tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47368783419482086792024-03-12T21:59:41.571-07:00Normal is Overrated.Alan Abrams is a Rabbi and Judaica Educator in Greater Los Angeles. Often called The Networking Rabbi for his close ties to the Community, he writes about his experiences and views of Judaica and life in general, and is available for all life cycle events. He is the proud father of Sara, Zac, Dylan and Tyler.Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.comBlogger55125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-9600735856949716092012-06-06T16:11:00.000-07:002012-06-06T20:41:19.543-07:00Signing Off<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9x9meGwd8g0/TLMrO1mnXqI/AAAAAAAAAF8/TfRlQzA8-x4/s1600/aa-0910.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-9x9meGwd8g0/TLMrO1mnXqI/AAAAAAAAAF8/TfRlQzA8-x4/s200/aa-0910.jpg" width="145" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear Friends,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It has been a while since I wrote in this column and it has
not been easy to be away, but for sheer necessity and lack of time. I am saddened to now write this column for the last time.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have enjoyed sharing my life and thoughts with you these
past four or so years and in doing so, “Normal is Overrated” has become a part
of my life, as you have become my friends, even though, many of you I have not
yet met.<br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This column began as a mailer to around fifty people and has
grown to a (usual) weekly audience of some 11,000 in almost every corner of the
globe.<br />
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</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have learned from you as I hope that you have learned from
me. I have also learned from myself; the
hardest lesson of all. At age fifty, I
found that I and I alone own the responsibility for my lack of loving
relationships with my children; that what they needed more than my presents,
was my presence, and in my lifelong quest to give them “presents”, I forgot
about the “presence”; my presence.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even fulfilling my lifelong dream of serving G-d and the
Community as a Rabbi took me away from them, if not physically (which it did),
but certainly spiritually and emotionally. <br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I put my vocation (JOB) ahead of my own son’s achievements
by refusing to attend a concert that he conducted (on a Friday night); his last
as a High School student. I argued with them
about the necessity of keeping Kosher, and tried to dictate their lives from a
(more observant) Jewish perspective, not even recognizing what wonderful people
they had become just the way that they were raised. “Living Jewishly”, it turns out, requires one
to simply be a good person and to love G-d.
And, by being a good person; a loving and caring person; a person who
treats others with respect and dignity, is in and of itself, living “Jewishly”. I was so removed, that I never really saw
what everyone else continues to see: My
kids are great; just the way that they are.
Of course, I have always loved them, but never gave them the proper due
respect. And, in doing so, or as the
case is, NOT doing so, I was not living so “Jewishly”.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When my wonderful daughter, now 33, graduated from High
School, I stood on our driveway and cried.
Where did the time go, I asked myself.
I had missed her growing up. I
promised myself that would not happen with my boys, but again, it did; because
I allowed it to happen again. Now, I find myself giving all of my time to work, and none where truly important; to family. I have
learned my lesson.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now comes the hard part.
These past few months, and certainly the past few weeks have shown me
something that I never wanted to admit, nor did I wish to even address; I
cannot be everything to everybody. I
cannot give my full attention to both my family and the patient who I am called
to see at 3am; I cannot give my
“presence” to others and hope that my family will, in its stead, accept my
“presents”. Nor can I be any good to
anyone, if I am not good to myself. It
simply doesn’t work.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friends, I need to live “Jewishly”.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A cherished friend recently reminded me that in order for us
as a people to arrive at the Promised Land, we had to wander the desert for
forty years. My youngest son two
Passovers ago reminded us at the Seder Table that each of us lives in our own
personal “Egypt”. I agreed then, and I
agree now. The time for me to wander in
my own desert and to try to exit from my own personal Egypt, is now. Therefore, I have made a decision to take
leave from the Rabbinate for an unspecified time.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I leave you with three last thoughts:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><span dir="LTR"></span>Never say anything to
anyone that you will not own. In other
words, saying something about someone else, and swearing that person to secrecy
is simply cowardly and wrong. If you
have something to say to someone, say it to their face. Lashon haRa, is NEVER a good thing, and
someone will ALWAYS get hurt; <b>even by listening</b>.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><span dir="LTR"></span>Do not EVER leave someone
you love without telling them; even from a phone conversation. One never knows if the opportunity will arise
again. Likewise, always say thank
you. They are, but two little words, but
they play large; and lastly,</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3.<span style="font-size: 7pt;">
</span><span dir="LTR"></span>Love each other. If you don’t now, learn to. For there is G-d in all of us, and it feels
good.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the Left Coast, and for the last time, I wish you
Ahavah u’Vrachot, Love and Blessings…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-70432873294848154922012-03-01T09:05:00.012-07:002012-03-01T20:39:02.211-07:00Is George Clooney Gay?<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XetcYmrcnlU/T0-efKRSDKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/ZDxhUgfySwE/s1600/DSC00373.JPG" style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; font-family: Georgia, serif; "><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XetcYmrcnlU/T0-efKRSDKI/AAAAAAAAAK8/ZDxhUgfySwE/s200/DSC00373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5714960710326422690" /></a><span style="line-height: normal; font-style: normal; font-size: 100%; " >Reading this morning's headlines made me think; maybe more than usual. The headline on MSN-NOW read: <span>GEORGE CLOONEY DOESN'T CARE IF YOU THINK HE'S GAY. </span>And guess what... Neither do I.</span><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span ><br /></span><div><span >On Monday, the headlines wrote about an actresses boob being shown during the Oscars; on Tuesday, our crazy world was concerned with, not the anti-Semitic goings on around our University campuses, rather, the talk of the day was speculation regarding a Jewish ballplayer's steroid test results (deemed to have been mishandled); and, which Hollywood star filed for divorce on Monday.</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >If we as a society are so concerned with the private lives of actors, ballplayers, politicians and others who have lives just like we do, then why do we not see headlines that tell us what good these people do to help repair the world?</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Why do we not see the headline: <span>GEORGE CLOONEY HAS FOUNDED "NOT ON OUR WATCH</span>, a charity that helps wipe out hunger? Why do we seemingly not care that he supports numerous worthy causes?? Is this of no interest to us???</span></div><div><span ><br /></span></div><div><span >Please understand that I am not picking on Mr. Clooney. In fact, I applaud him when his reply to the speculative question of his sexual orientation is "I don't give a sh*t"; and neither should we.</span></div></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span >If an actress has an addiction problem, why are we critical of her, instead of offering her support; and if a basketball player who is little known is given a chance and shines on the court, why are we so quick to need to know whom he is dating?</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span ><span>The truth is, that all of this talk; all of our ridiculous speculation and discussion and "caring", falls under the label of "Lashon haRa"; Bad Tongue; Gossip. In the Torah, we are commanded </span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); "> </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); "></i></span></div><span >"Lo telech rachil b'ameicha," - Do not go about as a talebearer among your people (Leviticus 19:15). This is the basic prohibition against speaking Lashon Hara. If that isn't enough of a prohibition, how about a few sentences later, in Leviticus 19:18, "V'ahavta l'rei'echa kamocha" - Love your neighbor as yourself. This is the source of the "do unto others" rule, that we should treat others the way we would want to be treated.</span><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " >What if headlines told the world about your financial troubles; or addictions; or love life or sexual orientation? Is it really any of anyone's business, but yours??</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " >I am often reminded of a man with whom I had worked while he was a patient in a Nursing Facility. A sweet, gentle man of only 57 years of age, who had a small, but relatively successful retail business that fell victim to the economy. When the money stopped coming in, his long time girlfriend left him. When the credit card people started calling him (he had around $15,000 in debts), he tried to reason with them, to no avail; and when he was evicted from his apartment, and his neighbors saw his belongings on the sidewalk, and the Sheriff escort him from the building, they looked away and walked past him.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " >A heart condition sent him to the hospital, and then to the Nursing Facility where we met.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span ><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); ">I spoke with him about his faith. I brought him Tefillin, the Phylacteries worn by Observant Jews while praying, so that he would have a pair, as his pair had been discarded onto the sidewalk with the rest of his belongings in such a way that he could not even identify where they were in the huge pile of "stuff"; I spoke with him about his life and time and again, he referred to the passage above, </span><i style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); ">"V'ahavta l'rei'echa kamocha"</i><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); "> - Love your neighbor as yourself. And when no neighbor did, h</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">e stopped caring; and when he stopped caring, he stopped eating. And when he stopped eating, he started dying, and wh</span><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; ">en he was so weak that his organs failed, he died. Alone. When he was buried, there was nobody there for me to deliver a eulogy; there were no Mourners to say Kaddish; there was no Shiva. I doubt that anyone even knew that he had passed; or maybe, they were all too busy reading headlines about actors who are or who are not gay.</span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " >I wish that I could tell you that this is an isolated incident, but sadly, it is not. I wish that I could write that I will never again see such a patient, but sadly, I cannot.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " >Today, hundreds, if not thousands of people are in Nursing Facilities, Assisted Living Facilities, Hospice Facilities and hospitals. Alone. With no connection to the faith that they so cherished while growing up; with no Clergy to consult or comfort them; with no neighbor loving them as they do themselves. Where are we?</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " >The George Clooneys of the world are doing their part. They are supporting organizations that provide assistance to these people, and others afflicted by the wrongs of the world.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; font-style: normal; "><span style="background-color: rgb(255, 255, 204); text-align: -webkit-auto; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-style: normal; "><span >If we are so concerned with the lives of these stars, then maybe we should take a hint and follow Mr. Clooney's example: He works hard at his job and is very good at it; he gives to others and could care less what people think of his personal life. It IS his life, after all.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-style: normal; "><span ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; line-height: normal; text-align: -webkit-auto; font-style: normal; "><span ><span>The poet Linda Ellis wrote it best in her poem "The Dash", which represents the dash on one's grave marker between the dates of the decedent's birth and death. Linda so beautifully wrote:<br /><br /></span><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); line-height: 115%; text-align: left; "><span>For it matters not how much we own;</span></span></span></div> <span style="font-size: 100%; " ><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); line-height: 115%; ">The cars the house the cash</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); line-height: 115%; ">What matters is how we live and love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); line-height: 115%; ">And how we spend our dash.</span></span><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span><span class="apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153); line-height: 115%; " ><br /></span></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " >New Years Resolutions can be made all year long, of course. Let us resolve to ourselves to remember these words; to love our neighbor as we do ourselves; and if we continue to feel the need to be in such awe of celebrities, let us walk behind their lead and give more and take less.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " >From the left coast, in sunny, but chilly Southern California, I wish you Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings and of course, Shabbat Shalom.</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " ><br /></span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div><div style="font-size: 100%; "><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="apple-style-span" style="line-height: 115%; " >Rabbi Abrams is the founder of Mobile Rabbinical Chaplaincy Services which provides visitation to elderly and infirm Jewish patients and residents in the Greater Los Angeles area. MRCS is a recognized 501(c)3 organization and is supported solely by the generosity of others. Please visit <a href="http://www.mrcsonline.org">www.mrcsonline.org</a> for information.</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-72157240275436801922012-02-03T08:29:00.003-07:002012-02-03T09:22:48.767-07:00Is it time to finally listen to the Sages of Old?<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvDwWnoFXgM/Tyv9w4kMCAI/AAAAAAAAAKo/AWuqkke354o/s1600/DSC00373.JPG"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VvDwWnoFXgM/Tyv9w4kMCAI/AAAAAAAAAKo/AWuqkke354o/s200/DSC00373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5704932369254582274" /></a><span ><span style="line-height: 115%; ">In the time of the beginning of the Modern Era, The Great Sage, Rabbi Hillel said “If I am not for myself, who will be for me? If I am not for others, what am I? And if not now, when? </span><span style="line-height: 115%; ">Rabbi Akiva said "Love your neighbor as you love yourself"; and Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, in the 20th Century said "</span> <span style="line-height: 19px; text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">"All it takes is one person… and another… and another… and another… to start a movement"</span><span style="text-align: -webkit-auto; background-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); ">.</span></span><div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >We ask, what is this movement? Could it be that the movement should be to care for others as we do ourselves?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >In Deuteronomy 6:5-9 and again in Deuteronomy 11:13-21, we are commanded by G-d to love Him with all of our heart, might and soul. This was commanded on all of mankind. </span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >Do these rules not still apply? Do the words of Hillel and Akiva from 2100 years ago not still apply?? How about the words of Heschel, spoken just a few decades ago??? How about if I throw in, just for good measure, the words of The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King who was quoted as saying "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others'?"</span></div></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >According to the Sages above, should we not Love G-d with all our hearts, souls and might? Should we not love each other as we do ourselves? Should we not take it upon ourselves do protect our own (human race)? And finally, should we not do for others???</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >One thing I can say with veritable certainty is that if WE were the "Others", we would absolutely hope and pray that mankind would help US.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >The problem today, friends, is that we don't. We are too concerned with our own luxury car payments and huge mortgages; with paying our credit card bills that we ran up buying things that we could not afford; and most of all, we are too concerned with "others". Not with helping them, but with "equalling them". Keeping up with the Jones's, or the Berkowitz's, or the Al-Masri's.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >In about two months, we will remember the Passover; the Exodus from Egypt when we were liberated from Pharaoh's slavery. We sit around our Seder tables and sing "Dayyenu", it was enough to be liberated; it was enough to receive Torah; Dayyenu, it was enough. But was it?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >Are we not still slaves? Are we not slaves to our jobs; our large mortgages, our BMW payments?</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >What if we were to do an experiment, just for this weekend: From the beginning of Shabbat, at sundown this evening, let us think not about ourselves, but about others. Whether we are on our way to Synagogue, or the golf course; the mall or ball field; the Superbowl party or Bat Mitzvah, let's take a split second to smile at an entirely random fellow person. Let's take a brief moment to think about what THEIR life might be about; what problems might THEY have; and just maybe, we will be able to see the meaning in the words of our Sages from long and not do long ago.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >From the sunny Left Coast, I wish you Ahava u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >Shabbat Shalom.</span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span ><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-63299791526035464042011-11-10T09:49:00.003-07:002011-11-10T11:59:26.747-07:00The First Fifty - A chronicle of hope and gratitude<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRd4N8ps7yg/TrwAsJ97AtI/AAAAAAAAAKM/_KkQuOrQgnE/s1600/DSC00373.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JRd4N8ps7yg/TrwAsJ97AtI/AAAAAAAAAKM/_KkQuOrQgnE/s200/DSC00373.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5673410389169865426" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is said that the first of anything is the hardest to attain. The first million; the first big league home run; first NHL goal, and so forth... </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >What about the first fifty? As in fifty years??</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Four thousand years ago, some of our ancestors lived to be 900 years old. Moses, as we know lived to see 120; others even longer. 200 years ago, attaining the age of fifty was at times difficult, and even today, in some cultures, ravaged by poverty and famine, even the age of twenty seems to prove at best, a dream.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For us, though, living in our technologically incredible world, fifty is considered young. Most of the people with whom I work are well into their eighties or nineties, and some have even surpassed the Century mark of 100 years of age. Medical technology has made it so.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For me, attaining the age of fifty this coming Sunday wasn't so easy, and it was my fault. Years of abusing my body caused a sudden interruption in the life continuum four years ago, and to all concerned, reaching 50 for me was, but a dream. In fact, reaching forty-six was in short, a miracle. Nevertheless, I did make it this far, and for being here, I say Shecheyanu, the Hebrew prayer of gratitude for arriving at this place, at this time.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Often, I ask the elderly with whom I work to tell me what they feel to be the greatest change that they have witnessed in their ninety or so years of life. Their reply, almost to a person has nothing to do with technology, transportation or media, as we would expect. Their answer is stated simply and quietly with one word: Respect. "People no longer have respect", they tell me and continue to relate that this lack of respect appears to them as a general concept. People no longer respect people; we no longer respect the rules of society; we no longer respect our cities or communities; we no longer respect our own accomplishments, such as our jobs; and we no longer respect ourselves.