B”H

THE JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR “Bringing the Light of Torah to Those Who Serve”

Shavuot 5781

5 It’s an Army Life 8 Lay Leadership: A Multigenerational Perspective 18 Working in the Nuclear Navy

Vol. II No. 5 May/June 2021 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 1 Candle for Lighting Shavuot

In honor of the festival, candles should be kindled. Sunday night, May 16 Light candles 18 minutes before sunset. If lighting candles after sunset, light only from pre-existing flame.*

Monday night, May 17 Light candles 45 minutes after sunset. Do not light before that time and only light from a pre-existing flame.*

*Flame that has been burning continuously since the onset of the holiday such as a pilot light, gas or candle flame. If a pre-existing flame is not available, one may ask a non-Jew to light a new flame.

After lighting the candles, say blessings 1 & 2 below on both days.

Blessings: Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ha-olam.. .

1) ...A-sher Ki-de-sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-nu Le-had-lik Ner Shel Yom Tov

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2 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR A Message from the Lubavitcher Rebbe

By the Grace of G-d “ve'ahavta l'rei'acha kamocha” condition on which the Jews 24 Adar, 5737 (1977) makes it the constant duty and a cce p t e d t h e To ra h a n d privilege of every Jew to Mitzvos from the Supreme Chaplain (MAJ) Aaron D. promote Torah and Mitzvos to Commander, the Giver of the Michelson, USA the fullest extent of one's Torah and Mitzvos. a b i l i t y . T h i s i n c l u d e s , Greeting and Blessing: moreover, the duty also to A further basic point in military promote the observance of the life is the fact that a soldier Thank you very much for your so-called Seven Precepts (with c a n n o t a r g u e a b o u t h i s letter of March 7, in which you all their ramifications) which personal conduct and whether write in detail about the visit a re i n c u m b e n t u p o n a l l or not he obeys an order is his of our Lubavitch emissaries to mankind, in accordance with private affair, and he is the Jewish community of the Torah, “Toras Chaim.” p r e p a r e d t o s u f f e r t h e Weisbaden, Germany, in consequences, etc. Whether connection with Purim. I was A military chaplain is in an he realizes is it or not, his most gratified to read about especially favorable position c o n d u c t m a y h a v e the highly inspiring and lasting to achieve a great deal in the implications for his entire unit impression which they made above area, because of the and all the military. In case of on both the American Jewish c o n d u c i v e c o n d i t i o n s an emergency or war, the personnel and the civilian prevailing in military life. personal conduct of a single Jewish community, not least soldier could very seriously their impact on the children. What makes servicemen affect his platoon and brigade particularly receptive to the and division, and the entire Since “the essential thing is basic approach of Torah-true military operation, the whole the deed,” I am confident that Judaism is, first of all, the very army and country. This it is not the impressions you describe basic principle on which the just a question of one soldier's will be translated into actual military depends, namely personal moral attitude; it is of deeds, in terms of Torah and obedience and discipline in vital importance to the whole Mitzvos in the daily life of each the execution of an order by army, sometimes even in time and all who shared in this his commanding officer. Even of peace. experience. though in civilian life a private may be superior to his C.O., the Applying the analogy to I have had occasion to share order must be executed Jewish life, it becomes quite some thoughts with Jewish promptly, whether or not the evident how vitally important chaplains, and these may not s o l d i e r u n d e rs t a n d s i t s is every Jew's commitment to be new to you, but they are significance. This, of course, Torah and Mitzvos in his a l w a y s t i m e a n d w o r t h corresponds to the principle of personal life and in spreading repeating. For the mitzvah of n a ' a s e h v ' n i s h m a , t h e Yiddishkeit to the fullest Continued on next page

The Jewish-American Warrior Copyright © 2021 Opinions expressed in the Jewish- American Warrior do not necessarily Published bi-monthly by The Aleph Institute. reflect opinions or policies of The Aleph The Aleph Institute All rights reserved. Institute. Please direct all subscription 9540 Collins Avenue inquiries and address changes to: Surfside, Florida 33154 Editor in Chief: [email protected] Tel: (305) 864-5553 Rabbi Menachem M. Katz JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Fax: (305) 864-5675 Editor: 3 Internet: www.aleph-institute.org Rabbi Elie Estrin From the Desk of the Endorser

Shavuot, one of the three Biblical Pilgrim Festivals will be observed this year on May 17th and 18th, Monday and Tuesday. Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah, initially in the form of Ten Commandments, that were inscribed on two Stone tablets. The Torah uses the Hebrew word “Charut” for engraved. In a beautiful insight, our sages tell us to read the Hebrew not as Charut, but Chayrut, which translates as freedom. The personal discipline called for by the the Commandments actually provides freedom.

It was the Commandments that gave our ancestors and by extension Jews for all generations the key to spiritual growth, meaning and purpose. On Passover we were freed from slavery in the form of physical bondage. Shavuot freed us from the mundane to grow spiritually. Our souls were elevated, allowing us to achieve our true potential, in the words of an old Army slogan “To be all that we can be.”

Rabbi Sandy Dresin Director of Military Programs, Endorser The Aleph Institute

Continued from previous page extent of his influence. It may be added that our people live in a state of emergency, what with the general atmosphere of trends and ideas which are inimical o the Torah way, and a Jew having to fight to overcome all and sundry alien forces which tend to undermine his spiritual, hence also physical, existence.

In other words, every Jew must consider himself a “soldier” in G-d's Army (Tzivos Hashem) and be on constant alert to spread the light of the Torah and Mitzvos, until the time when “G-d's Glory will be revealed and all flesh shall see”, and “all the earth will be full of the knowledge of G-d as the waters cover the sea” – which will come to pass with the appearance of Moshiach Tzidkeinu, may he come speedily in our time.

Wishing you hatzlocho in all above,

With esteem and blessing,

[Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson]

4 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR It’s an Army Life

By Colten Baitch, SFC, USA, BDE SARC, 2SBCT, 4ID

ver since I can remember, I wanted to remember sitting at the kitchen table with my serve in the military. I grew up in an parents filling out paperwork for Nefesh EOrthodox family with roots all over the B'Nefesh, and the radio was on. We listened to a country. My great uncle had fought in D-Day and report of a major suicide attack on a coalition was wounded in Saint-Lô, France. He was an base in Mosul, Iraq. The reporter started Infantryman and I always thought of him as my reading what seemed like an endless list of hero. names; they were American Soldiers who had been killed in the attack. At that moment I As a child I heard stories from survivors about decided I was not going to fight for Israel, but the intifadas in Israel. Some of my earliest would fight for my homeland. I felt that Jews memories are of meeting children at my Jewish should be willing to fight and die for the United day school who temporarily moved to the US to States just like any other American citizen and escape the ballistic missile threat from Iraq that it would be a chillul Hashem for me not to during the Persian Gulf War. I spent my teenage volunteer. years in yeshiva in Brooklyn during the early stage of the Global War on Terrorism. Shortly after, I enlisted in the United States In 2004 I graduated high school. While most of Army. Two weeks after I completed AIT as an my peers either went on to get their semicha 88M motor transport operator I was deployed to (rabbinical degree) or go to college to become Al Abar Province, Iraq. I did not experience doctors and lawyers, I decided to make aliyah much on that deployment, however, and I felt and become a soldier in the Israeli Army. I that my MOS was not fulfilling enough. At that

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 5 time Lebanon and Hezbollah were waging war was making the world a better place. with Israel, and I had IDF friends fighting in Ramadi and Fallujah. I needed to serve in a During the end of that deployment, the fighting position that had more impact on the ground. transitioned back to sectarian violence. I was paired with a young Iraqi police officer while we As soon as I redeployed, I reenlisted to reclassify were conducting a long duration joint operation my military occupational specialty to 19D in a more moderate neighborhood called Cavalry Scout. Once I reclassed I was assigned to Baghdad Al-Jadida. He was Shiia and his wife HHC Scout-Sniper Platoon, 1st Battalion, 66th was Sunni and he spoke perfect English. They Armor Regiment with the 4th Infantry Division. I had very little money, and their son was sick and like to say this is where my career in the military dying. Moved to help him and his family, I truly started. I did three combat deployments started bringing things to cheer the boy up such with the same platoon which were extremely as a play station and TV set. kinetic in nature in Iraq and Afghanistan. Our unit did everything from movement to contact One day there was a bombing that killed a dozen missions, sniper kill teams, and provided or so children that we had to respond to, and my observation for the maneuver companies. Iraqi partner was extremely upset. I told him I didn't want to see what happened to my people My most meaningful deployment was my second happen here, that I sympathized with him and one. Our unit was deployed to East Baghdad and the children who were killed. He asked what I Sadr City, Iraq in 2008. We spearheaded the meant, and I disclosed to him that I was a Jew. He second siege of Sadr City. After the elections in Iraq, Shiia militia groups led by Iranian Al Quds and Hezbollah groups serving as enemy combat advisors launched a relentless attack on our coalition forces. We were tasked with breaching the city and securing the southern corridor. Our Scout Platoon paired with an Iraqi Counter Terror Task Force and Navy Seals to provide overwatch and sniper missions as Combat Engineers secured a wall around the city, and the Infantry units could clear the city, one block at a time.

After the initial push into the city our platoon conducted kill or capture missions on high value targets. Most of these were Jaysh Al Mahdi, Al Quds, and Hezbollah facilitators. As a young 22- year-old Jewish Soldier, this was a chance to stand up to the same enemy forces that wanted to annihilate the Jewish people. I felt like the war in Iraq had a deep-rooted and personal meaning to me, and with every house we breached I felt like I

6 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR did not believe me, so I reached into my bag and Now I am a showed him my siddur. Then I took off my S e rg e a n t helmet so he could see my kippah. The Iraqi First Class started crying and said, “You are one of the nicest and have a people I have met. They teach us that Jews are wonderful evil; I am sorry I ever judged your people.” J e w i s h family with Over time, word spread that I was Jewish, but I m y w i f e maintained the loyalty of not only that Iraqi S h a y n a . officer, but the rest of the Al-Jadida Station. They We h a v e called me “Seeyooni Al-Jadida,” which roughly t w o translates into the Zionist of Al Jadida. daughters, Bayla and Being an Orthodox Jew in the military is Naomi. I have the joy of spending every Shabbat definitely a lonely experience and is not easy, with them. Even though my early years in the especially in Combat Arms. I have never met Army were incredibly lonely despite having an another Orthodox Jew in my 16-plus years who immense group of comrades-in-arms (who are does what I do. Most are in service and support still my best friends to this day), your world is roles or chaplains. What I took on is hard, what you make it. What you get out of life is what isolating, and takes commitment. You are you envision and work toward. hungrier than your peers because kosher MREs lack the caloric intake that non-kosher ones During my career I have served as a Machine have, and you are almost always training over Gunner, Grenadier, Team Leader, Squad Shabbat at least three or four times a year. Pesach Leader, Reconnaissance Platoon Sergeant, Drill and the chagim are usually spent in the field, Sergeant, and currently serve as a Brigade JRTC, NTC, or deployed. Once you become a Sexual Assault Response Coordinator. The Army leader in the military you do not have the option has been good to me, and hard work pays off. to not go with your men to fight. You have a Never once have I experienced anti-Semitism or moral obligation to lead them into training and been treated differently for my beliefs in my battle, embracing misery and hardship with your career. Soldiers. It is a true kiddush Hashem, and I have earned nothing but the utmost respect from my If there are any other lone soldiers like me peers and subordinates. reading this, remember that there is always an The Jewish community refers to the American opportunity to make a kiddush Hashem, boys and girls who serve in the IDF as “lone chances for you to uplift your Jewish soul. Always soldiers.” But I like to think of people like me as fight to be the strongest, hardest, most the Jewish Americans' true lone Soldiers. If there empathetic and level-headed Soldier you can was one thing that I yearned for while serving, possibly be. This is how we earn our respect and especially when I was younger, was to have a recognition as a small but strong demographic in fellow Soldier like me in Combat who kept the military. Have a wonderful Shavuot. kosher and was one of the dirty knuckle- draggers breaching doors with me.

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 7 Jewish Lay Leadership: A Multi-Generation COL (Ret) David Wallen and LTC Benjamin Wallen Perspective

For the past 35 years, David and share one's Jewish knowledge with opportunity to celebrate their bar Benjamin Wallen have had the pleasure others, a thought that you'll meet mitzvah. It was the best decision and honor of serving as Jewish Lay some interesting people, or a of my life. Leaders across three continents, ten combination of factors. My communities, and through three combat motivation was guilt: I had two Benjamin: As an Army brat deployments. The following article is not sons who would reach bar mitzvah growing up in Europe from 6th a history of what Colonel (Retired) age within the next three years, grade through my senior year in David Wallen and Lieutenant Colonel and I chose an assignment at high school, I very much enjoyed Benjamin Wallen accomplished. Rather SHAPE Headquarters in Belgium attending services with my parents it provides a unique perspective about where I knew there would not be a leading them. My father wrote his Lay Leadership and the lessons learned large Jewish community. The own divrei Torah and found ways throughout their combined US Army family arrived in the summer and to incorporate current events and careers. Their message? Anyone can be a learned quickly that the small humor every week. He inspired Lay Leader. However you mold that Jewish community had suspended me with his ability to lead Passover position to your personality and all activities until the fall. At the seders for the entire community in community will be just right. They feel first service in September, I SHAPE, Belgium for both nights strongly that if they can do it, anyone realized the only Jewish activity where over 100 community can. was a short Kabbalat Shabbat members from multiple faiths (evening) service. I volunteered to participated. My parents prepared David: What motivates a person to be Lay Leader that first evening so me and my brother for our bar become a Lay Leader? It might be my sons would not look back and mitzvahs as well. When we moved a desire to serve the community, to regret that they didn't have an to Frankfurt, Germany my father

8 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Jewish Lay Leadership: A Multi-Generation Perspective served as Lay Leader, supporting the full-time rabbi. From my perspective it was amazing how he made everyone feel welcome and part of the community. However, when I got to my first duty assignment at Fort Hood, Texas, I did not immediately jump at the opportunity to serve as Lay Leader. I didn't feel I had the same capabilities or desire to spend time writing a d'var Torah each week, lead large community seders, and f o s t e r f e l l o w s h i p a m o n g community members. I soon learned that a rabbi led Jewish services on base. After going to services a few times, the rabbi asked if I would consider serving as the Lay Leader. I asked what he had in mind. He said he wanted of Aleph Institute's annual and the thought occurred that I someone to help lead services military training courses for was responsible for the training when he was not available. I chaplains and Lay Leaders. and welfare of my soldiers; appreciated serving as backup and h o w e v e r , I a l s o h a d t h e was only called to lead services One of the very first things my opportunity to provide spiritual twice during my time at Fort father learned from an Orthodox support to those soldiers across Hood. rabbi was that when conducting a the installation who couldn't service, be comfortable! If you attend Friday night services. When you volunteer to become know a little Hebrew, use it. If you Lay Leader, you are instantly are unable to read Hebrew or only When I got certified as Lay Leader infused with Jewish wisdom and know a few prayers, use English. for Fort Riley I got quite a start in knowledge (I joke). If, for some Sometimes you might have a that role. Within the same week unknown reason, the infusion member of the community who is that I initiated weekly Shabbat doesn't happen – don't worry! The better versed in Hebrew than you, ser vices, I took company Jewish Welfare Board (JWB) and but that person doesn't want to be command and my second child Aleph Institute are there to help. the Lay Leader. Encourage him or was born! As for my father, I The most important thing to her to help you, but don't make wanted to ensure that my children remember about being a Lay them so uncomfortable that they and lovely wife had services to Leader is that there is no SOP to stop coming to your services and attend. I led services every Friday follow. If you take on the role, other activities. night, and probably three out of then you can decide what it means every five weeks the service was for you and your community. My Sometimes you may be the only for my family only. I was never father was fortunate enough to one at the service or activity you discouraged for two reasons: attend several annual Lay Leader lead, and that is okay. While Regardless if soldiers came to conferences in Europe, where all stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, services, I was providing an the rabbis in the region and many there was no rabbi or active Jewish opportunity for those who may Lay Leaders gathered for a few community on post. The closest want to attend, and my family was days of sharing ideas and synagogue was in Topeka, about able to enjoy Shabbat services inspiration. I had the opportunity an hour away. I was getting ready together. to take West Point Cadets to a few to take command of my company

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 9 Jewish Lay Leadership: A Multi-Generation Perspective

David: Be prepared to improvise. f r o m C O N U S - b a s e d You will encounter situations that organizations, the entire chain of you didn't anticipate when you command, and support agencies volunteered to be Lay Leader. I in theater. The Aleph Institute, was beginning to feel like I had a JWB, Jewish War Veterans (JWV), comfortable routine in Belgium, and local synagogues around your when a new couple showed up and stateside base or community asked me to name their baby girl. I where you grew up are wonderful only had sons, and this was before sources of support. Even as a Lay the Internet, but thankfully I had a Leader for the West Point Jewish Other holiday celebrations such as week to figure out what a baby Community, I receive emails prior Chanukah and Passover lend naming ceremony was. The short to every holiday and observance themselves to community answer? It can be whatever you from the Aleph Institute asking if fellowship. The care packages sent want it to be. The first suggestion I they may send items for our by the Aleph Institute and JWB have when someone asks you to service members. Throughout my for both holidays were amazing. do something special is this: Find career, I have only experienced For Passover in Iraq in 2013, out what they want the service or positive support from my various s u p p o r t c a m e f r o m t w o event to include. Then use the commanders and chaplains while unexpected sources. The KBR Internet. Blend those resources in garrison or on deployment. contractors, who have provided and ideas together until you come This support is essential as my skill many services on our operating up with something you think will set does not include leading High base, created seder plates to work. Do it from the heart, and Holiday services. Thank goodness ensure we had enough for all. I everyone will be grateful for the for theater-wide High Holiday pulled up a high-resolution picture memories you gave them. services which are available via off the internet and emailed it to traveling rabbis. As the Lay them. They enlarged the picture to Benjamin: Know that wherever Leader, I coordinate with the 15 inches in diameter, cut you are, especially when deployed, senior chaplain in my area of plexiglass to the same size, and there is incredible support operations to find out where adhered the picture to the available to you. As a Lay Leader services are located and provide plexiglass for instant seder plates. d u r i n g t h r e e d i f f e r e n t that information to our units and deployments to Iraq, I was always Jewish community. Next I learned that the head chef amazed at the level of support to the US Ambassador to Iraq wanted to provide kosher matzah. He went to the local market to purchase grain to make the matzah. This meant our matzah was made with the same type of grain from the same region where our Jewish ancestors observed the very first Passover seders! The result was a Passover seder made possible through senior leadership as well as local and stateside organizations' support.

Lay Leadership takes time, a precious commodity. If you are a Lay Leader, I recommend reading as much as you can. The internet is a great resource when you need an

10 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Jewish Lay Leadership: A Multi-Generation Perspective idea quickly. A wonderful book period. Your community that I use is The Jewish Book of Why, may not be large enough, and with short answers to questions JWB resources may not be that begin with “Why do Jews…” available, but you can always You can learn things about the ask. If you are stateside and holidays, rituals, and other topics there is a civilian Jewish in five minutes or less. Think of community in the area, link yourself as a sponge, and you can up with them for special s o a k u p i n f o r m a t i o n a n d events. If there is no civilian knowledge through reading, Jewish community, there reaching out to others, listening to may be civilian Jews who The COVID pandemic has the people who look to you as would welcome the opportunity inspired communities to find new leader, and your own family. to celebrate with you. way s t o e n a b l e d i s t a n c e d Remember that it's not how much fellowship; albeit the ability to a sponge soaks up that counts, but Benjamin: Indeed, there is no need support remote attendance is what the sponge does with all of it. to feel that if you volunteered to certainly not new. In Iraq in 2012- Let your commitment and be Lay Leader, that you “must” be 2013, I conducted prayers that knowledge spread over the able to do everything. As a Lay service members dialed into from community you serve, and you will Leader at Fort Carson and local across Iraq and Afghanistan. In have a positive impact that can Jewish communities less than 30 2020, community members began inspire others to accept a minutes from post, my role was to attending services remotely across leadership role as well. help make sure that information the globe. Streaming services at about local services was provided the United States Militar y David: Don't forget to have fun as to units across post. This task was Academy has significantly Lay Leader! The Jewish holidays more than enough for my increased the aperture for those are perfect opportunities to bring position. There is no list of what w h o w i s h t o a t t e n d . T h e the community together. In y o u s h o u l d p r o v i d e t h e community of 15 to 25 cadets, Belgium, we bought a sukkah kit community as Lay Leader. faculty, and community members that we could reuse every year, and Whatever you choose is perfect. has grown to almost 50 attending the families decorated it. We had This concept applies not only to in person with an additional 20 Purim carnivals where the adults the type of community services remote attendees who are cadets, had just as much fun as the you work to provide, but also what students at other universities, children. We always had a Passover you feel comfortable doing as far family members, and graduates. seder, which was a great outreach as leading services. When I was Including remote services and program as well. The JWB deployed to Iraq in 2009, I found special celebrations as one of the provided an Army Reserve rabbi myself at Shabbat services in tools in your Lay Leader toolkit to support the community during Camp Victory Base with an E-5 as can help the community stay Passover and for the High Holiday the Lay Leader who didn't know connected. Hebrew but decided to provide services for the As a leader in our Armed Forces, community anyway. There we thank all Lay Leaders for their were prayers in English and service and willingness to take on then a post-Shabbat services this role in their respective meal. How wonderful to have communities. As we began, we this example of a young end by saying that whatever you leader choosing to step up for are able to do is wonderful. Thank the community. Without you for supporting our amazing these efforts, there would not service members. have been any services at all.

