Today, we have a president that represents the progress on behalf of all minorities. What was unthinkable a generation ago, is the reality of our world. Imagine a 70 year old black man from the deep south who remembers attending a segregated school and looks in the newspaper in 2010 and sees someone who would have been institutionally discriminated against as the leader of the free world. What a feeling that must be…

But along with the good, comes some bad. In the last few weeks I have seen some examples of Reverse Discrimination as well as oversensitivity.

This article on ESPN.com caught my eye a couple weeks back: Winners Hurt by Corporate Bad Judgment. In a Step-Off dance competition an all-white team initially took the crown. But after a mystical “scoring discrepancy” was discovered the judges awarded a co-title to a black team as well. Step-Offs are traditionally won by black groups and most of the participants are black teams.

Everyone assumed that the mystical “scoring discrepancy” was non-existent and the judges were not exactly forthcoming with details to support their decision. Had this been a reverse situation, where the white team lost in a traditionally white sport or competition, like alpine skiing, and a black athlete won and the judges later awarded a white athlete after finding a mystical “scoring discrepancy” the outrage would be powerful, unrelenting and deserved. But it was the reverse and aside from a few sports columnists and bloggers, it went unnoticed. This is not what Brown taught us.

I also saw this news item: Black Barbie Sold for Less Than White Barbie at Walmart Store. Apparantly, demand for an identical white Barbie was higher than for a black Barbie and the price reflected the lower demand. So on one shelf two identical Barbie’s were only distinguished by their price and their skin tone. There is nothing inherently wrong with that. But people took offense to it. There are those who said that it was racist and discriminatory.

It must have been real tough for a black consumer to see that, but it was not intended to hurt, nor is it inherently hurtful. I can understand the sensitivity to seeing that, but there is nothing actually wrong with it. Today, there is nearly no institutionalized racism. Racism today exists in the hearts and minds of those who act as racists and equally so, in the hearts and minds of those who perceive racism in what they see.

We have come a long way in 50 years and of course there is a ways to go still. But I believe that the best thing to do would be to stop classifying people along racial lines and shades of skin color. Both of the examples above rely heavily of skin tone and race. The dance competition took action when a non-black team won a traditionally black competition. The outraged shoppers of Walmart saw a lower price for a doll that was a darker skin color and reacted as well. Just as the majority cannot discriminate against the minority, the minority should not be oversensitive to perceive bias in the majority.

It is my true belief that the “melting pot” of America will continue to help each and every one of us to judge a person by the content of their character and beliefs and not the color of their skin. It is really a completely illogical, irrational way of thinking to use skin tone as a difference between people. There is nothing innate about skin color that can have any relevance to a discussion about the merits of a human being. Most people realize this by now and  I think we are getting there…

Unfortunately for some, the effects of decades of discrimination live on. Just watch this ABC News video that employs the same testing done for Brown v. Board of Education with modern day black youth:

Related posts:

1. Simple Justice | The Story of Brown v. Board of Education: The End of Separate But Equal in Schools
2. Shortcuts
3. Too Many Questions

At Law School we are reading some of the most well-known Supreme Court Cases. A few weeks ago we read Roe v. Wade (banning 1st term abortion is unconstitutional) and the even more important Casey v. Planned Parenthood (upheld Roe) cases. Last week we read Plessy v. Ferguson (after Civil War, Separate but Equal schools were ruled constitutional).

This week we are reading Brown v. Board of Education. This case overruled Plessy and made Separate but Equal unconstitutional in Public Schools. Brown v. Board of Education paved the way for Civil Rights activists like Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. to fight for equal rights for all people in all areas of life, beyond public education.

As I was reading the case I remembered a very influential “Parenting” episode from my youth. Growing up, we did not watch many movies. I saw a few movies on TV, like E.T. and The Wizard of Oz but that was about it. But I vividly remember my father strongly encouraging me to watch one particular movie with him when I was twelve years old.

That movie was a PBS special called The American Experience: Simple Justice. It beautifully told the story of Thurgood Marshall as he learned the law and was groomed into the perfect counsel for the Supreme Court cases to reverse Plessy. The climax of the movie is the Supreme Court case of Brown v. Board of Education and the Court’s ruling that Separate but Equal was not constitutional.

My father wanted me to see it and I recall a strong desire to study the law and become a lawyer after watching it. My preferred career path took some detours along the way, but several years later my interest in the law returned in earnest.

Today, our professor at Loyola Law School, Marcy Strauss, showed the very same movie to the class in lieu of a more traditional lecture and Socratic discussion. All the memories I had as a youngster were re-energized and I was quite moved by the movie, again.

Brown v. Board of Education raises some very important issues that are still very relevant to modern discourse. In just 56 years, much has changed in the landscape of race relations in the USA. Some things are still the same, or at the very least follow the same bigoted roots. There are other minorities seeking equal rights as well. Sometimes, we can go overboard in our sensitivities as I will write about tomorrow. And sometimes, one part of the world can be slow to see that Separate cannot be Equal, as I will write about the next day.

This movie is a must see. My father was very wise to encourage me to see it and I will always remember watching it together with him. (Thank you.)

The part of the movie that moved me most when I was a youngster stuck with me until today. I was talking with some friends at school and I mentioned that while reading Brown v. Board of Education I recalled a scene from this very movie. I had no idea that we were going to be watching the movie in class. I recounted the scene as best as my 12 year old brain could understand it and it was just as I remembered it when I saw it tonight.

The scene is of a study that was being conducted to analyze the way segregated black children felt about themselves. The tester would ask questions of the children using dolls, one black and one white. The results of the test showed conclusively that black children felt inferior. The dramatization of the test was very powerful and I found it on youtube so that you can see it for yourself below.

“To a better tomorrow”

Related posts:

1. Reverse Discrimination and Oversensitivity
2. Too Many Questions
3. Speak Up! Economic Crisis Hitting Jewish Day Schools

You must see this video on vimeo.

It is a breathtakingly beautiful time-lapse taken in Hawaii. You can literally feel the earth spinning on its axis as night passes into day.

I love good videos and this is one of my all time favorites. The action is stunning and the music is perfect.

Kudos to Charles on Vimeo for taking, editing and producing this gorgeous display of our world’s beauty.

HT: Gawker TV via Guy Kawasaki

Related posts:

1. The Year in Review
2. Where The Wild Things Are
3. Happy Birthday Tetris

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Ki Seesa

A Kesher Shel Kayama

We find in Parshas Ki Seesa the catastrophic sin of the eigel hazahav, which tragically placed Klal Yisrael at the precipice of destruction. Moshe Rabbeinu beseeches Hakadosh Baruch Hu on our behalf. He successfully assuages Hashem Yisborach’s anger and by doing so insured our survival to this very day. Realizing that He was privileged to experiencing an obvious eis ratzon, Moshe is emboldened to ask for a keener understanding of Hashem Yisborach. He implores Hakadosh Baruch Hu, “Hareini nah es Kvodecha”- to reveal Himself, to offer His eved a more comprehensive understanding. Hashem Yisborach responds by saying “v’raisa es acharei upanei lo yeru” – no human can see the full, frontal glory of Hashem. You, Moshe, therefore cannot see My “front,” but I will reveal to you My “back.”