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Teenage boys wear pants that are three sizes too big and have no desire to cover their backsides; twelve and thirteen year old girls dress as if they are headed to a nightclub for under-dressed adults, and this dress is not the exception, but the norm, and not just when they dress for school, or to hang out with their friends, but to Synagogue as well. Let's forget for a moment that this is G-d's house (because isn't G-d really everywhere?), but what about having enough self respect to cover one's self? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This doesn't necessarily rest solely with kids today, rather, with parents as well. I have actually seen one father bring his daughters to Synagogue wearing a lumberjack shirt, jeans, tennis shoes and suspenders; his girls are usually wearing some version of pajamas, and they don't even arrive in time to respect the sanctity of the Sabbath, or the tradition of Shabbat Prayer, rather, they seem to show up every week solely for the Shabbat lunch provided to Congregants, usually sponsored by the family of the Bar or Bat Mitzvah. I am not here to judge, really I am not, rather, I am demonstrating yet another example of how lack of respect has taken over society. Our society.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Do you remember hearing... "When I was your age, I walked a mile and a half to school uphill in the snow with an old pair of beaten up shoes, and..."? It sounds a little funny now, but I have found myself telling my kids that when I was their age, men wore ties and hats to ballgames, and our mothers would never even consider going to the grocery store without a full face of make-up, and newly pressed dress!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >"Those were the days, my friend, (credit to Gene Raskin ca~1958), we thought they'd never end..." But, they did end. The question; my question, is, how do we get them back? How do we return, nit to the days of wearing Fedoras to ballgames, necessarily, but how do we regain the self respect that we once had, and in turn, have respect for others?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In a word, we need to look back, forward and sideways, and be more like my friend Jeff from <a href="http://www.jeffsgourmet.com/">Jeff's Gourmet</a> and be "Smeichim b'Chelkeinu" (happy with our lots). We need to be grateful for every one of G-d's blessings, however small. We need to fill ourselves with gratitude that we awoke this morning,and with the hope that we will awake tomorrow to enjoy yet another wonderful day is this incredible place that G-d created for us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >We need to be head over heels in love. With life.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As the unknown poet during the Revolutionary War wrote: Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars, you have a right to be here; and whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt, the universe is unfolding exactly as it should. Therefore, be at peace with G-d, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labours and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >My first fifty has taught me two things that I will now share with you. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As soon as you think these words, say them:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I love you and Thank you. For you will never know if you will have another opportunity.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >With gratitude for my first fifty, and hope for my next fifty, I wish you Ahavah u'Vrachot; Love and Blessings from the Left Coast...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-25620135230745929552011-09-28T00:30:00.013-07:002011-09-28T02:41:38.859-07:00"Holding a grudge is like letting someone live Rent-Free in your head!"<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHuBtYTMEUU/ToLNZZaDxxI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vpa1VX7symQ/s1600/12-10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CHuBtYTMEUU/ToLNZZaDxxI/AAAAAAAAAJQ/vpa1VX7symQ/s200/12-10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5657309918131373842" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >I wish I could take credit for the above quote, but it appeared on my Facebook and as we are at the end of the Jewish month of Elul, the month when we forgive and beg forgiveness before the end of our year, I knew that I just had to use the quote.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is true, you know, holding a grudge IS like letting someone live in your head rent-free. The more we hold onto the negatives in life, the more we worry about them, and the more we worry, the more we are pre-occupied. With the negative.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Last week, I mentioned to a friend of mine who happens to own the absolutely best Kosher burger and hot dog place on earth (<a href="http://www.jeffsgourmet.com/">Jeff's Gourmet Sausage Factory</a>) that I thought that he should open a second location; one closer to where I live. That discussion lasted about three seconds, when the manager of the store said to me, "you know, that is one man (Jeff) who really <i>is</i> "Sameach b'Chelko" (happy with his lot). Not only is he a great guy, but he is one lucky man.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Would it not be wonderful if we were all Smeichim b'Chelkeinu, happy with our lots? Would it not be truly wonderful to wake up every day and thank G-d for what we have, and never ask for more? I try, but it isn't always easy. We are trained in this Country to "keep up with the Jones's"; to strive for wealth and possessions; to work as little as we have to for the greatest reward. What we seem to forget, though, is that the greatest reward is just being here, enjoying this wonderful world that G-d has given us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >During the Yom Kippur service, ten times we recite a prayer that is the confessional. Al chet sheh chatanu, for these sins we have sinned. Even for those sins which we have committed unknowingly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >As all of us, often I find myself hurting those for whom I care. For this, I ask each of you whom I have hurt during this past year or in years past to forgive me; I ask you to pardon me and I ask you to atone for me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" >I received today a greeting from my good friend Juan Bravo in Huanaco, Peru. It is with great pleasure that I share his thoughts, as they mirror mine. Juan writes: I wish you a Happy New Year; that G-d always grants you wisdom and many successes.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;" >This year, the Jewish people begin the year 5772.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; ">We have survived despite having been slaves for 400 years in Egypt and forty more wandering the </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px; ">wilderness of Sinai; despite the cruelty of the Roman armies who destroyed our Temple; despite the efforts of the soldiers of the Crusades and Inquisitions, Spanish and Portuguese; despite the efforts of Hitler and Stalin and Arafat; despite wars of Arab aggression that continue to seek our extermination and UN Resolutions that are full of hatred. Despite Abbas and Ahmadinijad's missiles that land daily in the playgrounds of Sderot that target our children, we have survived and will continue to survive and thrive.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 14px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >This week when we go into our Synagogues to welcome the New Year, we pray that we all may enjoy peace and good. We pray that the year 5772 is a good and sweet year.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >My family and I wish you a year full of good health, joy, laughter, personal success; sympathy and kindness; a year which is a year of peace for all of us; and for each of us, the opportunity to live and to thrive.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >From Sunny Southern California, on the Left Coast, we wish you a Shana Tovah u'Metukah; Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-15929879015771091732011-08-24T01:47:00.002-07:002011-08-24T02:30:55.149-07:00How do we love G-d with all our heart, soul and might?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q9vsU6mhOi0/TlJvB8_nCCI/AAAAAAAAAIg/wfPH_B3_7Qk/s1600/12-10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-q9vsU6mhOi0/TlJvB8_nCCI/AAAAAAAAAIg/wfPH_B3_7Qk/s200/12-10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5643695362392131618" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >Have you ever noticed that it seems that situations close together in chronology appear to compliment each other, even though they do not seem at all related?</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >A few weeks ago, I was talking baseball with my son, (which often we do), and I was trying to recall the name of a certain pitcher from the eighty's, and simply could not remember his name. Immediately, I remembered a patient whom I had visited in the hospital a few months ago and thought of his incredible knowledge of baseball history, and how he enjoyed talking baseball during our many visits. Right then, I wanted to call him, but got busy and after a few hours, the name of this pitcher became trivial and inconsequential; and its importance forgotten.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This past week, while leaving the hospital, I was approached by this wonderful man's wife in the parking lot, and she told me that his disease had progressed and that he was back in the hospital. On Monday night, he passed into Olam haBa, ending his pain and his suffering before we ever had the chance to talk baseball again. This saddens me.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >These past two Shabbatot, we read from the Book of Deuteronomy, and the Parashot of V'Ethchanan and Ekev. In these weekly portions of Torah, we are told that it is our duty and obligation to love G-d with all our hearts, all of our souls and all of our might. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >My dear friend and colleague, Rabbi Stewart Vogel led a tremendous discussion about love. The love of a parent; the love of a spouse; the love of G-d. Rabbi Vogel taught us to not just define love, but to look into ourselves to find our own definition.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >In this way, I came about realizing that to love G-d, is to love ourselves, as we do our neighbors; as we love strangers. As we are all made in G-d's image, how could we not?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Without even being conscious of it, our work with seniors and the infirmed defines exactly how we can love G-d with all our hearts, souls and might. By merely visiting and providing them with the Judaic connection that many of them have lost so many years ago, we are able to allow our Neshamot, our souls connect with theirs and in doing so, we are loving G-d in a way that many of us have long forgotten.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >
<br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >With this in mind, I would like to tell you about Mobile Rabbinical Chaplaincy Services.</span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; line-height: 13.6499pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span lang="en-US" style="letter-spacing: 0.18pt; ">Providing </span><span lang="en-US" style="color: black; ">Rabbinic visits to Jewish patients and residents of Skilled Nursing, Assisted Living, Board and Care and Hospice Facilities, our goal is to help bring Judaica to Seniors who, otherwise would not have a connection. </span>In addition, we provide On-Call Chaplaincy services for emergency situations such as hospitalizations and End-of-Life events. We specialize in End-of-Life Chaplaincy and Palliative Care for patients with terminal illness, as well as providing grief counseling services for families in need.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; line-height: 13.6499pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >As we never charge the patients or residents, our services are supported solely by the generosity of others and as a Religious Organization, our supporters are able to enjoy tax deductions as with any 501(c)3 recognized group.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our goal is to recognize and serve as many seniors as we are able, and eventually to bring other Rabbis in many locations into the fold to help more people. In so doing, hopefully, we will all be able to love G-d in one more caring way.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Our Facebook page may be found at <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mobile-Rabbinical-Chaplaincy-Service/129786313782038">http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mobile-Rabbinical-Chaplaincy-Service/129786313782038</a>, and our website is currently under construction, but will soon be available at <a href="http://www.mrcsonline.org/">http://www.mrcsonline.org</a>.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Would it not be wonderful if we knew that our parents and grandparents had a Rabbi visiting them a few times a week, and available to them twenty-four hours a day in emergent situations?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >When next we read the Shema and ve'Ahavta/ve'Haya im (Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and 11:13-21) let us all think of our seniors and what we all can do to show our love for G-d; with all our hearts; with all our souls and with all our might.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >From Sunny Southern California, I wish you Ahavah u'Vrachot. Love and Blessings.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left; margin-bottom: 11.25pt; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></p></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-52459138114534642542011-06-19T08:09:00.004-07:002011-06-19T08:39:30.780-07:00Isn't Every Day Father's Day?<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LP_HkB0zppQ/Tf4SNmQDMZI/AAAAAAAAAIY/T19bjvpV6cA/s1600/zac-alan%2B06-11.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LP_HkB0zppQ/Tf4SNmQDMZI/AAAAAAAAAIY/T19bjvpV6cA/s200/zac-alan%2B06-11.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619949409820422546" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >Last night, after a crazy evening of Karaoke, I sat with my son, visiting from College and watched a wonderful movie called "Jews and Baseball: A Love Story". It is a chronicle of baseball from a Jewish prospective, and a history of many Jewish ballplayers that played in the Major Leagues, and how they changed the game.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I found this to be the perfect movie to watch with Zac as the hour passed into Sunday, which, of course, is "Father's Day", as dubbed by Hallmark. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span">According to Encyclopedia Britannica, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Credit for originating the holiday is generally given to Sonora Smart Dodd of Spokane, Washington, whose father, a Civil War veteran, raised her and her five siblings after their mother died in childbirth. She is said to have had the idea in 1909 while listening to a sermon on Mother's Day, which at the time was becoming established as a holiday. Local religious leaders supported the idea, and the first Father's Day was celebrated on June 19, 1910, the month of the birthday of Dodd's father. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >For many of us, it is a time to spend with our families. Bringing dad breakfast in bed, playing a round of golf, davening together, or in my case, remembering my father and the times that we spent together, every day, not just on Father's Day.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >As many of you may remember, my father and I had a bond unmatched and unbreakable. Of course, it included many days and nights at the ballpark, where, together, we had our own love story with Baseball.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >Just as my father and I did, my son and I will spend the day today with what else? Baseball.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >As with everyday, though, the day will be bittersweet. Today is the 1,257th father's day without my dad, and the fourth "official" one. It is also my first commercial father's day without Papi. Without the love of both of these great men, my life would have been not close to as rich.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " >My thoughts and prayers go out to everyone of you who today remember your fathers. To my friend Karla who said goodbye to her dad just a few weeks ago, I send love and support; to David I send open arms and a shoulder, and of course to Tom, my brother in life, I send both laughter and tears for past days and future years to raise our sons the way that our dads raised us.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " >To the mother of my wonderful children, I thank you for making me a father; it truly is the greatest job on earth.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " >And lastly, to Ben, whom I never had the chance to meet in life, I thank you for sending me the most precious of all gifts, your daughter. I promise to cherish her as did you.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " >See you at the Ballpark!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px; " ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >Ahavah u'Vrachot... Love and Blessings...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" ><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;" >--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-71140774606505049582011-04-14T21:47:00.014-07:002011-04-15T09:04:20.357-07:00For Papi: My Other Dad<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZn3dFKYPwU/TafOWhi2mzI/AAAAAAAAAIM/EsAaBQKMdjo/s1600/12-10.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 145px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XZn3dFKYPwU/TafOWhi2mzI/AAAAAAAAAIM/EsAaBQKMdjo/s200/12-10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5595667948388129586" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >A wise person once said "If you have nothing nice to say, say nothing at all".</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Advice like this came from not only my own dad, but from our "<span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">Papi</span>", the father of one of my closest and dearest friends, and a man whom I loved as much as anyone could love a second father. I dedicate my return to the keyboard to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_1">Papi</span>, who was called home to <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_2">haShem</span> last week after a courageous battle with cancer. Through it all, though, when asked of his health, the reply was always: Never better. He always was.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >During my own family struggles these past several months, (which kept me from writing), <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_3">Papi</span> was always the man of reason. He was always there for me with a joke and a smile, and every Friday night, he stood in proxy for my own dad and gave me the Parental Blessing. I will miss him.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >And so I return now to this column after several difficult months, wherein I refrained from writing for fear that any negativity that I may have been feeling would seep out into this Column; and as such, I kept my pain (as well as my joy) to myself and kept my relatively big mouth shut; until now.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >A year ago, I wrote that I find this time of year the "most wonderful" of all the seasons. Spring flowers are in full bloom; the grass on fairways is green and the sound of wooden bats cracking baseballs 400 plus feet over outfield walls has again made its way back into our lives.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The most wonderful sound, though, is the voice of the youngest at the table asking "Why is this night different from all other nights?", and our response that we were once slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. Add to this, the magic of being surrounded by loved ones; friends and family and friends of family and the sum of this equation is simply this: It <b style="font-style: italic; ">is</b> the most wonderful time of the year. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is a time to reflect on the past. A past of some 3,200 years ago when G-d took us from bondage and slavery with a strong hand and an outstretched arm and gave us Torah fifty days later. It is a time to celebrate our freedom from our slavery in Egypt and a time to rejoice in our independence. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >I would agree with everything that I have just written with the exception of the existence of one minor question: Are we free from bondage?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >A year ago at our Seder, my first in the presence of only my boys, my youngest son, who is now 15 years old noted that we each live in our own <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_4">Mitzrayim</span>; our own "personal Egypt". Whether we be slaves to our school work, our jobs, our rent or mortgage; car payment or simply slaves to our society or the expectations that society places on us, our freedom can and will come from one source and only from one source: Faith. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Faith that the sun will rise in the morning; faith that the moon will show its wonder after dark; faith that I will awake with the sun, breathe and again be able to enjoy another day in this mixed up, yet wonderful world. Above all, faith that one more person today, just one more person, will also begin to have this faith, for until many more of us do, our woes as a world of human beings will continue.