A Formula For Marriage And Friendship

During my years working with converts and newly religious known as the “Baal Teshuva”, there came a time that they were ready to begin dating as observant Jews. It was clear that marriage was clearly the goal in meeting people of the opposite sex. In the beginning of this process, it was awkward and these students would seek guidance as to how to go about looking for a spouse. Initially, I taught my students a simple formula of things to look for to see if it was worth pursuing a particular relationship. Later I realized that not only is this good advice during courtship, but it is also sound advice regarding who it is that we choose to let into our lives as friends or part of our households. When one makes a choice that he wants to intensify his commitment to his heritage, it is not only a choice of more fervent observance of Jewish practices, but it is a decision that one wants to live a more meaningful life. This includes a definite awareness that he wants things to be better than they were before by looking at life through different lenses. This is a big step and in order to reach one’s goal, one must surround himself with positive influences. The formula for choosing a spouse or a friend has three parts to it. The first condition is that because you have made it your lifelong goal of self improvement, you want to be around others who are also working on themselves. This is a basic principle of Judaism called, “Tikun Hanefesh”, or correcting the soul, where as long as there is breath within a person, he strives to reach greater spiritual heights. The task becomes much easier when one has a spouse or friend striving for the same thing where they encourage one another towards achieving this goal. The second ingredient to our formula is the need to associate with people who have an appreciation of Jewish teachings and the importance of regularly studying traditional Jewish texts. If someone is on a date and wishes to share something interesting he learned, and the other person shows no interest in hearing it, that already is a warning that they are probably not compatible. The same holds true in a friendship. How are people to grow, if they don’t study? The final part of our formula is that we need to distance ourselves from people who demonstrate that they possess a jealous nature. Jealousy is a terribly negative personality trait and if a spouse has jealous tendencies, it will be impossible to ever make them happy. They will always feel they need more. A so called friend who shows jealousy, will not really want you to succeed. Therefore, there cannot be a more clear sign of who to keep away from, than a jealous person. This sounds fairly simple and straightforward but the feedback that I’ve received over the years has proven highly effective. Stick with friends and a potential marriage partner that has these three traits. They understand how essential it is to work at becoming a better person. They appreciate knowledge and Torah study. And they have removed from their nature all jealous tendencies. If this formula becomes the foundation of one’s personal view on life, he will acquire true friends and will create a potential marriage that will be filled with love and mutual respect, and most importantly, it will succeed and bring great joy and contentment.

Money: Judaism's Biggest Challenge

The observance of Judaism is relatively easy nowadays as compared to other periods in our history. In most major cities, kosher food is readily available. The observance of Shabbat has been made much easier as employers are generally aware and are accommodating to the needs of the observant Jew. In Israel, this is certainly true as the holidays are observed on some level by all of its citizens, and Shabbat is clearly different from the other days of the week. Now that the observance of rituals is not that great of a challenge, it’s clear that there is an aspect to Jewish observance that is the biggest test of one’s commitment to the Torah. The real test is how one observes the laws that deal with money matters. Staying committed to the ideals of Judaism costs money. There are many areas where this manifests itself. The first area is the cost of giving our children the best Jewish education available. Tuitions in yeshivot are expensive even in Israel when salaries are not that high. Students might need extra help or tutoring which also costs money. If we understand how vital it is to teach our children about their heritage as well as teaching ethics and morality, as parents, we will do our best to give our children every opportunity for success. Another demand in our properly handling money, is our own personal value system in the manner in which we conduct our monetary issues. We are confronted with opportunities to earn money that are very tempting as they may promise great profits. But the integrity of a particular venture must be more important than the potential gain. We will one day have to answer to G-d as to whether everything we earned was done in an honest manner. Specific religious observance costs money. Kosher food, the purchase of Tefillin for a Bar Mitzva boy, purchasing books, the building of a Sukka and acquiring the Four Species, all add up to our annual expenses. But the commandment to give ten percent of our income to charity, may be the biggest challenge of all. However, if we are sincere and consistent in our commitment to Judaism, we will have the faith and courage to observe all of these mitzvot to the letter. It is very likely that an observant Jew’s biggest test of all comes when confronted with the commandment to live in Israel. Every rabbinic authority will verify that living in Israel is a mitzva. (Some might rationalize and say that it might be a mitzva if fulfilled, but it may not be an obligation.) In any case, if one is bent on doing what is right in the eyes of G-d, he knows in his heart that Israel is where a Jew needs to be. But on a monetary and comfort level, it is much more difficult to live in Israel than in other affluent communities around the world. Again, if one is sincere and true to his ideals, money and comfort should not be an obstacle to doing what’s right. He must overcome the temptation of being “comfortable” for the peace of mind of meeting his Jewish obligations. Clearly, on so many levels, the real test of one’s commitment to Judaism is in his wallet. This really needs to be emphasized to our young people who want to hear the truth and have not yet been spoiled and drawn towards rationalizing. We need not only to tell it like it is, but we also need to be living examples of what is right in the eyes of G-d.

