Category: Rabbi’s Dvrei Torah

Which seems more intriguing to you, more poetic and inviting: the idea of “Numbers” or “In the Wilderness”? Which is more likely to be in your weekend plans – playing Sudoku or going for a hike, watching a sunset, enjoying your garden’s beauty? For those of us who struggled with math in school, it might cross our minds that ‘numbers’ and [being lost] ‘in the wilderness’ are – more or less – synonyms! On the other hand, mathematicians – who see equations as beauty and understand the theories of how the entire universe appears to be founded on mathematical principles – might say that ‘numbers’ and ‘in the wilderness’ share an aesthetic, a thrilling limitlessness, and even a sense of spirituality.

Which seems more intriguing to you, more poetic and inviting: the idea of “Numbers” or “In the Wilderness”? Which is more likely to be in your weekend plans – playing Sudoku or going for a hike, watching a sunset, enjoying your garden’s beauty? For those of us who struggled with math in school, it might cross our minds that ‘numbers’ and [being lost] ‘in the wilderness’ are – more or less – synonyms! On the other hand, mathematicians – who see equations as beauty and understand the theories of how the entire universe appears to be founded on mathematical principles – might say that ‘numbers’ and ‘in the wilderness’ share an aesthetic, a thrilling limitlessness, and even a sense of spirituality.

This week’s Torah portion, Bechukotai, is known for its stark, black-and-white warning, called the tochecha: Either follow God’s laws and observe the commandments – maintaining the covenant – and receive blessings; Or, disobey God and not observe the commandments – spurning the covenant – and receive the worst misfortune and suffering imaginable. The choice is ours: either/or, blessing or curse … When we look at the world around us, however we realize that things are a little more subtle than that, a bit more ambiguous.

This week’s Torah portion, Emor, reviews the details of all the major Jewish holidays: Pesach, Shavuot, Sukkot, Rosh HaShana, and Yom Kippur. While each has its importance and relevance for our lives, and each adds meaning and depth to our existence in its own way, on only one of these holidays are we specifically commanded to be happy. Presumably, our axiomatic pursuit of happiness in life is an ongoing and constant goal. Buddhists say that our wanting happiness is one of the “Four Noble Truths”, that is, a fundamental condition of our lives. Yet, of all these major Jewish holidays, the Torah mentions happiness only in connection with the holiday of Sukkot.

Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel used to say: on three things does the world stand: On justice, on truth and on peace, as it is said: “execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates.” (Zechariah 8:16) Explanation by Dr. Joshua Kulp: Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel in this mishnah is not the same Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel quoted in Avot 1:17, but rather his grandson, the son of Rabban Gamaliel of Yavneh. He was the patriarch after the Bar Kokhba revolt (132-135 C.E.). He lived in the Gallilee, which became the center of Judaism after the revolt. Many of his statements appear in the Mishnah, and was the father of Rabbi Judah Hanasi, who edited the Mishnah.

A few thoughts as we get ready for Passover starting Monday night: There is a tradition of trying to cleanse all the ‘chametz’ out of our lives, to do a ‘spring cleaning’ of our souls as well as of our houses. Nevertheless, if you are like me, the perfection of your soul might still be a work-in-progress. So…you might have some chametz still in your house – expensive scotch, extra boxes of mac n’ cheese you can’t bear to part with, etc. Don’t fret [well, at least don’t overly fret]: You can put all your chametz that can’t be disposed of into a drawer or cabinet, tape it shut, and “sell it” for the duration of the holiday. There is a special form that you must fill out in order to sell your chametz [the form was sent in the Temple Sinai newsletter, or find it here]. It MUST be at Temple Sinai or scanned/photo sent to my email by SUNDAY EVENING AT 7:00pm. Quite simple to do and no cost [though it is customary to give some tzedakah either to Temple Sinai or out there in the wider world].