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >It is said and believed that each of us has reason to be here; that we each have a purpose in this life, and whether or not we know what that purpose is, is irrelevant. The mere fact that we are here says something.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The wonderful poetess <a href="http://www.lindaellis.net">Linda Ellis</a>, in her poem <a href="http://www.lindaellis.net">"The Dash"</a>, wrote of the dash between the dates of birth and death on our tombstones:</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="line-height: 115%; ">For it matters not how much we own;</span></span><span style="line-height: 115%; "><br /><span class="apple-style-span">The cars the house the cash</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">What matters is how we live and love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">And how we spend our dash.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_5">Papi</span> lived this way. His dash bright and knowing; full of life and living; caring and loving; and most of all, in awe of the wonders of G-d and of Torah.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">May we too, this Passover season, find our own personal Egypt and from it, find our own peace, independence and salvation from affliction, slavery and bondage. By listening to the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_6">Papi</span> in all of us, maybe the beautiful words of Linda Ellis will help us to realize what life is really about, and if it is still difficult, just look outside and wonder in the amazing world that G-d created for all of us to enjoy.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">From the Left Coast in Sunny Southern California, I wish you a very happy and healthy Passover, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_7">Shabbat</span> Shalom and as always, <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_8">Ahava</span> <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_9">u'Vrachot</span>. Love and Blessings...</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-15627204340312877782010-12-22T14:10:00.000-07:002010-12-22T15:08:26.350-07:00The Shortest Day of the Year<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TRJAvTDFF8I/AAAAAAAAAGo/DRgNrhIrdOk/s1600/alan%2B11-10.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 154px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TRJAvTDFF8I/AAAAAAAAAGo/DRgNrhIrdOk/s200/alan%2B11-10.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5553572471812462530" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" >You may recall that several months ago I wrote a column called "Who Will Say Kaddish for Us" (<a href="http://alanabramsblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/as-much-as-i-love-week-of-passover-i.html">April 10, 2010</a>), and in it, I asked that we take a look at ourselves and ask ourselves what it means to truly be happy with who we are and with what we have.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >After a long summer, filled with many changes, and an even longer autumn, replete with much tragedy and loss, I find myself again asking that we take yet another look at ourselves. This time, however, I ask: Who will say Kaddish for <b><i>them</i></b>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Having spent many an hour in and out of Skilled Nursing facilities and Hospice facilities as a visiting Rabbi, (the key word being "in and out"), (except for an extended period as a patient), I had only done so in my professional role and until this past July, when faced with my grandmother's admittance to a like facility. Sadly, I had never felt that I had a reason for spending more than the requisite half hour or so with the specific patient whom I had intended on visiting, nor did I believe that I had the time to visit others; and even then, I had never allowed myself to become involved with them beyond a quick hello, or to offer a brief Mishaberach (healing) prayer on my way to my next stop in a busy day.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >This of course changed in late June when my grandmother was sent to a Skilled Nursing facility following a terrible automobile accident, and my days this past summer were spent almost in their entirety at the facility. There, I visited not only her, but her neighbors and new friends; patients both in and out of consciousness; their families and friends, and of course, deeply rooted new friendships formed with both residents and with the dedicated staff of medical professionals and administrators.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >And then, one day in late August, my grandmother died.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Would her neighbors and friends be now again forgotten? What about others in other homes? Who will visit them??</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Most of these folks have no family, or what family they do have, rarely visit. Which, then leads me to ask: Who will say Kaddish for them?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >The famous sage Hillel was known to have said "If I am not for myself, then who will be for me; and if not now, when?" </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >Are our friends in these homes and facilities not us? Are they not our grandparents, our uncles and aunts?? Our brothers and sisters??? And, if they are us, as I believe them to be, we owe it to them to visit them while they are still with us; and, we owe it to them to say Kaddish for them once they have passed on to Olam haBa.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" >For these reasons, I have begun a program of Bikurei Holim; visitation to the sick that encompasses many of the Skilled Nursing facilities in the Los Angeles area. My goal is to reach out to our brothers and sisters in these facilities by providing Chaplaincy services while visiting each patient three times weekly, and Palliative Care Chaplaincy when necessary, even if it means being on-call daily and nightly.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Our program, Mobile Rabbinic Chaplaincy Services will kick off officially on January 1, 2011. Should you be interested in helping us achieve these goals, please visit our <a href="http://rabbiabrams.web.officelive.com/chaplaincy.aspx">website</a>.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">At this time each year, the time of the secular holiday season, I find myself often wondering where the "holiday spirit" that seems to be present this month goes almost immediately after New Years Day. I find that even trips down major boulevards bring visions of decorations and light displays them themselves call for us to be kind and gentle to each other, yet, at the same time, this time of year almost always makes me wonder why these feelings of "good tidings" are only present during the period between Thanksgiving and New Years.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Wouldn't it be nice if everyone were just as nice the rest of the year? What might we be able to do to make it so? </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Last week, while driving to Los Angeles along the 101 Freeway, sitting in heavy traffic, as is normal for any time of day, I looked to the sky. It was dark; grey; cloudy; cold. It appeared to be ready to open up and rain. In an instant, though, this all became irrelevant, as a large flock of birds flew in a southerly direction in perfect formation. At that very moment I was reminded of the perfection that continues to remain in the world. It occurred to me that no matter the weather; no matter the grim outlook of ongoing war and economic strife and sickness that is all around us, the world is, in fact, unfolding exactly as it should, and that the smile brought to my face by the flying birds can be brought to everyone, by us, by just thinking of those birds, and passing the smile along to the driver next to us on the freeway, or the person crossing the street, or whomever you happen to meet next.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">Maybe if we remember those birds and remember to smile a little more, we can keep the feeling of December all year long. It is worth a try, at least, isn't it?</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; "><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">From rainy damp and chilly Southern California, where the sun always shines (in our hearts, if no place else), I wish you Ahavah, uVrachot, Love and Blessings for a wonderful week and Shabbat Shalom.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial; ">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-54516708841190374342010-10-11T08:18:00.017-07:002010-10-11T10:14:54.452-07:00When push comes to shove, blood is not thicker than water; Money is.<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TLNFM2xVntI/AAAAAAAAAGM/JIcuT3nC9nA/s1600/aa-0910.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 145px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526837254876929746" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TLNFM2xVntI/AAAAAAAAAGM/JIcuT3nC9nA/s200/aa-0910.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">My father, whom you have read about on numerous occasions; and whom I adored and loved more than any person, save for my wonderful children, taught me many things in our short forty-six years together.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">All of which, so far, have turned out to be quite correct, with the exception of one glaring item, which, truth be told, is the one thing that should absolutely be correct, but sadly, these past few weeks I have learned otherwise.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Blood is thicker than water", he would say. Relating of course to family bonds, loyalty and love; meaning that no matter what, in the end, blood, family loyalty and respect for that loyalty will triumph over anything and anyone who tries to break that bond of blood over water.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">On Rosh haShana, of all days, I learned that this is not true, when the Mezzuzah that adorned the doorpost of my grandmother's home, in which I live, was stolen, and in it's place, a note was left by the thief, not only identifying himself by name, but admitting that he was the thief! Later in the day, he reached my by telephone (I initially answered as I saw the number and thought that the call was due to my mother being hospitalized) and told me to go get the note that he had left for me where the "F***ing 'Jew Thing' used to be on the door". He subsequently left me four voice mail messages threatening my life, using highly anti-Semitic rants if I did not leave my grandmother's house and move back to Arizona. He then showed up at my residence a few days later and pointed his fingers at me like a gun and reminded me through the window that he owns guns and knows how to use them.</span></div><div></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">The following day, I did what any normal person would do, and filed for protection with the Superior Court. I was granted a Temporary Restraining Order against this maniac, but lo-and-behold, he was somehow able to evade process of service.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">What you may ask does this anti-Jewish piece of dirt have to do with blood being thicker than water? It so happens that he is married to my blood, and she, amazingly enough, <strong><em>condones</em></strong> his behaviour, and even <em><strong>smirked</strong></em> when played his voice mail messages, that, among other rants included his opinion that "Rabbis are just like Catholic Priests; they love to mutilate little boys by cutting off pieces of their penises." And that Rabbis have a "fake f***ing religion."</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">You see, it is all about the almighty dollar. And that makes me sad. This relative of mine once told me (following a thirteen year gap where the despicable husband interfered previously) that never again would she allow anyone or anything to come between us; that life was too short and that indeed, blood is thicker than water. If only that were true. The truth is, that her goal and that of her insane (born Jewish) Nazi husband is to sell the house in which I live, even though they have no right to it, legal or otherwise.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Her basis is to continue to accuse me of mistakes that I made thirty years ago. Who has not erred?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is true that each of makes mistakes in our life. The goal is to remedy them, ask forgiveness from those whom we have hurt, atone for them to G-d and move on to better things and a better life. This is the basis for our wonderful faith. Absent this faith, what do we really have?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We would have a life absent joy. Absent the pure simcha of seeing our children go up to the Torah and read; absent the blessing of walking our children to the Chuppah (Wedding Canopy); absent the knowledge that our children have ascended in their lives and Jewish education and have become Jewish adults, we would have a life that is empty and void of happiness.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Should she continue on this path, my relative will never know this joy. For this, I am not angry. I am disappointed and I feel compassion and I feel pity. For the Joy of Torah is absent in her life, and the only G-d that she knows is green, with numbers on its corners and pictures of dead presidents on the front center panel. It is sad indeed.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">May she awake someday soon and thank G-d for the day that she has been given; may she open her eyes to Torah and to the knowledge that all she was taught as a young girl is true and is good. May she walk away from the evil that surrounds her and encompasses her life. May she realize that blood is thicker than water. May she come home.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">From Sunny Southern California and the Emek in the Maarav, I bid you Ahavah u'Vrachot; Love and Blessings...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div></div></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-91110002601456935232010-09-03T09:08:00.016-07:002010-09-03T10:33:46.422-07:00Ashamnu. I have sinned.<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TIEh5m2j-kI/AAAAAAAAAF0/DfFEF2ylIn8/s1600/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 198px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5512724692443855426" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TIEh5m2j-kI/AAAAAAAAAF0/DfFEF2ylIn8/s200/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg" /></a><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">During the month of Elul, and in fact, no less than one week ago, I committed the biggest sin that any one of us can commit.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">I have done exactly the opposite of what we are supposed to do during Elul, and not only have I not failed to approach each of you whom I have hurt over the past year and ask forgiveness, I have also done the unconscionable by committing the act of Lashon haRa, publicly and hurting more than one person with one misplaced stone.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Last Shabbat, I misused the pulpit of one of my dearest friends; one of my most respected Colleagues, and in doing so, not only hurt him, but tarred the reputations of a few very respected Rabbis in our community.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">This was not done with intentional malice, however, it was done nonetheless, and for these transgressions I must request Slicha; I must request forgiveness from not only them, but from all who were present when I mis-spoke, and from all who read my latest Column.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The matter at hand was the cessation of the Falafel Grill in Agoura Hills to remain a Kosher restaurant. Without verifying with every person involved, I took the word of one person, and due to incidents at another Kosher restaurant last month, allowed myself to become enraged at a situation absent of the complete facts.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The fact is that yes, Falafel Grill is no longer a Kosher establishment; and yes, it is no longer a Kosher establishment due to an increase in the cost of Kosher meat; and yes, the supervising authority was Chabad of Conejo.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The larger fact, however, is that Chabad of Conejo did not increase these costs; they did not force the restaurant to abandon Kashrut, and in fact, during the several years that they held Hashgacha and supervision, never once did they charge Falafel Grill for their supervision, nor did they force Falafel Grill to use one vendor over another. They simply dictated which Shchita was acceptable to their standard. This is not only their right, but their responsibility. Unfortunately, the costs of meeting this standard were too high for this restaurant and they were unable to sustain their business.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">That said, I ask forgiveness from each of the Rabbis affiliated with Chabad of Conejo, and hope that you will hear my request for Slicha.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">To my dear friend, whose Bima I desecrated with my words of Lashon haRa, I ask your forgiveness, though I may not deserve it. We have known each other over forty years, and in the last two and a half years, as we have become closer, I look to you as a mentor, a guide, a teacher and a Rav. To my dear friend, I beg Slicha.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">To those of you that were present last week, and to those of you who read this Column, I ask of you Slicha. I mis-spoke and I mis-wrote. I am sorry and pray that you will all forgive me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">On a similar note and grander scale, on this last Shabbat of the year, I pray that each of you that I have hurt during the past year please forgive me and grant me atonement.</span><br /><br /><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">-----------</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Last Thursday morning, at 7:15, my grandmother lost her battle against injuries sustained in an automobile accident that is the reason I find myself in Los Angeles.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Over the course of the last two and a half months, I learned many things about her life that were very surprising to me. I learned that many of the facts about her childhood, were not as I had been told previously. I am not sure how I feel about this. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><br /><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">What I do know, though, is that I will miss my Nana as long as I live, and hope to wake up every day to see roses in her garden. </span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">The following I delivered at her Funeral this past Sunday:</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><div align="center"></div><div align="center"></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">ברוך דין האמת. יהוה נתן ויהוה לקח. יהי שם יהוה מבורך.<br /></span></em><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">G-d has given and G-d has taken away. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Over the past three months, I have had more than occasion to think about what I would say today; How I would eulogize my grandmother; How I could possibly put into words what her life meant to me; what, she meant to me. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Over the past three months, day after day, I would sit at her bedside and in the beginning, during the first days and weeks after the terrible accident that would eventually take her life, I would talk with her; hearing stories about which doctor she taught to bake peach cobbler, or how she would constantly have to sweep and clean the first home in which she and my grandfather and mother lived upon arriving in California in 1946.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the last four or five weeks, the conversation was much less; and most days, not even existent. Most days, if I was able to even give her a small bag of popcorn it was an accomplishment for her to know that I was there. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">And even so, even though I have had all this time; even though I easily write and deliver eulogy after eulogy, in this and in other similar chapels, today I am without words. Today, I draw a blank. For there are no words that I know to write; no words that I know to deliver that could even begin to describe my grandmother to you. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">As history will tell, on Friday, September 19, 1919, just one week before Rosh haShana, 5680, G-d provided a gift to Raechel and Nathan Weizer of 1800 East 105th Street, Cleveland, Ohio, in the form of a baby girl, Claire. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">She took on the role of big sister with love and devotion, caring first for Alfred, and then for baby sister, Gladys, throughout her teen years and up until the time that she met the love of her life, the brother of her best friend Rhea; rough and tough, Herman. The troublemaker; the motorcyclist; the fighter, who snuck around and boxed under the assumed Goyishe name, H. Anthony Shea. Jews – don’t fight.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My grandparents ran away sometime during 1938 and married. It was just before wartime, and eloping seemed the best idea. From what I was told, the family didn’t really buy the whole secretive life, and shortly thereafter, they were married under a Chuppah, and set out to find and live the American dream.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">During the Summer of 1939, Maryl was born, and seven years later, the three Shapiros made their move west, to Los Angeles. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Work did not come easily in Los Angeles for a twenty-six year old named Shapiro, so, one day, after passing by the store in Santa Monica, my grandfather listed his name on a job application as “Sears”, and was immediately hired. The official name change was finalized not long after.