Pacific Jewish Center | Rabbi » Musings & Observations

The Real Orthoprax Issue

rabbifink — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 02:17:22 +0000

This post has been cross-posted to DovBear. For more discussion, click here.

Rabbi Steven Pruzansky is making headlines with his front page Jewish Press article in which he thoroughly disposes of Orthopraxy and ousts the Orthoprax from Modern Orthodoxy.

For a thorough fisking of the main parts of the article go to XGH’s blog, this is his area of expertise.

What Rabbi Pruzansky’s article made me ponder is the relevance of Orthopraxy to the average Frum Jew. In my opinion there are two kinds of Orthoprax Jews. There are Orthoprax theologians and Orthoprax by Default. The theologians are those that “believe” in Orthopraxy. XGH and others are the most vocal of this group. This is the group Rabbi Pruzansky heaps his disdain upon. He blames them for all of the problems he sees in his community and seems to think that if you sin, it must be because really you are Orthoprax. You must be the “non-believer in our midst”. It is unseemly, and I do not wish to address his comments. (It’s ironic because the Orthoprax, by dint of their theology value the acts of Judaism MORE than the beliefs of Judaism. While the Orthodox need to balance the two and one could be Orthodox and still sin all the time. That is why we have Yom Kippur and the mitzva of Teshuva. In other words, I would expect an Orthodox Jew to sin at least as often as an Orthoprax. But I digress.)

I think that within the Frum spectrum, from LWMO all the way through RW Yeshivish and Chasidish, there are many “closet” Orthoprax by Default Jews. I don’t mean to say, they are Orthoprax on purpose. I mean that they practice Judaism purely out of habit or social pressure, or conditioning. These are the Frum people you see all the time that are simply uneducated or uninformed on the basic tenets of their beliefs. Sure, they may have memorized the 13 Ikkarim, or other formulae for their beliefs, but their actions speak way louder than their thoughts. They can’t articulate why they do what they do. For many people, the issues of hashkafa and emunah are not part of their lives. They do all the mitzvos they can, they follow halacha, but it is void of any “theology”. It is just their “lifestyle”. That is also Orthoprax. And that is something that is common, prevalent and ubiquitous throughout any sect of Orthodox Judaism.

This is not ideal. But it is reality. Rabbi Pruzansky seems to assume that all Frum Jews who practice halachic Judaism are familiar with their “dox”. But they are not. And sadly, these Jews do not even want to be Orthoprax, but they are by default. Instead of worrying about the people that have defined their beliefs as separate from traditional Frum Judaism, we would be better served helping the closet Orthoprax who WANT to be Orthodox become Orthodox in the truest sense of the word.

Our system has become great at creating robots. I call them Orthoprax by Default. We can do better…

Reverse Discrimination and Oversensitivity

rabbifink — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 23:13:52 +0000

Yesterday I wrote about a great film in Simple Justice | The Story of Brown v. Board of Education: The End of Separate But Equal in Schools. Civil Rights made tremendous strides in the wake of Brown. It was a tumultuous time and Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. led the way to racial equality.

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:

Simple Justice | The Story of Brown v. Board of Education: The End of Separate But Equal in Schools

rabbifink — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:16:02 +0000

Last week I spoke at Pepperdine University about Jewish Lessons in Parenting. I began my talk by complimenting my parents and expressing my desire to emulate their parenting in the raising of my own children. One such example occurred today.

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”

The Whales Are Mounting A Counter Attack!

rabbifink — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 07:27:51 +0000

I am sure you have already heard the news. If you have not, here goes.

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.

Mishloach Manos Packing on the Beach 2/14/10

rabbifink — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 18:11:39 +0000

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!

RETRACTION: Tim Tebow Ad WAS Harmless NOT Reckless

rabbifink — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:38:50 +0000

So like everyone else, I bought into the hype.

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…

An American Idol Contestant With a Huge Heart

rabbifink — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 01:11:36 +0000

This clip was sent my way and I’ve got to admit it is amazing.

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…

Why The Earthquake in Haiti Happened

rabbifink — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 18:01:11 +0000

This post has been crossposted to DovBear. More discussion there.

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.

Johnny Weir Gives Into Bullies and Changes His Fur Costume

rabbifink — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 17:27:05 +0000

Figure skater Johnny Weir set off animal activists with a small fox fur trim on his skating costume.

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.

Tim Tebow’s Pro-Life Superbowl Ad is Heartwarming and Reckless

rabbifink — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 17:03:53 +0000

This post has been crossposted to DovBear.

UPDATE: RETRACTION AND APOLOGY HERE

The most well-known athlete in America might be Tim Tebow.

