Stay Inspired

Parsha with Evan Green

Shalom Mishpacha,

Here’s hoping the onset of another beautiful Shabbat finds each one of you in happiness and health. For those in Ottawa, it finds you buried in snow!

This week we start the Sefer Shemot (known in English as the Book of Exodus) with Parshat Shemot, which includes the story of Moshe (Moses), whom we might consider to be the paradigm of a Jewish leader. Does not the mere name – Moshe – stir feelings within us?

It brings with it the weight of history, our history... as Moshe is forever linked with our Torah and our lives. This week we begin to read his story - our story – from his beginning.

Moshe comes to teach us so much. This week, we will focus on what he teaches us about leadership. Each us is a ‘leader’ in some way: perhaps in our families, in our schools, in our synagogues, in our communities, in our workplaces; or at least, we all certainly have the potential to be. Moshe and our Torah come to teach us much about how bring out this potential.

We all know the story and how it begins. We find the Israelites in Egypt and we watch them as they become slaves to Pharaoh. The Torah then tells us that Pharaoh wanted to kill all of the Jewish newborn boys. His astrologers told him that a redeemer of the Jewish people was being born.

However, Amram and Yocheved, Moshe's parents, hid him as long as they could. They then placed him in a waterproofed basket in the Nile where he was found by Pharaoh's daughter. Moshe was brought up in the Pharaoh's palace. 

The Torah tells us that after Moshe grew up, he went out to observe the burdens of his brethren. He came to know that he was one of them. He saw an Egyptian man beating a Hebrew, he "looked this way and that way to see if there was a man," and then struck down the Egyptian (Exodus 2:11-12).

From here, Rabbi Kalman Packouz believes that we learn some of the basic principles of being a leader:

(1) A leader must go out amongst the people to understand firsthand their situation.

(2) A leader must be able to recognize that there is a problem.

(3) A leader must look to see if there is anyone else who is dealing with the problem. If someone is already taking action, then support and assist the person - don't vie for glory of being the hero. (4) If there is no one taking action, then one must take action.

There is a common misconception that only ability leads to leadership. Moses comes to teach us that caring and taking responsibility leads to leadership. People tend to focus on their weaknesses and use them as excuses for not taking responsibility and for not leading.

Moshe, as we know, had a serious speech impediment. It didn't stop him from achieving greatness. He succeeded at being a great leader and a great person. And so can each of us... no matter what impediment may lie before us.

Charles Harary speaks of 3 prerequisites for real leadership: First, A Commitment To Truth - it should be about doing what is right, not what looks good or what everyone might be doing.

Then, second, it is about being ready to stand against the whole world - for what's right. Avraham was the first monotheist and stood firmly in opposition to all of the idol worshippers – to the world – around him (where the term Ha’ivri (Hebrew), ‘the one who stood on the other side’, comes from). Moshe too, stood against many, in opposition, standing up for what was right.

But I wanted to focus on the third one Charles Harary brings forth: Compassion. A leader must truly care and want to help others. 

We read in the Torah that G-d tested all of the Patriarchs as shepherds to test and train them for leadership. The Midrashim (part of our Oral Torah and tradition) tell of Moshe going to great lengths to find a lost lamb and carrying it back to the flock because it was weak.

Among other reasons that he was chosen to lead the Israelites: just as he cared about that one small member of his flock, Moshe cared about each and every Jew and directed his heart and mind the share the experiences of his fellow Jews. Although he enjoyed the privileges of a palace upbringing, he empathized with the plight of those Jews who were enslaved. This quality of concern for others helped make Moshe an outstanding leader.

Rabbi Zelig Pliskin argues that just as Moshe went out from the luxury of the royal palace to see his fellow Israelites' suffering; we, too, must "go out" to see and respond to others' suffering... whether we see ourselves as leaders or not... It is part of our role in the world to care for and look out for others.

Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz learns from this parsha the meaning of true empathy. He draws upon a comment from the Midrash which Rashi (Rabbi and perhaps the greatest of our Torah commentators, 11th C, France) quotes in this week's parsha: "And it was in those days that Moshe grew up and went out amongst his brethren and saw their travails."

Rashi comments that Moshe put "his eyes and heart into suffering with them." Moshe did not merely observe their distress; rather, he threw his entire being into understanding the depth of their distress, to know every tiny detail of it. But, it does not stop here.