</span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><br />Times were especially tough financially and some of the best memories that my mother has, involved skipping along the Venice Boardwalk with her mother on their way to a rare movie, with only an apple for refreshment. Motherhood was difficult also in those days, made even more so by the presence of post war hardships. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">At the ripe young age of 42, Claire became a “Nana”, and it was then that she took flight.<br />I believe that her life’s mission was to be a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother. Even, a Matriarch. Our own version of a real life Alexis Carrington. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Thanksgiving after Thanksgiving; dinner party after dinner party; family birthday celebration, or other reason to get together became her time to shine, and shine she did.<br />The China was always perfect, as were the Silver and Crystal; the meals were well planned out and delicious. These were her calling cards. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My Nana was not a “Bubbie”. Never. Rather, she was the stereotype of elegance. It shined, as did she. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I only know how to properly set a table, because she taught me. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">But this, dear friends, this does not scratch even the surface of who she was.<br />As wonderful as a grandmother as she was, I cannot even begin to describe her as a Great Grandmother. She carried with her a wonderful and genuine interest in others; especially her family. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">My sons, Zac and Dylan, were unable to be here today, as they just started school this past week in Arizona, but Zac sent the following for me to share with you today:<br />I sincerely apologize for my absence. To all who are here, especially my Grandma, I send only my deepest love. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">What is a Matriarch? The first definition on Dictionary.com reads: "The female head of a family or tribal line". If there was an entry for my Nana, that is exactly what it would say. Nana was the oldest member of our wonderfully dysfunctional family, and she held that position with pride for many, many years.<br /></span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"></span></em> </div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I met Nana 18 years ago, when I was just a baby. Truth be told, my fondest memories of my early childhood consist of visits with her, as well as my grandparents. I always felt that Nana and I shared a very special bond, and over these 18 years, that bond grew. I had so many wonderful conversations with her; I feel like we would talk for days on end whenever she called. The best thing about her is that she practically made excuses just to call me. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">A great example of this was just recently, back in May, when she called me to tell me she was watching baseball and that it made her think of me. Truth is that I know for a fact that sports were the absolute least of her interests, but as far as she was concerned, if it made me happy, it made her happy. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I'll never forget last summer when I was in California and she engaged with me an entire discussion about the NBA Finals. And I was even stunned to find out that she actually knew who some of the players were! Anytime I spent time in her home, she always had some sort of article or magazine clipping that she had saved specifically for me. I actually still have every single article in a footlocker at home. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think everyone can agree that she always had wonderful stories. And my favorite stories were the chivalrous and insanely romantic tales of Papa, the love of her life and one of my all-time heroes. And I'd like to end on a high note with a wonderful story of my favorite Nana being defended by her man: </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Papa and Nana were driving on a city street. Well, Papa being the fearless driver that he was, totally and completely cut off a guy who was trying to make a lane change. Well, the red light came and the man had somehow gotten next to the car that Papa was driving. He enticed Papa to roll down the window, and the man immediately began swearing like a sailor. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Language that should NOT be used in front of a woman. Well, Papa couldn't stand for this. So what did he do? He got out of the car. Papa, standing (insert height here; I can't remember how tall he was) and the Pottymouth Motorist, standing well over 6 feet tall, faced off. And with one punch from the muscular former boxer that was Papa, the opponent was knocked to the ground. Papa immediately demanded an apology to Nana, in which the man did very fearfully.</span></em></div><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"><div align="center"><br />Nana, I know that you and Papa are finally back together. May you spent the rest of eternity reminiscing about great memories like this and making up for all the lost time. I know that you must be thrilled, and I know that it's gonna be one hell of a reunion when I find myself up there with you in 102 years.</div><div align="center"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">Take care of yourself up there. I love you and always will hold a special place in my heart for my favorite matriarch. </span></em></div><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;"> </div></span></em><div align="center"><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">I think that Zac said it best, I know that it's gonna be one hell of a reunion when I find myself up there with you when my time comes. </span></em></div><div align="center"><br /><em><span style="font-family:trebuchet ms;">We began the service earlier with the words, יהוה נתן ויהוה לקח.<br />G-d has given and He has taken away, but let us not believe, even for one moment that He took her away from us. No. Let us know in our heart of hearts that He took the disease from her; that he took her to my grandfather, the love of her life, and that He took her to the Grace and perpetual paradise of Olam haBa, of the next world, after leaving her with us for just a week short of ninety-one years, according to the Hebrew Calendar. </span></em></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;">----------</span></div><div align="center"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">May G-d grant each of Peace in the coming year. May He inscribe and seal us all in the Book of Life and may he continue show us that only His Torah is and remains our light and redemption.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">With Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings, I wish you Shabbat Shalom and Shana Tovah.</span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div align="left"><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-36812154911073707842010-08-13T16:58:00.023-07:002010-08-14T21:02:01.167-07:00Taking off the gloves; Playing with fire... for the sake of Elul...<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TGXorKFQScI/AAAAAAAAAFE/aybeIR4TD78/s1600/aabrams2009best-96dpi.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 158px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5505061947668711874" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TGXorKFQScI/AAAAAAAAAFE/aybeIR4TD78/s200/aabrams2009best-96dpi.jpg" /></a><br /><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">In the last edition of this Column, you may recall that we spoke of a "Community" Kashrut company, who, while calling themselves "Orthodox" or "Frum", or whatever term they wish to use to describe their sacred and extreme high level of observance, was caught with their proverbial hand in the cookie jar, when in my presence, they were seen and heard extorting money from a small restaurant owner in the San Fernando Valley, before the Community (a code word for their real name) would let them reopen. </span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Incensed, I wrote about the incident in this Column and was almost immediately besieged by e-mails from readers; almost all of them positive in that it was about time that <em>someone</em> supported the "little guy"; some offering help in "<em>getting the big guys</em>"; and one e-mail, from a dear friend and Colleague warning me against "playing with fire", and one, from a reader in Chicago that accused me, angrily, of sticking my nose into other people's business.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Playing with fire? Are we not talking about Rabbis? With long black coats, disheveled beards, big hats and Tzitit hanging from their pants? They would hurt someone physically?? <em>RIGHT BEFORE THE MONTH OF ELUL???</em></span></div><div><em><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></em></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Friends: Is it not our job as Rabbis, Cantors, Educators and administrators to teach, inspire and try, however we must, to make living a Jewish life <em>easier</em> for those who seek to rejoin our Communities<em>?</em> Is it not the job of all of us to remember that Talmud teaches us that Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh be Zeh? That ALL Jews are responsible each of us for one another? It is our job; it is our duty; it is our lot; period. Failing to believe this; failing to act accordingly and failing to take this responsibility seriously is simply, not very Jewish.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This week, Chaverai, on Rosh Chodesh Elul, on the day that we are supposed to be beginning our Slichot, our asking of others to forgive our behaviour from the past year; I learned that the Kashrut authority in Agoura Hills has caused the Falafel Grill on Kanan Road to abandon their distinction as a Glatt Kosher restaurant. Due to an almost three fold increase in the cost of Kosher meat from the only supplier that the Conejo Chabad will accept as Kosher, as well as significant increases in the costs of their supplies across the board, we, as a community, have lost another Kosher business.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Is it maybe not time to take off the gloves? Is it not time to maybe play with a little fire? Is it not time, my friends, to take off the gloves and fight for what is right? Is it not time for US to take control and follow the most simplest of all Mitzvot - veAhavta et Reecha kaMocha - and you shall love your neighbor as you do yourself. And, is it not time for us to take control and protect our brothers and sisters who are being wronged, not just in our own community, but by our own <em>PEOPLE</em>?</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I suggest that we take back our playground. I suggest this by visiting Kosher restaurants and supporting them, at the same time making it clearly known to the restaurant owner(s) that you support <em>them </em>for providing a place for us to dine, but that you are not in support of the Mafia-Like thugs who pressure them.</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I suggest that you forward this week's edition of Normal is Overrated to your e-mail contact list; I suggest that you leave a comment here for all to see pledging your support of our community; and I suggest that we all contact Kehilla Kosher in Los Angeles and voice our opinions on their business practices. And, when doing so, I suggest that we let them know that we forgive their sins and their transgressions in how they treat their clients, in that it is the month of Elul, after all. Just because they act with complete disregard for Yiddishkeit, does not mean that we will.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Kol Yisrael Arevim Zeh be Zeh. It is our job; It is our responsibility and it is our duty.</span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Shavuah Tov, Wishing you a great week from Sunny Southern California. As always, I send Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings...</span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div></div></div></div></div></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-9941560833649762010-08-01T00:28:00.011-07:002010-08-01T02:13:05.377-07:00When a "Community" hurts "THE" Community<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TFUjt_31CbI/AAAAAAAAADs/R27JjHnSxbk/s1600/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 143px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 165px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5500341793049610674" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/TFUjt_31CbI/AAAAAAAAADs/R27JjHnSxbk/s200/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg" /></a> <div><span style="font-family:arial;">Dear Friends:<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Over the course of the many months that I have written this Column, I have had occasion to write about happy and sad times; I have had opportunities to introduce you to new artists and community events; and even have taken you into parts of my life and shared them with you.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">None of these, however, even begins to compare with the sadness and shock of an event that I witnessed this past week, when a Jewish company took such advantage of another Jew, that the ugliness of their practices bodes us to not only pay attention, but to take action, before it is too late.<br /><br /></span></div><div></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">This "Community" company, (whom I may not name directly, under threat of reprisal from them), </span><span style="font-family:arial;">labels itself as amongst the most Observant of the most Observant; a company that in fact places itself at the highest level of Holiness by judging who is Kosher and who is not; and providing Hashgacha, on site inspectors who supervise a restaurant's activities.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Rather than opine at the moment, please permit me to simply tell you what happened this past week, and how it transpired before my very eyes and ears:<br /><br /></span><span style="font-family:Arial;">I went into a known Kosher restaurant in the Los Angeles area around 2:30pm one day this past week. I approached the counter, looked at the menu on the wall and ordered the "Lunch Special" which consisted of a hamburger, fries and a fountain drink. I was told by the counter girl that she could not prepare that for me as the "Rabbi was blessing the place". She looked over to three men sitting at a table and I approached, introduced myself and made it known that I have eaten there before; that I know it to be Kosher; and that I was accepting of the fact that a "Re-Hechshering" was in progress, but that I trusted the owner to not sell me non Kosher food, and asked that they please prepare the hamburger for me.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">When I exited the restroom, I was again told that they could not prepare this order, but that I could have some Shawarma from earlier in the day, before the procedure had begun. Not wishing to find a different restaurant, I ordered the Shawarma and sat down to eat.</span> <div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><span style="font-family:Georgia;"><br /><br /></span>While seated, I heard the three men talking. The restaurant owner was pleading with the other two men, one American and one Israeli, to allow him to open and sell food. The two men say there and listened, but offered no solution. Two or three minutes later, the American said<em><strong> "I understand that you are upset. Let's do this, if you agree to buy the pans now, you could be open in no time. In fact, you could be open right now if you would just buy the pans."<br /><br /></strong></em></span></div><div><strong><em><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></em></strong></div><div><strong><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></strong></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">My friends, I thought that Tony Soprano was sitting at that table. I felt as if I was in a scene from a Coppola movie, or that Ray Liotta was going to jump out of the back with a sawed-off and save the day. Did I <em>hear</em> right? Was the owner of this small Falafel stand being extorted?? And, if so, could this possibly be done in the name of Torah??? NO WAY, I told myself, and then, I felt compelled to ask these guys, and ask I did.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">"Why are you keeping this man's restaurant closed?" "Because he is not yet Kosher", I was told. "Why is he not yet Kosher?", I asked, "He has been Glatt Kosher for YEARS", I continued. Their answer blew me away. According to this man, Larry Somebody, the restaurant was not Kosher <em>enough, </em>and the pans in question (drip pans used UNDER the Shawarma Rotisseries, NOT for food that would be eaten) <em>might have come in contact with something bad, </em>I was told, and therefore, the restaurant was not Kosher until he said that it was Kosher.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Welcome to Extortion 101.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I returned the following day and the owner thanked me for trying to help him. The Israeli man was back and sitting at the same table, while playing with his iPhone and getting up occasionally to make a plate of food (which, no he did not pay for). This "on site inspector", by the way, earns $15 per hour, paid by the restaurant, which is in addition to the $675 per quarter that the restaurant pays the "Community" for their super supervision.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">I asked the owner what had transpired. Why did he feel compelled to change Kashrut companies and was told by him that he had been approached and advised that were he to not change to this "Community", "The Ashkenazim would not patronize his store", thus, causing him financial loss.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Those are the facts. That is what I saw and what I heard. I called this "Larry" person on Wednesday morning, and informed him that I was going to write about this incident in my Column, and was warned that should I publish this piece, I could be hurting my new friend the restaurant owner. Now that this has published, let's see what happens.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">My friends, we all know that we live in a time when we cannot afford to fight each other. We are constantly and consistently being threatened by both Arab States and renewed World Anti-Semitism. We are facing possible passing of a maniacal new law in Israel that could affect the legal conversions of thousands of Jews, and we are living in an ages where the Presidential Administration, for the first time in history, is clearly Anti-Israel and Pro-Palestinian (read: Terrorist).<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are facing the largest number of Jews who are non-affiliated in history, and every day, we hear of yet another Shul closing its doors.<br /><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">These are the times that we must be united. This is not the time that we can sit back and watch the world go by. This is the time that we must stand strong, together, and take action to prevent these situations. I ask and urge you to speak with the restaurants owner(s) the next time that you dine in a Kosher restaurant. I urge you to ask who supervises them, and I implore you to ask them if they have been treated in such a way and to pay attention to their answers. I urge you to speak with your friends and neighbors; your Rabbis and teachers. I ask that you please forward this Column to everyone that you know and that you make this serious issue known throughout your Community. Maybe it can be a start to ending this corrupt and horrible behaviour.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">As a footnote, I can tell you that in looking at the Community's website this evening, I noticed that several pages (listing which restaurants which they supervise, for instance), have been removed, and that in the past few days, much of their website is no longer functional. Maybe this is a good thing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I thank you for listening. I thank you for reading and above all, I thank you for helping us all bond together to prevent this crime from continuing to plague our brethren.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">With Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings from the Left Coast and Sunny Southern California, I bid you Shavuah Tov; a good week. May magical good wishes find you as always.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-50210252239228673622010-07-17T18:44:00.004-07:002010-07-17T18:56:33.253-07:00For Brandon (z"l)<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/TEJbWCTXhiI/AAAAAAAAAMo/Pv2nB5adxP0/s1600/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" hw="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/TEJbWCTXhiI/AAAAAAAAAMo/Pv2nB5adxP0/s200/rabbialanabrams07-09.jpg" width="198" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/TEJA0QvctII/AAAAAAAAAMg/E8PJ2eol-_k/s1600/aa+towerofdavid.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Two O'clock in the afternoon of July 18, 1991, I joined a club. It is a club that boasts a membership that unfortunately grows daily, and it is a club in which not one member has ever requested entry; most of us, in fact, try for as long as we can to deny our affiliation.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">We do so at times by living as if all is well; and we do so at times by conveniently forgetting that precise minute when we entered, never to be permitted exit.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">At Two O'clock in the afternoon of that dreadful day, I held the lifeless body of my beautiful little son in my arms and kissed his face; knowing that the next time I would see him would be at the Cemetery on Tisha b'Av, when we would lay his young body to rest.