Hakadosh Baruch Hu’s enigmatic response to Moshe’s request is hard to understand. We attribute no real anthropomorphisms to Hashem Yisborach. Moreover, how does this address Moshe Rabbeinu’s request to understand Hakadosh Baruch Hu? Seemingly, Moshe is asking to understand the depth of Hashem’s compassion for klal Yisrael who He has just spared from annihilation. Rashi, too, is concerned with understanding the posuk and quotes the Chazal that declares that showing His back to Moshe meant that Her’ahu kesher shel Tfillin – Hashem Yisborach showed Moshe the knot of His tefillen shel rosh. This only seems to confound us further. How does this answer Moshe’s request? And what are we to learn from this episode today?

The Gemara in maseches B’rachos teaches that Hashem Yisborach indeed wears Tfillin. Unlike our tfillin which contain the parsha of Shma Yisrael, our affirmation of kabbolos ol malchus Shamayim, Hashem’s Tfillin contain the posuk Mi k’amcha Yisrael – who is like My people Israel. Amazingly, Hashem Yisborach’s T’fillin reflect His love and relationship with us, His chosen people. Perhaps this explains our query.

Moshe Rabbeinu successfully defended klal Yisrael from their terrible sin of the golden calf. He invoked the yud-gimmel middos and recalled the zechuyos of our avos, Avraham, Yitzchok and Yaakov. But what, k’vyachol, was the source of Hashem’s forgiveness? It was the simple fact that, despite our iniquities, He loves us. Moshe Rabbeinu wondered if there was more. Says Hakadosh Baruch Hu, the depth of My ahava cannot be understood by the living. However, My relationship with you can be. He communicated that by showing Moshe the kesher shel Tfillin. In this case, “kesher” does not refer to a knot being shown to Moshe. Rather, it’s the Kesher – the relationship of Mi k’amcha Yisrael, represented by the tefillin of Hashem Yisborach. Moshe then came to appreciate the essential ideal that our kabbalos ol malchus shamayim and relationship with Hashem Yisborach is a two way connection. We are not only expected to love Hakadosh Baruch Hu but we are gifted with Him loving us back!

It was this relationship that saved us and it is this relationship that ought to inspire us each day. As we proclaim, Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad thrice daily, we must always remember that Hashem Yisborach proclaims Mi k’amcha Yisrael. We have but to be worthy of His heart to stay in touch with our own.

Related posts:

1. Make a Difference, Just Do It | A Guest Post
2. Not Done Yet | A Guest Post
3. Drawing From The Well of Torah | A Guest Post

The main event was a presentation called Time With Corrie ten Boom. Prior to my invitation to the event I had never heard of Corrie ten Boom and now that I have seen the presentation I am shocked that the story is not more well known. I believe everyone should know who Corrie was and hear and see her story in the dramatic way I saw it.

Corrie and her family saved over 800 Jewish people during the Holocaust. The ten Booms were devout Christians and believed that their mission was to help save their Jewish neighbors. They did so, nobly. They ran an elaborate placement system until they were apprehended and placed in the camps. Only Corrie survived.

Corrie spent the rest of her life telling her story. I recommend buying her book. Click here to purchase on Amazon: The Hiding Place. She wanted people to know that those who helped Jews were not just a minority, but they were statistically non-existant. She could not believe that her “righteous” neighbors would allow their Jewish neighbors be arrested and killed.

Unfortunately, Corrie passed away nearly 30 years ago. Fortunately, a woman named Susan Sandagar has transformed herself into Corrie’s persona. Susan performs as Corrie and tells Corrie’s story as if it were her own. Pat and Shirley Boone loved Corrie and they love Susan’s performance as Corrie. They have been instrumental in helping promote and share Susan’s performance.

The performance is uncanny. One could truly believe that the real Corrie ten Boom is telling her story. More importantly, the message is transmitted with the same passion and love that Corrie had for the story.

Throughout the performance I found myself smiling and then crying. The tale is moving and powerful, as well as uplifting and inspirational. Hearing Corrie’s thoughts makes you want to be a better person and gives reason to believe in people. Susan does a masterful job and the show is incredible.

I thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. It is geared primarily for Christian audiences. But that may be because only they seem to care about the story. While heroes, like Schindler and Wallenberg are well known in Jewish circles, ten Boom remains mostly anonymous. I think that is a travesty. Corrie’s story is equally powerful.

There will be a larger, more elaborate Time With Corrie ten Boom event in June. I intend to be there and I intend to bring as many of my fellow Jews to the show as possible.

Hers is a story that needs telling. She just needs an audience.

Related posts:

1. My Appearance At “A Night For The Family” at Pepperdine University
2. Jewish Lessons in Parenting
3. Mishloach Manos Packing on the Beach 2/14/10

I was asked to speak before a crowd that had just enjoyed seeing the life of Corrie ten Boom performed.

One message of that story is that is good, moral decisions do not happen in a vacuum. Children learn from their parents.

But how are we to instill the lessons we want our children to learn?

I was supposed to try and answer that question in 20 minutes.

Decide for yourself if I was mildly successful…

Related posts:

1. My Appearance At “A Night For The Family” at Pepperdine University
2. Parenting: Unconditional Love
3. Kim Clijsters: Tennis Champion and Mother

So how did I end up at this event and how was it?

A member of our shul, Gary Dalin, met Dr. Ken Canfield, President of the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine a little while back. Dr. Canfield wanted someone to present a traditional Jewish approach to parenting and imparting morals from one generation to the next. Gary was supposed to do it, and he would have done marvelously. Unfortunately, Gary underwent a complex (and successful) surgery and was forced to cancel his appearance. I spoke in his stead.

The event had three parts. First there was a private dinner. I sat with the President of Pepperdine, Andrew Benton to my left and Pat and Shirley Boone across the table. Yes, THAT Pat Boone. (Crazy, I know.) We talked about conservation of energy, Israel, Talmud, Law School, charity and suffering in Third World countries. It was quite stimulating and very interesting. It was so cool to spend time with such a famous celebrity and I thoroughly enjoyed all our conversation.

During dinner we heard a few short presentations on the Boone Center for the Family at Pepperdine. I was most moved by the remarks of Maurice Hilliard. Coach Hilliard told the story of his childhood in South Central Los Angeles and how his mother had him bused to Beverly Hills for school. That gave him all the opportunities in the world and he began to feel a new sense of self worth when a white girl asked him for assistance with math. He said he felt for the first time like he was somebody and that the color of his skin would not determine his future. It was quite moving.

After dinner we moved to a small theater for a thrilling performance telling the story of Corrie ten Boom. Corrie was a devout Christian who saved over 800 Jewish lives during the Holocaust. There will be a separate post reviewing the performance.

