Rhythm Guitar Rabbi

Eulogizing Joe

2012-01-24T17:04:00.002-05:00

When thinking about the passing of Joe Paterno, my thoughts strangely enough turned to Halacha and one of its compendiums the Arba’ah Turim. The Arba’ah Turim, also known as the Tur, was a halachic code written by Yaakov ben Asher in the 13th century. In it Yaakov ben Asher wrote the following:

“It is an important mitzvah to eulogize a person in a fitting manner. Anyone who is negligent in eulogizing a good person, deserves to have his days shortened and should be buried before his time. It is a commandment to raise ones voice in the eulogy by saying things that will break the heart (of the listeners) and inspire tears (in those who hear them). One should praise the deceased but one should not do so inordinately. Rather, one should mention the person’s good qualities and add a bit to them, but one should not exaggerate too much. If the person did not have good qualities, don’t make them up. When speaking about a wise or a pious person one should mention the person’s wisdom or piety. If one attributes these qualities too much or exaggerates these qualities, he causes evil to himself and to the deceased. One should eulogize a woman among the people and among the sages appropriately. A poor person should have at least two flutes and criers for his wife’s funeral.” Yoreh Deah 344:1-2 (http://oceansidejewishcenter.org/tabletalk/5767/1_05_Chaye_Sarah.htm)

I was thinking of this because so many have come out to overtly praise Mr. Paterno and his amazing career. They credit him for the numerous young lives he helped to mold and his generosity especially with regards to his beloved Penn State. Mr. Paterno in essence put Penn State on the national collegiate map.

However lost in all this, or at least nominally mentioned is the scandal involving Jerry Sandusky. I mention this because if we are to praise and even perhaps slightly exaggerate Mr. Paterno’s life of significance, we should also be conscious of the moments when he failed to live up to all we hope he would be.

It is one of our great society failings that we either expect our heroes to be perfect or that we willingly overlook their imperfections so they can continue to be heroes in our minds. It is this striving for perfection that in some ways was sadly Mr. Paterno’s undoing. At the moment young men needed him the most; Mr. Paterno failed them and thus diminished himself in the eyes of many. This does not diminish his many amazing accomplishments, but just proves sadly that Mr. Paterno, like so many, is human.

So if there is something we can take away from this is that we do have the power to stand up for those victims of abuse, which I feel is a great legacy and lesson we can learn from Mr. Paterno, even if it was a lesson he may not have meant to teach.

URJ Biennial Update Video

2011-12-23T16:25:00.003-05:00

See below for a video from the Union For Reform Judaism's Biennial that concluded last Sunday

Also below are links to Rabbi Eric Yoffie's final sermon as Head of the URJ

Presidential Shabbat Sermon

As well as Rick Jacob's vision for a New URJ

At the End of Two Years

URJ Biennal URJ Update

2011-12-17T00:50:00.005-05:00

"It never hurts to begin a speech by studying the Torah portion." This was part of of President's Obama speech to the nearly 6,000 in attendance at URJ's Biennial just outside of Washington D.C. It all started as people began to line up at 10am for a 3pm speech. They all wanted to make sure they had a good seat.

Politics aside, there were many just so excited to be in the same room as a sitting president. And President Obama certainly delivered. This was also the first time a sitting president has spoken at a URJ Biennial. During his speech President Obama referred to not only his similar passions to those taken by the Reform movement including a woman's right to choose, rights for the LBGT community, and economic opportunities; the crux of his speech focused on Israel. The president stated, "America's commitment and my commitment to Israel and Israel's security is unshakeable." The president then went on to say, "No administration has done more to support Israel's security than ours."

For many, even though we prayed together Friday evening with over 5,000 people in attendance, and that we may have broken a Guinness Book World record with the largest single gathering of Reform Jews for a dinner, the highlight still in many hearts was this chance to hear from their President.

And this is the power of the Reform Movement. Of course much credit goes to the Religious Action Center, the political arm of the Reform movement that has and continues to be at at the forefront of so many important issues facing our country today. It is also the power of 1.5 million well educated and informed Reform Jewish voters. It is also the power of committed lay leaders, educators, cantors, rabbis and active congregants.

So whether you agree or disagree with the President, it is still pretty amazing that he came to spend an hour of his time with us, and that we all wanted to give up so many of our hours to be with him.

Feel free to read below this article from The Jewish Daily Forward:
Obama Wins Rousing Cheers at Reform Biennial

And here is a transcript of the President's Remarks:
President Obama's Remarks at the 71st General Assembly of the Union for Reform Judaism

URJ Biennial 2011 in Washington D.C. - Update

2011-12-16T08:37:00.003-05:00

Every two years thousands of Reform Jews gather together to worship, study, learn, knell, kvetch, nosh, kibbitz, and engage in the collaborative efforts we call Reform Judaism. This year there are six thousand of us at the Gaylord Resort on the National Harbor. We have seen a diversity of speakers, politicians, musicians, and presenters.

The main theme of this year's Biennial is youth engagement. Israel is also very much at the forefront of our conversations as well. There is a little something for everyone. Aside from listening to Deputy Prime Minster Ehud Barak, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Representative Debbie Wasserman Shultz, members of AIPAC, Israeli Ambassador and author Michael Oren, I have also taken a course in Twitter. I know it sounds random, but being able to communicate the messages we have been receiving through a variety of mediums is essential to the ongoing conversation going forward.

Later today we'll have the chance to hear President Barak Obama and that will be followed up with a Shabbat experience with 6,000 of our closest friends. It is a type of experience that is invigorating and should be enjoyed at least once in a person's life.

One of the tasks we are taking away from this convention is: what can we do to inspire and engage our membership. There are so many ideas and opportunities out there even in these tough times.

I can't wait to see what today brings.

The Rape of Dinah

2011-12-13T15:44:00.003-05:00

This past week we read from parashat Vayishlach. Vayishlach can be found in Genesis 32:4-36:43. Vayishlach contains one of most refereed to passages in Genesis where Jacob finds himself alone, about to meet his brother after 20 years. Jacob doesn't know if he is going to live or die, and he wrestles with a being all night long. Perhaps this 'being' was God. Perhaps it was an angel. Perhaps it was Jacob's conscience. The text is not entirely clear. What we do know is that during this encounter, Jacob's name was changed to Israel. Following this wrestling match, Jacob and his brother Esau reconcile, and then they go their separate ways.

What happens next is one of the less well know sections of the Torah, the rape of Dinah. Dinah, Jacob's daughter, was raped by Schechem the Hivite. But Schechem falls in love with Dinah and he asks his father Hamor to arrange a marriage for him. Jacob agrees, but Jacob's sons put a stipulation that Hamor, Shechem, and all their men need first circumcise themselves. On the third day, Simeon and Levi (Dinah's brothers), slaughter all the Hivite men and plunder their possessions. This action anger's Jacob and leaves Dinah in an even more precarious situation.

It is a deeply troubling passage. A person recently commented, that is something Jews simply do not do. Thus we should not even study this section. But the truth is, our Torah is very much reflective of the times of which it was written. And we should be troubled by the acts of violence. But does that mean we should not be engaged with the story?

One of the challenges to Torah and/or Bible study is that we expect the text to reflect our current conditions. We expect it to be egalitarian, fair, thoughtful, and representative of who we are. This approach leads many to great frustration, for the Torah simply is not that way.

Torah is much more complex and complicated, just like our ancestors, and just like us. For example, one lesson to derive from the rape of Dinah, was that, unlike in many other cultures then and now, Dinah was not blamed by her brothers nor executed for bringing shame upon her family. This is quite revolutionary development for world cultures, not to blame the victim. But we are so caught up in our anger about the brothers' response, that we fail to see this point our tradition is trying to make.

Likewise, there are so many other aspects of the Torah we overlook because they do not 'jive' with our perception of how the world should be, failing to see that the Torah is helping us to make the world as it should be. Life is complex, so too is the Torah. And this is a blessing for which I am very grateful.

Hanukkah Does Indeed Rock! Part II

2011-12-08T16:42:00.002-05:00

Last year I posted a number of links to Hanukkah videos for modern times indicating that the web is perhaps the salvation of this often misunderstood festival. So with that in mind, here are a few more videos.
Enjoy and Happy Hanukkah

And of course it wouldn't be Hanukkah without the Maccabeats!

Random Biblical Trivia

2011-12-02T11:48:00.003-05:00

I admit I have been negligent with regards to regular blog posts. Oftentimes I await inspiration rather than set aside the time to blog. And of course the days and weeks get away from me before I realize that I haven't blogged in ages.

In looking through my posts, I realize I often will try to be topical from a Jewish perspective. And on very rare occasions, I am just random. But blogging, I feel, is like exercise or prayer, in that the only way to be effective, I have to commit to it on a regular basis.

All that being said, I have decided, if I am short on ideas, I'll at least post some random Jewish trivia, which hopefully will brighten your day. And if not, at least help you if ever you are on Jeopardy!

Today's random trivia: The Hebrew Bible, also known as the Tanakh or Tanaach (for Torah, Neviim - Prophets, and Ketuvim - Writings) has 39 books in it. However according to the Talmud, this number is reduced to 24 (joining together the likes of I and II Samuel, and so on).

The longest book in the Tanakh is Psalms with 150 chapters, 2461 verses, 43,743 words.

The shortest is Ovadia (one of the 12 Minor Prophets - only called Minor because of how little we have of their works) at 1 chapter, 21 verses, 670 words.

And the only book that does not directly mention God's name is the book of Esther, of Purim fame.

Good luck on Trivial Pursuit or Jeopardy. And if you win, let me know.

Joe Pa and Judaism

2011-11-10T12:38:00.001-05:00

I am a big time college football fan. As a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin, I have followed my beloved Longhorns through their ups and downs. Thankfully it has been mostly ups since the arrival of Mack Brown including one National Championship, and one injury removed from a second national championship.

So a part of me likes to think that I understand the passion and excitement of college football. The realist in me also understands that college athletics is a huge money making endeavor for colleges and college football is at the forefront of it. Hence all of the recent turmoil with the changing landscape of conference alignment. I for one am sad to see the end of the Texas – Texas A&M rivalry. I truly hope Texas A&M is on the right track for their program and are not hit by a train (i.e. every team in the SEC).

All that being said, I too have been following the events that have transpired with Penn State and their beloved coach Joe Paterno.

I have been thinking about Joe’s alleged response to the allegations that his then assistant coach Jerry Sandusky abused young boys. The argument for Joe is that he reported it to his superiors, and that is what is mandated by the law.

But I began reflecting on what Jewish tradition might say. In terms of the performance of mitzvot, rabbis list the minimum one needs to do in order to fulfill a mitzvah. For example, when building a sukkah, it needs to be at minimum, tall enough to sit in and fit at least one person (Shulchan Aruch Orah Hayyim 633:1).But of course the goal is to do so much more than the minimum. The goal is to build a structure where one can truly celebrate this wonderful fall festival. Hence, the bare minimum really is never enough.

Also there is the principle of tzedek, tzekek tirdof, justice, justice, you shall pursue, (Deuteronomy 16:20). One of the classic interpretations of this phrase is we are obligated to seek out justice and to make sure it is done and applied fairly. Not just to pass it on to others to handle.

Joe Paterno has a tremendous legacy. Sadly it is now tarnished because though he may have followed the letter of the law, its spirit, Jewish or otherwise, was left by the wayside, and truly innocent victims suffered accordingly. May his example remind all of us to pursue justice whenever possible, to speak of for those who have no voice, and to try to go above and beyond the mere letter of the law. And if this is so, Joe’s legacy can serve both as a warning and as an opportunity for us all

Gadhafi's Death - One Rabbi's Reaction

2011-10-21T12:41:00.008-04:00

The United Nations along Amnesty International and Human Rights watch are calling for an investigation into the circumstances of Moammar Gadhafi's death. The questions persist as to whether Gadhafi was killed in crossfire or was summarily executed as many suspect. Peter Bouckaert, a director for Human Right's Watch was quoted as saying, the killing of Gadhafi is a "blemish on the record of the new Libya."

And yet, if Gadhafi was executed, it is hard not to support the Libyan rebels in their actions. Gadhafi was responsible for the deaths of thousands, and their anger towards their former dictator is palpable to say the least.

We too want to rejoice in his death just like we wanted to rejoice in the death of Osama bin Laden. Yet as the scholar Nahum Amsel wrote in The Jewish Encyclopedia of Moral and Ethical Issues, “One certainly can be happy that an evil person and the evil he or she caused is eradicated from the world … after all, the Jewish community does celebrate the downfall of Haman and the defeat of the Egyptians. Part of Purim and Passover certainly is being happy that the enemy is defeated.”1 But even then, our Torah reminds us not to hate in one’s heart (Leviticus 19:17).

Our tradition then seems to be telling us to be happy when evil is vanquished, but not to rejoice in the destruction of life, no matter how evil it may be.

An enemy of peace, an enemy of the world is dead. Baruch Dayan HaEmet. Blessed be the true Judge. We do not rejoice in Gadhafi’s death. But we do pray that the world will be a little bit safer with him gone. And maybe his death, though not brought about by any means of justice may help us at least move a little bit closer towards the ultimate goal of shalom, peace in this world and in the whole world.

1 (Amsel, Nachum, The Jewish Encyclopedia of Moral and Ethical Issues, Northvale, 1996, pg. 93)

Gilad Shalit

2011-10-18T10:19:00.005-04:00

Let us rejoice! After more than five years Gilad Shalit is finally home. Shalit was kidnapped while on patrol near the Gaza border by members of Hamas on June 25, 2006. Hamas denied any access to Shalit from aid organizations like the International Red Cross which was in stark violation of the Geneva convention.

Shalit's whereabouts were unknown for years and only occasionally would Hamas release scant proof that he was still alive. This included a DVD that Israel had to release twenty female prisoners in order to obtain a copy of it.

It now seems that Shalit was always intended to be a pawn. And it appears Hamas has achieved its goal of Israel releasing over 1,000 prisoners including convicted terrorists responsible for the deaths of many Israelis.

And yet, Shalit's return is not a defeat. Instead, as Miki Goldwasser wrote in an op-ed for Ynet, "Today is our victory day. The day where we decided that our values and our confidence in the righteousness of our way shall guide us. As long as there is no peace, and let us hope it arrives, our sons shall be serving the State with confidence. Mothers will again be able to entrust their children in the hands of worthy commanders."

There are some in Israel who felt and feel the price is too high. And there is a compelling argument to be made. But that is the price we pay whenever we cherish life. We place the principle of Pikuach Nefesh, saving a life, above all of our other principles. It is part of what defines us as Jews. Today a life was saved. And all of Israel, and all the world can rejoice.

I don't know if this will help bring about peace to the rejoin so desperate for peace. But at least today, there is finally peace in the Shalit home, a home which up until today, was in mourning.

So let us rejoice, during this festival of rejoicing. Gilad Shalit is finally home!

An Israeli Day of Victory

Blogging Elul - Day 17 of Disappointment and Forgiveness

2011-09-16T14:44:00.003-04:00

As I am in the middle of preparing any number of materials for the High Holy Days, I took a few minutes to excitedly open up my latest copy of the Baltimore Jewish Times. In particular I was very much looking forward to reading the article about the 9/11 Commemoration I had the honor of participating in that I blogged about in my previous post.

Needless to say, much to my disappointment, within the coverage of this event attended by an estimated 750 individuals, my participation as the representative of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis and Rabbi of Har Sinai Congregation was not mentioned in the article. I was and am greatly hurt by this oversight.

This discovery ground my sermon writing to a halt as I began focusing all my energy towards the BJT. But why should it matter so much to me? Wasn't it enough of an honor to have participated in such a significant event with or without media mention?

Of course, but at the same time, I will admit I did look forward to getting the article framed and hanging it on my wall. And hopefully the BJT will run a correction, but its not the same.

At the same time, it was just an oversight. And this was a humbling reminder to me that oversights do happen, and the best lesson I can learn is to be very careful with how I choose to mention people. And in the meantime, I will work to forgive the oversight in my own heart, for the BJT is a great resource to the Baltimore Jewish Community.

In the meantime here are two articles on the event:

9/11 Ten Years Later: An Evening to Remember

Baltimore Remembers 9/11

Blogging Elul - Day 13 a 9/11 Commemoration

2011-09-12T10:16:00.006-04:00

I was honored to participate in a Baltimore Community Interfaith 9/11 Commemoration as the representative for the Baltimore Board of Rabbis. Joining me that evening were Maryland Senators Ben Cardin, whom I met for the first time earlier in the day at our welcome back picnic as well as Senator Barbara Mikulski. Governor Martin O'Malley spoke as well. There were many distinguished elected officials present including Baltimore's Mayor Stephanie Rowlings-Blake and members of Maryland's General Assembly. And of course there were many of my wonderful colleagues of faith in attendance as well.

I would especially like to thank Rabbi Ron Shulman of Congregation Chizuk Amuno Congregation for inviting me to participate. I was truly honored and humbled.

The month of Elul is both about reflecting and looking forward. This seems appropriate especially tied to our 10th Anniversary 9/11 commemoration. Earlier in the day I was with the Har Sinai Congregation's religious school. One of the interesting things I have come to realize is that the members of our religious school were three or younger when the Twin Towers fell. For most of them, they have never known a world when the Twin Towers stood.

Thus even as we commemorated the solemn and tragic events, I feel we must strive to find new meaning in 9/11 lest it become a historical mention like December 7, 1941 or November 22, 1963 or January 28, 1986. Whereby those who witnessed still feel the pain of those events to this day, but those who were not yet conscious of it or in existence, do not have the same emotional connection.

Thus 9/11 needs to continue to be a rallying cry. As Rabbi Shulman mentioned, it should remind us if nothing else, to be kind. Or as I spoke about, if we are to take a lesson away, it is to fight the evil in our own hearts.

So even though we will never make sense of 9/11, we do have the capacity to rise above the horrors of our past. They do define our history and they will forever be a part of the American soul. But they are not the entirety of the American soul. Life does continue on. In a sense we are all 9/11 survivors who can testify to the notion that love between neighbors is possible, not easy, but possible.

And in this way, the memory, the legacy of those whose lives were lost, will continue to live on.

9/11 Ten Years Later: An Evening to Remember

Blogging Elul - Day 10 Elul on the Web Part 2

2011-09-11T15:45:00.000-04:00

This is from a note I received in response to my posting on Elul on the web:

"Dear Rabbi - there are apps for Elul in the AppStore. At least Selichot (both for Sefardim and Ashkenazim) and a bunch of Shofar apps (just for training and fun). There are also podcasts and other stuff in the iTunes. Check out http://www.jewishiphonecommunity.org and follow @Jewish_iPhone on Twitter for even more."

One of the great things about Elul is we can apologize for mistakes of the past. My apologies for missing out on all of these great sources in my blog mention. Feel free to check them out.

Blogging Elul 5771 - Day 9 Elul on the Web

2011-09-08T16:41:00.004-04:00

A recent magazine article in moment magazine lists the Top 10 Jewish apps. Initially I thought these were a joke, but then I went to the app store on my phone and found many of them available for the standard fare of 99 cents.

Top Ten Jewish Apps

I think one of my favorites is from Jewish Mother, "This phone could also be used to call me, you know."

According to Nielson wire, nearly 50% of all phones sold in the U.S. by the 3Q will be smart phones. And American Jews probably make up an even higher percentage of smartphone users. This means we are becoming not only increasingly dependent upon our smart phones, but also increasingly invested in our apps.

Alas, there is not an Elul app as far as I can tell. In the meantime, we'll just have to keep doing it the old fashioned way. With day by day focus on teshuvah. But first, a round of Judoku.

Smartphones to Overtake Feature Phones in U.S. by 2011

Blogging Elul 5771 - Day 8 The Shofar and You

2011-09-01T18:20:00.003-04:00

One of the great traditions of Elul is to sound the shofar each morning. Actually the mitzvah is to hear it being blown. But in case you want to learn, below is a video instruction for sounding the shofar.

Blogging Elul 5771 - Day 4

2011-09-01T11:19:00.002-04:00

As you can tell by the numbering, I skipped day 3. I am usually off on Wednesdays and I try my best to make it a priority day for time with my family. I don't always succeed in that regard, but this week, I am pleased to report, was a great day with my family.