Tebow is possibly the most celebrated, successful college football player of all time. He was a 2 time national champion with the Florida Gators and a Heisman Trophy winner. His success, as well as his good looks and supernatural physique has made him a household name across the United States. Oh, there is one more thing, Tebow is the son of missionaries who is very religious and (at this point) celibate.

Tebow has used his star power to advocate for Christianity. He spent a couple of summers working with missionaries in the Far East and has always been vocal about his religiousness. Tim Tebow is an athlete who is using his star power to make a difference in the world. We may not agree with his message, but he is certainly a better role model than felon Gilbert Arenas or even LeBron James.

During the upcoming Super Bowl, Tebow will be featured in a $2.6 Million ad for a strong Pro-Life Organization called Focus on the Family. This has set off a firestorm of reactions from groups that oppose Focus in the Famliy, like the National Organization for Women (don’t you love these names?) who do not approve the message of the ad. Additionally, advocate groups like PETA are up in arms because they have been denied Superbowl air time for their causes.

Honestly, the reason CBS approved this ad are probably related to the economy. IF you’re willing to pay $2.6 Million for an ad in the economy – they’ll take your money.

What is interesting to me about all this are the circumstances of Tim Tebow’s birth. In the ad Tim is expected to tell the story of his mother’s pregnancy. Mrs. Tebow became very ill during a mission to the Philippines and was advised to terminate the pregnancy to save her life. She ignored the doctor, Tim was born and Mrs. Tebow survived.

First, Jewish Law does not share the same views as Christian Law on abortion. In a situation where the mother’s life is in danger, many traditional authorities hold that the mother MUST abort the pregnancy. There is an assumption that fundamentalist Christians and Orthodox Jews agree on abortion. That is just not true.

Second, even those that hold that abortion is immoral and should never be allowed, is this a wholesome message? To ignore a doctor’s strong recommendation? Isn’t reckless? Don’t we look at Scientology with disdain when a life is lost because of their refusal to see a doctor? What if Mrs. Tebow lost her life in the pregnancy and Tim dies before birth?

It seems that advocating for the sanctity of life is a fair cause to support, but advocating in a manner that breeds recklessness… That seems irresponsible.

The Joy is in the Anticipation: Thoughts On Waiting For The iPad

rabbifink — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 23:39:34 +0000

Everyone likes surprises, right?

Surprises can be great, but they also take away one of the greatest joys of life. Anticipation.

Imagine you want to celebrate your grandmother’s birthday. Someone suggests a Surprise Party. Someone else with a little more brains says, wait, we don’t want to give grandma a coronary! And someone else with yet a little more brains adds, also, imagine how great grandma will feel the entire time up to a party that we tell her about! From the moment she is told about the party until the moment that party begins, she will be waiting for the party , anticipating the celebration and there is a beautiful joy in that anticipation.

QED.

Our modern, electronically advanced, instant access world has snatched much of the anticipation from our world. No longer do we wait for the morning paper anxious to see the headlines of the news, or read the recap of the game or analyze some business news. It is all available to us immediately. I miss the morning paper, but why in the world should I wait 14-18 hours to read the news that is available this very minute!?

There is a vestige of anticipation that remains. The “Apple Event”.

For the last 8 years Apple has made announcements of new products a study in anticipation. Rumors and speculation abound for weeks prior to the event make us salivate in anticipation of some shiny, new gadget that we all will “need to have”.

This morning Apple announced a new product that has been anticipated for 14 years. Even if we don’t buy the product, even if we are not impressed with the product and have absolutely no use for the product, the anticipation has been so much fun.

If the iPad had been announced with no fanfare, no anticipation, no hype, no build-up, we would have not had the fun and joy of waiting for it.

It is a great reminder that sometimes the joy is in the anticipation. Enjoy every moment that leads up to the most exciting events in our lives. It will certainly make our lives richer.

Also, it will makes sure we don’t give grandma a coronary…

I Am So Proud

rabbifink — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 17:48:39 +0000

Last year, there were a large number of public incidents that shed a negative light on Jews in general and particularly on Orthodox Jews. These events were not representitive of the average Jewish person, yet their notoriety put them front and center in the media.

It seems that the Earthquake in Haiti has marked a reversal of negative media coverage into more positive media coverage in response to more positive actions by Jewish people.

I noted last week that although the Jewish connection with Haiti is slim, there has been no shortage of Jewish efforts to aid the beleaguered people of Haiti.

It did not end with financial support. CNN has been reporting that the Israeli relief efforts were the quickest to respond and efforts were in full swing before any other country was set up. Israel was the first country with a field hospital in Haiti, Additionaly, the Israeli relief efforts have been reported as effective and efficient by CNN and others.