The Midrash goes on to say that Moshe put his shoulder under their load and shared the burden with all his brethren. This was not so much to help them, says Rabbi Levovitz, since Moshe could only provide a limited amount of help to such a multitude and for such an overwhelming task. Rather, he shared in their hard labor so that he could truly share in their pain, exhaustion and crushed spirit. Then, and only then, could he be truly empathetic. This is the trait of a true leader.

As our Mishnah in Pirkei Avot (also from Oral Torah, a beautiful and insightful set of wise words) teaches us, sharing in another's burden is essential for the acquisition of Torah. It is fundamental not only for mitzvot between man and man, but between man and G-d as well.

Since true empathy is essential for Torah, Rabbi Levovitz states one can't be truly Torah observant if one is derelict in this trait. Ritual piety without sharing in others' burdens is not Torah observance.

The natural feelings people have cause them to isolate themselves from others who are suffering., Torah observance is not designed to provide one with maximum comfort; the Torah requires us to investigate the depth of other peoples' distress and, as Moshe did, feel along with those who suffer. This is true empathy.

Moses came to teach us that an essential part of being Jewish is taking care of those around us. In this light, we can all be leaders.

To end off, it is worth noting that Moses’ empathy was surpassed only by his modesty perhaps, another trait not entirely unbecoming of a true leader. As the Torah states, Moshe said to Hashem: "Who am I, that I should go to Pharaoh . . . " Moshe, as humble as he was, did not even consider himself worthy of being the deliverer of the Jewish people.

Thereupon, Hashem answered him that his very question was proof of how fit he was for the task. Hashem calls only on those who do not think overly highly of themselves. Thus, as the Midrash teaches us, of all the mountains, Hashem chose lowly Mt. Sinai as the place upon which to give the Torah, for while the higher mountains boasted of their heights, Mt. Sinai remained little in its own eyes. Similarly, since Moshe remained little in his own eyes, he was worth of leading the Jewish people.

We all have this potential of leadership within us, and I believe we shall each realize this in our own ways.

May we learn from our Torah and from Moshe Rabbeinu, Moses our teacher, how to bring out this potential to lead. May Hashem strengthen us all to be committed to the truth, to stand up for what is right and to demonstrate unending love, compassion and empathy towards those around us. And all this, with a good dose of humility. With this, we will all lead where we can, in our families and in our communities… and collectively, the Jewish people can act as role models for everyone.

Shabbat Shalom

Evan Green
Partner and International Project/Programme Manager

Le Groupe-conseil Baastel ltee

(819) 595-1421 ext.228 cell: (819) 329-4490

www.baastel.com

Think Good and It Will Be Good! An Important Lesson From Moses

In this week’s Torah portion we read about the story of Moses growing up in Egypt. At one point Moses sees a man - who was having an inappropriate relationship with a married woman against her will - beating herhusband.

Moses cannot bear to watch one of his brothers being tortured by such an evil man, so Moses kills the man with his Kabalistic power.

Moses later learns that his act was being publicized and hefeared for his life. The Torah writes "and he was afraid" the commentator Rashi - who only writes on verses in the Torah if they need somebasic clarification - writes on this verse,  that it is meant to be takenliterally.

What kind of explanation was that? What lesson can we learnfrom the fact that Moses was afraid literally, to the extent that Rashi felt the need to write in more detail about it in his commentary?

The explanation is as follows: In life there are manysituations that can turn out to the negative. It may be a time we are in adangerous situation, or a job interview that can go either way. Can we effectout destinies? Or is it unless even trying?

The Torah teaches that the mind is the most powerful tool, not only can ones thoughts effect the way they feel about things, but they canactually change the way things turn out for. As the famous Hasidic quote goes"think good and it will be good".

When faced with a fear, your attitude can affect theoutcome. If you become afraid you may be bringing on your own demise. If you stay positive you will bring about a positive outcome.

This is the reason why Rashi chose to emphasis Moses’ fear in his commentary. He wanted to answer a question that many will have; howcould it be that Moses the greatest of men needed to run for his life?

Would G-d not protect him? The answer is "Moses was afraid" he failed in that small moment to have complete trust in G-d and as a result of his fear- the outcome was the need for him to run forhis life.