Rabbis: Come Home With Your Congregants

Back in 1983, I served as a pulpit rabbi in Los Angeles in a young Orthodox synagogue in a good Jewish neighborhood. My future was bright and it looked like a promising career awaited me. However, as time went on, I began to be tormented by a verse in Ezekiel 36 that gave me no peace of mind. The verse read, “These are G-d’s people, but they are outside of His Land.” The interpretation was that the presence of a Jew in the Exile was a desecration of the name of G-d. It made G-d look weak. In essence, the verse was saying, “If you’re G-d’s chosen people what are you doing outside of His chosen Land.” I knew that I needed to be true to my ideals and it was obvious that I needed to move to Israel with my family. Thank G-d, in the summer of 1983, I made the most important decision of my life by making Aliya. Never in the past thirty-two years did I ever regret that decision because it was the right thing to do. I constantly feel blessed and fortunate to be able to live in Israel. I am home. It’s time that other rabbis and Jewish leaders shout out this simple message. Israel is the only home for the Jewish people and is the only place in the world where Jews are truly welcome. The doors are open for our people to come home and nothing is preventing this except for Jewish weakness. Jewish leaders have lost the courage to lead and encourage their communities to do what is right. And more importantly, they must lead by example by moving to Israel. Anyone whose eyes are open should realize that we are living in incredible times. The rebirth of the State of Israel is in itself miraculous with so many achievements in such a relatively short amount of time. But the rise of Islamic radicals and the hate that is spreading throughout Europe is not going to end there. America is in such a volatile position on so many levels, starting with its own lack of leadership, tenuous economy, and inability to fight terrorism. Where does this leave the Jew? Is it realistic to assume that if we wait around things will get better? It is important to study Jewish sources to see if there is some kind of plan behind the chaos that envelops the world. The mere fact of the return of over six million Jews from all over the globe, is indeed historic. These are ancient prophecies being fulfilled right before our eyes. Aside from showing gratitude to G-d for allowing His children to come home, Israel is the SAFEST place for a Jew to be. Reading the news would not make one believe this, but for those of us who live here, we know this to be true. One of the blessings in the Torah is that we be able to return “Komemiut”. This word means that we come home to Israel with our heads held high and with our dignity. We still have the opportunity for Komemiut. But we do not know how long this will last. Is it smart to hedge our bets or is it smarter to sanctify the name of the Al-mighty and come and live in His chosen Land? Rabbis of synagogues throughout the world must stop being afraid. It’s not about comfortable jobs and life contracts. It’s about courage and leadership. They must lead by example and tell their congregants, “It’s time to go home.” We will all have to stand before G-d one day to give an accounting for our behavior throughout our lives. There’s no doubt that He will ask us if we did everything possible to sanctify His name. Let’s hope that our answer will be that as difficult as it was to make the right choices, we put our faith in G-d and the Torah before everything else. Jews come home. Israel is home.

The Joy and Contentment Of Torah Study

An important lesson in life is that the key to success in life is the willingness to work hard. If we wish to succeed in the various roles that we play as human beings, there is no substitute for hard work. If we want to be good parents, a good spouse, or even a good friend, it takes tireless dedication and commitment. If one looks for shortcuts or for the easier path, in the long run it will take its toll in the various relationships in which we are involved. Another truth about life is that nothing of lasting value comes easy. This is particularly true about Torah study. The Rabbis say that three things are acquired with difficulty: The Land of Israel, the Next World (Olam Haba), and Torah study. These are three very precious acquisitions that require an incredible determination in order to gain merit. It is the study of Torah that is so special and unfortunately, so misunderstood. The Rabbis describe Torah study as one of those Mitzvot that we gain pleasure in this world and reward in the next world. There is a Torah commandment to study Torah as it is learned from the words, “And you shall teach your children.” How can we teach our children if we don’t study ourselves. Therefore, there is great emphasis on the necessity to study Torah on a daily basis. How unfortunate it is that upon asking high school yeshiva students what their most boring subject is, the study of Talmud usually gets the highest vote. Yet, for centuries, those who truly understand the amazing wisdom contained in it, find Talmudic study the main endeavor that elevates a person spiritually and connects him not only to G-d but to earlier generations of Torah giants. As the years of study increases, the absolute awe for the sensitivities and wisdom contained in it, continue to astound the student. The reason for this contrast between the high school student and the Talmudic scholar is twofold. First, instructors can make talmudic study more interesting by choosing subjects that are more relevant to students who are just being introduced to its study. But more importantly, it must be emphasized that this study has so much depth and value, and if one wants to be able to fully appreciate it, he has to trust that it’s worth the effort, and with the years, he will have entered a world that teaches what one’s priorities ought to be and how to live life to the fullest. One must remind himself that nothing of value comes without hard work. Torah study is no exception. It is not only the study of Talmud that is so meaningful. Rabbis tend to be misunderstood and often they are being belittled unfairly. When we understand the role of the rabbis from a historical perspective and from the aspect that they were charged with protecting, safeguarding, and interpreting the Torah by G-d Himself on Mount Sinai, one might look at things a little differently. It was the task of the rabbis during the most trying and painful times, to maintain spiritual and economic stability in the Jewish community. When one studies the analysis and concerns of the Sages, it is absolutely astounding. What began in the Talmud during the period of the Tannaim and Amoraim, continued through the Geonic period and Medieval times to this day. If one studies the endless volumes of precedent setting cases known as “Responsa,” one further gains an appreciation of what rabbinical wisdom really is. For those who dedicate their lives to Torah study, as we all should, he has entered a world that simply makes life worth living. Aside from gaining a great deal of peace of mind, one will learn how to cope with all of life’s trials and tribulations. He will have the tools to better understand human nature and become a productive member of society. Torah study is such a special and important part of Jewish life. Like anything of value, it comes with dedication and hard work. There is no intellectual study that compares for it contains so much divine wisdom. For those of you who think they’ve tried it and it didn’t speak to them, they should give it another look. The joy and contentment will be there if one keeps working at it.