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 11 Jews in American Military History: Col Mordecai Sheftall Revolutionary War

By CSM Samuel Yudin, CA ARNG; President, Jewish American cause, as a member of the Sons of Liberty. American Military Historical Society He became chairman of the “Parochial Committee,” an organization composed of patriots opposed to Colonel Mordecai Sheftall was the highest-ranking the royal government that had formed to regulate Jewish officer in the American Revolution. Mordecai Savannah's internal affairs. He was subsequently was born on December 2, 1735 to Perla and denounced and persecuted by the British. Benjamin Sheftall. They were among the first Jewish colonists to arrive in Georgia two years earlier in In 1777, Sheftall was appointed Commissary 1733. Perla died when the young Mordecai was only General to the troops of Georgia as well as the three years old, and his father soon remarried a Continental troops. In October the following year, woman named Hannah Sheftall he became “Deputy Commissary (née Solomons). of Issues in South Carolina and Georgia.” He figured as a staff Benjamin Sheftall did everything officer in the Continental line of he could to ensure his children the Georgia Brigade during the had a strong Jewish education war, a result of which Major despite their distance from a General Robert Howe gave him Jewish community. In fact, the rank of Colonel. Sheftall Mordecai's bar mitzvah was appointed his son, Sheftall celebrated late, as the tefillin and “Cocked Hat” Sheftall, as his books ordered by Benjamin got assistant. delayed. In a letter, Benjamin wrote that he feared the ship had When the British attacked sunk or taken by the enemy, i.e. Savannah in late 1778, Mordecai the British. This letter stands out Sheftall not only took an active as the first recorded instance of part in its defense, but also tefillin in the New World. advanced considerable sums of money, including loans, for the At age seventeen, Mordecai American cause. After the city was Sheftall went into the business of taken by the British, many patriots buying, tanning, and selling deerskin. Within a year escaped by swimming across the Savannah River. he had made enough money to purchase fifty acres Considering that his son could not swim, Colonel of land near Savannah. By his mid-twenties, he was Sheftall opted to stay behind with him despite the doing business with companies from the Caribbean, risk, and the two were taken prisoner. They were held Charleston, and Philadelphia, making substantial aboard a prison ship called the Nancy. Mordecai was sums of money. In 1761, when he was twenty-six, tortured, but he refused to divulge any information Sheftall married Frances (Freidel) née Hart, 1740- regarding American supplies. 1820. They had six children: Sheftall, Benjamin, Moses, Perla, Esther, and a child who passed away While the Sheftalls were on the ship, another young. prisoner, Reverend Moses Allen, jumped overboard in an attempt to escape. Allen drowned, and his body From the outbreak of the Revolution, Mordecai was brought back to the ship. Sheftall offered almost Sheftall proudly and prominently identified with the all the money he had with him to have the man

12 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Jews in American Military History buried. Allen's diary was somehow saved and sent to his family. In it we find the following incredible Throughout his life, Mordecai Sheftall was an entry (sic): “Pork for dinner. The Jews Mr. Sheftall important leader in the Jewish community of the & son refused to eat their pieces, & their knives & nascent United States. He was involved in the forks were ordered to be greased with it.” He added building of Congregation Mikve Israel in later: “It is a happiness that Mr. Sheftall is a fellow Philadelphia, as well as the reestablishment of the sufferer. He bears it with such fortitude and is an synagogue by that same name in Savannah. Based example to me.” on letters of the time, it seems that he was also adept in the laws of kosher slaughter, and kept his On February 25, 1779, Sheftall was told he would be slaughtering knife with him to ensure that kosher released, although it wasn't until June that he meat would be available. actually gained his freedom. However, on his way north, he was captured again and exiled to the Colonel Mordecai Sheftall died on July 6, 1797 at Caribbean island of Antigua. Eventually he age 61. He was buried in the land that he had negotiated a prisoner exchange, and was freed in donated to the Jewish community of Savannah for April 1780. Due to the British presence in use as a cemetery, which was later named for him: Savannah, the two Sheftalls traveled to New York The Mordecai Sheftall Cemetery of Savannah. before moving to Philadelphia. For more great stories and information about Jewish Sheftall would never recover any of the funds he American Military History, please visit the Jewish lent the American cause, or the property he lost American Military Historical Society website at when the British conquered Savannah. But he jewishmilitary.com. continued to work and build, maintaining an excellent reputation.

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 13 A Short Guide for Jews Serving in the American Military Rabbi Hal Miller, Lt Col, ANG (ret)

ith the approach of the holiday of "commandments of the day" associated with it. Shavuot, it seems a good time to Waddress some of the questions that may Pesach comes in the month of spring and reminds perhaps be burning in people's minds, such as how us that God rescued us from the slavery in ancient do I tell my chain of command that I need a couple Egypt (which is not related to modern-day Egypt days off for this, how do I explain to my compatriots except in location.) We are commanded to bring a why I am doing this now even though I never did it lamb offering (during the times of the Temple), to before, and what exactly do I need to do. Before we eat matzah, and to tell the story of the Exodus from get into those, it makes sense to understand Egypt for ourselves and our children, to make sure something about the holiday itself and why it is so we know that we too are part of the Exodus, or we important that serving Jewish Americans do their would still today have been slaves to the Pharaohs, best to observe it. Being in the spring, it is tied to life cycles of rebirth as the Jewish people became a nation, although we did - Why is Shavuot important? not understand our unifying purpose yet. I often hear, "I've never even heard of it", from both Jews and non-Jews. Certainly, Shavuot gets a bum Sukkot comes in the fall as a reminder to thank God rap when it comes to publicity. Nearly everyone for the abundant harvest. On Sukkot we are knows of Pesach (Passover) and a large percentage commanded to gather the four species (palm, of the population has some idea what Sukkot is. In myrtle, and willow of the lulav, together with the the Torah, though, God commanded us to etrog), and to live in temporary huts to remind us of celebrate Shalosh Regalim, the Three Festivals, the transient status of our lives. It also Pesach, Sukkot, and Shavuot, so on a scale of commemorates the dependence on God while the importance, this holiday is right up there with these children of Israel wandered through the desert after others. On each of these three, Jews made a leaving Egypt. pilgrimage to Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). But Shavuot does not have a specified date, rather The Torah gives us specific dates for Pesach and for we are told to count fifty days from Pesach and Sukkot. Each of these holidays lasts for seven days celebrate one day (two outside of the land of Israel). (eight outside of the land of Israel), beginning and Shavuot does not have the same kinds of ending in special holiday status. Each has special commandments of the day, nor does the Torah give

14 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR us the reason for the holiday. In other words, no then, is also a celebration of the abundance of glory. What, then, do we tell our supervisors, what another seasonal cycle, for which we thank God. do we tell our compadres, and for that matter, what do we tell ourselves? - How do we observe the holiday? There is an adage supposedly explaining the story of There are numerous special days in the course of Jewish holidays that reads, "They tried to kill us, we the year, some joyous, some melancholy, some full won, let's eat." While that might be applied to of awe. These Three Festivals are at the forefront, Pesach, Purim, and Chanukah, it doesn't fit well for set aside by the Torah especially as times of joy. Shavuot. So, what does? Their rules are similar to Shabbat regarding work, etc. We set aside our worldly secular life and live in The days before Pesach are filled with preparations, the spiritual one for a bit, recognizing why we exist in cleaning out all the leavened food (chametz), which the first place, both as a people and as individual involves a thorough housecleaning and which led Jews. They give us purpose and a sense of directly to the longstanding American tradition of belonging, in addition to the fact that they were "spring housecleaning". The night of Pesach we have commanded to us by our Creator. a huge meal in the middle of a service, reading the story of the Exodus. For a week, we eat matzah The questions of date and of reason for the holiday instead of bread. During the days leading up to seem to coincide. The Torah does not tell us what Sukkot, we build huts in our yards, then for a week date God met the people on Mt. Sinai, but gives us we live in those huts. We "take" the four species enough information to calculate it as being fifty days (lulav and etrog). It is clear and obvious for each after the departure from Egypt. Since that departure holiday what we are doing. For Shavuot there is coincides with the beginning of Pesach, we see that nothing quite so clear and obvious. Certainly, like Shavuot happens to fall exactly on the same day that the other two festivals and Shabbat, we avoid doing God gave us the Torah, the 6th of the Hebrew work or other weekday mundane "stuff", and instead month of Sivan. It is inescapable that some part of live with joy. the reason for Shavuot must be tied to God's revealing Himself to the entire nation and giving us In the days of the Temple, there were special the Torah. Shavuot, then, is a commemoration of sacrifices to be brought, including the Two Loaves, our meeting God face to face, of our accepting the two breads made of leavened dough (one of the Torah, and of our becoming not only a nation, but only instances where bread was brought to the Altar His nation. In the thousands of years since, nations that was not unleavened). But today we don't do any have come and gone, for better or for worse. Only of that. Most of us are not involved in agriculture, so the children of Israel remain, still the people of we aren't harvesting barley or wheat. So, what do we God. All other religions were started by one person do? going to his people and saying, "God talked to me" or some such. Only once in all of history has God There are common customs, such as eating a dairy appeared to each and every individual of an entire meal (most people eat a meat meal as a celebration nation, simultaneously, and spoken to all of them for Shabbat and for the other holidays). A very together. Simply put, Shavuot proves that God common dish at a Shavuot meal is cheesecake! exists. It commemorates that which makes us Jews. Another custom involves decorating our homes (in advance) with tree branches or other greenery to An additional reason often given for Shavuot is a tie commemorate the rebirth of the world when the to the agricultural world from which we stem. The children of Israel accepted the Torah, the whole day after Pesach is the beginning of the harvest. At purpose of Creation. They said, "We will do, and we that point, the only primary crop ready is barley, but will hear", which shows belief in God by accepting fifty days later, the main wheat crop is ripe. Shavuot, His commandments on faith, and only afterward

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 15 asking what they are so we can learn how to fulfill such as, why am I doing this now when I've never them. All the other nations demanded to know what done it before, why this holiday and not others, or, those commandments were first, and then rejected can you bend some of the rules. what they did not like. When someone is growing in religious But there are some rabbinic enactments as well that understanding and wishes to increase religious today have the force of Jewish law. On this festival, observance, it is common to feel embarassed, we read the Book of Ruth. Beginning the day after worrying about what it looks like to others. The key Pesach begins, the period where the Torah to handling this is the same as learning to speak in commanded that we count fifty days, the rabbis gave public. Remember that those around you are not us rules about how to count the "omer" up until criticizing you, they're curious about what you're Shavuot. The night before God's revelation at Mt. doing. Have you ever seen someone make a Sinai, everyone in the nation went to get a good mistake when speaking? Your reaction is to ignore night's sleep -- and overslept. We kept God waiting the mistake and try to understand what they really to give us the Torah! So today, we stay up all night intended. Others have the same view of you, they (each according to their ability) studying Torah, probably don't even notice when you make a leading into the holiday. We light candles, drink a mistake like that, they just want to know what you're cup of wine, and say blessings very similar to what up to. Many people, more so nowadays than in we do on Shabbat and the other festivals. We spend earlier points in my career, are interested in time with family and friends, and in particular we try increasing their own observance and will be all but to learn more about becoming a better person. envious of you that you are actually acting on what they were merely thinking about. There is nothing embarassing about trying to do right things. If you - How do I tell people what I'm doing? are asked the "why now and not before" question, a This is the American military, not that of Czarist simple answer of "I am learning and increasing my Russia of 150 years ago. It isn't even the military it observance" is completely sufficient. was when I first joined the Navy, when an Air Force officer was cashiered for wearing his kippah in The obvious answer to the "why this holiday and not uniform. Today, if at all possible (understanding others" is for you to reach a point where you will that at times it is not), commanders will grant address all three festivals, plus Shabbat, Rosh leniencies to people to observe religious functions. Hashanah, and Yom Kippur within your Every command is likely to have a procedure in command. In the mean time, the same "I am place for approving this, whether it involves time learning" answer will satisfy the questioner. The off, or special foods. Letting your superiors know in children of Israel were designated by God at this advance that you are Jewish and wish to participate time of year, to be the good examples of what in the observance of Shavuot should not be difficult. people are supposed to be. Others always closely If there is a problem, most facilities have or have watch Jews. When we do wrong, they point at us and access to chaplains in uniform, all of whom use us as an excuse to violate ethical rules specialize in assisting servicemembers with this kind themselves. When we grow, publicly, we are of issue. A response that might be useful when making the strongest statement about right and someone asks questions is, "In order for me to wrong, showing them by example that they also properly and fully serve my country, I need to also could learn and become better people. serve my God." Remember always that you are looked upon as an example, and your every action is Bending rules is a complicated subject, and should weighed as being by one of the "chosen people". only be attempted after consulting a local rabbi well versed in Jewish law. There is a basic Jewish concept More difficult are the questions people may ask regarding preservation of life. It is so important that

16 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR even someone only remotely involved in saving a - eat a bit of cheesecake! (recognize that God life is not only exempt from following the commanded this holiday and you are trying to commandments, but is actually directed not to follow His commandments) follow any that could possibly conflict. As a - take off whatever time you can, do some reading servicemember, you are involved in a way similar to and thinking about what you can do to improve a doctor with the preservation of life. Some rules yourself can be bent in some situations, but you need to check first. Where bending rules is authorized, Chaplains at or near most facilities will have keep all that you are able to and limit the bending to information on additional steps you can take, just what is necessary. People who ask you about materials to help, and are always available to assist in this subject will understand such an explanation. increasing your access to and understanding of this Tell them that the decision on when to bend is not and all other holidays. in your hands.

- Summary - What if I am not able to take the time off? Shavuot is one of the big Three Festivals. It In addition to the concept of preservation of life, celebrates God's giving us the Torah and accepting there is one that recognizes there are times when, us as His chosen people. We make a special effort despite our best efforts and intentions, we are to learn about the Torah and about how to improve unable to do some specific commandment. If it is ourselves. merely an "I don't feel like it" situation, this concept does not apply, but if you have the duty, you are in a Chag Sameach (joyous holiday)! combat zone, or your supervisors just refuse to allow you the opportunity, you will not be held Hal Miller accountable in the heavenly court. When I wanted http://halamiller.wix.com/author to light Chanukah candles on my ship, I learned that flames were not allowed at all, so I came up with an electric menorah. It did not serve for the mitzvah itself, but acted as a reminder. So what to do instead for Shavuot?

In many cases, if we intend to do a mitzvah, we can be credited as though we actually accomplished it. We are required to make every effort, but if either the mitzvah is no longer required (someone else took care of it) or we are just simply not in a position to do it, if we try we still get the credit. It takes a real intent, though, not with "fingers crossed" trying to slide around the rules.

If you are, for whatever reason, unable to dedicate the days to Shavuot, try to at least do the following. - just before dark on the evening leading into Rabbi Hal Miller served as a US Navy gunnery officer in Shavuot, light a pair of candles (if you can), then say the Gulf of Tonkin during the fall of Saigon, then later the blessings, including over wine or grape juice spent decades as an Air National Guard communications - spend a moment recognizing your Creator and and logistics officer, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel. what He has done for us

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 17 Working in the Nuclear Navy

Bernard Bromberg, Petty Officer Second to myself, “I gotta get away from this place. Class, Navy (Ret.) Nothing is happening for me here.”

My name is Bernard Bromberg. I served in the When I signed up for the military I decided to join Navy from 1972-1978 and worked on a submarine the Navy. At boot camp we took a preliminary as a nuclear reactor operator. I was born in 1951 placement exam so our superiors could find out and grew up in Albany Park, a predominately where our skills lay. I think there were about fifty Jewish neighborhood in Chicago, although it's people in our boot camp company, and me and more diverse now. We identified as culturally three other guys scored very high. When the Jewish—my mother used to make chicken soup officers called us in and asked if we would be and I briefly attended Hebrew school. Once when interested in joining the nuclear power program, I I was about eight or nine my grandfather took me was so surprised and flattered. I figured my mother to synagogue. couldn't do anything about it far away in Chicago so I quickly signed up, even though the training Like most Jewish boys, I thought I'd become a would add another two years to my service. doctor but didn't get much encouragement since my grades were okay but not great. By the time I The Navy then sent me to boot camp in San went to college in '71 and '72, America was Diego. For the first time in my life I was involved with the Vietnam War and I got a surrounded by guys from all different backgrounds. deferment to continue my studies. At that time I In boot camp, they didn't ask if you wanted to go was dating a girl my mother didn't approve of. to religious services—if your dog tag said you were Then this girl's previous boyfriend came back and Jewish, you went to synagogue. Only six of us were it turned into a foreign legion thing (too much Jewish and we had very little knowledge of drama), so I broke up with her. At that point I said Judaism. Understanding this, the chaplain taught us

18 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Working in the Nuclear Navy

the Shema, explaining that it's the most important on leave, so the guys kidded me that they were glad prayer. I also got a prayer book with abbreviated I was gone so they wouldn't run into more prayers. Those prayers were more than I had ever problems. Although I wasn't so good at the hands- learned until then. on mechanical stuff initially, toward the end of my service I got better and even trained other sailors. At one point in my training, I was stationed on a naval base at Treasure Island, located in the San Fast Attacks track ballistic missiles from other Francisco Bay. During that time I was invited to a countries, and sometimes we went on espionage Passover seder at the Jewish Community Center in missions. One time we passed through the Arctic San Francisco. I didn't know much about Passover, Circle to monitor Russian communications. The but there were about three hundred Jewish military guys on our sub who monitored communications service members from the surrounding area, and were spooks, and they stayed in the radio room up we had a seder together with a basic seder plate front. We couldn't talk to them about their work, and all the special foods. It was the first seder I and they didn't ask us engineers any questions ever went to. I hadn't participated in a Jewish either. experience like that since my grandfather had taken me to synagogue when I was a kid. I spent close to four years on the Billfish. The sub * was like a second home and the crew became very I was serving on a destroyer en route to Japan close. When I say band of brothers, it's not that far when I found out there was an opening for me in a from the truth. They were different from me; guys nuclear power program. I flew back to the United that I probably wouldn't have associated with States to learn the basics of radiation and how otherwise and vice versa. These people are part of nuclear reactors work. After that I went to do your band of brothers; you may not like your nuclear prototype training in Idaho Falls. It's the brothers all the time but you have to live with toughest part as far as training goes. There are them, so you learn to get along and eventually you three shifts for officer training that last for 10-12 like them. My best friend was an Italian-American hours at a time. You have to learn to stand watch, guy named Frank Thomas. He was a Petty Officer operate the equipment, and practice maintenance First Class for the electricians. We served on watch procedures. I was pretty booksmart and that many times, cracking jokes back and forth. We had helped me get through all the training. When they both taken French in high school, so we would call taught us how to use the manuals, I did well and our coffeemaker Monsieur la Café instead of Mr. could look things up really quickly—I could've Coffee. Frank had a mustache and a larger nose, been a librarian! It was very rewarding and gave me and he joked that if he ever put on a Groucho a lot of confidence. Marx costume he wouldn't have to buy the face piece. We had a good time. Another good guy was The nice thing about it was that I got a month named Pete Morse. He was extremely smart and a leave after. I went home and relaxed, visited qualified operator. He was from New York, and I museums, and spent time with my family before didn't care much for New Yorkers at the time. I reporting to my ship, a Fast Attack subnuclear thought they were a bit crude and on the rough called USS Billfish (SSN 676), located in the yards at side, and this guy was always complaining about Portsmouth, New Hampshire. stuff. He was nice, but not the kind of person I thought I could warm up to. Pete and I were in the Although I had good book knowledge, when it same division so we worked together quite a bit, came to mechanical aptitude I tended to be all and I grew to like him. thumbs and struggled at times. Once in port, they were installing more radiator reactors while I went Chief Gary Morrison was my main mentor, the

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 19 Working in the Nuclear Navy

smartest guy I ever met. I'm still in contact with almost over-pressurized, which could've caused a him. He was always very patient when I made bad leak. mistakes. Chief Morrison was the only Jew in the Navy that I was close to, but I only found out he Although no damage was done, an incident report was Jewish after my service ended. We never still had to be written with my testimony in discussed it as he was a very private person. He addition to his. They put a note on my record showed by example that one shouldn't be pushy or because even though I didn't do anything wrong, I exhibit braggadacio. He worked hard and we all was in the chain of command and therefore respected him a lot. retained some responsibility. In cases like these we are required to document errors so they can be One memorable event occurred in 1977 when avoided in the future. Queen Elizabeth had her twenty-fifth jubilee, Britain held a big celebration in Portsmouth, The guy who ran our nuclear program, Admiral England which included a naval review. As a Hyman Rickover, was a man of integrity and a former-colony-turned-ally, the US sent naval stickler for detail. He told us not to be afraid to contingents as well. My crew and I were there on come to him with a problem because we can the Billfish, along with a cruiser and a couple of always re-train and redesign systems. To date, we've destroyers. The whole bay was full of ships from only had two nuclear submarines sink in the the commonwealth and various other nations. We Atlantic—one was due to a hydraulics issue and the could not see the queen on the Royal Yacht other was because of a faulty torpedo. Meanwhile, Britannia, but supposedly she could see us, because the Russians had subs with nuclear reactors that we went topside and as she passed we doffed our failed, had steam explosions, and even radiation caps and said, “Hip-hip-hooray, hip-hip-hooray, poisoning. We wanted to avoid that at all costs. hip-hip-hooray!” I could not believe that America would do that for a British monarch, but we I finished my service as a Petty Officer Second obeyed orders and saluted the queen! Class. I was so busy studying nuclear power that I * didn't have time to study the rank qualifications. The main thing that I took away from the military But we were all pretty good to each other in the was that you can designate authority, but you can't Nuclear Navy regardless of rank. It was what you designate responsibility. What I mean is, you can knew, what you did, and how you did it that share responsibility but you can't completely pass it counted. on. I learned this from an incident that occurred when we came back from a cruise to our home Before the Navy, when I got into difficult port in New London, Connecticut, and prepared problems I sometimes gave up when I didn't feel to shut down a nuclear reactor. When doing so, like I could resolve them. So the nuclear power you have to be careful to vent pressure from the program really challenged me in that way. It took a steam generators because the reactors retain long time to train before I was able to do anything. residual heat for a long time. I didn't take care of I learned to have the patience and drive to put up that because I was in the maneuvering yard with stuff and push forward. I also realized the standing watch over the control panels. There was importance of listening to other people's a mechanics mate who was supposed to vent the perspectives—you can always learn something new. pressure (he was actually above me in rank, but These lessons have remained with me over forty that didn't make a difference; I was the senior years later, and I am grateful for the experience. watch manager, so as far as functioning goes, I was above him). Apparently when he went down he neglected to do that and the steam generator

20 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Off the Bookshelf

“Sin*a*gogue” by Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin

A Review by Ch, Maj-P Joseph Friedman, CO ANG

What first caught my eye was the title: Sin·a·gogue. Was it about talking during services (one of my pet peeves)? Perhaps it was about the struggle many congregations have getting a minyan (quorum) for weekday prayers? The second thing that caught my eye was the author. I have had the privilege of hearing Rabbi Dovid Bashevkin speak about various topics at a number of rabbinic conferences I have attended over the years. In each case, I found him incredibly creative, erudite, genuine, and—most compelling—someone who thinks out of the box. He didn't disappoint with this book.

It must be said that Rabbi Bashevkin, director of education for the National Conference of Synagogue Youth (NCSY), the youth movement of the Orthodox Union, has an incredible ability to knit together remarkably disparate sources into a magnificent composite. On just one page he cites the poets Donald Justice and John Milton, the Book of Genesis, Archbishop James Usher, and the Talmud Sanhedrin. And that was not atypical. Rabbi Bashevkin's breadth of sources, both Jewish and secular, classical and contemporary, Hassidic and Mitnagdic, is nothing short of breathtaking. If he intended to impress, he succeeded.