You can see video below of CNN’s coverage.

I am also proud to report that my uncle made the news with his personal work on behalf of Haiti.

Vosizneias is reporting that Rabbi Ronald Greenwald (Uncle Ronnie, to me) is spearheading a drive in many Monsey NY private Jewish schools (Yeshivas) to collect food and supplies to be delivered to Haiti. This comes on the heels of an unrelated visit to Haiti 6 weeks prior in which he was inspired to help the impoverished nation. Greenwald promised the members of the the Haitian community that he would meet with them and accompany them on a delegation to Washington if needed. That meeting was scheduled for January 19.

Uncle Ronnie is no stranger to projects of this nature. He has spent his entire adult life working on behalf of Jewish and non-Jewish causes. Those who know him or know of him are not surprised by this news. The only thing surprising is that some people think it is “news”. This is a typical anecdote in his accomplished life and we wish him more opportunities and more success for many years to come.

CNN Videos:

The Zen Master Speaks on Curses, Karma and Mitzvahs

rabbifink — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 22:27:06 +0000

Photo: Getty Images

A very interesting news item came my way today.

Last Friday night, The Zen Master, Phil Jackson, Head Coach of the Los Angeles Lakers Head Coach, was asked about the Los Angeles Clippers. It seems that the Clippers are cursed.

A near perpetual resident of the cellar in the NBA standings, the Clippers have been blessed with plenty of very high draft choices. In the NBA high draft choices are the best way to build a team. The problem for the Clippers has been their draft selections have been huge busts. Some were plagued by injury, some ended up as NBA role players and others were just terrible choices.

Last week the latest Clippers draft pick, selected first overall, Blake Griffin underwent season ending surgery after sitting out the first half of the season hoping to get into playing shape.

So, the media asked Phil Jackson: Do you believe in curses?.

Phil’s response?

As reported by J. A. Adande on the Truehoop blog:

“I don’t,” Jackson said before the Lakers played the Clippers Friday night. “I’m of that generation that believes in karma. I do think there is karma in effect, ultimately. But I can’t proclaim anybody else’s karma. That’s their own making. If you do a good mitzvah [a Jewish term for an act of kindness], maybe you can eliminate some of those things. You think Sterling’s done enough mitzvahs?”

Another reporter replied that Sterling is a major humanitarian (at least if you believe the ads Sterling has placed in the Los Angeles Times over the years).

“Yeah, but how about all those other incidents?” Jackson said.

Sterling has had his share of lawsuits brought against him, most notably a civil suit that in November resulted in him having to pay a record $2.725 million to settle a suit that claimed he discriminated against African-Americans, Hispanics and families with children in the apartment buildings he owns.

So Phil doesn’t believe in curses but his does believe in Karma and the power of a mitzvah to change Karma. I think I agree. Doing good in our world creates good energy in our world. The more good energy that is created, the better things may turn out.

I don’t think it is determinative, but I do think it makes a difference. Whether that is the answer to the Clippers woes I would not claim to know.

But what of Mr. Sterling?

I have two issues with Mr. Sterling.

1) Ads in the LA Times tooting your horn? You need to tell people how much charity you give? It may be a mitzvah to give charity, but it is no mitzvah to publicize it. In fact the highest level of charity is “matan b’seyser”, giving in secret, without anyone knowing. Mr. Sterling, you could do better than to take out expensive ads telling us how great you are. Just be great and we will figure it out on our own.

2) On this Martin Luther King Day, I think it is time to call out Mr. Sterling for his discrimination against minorities. Bigots like him, prevent Dr. King’s dream from becoming a reality. A dream that I share with him. So Mr. Sterling, change your ways or risk the effect of more bad karma…

I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind’s problems. And I’m going to talk about it everywhere I go. – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Jewish Relief Efforts For Haiti Earthquake Victims

rabbifink — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:29:43 +0000

In the wake of the tragedy in Haiti I write this post.

This post comes on the heels of my last post which quoted David Brooks and his admiration for the accopmlishments of the Jews. And now, we have an oppurtunity to show our stripes.

Haiti is not a very Jewish place. It is not frequented by business travelers or vacationers very often. Haiti never had a strong Jewish community. But in time of tragedy the Jewish community has a knack for stepping up to the plate and helping in the ways that we can.

The Talmud says that a hallmark characteristic of the Jewish people is that they are Rachmanim, compassionate. The response to the earthquake is an example of that compassion. There are a number of Jewish organizations that are raising funds for the relief effort. It would seem to me that to close our eyes to this opportunity would be a violent breach of rachmanus, compassionate action.