Let’s face it: Most of us want easy answers to our tough questions about life, quick fixes to our problems, aphorisms rather than treatises. This week’s Torah portion, Shemini, is for us! It tells us “what it’s all about” in a single word; uses three words to say how to achieve that; and one verse alone to explain our tradition’s entire theology. Other religions can sum up their message in single words like “Love”, “Emptiness”, or “Submission”. The essence of Judaism is kiddusha, “Holiness”.

This week’s Torah portion, Tzav, includes a description of the zevach todah, the “thanks offering” that was part of the ancient sacrifice rituals. You might wonder: What were the circumstances for which one needed to bring a todah, a “thanks offering”? The Torah does not list any specific circumstances for the “thanks offering”…though the rabbis later come up with four categories of personal salvation for which one should give thanks: being released from captivity, surviving a trip overseas, a trip through the desert, and recovery/escape from illness or accident. It would be a fun riddle to solve, if it was not so serious. This shabbat is known as Shabbat Zachor, “The Sabbath of Remembrance”, which is always on the shabbat prior to Purim. We read three verses from Deuteronomy, above, which instruct us to remember the evil cruelty that Amalek inflicted upon us…in order to blot out the memory of Amalek…and not to forget to do so… Apply the insights about leadership that Rabbi Sacks gleans from these comments on the Torah portion to our leaders who have to make some incredibly difficult choices during the extreme times we are living through. How might any of our leaders in the US or in Israel benefit from taking to heart a lesson or two from this Torah commentary? From the personae of Moses and of Aaron in this story? Aside from some sympathy – perhaps – for our leaders navigating treacherous political and principled territory, what values and principles would you demand our leaders uphold? What are the ‘red lines’ no leader should be willing to cross? How do you prioritize issues of principle in relation to expediency, short-term losses versus long-term gains, sacrificing much for the hour’s critical need when that heavy price will ultimately have to be painfully repaid?

Remember what Amalek did to you on your journey, after you left Egypt— how, undeterred by fear of God, he surprised you on the march, when you were famished and weary, and cut down all the stragglers in your rear. Therefore, when Adonai your God grants you safety from all your enemies around you, in the land that Adonai your God is giving you as a hereditary portion, you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven. Do not forget. — Deuteronomy 25:17-19 It would be a fun riddle to solve, if it was not so serious. This shabbat is known as Shabbat Zachor, “The Sabbath of Remembrance”, which is always on the shabbat prior to Purim. We read three verses from Deuteronomy, above, which instruct us to remember the evil cruelty that Amalek inflicted upon us…in order to blot out the memory of Amalek…and not to forget to do so… Apply the insights about leadership that Rabbi Sacks gleans from these comments on the Torah portion to our leaders who have to make some incredibly difficult choices during the extreme times we are living through. How might any of our leaders in the US or in Israel benefit from taking to heart a lesson or two from this Torah commentary? From the personae of Moses and of Aaron in this story? Aside from some sympathy – perhaps – for our leaders navigating treacherous political and principled territory, what values and principles would you demand our leaders uphold? What are the ‘red lines’ no leader should be willing to cross? How do you prioritize issues of principle in relation to expediency, short-term losses versus long-term gains, sacrificing much for the hour’s critical need when that heavy price will ultimately have to be painfully repaid?

The following commentary on Parashat Ki Tissa from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, z”l, raises some profound questions about leadership. Although the discussion is about Aaron and his role in the people’s making a Golden Calf and committing the sin of idolatry, Rabbi Sacks is really suggesting we examine the behavior of our own leaders and our own selves as leaders. Apply the insights about leadership that Rabbi Sacks gleans from these comments on the Torah portion to our leaders who have to make some incredibly difficult choices during the extreme times we are living through. How might any of our leaders in the US or in Israel benefit from taking to heart a lesson or two from this Torah commentary? From the personae of Moses and of Aaron in this story? Aside from some sympathy – perhaps – for our leaders navigating treacherous political and principled territory, what values and principles would you demand our leaders uphold? What are the ‘red lines’ no leader should be willing to cross? How do you prioritize issues of principle in relation to expediency, short-term losses versus long-term gains, sacrificing much for the hour’s critical need when that heavy price will ultimately have to be painfully repaid?