I'm just happy to be here. How about you?

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 anything 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.

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.

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.

"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.

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.

Leo, is just happy to be here. 

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.

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. 

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.

Shabbat Shalom, Ahavah u'Vrachot...

--R' Alan Abrams

Just when we think that we have seen it all...

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.


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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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?

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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.

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.

--Rabbi Alan Abrams

A Letter to a Friend and Brother in The Shomron (Samaria, West Bank, Israel)

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.
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Dear David... Relative to Manhigut (1) , please stick with us. We are making huge progress, and we need YOU.

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.

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 (2a) , favor and belief in me to do what I need to do.

It is my sincere opinion that this means to form a Kehillah (2b) 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.

We are not (2c) Charedim , and many in my (2b) Kehillah  are not even (2c) "Dati" or "Masorti", but what they all agree upon is that Israel belongs to US, as given to (2d) Avraham Avinu  and to (2e) AM YISRAEL.

(3) 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.

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 (2a) Moledet. And, in the knowledge that if we can all just live together, as (2e) AM B'NEI YISRAEL, without the labels (Reform, Conservative, etc.), as (3) 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.

(2f) Al haNissim, Achi. Its all in the miracles from haShem, my brother. When we BELIEVE, nobody can stop us.

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 (2g) 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.

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."
 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.

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 (2e) B'nei Yaacov; B'nei Yisrael. We need to get our proverbial heads out our backsides and see what is truly important: (3) Lehiyot Am Chofshi b'Arteinu, Eretz Tzion, Yerushalayim.

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.

Your brother in Peace and in Defense of our Moledet...

--AA
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KEY as shown above in small notated numerals:

(1) Manhigut Yehudit is the Jewish Leadership Movement under the direction of MK Moshe Feiglin.  Many see Mr. Feiglin and the Jewish Leadership Movement as the future of the State of Israel.

(2a) Rachmanut: Mercy.  Moledet: Birthright.  (2b) Kehillah: Congregation or Community  (2c) Speaks to the three levels of Observance:  Charedi - Ultra-Orthadox; Dati - Orthodox; Masorti - Comfortably Observant.   (2d) Avraham Avinu: Abraham, The first Jew; Married to Sara; Father to Isaac.  (2e) B'Nei: Sons of/ Descendents of; Yaacov: Jacob; Yisrael: Israel.  Am Yisrael; Teh Nation of Israel or People of Israel.  (2f) 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. (2g) Parashat Bereshit: The portion of Torah that describes Creation.

(3) 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)

Hebrew                           Transliteration                               English translation



כֹּל עוֹד בַּלֵּבָב פְּנִימָה            Kol ‘od balleivav penimah           As long as in the heart, within,


נֶפֶשׁ יְהוּדִי הוֹמִיָּה,               Nefesh yehudi homiyah,                 A Jewish soul still yearns,


וּלְפַאֲתֵי מִזְרָח, קָדִימָה,   Ul(e)fa’atei mizrach kadimah,   And onward, towards the ends of the east,
עַיִן לְצִיּוֹן צוֹפִיָּה;              Ayin letziyon tzofiyah;                     An eye still gazes toward Zion;


עוֹד לֹא אָבְדָה תִּקְוָתֵנוּ,     ‘Od lo avdah tikvateinu,             Our hope is not yet lost,


הַתִּקְוָה בַּת שְׁנוֹת אַלְפַּיִם,       Hatikvah bat shnot alpayim,   The hope of two thousand years,


לִהְיוֹת עַם חָפְשִׁי בְּאַרְצֵנוּ,      Lihyot ‘am chofshi be’artzeinu,   To be a free people in our land,


אֶרֶץ צִיּוֹן וִירוּשָׁלַיִם.          Eretz-tziyon vy(e)rushalayim.          The land of Zion and Jerusalem.
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For this week, I leave you with the hope that you too will visit our Internet Home at http://www.emek-az.org/, 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 emek@q.com or by visiting our Support Page at http://apps.facebook.com/causes/401503.


From the Emek in our Midbar that we call Arizona, I wish you Ahava u'Vrachot; Love and Blessings...


Rabbi Alan Abrams

One Nation Under G-d. Really?