Following the performance I gave my address. I spoke for 20 minutes and was warmly received afterward. You can listen to the speech by clicking here: Jewish Lessons in Parenting. I stuck around for a little while talking with some of my new fans and told them about our wonderful Shul on the Beach in Venice. It was some great PR for our shul.

This event was truly memorable. But, it was only the beginning. The Boone Center for the Family is planning a similar event on a much grander scale in June. I urge all to attend. Jews, Christians, atheists, or anyone else can learn from her story. I have been asked to speak at the next event as well and I look forward to it very much.

Related posts:

1. Time With Corrie ten Boom | Review
2. Jewish Lessons in Parenting
3. We're All Family

The Shul on the Beach Purim 2010

This Purim, The Shul On The Beach opened its doors to the entire Venice / Santa Monica community to join in a Purim Celebration. An excellent turnout from our members, friends and neighbors set the stage for a truly memorable afternoon.

Mr. and Mrs. Beithalachmi prepared a wonderful Purim feast that was partially sponsored by Yossi and Joannie Ziff on the occasion of their second anniversary. As always, Jeff Liss planned an excellent party, including first class entertainment (see the previous post), refreshments and a costume contest. Most importantly, our community really stepped up to the plate in terms of hospitality, friendliness and warmth. Led, once again, by Rabbi Mintz, many, many guests were ushered into the Shul.

I had the pleasure of meeting neighbors who had simply never dropped by the Shul, Israelis on vacation, random folks on Venice Boardwalk who wanted to stop in, children, elderly people, Jews, non-Jews, religious and otherwise. We tried to take photos with as many people as possible and you can check out the slideshow of photos below. [If you have any photos to add, PLEASE email them to me and I will add them!]

Guests enjoyed hamentaschen, the lively music and touring our Shul. As always, we enjoyed meeting so many people from so many different backgrounds and situations and sharing the joy of Purim with them.

There was a small contingency from the press (MSNBC.com) that joined us throughout Purim. They were at the reading of the Scroll of Esther on Purim evening and returned for the today’s celebration. It was so much fun getting to know them and sharing our Purim with them. We look forward to seeing the fruits of their labor sometime in April. Stay tuned…

The gathering was lively and inspiring. I spoke briefly about the meaning of our commandment to remember Amalek. Amalek attacked the Jewish people just after the Exodus from Egypt. They focused their attack on the stragglers. I expressed my hope that as a community we would not allow any stragglers. We must be inclusive and help everyone to feel that they are in the center of the group. There can be no fringe group if we are to “defeat” Amalek. Today’s event was a strong step in that direction.

Once again, thank you to all of you who helped and joined and made the event the festive celebration it was.

We are planning more events of this nature in the future.

Related posts:

1. Purim Celebration at The Shul on the Beach Invitation 2/28/10
2. Alula Performs At Pacific Jewish Center Purim Party in Venice
3. Purim Night! | Connections 3/9/09

Well over 200 people attended, ranging from ultra-religious Jews, to unaffiliated Jews, Christians and non-Jews. It was really a great success. Fuller recap with photos here.

In the meantime, here is a taste of a our incredible performer, Alula.

You can learn more about Alula by clicking here and help support his music.

Alula is an Ethiopian Jew who loves to sing Jewish songs. And he did so, wonderfully.

Please check out this clip of his performance in our Shul this Purim.

Related posts:

1. Pacific Jewish Center Purim Celebration Recap February 28, 2010
2. Purim Celebration at The Shul on the Beach Invitation 2/28/10
3. Yom Kippur and Purim | Connections 3/2/09

There will be entertainment as well as refreshments. You can meet your neighbors and taste a Purim Experience at our historic Shul.

Please join us!

Related posts:

1. Pacific Jewish Center Purim Celebration Recap February 28, 2010
2. Purim Night! | Connections 3/9/09
3. Invitation: Chanukah Party on the Beach 12/13/09

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Titzavah – Parshas Zachor

Pitom Hakitores

The Mizbeach Hazahav is mentioned in this week’s parsha as the final utensil Hashem Yisborach instructed Klal Yisrael to fashion for the Mishkan. Upon it, B’nai Yisrael offered the Ketores, the fragrant incense offering. Seemingly, the Mizbeach should have been sequenced along with the other keilim in Parshas Trumah. With its, zer zahav, golden crown, corresponding to the kesser kehuna, it naturally belongs together with the Aron and the Shulchan. Chazal wonder why this tzivui is saved for last. What lesson are we being taught?

Mifarshim explain that it should be no wonder that the Mizbeach Haketores is saved for the end; after all, it represents the climax of our avodah. Its sweet aroma offered on high, expresses the ultimate accomplishment of our Yiddishe Neshama. In fact, Chazal darshan in sefer Shir Hashirim, that the Chanukas Hamishkan could not take place until the ketores was finally offered. In addtion, so vital is the Ketores that it was the focus of a significant portion of the Yom Kippur avodah once a year.

So what is the significance of the Ketores? The Midrash Tanchuma points out that, Hakadosh Baruch Hu, kivayavhol, exclaims, “No korban is more precious to Me than the Ketores. All other korbanos are needed by Klal Yisrael for kaporah. The Ketores, however, does not atone for sin or for any other personal need. Its only purpose is Simcha!” Yes, it is Simcha – true joy in our avodas Hashem, that is the penultimate ambition yielded by our avodah each day. That is the tachlis of the Aron, Menorah, Shulchan and Mizbeach in accessing new heights in connecting with the Shechina. Today, mirroring the avodah in the Mishkan, we study the Torah Shebichsav (Aron), shteig in Torah sh’baal peh (menorah) and sanctify our material surroundings (shulchan). We offer Hashem Yisborach our avodah sheb’lev, Tefilah, in place of the korbanos sacrificed on the Mizbeach. But those all have to be followed up with our own “Ketores,” the simchas hachayim we project and that we offer to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. That is the sweet fragrant aroma of living the Torahdike life we are expected to follow. The greater our joy in bringing Hakadosh Baruch Hu pride in us, the more significant our avoda will be. Living a life b’simcha 
seems a simple prescription but it can require a lifetime of work. Nevertheless, without it we could not have consecrated the Mishkan then, nor can we hope to build the Bais Hamikdash today.

Perhaps this is why Purim is the final chag of our year. Before entering Nissan, the chodesh hageula, we desire to demonstrate our desire to grow in internalizing and projecting the simchas hachayim which helps lead to our redemption. Amalek, the ultimate cynic, finds no joy in our happiness as he tries to infect us with lethargy and negativity toward serving Hakadosh Baruch Hu. With the true simcha of Purim we can vanquish the Amalek both within and without and strengthen our kesher with Hashem Yisborach. Ending the year with that joyful high of being His chosen people is the best preparation for that Day of Days to come. May our ketores of simcha , be received and offered once more, bimhara b’yameinu.