Sin·a·gogue is really two books. In the first half of the book, Rabbi Bashevkin ventures into a broad analysis of the traditional Jewish understanding of sin. Okay, so that doesn't exactly sound like a page-turner. Yet it was precisely that. As he explains in his introduction, the greatest lessons are learned not from people displaying perfection, but rather from narratives which “integrate moments of success… with moments of failure.” It is such stories that enable

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 21 Off the Bookshelf

the reader, who is acutely aware of their own successes AND failures, to draw inspiration. In a time when the biographies of our rabbis are scrubbed clean of any vestige of failure, their humanity—and concomitant ability to inspire—is actually diminished.

The six chapters of the first section each address different elements of sin. After first defining “sin” from a classical Jewish perspective—after all, many of us carry conceptions of sin that more closely reflect the perspective of our Christian neighbors than our Jewish forbearers. Rabbi Bashevkin addresses the mistaken assumption that if Christianity embraces the doctrine of Original Sin, then Jews must reject it. In the third chapter, we are introduced to the Torah's view on the classic legal doctrine of mens rea, (literally “guilty mind,” or evil intent) versus actus reus (literally, “guilty act”). While a crime requires the latter, what of sin? Can one be guilty of violating Jewish law just by thought alone, or is action required as well? And more importantly, why should we care?

The fourth chapter was the most esoteric. Rabbi Bashevkin does a deep dive into the philosophical world of Izbica, particularly the Rebbe of Kotzk and Rav Tzaddok of Lublin. Simply put, a literal read of the Izbicer philosophy could lead one to believe that sin is fated, ergo one cannot be responsible for its commission. The author argues that this thinking is inaccurate and primarily based on a failure to recognize certain contextual realities of their time. His next chapter goes even deeper, examining the question, “Can sinning be holy?” After all, we are taught that the High Priest cannot stand in the place of a truly repentant person. Clearly, penance is an elevating experience. However, penance requires a sin for which to repent. Does that elevate “sin” to holiness?

I was blessed to read the book right before the High Holidays. I say blessed because the sixth chapter—“Does G-d Repent?”—was not only so beautiful it literally brought me to tears when I read it, I took its message into my Yom Kippur that year, altering my prayers and my relationship with G-d forever. The second part of the book is a series of unrelated essays loosely connected to the theme. Rabbi Bashevkin addresses apostasy, failed leaders, tempting sin, and the book of Jonah. However, as a former congregational rabbi and father of six sons, it was his essay entitled, “Rabbi's Son Syndrome: Why Religious Commitment Can Lead to Religious Failure,” which shook me to my core.

In Sin·a·gogue, Rabbi Bashevkin masterfully addresses a taboo topic about which we speak so rarely but relates to our lives every minute of the day. He does it in an engaging, witty, and honest way, written in such brilliant yet accessible prose, citing a myriad of sources from movie scripts, the Bible, Shakespeare, and the Talmud. I truly loved reading every page of this book.

22 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Schenectady Synagogue Donates Torah to Military

By Brian Lee, The Daily Gazette. Photo credit: Stan Hudy

Fort Drum Rabbi Moshe Lans smiled widely as he accepted a Torah scroll transfer from the Congregation Beth Israel on Sunday afternoon.

Standing outside the city’s only modern orthodox synagogue, Rabbi Lans kissed the nearly 100-year-old Torah scroll, which was donated by the Congregation Beth Israel, located on Eastern Parkway, to the U.S. military through the Aleph Institute of Florida.

The Aleph Institute is a nonprofit Jewish organization that assists and cares for the wellbeing of people who are isolated from their community, including U.S. military personnel.

The institute is Rabbi Lan’s Jewish ecclesiastical endorser, and Rabbi Lans will serve as the custodian and caretaker of the scroll.

The rabbi expressed heartfelt thanks to the congregation for making the Torah scroll transfer possible.

Having another Torah scroll to be used by Jewish service members, regardless of which

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 23 Schenectady Synagogue Donates Torah to Military

branch of service, will allow them to practice their faith — which he said is a force multiplier — and remain in touch with God.

“We’re very happy to do this, especially with Passover coming up,” said Congregation Beth Israel past president James Strosberg, who’s also a member of the Jewish War Veterans Post.

Strosberg said of the Torah: “The letters are 100 years old, but they haven’t changed in 2,000 years, and it’s very meaningful at this time of year, when we celebrate our exodus from Egypt, that we can give more life to the future.”

This particular Torah transfer came about when Statewide News Service President Marc Gronich was working on a story in Alexandria Bay about low rates of COVID-19, and how, in the publication’s estimation, the bay should be considered by Jews as a vacation destination.

Gronich said he wasn’t previously aware that a Jewish chaplain existed at Fort Drum, and when Gronich interviewed Rabbi Lans, he said he learned the rabbi didn’t have a Torah scroll.

Gronich said he then made arrangements with Strosberg, whom he’s known 30 years, and for the synagogue to donate theirs.

“It’s extremely important when servicemen and servicewomen come back from Afghanistan, come back from Iraq, that they have this continuity, so they don’t lose their faith in the Jewish religion,” Gronich said.

Strosberg called the Torah transfer a big deal for the synagogue.

“These Torahs are very valuable, not just spiritually, but it takes over a year to write a Torah,” he said. “Every letter is handwritten. It’s on parchment. It’s a special kind of ink. And this is the first time in my life I’ve ever been to a ceremony” for a total transfer.

Gronich said he’s referring to it as a “traveling Torah,” as the rabbi intends to take it to various military bases.

“It will definitely be able to travel throughout the world many times over,” the rabbi said. “Whether that’s to a combat forward to station, or in peacetime, the Torah will definitely be used by Jewish service members, and the world at large.”

CH (MAJ) Lans has since PCS’d with his wife, LCDR Laurie Lans (USN Ret) and the Torah to Fort Sill.

24 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR THE JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Updates

•Mazal Tov to our own Rabbi Sanford Dresin Member Whatsapp or Signal groups! Send and Rabbi Menachem Shemtov - they will a text message with your name to Rabbi henceforth be serving the Pentagon Rabbi Estrin, at 206-267-8764 and join our group, position. for discussions, short Torah videos from chaplains, Zoom class opportunities, and - Mazal Tov to Ch, Lt Col Joseph Friedman, friendship! CO ANG, upon his promotion, and for receiving the ANG's Field Officer of the • With our partnership with JNet, we can Quarter! find you a Torah study partner, for the subject and at a time of your choosing! Go to - Mazal Tov to CH (CPT) Michael Harari, www.JNet.org for more information. USA for receiving the Volunteer of the Year award! • Do you and your family have a letter in a Torah scroll? Participate in the Healing - Our sincerest condolences are extended to Hearts Torah for just $1.00 per letter. This Rabbi Ira Kronenberg (CH, COL USA Ret) special Mitzvah is one that brings very of the JWB on the loss of his grandson, special blessings along with! Go to Donny Morris. https://hhflorida.com/torah/ for more information. You can also have your - Our sincerest condolences are extended to children purchase a letter for that amount CH (CPT) Yerachmiel Gorelick (CO ARNG) in the International Jewish Children’s on the loss of his father, Rabbi Chaim Elozor Torah! Go to www.kidstorah.org for more Gorelick. information about this beautiful project.

We would like to keep Jewish chaplains and • We are always looking for article Lay Leaders aware of all the Jews in their contributions, no matter the rank, no AOR. Please provide us with your latest PCS matter the branch! Tell us about your moves as soon as they occur, so we can make military experiences and Jewish reflections. sure you are kept in touch with the Jewish Please email submissions to warrior@aleph- community nearest you, and make sure you institute.org. do not miss an issue of the Jewish-American Warrior. • Enjoy the content? Get more Jewish military content on a regular basis! We post • Is there just a small Jewish community near articles, information, stories and links you? Looking for more fellow Jews to several times a week. “Like” our Facebook interact with? Join the Jewish Service page: @JewishAmericanWarrior!

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 25 SHAVUOT IS ON May 17-18

('do'), numbering 248, are equivalent to the number of organs in the human body. The 365 negative commandments Shavuot ('don't do') are equivalent to the number of blood vessels in the Laws & Customs human body. Through the study of Torah and fulfillment of mitzvahs we havuot is the second of Shavuot also means "oaths", the three major festivals with the giving of the Torah, the connect ourselves and our S Je w i s h p e o p l e a n d G - d environment to G-d. G-d's (Passover being the first and exchanged oaths, forming an purpose in creating the world is Sukkot the third) and comes everlasting covenant, not to that we sanctify all of creation, exactly fifty days after forsake one another. imbuing it with holiness and Passover (6-7 Sivan). The spirituality. Torah was given by G-d to WHAT IS THE TORAH? THE ROLE OF CHILDREN the Jewish people on Mount The Torah is composed of two Sinai over 3,300 years ago. parts: the Written Law and the Our Sages said that before Every year on this day we Oral Law. The written Torah G-d gave the Torah to the Jewish renew our acceptance of G- contains the Five Books of p e o p l e , H e d e m a n d e d guarantors. The Jews made a d's gift. Moses, the Prophets and the Writings. Together with the number of suggestions, all The word Shavuot means Written Torah, Moses was also rejected by G-d, until they " w e e k s " : I t m a r k s t h e given the Oral Law which declared, "Our children will be completion of the seven weeks explains and clarifies the Written our guarantors that the Jewish between Passover and Shavuot law. It was transmitted orally people will cherish and observe (the 'Omer' period) during from generation to generation the Torah"; G-d immediately which the Jewish people and eventually transcribed in the accepted them and agreed to give prepared themselves for the Talmud and Midrash. the Torah. giving of the Torah. During this The word 'Torah' means When the Torah is read in the time they cleansed themselves of instruction or guide. The word synagogue on Shavuot, G-d is the scars of slavery and became a ' m i t z v a h ' m e a n s b o t h actually giving the Torah anew. holy nation ready to enter into commandment and connection. Therefore every Jewish man, an eternal covenant with G-d There are 613 commandments. woman and especially children with the giving of the Torah. The positive commandments should make every effort to be

26 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR present in a synagogue on the first day of Shavuot, as the Ten Commandments are read from the Torah.

The Giving of the Torah

The giving of the Torah was a far- reaching spiritual event - one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul then and for all time. Our Sages have compared it to a wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. One of the many choice of Mount Sinai was to teach our freedom on Passover in order to names of Shavuot is the Day of the us humility, since Mount Sinai was receive the Torah on Shavuot. Great Oath, (the word shavuah also the most humble of all mountains. means oath). On this day G-d If so, why was it not given in a low Another name for Shavuot is Yom swore eternal devotion to us, and lying valley? Surely that would have Habikurim or the Day of the First we in turn pledged everlasting been a stronger lesson in humility? Fruits. In an expression of thanks loyalty to Him. to G-d , beginning on Shavuot, Hence, we learn that a Jew must be each farmer in the Land of Israel On this day we received a gift able to distinguish between being brought an offering to the Temple (matan) from Above which we proud and being ar rogant. of the first wheat, barley, grapes, could not have achieved with our Arrogance is distasteful. Being figs pomegranates, olives and dates own limited faculties. We received proud of one's roots is a virtue. The that grew in his field. the ability to reach and touch the Divine; not Torah therefore, was given on a Finally, Shavuot is also called Chag only to be cultivated human beings, humble mountain. HaKatzir, the Festival of the but Divine human beings who are Additional Names for Shavuot Harvest, because wheat, the last of capable of rising above and beyond the grains to be ready to be cut, was the limitations of nature. Shavuot is known as Zman Matan harvested at this time of the year. Torateinu the Season of the Gift Why Wasn't the Torah our Torah. On the sixth day of Given in Israel? Sivan in the year 2448 after IF YOU HAVE The Torah was given freely, in an creation, G-d gave the Torah to the CHILDREN THAT Jewish people on Mount Sinai. The ownerless public place. If it had NEED HELP been given in the land of Israel, the Feast of Weeks, on the sixth and FINDING A nations of the world would say that seventh of Sivan commemorates they have no portion in it. this great event. SYNAGOGUE TO ATTEND, PLEASE Shavuot is also called Atzeret Why was Mount Sinai chosen to be LET US KNOW. the site for the giving of the Torah? meaning, The Completion, because together with Passover it forms the The conventional answer is that the completion of a unit. We gained

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 27 SHAVUOT Laws & Customs

“SHAVUOT” IS AN OFFICIALLY intellect, and even when the reasons for the RECOGNIZED HOLIDAY Mitzvos seem to be beyond our understanding, we must still fulfill them. The only common factor throughout Jewish Military regulations have established that history, in all lands and under all circumstances, is legitimate days of work proscription for Jewish the Torah and Mitzvos which Jews have observed incarcerated individuals military personnel include tenaciously. The secret of our existence is in our both days of the Shavuot holiday. As with all Jewish being “a people that dwell singularly,” every one of holidays, the holiday begins approximately at us, man and woman, believing in One G-d, leading sundown of the previous day (evening of Sunday, a life according to One Torah, which is eternal and May 16th) and ends after dark of the last of the holy unchanging. Only through the Torah can we fulfill days, Tuesday, May 18th. our function imposed on us by the Creator, to be unto G-d a “kingdom of priests and a holy nation,” SHAVUOT OBSERVANCE thereby being also a “...treasure for all humanity.” The proper observance of the Shavuot holiday The giving of the Torah was far more than an entails the lighting of holiday candles on each eve historical event. It was a far-reaching spiritual event of the holiday, see Siddur Tehillat Hashem p. 127 – one that touched the essence of the Jewish soul (note: look for pages in table of contents in other then and for all time. Our sages have compared it Jewish prayer books), prayer services on the eves to a wedding between G-d and the Jewish people. and mornings of the holiday, the recitation of We became His special nation and He became our certain special prayers specific to the holiday, see G-d. also pages 250-65, the reading and study of special hymns, the Ten Commandments and other Each year, Shavuot is the time for us to reawaken portions of the Torah, and festive meals with and strengthen our relationship with G-d. We can appropriate blessings over wine or grape juice do so by rededicating ourselves to the observance (“Kiddush”) and bread (“ha-Motzi,” usually and study of the Torah – our most precious performed over special Challah bread), see CJL ch. heritage. 103 ¶ 2. THE TEN COMMANDMENTS CUSTOMARY FOODS To commemorate us receiving the Torah at Mt. It is customary to eat dairy food on the first day of Sinai, everyone should attend services to hear the Shavuot in addition to the required meals of wine reading of the Ten Commandments. Those who (or grape juice), bread, fish and meat. (Obviously, cannot attend services or do not have a Torah all religious laws apply against mixing or eating scroll, should read the Ten Commandments from meat and dairy together.) See id. ¶¶ 3, 7. scripture. The Ten Commandments can be found in Exodus (20:01) and should be read out of a ABOUT SHAVUOT Jewish bible. On Shavuot, Almighty G-d revealed himself to give the Torah on Mt. Sinai in the year 2,448 after SLEEPLESS NIGHT creation. The Jewish declaration “Na'aseh Many Jews observe a tradition of remaining V'Nishma – we will do and we will listen – was the awake all night on the first night of the holiday commitment necessary to our proper approach to to engage in the study of Torah. It is customary receiving the Torah and performing its Mitzvos. The Jewish person understands that G-d's Torah to read the first and last three passages of each has infinite wisdom beyond the grasp of human Torah portion in the Bible on the night of

28 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR SHAVUOT Laws & Customs

Shavuot, as well as the Prophets and Writings. people of Israel fell complacently asleep. They Naturally, if you do not have a Torah or Tanach, did not eagerly anticipate the world-shaking study whatever Torah is available to you. event that was about to unfold. This callous indifference was an affront to G-d. In order to There are several reasons for this custom: amend (Tikun in Hebrew) the wrong of our forefathers, we remain awake the entire night, A) Sleep is a state of subconsciousness. The awaiting the dawn of the next day when we Jewish people, imagining the holiness and celebrate the receiving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. power of revelation, concluded that no matter C) According to the Zohar, a classic Kabbalistic how lofty their conscious minds rose they could work, Shavuot is described as the wedding day not properly prepare for the supernatural of the people of Israel (the bride) and the Torah revelation of G-d and His Torah. They therefore (the groom.) Much had to be done by the bride chose a state of sleep to completely leave their to prepare herself spiritually for her wedding physical, limited consciousness and enter a day. As a dowry the People of Israel brought to more spiritual / transcendent state. G-d's their marriage their hours of study during the direction however demands for us to previous evening. Accompanied by this experience the Torah within our physical “trousseau” of learning, the Jewish people came limited space – to enter the lower world with G- to their betrothed with the full recognition and dliness. Hence, we need to stay up all night to appreciation of His virtues and value. rectify the misguided, however lofty, sleep. CANDLE-LIGHTING FOR SHAVUOT IS ON PAGE 2. B) One Midrashic source states that on the night preceding the giving of the Torah many of the

שבועות שמח!

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 29 30 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 31 Torah Scrolls as Amazing and Diverse as the Jewish People

Shavuot celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. While we did not get the actual Torah scroll until many years later, the nucleus of the Torah's wisdom was given to us on this holiday. Appropriately, we have chosen eight special Torah scrolls from across the Jewish world as a tribute to the document that binds us to each other and to G-d. These scrolls, chosen for their unique history or appearance, are as diverse as the Jewish people they represent.

1. Slavita Sefer Torah

This scroll belonged to the Schapiro brothers, chassidic printers in the town of Slavita. They were falsely accused of murder and arrested by the czarist police in 1839. After being forced to run the gauntlet, they were held first in prison and later under house arrest for 17 years. While they were detained, this was the Torah they used. The Lubavitcher Rebbe (pictured above) treasured this Torah, which he received in 1954.

2. The world's oldest complete Sefer Torah

This 800-year-old lambskin Torah was preserved in a library in Bologna, Italy, where it was mistakenly believed to be of much newer vintage. Its true age was discovered only in the spring of 2013.

3. The Torah that went from the concentration camps to the stars

This pocket-sized Torah was used for a secret bar mitzvah at the Nazi concentration camp Bergen-Belsen during the Holocaust. Ilan Ramon, the first Israeli astronaut, took it with him into space, aboard the Columbia in 2003. Tragically, the Torah was lost along with Ramon and his six crewmembers when the space shuttle broke apart as it returned to earth's atmosphere on February 1, 2003.

4. Mizrachi-style Torahs in upright cases

Unlike the more common European practice of draping the Torah in cloth, Asian Jews traditionally house their Torahs in ornate cylindrical cases. This particular Torah was dedicated to the welfare of all missing or kidnapped IDF soldiers. Noam Shalit, the father of then-kidnapped IDF soldier Gilad Shalit, is pictured holding the the Torah during its dedication.

32 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 8 Torah Scrolls as Amazing and Diverse as the Jewish People

5. Children's Torah

In 1981 the Rebbe called for “the writing of a special Torah scroll for all Jewish boys and girls below bar/bat mitzvah.” Each child was to purchase an individual letter in the scroll with his or her own money. The Rebbe set a number of requirements for this special Torah and those to follow: He fixed the price of a letter in the Torah scroll as one dollar, or its equivalent value in local currency. The Rebbe also asked for it to be written in Jerusalem, signifying the unity of the Jewish people. Though normally writing a Torah scroll takes close to a year, this scroll was completed in just over five months. To date, some two million children have purchased letters in five scrolls, and the campaign continues.

6. Aleppo Codex

Though not a Torah scroll itself, the Aleppo Codex—penned by the mysterious Ben- Asher in the 10th century CE—has been treasured as an authoritative guide for scribes. Over the years it has been used by Maimonides, stolen by crusaders, held for ransom and saved from riots. Today the scroll, missing some sections, is kept in Israel.

7. Torah scrolls of the Sephardic (Spanish) Diaspora

These scrolls, decorated with elaborate rimonim (lit., pomegranates) on top, belong to a synagogue in Casablanca, Morocco.

8. Moshiach's Sefer Torah

In 1942, as the Holocaust raged in Europe, the Previous Rebbe initiated the campaign to write a Torah with which to greet Moshiach. It was finished by his successor, the Rebbe, in 1970. Not wanting to be the only one to have the merit of its writing, the Previous Rebbe opened participation in its funding to Jews around the world, creating a truly unified scroll.