The Need For Integrity

Upon graduating from my rabbinic studies many years ago, the new young rabbis asked our beloved teacher and scholar for a final message as we embark in our new careers. The rabbi, who had taught three generations of aspiring leaders, simply said, “Never tell a lie. Not even a white lie.” At the time, we were disappointed as we were hoping to hear something that we thought was more profound, but that was the message. Don’t tell lies. Be honest. Don’t compromise your integrity. That incident occurred nearly forty years ago, and as each year passes, I realize that there probably could not have been a more profound message. That was certainly an old school message. But I don’t see the new school teaching the importance of honesty at all costs and being extremely careful to speak the truth. There are many references in Scriptures that emphasize this point. The Torah in Exodus tells us to stay away from a false matter. In Leviticus it is openly written, “Do not lie.” King David in Psalms 119:163 writes, “I despised falsehood and saw it as abominable. King Solomon in Proverbs gives a similar teaching. “G-d regards abominable the lips of falsehood.” This theme continues in many other places as well. The Talmud would often use the oath as a means of settling a dispute when two individuals made a claim against one another and it was difficult to tell who was right. Sometimes even the threat of having to swear using G-d’s name while holding on to a Torah scroll was enough to get the guilty party to confess. Today legal documents begin with “under penalty of perjury the following is true.” This usually means there’s nothing to prevent it from being filled with falsehoods. Maimonides understood the importance of integrity as he suggested that one should not begin practicing Judaism without a strong foundation in belief in G-d and an understanding that one must treat his fellow man with kindness and the highest level of caring. One needed to give the other the benefit of the doubt and one should take extreme caution that any money that comes into his hands be without blemish or deceit. Somehow in our complex and highly technologically advanced world, this simple message is not being heard. It is certainly not being taught by our politicians but it’s probably not being taught as it should in our schools. There’s no question that we would have a far improved society if it were based on principles that require us to earn our money honestly, stay away from falsehood, have integrity in the way we interact with people and care about what is right in the eyes of G-d. Perhaps we should think twice before we dismiss the old school and the wisdom of its sages. We might learn something that has been alluding us for far too long.

Chareidim and Leftists: Three Little Words

Maimonides in his classic work, Mishna Torah, describes how one fulfills the commandment of repentance. He says that one repents by confessing his sin with three little words that many find difficult to say- “I was wrong.” If one can do this, it shows remorse and a resolve to learn from one’s mistakes. The greatness of King David was in the manner that he accepted guilt when confronted by the Prophet Nathan regarding his sin with Bat Sheva. David did not make excuses or put the blame on someone else but immediately responded with, “I have sinned” which is the same as “I was wrong.” This showed his greatness and humility at the same time. As history has been unfolding, the Jewish people have been confronted with issues that did not exist since the time of the second Temple. Millions of Jews have returned to Israel and we have a Jewish homeland. We also have to figure out the best way to keep its citizens safe and manage to live peacefully with our neighbors. We analyze the events unfolding and try to adopt political and religious views that we believe are morally and spiritually correct. Our integrity should not make us proud and if actual events contradict what we believed to be true, in the name of honesty, we might need to rethink what our opinions were and be humble enough to utter those three little words: “I was wrong.” There are two cases in point. The Ultra Orthodox Jews, known today as Chareidim, had a very difficult time dealing with the Zionist movement of Theodore Herzl right from its inception. Their devout worship of the Torah and Judaism would not allow them to entertain the idea that anything good could come from secular Zionists who did not care about the holy Sabbath or the laws of keeping Kosher. Therefore, it was understandable that they strongly opposed the Zionists. Unfortunately, this opposition still exists today with a refusal to send their children to the army or acknowledge Israel’s Independence Day. Sadly, in most Chareidi synagogues, they won’t even say a prayer for the welfare of our brave soldiers in the IDF. The Chareidi community needs to finally take a step back and admit that their fears regarding these secular Zionists were unfounded. It certainly looks like it was G-d’s plan that Jews of all backgrounds feel that they have a part in the Jewish State. Initially, they had good intentions in defending the honor of the Torah, but clearly the State has proven to be a very good thing. They need to say, “We were wrong” and more actively support the State. The liberal well meaning Jews that are referred to as Leftists also need to do some soul searching. Their opinion that if we reach out to our Arab neighbors, it will be the prescription for peace. Even the esteemed former Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, of blessed memory, issued a ruling that land theoretically could be returned if it would increase our security. So they tried “land for peace” and Oslo, and it was done with the best of intentions, but these efforts failed miserably. Recent terrorist activities have proven that it isn’t our victory in 1967 and our liberating Judea and Samaria, that is bothering the Arabs. Prime Minister Netanyahu reminded the world that the hatred of the Jews began well before there was a State. Certain assumptions or remedies that were thought to be solutions were not. Just like the Chareidim need to do, and just like “the sweet singer of Israel”, King David demonstrated that it can be done, the Leftists also need to let go of their former views and also say, “We were wrong.” History has shown that when there is Jewish unity, no force in the world can touch us. If the Chareidim and Leftists were able to get over these hurdles, Israel and the Jewish people would be as we were at Mount Sinai, “Like one man. Like one heart.”