Related posts:

1. Happiness is a Preservative | A Guest Post
2. The Triple Threat | A Guest Post
3. When Kesher is Not a Knot | A Guest Post

Today, a killer whale named Tilikum at Sea World Orlando killed a trainer. Yes. A whale. An animal that has no instinct to kill a human, killed a human, IN FRONT OF AN AUDIENCE! That was certainly more than the spectators bargained for…

You can read all about it all over the place, try the NY Times article here.

I’ve been thinking about this horrible incident all day.

Because I am a human being I mourn the untimely loss of one of our own.

Because I am a Rabbi I thought about whether zoos have a place in Jewish law.

Because I am a Law Student, and working at the California Court of Appeals, I thought about the potential liabilities involved.

Because I am not a “fan” of zoos or animal exhibits, I continue to wonder “what’s the point?”. And that is what I am going to write about here.

Animals belong in the wild. You want to go see animals? Go visit them in their home town. Don’t bring them to my home town and cage them up so people can gawk at them. Sure, there is educational value in learning about animals, but is that sufficient cause to lock animals up in a place that somewhat resembles their natural habitat?

I know, I know, we need to learn about animals so that we can understand our planet and how we relate to the ecosystem and we need to protect animals that are losing their natural habitats etc. etc. etc…

We can do that all in other ways. We have the resources to study animals in their environment.

Zoos hearken back to a time when Man thought Himself invincible and the world to be at His mercy. I think we know better know. Man is part of an intricate universe. We can’t overstep our bounds.

Who in their right mind thinks that an orca that is accustomed to swimming miles on end day after day is comfortable in a big fish tank? It is a miracle they haven’t revolted yet! I feel terrible for the trainer. Not just because she was killed by a killer whale, but because she probably thought that the animal was her friend. She probably had developed feelings for the animal. Most trainers do. I have heard from many trainers that they “love” their animals. But the thing is, animals don’t love like people do. Animals don’t reason or use logic. They can be trained to suppress their instincts, but they can always revert to their natural behaviors. I feel bad for the trainer because she probably thought the killer whale would never harm her.

Maybe I just don’t enjoy seeing animals in a zoo enough to see the value, but it seems hard to justify in my eyes. The danger to humans is clear and I believe that animals belong in the wild.

In Jewish law, an animal does not have “rights”. However, a human has responsibilities toward animals. We are not permitted to abuse animals. We are not permitted to cause animals any pain or suffering. We are only permitted to hunt for food (by most authorities) and not for sport. In my view, zoos are sport. Caging animals so that we can have fun seems like an abuse of animals. And we have a responsibility to treat animals with respect and care.

I would much prefer to watch the Planet Earth series (which you should DEFINITELY buy, click here) at home, than see animals caged in a zoo.

Just think, another life would have been saved too.

Related posts:

1. Earth Day and Torah
2. Tales From 30,000 Feet
3. Kobe and Zehirus

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Teruamah

Keeping it Fresh

Parshas Terumah is filled with the beauty and grandeur of the mishkan v’keilav. The home for the Shechina was to be built of the finest materials in a precise manner outlined by the prasha. The detail of its construction is not simply a description of early Israelite architecture. It is not even just a model of how a house of prayer should be designed. It is much, much more. Chazal find overt and subtle messages from each and every nuance of the design. The various materials, ingots of gold, silver, bronze, brass and copper, the fine fabrics, linens wools and multi-filament threads and collection of precious stones used in the construction, all tell a story. Each guides us to reach ever higher in our avodas Hashem. Brought together as the Mishkan, they served as the focal point of our avoda then and now. Each are worthy of intense study. One timeless message Chazal teach us from the Shulchan is worth visiting.

We are taught that the Shulchan. adorned with it’s zeir zahav, is representative of the keser malchus. Klal Yisrael’s Royal Table was filled with the 12 loaves of the lechem hapanim prominently featured opposite the menorah. The sefarim explain that all of our physical sustenance emanates from on High to us through the Shulchan. We are taught that its presence in the Kodesh is to remind us that we are to sanctify the olam hagashmi gifted to us by Hakaodsh Baruch Hu by transforming it into davar ruchani. We do so by making brachos and devoting our earthly pursuits to spiritual quests. Doing so enables us to achieve the supernatural represented by those very breads which never staled even after being displayed for a week, despite the lack of preservatives! We too, are taught to follow the model of the Shulchan and keep our avodas Hashem fresh and vibrant week in and week out. Indeed our service of the Ribbono Shel Olam show never become stale!

But there is more.

The Zohar when discussng the Shulchan and its parallel place in our universe explains that the table which finds favor in the eyes of the Ribbono Shel Olam is the table which is set with Simcha! It is through our simcha that Hashem Yisborach showers His bountiful blessings on us all. How much blessing we receive, is reflective of how much simcha we have in our kiyum hamitzvos and limud haTorah. Amazingly, simcha is the magical ingredient that kept our Avodah and the lechem hapanim fresh 24/7. This yesod is codified by the Rambam at the end of Hilchos Teshuva (9:1) as he explains that schar mitzvah bhai almha lekah. Nevertheless, as a reflection of the simcha we have in doing the ratzon Hashem we are gifted all of His bountiful blessings of prosperity, shalom, shalvah and inner peace to be enabled to do even more of His will. Thus the physical rewards we earn are but further opportunities we have to earn even more schar through greater, easier and joyful kiyum hamitzvos. And the cycle continues.

This fundamental lesson must be ever present. The message of the Shulchan teaches us that even if times are challenging, simchas hachayim is not some half-baked contemporary notion. Rather its place is in the very heart of our mishkan and we should ensure that it fills our personal mikdash and our entire avoda keeping it fresh and inspired each and every day.

Related posts:

1. The Sweet Smell of Simcha | A Guest Post
2. Looking Good | A Guest Post
3. Interdependence | A Guest Post

Heshy Fried aka Frum Satire performed in front of a very diverse crowd of ~60 at the Pacific Jewish Center at the Shul on the Beach on Sunday February 14 2010 and it was incredible.

Heshy ranted for over an hour and the audience was captivated. He could have gone on for another hour and had everyone laughing all the way through.

I introduced Heshy and the show with an important message. Judaism, in many ways has become more about idiosyncrasies and self-defining labels than substance, lately. Sometimes we need a keen satirist to remind us that most of that stuff is just silliness. We need to remember what the important things are and when Heshy cuts through “all the other stuff” with his wit and comedic genius, what remains is what is real.

So, I concluded, that is why I read Frum Satire and that is why I am honored to introduce all of you to the stylings of Frum Satire.

Heshy touched on so many great topics. Crazy shidduch resumes, messing with BTs, not looking yeshivish, kiddush techniques and many more hilarious anecdotes and observations were satired. The crowd loved it all. Laughing for an hour can hurt your face. I found that out after the show.

Heshy’s humor is clean and still manages to be very funny. Kudos!