I am not saying you need to pledge your life savings or more than you normally give to poor people for charity. But it just seems to me that to ignore the plight of the thousands of people who are in desperate need is so callous that it would not befit a nation of Rachmanim.

Just think about the victims, look at the pictures, watch the video and you cannot help but feel compassion for these enfortunate victims.

Please do not hesitate to donate and help, even if it a small amount.

The idea is not so much that your miniscule donation with help alleviate this epic disaster. Rather it is inconceivable that a warm blooded, human being could not help those who are in such dire straights. If your gut is telling you that helping is the right thing to do, then follow your gut.

If your gut isn’t telling you to help, well, I find that hard to believe…

Please contribute to the Jewish Federations of North America and they will distribute the funds for relief efforts of the victims.

Ode To The Jews

rabbifink — Tue, 12 Jan 2010 17:52:15 +0000

Today’s NY Times has some glowing praise for the Jewish People. David Brooks holds nothing bakc in his effervescent article chronicling the great succeses of the Jewish People in the modern era and particularly in Israel.

It is something of note that such a small people makes up such a large number of success stories. Brooks notes accomplishments as chess champions and Nobel laureates, Ivy League School attendance, Academy Award Nominations, philanthropists and Pulitzer Prize winners, among others. For some reason he omits athletics. Have you not heard of Omri Casspi!? (I kid.)

I recommend reading the article on the NY Times website.

Brooks struggles to explain this phenomena. It is not sufficient.

How are we to explain the successes of this miniscule group of people who share common ancestral ties.

I don’t think it can be the Jewish religion because there are so many variants of its practice and the majority of Jewish people do not practice Judaism!

Is it a random deviation from the normative probability of a group of people this small?

Brooks can’t answer is. I can’t answer it.

So what is it?

Truth in Advertising: Cigarettes

rabbifink — Mon, 11 Jan 2010 11:43:28 +0000

This is a Public Service Announcement.

Don’t Smoke. Smoking is very bad for you. If you are really cool, please do not smoke around kids. They will think you are so cool and your cigs make you so cool and they will want to be like you and they will start smoking too. You don’t want that on your head. Do you?

Cigarettes are a dangerous product. They are addictive and toxic. Worse, the cigarette companies have managed to cultivate a glamour and coolness associated with smoking that influences many people to take up smoking.

How do I know the tobacco companies are influencing people to smoke? Because advertising works. If it didn’t work, they wouldn’t be fighting about their rights to advertise. And, they are fighting…

A Federal Court in Kentucky just ruled in favor of the Tobacco companies. The court held that the law prohibiting color and graphics in cigarette ads violated the 1st Amendment (Free Speech) of the Tobacco companies. Advertising works, and it doesn’t discriminate. Children and teens see ads for cigarettes and the glamourous life of the smoker and they want in.

Whether the 1st Amendment can be used to advertise a deadly product is an interesting debate. David Lazarus of the LA Times has a 60 second rant about the subject that is worth seeing. Watch the video below.

Can Criminals Change Their Ways? | Introduction to “The Thief”

rabbifink — Fri, 08 Jan 2010 18:15:55 +0000

Last semester at Law School I studied Criminal Law. Crime is ugly. It hurts the victims and negatively affects the criminal’s life forever. Families can be shattered and communities can be destroyed by crime.

The system we have today only looks at the criminal. The goal of our criminal justice system is to incapacitate criminals and punish them for their acts. Little systematic rehabilitation is offered to criminals and consequently there is a high rate of recidivism in our prisons. We hope that punishing criminals will deter them and future criminals from pursuing a life of crime. Unfortunately, crime persists and criminals continue to crop up.

There is also research that shows that a criminal is hard wired psychologically with tendencies to commit crime as early as the age of five. It is very tough battle for the criminal justice system to fight when going head to head with ingrained psychological pathologies. It seems there is little hope for a system wide effort to change criminals into contributing members of society.

It is clear that our current system accomplishes one important goal. It maintains order. If not for the justice system chaos would rule the day as people with no care for right or wrong would be able to wreak havoc unfettered. The criminal justice system helps maintain order and some semblance of safety. It may not be a perfect system but in this regard it is the best we have.

While studying Criminal Law at Law School I also studied the Loyola Law School course on Jewish Law with Rabbi Adlerstein. The focus of the course was dual. On one hand we studied much of the substantive law on subjects such as helping distressed motorist, finding lost objects, justifiable homicide and abortion, criminal procedure and many other interesting topics in Jewish Law. On the other hand we learned about a system of rules designed to prevent crime and to create a more perfect society. When Jewish Law was THE law it effectively deterred criminals and focused on the criminal making the victims whole again as opposed to retribution of the criminal. This contrasts sharply with the criminal justice system in western society.