The Jewish Passion For the Land Of Israel

The Torah reading for this week introduces the idea of the special relationship between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Abraham is commanded by G-d to leave his former home, his father’s house, to go to the unique land that has inherent holiness. Rabbi Moshe Alshich, in his commentary, describes how Abraham is told that in this land, he will be transformed into a new personality. In Israel only, will he thrive. The Shechina, or Divine Presence, rests only in Israel. Abraham is told that qualitatively he is not the same person in Israel as he was outside of the land. It was in Israel that Abraham made a covenant with G-d that this land was promised to the Jewish people. He was also promised that the Jewish people would live forever. It all began in the merit of Abraham and his intense faith. This was also the beginning of the special role that the Jewish people were to have in the world. We were to teach about monotheism and how to act in a kind and just way. Because Abraham personified these qualities, he is told, “Those who bless you will be blessed and those who curse you will be cursed. As Abraham travels throughout the land, he senses that this is not like any place on earth. The Rabbis say, “the air of the Land of Israel makes one wise.” One is able to reach his complete spiritual potential in Eretz Yisrael. For this reason, there is a natural yearning to connect to this land. So many people describe their first visit to Israel. It is often difficult to put their feelings into words. They know in their souls that they are in a place that arouses emotions that they never felt before. For many, there is an instant feeling that, “I am home.” The first Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi Abraham Isaac Kook, wrote a great deal about this passionate connection between the Jew and the Land of Israel. He went as far as saying that one who does not see and feel this special attachment, has only a superficial understanding of Judaism. The time when the Jewish people have flourished and will again flourish, is when they are all living in Israel. There was such a period during the reign of King Solomon. There was peace, holiness, and Israel was fulfilling its role of being a “light unto the nations.” This is what we pray for when we ask to return to the “days of old.” It all began with our Father Abraham. He was introduced to the dream of his children returning and living peacefully in our land. May this dream be realized speedily in our days.

Jealousy: An Obstacle to Happiness

Jealousy is a very natural human trait that we acquire at a very young age. Most people seem to feel that it’s perfectly normal to have jealousy towards another human being. Western society accepts this as a fact of life and we rarely hear of anyone speaking of the detriments of carrying this very negative character trait. The Bible admits to this human weakness by relating stories of the jealousy between Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, and how King Saul’s jealousy of David caused him to lose his mind. The Rabbis in the Mishna of Ethics of Our Fathers, cites jealousy as one of three things that remove a person from this world. (The other two are lust and honor seeking.) There is a great emphasis in classic rabbinic literature, that we work on our Midot, or character. Some people gravitate to the teachings of the Chassidic Masters, while others turn to books connected to the Mussar movement of the eighteenth century. Both teach the importance of looking at ourselves and the need for self improvement. Sometimes these books give us a kind of “pep talk” encouraging us that no matter how far one falls, he can pick himself up and succeed in life. The teachings of the rabbis were designed to help a person achieve real happiness, peace of mind, and contentment. Jealousy presents the greatest obstacle towards achieving that happiness. There are times when people obsess about another person. It might even begin with sibling rivalry but it continues when one does not know how to be grateful for his own lot in life. There is always going to be someone out there who is wealthier, smarter, or possessing greater physical beauty than us. If we focus on others, and forget to take a step back to count our own blessings, we will be choosing misery over joy. There is always going to be someone who has it worse than we do as well. The ideal that the Rabbis speak of is that we are to view our lives in a positive manner. Even more than that, we are to feel that at this moment G-d has provided us with everything that we need. The Maharal of Prague wrote that when one feels this way, he develops an intense love for G-d. There is a prayer that is found in certain prayer books at the end of the Amida that is a request that we should have the proper perspective that we not be jealous of others, and others should not be jealous of us. It might be a good idea to start saying that prayer and to make a point of removing jealousy from our hearts. In its place, we should sincerely wish for the success of all those we come in contact with, and learn to truly be happy when we hear of the good fortune of others. Simply put, if we cannot overcome our jealous nature, we will never find happiness.