Those who came to the show were so happy they did. Those who missed the show missed out on some great fun. We also met a bunch of new people to our shul who had never been inside before. It was a pleasure to meet you all!

I want to thank Heshy for making the Shul on the Beach his first West Coast show. We had a great time over Shabbos and the Sunday evening show. Come back and visit soon!

I edited a 7 minute portion of the show (just a few minutes from the beginning of the show) for your viewing pleasure. (I had no tripod and the camera was my Canon PowerShot SD 780 IS so please excuse the shakes.) Enjoy.

Related posts:

1. Frum Satire Show At Pacific Jewish Center
2. Pacific Jewish Center Purim Celebration Recap February 28, 2010
3. Venice Historical Society Visits Pacific Jewish Center at the Shul on the Beach

The Shul on the Beach

Yesterday was a great day for Pacific Jewish Center and our community.

A little while back, we decided that it would a lot of fun for the community to get together and pack mishloach manos together at the Shul on the Beach.

The event had a triple purpose. The goals were all met and exceeded. The first goal was to make a more creative mishloach manos that effectively reflected the spirit of the Shul on the Beach as opposed to using “canned” mimshloach manos from a vendor. The second goal was to have fun together as a community and use our creative talents in a productive way. The third was to invite the entire beach community to see our shul and invite them inside to see the shul and inform them about future events, like our upcoming Purim Celebration, as well as weekly services. This would be part of our Outreach on the Beach initiative.

Well, the mishloach manos are all packed. So we accomplished that goal.

A lot of community came to help and hang out and they all had a lot of fun. So we accomplished that goal.

And plenty of beach goers, dog walkers, tourists, neighbors and interesting people came to visit our shul and promised to return for a future event or services! Once again, we accomplished our goal. Some visitors even helped with the mishloach manos packing! Thanks!

It would be nice to mention everyone who came by name, but I know I would leave people out. So if you were there, maybe you’ll see a photo of yourself in the slideshow below. Leave a comment and tell us if you helped out!

The only person I will mention by name is my wife Tova. Tova organized the entire project and spent hours and hours choosing the items for the mishloach manos, finding the best vendors to purchase from, reordering when things got lost in transit or were out of stock 3 days before the event and of course designing the innovative looking mishloach manos packages. Thank you Tova!

Here is the slideshow. Enjoy!

Related posts:

1. Pacific Jewish Center Purim Celebration Recap February 28, 2010
2. Purim Celebration at The Shul on the Beach Invitation 2/28/10
3. Venice Historical Society Visits Pacific Jewish Center at the Shul on the Beach

Sorry for the hiatus.

Why was it busy?

We were getting ready for TWO big events at Pacific Jewish Center that went down yesterday.

Read the two posts about the events by going back to the homepage.

(Spoiler Alert – They were amazing!)

Related posts:

1. …And We’re Back
2. …And We’re Back
3. Why FinkOrSwim?

I know it’s a bit short notice but I (Heshy Fried / Frum Satire) will be performing this coming Sunday February 14th in Los Angeles at the Pacific Jewish Center AKA Shul on the Beach (on the Venice Beach Boardwalk) at 6pm. The rabbi of the shul is fellow blogger/contributor Eliyahu Fink.

Facebook event – please share with your friends.

Frum Satire live in Los Angeles@ The Shul on the Beach 6pm
505 Ocean Front Walk
Los Angeles, CA 90291
Cost of admission is a suggested donation to the shul of $5-10 (non-members)

Heshy will be spending Shabbos in Venice. The community looks forward to hosting Heshy.

So I hope to see you all on Sunday!

-ef

Related posts:

1. Frum Satire Show at Pacific Jewish Center Was Incredible
2. Invitation: Chanukah Party on the Beach 12/13/09
3. Venice CA and Santa Monica California Jewish Learning and Judaism

Grant Desme: Is he looking heavenward?

The two most popular posts on this blog are variants of one common theme.

Athletes as Role Models.

It makes sense. I enjoy sports, I am passionate about education and I love the moral tension created by appreciating both of those areas of life. It appears that people like reading about it as well.

Learn about what I think by reading these posts (in order of popularity):

Tim Tebow’s Pro-Life Superbowl Ad is Heartwarming and Reckless (Top post on this blog thanks to Deadspin)

Athletes as Role Models? (Second most popular post on this blog thanks to Steve Mason and Kaplan’s Korner)

The Eye Of The Tiger (Fans)

Ron Artest Is Going To The Lakers | What Do I Think?

To summarize: My opinion is that athletes are just athletes. They excel one general area of life, competitive athletic ability, and that is the only thing worth looking up to them for. One can admire work ethic, focus, quick thinking, pure athleticism of their favorite athletes, but to learn about sportsmanship, common courtesy or morality from athletes is asinine. That is not what they are known for, and usually it is for a reason. There are much more appropriate role models for those things and our job is to look to those people as role models and not athletes. When it comes to children, parents must teach their children who their role models should be as opposed to letting athletes teach their kids about morals and ethics.

There is one general exception. When an athlete clearly excels in another area of life and has experience in that area of life then even the athlete can become a role model. Or more precisely, the person is a role model who happens to be an athlete.

Take Tim Tebow for example. Tebow has spent signficant time and effort doing good work and rising above his athletic stardom and become a star of his religion. He clearly has a set of morals that guide his life and is more than just an athlete. He is a missionary and an athlete. Tebow is a worthy role model who happens to be an athlete and being a succesful athlete has given him a greater audience. Tebow’s greater audience gives him more oportunity to be that role model and that is a good thing. Tebow is using his star power to express his opinion on abortion. We can agree or disagree with the message but Tebow is a messenger whose words carry some weight. As a role model, Tebow’s fame as an athlete goes a long way to increasing his influence and impact.

Recently, another athlete who could have been just like Tebow in that respect bowed out of competitive sports. Oakland Athletics prospect Grant Desme left his baseball dreams behind to enter the priesthood. Projected as an above average Major League player, Desme bows out of the game he loves, for the God he loves more. Desme was going to be a good baseball player. But now he hopes to be a great priest. Instead of using his baseball related fame to teach and be that rare athlete worth treating like a role model, Desme leaves sports and is devoting his life to his religion.

Two athletes with higher moral standards and two different approaches.

Who will have a greater impact, Tebow or Desme?

Which is the better path? The athlete who uses his fame to be a super role model to millions of adoring fans? Or the former athlete who gave it all up to pursue a “higher calling”?

Tebows audience will be much bigger. But Desme’s potential is greater because he can devote more time to personal growth.

I find this question very interesting. What do you think?

Related posts:

1. Athletes as Role Models?
2. The Eye Of The Tiger (Fans)
3. Tim Tebow’s Pro-Life Superbowl Ad is Heartwarming and Reckless

I thought the Tebow ad was going to “tell his mother’s story”. It did not.

She still called him a “miracle baby”, but that is not that big a deal.

I apologize for the previous blog post. I wrote what I wrote based on speculation that others made about the content of the ad. They were wrong.

