Eat, Drink and Be Merry (Parashat Eikev)

You will eat and you will be satisfied and you will bless Hashem, your G-d, for the good land that He gave you.  Take care lest you forget Hashem...lest you eat and be satisfied...and your heart will become haughty and you will forget Hashem, your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt from the house of slaves..."

In the midst of an awe-inspiring message in the beginning of this weeks parasha, a seemingly random emphasis is suddenly put on what we do when we eat.  The parasha starts out telling us what wonderful rewards we will receive if we listen to Hashem (a topic I will certainly re-visit another time) and then goes on to recount the many things Hashem had already done for us while we were in the desert.  Last, it begins telling us about the Land we are being brought to and all of the wonderful things we can expect to receive there when, all of a sudden, we are told that when we eat and become full, we should bless Hashem.  I would be ok with that, except that just a few lines later the Torah again begins talking about what happens when I eat and become full.  Only this time, it tells me that if I don't bless Hashem afterward - I am haughty.

What gives?!?

I am absolutely horrible at fasting.  It is not uncommon for me to spend much of a fast-day in bed with a migraine and to feel extremely weak at the end of the fast.  I know this to be the case, I am fully aware of it and I mention it any time I discuss the practice of fasting with others.  And yet, when it is not a fast-day, do I appreciate the fact that I am able to eat?  Do I actively think about the fact that if I wasn't putting that food or drink in my mouth I would probably be lying in bed feeling sick?  The answer, sadly, is no!  Despite my appreciation for food when I cannot have it, when I can - it is taken for granted.

In this weeks parasha, we are given a list of gifts that Hashem is going to lay upon us - streams, wheat, figs, honey; we are promised that we will eat without poverty and lack nothing; we will have stones of iron and mountains full of copper.  Then we are reminded, when you eat from these gifts and you feel that you are full - remember to thank Hashem for all that He has given you.  Remember to appreciate it!  For if you do not thank Him for the food that He gave you and you do not stop to recognize that all that you have, He gave to you - then you will have forgotten Him!

I remember when I was a Freshman in college, I used to substitute at a Yeshiva in Boro Park my brother taught at to make some money.  One time I was particularly low on cash and my bills were coming due when I received a phone call from the principal asking if I could come in to work the next day - perfect!!  For the next 24 hours I walked around (literally) saying "I'm so lucky, I'm so lucky."  I did this until I received another phone call from the principal telling me that the teacher I was to be subbing for could make it in at the end and so he didn't need me.  Hashem taught me a profound lesson that day.  "You think you're lucky, he asked.  I'll show you that you and luck have nothing to do with it"  Bli Ayin Hara, ever since that day I always make it a point to stop and thank Hashem when something goes well.

The lesson I was taught that day is the same lesson we are being taught in this weeks parasha.  The Torah is reminding us that, even for something as seemingly insignificant as eating, when we get full - we should recognize that it was only through the hand of Hashem.  Of course, this rule applies to any other "gift" that He gives us.

May we all be zoche to recognize that everything we receive in this world is only given to us because Hashim wills it to be that way.  Once that realization is made, may we succeed in showing our appreciation to him properly.  In doing so, may we merit to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days.



Shabbat Shalom!

The Power of Prayer (Parashat V'Etchanan)

"I implored Hashem at that time, saying, 'My Lord...Please let me cross and see the good land that is on the other side of the Jordan...'"

Rashi explains that the word ואתחנן - I implored - has an alternate meaning of I prayed.  From that interpretation, we can learn that Moshe prayed to Hashem for two things: to cross the Jordan and to see the land on the other side.

A few pasukim later, we are told Hashem's response: "Ascend to the top of the cliff and raise your eyes westward, northward, southward, and eastward, and see with your eyes, for you shall not cross this Jordan."  Rashi, again, comments that the statement for "and see with your eyes" was in response to Moshe's second request - to see the land on the other side.

From this we see that, although he did not get "everything" he asked for, Moshe prayed to Hashem and Hashem granted his request.  For those who will ask, "why couldn't Hashem grant him both requests?" - look two pasukim earlier for your answer...  Hashem says to Moshe "It is much for you!"  Rashi explains this pasuk to mean that Hashem has something greater in store for Moshe.

I used to have hanging in my office a picture that read

"G-d's 3 answers to your prayers:

1. Yes

2. Not Yet

3. I have something better in mind"

In this weeks parasha we see that Moshe received all three answers.  To his request of seeing the land, Hashem told him yes.  To his request of crossing the Jordan, Hashem said "no - I have something better in mind."