- Rabbi Schneur Hayes

Tranquility The Result of Hard Work

Torah Portion Vayigash - Joseph and His Brothers Reunited

Shalom Mishpacha,

With the beautiful holiday of Hanukkah now over, I hope this finds everyone in happiness and health, filled with light and ready to keep shining into the coming months. As we continue reading sefer Bereishit (Genesis), we come to parshat Vayigash.

We left off last week (with baited breath!) with Yoseph's pronouncement that he was keeping Binyamin as a slave for ‘stealing’ his wine cup. The other 11 brothers still do not know this Egyptian Viceroy whom they have come to ask for food during a famine is their long lost brother.

Yehuda steps forward to challenge the decision and offers himself as a slave instead of Benyamin. Yoseph can no longer hold back his emotions and he will relay the words to his brothers that echo through the generations to the present day: “Anee Yoseph! I am Joseph!”

The brothers are shocked and they are ashamed. In a moment, they realize all they had done, remembering how they threw him into a pit and then sold him into slavery. Yoseph HaTzaddik, the righteous one, comforts his brothers by assuring them that it was not by their hand that he descended to mitzrayim, Egypt, but by Hashem’s.

He tells them he was placed right where he needed to be, to be able to save them from famine. Yoseph then offers to bring the extended family to mitzrayim and they accept. Yaakov is initially numb and disbelieving of the news, but becomes very excited to see his son.

The Torah then recounts the 70 members of Jacob's family that went down to Egypt and we have the powerful scene of Yaakov reuniting with his son Yoseph and his meeting with Pharaoh.

There are so many beautiful lessons here about the ability one can have to forgive others and to seeing beyond past misdeeds allowing for a brighter future and for both to rise above what may have occurred. Yoseph strengthens all of his descendants – each of us – with this potential power to tap into. Who could have shown such restraint, such love, such kedushah (holiness)?

Forgiving others and seeing beyond the harm they may have done to us continues to be a struggle for many. Neither letting go nor apologizing are easy, but such actions can go quite a distance in repairing relationships. 

Of course, once all the pieces come together in the brothers’ minds in that moment, they are fearful of reprisal for what they had done. Yoseph, once again living up to the name for which he is known in our tradition – HaTzaddik – immediately puts his brothers at ease and ‘lets them off the hook’, so to speak, by telling them that Hashem brought him to Egypt to be able to sustain the family of Israel (and the world).

Yoseph teaches us so much about chessed (kindness), as well as bitachon (trust) and emunah (faith), as he not only demonstrates deep kindness for his brothers, but also places the events that took place within the larger picture of life: accepting that all happens for a reason and was, in the end, for the best for everyone.

For this lesson alone, we can forever be indebted to Yoseph and our Torah. But we can go deeper. There are also beautiful lessons about the importance of the achdut (unity) of the Jewish people, and that unity co-exists with diversity in Klal Yisrael. The strength of the brothers reuniting, and then once Yaakov joins them, of the whole family reuniting, is almost palpable as you read the Torah this week.

I think we have all experienced that somehow, seemingly paradoxically, relationships can be strengthened, that we can sometimes come closer, after being apart. Then, the critical importance of the unity of our people is a point that is driven home at the end of the parsha as well, but is easily missed. At the end of the parsha the Torah states: "And all the souls of Yaakov's house that came to Egypt -- seventy."

The Chofetz Chaim (Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan, a great tzaddik, of our more recent history) points out that the Hebrew word for "souls" is "nefashot"; yet, in this verse, a singular form "nefesh" is used, alluding to the fact that “in heaven the souls of Israel are like one, and this was demonstrated at that point in our history.”

The division that we read over the last few weeks between the brothers, between the tribes of Israel, was but a precursor to a strong unity that was to come. This moment, and the foundation that was being built, reaches down to each of us today.

This unity among us, as Rabbi Shimon Finkelman reminds us, does not lessen the truth of that fact that while each Jewish soul is an integral part of this one whole, it is also unique and special. He brings a comparison to a person’s body that is indeed a single unit, but still comprised of many individual parts, each with its own unique and special function.

The Chofetz Chaim translates the importance of this unity into practical terms: “if another Jew refuses to do a favor that you have asked of him or her, or even if he or she has caused you heartache or has shamed you in some way, do not seek revenge or bear a grudge, for who is oneself and whois one's fellow'? Both stem from the same source, as it is written and who is like Your nation, Israel, one nation on earth? (Divrei HaYamim - Chronicles)”.