</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">I had joined the worst club imaginable: The club of parents who bury their children.</span></div><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial;">His face was cold, and his lips were blue. His Neshama, his Soul, had left his tiny body never to return in this World. I was sad and I was angry. WHY? WHY would a Loving G-d that I knew to be a Loving G-d take the tiniest of his children, even before my Brandon had a chance to make his impact?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For seventeen years, as I placed phylacteries on my left arm every morning, and read Morning prayers I asked G-d why. And for seventeen years, I had no answer. My answer appeared two years, six months and seven days ago when I eulogised my father at a Cemetery not fifteen miles from where my Brandon is buried.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">For those of you who remember my dad, I have no real need to remind you who he was. For those of you who never had the absolute blessing of having known him, I will tell you that he was a man who was genuinely loved by every single person whose life he touched, and that he touched every person whom he had ever met. My father was, in the simplest of terms, a Tzadik. A righteous man; a man who knew who he was, and a man who was so in love with his grandchildren that his every thought and his every smile were both brought to him by them, or dedicated to them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">That being said, how could G-d <em><u>not</u></em> have a beautiful grandson waiting his arrival into Gan Eden, the paradise that is the Olam, haBa, the World to come. Enter my Brandon. My beautiful boy was taken to be there for his Grandfather's arrival. Who better to greet my dad in Heaven, but his Grandson whom he had not had the time to know or grow close to, as G-d's plan was different. I no longer ask why.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On Shabbat, somewhere between the Kiddush and Motzi, we parents place our hands on the heads of our children and offer our Blessing. I pardon your indulgence for, but a moment as I ask that you stand with me as I send this Blessing to my beautiful boy on the nineteenth anniversary of his passing:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Brandon, I know now that G-d has made you as Ephraim and Menashe; He has Blessed you and He has kept you; He has shined his countenance upon you and been gracious onto you; and above all, G-d has kept you with Him and has brought you Peace.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">We do not always know the reasons behind the magnificent works of haShem. It is at times difficult to not know and to not understand. It can be frustrating and at times even maddening. But, for those times that we <em><u>do</u></em> understand, Oh, for those times, the world, even in its heightened levels of craziness becomes a truly enlightening and beautiful place.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From the Sunny Left Coast, I send Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-34070889322863502702010-07-08T10:42:00.000-07:002010-07-08T10:42:49.037-07:00Why Must we Tolerate?<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzRavRpAKK7VyTjRSAd3q1HNshIQYvwVOqG6XAamLybBUQwUTIh6_nuR6Pqzh4OMwbVQ0ArFly1y2bVAr9TIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><span style="font-family: Arial;">On my way to California a couple weeks ago, my very wise eighteen year old had a very interesting and enlightening thought. He asked me, "What is Tolerance? Why must we have to <em>tolerate </em>anyone?"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I thought about his question, and listened to him as he explained his reasoning: If we were <em>all </em>created in the image of G-d (Genesis 1:27), then, we are truly all the same, regardless of our skin colour, belief system or sexual orientation or preference, right? Or are we?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">If I am of the belief that we are all created in G-d's image, I must, by definition, believe that we are all the same, and be this the case, we must be <em>accepting of others</em>, not "tolerant". </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">BARUCH haSHEM, THANK G-D, we are all the same now and no longer must we be "politically correct" and "tolerant". Would this not be a truly wonderful world, if this were a true statement.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">The problem, my friends, is that we really are all the same, or made the same, but some of us have slightly different views on things. Not necessarily the colour of car that we prefer, or our taste in foods, but matters of somewhat greater importance, like for instance, our cousins in places like Syria and Iran who live their lives to end ours; Gazans who enjoy hiding behind young children while shooting missiles at our children; Youths with shaved heads in Europe who continue to paint Swastikas on buildings and Government officials who are more interested in the Human Rights of admitted Terrorists and where Jews build housing for Jews, than the deaths of hundred of thousands in Africa, Asia and other third world locales.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Must we be tolerant of these people, or is it enough and more correct to be accepting? To be "tolerant", according to dictionary sources is: <em><u>the ability to accept something while disapproving of it In social, cultural and religious contexts.</u> </em>Does this not mean that we deem ourselves right and they are wrong?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Are we not better off being "accepting" (willingly or readily accepting or receiving; receptive)? I believe that we should be accepting. In fact, I completely accept the fact that the Arab World wishes to push us into the sea and destroy us. I also completely accept that we must protect ourselves, and with G-d and Torah, we will be able to overcome their intentions; I completely accept that the United States, and the State of Arizona in particular has a massive border control problem; and I completely accept that the current Federal Administration is the first to be blatantly anti-Israel and anti-Semitic, yet I am also fully accepting of the fact that Israel does not need the United States nearly as much as the United States needs Israel.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">I am also totally accepting of the reality that while we each have our own ability to choose, I believe that G-d wants, but one thing from us, and that is to be good people; to love our fellow person as we do ourselves (maybe even more than we do ourselves), and to love Him with all of our heart, soul and strength; and that it is up to us to accept G-d for who He is to each of us individually, and to not simply "tolerate" people whose beliefs are different than ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">It is also incumbent on us to accept <em>ourselves </em>for who we are. Don't ask, don't tell? Forget it! Be YOU. I'll be me and your neighbour down the block well be her. Accept yourself as yourself. Be proud of yourself; your accomplishments as well as your dreams. There are no failures, just a bunch of tries that have not yet been successful. And should you desire to become a better you, ask any Rabbi what the Torah says. I'm certain that he will look it up for you.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From the Left Coast and Sunny Southern California, I wish you Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-24484835235342392102010-05-18T18:01:00.008-07:002010-05-18T18:51:45.808-07:00We met at Sinai.<span style="font-family:arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz-y8XjIgwBZb164Jrvi1VaSYY550_8T0vHvEckhd-eZ7rsnKY_WxY1nGG3IPlVasSDha-eavnE40zxLpekWg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">We met at Sinai</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>On the morning of the third day there were peals of thunder and lightning, and a heavy cloud over the mountain, and a very loud trumpet blast, so that all the people in the camp trembled. But Moses led the people out of the camp to meet G-d, and they stationed themselves at the foot of the mountain. Mount Sinai was all wrapped in smoke, for the L-RD came down upon it in fire. The smoke rose from it as though from a furnace, and the whole mountain trembled violently. The trumpet blast grew louder and louder, while Moses was speaking and G-d answering him with thunder. When the L-RD came down to the top of Mount Sinai, he summoned Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up to him. Exodus 19:16-19</em></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was there, that I asked why and it was there that I first knew the answer. It was there that we sat, you and I, and the rest, some 600,000 of us in all, and while staring at a rumbling mountain, it was there, that i first saw your smile. It was there that we first heard that we shall remember the day Shabbat and keep it Holy, though, we somehow knew this before; and it was there that we learned of the prohibition against murder, stealing and jealousy.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It was there, that we knew that we could begin to love G-d and not fear him, as, who other than a loving G-d would give us his Holy Torah to cherish, keep and love for all time?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">At Sinai, you and I sat. We listened and we rejoyced. We became fearful when Moses did not return for day after day, but we waited, some of us more patiently, for him to return with the Laws; and he did.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">Then G-d delivered all these commandments: "I, the L-RD, am your G-d, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, that place of slavery. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">You shall not have other G-ds besides me. You shall not carve idols for yourselves in the shape of anything in the sky above or on the earth below or in the waters beneath the earth; </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">You shall not bow down before them or worship them. For I, the L-RD, your G-d, am a jealous G-d, inflicting punishment for their fathers' wickedness on the children of those who hate me, down to the third and fourth generation; but bestowing mercy down to the thousandth generation, on the children of those who love me and keep my commandments. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"You shall not take the name of the L-RD, your G-d, in vain. For the L-RD will not leave unpunished him who takes his name in vain. </span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;">"Remember to keep Holy the Sabbath day. Six days you may labor and do all your work, but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the L-RD, your G-d. No work may be done then either by you, or your son or daughter, or your male or female slave, or your beast, or by the alien who lives with you. In six days the</span></em> <span style="font-size:85%;"><em>L-RD made the heavens and the earth, the sea and all that is in them; but on the seventh day he rested. That is why the L-RD has blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy. </em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"Honor your father and your mother, that you may have a long life in the land which the L-RD, your G-d, is giving you. </em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"You shall not kill.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"You shall not commit adultery.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"You shall not steal.</em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor. </em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>"You shall not covet your neighbor's house. </em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em></em></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><em>You shall not covet your neighbor's wife, nor his male or female slave, nor his ox or ass, nor anything else that belongs to him." Exodus 20: 1-14</em></span><br /><em><span style="font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">One by one these Commandments were read, out loud for us all to hear, but we <em>had</em> heard them before, had we not? We did know to honor our parents and to not murder, or steal, did we not? Were these Mitzvot not left in our hearts by G-d before we ever got to Sinai?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Did we not know decency and respect and truth even before receiving Torah?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Now that we have Torah, why have we stopped knowing? Why have we stopped caring? How do we start to care again? When do we look to ourselves for the answers to the questions that plague us all today? The answer, my friends is now.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">It is now that we must begin again. To care and to know; to love and to respect; to believe and to have faith that the lessons planted so deeply within our hearts so very long ago, we placed there for a reason. Let us all treat each other with the love and caring with which we would enjoy being treated.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We met at Sinai, you and I. Amidst a thundering mountain, pillars of fire and smoke; and the sounds of Shofar calling us closer to our Creator. Yes. We met at Sinai, and I pray that one day we may all return in spirit to reclaim what G-d gave us that day.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">From the Emek in the Midbar that we call Arizona, I wish for you Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings for a Chag Sameach, a Happy and Enchanting Shavuot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em>Your voluntary tax deductible donations are always happily accepted by sending them via PayPal at www.paypal.com and selecting "DONATE" to emek@q.com. Please help us help others. CKEH is an IRS 501(c)3 compliant organization. Tax ID number is available upon request. Thank you.</em></span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-49208751457485337892010-04-25T15:20:00.001-07:002010-04-25T15:20:44.202-07:00Who is this Glenn Beck, and WHY DO WE CARE? - A retraction and correction<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/S9PFOC48iSI/AAAAAAAAADU/nI8t7Muaz8U/s1600/raabrams2009.jpg"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 157px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 200px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5463927618015103266" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/S9PFOC48iSI/AAAAAAAAADU/nI8t7Muaz8U/s200/raabrams2009.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-family:arial;">Shortly after publication of the below column last night, I received a barrage of e-mails, many of them unsubscribing to this Column due to my error in not better explaining myself, leaving readers with the idea that I somehow championed Glenn Beck and his notable anti-Semitic broadcasts. My intention was nothing of the sort, and my citation of Mr. Beck's latest broadcast was only to show that I believe that times such as ours call for a return to our own individual faith.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My intent was not to be perceived as bigoted, or anti anyone. Please re-read below and specifically take note of my reply to Mr. Cesca.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">It often seems that whatever the Weekly portion of Torah that we read, something is going on around us that makes that week's Parasha that more meaningful. Such it was this week as well, with our reading of a combined section, Acharei Mot (After the Death of Aaron's sons) and Kedoshim (Holies).</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The second sentence in Kedoshim speaks to me like almost no other in the Torah. With G-d speaking to Moshe (Moses), he says: Go tell all of the Tribes of the Children of Israel YOU ARE HOLY BECAUSE I AM HOLY. This, is a huge statement. This statement, above all others to me, gives us the desire to perform Mitzvot. Please allow me to digress.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have a friend who enjoys discussing Halakha. As it is one of my favorite subjects to discuss, I too enjoy these conversations, but only to a certain point. I only find it fun when we are able to debate (we seldom agree) certain parts of Halakhic wisdom with answers that do not include the words "because haShem says so". My response is generally something like "WHERE DOES haSHEM SAY SO?" The answer is usually the conversation ender. More often than not, I am asked if I have ever studied Talmud, and without any Talmudic back-up or citation, we each sign off, or hang up the phone. Most often, I am thoroughly exhausted from the last five minutes of the conversation (read: debate) as I find it difficult to discuss a topic where one of the parties claims a fact that I know to be false, yet has no back up; i.e. G-d states in Talmud that it is against Halakha to use Facebook Instant Messenger on Shabbat. First, to my knowledge, G-d doesn't state anything in Talmud, and secondly, I am pretty sure that Facebook's Instant Messenger was not around in Talmudic times. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">This past week, we got into a discussion over what it means to be "Observant". My friend stated over five times that to be an Observant Jew, one must fear G-d. One must perform Mitzvot because G-d is watching and will confront us with our transgressions, so we must follow the Mitzvot out of fear of being seen and fear of being caught. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I, however, see the performances in an entirely different light. I see the performance of Mitzvot as acts of love of G-d and for G-d's blessing and pleasure. Today's Parsha explains this to us in one sentence: YOU are holy, because I am holy. As we are created in the image of G-d, we must have G-d in us, and, if we have G-d in us, we, by definition, MUST be holy. To me, there is no better reason to perform Mitzvot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The second most powerful Commandment, to me, is given to us sixteen verses later, when G-d commands us to love our fellow man, as we do ourselves. Midrash teaches that upon a request of a potential Convert to learn Torah while standing on one leg, The Sage Hillel replied with this verse,and told him that this verse <em>is</em> all of Torah. I ask then, does it matter who of us is Jewish or Christian or whatever? Is this Commandment not universal; and at the same time, does it not just make perfect sense?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Lately, I have heard the name Glenn Beck often. I have never taken the time to google Mr. Beck, or investigate his radio or television show; nor have I read any of his writings, and could not even begin to speak of him with any opinion whatsoever. </span><span style="font-family:Arial;">Earlier this evening, however, I came across an article written by a gentleman by the name of Bob Cesca. I had never heard of Mr. Cesca, but my attention was grabbed by reading his headline attacking Glenn Beck. I must admit to having no knowledge of Beck either prior to reading Cesca's column, other than having heard Glenn Beck's name. After reading the column, and listening to a recording from Beck's show, and, with this week's Parasha so clearly in my mind, I felt compelled to write the following letter that I sent to Bob Cesca, with a copy sent to Beck:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"><em><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Dear Mr. Cesca.<br /><br />First, I must say that prior to ten minutes ago I had never heard of you, nor had I any idea who Glenn Beck is. That I may be burying my head in the sand and not paying attention to the various pundits, critics, broadcasters and so forth, might be an understatement, but it is not from lack of interest; it is more from lack of time to listen to so many varying opinions, yet, seemingly, nobody doing anything other than talking.<br /><br />I must apologize for this, as you and Mr. Beck and whomever else is out there has a message and an opinion, and since the part of the Constitution that protects free speech is still in effect, I applaud your efforts, albeit it cautiously.<br /><br />I learned of you from an article that I somehow came across entitled “Glenn Beck: the Televangelist Con Man Selling God's Plan for America”. As I frankly had never heard or seen anything that either you or Mr. Beck has said, I was curious, so I decided to read your column and listen to his tape as linked from your story.<br /><br />I thank you for writing your column, and I thank you for posting the link to Mr. Beck’s broadcast.<br /><br />I am not going to take sides, as the above mentioned Constitutional right continues to exist (for now), and personally, I am happy that we all have this right to speak our peace. You both are fortunate, very fortunate to have such large audiences to which you are able to proliferate.<br /><br />I do, however, take issue with your attitude toward Mr. Beck’s opinions in general, and I must ask you with all due respect, do you have a personal knowledge of Mr. Beck’s relationship with G-d? I can certainly tell you that I do not, nor do I have personal knowledge of your relationship with Him; nor do you or Mr. Beck have personal knowledge of my relationship with G-d. That being said, I was surprised to see a man of your integrity call another names in a manner that is both highly prejudicial, and usurps his rights under not just the Constitution, but rights given to us by G-d.<br /><br />Sir, I do not know your religious background, nor will I ever attempt to convince you that any one way to pray is better than another, but I will go so far as to ask you if you believe that it is acceptable to treat another or speak of another in a way which would be hateful to you?<br /><br />I believe, as do you, as does Mr. Beck, as I would hope does most of the world, that we are living in very difficult times. As a Rabbi, I would agree with Mr. Beck that in times like these, seeking our individual faith to help us to guide ourselves is most beneficial. Whether Mr. Beck was spoken to by G-d directly or not, I have no way of knowing, nor does anyone. Whether or not I agree with his political opinion(s) is of no importance.