Chanukkah

Darkness is not even the word to describe today's world, but "light up" with some chanuka spirit and let's take this moment to "glow" rather than hopelessly frown in depression.

Backround:

When the Second Temple in Jerusalem was looted and services stopped, Judaism was outlawed. In 167 BC Antiochus ordered an altar to zeus erected in the Temple. He banned brit milah (circumcision) and ordered pigs to be sacrificed at the altar of the temple (the sacrifice of pigs to the Greek gods was standard ritual practice in the Ancient Greek religion)

Antiochus's actions provoked a large-scale revolt. Mattityahu, a Jewish priest, and his five sons yochanan, Shimon, Eleazar, yonatan, and yehudah led a rebellion against Antiochus. yehudah became known as Yehuda HaMakabi ("Judah the Hammer"). By 166 BC Mattityahu had died, and yehudah took his place as leader. By 165 BC the Jewish revolt against the Seleucid monarchy was successful. The Temple was liberated and rededicated. The festival of Hanukkah was instituted to celebrate this event. yehudah ordered the Temple to be cleansed, a new altar to be built in place of the polluted one and new holy vessels to be made. According to the Talmud, unadulterated and undefiled pure olive oil with the seal of the kohen gadol (high priest) was needed for the menorah in the Temple, which was required to burn throughout the night every night. The Talmud tells over how one flask was found with only enough oil to burn for one day, yet it burned for eight days, the time needed to prepare a fresh supply of kosher oil for the menorah. An eight-day festival was declared by the Jewish sages to commemorate this miracle.

Is chanuka just another miraculous historical event… or is there perhaps an eternal message here for the individual as well as all of mankind?

The sages point out that we don't read any special texts on chanuka, rather we connect to the miracle through lighting our own lights. In other words, we are being asked to " ignite the spark within ourselves" through the physical action of kindling the menorah. How can we achieve this state of mind? This can be answered by focusing on the number eight. The number eight is central to the entire theme of chanuka. G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh, eight is the number that represents the super- natural aspect of g-d. The experience and mystical sensation of something beyond man's typical frame of reference- that's the ''eight experience"! the Hebrew word for eight is "shmona" which has the same root as the word "shemen" or oil. Oil holds the "power of eight" within it, therefore it floats on top of water (representative of the beyond nature aspect to shmona). Matityahu and his sons were referred to as the "chashmonaim" which is made out the words chet- shmona, again the number eight.

Getting beyond our nature and limitations in life, means focusing on the "eight" inside ourselves.  Realization that we can win the battles of life charges us with the energy to ignite the spark in our souls! This is what our ancestors did back then, this is what we must do today.

May we all merit to bond with the g-d in the fullest sense and achieve our personal goals as well as humanity's goal with the coming of mashiach speedily in our days!

A freilichen Chanukah! Happy Hanukkah!

Tu Beshvat

This coming Thursday is called טו בשבט which means the fifteenth of the month of shvat. The mishna tells us that according to baishillel this day is the birthday of the trees.  Just like birth represents a burst of new life, on this day as well the trees begin to slowly start blooming\blossoming again expressing the life holed up inside during the winter. It is customary to celebrate this day by not reciting tachnun (special prayer that’s generally not recited on official jewish holidays) as well as eating a variety of fruits and nuts. Here’s a possible insight into this unique holiday. There’s a verse in the Torah "כי האדם עץ השדה"- “for man is like a tree in the field”. Our sages explain that man is like an upside down tree. From a physical perspective our head is like the trunk while our arms and legs etc. represent the branches. On a deeper note, our mind is the source for the speech and actions that we carry out with our mouths, arms and legs. Depending on the kind of “field” we choose to “plant our seedling” ideas is the quality “fruit” our words and actions will “sprout” forth later down the line.Just like a healthy tree seeks firm roots from beneath, so should man seek “firm roots” in the one above, the source of all life! Celebrating the rebirth of the trees means celebrating our own rebirth. Celebrating that every day (really moment!) we are given the unique opportunity by Hashem to produce and actualize brand new ideas and enjoy the fruits of our own individual labor. When we eat our fruits on this special day, one can contemplate:  Just like these beautiful delicious fruits are products of a long process of growth for the fruit as well as the tree, so may our words and actions (“our fruits”) spread light and truth upon us, our friends,and the entire world. May we all merit to “sow roots embedded in truth” and bring forth everlasting fruits for all of mankind.

