ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Chukas: Speak to the Rock, Speak to the Soul
In this week’s Torah portion, Chukas, we encounter a powerful and perplexing moment in the life of Moses, our greatest leader. After the passing of his sister Miriam, the miraculous well that had accompanied the Jewish people throughout their journey in the desert suddenly ceased to provide water. Faced with thirst, panic, and yet another wave of complaints from the people, Moses turns to G-d for guidance.
G-d instructs him to speak to the rock, and it will bring forth water. But Moses, perhaps overcome by frustration or grief, instead strikes the rock and water flows. Technically, the mission is accomplished. The people get what they need. So why does this act result in such a severe consequence that Moses is told he will not enter the Promised Land?
One of the timeless lessons here is that in leadership, especially spiritual leadership, the process matters as much as the outcome. Moses was held to the highest standard. His role was not just to deliver results, but to model the ideal path, a path grounded in communication, faith, and empathy.
There are always two ways to influence people: through power, or through presence. You can force compliance, or you can inspire connection. You can strike or you can speak.
G-d’s message to Moses, and to all of us, is clear:
Don’t hit when you can speak.
Don’t shut down when you can open up.
Don’t push away when you can draw near.
Even when the person in front of us feels like an unyielding rock, we are called to lead with dignity, patience, and compassion.
This lesson is not just for prophets and rabbis. Every one of us is a leader in some area of life, whether as parents, teachers, mentors, friends, or co-workers. We all face moments when we want to lash out in anger or retreat in disappointment. But the Torah asks more of us. It asks us to pause, to speak, and to build rather than break.
This value was embodied so powerfully by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, whose yahrzeit we marked just days ago on the 3rd of Tammuz. The Rebbe never “struck.” He spoke tirelessly, softly, courageously, and boldly. He spoke to every soul, skeptics, strangers, seekers and through his words and presence, he transformed lives, inspired generations, and built communities across the globe.
This theme of inner worth continues in another section of the parsha that discusses the laws of ritual purity. The Torah teaches that metal vessels become impure through external contact, but clay vessels (klei cheres) made from humble, inexpensive materials only become impure from within.
The Kotzker Rebbe teaches that this is a profound metaphor for human beings.
Like earthenware vessels, our true value doesn’t lie in the external, our appearance, our clothing, our titles or careers. Those are just the surface. Our worth lies in what’s inside: our character, intentions, values, and soul.
In a society that often judges by appearances, this is a radical, holy truth. What makes someone “pure” or “impure” is not how polished they seem, but what’s going on inside their heart and mind.
And so, we must treat others accordingly not by reacting to the surface, but by seeking the soul within. Every person we encounter carries a spark of divine potential, waiting to be drawn out—not with judgment, but with love and patience.
Even if it feels like we’re “talking to a rock,” we must believe that our words and warmth are laying the foundation for future growth. Every compassionate interaction, even when it feels futile, is a seed for change.
A Moment to Remember: Champlain Towers
This coming week, on the 14th of Tammuz, we mark four years since the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers right here in our community and the 98 precious souls we lost.
This wasn’t a distant tragedy. It was personal.
Among those 98 souls were the parents of childhood friends.
We lost dear friends.
We lost neighbors.
We lost pillars of our community.
These weren’t strangers.
They were ours.
But remembrance is not enough.
If we truly honor them, then let us act.
Let us not wait for tragedy to remind us of what matters most.
Let us love harder.
Let us reach out more.
Let us live lives that reflect the values they would have wanted us to uphold:
Kindness. Integrity. Faith. Responsibility. Community.
Because the legacy of those 98 souls is not only in how they died, but in how we choose to live.
May we merit the coming of Moshiach immediately, when we will be reunited with our loved ones. May it be a Shabbos of inspiration, inner reflection, and uplift.
And may the week ahead be one of kindness, clarity, and connection. May we merit to speak to others and to ourselves with the language of the soul.
Good Shabbos, Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Zalman Lipskar
(adapted from the writings of my Father and Teacher, Rabbi Sholom D. Lipskar, obm)
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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