But I am leaving the previous post up. The reason for that is that in my opinion Focus on the Family wanted us to think they were going to send the message that was speculated. They wanted us to form opinions and discuss the potential ramifications of an ad featuring a “miracle baby”.

I had an opinion and I stick to it, despite the ad falling short of what everyone assumed it was going to say.

And I am not going to Focus on the Family’s website to read the Tebow’s story. I don’t really care.

The actual ad is below. Judge for yourself…

Related posts:

1. When Times Are Tough
2. Tim Tebow’s Pro-Life Superbowl Ad is Heartwarming and Reckless
3. "Orange" you glad Tropicana is going back!

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas Yisro

Achdus, Emunah and Simcha

The raison-d’être of maaseh braisheis and the essential tachlis of Klal Yisrael is defined in parshas Yisro with the experience of Matan Torah. No other event in world history more profoundly impacted the world for eternity. For Klal Yisrael our role as banim laHashem, of being privileged to be designated as an ohr la’amim is nestled in the achdus we shared as we proclaimed na’aseh v’nishmah, K’ish echad b’lev echad. With this expression, the unity of Am Yisrael is linked forever to our acceptance of the responsibilities Hashem Yisborach was placing upon us.

The Midrash Tanchuma elaborates on this idea. He quotes Rebbi Hakadosh, who includes an additional ingredient in the paradigm of Matan Torah. It creates a chut Hamishulash and a message which is so vital it must be explored. “Rebbi omer, bsha’ah she’amdu Yisrael al Har Sinai hishvu kulan lev echad l’kabeil aleihem malchuchus shamayim . . . b’simcha.”

The Achdus of Klal Yisrael at Sinai was not limited to our unity of acceptance of mitzvos. Rather, it was expanded to include the attitude of Simcha. It is simcha which must permeate every aspect of our achdus and avodas Hashem. It is the prerequisite of Matan Torah . These three: simcha, achdus and kabbalas malchus Shamayim are the “chut hamishulash” of our avodas Hashem. The message is that without simcha true unity is impossible; without simcha, emunah is lacking. The declaration of na’asseh v’nishma is dependent on all three— achdus, emunah and simcha. Strengthening each of these aspects of our daily avodah can help reignite the inspiration of Sinai for us each and every day.

Related posts:

1. Borrowing For Success | A Guest Post
2. When Kesher is Not a Knot | A Guest Post
3. The Sweet Smell of Simcha | A Guest Post

American Idol Season ~46,281 is underway and the most memorable moment so far has certainly been the Pants on the Ground phenomena. If you have seen or heard of it – you MUST go here right now and watch it (come back quick).

But as funny and entertaining as Larry Platt was, a different contestant said something that really struck a cord within me. That contestant was Lloyd Thomas.

It must take a certain level of confidence and narcisism to audition for American Idol. You need to promote yourself and sing in front of famous people as well as hope for a chance to sing in front of thousands more. That is not to mention the millions watching at home on TV and then reviewing it all on YouTube the next day!

And it stand to reason that most contestants that make it through to the next round are appreciative of the opportunity. Yet, most often they talk about how well they are going to do in the next round and try and endear themselves to the audience in case they make it really far.

Lloyd Thomas said something completely different. Watch the video below for the full quote. But in short, he made it through to the next round and said one of the sweetest things I have ever heard.

“I wish you could all taste what I taste right now”.

In his moment of triumph, in his moment of victory he was thinking about others. In the moment that most people would use for self promotion, he used it for sharing his love for people.

It certainly gave me pause.  When we are successful do we think to ourselves – I hope everyone else can feel this feeling of success? It certainly is not intuitive. But I must thank Lloyd Thomas for teaching me how to enjoy success.

Thanks Lloyd. And good luck!

You made a fan out of me…

Related posts:

1. Men (Learning) at Work
2. My Friend Won $__.__ on "Millionaire"
3. Happy Birthday Tetris

Since the Earthquake in Haiti many have attempted to figure out “why” the tragedy occurred.

There are 4 prominent versions going around the web right now.

Rabbi Shafran Version 1: God punished the people of Haiti because of evil speech.
Rabbi Shafran Version 2: We don’t know why God punished the people of Haiti but the lesson is that we should learn is not to speak evil speech.
Rabbi Levin: The earthquake and Tsunami and 9/11 happened because of Gays in the military.
Rabbi Feldman: We can’t know why the earthquake happened, but it happened for “a reason”.

What has been missing from this is a more rational approach predicated on the teachings of Rav Yaakov Weinberg Ztz”l Rosh Yeshiva of Ner Yisrael.

Let’s start with a hypothetical question.

Gerald is driving through the desert. He gets lost and runs out of fuel. He gets out of the car to start walking to find a gas station. He wanders for a little while. Eventually he runs out of water. He dehydrates and eventually dies in the desert.

Why did he die?

That is easy. He died because he ran out of water in a desert. The rules of nature that God created and recreates every moment dictate that when a man has no water in a desert he will dehydrate and probably die shortly thereafter. God does not bend or adjust the rules of nature to save him. Nor should God bend the rules of nature. The relationship God has with the world is that of a hidden God. God hides behind the mask of nature and does not show Himself.

There is a fault line the lies beneath Port Au Prince. It was suggested by geologists in late 2008 that there could be a severe earthquake in Haiti as a result of this fault line. In January 2010 the plates along the fault line shifted. A massive earthquake ensued. Thousands of people died and many more were injured.

Why did they die?

That is also easy. They died because there was an earthquake. The rules of nature that God created and recreates at every moment dictate that when tectonic plates shift it can cause a massive earthquake. God does not bend or adjust the rules of nature to stop the earthquake. Nor should God bend the rules of nature. The relationship God has with the world is that of a hidden God. God hides behind the mask of nature and does not show Himself.

What about the stories in Chumash and Tanach (Old Testament) that report miracles to save individuals or groups of people?

Once in a while God does bend the rules of nature. This is rare and only happens in extreme circumstances. We call this a miracle. It is really a misnomer because everything is a miracle. Nature is a miracle just as much as the supernatural. But we only recognize or would recognize the supernatural miraculous. Miracles can happen, but we don’t rely on miracles nor do we expect miracles as part of the usual system and order of the universe. The universe follows the rules of nature that God created and recreates every moment.

What about the words of Chazal (Talmudic Rabbis) that blame natural disasters on sin?

I can’t answer with certainty but there are a few options:

- For lack of scientific information they did not realize that earthquakes or other phenomena were “natural” and supposed they were supernatural events thus requiring a Divine reason.

- They were referring to a place and time where God did intervene on a constant basis.

- They were speaking polemically and urging Klal Yisrael to improve their ways and as a way of admonishing them they used exegesis to connect disaster with sin.

- They were misquoted or quoted out of context.