We do not understand Hashem's reasoning behind what he does.  For this reason, it is easy for us to get angry and frustrated when things don't go our way.  It may seem to us as though Hashem is ignoring our pleas.  However, if we just look at the first two paragraphs of this weeks parasha, we can understand that when we pray, Hashem does hear us and He does answer us - sometimes it may not be the answer we think we want - but at the end of the day, we must remember that Hashem knows what is best for us.

May we all be zoche to improve our tefilla - to appreciate and understand that Hashem is always listening to us.  In doing so, may all of our prayers be answered and may we merit to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!

A New Beginning (Parashat Devarim)

This weeks parasha begins the final chapter in the Torah.  Moshe, under the instruction of Hashem, takes this as an opportunity to prepare Klal Yisrael for their final journey by reviewing with them everything they have done (both the good and bad) thus far and giving them some foresight into what is coming.

There exists a dating website - "www.sawyouatsinai.com" which, in its "about us" page, indicates that its name is derived from the midrash which teaches that every Jewish soul stood at Har Sinai - including yours!  Simply put, we were all present at the giving of the Torah - whether we remember it or not.

The pasuk begins: "These are the words that Moshe spoke to all Israel...".  Rashi comments "all Israel" teaches us that every Jew was present to hear the rebuke.  This way, nobody would be able to mock his brother for accepting the rebuke and argue"had I been there, I would have answered back."

So frequently I am bombarded with questions from students arguing that if Hashem would speak to them personally, they would accept His words.  The fact that He spoke to Klal Yisrael, they argue, is not sufficient.  In response to this and in conjunction with the midrash of Har Sinai, I would like to offer the following additional interpretation of "all Israel"...

Perhaps, the pasuk does not limit itself strictly to the Jews of the time when Moshe spoke.  Perhaps, similarly to every soul having been present at Har Sinai, Moshe's message was a message to ALL ISRAEL - a message to those present in that generation and for all generations to come!  If we interpret the pasuk in this light, we can appreciate much more the lesson that Moshe was teaching!!

May we all recognize that Moshe was speaking to all of us when he rebuked Klal Yisrael and may we internalize the message he was giving.  In doing so, may we merit to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!



*In addition to this week marking the beginning of a new chapter in the Torah, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter for Darchei Yitzchak - a wonderful organization founded in loving memory of my father, Yitzchak ben Nachum, a"h.

Darchei Yitzchak provides nightly Torah classes for High School and Post-High School boys and girls (respectively) as well as recreational activities (basketball for boys and baking for girls) thereby giving them an opportunity to learn more about their heritage in an informal setting and to questions that which they do not understand.

With an emphasis on the "why" and "how" of Judaism, the mission of Darchei Yitzchak is to instill in each of its students a belief in G-d and to teach them the foundations and reasons behind the laws of Judaism; enabling them to accept the Torah because they believe it is true - not because they are told it is.

Please visit our new website, www.DarcheiYitzchak.org, to learn more information about the organization and to see our schedule of programs (coming shortly).

To Be, Or Not To Be (Parashat Chukat)

Before I became Principal of my current Yeshiva, I was a Rebbe there for approximately three years.  During that time, I was notorious to the students as the "chilled out Rabbi" who was always willing to lend a hand and help get a student out of trouble.  This was, I believe, a great part of my success with students during that time.  Unfortunately, when I gave up my position as Rebbe to accept the leadership role of Principal in the very same Yeshiva, my relationship with the students - by default - changed as well.  Baruch Hashem, I still maintain a very good relationship with majority of the students - but being that it is my role to discipline, I am no longer perceived as the "chilled out Rabbi" (though I still manage to find a way).

It seems to be the nature of society to dislike the leader.  No matter what he or she is really like as a person, we often assume leaders to be mean and against us - so we choose to stay away from them.  Despite this, however, it also seems to be the nature of society to strive for leadership roles.  The title of "leader" is highly coveted and considered to be very chashuv.  I find it very interesting that people are so willing to be disliked simply so that they can be called "leader."

In this weeks parasha, Aaron teaches us a profound lesson on what our priorities in life should actually be...

After hitting the rock rather than speaking to it as instructed by Hashem, Moshe and Aaron are told that they will not merit entering Israel with the rest of the nation.  Hashem tells Moshe to take Aaron and his son Elazar up to Mount Hor.  Once there, Moshe was to take the holy garments off of Aaron and put them on Elazar after which Aaron would die.  The men do as they are told and Moshe and Elazar descend from the mountain.  "The entire assembly saw that Aaron had perished, and they wept for Aaron thirty days, the entire House of Israel."  Rashi explains "the Entire house of Israel" to mean "the men and the women, for Aaron would pursue peace and instill love between parties to a quarrel and between a man and his wife."