Rabbi Shimon Finkelman argues that when a person has an inflammation in his or her foot, one cannot say that the rest of his or her body feels fine and is not bound up in that pain. Similarly, the souls of the Jewish people are bound up with one another.

When the soul of one Jewish person is hurting, all Jews (even though one may not know him or her personally) feel the pain; or perhaps, our Torah is teaching us, we should feel that pain. The Jewish people are like one soul; we thus must strive to ensure the unity of all Jews.

At this time in history, this lesson remains critical. Although we descended to Egypt as one so long ago, today the Yiddishe Mishpacha is in many ways fractured. Perhaps the time has come to truly realize and internalize that whether or not we pray the same way or resemble one another in every way, we are one.

One people, and one family... And a family comes together and survives through rising above some factors of disunity and through chessed and forgiveness, as Yoseph taught us. Family remains together and thrives as a unit through patience and tolerance, and with love. There can be diversity in a unified whole.

The colourful mosaic of the Jewish people’s tapestry need not divide us. Together our strength is greater and only together do we move closer to fulfilling our collective purpose.

We may each spell Hanukkah differently, but the light it teaches us to shine forth, comes from the same source... and together, it is unbelievably bright.

Shabbat Shalom

- Evan D. Green

Partner and International Project/Programme Manager

Le Groupe-conseil Baastel ltee

(819) 595-1421 ext.228 cell: (819) 329-4490

www.baastel.com

Passing Your Test:The Critical Importance of Your Child’s Jewish Education

 An Important Lesson From Judah and Benjamin

When G-d presents you with major life choices and challenges, such as the decision to send your child to a free public school or to pay for a solid Torah based education, it’s usually both a test and an invitation to connect with Him on an increasingly deeper and more meaningful spiritual level. This is true of yourself and your child.

Yes, Torah based Jewish education can be expensive. But it’s also incredibly enriching and protective in every conceivable sense. A good Jewish education is a means of insuring that your child is connecting with the deep spiritual roots and culture that were laid down especially for them (every single Jewish child) by their biblical forefathers and mothers.

The more we effectively meet G-d’s challenges the great the blessings he provides us. The Kabbalah teaches that on Rosh Hashanah, G-d determines the precise amount of income that each of us will be blessed with for the following year. The blessing of our annual income is not a single cent more or less that Hashem measures out for us each year.

Then it’s time to make choices regarding how and when to spend and invest and when to cut corners and save. Yet when it comes to our children’s Jewish education, it’s not about making a simple financial choice between public and private education, it’s about meeting a profound spiritual challenge to make the ultimate investment.

                                                                                   

An Important Lesson from Joseph and His Brothers

In this week’s Torah portion Joseph, who is still not recognized by his brothers, demand’s that the brothers bring Benjamin down to Egypt. Judah promised Jacob their father that he would take care of his younger brother, that Jacob had nothing to worry about.

When Judah perceived that Joseph, still disguised to his brothers as an Egyptian ruler, sought to harm Benjamin, he walked right up to this seemingly powerful ruler (which in those days – often meant death) and told him: Back Off! If you want to get to this child, you’ll have to go through me first!

When meeting the challenge of providing our children with a solid Jewish education, we need to display the commitment and that purity of spirit and motivational tenacity that Judah did for Benjamin!

No matter how hard it may seem, when we tap into our inner connection with G-d the way Judah did, nothing in this world will stop us from giving our children the kind of education they need and deserve! It's all about passing the test. 

- Rabbi Schneur Hayes

Benny's Weekly Torah Talk Hanukkah 2012!

Hanukkah 2012 "A Little Light Expels a Lot of Darkness"

It is Almost Time to Light it Up! - Hanukkah!!!

The Festival of Lights recalls the victory—more than 2100 years ago—of a militarily   but who were a spiritually strong group of Jewish people over the mighty forces of a ruthless enemy that had overrun the Holy Land and engulf the land and its people in darkness.

The miraculous victory—culminating with the dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem and the rekindling of the Menorah which had been desecrated and extinguished by the enemy—has been celebrated annually ever since, during these eight days of Hanukkah.  This is particularly visible when we light the Hanukkah Menorah, a symbol and message of the triumph of freedom over oppression, of spirit over matter, of light over darkness.