This semester I am hoping to be taking the Restorative Justice Seminar at Loyola with Professor Wood. (I say hoping because it depends on some administrative decisions that are out of my control.) The Restorative Justice concept is similar in some ways to the Jewish Law concept. It focuses on the totality of the crime, not just the criminal and it hopes to help rehabilitate criminals at least in some capacity. I am looking forward to learning more about Restorative Justice (hopefully).

All this discussion about crime and if there is a system that can deter crime is very important. We all want a more productive society. Less crime means less resources spent on deterring and punishing crime. More importantly it give more people the opportunity to be productive members of society. Perhaps most importantly, there are no hurt victims. Yet, much of it is theory as the system in place now is not changing dramatically any time soon.

However, I recently came across a self professed thief who changed his ways. This fellow stole thousands of dollars worth of various items for most of his life. This all began when he was about 5 years old. This is line with the research mentioned above. This fellow never got caught. He was never subject to the criminal justice system and yet, somehow, he turned it all around.

Can we learn from his story? Is there a system that can help criminals adjust their behavior? Does it require punishment?

Click to read the next two posts that tell the true story of “The Thief” in his own words.

Okay, Somebody Really Messed This Up

rabbifink — Tue, 05 Jan 2010 00:20:45 +0000

In my last post I reflected on the Aughts.

There was something I neglected to mentioned. Whoever is “In Charge” Has got some ’splainin’ to do.

The full name for 1950 is Nineteen-Fifty. The proper name for 1999 is Nineteen-Ninety-Nine.

The proper name for 1908 is Nineteen-Oh-Eight. The proper name for 2010 is Twenty-Ten.

So then who was asleep at the wheel when 2001 was called Two-Thousand and One??!! It was supposed to be Twenty-Oh-One!!

And 2009 was supposed to be Twenty-Oh-Nine. Why did we call it two-thousand and nine??!!

Who is in charge of this stuff?

I want to see that person in my office immediately!

Like I said, somebody has got some ’splainin’ to do…

My Thoughts On The Aughts

rabbifink — Fri, 01 Jan 2010 04:59:19 +0000

Aughts?

That is the unofficial term for 2000-2009. The decade that is passing us by in another time-zone every hour today is called the aughts. That’s how they rolled in 1900-1909. It worked for them, it works for me too.

The aughts are a special decade for me.

In 1999 I was a high-school senior. In 2009 I am a husband, father (times two), Rabbi, law student, blogger and perhaps most surprising of all, an adult.

For me, the aughts were the formative years of my passage from teenage years to adulthood. In many ways it seems to me that America also had to grow up in the aughts. We had 2 huge economic meltdowns, teaching us reckless Americans to stop acting like teenagers and become responsible adults.

Reflecting on the last decade is difficult because so many things have happened. History spins its wheel faster than ever before.

Technology has changed and changed us all. In 1999 I got my first cell-phone. I left it my dorm room closet and used it in lieu of the payphone to make a couple calls per week. In 2009 I carry my iPhone with me so that I am always connected to the power of the internet and I am available at almost all times, via voice, text or email. Speaking of email, I did not even have an email address in 1999, that would not happen for me until 2002. One constant has been the telephone. In 1999 I tried to speak with my parents at least one a week. In 2009 I make that same effort.

The aughts were not just about technology. The aughts were also about family. In 1999 I was the eldest of seven in my parents’ home. In 2009 more than half of us Finks are married and somehow we have become the parents, and our parents the grandparents. In 1999 I had 2 living grandfathers to learn from, to emulate and to be their pride. In 2009 I have none. What a difference a decade makes. One constant has been the strength of my 2 grandmothers, who both work full time and enjoy spending their “free” time with their numerous grandchildren and great-children. I guess, the more things change, the more they stay the same too.

The aughts were also a time of learning. In 1999 I was a student. In 2009 I am a teacher. In 1999 I had not heard of Venice CA, or the Shul on the Beach. In 2009 I am the Rabbi in Venice CA at the Shul on the Beach. In 1999 I was studying mostly Talmud. In 2009 I have studied more areas of Torah I ever could have dreamed, I have studied for and been granted Rabbinic Ordination, I have broadened my Jewish learning horizons. In 1999 I had not heard of Malcolm Gladwell. In 2009, not a day goes by without something triggering a thought about something he has written. In 1999 I looked up information in the “World Book Encyclopedia“. In 2009 I check Wikipedia several times daily. One constant has been my mentor and teacher, Rabbi Moshe Brown. In 1999 he was the first person I turned to for advice. In 2009 he is still on my speed-dial.