One Nation Under G-d. Really?



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.

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".

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.

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?

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

My next question brings us to understanding borders. Does a Nation have borders, or is a Nation merely the people who exist within it?

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.

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.

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."

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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."

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?

Emek haMidbar 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.

My friends and Colleagues, Rabbis Michael Wasserman and Elana Kanter of The New Shul in Scottsdale, believe in the philosophy that selling membership into a community turns Congregants into Customers. I could not agree more.

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.

From the Emek in haMidbar of Scottsdale, Arizona, I wish you, Ahavah u'Vrachot.
Peace and love...


Shavuah Tov.


--Rabbi Alan Abrams

It's all about the "Do-Over"

If I were a betting man, I think that the Detroit Tigers are wishing about now that they could get a Do-Over. I believe that they would call their "Do-Over" September and October. Unfortunately for them, like the rest of us, they will be watching the Twins get beat up by the Yankees. Fortunately, their "Do-Over" is just a game. Our "Do-Overs", are not.

Today is Hoshana Raba, or the "Big Hoshana". When we shake the Lulav for the last time of the year during the harvest holiday of Sukkot, and prepare for Simchat Torah, the Celebration of Torah, which begins tomorrow night, we remember that Hoshana Raba is also the final chance that we have at that big book of life that we have all be pushing to get into and be sealed within for the past few weeks. Hopefully, we get our Do-Over.

We apologized and continue to apologize for all that we have done that may have hurt others or ourselves during the past year, and look forward to doing "better" in the coming year. The big question is: Will we?

Will the man in the brown shirt continue to yell at his girlfriend in public? Will he save his outbursts for private venues, or will he learn to better communicate? Will the gentle man who once left the East Coast of the United States to fight for Israel in Lebanon come to terms with the truth that he is indeed a Hero of Israel, a great father and a "mensch"? Will he value himself again and begin to take better care of himself? Will the mother who prefers the company of her married boss to that of her children catch herself in time, this time?

We all have done things that prevent us from becoming better. Better Jews; better Christians; better fathers, mothers, husbands, wives, doctors, Rabbis; things that would in short, make us better people.

Why is it then, that with all of the "Do-Overs" that we ask for and are not offered; all the complaining that we do that "life is not fair"; all the loopholes that we seek, we seem to tend to take for granted the biggest and most important "Do-Over" that we could, and do, pray for? The "Do-Over" that G-d gives us when the Shofar is blown on Yom Kippur night.

We seem to take these "Do-Overs" for granted an continue to live with the "But First Syndrome". We will all say at some point: I'd really like to start working out, but first I need to... I really need to call my Uncle Moishe and apologize for being rude to him, but first I have to... I really should attend Synagogue this Shabbat, but first...

Does G-d listen to us on Yom Kippur and say: I really need to forgive these people, but first...?

I read this morning a tale written by a religious man, who penned about his recent experience near the Kotel in Jerusalem earlier today. He wrote that he was somehow acosted and detained by Israeli Police for "calling upon people" to ascend to the Temple Mount, which, could have incited serious objection from our Moslem cousins on the mount. Rather than simply forward us readers this news, instead he used his forum to comment negatively toward the very people who carry the job of protecting our dear little Country. Rather than walking to the Wall with thousands of others, he preferred to continue to incite, and in fact, asked others to help him to do so via a very public forum. Will this man, a religious and level headed man find a way to reconcile with himself? We he use his "Do-Over"?

As we begin another beautiful cycle of reading the Torah from beginning to end, starting at Bereishit (Genesis) from literally the beginning and to the end of Deuteronomy, Dvarim with the final Parsha, v'Zot haBracha, and This is the Blessing", let us all try to use this "Do-Over" for good and to not take it for granted. May we use it to better ourselves and to help those around us to better themselves. May we be kinder and more gentle not with just each other, but with ourselves.

From the Emek in the Midbar, the Valley in the Desert, I wish you all a Shabbat Shalom, v'Chag Sameach. A peaceful and restful Shabbat and joyous holiday.

Ahavah v'Vrachot, Love and Blessings...

Rabbi Alan Abrams

A Few of My Favorite Things - Yom Kippur Drasha and More...