ScrJEWISH-AMERICANolls WARRIOR 33 Wisdom Healing

Subduing our impulse to Consequently, they don't feel Relationships respond in kind to difficult worthy of asking directly for How to Deal with& a behaviors does not mean what they want. They may act Difficult Person enabling another person to like a martyr, hoping the other behave poorly. It means person will get the hint. When learning to respond in a way that doesn't happen, they Who hasn't been thrown off that is respectful to both b e c o m e r e s e n t f u l o r balance by a difficult person? ourselves and the other depressed. The perpetrator could be person. virtually anyone—a spouse, Solution: Encourage guilt- relative, friend, coworker or To move from simply feeling trippers to express themselves boss. annoyed by a difficult person clearly. Ask the other person, to responding constructively, “Do you want me to help So how do we deal with these it helps to understand the more? Please say specifically people in our lives? It's easy to likely underlying reasons for what you want. You can ask me l a s h b a c k i n a n g e r o r the troublesome behavior. for anything. I might not give defensiveness when a person Here's how to do this, using you the moon, but if you ask a c t s n a s t y o r t r i e s t o guilt-trippers, scorekeepers me to do something simple, I'll manipulate us, thinking we're and blamers as examples of probably say, 'Fine.'” showing strength. But really, difficult behaviors: w e a r e b e i n g w e a k b y The Scorekeeper succumbing to an impulse to The Guilt-Tripper get even. Retaliating or trying The scorekeeper says nothing to justify ourselves is, in effect, Instead of expressing his or her when upset, but keeps track of fanning the flames of toxicity, wants and feelings directly, each incident, and eventually e n a b l i n g t h e p e r s o n t o the guilt-tripper makes others lets it all out at once. continue his or her difficult feel guilty. behavior. Example: “I was expecting you Example: “Go ahead and watch to call an hour ago to say you'd A wiser thing to do is to apply TV while I do the dishes and be late for dinner. I should this teaching from the Jewish then put the kids to bed. I feel a have known you wouldn't call, sage Ben Zoma: “Who is migraine coming on, but I'll because you didn't call when strong? He who subdues his manage. And I still have to get you were over an hour late last personal inclination, as it is up early tomorrow to finish Tuesday and three other times said: 'He who is slow to anger is that project at work.” Sigh. last month. And that time two better than a strong man, and a years ago ... ” master of his passions is better Underlying Reason: Guilt- than a conqueror of a city.'” trippers lack self-esteem. U n d e r l y i n g R e a s o n :

34 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Wisdom & Healing

S c o r e k e e p e r s f e e l calmly and respectfully: “Yes, I Ben Zoma's teaching implies, uncomfortable about making often run late, and I hear this by exercising self-control w a v e s b y c o m p l a i n i n g . bothers you. It's my problem; I when faced with someone who Eventually, like a volcano, try to do just one more thing is being difficult, we show true pressure accumulates and before I leave. I don't mean to strength of character. When we they spew out what's been be disrespectful.” can feel compassion for the building up. other in our heart, we convey a If you realize you're being sense that we're all in this Solution: Apologize for your falsely accused, state your together, each with our own part in causing discomfort. Say disagreement calmly. If you're challenges, which are all you prefer to hear what's being unjustly accused of opportunities for personal bothering the person each lying, for example, say, “I'm g r o w t h . B y r e s p o n d i n g t i m e , r a t h e r t h a n h a v e actually careful to be truthful.” sensitively to a difficult resentments accumulate. You can also politely ask the person, we foster our own person to give an example of well-being and the well-being The Blamer what he or she is accusing you. of the other person. As Eleanor Roosevelt said, “No The blamer accuses others of one can make you feel inferior being inadequate, using you- without your consent.” PARENTING: statements and name-calling, How a Silly Little Ruler such as “You're a jerk (or a slob, Compassion and Common or stupid).” Sense Saved My Life

Underlying Reason: Blamers These are three kinds of By Jay Litvin lack self-esteem and feel difficult behaviors. If you're on unsafe expressing themselves the receiving end of any of What does it mean to be with I-statements, such as “I'm them, use common sense. If indispensable? disappointed (or frustrated, or you can muster up compassion feel disrespected) by your for someone who is being For most of my life I've asked lateness.” They're more likely difficult, the person will sense myself that question. Maybe to say, “You're always late,” or this and feel less of a need to not in those words exactly. But “You're rude.” Insecure people project his or her insecurities I've always had this feeling who feel inferior to their on you. You can also become that there was some purpose p a r t n e r s o r f e a r b e i n g part of the solution by using to my life uniquely destined a b a n d o n e d m i g h t positive communication for me and me alone. u n co n s c i o u s l y re s o r t t o techniques. blaming or putting down I can remember, as a young others, hoping to erode their In any case, do not trap man in my early twenties, partners' self-esteem to the yourself into staying in a toxic sitting under a tree, my back point that they won't think situation. If the behavior propped against the trunk, they can find a better mate. continues despite your efforts gazing out at a forest. I was in to defuse it, be willing to walk Woodstock, New York, during Solution: Compose yourself away graciously, at least w h a t s o m e c a l l t h e with a couple of deep breaths, momentarily. “Woodstock years.” Days of s o y o u w o n ' t r e s p o n d pondering life and destiny. Of i m p u l s i v e l y . Tr y t o b e Remember: We cannot change feeling free and unfettered. Of objective. Ask yourself, “Am I at another person's behavior; we infinite possibilities. fault?” Either way, respond can only change our own. As

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 35 Wisdom & Healing

I was young, single and enjoying the cool black earth Within these years I came without children. Money was and green grass that had been close to Torah, discovered the inconsequential. Either it was sheltered from the blistering teachings of the chassidic easy to acquire or it didn't sun by its leafy canopy. masters, and certainly felt matter much. closer to having discovered my And so I did what any young purpose than ever before. But, And there I was, sitting under man in my position would do: I to tell you the truth, I still this tree, wondering what “it” began a conversation with G-d. didn't have that kind of crystal- was all about. Wondering why I was not a stranger to these clear clarity of purpose that I G-d put me on this earth conversations. I didn't have had hoped for that day under anyway. Wondering what I was them on a daily basis like I do the tree. supposed to do with myself. now, but I had them regularly, and they were always quite Actually, it wasn't until one I wasn't a religious person moving and profound. day, during the months I was then. Not in any formal way, undergoing chemotherapy, anyway. But, I was a spiritual And in my conversation I did that I had the moment of being. Even in childhood, I was what I often do when I talk to clarity I was looking for. And a closet believer in a secular G-d: I complained. I asked Him believe me, during those household. But still, compared why He would give this tree a chemo months I wanted this to now, I can't say that I was life of purpose and leave me in clarity just about as much as re l i g i o u s , t h o u g h I w a s the dark. I requested that I be I've ever wanted anything in definitely interested in given as much clarity as this m y l i f e . I t w a s v i t a l l y communing with a universe tree about the purpose of my important, during those days that transcended my puny life. I told G-d that just like I of weakness and fear, to reach little self. was sitting here appreciating some understanding of what this tree, I too wanted to be my purpose was on this earth, And in that moment, the appreciated, and I wanted that what I was sent here to creature of G-d's creation that appreciation expressed to me accomplish, the turf of my o f f e r e d i t s e l f f o r m y in clear, simple terms. indispensability. contemplation was this tree under which I was sitting, the I think (if I remember correctly) First, let me tell you that I'm o n e w h o s e t r u n k n o w that most of all I just wanted to now nearly fifty-eight years supported my back. So I sat know why G-d put me here, so old. I have a bunch of kids. And there thinking about this tree, that I could get on with doing money is neither easy to come and I began to envy it. I envied whatever I was supposed to be by nor inconsequential. Life its lack of confusion. I envied it doing to fulfill my purpose in has changed a lot since those for not having an identity life. under-the-tree-at-Woodstock crisis. days. And I love every inch of There was no revelation that every change. This tree seemed to know day. At some point I tired of my exactly what it was about. And dialogue, stood up, brushed Among my seven children is its purpose seemed not only off my pants, and continued on my little eight-year-old Dovie. clear, but also beneficial to the my confused way. He's the youngest. My oldest world around it, including me, boy just got married. the one whose back was being Ye a r s w e n t b y . L o t s o f supported by its trunk, whose searching and seeking and, The other morning, little Dovie head was being shaded by its yes, more dialogues with the was having a crisis. He couldn't leaves, and whose body was One Above. find a little ruler he uses to do

36 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Wisdom & Healing

h i s g e o m e t r y . H e w a s and knew then and there that I became a glow that emanated searching all over the house was not going to make my from my heart up to my head. for it; he was late for school; he train. I wasn't even going to try I realized that I was, in fact, was crying because he was to make my train. Instead I was quite proud of myself for the having a test that day, and if he going to drive straight to the choice I had made. didn't bring this little ruler, not closest store and buy him the only would he fail the test, he little ruler he needed. And And I did in this moment what wouldn't be able to even take then I was going to take him to any father in my position it. He was facing what in his life school, park the car, go inside, w o u l d d o : I b e g a n a w o u l d b e c o n s i d e r a b l e and talk to his teacher so he conversation with G-d. e m b a r r a s s m e n t a n d wouldn't get in trouble for humiliation. being late. And I asked Him: Who needed me more at that moment? To I was about to leave for an It was a crystal-clear moment. whom was my presence and appointment, and was running And once the decision was attention the most crucial? late because of spending all made, I carried through these Who else would've gone and this time helping Dovie look actions without doubt nor bought my son that ruler? Who for his little ruler. But he was hesitation. would have even cared? frantic and I just couldn't leave When I told my son of my him. decision, he smiled, squinted Do you see, G-d, how much my his little eyes in a sort of children need me? And how When finally, in defeat and botched attempt at a wink, sat they will need me for many tears, we decided that the ruler a bit straighter in his seat, and years to come? was a lost cause, I looked down looked out the window at a at his sad little face and world that had just gotten Can you see, dear G-d, that I am decided to drive him to school. quite a bit brighter. the only Dad my children have, He wouldn't have his ruler, but and that this is, without a at least he wouldn't be so late. However, shortly after buying doubt, the one area of my life Hopefully, I had enough time the ruler, talking to the where I am clearly and with to drive him and still catch the principal, leaving my son, and certainty irreplaceable and t r a i n a n d g e t t o m y calling on my cell phone to indispensable? appointment. postpone my appointment, doubts began to attack my A n d a s I co n t i n u e d t h i s We scurried down the stairs certainty. Driving back home, I conversation, attempting to together, him still sniffling began to berate myself for my convince G-d of my absolute about what was going to choice. How could I blow off an indispensability, requesting happen at school, me rushing appointment just to buy my kid that in the merit of this and hoping I wouldn't miss my this stupid ruler he needed for indispensability He cure my train, but mainly feeling really his stupid weekly math test? disease, I had the feeling that bad for my sad little boy. this stupid little ruler was By the time I pulled back into keeping me alive. We quickly got into the car, the parking lot in front of my b u c k l e d o u r s e a t b e l t s , house, I was in turmoil, and just From that day forward, a new and—just as I was about to sat there for a while. And awareness and a new prayer reverse the car from the s u d d e n l y , f r o m o u t o f entered my life. I began to parking space—I stopped. I nowhere, I began to smile. And n o t i c e d o z e n s o f had this moment. I looked at then my smile turned into a indispensable moments every my son, took a deep breath, laugh. And then my laugh day. And as I became aware of

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 37 these moments, I would attach intensity of my love for my with all of your heart, with all to them the same prayer: children that in His mercy he of your soul and with all of Please, G-d, can't you see how allow me to fulfill my purpose your might." The Midrash much my children need me? for many, many more years. interprets "your soul" to mean How important it is to keep me For, you see, I have become like your life and "your might" to alive? Heal me. a tree. And just as that tree mean your possessions. once supported my back as I This prayer would emerge leaned against it, so do I now In other words, you should love whenever my children and I support my children as they G-d even to the extent of would share a smile or a lean against me. Just as the giving up your life, and even to goodbye kiss; when we sat and leaves shaded me from the the extent of losing your talked together about their life bright, blistering sun, so do I possessions. The Midrash then or problems at school; when I p r ov i d e p r o t e c t i o n a n d asks, "But if the Torah already would tuck them in bed or comfort to them in the midst of tells us to love G-d even to the cuddle with my boys under my a world that sometimes extent of giving up our lives for tallit during birkat kohanim; t h re a t e n s t o b u r n t h e i r Him, isn't it obvious that we when we would sing at the sensitive skins. And just as the should also be willing to part S h a b b a t t a b l e o r l i g h t tree's canopy allowed the with our possessions for Him?" Chanukah candles; or when I earth to retain sufficient The Midrash answers, "For would go to their school and moisture to nurture the green some people, their money is talk to the principal. grass beneath it, so do I nurture more precious to them than my children with the physical, their life.” These were moments that had emotional, and spiritual food occurred hundreds of times they need for proper growth. I guess the Torah was talking b e f o r e — l o t s o f t h e m My Woodstock prayer has about guys like Jack Benny. But containing inconsequential been fulfilled. where does the Torah talk things like lost little rulers and about me? I am an alcoholic. misplaced bobby pins, bruised Where does the Torah tell me f e e l i n g s , m o m e n t s o f to love G-d more than I love to disappointment, a math RECOVERY: drink? Because, you see, for problem solved. Only now me, giving up my alcohol is like they were crucial moments, Your Alcohol Jack Benny giving up his each accompanied by prayer. or Your Life money. If you tell me, "Your Now they were escorted by an alcohol or your life," my awareness of the absolute There's an old Jack Benny bit answer is, "I'm thinking. I'm decisive role they were where a mugger jumps out of thinking.” playing in my children's lives the bushes and says, "Your and in mine. They were money or your life." Benny just Let me explain to you what it moments, I believed, that were stands there doing nothing means — to me — to be a keeping me alive. until the mugger gets irate and r e c o v e r i n g a l c o h o l i c . shouts, "I said, 'Your money or Repeated experience has In these prayers, though short your life!'" Finally Benny snaps made it abundantly clear that I a n d s i l e n t a n d b a r e l y b a c k , " I ' m t h i n k i n g. I ' m can either have everything I discernible, I desperately try thinking.” ever wanted out of life OR I can t o c o n v i n c e G - d o f m y have alcohol. I can't have both. indispensability. Like a lawyer In the Shema prayer we say If I work my program of I plead my case, beseeching (Deuteronomy 6:5), "And you recovery, all my dreams come the Almighty with the full shall love the L-rd your G-d true. If I have one drink, I turn

38 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Wisdom & Healing

my life into a living hell. But your soul and with all your When I give myself up to G-d, it that's not what makes me an might." "Soul" means life; doesn't hurt so much anymore alcoholic. What makes me an "might" means possessions. to be "me.” alcoholic is that — for me — Looks like I skipped over that's actually a tough call to "heart." What's "heart"? What I guess that's really why I stay make. is "with all of your heart"? sober. I know that I said earlier it's because I am afraid of the I suppose that since I am in The Midrash says, "with 'both' misery and insanity and death recovery it means that, in the o f y o u r h e a r t s — y o u r that my drinking would bring. end, I keep deciding that my inclination for good and your But that's not the real reason. life is more important to me inclination for bad." I've got Misery and insanity and death than my drinking. But that's two hearts. Yes, I can relate to j u s t a r e n ' t b i g e n o u g h not a decision that I arrive at this. One heart loves G-d. One deterrents to keep an alcoholic without a great deal of daily heart loves to drink. G-d wants like me sober very long. They deliberation. Whenever I am me to love Him with the heart might be able to scare me distressed — or sometimes that already loves Him and straight for a while, but they're even for no reason at all — I with the heart that loves to not enough to keep me sober contemplate whether or not I drink. day after day. No, the real should just go for broke, go reason I stay sober is because back to the bottle and let all of But how can I love Him with the all I ever wanted from alcohol I the chips fall where they may. heart that loves to drink? can get from my relationship After indulging this perverse Why do I drink? with G-d. fantasy for a while, I ultimately decide that it's not a decision You know why I drink? I drink And do you know what it was I'm prepared to make — not because it takes me away from that I wanted out of alcohol? because I wouldn't like to, but "me." I don't like being "me." Alcohol promised that if I could because I can't live with the Not that I think I would be any just get rid of "me" long consequences. I know that I happier being someone else, enough, then in that quiet, I will just end up in so much pain but I, for darn sure, don't like would somehow finally be that I will have to give up and being "me." I like numbness. "me.” — if I don't die or go insane Mental numbness. My mind first — go back to recovery goes so fast. My brain won't I don't expect all of you to again anyway. So I choose life. shut up. The thoughts produce relate to this, but you can still But it's not an instinctive feelings faster than my puny humor me when I speak of the choice. That's how messed up I heart can bear. Alcohol takes truth that I've found — that am. Are you beginning to care of that. Drunkenness real life begins when you learn understand? quiets the "me" and the less to love G-d with the heart that "me" there is, the better I feel. loves to drink. But let's get back to my When I am really good and question: Where does the drunk, I have these beautiful Torah talk about me? Where moments where, suddenly, it does G-d tell me, the alcoholic, doesn't even hurt so much to that I should love Him more be "me.” than I love to drink? In recovery I have learned that I I look at the verse again. "And can get from my relationship you shall love the L-rd, your with G-d everything that I ever G-d, with all your heart, with all wanted to get out of alcohol.

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 39 The 3rd of Tammuz: 27th anniversary of the passing of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson

Tammuz marks the third Rebbe, Rabbi Ya h r z e i t / H i l l u l a Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch, with whom (Anniversary of the 3 he later shared many p a s s i n g ) o f t h e characteristics. Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, To Save a Life: There is of righteous memory (1902- a story told about the Rebbe's early life that 1994). “The Rebbe,” the seems to be almost s eve n t h l e a d e r i n t h e s y m b o l i c o f Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, everything that was to is considered to have been follow. When he was t h e m o s t p h e n o m e n a l nine years old, the y o u n g M e n a c h e m J e w i s h p e r s o n a l i t y o f Mendel courageously modern times. To hundreds dove into the Black of thousands of followers Sea and saved the life and millions of sympathizers of a little boy who had and admirers around the fallen from the deck of a moored ship. That world, he was -- and still is, sense of "other lives in despite his passing -- the danger" seems to have Rebbe, undoubtedly, the one d o m i n a t e d h i s It may have been in these years individual more than any consciousness; of Jews drowning that his formidable knowledge of other singularly responsible in assimilation, ignorance or mathematics and the sciences alienation--and no one hearing began to blossom. for stirring the conscience their cries for help: Jews on and spiritual awakening of campus, in isolated communities, Arrival in the U.S.A.: On Monday, world Jewry. under repressive regimes. From Sivan 28, 5701 (June 23, 1941) the early childhood he displayed a Rebbe and the Rebbetzin arrived The Rebbe was born in 1902, on prodigious mental acuity. By the in the United States, having been the 11th day of Nissan, in Nikolaev, time he reached his Bar Mitzvah, miraculously rescued, by the grace Russia, to the renowned kabbalist, the Rebbe was considered an illuy, o f A l m i g h t y G - d , f ro m t h e talmudic scholar and leader Rabbi a Torah prodigy. He spent his teen European holocaust. The Rebbe's Levi Yitzchak and Rebbetzin Chana years immersed in the study of arrival marked the launching of Schneerson. Rebbetzin Chana Torah. sweeping new efforts in bolstering (1880-1964) was known for her and disseminating Torah and e r u d i t i o n , k i n d n e s s a n d Marriage in Warsaw: In 1929 Rabbi Judaism in general, and Chassidic extraordinary accessibility. Her Menachem Mendel married the teachings in particular, through courage and ingenuity became sixth Rebbe's daughter, Rebbetzin the establishment of three legend when during her husband's Chaya Mushka, in Warsaw. (The centralLubavitch organizations exile by the Soviets to a remote Rebbetzin, born in 1901, was under the Rebbe's leadership: village in Asian Russia she labored chosen by her father, the sixth M e r k o s L ' I n y o n e i C h i n u c h to make inks from herbs she Rebbe, to accompany him in his ("Central Organization For Jewish gathered in the fields -- so that forced exile to Kostroma in 1927. Education"), Kehot Publication RabbiLevi Yitzchak could continue For sixty years she was the Rebbe's Society, and Machne Israel, a social writing his commentary on life partner; she passed away on services agency. Shortly after his ka b b a l a h a n d o t h e r To ra h - 22 Sh'vat in 1988.) He later arrival, per his father-in-law's subjects. The Rebbe was named studied in the University of Berlin u r g i n g , t h e R e b b e b e g a n after his great-grandfather, the and then at the Sorbonne in Paris. publishing

40 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR The 3rd of Tammuz: 23rd anniversary Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson’s passing

such profound respect and moment the Rebbe arrived in his notations to various Chassidic admiration for him?” America in 1941, his brilliance at and kabbalistic treatises, as well as a d d r e ss i n g h i m s e l f t o t h e a wide range of response on Torah Past, Present and Future: Many following ideal became apparent: subjects. With publication of these leaders recognize the need of the He would not acknowledge works his genius was soon moment and respond with courage division or separation. Every Jew -- recognized by scholars throughout and directions. This is their forte -- indeed every human being -- has a the world. and an admirable one. Others, unique role to play in the greater though their strength may not lie scheme of things and is an integral Leadership: After the passing of in "instant response" to current part of the tapestry of G-d's his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef problems, are blessed with the creation. Yitzchak Schneersohn, in 1950, ability of perceptive foresight -- Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson knowing what tomorrow will bring For nearly five of the most critical reluctantly ascended to the and how to best prepare. Still other decades in recent history, the leadership of the Lubavitch leaders excel in yet a third distinct Rebbe's goal to reach out to every movement, whose headquarters at area, possessing a keen sense of corner of the world with love and 770 Eastern Parkway in Brooklyn, history and tradition; their advice c o n c e r n h a s u n f o l d e d N e w Yo r k . S o o n L u b a v i t c h and leadership is molded by a dramatically. No sector of the institutions and activities took on great sensitivity to the past. community has been excluded -- new dimensions. The outreaching young and old; men and women; philosophy of Chabad-Lubavitch But one who possessed all three leader and layman; scholar and was translated into ever greater qualities was truly unique, laborer; student and teacher; action, as Lubavitch centers and standing alone in leadership. Such children, and even infants. Chabad Houses were opened in was the Lubavitcher Rebbe -- the dozens of cities and university inspiration and driving force He had an uncanny ability to meet campuses around the world. behind the success of Lubavitch everyone at their own level -- he today. Radiating a keen sense of advised Heads of State on matters Passing: On Monday afternoon urgency, he demanded much from of national and international (March 2, 1992), while praying at his followers, and even more from i m p o r t a n ce , ex p l o re d w i t h the gravesite of his father-in-law himself. The Rebbe led, above else, professionals the complexities in and predecessor, the Rebbe by example. their own fields of expertise, and suffered a stroke that paralyzed spoke to small children with warm h i s r i g h t s i d e a n d , m o s t Initiation, Not Reaction: He was a words and a fatherly smile. devastatingly, robbed him of the rare blend of prophetic visionary ability to speak. and pragmatic leader, synthesizing “Actualize Your Potential!" With Two years and three months later, deep insight into the present e x t r a o r d i n a r y i n s i g h t , h e the Rebbe passed away in the early needs of the Jewish people with a perceived the wealth of potential morning hours of the 3rd of the breadth of vision for its future. In a in each person. His inspiration, Hebrew month of Tammuz, in the sense, he charted the course of now accessible through his year 5754 from creation (June, 12 Jewish history -- initiating, in writings and videos, boosts the 1994), orphaning a generation. addition to reacting to, current individual's self-perception, events. The Rebbe was guided by ignites his awareness of that Uniqueness: With the Rebbe's inspired insight and foresight in hidden wealth and motivates a teachings propelling them and his combination with encyclopedic desire to fulfill his potential. In the example serving as a beacon to s c h o l a r s h i p , a n d a l l h i s same way, many a community has emulate, Lubavitch has rapidly p r o n o u n c e m e n t s a n d been transformed by the Rebbe's grown to be a worldwide presence, undertakings were, first and message, and been given -- and all its various activities are foremost, rooted in our Holy Torah. directly or indirectly -- a new sense stamped with his vision. Small Time and again, what was clear to of purpose and confidence. In each wonder then, that many ask, "What him at the outset became obvious case the same strong, if subtle, is it about his leadership that was - to other leaders with hindsight, message is imparted: "You are - and, in so many ways, still is -- so decades later. Divinely gifted with enormous u n i q u e ? W h y d o l e a d i n g strength and energy -- actualize personalities of the day maintain Everyone's Unique Role: From the it!"

