The Perfect Balance

After spending the first 18 years of my life in American secular society, I followed it with 6 years in a spiritually Jewish setting in yeshiva, 2 of them in Jerusalem. I lived in an area of Jerusalem that saw religious Jews sequestered in their own areas, happy to live apart from secular society. Down the road there was Ben Yehuda street where the "fun" was to be had (for all of you who've been :) Our school was located directly in between the 2 areas, and I always perceived our role (as American college kids delving into our heritage) as the bridge between the 2 "societies", showing that Judaism is an amazing gift that can be enjoyed by every Jew on their level.

But spending lots of time around the ultra orthodox Jews (who seemed pretty happy) made me wonder: Was this the ideal way for a Jew to live? Cut off from "secular" society and busy with serving G-d and hanging out just with his people? It just didn't feel natural or right to me. This is not to say that one way was right, but what was the right way for me personally to love?

The answer, like many of our existential questions about life, can be found in the Torah. This week's Torah portion is called "Chayei Sarah" - The life of Sarah. While Avraham was the father of Issac and the future Jewish people, he was also the father of many nations. Today he is honored by at least 3 major religions (some say the main god brahman of Hinduism is merely a restructuring of the letters to Avraham's name, but that's for another email). Sarah, on the other hand, was only the mother of Issac & the Jewish nation. When Avraham's other son Ishmael was having a negative influence on her son Issac, Sarah came forward and asked Avraham to kick him out of their house. Avraham didn't know what to do, until G-d Spoke to him, telling him to "listen to your wife Sarah." (A lesson to future husbands forever yonder ;)

We see an interesting and important difference of spirit between Avraham and Sarah, that complimented one another. Avraham was about pure love, emphasizing involvement in the world and fixing the world. He is known in Torah as "Av Hamon Goyim" - the father of many nations. Sarah, on the other hand, emphasized the importance, and necessity, of sometimes staying apart from society and negative influences to one's Judaism and spiritual life. The key, I humbly believe now, is to marry the 2 - like the marriage of Avraham and Sarah. Spend some time learning and praying, if not for a year in Israel, then once a day or even once a week. Observe Jewish holidays and Shabbat. Eat a bit differently and live a bit differently then the way the rest of society dictates. Emulate our mother Sarah. But on the other hand, we must be involved in the world. Avraham taught us the importance of engaging the world and uplifting it. Not being brought down by it but fixing it up. We must emulate Avraham as well. The balance of these 2 paths, of separation but inclusion as well, is what has kept Jews so vibrant and strong in their identity throughout history, and yet has made their mark on the world around them with such power & beauty.

Good luck in your journey! Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Rising Above the Waters

We have just entered the Hebrew month of Cheshvan. After the inspirational month of Tishrei, full of holidays and excitement,
we are thrust back into the cold world of materialism and survival, into a month with no holidays! Passing tests, making ends meet, meeting deadlines and responsibilities. Where is there any time now for family, G-d, study, growth? Save that for the holiday season!


We are told by the Sages to "live with the times," which doesn't really mean of the New York variety. Rather, we are to live with the message & inspiration of the week's Torah portion. It's interesting to note, that as Sukkot (& with it, the holiday season) comes to a close, we read about the great flood in the portion of Noach. Kabbalah likens these flood waters to the deluge of material worries that flood our lives, threatening to drown out the spirituality in our lives, to numb our soul's light, its love of G-d and aspiration for higher living.

Then comes the portion of "lech lecha" which introduces us to our forefather Avraham. "Lech lecha", in Hebrew, means "Go to yourself." Avraham was literally told to travel to an unknown land. But through his going (in accordance with his faith & trust in G-d's Command), Avraham would be "going" deeper within himself, tapping into & revealing his true being. Something that hadn't, couldn't, be revealed before. Not even during the his 75 years of contemplation and connection to G-d. Why not?

Because through the endurance of tests, of ordeals that G-d puts one into, a person reveals hidden abilities and depths he/she could never have revealed by living in a purely spiritual situation. This is the secret behind the reason why souls must come down into bodies from heaven, why the Jewish people had to leave the clouds of glory in the desert and enter the land of Israel to settle it, why we are meant to leave the inspiring holiday season and enter the year, why we have Shabbat for 1 day and then enter a 6 day work week, why we leave prayer & study to engage the world. For what may seem and feel like a descent, has hidden within it the ability for the ultimate ascent. For when a person not only survives material life, but actually elevates the mundane, he or she has fulfilled the ultimate intention for entering this world. How can one's strength ever be measured, revealed, when one lies on a couch? By lifting something, i.e. by challenging one's strength, that's what really brings it out.

Physicality mirrors spirituality; to reveal the depths of our being and of the physical world around us, we must deal with physicality, with a challenge, and reveal the hidden potential within. Through refining our character traits, going against the coarse nature within us and around us, we rectify. When we thank G-d for a piece of food or drink, we elevate the physical, revealing the hidden sparks within. When our patience is challenged, when sadness arrives, when the world seems to hide goodness and G-dliness, and we prevail with a smile, with faith, with a prayer - we've struck gold. For like a candle, whose real brightness is seen only in the dark, when we challenge life's challenges, our soul shines - even more than during the "holy" times.