Hanukkah is truly a beautiful time of year. It contains a message so important for us... as Jews... as people in this world.  Chazal (our sages of blessed memory) taught us, “A little light expels a lot of darkness.” The story of Hanukkah screams out this message. We relive this today as we light the Hanukkah lights in our homes. We relive it, in fact, in many ways, in our lives.

The world around us can be dark. But we know the sages were right: a large room full of darkness is easily defeated by the smallest flame. And what is that light in the often dark world? It is us. It is our thoughts, our words, and our actions. King Solomon said “the soul of man is the lamp of God” (Proverbs 20:27).

There have been many beautiful interpretations of this verse over the centuries. One of these points to the fact that we each have a godly spark within us. This reminds us that we are each always connected to Hashem... and to each other. But beyond this, it is proof that there is light within all of us. We are and have the means to light up the world through all that we think and say and do.

But many of us do not believe this. Some of us do not give enough credit to the impact we have in the world; we may therefore downplay our potential. We may believe that it is irrelevant to do acts of justice and kindness in a world filled with what seems to be increasing hatred and injustice.

We may ask: Why should Ido the right thing when those around me do not? Why should I give more charity while others around me who don’t amass more wealth? What difference will my 5 dollars make for that homeless person anyways?

Why should I let that person in front of me in traffic when it was so difficult for me to get in? And perhaps, we may also ask: Why should I light those Shabbat candles? Does God really even care?

The Torah is quite clear: God cares. The world cares. Make no mistake: You do make a difference.

The kabbalists, among others, have taught us for millennia that all of these things do, in fact, have a real impact on the world, whether it be material or spiritual; and indeed well beyond what we might think. With each Hanukkah candle, we are lighting up more than the room in which the Menorah is set. With each smile we give to others, we are in fact shining light, spreading good feelings, in many directions.

 A helpful gesture to a stranger, a kind word, and even a kind thought, can change other people’s days, and perhaps even their lives. When we do the mitzvot from our Torah, whether it is the kindness just mentioned, lighting our candles, giving tzedaka, celebrating our holidays or even just learning more about who we are and where we come from, that sages throughout the ages have taught us that we are contributing beyond what our eyes might be able to see. These irreplaceable acts add brightness on a spiritual plane that we may tend not to think about often.

Moreover, they are all part of the bigger picture of Tikkun Olam – Repairing the World – and making our world a better place. Indeed, Judaism teaches that sharing this light that is within us all is a large part of why we are here. To paraphrase a famous teaching of our sages: ‘One moment of good deeds in this world is worth more thanall the life of the World-to-Come’.

What does this mean? It is more powerful than it seems. Although a subject to be discussed on its own: As Jews, we are taught that this life, with our souls in these bodies in Olam Ha’ze, this world, is just a corridor or a waiting area before the banquet hall known as Olam Ha’ba, the World to Come.

Perhaps diifcult to define or explain, suffice to say that it may be viewed, among other things, as a time and a place when we shall all be with Hashem in a world beyond the one we now see or what we might understand. Our Talmud teaches of many of the beautiful things of Olam Ha’ba and of the impact of what we do in this life on our time there.

Nonetheless, a beautiful Jewish teaching is that only in this world are we afforded the opportunity to do so many of the beautiful mitzvot that our Torah commands us to do as a way to connect with Hashem and with each other... As a way to Tikkun Olam.

Only in this world can we choose whether or not to give tzedaka, to be respectful of others or help them in their time of need, to be more caring, loving, patient, kind and compassionate. Only in this world can we choose whether or not to light the Shabbat or Hanukkah candles. In sum, only in this world can we share the light within us with the world around us.

Although there are (relatively) fewer Halachot, laws, for this holiday then for others, some laws relating to lighting the Menorah give further proof to the importance of this important role of ours in this world. Of course, given we light the Menorahs with our families in our homes, this reminds us that illumination begins at home, within oneself and with one’s family. 

In fact, Hanukkah reminds us of our obligation to educate our children. While the word "Hanukkah" means "dedication", it is also linked to the word for education: Chinuch. This reminds us of the responsibility incumbent upon every father and mother to provide Jewish education for their children.