So many of us are focused on achieving the leadership role and being disliked.  Aaron had a different mission.  Aaron's goal was not to be leader - let Moshe handle that.  Instead, Aaron's life was dedicated to helping others succeed and be happy.  Indeed, for doing so he was rewarded with a leadership role of his own - Kohen Gadol.  He did not strive for or earn this role however - rather, he deserved it.

May we all take a lesson from Aaron that more important than being the leader is helping others and may we all make it our goal to do so.  In accomplishing this, may we be zoche to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!

From Zero To Hero (Parashat Korach)

"As for the fire-pans of these sinners against their souls - they shall make them hammered-out sheets as a covering for the Altar, for they offered them before Hashem, so they became holy; they shall be a sign to the Children of Israel"

In this weeks parasha, Korach and some 250 men come before Moshe and Aaron to challenge their roles as leaders of Klal Yisrael.  Moshe instructs them to prepare an incense-offering and, according to Rashi, whoever survives it shall be leader.  The men do as Moshe says and the following morning Hashem sends forth a fire that consumes all of them.  Afterward, Hashem instructs Moshe to tell Elazar to take the fire-pans and convert them to metal sheets which will be used for the Altar.  There is, however, a strangeness about this incident....

As quoted above, Hashem refers to the fire-pans as being "of these sinners against their souls."  If He acknowledges that they were, indeed, so evil - why would they merit to have their utensils used as part of the Altar?  One of my esteemed rebbeim - Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky - once recounted the following incident during class:

While davening mincha on a Shabbat afternoon, the gartel (belt) for the Torah ripped as it was being closed up.  Without hesitating, a fellow congregant pulled his tie off and offered it as a replacement.  When Shabbat was over, the gentelman returned to reclaim his tie.  The Rav of the shul saw him and asked "what are you doing?"  "I'm getting my tie back" answered the man. "No, no" replied the Rav, "that isn't your tie anymore.  When you placed it on the Sefer Torah, it became kadosh (holy).  It's not a tie anymore - it's a gartel now.  I'm afraid you cannot have it back."

Often times, people genuinely want to grow in their practice and devotion to Hashem but they are held back by the thoughts of their past - insisting that it is impossible for someone like them to be religious or to be accepted.  Countless students have said to me over the years "Rabbi, how can I be religious?"  In truth, their argument makes sense!  It is human nature for us to judge a person based on their past.  If we know that a person was once a thief, we will think twice about leaving them alone in our house.  Of course, there is also the well-known expression regarding dating "once a cheater, always a cheater."  Society does not allow a person to break free of who they used to be!

Hashem, however, is not society!!  As we see in Parashat Korach, despite who/where the fire-pans came from and despite their horrific reason for being used in the first place, we are told "they offered them before Hashem, so they become holy."  Even something as simple as a tie was able to achieve a level of holiness once it was placed on the Sefer Torah.  If a fire-pan and a garment can achieve kedushah (holiness), how much more so can a person who - as the Torah states - was made in the image of G-d?

The pasuk goes on to explain that the "sign to the Children of Israel" is that anyone who is not a descendant of Aaron cannot being an incense-offering.  Rashi explains that the sign is a reminder of what happens to those who dispute the priesthood.

I would like to offer a third possibility.

Perhaps, the sign is a reminder to us that - despite our past - anybody who offers himself to Hashem can become "a part of the Altar".  Anyone who wants to can be holy.

May we all realize our potential for greatness as Jews and may we not be held back by "who we were" rather always looks forward to "who we can be."  In doing so, may we merit to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!!

Just Believe (Parashat Shelach)

I am a big fan of Disney's "Prince of Egypt."  Though growing up my brother loved and was able to quote "The Ten Commandments", I personally never really cared for it.  "Prince of Egypt", on the other hand - I enjoyed greatly!

I recall a very powerful scene in the movie:  B'nei Yisrael had reached the Yam Suf with nowhere else to go, the Egyptians are closing in on them from behind and everyone is overcome with fear.  The character of Miriam begins to sing a song about the ability to achieve miracles.  The final line of the song before she actually switches to the Hebrew words of "Az Yashir" are (this part is particularly powerful) "You will when you believe..."

In this weeks parasha, Moshe sends a representative from each tribe to inspect the land and return with feedback for the rest of the nation.  They do so and, upon their return, they acknowledge that the land contains everything Moshe had promised - yet they insist that its inhabitants are too strong for them.  Instantly, Klal Yisrael begins shouting out in unison their standard complaint "Would that we had died in the land of Egypt, or would that we had died in this wilderness!  Why is Hashem bringing us to this land to fall by the sword?  Our wives and young children will be taken captive!  Is it not better for us to return to Egypt?".