As we ready ourselves to celebrate Sukkot, I would like to begin this week's column with my talk from Yom Kippur, this past Monday, and then tell you a little about how Yom Kippur went at Emek haMidbar, the new Community that I have been asked to build.

September 28, 2009

הי בתשרי, התש"ע

יום כפור

Yom Kippur 5770

These are a Few of My Favorite Things

Golf on an early morning, just early enough to smell the newly mowed fairways, but late enough that the dew has evaporated; the smell of a ballpark during batting practice, before all the fans get there; the sound of the crack of each ball being whacked toward the outfield, the sound of its speed and the thump it makes against a lone wall in an empty stadium.

Parshiot (The weekly Torah Portions of) Bereishit, Noach, VaYetzeh, Yitro, Bo and others; Chanting Haftarot; a child being called to the Torah for the first time; a baby’s first wail. Watching the sun rise against the Kotel, and set over the Mediterranean, while sitting on the Tayelet at Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv. The sound of Shofar; the mumbling of silent davening, each one of us at our own tempo, rhythm, pace, and melodies.

Most of all, though, I think that my favorite thing to see and to hear, is watching the faces of my students when we take the Sefer Torah out of the Ark; and seeing their excitement when they come to Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday afternoon.

Today, Yom Kippur, is a day to reflect on all of these, and more. A day to sit back and listen to the Chazzanut, to the sounds of prayer and to introspectively remember, atone, accept and forgive.

A well known scholar in Tel Aviv, who goes by the pen name of IsraelSeen recently referred to Yom Kippur as such. He said: Yom Kippur means the “day of atonement, or rather the day of At-One-Ment. It is a day that culminates the inner-work that we Jews are asked to do especially intensively since Rosh HaShana, the “New Year” according to the Jewish calendar that is marked by the Moon cycles with some adjustment so it coincides closely with the solar calendar."

Actually, to be more precise it is from Tisha B’Av, the day when we fast and remember the destructions of the Temple past and all of the other tragedies that have befallen on us as a nation. It is from this moment that we search for the part of us that inspires forgiveness and substitutes the darkness within our souls, for the light that we are and have always been in spite of the forgetfulness of daily life.

As Einstein once said, darkness does not come from G-d but from an absence of light. For this, my friends is the world that we inherited, in much better shape than we find it now, and it is this world that we are asked by G-d to repair.

The Desiderata, a late 1700’s poem written by an unknown poet speaks to us even two hundred and thirty years later reminding us to be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees & the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with G-d, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors & aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery & broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

It is on us, Chaverai to remember these things today, and to act on them tomorrow. To ask G-d for forgiveness today, and begin living a better life, tomorrow; to say Modeh Ani Lefaneicha when we arise each day and to truly thank G-d for our presence, each and every day. To make the best use of our time, to strive for happiness through Torah, through Avodah, service to haShem, and through G’milut Chasadim, the random acts of loving kindness that we all have within us to perform.

It today’s Torah portion we just read that after his sons Nadav and Avihu had died as punishment for their improper service, Aharon was told to enter the Holy of the Holies only on Yom Kippur, at which time atonement was to be made for the sins of the community (including the Priesthood) and the Sanctuary was cleansed because it might have been entered by those who were ritually unclean. On Yom Kippur, the Kohein Godol (High Priest), dressed in white garments rather than gold ones, offered all the sacrifices.

The ritual included the casting of incense upon coal taken from the Altar, and the sacrificing of one of two male goats provided by the people for their offering. The commandment was given to us to observe Yom Kippur as a most solemn Shabbat (the Shabbat of Shabbatot), to fast and to repent for our misdeeds.

We read about the laws forbidding the eating of meat of an animal which wasn't ritually slaughtered and the forbidden intake of blood; and we read about High Moral Conduct. We continue to be reminded that Hashem expects of us a high level of moral conduct; thus, adultery and illicit marriages were prohibited, with the Torah citing examples of nations destroyed for immoral behavior.

This afternoon, during Mincha, we will learn again the Story of Jonah and what was asked of him by G-d. We will remember that we may be able to run from ourselves and our actions, but that we cannot hide from G-d. This, my friends, is not, in my opinion, meant to be a threat by G-d, nor do I believe that it is a warning, per se. I believe this to be a reminder to us that G-d is everywhere. He is above us and below us; to our right and to our left; in front of us and behind us. In every sense. G-d is with us on High and in our lowest moments; His angels sit upon our shoulders and watch over us.