But Hanukkah reminds us that Jewish parents are called upon not only to teach their children life-enhancing skills, but also to teach those values and ideals that will bring meaning to their children’s lives. To teach their children the meaning of what it is to be a Jew and the beauty of Torah andmitzvot. In this way, they will (B’ezrat Hashem) add to the light we ourselves are spreading.

Though it begins at home, this process does not stop there. The Halachah is clear: we must light our Hanukkah candles in such as way that the lights are visible to the outside world. The lights are expressly meant to illuminate the “outside,” symbolically alluding to the duty to bring light to the world around us.

Of course, we often hear that Hanukkah is such a nice warm little holiday, a nice alternative to all the commercialized glitz out there at that time of year. We can celebrate at home, share latkes and jelly donuts, play a few rounds of dreidel and sing Al HaNissim and Maoz Tzur. So why all the publicity? Why does Jewish law stipulate that we must light the Menorah by either the window or the door, at a time of night when passersby are likely to see it?

We kindle the Hanukkah lights in public to make a proud statement to everyone: We are the Jewish nation, and we are here to stay. We are different and we want to make this world different. These lights will pierce through all worldly darkness, and will never be extinguished.  No matter how dark it is... there is always the possibility of light... we are that light! Don’t let the light go out. Shine on!

The way to eliminate darkness – to rid the world of ignorance, negativity, hatred and greed – is to kindle the lights of knowledge, generosity, hope and love. The lights of the Hanukkah are lit only after nightfall, signifying that our purpose is to illuminate the darkness of the world. This is why we are here... and Hashem sent the right people to do the job.

And just as we add another light each Hanukkah night, may Hashem bless us all to go from strength to strength, growing as Jews and as people, as we shed more and more light on those around us and the world as a whole, fulfilling our purpose to be a light unto the nations.

Kindest regards,

Evan D. Green

Partner and International Project/Programme Manager

Le Groupe-conseil Baastel ltee

(819) 595-1421 ext.228 cell: (819) 329-4490

www.baastel.com

Hanukkah 2012 - Lighting The Sacred Menorah Deep With In You

Hanukkah 2012 - More Than Just Dreidels, Latkes and Donuts! 

Everybody knows the popular modern images of Hanukkah. It’s a time of candle lighting, spinning dreidels for chocolate money and eating potato latkes and Hanukkah Doughnuts.

Yet Hanukkah represents far, far more than just these admittedly fun family activities and delicious holiday treats.

What the Greeks tried to do over 2000 years ago was snuff out the very flames of Godliness in our world, the very essence of the Jewish spirit and mission! And they did it in a very sneaky and destructive way.

When the Greeks invaded the Jewish temple, they didn't actually destroy or spill out the holy menorah oil. They simply shattered the seal of the high priest, defiling the oil of its fundamental holiness.

The basic goal of the Greeks was to de-spiritualize and secularize Judaism. They openly “invited” the Jews to continue studying their sacred Torah in secular learning centers. But only as long as they were willing to study their Torah as Just a small part of a much larger pagan religious and philosophical framework of learning and living.

In this same way, the Greeks actually left plenty of the oil they defiled for future use in the Jewish Temple.  

In today's short Video simply titled “Hanukkah 2012” – I share a deeply inspiring piece of Hasidic Torah wisdom that I hope ignites your spirit and positively energizes and enlivens you as deeply as it has for me. 

- Happy Hanukkah 2012! 

Joseph Son of Jacob - When Others Believe In You

Joseph Son of Jacob - Overcoming Potiphar’s Wife

 In this week’s Torah Portion Vayeishev, Joseph is confronted with the repeated physical advances of Potiphar’s wife. According to many opinions in Torah scholarship, he almost loses his self-control. But like his father Jacob, it turns out Joseph knows a thing or two about taking care of himself spiritually - to say the least! 

The Torah teaches that Joseph was able to overcome that woman’s repeated advances through envisioning his father Jacob’s face. But what exactly does this mean?

In today's short video, I outline a critical Torah insight, which can only be understood through the precise translation from the biblical Hebrew, which describes this image Joseph sees of Jacob as “His image of his Father.” 

The deeper Torah meaning and significance of this phrase is both fascinating and deeply inspiring! 

Joseph and The Pit - A Short But Powerful Torah Message For Overcoming Temptation, Addiction and Harm!