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 41 The 12th & 13th of Tammuz

The 12th and 13th days of action, strengthening Tammuz mark the festive t h e s p re a d i n g of T o r a h a n d days of liberation of the s t r e n g t h e n i n g Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, J u d a i s m ( t h e Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn. o b s e r v a n c e a n d He had been arrested in the performance of the Soviet Union in the year c o m m a n d m e n t s , etc.), but had one 5687-1927 for spreading t h i n g i n m i n d — Torah and strengthening “ s t r e n g t h e n i n g Judaism. Judaism.” It is just t h a t o n e c a n n o t in later generations lightly, In a letter commemorating the first strengthen Judaism without first thinking they are “the work of man” anniversary of his liberation, the strengthening Torah, for the and thus not vital, is not only Previous Rebbe wrote: “It is following reason: l a c k i n g c e r t a i n d e t a i l s o f appropriate to establish this day as “Judaism,” but is in fact opposing a d a y o f f e s t i v e a s s e m b l y In its simple meaning, “Judaism” something essential to Judaism as a (hisva’adus) and inspiration for the refers to the general conduct of whole, namely, the realization that strengthening of Torah and Jews as Jews. It is therefore none of it is the work of man. Judaism in each and every place necessary to emphasize that Rather, each and every detail is according to its characteristics.” “Judaism” means more than the revealed by G-d through His way in which Jews have conducted servants — the Jewish Sages of Why did the Rebbe speak of the themselves throughout the ages — each generation. “strengthening of Torah and something that may mistakenly be J u d a i s m ” w h e n “ J u d a i s m ” ascribed to man’s imagination or The need to emphasize the encompasses the study of Torah creativity, Heaven forfend. Rather, “strengthening of Torah” before and the performance of mitzvos ? It “Judaism” is entirely composed of the “strengthening of Judaism” is w o u l d s e e m t h a t t h e the performance of the dictates of also directly related to the passage “strengthening of Judaism” would Torah given to us by G-d on Sinai. that follows — “(the strengthening have sufficed. of Torah and Judaism) in each and This, then, is the meaning of the every place according to its The simple answer is that the phrase “strengthening of Torah and characteristics.” Rebbe was stressing those actions Judaism.” Before strengthening t h a t a r e b o u n d u p w i t h Judaism, it is necessary to bolster Were the “strengthening of Torah strengthening Torah, as he wrote the recognition that it is Torah and Judaism” to be achieved only in many times in that letter about his alone which dictates what Judaism a city full of Sages or the like, the labor in “spreading Torah.” But if is. It is not the province of man to process would not need to be this were the case, he should have say that certain things in Judaism emphasized, for all the residents of started off with the more general are obligatory, while others are not. such a place are surely aware that aspect of “Judaism,” and only then the essence of Judaism consists accent the specific aspect of Each and every detail of Torah, even entirely of G-d’s Torah. “Torah.” Jewish customs3 that began in later generations and were But since stress was placed on a Also, why did he use the term a c c e p t e d i n m o s t J e w i s h strengthening in “each and every “strengthening” rather than the communities, are part of G-d’s p l a c e a c c o r d i n g t o i t s expression he used elsewhere in Torah from Heaven that was given characteristics,” it becomes the missive, namely, “spreading to Moshe at Sinai. necessary to emphasize that Torah”? Judaism remains exactly the same F r o m t h e a b o v e i t c a n b e under all conditions, at all times, In truth, the Rebbe was not understood that he who takes the and in all places. stressing two distinct courses of stringencies and customs enacted

42 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles

he Torah enjoins us to “honor also represent the additional soul Torah admonishes us to “keep the the Shabbat and call it a that our sages say we are given on Shabbat” and “remember the Tdelight.” Now one element Shabbat. Shabbat.” We are to rest on the of this “delight” is to have candles Question: seventh day from the work of the lit. In addition to creating a bright other six, and so are our servants and cheery ambiance, the candles Is it actually written in Torah to and domesticated animals. Don’t ensure that we don’t spend the light Shabbat candles or does it make a fire. There’s a strong evening stumbling around in the say only to observe the Sabbath implication that we don’t build dark. The Torah clearly tells us that and keep it holy? tabernacles on Shabbat. From all we may not kindle fire on Shabbat. this we can figure out a lot of So the key is to light the delight- Response: things that we are not supposed to giving candles before the onset of do—such as anything that’s the day. Lighting Shabbat candles The most precious things in life involved in building a tabernacle. is one of the seven rabbinic are said silently. Those who need But regarding what we are commandments. The mystics to understand—those who are not supposed to do, not a word. It explain that Shabbat is the day strangers, those who hear the seems that the Moses crowd just that brings illumination to our w o r d s f r o m t h e knew—perhaps by intuition, world, which so often seems to be inside—understand. Similarly perhaps by tradition. The prophet dark and negative. Furthermore, with Shabbat: when G-d gave it to Isaiah, however, does elaborate a candles are a metaphor for Torah us, He did not need to spell out its little on what Shabbat entails. His and for the human soul. The most precious customs. Take a audience was, after all, a little Shabbat candles represent the l o o k : w h e n e v e r t h e To r a h more distant from the light of light we introduce into the world mentions Shabbat, it always Sinai—and so needed things through studying Torah and seems to be assuming that we spelled out. He says, “If you observing its precepts. And they know what it’s talking about. The restrain your foot because of the

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 43 The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles

Sabbath, from performing your enjoy!” But sitting in a dark home their understanding of the inner affairs on My holy day, and you will a l l S h a b b a t c r e a t e s o t h e r mechanics of the universe. Sarah call the Sabbath ‘a delight’ and problems. Shabbat is meant to be lit the Shabbat candles, as did G-d’s holy day ‘honored’ . . .” So, a day of peace and harmony. A Rebecca, Rachel and Leah. It’s Shabbat is a day we are to honor dark house, with people tripping reasonable to believe that at no and delight in. But how do you over every unseen obstacle and time in our history did a Friday h o n o r a n d d e l i g h t i n i t ? falling all over each other is not night pass without that light. Apparently, Isaiah’s audience conducive to peace and harmony. needed no further explanation. When Do We Light But in Talmudic times, things got So, at some unspecified point in Shabbat Candles to the point that it was necessary history, for the sake of shalom for the rabbis to spell out every bayit (family harmony), the Candles are lit to honor Shabbat word: you honor the Shabbat with spiritual leaders of the generation on Friday evening before sunset. clean clothes, and delight in it made a distinct requirement that In order to be sure that we do not with fine food and drink. every home must have a lamp lit kindle fire on Shabbat, the before Shabbat in every room standard practice is to light the Now, here’s where the Shabbat where people may walk and bump candles 18 minutes before the sun candles come in: Have you ever sat into things. They declared that sets and the holy day begins. down to a delicious meal in the anyone who would be careful with According to Jewish Law you can dark? Not too much fun. Who it would be blessed with children light candles as early as one hour knows what that fork may end up who would be Torah scholars, as and 10 minutes before sunset at a piercing? But, worst of all, even the verse states, “For a mitzvah is a time we call Plag Hamincha. the finest cuisine becomes a drab lamp, and the Torah is light.” They Shabbat candles that are lit earlier affair when you can’t see the interpreted this to mean that than one hour and 10 minutes colors, textures and forms of those through the mitzvah of the lamp before sunset do not fulfill the delicious morsels. We are visual would come the light of Torah. requirement of lighting Shabbat creatures, and even our capacity Nevertheless, the principal lamp is candles. For example if sunset is a to derive pleasure from our food is the one that shines over the at 7:40 pm, you would only be able tied to our visual experience. “A Shabbat meal. The other lamps to light Shabbat candles after blind person,” the rabbis say, “is can be replaced today with 6:20 pm on that Friday. Shabbat never satisfied from his food.” And electric lights, but the light by the Candles should never be lit after so, as long as Jews were interested meal should be a burning flame. In sunset under any circumstances in “calling the Shabbat a day of a prison setting, the Shabbat (even if a non-Jew lights them). delight,” they must have had a candles may be lit in the chapel (if Li g h t i n g t h e c a n d l e s a f t e r lamp lit for the nighttime meal. It that is the only place where an sundown is a grave sin and a had to be lit beforehand, since—as open flame is allowed) as long as desecration of the Shabbat. we are told explicitly—we cannot there is some food eaten there create a fire on Shabbat. And since even though the full Shabbat The custom is that when the it is the woman who generally meal may not actually be eaten in person lights the Shabbat candles takes the responsibilities of the the chapel. Of course it is best if early, they usher in the Shabbat home, presumably she took the the Shabbat candles are lit in the for themselves, and desist from all responsibility for the lamp. Yet it same area as the full Shabbat forbidden work until after seems that later down the line, dinner is eaten if possible. Shabbat. However, others who are there were Jews who felt okay relying on those candles to fulfill s k i m p i n g o n t h e v i s u a l Now you can see that the Shabbat their own obligation (like family experience. Maybe the cost of oil lamp, even though it is technically members of one household or the was escalating. True, you can’t eat a rabbinic institution, has always group of Jewish incarcerated a meal without light and enjoy it. been an integral part of the individualss in one prison) who But people said, “Let’s just eat it Shabbat. Our tradition is that a r e n o t l i g h t i n g c a n d l e s that way anyway, and say we did.” Abraham and Sarah kept the entire themselves, don’t yet accept the Now, if people don’t want to enjoy, Torah even though it was not yet Shabbat until a bit later, and are it’s hard to tell them, “You must given. They knew the Torah from free to continue in “weekday

44 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles mode” almost until Shabbat begins (at sunset) or until they accept Shabbat upon themselves earlier before sunset (e.g., through praying the Shabbat prayers anytime after Plag Haminchah). Those who already lit Shabbat candles may ask someone who did not yet accept Shabbat to do labor that they themselves may not do. It is important to note that even someone who does not accept Shabbat early by candle-lighting may not wait until the last moment, and must accept the Shabbat a bit before sunset. When we add to Shabbat, we are essentially taking time from the m u n d a n e w o r k w e e k a n d Why Light Two (or More) candle corresponds to the second transforming it into something Shabbat Candles soul. that is holy. This reflects the entire purpose of creation—making the it should be noted that although While the widespread custom is to mundane world into a more the prevalent custom is to light at light at least two candles for spiritual and holy place least two candles, strictly speaking Shabbat, many women have the you can fulfill the mitzvah of custom to light more candles in the Who lights Candles Shabbat candle-lighting with even home setting (in a prison or one candle. That said, the custom is military setting two candles The basic custom is that the indeed to light multiple candles. suffice for the entire group.) The woman of the house lights two The basic reason why we light two Talmud states that one who candles. Many women have the candles for Shabbat is that they regularly kindles Shabbat lights is custom to add an additional correspond to the two forms of the rewarded with children who are candle for each child. The age-old mitzvah of Shabbat. In Exodus we Torah scholars. For a soul is custom was that young girls also are told, “Remember (zachor) the compared to a candle, as it says, lit candles. This custom was all but day of Shabbat and make it holy.” “The candle of G-d is the soul of This encompasses all of the man.” Likewise, “a candle is a l o s t i n t h e p o v e r t y a n d p o s i t i v e c o m m a n d m e n t s mitzvah and the Torah is light”—so displacement that followed World associated with sanctifying through the mitzvah of lighting War I. In 1974, the Rebbe, Rabbi Shabbat. In Deut. we are instructed, Shabbat candles, one will merit the Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of “Keep (shamor) the day of Shabbat light of Torah. Based on this soul- righteous memory, encouraged all a n d m a k e i t h o l y . ” T h i s candle comparison, the most Jewish girls (from approximately encompasses all of the negative common custom is that in addition three years of age) to light their prohibitions associated with to the two basic candles, an own Shabbat and holiday candles S h a b b a t . To r e p r e s e n t o u r additional candle is lit for every with the consent of their parents. acceptance of both aspects of child that is born (e.g., if there are Until marriage, girls light one Shabbat observance, we light two three children, five candles are lit). c a n d l e . A n d t h e R e b b e candles. Some explain that the encouraged parents to purchase a reason for lighting at least two The importance of lighting Shabbat special candlestick just for them. candles is based on the Talmudic candles cannot be overstated. As If there are no women in the teaching that on Shabbat we mentioned above, the basic household (i.e. prison), a male in receive an additional soul, which purpose of the Shabbat candles is t h e h o u s e h o l d b e c o m e s imbues us with an extra sense of to bring increased peace into our responsible to the light the h o l i n e s s a n d s p i r i t u a l i t y homes. But it goes deeper than candles throughout the day. The additional that. The Midrash tells us that G-d

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 45 The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles says, “If you kindle the Shabbat undergone great trials in our l i g h t s , I w i l l s h ow yo u t h e The first woman to light Shabbat personal lives and had sought G-d marvelous radiance that will shine candles was our matriarch Sarah. each in our own way. upon Jerusalem at the final According to Jewish tradition, redemption.” In other words, the Sarah would light the Shabbat For two years we lived together in lighting of the Shabbat candles candles on the eve of Shabbat in relative happiness, but after a hastens the final redemption, when the tent she shared with Abraham, while we realized that we had to there will be peace in the entire a n d t h e c a n d l e s w o u l d find a religious community that world. May we merit this speedily miraculously burn from one Friday would accept us and where we in our days! to the next. Thus the pleasant sight could find spiritual fulfillment. Our of Sarah's candles greeted the search took us to many places of How to Light many guests that visited Abraham w o r s h i p i n m a n y d i f fe r e n t Shabbat Candles and Sarah's tent throughout the communities and different cities. I week. could not renounce my Christ, Before the candle-lighting time, Pamela could not embrace him. set up the candles. tea lights, and When Sarah passed away, the Finally in a small Reform Jewish most other standard candles are flames of her Shabbat candles were T e m p l e , t h e r e w a s s o m e acceptable, provided that they extinguished. A few years later, acceptance, where Pam could burn long enough for you to enjoy when Isaac saw that the Shabbat worship the God of Israel and their light after night has fallen candles of his prospective wife, where I could at least acknowledge Put some money in a charity box Rebecca, had the same miraculous that I was a Christian. But it wasn’t and set the box aside. ability to continue burning right, it wasn’t good and neither of Light the candles roughout the week, he understood us was happy with our religious life. Don’t blow out the match. Instead, that she was Sarah's righteous The journey was arduous and drop it onto a fireproof surface. successor, and he wed her happily. painful, we quarreled, and we cried Bring your hands to your face, and and we tried to put it aside. Pam cover your eyes with your palms. The Eternal Jew insisted that she loved me enough, Say the blessing she was finally willing to embrace A Letter Sent to the Lubavitcher Christianity and make it her own. Of Baruch A-tah Ado-nai E-lo-hei-nu Rebbe course I was delighted! Me-lech Ha-olam A-sher Ki-de-sha- nu Be-mitz-vo-tav Ve-tzi-va-nu Le- The Officiate of the Lubavitch We decided to speak first with the had-lik Ner Shel Sha-bbat Ko-desh. Rabbi - Brooklyn, N.Y. 11225 Rabbi of the Temple that we had been attending for some three Blessed are You, Lord our G-d, King Honorable Rabbi: months; however, while we were of the universe, who has sanctified honest about my religion, we were us with His commandments, and I have a Hannukkah story to tell you. not yet ready to reveal to our commanded us to kindle the light Exactly ten years ago, during the member-congregants that we were of the holy Shabbat. Festival of Lights, though I didn’t living together as a married couple. know about the importance of it But in our meeting with the rabbi, Glance at the candles and then then, I met my soul mate. It was also we finally revealed the truth about whisper silent prayers for yourself, on her birthday which we later our relationship, and were shocked for your family, your community found out to be on the second day and very hurt when we realized that and for anyone and everyone in the of this Festival. Without going into although he was not opposed world great detail about our lives and terribly to Pam’s conversion—he Uncover your eyes and wish those backgrounds, I will simply tell you did his best to try to persuade me to around you, “good Shabbos” or that I was raised a Protestant, later I convert to Judaism—he was “Shabbat shalom”! joined Catholicism, and my partner completely opposed to our love. He At this point you have accepted in life was raised agnostic but was claimed biblical sources, even Shabbat upon yourself and no fire born Jewish. This was definitely though we knew he did not may be kindled or handled. determined, as her mother and consider the bible an authoritative g r a n d m o t h e r a n d g r e a t dictum. Very simply, he couldn’t How Long Have We Been Lighting grandmother were all Jewish. By accept us, and we had to leave. We Them? the time we met, each of us had realized then that there was no

46 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles place in a Jewish community for us, thing. She told Pamela that if she and this made Pamela all the more was seriously contemplating such a Slowly we realized that Pamela certain that she could leave it drastic change in her life, it must be would never renounce her religion, behind her forever. done in honesty, as a Jew. Light a and we never talked about it very candle for the Sabbath, she told much. With her lighting her candle, That first Christmas there was no Pamela. Do it just once. It’s what I could not bring myself to hurt her celebration of Hannukkah. No gifts, Jewish women do. And then do it and we finally were able to put and no lights, and no cards even to again. And then do it again. And aside our religious differences. her family. again. And keep doing it until it’s comfortable and you know that it’s That’s not the end of the story. The second Christmas was no a part of you. Then, you can think different. about changing that you. Because My Pamela died on her birthday, r i g h t n o w y o u ’ r e n o t e v e n the second day of the Festival of The third Christmas was. On comfortable with the you that you Lights, three years ago. Her family Thanksgiving Day we were walking know. It’s from a darkness that you disowned her long ago, and it was on 65th Street all the way to the are making a change. But life left to me, her only family, to see to end on the West Side. We found changes should always take place her final resting place. A Christian ourselves in front of Lincoln Square in the light of day, not darkness . . . burial was the obvious, but at the Synagogue and suddenly Pamela light is knowledge. So create your last minute, I noticed the silver case wanted to go inside. For no reason light, and then think about your on our doorpost, and in my mind at all, she just said “let’s go inside” change in that light. could see her candle burning, and I and I complied with her wishes. realized that I had to turn to a Rabbi The conversation continued. She of the Jewish faith to see to her It was a fateful step for her. For us. emphasized that no matter what burial. The Chaplain at the hospital we did before or after, no matter in which she left this life saw to the We walked into a small hall where our partnership, no matter our details. I did not attend. I mourned there was a lecture in progress attendance at my prayer group, her privately at home and in my about raising Jewish children. I Pamela, not I, she stressed, should church, and I mourn her still. remember vividly a Rabbi B. continue to light a candle for the Greenberg spoke about traditional Sabbath every Friday evening. The little crystal candlestick stands values; and then another woman, by my bed, forever unlit. Mrs. Bronya Shaffer, spoke about And Pamela did that. the quest for a holy life in a The little rolled-up scroll that wondrous material world. She was And then on the first day of always hung on our living room a Hasid and a member of the Hanukkah Mrs. Shaffer called us door was buried with her. And the Lubavitch Rabbi’s congregation, and told Pamela that she had a silver mezuzah case I am sending to and she changed the course of our Hannukkah gift for us. She brought you. life. us a “mezzazah” for our door. She Pamela and I spoke with Mrs. said that every Jewish person must May her soul rest in peace. My Shaffer for a long time, mostly have one, and she said that it didn’t Pamela, spurned by her family and asking questions about the matter that Pamela was living with friends and religion, found some spiritual avenues open for Jewish a Christian person. And during that comfort in your teachings. She was women. I had never met as conversation, we discovered that born a Jew, and she finally lived as a compassionate and caring a person Pamela’s birthday was on the Jew, and she was buried as a Jew. as Mrs. Shaffer, and in a very short second day of Hannukkah. time we were openly and honestly May G-d bless her. May G-d bless telling her about our love and our Pamela lit the Menorah for the first you, Honorable Rabbi, and may God plans for the future, including time that Hannukah, a little bless your congregation. someday marriage in a church. Mrs. Menorah that Mrs. Shaffer brought Shaffer acknowledged with respect us. And then she continued lighting And may God bless Bronya Shaffer. m y r e l i g i o n , a n d e v e n her candle for the Sabbath every acknowledged with respect Friday. Sister Patricia Morgan Pamela’s desire to become a Christian, but she insisted on one Without fail, ever. Ed. Notes: This letter was written by

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 47 The Mitzvah of lighting Shabbat Candles a Catholic nun, whose name has Time was running out, but I thought based on the teachings of Rabbi been changed here to protect her I would give it another go. "Please, Menachem Mendel Schneerson. privacy. Many of the facts in this Sharon, you will feel better by She was so engrossed in reading story are of course not consistent adding some more light to your that she did not notice me standing with Jewish law. We did not make world..." Unfortunately, none of the there in shock. As soon as she any alterations since this is an arguments won her over, and I realized that I was home, she actual story and the original text of realized I better light my own immediately got up from the sofa the actual letter sent by this candles if I wanted to do it before and asked if she could borrow the individual. the Shabbat began. The kids book. crowed around to take part in the Getting Even with the beautiful ceremony and my We exchanged pleasantries about Shabbat Candles daughter lit her candle first. I lit my our respective evenings (hers candles with a heavy heart that being alone in my home) and she By Shternie Althaus week. It pained me that someone said to me, "I have been thinking. would refuse such a beautiful, Why am I so angry at the Shabbat One balmy Friday afternoon just feminine, and special deed. candles? What have they ever done before Candle Lighting Time, my to me? I am sorry I got so mad at Israeli babysitter knocked on the I didn't feel comfortable leaving them before.” I assured her she door. She was to babysit my one w i t h a n e m p t y w i c k o n a could make up for it if she lit them year old and four year old as I candlestick on my silver tray, but I happily next week, which, of would accompany my two older knew I better get going. I felt course, she agreed to do. Then she children to a family Bar Mitzvah heaviness in my heart knowing that added, “I couldn't help noticing this Dinner. I was looking forward all a woman would be so angry as to book written in Hebrew about the week to getting dressed up and purposely not light the candles. It power of a Jewish Woman. I assure visiting my family living on Bondi did not sit well with me. I could not you that next week I will light the Beach, in Sydney, Australia. Being keep it to myself and shared the c a n d l e s t o g e t h e r w i t h m y that the synagogue and dinner was incident with my husband as we daughter. I never realized the full down a long hill, I got my flats on walked down the great big hill. I potential and uniqueness of the and comfortable shoes for the kids. was saddened that I had not modern Jewish woman." I felt great The house was spotless and the convinced Sharon to light the relief that night and wondrously smell of Shabbat pervaded the air. I candles. After a beautiful prayer surprised. The power of the soul checked that everyone was still service and subsequent Shabbat can come through even in trying tucked in and ready to go. I struck a dinner with lots of singing, I felt a times. I have never told Sharon that match and got ready to say the little more inspired. But I still could I myself was waiting for the blessing on my Shabbat candles not get Sharon out of my head. opportunity to arise when I would when a thought popped into my be able to read the book myself. It head. I raced to get another Upon returning home that night, I had been sitting on my shelf for candlestick ready for Sharon, our thought of what I might say to nearly five months.... babysitter, and quickly set it on the Sharon when I got home. Then it gleaming silver tray. dawned on me. Who am I to judge Candles are lit for the following her? What business do I have to Jewish holidays as well: Rosh "Sharon, how would you like to ”force” her to do a Mitzvah? How do Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, light a Shabbat candle?" I thought I know what she is going through or Shemini Atzeret/Simchat she would be more than pleased as the hardships she is facing bringing Torah, Passover and Shavuot. she knew all about Shabbat and the up her daughter by herself? holidays. Suddenly, I saw her go red We will be celebrating Shavuot and she exclaimed, “I no longer As I was pondering these thoughts, v e r y s o o n . P l e a s e m a k e light the candles since my divorce. I I was nearing home and eager to arrange-ments to light candles am angry right now and I don’t feel get the kids into bed. As I opened on both nights of Shavuot and like it." I knew she was going the door to my home, I saw an to light Shabbat Candles every through a hard time but never interesting but delightful surprise. Friday. imagined she would be dealing Sharon was curled up on my sofa with it in this way. reading a book about the modern Jewish woman, written in Hebrew,

48 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Week in REVIEW the assignment of (pekudat) the Merari family.” BAMIDBAR 4. Destiny, as in Korach's Week of: May 9-15 rebellion: “And the destiny (pekudat) of all men will be brought upon Is G-d Just Treating Me Like a Number? them.” 5. Accounting, as when Moses By Sholom Raichik gives an accounting for all the donations to construct the The funny thing about customer service is that it often doesn't Tabernacle: “This is the accounting serve the customer. “To them I'm not a person, just an account (pekudei) of the Tabernacle.” number,” customers often complain. And there is nothing quite so cold as being treated like a number. 6. To command (in Modern Hebrew). Strikingly, the fourth book of theTorah, Bamidbar, is referred to as the Book of Numbers. At the beginning of the book, a year Why so many usages for this word? I after the Jews left Egypt, G-d instructsMoses to conduct a believe there is one unifying census of Israel, the firstborns and the Levites. And at the end definition: “to take notice.” When of the book, in Year 40 of wandering in the desert, G-d once G-d remembers Sarah, He takes again instructs Moses to count the people.Why all this notice of her and blesses her with a counting? Hence the name “Book of Numbers,” or in Hebrew, child. When G-d takes notice of the Chumash ha-Pekudim. Jewish people, He sends Moses to take them out of Egypt. When David Why all this counting? The commentaries explain that counting is absent from King Saul's table, his expresses G-d's love and care for His nation. That seems absence is noticed. The Levites are counterintuitive. A census just gives you a bunch of numbers noted for their assignment and for each tribe and group, nothing personal. How is that loving special role in the Tabernacle. The and caring? same goes for a command—you are taking notice of the person you are The standard Hebrew word for counting is cheshbon or commanding. minyan. But throughout the Torah a different word, pekudim, is used. This word and its derivatives are used in many different When G-d instructs Moses to count ways throughout the Torah and Prophets. Among them are: the Jewish nation, G-d says pekod, notmeneh. G-d doesn't simply want a 1. To remember, as in “G-d remembered (pakad) Sarah . . . number to put into his spreadsheet. and Sarah conceived and gave birth to a son to Abraham,” or in G-d wants Moses to take notice of G-d's promise to take the Jewish people of out Egypt: “G-d will every single Jew. Because G-d loves surely remember you(pakod yifkod) and bring you out of this and cares for every individual. No land.” one gets overlooked.