In other news, the area I still very much struggle with is in taking care of myself. This seems to be an ongoing issue I unfortunately revisit every Elul.

As I remind myself often, if we do not take care of ourselves first, how can we hope to help repair the community or the greater world? Or as the old Yiddish saying goes, "A BI GEZUNT: So long as you're healthy." For if you are not healthy ...

I am setting some goals forth (again) to get myself on a better path of life, which will I hope, in turn, make me a better husband, father, friend, and rabbi. These include healthier living, being a better listener, and dedicating myself to at least one personal endeavor per day.

As Hillel said in Pirkei Avot 1:14 "If I am not for myself, who will be for me? And when I am for myself, what am 'I'? And if not now, when?"

This I think is one of the best themes for this Elul, for any Elul, and for any time of year.

What goals do you have for yourself in this coming year?

Blogging Elul 5771 – Day 2

2011-08-30T11:09:00.002-04:00

One can argue the American self-help or self-improvement craze really took off towards the end of the 20th century. According to at least one study by Marketdata, by 2006, the self help market was worth an estimated $9 Billion dollars including but not limited to infomercials, self-help books, stress management, weight loss and the like. Needless to say, we as Americans seem to really be into self-improvement.

However that pales in comparison to our love affair with fast food, by which we spend more than $110 billion a year, which according to CBS, news is more than we’ll spend on movies, books, magazines, newspapers, videos, and recorded music combined.
So in a sense, we tend to still be more into self-destruction than self-improvement, or as Freud described it, the Todestrieb or “death drive.” This can also be understood as our capacity as individuals and as a society to make choices that lead us towards self-destruction.

This is in part why Elul is so very important to the Jewish psyche. As long as we continue down the path of self-destruction through our little choices – be it our diets, our words, our habits, our work, or the like; our path towards self-destruction can feel inevitable.

But Elul allows us to reset the clock, to get out of old patterns. As I mentioned in Elul – Day 1, it is not easy to do, but well worth the effort. To speak metaphorically, think of the High Holy Days as a chance to put down that burger and fries and to make and instead to pick up sushi or a light turkey sandwich. Little positive daily choices ultimately can have a much larger lasting life impact, but only if we become aware of them and are willing to make them.

So maybe it is time to start thinking of Elul as God's spiritual self-help guide. And that guide is free and open to all.

Blogging Elul 5771 – Day 1

2011-08-29T10:35:00.001-04:00

Last year I set out the ambitious goal of blogging every day during the month of Elul. Elul, for those who are not familiar, is the last month of the Hebrew calendar leading up to Rosh Hashanah and the start of the new Jewish year.
Traditionally we sound the shofar every morning, except on Shabbat helping to prepare ourselves ritually, spiritually, and emotionally for one of the most challenging part of the year.

The overarching theme during Elul through Yom Kippur (though some argue through Shemini Atzeret which is a one day festival at the end of Sukkot), is that of teshuvah. Teshuvah is often defined as repentance, though a return of the ways of Godliness is a better translation.

The question is, why do we spend so much time and emphasis on Teshuvah? One of the possible reasons is because change is hard. I often say the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior, because we as human beings usually keep doing what we have always done. To really change ourselves, to break out of bad habits, and to set new life goals is a constant struggle. And when faced with doubt, uncertainly, stress and the like, we more often than not, revert to past patterns.

Thus I think this year I will focus on the ideas of how we can change ourselves for the better as individuals, as members of family, and as members of a community.
Down the road, I’ll lay out some of my ideas for my own changes and transformations, but in the meantime, what are some of your goals?

In the meantime, you can also follow some of the links to my fellow bloggers who are also blogging Elul as well.

Gastronomic Judaism

2011-08-25T10:57:00.003-04:00

Apropos of really nothing, after celebrating my wife’s birthday at a very nice restaurant, I began to ponder all of the really great meals I have had over the recent few years. I think this has been inspired in part by all those shows on the Food Network and the Travel Channel where they visit interesting countries, cultures, and of course dine at some of the best … and sometimes the worst restaurants.

I am deliberately not including breakfast places or other nice meals, but instead this is a list of just some of the truly great dining opportunities I have been fortunate enough to have had. There is no scientific foundation to this list, just great food, great service, great company, and lots of fun.

#1 – Hands down – Tru in Chicago with my wife and our friends Renee and Mike. This was by far the best dining experience. It was five star all the way in terms of service, presentation, and taste. They even introduced me to Rieslings which have quickly become my favorite wine varietal.

#2 – NOLA in New Orleans. Say what you will about Emeril Lagasse, I have to say dinner with Joy, Dan and Melissa was fabulous. It truly embodied the taste, sights and sounds of New Orleans.

#3 – Janos in Tucson with Joy. I have had the chance to enjoy Janos’ fine cooking at several fundraisers, and his take on Southwestern Cuisine is simply divine.

#4 – Woodberry Kitchen in Baltimore with Joy and my parents. Woodberry uses local ingredients in creative ways, and the service was about as good as we have had in recent memory. Plus it was fascinating to watch by the kitchen staff as they prepared and served dishes in almost a quiet ballet opposite of those kitchens run by such ‘celebrity chefs’ as Gordon Ramsay.

Some of our other favorite meals included a great steak dinner at the Precinct in Cincinnati with Dan and Melissa, and dining with friends at the Imperial Fez in Atlanta including Yair, Marissa, Dan and Melissa. Not only was the food great, but the belly dancing really adds to the all evening of fun dining experience.

Yes just about every culture and religion gather around for food, but there is also something inherently Jewish about eating as well. Even during our six fasts (Fast of Gedaliah, Yom Kippur, 17th of Tammuz, the Fast of Esther, the 10th of Tevet and the 9th of Av, (not counting the fast of the first born male which only applies to the first born male if they are the first born of the womb), we spend most of our time contemplating what we will eat after the fast. So even though eating Jewishly does not necessarily make one Jewish, it is a great way to celebrate one’s Jewishness.

What are some of your favorite dining experiences?

Everything I needed to know, I learned from my toddler

2011-07-18T16:37:00.005-04:00

Ok, ok, so I am borrowing the title. But as I spent part of my morning with my son, I began to think about some of the lessons I have learned from him lately:

1. Always smile when waking up in the morning. I admit, I am not a morning person in the least. Until I have had my third cup of coffee, please don’t even talk to me. But that darned kid is always happy to be awake and in the presence of loving family. Who could ask for more?

2. There is very little that cannot be solved by a full tummy.

3. When you’re feeling cranky, see #2

4. Sometimes you just have to throw yourself to the floor and scream at the injustices of the world, but then you get up, dust yourself off, and move onto something shiny.

5. A good nap cures all.

6. Elmo may be everyone’s favorite muppet, but Grover never, ever gives up. Plus he’s blue and super.

7. Use all your words every day.

8. A sticky face and messy hands must mean a good time was had by all.

9. Bath time means everyone gets wet. I mean everyone!

10. Make sure to share lots and hugs and kisses because there are plenty to go around.

And here are two more

11. Body noises are funny at any age

12. (And from my daughter): why talk when you can sing?!

Israel - Past, Present, and Future

2011-05-19T17:14:00.003-04:00

"We believe the borders of Israel and Palestine should be based on the 1967 lines with mutually agreed swaps, so that secure and recognized borders are established for both states," President Obama stated in part of his speech today on U.S. policy and the Middle East. He then went on to say a little later, "The status quo is unsustainable, and Israel too must act boldly to advance a lasting peace," adding that "the dream of a Jewish and democratic state cannot be fulfilled with permanent occupation."

However any peace will not happen until the underlying problem, which is the continued stonewalling by Palestinians and other Arab nations, in their refusal to deny Israel's right to exist.

Lest we forget, the 6-day war, or the June War began June 6, 1967. Prior to the surprise attack by Israel, Syria, Egypt, and Jordan gathered tens of thousands of troops, tanks, and artillery along Israel's border. It was as if Mexico or Canada gathered their full military along the border of the United States threatening war. What was Israel to do? So Israel attacked and swiftly destroyed her enemies.

The rest as they say is history. Israel found herself in control of the Gaza Strip, the Golan Heights, the West Bank, and the Sinai Peninsula. All of a sudden Israel found herself ruling over the lives of tens of thousands of Palestinians.

Again it was not a war Israel sought out, but once committed, she was going to win. So let's do away with this idea that Israel somehow took these lands from the rightful owners. If that is the argument we might as well return Texas to Mexico or the entire United States back to the native Americans. It is essentially the same argument. What other nation has given back or been forced to give back land won in a legitimate war?

Israel first and foremost has every right to take care of her security needs. Why she is denied this in world opinion when every other nation has this right is absolutely ludicrous. We should note that the United Nations has adopted more resolutions against Israel than any other nation in the world including North Korea, China, and Iran.

Israel, for her future, does need a safe secure peace with her neighbors and with the Palestinians. Could this include a two-state nation? Possibly. But it only works if the Palestinians recognize Israel's right to exist. Or as the President said, "how can one negotiate with a party that has shown itself unwilling to recognize your right to exist. In the weeks and months to come, Palestinian leaders will have to provide a credible answer to that question."

This first and foremost absolutely has to happen before any negotiation about borders can take place. For if they do not recognize Israel, what is there to talk about in 1967 or 2011?

Op Ed in the Baltimore Jewish Times

2011-03-20T09:55:00.004-04:00

Attached is a link to my Op Ed which has recently appeared in the Baltimore Jewish Times concerning Organized Labor and Jewish Tradition.
Enjoy

Unions and the Jews

Or you can read it below:

Rabbi Benjamin Sharff
Special to the Jewish Times

I was born into a union family. My grandfather Izzy, z”l, spent his whole career in the newspaper industry, back in the days when this meant security for one’s whole working life. My mother, now retired, was a public high school teacher for nearly 20 years. She dedicated her life to helping her students understand the significance and relevance of events that have taken place in our country’s history. She did this both to help them understand where we have come from and where we are going as a nation.

Because of this, I am very much troubled on a personal level by events transpiring in Wisconsin with the call to take away public school teachers’ rights to collectively bargain. I began to wonder if our tradition also has a perspective on this issue of singular importance.

Historically speaking, Jews very much were at the forefront of the labor movement. From the time of emancipation to the rise of early socialist leaders such as Karl Marx — who came from a long line of rabbis — we led the way intellectually.

European Jews also began to form their own bunds (labor leagues) at the turn of the last century. From these organizations, many of their principles and their drive to organize in Eastern Europe found their way into the United States at the turn of the 20th century, arriving on these shores with many of our forefathers and foremothers.

Upon their arrival, Jews became heavily involved in causes for workers’ rights by participating in such strikes as the capmakers strike of 1905 and the shirtmakers strike of 1909. However, it was really the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire of 1911 that brought the issue of workers’ safety, and later issues such as hours and wages, to the forefront.

So though we have moved primarily from blue-collar to white-collar professions in subsequent generations, we Jews have at least a historical connection to the labor movement.

We also have a halachic (legal) relationship to it as well. The Babylonian Talmud states, “The residents of the community (b’nei ha’ir) are at liberty to fix weights, measures, prices and wages, and to inflict penalties for the infringement of their rules” (Bava Batra 8b).

One way this talmudic passage is interpreted is that members of the b’nei ha’ir are allowed to legislate on matters relating to working conditions and wages. To take it even one step further, it is understood that these principles apply not only to the community but also to the worker.

Hence according to this understanding of the Talmud, Halachah not only allows, but appears to encourage workers to collaborate collectively to secure their rights. In addition, the community is obliged to work with them to better the workers’ economic interests.

No matter where we might fall on this issue politically, it appears Jewish legal tradition and Jewish historical tradition are both fully in favor of workers’ rights to organize as well as to be able to bargain collectively for their rights.

This makes sense. As a people we have always banded together, be it as a nation in worship, in community or even in the workplace. Also, we come from a strong prophetic tradition that compels us to stand on the side of those whose voices would otherwise be ignored at best, and trampled at worst.

Or as it is stated in a responsa titled “The Synagogue and Organized Labor” by the Central Conference of American Rabbis, “Like all institutions, they [unions] can be corrupt, rapacious or discriminatory. There are times, in other words, when cooperation with a labor union may not serve the public interest and the cause of tzedakah. All we can tell you is that, in general, Jewish tradition … perceive(s) unionization as an indispensable tool in the long struggle for social justice and the rights of workers.”

Rabbi Benjamin Sharff, the spiritual leader for Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, is a member of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis. Opinions expressed in the column do not necessarily reflect those of the Baltimore Board of Rabbis or its members.

Purim 5771

2011-03-07T14:49:00.002-05:00

As some of you might be aware, aside from my duties as your Rabbi, I have also spent countless minutes campaigning in the past to become President of the United States. No, I don’t mean Vice President, because I actually like working. However, given my recent shellacking in the 2008 Presidential election, and by shellacking I mean the actual affixing of lacquer to my campaign manager, I have worked furiously to redefine my candidacy for 2012.

To this end I have even secured the rights to a new campaign manager since his probation is about to end. In the meantime I have come up with some new themes, beta tested them, and I am proud to announce my vision for President of the United States 2.0.

First off, as your president I pledge to end this controversy over compact fluorescents once and for all. From now on, the only lights allowed in homes and offices must come from the burning of candles. And no I am not mandating this in part because of the because of the contributions provided to me by the wax industry. I am doing it solely because of the contributions from the wax industry.

Also with all of the debates of laptops vs. netbooks vs. tablets, I have created a new technological device to supplant them all. It is called a Budget Optical Organized Knowledge device or B.O.O.K for short. It is unique in that it is highly portable, has nominal power requirements, and can be used in linear or pictorial format. I will suggest to the Secretary of Commerce that we get started on selling these devices immediately. We’ll make millions.

Also given the level of vitriol in recent campaigns, I pledge to you to that I will up the ante. I promise to slander, slam, smirch, smite, and spoof my opponents. But only in alliterative fashion. Thus demonstrating once and for all, I have a thesaurus and I can use it!

Chag Purim Sameach Everyone! And I'll see you at the voting booth in 2012. Just don't shake my new campaign manager's hand. I have a feeling he will still be kind of sticky from all that shellac.

Heartbroken

2011-01-09T10:18:00.003-05:00

As the former Associate Rabbi at Temple Emanu-El in Tucson, Arizona, I had the distinct pleasure and honor of meeting and speaking with Representative Gabrielle Giffords on multiple occasions. I recall our first meeting was when I introduced her to speak before our congregation at our Rodeo Shabbat service on her recent trip to the Middle East. Her words were both eloquent and insightful about the challenges facing Israel and the United States in such a volatile region.

Gabrielle, though always Gabby to her friends and constituents alike, cares deeply about the people of Arizona. She came back regularly even during the tumultuous debates over Health Care reform to genuinely listen to the concerns of the voters. Gabby is also a passionate and proud Jew and attended a number of services at Temple Emanu-El and participated in interfaith efforts as well.

The last time I spent time with her was at a lunch of the Pima County Commissioners, where Gabby took the time to speak with each individual who came her way.

Thus it was absolutely devastating for me on a personal level to find out she was the victim of a premeditated assault of such ferocity that it left numerous innocent victims, including Gabby, in its wake. I found my heart pounding in part because I have shopped at that Safeway, and even when I wasn’t shopping there, I must have passed by that location a thousand times. I have also visited numerous congregants at both Northwest Hospital and University Medical Center, a hospital so close to my former home it was in walking distance. Even though it was Shabbes, I felt I could have been at any one of those locations as the tragic events unfolded yesterday morning.

Needless to say, I personally am still struggling to make sense of this tragedy, of the attack, and of the lives lost. Finding meaning may take days, weeks, lifetimes, or simply may never come. All I know is that my heart is heavy and my prayers are with those recovering and those grieving as well as the whole Tucson community.

Whether or not the attacker was influenced by the growing political vitriol in today’s world remains to be seen, and we may in truth never really know the mind of Gabby’s attacker. But this does not mean we cannot find purpose in the aftershocks of the attack. My other prayer is in today’s political arena, people remember that people who have opposing viewpoints are not the enemy, but the opposition, and to speak of them as such. For even if we cannot ever make sense of tragedy, maybe it can at least inspire us to act in more holy ways and to treat each other just a little bit better.

May the memory of all those who died including Christina Taylor Green, Chief Judge John Roll of the U.S. District Court for Arizona; Gabe Zimmerman, a Giffords staffer who was engaged to be married; Dorwin Stoddard, who was fatally shot in the head while trying to shield his wife; Dorothy Morris; and Phyllis Scheck, all be for a blessing. May God grant strength to the sorrowing families and to the twelve survivors, some of whom are still fighting for their lives as well. Amen.

Hanukkah does in deed, Rock!

2010-12-03T14:46:00.006-05:00

There was a recent request for better Chanukah music on a thread that I subscribe to. The rationale being, Christmas is kicking Chanukah's butt in the music department. And the truth is, it is. There are a variety of reasons for this. One is Chanukah in the pantheon of Jewish holidays, is a minor festival. The most significant mitzvah with regards to Chanukah (other than eating foods fried in oil), is to place a Chanukiyah (the menorah) in a place that is visible. Gift giving is usually done during Purim.

Also, as strange as it may sound, many Jewish composers have put their time and energy into writing Christmas music. The list includes: "White Christmas" by Irving Berlin, "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" by Johnny Marks, "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" by Sammy Cahn and Jule Styne, "Silver Bells" by Livingston and Evans, and "The Christmas Song" (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) by Mel Torme, who I learned about from watching episodes of Night Court while growing up. (And Neil Diamond, as I was recently reminded of, who has had a number of Christmas hits, but not so many in the Chanukah department).

But perhaps most significantly is Chanukah, though really a festival commemorating the victorious battle for religious freedom, traditionally has not been as important to Jews as Christmas has been for Christians.

All that being said, there is a recent movement afoot to, if not make better music, at least create more fun during this time of year. It really started in my opinion with Adam Sandler and his Hanukkah song originally performed on Saturday Night Live back in the 90s. There has been the album by the Levees entitled “Hanukkah Rocks! - whose songs include Latke Clan and How do you Spell Hanukkah?,” the Barenaked Ladies have some Hanukkah songs on their Barenaked for the Holidays album, Jon Stewart sang “Can I Interest you in Hanukkah” to Stephen Colbert on A Stephen Colbert’s Christmas, and of course there is this year’s viral sensation Candlelight by The Maccabeats

See below for a number of links to these fun new Hanukkah traditions:

And as always, Chag Sameach, Happy Hanukkah!

Robo-Rabbi

2010-11-12T12:22:00.004-05:00

A recent article in the Wall Street Journal discusses the trend among some people, especially the geeks among us (and who here is not one to some level or another?) to carry around all of their technology including multiple smart phones, laptops, and tablets. There is one person mentioned in the article who ends up carrying around a 26 pound backpack with him to hold all of his techo-stuff.

Which made me wonder, what has technology done to our lives? I know I am not the first to ask this, nor the last, but as I 'settle down' as a senior rabbi for the first time in my career, I find I am spending more time responding to emails at times than having actual human interactions. And when I do interact with congregants and non-congregants alike, almost every one of those interactions involves using my iPhone at one time or another. Now I don't have email alerts, so it is not that I am distracted during these conversations, but instead I find I often need to check a date or an address or something similar during the discussion.

I feel at times like I am a robo-rabbi. I can just imagine the day with the development of cybernetics that we will look like Robocop but with peyus and a megillah scroll rather than a gun and a targeting system.

But in all seriousness, I do wonder if all of this technological advancement is helping Judaism or slightly removing us from it? I am still unsure, but I did appreciate having an isiddur when I was at a shiva minyan and they ran out of prayerbooks.

So maybe it is a mixed blessing at best. But still something I ponder from time to time.

And for those of you who are wondering, yes I do get the irony of posting this particular post on a blog

The Only Tech These Geeks Lack Is a Cart to Haul Their Gadgets

A Commentary well worth reading

2010-09-13T12:11:00.003-04:00

Attached is a commentary by Dr. Jonathan Sarna, an expert on American Jewish History and a clear voice on the future of both American and world Judaism. It is a fascinating article.

United State: A recent contretemps in Israel served to underscore the surprising and recent cohesion among the branches of U.S. Judaism

Holiday Greetings

2010-09-04T15:27:00.002-04:00

L'shana Tova,
Thanks Phyllis and Beth for these links

Here's the Good:

And Here's the ... well...