Today, we promise G-d that from now, we will be the Best that We Can Be. We will strive for high moral ground, and we will love our neighbors as ourselves; We will cease from all forms of Lashon haRa, and help to make this World a better place; We will look to G- d for strength, while continuing to praise His holy name. We will love Him b’chol levaveinu, with all our hearts, u’bchol Nafsheinu, with all of our souls, u’bchol Moadeinu, and with all of our strength. We will take these words to heart and teach them diligently to our children. For as by design, our children are our future.

Yehi Ratzon Milfaneicha, haShem Elokeinu, v’Elokei Avoteinu, Sheh Tichadesh Aleinu Shana Tovah u’Metukah; G’Mar Chatima Tovah; u’Chol masheh tov b’Maaseinu. May it be your Will, O’ G-d, and G-d of our ancestors, that you will bless us with a good and a sweet year; that we will be inscribed into your Book of Life for yet another year; and that you will bring us the peace and solace for all things good this coming year.
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During Mincha, the afternoon service, my first born seventeen year old twin son joined me on the Bima. His helping me to lead our congregation was not planned. Zac is an above average Hebrew reader, but not fluent; he has a very nice singing voice, but not that of a performer in musical theatre, or in the Chazzanut, but this day was different. Very different.

When Zac joined me on the Bima, his reading, pronounciation, inflections and Chazzanut were not only perfect, but as we proceeded with Mincha, the afternoon service and into Neila, the closing service of Yom Kippur, our voices became as one. When I paused, he paused. When I started, he started. When my nusachim (melodies) changed, so did his. We were literally one voice. One voice so directly connected to G-d that by the end of the service, and blowing of the Shofar signaling the end of the holiday and the end of the fast, we were both in tears. Tears of happiness as well as pride and elation. Bar none, this Yom Kippur was the singlemost incredibly spiritual experience of my Rabbinical Career, if not my life.

As we move now to Sukkot, our "Season of Joy", we are within a week of celebrating our finishing to read the Torah, and a new beginning to the old, but very much alive book. Next Saturday night, we will finish reading the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), and begin Genesis from, well, the beginning. It is this continual reading, telling and studying that keeps Torah alive in all of us. Jews and non-Jews alike. A friend said to me just last night that the same G-d that lives in me, lives in him. He is Catholic. Isn't it nice to have friends who share this belief?

Shorts

Word came from Israel this morning that a video was made on September 14, just two weeks ago, in which Gilad Shalit speaks to the world, PM Netanyahu and his parents. Gilad appears in good health and albeit, maybe tired and thin, he does appear to be healthy. This video, in Hebrew, may be found by clicking on this link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bqiT_xvUM2Y&feature=player_embedded.

A wonderful organization by the name of 6M for 6M is raising $6,000,000 to make a film called An Unbroken Chain based on a book by the same name by Dr. Henry Oertelt. Through his lectures and book, Oertelt’s story has been used in middle schools, high schools and colleges to educate students on the Holocaust and hate issues for over 40 years. To find out more please visit http://6mfor6m.org/.

Congregation Kehillat Emek haMidbar continues to seek a home in North Phoenix/Scottsdale. Should you come across anyone in the area that works in commercial real estate, leases, property management that might like to help a brand new Synagogue, please write to: emek@q.com.

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From the Emek (Valley) in the Midbar (Desert), I wish you a very restful Shabbat Shalom, and Chag Sameach. May you enjoy your Sukkot holiday with an abundance of happiness.

B'ahava u'Vrachot...

With love and blessings for a restful Shabbat Shalom and a wonderful Sukkot, filled with an abundance of happiness, I wish for you all that you wish for yourself, and G-d's blessing.

--Rabbi Alan Abrams

On This Rosh HaShana, We look to our Moledet...

As we move within twenty four hours of Kol Nidre and Yom Kippur, 5770, I wish to share my words delivered on the Second day of Rosh HaShana.