Purim

Thank g-d purim’s around the corner… here’s some unique insights into this awesome holiday. Background info:

In the year 3338 (423 BCE) the first Holy Temple is destroyed by the armies of King Nebuchadnezzar. At this time the majority of the Jews are exiled to Babylon and Persia (modern day Iran and Iraq). Fifty-one years later (372 BCE) Babylon falls to the Medes and Persians, and in 3392 (369 BCE) King Achashverosh of Persia ascends the throne, ruling over 127 provinces. See megilla for complete story!

What is the essence of purim, and how does it manifest itself through the special mitzvah commandments of the day? What is the unique message of purim to the jewish people at large, as well as the individual?

Perhaps the foundational idea lies within thewell known words of our sages. “chayavinishlevisumaybepuriyaaddiloyadabeinarurhamanlebaruch Mordechai” (one is obligated to become intoxicated with wine on purim till the point where he cannot differentiate between cursed is haman and blessed is Mordechai!). why does the torah want us to lose our ability to differentiate between good and bad (i.e. Mordechai and haman)?

To understand this, we’ll need to analyze what good and bad really are in the first place. As long as we live in a world void of true unity, there exists the concept of choice. There are two basic principles that choice existsapon. First, the “chooser” must be a separate entity from the “choices”. And second, choice is only possible if there are two choices to choose from. (the word for choice in Hebrew is “bichira” which starts with the letter bais [numerical value of two] to hint to this concept!). This means that there must be at least two different states of existence (physically/ conceptually) or else it would be impossible to choose. These two “states of existence” are “good” and “bad”. Through the power of choice man binds himself to one of these “states of existence” and internalizes it’s fundamental essence. This experience is constantly reoccurring with the progression of time. It’s our “choice” to choose consciously or subconsciously, but regardless man is constantly choosing. We chose our beliefs, thoughts, words and actions every moment. Positive choices strengthen our existence, while negative choices make us feel empty and unsturdy. From a slightly deeper angle, “bad” is the “state of existence” of “non-existence”, while “good” is the actual “state of existence”! Through evil choices one attaches himself to the reality of non-existence (or detaches himself from the reality of existence, depends which way you look at it) resulting in a slow process of inner self-dissolvement.

When the universe as well as g-d and mankind reach a state of absolute oneness, definitionaly there will be no more ability to chose! The “chooser” along with the “choices” will all become one entity! “existence” and “non-existence” will unite creating a new reality which we have absolutely no perception of from man’s current frame of reference! Astounding! Breathtaking! …Achdus (unity)!

With these ideas, perhaps we can elucidate the deep words of our sages mentioned above. The mind (or aspects of it) in it’s normal state is constantly differentiating. Differentiation necessitates “good” and “bad” as explained. For example, as soon as we meet someone we’re immediately trying to “pin a label” on him and assign him to some sort of “group”.  This acts as a barrier preventing us from seeing the unity of creation. Wine has the power to release the ability of the mind to differentiate, not only by removing our senses, but by awakening a deeper level of awareness… an awareness of this awesome oneness we’ve been discussing!