In either case, l'shana tova
Your Rhythm Guitar Rabbi

Elul Day 20 - Exorcisms, Dybbuks, and The High Holy Days

2010-08-30T13:34:00.003-04:00

The Last Exorcism was the big winner at the box office this past weekend. Though it is not a movie I am planning on seeing any time soon or ever, I do recall when I saw the Exorcist for the first time when I was about seven years old. I was home sick and had access to HBO. Let’s just say I chose not have any split pea soup to aid in my recovery that week.

The practice of exorcism is primarily found within Catholic tradition, though there are some rituals for removing a dybbuk that can be found in Jewish tradition as well. We just don’t advertise it very much, nor make too many movies about it. But there are certainly streams of Jewish magic that abound dating back to the Torah.
I started thinking about the idea of exorcism and what it is really about. Some speculate it was a way of dealing with mentally ill people well before mental illness began to be understood in any clinical sort of sense. Almost all the rituals involve the attempt to remove some sort of outside force compelling the afflicted individual into sinful acts.

In some strange way, this is a comforting idea. Commit a sin, perform a ritual, and magically, the demon is gone. But in reality, life doesn’t work that way. To understand our choices for requires lots for reflection. To no longer make those same choices requires daily efforts to change. Neither of which are easy to do, and neither of which can be done over a short period of time.

Change may be a constant, one of the only constants in the universe, but it certainly not easy to engage in personal change. It demands of us desire and commitment, something which we recommit to every High Holy Day Season.

Is there something in yourself you are hoping to change for this year?

Dybbuck - Spiritual Possession

Apropos of nothing

2010-08-27T13:40:00.002-04:00

So here I am in the midst of sermon writing, conducting my first bat mitzvah rehearsal at Har Sinai, trying to prep for the High Holy Days, and where is my mind? Its focused on the recent implosion of the so-called rom-coms (romantic comedies).

With the most recent failures of Leap Year, When in Rome, He’s Just Not that in to You, and the Ugly Truth, (the Proposal notwithstanding), rom-coms have been declared movie non-grata amongst movie goers and critics alike. Some have even suggested they are a dying breed.

However anyone who counts out any genre fails to appreciate the ebb and flow of movies. Westerns were on the outs until the arrival of Clint Eastwood’s Unforgiven. Horror movies were going nowhere until the Scream series made something old into something new. And the Smurfs are now back in James Cameron’s Avatar, oh wait, I meant in the live action/computer animated movie coming out next year.

Though maybe some movies should have remained on television. See: A-Team, Bewitched, Dukes of Hazard, Alvin and the Chipmunks, and just about almost every television show made into a movie. I just pray they never make a Three’s Company movie, but you never know.

But with Rom-Coms, this wasn’t always the case. Part of the problem is rom-coms have gotten away from their roots of actual people living life. The most successful and arguably one of the best rom-coms was When Harry Met Sally. It was and is an endearing movie about two people who fall in love but only after a long fascinating on and off friendship. It was a movie both men and women enjoyed as it spoke to the complexities of modern relationships. Plus it was really funny.

Instead the bromance has taken over the place of rom-coms. With the success of Knocked-Up, the Hangover, the Wedding Crashers, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I love you Man, and the like, these movies seem to have found a formula missing from the current crop of rom-coms.

With that in mind here are some suggestions for future filmmakers and writers out there: please stay away from marriages in foreign lands, hired dates, simple misunderstandings, and gorgeous women who for some inexplicable reason are unable to find dates. Instead play to the quirky nature of dating and romance, and try not to force people into situations that don’t exist in real life (unless they are straight out of a Disney cartoon come to life), otherwise you will continue to lose the battle to bromance movies.

See I told you this was apropos of nothing. Shabbat Shalom

24 Cliches We'd like to Retire

Farwell Rabbi Jake

2010-08-26T10:04:00.000-04:00

Instead of blogging today with regards to the month of Elul, I want to take a couple of moments to remember and reflect. This is because today in Dallas, many individuals and luminaries will be gathering to say farewell to one of my heroes. They will be saying farewell to one of the giants in the Reform Movement and one of the gentlest and kindest men to ever serve the URJ. Rabbi Lawrence Jackofsky, known as Rabbi Jake to most of us, was instrumental in the success of the Union’s Southwest region which included Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arkansas. But more than that, he was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Greene Family Camp in Bruceville, TX as well as the continued support of Henry S. Jacobs Camp in Mississippi.

Greene was instrumental in the forming of my own Jewish identity. And in particular I would look forward to Rabbi Jake’s annual summer visits to the camp. He was an energetic, gregarious, compassionate person who cared deeply about the Jewish youth of the Southwest Region. His booming voice could captivate and silence even a raucous dining hall filled with noisy campers. Rabbi Jake also assisted a number of congregations in the region, especially the smaller ones whenever they needed a rabbi to help in just about any capacity.

But on a personal level, to this day, I believe it was Rabbi Jake’s letter of recommendation to HUC that ensured my admission to the Rabbinic School program. So I feel I owe a debt of gratitude to him I will endeavor to pay forward because with Jake, thanks were never necessary.

I did not learn of the rodef pursuing him these last several months until his untimely passing just a couple of days ago. Upon learning the news, I was and am heartbroken. I know there are so many more whose lives he has touched in more profound and personal ways, but Rabbi Jake will always leave a lasting impression upon my heart.

Thank you Rabbi Jake. May you be bound up in the wings of the Shechina. May God grant comfort to your sorrowing family. And may your memory always truly be for a blessing.

Rabbi Lawrence "Jake" Jackofsky

The Elul Challenge - Day 14 Dirty Laundry

2010-08-24T15:34:00.000-04:00

Rabbi Shmuely Boteach recently came out with an article Extravagant Weddings and Bar Mitzvahs Humiliate the Jewish Community on the Huffington Post condemning not just Jews but rabbis for officiating at lavish weddings and bnai mitzvah. In the article he is essentially condemning Jews for their displays of materialism as a way of impressing their friends as well as condemning the Jewish community for failing to reign in such disappointing behavior.

This article struck a chord with me. First I reacted as if this was a personal indictment, but as I thought about it, I realized that was not a correct assessment. Most of the life cycle events I have had the pleasure of officiating at have been modest, tasteful, and appropriate. And I do on occasion speak out about what is important in our lives and not letting our stuff or pursuit of status define who we are.

So what about this article is bothering me? Upon further reflection, I really think it has to do with Rabbi Boteach’s condemnation of a group based on the actions of a few individuals. There are stories of lavish receptions especially in L.A. as well as in New York and Chicago. But there are a lot more stories about much more modest celebrations as well focusing on the marriage or the acknowledgment of entering into Jewish adulthood. Or to put it another way, he was making the assumption that these over-the-top parties are a reflection of the values of American Jewry as a whole, and not a minority of us.

How often have we been angry at a select few and allowed those emotions to then be focused on an entire group? Today’s conversations about immigrants and about Muslims are certainly reflective of this problem.

This is not to say we don’t have a right to be angry. But are we angry because of something someone did or said, or are we angry because they are a part of a group we have decided not to like.

Elul is a great time to think about not just how we are feeling, but also why. If we understand the why, maybe we’ll encourage ourselves to think more positively, and not just rush out to air a perceived community’s dirty laundry for all to see.

The Elul Challenge - Day 13 When My people ... humble themselves...

2010-08-23T14:38:00.000-04:00

Actually the full quote from the title is: "when My people, who bear My name, humble themselves, pray, and seek My favor and turn from their evil ways, I will hear in My heavenly abode and forgive their sins and heal their land." It is from one of the books of the Hebrew Bible we almost never read, II Chronicles 7:14. The other books we pretty much never refer to or study outside of academic settings are Ezra, Nehemiah, Daniel, and I Chronicles.

The essence of this passage is in order to really encounter God and be able to seek forgiveness; we have to be humble and contrite. Something that is difficult for anyone with any sense of ego to do. For example, I am sure there is one or two of you out there who will stay in an argument well after it has been proven beyond a shadow of a doubt that you are wrong simply because you are too proud to admit fault; how much the more so it can be with God.

So what can we do to diminish our sense of ego to truly engage in teshuvah? Well this weekend I had the opportunity to do a physical task that encouraged me to be humble. I spent the morning working with approximately twenty members of our social action committee cleaning up the side of a road as part of the Maryland Adopt-a-Road program.

Aside from making the occasional cracks about if we have to support the road through college, it was a good reminder to be humble in the work that we do. We all spent time cleaning up cigarette butts, McDonalds cups and wrappers, a myriad of beer bottles that the optimist in me hopes is from people drinking while walking and not drinking while driving.

It was a truly humbling experience because I spent the morning picking up trash, a task we usually pay others to do. And not only that, it was morning spent picking up trash others carelessly toss away with no thought to its impact on the surrounding environment. They just throw it out of a moving car and just keep on going.

There is a tradition of keeping two notes in your pockets. The first says, “For me the world was created.” The second note is, “I am but dust and ashes.” We keep these notes to remind us how important we are to God’s creation, but also to remind ourselves that everyone else is just as important, and that we are not as significant as we sometimes think we are.

Not a bad lesson for a morning spent cleaning up a road.

What will you do to help prepare yourself for the season of teshuvah mixed with humility?

The Elul Challenge - Day 10 Say it ain't so...

2010-08-20T10:44:00.000-04:00

The other day I posted on facebook a lamentation in response to the indictment of Roger Clemens. It was a lament not about how far Clemens has fallen, but instead how far the value of his rookie baseball card has fallen. A card I have held in my portfolio for years. It was a tongue-in-cheek sort of response, but mostly an admission of not sorrow, but apathy.

More and more athletes’ names are coming forward in connection to the steroid era in baseball. And more and more of Americans are responding by saying, “meh.” We are no longer surprised. In fact we not only expect it, but also assume that just many elite players from that era used to one degree or another. Clemens, Maguire, Pettite, A-Rod, Bonds, are just a few of the big fish to get caught or implicated in the snare of HGH and steroid use.

But I do wonder why we are not angrier about it? Part of the reason is because we enjoyed the game with the towering home runs and 100 mph fastballs. We laud performance on the field more than we do excellence in one’s personal life. Character matters, to a point. Yet for awhile, we were really angry and hurt because we assumed it was one or two individuals, not a generation.

But is it really fair to demand this of athletes, when given the chance, many of us may very well have made the same choices under the same circumstances. Clemens' name may be mud now, but he guided two organizations to World Series appearances, and has assured the financial future of his children, grand-children, and great grandchildren. This sort of temptation would be hard for anyone to give up.

Now I am certainly not excusing any unethical choices by any athletes. I am just wondering if, before we begin to hold others to higher standards, if we shouldn’t first look in the mirror and try to ascertain what standards we are holding ourselves to.

Elul reminds us not to spend time judging others. We cannot control their fate. The only thing we can occasionally control are ourselves.
So what standard will you hold yourself to this coming year?

The Elul Challenge Day 9 - Rainbow Connection

2010-08-19T11:31:00.000-04:00

The other day I was driving to a dinner meeting. It was drizzling and the road was slick. I Took my time going around the twists and turns in the road, when I hit a straight patch of roadway. Up ahead I was greeted with the glorious sight of a multi-colored bow in the sky. It was so close in fact; I could just make out the end of the rainbow. I thought for a moment I should pull off to the side of the road and search for my pot gold.

Rainbows have been part of our collective imagination since time immemorial. Not only are we familiar with rainbows of leprechaun lore but they also can be found in our music as well. Most famous is Somewhere over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg performed by Judy Garland and countless others, though I have a partial preference for the Rainbow Connection written by Paul Williams and sung by my second favorite green muppet, Kermit the Frog.

Jewishly speaking, the most famous rainbow is the one established to seal the covenant between Noah and God at the end of the flood story. Noah and humanity promised to follow seven central laws, and God promised not to destroy the world again by flood.

These laws include:
1. Not worshipping idols
2. Not committing murder (different from not killing by the way)
3. Not stealing
4. Not committing any of a series of sexual prohibitions, which include adultery, incest, rape, and bestiality.
5. Not blaspheming God's name (to blaspheme basically means to refute God and God’s ability to make and uphold this and other covenants)
6. Not eating the flesh of a living animal (i.e. shark fin soup). Genesis 9:4, as interpreted in the Talmud (Sanhedrin 59a)
7. The requirement to set up courts of law

Six of these laws relate to how we treat each other as individuals, whereas the seventh law has to do with how we are to set up a just and righteous society. Because of this, the rainbow became a physical, visual reminder of how we as Jews are to behave in an ethical and moral way, and not just search for our pot of gold.
In this period of Elul, when there are regular ethical reminders surrounding us (i.e. the sounding of the shofar), what sort of actions will you be reminded to do? And what reminders are helpful to you?

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The Elul Challenge Day 7 - A Laugh a Day...

2010-08-17T13:53:00.000-04:00

As many of you probably already know, the month of Elul is particular stressful for those of us in the Jewish professional world. Not only are we wrapping up visits to summer camps, vacations, and the like as well as getting the kids ready for school, but it is also the time where we prepare for what is essentially the 'Superbowl Season' of the Jewish year.
Expectations abound, and though we truly work hard through the year, this part of the year tends to be one of the most intense.
So as I was watching the Today Show recently the question was posed: how do you go about coping with stress. Note the emphasis was not on reducing stress, but instead on coping with it. Recommendations included yoga, exercising outdoors, spending quality time with pets, and taking five minutes to meditate every couple of hours.
But one piece I realized that was missing from the show, and from my own life during this time, is taking time to laugh. When I get really stressed I forget to laugh not just at funny moments, but also at myself. Life is far too much fun to take too seriously.
So today, as an attempt at stress relief, I will endeavor to remind myself to laugh a little. What do you do to help yourself cope during this season?

The Elul Challenge Day 6 - The Company We Keep

2010-08-16T10:45:00.000-04:00

I have found over time two ways to really get to know a person. The first way is by looking at the choices they make which leads to the actions they choose. In Judaism we very much are a 'show me' religion; meaning - don't tell me what you believe, show me. If we don’t like the choices we’ve made over the past year, it is up to ourselves to change course. Because very little demonstrates more about ourselves than our decisions and actions.
However the other way to get to know someone is by examining the company they keep. If you are looking for someone smart, successful, and compassionate; look to see if they are surrounded by same type of people. For the friends we choose are often times just as reflective of our own character as are our actions.
Good friends, I believe, don’t only accept us for who we are, but also push us to accomplish greater things. Thus if we want to improve over this next year, it is not a bad idea to surround ourselves with friends who challenge us, inspire us to make better choices and are looking for us to succeed in the coming year.

The Elul Challenge - Day 5 Mac or PC

2010-08-15T12:04:00.000-04:00

I don’t know where the Mac vs. PC commercials went, but I do miss them. They were quite cute and clever, though with Windows 7 out, they do seem to have disappeared. But it did get me thinking about how much we like to focus on dualities: Mac vs. PC, Red Sox or Yankees, Leno or O’Brien, Republicans or Democrats, Team Jacob or Team Edward, goodness or sin. We focus on these dualities as if life has only one of two possibilities.
But within Jewish tradition when speaking about the Yetzeir tov (the good impulse) and the Yetzeir ra (the bad impulse), what we actually find is life is much more complex. For example the yetzier ra is really the impulse to satisfy personal needs, which if not controlled ends up being a runaway Id. But we do need it at times in order to take care of ourselves in order to take care of others.
In Judaism then, its not necessary so much about conflicts as much as it is about finding equilibrium and harmony.
So really, in many ways, the month of Elul provides us with opportunities and time where we once again try to find balance in our lives. Lives that need the yetzeir ra, but not too much. I’m still on the fence about, when it is time, whether I will get a Mac or PC, but I can tell you for sure I am definitely on Team O’Brien.
What are you doing to try to get back into balance during this penitential season?

Hopefully not spending too much time on youtube

Elul Challenge Day 4 - Careful what you say

2010-08-13T13:00:00.000-04:00

I think this article pretty much sums up why sometimes its best just not to speak at all.

"Why Dr. Laura? Why?

It is not unusual to let our mouths get ahead of our minds. That seems to be part of the human condition; especially in the case of those paid to talk for three or more hours at a time. Yet, believe or not, we don't have to have an opinion on everything. And even if we do, doesn't mean we always have to share it.
Lashon Harah, malicious speech, is one of the great prohibitions in Jewish tradition. Usually it is with regards to gossip. But equally as important is the idea of not saying hateful or hurtful things simply because you can. Because often what one says is not so much reflective of the object of the speech as it is the speaker.
Or as Abraham Lincoln is quoted as saying, "It is better to say nothing and be thought a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
So maybe during this month of Elul, we can learn from this sad lesson to moderate what we say, so we don't have to then spend to much time apologizing for it. A lesson Dr. Laura might want to spend some time reflecting on.

Dr. Laura's Apology

The Elul Challenge - Day 3 Anger Management

2010-08-13T10:43:00.000-04:00

Steven Slater (the Jet Blue Flight attendant) got me thinking about how we express frustration these days. To start off with, I believe Mr. Slater clearly lost it, and made some extremely poor choices. For those in positions of authority, be it real or perceived, as Moses can attest to, to lose one’s temper in such a fashion is probably not such a good thing. Just ask the feds.
But it did get me thinking about all those little frustrations and annoyances that build up in our lives be they at work, at home, or at play. Whether it is a cashier who takes a little too long, or the person who puts sixteen items in the fifteen items or less lane. Be it the driver ahead of you who isn’t paying attention and causes you to miss your left turn, meaning you have to sit and wait another cycle, or something your spouse or partner does that just drives you crazy. All these little moments can build up slowly and insidiously if we are not careful.
I think part of the design of Elul is to remind us that these lingering pieces of anger we hold on to in many ways only bring us down. There is no ripple effect and instead can come out in one great big explosion like in the case of Mr. Slater. Even in today’s web crazy world, I am sure there are better ways to release anger and frustration, though a beer does sound good at times.
I know one area I am working on is letting go. So what if I miss the light or have to wait for one more item to be wrung up at the grocery store. There have been times I probably missed the light or took too many items for check out. Is it worth letting these insignificant moments bring down one’s whole day?
So as we prepare for the High Holy Days, I encourage you to work on finding ways to let go of or at least find a way to release these pent up frustrations, hurts, annoyances, and feelings of anger. For, as far as I know, on Yom Kippur, there is no inflatable slide to help us escape.

Here is a commentary on Steven Slater by a fellow flight attendant
Flight Attendant on CNN

The Elul Challenge - Day 2

2010-08-12T13:49:00.000-04:00

Inspired by my colleague and dear friend Rabbi Phyllis Sommer Thoughts from Rabbi Phyllis, I am going to attempt to blog each day of Elul challenging myself and hopefully you as well to fully engage in this profound time of year. Of course the irony is, I am writing this on the second day of Elul, oh well.
Elul for those of you who are not familiar, is the month immediately preceding Tishrei which contains the High Holy Days of Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. Elul is a time of ritual return to God including the practice of sounding the shofar daily along with the recitation of certain psalms and seeking forgiveness from those we have wronged either accidentally or intentionally.
This month I encourage you to watch the excellent and thought provoking documentary: Forgiving Dr. Mengele. It is a movie about Eva Mozes Kor, a survivor of Mengele’s horrific twin studies, who decides of her own volition, to forgive those perpetrators (may their names be wiped out), as a way of enabling herself to heal. In this sense the documentary gets to the heart of what does it really mean to forgive by asking if we have to forgive at all, and are there some crimes so horrendous they need never be forgiven.
There is also a whole section on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, but we’ll save that for a blog for another day.
You may not agree with Eva’s choices, but it may inspire you to reflect on whether or not there are some old hurts in your life you are still nursing simply because they keep you warm at night, but no longer remember even their origins.
As this movie teaches, forgiveness is less about those who have committed wrongs than about those who have been wronged. Holding on to the pain and anger did not better Eva’s life. She certainly did not excuse what happened, but she has found as sense of peace through this process.

Op-Ed

2010-08-09T16:13:00.000-04:00

Here are three articles circulating their way around the web discussing the challenges, perils and opportunities of the modern rabbinate and clergy as a whole.