The aughts have shown me the world. In 1999 I had seen only parts of our beautiful country and was yet to leave the continent on my own (I lived abroad with my parents before I could even walk). In 2009, I have now been to Israel 5 times, spent time in Zurich and driven cross-country, twice. In 1999 I had driven a few hundred miles. In 2009 I have driven thousands. In 1999, if I traveled, I wished I had a co-pilot; someone with whom to share the experience. In 2009 my travels are with my co-pilot for all of life’s journeys and most-times accompanied by our 2 back seat drivers. In 1999 I lived in the New York metropolitan area. In 2009 I live in Los Angeles and spend weekends on the beach. In 1999 gas prices were around $1 / gallon. In 2009 we celebrate when you find gas for under 3$ / gallon. One constant has been that seeing our beautiful world is extraordinary, but the ordinary comfort of home always beckons us.

I could probably go on. But I think the message the aughts have taught me is becoming clear.

Things change. Life goes on. Moods are different. Styles adapt. People come and go. We pass through place after place. Our interests sway in the wind.

Yet, there are constants. The constants keep us grounded. The constants keep us home. Sometimes, the constants keep us sane or even “the same”. There is comfort in the constants. In a world that seemingly changes daily, the constants that endured my aughts shed important light on what is important in my life.

Reflecting on a decade is impossible. Reflecting on one’s life is necessary. Of course, in 800 words one cannot encapsulate a decade, nor a life. But the exercise of reflection is powerful. And although, what is written here is but a small slice of the aughts that I lived, my “Thoughts on the Aughts” feels like the perfect way to close 2009 and the first decade of my adult life.

“Here’s to many more…”

A Powerful Film

rabbifink — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 21:14:42 +0000

This short film is a “must-see”. It is part of Liberty Mutual’s “Responsibility Project”. Watch the film all the way through the very end.

Call me a sap, but this film brought tears to my eyes. Real, wet, tears.

Which left me wondering, the film is certainly nice, but why did it elicit such a strong reaction?

I think two parts of the film in particular were resonsible for my emotional response.

1 - The “rules are rules” aspect of sports is something we take for granted as necessary elements for a game. On the other hand, we resist rules in our real lives. We don’t want to be tied down by restrictions, we defy strict structure in our lives and we are reluctant to enter long term relationships (whether in love or business) because we know the “rules” of relationships are not always comfortable.

I like rules. I like structure. I like order. I think that is why I was drawn to the Rabbinate and why I am drawn to Law. I actually like Law School. I enjoy the pursuit of appreciating and understand the complex system that we live in. In the film, the umpire is portrayed almost like a villain. But to me, he is the arbiter of a legal issue and I find comfort in knowing that there are rules. To me, he is the good guy, he is enforcing the rules that make the game meaningful. With no rules in games, there is no meaning. This resonated with me.

2 – And this is the real reason I was so moved by the film. The world I want to live in exists in this story. A world of Unity. The world I dream of where differences (like opposing teams in an important game), are not as important as similarities (humans, softball players, women, athletes, americans, etc etc etc). To them, the overall goals of living and loving each other trumped the differences they had as opponents. This film shows a world that I want to believe can exist.

A large number of my recent posts have touched on this very issue. I have been writing about Unity and Tolerance for a little while now. Working as the Rabbi of the Pacific Jewish Center, especially at the Shul on the Beach has only reinforced this strong yearning within me. I meet so many different people. I am convinced that the more we understand about one another, the more we can develop mutual respect and appreciation for one another. Certainly, looking to our similarities primarily and our differences secondarily is a good step in the right direction.

Just a few weeks ago I wrote about the photo of NBA players from Israel and Iran looking like the best of friends. I also wrote about learning from ants that we should help each other when we are in need. A while ago I wrote about using concepts of teamwork in our daily lives. I have spoke from the pulpit about Unity on Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur and more recently, Chanukah.

This film just brought all the passion I have for unity and tolerance into such clear terms. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did. Let me know what you think in the comments.

Hat-tip: My father.

PJC Chanukah Party 2009 Wrap Up and Photos

rabbifink — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 03:05:26 +0000

The 2009 PJC Chanukah Party was a tremendous success.

As the Shul on the Beach, a community institution, we are charged with the responsibility and opportunity to bring Judaism to the boardwalk. Our Chanukah party, the first in a series of events and programs designed to reach that end was incredible.

Thank yous are in order to Jeff Liss for organizing, planning and executing the whole thing. Thank you so much. Many others contributed as well and for that we express our appreciation to you as well.

I have no way of knowing how many people came through our doors today,but it was a very large number. Rabbi Mintz was particularly effective at luring passers by into the shul. Thank you so much! The shul was packed with community members as well as many passers-by ranging from observant friends to completely unaffiliated Jews as well as many curious non-Jews.

