ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Ki Teitzei
This week’s Torah reading addresses the Jewish response to winning wars. Recognizing that wars release hormones, endorphins and primal emotions and behaviors, we are given a manner with which to address these primal instinctive attitudes.
I am sitting here in Jerusalem, surrounded by hordes of people, of all ages, all genders, all religious persuasions, all colors and all attitudes. One feels a sense of faith, trust, joy of life, optimism, and positivity. You can actually sense a spiritual texture permeating the environment itself. People are eating, drinking, laughing, shopping and living life to the fullest, underscored with decency, morality, kindness and selflessness. The human holiness that fills the atmosphere is pervasive. Simultaneously, the entire land is experiencing a certain sense of trauma.
What is the secret ingredient that brings about this impossible polarized reality? The Talmud teaches that there are three fundamental traits that determine Jewish identity: compassion, humility and acts of kindness. Anyone who does not have one of these traits, his Jewish origin authenticity can be questioned. The source of this fundamental concept is based on biblical text, referencing behaviors of our ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These behavioral trends are genetically embedded in every single Jewish man and woman. These are not learned behaviors but are part of our fundamental essence. It is carved in the Jewish subconscious structure.
Even when circumstances naturally may cause the opposite reactions, you always can rely on that inner light to ignite and behave with positivity. Even when facing tragic and difficult conditions, a Jew can always evoke the transformational goodness that is the hallmark of every Jew.
In the Holy Land, especially in Jerusalem, that phenomenon is evident. I witnessed that remarkable capacity of resilience visiting Colonel Golan Vach, our beloved commander of the IDF search and rescue battalion who was tragically trapped under the debris of an imploded tunnel deep under Gaza and whose very life was at stake.
Visiting him in the intensive care unit of the Soroka hospital, where he narrowly escaped death, he was being transferred to a hospital in Haifa close to his home to perform critical surgeries to repair his shattered leg and shoulder and was already planning impatiently to go back to active duty. A true Jewish hero and a paradigm to be emulated and serve as an example of Jewish strength, internal integrity and the ability to conquer evil with compassion, humility and goodness.
Have a great Shabbos and a wonderful week. Let us continue to transverse our field of life with Hashem right next to us.
We continue to pray for every one of you and look forward to seeing you this week.
Shabbat Shalom from Jerusalem.
Sholom D. Lipskar
The Shul Pushka Campaign
It's the little things in life that count. G-d fills the world every moment with His divine energy. Tzedakah is one of the special and significant ways to create an all-encompassing Mitzvah, and in today's world, we need more Mitzvot than ever. It doesn't matter where or how much you give, just make Tzedakah part of your day.
The Shul provides beautiful Pushkas (charity boxes) to the community and to all those that would like to participate in the important Mitzvah of Tzedakah. To request a Shul Pushka please call The Shul Office at 305-868-1411 or fill out the form below.
To Learn More About The Meaning of Tzedakah Click Here
Jewish Holidays
All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date specified on most calendars. This is because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. If you read the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day."
From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. Holidays end at nightfall of the date specified on most calendars; that is, at the time when it becomes dark out, about an hour after sunset.
UPCOMING JEWISH HOLIDAY
For more information Click here
Project 33154
Project 33154 is a community wide program to create a neighbor to neighbor Jewish experience. The initial case study started Chanuka 2002 where 10 young Yeshiva boys visited every home in Bay Harbor to identify which ones were Jewish and give them the necessary items (Menorah, Candles, Guides etc.) for the Holiday of Chanuka.
Over 250 Jewish Homes were identified together with a color coded map of Members, Non-Members and Unaffiliated Jews. Over the next Purim and Passover the same idea was used in the Surfside and Bal Harbour area and over 800 new Jewish homes were contacted and had a taste of The Shul.
Block Shluchim
Together with color coded map each neighborhood was split up into different areas that include a lay leader from The Shul.
Before each Yom Tov The Shul prepares a special food package which promotes holiday awareness.
Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach andShavout
Every newly identified Jewish household in the Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands and Surfside areas has been contacted with thousands of Apples and Honey packages, Chanukah kits and Purim Mishloach Manos and food packages distributed this year.
Over 350 pounds of hand-made Shemurah Matzo (that’s about 2,450 pieces of matzah) has been distributed throughout 33154. If you are new on the 33154 area, please let us know so you can be included in this amazing and inspiring Jewish Program.
Send a letter to the Rebbe זי"ע
Throughout his lifetime, the Rebbe received hundreds of letters every day, from people of every conceivable background, occupation and faith. Today people continue to send letters to be placed at the Ohel for the Rebbe's guidance and intervention On High, in the age-old tradition of written prayer petitions at our holiest sites
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/761128/jewish/Why-Use-the-Mothers-Name-When-Praying-for-Someone.html
http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445It is preferable to use one's Jewish name. (Customarily gentiles use their father's name.) Letters can be written in any language. You can fax directly to the Ohel at: (718) 723-4444 Or you can use the form below to have the rabbis at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445personally bring your prayers to the Rebbe’s resting place.
The Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, is considered to have been the most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times. To hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of sympathizers and admirers around the world, he was -- and still is, despite his passing -- "the Rebbe."
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
Click Here to Know More Click Here.
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