This is purim! Purim is about peeling away the surface level, superficial perception of the mind and revealing the true perception of reality “underneath”. Our sages teach us that purim is the only holiday which will stay with us in the days of mashiach. This is because purim holds within it a taste of the ultimate revelation of mashiach! Our “normal minds” don’t let us see g-d’s presence on a day-to-day basis, nature hides hashem’s “hand” but with the revelation of mashiach there will be a complete turnaround! The disguise of nature will twist into the most definitive evidence of g-d’s everlasting presence, the essence of unity, and a cohesive oneness never before experienced! Interestingly, in Hebrew the word for nature is “hateva”(86) which has the same numerial value as “elokim”(86), one of g-d’s names! The destribution of “shalochmanos” (gifts customarily given on the day of purim) as well as money to the needy (“maatanoslevyonim”) are not mere actions, rather the formation of new relationships between one another. Relationships of love and unity… the numerical value for the word love in Hebrew (“ahava”-13) is equal to the word “echad”(13) or one!The Talmud tells us that on purim “hadarvikibluha” , the jewish people recommitted to the torah, and as rashi (Talmudic scholar around 1040-1105) comments it was “from the love of the miracle”! A miracle which turned darkness into light, confusion into utmost clarity, and separation into unity! The “purim phenomena” is ongoing. Who can forget the final scream of the nazi cannibals at the Nuremberg trials- “Purim fest”. They know the truth as well as we do. As a nation as well as on an individual level, purim is the time for us to reunite and recommit. Unite as a people, unite with our souls, and unite with hashem! May we all merit to taste a little bit of this “true oneness” on purim, and live to experience the coming of mashiach speedily in our days!

A freilichenpurim!

Israel Museum

With my hands resting calmly on the glass,

My emotions were drawn deeply into the past

To behold Jewish artifacts from so long ago,

Rekindled the flame within my soul

To experience the different traditions,

Be it Europe, America or the Middle East

To realize the spectacular beauty of our mission,

Changing the World- with Wisdom, love and peace

The ancient scriptures from the Dead Sea scrolls,

Breathtaking artwork, and sculptures in various molds

A place where past and present can be united,

The many elements of the Jewish nation undivided

I could almost hear the soft whisper of one lone tallit,

"Oh beloved Jew rap yourself inside me just one more time"

The "tinkling" of Tzedaka coins from a worn out wallet,

 Joining in to this great historical chime

My mind was racing, my heart burning with desire,

Let the showcases burst forth, and bring humanity ever higher!

The message of the Israel Museum suddenly became loud and clear,

Our connection to G-d, is truly everlasting and so meaningfully dear

Parshas Behar- Bechukosai

"אם בחוקתי תלכו ואת מצותי תשמרו ועשיתם אותם"

"If you will follow my decrees and observe my commandments, and perform them" ("then I shall send rain etc")

Why does the torah single out decrees "chukim", as opposed to mentioning laws and testimonies (eidut umishpatim) as well?

The rebbe of chabad explains that this comes to teach us that even the mitzvot which are logically understandable to some extent, must be performed with the same mindset as "chukim"- decrees. The ultimate drive of the person fulfilling the mitzvah, must be "because this is G-d's command", thereby tapping into the "chok" aspect of the mitzvah. When one fulfills a mitzvah for logical reasons, there is a risk that tomorrow he may change his mind and disagree with the torah's logic, and eventually cease to perform the mitzvah. On top of that, mitzvah-fulfillment based on one's personal ideology and comforts is really a commitment to oneself, rather than a commitment to G-d! When one fully commits himself to G-d's law (without personal reasons), he can than achieve  a true connection to G-d through his mitzvah performances. This is hinted to in the word "mitzvah" which shares the same root as the word "tzavsa", which means connection. Furthermore, the word "chok" (decree) shares the same root as the word "chakuk" (engraved),  meaning to say that specifically through fulfillment of the "chukim" of hashem does one engrave the will of G-d within one's heart. By putting our limited minds on the side, and fully accepting G-d's commandments unto ourselves- we can bond with the unlimited aspect of G-d's presence!

Good shabbos to all!

Kotel Poem

Oh wail! Oh wall! still standing strong and tall

Stones so old but yet so pure, listening silently to the prayers' roar

The story of G-d's temple deep inside, tucked away, waiting to reveal itself on that special day

Energy and emotion surge through us in your presence, forcing us to contemplate the purpose of our existence

A place of unity a midst the exile, a glimpse of the hidden light- "just stop and smile"

Listen passionately to the never ending song, emerging from between the cracks- 480 meters long

Join in with praise, a request or thanks, to make a meaningful connection this is what it takes

Filled with jews and gentiles from every walk of life, turning to the Lord as one to rejoice, or in moments of strife

Oh sing! Oh pray! laugh- cry, dance and mourn, the mixture of emotions from within, between them we are torn

Oh wail! Oh wall! please heed our call, take us higher, bring us closer and lastly...remember us all!