Then there is the Rambam. In hilchos Taanis, the Rambam states that when harm befalls the tzibur it incumbent upon klal yisrael to do teshuva and attribute the suffering the “way of the world” rather the bad things that happened were because of their evil sins.

This has been misquoted and misapplied in many instances. The Rambam is talking about a tragedy that happens to the tzibur. The tzibur refers to the Jewish community. So a harm among the a specific Jewish community is the time that we must attribute the harm to OUR sins.

What Rabbis Shafran Version 1, Feldman and Levin are doing is trying to use this Rambam in an instance of a tragedy that befell ANOTHER group of people. The earthquake was not a disaster that happened to the Jewish tzibur. It happened to another tzibur. Thus, the Rambam does not apply.

When would the Rambam apply? At most a tragedy that targets the tzibur. Most strictly constructed it would be when a harm is specific to the Jewish people.

So what are we supposed to do when tragedy strikes? When there is a Hurricane like Katrina, a Tsunami like there was in Southeast Asia or Earthquake like in Haiti?

We work on our compassion. We work on our empathy. We help as much as we can. We remember that life is fleeting and it can all end in a moment. We try to reenergize our relationships. We improve in our avodas Hashem. We find a way to use the tragedy to inspire us. It is personal.

For anyone to assume they know why this tragedy happened fails on three counts.

1) It did not happen to us. It happened to someone else. Do we believe in a God who punishes another party for OUR sins?

2) Maybe it did not happen for a reason? If it was natural then how are you going to apply some sin as the cause for nature? Do you blame sin every time a lion eats a gazelle in the African plain? How about when an innocent bystander is killed by a drunk driver? Did the bystander “deserve it”?

3) Even if it did happen for a reason, who are you to tell me why it happened? You think YOU know? Your puny little brain can figure out why God acts in the way He does? You know all the factors that go into “causing a natural disaster”? At best it is presumptuous at worst it is extreme arrogance bordering on apikorsus.

For anyone to guess why this happened fails on another count.

Nevuah (prophecy) ended thousands of years ago. A Navi (prophet) was like a spiritual doctor, one was able to see a Navi and ask why bad things were happening to you and the Navi could tell you why. The Navi was connected to God. That is over. It ended a long time ago. I am suspect of anyone claiming to know what God is “thinking” because they have no way of knowing.

Trying to pretend like we know why the earthquake happened, even if we assume it happened for a reason, is wrong.

But at least Rabbi Shafran Version 2 and Rabbi Feldman are telling US to improve our lives in the wake of the tragedy.

Only one goofball has the gall to tell OTHER people how to act in response to the tragedy. Only Levin has the audacity to tell the Government of the USA that it’s “their fault” this happened. Only Levin completely abrogates himself and places the blame on something that is external to him and his group.

It is akin to telling a grieving mother that her son who was run over by a car was run over because the lady across the street had an affair. Ridiculous. Irresponsible. Self-righteous. Idiotic. Moronic. (Help me out here… I am sure there are more words…)

In summary, there are varying levels of what I believe to be errors in the wake of this tragedy. The least egregious is trying to figure what the precise message of the earthquake is. The most egregious is telling a 3rd party that they caused the tragedy of another.

My view, as I stated just after the earthquake, and the view of my Rebbeim is that the tragedy was a natural disaster. There was no malicious intent or direct message being sent to the people of Haiti or anyone else for that matter. However, it is useful for us to use the incident as inspiration to improve our lives and live each moment we are fortunate to be alive as a way of making the world a better place.

Postscript: A worthwhile read is Rabbi Dov Kramer’s approach which is very similar to what is written here just comes from a different direction.

Related posts:

1. Jewish Relief Efforts For Haiti Earthquake Victims
2. I Am So Proud
3. Tales From 30,000 Feet

Most Olympic skaters wear pretty outrageous costumes for their routines during the Olympics and Weir is known for his “over-the-top” designs. His outfit was supposed to have a small trim of fox fur on the left shoulder. After pressure from PETA, Friends of Animals and hate mail as well as threats from less professional activists, Weir has acquiesced and is wearing a faux-fox fur in the place of the original, real fur trim.

What was interesting to me was the way Weir handled the fur wearing issue.

Weir responded that wearing fur is a personal choice and he understands the point of view of the activists, he just doesn’t agree. He feels that there are more important causes to be concerned with like homelessness and Haiti relief.

He closed his statement with a great line:

“I hope these activists can understand that my decision to change my costume is in no way a victory for them, but a draw,” Weir said in his statement. “I am not changing in order to appease them, but to protect my integrity and the integrity of the Olympic Games as well as my fellow competitors.

Two things struck me after reading his statement.

1) There are more important causes than animal rights. They involve people! How much money has been spent by PETA or other activists? Is it a good use of resources? I don’t have a definitive answer, but I am leaning in a certain direction.

2) Isn’t Weir saying that he is “giving in” to a bully? He doesn’t agree but he wants the activists off his back. Children deal with bullies all the time and the instructions for dealing with bullies varies. Some say that children should “stand up” to the bully and others say “give in” to the bully. Weir is “giving in”. Obviously, he doesn’t want to take a stand. But now, activists are emboldened to bully more people.

It reminds me of something I wrote about last year in a post called Political Discrimination. Prop 8 opponents were using Google Maps and public record to find people who supported Prop 8 and they demonstrated a their homes and places of work, oftentimes distrutpting business and causing damage.

Too many bullies make for a less peaceful world. Let’s try and use other means of communication and activism and avoid bullying to get our message out.

Related posts:

1. The Whales Are Mounting A Counter Attack!
2. Active Learning
3. California Dreaming No Longer?

Special thanks to community member Elizabeth Danziger, founder of

Splitting of the Sea and Doling Out Sustenance

Beshalach 2009

The most seminal event in world history occurs in this week’s parsha. The Jewish people leave the clutches of the evil Egyptian empire. After ten punishing plagues are rained down upon the Egyptians, the Jewish people are finally free. Their relief is short-lived, however, as they are caught between the proverbial rock and hard place. On one side they are met with the raging waters of the Yam Suf, which is known as the Red Sea. Even worse, rapidly approaching them is an angry Egyptian army. The Egyptians want revenge for the ten plagues as well as the return of the slaves whom they wish to un-emancipate.

Thus the stage is set for a monumental salvation from GD. GD commands Moshe to stretch his staff over the raging waters. Miraculously, the waters split, peeling back to reveal dry land upon which the Jews escape safely. As the Egyptians follow suit, the waters come crashing down upon them and they are killed in the Yam Suf – maybe that’s why it’s called the Red Sea.

While the Jews were walking through the Yam Suf the waters had formed a wall on either side of them. The Midrashim tell us the wonders that GD provided within these walls. If one was hungry one could just raise up one’s hand and grab a delicious fruit to eat!

To be sure, the crossing of the Red Sea, was some kind of display of GD’s power and control over his world. We base our emunah (faith) very much on this idea. When we analyze the event we understand that to us it seems incredible to split a sea but in truth it was no big deal for GD. GD can do anything.