</span> </strong></em></span><br /><strong><em><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></em></strong><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have now heard back from Mr. Cesca. He wrote as follows:</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;"><em><strong>Hello Rabbi Abrams,<br /><br />I appreciate your thoughtful email. A couple of thoughts in response.<br /><br />First, the Constitution only protects "freedom of speech" with regards to government lawmaking. In other words, the first amendment protects speech from government encroachment. As a citizen, I'm well within the permission of the founding documents to take issue with a commentator -- and even to call for him or her to be removed from the airwaves (though that's not what I'm suggesting for Mr. Beck).<br /><br />Secondly, I am not questioning Mr. Beck's religion (Mormonism) or his right to practice it. In fact, I'm suggesting that by injecting religion into government, government will be more capable of interfering with religion. Hence, the purpose of separating church and state.<br /><br />Thanks again, Rabbi.<br /><br />Bob</strong></em></span><br /><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I will reply now in this public forum:</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">After doing much more research into Mr. Beck, I can honestly say, Bob, that you appear to have been quite kind and generous with your words toward him. I have not met him, and since a mere twenty-four hours ago, I literally had no idea what the man stood for, or stands for, I was errant in my judgment to put myself in any position to defend him. For this I apologize.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">My question now turns to ask again, Who is this Glenn Beck, and WHY DO WE CARE?</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you were to surf to his web page, you would find that Mr. Beck is a Talking Head on, I believe both radio and Cable television that seems to find fault with about anyone and everyone who is not, well, Glenn Beck. He seems to use these air waves to spew hatred and bigotry with Anti-American and Anti-Jewish rhetoric, and via PayPal, he appears to gain monetarily on a daily if not hourly basis.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">Why do we care? We <strong><em>must</em></strong> care. For to be as I have been, with my head in the sand is at least as dangerous as Mr. Beck is to not just our society, but to the world.</span></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">We are holy, because G-d is holy. We do the right thing because G-d would want us to do the right thing. Last night, in agreeing with Glenn Beck, even if just barely and on the surface, I did not do the right thing. I believe that I am now.</span></p><p></p><p><span style="font-family:Arial;">I remind you that today is day 1,401 since the capture of our Brother, Gilad ben Noam v'Aviva Shalit by Terrorists in Gaza. Please remember him in your prayers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">In addition, we continue to pray for my Colleague and friend, Rabbi Bramly during this very difficult time. May G-d continue to bring him and his family strength blessings.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">From the Emek in the Midbar that we call Arizona, I wish you Ahavah u'Vrachot, Love and Blessings...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span> </p>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-66176483209312019272010-04-19T19:25:00.014-07:002010-04-20T00:53:51.675-07:00Remembering and Celebrating - 62 Years<span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 150px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462041755003027282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/S80SCXtOf1I/AAAAAAAAAC0/NbZ5thSGjZs/s200/aa+towerofdavid.JPG" /></span> <div><span style="font-family:arial;">At precisely midnight last night in Phoenix, the clock struck 10am in Israel and a loud siren sounded for two minutes. Traffic stopped. Workers stopped and pedestrians stopped. Everyone and everything stopped. And remembered. The Country stopped to remember the thousands who have given their lives, so that we may live ours.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">At midnight last night in Phoenix, Arizona, I listened to "Reshet Gimel", the all Israeli Music radio station from Jerusalem, as names of fallen heroes were read, one at a time, along with their rank, home town and age. As surviving fathers called in to the radio station, and dedicated their son or daughter's favorite song to their blessed memories, I felt at once proud to be a Jew; to be a Zionist; a Rabbi and teacher of Judaics and of Israel and a future Oleh, but at the same time, I felt guilty to be standing alone next to my bed in Arizona, instead of standing with our brothers and sisters in stopped traffic in Nahariya or Eilat.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:arial;">I felt the pain of those fathers who had called the radio station, and the mothers who would never again greet their children on Friday evening; and I felt the pain of my friend, my brother, Ron Kehrman, who wrote in today's YNet section of Israel's Yedioth Acharonoth of his beloved Tal, who was murdered by terrorists 2,602 days ago; and I felt the pain of Noam and Aviva Shalit, who have been praying for the safe return of their son, Gilad for 1,395 days since his capture.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We remember the friends that we lost, and we remember the brothers and sisters that we never met. We remember the victims of the Beach Road attack, and our athletes in Munich; Mike's Place and the Country Club and the Passover Seder in Haifa. We remember our fathers and uncles and cousins who fought for our independence in 1948 and we remember the heroes that valiantly served in Gaza just a year ago. We remember Astronaut Ilan Ramon who perished on the Space Shuttle Columbia, and we remember Yoni Netanyahu who bravely led his men into Entebbe Airport in Uganda on July 4, 1976 to save Jews hijacked on an Air France flight to Paris.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">And as I stood and silently said Kaddish, quietly asking G-d for the strength to continue, while magnifying His name, I prayed that this, please G-d, be the last year that we add names to the list of fallen brothers and sisters. And after shedding more than a few tears, I remembered that in less than twenty-</span><span style="font-family:Arial;">four hours, we will be celebrating Yom haAtzmaut, Israel's 62nd birthday. A birthday made possible partly by the heroism of those whom we had just remembered, and whose lives must be avenged; not necessarily by bloodshed, but by our mere survival, which depends, solely on us.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our survival means Israel's survival . They are synonymous. The survival of our State is absolute in like to survival of our people. Period. And in order for our State to survive, and in turn for our people to survive, we must, without question, see the following take place:</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We must see an increase in our population within Israel. This means Aliyah. This means packing up our toys and going home. This means, if we are serious about saving our State, <em><strong>if</strong></em> <strong><em>we meant it</em></strong> when we said "Next year in Jerusalem" just three weeks ago at the end of our Seder meals, then, the time is now. Not next week, not next month, not next year. The time is now to go to the Nefesh b'Nefesh website and start the process. It is time to go home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We must have Israeli leadership that believes in (1) a Jewish Israel; (2) a One State Solution with those who call themselves Palestinians, by either disarming them and their acceptance of Israel's right to exist as a Jewish State, or face immediate deportation from Israel and her territories; and (3) a Leader who will not be bullied by foreign nations dictating our rights as a sovereign State.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We must see a change in the way that we treat each other. We must eliminate these labels that do nothing, but divide us as a people. We are Jews. Does it matter if we are Orthodox Jews or Reform Jews or Martian Jews? Do we honestly think that G-d cares? We have 613 Mitzvot to perform (less Mitzvot specifically regarding the Beit Mikdash [Temple and Sacrifices]). Let's do our best. It would help, however, if we at least would remember to try and like each other, and treat each other in a manner that would not be hateful to ourselves, were we treated alike.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">We must remember that this world was created by G-d. We must treat it as such. What do you think these earthquakes and tsunamis and volcanoes are all about? G-d is talking to us. Shouldn't we listen?</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">When the sun goes down tonight, the date will change to 5 Iyar. Sixty two years ago, on 5 Iyar, at the Tel Aviv Museum, David Ben Gurion and others gathered to proclaim the formation of the Jewish State, The State of Israel.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Through seven wars and with the grace of G-d, we have survived. </span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our little Country has given the world technology that we use every day, including Instant Messenger software, Cell Phone technologies and Texting capabilities. Israel has given the world 9 Nobel Laureates; and has more companies listed on NASDAQ than any other Country, save for the United States. I could go on and on.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">Instead, I'll ask you to go out today, and find a good Falafel. If you cannot find one where you are, go online and find the Nefesh b'Nefesh website (<a href="http://www.nbn.org.il/">http://www.nbn.org.il/</a>) and make plans to go home.</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">From the Midbar that we call Arizona, Ahavah u'vrachot, Love and Blessings...</span></div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span> </div><div><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span></div>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-59026701029590400062010-04-10T18:06:00.016-07:002010-04-10T19:42:33.366-07:00Who Will Say Kaddish for Us?<span style="font-family:arial;"><img style="MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 102px; FLOAT: left; HEIGHT: 130px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5458682750859768338" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_PPMhB6CTMV8/S8EjCmKMchI/AAAAAAAAACs/DbiZxJiMlFU/s200/abrams2009.jpg" />As much as I love the week of Passover, I think sometimes that I love the week after Passover more. I seem to reconnect with people that prior to the holiday, I had not seen in a while (usually since the High Holidays). They seem to be happier than in the fall; full of excitement for the arrival Spring and all that Spring and Summer offer in matters of renewal and relaxation, much of this, I believe to be due to the warmth of sunshine.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The one not so pleasant happening that comes the week after Passover, however, is the arrival of Yom haShoah. Holocaust Remembrance Day. A day that in it's name alone, brings us back to the reality that this abominable tragedy not only happened, but the realization that should we fail to remember our not so distant past; should we fail to stand up and shout "NEVER AGAIN", and mean it, we could once again be facing extinction. IF we forget. IF we don't stand up, and stand up now.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">A theme was selected for remembrance this year. The theme, "Who will say Kaddish for me?" Who will recite the memorial prayers for me? </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">A website has been designed, <a href="http://www.remember-us.org/">http://www.remember-us.org/</a>, where each of us, especially Bar and Bat Mitzvah students can make a small donation and receive the name of a child who perished under Hitler's thumb, and dedicate their studies to these children who were not able to complete their own studies due to the Holocaust.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">One such Bat Mitzvah student, Simcha from Ohio has dedicated her studies and Bat Mitzvah to a girl named Sima Ring.. Simcha wears Sima's name in a locket and recites her prayers in Sima's name. I have never met her, but am proud of her nonetheless. It is my understanding that she has had a difficult time of it lately. Not only am I proud of Simcha, but I also know that her mother will never have to ask the question of, "Who will say Kaddish for me?". For me, Simcha in Ohio stands out above most Bar and Bat Mitzvah kids. She cares; she is not afraid to show it; and she is proud to be a member of our proud people. To Simcha and her family, even though I cannot be in Columbus on this coming Wednesday, when she will rise to the Torah as a Bat Mitzvah, I will raise a glass of grape juice in "LeChayim " to Simcha.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Who will say Kaddish for me? Who will say Kaddish for you? Who will say Kaddish for us?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My children will, I am certain. Hopefully your children will stand for you. Will their children stand for them?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">This past week, I was asked if in my opinion, the economy would return to what it once was. I promise you that anyone believing that I am qualified to answer this question as an expert economist needs some serious inter-cranial examination, as do I were I to pretend to answer with economic expertise. What I did reply, however, was that in my opinion, as long as we continue to worry about it, and continue to worry about what we no longer have, rather than being happy and thankful for what we <em>do</em> have, the economy will remain in the exact position that it currently resides. As long as we <em>care about what our neighbor has, or what he drives, or how much money he makes, </em>we deserve to remain wanting. This may sound cruel and uncaring, but in reality, I feel it to be the most caring answer that I can give.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Pirkei Avot states that a "person is as happy as he makes up his mind to be". As soon as we can be happy with what we have, and grateful for what we have, we too will be rich.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">For a moment, I must flash back to last week and bring you an update. Should you remember the man who sent me that nasty anti-Semitic e-mail a few weeks ago, he has sent me another in response to reading last week's column. This week he wrote:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><em><span style="font-family:arial;font-size:85%;">Thank you for your consideration, Maybe you are right but, I got cheated so bad by this guy that it was difficult to deal with, I was being cheated big time and I have to say that made me sick at my stomach. I am sure all Jewish folks are not like that but this guy is horrible. Like some of our people.</span></em><br /><em><span style="font-family:Arial;font-size:85%;"></span></em><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sir: You have just made Teshuvah. Doesn't it feel better?</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">On a side note, I remind you that today is day 1,384 of captivity for Gilad Shalit. Please join in praying for his speedy safe return from what was once Egypt.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">While we pray for the return of Gilad to his parents, I ask you to please join in praying for my Colleague and friend Rabbi Bramly and his family, as well as the families of all involved in their own tragedies. May G-d be with them all and bring them strength to overcome these terrible times in their lives. May G-d soon return them to their lives and their children and to all things good.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">On Tuesday of this coming week we remember the Six Million who were senselessly murdered by a man in the position of power. May we all not only remember, but realize that should we fail to shout NEVER AGAIN; should we continue to go through life with blinders on, following a Self-Appointed Pied Piper of Hamlin, we could be next.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">From the Emek in the Midbar of Arizona, I wish you a Shavuah Tov. b'Ahavah u'Vrachot, with love and blessings, I remain...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Yours in Torah...</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13246922351913222849noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-37217788950128697712010-03-26T15:27:00.000-07:002010-03-27T00:36:24.403-07:00Is March Madness really about Basketball?<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S6xjqe5o2gI/AAAAAAAAAMY/JAzj6faXr0g/s1600/raabrams2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" nt="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S6xjqe5o2gI/AAAAAAAAAMY/JAzj6faXr0g/s200/raabrams2009.jpg" width="156" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As the grass gets greener, and the days get longer, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Northerners make plans to head back north, managers and coaches shore up their pitching staffs, regulars start playing seven innings and 40 year old veteran hangs 'em up for good while the twenty-one year old phenom from Waxahatchee Creek tries to navigate the press corps that he will hopefully face daily for the next ten years. What Spring Training does, better than anything, is prepare us for Summer. Warmer days, swimming pools, family picnics and the Fourth of July. July 1st in Canada; le 14eme en France. All in all, and wherever we live, these days all celebrate independence. Freedom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In our Jewish world, however, one day ranks even higher than Canada Day or the 4th of July. That day, this coming Tuesday, is the 15th day of the Jewish month of Nissan. We are commanded on this day to observe, recall, remember and finally to celebrate our Exodus from Egypt and our liberation from bondage and slavery fashioned by G-d’s strong hand and outstretched arm, and the actions of His chosen messenger, Moshe Rabeinu, Moses.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On Monday evening, around the world, we will gather with family and friends. We will listen intently as the youngest at the table recites the “four questions”, which is really one question, “Why is this night different from all other nights”, and four reasons why it is different. The leader will then guide his or her guests through the telling and retelling of the story of the Exodus, and then, after two of our 4 required cups of wine, we will eat a delicious meal, sing some songs, eat dessert and finally, at the end of the night, we will proclaim: Le Shana haBaa b’Yerushalayim, Next Year in Jerusalem.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My question today is: Do we really mean it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I mean… If we mean it every year… I guess I am really asking: If we mean it; Next Year in Jerusalem; why are we still not in Jerusalem? Why do we remain in Arizona or New York, or Los Angeles, Montreal, Sydney or Paris?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just yesterday, a friend and I were talking and we were wondering if the Province of British Columbia or the Dominion of Canada had to ask for or receive permission from the “Temporary Tenant” at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW to build the beautiful new buildings and neighborhoods in Vancouver that were introduced to us during their tremendous production of the Winter Games last month. If so, why did we not hear about it, and if not, why not? If Canada does not need permission from Mr. Osama, I mean Obama, why should Israel? We are sovereign nations. In fact, come to think of it, the world is <em>full</em> of sovereign nations that seem to be bossed around by this Country. Why is that?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This being the case, again, I ask: If we mean what we say, why are we still here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You may recall that a few weeks ago, I recounted, quoted and showered British journalist Chris Roycroft-Davis and his piece called “<span id="goog_163131701"></span><a href="http://yadbeyadeng.wordpress.com/2010/03/13/why-cant-this-country-follow-israels-lead/">WHY CAN'T THIS COUNTRY FOLLOW ISRAEL'S LEAD?<span id="goog_163131702"></span></a>” As is often the case, I received quite a bit of e-mail over the several days following publication of that Column, most positive, and one, from a Real Estate Developer in Hurst, Texas that I must share with you. Initially, I was going to share his name, address, phone number and every other way to reach him that he posted for all to see, but in reality, he just isn’t worth the bother. What he wrote, however, is. (Please note that he makes reference to a Jewish man in Los Angeles, whose name I have deleted and replaced with XXX).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>From: Unnamed Reader in Hurst, Texas</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Sent: Tuesday, March 02, 2010 9:06 AM</em></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>To: </em></span><a href="mailto:rabbiabrams@q.com"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>rabbiabrams@q.com</em></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>Subject: RE: A British Journalist's viewpoint...