Let me start by asking you the following questions: What is your biggest challenge or problem in life right now? If you could change,  improve or utterly transform just one thing, what would it be? Can you tell when something is spiritually helpful or harmful? 

There are so many negative influences and temptations in our daily lives, in the popular media and on the internet. So few positive role models about building healthy lives and healthy relationships. 

What can we do to protect ourselves and those we love from such spiritually negative choices and the often tragic consequences of allowing these negative influences to impact our lives?

This week’s Torah Portion actually contains one of the most incredible life transforming, yet surprisingly short single sentences that perfectly address this question of overcoming or guarding against harmful choices and influences. It’s a sentence that holds one of the most powerful keys to overcoming life’s most difficult and deadly challenges and temptations!

In this week’s parsha we learn the gripping and heart rendering story of Joseph being sold by his brothers into slavery. But first, in an attempt to kill Joseph, his brothers throw him into a pit a deep pit.

The Torah states: "the pit was empty - it had no water".

Rashi, one of the greatest Torah scholars of the last 1000 years brilliantly summarizes when he comments: “If it was empty it obviously had no water- it was empty”.  

So why does the Torah add the phrase "there was no water" after clearly stating “it was empty”?  Why this seemingly double statement with the same basic surface meaning? After all there are no errors in the Torah. 

It turns out, the Torah is hinting at or pre-supposing an important and ancient oral Torah teaching. Not only was there no water in the pit, but there were in fact “Snakes and scorpions" in it instead: (Talmud tractate Shabbat page 22a also tractate Chagiga 3a).

There’s a very deep and life transforming lesson hidden here in this single sentence repetition!

Many people assume that there is always a middle ground, a lifestyle that although not “completely holy” is never-the-less also not completely unholy.  Sadly, so many are unaware of what it means to live a life rooted in Torah in the first place.

Rashi is teaching us that this idea of living only a partially Torah based or worse a Torah-less life, - (giving holiness less than our 100% attention and effort) is in fact very spiritually harmful and dangerous to ourselves and to the world around us.  

To put it simply, there is no middle ground!  Rashi is basically saying that spiritually, when we fail to immerse ourselves in water there are snakes and scorpions instead.

Water here, of course represents the life giving wisdom of the Torah. Snakes and scorpions the opposite or alternative to a Torah based life style mindless addictions, sin and harmful behaviors.

  These days, it seems virtually impossible, to guard oneself spiritually from succumbing to some form of sin or addiction. So how do we protect ourselves and one and other?

By making sure that there is plenty of "water" in our daily spiritual diets. If there is an abundance of “water” (Torah study and practice) in our lives, then there simply can't be any room for snakes and scorpions, - period!

The pure "light” of the Torah will illuminate the path before you, giving you the ability to openly and clearly discern the difference between good and evil in every life situation. It will clearly illuminate the difference between productiveness and counter productiveness, spiritual harm and spiritual safety, both in the immediate sense and in the very, very long term sense of the word spiritual.

When we study and fill ourselves with the Torah’s wisdom -we also fill our minds and hearts with good character traits that enable strong and healthy emotional and behavioral self-control. We raise ourselves higher than the narrow mindedness of comparatively unholy or non-Torah based life choices and influences.

The snakes and scorpions of harmful behavioral choices and addictions have no space to occupy in the pure light of Torah based life choices through continuous learning!

In this day and age there are many temptations and seemingly easy ways out, but in the end there are really no excuses. If you’re facing serious life challenges and problems right now, that just makes it all the more critical that you start connecting with Torah.  

It’s never too late! Never give up!

With the help of technology you have the ability to connect to the life transforming wisdom of the Torah like never before; - It’s all right there "at the tip of your fingers".

It’s just a matter of making that critical first choice and taking that critical first step. I say: Choose Water, Choose Torah!  

Are You Having a Jewish Identity Crisis? - Parshas Vayishlach

Parshat Vayishlach

Shalom Mishpacha,

As the cold moves in, so does a warm feeling with Hanukkah just around the corner! I hope this email finds everyone well: happy and healthy. Another beautiful Shabbat is almost upon us. This week we continue to follow the lives of our Avot (fathers) and Eema’ot (Mothers) through Sefer Bereishit (the Book of Genesis). 