Taking a Break from the Lord's Work

Congregations Gone Wild

What the Success of Women Rabbis Means for Judaism

And here's one about a new Israeli Documentary about Israel and Gaza:

Steal this Movie

Feel free to look through the articles and let me know what you think

On the Other Hand

2010-07-13T09:33:00.000-04:00

Just when I start to rally around Israel, two subsequent events give me pause. Not so much in my support for this beautiful country, but in the growing religious intolerance spawning like weeds that can make it so very difficult to be a liberal Jew and an ohev tzion, lover of Israel.

Conversions bill sets Netanyahu on collision course with U.S. Jews

Police arrest Women of the Wall leader for praying with Torah scroll

Be sure to support the Israel Religious Action Center, which fights for the rights for all Israelis and for Jews abroad as well in the land of Eretz Yisrael from a liberal Jewish perspective.

Israel Religious Action Center

The Flotilla Conversation Continues

2010-07-12T14:25:00.001-04:00

Like many, I believe Israel handled the Gaza bound flotilla raid on May 31st quite poorly. A recent report from Israeli authorities also agrees with this assessment. Of course blame often is initially directed towards the soldiers who entered the ship, legally I might add. But as the report indicates, they actually handled the situation fairly well given that they encountered not members of a peace resistance group, but people bent on acts of violence to make their point. A common tactic when it comes to the opposition to Israel.

Flawed Intelligence Gathering to Blame - AP Reports

New York Times Article: Israeli Military Finds Flotilla Killings Justified

I feel Israeli military and political leadership should have seen they were being egged on into a fight. A fight that even if they won, which they did, they would still lose in the public eye, which happened as well.
Israel is in an increasingly untenable situation. She has control over lands and people who will do just about anything to end Israel’s current position. Israel is surrounded by the worst kind of oppressive governments who use her very existence to justify their own oppressive and reprehensible practices. Just look at Sakineh Mohammadi Ashtiani, who may yet be stoned to death in Iran for adultery, even though her confession to this crime was acquired through extreme acts of torture.
I would like to note that there are more U.N. proclamations against Israel than any other nation in the world including the likes of the aforementioned Iran, China, North Korea, and Sudan. How does a modern, democratic, moral society compete in such a world?!
Israel really is fighting a battle with one arm tied behind its back. Would any of these other nations appoint a civilian commission to determine the legality of a military action? Of course not. In those nations, any commission, like in their court cases, the outcome is already predetermined. Clearly these are not societies founded on the notion of tzedek, tzedek tirdof, justice, justice you shall pursue.
I take a lot of pride in being a supporter of Israel. It may not always get it right, but it does keep trying to in the end. It does strive to be a holy nation while existing in the modern world. An impossible task, and a dream perhaps, but a worthy dream nonetheless.
If you wish to learn more, I suggest going to the following website which has a lot more useful tools about Israel from a Reform Jewish perspective.

Association of Reform Zionists of America

But in case you have a few spare moments - here is a fascinating article related to the the general bias against Israel:

Two Sides of a Fence

Passion of the Mel

2010-07-12T14:06:00.000-04:00

Confession time: There was a time when I was a big Mel Gibson fan. I really liked Lethal Weapon, and I even paid good money to see the three follow ups with Joe Pesci and even Lethal Weapon 4 with Jet Li. I watched Mel’s version of Hamlet, though I felt he was a bit too old to play the part. I enjoyed the good hearted fun of Maverick and I would, on occasion, listen to the music of Braveheart.
That all being said, I like many Jews, became increasingly uncomfortable with Mr. Gibson, especially following the release of Passion of the Christ. Though now I think I am beginning to understand why the movie was filled with so much pain and anguish. Not to reflect the death of Jesus, but instead to showcase all the pain and anguish burning within Mr. Gibson’s soul. This came even more to the forefront following Mr. Gibson’s arrest for drunk driving and his subsequent anti-Semitic tirade to the arresting officer in 2006.
Mr. Gibson appears to be a deeply disturbed individual. Whether that is a result of his upbringing by his Holocaust denier father Hutton, alcohol abuse, or descent into narcissism, Mr. Gibson has demonstrated what is perhaps one of the most amazing falls from grace in recent years.
Midrash teaches us that we are not supposed to rejoice in the fall of our ‘enemies.’ And in truth, to see Mr. Gibson fall so far, causes me to feel at most, sadness. Sadness for his family. Sadness for his children. Time and again, we learn if all we are filled with is hate and anger, eventually we will become consumed.
I personally don’t know if there is a chance for Mr. Gibson now to resurrect his career given his latest incident of allegedly assaulting his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva. But I do pray that maybe he can let go of all the hate festering inside of him towards just about everyone, and at least find some peace within his soul.
And if not, he can always find refuge in South Park.

Shalom

2010-07-06T09:29:00.000-04:00

My bags are unpacked. The boxes are unloaded. All that is left to do is hang a few pictures and diplomas up in my office. Of course it all got done fairly quickly as I have a major aversion to cardboard boxes. Not the kind used for forts, but the kind waiting to be unpacked. I must admit, I have a hard time focusing surrounded by clutter. Hence the need to get everything unpacked before really getting down to the business, the pleasure, of creating hopefully enduring relationships with my new congregation.
I will admit I am of the belief that it is important to have a warm and welcoming office. Something I tried to have with my previous congregation, an effort which my 8th graders constantly worked to undermine.
So for those of you in the area, feel free to stop by. Don't mind the few random frames waiting their final placement. I have a pretty good idea of where they will be going. I just have to figure out what I am going to do with those M.C. Escher posters whose presence reminds me of the necessity to view the world through unique perspectives.
And for those of you not in the area. If ever you happen to head out this way, please do stop by. Just bring a hammer, nails, and a ladder. So I can finally get those pictures hung up.

Inglorious Basterds versus...

2010-05-13T14:56:00.000-04:00

Being a little behind the times, I finally took the opportunity to watch Quentin Tarantino's WWII fantasy movie Inglorious Basterds. And I must admit, I thoroughly enjoyed it. In a lot of ways it expressed the same frustrations and aspirations of the early comic book heroes like Joe Simon and Jack Kirby's Captain America, who in Captain America #1, was depicted as punching out Hitler.
A similar story is recounted in the novel The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay by Michael Chabon.
However I was stuck wrestling with some conflicting emotions, for though I enjoyed the fantasy created by Quentin Tarantino, I was equally troubled by some of the depictions in movies like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas. I was left wrestling with the idea of why one type of Holocaust fiction would bother me so much, while the other entertained the heck out of me.
The more I thought about it, the more I realized why. Movies like The Boy in the Striped Pajamas and A Beautiful Life, though fictional are grounded the reality of the Holocaust. They are trying to tell of true experiences, but through the eyes of fictional characters. And in order to do this, they both rely upon situations that simply could not have happened.
Inglorious Basterds on the other hand, was complete fantasy, and made no pretenses otherwise. It was an homage to many of the movies Mr. Tarantino enjoyed, while at the same time was his own unique vision. It made me as a viewer question ideas like loyalty, revenge, and power.
I admit I am still wrestling with these movies and may always will, but for some reason, I think I would recommend Inglorious Basterds over the other two even with its portrayals of violence. Because it really does beg the question, what is history? Especially in a time where there are increasing voices denying the Holocaust.
Or maybe I enjoyed it simply because I grew up a comic book fan, and seeing a depiction of Jewish power on the silver screen during a time of great tragedy and horrific events, made me feel good and strong about my Jewish self. In either case, if you haven't seen it, and you are a Tarantino fan, I for one, highly recommend it.

And in case you haven't seen it, here's the cover from Captain America #1

The Forbidden World of the Ultra-Orthodox

2010-02-15T15:31:00.000-05:00

I recently watched an Israeli film entitled The Secrets. It is about a young woman named Naomi who is the daughter of a Rosh Yeshiva, a wise, learned and respected rabbi who is also the head of an academy of learning. Following the death of Naomi’s mother, Naomi asks her father to allow her to attend a Yeshiva for Orthodox girls in Tzefat, an ancient and mystical city in northern Israel. I found it to be a fascinating movie, very different from my expectations. Yet it is also filled with sense of frustration by its modern Israeli filmmakers about the closed, strict nature of the ultra-Orthodox world.
Jews and non-Jews alike have been fascinated by the nature of strict Jewish observance probably since the rise of modernity and evolution of liberal Jewish movements. In particular we have a number of films attempting to enter this ‘forbidden’ world. The Chosen based on Chaim Potok’s book by the same name is probably the most famous of these endeavors. Similarly, but from a more comic vein is The Frisco Kid, and there is also the more recent Israeli movie Ushpizin. All of which are very accepting of men in the ultra-Orthodox world.
However more related to The Secrets are movies like Price Above Rubies, Yentl, Hester Street, A Stranger Among Us, and even Fiddler on the Roof. Each of these portrays in some ways wish fulfillment and frustration at the closed and restrictive nature of the ultra-Orthodox world especially for women. Contained in these depictions are forbidden relationships, and failed attempts at equality.
The conflict seems to be that we want the vitality, exuberance, and faithfulness to Jewish tradition to be observed in the Orthodox world, we just want women to be free to make their own choices and not simply be consigned to the home front.
I was even asked recently in response to The Secrets if a woman could be a rabbi in the Orthodox world. The answer is: of course not. The world of the ultra-Orthodox will never be the world we want it to be. They have their societal structures based off generations of Jewish interpretation of tradition.
So maybe we are fascinated by these communities in part because we commend the ultra-Orthodox for living the way they live, knowing we could never live that way. Yet, we wish to change them to reflect our sensibilities as is reflective in so many of our movies and discussions.
Thus for those of us living in the modern world, it will most likely always be a little alien, a little foreign to our sensibilities. Yes it is demanding. Yes it is rigid. Yes it can also be beautiful and spiritual. But truth be told, our modern approach can also be beautiful and spiritual. One does not need to be Orthodox to spirituality and meaning in a Jewish environment.
We just have to remind ourselves that a closed society does not necessarily make it more ‘authentic.’ It just makes closed. Which is why it is nice to be able to visit from a distance, but when the lights come back on, I personally am thankful to be in a tradition that allows my daughter to choose any path she wishes, and not have it be a path she can only dream about.

Purim 5770

2010-02-04T12:12:00.001-05:00

As my tenure here as associate rabbi is rapidly coming to a close, I find myself spending quite a bit of time reflecting over my past accomplishments. However there is one area I continue to dwell on, namely my failed bid to become President of these United States.
I am sure it was not because of my plan to move Washington D.C. to Cancun during the winter months. Nor must it have been my proposal that all college bowl games once again be played only on New Year’s Day. Instead I blame my campaign manager, Peanut the cat, who I just discovered hijacked most of my campaign funds for the purchase of large quantities of meow mix. Who knew advertising jingles could be so effective on cats? This news sent me into a spiral of self-pity where I found myself addicted to tummy-rubs and head scratches. Oh wait, that was the cat.
Needless to say, I am now in the process of writing my memoirs on this experience. I have discovered in my notes several other proposals I should have put forth, which I am sure would have catapulted me to victory. Here they are in no particular order:
I propose all airline CEO’s be required to fly coach 300 days a year. Maybe then, they would finally understand.
I propose that if you are on hold longer than thirty seconds, the company be required to play great music like the Beatles, Stones, U2 or Alvin and the Chipmunks. And while on hold, they stop saying, “you’re business is important to us,” because clearly it isn’t. Otherwise, why would we still be on hold?
I propose your license plate number also be your cell-phone number because the light is green already!
And lastly I propose outlawing the following phrase under the penalty of having to watch American Idol reruns over and over again. That phrase is, “you know.” No I don’t know. If I did, I wouldn’t be asking. Please stop assuming I know. Sheesh.
With an agenda like this, I proud to announce I am changing the focus of my campaign. As I will be just outside the D.C. area, during the summer months when it’s not in Cancun, I am hoping to become a player in the current administration. If you are ever in the area, feel free to stop by. Just don’t fly coach; otherwise you might end up sitting next to an airline executive. But be sure to give me a shout, and I will gladly wish you a Chag Purim Sameach, you know!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas

2010-02-01T12:28:00.000-05:00

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is a 2008 British film based on the 2006 novel of the same name by Irish author John Boyne. It is in the genre of historical fiction and stars David Thewlis (of Harry Potter fame), Vera Farmiga (most recently seen in Up in the Air), and Asa Butterfield, the young British actor hired to portray the youthful innocence of the lead 8 year-old-character Bruno.
In some ways The Boy in the Striped Pajamas is similar to Rosenstrasse, the 2003 film, which also portrays elements of the Holocaust from a German perspective. However where these two films differ is that in Rosenstrasse, the main character Lena was a German woman married to a Jewish man who was taken into custody by the Nazi authorities. Also it was based on historical events.
Where Boy in the Striped Pajamas differs is that the only historical element to it, other than the holocaust, was the possibility that a German Commander might have housed his family near a concentration camp.
The problem with the movie is that it is incredibly unlikely any German youth especially of Bruno's age would not have been involved in the Hitler youth, especially if his father was a high ranking official in the German military. We just need to look at the history of Pope Benedict XVI to understand how many German youths fell under its sway. It is equally as unlikely that Bruno would not have known about the vicious, hateful propaganda used against the Jews, especially for a child of Berlin. And it is equally unlikely a child of 8 would be alive in a concentration camp or that Bruno would have been able to do what he did towards the end of the movie.
Thus, in many ways, it is an unfortunate and unrealistic portrayal. Yet I feel there is redeeming value to the movie because it is told through the eyes of a child. It is a movie today’s children can relate to in ways they might not otherwise be able to. With the daily passing of survivors, the next best way to keep their stories alive is through cinematic portrayals. Thankfully the movie industry is getting more involved with telling these stories from a multitude of perspectives. There has been a mass of movies coming out especially during the past twenty years, especially since the critical and commercial success of Steven Spielberg's Schindler's List.
Just over the past couple of years movies have included not just the Boy in the Striped Pajamas, but also Defiance, the Reader, and the excellent PBS movie God on Trial. Not every movie about the Holocaust is great or even good. Not every movie is realistic. Yet what they do is keep the dialogue going when the voices of the eye witnesses are sadly leaving our very midst. So in this sense, it is very much worth it to keep watching. And every now and then, a great movie about such a difficult and troubling subject comes out in ways that helps us understand not just this tragedy, but also our own humanity.

An Open Letter to Pat Robertson

2010-01-14T12:22:00.000-05:00

"Something happened a long time ago in Haiti ... they were under the heel of the French, uh, you know, Napoleon the third and whatever ... and they got together and swore a pact to the devil, they said, we will serve you, if you get us free from the Prince. True story."

Dear Pat,

I pity you. I don't know any other way to say this. I pity you and I pity your world view. You believe, as do many religious fundamentalists that all events on earth have a cause, have a reason. In particular you like to point to tragedy and explain how the people suffering have brought these events upon themselves.
For example you also explained that Hurricane Katrina was in essence God's response to our country's stance on abortion. You have even gone as far as to articulate that former Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon's stroke was a divine punishment for the Gaza pullout. Instead of possibly being caused by his poor health, high cholesterol, and and obesity.
The reason why I pity you is because you are actually doing a disservice to God, to religion, and to humanity. Now I am not saying that I ascribe to your theology that God causes natural disasters, but I'm willing to play along for a moment.
Playing the role of devil's advocate (pardon the pun): according to all followers of God, it is impossible to fully know the mind of God. So doesn't it follow that if things happen for a reason, we may very well not ever know the reason? Yet you claim in each of the tragedies to know the reason.
According to you, God is punishing someone, in this case the Haitians, for the so called 'pact with the devil.' So if this is the case, why did God wait two hundred years when the land is populated by mostly God-fearing good Christians? Why did God also strike down missionaries, hospital workers, police officers, the elderly, and the young as retribution for 'crimes' committed two hundred years ago?
Is this an act of a loving God? Or is your interpretation simply delusional? Tragedy happens. It happens all the time. We will probably never know why. Instead why don't you look for God in the acts of kindness and charity as the world rallies around Haiti. Countries from across the globe are sending assistance, personnel, money, equipment. Isn't this where holiness really resides?
Instead of looking to lay blame, I suggest you do the world a favor and either help or at least keep silent. For stirring anger and resentment, may make you feel better and keep you warm at night. For the Haitians, they could instead really use some blankets.

Sincerely,
Rabbi Benjamin Sharff

Ps - if you click on one of the following links - it will provide you with opportunities to assist.

American Jewish World Service

Union for Reform Judaism

Moving On

2010-01-04T17:52:00.001-05:00

It is with bittersweet emotions that I am writing this article for the Temple Times. I am proud to announce that I have been offered and accepted the position of Senior Rabbi for Har Sinai Congregation in Owings Mills, Maryland. Joy and I are very excited by this new opportunity. But we are also saddened by the prospect of leaving such a wonderful community and home we have found both with Temple Emanu-El and in Tucson.
I can remember when Joy and I first arrived here in Tucson 4 ½ years ago to begin serving as assistant rabbi for Temple Emanu-El. I was nervous to say the least as this was my first full-time pulpit position. I was also following in the very large footsteps of Rabbi David Freelund, who had just moved on to begin working for his own congregation in Massachusetts. It was a transition many of you were nervous about as well, but it seems to have worked out pretty well.
Since our arrival, Joy and I have gotten to know many of you. We have also celebrated with you the birth of our two children Emily and Noah.
There are many accomplishments I am proud of, and to summarize them would be a challenging endeavor. I have thoroughly enjoyed teaching our youth and in our Adult Education Academy. I have found profound meaning and holiness in our worship experiences and lifecycle events together. I have delighted in our collaborative creative endeavors like our Purimspiels, the Comic Book Siddur, and Avanim performances. But perhaps my greatest pleasure has come from getting to spend time with many of you in our warm, historical community.
There are many people who I also would like to thank for guiding me and inspiring me throughout these years. Rabbi Samuel Cohon in particular has been an amazing mentor, guide and friend. Cantorial Soloist Marjorie Hochberg has been a consummate professional and colleague who has just simply been a pleasure to work with. I would also like to thank the many staff and lay leadership for their support and understanding during the exhilarating but exhausting placement process.
But not to worry, there is already a committee in place to begin the process of selecting my successor. It is chaired by Bruce Beyer and if you have any questions or would like to provide him with your input, feel free to contact him.
There will be plenty opportunities to say farewell over the coming months, but until then, I wanted to let you know how I am looking forward to continuing to serve as your rabbi.

Hanukkah Rap

2009-12-22T12:37:00.000-05:00

Here are the lyrics to the rap I performed at our Greatest Hanukkah on Earth! Centennial Edition.
Note: This is to the 'melody' of Paul Revere by the Beastie Boys
And for those of you in Tucson who missed it. It is playing on Tucson Access. Check your local times and channels.

Now here's a little story I've got to tell
Not about the Marx brothers you know so well
It started way back in history
With Eliezar, Shimon, and Judah Maccabee.
The five had a father named Mattathias
Told to worship an idol but he was pious
Killed a Greek soldier, then turned and ran
Greek posse on his tail cause he’s in demand
One lonely Has-mo-knee
All by himself without nobody
The sun was beating down on his kehpee’s hat
The air was gettin' hot, Dr. Browns was getting flat
Lookin' for a dude he ran into a guy
My name is Judah, he said, "Howdy" I said, "Hi"

He told a little story that sounded well rehearsed
Four days out while schviting, and he's dying of thirst
Antiochus was bad allowed moyels no tip
Greeks were coming, chasing down, we tried not to trip
He said, "Here they come"
I said, "This is no fun"
We had a chance to run
Then fled to a mountain
They were quick on the draw I thought we’d be dead
They put the sword to our head and this is what they said,

"Now we’re armed Greek soldiers - We got a license to kills
I think you know what time it is, this ain’t the catskills
Now what do we have here a shmendrick and his dad
We run this land, you understand don’t make me mad."
What a klutz he plotzed, I took the sword, then had a grin
You think this story's over but it's ready to begin

Now we got the sword and we’re both Jews
We had two choices of what we could doos
It's not a tough decision as you can see
We could run away or we could fight totally
I said, let’s ride together, attack ‘em from the border
Antiochus after me for what I did to his temple
I did it like this, I did it like that
I did it with a meshuggenah bat
So I'm on the run, but I’m the only one
And right about now it's time to have some fun
An-tio-chus that is his name
I know the fly spot where he’ll soon be in pain."
We rode for six hours then we hit the spot
The beat was bumping and the night was hot
This king was staring like he knows who we are
We took the empty spot near him not too far
the king said, "Yo, I know you kid?"
I said, "No way." but I know he did
Then I said, "Get ready cause this ain't funny
The king’s a yutz and we’re gonna take his money.”
Pulled out the slingshot aimed at the sky
I yelled, "Stick 'em up!" and let two fly
Hands went up and people hit the floor
I smacked the king upside the head as he ran for the door
"I’m Ju-dah. and I get respect
My homeland back is what I expect"
Eliazer was with it and he's my ace
So I grabbed the menorah and I lit it in its place
The king was out the music stopped
The statue of Zeus well it got dropped
Its time to spin the dreidel, here’s one made of gold
Let’s celebrate Hanukkah on a night that’s cold.