The Real Source Of The Mideast Conflict

The recent wave of terror in Israel is extremely tragic and humiliating at the same time. Many offer their assessment of the situation and most blame it on the incitement of Abu Mazen. While this may be true in terms of the current crisis, nobody wants to address the real source of the conflict. That is, it is absolutely a religious struggle that is the crux of the problem. The Islamic view of the region called the Middle East is “Pan Arabism”. The entire region is meant to be in the hands of the Islamic world. When Israel came into being and legitimately expanded its borders after the Six Day War, this was not supposed to happen. When millions of Jews returned to their ancestral homeland and revived the Hebrew language, and built a strong army,, and began to lead the world in science and technology, this wasn’t supposed to happen. When the Land began producing beautiful crops of fruits and vegetables after having been desolate swamps, this was not supposed to happen. The Jews were suppose to have been rejected and cast aside as insignificant, but they have proven to be anything but. Christianity found a way to deal with Israel’s revival by adjusting Christian doctrine by saying that this is all part of the plan for their savior’s “second coming.” The Islamic religion cannot tolerate a Jewish entity in this region of ANY SIZE. If they recognized Israel’s right to exist, they would be, in essence, admitting that their religion is false. Instead they attribute Israel to some kind of fluke initiated by Satan that must be eliminated. It is a most unfortunate phenomenon that is the source of all of the incitement and hate. Some naively feel that they are venting their frustrations by killing innocent Jews and if they only had more economic opportunities, everything would be fine. The portrayal to the world is that the Arabs in Israel are treated poorly. Very few point out the opportunities and advancements that Arab Israelis have made. The hospitals are filled with Arab doctors as are the hotels with numerous Arab employees. They enjoy our parks and malls and probably have it better here than in most Arab countries. Israel has bent over backwards making all kinds of concessions to show a real intention to live peacefully side by side. It really is a tragedy because all sides would benefit on so many levels if there was peace. The reality is that there cannot be a peaceful solution unless Israel, G-d forbid, did not exist. It is clear to most as a result of recent events that we have no partner and it would be pure insanity to create a Palestinian State. What it all boils down to is whether it is us or them. Does it make sense that because we are lovers of democracy, that we must acknowledge the “good Arabs” at the price of having our citizens living in fear of the next brutal terrorist act! Our first responsibility is to protect our loved ones that they should be safe. The Bible offers a possible solution that really might be the only long term solution to the conflict. When Joshua was conquering the Land of Israel, he approached each king with an offer of peace. He told them that they were welcome to stay in the Land if they accepted Israel’s sovereignty and made a commitment to observe the Seven Noachide laws. If they were not willing, they were welcome to peacefully leave Israel. If they chose to fight, Israel would fight them with great force. All thirty one kings chose to wage war except for the Givonites. The issue for us is not that we hate Arabs. The issue is that we love Jews. Perhaps this might sound premature or far fetched, but this is where things are headed. It is a privilege to live in this country and it must remain Jewish and ours. If its citizens do not abide by our laws, they cannot be here. We should start by throwing out terrorists and their families and demand a statement of allegiance to Israel. We must remember that the Author of the Bible was pretty smart and maybe the answers are right there. Let us hope real peace and security will be ours very soon.

A Biblical And Talmudic Proof: 5776

On Rosh Hashana we celebrated the creation of the world. According to the Jewish calendar, this was 5776 years ago. Using biblical and talmudic sources, we can prove that the number 5776 is accurate. Currently, we have now completed the Torah portion of Bereishit and next week we read the portion of Noach. If we add up the number of years between Adam and Abraham, we find that Abraham was born 1948 years after creation. We get to this number by adding the age of each respective father, when he begat his son. Adam was 130 years old when Seth was born and Seth was 105 when Enosh was born. Continuing to add the twenty generations from Adam will give us 1948 when Abraham was born. The Bible tells us that Abraham was 100 years old when Isaac was born which takes us to the year 2048. The Torah says that at the end of 400 years, the Jewish people were redeemed from Egypt. The Rabbis explain that the 400 years began with the birth of Isaac. This means that the Exodus took place in 2448. This date of 2448 is mentioned on numerous occasions in the Talmud. The book of Kings I, Chapter six verse one tells us that it came to pass that 480 years after the Exodus from Egypt, the Temple of Solomon was completed. So if we add 480 to 2448, we get to the year 2928 after creation. The Talmud tells us that Solomon’s Temple lasted 410 years taking us to the year 3338. The prophecy of Jeremiah was well known that seventy years after the destruction of the First Temple, the Second Temple would be rebuilt. If we add seventy to 3338, we get 3408. The Second Temple lasted 420 years — that takes us to 3828 after creation. In secular years, the Temple was destroyed in the year 68 of the Common Era. This means that the year 68 corresponded to 3828 years since creation. If we take our current year 2015 ( but we need to make it 2016 because we already celebrated the Jewish New Year), it would mean the Second Temple was destroyed 1948 years ago. If we add 1948 to 3828, we get 5776. Thus, we have a fairly simple verification of the age of the world by using several documented dates based on the Bible and Talmud. It is truly amazing that we can so easily account for 5776 years.

An Analysis Of The "Chumra"