As King Solomon, in his great wisdom, wrote in Shir Hashirim 8:7 (Song of Songs): "Many waters cannot extinguish the fire of this love, nor rivers wash it away."

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Beyond Reason

We have now begun season 3,323 of the Torah cycle.
This week, we focus on episode 2: The portion of Noah. When Noah's name is 1st mentioned in the Torah, he is described as "a righteous man, perfect in his generations..." As Rashi explains: 'Once a righteous man is mentioned, we speak of his good.'


It's strange, then, that when the great Avraham, the forefather of Judaism & monotheism, is 1st introduced to us in next week's portion, there is NO mention at all of any of his great attributes or prior achievements! All we know of him is that, at the age of 75, G-d tells him: "Go... to the land which I will show you." Unlike Noah, we hear nothing of Avraham's righteousness!

Now let's put this into some perspective: From the age of 3, Avraham had come to recognize that there was 1 G-d.
The Midrash describes the numerous trials & tribulations Avraham went through, trying to share his belief in 1 G-d to his pagan, idol worshipping neighbors. Like the time the King of his land, Nimrod, through him into a furnace for his beliefs and he was miraculously saved. Avraham was the ultimate rebel, rebelling against the world around him, against society, starting a new movement in the face of society. By the time G-d tells Avraham to go to Israel at 75, he & his wife Sarah had already brought 10's of thousands of people into the belief of one G-d, through their great love and devotion. They were the embodiment of kindness and self sacrifice for all things good and holy. So why do we hear nothing of this when Avraham's 1st chosen by G-d?

The Maharal of Prague asks this question, and his answer is an incredibly deep and powerful one: By Noah, the Torah mentions his greatness, his righteousness. By Avraham & Sarah, the Torah doesn't focus on their past deeds or greatness. Why? Because G-d is telling us, that ultimately He is choosing Avraham & Sarah (and their future descendants) as His people, for no reason at all. It's higher than reason. Beyond good deeds; beyond self sacrifice. A love that isn't dependent on a certain attribute or character trait. A human can only go so far with what he or she does. Here, G-d was Choosing, and that's something infinite.

It's interesting to note, that in the times of the Maharal (16th-century Europe), Christianity and its principles were dominant. What was the core idea of that religion? That G-d had abrogated his covenant with the Jewish people because of their sins, and had made a "new covenant" - a "new testament" which was to be followed. The absurdity of this claim can of course be explained at length, but suffice it to point to one verse in Vayikra (Leviticus), Chapter 26, verse 44: "But despite all this, while they will be in the land of their enemies, I will not have been revolted by them nor will I have rejected them to obliterate them, to annul my covenant with them - for I am Hashem, their G-d." It's convenient for them to ignore verses like these rampant throughout Tanach.
The Maharal may have been touching on this idea with his explanation here, that ultimately the Jewish People are connected to G-d in a bond that transcends reason, transcends how good we are or bad we are at a certain time. That's why the Torah didn't focus on Avraham's amazing deeds, for while they are vital to perfecting this world and serving G-d, which we all must do, ultimately G-d Chooses to bind Himself to us for reasons onto Him - beyond anything we could ever do.

May we always remember our close and eternal bond with Hashem, and on our parts rebel against society when it demands us to act in opposition to G-d, and live as proud Jews.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

10 Tests Minus a Furnace

Hey Everyone! I hope you had a good week and will have an even better Shabbat & weekend!

There is so much to talk about this week in regards to the Torah Portion. Avraham and Sarah finally have a child, Issac. Sodom is destroyed because of its immorality, and many other exciting events happen. But let's focus on one specific interesting idea found this week. Our Sages teach us that G-d Tested Avraham with 10 tests, to verify Avraham's true devotion to Him:
"Our forefather Abraham was tested with ten trials and withstood all of them. This demonstrates how beloved our forefather Abraham of blessed memory was." - (Ethics of Our Fathers, Ch. 5, Mishna 4)

Some tests include leaving his birthplace for the land of Israel, circumcising himself, and ultimately being willing to sacrifice his beloved son Issac to G-d.
But practically nowhere is there mentioned an event that most of us would surely expect to be included as 1 of the 10!
When Avraham 1st comes to the conclusion that there must be a G-d that exists, he tries to spread this monotheistic belief. Unfortunately for him, his father doesn't
quite enjoy the fact that Avraham smashed all of the idols in his idol shop, and sends his own son (c'mon dad!) to King Nimrod for judgement (not to be mistaken with the Green Day CD).

Nimrod isn't too happy with this rebel Avraham, and says: "If you don't relinquish your belief in G-d, I'm throwing you into this furnace!"
Avraham stayed true to his beliefs and was thrown in. He wasn't harmed inside the flames, and ended up running away into hiding.

