzvot and good deeds reveals Him more. Reb Mendel of Kotzk once asked his students, “where is God?” Startled, the students responded: “He’s everywhere!” Reb Mendel smiled, and replied, “No. God is wherever you let Him in.” We have to make a conscious effort to seek G-d out, making room for His presence in our daily lives.

Through our celebrating G-d's providence and saving of our people in the times of Purim, may G-d finally reveal Himself to all of us with the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Happy Purim!

-Rabbi Daniel

The Secret

In this week's Torah portion, Yitro, we read about the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, where G-d Speaks to the entire nation of the Jewish People. He speaks the 1st 2 Commandments, and Moses gives over the following 8. The rest of the "5 Books of the Torah" are transcribed by Moses as they occur for the next 40 years, as directed by God. The Torah differs from other books radically, in that it is a Divine Wisdom. In the stories and laws are contained layer upon layer of deeper meaning, revealed by the Rabbis throughout history, and continuing to this day. In the last chapter of his book, If G-d is so good, why is the world so bad? Rabbi Benjamin Blech describes a meeting he once had with a Jewish mystic that exemplifies how we are continually uncovering wisdom from the Torah.

He was visiting Israel when a friend told him there was someone very special that he wanted him to meet. A saintly scholar who lived in the holy city of Tzfat, in northern Israel. When he met him, the man revealed to him a mystical insight into the Torah, but on two conditions: that this secret not be revealed publicly until he informed the Rabbi that the time was ripe, and that he never reveal his identity, disturbing his lifelong pursuit of anonymity. This secret had a great effect on the Rabbi's life & view of the world, but he never divulged it to anyone. Years passed, until one day the mystic called the Rabbi and said simply: "Now is the time."

What was the "secret"? It was the "secret of sentences." Said the mystic: "Know that the verses in the 5 books of Moses, the Torah, correspond to the years of history. Every major event of all times will have some allusion to it, direct or indirect..." Rabbi Blech was doubtful. So he said, "what about the state of Israel?" Israel became a state in 1948; in the Jewish calendar, 1948 is the year 5708 (we are now in 5774). Painstakingly, Rabbi Blech began counting from the 1st verse of Genesis, describing the creation of the world. When he reached the 5,708th verse, it was Deuteronomy 30:3: "And the L-rd your G-d will turn your captivity and have compassion on you, and will return and gather you from all the peoples where the L-rd your G-d has scattered you." Shocked, Rabbi Blech's finger moved 3 verses back, to the verse corresponding to the Gregorian year of 1945, the last year of the holocaust: "The secret things belong to the L-rd our G-d; and the things that are revealed to us and our children forever are to do all the words of this Law." The 11th-century sage, Bachya Ibn Pakuda, said: "If we could understand G-d we would be G-d." Perhaps the "secret things" - the pain that occurs to us, has no mortal answer or reasoning to it; it is completely incomprehensible. But we are to know that there is a Divine purpose behind it; nothing is random.

After I read this, I decided to look up one last event, the miraculous victories by Israel in 1967 (5727). Israel conquered the west bank of the Jordan, Judea & Samaria, but halted there, not entering Jordan proper. The 5,727th verse in the Torah states: "(Moses) said to them, 'I am 120 years old today; I can no longer go out and come in, for Hashem has said to me, 'You shall not cross this Jordan.'"

Clearly, the Torah is no ordinary book. It is a guide to life; an instruction manual and blueprint. It has stayed the cornerstone of our people for thousands of years, through thick & thin, for good reason. Let's appreciate every story and detail of law that we read, knowing that there is so much more than meets the eye.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Rabbi Daniel