September 20, 2009 - הב' בתשרי, תש"ע ראש השנה ב

On the fifth of the month of Iyar, in the Jewish year 5708, on the day in which the British Mandate over a Palestine expired, the Jewish People's Council gathered at the Tel Aviv Museum, and approved the following proclamation, declaring the establishment of the State of Israel. Our nation was founded on principles of Torah and Justice; Peace and Ahavat Chesed, the Love of kindness. On that day, David ben Gurion read the Proclamation of Independence which began with the words: ERETZ-ISRAEL was the birthplace of the Jewish people. Here their spiritual, religious and political identity was shaped. Here they first attained to statehood, created cultural values of national and universal significance and gave to the world the eternal Book of Books.

On Shabbat Shuva, we will read about the last address of Moshe Rabeinu.. Moses addresses Am Yisrael for the last time before the people leave for our Promised Land. Forbidden to enter the Land of Israel, Moses only is able to watch from afar and becomes probably the first of many Giborei Yisrael; heroes of Israel.

On June 7, 1985, in The Carmel Hospital, Ron and Orly Kehrman welcomed into the world their first child; a girl named Tal.

As Tal grew up, she developed an uncanny love for all of G-d’s creatures, especially cats, and not only befriended a few, but brought a few home to Ron, Orly and her little brother Dror. At the age of five, Tal began to collect camels. Stuffed camels, pictures of camels, a clock that looked like a camel, and even a sign in her room declaring “Camel Crossing Here”.

She was an incredibly friendly girl. She had a lot of friends from many different streams of life. She was sensitive to others’ feelings, and when her friends say that when she saw somebody hurt, she took special consideration in supporting and encouraging him. Because she was so friendly, she was the one who made a connection between individual friends and society. In her world of friends, there were a lot of new immigrants. Tal was a very sensitive teenager and did everything she could to avoid hurting a weaker person’s feelings. Tal loved to read both in English and in Hebrew. In addition to her appreciation of literature, she loved to watch the science and music channels. She knew all the words to numerous songs. If one picked any random song she surely knew all the words, both in English and in Hebrew. While in 11th grade, a month after the Twin Towers Terrorist attack, Tal was sent to represent “Ironi Hey School” in a delegation to Boston from the city of Haifa. She was chosen, because of her outstanding ability to connect with others.

On March 5, 2003, Tal and her friend Liz were in downtown Haifa to buy some materials for the end of school celebrations. On that day, after school she met up her friend to plan end of the school year events. They both went downtown to buy some things for this occasion. While downtown, they got a call from some other friends to come up to the Carmel. And so, as usual, Tal and Liz and around thirteen other Israelis sat comfortably on bus number 37, looking forward to graduation, the Army and the life that they had always wanted, and of which they have dreamt for years. There was only one problem that day, on bus #37. A Hamas terrorist has also boarded the bus and on Moriah Boulevard, he self detonated and seventeen people were murdered. Tal and Liz among them. Tal died just three months before her 18th birthday. Tal was, by all accounts, definitions and meanings, a Hero of Israel. Not in her death, rather, in her life. In the way that she lived her extraordinary, amazing, yet far too short life.

A truer example of Am Yisrael could not be found anywhere, in any annals of time, nor history. For the memory of Tal and other children like her, I pray daily, and through organizations like Lev Ecahd, One Heart, her memory lives on.

A baby boy named Gilad was born to Aviva and Noam Shalit on 28 August 1986 in Nahariyah. At age eleven, he wrote a story called "When the Fish and the Shark First Met", an engaging story in which a small fish and shark are able to resolve their familie's differences and live together in peace.

Early on Sunday morning, 25 June 2006, just two months short of his twentieth birthday, Gilad Shalit was captured by Terrorist Soldiers who surprise-attacked an Israeli army post on the Israeli side of the southern Gaza Strip border after crossing through an underground tunnel near the Kerem Shalom border, and has been held hostage in the Gaza Strip by Hamas since.
Shalit, a soldier of the IDF's Armor Corps, recently spent his 23rd birthday in captivity. Gilad is believed to be alive, however, Hamas authorities have refused requests from the allow visits by the International Red Cross to visit him, or otherwise confirm his health and welfare status. Several human rights organizations have stated that the terms and conditions of Shalit's detention are contrary to international humanitarian law. In exchange for his release, Hamas is demanding the release of over 1,000 terrorists held in Israel.