</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><em>I read your article with great interest. I support Israelis position and have always wanted Israel to pop them every time. But, I have to say I have dealt with several Jewish people in my business over the years and the experiences have been not good. Just this past year I settled a lawsuit with a XXXX XXXXX of L.A. I have never been so screwed. While this guy was screwing me he was praying several times a day. XXXXX would not say crap if his mouth was full of it but he would screw you out of everything you have and now regret it one bit. This may be the problem that causes the Jewish people to suffer so much… I have heard that the Jewish faith feel they can cheat everyone out of their possessions and not be sinning because it is just business and be forgiven the first of each year… I am not racist that is just a plain fact. I have had dealing with about 250 of them and I got took every time.</em></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is this “Public Opinion”? Are opinions like this reader’s popular to the point that the “Temporary Tenant” of Pennsylvania Avenue NW is more interested in where Israel builds Jewish housing than housing his own Citizenry? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If so, I must ask another question. An important question that each of us as Jews must take a moment to contemplate: If this “administration” is so concerned with Jewish housing in <em>another country</em> (Israel), what does he really feel about us taking up housing in <em>this</em> country? In short, I ask: <em>Are we safe?</em> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In Europe of the late 1920’s and 1930’s, we felt safe. Were we safe? Are we safe now?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the end of the Seder, when we proclaim “Next Year in Jerusalem”, it is because we are commanded to return to Zion; to Jerusalem. Could the time be now? Could we do worse than Jerusalem? In the words of Sarah Palin: You betcha!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As March becomes April; the NCAA Basketball tournament heats up with new heroes born on late night television every weekend in an event called "March Madness", and I look at the activities of this past week and wonder if "March Madness" is really about the Basketball, or is the madness this March more about the rest of the world?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And, in this madness, where does Jerusalem sit? I believe that she sits waiting for us with open arms to golden walls. And, if you ask me further, I believe that G-d is ready once again to bring us from the bondage of “Galut”, of Diaspora, and to return us with a strong hand and outstretched arm to our freedom once again. To Eretz Zion, Yerushalayim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we sit with our families and friends next week and proclaim “Le Shana haBaa b’Yerushalayim”, let’s mean it. There is space enough for all of us. Whether Mr. Osama Obama gives us permission to build or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Hashata HaCha, This year we are here; LeShana b'Araa DYisrael, May we all be in the Land of Zion. Our land. Jerusalem of Gold awaits.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From the Emek in the Midbar, I Send you my love and blessings; Ahavah u'Vrachot...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-50705575834548079592010-03-04T11:08:00.002-07:002010-03-04T11:20:59.483-07:00A non-beating heart still beats...<div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S4_qpC1ozOI/AAAAAAAAAL4/2kjUyhLr4f0/s1600-h/aa-0505.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" kt="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S4_qpC1ozOI/AAAAAAAAAL4/2kjUyhLr4f0/s200/aa-0505.jpg" width="170" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are times when just as I am about to write this column for you, I receive something via e-mail, or enjoy (or not so much) a telephone conversation, and it is so profound, so meaningful, that it would be absolutely wrong of me to not share it with you here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As many of you know, I do much work with an organization called "One Heart". We work with families of victims of terror attacks. The father in a family that I have become so very close to, sent me a letter that was recently published in Israel. I would be remiss were I to not share it with you.</span><br />
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<span "helvetica="" arial,="" blue;="" color:="" font-family:="" helvetica,="" neue",="" sans-serif;?="" style="color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2500 days without Tal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday, January 7th 2010, the 2500 Day without Tal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The count of days is long, very long, too long. 2500 days that my Tal does not leave home. Not for shopping, not to the movies, nor does she return from the army or the university, not from a trip abroad. 2500 Days without Tal. Days without me worry for Tal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">357 weeks in which I did not see my daughter, I did not hear her voice, I did not laugh from a joke she told me or from one of her silly acts. I did not smell the scent, did not embrace her nor was I embraced by her. I did not spend even one afternoon together with her at a café or at a restaurant, or even just being together. I even did not receive a phone call nor a text message from Tal.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2500 days of "creativity". How could I, her father, preserve her memory in unique ways? How should I tell the world Tal’s story? Tal which lived such a short life but the wisdom she accumulated and the joy of life she shared gave so much hope and happiness to people she met.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">208 months, in which every 5th of the month brings me to that Wednesday, March 5th 2003, the day my Tal boarded the bus in Haifa, the bus from which she it did not get off. I live the same nightmare I'd give anything not to experience. A nightmare of a parent searching for his daughter after a terror attack holding at every glimmer of hope even after entering the pathological institute in Tel Aviv. Then, unlike in fairy tales, as the clock hit midnight the doctor at the pathological Institute said "we have a positive identification of your daughter Tal which was killed at the terror attack”.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Six years, 10 months and two days is a long period of time. During such a period of time a baby already goes to second grade. Tal’s classmates finished their mandatory military service while other became combat pilots and are flying F-16 jets. Tal’s age group started its independent cycle of life while others are right before getting their master's degree. Medical student already began to cure his patients while my daughter lies in her grave in Haifa, and only the rose bush over her tomb is growing another cycle of roses, as life goes on!</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2500 days and nights since I was forced over the fence to leave my routine life and start my life as a bereaved father, fighting a Don Quixote war at the wind mills of time, trying to fight forgetfulness, howl, and state my silent cry, I have a Daughter! And the world shall never forget my TAL! </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sit in Tal’s room and write from my heart in another desperate attempt to preserve my daughter’s memory. I found this 2500 day without Tal, a good reason to remind you, you busy people living your routine life about my daughter. And what would be on the 3000s day? When it will arrive? What will I be able to dig from the bottom of my soul to remind you then?</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I sit it Tal’s room hearing in the background the breathing of my youngest daughter which was born four years and two months after Tal was killed. She already heard about her sister and recognizes Tal’s picture, approaching is also the recruitment day of my son, who will safe keep and protect him? I hope and pray they will realize and live their lives safely here in Israel for many years.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ron Kehrmann the father of Tal (z”l) Dror and Mika.</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: blue; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.tal-smile.com/">http://www.tal-smile.com/</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial;">I continue to believe, as does Ron Kehrmann, that as long as our loved ones' memories live on, so they will their hearts continue to beat.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">From the Emek in the Midbar, I send you Ahavah, uV'rachot, Love and Blessings...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-41323077889982037692010-02-12T17:36:00.000-07:002010-02-12T17:36:17.310-07:00I'm just happy to be here. How about you?<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S3UQCIz7ONI/AAAAAAAAALw/_2gLQ9QfDxk/s1600-h/raabrams2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ct="true" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S3UQCIz7ONI/AAAAAAAAALw/_2gLQ9QfDxk/s200/raabrams2009.jpg" width="156" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't seem logical or right that it was only a year ago, plus two weeks or so, that I received that fateful phone call from my dear friend Kelley in Los Angeles that got me thinking about "doing something". Doing <em>anything</em> to stand up to real life bullies. To set the record straight, I am not referring to the street bully who would wait on the corner of Rosewood and Fuller and take our lunch money, rather, the older and more "mature" bully who hides behind his religion or disability to attack another person. This cause celebre, if for only one or two written paragraphs, placed into a story about how my father (obm z"l) hated "hate" would become this column only a few weeks later. Time does fly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">On a scorching hot afternoon in August of 1976, I met my hero. It was not one of those hero meeting moments, with the anticipation and autographs and eventual let down. In fact, I just realized, thirty-three years after the fact, that LD was my hero in High School and would continue to be my hero. Leo isn't just my hero because he saved me from getthing thrown off the football team (on day one of Hell Week); but because Leo Davis stood for, and still stands for everything that we should all aspire to stand for. Leo stood large in the middle of our front lines, both on Defense and on Offense. With all of his weight, and with all of his size, in 1977, 1978, and 1979, Leo is remembered for the size of his heart. He played with it on the football field, and he gave it to everyone he came into contact with off the field.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Two weeks ago, while driving to Los Angeles to officiate and celebrate my father's two year memorial anniversary, I stopped before Shabbat at Cedars Sinai Medical Center and visited with Leo as he was recovering from a Triple Bypass performed the previous Wednesday. You can have all of your Batmans and Supermans. I'll take Davis.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">"I'll take Davis" has a familiar ring to it as well... Back to the days of picking sides in a game of Whateverball, one side picked a player, and then the other side picked and back and forth until everyone was on a team. Usually. Some kids just never got picked, which, in retrospect was quite rude, but nobody ever wanted the short kid with red hair and braces. Sometimes, girls even got picked before him. Usually he would sit on the side and somehow get into the game, or not. He was just happy to be there.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As I davened at my old spot on the Bima in the Beit Midrash of my old Shul the other day, I felt somewhat like that red haired kid. I was just happy to be there. I find myself, however, in the vast minority these days. Most people that I see, just don't seem to be, and it is really a shame.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Leo, is just happy to be here. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Speaking with Kelley today, I know that Kelley too, is happy to be here. The kid who came from the cable company the other day to do his job at my new one bedroom condo, however, was not. For the almost two hours that he was here, all he did was talk to himself complaining how he had to work that day. Maybe if he had been just happy to be here, I might not have had to call the cable company later that day and ask to send another technician to finish the job that the kid never finished when he left to get a drill and never came back.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Pirke Avot, the Ethics of our Fathers teaches us that "he who is happy is the person who is happy with what he has." Two thousand years ago this was written, and it holds true today. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">As we usher in another beautiful Shabbat in Emek haMidbar, the Valley of the Desert, I ask you to do what you can this Presidents' Day Weekend to just be happy to be here.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">Shabbat Shalom, Ahavah u'Vrachot...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--R' Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-35862144004409094042010-01-19T14:55:00.000-07:002010-01-19T14:55:50.948-07:00Just when we think that we have seen it all...<div align="left" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S1YCRA4CvmI/AAAAAAAAALg/sXLEK2vlmt4/s1600-h/raabrams2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ps="true" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/S1YCRA4CvmI/AAAAAAAAALg/sXLEK2vlmt4/s200/raabrams2009.jpg" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my forty-eight years of life, I believe that I have experienced quite a number of interesting, if not exciting events. Things that would surprise many people, and even a few which might leave some in awe. In High School, while I was attempting to throw strikes to our catcher, Erez (EZ) Borowsky (later of Minnesota Twins fame), a real Major League Pitcher lived with my family, and I was able to spend late afternoons and evenings in the Dodgers' dugout and bullpen; At one point I spent time hanging out with mega stars in Cannes; Sitting on airplanes with the likes of Muhammad Ali, Pierre Eliot Trudeau and even Jack Kent Cooke (when he owned the Redskins). To me, these were just random events in my life, and looking back at these days, I am at times in awe myself. I am often asked if I feel that there had been opportunities to succeed through knowing these people, and that these opportunities were wasted by not engaging. Once upon a time, I might have contemplated that question, and may have even replied in the affirmative, but not today.</span><br />
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Today, I prefer to remember the more mundane experiences and wonder why I did not capitalize on them. Why did I not savor every minute that I had while swimming with my boys in the Hawaiian Pacific with giant sea turtles? Why did I spend most of my adult life trying to live the "American Dream" (which should really be called the American Nightmare) by keeping up with the Johnsons? Why was it important for me to drive a Mercedes-Benz and buy expensive shoes? Why did I prefer to play golf without my little son, because if I would take him with me, he would complain, and rightly so, about my smoking like a chimney. Today, I prefer to remember these failed experiences as a reminder of what not to do while continuing this wonderful journey called life.<br />
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As I write today, I recall that it was just a year ago that this Column came into being. As a tribute to my father, whose Marker we had just unveiled; as a burst of solidarity to friends who had been wronged in business by a Bible Thumping bigot of the 100th degree; and as a prayer for the "hope" that we were promised, once the new "Leader" took office. It appears now, a mere year later, that this manufactured hope has disappeared, and that the remaining hope is that this “Leader” will not end the world as we know it. <br />
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I remember how my father had no hates in his life, except for one, hate itself. I think about the number of people with whom I speak on a daily basis, and the hatred, disappointment and discontent that they bring to me to solve for them. I try as I might to listen quietly and offer them answers of which I am certain, I, at times, find myself wondering if life could get any more strange.<br />
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A few weeks ago, I answered the phone at my second job (a movie theatre) and the voice on the other side of the conversation actually asked me, with all sincerity, "Do you all show movies there?" We all laughed. It seems that just when we think that we have seen it all, we are hit by more of what I like to call a veritable lack of the most apparently expensive commodity around: Attention.<br />
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For many, inability to pay attention is a disease. Medically treatable and more than ninety-nine percent of the time, curable, I ask about the rest of us. Why do we find attention to be so expensive, that we are unwilling to pay it?<br />
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It is attention, or lack thereof, that causes communication breakdowns; that confuse us and that and destroys relationships, that otherwise could be healthy. Do we not pay attention because we are disinterested in the other person, or what he or she has to say, or do we not pay attention because we are so excited about saying what it is that we want to say; about hearing our own voice, that anything said before is unimportant? Why do we ask for advice, only to do whatever we want to do anyway?<br />
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In visiting several evening based networking groups over the past year, I have found that there is a whole society of people who pay so very little attention to real life, and to what is really happening around them, that they get caught up in a dream. The get rich fast dream. All they must do to achieve success and happiness is write a check for $99 and then convince everyone that they know to buy fruit juice or vitamins or a website that sends greeting cards. Then, once their friends are convinced that this is the way to instant riches, they convince these friends to write them a check for $99. And so it goes.<br />
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Many Christians wear a bracelet or Tee-Shirt that asks: WWJD? What would Jesus do? In truth, they are asking, WSID. What should I do. All of us, regardless of religion, regardless of race ask our friends: What should I do about this new job? What should I do about this, or that? Should I stay married if I don't love my husband?<br />
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In short, G-d put us on this earth with a certain level of intelligence. Believe it or not, even if we don't all use it, we still, for the most part possess it. This intelligence comes with an uncanny ability to make decisions, and many times, the unique ability to make the exact wrong decision.<br />
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This, my friends is where faith plays its role. Whether we ask WWJD? WWM(Moses)D? WSID? The simple truth is in the word: attention. If we had paid the attention required to see all sides of the question equally, then, our answer is simple: If we think that this is something that we should NOT do, we should not do it. The old story asks the question about Kashrut, the Jewish dietary laws. If you have to ask the Rabbi if the item is Kosher, it isn't. If you have to ask the Rolls Royce dealer how much this car costs, you cannot afford it.<br />
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I am often inspired by a famous Hebrew quote attributed to Rabbi Nachman of Bratslav, which states: "The whole world is a narrow bridge, but the main thing is not to fear." This tells us that our belief in G-d and faith in His love for us and us for Him should be enough to cross the bridge with no fear. Many times it is enough, but sadly, many do not possess this faith and therefore, retain fear and pay little attention to much else.<br />
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The Parsha that we just read on Shabbat, Vaeira, speaks of Moses' conversation with G-d and G-d's instruction that Moses go to Egypt and tell Pharoah to "Let my people go." But Moses retorted, "The Israelites would not listen to me; how then should Pharaoh heed me, a man of impeded speech!". G-d then repeated his commandment, but rather than use the word "go" to Egypt, He said "come" to Egypt, indicating that G-d would be with him, at his side. (Ex 4:10-12). <br />
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This is the faith that we must all have right now. This is the faith with which we must all take a moment and pay attention. With it, we can move mountains. Knowing that G-d is with us each and every moment of each and every day, just when we think that we have seen it all, G-d can work in the most mysterious of ways and bring us the comfort and happiness that we all need so very much these days.<br />
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This is the faith that we must have in our hearts when we look toward our Moledet. Our Birthright; our home, far over two seas. The small stretch of land barely the size of New Jersey, which waits for us with open and loving armsh. With an open and loving voice she calls to us and reminds us that she is there, but by the grace of G-d and that she is home to one and all of us, as granted us by our Creator to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; to Sara, Rebecca, Rachel and Leah, for in reality, This land is your land. This land is my land. This is the land that needs us, and this is the land that we need. We must not forsake her, nor may we forget her, nor may we not protect her. This is the land that was made for you and me. Let us pay the attention that we must to go to her, and to be home, where G-d wants for us to be.<br />