Hanukkah Vidoes

2009-12-11T13:23:00.000-05:00

Here's are some youtube videos for Hanukkah.
Enjoy

Gabbai

2009-12-11T13:18:00.000-05:00

The term Gabbai is derived from the Hebrew gavah which means ‘to exact payment.’ In Mishnaic times, the gabbai was actually a gabbai tzedakah – a charity collector. During this time gabbai’im worked in partnership with at least one other to make sure there was no misuse of these funds either in their collection or in how they were dispersed.
The term gabbai later came to refer to someone in the medieval Jewish world who was responsible for collecting and administering tzedakah for the broader Jewish community. By this time period, the gabbai was usually a volunteer who helped disperse funds for such purposes as to help with burial, support the ailing, or simply to provide for those in need. Thus the scope and purpose of the gabbai became greatly expanded. In some larger communities they may have had as many as twelve gabbai’m with one serving each month of the year. This gabbai was known as the gabbai hodesh.
However, the term gabbai over time also came to refer to those who helped out in synagogue life as well. These gabbai’m would sometimes manage congregational affairs, but more often than not, they would help to distribute honors during the Torah service.
Today the gabbai is a volunteer who is central to the Torah service. For example they find volunteers for the honor of being called up to bless the Torah, also known as an aliyah. The gabbai ascertains the Hebrew names of these volunteers as well. The gabbai also helps coordinate the flow of the Torah service. In some cases, they even help keep the rabbi or cantor on track. To do this, the gabbai stands next to the Torah reader, holding a version of the text with vowels and trope markings, following along in order to correct the reader if he or she makes an error.

You can't be serious?!

2009-10-30T13:59:00.000-04:00

From cnn.com "Calling Democratic health care bills "seriously deficient on the issues of abortion and conscience," the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops is urging priests around the country to speak out against the legislation from the pulpit this Sunday." http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/

I am wondering how a bill attempting to create more access to affordable, reliable health care could possibly be deficient on the issue of 'conscience'? With so many in the Catholic community on the fringes of the socioeconomic divide, I just cannot fathom how their religious leaders are focusing on such a narrow issue found within the healthcare debate. It is as if they are forgetting the needs of their constituency. I'm not saying there is not room for healthy debate on the issue of abortion, but in this case, what the Bishops are proposing appears to run contrary to their own religious heritage. They are rejecting the notion of universal healthcare in its entirety because they reject a provision of it that actually is not a provision at all.

As I recall, Jesus himself tended to those that society ignored, the widows, orphans and lepers. Isn't there a mandate within Catholic tradition to help all those who are most in need to be able to receive quality health care? Or am I missing something here?

Within Jewish tradition, our rabbinic heritage argues that it is the obligation of society as well as the responsibility of individuals to ensure everyone, regardless of need, religion, wealth, poverty, have access to healthcare. To learn more I recommend reading Matters of Life and Death by Elliot Dorff who quite cogently explains the intricacies of this issue from a Jewish perspective.

Religion certainly does have a role to play in the healthcare debate. I just think it should be focused on speaking on behalf of the masses and the moral and religious obligations involved. And not co-opted by a select few who speak on behalf of narrow ideological concerns rather than on behalf of the broader community.

Bikur Cholim

2009-10-29T14:13:00.000-04:00

“Rabbi Helbo once fell ill. Thereupon Rabbi Kahana went and proclaimed: "Rabbi Helbo is ill!" But none visited him. Rabbi Kahana rebuked the scholars, saying, "Did it not once happen that one of Rabbi Akiva's disciples fell sick, and the Sages did not visit him? So Rabbi Akiva himself entered [the disciple’s house] to visit him, and because they swept and sprinkled the ground before him, he recovered. ‘My master,’ said the disciple, ‘you have revived me!’ Whereupon Rabbi Akiva went forth and lectured: ‘He who does not visit the sick is like a shedder of blood’" (Babylonian Talmud Nedarim 39b).
We may no longer take the position of Rabbi Akiva. Nonetheless the sentiment expressed in his words emphasizes the centrality of this mitzvah to the Jewish experience. The mitzvah of Bikur Cholim, visiting the sick, is one of the great mitzvot de-rabbanan (rabbinic mitzvot) described in Eilu Devarim. Bikur Cholim is a concept that includes a wide range of activities focused on comforting and supporting people who are ill, recovering from surgery, or are homebound. Bikur cholim can include such activities as: visiting patients in a hospital, rehabilitation center or nursing home; visiting people who are restricted to their home; or by calling and reassuring those who are ill or homebound.
There are a wide variety of reasons to perform this central mitzvah. For one, it lifts the spirits of those who are ill and ailing. It also helps them to feel connected to the community, especially if they are no longer able to actively participate like they once did. Also there is scientific evidence that those who receive regular visitors and well-wishers tend to do better when receiving demonstrations of support. Plus there is the added benefit that when you visit those who are ill, you feel better about yourself by performing this central mitzvah.

Family Guy

2009-10-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

For a summary of the most recent Family Guy episode: 'Family Goy' please go to the following link:

http://www.jewishjournal.com/geekheeb/item/family_guy_gets_jewish_makeover_20091005

I admittedly am a really big fan of Family Guy. Much of the humor speaks to my generation (Gen. X), and there were definitely some funny moments in this episode. However I found myself also disappointed in it as well. I think they did a much better job of challenging assumptions about Judaism in their banned episode: "When You Wish upon a Weinstein" as well as to a lesser extent in "Road to Germany."
I also did not particularly appreciate the reference to Shindler's List, which was also referenced in a recent episode of Grey's Anatomy as well, but in a much funnier way (if that is possible).
Needless to say, there are many Jewish writers and at least two lead Jewish actors on the show (Seth Green & Alex Borstein). And the feeling I get is they only have a nominal understanding of their own tradition. There are so many areas to be mined for humor. Why they need to keep going to the basest stereotypes and Holocaust 'humor' is beyond me.
Though I must admit that I did appreciate Stewie of all people reciting the candle blessings for Pesach correctly.
So all in all, I enjoyed a few of the jokes, but mostly I was very much disappointed in the lazy writing in the episode given that it could have been so much better.

Lulav and Etrog - A User's Guide

2009-10-02T13:09:00.000-04:00

“On the first day you shall take the product of the beautiful (hadar) tree, branches of palm trees, thick branches of leafy trees, and willows of the brook and you shall rejoice before the Lord your God for seven days” (Leviticus 23:40). The four species are:
• Lulav (לולב) – a ripe, green, closed frond from a date palm tree
• Hadass (הדס) – boughs with leaves from the myrtle tree
• Aravah (ערבה) – branches with leaves from the willow tree
• Etrog (אתרוג) – the fruit of a citron tree

A midrash in Vayikrah Rabba 30:12 explains the items as symbols of the importance of unity among different types of Jews.
1. The etrog, a fruit, has both a flavor and a scent, like a Jew who is both learned and observant of the commandments.
2. The lulav is from a date palm, and so it has a taste but no scent. It is likened to a Jew to is learned but does not apply that knowledge in action.
3. A myrtle has a pleasant odor but there is nothing tasty about it, and it parallels the Jew who has little book learning behind his or her observance.
4. Finally the willow lacks both fragrance and food value, just like the Jew who neither studies the Torah nor observes the commandments.

Midrash (Vayikra Rabbah 30:14) the rabbis use a quote from Psalms to learn more from lulav and etrog comparing each element to a part of the human body. “All my bones shall say, ‘God, who is like You!” (Psalm 35:10). The metaphor is applied in this way:
1. The long, straight, flexible lulav is likened to the spine.
2. The tiny myrtle leaves are like the eyes
3. The elongated willow leaves resemble the lips.
4. Round and firm, the etrog is symbolic of the heart.

As in the first example, holding all parts of the lulav and etrog together for the blessing informs the meaning of the metaphor. The secret ingredient to achieving the true happiness promised by Sukkot is to feel unity within, to be true to oneself and not say one thing and feel another.

The Mitzvah of netilat lulav:
1. Take the lulav in the right hand and the etrog in the left (unless you are a lefty – then do the opposite). Hold the etrog stem side up. Be sure to have the spine of the lulav facing the person holding it. The myrtle (the one with smallish leaves) should be on the right and the willow should be on the left.
2. Say the blessing:
"Baruch ata Adonai, Elo-heinu Melech ha'olam, asher kid'shanu bi'mitzvo-sav, vi'tzivanu al ni-tilat lulav."
Blessed are You, Adonai our God, Ruler of the Universe, who sanctified us with Your mitzvot, and instructed us to raise up the Lulav.
3. The first time you wave the lulav and etrog follow with the Shehechiyanu.
Begin by switching hands with the etrog facing stem side down
Baruch Ata Adonai Eloheinu Melech HaOlam shecheyanu, vikiyamanu, vihigiyanu laz'man ha'zeh
R. You then wave the lulav in the following directions:
East, South, West, North, Up, and Down – reminding us how God is all around us.

One other note: According to Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai (BT Rosh Hashana 30a), we take up the lulav every day of Sukkot in remembrance of the Temple. The modern observance is to do this every day except on Shabbat.
However there is a tradition in the Mishnah that states if the first day of Sukkot is Shabbat, then one fulfills the mitzvah on Shabbat (Mishnah Sukkot 4:2). Except the majority of Jews throughout the world do not fulfill the mitzvah of netilat lulav on Shabbat (perhaps as a reminder of the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem).

Roman Polanski and Jewish Tradition

2009-10-01T15:46:00.000-04:00

Roman Polanski is considered by many to be one of the greatest filmmakers of his generation. Polanski’s first feature film, Knife in the Water (1962) received an Academy Award nomination for Best Foreign Language film. Many of his other films continue to be held in high esteem like Rosemary’s Baby (1968) and Chinatown (1972), which received 11 Academy Award nominations including one win for best original screenplay. Polanski, a holocaust survivor, received the Academy’s highest award, best director, in 2002 for the Pianist.
However, Polanski truly is a person of Shakespearean stature, accomplished, revered, and deeply troubled. It is well known that Polanski’s second wife, Sharon Tate and their unborn child were slaughtered in the famous Manson murders of 1969. Polanski was devastated by Sharon’s murder, with whom he described his time with her as the happiest of his life.
But Polanski is most well known today for the events that took place 30 years ago in 1977 with the seduction and rape of 13 year-old Samantha Gailey. Following a plea agreement and a 90 day psychiatric evaluation, Polanski fled the United States fearing further prosecution. In 2009, Polanski was arrested as he was entering Switzerland where he was to receive a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Zurich film festival.
In response to Polanski’s arrest and possible extradition back to the United States, there are some, especially in Hollywood clamoring for his release. Even Samantha Gailey (now Geimer) has expressed a desire to have the events put behind her. However there is also the adamant call by many to see Polanski brought to justice for the crimes he perpetrated and admitted to.
The Jewish community is very ambivalent about the Polanski case. On the one hand, we note the horrors and tragedies that have followed Polanski throughout his life. We also acknowledge the prominence he has brought in terms of Jewish portrayals in cinema. At the same time, we are also a tradition of tzedek, tzedek tirdof, justice, justice shall you pursue. And that even though Polanski has admitted remorse, and done teshuvah to a degree, there is still a price to be paid for his crimes that time cannot erase.
As a father and a husband, I am personally appalled by anyone who would defend Polanski’s actions. Rape is one of the great violations, and even Judaism when speaking about issues of life and death argues it is better to die than be forced to commit rape (Babylonian Talmud Tractate Sanhedrin 74a).
So clearly Polanski broke one of American society’s cardinal rules: rape of a minor. He also broke one of Jewish traditions great prohibitions as well. And no matter his many accomplishments since the incident nor the failings of the U.S. legal system make up for this fact. Polanski should in the eyes of both American and Jewish legal precedent have to do time for his crimes. As this time of year teaches us, no matter our past circumstances, we are still all to be held accountable for our actions.

Sacred Guests (Ushpizin) and Holy Spaces - Sukkot

2009-10-01T14:47:00.000-04:00

In the Essential Kabbalah Daniel Matt writes, “The essence of serving God and of all the mitzvot is to attain the state of humility, that is, to understand that all your physical and mental powers and your essential being depend on the divine elements within. You are simply a channel for the divine attributes. You attain this humility through the awe of God’s vastness, through realizing that ‘there is no place empty of it.’”
During the first week of October, we will be celebrating the fall festival of Sukkot. Known as heChag, the Festival, Sukkot commemorates both the fall harvest and the time our ancestors wandered in the wilderness before attaining the land of Eretz Yisrael. During their travels, they built portable structures, sukkot, which we commemorate with our annual construction projects to this various day. There are numerous guidelines for how to build a proper sukkah. One of the key elements is that it must have a natural covering by which you can see the stars in the night sky.
Another element involves dwelling in our sukkah. In particular we are to dine there and invite guests to join us. Family, friends, and ushpizin, sacred guests including Abraham, Moses, and Aaron, as well as Sarah, Miriam, and Devorah all join us as we celebrate together.
There is another observance associated with Sukkot, though in truth, it is actually a separate holiday. It is the festival of Hoshana Rabbah. Hoshana Rabbah takes place on the last day of Sukkot, and is considered to be the day when our fates are sealed in the Book of Life. It includes a service with seven Hakafot with the Torah, lulav, and etrog all while Hoshanot are recited. Five willow branches are also beaten on the ground to help us symbolically remove our sins as the penitential season comes to an end.
But more than that, Hoshana Rabbah is the time where we invite God to join us as we dwell one last time in the Sukkah. In many ways this is akin to the kabbalistic notion that there is no place devoid of God.
May your sukkahs this year be strong and lasting. May you be joined by wonderful and delightful company. And may you find God’s holy presence in all of your dwelling places, which in turn, may help you find holiness in yourselves, in your lives, and in the greater world as well.

Spamalot

2009-09-24T15:16:00.001-04:00

There are some great Jewish haikus floating around on the internet today. One of my personal favorites is:

Yenta. Shmeer. Gevalt.
Shlemiel. Shlimazl. Meshuganah
Oy! To be fluent!

It grabbed my attention in part because I recently had the opportunity to see a traveling performance of Spamalot in Tucson. For those of you who might not be familiar, Spamalot is loosely based on the movie Monty Python and the Holy Grail. The Holy Grail is a nonsensical, silly, irreverent movie mostly mocking cinematic depictions of the King Arthur Legend. Spamalot takes this notion one step further and postulates what would happen if Monty Python and the Holy Grail became a Broadway musical.
Needless to say, it is filled with many hilarious lines, jokes, self-referential materials, and some great song and dance routines. One of my personal favorites was a number called, "You won't succeed on Broadway (if you don't have any Jews)." The musical number is a takeoff of several scenes from Fiddler on the Roof. Though I think perhaps the funniest and saddest parts was in some ways how so few audience members were laughing at any Yiddish humor.
I tend to forget that even though Yiddish is increasingly more prevalent in American culture, especially due to the Jewish comedians and writers of the 50s & 60s, how many Americans still only have a nominal understanding and/or exposure to Yiddish.
Yiddish is one of the great languages in part because, like much of our music, it is always filled with hints of sadness. We Jews have suffered tremendously as is indicated in Spamalot when King Arthur finds out his bosom companion, Patsy, is in fact, Jewish. When pressed as to why he didn't reveal this information earlier, Patsy states, "that's not really the sort of thing you say to a heavily-armed Christian."
Yiddish and yiddishisms often indicate our understanding of how the world is not as it should be as long as suffering and persecution still exist. But at the same time, it has the amazing ability to laugh at itself as well in a self-deprecating sort of way. Thus even in the wilderness of Arizona, it is always a good sight to see when non-Jewish audiences are exposed to a pitzel of Yiddish, for we all need a little more Judaism in order to succeed, not just on Broadway, but also in life.

Jewish Haikus

2009-09-23T19:20:00.000-04:00

These are from the internet. I don't know the original author though I would be happy to credit him or her for these great thoughts. Special thanks to Bonnie for forwarding these to me
Enjoy:

Lacking fins or tail
the gefilte fish swims with
great difficulty.

Beyond Valium,
peace is knowing one's child
is an internist.

On Passover we
opened the door for Elijah.
Now our cat is gone.

After the warm rain
the sweet smell of camellias.
Did you wipe your feet?

Her lips near my ear,
Aunt Sadie whispers the name
of her friend's disease.

Today I am a man.
Tomorrow I will return
to the seventh grade..

Testing the warm milk
on her wrist, she sighs softly.
But her son is forty.

The sparkling blue sea
reminds me to wait an hour
after my sandwich.

Like a bonsai tree,
is your terrible posture
at my dinner table.

Jews on safari --
map, compass, elephant gun,
hard sucking candies.

The same kimono
the top geishas are wearing:
I got it at Loehmann's.

The shivah visit:
so sorry about your loss.
Now back to my problems.

Mom, please! There is no
need to put that dinner roll
in your pocketbook.

Seven-foot Jews in
the NBA slam-dunking!
My alarm clock rings.

Sorry I'm not home
to take your call. At the tone
please state your bad news.

Is one Nobel Prize
so much to ask from a child
after all I've done?

Today, mild shvitzing.
Tomorrow, so hot you'll plotz.
Five-day forecast: feh

Yenta. Shmeer. Gevalt.
Shlemiel. Shlimazl. Meshuganah
Oy! To be fluent!

Quietly murmured
at Yom Kippur services,
"Yanks 5, Red Sox 3."

A lovely nose ring,
excuse me while I put my
head in the oven.

Hard to tell under the lights.
White Yarmulke or
male-pattern baldness.

Shofar, Show Good

2009-09-08T15:04:00.000-04:00

The shofar is one of the penultimate expressions of Jewish tradition. In the past it was sounded in times of war as well as to indicate the start of a new month. Today we sound it throughout the month of Elul to help awaken and hearken our hearts to this great and awesome season.
With that in mind, here are a couple of very cute Shofar clips. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z_XIfd4wpp8

http://shmais.com/news.cfm?ID=57453

http//www.tabletmag.com/podcasts/15616/blow-gabriel-blow

Taking Woodsock to Elul

2009-08-31T16:58:00.001-04:00

The recent release of Taking Woodstock, a semi-true film about Elliot Tiber, a nice Jewish boy, and the infamous 1969 music festival he helped orchestrate, got me thinking about the month of Elul.
Woodstock was the three-day concert that defined a generation. It has become so legendary now, that just about anyone who is anyone claims to have been there during those exciting and extremely wet days listening to thirty-two acts including Joan Baez, Santana, the Grateful Dead, CCR, Crosby, Stills, and Nash, and the late, great Jimi Hendrix.
Approximately 500,000 people came to hear the music and celebrate youth and hippie culture in a way that has never been seen before or since.
The reason why the Woodstock got me thinking about Elul is because of the very transformative nature of the event. The sense of social harmony attained at Woodstock, in particular, has been a desired goal at gatherings large and small ever since.
Personal and social harmony really are two of most significant underlying goals of teshuvah. We seek forgiveness from ourselves, our friends, our families, and from God, all with the hope of finding inner and outer peace. Fortunately teshuvah doesn't require a seismic cultural shift to help us in this journey. Nor do we need to gather together in the fields of upstate New York. Instead when the shofar beckons us, like a loud guitar riff (yes I did just compare the shofar to a guitar riff), we can feel the awesome nature of what holiness truly means.
May Elul be for you a time to forgive, a time to reconcile, and a time to listen. All with the goal of finding harmony and peace in your own lives and the larger world as well.
I just have one small favor to ask: please no tie-dye at the High Holidays, unless you are also wearing bell-bottoms.