The term, “Chumra” means stringency. It is used often in matters of Jewish Law. The original definition of Chumra has taken on a different meaning in modern day Orthodox Judaism. At times this interpretation can have positive results, while at other times, it can have very negative detrimental effects. Jewish Law, or “Halacha” as it’s known in Hebrew is a very complex system handed over to the Rabbis from the time of Moses. The purpose of Halacha was to interpret and protect the Torah so that it would continue to be observed throughout the generations. The Rabbis were also given the license to make protective rabbinic laws that they believed necessary for Jewish survival. For example, Moshe Rabbeinu himself decreed that the Torah be read every Shabbat. There were instances where doubts arose in certain legal situations. The Rabbis formulated a system where if the doubt was of a rabbinic nature, then one could be lenient. This leniency was known as a “Koola”, in Hebrew. If the doubt was of a Torah origin, then one needed to take the more strict approach, or go L’ Chumra’ in Halachic jargon. This was the way a Chumra was originally viewed. If we go back fifty or sixty years in America, Orthodox Judaism was not that strong. It was a much greater struggle to be observant at that time, than it is today. Kosher food was harder to come by and not every community had a Mikva, ritual bath. Even burials according to Halacha was not a given. Finding employers that were understanding of the Sabbath was also not so easy to find. When I was ordained as a rabbi in the late seventies, in Skokie, Illinois, we were trained to help the community deal with their challenges by attempting to remain within Halachic boundaries, but also trying to find leniencies wherever possible. Over the years, the Orthodox community made great advances in major cities across the United States, where being religious was no longer that difficult. This was the beginning of the new definition of Chumra. On one level, which was of a positive nature, Jews could afford to be more strict. There were now numerous Kosher establishments to choose from and compromises were not necessary. A Jew was not embarrassed to display his Judaism in public and more and more Jewish men were seen with Yarmulkes and married women wore head coverings. If we go back in time to the period following the Six Day War, there was a huge wave of Religious Zionism all across America. If you were an Orthodox Jew, it was a given that moving to Israel was on your radar. People would never openly say that they were not moving, but would say that they hoped to move within a relatively short time. As America became more affluent and life in Israel was clearly more difficult, the Zionist dream began to fade. The serious idealists had moved to Israel, and the less idealistic stayed where it was more comfortable. Hence, the birth of the new ” Chumra”. Religious Jews needed to have their consciences to be at peace. They began adopting stringencies, or Chumras, that were more in line with the ultra-Orthodox, anti-Zionist communities. Such Chumras included a more strict dress code, a higher standard in Kashrut supervision, and enrolling their children in schools that were more extreme. Perhaps if they were really strict in certain areas and if their new rabbis told them that they don’t really have to move to Israel, then their guilt for not being true religious Zionists would subside. Another phenomenon was the Baal Teshuva movement, where many unaffiliated Jews became observant. From a positive perspective, these were very sincere individuals and they wanted to do everything right. They felt good taking the more strict approach as they felt this would keep them strong and they would not fall back to their old ways. The sad part of this Chumra idea today is that it is not made clear what is the law and what is a Chumra. Passover is the time of year when people are really into Chumras. It is understandable that we be extra strict because Passover is only one week, but sometimes it can get ridiculous. One year, a certain individual in a very religious neighborhood, covered the bumper of his car with aluminum foil a few days before Pesach. He did this for a joke, but within an hour, a dozen cars also covered their cars the same way! The sadness of this Chumra infatuation is felt the most in Jewish education. Young students are given restrictions that are only Chumras, but are a major turn off. When they are told that everything is forbidden without clarifying the basis of the prohibition, it makes the students want to run away from Judaism. There are grey areas within Halacha, where depending on the situation, a “Koola” would be much more beneficial. For example, one of my daughters was sent home from school because her earrings were too long! We must be aware that young people have many choices of lifestyles today. For them to remain observant, things should make sense. We need to take more of a “Hillel” approach than a “Shammai”, more Chumra approach. I grew up in Bnei Akiva where talking to girls was not a sin and some of those girls even wore pants. It was not perfect Halachically but it was a very wholesome way for us to learn to love Judaism and love Israel. Clearly, there are times when Chumras are necessary, but it’s equally clear that a badly placed Chumra could be very, very harmful.

Why Are So Many Converting To Judaism

I have been working with potential converts to Judaism for nearly two decades. These individuals have been coming from all over the world in their quest to become Torah observant Jews. Their journey is a long one, but their determination and resolve usually results in their becoming exemplary Jews. However, in recent years, the number of conversion candidates has multiplied dramatically. Why in the face of so much negative press against the Jewish people and at the same time, a significant rise in anti-Semitism worldwide, do so many Gentiles wish to become a part of the Jewish nation? The Torah has a separate commandment to love the convert which is found many times. This is strange since we are also commanded not to remind a person that he once was not Jewish. The Rabbis’ rationale for this apparent paradox is that every convert is different. No two stories are identical as to why this person wished to become Jewish. Therefore, we have to make an extra effort to love them and appreciate the hardships they needed to go through to get to Judaism. Despite all of this, an analysis of the convert might give some insight into this wave of conversion. In the classic work, The Kuzari by Rav Yehuda Halevi, we read of the search for truth by the king of the Chazars. The king learns from his discussions with a Christian and Moslem scholar that G-d once loved the Jews but rejected them because of their sins and they were banished from the land. Therefore, to many Gentiles who were raised with this attitude that the Jews were rejected and despised, in view of current events and the events of the past sixty seven years, the Jewish people do not seem very rejected. The emergence of the State of Israel out of the ashes of the Holocaust, into a modern homeland to more than six million Jews, does not look like the Jews are rejected. Israel is probably the biggest reason why so many Gentiles are questioning the validity of the religions from where they came. For centuries, nobody (except for the Jews who never stopped praying for a return to Zion) ever believed that the Jewish people would come home. When one looks at the prophecies of the prophets that are coming true today with the ingathering of the Exiles, and the Land producing once again, a thinking individual will start to wonder why this is happening. When they ask their scholars for answers, they are not satisfied. They find answers in Judaism. When the prime minister of Israel walks into the U.S. Congress and is welcomed with such respect and admiration, something big is happening. No other leader in the world gets that kind of reception whether you agree or not if it was right for Prime Minister Netanyahu to go there in the first place. One who is searching for truth does not have a hard time figuring out the good guys and the bad guys in Israel’s conflict. But somehow in the face of barbaric brutal terrorist attacks and the firing of thousands of rockets at its cities, Israel survives. A thinking person might come to the conclusion that maybe the G-d of Israel is protecting them. For all of these reasons, when we look at what is unfolding in the world, it is much more clear why so many non-Jews want to become Jewish. The Kuzari would have said that we need to look at the evidence. Rav Halevi’s argument in the twelfth century was that the majority of the world accepts that there were ten plagues, the splitting of the Red Sea, and the revelation at Mount Sinai. Therefore, the Torah must be true. Today, we can add to the evidence that the Jewish people have come home and are rebuilding the Third Commonwealth. Is it any wonder why more and more Gentiles want to be a part of this truth?