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This week, from the not so Sunny Southern California, where it most certainly does rain, I send you Ahavah u'Vrachot. Love and Peace and wishes for a wonderful week.<br />
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--Rabbi Alan AbramsRabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-41239692417937925922009-12-01T01:22:00.001-07:002009-12-01T02:57:40.137-07:00A Letter to a Friend and Brother in The Shomron (Samaria, West Bank, Israel)<div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/SxTRywzbVtI/AAAAAAAAALY/Da9ptrEtZaw/s1600/raabrams2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/SxTRywzbVtI/AAAAAAAAALY/Da9ptrEtZaw/s200/raabrams2009.jpg" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week's column will be a little different. I decided to publish a letter that I just sent to my dear friend David HaIvri, and Ex-Pat who made Aliyah to Israel and lives in the Shomron, in what is sometimes referred to as the West Bank.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dear David... Relative to Manhigut <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(1)</span> , please stick with us. We are making huge progress, and we need YOU.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am very sorry that we did not meet while I was home this Spring. Hopefully I will have a chance to come in the Summer, and we can sit for an hour or three.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whether or not you are aware of my situation, sufficed it to say at this moment, that I am alive today due to G-d's Rachmanut <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2a)</span> , favor and belief in me to do what I need to do.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is my sincere opinion that this means to form a Kehillah <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2b)</span> here that will teach others how important Israel is to all of us, and why it is our DUTY to come home to Eretz Yisrael.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are not <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2c)</span> Charedim , and many in my <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2b) </span>Kehillah are not even <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2c)</span> "Dati" or "Masorti", but what they all agree upon is that Israel belongs to US, as given to <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2d) </span>Avraham Avinu and to <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2e)</span> AM YISRAEL.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(3)</span> OD LO AVDA TIKVATEINU, David. OD LO AVDA TIKVATEINU. LEHIYOT AM CHOFSHI b'ARTZEINU. And we will be. Why? Because it is G-d's will.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As I sit and write this, tears form in my forty-eight year old eyes. Tears of longing to be home, and of love for our <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2a)</span> Moledet. And, in the knowledge that if we can all just live together, as <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2e) </span>AM B'NEI YISRAEL, without the labels (Reform, Conservative, etc.), as <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(3)</span> AM CHOFSHI b'ARTZEINU, we will not only rise, but we will rise with haShem leading us to the ultimate netzachon, the victory of Shalom al Yisrael.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2f)</span> Al haNissim, Achi. Its all in the miracles from haShem, my brother. When we BELIEVE, nobody can stop us.<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can tell you about the people that come to my Shul to daven; many of them had not been IN a Synagogue in YEARS, and believe it or not, some had never been in a Synagogue. In fact, a few weeks ago, at my Wednesday night Torah Study, at least six or seven EVANGELICAL CHRISTIANS came to study<span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;"> (2g)</span> Parashat Bereshit. When we were done, every one of them told me how they were so confused now, but at the same time, very clear in their comprehension. In short, they were confused how it is now so clear that EVERYTHING that they had learned relative to teh man that they call Yeshu, is now (to them) absolutely untrue, and could never BE true. Even they understand why we must rise in strength and unity. And, we must. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The time, my dear friend and brother, the time for the old BS to end is now. We are JEWS. Does it matter if we are Ashkenazim or Sefaradim? Orthodox or Reform? Really? Did the Nazis care? Does Hamas care? Why should WE? We are Jews. We are the Chosen People. To quote Manhigut Yehudit, The Jewish Leadership Movement, "A Jewish state must be absolutely faithful to the Land of Israel -- the Land that was promised in its Biblical borders to the Fathers of the Nation by the Creator of the world -- and includes the understanding of the positive connection between the Land and the ability of the Nation of Israel to fulfill its earthly goals."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You, my friend are very fortunate. Each day when you rise and look outdoors, the street signs are in Hebrew. The store windows are too. In your ears, you are so very blessed to be able to hear our wonderful holy language. We want to join you. We NEED to join you, and we WILL. But to join you, we need your support as you need ours.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">WE MUST WORK TOGETHER, no less and not much differently than we did in the Twenties, and Thirties, and 40's and so forth. We are ALL <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(2e)</span> B'nei Yaacov; B'nei Yisrael. We need to get our proverbial heads out our backsides and see what is truly important: <span style="color: blue; font-size: xx-small;">(3)</span> Lehiyot Am Chofshi b'Arteinu, Eretz Tzion, Yerushalayim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">May G-d continue to Bless you and Keep you, my dear friend. May He shine his Grace upon you; and May He grant you Peace. For you and for All Yisrael.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Your brother in Peace and in Defense of our Moledet...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;">--AA</span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>KEY as shown above in small notated numerals:</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">(1)</span> Manhigut Yehudit is the </strong></span><a href="http://www.jewishisrael.org/"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Jewish Leadership Movement</strong></span></a><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong> under the direction of MK Moshe Feiglin. Many see Mr. Feiglin and the Jewish Leadership Movement as the future of the State of Israel.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">(2a)</span> Rachmanut: Mercy. Moledet: Birthright. <span style="color: blue;">(2b)</span> Kehillah: Congregation or Community <span style="color: blue;">(2c)</span> Speaks to the three levels of Observance: Charedi - Ultra-Orthadox; Dati - Orthodox; Masorti - Comfortably Observant. <span style="color: blue;"> (2d)</span> Avraham Avinu: Abraham, The first Jew; Married to Sara; Father to Isaac. <span style="color: blue;">(2e)</span> B'Nei: Sons of/ Descendents of; Yaacov: Jacob; Yisrael: Israel. Am Yisrael; Teh Nation of Israel or People of Israel. <span style="color: blue;">(2f)</span> Al haNissim is a prayer or series of prayers that thank G-d for certain miracles that He has brought to us over the lengths of history. <span style="color: blue;">(2g)</span> Parashat Bereshit: The portion of Torah that describes Creation.</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong><span style="color: blue;">(3)</span> Hatikvah (Hebrew: הַתִּקְוָה, lit. The Hope) is the national anthem of Israel. The anthem was written by Naphtali Herz Imber, a secular Galician Jew from Zolochiv (today in Lviv Oblast),[1] who moved to the Land of Israel in the early 1880s. The anthem's theme revolves around the nearly 2000-year-old hope of the Jewish people to be a free and sovereign people in the Land of Israel, a national dream that would eventually be realized with the founding of the modern State of Israel in 1948. (Courtesy Wikipedia)</strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><strong>Hebrew Transliteration English translation </strong></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>כֹּל עוֹד בַּלֵּבָב פְּנִימָה Kol ‘od balleivav penimah As long as in the heart, within, </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיָּה, Nefesh yehudi homiyah, A Jewish soul still yearns, </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>וּלְפַאֲתֵי מִזְרָח, קָדִימָה, Ul(e)fa’atei mizrach kadimah, And onward, towards the ends of the east, </strong></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>עַיִן לְצִיּוֹן צוֹפִיָּה; Ayin letziyon tzofiyah; An eye still gazes toward Zion; </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ, ‘Od lo avdah tikvateinu, Our hope is not yet lost, </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>הַתִּקְוָה בַּת שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִם, Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim, The hope of two thousand years, </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ, Lihyot ‘am chofshi be’artzeinu, To be a free people in our land, </strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם. Eretz-tziyon vy(e)rushalayim. The land of Zion and Jerusalem.</strong></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">For this week, I leave you with the hope that you too will visit our Internet Home at </span><a href="http://www.emek-az.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://www.emek-az.org/</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">, and of you are able to even help us to help others even in small amounts, we will be ever so grateful. Your tax deductible contributions may be sent via PayPal to </span><a href="mailto:emek@q.com"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">emek@q.com</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> or by visiting our Support Page at </span><a href="http://apps.facebook.com/causes/401503"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">http://apps.facebook.com/causes/401503</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">From the Emek in our Midbar that we call Arizona, I wish you Ahava u'Vrachot; Love and Blessings...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4736878341948208679.post-50716495118226130472009-11-15T23:13:00.001-07:002009-11-15T23:21:27.683-07:00One Nation Under G-d. Really?<div align="left" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/SwDtfRX4WkI/AAAAAAAAALQ/r7qvENaFeAM/s1600/100_1673.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_N-khVRMxUd8/SwDtfRX4WkI/AAAAAAAAALQ/r7qvENaFeAM/s200/100_1673.JPG" yr="true" /></a><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One Nation Under G-d. Really?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day, millions of America's schoolchildren, be they Christian, Jewish, or agnostic rise from their chairs and recite the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands. One Nation Under G-d.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week, I would like to examine the definition of "One Nation Under G-d", and explore what it really means to be a "Nation". And, what it means to be a "Nation under G-d".</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Two weeks ago, we read Parshat Lekh Lekha, from the Book of Genesis, Chapter 12. In the second line of this reading, G-d promises Abram that his descendants will be a Great Nation (And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing). To me, this means that G-d has promised Abram and his descendants that they will be a "Nation under G-d". And, if we think about it, are we not all descendants of Abram? We certainly are as Jews. Those who believe in different theology, worshiping as Christians or Catholic Christians or Protestants or Mormons acknowledge this connection, and acknowledge as well that G-d, and only G-d created Heaven and Earth and all their hosts thereof.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's slow down for a moment and re-read: Just so I am clear with my own writing, IF we believe in G-d; and IF we believe that G-d created the Heavens and Earth and, basically, everything; and IF we believe that Abram was a person (the same guy who married Sarai/Sara, and later had his name changed to Abraham, had a couple sons, and so forth), then, we must believe that G-d promised to make Abram and his descendants A GREAT NATION; and, in turn, that nation would be a Nation Under G-d; and, if this is all the case, then are we all not One Nation Under G-d?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago, my friend, the enthralling author, Stephen Lewis (The Palestine Exchange, AuthorHouse (2007) ISBN-13: 978-1434334725) invited me to attend an event at Phoenix Symphony Hall called " A Night to Honour Israel". All I needed to hear that this was a night to honour Israel, and I was on-board. When he told me that the amazing Dennis Prager was to be the Key Note Speaker, I asked Steve how many extra tickets he could get me!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Upon my arrival, I was greeted by a massive demonstration of alleged Christians, who carried signs depicting Israel as bad guys, of course; Christians who believe in Israel's right to exist, as bad guys; and of course, the obvious attempts to make us believe that Missile wielding terrorists who call themselves Palestinians, as the "good guys", as abused as they have been by Christian Americans. I find it strange that these yahoos outside claiming all of this hatred in the name of Christianity, while all the while, the real Christians were inside the building, helping make a case for, and supporting our little Country.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Inside, an air of almost electricity was collecting, and inside the amazing Symphony Hall, the evening absolutely rocked. My Colleague Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky helped welcome the audience and blew a masterful set of Tekiyot on his Shofar; World Class Christian singer/performer Rhoda Schultz held us all at bay with her angelic, yet powerful voice and Pastor Eddie Paul Morris reminded us time and again that we are all children of G-d, as further stated in Parshat Lekh Lecha, Genesis 12 continues, "And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed." No matter our Theology, we all agree that we need to remember that we are all... One Nation Under G-d.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening continued with Holocaust survivor Helen Handler returning us to the worst time in known history with her recollections, followed by the wonderfully talented actress and voice/accent aficionado Susan Sandager who performed as the Dutch Christian Heroine of WWII, Cori tenBoom. And then, the real fun started.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brilliant, popular and exuberant Dennis Prager carried us the rest of the way. Dennis' sheer knowledge of almost anything political, and almost everything Jewish, combined with the single most charismatic personality that I have ever experienced brought the filled room to its feet with his admission of his love for Israel, and his love for brotherhood and his love for peace. Thank you Dennis. You were, as usual, brilliant, enlightening, spiritual and educational. Rav Todot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next question brings us to understanding borders. Does a Nation have borders, or is a Nation merely the people who exist within it?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Parshat Lekh Lekha further reads: And Abram passed through the land unto the place of Sichem, unto the plain of Moreh. And the Canaanite was then in the land. And the L-RD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the L-RD, who appeared unto him. And he removed from thence unto a mountain on the east of Bethel, and pitched his tent, having Bethel on the west, and Hai on the east: and there he builded an altar unto the L-RD, and called upon the name of the L-RD.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is for this land that we live. It is for this land that we pray. And it is for this land that we fight. We live and pray and fight for this land from all corners of this great earth that G-d created; AND, we do so as... One Nation Under G-d.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Manhigut Yehudit, The Jewish Leadership Movement, led by Moshe Feiglin supports the above, and actually holds to the platform that "A Jewish state must be absolutely faithful to the Land of Israel -- the Land that was promised in its Biblical borders to the Fathers of the Nation by the Creator of the world -- and includes the understanding of the positive connection between the Land and the ability of the Nation of Israel to fulfill its earthly goals."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We, as One Nation Under G-d, must support this platform. We must support it theologically, physically and financially as we are able. We must understand and realize that Moshe Feiglin and Manhigut Yehudit are not a group of fanatics dancing to their own beat, rather, they are US. Moshe is you and Moshe is me. Moshe is my brother and he is your cousin. He is your uncles best friend and the bus driver that drove you to work last week. Moshe believes that we are all One Nation Under G-d, and that the land promised to us by, and given to us by our One Creator, was, is and will always be our land.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is easier said than done, many say. I ask why? Why should this be a difficult task if we are truly one? If we are truly one, why is it that we fight, not just against each other, but between ourselves? Why is it that Orthodox Shuls refuse to recognize Reform Temples? Why must Conservative Synagogues feel the need to compete for the affections of anyone with a large checkbook, with more and more lenient and liberal interpretation of Halakha (Jewish Law) from week to week? Why must Reform Temples, with all of their wonderful intentions to renew Yiddishkeit and bring Judaism to families, feel that a competition exists for the wealthiest families?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The answer is simple and it is also very sad. The reason that everyone feels the need to fight is because this competition, in every industry and profession was created by the "American Dream". The dream that in reality is, but a fantasy, brought on by an evil sister of Jealousy. Her name is Greed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">G-d commands us to not worship other Gods. We do, though. She is green (envy) and comes with numbers like 1, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100 in each of her four corners. We worship her because this "American Dream" has told us that we so need her. And more of her, and more and more. Like a street drug, we have become addicted to her and her power. And unfortunately, as all addictions and diseases, she has infected even Houses of G-d.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before I entered the Rabbinate, I once asked a cynical Rabbi friend of mine how it is that many Synagogues go so far against Halakha in the name of donations, he answered me accordingly: He who has the gold, makes the rules, he said. I wanted to cry. I asked myself then: What has happened to us?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the Siddur, in our daily prayers, and upon rising and going to sleep, four times daily, we are told what G-d expects from us. V'Ahavta et haShem Elokeikha... "And thou shalt love the L-RD thy G-d with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy might. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up."</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What, I ask, could be so difficult to, not just understand, but perform? How have we, collective as One Nation Under G-d forgotten the most simple of all instructions? I especially ask many in the position of making certain that we say these words daily: Why? How did we forget what we are all supposed to stand for? When did the messenger become more important than the message? We are, after all, One Nation Under G-d. Are we not?</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.emek.web.officelive.com/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Emek haMidbar</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> was built with this exact purpose. To bring Judaica to those who otherwise could not afford to belong. To bring Judaica to the 75-85% of our Community who are unaffiliated. Not to steal Congregants away from other Synagogues, where they have found spirituality, religiosity, friendship and brother (sister)hood. Even though I acknowledge that this "competition" exists, I do not, nor will I buy into it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My friends and Colleagues, Rabbis Michael Wasserman and Elana Kanter of </span><a href="http://www.thenewshul.org/"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The New Shul</span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> in Scottsdale, believe in the philosophy that selling membership into a community turns Congregants into Customers. I could not agree more.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If our Kindergartners, our third, fifth and ninth graders can remember to say it every day, we absolutely must find a way to live it every day. We are all One Nation Under G-d. Maybe if we do, we will all be able to get along better. To better support each other as opposed to using Lashon haRa in daily life; to utilize our tools to bring more Torah to more people, affiliated and unaffiliated alike; and in the end, be better people.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the Emek in haMidbar of Scottsdale, Arizona, I wish you, Ahavah u'Vrachot.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peace and love...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shavuah Tov.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">--Rabbi Alan Abrams</span>Rabbi Alan Abramshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09241680540151350137noreply@blogger.com0