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?

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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