Maimonides: An Expert in Kiruv

The term “Kiruv” has become very popular in recent years. It represents the ability to bring back Jews who had drifted away from traditional Jewish practices and ideas. Today there are a number of Jewish institutions that specialize in “Kiruv” and design their programs towards reaching out to the uninitiated with the hope that they will desire to return to their Jewish roots. The great medieval scholar, Maimonides, is known as a genius in Jewish philosophy and Jewish law as well as being a great physician. He is not known as a Kiruv man, yet his approach to teaching Judaism makes so much sense. His approach has been successful at rekindling an interest in Judaism. I have known numerous individuals who openly admit that Maimonides brought them back to the fold. The monumental work of Maimonides is known as Mishna Torah. In the fourteen sections of this book, a detailed explanation of the 613 commandments is given. It is the first section known as Sefer Mada, or Book of Knowledge that the author speaks to the newly interested student. He explains that becoming observant is a step by step process in the form of building blocks. The Rambam, as Maimonides is also known by, says that one should begin his quest by first studying the laws that deal with G-d. There are commandments to acknowledge G-d’s Oneness, His existence, and His uniqueness. There are also commandments to fear and love G-d as well as sanctifying His name and not desecrating His name. Before one can begin religious practices, he must have a clear understanding of Who it is that we are worshipping. He must understand the awesomeness of the Creator and our own smallness compared to His greatness. Once we are clear on this relationship, we can move to the next level. The Rambam views knowing how to treat people as a prerequisite to observance. He lists eleven laws that deal with being a kind, respectful human being. Here he lists such laws as loving one’s fellow Jew as well as the convert as an essential foundation to one’s observance. We should not speak badly of another Jew behind his back. We should not hate another Jew in our heart. We should not take revenge. In short, step two is to “be a mentch” or a gentleman in your dealings with another person. The third step is the realization and commitment one needs to have towards Torah study and Torah scholars. If we are going to take this Judaism thing seriously, then we must work on ourselves by studying the holy books on a daily basis. Similarly, we need to connect to Torah scholars for guidance. The fourth step is not to get sidetracked along the way by that which is not Jewish. A beginner to Judaism might be vulnerable to cults, or amulets, or worshipping the graves of the dead. For this reason, Maimonides lists fifty one laws related to idol worship, or sorcery, or consulting the dead. These laws are meant to keep our new student of Judaism focused on what is Judaism rather than what is not Judaism. The final foundational stage of the Rambam is Teshuva or repentance. At this point, it is essential for one to take a good hard look at himself. He needs to show remorse for his past sins and be able to forgive himself for his past indiscretions. Teshuva means coming clean with one’s past so that he now has a clean slate and does not take with him his own fears and traumas of what he had previously experienced. Now that this individual has a pretty good concept of G-d and he has learned how to treat people and he makes Torah study a priority and he’s clear as to what is not Judaism, he is ready to move forward. When he adds to all of this his ability to be at peace with himself, he can now begin to adopt Jewish practices and rituals. Without these foundational concepts, Jewish observance will lack the meaning and intensity it requires. This is the approach to Kiruv of Maimonides. It is logical and methodical and will give the new student to Judaism the tools to cope with life from a truly Jewish perspective. He is also more likely to stick with his Judaism as it has been presented to him in such a positive and pleasant manner. Maimonides truly was an expert in Kiruv.

The Joy Of Succot

The holiday of Succot is known also as Zman Simchateinu, the time of our joy. This joy was felt on a much larger scale during the time of the Temple. The Talmud describes the intense happiness that was felt during the ceremonies of the water libations. There was singing and dancing and the playing of musical instruments. There were four pillars with four receptacles erected in the Temple courtyard. Young Kohanim, (Priests) would climb these pillars and literally light up Jerusalem! Rabbi Yehoshua Ben Chanania related that the celebrations were so exciting that people barely slept during the whole week of Succot. The Book of Our Heritage makes an interesting point related to the joy of Succot. People at this time were not concerned with their social status. Certain rabbis who were very learned would juggle torches and entertain. The feeling that everyone was one family celebrating together made the atmosphere much more special. King David set the tone for this when he led the singing and dancing when the Holy Ark was brought to Jerusalem. The friendship, love, and togetherness help make Succot that much more special. Here in Israel, we feel that as well. Chag Sameach!