2. To be missed, as in the famous haftorah about David Chumash ha-Pekudim—a whole book and Jonathan: “David's place was missing (vayipakeid).” of G-d taking notice of the Jewish people. What great love. 3. To assign, as in the responsibilities of the Levites: “And

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 49 Week in Review

Expertise everyone has the temperament would all be in danger, and to be part of the regular history would be the poorer for By Elisha Greenbaum military; many of us are the omission. We enlisted on a cowards, while others have lifelong mission, and we will When I need an operation, I go psychological hangups or keep on struggling and to a surgeon, not a butcher. physical deformities that earn conquering until our When you get into trouble with them a discharge. Commander-in-Chief finally the law, you want the best blows the shofar bugle to attorney representing you, not The Army of G-d summon us back home, with just some articled clerk. Only the battle finally won. licensed electricians should The amazing thing about the play around with wiring, and if Jews of Moses' era was that you're not a master builder every single one of them was NASO you're not going to be drafted, and every one of them Week of: May 16-22 renovating my house. First rule made the grade. G-d in life is to put yourself in the commanded Moses: “Count the G-d's Favorites hands of professionals; they entire congregation of the Children of Israel, of those know what they're doing, you By Zalman Posner pay for their expertise, and you twenty years and older, all who are fit to join the army of have a far greater chance of This week's Torah reading gives Israel” (Numbers 1:2). No one ending up satisfied in the long us the Priestly Benediction, malingered, not one of them run. delivered by thekohanim was deemed physically unfit or (priests) on festivals during mentally incapable. They were You want to risk using an services. It is the familiar "May all equally privileged to join amateur? Be my guest; you the L-rd bless you and protect G-d's battalion, and they rallied might just get lucky. You might you." In commenting on one of to His cause. just meet that handyman from the blessings, the heaven with a heart of gold and Talmudreveals an important Just a few weeks before, we a gift for brain surgery and aspect of the Jew's attitude to had gathered around the base electrical alarm systems, and Judaism. absolute proficiency with the of Mt. Sinai to receive our marching orders from G-d. legal system. However, the one "May the L-rd favor you." The These orders were for occupation I am absolutely Talmud tells us that the everyone: the rich and the convinced should never be ministering angels protested poor, the weak and the strong. undertaken by the uninitiated this, because the Torah It may be tempting to claim a is the military. declares that He "has no deferment from duty, leaving favorites." G-d replies to this the war to others, but the truth If you want to be romantic, you contradiction: "How can I help is that when fighting G-d's can describe amateur soldiers but favor Israel? I said, 'You will fight, everyone is a as guerillas or even a militia, eat and be sated and (then) you professional soldier. We have but too often they are nothing are to thank G-d for the good all got a role to play in the but a mob. Bad things happen earth,' and they give thanks for battle of life, and we dare not when you give the wrong a small morsel of food." people weapons; a trail of shirk our duty. We were all willing, so G-d made a miracle violence and mayhem is the This may sound somewhat to ensure that we would all be usual result of using the wrong whimsical at first, but in simple able. material to make soldiers. terms it expresses Israel's devotion to G-d. Israel does not In our lifelong struggle for Even in times of war or believe in and follow G-d goodness and G-dliness, we universal conscription, some because He is good to us, out need everyone on side. Should guys are army surplus. Not of gratitude for His blessings. If even one of us go AWOL, we

50 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Week in Review

Israel's faith were dependent The liberation of the Jewish intention in his choice. There on G-d's immediate blessings, people from slavery in Egypt was a symbolic meaning in based on our "eating and being had several goals. One was the weights of the platter, the sated" before we accept Him, that they should receive the bowl and the spoon, and in then Israel would have Torah on Mount Sinai. This the number of different kinds abandoned Judaism centuries took place seven weeks after of cattle. But for each Prince ago. the Exodus. Another was that although the gift was exactly they should build the the same, the symbolic Judaism stresses not G-d's Sanctuary, the prototype of meaning was different. obligations to man, His debt for the Temple. This was carried our goodness, but man's out some time later under There is a teaching of the devotion to G-d. Not what He close instruction from Moses. Sages that just as everyone's owes us, but what we are due Him. We do not demand full face is different, so our ideas satisfaction before expressing After months of work, finally and approach to life are gratitude, but gratefully thank it was ready. On the first of different. Yet G-d demands Him for the humble morsel, or Nissan, fifty weeks after what looks like a uniform as our Sages put it, "We should leaving Egypt, the dedication contribution from all of us. thank G-d for every breath we of the Sanctuary began. It Every Jew must keep all the take." lasted twelve days, and every 613 Commandments, every day was marked by a non-Jew must keep all the Thus Israel earns G-d's favor. beautiful ceremony, seven Noahide laws. Like that We make no conditions for Him conducted in turn by the of the princes, our "gifts" to to meet, we present no nasi("prince") of each of the G-d seem identical. ultimatum to the Creator, He is Twelve Tribes of Israel. never on trial. If we do At the same time everyone question, we ask not whether As described in the Torah has a unique contribution He is doing a good job, but (Numbers 7:12-83), each day without which the world whether we deserve what He the prince of one of the Tribes would be lacking. The specific has given us. brought a magnificent gift to meaning of the details, their G-d, as a personal offering inner dimension, is where this Individual and from his own possessions. individual contribution is Community Every gift included a large expressed. For example, when silver platter, a silver bowl, a person prays he or she is and a golden spoon filled saying the same words as By Tali Loewenthal with incense, and a number of everyone else, but each cattle for offerings. In person's thoughts during the Does the individual ever feel memory of the fact that these prayer are private and their lost in relation to the broad gifts were brought during the own. needs of the community? first twelve days of Nissan, in Jewish law provides us with some communities the The episode of the princes teachings concerning the relevant passage in the Torah teaches us that in the global detailed organization of our is recited each day. responsibility of Judaism no lives. There is no doubt that if individual need feel lost. properly carried out, these The Lubavitcher Rebbe points Everyone is uniquely create a communal or even out an interesting feature in important; indeed, each global atmosphere of great this episode. Although each person, man or woman, is beauty and harmony. But prince brought an identical crucial for the fulfillment of what about me as an gift, the Midrash explains that G-d's plan for the world. individual? Where am I? each one had a different

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 51 Week in Review

In King Solomon's Song of the dinner. Elizabeth knows BEHAALOSECHA Songs he writes, "I am asleep, how badly the renovations are Week of: May 23-29 but my heart is awake, the needed, but had been eyeing a voice of my Beloved is beautiful outfit that she was A Jewish Approach to knocking…" The commentary hoping to purchase. She had Cognitive Dissonance understands that there are just received her tax refund often two opposing forces and was about to go shopping By Shalvi Weissman within a person, one spiritually when the invitation came in asleep, and one awake, and the mail. What happens when my goals brings the example that within and my reality don't match? I a very brief period of time the As she debates if her refund would like to be an Jewish people were involved should be spent in the mall or intellectually honest spiritual both in the formation of the for the school library, she seeker, a warm, loving and Golden Calf, and in the building contemplates how her dynamic wife and mother, a of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. daughter is in fifth grade this supportive friend; but at the I am asleep-I built the calf, year. She will only have one end of the day I look in the butmy heart is awake, I created more year in the school before mirror and see an annoyed, a resting place for the Divine going to middle school. By the tired dishrag, and all I want to within. While we are stuck in time they finish raising money do is have a cup of coffee and a our human dichotomy, our and actually making changes, bar of chocolate. Warm Divine Beloved who is aware of there is little chance that she dynamic spiritual seeker aside, our strivings and our will enjoy the new library. anyone who stands between challenges is knocking and Elizabeth believes in the me and my mug is in for it. asking to be let in to our lives. improvements the school wants to make, even if her Psychologists have dubbed this Two areas where we often have daughter won't be there to uncomfortable tension that conflicting desires are money enjoy them- my heart is awake, comes from holding two and time. They are limited but it is hard to give up the conflicting thoughts in the resources and we constantly outfit she had been desiring for mind at the same time need to decide how to use months! I am asleep. "cognitive dissonance." We what we have. For years humans find it very disturbing Elizabeth, an English teacher, If Elizabeth can't find it in her to be stuck between a system has been telling her daughter's heart to buy the tickets and of beliefs and a reality that school that they need to make the donation, cognitive counters it. upgrade the library. The dissonance might influence her computers are old and that anyhow today most of the Psychological experimentation outdated. The books are few families have good computers has shown that when people and torn. Even the walls could at home, and there is a public are put in a situation that use a fresh paint job. The library that they could go to if opposes what they think or school library should be a they really want to borrow believe, they will often change place of excitement and books. It's not her their minds before they change adventure, opening to its responsibility to worry about their situation, in order to students worlds of curiosity every child out there, she has resolve the discomfort of and opportunity. enough on her hands, etc. cognitive dissonance. In 1957, Leon Festinger published a Finally the school announces We could imagine a similar theory of cognitive dissonance, that they will be holding a situation were time is the however,the Torah was aware fundraising dinner in order to precious commodity. It's a silly of this phenomenon thousand fully refurbish the library. They little thing, but you like to go of years earlier. are asking for three hundred once a week and get a dollars for a pair of tickets to manicure. You shmooze with

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the beautician, feel pampered, of the line parenting technique, right away. Moses taught the and enjoy spacing out a little but, at her wits end, she gives people the laws of Korban bit. As you are on the way out her child a sound spanking. In Pesach, the Pascal sacrifice. It the door aunt Hilda calls. She her bed that night she tells was to be brought on the 14th went to the hospital for a check herself that it's important to ofNissan to commemorate the up, and the senior van was educate her kids in a way that exodus. However, one who was supposed to come and get her feels natural to her, and an ritually impure could not to take her home. She has been occasional spanking will only partake of it. waiting for an hour and they strengthen her child, after all, didn't show. Her arthritis is her parents spanked her, and A couple of Jews realized that flaring up, and she needs to get she turned out OK, right? their spiritual impurity was home and rest, "Honey, would going to prevent them from you be a darling and come pick In these examples everyone participating in this most me up? I don't think I have started out wanting to do the important celebration. I am enough money for a taxi. right thing, but when asleep. They came to Moses You've always been my favorite circumstances turned on them, and said, "We understand that niece, you know." they turned on themselves, the law you taught is from G-d, letting their minds follow the and it is good, but we don't Knowing Aunt Hilda she surely course of their external reality, want to be left out. We want to does have enough money in and losing a vital element of be a part of the national her purse, and if not than on self in the process. exaltation! My heart is awake. her stash in the vase on the What should we do?" grand piano in the den. Aunt Cognitive dissonance is not an Hilda is a dear, but she talks enemy. It can have benefits if Moses was convinced that due your ear off. Dou just went to we learn to harness it to our to their sincerity G-d would visit her last weekend, and you advantage. The sages of the give a special directive for can't just cancel your Talmud knew this when they them. He told them to wait; a appointment at the last minute, said that even if one learns Divine consultation resulted in and you need to take care of Torah "not for the sake of themitzvah of Pesach Sheini. yourself too, right? In an hour heaven," he should continue, Those who were ritually impure the kids will be coming home, and eventually he will learn on the day of the national and this is your chance. So you "for the sake of heaven." Or, as Passover offering, or were too tell yourself not to forget to the Sefer Hachinuch put it, far from Jerusalem to make it send her a card next week for "The heart is influenced by there in time, could come a her birthday, and convince action." In today's world month later on the 14th of Iyar Hilda to take a taxi. someone who does something and bring their sacrifice then. positive without fully believing In order to enjoy your manicure in it is called a hypocrite. Jews They could have easily said, "If at this point you will have to would call it spiritual growth. our sacrifice is not wanted, continue to convince yourself, fine! We won't give it," but they and probably the beautician Cognitive dissonance is not an insisted on having a part in the that you did the right thing. enemy. It can have benefits if mitzvah. Not only did they get Otherwise the uncomfortable we learn to harness it to our what they asked for, but a new feeling of cognitive dissonance, advantageIn this week's Torah mitzvah and a whole chapter of and a good dose of Jewish guilt portion,Behaalotecha, some Torah was added because of will ruin your day. unnamed Israelites them! demonstrated the awesome Then there's the mom who has results that can come if we Cognitive dissonance can help read every parenting book on don't allow rationalizations to us streamline our beliefs in a the shelf, all of which agree take over when we are not able positive way as long as we stay that slapping a kid is not a top to fulfill our spiritual goals focused and don't give up

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because we aren't 100% there training. There's a vast can lose perspective. They can yet. It can pull us down if we difference between runner-- lose their sensitivity to others are not aware of its power and even the one who finishes and the awareness of their the rationalizations that are its last--and the spectators on the own fallibility. The Danites trusted helpers. Strive for your sidelines. Neither of them has were able to return this to the spiritual goals. When any hopes of winning the race. tribes who were out in front. circumstances get in your way, The participants, though, have They were in last place but don't let justifications set in to an inner contentment and they were in the race, eyes on dull your dreams. sense of satisfaction. They're the goal. Without any fanfare, in the race. For them, just they did what needed doing Growth can only happen when completing the marathon itself and stayed focused on the we allow ourselves some is a badge of courage and needs of others. With a inconsistency. Don't be afraid pride, and they have no need wonderful blend of self- to take a step in a good for an external trophy. effacement and self-esteem, direction just because you can't they felt no need to get ahead. yet see the end of the road. The Torah portion of They knew they were doing Remember, the voice of my Behaalotecha (Numbers 8-12) exactly what G-d needed from Beloved is knocking. describes the encampment of them. the Jewish people in the Nice Guys Finish Last desert, and the manner in The Danites are my inspiration, which they traveled. After especially on those days when By Chaya Shuchat hearing the signal sounded by I'm in a slump and it seems special silver trumpets, the that the world is passing me I always wondered about the twelve tribes of Israelpacked by. The days that no one motivation of someone who up their camp, lined up in a returns my phone calls or runs a marathon and comes in designated order, and marched reads my emails, and I feel like at last place. The amiable forth into the desert. The tribe I'm the bottom of the heap. I'm couple in their sixties, ambling of Dan always marched last. so far behind in the social together towards the finish stratum that keeping up with line--what made them do it? Their job was to bring up the the Joneses or the Greenbergs Each year, some 36,000 people rear and gather up any objects is not even a realistic line up to participate in the left behind--missing socks, possibility. New York City Marathon, a perhaps, or lost children. They grueling 26-mile route that picked up after everyone else. But maybe today there's snakes through all five someone who needs a smile boroughs of the city. Of those It's not a very glorious role. from me or is losing their thousands, only one will come Not nearly as impressive as balance, and I can help them out in front. Why do people leading the tribes, likeJudah, find it. Maybe someone out run the marathon, knowing or carrying the holy vessels there needs a friend who will that they have no chance of like the Levites. But it was a return their phone calls and coming in one of the top ten or job that needed to get done. respond to their e-mails. even the top thousand? There's a little child right here Chassidic teachings explain who needs my full attention I did a little research, reading that in addition to maintaining while he tells me about his first-person accounts of the baggage claim day. I'm chugging along in last marathon runners. For one department, the Danites also place, the wind blowing in my thing, completing a marathon ran a different type of "lost face. Nothing is important; is hardly a walk in the park. All and found." There's something everything is important. I'm the runners, even those who that people can lose when coming in last but I'm in the finish in last place, prepare for they're out in the front, race. weeks in advance with fitness soaking up all the glory. They

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The Torah's Perspective While this is an issue which SHELACH societies and legislatures must Week of: May 30 - June 5 Mr. Musumeci has a point. The consider, let us for a moment argument he employs is the consider the prison inmate's Life Behind Bars reason why incarceration is not perspective. From Mr. part of the Torah's penal code. Musumeci's point of view, By Naftali Silberberg Depending on the nature of the whether the court's decision crime, a person received a fine was prudent or not is Unexpected Death Penalty (compensative and/or punitive seemingly moot. Rightly or Advocates damages) or corporeal wrongly, the fact is that he is punishment. In extreme cases, serving a life sentence. What BBC News: Hundreds of capital punishment was called should his attitude be now? Is prisoners serving life for. As is the case with all he right for seeking a death sentences in Italy have called Torah-sanctioned punishments, sentence? on President Giorgio the person's death wasn't Napolitano to bring back the intended to exact vengeance, A National Life Sentence death penalty. and wasn't even intended (solely) as a deterrent measure. To a smaller degree we can all Italy has been at the forefront Rather, the person's death relate to this predicament. of the fight against capital brought atonement for the sin punishment and recently he/she committed, and -- in "You make your bed and you lobbied the UN Security conjunction with teshuvah must lie in it." Council to table a moratorium (repentance) -- guaranteed the on it. But at home some of the deceased's soul's entry into We are humans, and we make country's longest serving Paradise. mistakes. And we all pay for prisoners want the death these mistakes, sometimes penalty re-introduced. The courts were not quite dearly. One person empowered, however, to rob a partied away his college years The letter they sent to person of the ability to be a and now doesn't have a degree. President Napolitano came full-fledged productive Another person made from a convicted mobster, member of society. A person irresponsible financial Carmelo Musumeci, a 52-year- who does not deserve to die decisions and now she is old who has been in prison for must be allowed to be saddled with a poor credit seventeen years, and co-signed productive in the fullest sense, rating. What attitude does G-d by 310 of his fellow lifers. a prospect which is impossible expect us to have towards our when confined in prison.1 crumpled beds? Are we simply Musumeci said he was tired of to resign ourselves to our fate, dying a little bit every day. We In my estimation, it can justifying the misery because want to die just once, he said, conceivably be argued that we "earned it"? How and "we are asking for our life long term incarceration depressing. sentence to be changed to a violates the Eighth Amendment death sentence". of the Constitution which The Ninth of Av marks the prohibits cruel and unusual anniversary of many tragic It was a candid letter written by punishment. Is robbing an events. The first of these a man who, from within his cell, individual of the most basic events occurred some 3300 has tried hard to change his human desire/need, freedom, years ago when the Jews were life. He has passed his high less cruel than inflicting in the desert, headed for the school exams and now has a physical pain? I believe that Holy Land. The scouts they degree in law. But his sentence, any prison incarcerated dispatched to Canaan to he says, has transformed the individuals will answer that reconnoiter the land returned light into shadows. question in a nanosecond. with an ominous report. They