A Full Moon

2009-08-04T19:00:00.000-04:00

A couple of weeks ago, our nation celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the lunar landing. The success of the Apollo missions marked not only a triumph for all of humankind, but also reconnected us with the central figure of the night sky, the moon.
Being a solar powered people, we tend not to pay too much attention to this celestial body, without which, some scientists feel life as we know it could exist. According to this theory, the gravitational pull of the moon is a central force helping sustain the dynamic nature of the earth. It is this dynamic earth that enabled life to exist and continue to exist, unlike some of our other inner-planetary brethren.
But there is another piece, a Jewish piece to the moon that should be noted as well. For though the origins of several of our key festivals are agricultural in nature; our calendar, and by extension, our observances are inexorably tied to the moon.
So important is the moon to Jewish life, that the Sanhedrin, the full rabbinic court needed two witnesses to testify as to when it was a new moon in order to start the month. Only upon cross examination could the new month begin.
Also our days begin in the evening. This comes from the book of Genesis “and there was evening, and there was morning.” But even still, evening is the territory of the moon’s constant wanderings.
So in a way, our days, our nights, our festivals, and our celebrations, are all in one way or another, bound to the moon.
Thus when we celebrate humanity’s achievements in reaching the moon, in a way, we are also reminded not just of humans touching the moon, but of how the moon continues to touch our lives as well.

Jewish Names

2009-07-02T14:58:00.000-04:00

This is part of my regular series on Jewish customs and rituals:

“Each person has a name. We each have a name give by God and given by our father and mother” Israeli poet Zelda (Shneurson Mishkowsky).
The tradition of naming a child within the Jewish community dates back several thousand years. This custom is even indicated in the midrash. In Leviticus Rabbah 32:5, we learn Israel was redeemed from Egypt for four reasons. One of which was because our ancestors retained their Jewish names despite their centuries of enslavement.
Even though in more recent times we have since adopted the tradition of giving secular to our children; we have nonetheless kept the tradition of giving them a Hebrew name as well. The Hebrew name is important in part because these are the names we and our children are identified with by the community of Israel. For example, these are the names used when we are called to bless the Torah beginning with our bar or bat mitzvah. These are also the names that are written into the ketubah, the wedding contract. And these are the names used at times of memorial as well.
There are different customs with choosing a Hebrew name. In Ashkenazic tradition it is customary to name the child after a beloved deceased relative. In Sephardic tradition, it is often customary to name them after living relative. In Hassidic tradition, it is customary to name the child after a favorite tzaddik. And in Israel, one will find children often named after modern Israeli heroes. One can also pick a name from the Tanaach like Abraham, David, Miriam, or Ruth.
Because the Hebrew name is so very important, we have the custom of celebrating the naming within the community. For a boy, it is usually done at their circumcision, and for a girl, it is usually done at a naming ceremony in front of the congregation usually at Shabbat services. As part of the ceremony a Mi Shebeirach prayer is recited for the health of the mother and child as well.

Love and Marriage

2009-06-26T09:34:00.001-04:00

As Groucho Marx famously quipped, "Marriage is a wonderful institution, but who wants to live in an institution?"
There is no specific mitzvah or commandment in the Torah for a couple to get married. Nonetheless, we know this was a practice our ancestors engaged in (pun intended), in part because couples like Abraham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebecca, and even Moses and Tzipporah paired off. There is also the first mitzvah of p’ru ur’vu, be fruitful and multiply. We also can infer notions of marriage in biblical times because of the laws of divorce stipulated to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 24. Thus marriage (and divorce) have been a part of our tradition since the most ancient days.
Yet if you watch enough television or listen to enough am radio, it would appear that marriage is under attack. The most common threat by these analysts is gay marriage. I could not disagree more with this assessment. I would argue instead, the threat to the 'institution' of marriage and to families is the fifty percent divorce rate in this country.
The number one threat to marriage it would appear to be is celebrity. Jon and Kate sadly have become the latest symbols of this issue. Though as a society quick to judge, it is hard to comprehend the pressure of ongoing public analysis of the flaws in one's relationship. Though to be fair, they did not need to agree to become celebrities in the first place, but that is a blog for another day.
However there are many other compounding factors. Stress, children, one's age at marriage, financial difficulties, children, medical challenges, lack of family support, lack of communal support, lengthy time apart for employment reasons, children, religious differences, incarceration, military deployment, infidelity, children, and the list goes on and on.
The better question we should be asking then is what are we as a society doing to help strengthen the bonds of a loving family, and what are we doing to give them the resources they need. This I feel is a much better conversation than either laying blame or judging no matter how much fun seem to have reveling in the misfortune of others. For what goes on behind closed doors, even in front of cameras, we will never fully know.
My prayer is that Jon and Kate are able to resolve their issues amicably and in the best interest of their children. And that this also serves as a warning to future couples of how the pursuit of celebrity may be detrimental to one’s marriage. And instead they will come to understand how a long lasting loving relationship has its own rewards far greater than either fame or fortune.

Obama and Israel

2009-06-04T19:08:00.001-04:00

There is an old Jewish joke. A boy races into his family’s apartment in the lower east side shouting, “The Dodgers won the pennant! The Dodgers won the pennant!” His grandfather, freshly off the boat replies, “Nu boychick! Is this good or bad for the Jews?”
One of the questions fresh off President Obama’s speech at Cairo University is: Is building stronger relationships with the Muslim world bad for Israel?
President Obama began speaking on the Israeli Palestinian conflict with the following statement, “America's strong bonds with Israel are well known. This bond is unbreakable. It is based upon cultural and historical ties, and the recognition that the aspiration for a Jewish homeland is rooted in a tragic history that cannot be denied.”
A little later on he continued, “Threatening Israel with destruction -- or repeating vile stereotypes about Jews -- is deeply wrong, and only serves to evoke in the minds of Israelis this most painful of memories while preventing the peace that the people of this region deserve.”
I think the message President Obama was stating is Israel is legitimate. Israel is here to stay. Israel is a reality, and to refuse to accept this central tenant or to deny Israel’s existence or the existence of the Holocaust is a futile effort.
President Obama then continued, “They endure the daily humiliations -- large and small -- that come with occupation. So let there be no doubt: The situation for the Palestinian people is intolerable. And America will not turn our backs on the legitimate Palestinian aspiration for dignity, opportunity, and a state of their own. “
Both of these are true statements that most moderates in the region and around the world are likely to recognize. True it is in America’s interests for a peaceful existence between Israel and Palestine with a legitimate government that recognizes Israel. But it is also ultimately in Israel’s best interest as well.
The ongoing threat of Iran’s nuclear ambitions cannot be denied. And the only way their increasing threat of hegemony in the region can be dealt with is by uniting Arab countries against an actual common enemy instead of a perceived one.
Some will say this is too simple minded. Some critics have denounced Islam as a false religion filled solely with hatred. On the other hand, the Muslim world is certainly not monolithic in belief or practice. There are extremists to be sure, but there are also moderates, and liberals in the Muslim world as well. The only fact of which we can be sure is that, whenever Christians and Muslims fight, it is almost always the Jews who pay the price, be it in Spain or throughout the Crusades, and even today in modern Israel.
So maybe instead if the western and Muslim worlds can actually begin to dialogue and start to understand each other, maybe Israel could ultimately benefit.
Or as the President put it more eloquently, “For decades then, there has been a stalemate: two peoples with legitimate aspirations, each with a painful history that makes compromise elusive… But if we see this conflict only from one side or the other, then we will be blind to the truth: The only resolution is for the aspirations of both sides to be met through two states, where Israelis and Palestinians each live in peace and security. That is in Israel's interest, Palestine's interest, America's interest, and the world's interest.” And this in turn could be good for the Jews. Now comes the hard part. Waiting to see how the Muslim world responds.

The Greatly Unkosher Swine Flu

2009-04-27T10:00:00.000-04:00

There is a wonderful scene in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, where Robin Hood slams down a boar on a large dining table in front of Prince John. The unflappable Prince, portrayed by the very Jewish Richard Lewis, mutters to himself, "Treif."
There is an old saying in Jewish tradition of how shellfish is treif, but pork is anti-Semitic. This tradition stems from its use throughout history as a means of humiliating Jews. So it is not surprising Jewish communities are stating how they are not too concerned with the Swine flu because we pray in kosher institutions.
But all kidding aside, the notion of pandemics raises not just a troubling concern for the worldwide community, but for Jews as well. It has not always easy to be a Jew in times of great uncertainty. One of the greatest examples of this was the black plague where an estimated third of all of Europe died. Yet it appeared many Jews were spared this horrendous disease because they bathed frequently and worked hard to keep rats (another non-kosher animal) out of their homes. Sadly many Christian communities took this survival as an indicator of how Jewish communities were poisoning the wells of the local Christians and went on to destroy many of the surrounding Jewish communities. Though we should note there are still some in the world today who are blaming Jews for the swine flu despite our persistent historical aversion to all things pork (See link below).
Blaming the "other" for one's problems appears to be an inherent part of the human condition including the ever-present accusation of orchestrating the financial collapse traumatizing many of the world's economies.
So in an age of pandemics, epidemics, and economic implosions, it would be my fondest hope that the world would learn from its history and focus on actual causes and not so blindly blame those who would prefer pastrami on rye to ham on white.
At least for the swine flu, the doctor says have a bowl of bubbe's chicken soup with knaydelach, which should work even on the un-kosherly named H1N1.

http://www.adl.org/main_Arab_World/cartoons_052009.htm

Lost in Translation

2009-04-03T09:47:00.000-04:00

Recently there was a minor flap about the DVD subtitles used for "Let the Right One In" a Swedish Vampire movie. The movie is about the friendship between Oskar and Eli, a two hundred year old vampire child. Apparently the producers changed the subtitles from the original release for the DVD essentially dumbing down a more lyrical translation for a broader audience.
Reading about this controversy reminded me of issue of translation. As one of my professors in Rabbinic school liked to say, "all translations are interpretation." What we tend to forget whenever reading a translation of any text, but especially canonical literature like the Hebrew Bible, is somewhere along the line, an editor or editors made decisions about how to interpret words, phrases, and ideas. For the most part, these interpretations tend to be fairly innocuous, however, on occasion, it can be theologically significant, like the decision to translate a word as 'virgin' as instead of 'young woman.' All the more reason why it is worthwhile to learn more than one language. And if this is not possible, to at least look at multiple translations to see if and where there is consensus and disagreement.
This is in part what I find so wonderful about the Jewish approach. We may begin with the Bible, but only as a means of a broader sacred conversation. How we interpret the literature is as important as what is contained within its words. We may just need the help of a few lexicons to guide us along the way. For how we choose to translate and interpret our sacred writings really says more about us than it does about Scripture.

In Memory of Grandpa Ray

Purim 5769

2009-03-09T12:32:00.000-04:00

Sadly I learned on January 18, 2009 that I had not won the candidacy for the President of the United States. It would have been really nice if someone would have at least sent me a note, an email, or even posted it on facebook. I really did look foolish all decked out with my American flag suit all ready to be sworn in, with no one but my cat and Emily in attendance. Even my wife said she had better things to do, which isn’t all that uncommon a response to my adventures now that I think about it. The best I can do now is become Secretary of the Department of Kosher Animals and Gefilte Fish. Oh well.
I would like to thank all of my supporters for their hard work, time, and dedication to my campaign. They have stood by me since I announced that I was running for President three Purims ago. In honor of their efforts, I will now present to you, the voting public, my inaugural address.
My fellow Americans, I have come to this high position through a wave of popular support. It was you who stood with me in my stance against low-flow toilets, reality shows, and health food. It was you who joined in the chorus of saying, we have had enough and we are not going to take it anymore… then we took it. But that is another story.
It was you who said no longer will we tolerate people coming into Subway restaurants with a list for forty orders. Come on, how many sandwiches can the average American eat? One should only be allowed to order the amount of food for people present, unless of course, I am picking up lunch for the office or for Congress. They are a hungry bunch, not the office, but Congress.
Let us join together and bring about a better tomorrow by ending the years of bipartisanship. Hand-in-hand we Democrats, Republicans, Whigs, Tories, No-nothings, do-nothings, see-nothings, and hear-nothings can make this country great again. Let’s end the bickering once and for all. But if not would you at least let me know what you would like on your sandwich?
At least there is always 2012. Chag Purim Sameach.

In Memory of Moses

2009-02-23T09:09:00.000-05:00

Almost lost in the 2009 Oscar Telecast was the mention of the passing of one of Hollywood's great icons, Charlton Heston. Maybe it was because of his politics or his affiliation with the NRA that he received scant applause. Be that as it may, Heston became the face of both science fiction and the Bible in the 1950's and 60's.
In his rendition of Moses in Cecil B DeMille's The Ten Commandments, Heston created a character from Jewish antiquity in a way that was proud, strong, and decisive. This in a time when modern Jews were either relegated to secondary characters on screen at best, or were totally removed altogether. The Communist scare was in full swing in the U.S. and in Hollywood, and the only Jews allowed to be portrayed were those from long ago. At the same time, Israel had only been in existence for eight years while the Holocaust still fresh in Jewish minds. Jews were moving en mass to the suburbs, and as a result of all of this we were at a crossroads in terms of our Jewish identities.
So to see our hero so boldly portrayed, if slightly over the top, helped us to feel a sense of pride in ourselves and our ancestry we had not felt for two thousand years. There have been other actors to play Moses on the big and little screen since, like Sir Ben Kingsley, Mel Brooks and others, but there will always be a special place at least in my heart for Heston's. Plus you can watch him on television every year right around Passover part those seas one more time. Farewell Moses, we'll miss you.

Critics

2009-02-05T14:14:00.001-05:00

I have often turned to movie critics to help me ascertain whether or not a movie is worth both the time and the money. This has becoming increasingly important to me not just because of the rise in cost of movie tickets, but also because of how much babysitters now charge. Sadly, an evening out is not as cheap as it used to be.
One of the critics I tend to lean upon is Roger Ebert of "thumbs up / thumbs down" fame. I like Ebert in part because he tends to review a movie by placing it in context of both what the movie is and how it relates to movies of similar goals. For example if a movie tries to be a romantic comedy, how does it compare with the likes of When Harry Met Sally? Or if it is a mindless comedy, is it funny like Animal House or Airplane or Clerks? I have found critics who review movies in this vein tend to give a more honest review than those who review them based on their own expectations or even their own egos rather than based on the merits of the movie.
But as much as I enjoy these reviews, what has always fascinated me are the responses to these reviews. Almost universally, if someone dislikes a review, they write responses filled with passion not against the review, but instead against the critic. To them the critic is an evil figure for not liking the movie as much as the individual did. Or the critic is incompetent because they liked a movie they should not have. People take it very personally when they are at odds with a movie critic.
The reason why I mention this is because one of the main roles we have as Jews is to serve as societal critics. We have acquired this tradition from our prophets and sages who compel us to pursue justice by righting the wrongs in society. A prophet is usually the last person people want to see because the prophet will generally tell people what they are doing wrong.
I think part of the reason for the long tragic history of Jewish suffering is due to this notion of Jews as critics. We are a living reminder of the world not as it is, but as to how it ought to be. This means our existence can make others feel both guilty and uncomfortable. However, rather than dealing with these emotions, they instead attack the messenger; much in the same way a critic is vilified.
So I encourage you, next time you hear someone say something you do not like, think to yourself: is it the person delivering the message, the message, or how the message makes you feel about yourself. For in the end, the critic’s message much like the teachings of Judaism can only be received by those truly willing to listen.

Jewish Ritual Life

2009-02-04T16:23:00.000-05:00

Here are some of my previous posts about a variety of Jewish rituals and ritual life:

Kiddush
Challah
Shabbat Candles
Chevrei Kaddisha
Shiva
Mikveh
Kever Avot
Havdallah
Tisha B'Av and Tu' B'Av
Counting the Omer
Jewish Names

More to come - Stay Tuned

Jews and the Vatican

2009-01-26T18:32:00.000-05:00

20 years ago, Richard Williamson, a British bishop in the Catholic Church, was excommunicated along with three others because they were consecrated without papal consent. The rehabilitation of these bishops would normally be a simple part of Vatican procedure by Pope Benedict XVI, except for one small problem. The problem is Williamson is on record stating that at most, 200,000-300,000 Jews died in Auschwitz, and that these Jews were not gassed by the Nazis. Williamson is in a word, a Holocaust denier.

The plan of many Holocaust deniers basically involves attacking the facts of the most well documented event in world history. By arguing the numbers and means of the Holocaust are incorrect, they are trying to prove that it is a historical fallacy made up by the Jews. They do this with the hopes of delegitimizing the establishment of the State of Israel, which they erroneously believe was only founded because the world felt guilty about the Holocaust.

What is so scary about this is the number of people who believe these Holocaust deniers. What is also so scary is how many eye witnesses to these atrocities are dying off. I mention this in part because this past week, I officiated at the funeral of Rachel Engelman, beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, friend, and Holocaust survivor. Rachel's story is similar to many who survived the wellspring of anger generated out of Germany and Eastern Europe towards the Jews. This anger in many ways is rooted in the very teachings of the Catholic Church by the way, as is illustrated in the book Constantine's Sword. Rachel survived by hiding under a stair case in a factory in Budapest for two years. Rachel survived by ignoring orders from German soldiers, and by ripping the yellow star off of her clothes. Rachel survived when so many others did not.

By agreeing to rehabilitate Williamson into the Church, Pope Benedict is spitting on Rachel's grave and the graves of all of the other victims of this senseless violence and hate. As a man who speaks of reconciliation and peace one would hope Pope Benedict would re-think his decision. For words mean little when actions speak volumes.

If there is a silver lining, it is the possibility that German authorities are investigating Williamson to see if he broke German law by denying the Holocaust. One could only wish the Vatican would do the same.

Make 'Em Laugh, Make 'Em Holy

2009-01-15T12:23:00.000-05:00

Lately on my blog, I have been pretty much exclusively focused on the events unfolding in Gaza. As a rabbi, a Jew, and a strong supporter of Israel, it is hard not to be thinking about Israel especially when she faces such great challenges.

That being said, I had the opportunity last night to take a breather and smile a little because instead of watching CNN, I spent the evening enjoying PBS’s new documentary ‘Make ‘Em Laugh’ hosted by Billy Crystal. 'Make 'Em Laugh' looks at the history of comedy in American pop culture. Last night's episode focused on the evolution of both stand-up comedy and situation comedies.

I expected to see a narrative history of the development of comedy, with the hope that many Jewish comedians would be mentioned. With the latter, I was not disappointed, as Jews have played a vital role in American comedy since their vaudeville days. With the former though, I was a bit surprised as the narrative seemed to almost jump around from time periods and topics through an associative train of thought. Being the fan of history that I am, I initially had some trouble following how they went directly from the Simpsons to I Love Lucy.

But thinking about it more, I came to realize the series is almost Talmudic in its approach to examining comedy. One train of thought simply leads to another through intricate connections, which is how you can go from the Dick Van Dyke show directly to Seinfeld or visa versa.

In this sense, all forms of comedy are intertwined, with comedians, writers, and actors all being heavily influenced by one another. Judaism is very much the same. We are certainly an evolving tradition, but we do not create in a vacuum. What we do, say, eat, practice, and live as Jews should be understood in the evolution of Jewish tradition and interpretation. In this way, we are a very organic and vibrant tradition just like American comedy.

I am concerned that sometimes people look at Judaism as a stagnant religion with little to offer them in their modern circumstance. They think of Judaism as a tradition either solely focused on the past or on the constant theme of suffering. The truth is Judaism really is a religion all about the future and the promises of better days to come. But unlike many sit-coms, which have become dull and predictable for the most part, Judaism still has a lot of humor and surprises left in her. All you need to do is become part of the ‘live-audience’ and join in the celebration.