Prophecy of Parshat Ha'azinu

This week’s Torah portion is Ha’azinu which is also known for its Shira, or song. The great commentator, the Or Hachaim, who lived over two hundred years ago saw this Shira as being highly prophetic with relevance for our times. There are three interesting points made by the Or Hachaim also known as Chaim Ben Attar. The first point is the importance of Jewish unity. When the Jewish people are of like mind regardless of individual observance, we are a force that cannot be harmed by anyone in the world. The second more fascinating point is that there will come a time when the Jewish people will not be able to take themselves out of the exile. The righteous of the generation will not have the strength to rebuke the people and get them out. Only after a tragedy that will involve the death of a large number of people, will G-d Himself rebuild the House of Israel. The final point of the Or Hachaim is that in the future, the nations of the world will be judged and they will regret their treatment of the Jews. They will acknowledge the truth of Judaism and will desire to serve the Jewish people. It is pretty amazing that this commentary is coming true in our lifetimes. Shabbat Shalom

G-d Loves the Baal Teshuva

 There is a tendency for people who have made choices and have done things that they are not proud of, to have very negative feelings about themselves. They may feel that even if they now have gotten their act together and they are upstanding human beings that they are still tainted in some way. The Rambam in chapter seven of the laws of repentance, says that nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, Maimonides writes that there is a special place for the “Baal Teshuva”, the repentant one. Yesterday he was despised and distant from G-d and today is close and cherished by his Creator. The Rabbis say that the place where the Baal Teshuva stands even a righteous person his whole life, cannot stand. Such a person has tasted sin and now has acquired the courage to overcome his temptations. G-d fully understands the struggles towards making the correct decisions that one goes through. The Yom Kippur message is that regardless of how low a person may have fallen, there is always the opportunity of repentance. And, if one is able to return towards that which is right and holy, he will be embraced by the Al-mighty with intense love and affection. Gmar Chatima Tova.

Maimonides on Ten Days of Repentance

The Rambam writes in his Mishne Torah regarding the laws of repentance that even though repentance and crying out to G-d is always a positive thing to do, the Ten Days of Repentance between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is even more effective. Such an effort at returning closer to the Creator during this most auspicious time, brings immediate positive results. Maimonides claims that the explanation of the verse from the Prophets, “Seek the L-rd and you will find him”, refers specifically to these ten days that are upon us. We are to feel fortunate that we are given this opportunity to “clean up our act”. If we took our Rosh Hashana prayers seriously, we realize just how tenuous our situation is particularly at this time. We do not really control our own destiny. Everything is in G-d’s hands and we are completely dependent on Him. However, we are reassured that it is in our hands to repent and resolve to become more G-d fearing and better people. So let’s take advantage of this opportunity and may we all be inscribed for a healthy and happy new year.

The Galut

Throughout the Mussaf prayers, we have the phrase, ״Because of our sins, we were exiled from our land”. This simple phrase is meant to remind us that the presence of Jews outside of Israel was a punishment or a curse. It was clearly intended that all of our people be living in the Land. “Galut”, or the exile, is a punishment and it places G-d’s chosen people in an unnatural habitat. Most Jews are unaware of this concept. However, if one digs deeply into his spiritual essence, he may find that there is a yearning towards connecting to Israel. This might explain why people get so excited when making their first visit to the land of our forefathers. It is also interesting to note that in Israel, Ashkenazi Cohanim do the Priestly blessing 450 times a year while those living in Galut only do it ten times. The Rabbis’ reason for this is that one who lives outside of Israel lives without joy. Only during the holidays, is adequate joy felt to warrant the Priestly blessing. It is based on an analysis of a verse in Proverbs that says that only one who is in high spirits should bless. One of our requests for the holidays is that all Jews from all parts of the world shall gather together in Jerusalem as of old.

The Theme of Rosh Hashana

Shavua Tov. As we prepare for Rosh Hashana, we are to be aware of the theme of this holiday which is also known as Day of Remembering, and Day of Judgement. Much of the prayers for the day focus on our acknowledgement of Hashem as King. It is necessary to first understand to whom we are praying. Throughout the High Holiday liturgy, we sing praises to G-d and recognize how small and insignificant we are compared to the Master of the Universe. These prayers come to a peak in the Mussaf service when we come to the classic prayer, Unetana Tokef. It is then that we compare ourselves to a flock of sheep being brought before the slaughter. The shepherd decides which sheep will live and which shall die. The prayer continues with the well known song that on Rosh Hashana, we are written in the book and on Yom Kippur we are inscribed. We are not to take this day lightly but understand that so much is at stake for us, our families, and the entire Jewish nation. We end this most solemn prayer with a determined chant,”Prayer, Repentance, and Charity, can change the evil decree. May we all be written in the Book of Life with a healthy and happy New Year!

The Torah Of Truth

My Machon Meir students told me of an extensive research project that went on trying to verify that the text of the Torah is accurate. They took copies of Torahs from all over the world and thoroughly cross checked the text of each Torah. They found that there are over 304,000 letters in the Five Books of Moses. The total number of discrepancies was NINE letters and none of them had any bearing on the interpretation of that particular verse. The obvious result of this information is proof that the Torah that we have today is the exact Torah that was transmitted by G-d to Moses to the Jewish people for generations. This week’s Torah portion is Nitzavim. We are nearing the end of the life of Moshe Rabbeinu and his final charge to the Jewish people. He reminds them that the covenant that they made is binding on all future generations. The Or Hachaim asks how were our ancestors permitted to obligate their descendants to follow Jewish Law. Shouldn’t they have had a say in the matter? He answers that because it is such a precious gift to fulfill the role of a Jew, it is viewed that they did us a huge favor by committing later generations to observe the Torah. In addition, we are now certain that the Torah in our possession is the authentic Torah. May the New Year bring a renewed commitment to connect on a deeper level to our heritage and our Jewish beliefs. Shana Tova