Hashem becomes infuriated and asks Moshe "To what point will this people anger Me, and how long will they not have faith in Me, despite all the signs that I have performed in its Midst?".  Rashi explains the statement "despite all the signs" to mean "because of all the miracles that I did for them, they should have believed that in My hand is the wherewithal to fulfill my promise."

Often, students insist to me that "If Hashem showed me a miracle today, I'd become religious!"  I insist in return that they would not.  Perhaps the miracle would provide them with temporary inspiration, but ultimately that inspiration would run out and, like B'nei Yisrael in the desert, they would stop believing until another miracle was performed.

How is it possible that Klal Yisrael kept doubting Hashem despite the many miracles He performed for them?  The answer is that their belief in His ability to sustain them was based on the miracles He was performing.  They saw miracles, and so they believed.  Miriam's character sings in the movie : when you believe, you can achieve miracles.

If one is to truly build a partnership with HaKadosh Baruch Hu (the Holy One, Blessed is He), they cannot seek out miracles and then believe in Him based on that.  Rather, they must believe in Him first - and once they do so, they will see miracles in every aspect of their life.

May we all be zoche to strengthen our Emunah - our belief - in Hashem and to believe in Him not because of the miracles we have seen, but to see the miracles because we believe in Him.  In doing so, may we see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days.

Shabbat Shalom!

Knowing Your Limits (Parashat Beha'alotcha)

"Miriam and Aaron spoke about Moshe regarding the Cushite woman he hadmarried, for he had married a Cushite woman.  They said, 'Was it with Moshe only that Hashem spoke?  Did He not speak with us, as well?'  And Hashem heard.

Now the man Moshe was exceedingly humble, more than any person on the face of the earth!"

I remember when I first started as a Rebbe in Yeshiva.  We were praying shacharit and duirng the amidah I looked around the room and noticed that the boys had finished, but the Chazzan did not begin his repetition yet.  Immediately, I understood that he was waiting for me to finish.  I must admit, when this happened, I felt a sense of pride.  After all, I'm only human!

We are currently in the midst of the fourth book of the Torah.  Ever since the first mentioning of Moshe Rabbeinu, we haven't stopped hearing what a wonderful, glorious leader he was.  The praises that have been sung for him are never-ending.  If that is the case, how could he possibly be so humble?  Why is it that I feel pride when my talmidim wait for me to finish praying, but Moshe Rabbeinu felt nothing when G-d Himself was praising him?  The answer to this question can be found almost an entire chapter before being titled "more humble than any person on the face of the earth."

Exhausted and frustrated, B'nei Yisrael began complaining to Moshe that they were tired of the manna they had been receiving - they longed for meat!  Hashem's anger flared up and, unable to handle it anymore, Moshe makes the following plea to Hashem:

"Why have You done evil to your servant; why have I not found favor in Your eyes, that You place the burden of this entire people upon me?  Did I conceive this entire people or did I give birth to it, that You say to me, 'Carry them in your bosom, as a nurse carries a suckling, to the Land that You swore to its forefathers?  Where shall I get meat to give to this entire people when they weep to me, saying, 'Give us meat that we may eat'?  I alone cannot carry this entire nation, for it is too heavy for me!  And if this is how You deal with me, then kill me now, if I have found favor in Your eyes, and let me not see my evil!"

Within this statement, Moshe expressed two great attributes that afforded him the title which he received...

Imagine you were the starting quarterback for one of the teams playing at the Superbowl.  Your team is down by two points with just enough time left for one play - the coach tells you to throw it deep.  Clearly, the pressure is all on you.  If you didn't feel confident in your ability to make the play - perhaps you feel too exhausted from the rest of the game - would you have the courage to tell your coach to pick someone else?  While I cannot speak for others, I know that I would not have that courage.  Many of us strive in life for the leadership role and, once we have it, we do not want to give it up - even if we know we aren't right for it.  Moshe, however, possessed that courage.  He acknowledged that he could not do the job alone - and he expressed that to Hashem.  This is one of the things that made him so humble.

Moshe's second attribute is illustrated by Rashi.  In the end of the above mentioned pasuk, Moshe states "let me not see my evil" - but what evil did Moshe commit?  Rather, Rashi explains that the evil Moshe was referring to was that of B'ne Yisrael.  Being the humble man that he was, Moshe did not wish to point fingers at anyone else.  For this reason, he called the evil his.

May we all learn from this two amazing traits of Moshe Rabbeinu and may we, too, train ourselves to be as humble as he was.  In doing so, may we merit to see the coming of Mashiach speedily in our days!

Shabbat Shalom!!