I had the fortune of meeting some wonderful people. Like the father of an adorable daughter whose expectant wife was home. He thought a Chanukah Party would be the perfect way for this non-Jewish father to celebrate with his Jewish daughter. He noted, that as soon as possible, he will be bringing his wife and, God-willing, twin daughters, when mom and babies are up and about. He cited the generosity and friendliness of the community members as impressive.

I met people from all over Los Angeles. Locals, from Santa Monica and Venice. From all over Los Angeles from as far as the Valley to Marina del Rey. I met visitors from Chicago, New Jersey, Miami, Israel and the UK. It was truly a universal Chanukah celebration.

Once inside everyone was treated to warm hospitality, friendliness and traditional Chanukah foods. (Of course there was food.) Towards the end of the party I spoke to the remaining crowd and the audio has been posted here.

Our very talented Office Manager, Leslie Friedman took a lot of great photos. You can see them in a slideshow below. If you spot yourself leave us a comment and say hi!

My Chanukah Message To You: Light Knows No Friend or Foe

rabbifink — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 11:00:02 +0000

This was the main message of my sermon for the first Shabbos Chanukah. I hope to publish the sermon in its entirety in the coming days.

I would like to share with you an important message that strikes me as central to Chanukah and in particular to Chanukah in 2009.

In Friday’s NY Times, David Brooks writes about the Chanukah story. The article is interesting, a bit provocative and very thoughtful. I recommend reading the article in its entirety.

In his words:

“Mattathias’s five sons, led by Judah Maccabee, then led an insurgent revolt against the regime. The Jewish civil war raised questions: Who is a Jew? Who gets to define the right level of observance? It also created a spiritual crisis. This was not a battle between tribes. It was a battle between theologies… The lesson of Hanukkah is that even the struggles that saved a people are dappled with tragic irony, complexity and unattractive choices. And he is right and the struggle continues today.”

The Maccabees fought their own Jewish brothers and sisters in an effort to regain control over a Jewish people that were spiraling into assimilation. As Brooks says, in their victory there remains a tragic irony.

Chanukah is a festival that reminds us of the fragmentation within Judaism. Whether it is the ancient epic struggle of Yosef and his brothers or the more current struggles between Jews from along the spectrum of politics, different hometowns in Europe, different Rabbis, different neighborhoods and even between more observant and less observant Jews, unity eludes us.

Perhaps that is why the element of pirsumei nisa, of publicizing the grand events of Chanukah is so central to its mitzva. In no other mitzva is there so strong an element of publicizing that the observance of the mitzva depends upon it. How are we to publicize? Is it with bullhorns or billboards? TV ads or 2 page spreads in the NY Times?

No.

It is by lighting candles. It is with fire. It is with light. The light unites us. The light does not play favorites. The light knows no sides. Fire is fire. The way we celebrate the festival of Chanukah is by publicizing a message of light. A universal light. A light that knows no friend or foe. Where there is light, there is light for all. We proclaim the Chanukah story with light. We proclaim a dedication to unity.

This Chanukah let us reunite.

We can do it and we have the resources to do it. It is time to set aside differences and unite under the themes and ideals that we agree upon and not look to our differences for fuel towards animosity. Let us look for unity in one another.

If we can do that, it will be a modern day Chanukah miracle.

Part of my recent inspiration: (Matisyahu – One Day). Play the song and listen very carefully to the words.

Yes, this is the song I mentioned as the soundtrack on the NBC promo for the Vancouver Olympics.

A New Chanukah Message

rabbifink — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 11:00:31 +0000

Photo: NY Times

More discussion on DovBear: Click here.

A cute news item has been circulating the Jewish internets recently. I have seen links to the NY Times story on Twitter, Facebook, VIN and YWN.

I was tipped off by my friend who works at YU media relations.

The NY Times picked up on a story about a student duo at Yeshiva University who made a very unique Chanukah menorah. Raffi Holczer and Mark Stauber are physics students and they spent 2 weeks making a different kind of menorah.

This menorah is powered by a battery that is powered by a windmill. The whole set up is pretty cool. What caught my eye was their “drasha” on the Chanukah story.

As the story goes, the Maccabees wrestled the Temple from Greek rule and wished to light the lamps. Temple lamps can only be lit with ritually pure oil, none of which would be available for 8 days. A small jug of oil was found. It would only last for one day and the lamp would go dark after the one day. Miraculously, the oil lasted for the 8 days.

One of the duo, Mark Stauber, offers a very nice lesson to be taken from the aforementioned Chanukah story. In his own words:

“In the miracle of the menorah, they got back to the temple and there was only enough oil for one night, but they made it last eight days,” he said. “I see an analogy with the world’s fight for sustainable energy, to take that and make it last as long as we’re going to need it.”