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asserted that the Land was Heaven." After the generation seem, sitting in a desert and unconquerable due to its was condemned to spend the studying Torah all day while fortifications and immensely rest of their days in the desert, ensconced by miraculous powerful inhabitants. Instead many Israelites mistakenly heavenly clouds is not the of demonstrating faith in G-d, assumed that being banned reason why G-d dispatched the Israelites panicked: "Why from entering the Holy Land pure souls into this physical does G-d bring us to this land meant that they were no longer world. Instead, G-d wanted us to fall by the sword; our wives G-d's holy nation, and their to enter Canaan and work the and children will be as spoils. Is mitzvot or transgressions were land. He wants us to go to it not better for us to return to of no consequence anymore. To work, become involved with a Egypt? Let us appoint a leader dispel this erroneous world which challenges the and return to Egypt!" assumption, the mekoshesh soul's resolve and commitment deliberately committed a to G-d, and through the And G-d agreed. "As you have capital crime to demonstrate observance of the mitzvot to spoken in My ears, so will I do through his death that their imbue this physical world and to you," was His response. The actions were still significant. everything within it with Israelites who were too fearful holiness and divine purpose. to enter the Land would never But why did he desecrate the merit to cross the Jordan River Shabbat? Couldn't he have When the Israelites realized and inherit the Land of Milk made the same point by that they would be denied this and Honey. They would transgressing another sin? opportunity, they completely meander about the Sinai Shabbat is a fundamental lost heart. There was no longer Peninsula for forty years, and mitzvah which is an eternal any reason to carry on. In their only after their generation had sign between G-d and the estimation, Torah and mitzvot perished, would their children Children of Israel. Indeed, if he which remain in the desert and enter the Land. had chosen a "lighter" sin to will not impact the world has transgress, the lesson the no value whatsoever. The entire generation was Israelites would have derived handed a life sentence. This would have been all the more But the mekoshesh strongly was the bed they made for powerful -- it would have disagreed with this themselves; now they had to demonstrated that even a assessment. Once a week, he lie in it. For good. minor infraction is argued, we observe the consequential! Shabbat--a day when no work But the subsequent action of is allowed, a day which is one courageous individual Perhaps the mekoshesh's dedicated to spirituality, Torah provides us with the answer we choice to desecrate Shabbat study and prayer. On this day, are seeking. One man was in itself a lesson he was even our "mundane" pursuits sacrificed all to teach his trying to convey. are holy--eating and taking brethren the appropriate pleasure on the Shabbat is a response to a life sentence. The Israelites' mistaken mitzvah! From this day we take impression that their actions the strength and ammunition The Death which Infused Life were no longer of significance to successfully prevail against a wasn't only a result of G-d's hostile environment during the This individual, known as the obvious displeasure with their following six days. Without the mekoshesh, the gatherer, was behavior and His decision to benefit of the Shabbat, we executed for gathering wood in punish them. It was the choice would be handily defeated. the public domain on Shabbat. of punishment. The Israelites The Talmud explains that -- were well aware that And though the Shabbat is strange as this may sound -- "conquering Canaan" "merely" a preparation for the the mekoshesh desecrated the represented the very purpose following week, it is a mitzvah Shabbat "for the sake of of creation. As lofty as it may of utmost importance. It is

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considered the equivalent of where prison incarcerated commanded to place tzitzit-- all the other mitzvot combined, individualss are presented the fringes--on the corners of our and desecrating its holiness is opportunity to be productive in garments and told: "And you a capital offense. many ways. You have the shall look upon it and ability to use your knowledge remember all the With his death, the mekoshesh of law to assist many commandments of G-d, and was telling his fellow Jews: individuals who are in dire fulfill them." "You are the cosmic Shabbat of need of the services you can the collective Jewish nation. now render. The shadows of The same word, ur'eetem, is Your complete immersion in your life can bring much- used both times; yet look at the Torah study and spirituality in welcome light and radiance to stark contrast between these the following years will set the the lives of so many others. two chapters. The first time, foundation for the following And you, too, will have the with the spies, it turned tragic. generations, giving them the ability to bask in the light they Their negative report of the capability to conquer the will reflect back into your cell. land caused the people to forces of Canaan! Your part in reject the Divine promise; their the master plan of creation is Hopefully you will serve as an cries of fear and despair pivotal and indispensable." inspiration to all those who caused G-d to decree that that share your fate: those who are day would become a time of Making Peace with the imprisoned by the courts as "weeping for generations." Crumpled Bed well as the many of us who are Indeed, it was Tisha B'Av, and lying in crumpled beds of our the resulting 40-year delay in On a deeper level, the own making. entering Israel was to be the mekoshesh was also conveying first of many national a theological truth. Even when calamities to befall our people a person finds himself in Heads Up! on that same day. On the other undesirable circumstances as a hand, the second instance of result of his own foolish By Yossy Goldman the word ur'eetem in our actions, ultimately he is there Parshah is a positive one: because G-d wanted him to be Perspective: what a difference looking at the fringes is a way there; because currently this is it can make. How we look, to remember all G-d's exactly where he must be in where we look and the way we commandments and to observe order to accomplish his unique look at things always colors our a G-dly life. mission in life. impressions. It all depends on how we look You made your bed. Many In this week's Parshah, the at things. It all comes down to times with a little cleaning, word ur'eetem--"and you shall where we go looking. To see ironing, stretching and pulling, see"--occurs twice. The first is the land as the Spies saw it is the bed can be freshened and at the beginning of the to see earthiness, a made eminently inviting. And Parshah, in the story of the materialistic perspective. To at those times when this is not spies sent byMoses to see the tzitzit is to gaze at a possible, bear in mind that this investigate the Promised Land; mitzvah of G-d, a heavenly crumpled bed is exactly where and the second time is at the perspective. you have the potential to be very end, in the chapter on the most productive, exactly where mitzvah of tzitzit. In the first Ever watch an army of ants at G-d wants you to be. verse, Moses instructs the spies work? Isn't it fascinating how "And you shall see the land, they march in a straight line? Mr. Musumeci, I commend you what is it... are the people Such disciplined workers, it is for your constructive utilization strong or weak... is the land quite amazing. Ants, you see, of your time behind bars. You fertile or lean... are the cities have one-dimensional vision. live in a progressive society open or fortified?" In the That's why they follow their second verse, we are

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noses and the guy right in front If we only look at the land, at and the rebels as centering on of them. They have no that which is earthly and quite a different issue. Moses peripheral vision and therefore material, the world is crass and had just finished teaching the no distractions from their careless, helter-skelter and mitzvah of tzitzit (fringes), as single-minded, though limited, hollow. But when we raise our stated in the verse: “Speak to perspective. sights and lift our heads the Children of Israel and tell heavenward, we see so much them to make fringes on the I remember a farbrengen more. When we utilize our corners of their garments . . . (Chassidic gathering) in yeshiva unique human mind power and and they shall place on the in Montreal when I was a spiritual potential, we can fringes of each corner a thread student. Reb Velvel Greenglass, better discern the wood from of blue.” Immediately, Korach the mashpia and mentor (may the trees, the lofty from the ordered that two hundred and he be well) was waxing lyrical low. The Sages of the Talmud fifty cloaks be made entirely of on the difference between a noted that by looking at the blue, and that no fringes be human being and an animal. tzitzit, we not only see the placed on them. His supporters The animal was created in a commandments of G-d but we then dressed themselves in horizontal line. The cow, discover G-d Himself.1 these odd garments and naturally, looks downward, at paraded before Moses. “You the grass. Munching grass is its I guess, where you look always have taught us,” Korach said to full-time occupation. All a cow determines what you find. Moses, “that G-dtold you, 'They thinks about all day is its food. shall place upon the fringes of Ever see a cow looking up at each corner a thread of blue.' I the sky and pondering the KORACH ask you, what of a garment that meaning of life? Human beings, Week of: June 6-12 is entirely blue? Does it, too, however, were created in a require fringes?” Moses vertical orientation. It is much answered in the affirmative, easier for humans to look Hanging by a Thread that the law remains the same upward, to contemplate that and such a garment would which is higher and more By Shais Taub indeed be obligated to bear meaningful. (I guess that's why fringes. Korach and his men the chimps and baboons that Just over a year after leaving then laughed at Moses and stand vertically think they are Egypt and receiving the Torah, mused, “A garment that is gantze mentschen.) the Jews witnessed the first made entirely of blue does not rebellion in their ranks as an fulfill the mitzvah—and four To be people of vision we must uprising of two hundred and small strings do? These things look upward. There is a higher fifty men and their you teach us, they were not purpose to life. There is a leader,Korach, challenged the commanded to you, but you deeper meaning to what meets true authority of Moses. make them up yourself!” the eye. The whole of Kabbalah and mysticism is based on the In the Torah portion that bears In the biblical account, the principle of the metaphysical. his name, Korach, and which main thrust of Korach's This fundamental principle is speaks of the revolt and its opposition was political—his that there is not only the self- resolution, we learn of Korach's claim for the high priesthood, evident body but also the bid for power, his plot to as mentioned. Yet, as the invisible soul; not only the depose Moses' brother Midrash makes clear, the universe but also a cosmic plan Aaronfrom the high priesthood rebellion itself was launched and a profound reason for and to usurp this office for upon Korach's stance regarding every experience in life, himself. one peculiar case in the laws of whether it be obvious to us or fringes. not. The Midrash, however, describes the initial This seems odd, for Korach was confrontation between Moses

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present with all of the Jews at consistent. A regular garment six hundred and thirteen. Sinai when the Torah was given with a single thread of blue on Thereby they will be reminded to Moses, and saw for himself each corner fulfills a precept, of all of the commandments, as how Moses received the Torah while a garment made entirely it is written, 'They will see from G-d. Furthermore, Korach of this same blue does not? [their fringes] and remember had studied this same Torah This case, asserted Korach, was G-d's commandments.'” and was a scholar in his own but a chief example of how right, as evidenced by his Moses had distorted the entire Thus, according to the Midrash, ability to attract to his Torah, extemporaneously or the function of fringes is following two hundred and even calculatingly adding his specifically to represent the six fifty supporters, all of whom own contrivances to all of the hundred and thirteen were heads of rabbinical commandments until the body commandments. This courts. And yet, despite all he of his teachings became wholly exegetical explanation, had seen and studied, Korach inauthentic. however, is seemingly difficult came to denounce Moses and to reconcile with the actual the divinity of the Of course, Korach's argument ritual as set forth in the Torah. commandments, all because of was underlain by one major According to Torah law, we are a seemingly academic question premise—that the commanded to make fringes as to whether a garment commandments actually are expressly for the corners of our entirely of blue wool is based on logic. Moses, garments. The fringes obligated to have fringes. however, answered in truth, for alone—the strings by the commandments do not themselves—have no ritual Making Sense of G-d's adhere strictly to reason but function or value unless Commandments transcend intellect, as they are attached to a garment. Yet if, as rooted in G-d's very will. Thus, the Midrash seems to say, the Let us examine Korach's it was Korach's refusal to allow purpose of the fringes is precise argument as presented for the ultimate supra- merely to remind us of the in the Midrash. rationality of the law that led commandments, then him to vie with Moses and deny ostensibly we should be able We do not find that Korach his teachings. to make just the fringes disputed the basic without the need for any commandment of fringes. Nor A Model for Faith garment. We could just hold or did he reject the concept of a look at the fringes alone and divine code of law in general. Elsewhere, the Midrash relates be reminded of the To the contrary, as apparent a discussion which took place commandments that way. from his very argument, he between G-d and Moses just most certainly did believe that prior to the issuing of the In truth, however, the Midrash G-d had ordained specific laws, commandment of fringes. and its allusions are exact. including even the ritual of Moses asked G-d, “What good Precisely for the reason that fringes in some form. Korach's is it that You have given the tzitzit are meant to represent contention was only that Jews so many commandments, and remind us of all other Moses did not faithfully when they are here in this commandments, they can serve transmit the actual law, but physical and coarse world and this purpose only when that he instead invented his are liable to forget the idea of attached to a garment. As we own rulings as he saw fit. Torah altogether?” G-d discussed regarding Korach, his answered, “I will give them the failure was in recognizing that The invalidity of these mitzvah of fringes and they will the root and source of the teachings, Korach argued, could remember all of the commandments exceeds the be observed by the failure of commandments, for the word bounds of understanding. This Moses' rulings to conform to tzitzit is numerically equivalent principle itself is reflected in logic. The law, as presented by to six hundred and with its five the mitzvah of tzitzit. Moses, did not seem knots and eight strings this is

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The function of a garment is to dispute that was not waged for wish they could have his life; surround a person, remaining the sake of Heaven? That of that they could be him. external to him. Unlike other Korach and his followers.” necessities, like food and Hillel and Shammai, though In the course of their water, that offer sustenance constantly at odds with one conversations, the rabbi asked only when taken inside of the another in Torah law, were not this man what it is that he person, a garment acts, in bound to intellect alone. For constantly wishes for in life. chassidic terminology, as this reason, we find cases His answer: Obscurity. His amakkif—that which where both Hillel and Shammai dream is to fade from the encompasses and is aloof. depart from their typical line of limelight, and lead a simple, Thus, just as the fringes thinking and espouse views anonymous, man-on-the-street, symbolize the commandments, that are uncharacteristic of white-picket-fence existence. the garment to which the their standard rulings. Thus, fringes must be attached their disputes, too, were free In this week's Torah portion, symbolizes the transcendent from intellectual bias and Korach, we meet a man who, by source of the commandments, prejudice. Where they all accounts, was a very the divine will, which surpasses disagreed, it was strictly for intelligent, affluent and gifted logic and cannot be altruistic motives, to arrive at individual. A Levite by birth, he intellectually internalized or the proper ruling rather than to already occupied a position of grasped. Thus, while there is further their own agenda. prominence and prestige indeed an intellectual within the community of Israel. dimension to the Korach, however, who followed Yet, he rallies together a band commandments which can be intellect alone, entered into of fellow Levites to challenge appreciated through analysis debate with his own objectives the leadership ofMoses and the and study, ultimately the in mind. Whether it is the priesthood of Aaron. commandments, inasmuch as Biblical account of his they are a pure expression of attempted political coup, or the “The entire community -- all of divine will, supersede all Midrashic telling of his them -- are holy, and G-d is intellect—even G-dly intellect, apostasy over a peculiarity in among them,” Korach protests, as it were. the laws of fringes, it is but one “why do you [Moses and Aaron] Korach, the scholar, the thinker exalt yourselves over the Intellectual Agenda and leader desperately congregation of the Lord?” confined to calculations and a This, precisely, was Korach's prisoner to his own point of How virtuous. How egalitarian. undoing. His acceptance of the view. After all, every soul, bar none, commandments was as a is a spark of G-d. How then can rational endeavor. Thus, as distinctions be drawn between soon as Torah failed to conform The Greenest Grass Jews -- whereby this one is a to his understanding, he tribal prince, this one a Levite, rejected its divinity and seized By Moshe Bryski this one a priest and yet the opportunity to advance his another a high priest? Let us all own corrupt agenda. Indeed, A rabbinical colleague of mine stand as one without this push for self-advancement tells me that he's had extensive separation or distinction. was but an expression of the contact with one of the most more profound issue of popular and renowned Righteous indignation is often Korach's rationalist thinking. entertainment celebrities of nothing more than envy with a our time. This star is not only halo. Indeed, for all of his “man Our Sages have stated, “Which hugely famous, wealthy and of the people” posturing, is a dispute that was waged for successful, but has been Korach was not nearly as the sake of Heaven? That of acclaimed around the globe for unselfish and altruistic as his Hillel and Shammai. Which is a his rare talent and genius. words might suggest. The man Hundreds of thousands of fans

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felt rebuffed in that Aaron, and you can perform. That mission spoil some vast eternal plan if I not he, was granted the high is to enhance and perfect your were a wealthy man?” The priesthood, and could not world. And what is “your answer is: of course not! In fact, abide this perceived snub to world”? It's whatever you wake your being a wealthy man is his own standing and stature. up to in the morning: Your life, very much part of the vast your family, your community, eternal plan. Now as to the In responding to Korach, Moses your personality, your definition of wealth... says: “It is too much for you, O problems, your circumstances - offspring ofLevi.” - that's your world. That's the “Who is rich?” say the sages. life you were put into, and “He who is happy with his lot.” In other words, can you not that's where your purpose can recognize the beauty and be found. The Chasidic master, Rabbi uniqueness of the gifts you do Zushe of Hanipoli, once said, “If have? You are a member of the We don't sit around saying “if I was offered a deal wherein I chosen people. As a Levite, you only.” “If only I had kids like could trade places with the are a keeper of the sanctuary. those.... If only my mother Patriarch Abraham, so that he You are a respected dignitary. wouldn't have married my would be Zushe and I would be You have so much going for father.... If only I was better- Abraham, I would not take it. yourself. How could you looking, more intelligent, more For although I would benefit by possibly be discontent? Why talented.... If only I was Donald being Abraham, what gain must you seek the priesthood Trump....” would there be for the when G-d clearly gave that to Almighty? He would still have somebody else? It makes for nice fantasy one Abraham and one Zushe.” perhaps, but a total waste of Korach's begrudging spirit gave time and energy when it A person who sees the essence him no peace and, ultimately, invades reality. of life as serving the will of His led to a fatally disastrous end Creator does not expend for him and his group. When you live with a sense of useless energy craving places Divine purpose, you recognize where the grass is greener. He The sages teach us: “There is that you are who you are; your finds meaning, purpose, joy no man who does not have his life is what it is, because that's and fulfillment in the place place.” what it's meant to be. And it is where the grass is greenest of within your own life that you all: his own. If that's the case, the are called upon to serve your commentaries ask, why is it Creator and fulfill your very that there are so many people distinctive mission and CHUKAS who are so unhappy with their purpose. Week of: June 13-19 lot? The answer is that instead of savoring their own special Korach would have done well Meet the Red Heifer place, and flourishing therein, (as would we all) to heed the they futilely crave the place profound words of the serenity An overview of the Parah that belongs to somebody else. prayer. The key to living a good Adumah from classical sources and happy life is to have the The reason G-d created man as courage to change those things By Mendy Kaminker a single unit rather than as an which can be changed, the entire species (as He did with serenity to accept those things One of the most enigmatic the animal kingdom) is to show which cannot be changed and mitzvahsin the Torah is the you that one man equals the the wisdom to know the parah adumah, the red heifer, world, says the Mishna. Every difference. which was used for ritual individual is unique. You were purification. There have been handpicked to fulfill a specific When Tevye the Milkman only nine such heifers in mission; a mission that only demands of G-d: “Would it

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history, and our tradition tells no yoke was laid.” calling it “the chok of the us that there will be one more Torah,” it appears that this in the future. Here is an The sages infer that the red mitzvah must somehow be overview of the mysterious red heifer must be completely more mysterious and supra- heifer, which left even King red—even two black hairs rational than any other law. Solomon, the wisest of all men, would render it invalid. And it scratching his head in must not have done any work Rashi elaborates: “Because wonderment. in its lifetime—even having a Satan and the nations of the yoke placed on its back, or world taunt Israel, saying, What Was It Needed For? having mated, would disqualify 'What is this commandment, it. and what purpose does it Before we can discuss the have?' therefore the Torah uses actual red heifer, we need a bit Once a candidate was found, the term 'statute.' 'I have of background information on and there was need for more decreed it; you have no right to the biblical laws of ritual purifying ash water, the cow challenge it.'” purity. There is a common would be slaughtered and misconception that the biblical burned on a pyre, along with a In reference to the red heifer, notion of impurity implies filth cedar branch, hyssop sprig and King Solomon famously stated, or susceptibility to infection. crimson wool. The ceremony “I had said I would become Maimonides writes, however, took place on the Mount of wise—but it is far from me.” that it's a gezeirat ha-katuv, a Olives, opposite the Temple The Midrash expounds, “With supra-rational mandate of the Mount. all other [laws of the Torah] I Torah—it has no rationale that held my footing, but when it we can comprehend. The ashes would then be mixed comes to the teaching of the with carefully guarded water heifer, I analyzed, I asked and I One form of impurity is drawn from the Shiloach researched [without contracted by touching, or spring. Those who came in understanding].” being under the same roof as, a contact with the dead would be corpse. Once defiled, one could sprinkled with the ash water on There are other laws in the not enter the Holy Temple or the third and seventh days Torah that do not have a partake of the sacrificial after their defilement. On the comprehensible rationale. offerings or other sacred foods. seventh day, they would What is so strange about this In order to be purified, one had immerse in a mikvah, and that particular law? to be sprinkled with a special night they would revert to their mixture of spring water and original pure status. The red heifer presents a great ashes from the burned remains paradox: the priest who is of the red heifer. Since there is no longer a involved in the preparation of Temple in Jerusalem, the the heifer himself becomes rituals of the red heifer—as impure through the process. The Ritual well as most of the laws Strange indeed. surrounding ritual purity—will The laws of the red heifer are be applicable only in the But that leads us to a greater presented at the very messianic era. puzzle. Why would G-d give us beginning of the Torah portion a law that no one can of Chukat: Does It Make Sense? understand? Would it spoil some vast eternal plan if He This is the statute of the Torah When introducing this mitzvah, would give us a mitzvah that which the L-rd commanded, the Torah states, “This is the resonates with our mortal saying, “Speak to the children statute of the Torah.” The word minds, so that we could fulfill it of Israel and have them take for “statute,” chok, denotes a law with deep appreciation? you a perfectly red that defies reason. Since the unblemished cow, upon which Torah prefaces the mitzvah by Chassidic philosophy answers

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thusly: We do the mitzvahs not Even today, one occasionally admit, to take the ashes of a because we understand them, hears of the birth of a perfectly red heifer and sprinkle them on but because they are His will. red cow, and speculation is a person so he may attain And this also extends to the raised as to whether it is a spiritual purification is, indeed, mitzvahs we think we harbinger of the messianic era. rather mind-boggling. understand: we need to do After all, Maimonides himself these mitzvahs simply because codifies the following as According to the Midrash, the they are G-d's will, not because Jewish law: Almighty promised Moses that they make sense to us. to him He would reveal the Nine red heifers were offered secret meaning of this mitzvah, Conversely, the Midrash also from the time that they were but only after Moses would tells us that G-d did reveal the commanded to fulfill this initially accept it as a Divine secret of the red heifer to mitzvah until the time when decree. If he would first take it Moses.7 Why? Because we are the Temple was destroyed a on faith, thereafter rational intelligent beings who crave second time. The first was understanding would follow. understanding. The very brought by Moses our teacher. knowledge that someone out The second was brought by The truth is that there are there understood these laws Ezra. Seven others were answers to virtually every makes them more palatable to offered until the destruction of question people may have us and allows us to appreciate the Second Temple. And the about Judaism. Intelligent them as much the mitzvahs we tenth will be brought by the skeptics I meet are often ourselves understand. King Moshiach; may he amazed that what they had speedily be revealed. Amen, so long written off as empty ritual The Quest for the Red Heifer may it be G-d's will.8 is actually philosophically profound, with rich symbolic It appears that finding an meaning. But the skeptic has to appropriate heifer was quite Where There's a Will, be ready to listen. You can hear challenging. For example, the There's a Why the most eloquent, intellectual Talmud tells the story of a explanation but if you are not gentile named Dama who dealt By Yossy Goldman mentally prepared to accept in precious gems. At one point, that listening may in fact be a the sages of Israel approached Why do certain people find worthwhile exercise, chances him to purchase a replacement satisfaction in Judaism while are you won't be impressed. gem for the breastplate of the others are bored stiff? Why is Once we stop resisting and high priest. Since in order to faith exciting for some and accept that there is inherent retrieve the stone Dama would irrelevant for others, a joy for validity, suddenly Judaism need to wake his sleeping one guy and an absolute makes all the sense in the father, he refused to show burden for the next? One world. them the stone. Even when the fellow cannot imagine going to sages raised the price, he did work without first putting on It is a psychological fact that not budge. Eventually, his his tefillin and the other hasn't we can grasp that which we father woke up, and Dama seen his tefillin since his bar sincerely desire to understand. made the sale (insisting on the mitzvah 40 years ago. This But if there is a subject in original, lower price). As a woman can't wait to get to shul which we have no interest, we reward for the exemplary and the other can't wait to get will walk into mental blockades lengths he went to honor his out. Why? regularly. The sixth Lubavitcher father, Dama merited to have a Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak red heifer born in his herd, This week we read about the Schneerson, says this explains which again fetched him a ultimate mitzvah of faith, the why some very astute pretty penny from the Temple Red Heifer. It is a statutory businessman may sit at a treasury. commandment whose reason Talmud class and find himself still remains a mystery. I must struggling to grasp basic