Which leaves us to wonder and try and understand the following section from the Talmud. The Talmud in Pesachim 118A tells us: For GD, the splitting of the sea was as difficult as providing sustenance to mankind. What we see here are two noteworthy things. Firstly that somehow the splitting of the sea measured high on degree of difficulty and secondly that the splitting of the sea is just as difficult (whatever that means) as the apportionment of each person’s financial needs!

Rabbi Shimon Schwab talks about how the hand of GD is more manifested and clearer in water than it is on land. The weather changes more quickly and in general the rules of nature are more immediately manifest on the high seas. Thus the Talmud teaches us in Kiddushin that “seafarers are mostly righteous”. The idea is that someone who sees a more stunning display of GDliness cannot help but see the hand of GD.

Rabbi Schwab also brings the Midrashic source, the Mechilta in our parsha, that says that when Moshe raised his hand over the water, the angel of the seas did not wish to allow the seas to split. [Often an angel refers to the spiritual minister over a force, here it was the angel that ministered over the sea.] When he saw Moshe’s staff in his hand, the angel acquiesced. This is because the job of the angel of the seas is to ensure that GD’s hand is visible on the seas. If Moshe were to turn sea into land then the “seas would cease” and the hand of GD would be only as visible as it is on land – not very visible at all. The angel of the seas could not let this happen. So GD responded to the angel that it was worth a momentary lapse in divine revelation for the enduring divine revelation and fame of the splitting of the sea. The angel relented and the rest is history.

We have a balancing act between the commonly found divine revelation on the seas and the more intense divine revelation that occurred after the seas relented to the land.

This is something to which we can attach the word “Koshi” difficulty. Since there is an element of pulling back and a loss off the permanent fixed divine revelation in order to have a greater divine revelation we could call splitting the sea difficult.

This difficulty is the same as when we ask Hashem for parnassah – sustenance. While we are praying to GD there is a tremendous increase in Kavod Shamayim, Heavenly Honor. We are putting our trust in Him and we are showing a very high level of emunah (faith) in Hashem. When we put ourselves out there for Hashem to judge us and give us what we are asking for, we are placing our selves at a risk for a negative response. We say whatever GD wants for us good and just. This is a great sanctification of GD’s name, or Kiddush Hashem. We are creating honor for GD by praying properly. We recognize a profound dichotomy through prayer. In one breath we say Poseyach es Yadecha, “He opens His hand”, and in the other breath we say Tzadik Hashem b’chol dracahav, “righteous is GD in all His ways”. We ask for sustenance and we understand that it is in GD’s hands.

Therefore, for Hashem to provide for us and answer our prayers he is foregoing some of His honor, His Kavod Shamayim. As GD is forgoing that dichotomy which we recognize when we pray properly. In its stead it is our task to replace that Kavod Shamayim with the new and even greater Kavod Shamayim of serving GD with the sustenance He has provided us. Now that Hashem has provided you with wealth it is your job to use that wealth for more Kavod Shamayim. Therefore, Hashem is willing to forego the beauty of the one who is praying asking for sustenance and provide for him because ultimately, more of Hashem’s honor will fill the world. .

This is what is meant by comparing the difficulty of providing sustenance is like the difficulty of the splitting of the sea. There is more. The Gemara tells us that making a shidduch, a marriage match, is as difficult as the splitting of the sea. The Gemara in Sota teaches us that this refers to a second marriage. How is this to be explained?

According to what we are saying it makes a lot of sense. This fellow had experienced marriage and the beauty of a loving relationship. Now, he is missing all the beauty and intimacy of marriage in the hopes that Hashem will lead him to his true soul mate. He prays that GD will connect him with his true match. This prayer is a great Kiddush Hashem! It is “difficult” for Hashem to forgo this beautiful display of Kiddush Hashem. But Hashem does so to provide the opportunity for an even greater Kiddush Hashem when this fellow meets and marries his true love. The marriage will bring greater Kavod Shamayim than the prayers of a single person.

The lessons of this idea are many and profound in their own ways. Firstly we are reminded in these difficult financial times of the role that Hashem plays in our sustenance,.and that no matter the result we accept His will. When we are rewarded with wealth and sustenance we have the responsibility to at the least match our spirituality that we accomplished as we prayed for that very sustenance.

On a practical level we are also reminded that all our actions reflect GD’s glory. We need to bear this in mind and be conscious in our efforts to increase GD’s glory in this world.

We are blessed with this opportunity very often. The more we are able to expose our neighbors to the beauty of Hashem’s Torah the greater the Divine light will shine for them and for us.

Related posts:

1. Words Are Cheap (Without a Track Record) | Drasha Vaera 2009
2. Adam, Eve and the Lesson of Marriage
3. Shalom Aleichem Series on The Foundation Stone

A guest post by Rabbi Aaron Fink (my father), Dean of Ateres Bais Yaakov in Monsey NY. Part of a weekly Dvar Torah (Torah “Thought”) series.

Parshas B’shalach

Lasting Inspirations

The inspiration of Krias Yam Suf was short lived. Almost immediately following the parting of the sea, Bnai Yisrael challenges Moshe (and Hashem Yisborach) with a litany of complaints. First there is no water, then no bread, next ,no meat and then again no water. One complaint after another.

Always there for his people, Hashem Yisborach lovingly responds to all of our “wants.” First, by sweetening the water at Marah. This was followed with the gift of “mon” and the daily arrival of the slav. Hashem even delivers a stream of water after Moshe (correctly) hits the rock. Ultimately, however, it was not enough. The Torah tells us that Klal Yisrel encamped in Riphidim and Amalek attacked. Why? Bacause klal Yisrael behaved in a way which reflected a lack of appreciation for all of the gifts Hashem had provided. Sadly, Bnai Yisrael kept upping the ante, so to speak, as they tested Hashem saying, “hayeish Hashem bikirbeinu im ayin.” So Amalek attacked and we once again turned back to Hashem and realized just how much we need Him..

The Torah not only records the problem but provides the response. It is a lesson for us still today.

What was the method to overcoming Amelek. Moshe told Yehushu tzei v’hilachem ba’Amalek— go out and battle Amalek. The only way to vanquish the cynicism and indifference of Amalek is to “tzei”-go forth. We must gird ourselves with a pro-active, positive energy and move forward with alacrity and appreciation for the gifts Hashem has bestowed upon us. But it was not “tzi’u” in the plural—a group approach toward being effective in conquering Amalek. It was “tzei”— each individual had to feel the responsibility of making a difference. Just as it only takes one cynic to destroy the spiritual health of a nation, so, too, it would require each individual to put their positive energy into the totality of klal Yisrael’s relationship with Hakadosh Baruch Hu. Each of us makes a difference. The success of our individual efforts yields the greatest collective results.

Related posts:

1. When Kesher is Not a Knot | A Guest Post
2. Not Done Yet | A Guest Post
3. Borrowing For Success | A Guest Post