Managing and maintaining our natural resources is definitely something the Torah teaches us. From Jacob lingering to save a few small vessels (according to the Midrash) to the prohibition of destroying fruit trees. The Torah has been teaching “Green” for thousands of years.

I wrote about Torah and ecology on Earth Day and the next day in my Green Post. It is a universal, non-denominational, non-partisan lesson about care and concern for the earth we inhabit.

I like the application of the principal to the Chanukah story.

These young men are also taking the idea of “Or L’amim” – light to the nations, to another level. They are using “light” to be that “light”.

Great job!

They also scored a gig on NBC News. Video is below.

Gatorade Becoming Kosher, Drops Tiger Woods From Endorsements

rabbifink — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 23:02:51 +0000

In the last few weeks Gatorade has been in the news for two separate reasons. One relates to its kosher certification and one relates to an endorsement deal with a famous athlete.

Is there a connection?

[Disclaimer: Please read the rest of this post tongue-in-cheek. I'm no expert on writing in general and certainly not humorous writing. This post is intended to be 13% information and 87% light hearted banter.]

About six weeks ago it was reported that Gatorade (and Tootsie Rolls) was going to become kosher (VIN). This means that a kosher supervising agency will verify that the ingredients and machinery used in Gatorade do not contain any non-Kosher ingredients. They will monitor the production of the plant and will place their stamp of approval on the product. Jewish consumers who do not eat food or drink without a kosher symbol verification will now be able to drink Gatorade. Isn’t that exciting?

I wondered, as anybody else who keeps kosher, if Gatorade will need to adjust their formula or if the certification just verifies that the elixir was kosher all along… I am afraid I will never know.

The word kosher is commonly used to refer to food items and whether they are technically allowed to be eaten by kosher observant Jews. But the truth is that kosher means much more than that. The word means “fit” and it applies to any and everything. The word kosher can be used as a replacement for “appropriate” or “okay” in situations besides the typical food usage. I wrote about this in the early stages of the blog when the Kosher GPS was announced.

It turns out that Gatorade may or may not have needed to make their formual kosher. But they did need to make their endorsements kosher.

Gatorade announced today that they are dropping Tiger Woods as a spokesperson for their product. The company will discontinue the Tiger Focus drink. It is being reported that the decision to drop Tiger preceded his current brouhaha involving the many women in his personal life. According to ABC News, a publication was informed of this decision 2 days prior to the initial incident at Tiger Woods’ home. You can read the AP story on ABC News.

All this means to me is that Gatorade knew about the women and personal problems before we did.

More importantly, Gatorade wants to project a more kosher image across the board. Their drink will have the kosher certification and their spokesperson roster will not include the latest sports villain, Tiger Woods.

Gatorade becoming kosher to drink and dropping Tiger Woods? Most definitely NOT a coincidence…

It’s A Small World After All

rabbifink — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 09:35:39 +0000

Every once in a while I head to our Shul on the Beach on a Sunday afternoon to drum up some business. I hang out on the Venice Boardwalk hoping to meet anyone interested in our shul or Judaism. I show interested passers-by the shul, sometimes we take a picture, (I tell them about the blog), I invite them to ’something’, we shmooze and then they are on their way.

This Sunday was the last Sunday before our upcoming Chanukah party so it was a prime opportunity to publicize the party which is open to the public.

Unfortunately, the weather was not cooperative. It was cold by Los Angeles standards and the boardwalk was much quieter than usual. Very few people stopped in to say hi on this day.

But one encounter was just so remarkable that I wished to share it with you.

A pair of women were walking and as they passed the shul one of them veered in our direction and asked if she could come inside. She said the magical words that we hear all too ofter “I pass by the shul all the time, but it was never open”. “We’re working on that”, I respond with a smile.

One of the women is Jewish, mostly reform, but has been affiliated with Orthodox as well.

After a few pleasantries, I reveal that I am the Rabbi. I introduce myself as Eliyahu Fink. She asks if I am related to any other Rabbi Finks. I reply in the affirmative. My father is Rabbi Fink. My grandfather was Rabbi Fink as well.

“Is your father Rabbi Aaron Fink?”, she asks.

“Yes he is! Do you know him? And how?”

She tells me that she used to live in Buffalo NY where my father was Headmaster of the Jewish Day School for 4 years. She remembered me as a 6 year old boy and remembers my parents well. In fact she recently saw them at a wedding of a Buffalonian a couple years ago.

What a small world!

Hopefully, we will see her again at the Chanukah Party.

In the meantime, here is the picture I took with Linda in our Shul.