Shabbat Shalom Shabbat Shalom
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B’nai Israel Congregation 420 Spotswood Avenue, Norfolk, VA 23517 phone: (757) 627-7358 e-mail: [email protected] Parshas Vayikra Shabbat Shalom March 28 – Nisan 3 B’nai Israel Congregation Rabbi Chaim Silver, Rabbi There is very little narrative both mental and spiritual, and Rabbi Sender Haber, Assistant Rabbi that we must be able to accept President Ken Wilson present in the entire Chumash of 1st Vice President Yehuda Griffin Vayikra which we begin to read the fact that we cannot always 2nd Vice President Amy Lefcoe publicly in the synagogue this fathom God’s motives in Treasurer Mike Zelikovich Shabbat. The Chumash of commanding us to behave or not Recording Sectetary Ann Zukerman Vayikra is also called Torat to behave in a certain fashion. Financial Secretary Allan R. Berman Kohanim because of the laws of The Chumash of Vayikra is not Past President Benn Richels Gabbaim - Pesach Schwartz the Mishkan/Temple service, the meant to confuse and unnerve Shmuel Itzhak duties of the kohanim, the laws us. Rather, it is meant to humble of ritual purity and impurity, and us. the detailed descriptions of the Human beings always wish to we were commanded to do so. sacrifices offered in the be in control. But life blindsides Many times the correct answer Mishkan/Temple. at unexpected moments and in to the ubiquitous question of To many people these laws and unpredictable ways. The “Why?” is “Because!” details are anachronistic if not experiences of life only reveal to All parents apply this rule of life even completely not us how powerless and irrational at numerous times while understandable in the context of we really are. There is very little attempting to raise their children our present world and its society. that we are actually able to in a proper fashion. The Lord for Yet all of the words of the Torah control. His own reasons, so to speak, are eternal and all have value to Therefore human beings always employs this same method when everyone at any given moment long for solutions and answers dealing with the Jewish people in human time. that emanate from the occult – who had already previously Therefore I think that it becomes from another world of being, the pledged allegiance to the Torah obvious that the Torah here existence of which we are only and its values. The Chumash shows us that there is a world dimly aware. So here we have Vayikra is a prime example of that requires sacrifices and is the rub. The Torah is unalterably this axiom of Jewish life. opposed to magic, superstitions, influenced somehow by the Shabbat shalom. offering of those sacrifices. It is and appeals to spirits. So how do Rabbi Berel Wein also a world where ritual purity we square that strict approach and impurity matter greatly and with the presence of all of these have profound influence over laws in Vayikra that obviously human life and society. rely for their relevance and In this alternative world that we strength of purpose on the sense exists, and we are existence of another unseen sometimes able to have a world? glimpse of, the Chumash of The answer lies in our Vayikra reigns supreme. In that understanding that all of the Living with the reality that your basically unseen world all of the words of the Torah are to be first child's scholastic success isn't the laws of Vayikra matter greatly. taken at face value and that the only arena of accomplishment. The Chumash of Vayikra comes ultimate reason for obedience to We are often told that we need to to remind us of our limitations, those Torah laws is the fact that 1 be sensitive to the inherent the Bat Mitzvah girl and the undeniable truth will ultimately nature of our children. Not all audience to a two-part quiz. The help you make a paradigm shift. children are going to be first part consisted of three REPROGRAMMING scholars. We must respect and questions: Another fact to consider is that encourage them to develop their 1. Who are the last 5 Nobel prize even in terms of "success" as potential in areas where they winners? understood by our misguided will excel, and these areas may 2. Who received the Academy culture, there is little correlation not be in the scholastic arena. To award for best actress in the last between those of great try to cram a child into a wedge three years? intellectual and scholastic where they don't belong is 3. Who were the heads of the achievement and making money. destructive, and I understand State department in the last In many instances, those who this intellectually. couple of years? founded and built huge financial However I find it very difficult to She turned to the Bat Mitzvah empires had little formal tear myself away from the girl and asked how she had education, and in some cases, ideology that states that fared. Elisheva responded that could barely sign their names. intellectualism is the only she couldn't answer any of the Changing our perspective, attribute that is valued by our questions and would have indeed our very thoughts, is society -- both in Judaism and in received an “F”. unquestionably hard work. Our secularism. What are some The second part of the quiz biases and long held beliefs are practical ways that I can release followed: deeply ingrained. We are myself from this destructive way 1. Name three teachers who programmed to a certain way of of thinking? thinking. Nevertheless, choice is were kind and attentive to you in You accurately and articulately a special way. the hallmark of the human being. identify a most common pitfall 2. Name three friends that were We are not hopelessly in contemporary life -- the there for you when you needed condemned to any pattern of disconnect between our heads to talk, share and commiserate. behavior, no matter how deeply and our hearts. 3. Name three family members rooted. It does, however, require extreme effort to drop negative In fact, in our daily prayers we who light up your life by letting thoughts and plug in to true quote the biblical verse, “and you know consistently how reality. you shall know this day and much you mean to them. bring it back to your Again, the aunt turned to It's important to recognize that heart” (Deut. 4). Our sages Elisheva and asked how she had our thoughts are merely a explain that "knowing" is done. “A+!” was the young product of our own making and virtually meaningless unless that lady's reply. have no objective reality or knowledge filters down to and No one remembered the people inherent truth. Nonetheless, they penetrates our hearts. Only then who achieved fame, glory and take over and become the reality does the knowledge become notoriety in our society by virtue of our life and the context in relevant to our lives. Indeed, of their brains, looks or public which we live. Hence, if we so only when our heart is engaged acclaim. At the end of the day, it choose, we can deliberately drop can our knowing affect and is arguably the people who the contaminating thought and modify our behavior. dedicate their efforts to remarkably, in so doing, we allow for truth and positive Easier said than done. How do transcending their own concerns, energy to flow in its place. we do this? wants and needs and reach This process requires identifying Reality checks are critical. At a beyond themselves to notice, the destructive thought as recent Bat Mitzvah celebration, care and give to others that really something we absolutely refuse the aunt of the celebrant, a touch us and make a difference to indulge -- then drop it and school teacher addressed the in our lives. move on. With practice, this group. In her remarks, she My dear reader, constantly proceeded to subject Elisheva, reminding yourself of this (Continued on page 3) 2 mode of behavior becomes a very our walks through life as we meet • Remember that you are a effective tool for substituting different people, it is eminently custodian entrusted with misguided and toxic perceptions clear and discernable which ones diamonds and your task is to with true clarity. were raised on “milk” alone and polish each individual and Needless to say, as the reader has which were privileged to have sacred gem so that its inherent already observed, every child has a been raised on both “milk and unique brilliance will surface uniqueness all their own and every honey.” and shine. parent's mission should be to create My dear reader, our sages state that • Finally, pray to God for a a context that is not only the question of a wise person bestowal of emotional supportive but that celebrates the already comprises half of the maturity, intelligence and differences in each of their answer. The other half is totally strength, that will give you the offspring. doable. Check the following: wherewithal to provide for MILK AND HONEY • When a negative thought your family not only the “milk” Erich Fromm wrote an essay in arises, identify it as a of basic sustenance, but which he espouses the need to contaminant, drop it, banish it perhaps more significantly, the raise children not only with "milk," and move on. affirmation of person that is the which is representative of basic • Remind yourself of the people “honey” of life. nourishment that sustains life, but who warmed your heart and Good Luck! also with “honey” that provides the made a difference in your life.