Now this is pretty crazy stuff! How come it isn't mentioned as 1 of his 10 tests!?

The Answer given in the mystical writings is a powerful one.

What is 1 difference we can find between Avraham's experience in Nimrod's furnace, and, let's say, the last of the 10 tests, being asked to sacrifice his son?
By the furnace, Avraham, based on his own inner feeling and will, was willing to give his life up for G-d. By the near sacrific of Isaac, G-d Asked Avraham to do it.
So what's the big difference?
When you do an amazing thing for someone, it's obviously a special thing. But it's on your terms. When someone asks for something they want, it's on their terms.
G-d Enjoys when we give over of ourselves and our emotions to Him. But greater is doing what He Asks for, for then the deed isn't mortal, it's G-dly.
The Mystics liken this to a wife and husband. Let's say they are together, and she asks her husband for a glass of water. "But I want to be with you," answers the husband.
"Yes," she responds. "But if you really loved me, you would do what I asked for."
True love and devotion is doing what another asks for, and not just what we feel like doing, even if with good intentions.
This is true in human relationships, and it is true with the Torah & Mitzvot in our relationship with G-d.

Shabbat Shalom!

-Daniel

Leaving the box

B"H
Hi Everyone, how was your week?
Whatever it was, next week should be way above and beyond your expectations!
In this week's Torah Portion, our forefather Avraham is introduced to us.
What was Avraham's "novelty?"
Was he the first person to believe in G-d?
No.
Was he the first one to learn about G-d?
No.
Avraham not only recognized G-d and then learned about him. He spread this monotheistic belief, not contentin staying in his cocoon of spirituality. The name of this portion is 'lech lecha,' which is translated as "you shall surely go" - but literally means "Leave yourself."Avraham was told by G-d to leave his home and birthplace and go to a foreign land of Israel. But more than that, he was told toleave his own personal limitations. And Avraham's "limitations" were not our limitations - he already was 75 and was living on an extremelyexalted plane of existence. Yet G-d Said to him: "Leave yourself" - go outside of your box, however spiritual it may be, and embrace a new level. Our sages tell us that Avraham bequethed his abilities to his descendants. We have the ability to transcend ourselves whenever we choose too; to leave whatever box we confine ourselves in. Let's transcend our self-imagined limitations and realize that we can accomplish whatever we set our minds to.Let's spread goodness and make our father Avraham proud!

This picture is from my friend Michoel's weekly picture and thought: From: Oneinfocus.org

Life Tastes Good.
By inspiring his guests to make a blessing on food and beverage, Abraham taught others to recognize the Creator in all things.

Finding the Infinite - in an Eye

In this week's Torah Portion, we meet our famous forefather
Avraham-arguably the greatest revolutionary in the history of the
world. Avraham broke the news to the world that there is One & only
One G-d. Up until Avraham, idols were worshiped; the sun the moon and
the stars as well. The 'Midrash' describes one of the ways Avraham
came to his realization of monotheism at a young age: seeing the
sun's powerful rays beeming unto the earth, blinding his eyes, Avraham
1st believed the sun to be G-d. But as soon as night came-the sun left
and the moon took over! the moon must be G-d then. As this cycle
continued, Avraham realized there must be 1, and Only 1, who rules the
world-One G-d. We can learn from Avraham our forefather, that G-d, as Hidden as He seems to be, displays Himself in our world: we just have to take a
minute to investigate deeper.....

'Right now you are reading these words. What is happening inside your eye as you are looking at these words? Light passes through the front of the eye (the pupil) & through the lens. This light goes toward the back of the eye (the retina) where in a space less than 1 square inch, there are approximately one hundred
million small machines shaped like rods. Every rod is connected by a nerve fiber to the brain. The rods contain a chemical substance called visual purple (rhodopsin). When the light reaches the rod it causes the visual purple to break down. This breakdown generates several millionths of a volt of electricity. This electricity is transmitted to the brain through the optic nerve at about 300 mph.
The brain interprets the signals coming in, identifies what is being seen &
remembers the image. The entire process is completed in about two
thousandths of a second!

The hundred million rods described above only help us see black &
white, however. There is a different mechanism in our eyes for seeing
colors. The back of each eye has approximately 3 million cones with
bleachable pigments which react to light waves of different colors.
The brain merges the electrical signals that each color creates to
form many different hues. When the lighting is faint, the cones become
less active, our sense of color fades away, everything becomes gray, &
the rods for black & white vision become active. There is much more
that can be said about the wonders of the eye.'
- “Discovery” by Dov Moshe Lipman

To realize there is a G-d in the world is one thing. It takes a searching eye and a wondering mind. Avraham did that, and passed on to us the inherent ability to realize too. But Avraham also decided to act on that knowledge, to do what our Creator asks of His people: to make this world into a dwelling place for Him through Torah, Prayer, Charity, Mivtzot, and kindness to others. Let's keep this week's Torah portion, and our forefather Avraham's search, alive. Let's Keep up the search!

Shabbat Shalom!

-daniel