Here We Go Again

2009-01-08T08:45:00.000-05:00

Two rockets landed in Israel. One of them in a retirement home. Two Israelis were slightly injured, countless others terrified. Sounds like old news. In a way it is, and in a way it is not because these rockets were not fired from Gaza, but from Lebanon, landing in the northern Israeli city of Nahariya.
It now appears that one or two break-off factions of Hezbollah have joined in the fighting, though no one has taken official responsibility for these rockets as of yet. But it does open up the possibility of a two front war, though Israel has expressed it has no desire for this whatsoever. We should note Hezbollah's missiles are even more powerful, can travel farther than those under the control of Hamas, and are capable of inflicting even greater damage and terror.
The Lebanese government has also strongly condemned these attacks as it does not want another conflict with Israel like in 2006, which decimated much of Southern Lebanon. The rockets were most likely fired as a demonstration of solidarity with the ongoing battle in Gaza.
This of course gets to the heart of the problem. Israel is surrounded on several sides by differing extremist groups all with the same ideology of making life as miserable for Israelis as possible. Instead of demonstrations, what do extremists do? They fire rockets hoping to cause as much collateral damage as possible. How does one retaliate in a 'proportional' way to such hate? This is not Ghandi's India. This is not Mandela's South Africa. This is the reality of the Middle East.
The problem for Israel is that in world opinion many simply do not seem to understand, to quote Golda Meir, "We don't want wars, even when we win." Israel does not want this. Israel wants security. Israel wants quiet. Israel wants peace.
I am asked on occasion, what then is the solution? Unfortunately, as Golda Meir so prophetically proclaimed in her 1957 statement to the National Press Club in Washington, "Peace will come when the Arabs will love their children more than they hate us."
Until then, Israel will always have to be prepared for war, no matter how much she desires peace.

Related to this topic there is a fascinating analysis of the ongoing crises between Israel and Gaza explaining how it is so much more than a local conflict. The article is by Sally Buzbee, Chief of Middle East News for The Associated Press. Feel free to follow the link:
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/01/07/world/AP-ML-Mideast-Gaza-Stakes-Analysis.html

Roseanne Barr

2009-01-05T16:27:00.000-05:00

As reported in the Jerusalem Post http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1230733139909&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull:
In response to Israel’s war with Hamas in Gaza, Roseanne Barr in a recent post on her blog, compared Israel to the Nazis as well as to the apartheid state of South Africa.
Ms. Barr is certainly entitled to her opinions about Israel’s actions in Gaza, but her comparisons are not only disturbing, but also downright indefensible. Nazis by definition were primarily Germans, under the leadership of Adolph Hitler, who sought total domination of Europe and the extermination of an entire people. 11 million people died in Nazi death camps. This included six million Jews as well as millions of handicapped individuals, communists, members of opposition parties, gypsies, homosexuals, as well as countless others. Thus even to bring up the term Nazi when looking at the Middle East conflict is not only deliberately inflammatory, but incredibly bad use of analogy. Nazis engaged in genocide.
So, Ms. Barr, if you wish to mention the term 'Nazi', please use it in reference to Darfur or Rwanda, not to Israel. By doing so, you are only denigrating the struggle for security and peace and adding nothing new or helpful to the conversation. And worse than that, you are denigrating the memory of those 11 million who died at the hands of the Nazis simply because of who they were and for no other reason.
Israel is nothing like the Nazis. They are not seeking to slaughter millions of Palestinians. Israel gave up Gaza and has been targeting Hamas leadership, who by the way hides among civilians like cowards in schools, hospitals, and mosques.
Israel is also not like the apartheid state of South Africa. South Africans were viewed as inferior by the former British Empire and subjugated at every turn. Palestinians in many ways have only to look at themselves in the mirror to understand their plight, as any person who has studied history would understand.
True Israel has made many imperfect policy decisions, and will most likely continue to do so in the future. And we as a Jews and as concerned citizens of the world certainly have every right to question her decisions, but what we should not do in good conscience is call her either a “Nazi State” or an “Apartheid State,” because both of these statements are simply put: false, misleading, incorrect, and down right wrong.
My recommendation is to come up with a new analogy. How about: Israel is the only democracy in the middle east and is doing what it thinks is right to defend her citizens from unwarranted attacks by a group of terrorists who want nothing more than to drive all Israelis into the sea. Oh wait, that is what is actually going on and not analogous at all.

Gaza Continued

2009-01-03T08:49:00.000-05:00

Here is a post I found interesting. It raises a question about the Palestinian situation and their choice of weapons of terror over feeding their population
http://sleppysr.blogspot.com/2008/12/food-versus-missiles.html

Operation Cast Lead

2008-12-29T18:26:00.000-05:00

Each year at Temple Emanu-El, staff members are assigned to facilitate the lighting of our outside menorah on all eight nights. The final night happened to be mine, as I was returning from vacation that day. Right after we finished singing a few songs and lighting the last candles, a videographer for one of our local news stations approached. Though he initially asked about the meaning of Hanukkah, his real question for the nightly news was about operation Cast Lead, Israel’s current military campaign in the Gaza Strip.
The name Cast Lead is a reference to Hanukkah because in preparation for Hanukkah molten hot lead was poured into molds to make dreidels. Of course this is a double entendre in a way because bullets are often manufactured using the same technique.
I think the videographer might have been caught slightly off-guard by my response. Instead of the usual, we pray for an end to the violence, I basically articulated the argument that Israel has the absolute right to defend herself from outside attacks.
When people look at the current Israeli-Palestinian conflict, they often think of it in terms of David and Goliath, with Israel somehow being Goliath, and her attacks against terrorists as being disproportionate. Yet those who make these comparisons almost invariably fail to mention that this attack was not instigated by Israel, and the last time we in the United States were attacked by a foreign threat, we invaded not one country, but two. People are also quick to forget that Israel peacefully gave up sections of the Gaza Strip in an attempt to establish more peaceful relations with the Palestinians. The result: kidnappings and more violence.
Israel’s goals in this operation are straightforward as indicated in an opinion piece on ynetnews.com by Ron Ben-Yishai http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-3645007,00.html Israel wants to establish a long-term ceasefire with Hamas, end the rocket attacks, stop the military escalation, hopefully be able to finally bring Gilad Shalit home, and end the terror attacks near the border. Israel, as it has demonstrated in the past, will attack when provoked. But the only way for the violence to truly end is if Hamas and the Palestinians renounce it as a form of conflict resolution. Until then, sadly, Israel probably has no other recourse that is accepted in the Middle East no matter what the U.N. might say.

Sylvester's Resolutions

2008-12-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

Jewishly speaking, our New Year occurs on Rosh Hashana. It is during that time especially from Rosh Hashana through Yom Kippur that we as Jews strive to return to God and our truer selves through the process of teshuvah.

Yet the impulse to make resolutions around this particular time of year is part of our innate nature as well, especially because it is so pervasive in the English speaking world. Even in Israel, where the New Year was months ago, Anglos can often be heard wishing each other a “Happy Sylvester". This tradition is tied to Saint Sylvester, an early pope of the Christian Church, who died around the year 300 on December 31^st.

Thus the secular New Year is very much in our consciousness, and when it approaches, we often make promises to ourselves. Some of the most popular include: losing weight, stop smoking, spend less money (especially since the credit card bills are arriving in the mail), or even to finally sit down and write that great American novel.

But by February or March, with the year’s gym membership paid up, we fall off the horse and return to our old patterns.

I have spent a lot of time pondering why we fail at so many of our resolutions, even though they are filled with good intentions. I think there are really three major reasons. The first is because it is natural for us to return to our normal patterns. It takes a tremendous amount of effort to break out of habits, because they are in fact habits. The second is, I think, because we tend to be very ambitious in our resolutions. We don’t resolve to lose three or four pounds, no, we resolve to lose twenty pounds in two months. It is just simply too unrealistic. And the third reason is because we focus on just one area of ourselves. Stopping smoking while not finding something else to fill in the void, just leaves one not only empty but tempted as well.

In response to this, I have come up with a proposal for myself and maybe for you as well. First of all, I think one needs to set reasonable achievable goals. As any psychologist will tell you, success builds upon success. Secondly one needs to set up resolutions that are not only physical in nature, but also spiritual, emotionally satisfying, and intellectual as well. The more we wish to improve, the more opportunities should come our way everyday.

With this in mind, this coming New Year, I have decided rather than be ambitious in scope, to be ambitious in quantity. And being a list person, here they are in no particular order:

1. To be able to run a 10K. After watching ‘Run Fatboy Run,’ I thought, why not me. But running a marathon is not only incredibly arduous, but also extremely ambitious. Maybe I should start with a small distance and see how my body holds up. Plus I wouldn’t mind losing a few of these Rabbi pounds that seem to have come my way.

2. Be more patient.

3. Be more loving and appreciative especially of my wife and daughter.

4. Keep in touch regularly with my friends. Hopefully Facebook will be helpful in this. Besides, it is wonderfully addictive.

5. Learn something new everyday.

6. Become a better guitarist. I know, this means I will actually have to take time to practice.

7. And my personal favorite: engage in a creative endeavor everyday. I find when I have created something new, I just feel better throughout the rest of the day.

Good luck with your resolutions, and I will keep you posted as to how mine are going. And to all, a very Happy Sylvester.

Golf, a form of Jewish Worship?

2008-12-14T16:11:00.000-05:00

I am proud to announce that I just recently took up the game of golf. And no I have not played a round with a priest and a minister just yet. Instead I purchased a set of used clubs from our local golf exchange store where the salespeople were friendly and extremely helpful. This was in stark contrast to the giant box golf stores I went to where I found the salespeople to be condescending and quite rude. I won't say which store it was, but it rhymes with "dolfwith."

Since I purchased the clubs I have played a grand total of two rounds over the past six months. But in those two rounds, I discovered something quite intriguing. I have found that my time on the links gave me a greater appreciation for Jewish prayer.

Aside from the beautiful nature of the courses in the Tucson desert, and my constant prayers that my drives would not veer so far to the right that they actually hit houses, I began to see the correlation between prayer and golf.

First of all, I know no one can just show up at a course twice a year and expect to shoot par or better or even necessarily under 100. This is quite similar to Jewish prayer. One term for prayer is avodah, which literally means 'work.' In order to have a successful worship experience like a good round of golf, one really needs to take the time to practice.

Also golf, like prayer is a private experience done in a communal setting. Think about it, it is just you and the ball (insert Chevy Chase saying 'na,na',na'), while gathered with three other people, all hoping to accomplish the same task.

And golf, like prayer, also involves a lot of shmoozing. No wonder why so many Jews play the game.

Of course this metaphor only works so well. Unlike golf, one does not need any additional equipment, though there are times in the Temple building where I think a beverage cart would come in handy.

I'll let you know the next time I head out to hit the links. Hopefully it will be sometime before next Rosh Hashana.

The Kosher Steve Martin

2008-11-27T07:42:00.001-05:00

I recently read Steve Martin's autobiography Born Standing Up. I first heard of the book while listening to an interview of Steve Martin on NPR. While reading his book, I discovered some interesting history about Mr. Martin like how he honed his skills while working as a youngster in the magic shops of the newly opened Disneyland.

Steve's stand-up career was a little before my time. Growing up, I always thought he was part of the original Saturday Night Live cast. It was only later that I came to appreciate the number of times he instead hosted the show using his own form of anti-comedy comedy. King Tut was always one of my favorites.

But reading Steve's analysis of the evolution of his stand-up career got me to thinking about the use of humor from the pulpit. I still firmly believe that humor is one of the greatest gifts God has ever given us. Why else would God have given us the platypus or gefilte fish? The ability to laugh at the absurd and unexpected is one of life's great coping mechanisms.

In some ways I view humor from the pulpit in a way akin to that of the stand-up comedian. We are both on a stage in front of a mostly welcoming audience. Now of course the goal of the stand-up comedian is to make the audience laugh and maybe even think, whereas the goal of the rabbi is to help uplift the congregation, and maybe get them to think about things in a new by using stories, interpretations, history, and the use of the occassional joke or really bad rabbinic pun.

The trick with humor in either case, I have found, is all about timing. For example: sometimes I use humor too much with the result being all the congregants remember are the jokes rather than the subject or lesson. Sometimes I use humor too little, so that by the time the punchline arrives, the laughs are sparse because no one saw the joke being set up. But on those rare occasions, I have exactly the right mixture of humor and levity, with one leading subtly into the other.

I admire great stand-up comedians like the late great George Carlin, Steve Martin, both of whose books I have read, Robin Williams, Richard Pryor, the anti-comedian Andy Kaufman, Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy, Sarah Silverman, and one of my personal favorites Steven Wright. Of course I would be remiss if I did not mention all of those great Jewish comedians of the borscht belt and vaudeville who laid the path for many of today's comedians as well like Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Grouco Marx and the Marx Brothers, Henry Youngman, Woody Allen, and the list goes on an on http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Jewish_comedians.

But in the end, I think a really good comedian, like a good sermon, in between the laughs helps give the listener real insight into the human condition. Now if only I could find a way to turn down the lights in the sanctuary, pass out drinks and hors d'oeuvres for my one man juggling, guitar playing, drashing show. All I need now is to a good dummy for my ventriloquist act. Maybe I'll start with a talking gefilte fish.

Halloween Malaise

2008-11-16T18:44:00.000-05:00

No this isn’t what you think. This is not a debate about whether or not Jewish kids should or should not participate in trick-or-treating, or whether or not Halloween should be renamed to Purim-in-the-Fall. Instead it is just a simple complaint that Christmas season now officially begins right after the end of Halloween on November 1st. This does not even include the fact that I saw decorations going up in our local mall in August, which for us in Tucson is kind of weird because it is still only 100 degrees outside at that time.
With Thanksgiving, a Jewish holiday by the way, already consumed, I am worried that many fall celebrations are going to fall prey to this voracious beast of winter consumerism. It will not be long until the winter shopping season begins not in November, but just past Labor Day. This means the Christmas shopping season could engulf Columbus Day, Diwali, United Nations Day, Boss’ Day, Grandparents’ Day, Veteran's Day. Most concerning though, if this happens our secular-religious calendar could swallow whole the Jewish fall observances of Rosh Hashana, Tzom Gedaliah, the 10 Days of Repentance, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret, and Simchat Torah in the similar fashion to how Hanukkah has now become inexorably tied to Christmas.
Just a thought.

Everything I needed to Know about Judaism I learned from the Simpsons, South Park, and Family Guy

2008-11-11T18:04:00.000-05:00

Here are just few episodes from the cartoon world that I think give hilarious insight into the Jewish condition. Now I know some of you might be troubled by how Jews are depicted both in South Park and in Family Guy, but personally I am a fan. I think some of their insights are absolutely hilarious, and I have used these and other episodes to teach valuable lessons to 8th grade and confirmation students (I hope).
But look at the ratings ahead of time. And please if you are easily offended, don’t say you weren’t warned.

The Simpsons:
1. Like Father, Like Clown (Season 3)
The story of what happens when Lisa and Bart attempt to reconcile
Krusty, a self described lapsed Jew, and his father Rabbi Hyman Krustofski. My favorite part is Lisa’s description of what rabbis desire above all else.

2. Today I am a Clown (Season 15)
See what happens when Krusty discovers he is not considered a
member of the Jewish community, and the lengths he goes to become a
Bar Mitzvah.

3. You Gotta Know When to Golem (Season 18; Treehouse of Horror XVII)
A modern twist on an ancient Jewish myth. Plus Fran Drescher makes an
appearance.

4. Homer the Heretic (Season 4)

Not a bad way to explain the evolution of Reform Judaism. Plus have you noticed the only character in the Simpsons universe with more than three fingers is God?

5. Bart Sells His Soul (Season 7) A great set induction piece into a conversation about what is a soul

South Park:
1. The Passion of the Jew (Season 8)
Probably the best, most thoughtful response to the Passion of the Christ
that I have seen

2. Cartmanland (Season 5)
A brilliant retelling of the story of Job

Family Guy:
1. When You Wish Upon a Weinstein (Season 2)
Peter’s prejudices about Jews ain’t so bad. Too bad it deemed so inappropriate by Fox that it was not aired on its original date, and did not appear until 3 years later.

Have some latkes or knishes while you watch

Campaign Coverage 2008

2008-11-05T16:06:00.000-05:00

One of the most insightful summations of the historic 2008 election I have read:
http://www.miamiherald.com/living/columnists/dave-barry/story/756596.html

Here are some classic articles from my own campaign for president. Oh well there is always 2012.

Purim 5768

Purim 5767

Purim 5766

Da Vinci Code

2008-11-04T17:04:00.000-05:00

When I started to think about it, I find the Da Vinci Code, to be quite extraordinary in how it has captured the world’s imagination. Part of the reason for this is because the central premise of the book is not new at all. The central premise is probably at least twenty years old if not older as is articulated in the nonfiction book Holy Blood, Holy Grail by Baigent, Leigh, and Lincoln. Therefore maybe the Da Vinci Code’s popularity is not because of its premise.
Maybe it is because of its prose. Dan Brown certainly writes in a very engaging way to say the least. He gets you hooked with very short chapters where it seems that the main characters are always in a state of extreme peril. But other writers have written this way for many years as well, without the same degree of success. So maybe it is not the prose. Could there be another possibility for why the book is so popular?
Perhaps it has to do with historical reality when the book first appeared. Think about what was going on when the novel first came out. At the time this thrilling novel first appeared on bookshelves, we were being inundated by the media about the ever-growing abuse scandal within the Catholic Church.
It seemed as if every day new men and women were coming out of the wood work making statements and suing the church over abuses that had occurred over the past several decades. This in and of itself was quite disturbing. But what made the story all the more incredible were the assertions that the Church covered it up. People claimed that the Church knew about what was going on and instead of dealing with it, they would instead quietly move priests from community to community, never formally acknowledging that there was a problem.
And while this was going on, the Da Vinci Code came out, asserting that the Church was involved in the greatest historical cover-up of all time. No wonder why it captured the imagination of a world audience. The abuse scandal made it seem plausible that if the church could cover that up, what else could it be hiding? Now anything seems possible, even the divinity and bloodline of Christianity’s Lord and Savior.
But the Catholic Church is only one of many organizations targeted with conspiracy theories. Often times these theories come out of a belief that there is an insidious power seeking to undermine one’s best efforts. Or because of a lack of conclusive evidence or sometimes in spite of conclusive evidence, there are those who believe that there is a worldly cabal of some sort hiding secrets and arranging world events. We saw this with the assassination of JFK, with Area 51, and more recently with 9/11.
The problem with these theories, aside from their ability to grossly distort the historical truth, is that they often generate tremendous amounts of attention, and mask our ability to deal with actual substantive issues. This is in part because it is easier to focus on supposed cover-ups and conspiracies because they capture the imagination. This is what helps makes television shows like the X-Files and 24 so very popular.
Just ask yourself, which is more interesting, the notion that we need to become more aware of how much energy we consume, or the idea that the automotive industry in collusion with oil companies, is hiding a car that gets 100 miles to the gallon? What is more fascinating: the notion that the Airforce is constantly testing new aircraft designs, or that the pieces falling from the sky are actually UFO’s? Or what is more enticing, the notion that Germans systematically slaughtered 11 million people, or that only a few hundred thousand Jews died from typhus, but played it up to get world sympathy in order to justify their conquering of the land of Palestine?
Conspiracies abound - but the Truth is out There - just waiting to be uncovered rather than made up.