Manhigut Yehudit, The Jewish Leadership Movement, led by the popular Moshe Feiglin says it best when they state 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.

The Likud Party has unilaterally and correctly, I might add, reminded World Leaders, including the current resident at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue that our nation, that Israel is a Sovereign State. As is Canada, Mexico, France, Germany...

I must ask - When last did the United States last tell Canada to split their Dominion in two and hand it to Terrorist Forces? When did Germany last tell France what to do? 1942? 1943? Was Germany not then governed by the Terrorist of all Terrorists?

And so, I ask the current resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue this question: Since when, Sir, is it your right, since when were you granted permission by Am Yisrael to tell us what to do with OUR LAND? With the land that was given to us by Our Creator; by He who took us from Egypt with a Long arm, and Outstretched Hand?

When Sir, were your children forced into Bomb Shelters to escape missiles fired from elementary schools by masked animals hiding behind toddlers and infants? When was the last time, Mr. Resident of 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, that you sent your daughter off to school never to see her return? When, Sir, was your Country facing destruction on a daily basis?

Why, Sir, does it appear to your citizenry, and to ours, that you are more interested in where we build our towns and cities, than you are with the rising unemployment, homeless, and collape of the economy in your own Country? Why is it that while you claim to be in a war against "terror", do you continue to recognize a non-government from a non-existent place that is comprised mostly of admitted Terrorists?

And why, why do we as Jews care? We care because we were together in the sand pits of Egypt; We were together at Sinai. We were together when G-d gave us Torah, and we we were together when a mad man tried to destroy us sixty five years ago. We care because we know that our place is not here. We care because we know, deep down, that our place is in Jerusalem; in Tel Aviv; in Beer Sheva; on Kibbutzim and on Moshavot; On the west side of the green line and on the east. In the north of Galilee and in the Negev. In Rosh haNikra and in Eilat.

Every year on Pesach, we say l'Shana Habaah b'Yerushalayim. Let us all do our best to make this a reality, as a United people, a people living as Am Chofshi b'Arteinu, as a Free Nation in our Land, we cannot be, and we will not be bullied. Together my dear friends, we can support our Birthright and stand together with the words of David Ben Gurion and Moshe Feiglin and be absolutely faithful to the Land of Israel.

Chaverai: We are faced with dilemas every day, if not every hour of every day. Many of them problems to which we have little or no control, but must face them regardless. We do, however, have control of choices that we have. How we face these challenges and how we respond to the outcome. How do we face life? Do we continue to be brought down by the negative, or do we look the world dead on, and remember the words Modeh Ani? Do we get upset about the morning drive traffic, or do we thank G-d that we are alive to BE in the traffic? Should we be upset that we have to sit in the traffic, or do we thank G-d that we have a job, and are healthy to be able to perform the job?

Maybe, Chaverai, maybe my friends these are more challenges from haShem. Clearly, G-d asks of us one thing, and one thing only: VeAhavta et haSmem Elokeicha, You shall love the L-rd your G-d, B'chol levavecha, ub'chol Nafsheicha, ub'chol Meodeicha, with all your heart, all your soul and with all your strength. Yes, we have Six Hundred and Thirteen Mitzvot, 613 Commandments that make up this love, but if we can remember just one, that of loving our neighbor as we do ourselves, this alone will help us to be better people. This alone will help us repair our damaged world. This alone will stop all war and agression. This alone, will bring Peace.

During these Aseret Yemei Tshuvah, these Ten Days of Awe, of Repentence and Atonement, May G-d Bless you and Keep You; May G-d shine his face upon you and guide you; May be gracious onto you and bring you Peace.

Yehi Ratzon Milfaneicha, haShem Elokeinu, v'Elokei Avoteinu, Shetikadesh aleinu Shana Tovah U'Metukah. May it be your will, haShem, our G-d and G-d of our ancestors, that you bless us with a New and a Sweet Year.

And let us say, Amen.

Shana Tovah, u'G'mar Chatima Tovah, B'Ahava u'Vrachrot..

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Rabbi Alan Abrams