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principles of rabbinic sound, if we start by That sounds kind of extreme. reasoning. Why is it that the observing a mitzvah, we find Why would Moshiach, the same person who can concoct that our faith will follow leader of a peaceful and brilliant schemes in the through and begin to utopian era, start uprooting boardroom fails to follow blossom. It has been shown to and destroying nations? A straightforward logic in the be true again and again. If we world that is peaceful only for Talmud class? The answer, are not interested, no answer the chosen few hardly seems says the Rebbe, is that this will be good enough. If we are like an ideal worth striving businessman is really not that genuinely searching for truth for. interested in the subject. But and we are objective, there if it was half as important to are ample and meaningful And how are we to him as making money, he answers. understand this prophecy in might well become a rosh the context of other yeshiva! prophecies of redemption BALAK that describe the nations of So, in the same way that G-d Week of: June 20-26 the world serving G-d told Moses that he could together? In the book of come to comprehend the Peaceful Coexistence Zephaniah, for example, it is meaning of the Red Heifer but written, “For then I will only after he accepted it, By Chaya Shuchat convert the peoples to a pure similarly today, those who language, that all of them will genuinely wish to understand E pluribus unum, “Out of call in the name of the L-rd, to Judaism will succeed, but many, one,” the Seal of the worship Him of one accord.” only if they buy into the United States proclaims, but product on some level first. as any politician can tell you, Furthermore, Bilaam's that's easier said than done. prophecy states that When I was studying in Unity between people of Moshiach will “uproot all the yeshiva, I would always try to diverse cultures and sons of Seth.” Seth was the attend the annual "Encounter backgrounds is hard to third son of Adam and Eve. with Chabad" weekends for achieve. As idealistic as we Their first son, Abel, was university students. These may be, we all have unique murdered, and all of Cain's were organized to expose needs and desires which can descendants were wiped out Jewish students to Judaism be difficult to forgo for the in the Great Flood. Thus, all of over a Shabbat and there sake of the common good. mankind descends from Seth. were lectures by leading This verse cannot possibly be Rabbis and religious So, how do we reach true interpreted literally, because academics. Once a young man unity? if Moshiach would eliminate shouted back at the lecturer, all the sons of Seth, nobody "How can you expect me to This week's Torah portion would be left. put on tefillin if I don't sheds some light on this believe in G-d?!" The speaker issue. In Parshat Balak, The Lubavitcher Rebbe offers calmly replied, "First put on Bilaam, a gentile prophet, this interpretation: When tefillin, and I promise you will conveys a vision of the future Moshiach comes, there will be see that you really do believe Redemption: “A star will go an unprecedented revelation in G-d." forth from Jacob, and a staff of G-dliness, leaving no room will arise from Israel, which for evil or impurity. All people We all have a G-dly faith will crush the princes of Moab in the world will readily inside us. It just needs to be and uproot all the sons of accept G-d's rule upon revealed. As illogical as it may Seth.” themselves, because His

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presence will be so obvious. own accord, when everyone Why Name a Torah And this is the “uprooting” will call out to G-d in their Reading After a Wicked that the verse refers to—the own voice, then there will be uprooting of our selfish true Redemption. This is the Person? tendencies, our egotistical key to true unity—when our desires and motivations. individual experiences and By Yossi Lew talents all contribute to a Yet there are two ways in common goal. I was a little shocked that the which this uprooting can take weekly Torah portion read in place. It is possible to imagine On a personal level, I the synagogue on the Sabbath the rise of a leader so sometimes encounter people was named after the wicked powerful, with a vision so whose views are so offensive, King Balak, who schemed to compelling, that the entire whose behavior is so curse the Jews in the desert. world becomes subservient to frustrating, that I wish they Couldn't a more fitting name him. In such a world, would just disappear. But be found for this Torah everyone behaves in an individuals who are truly portion? exemplary fashion—there is beyond redemption are no killing, no theft, no extremely rare. I could focus Answer: discrimination, no on our areas of disagreement selfishness. But these and try to convince them to That's quite an interesting tendencies have not really move toward my viewpoint, question. There are actually been uprooted; they've or worse, condemn them for six Torah portions named merely been suppressed. As their wrongness. But all this after central characters-- long as these beliefs and does is add to the general Noach, Sarah, Jethro, Korach, values do not become discord. A more effective Balak andPhinehas—and they integrated into our own approach would be to focus are all righteous, save Balak. A psyche, our own worldview, on our common ground and careful reading of the story the redemption is incomplete. cultivate the good that is will give us some insight into within others. why this portion was named The leadership of Moshiach after a wicked man--and what will be different. It will not be In 1991, in the aftermath of messages we can glean for an imposition from outside, the Crown Heights riots, New our own spiritual journey. but the culmination of a York City mayor DavidDinkins process of refinement that visited the Rebbe and Analyzing Balak's Scheme has been going on since the requested a blessing for the beginning of exile. Over the people of “all our Balak, the king of Moab, is centuries of exile, the Jewish communities.” The Rebbe terrified of the approaching people have not just been responded, “. . . Forget that it Jewish nation, so he pleads wandering from place to is 'both sides.' It is one side, with Balaam, a prophet, to place. We have also been one people . . .” curse them. painstakingly laying the seeds for the future Unity among nations is within G-d tells Balaam not to curse Redemption—by infusing our reach. It may take effort, the Jews, and initially, Balaam holiness wherever we went, but by looking beyond is compliant. But eventually, through our observance of superficial differences, we filled with spiteful hatred of Torah and mitzvahs. can see the many ways that the Jews, he insists on going-- we are one. Redemption is so G-d gives him the freedom When the world and all that is not a far-off dream, but a fast- to choose. in it will perceive G-d of its approaching reality.

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But G-d lets Balaam know lead them to worship the the power of transformation. that He disagrees with this Baal Peor idol and anger G-d. The blessings are so choice. He sends an angel to The plan is successful, and a profound because they divert Balaam, but only devastating plague erupts originated as curses. Their Balaam's donkey can among the people as a result. transformation is so absolute perceive the angel. Three Pinchas, the grandson of the that they describe the times, the angel diverts the Aaron, the high priest, rises ultimate transformation of donkey, and three times, up and puts a stop to the the entire world: the era of Balaam strikes the donkey. physical and spiritual Moshiach! Moreover, Balak Finally, the donkey has had carnage. himself embodies this very enough. Astonishingly, he transformation. The Talmud opens his mouth and A Transformative Reading relates that the Biblical complains to Balaam about figure Ruth, who transformed his treatment! Balaam is You're probably still her own life by converting to finally able to see the angel, wondering why the portion is Judaism and merited to but he still doesn't get the named “Balak.” The above become the great- message. synopsis doesn't do Balak grandmother of King David, any credit; he's still the evil was a direct descendant of When Balaam arrives at king who tried to curse the Balak. The Moshiach, who Balak's palace, he is taken, Jews and then went on to will usher in the era of amid much fanfare, to a place seduce them, causing a ultimate transformation and where he can view the horrific plague. Where's the redemption, will come from Jewish people and curse redeeming quality? the lineage of King David. them. But when he opens his And so, the person charged mouth to curse them, Let's review a few key points with transforming the Jewish blessings flow forth instead! of the story: people and the entire In fact his words contain world—Moshiach—is a direct some of the most beautiful ! Balaam is transformed descendant of Balak! That's praises of the Jewish people by his hatred of the Jewish about the greatest in the Torah. people into one who does transformation possible. not wish to obey G-d. Balaam then goes on to What's the message for us? prophecy about the ! A donkey talks. Transforming ourselves and Messianic era (Numbers our lives is not easy. And this 24:17-24): “I see it, but not ! The curses are is especially true when we now; I behold it, but not transformed into blessings. are dealt a difficulty or a soon. A star has gone forth crisis. But it is often the most from Jacob, and a staff will ! A portion of the challenging situations that arise from Israel which will Jewish people is transformed lead to the greatest gains. crush the princes of Moab into sinners of the lowest When we realize that, instead and uproot all the sons of degree. of submitting to the pressure, Seth…” we can use it for personal ! The prophecies growth and development, we After Balaam's epic failure to regarding the Messianic era can have the most sublime curse the Jews, he suggests a all describe the ultimate experience of different strategy: Entice the transformation of the world. transformation. Jewish people to sin with the Moabite women, which will This Torah portion embodies

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Correspondence Courses

Aleph currently offers many b e h i n d c r a v i n g s a n d t h e of the soul, the concept of importance of humility. M o s h i a c h a n d t h e D i v i n e correspondence courses. Not attributes. only will you find these NEW! “Strength and Struggle” courses to be intellectually NOTE: This course is NOT for stimulating, but you will In Strength beginners. Please do not request this course if you have not read learn things about Jewish and Struggle we unlock “GPS for the Soul” FIRST. customs and your heritage the secrets that will inspire and even o f g r e a t Code of Jewish Law Course surprise you! Please review character by Vol. 1 & 2 (two separate courses) e x p l o r i n g the courses offered and send some of the “ The Abbreviated in the application on the most dramatic narratives and Code of Jewish Law following page. inspiring personalities in all of volumes 1 and 2 are a history. Set in the midst of our classic guide to the nation’s formative years, an era in everyday observance NEW! “Portions of Light” which our ancestors fought to of Jewish law. It was carve out a civilization among written by R abbi Teachings from the hostile neighbors, these thrilling Shlomo Ganzfried, holy Baal Shem Tov tales of judges, kings, and prophets and was first published in 1864. It’s o n T o r a h a n d reach into the essence of the an abridged, yet comprehensive Festivals. The Baal human condition. Their heroes and version of the original “Code of Shem Tov taught in antiheroes teach us eternal Jewsh Law”. It begins by guiding a p i t hy, p o w e r f u l lessons of struggle and triumph, person from the moment he homilies. Though courage and humility, hope and awakes, and continues to do so based on profound resilience. throughout the day. “The Code of mystical teachings Jewish Law”, expresses the exact and Talmudic scholarship, his “Essence of Chassidus” Course w a y t o p e r f o r m e a c h words were transmitted in simple commandment given to us by language, free of scholarly In this landmark God. This incredibly applicable terminology so that both the Chasidic discourse, book directs its reader on how to average Jew would understand the Lubavitcher best go about his day in a manner him, and the scholar would R e b b e , R a b b i that encourages he reach his appreciate the ideas' profundity. M e n a c h e m M . potential physically, spiritually, Among the Baal Shem Tov's mentally, and morally. Having the S c h n e e r s o n , teachings included in this book: e x p l o r e s t h e opportunity to learn it is a gift to be How a Jew's body and soul are c o n t r i b u t i o n o f cherished. precious to G-d. How words and chasidus to a far deeper and letters have the power to shape expanded understanding of Torah. “GPS for the Soul” us. How our deeds, words, and T h e R e b b e a n a l y z e s t h e even thoughts impact all the relationship chasidus has with GPS for the soul is a course that spiritual realms. The divine secret Kabbalah, the various dimensions translates and explains the Tanya.

JEWISH-AMERICANTHE NATIONAL LIBERA WARRIORTOR 67 Correspondence Courses The famous book Tanya, crafted by connection to G-d. Additionally, Hebrew Reading & Writing: Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the this course strengthens the “Aleph Champ” original founder of Chabad student ’s gratitude for the Chassidut, offers comprehensive multitude of kindnesses that G-d coverage of the knowledge and does for all of His creations. Learn how to read and write guidance that is relevant to the life Hebrew! You'll receive a Reader of every Jew. Its timeless message “Ethics of the Fathers” as well as a Workbook. Program is reveals how every individual is so divided into 8 levels. much more - an intrinsic, precious "Ethics of the Fathers" is a Bible: “Torah: Chumash part of the complete, expansive compilation of teachings from the and wholesome fabric of the Rabbis responsible for drafting the Bereishis: A Chassidic universe. This translated Tanya is a Mishna, the first written rendition Perspective on the Book of f u n d a m e n t a l w o r k o n t h e of the Oral Torah. Within this Genesis” teachings of Chassidut, saturated compilation is a tractate called with enduring wisdom. If you ever "Avot". Avot is unique in that it is find yourself wondering about the Study the first book of the Five the only tractate of the Mishnah deeper meaning of life; if you ever Books of Moses on a whole new dealing solely with ethical and grapple with the unique questions level. This course is sure to give moral principles and their and the practical implications you a whole new outlook into applications in every day life. It is often asked by Jews; if you desire to the lives of our Forefathers. strengthen your Jewish knowledge rich in wise aphorisms, insights, and stories that ring true to this and awareness and if you truly seek “Rambam: an encompassing approach to all day. Concepts such as greeting these life-enhancing queries - then everyone with a smile, opening The 13 Principles of Faith” this course offers tremendous o n e ' s h o u s e t o t h e p o o r, insight. respecting peers, etc. are mapped The 13 Principles of Faith as out for us in this concise source of established by Maimonides have “The Bible for the Clueless applicable Torah values. Learning helped guide the Jewish People Ethics of our Fathers enables us to for hundreds of years. This course But Curious” e n r i c h o u r i n t e r p e r s o n a l relationships and lead the best will focus on the 8th Principle - Designed to teach and entertain l i v e s w e p o s s i b l y c a n b y the Divinity of the Torah. Learn both the beginning bible student implementing the words of the validity of the Torah, a most as well as the advanced one, this timeless wisdom from our very foundational belief in Judaism. class explains the Torah’s stories own scholarly sages. and lessons in a new, easy to read, Happiness: “The Ladder Up” and exiting approach. This class “Kosher for the Clueless chronicles the events in all 5 books of the Torah, while also explaining but Curious” How can I be happy? How do I their relevance to today’s day and cope with the challenges and age. Incorporating a lifestyle change tribulations that consume my such as keeping kosher can be life? “My Prayer” daunting at first glance. Never fear! This course teaches the aspiring This course will give you the tools student about Kashrut from the Prayer allows humans to connect and method how to achieve ground up. This is a perfect choice with the infinitely powerful creator ultimate happiness. for the student who wants to know of the universe. This class teaches more about what it means to keep the basics of Jewish prayer and “The Festival Series” Kosher and why it is important. explains its meanings by following Additionally, this course strives to the text in the Siddur (prayer book). help students of all levels and Explore the story and details For both the experienced and behind all the major Jewish those who are just learning, this backgrounds find comfortable levels of observance for their holidays - High Holidays, Sukkot, c l a s s h e l p s b r o a d e n t h e Simchat Torah, Chanukah, Purim, understandings of a person’s situation.

68 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Correspondence Courses

Passover and Shavuot. Enjoy February, JLI is proud to present many have found safe haven fascinating facts and insights You Be The Judge II, a collection elsewhere. Whether Israel that will elevate your holiday of six totally new cases. You m a k e s u s f e e l p r i d e o r experience to whole new level! need no prior knowledge of the disappointment, hope or Talmud and no formal legal concern, we care about its fate “Oasis in Time: t r a i n i n g . T h e r e a r e n o and its future. Whatever our prerequisites other than an political or religious bent, we The Gift of Shabbat” open mind. If you missed You Be know that Israel matters. If you The Judge I, we invite you to have ever wondered about In a 24/7 World Why do we tend experience for yourself the Israel and its place in the world - to focus on what's urgent e x h i l a r a t i n g m e n t a l and in your heart - then this i n s t e a d o f w h a t ' s t r u l y exploration that characterizes course is for you. important? Imagine. 24 hours of traditional Talmud study. And if digital silence. No phones. No you took our previous course, “The Kabbalah of Time” computers. No TV. Just valuable be sure not to miss this exciting time with the people you love, to sequel. Examine time and the Jewish do all the things you've needed calendar through the mystical to do but never quite found the “The Land and the Spirit” lens of Kabbalah. Time is a time for. We invite you to explore profound organizing element the mystical, psychological, social, and cultural dimensions Why We All Care About Israel of our existence, and the cycle of Shabbat as we unlock a model You've explored its language, of the Jewish calendar provides for achieving balance and h i s t o r y , p o l i t i c s , a n d a p owe r f u l te m p l a te fo r serenity in the modern age. Over geography... Now explore its personal growth. Discover both six weeks, we'll uncover timeless soul... THE LAND AND THE a practical understanding of principles for how to achieve a SPIRIT: Why We All Care About the structure of the Jewish life of inner peace while making Israel Many people love their calendar as well as mystical each workday more productive homes and their countries, but insights into recurrent patterns and fulfilling. Sign up today for a once they relocate, they form of time. remarkable experience. new allegiances. They cannot trace the ancestral homeland “You Be the Judge II” that their families claimed two These courses are designed to millennia ago, nor do they help you learn more about your continue to long for those Jewish identity. Do you enjoy puzzles and places. Yet no matter where problem-solving? Do you love they have lived, Jews have If you are unable to pay for the the give-and-take of thoughtful continued to dream about the postage to mail in your question discussion? Can you use logic land of Israel. Because Israel is sheets, please let us know and and creativity to work your way different. It is a land that has we will do our best to help you out of challenging situations? p u l s e d w i t h e n e r g y a n d (envelopes are provided). The Then this course is for you. The mystery since the dawn of time, courses are free. You may enroll Rohr Jewish Learning Institute's a land that has captured the in one course at one time. groundbreaking course, You Be i m a g i n a t i o n t h ro u g h o u t The Judge, presented real cases history, a land that breathes To sign up for courses, brought before the beit din, the with the glory of our past and court system of Jewish Law. We please email the dreams of our future. And so [email protected] provided the primary texts Israel retains its hold upon our from the Talmud and asked our s p i r i t . T h e r e i s a d e e p students to grapple with the connection that continues to Thank you for your participation, facts in order to arrive at tug at us, a magnetic pull that And enjoy your studies! satisfying solutions. This has not waned even though

JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR 69 Tefillin for Military Personnel

efillin is one of the most important Mitzvot (precepts) of the Torah. It has been observed and treasured for thousands of years, right down to the present day. The TTorah commands every Jewish male to: "Bind them as a sign upon your hand, and they should be for a reminder between your eyes.” (Deuteronomy 6:8)

Tefillin consists of two small leather boxes attached to leather straps. The two boxes each contain four sections of the Torah inscribed on parchment. One of the boxes (the "hand Tefillin") is placed upon the left arm so as to rest against the heart - the seat of the emotions, and the suspended leather strap is wound around the left hand, and around the middle finger of that hand. The other box (the "Head Tefillin") is placed upon the head, above the forehead, so as to rest upon the cerebrum. In this manner our attention is directed to the head, heart and hand. It teaches us to dedicate ourselves to the service of G-d in all that we think, feel and do. It is also to teach us not to be governed solely by the impulse of the heart, lest that lead us into error and transgression. Nor are we to be governed by reason alone, for that may lead to harsh materialism.

Placed on the arm opposite the heart and on the head, the Tefillin signify the submission of one's mind, heart and actions to the Almighty, as well as the rule of intellect over emotion.

Every community and culture has garments and adornments that are worn as symbols of its identity. Because of what they represent, these naturally reflect their wearers’ conceptions of beauty and prestige: the shimmering gold of the bride’s ring, the impeccable tailoring of the general’s uniform, the rainbow of colors in a people’s national dress — all embody a person’s or group’s pride in who they are.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe pointed out that one should don Tefillin with joy since one should always serve G-d with joy. But the donning of Tefillin actually adds an extra dose of joy, in the recognition that one is now connected to the prestige and beauty of the Crown of G-d! The Significance of Tefillin

efillin has been denoted by Sages of the Talmud as one of the most important commandments in the Torah. At first glance, it seems like such a simple act: just wrapping leather straps and boxes around one’s head and arm. But in

Tfact, this belies what is so beautiful and unique about Tefillin: The fact that one can connect with G-d in a very physical way, every day. As human beings, we have limited intellectual and emotional capacities; yet, our physical action is not diminished by the limits of our cognitive and emotional abilities. Tefillin represents transcendence beyond our meager selves, toward the Divine. The Tefillin stand out in their austere simplicity. Two spartan boxes, which Torah law mandates to be unadorned and painted black. For the tefillin convey not pride, but the Jew’s subjugation of his mind, heart and deeds to the Almighty. Yes, Tefillin are the prestige of the Jew, but the Jew’s prestige does not lend itself to aesthetic depiction. His prestige lies in his servitude to G-d, in the binding of his intellect, emotions and talents to the supernal will.

Our Sages tell us that donning Tefillin brings special blessings of safety and protection. The Lubavitcher Rebbe therefore encouraged every Jewish member of the Armed Forces to wear Tefillin daily in every circumstance, and thereby merit to come home safely. The Aleph Institute would like to urge every Jewish male reading this to make the commitment to start putting Tefillin on daily, or at least weekly. We would be happy to assist you to acquire your very own pair of Tefillin.

*This offer for free Tefillin is only available for Jewish Service Members who cannot afford to pay on their own or through family members. Fulfillment of this offer is exclusively at Aleph’s discretion. Jewish Military Personnel interested in obtaining a pair Tefillin should e-mail Rabbi Katz at [email protected]

70 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR Jokes & Fun --CHEESY Jokes for Shavuot Q: What do you call cheese that is sad? A: Blue cheese Q. What kind of man was Boaz before he married? Q: Why does cheese look sane? A. Ruth-less. A: Because everything else on the plate is crackers. Q. Which servant of G-d was the most flagrant lawbreaker in the Bible? Q. What type of cheese is made A. Moses. He broke all 10 commandments backwards? at once A. EDAM Q: Where is medicine first mentioned in Q. After Shavuot we all need to go on diet. the Bible? Why? A: When God gave Moses two tablets. A. To ched(dar) a few pounds!

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Learning Resources

Weekly Torah Portion Learning:

https://www.chabad.org/parshah/otherparshas_cdo/aid/9175/jewish/All-Parshas.htm

Jewish Educational Videos www.Jewish.tv

Educational Classes www.TheYeshiva.net

Torah Courses www.MyJLI.com

Torah Café www.TorahCafe.com

Chabad Zoom Classes:

https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/4770685/jewish/Zoom-Classes.htm

Chabad Courses:

https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/2530155/jewish/Courses.htm

Yeshiva-Style Learning

https://www.chabad.org/multimedia/video_cdo/aid/1106330/jewish/Yeshiva.htm 72 JEWISH-AMERICAN WARRIOR