This week’s Parsha (Torah portion) of Vayishlach is once again jam packed with many ‘famous stories’, and more importantly, an almost endless reserve of lessons about life for us as Jews and people in this world. I wanted to focus in on one of these ‘famous’ episodes:

As Yaakov (Jacob) is now making his way back towards his homeland and his brother Eisav (Esau) from whom he had fled so many years before, we read what is among the most mysterious incident in the Torah's account ofYaakov's life: the night-long battle described in the closing verses of the 32nd chapter of Bereishit. 

Yaakov sends his family across the Yabbok river. Yaakov remained alone that night (i.e., the night before he met Eisav) and "a man wrestled with him until dawn." Yaakov is injured in the struggle with this ‘man’ (which we learn was an angel), but is undefeated. At daybreak, Yaakov's combatant pleads with him to let him go. 

Yaakov says: "I will not let you until you bless me." The ‘man’ (or angel) accedes and tells him that Hashem would change his name to Yisrael, "because you have struggled with the divine and with men, and you have prevailed." (Israel, Yisrael in the Hebrew, means "he who prevails over the divine.")  

Once again this week we are able  to learn about some of beautiful middot (character traits) and values that our forefathers and mothers taught and passed down to us from the verses we read. One of the lessons comes from a ‘less than famous’ verse for many, but one that is also the subject of much commentary throughout the centuries.  When the Torah speaks of Yaakov wrestling with the angel, he was ‘alone’ on the other side of Yabbok River. 

Many have asked could he have been alone, when he was travelling with his entire family and ‘entourage’? As always, the Midrash and the Talmud, part of our oral Torah, step in to shed light on things for us. We learn that Yaakov went back to retrieve some small “earthenware jugs” that he forgot (Talmud: Chulin 91 and Midrash Rabbah). Now, why would a very spiritual man, or for that matter, a wealthy man, such as Yaakov have to go back for a few jugs?

The answer, according to Rabbi Shraga Simmons, is that Yaakov lived with the understanding that whatever possessions Hashem gave him were for a purpose. As such, the jugs were as precious as jewels. To Yaakov, the fact that they were inexpensive didn't matter. One would think that a Tzaddik (Righteous person) on Yaakov’s level would not be interested in such material things. 

We should not think that Yaakov was just focused on the material gifts in his life either. Yaakov knew well one of the deep teachings of the Torah: as Jews, we can elevate the material to the spiritual and this is a big part of why we are here. We can take our houses made of bricks and wood and turn them into places of holiness, sharing and love to not just our family but the world around us. 

We can take money, which can be wasted and used for much uselessness, and use it to support the people in our community or around the world who need our help. The materialism around us is waiting for us to lift it up.

When we read these Midrashim and stories from the Talmud, they come to teach us something. Here, as Rabbi Simmons reminds us, we learn to try and remember that all we have is a gift from Hashem. This is what Yaakov knew very well. When we see all that we have as a gift, this can only serve to reinforce feelings of gratitude we have. The more appreciative of what we have, the happier we will be.

The Torah teaches that we're only expected to work with the tools G-d provides, and whatever Hashem provides is precisely what we need. This idea of having everything we need is emphasized again in our Parsha when after 20 years apart, Yaakov is reunited with his twin brother Eisav (Esau). 

In describing their state of affairs, Eisav says, "I have a lot;" and Yaakov says, "I have everything". (33:9-11) Rabbi Shlomo Dessler points out that the difference is subtle, but in fact speaks volumes. Eisav is saying "I have a lot... but I sure could use more”, whereas Yaakov is saying, "According to my part in G-d's grand eternal plan, I have everything - exactly what I need."

If we look at every possession (even little jugs) and situation as a special gift from G-d, and recognize the potential things hold for spirituality and meaning, the puzzle of life becomes much brighter and clearer as well. To an Eisav, no matter how much he has it is not enough. 

To a Yaakov, a satisfied individual, no matter what one has, one has everything.  In a world ruled by materialism, we will always look around and feel as we lack something... that we need something. But once again the Torah comes to teach a beautiful lesson here, and it is one that Pirkei Avot (the Ethics of our Fathers) reiterates: “Who is happy? The one who is satisfied with their lot”.

May we all be strengthened to live this reality in our own lives, ever thankful for all we have been blessed with, and recognizing the source.

Shabbat Shalom

Evan Green