The Cheshvan Blues

2008-11-01T16:54:00.000-04:00

Mar Cheshvan is understood by rabbinic tradition to be a “bitter” month because it is bereft of holidays. This is in stark contrast to Tishrei, which has a plethora (a term I learned from the Three Amigos – who says nothing good comes out of Hollywood?), like Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot.
That being said, it can be just a bit overwhelming with so many sacred and wonderful experiences all crammed in together. Whoever came up with the idea of taking a month off from sacred celebrations (excluding Shabbat of course), was actually a fairly brilliant person (or God). They rank up there in my book with those who invented frying just about any type of food, as well as those who came up with the idea of mixing chocolate with peanut butter, or chocolate with almonds, or chocolate with wafers, or chocolate with more chocolate. You get the idea.
So for me personally, there are no Cheshvan blues. Besides who has the time to think about it anyway? And as an added bonus, its sweeps, so a month of Heroes and Simpsons uninterrupted.
Sweet

Jewish Movie Recommendations

2008-10-01T15:50:00.000-04:00

This is a somewhat limited list of Jewish films that are worth seeing. Many are quite good, though some are better than others. You can use this as a starting point…

Jewish Musicals
Fiddler on the Roof
The Jazz Singer (any of three versions)
Funny Girl
Fiddler on the Roof
Yentl
West Bank Story

The Holocaust
The Diary of Anne Frank
The Hiding Place
Voyage of the Damned
Au Revoir, les Enfants
Schindler’s List
The Pianist
Paper Clips
Left Luggage
Europa, Europa
The Nasty Girl
Jew-Boy Levi
Max
The Harmonists
Counterfeiters
The Pawnbroker
The Great Dictator
God on Trial

Jewish Families
Brighton Beach Memoirs
Avalon
Lost in Yonkers
A Walk on the Moon
Keeping up with the Steins

Anti-Semitism
Gentleman’s Agreement
Crossfire
Chariots of Fire
School Ties
Constantine’s Sword
Protocols of Zion

Old Jewish Neighborhoods
The Chosen
King of the Roaring Twenties
Lepke
Once Upon a Time in America
Bugsy
Hester Street
A Stranger Among Us
Price Above Rubies

Jewish Humor
Frisco Kid
Life is Beautiful
The Great Dictator
Keeping the Faith
Crossing Delancey
The Producers (either version)

Israel
Sword in the Desert
Exodus
Cast A Giant Shadow
Munich
The Band’s Visit
Waltz with Bashir

Biblical Judaism
David and Bathsheba
The Ten Commandments
Solomon and Sheba
The Bible
The Prince of Egypt

Jewish Dilemmas
Walk on Water
The Quarrel
Everything is Illuminated
King of the Corner
Crimes and Midemeanors
Ghengis Cohn
Liberty Heights
God on Trial

Others of Note:
The Life and Times of Hank Greenberg
The Benny Goodman Story

If you have any other recommendations, please let me know and I will gladly add them to the list.

New Temple Fundraiser

2008-09-28T12:16:00.000-04:00

Next Year's Yom Kippur Appeal:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J1Y50hMT8ss

Purim 5768

2008-03-02T19:40:00.000-05:00

As many of who have been following my presidential campaign bid know, my poll numbers have been somewhat lagging as of late, though I still did better than Rudy Giuliani in Florida. Because of this, I am proud to announce a change in my campaign strategy. I am now officially the status-quo candidate. Forget change. Forget new directions. I want business as usual.
Give me lobbyists run amuck. Give me low flow toilets. Give me bridges to nowhere. Heck, even give me pork … barrel spending that is, not the other kind. With this platform, I am sure to win. With everyone else for Change, my name will be memorable, at least according to my campaign manager Peanut the cat.
With that in mind, as I do each year right before Purim, here is a new list of my campaign promises to you.
First of all I promise to make the express lanes at grocery stores mandatory under the penalty of death. Ten items or less, means ten items or less. What is so hard about that concept to grasp?
As your president, I will also end this diet, carb, no-carb, low-carb, exercise, no exercise, fish, no fish, count calories, don’t count calories, transfats, trans-solids, Trans Am, debate once and for all. I will have the newly formed Department of Frozen Pizza declare all foods that are fatty, deep-fried, salty, and tasty as completely and utterly healthy in all forms at all times. Fruits and vegetables will be outlawed, except when they can be produced through the aforementioned process. For further information see the Supreme Court’s recent ruling: latkes v. my waistline.
And last but certainly not least, I plan to declare illegal all ‘reality’ television shows. Some may say this is in direct contradiction to the First Amendment. To them I say, “Well la-de-dah,” or is it “doo-wah-diddy?” With the writer’s strike over, we are guaranteed to have fresh original dramas that are never recycled police procedures, courtroom dramas, or medical emergency shows. We will also have sit-coms that are always side-splittingly funny. So who needs yet another show of people competing against one another for America’s love, like siblings wrestling for a pat on the back from a neglectful parent? Speaking of which, I think I’ve got an idea for a new reality show. Can someone get Fox on the line?
So a vote for me means a vote not for someone else. And with your support we will absolutely not change anything, ever. Well except maybe our socks, because otherwise that could be kind of gross.
Chag Purim Sameach

Purim 5767

2007-02-28T19:42:00.000-05:00

For those of you who recall, last year around Purim, I announced my candidacy for President of the United States of America. I would like to note that because of my growing popularity, a large number of candidates have also declared their intention to run. So what makes me different from them you might be asking? While standing in a stupor in the breakfast cereal isle of our local grocery store, the answer came to me in a sugar rush.
First of all, I still think we should institute corporal punishment for whoever legalized low-flow toilets. But I would like to extend this to whoever also forced upon us low-flow showerheads. I still plan to declare any team from the University of Texas will be declared unilateral National Champions, though on the advice of my “Nebraska” council, I will graciously allow the University of Nebraska’s water-polo team to be declared co-champion every fourth year.
As your president, I will also work for a national license plate system, so that everyone’s cell-phone number will be exactly what is on his or her license plate. That way when they cut you off, you will be able to kindly call them with your hands free set to let them know, gently, your opinion of their driving. I will also make it mandatory for all movie theaters to place thing-a-ma-gigs and gizmos to block all cell-phone reception within two miles of a good movie with quiet dialogue. I will also work to expand the “no-call” list to also include the calling of wrong numbers as well.
Of course I should also state once and for all, my position on the most pressing issue facing this nation, the use of congressional jets by high level congressmen and women. For the record, I believe everyone in Congress, who does not support me, should have to fly low-cost carriers with at least three layovers before their final destination.
With these positions and growing buzz, though I think this might be because of a bee in my bonnet, I cannot possibly lose. And when I win, I promise to work for you, as hard as possible, at least during my daughter’s naps.
So at the 2009 inauguration in January, we as a people will all be able to unite together and say with pride those words so famously uttered by Charles DeGaulle, “How can you govern a country with 246 varieties of breakfast cereal?”
Happy Purim!

Purim 5766

2006-03-11T19:45:00.000-05:00

As Purim approaches, I have come to a major life decision. I have formed an exploratory committee, which consists of Peanut, my cat, and at least of three kids in The Olga and Bob Strauss Center for Early Childhood Education. As per their recommendation, aside from Timmy’s request for more grape juice, I am proud to finally make that big announcement you have all been waiting for. I am declaring my candidacy for the Presidency of these United States.
But Rabbi, you do not have any experience in public office.
“Pshaw,” I say. I have been running Temple Emanu-El for over two whole months, what other experience could I possibly need? I’ve got both Moxie and Chutzpah, my goldfish. Besides you have not even heard my platforms yet.
As your Rabbi … err … President, I promise to work very hard for you 24/7, twenty-four minutes / seven hours a week. I plan to institute a pie-throwing contest to eliminate our national debt. Any team from the University of Texas will be declared unilateral National Champions. Yiddush will be the mandatory language for all technical service operators, which will make them infinitely more understandable than they are now. I will not rest until I see the absolute elimination of low-flow toilets; pardon the pun. And you will all be invited to the Seder at the White House. Though I think we will make my Vice President hunt for the afikoman, which ya’ll all welcome to come hide anywhere in the Oval Office.
Besides that I also have tremendous foreign experience. I have personally tasted Chinese, Japanese, Ethiopian, French, Italian, Moroccan, Transylvanian, Cajun, Texan, Israeli, and Greek food, all in one sitting. Though I must admit that I did not feel too well afterward. I have also traveled extensively. I even left the State of Texas once, before moving to Arizona, but that is a whole other story.
So as you see, I am the perfect candidate, aside from being underage, grossly under qualified and completely inexperienced, but other than that, how hard could it possibly be? So with your permission, blessing, and economic support I ask, dare I say beg, you to please vote for me as the next President of your United States. Besides I have already been elected King of Shushan by unanimous decision. Ok so I am directing the Purim Spiel and gave the part to myself, but it is still going to go on my resume!
And when I win, we can all unite together and say with pride those words so famously uttered by JFK, “Ask not for whom your country can kvell, but for whom it can shed some nakhes.”

Kiddush

2006-01-05T14:16:00.000-05:00

Kiddush, which means “sanctification,” dates back to at least mishnaic times. It is the tradition of consecrating particularly holy days in Jewish tradition. The custom of using wine for Kiddush is based on the rabbinic reading of Exodus 20:8 “Remember the Sabbath day and keep it holy (le-kaddesho).”
Our tradition asks how do we remember the Shabbat to keep it holy? The answer according to the rabbis is “with wine” (BT Pesachim 106a). The reason for this may be because there is connection between Psalm 104:15 “wine gladdens the heart” and Shabbat which begins a time of great celebration, or it may be that by Talmudic times Jews were already celebrating Shabbat with wine. In either case, we have been sanctifying Shabbat and holy days with wine for at least the past two thousand years if not longer.
Wine is also enjoyed at many ceremonies including circumcisions, weddings, and it was even customary for a while to give mourners ten cups of wine while they were sitting shiva. However it should be noted that though our tradition encourages the consumption of wine, it greatly discourages over-imbibing alcohol of any type.
So what makes a wine kosher? I used to think a wine was kosher if it had the name Manischewitz written on it. The answer actually has to do with several elements in wine production. Firstly, there are certain additives from animals like gelatin used for clarifying wines. Thus for a wine to be kosher, it should not contain any of these additives at least in the final product.
Secondly there is the issue of who produces and handles the wine as well as when it is produced. Many wineries now have forms of rabbinic supervision, and will certify wines as kosher. This goes back to Mishnaic times and the concern about certain wines being used for idolatrous practices. Categories include yaiin nesech, wine poured on an idol and stam yainom, wine handled by those who believe in idolatry. There is also yaiin mevushal, cooked or boiled wine, but the process tremendously alters the flavor, aroma, and look of the wine.

Nowadays there are many varieties of wonderful kosher wine from regions and grapes throughout the world. Whether you crave Rieslings or Merlots, there is just about every type of kosher wine to fit your palate.

Challah

2006-01-01T19:07:00.000-05:00

In biblical tradition, challah was a portion of dough set aside for the priests as described in Numbers 15:18-21. The amount of challah to be set aside was never specified in the Torah. According to rabbinic tradition it was either1/48th or 1/24th part of the dough. Nowadays, since we no longer have the priestly offerings, when one makes challah, one is now supposed to set a portion of the challah aside and throw it into the fire.
There is even a bracha recited when casting aside the dough which ends with, “Who commanded us to separate hallah from the dough.” The mitzvah of separating challah is traditionally regarded as one of the three positive mitzvot incumbent upon women (the others include the lighting the Shabbat candles and niddah, the laws of family purity).
Challah also has a second traditional meaning as described in Exodus 29:23, Lev. 24:5, and II Sam. 6:19 as a loaf or “cake” of baked bread. From these readings, challah now is primarily associated with the special loaves made for holidays and Shabbat, usually from white flour that is twisted or braided. That being said, there is no law in Jewish tradition specifying the shape or style of a challah, or even its particular ingredients.
Traditional challah recipes usually use a large number of eggs, white flour, and sugar. There are also that use fewer eggs or are even eggless and replace white flour with whole wheat, oat, or even spelt. Sometimes honey or molasses is substituted for the sugar as a sweetener. The dough is then rolled into rope-shaped pieces which are braided with an egg-wash brushed on right before baking to add a golden sheen. Raisins can be added as well especially during Rosh Hashana as a symbol of a sweet New Year.
There are several interesting traditions associated with challah. For example Shabbat begins with the blessing of two challah loaves as a reminder of the double portion of manna the Israelites received from God while wandering in the wilderness. In some communities the challah is not even a braided loaf. Instead it is flat bread which most closely resembles pita as can be found in various Mizrahi Jewish communities.
Whatever your tradition is whether it involves lovingly handcrafted, frozen, or store-bought challahs, please make sure to add them to your Shabbat table. For even in our carb-conscious society, there is just something special about baked bread that adds extra significance to the meal. Plus it makes for great French toast on Shabbat morning.

Shabbat Candles

2006-01-01T17:38:00.001-05:00

Some of my earliest and best memories are of celebrating Shabbat together with my family. We would gather together around our table and light the candles, bless the wine, and enjoy challah. It was one of those rituals of childhood that I will always cherish, and continue my family here in Tucson as well. Many of us observe these same customs in our own homes. We sing the melodies and taste the fruit of the vine, but before we do all that, we gather to light the Shabbat candles.
The tradition of lighting the candles for Shabbat is part of what we do each week in our homes and our synagogue. It seems simple enough, light the candles and then recite the blessing. But there are many questions to this timeless ritual. So as part of an ongoing series, we will endeavor to answer some of your questions about home and synagogue rituals.
For instance why do we light the candles before reciting the bracha, when in almost every other instance we say the blessing first? Lighting fire is one of the thirty-nine forbidden categories of work on Shabbat, therefore we light the candles first, because once we say the blessing, it officially becomes Shabbat.
When should we light the candles? According to Moses Maimonides, the great twelfth century Jewish thinker, the candles should be lit no more than eighteen minutes before sunset.
Why do women traditionally light the candles? The mitzvah for lighting the candles applies both to men and women, but tradition states that the obligation falls more upon the shoulders of women because they are viewed as the center of Jewish life in the home. (Babylonian Talmud Shabbat 31b).
Why do we light two candles? Some follow the tradition that in the fourth commandment of the Ten Commandments there are two terms used with regards to how one is to observe Shabbat. The first is Zachor which means “remember” is in Exodus 20:8. Where as in the second rendition the term Shamor in Deuteronomy 5:12 is used, which means keep or guard. However two is not the only number for candles. Some light seven candles, a favorite number in Judaism, which has to do with the seven days of creation. Another option is some families start with two and add a candle for each new member of the family.
Why do we wave our hands three times and close our eyes when we recite the blessing? The waving of hands and the closing of eyes are related to inviting in the spirit of Shabbat to dwell in our midst. Closed eyes also symbolize an intense concentration or kavanah, focusing the body and mind on the wonderful experience that is Shabbat.

Chevrei Kaddisha

2006-01-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

When Jews first moved to America, they had few ties to the “Old Country.” They were free to begin to explore Judaism in new and interesting ways. Yet almost without fail the first institution they would establish in a community was not a Synagogue nor even a deli, but rather they would create a Chevrei Kaddisha also known as a burial society.
The Chevrei Kaddisha is a voluntary organization that attends the needs of the deceased. The mitzvot performed by members of a Chevrei Kaddisha are so important that they even take precedence over the study of Torah. Part of the reason why these mitzvot are so significant is because our tradition views this as the last righteous deed one can do for a person. Therefore when preparing a person for burial, it is to be done with diligence and care.
Burial societies in Judaism date as far back as Talmudic times, and are mentioned often in our literature. An example of this is in Ketubot 8b, which talks about how the community took care of one of its own because the ordeal was more than the family could bear.
We are now living in a society where death all to often is something we shy away from. It happens in hospitals and nursing homes and is spoken about in whispers and hushed tones. But our tradition has never viewed death in this way. Rather, death is viewed as an integral part of life, and by participating in the mitzvot done by the Chevrei Kaddisha, we acknowledge the sacredness and holiness of life.
The most important ritual done by the Chevrei Kaddisha involves the act of tahorah, or the ritual washing of the body. This is then followed by the ritual dressing of the body. These rituals are done with a sense of tzeniut or modesty, as it is performed by Jews of the same gender of the deceased.
Before entering the area where this is to be done, often times the members of the Chevrei Kaddisha will recite a prayer in Hebrew to remind them that they commanded to act with loving-kindness and righteousness towards the dead. They then wash their hands and begin the process. Once this is done the participants engage in several tasks including laying out the tachrichim, the linen burial shrouds; preparing the aron, the coffin; setting out the kittel, jacket; as well as arranging the remainder of the supplies as well. They then wash the body, prepare it for burial, and in some communities watch over it throughout then night. Through this all, the deceased is treated with respect and dignity. For in the end, a community achieves greatness not through the tasks that are easy, but instead in the ways it takes care of those at the fringes: the poor, the widow, the stranger, the orphan, and those who have died.

Shiva

2006-01-01T17:35:00.001-05:00

“Sara died in Kiriat-arba – now Hebron – in the land of Canaan; And Abraham proceeded to mourn for Sarah and bewail her.” (Genesis 23:2)
The Jewish custom of burying our loved ones who have died dates back to the very beginning of our tradition. Abraham buried Sarah. Aaron grieved over the loss of his sons Nadav and Avihu. David mourned for Jonathan and Saul, and Job rent his clothes in grieving for his children.
Funerals and burials we know well, but what may be less familiar to us is that in Judaism, mourning is viewed as a process that begins with death and does not really conclude until the following year. Upon learning of the death of a loved one it is customary to say, “Baruch Dayan Ha-Emet, Blessed be the true Judge.” This statement does not prevent us from anger or hurt, but helps the mourning process by acknowledging the death of a loved one.
Those who feel the loss most keenly are in a period of aninut, the stage between death and burial. Traditionally they are not obligated to fulfill a majority of mitzvot as they are to instead focus on all the details involved in burying a loved one.
The transition occurs immediately after the funeral where those most close to the deceased sit shiva. Shiva comes from the Hebrew word sheva, or seven. According to the Shulchan Aruch, the major compilation of halacha, one then sits shiva for seven days (Yoreh Deah 375:1). There are many customs associated with sitting shiva, which includes simple meals, covering the mirrors, sitting on low stools, and lighting a shiva candle, as Proverbs suggests, “The soul of the person is in the lamp of the Lord” (20:27).
Shiva reflects the time when the feelings of loss are the most intense. Therefore it is perfectly appropriate to spend that time in reflection, as one will encounter a variety of emotions. It is also the time when the community comes to those in mourning providing food for them and allowing them to say Mourner’s Kaddish at a shiva minyan.
During this time mourners should not attend go to work or attend to business concerns, or even attend to such tasks as cleaning the house. Instead it is a time to mourn with the hope of going through a healthy grieving process. To this end, shiva is followed by sheloshim where those grieving say kaddish at services for thirty days following the death of their loved one. Then at the end of the year it is customary to consecrate the marker of their loved one around the time of the first yartzeit, Jewish anniversary of their death.
There are many intricate practices associated with Jewish mourning, and each one is done with the utmost sense of respect and compassion both for those who have died as well as for those who are grieving. We encourage all of our members to attend shiva minyans to comfort those who are bereaved, and we encourage those who have lost loved ones to sit shiva for the full seven days. Because ultimately spending time in the presence of blessed memory will allow us to keep those memories alive and strive to be the people our loved ones would have wanted us to be.

Mikveh

2006-01-01T17:35:00.000-05:00

Judaism contains an ever-evolving set of traditions and customs. One of the more ancient and yet modern traditions is that of the mikveh. We find the first mention of mikveh in the Tanaach. “Only a spring, cistern, or collection (mikveh) of waters shall be cleansing” (Lev. 11:36). In this particular passage, mikveh has to do with the issue of when a person becomes ritually impure by coming into contact with unclean animals or foodstuffs. In order to become ritually pure again, the Israelites are to use the water from this mikveh in order to purify themselves.
An Israelite could become ritually impure for a variety of reasons. Whether it was because of childbirth, menstruation, coming into contact with the dead, or coming into contact with certain bodily fluids, the ritual immersion of a person in a body of water would serve as the means for their return ritual purity. Ritual purity in the Biblical context had to do with certain worship and communal rites. Some recent theories argue that mikveh was more about hygiene than ritual, which is an argument sometimes also made about Kashrut. However, the mikveh was always designed as a way to help the Israelites to achieve a level of holiness, when certain everyday acts, might distance them from God.
Since the destruction of the Second Temple in the year 70 CE, the mikveh has served as the means for those converting to Judaism. Brides and grooms also go to the mikveh, as well as families who are seeking to purify certain cooking and eating utensils.
However the mikveh is most commonly associated with niddah (family purity) since a wife, traditionally speaking, goes to the mikveh after her menstrual period before engaging in conjugal relations with her spouse. Because of this, the mikveh is most often associated with women in the Jewish community.
That being said, in a more modern context, the mikveh serves as a means for Jews, and those becoming Jews, to wipe their slate spiritually clean before beginning in a new endeavor such as conversion or marriage. The mikveh to us moderns is no longer just about niddah, it can serve us as a physical transformative element in our own lives, for any number of changes we might be going through.