The Light at the End of the Menorah
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Winter 5769/2009A little nosh for the soul Vol. 11, Issue 3 | $2.95 THE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE MENORAH. INSIDE: Complete ChanukahGuide DEDICATED TO THE LOVE AND INSPIRATION OF THE LUBAVITCHER REBBE ON THE COVER Vol. 11, Issue 3 | $2.95 Winter 5769/2009 A little nosh for the soul The Menorah is a symbol of light. The Torah teaches us to make light of every situation and our art director, Marc Lumer, portrays hope with the Menorah Exchange on our cover. But, no matter how the market is doing this Chanukah, Jews around the world will still observe the custom of Chanukah Gelt. Chanukah Gelt? Why do we give children coins? Well, the Greeks invaded the possessions of Israel in the same spirit in which they defiled the oil in the Holy Temple. They did not destroy the oil; they defiled it. They did not rob the Jewish people; they attempted to infuse their possessions with Greek ideals -- that they be used for egotistical and impure ends, rather than holy pursuits. Chanukah gelt celebrates the free- dom and mandate to channel material wealth toward spiritual ends. So, let’s celebrate the victory of light over darkness, and let’s bring the light of the menorah to the material world. EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin EDITOR: Rabbi Shmuel Marcus MANAGING EDITOR: Shira Gold COPY EDITORS: Lisa Burstein CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Rabbi Levi Brackman, Senator Joseph Lieberman, Rabbi Moshe Wisnefsky, Nechama Marcus, Rabbi Yisrael Rice, Dr. John Grohol, Yanki Tauber, Devorah Lakein, Lubavitch.com, Chabad.org, and AskMoses.com. EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS: Rabbi Levi Cunin (Jay Leno’s Rabbi), Yosef Marcus and Nechama Marcus. ART DIRECTOR: Marc Lumer DESIGN: MarcLumerDesign.com ARTWORK: Marc Lumer, Kurt Hartman SPECIAL THANKS TO: Uri, Dina, Natan, Yitzchak, Moshe and Gilana Sara Pikover for continuing the Rebbe’s Farbrengen. Website: www.farbrengen.com ©2008 by Chabad of California All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of Farbrengen in any form, without prior written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages Printed in the USA 2 which are not tahor.” The Torah desists The great Hasidic master and Kabbalist from using the word tamay (impure), Rabbi Nachman of Breslov said: “If you which has more negative implications, believe that you can ruin, then believe and instead refers to the tamay animals that you can fix.” In other words, instead as “not tahor.” The Torah does this even of focusing on the negative, concentrate o n though it is generally careful not to use the positive, using your mental resources additional words—in this case three extra to repair things rather than to damage words—unless it wants the reader to learn them. something from them. Many people assume that this is some The Talmud (Pesachim 3a) explains that sort of wishful thinking, but consider the reason for the reluctance to use the for a moment whether you have ever word tamay in this story is to teach us heard someone who is very successful in not to use words in the negative tense (to their line of work speak pessimistically. avoid the additional connotations) even Think, too, about the person you know if it means using additional words in a who always complains that things aren’t sentence. Simply stated, the Torah is going right. Almost always, you will find trying to teach us to speak in the positive that successful people don’t focus on THE REBBE’S rather than the negative. the negative, while unsuccessful people The Talmud commentators note that often do. when the Torah discusses laws—and You might say that this is because a BUSINESS clarity is an absolute priority—it uses the successful person has nothing to complain word tamay many times. However, when about, but this would be untrue: even the it is relating “stories,” it uses additional richest among us has known sorrow and STRATEGY words to say things in the positive. The is loss and disappointment. because words have power, and when we The best example of the suggested use By Rabbi Levi Brackman “The power of positive thinking—and by extension If you take a room full of CEOs, millionaires, positive speech—has been reiterated by the great and others who have reached the pinnacle Jewish mystics. The great Hasidic master Rabbi Nachman of their goals, and you’ll almost certainly find a room full of people who are, by of Breslov said: “If you believe that you can ruin, then their nature, optimistic and positive. believe that you can fix.” In other words, instead of There are plenty of explanations for focusing on the negative, concentrate on the positive, why that is true. Some claim it is because positive-minded people are cheerful and using your mental resources to repair things rather fun to be around, and are therefore chosen than to damage them.” over negative people when it comes time to win the contract or make the sale. says something negative we are attracting of the power of positive thinking taught Others, believe that it is just part of a that same negative thing towards ourselves. by Torah sages, however, comes from the good investment and business strategy. The Torah teaches us to use words that third Chabad Rebbe, known as the the Yet others say that it’s a fundamental law do not have negative connotations so Tzemech Tzedek (1789–1866). Once asked of the universe (often referred to as “the that they do not bring negativity into our to pray on behalf of a seriously ill person, law of attraction”). lives. Since a person’s words come from he responded telling the family to practice While not discounting the former two their thoughts, the mind is the source of positive thinking. He advised, in Yiddish, theories, the Torah seems to support our positive or negative language. “Tracht gut vet zain gut,” meaning the third thesis as well. While it offers The opposite is also true: our words “Think good and it will be good.” no mathematical formula that proves influence our thoughts. Speaking what’s it, anecdotal evidence abounds. Torah on our minds gives permanence to our teachings stress optimism and positive thoughts. In addition, when we talk about thinking as keys to attracting success something, more thoughts about the same Excerpt from Jewish Wisdom for Business and positive outcomes. At the same time, subject will appear. Since words have Success, Lessons from the Torah and the Torah also stresses that thought itself such power it is vitally important that our Other Ancient Texts. A native of London, will not accomplish anything. It is only words reflect a positive attitude. And it is Brackman received rabbinical ordination when thought is combined with action equally important that our thoughts—the at the rabbinical college in the Old City that positive thinking can result in the source of our words—are positive. We of Jerusalem. Brackman also holds an realization of dreams and the bringing of should therefore replace our negative MA in Hebrew & Jewish Studies from success. thoughts with positive ones so that we the University of London. Brackman lives The idea that positive thinking results can attract positivity to ourselves. in Evergreen, Colorado with his wife in positive outcomes can be traced back The power of positive thinking—and Sheindy and their three children. You to Genesis 7:2. “From the animals which by extension positive speech—has been can reach him and buy the book at www. are tahor (kosher) and from the animals reiterated by the great Jewish mystics. levibrackman.com. 3 L=N>IÉH6AA JEIDNDJ 7nHZcVidg?dhZe]A^ZWZgbVc 4 Judaism commands us to serve. Our all of us-of individual American citizens. And the way religion has a wonderful history of we do that is through service: small acts, medium- teaching and learning, of thinking, sized, and big acts. Every time we convert good will talking, and sometimes even arguing. into good works-whether it’s by tutoring or mentoring a child, feeding someone hungry, building a house, But in Judaism, introspection is never or otherwise addressing a problem that’s bigger than meant to replace action. It is meant to ourselves-we strengthen the fabric of the country. prepare us for doing what must be done. Don’t shy away from an opportunity to make a As the sage Shamai put it: “Say little and difference for fear of the risks, whether it is through do much.” public service or reaching out to the less fortunate in We are taught to understand that no deed should be your community. dismissed as inconsequential. No task is trivial. Says The extraordinary opportunity and honor I was given the Talmud: “Every little sum given to charity combines in the 2000 Presidential campaign only deepened my with the rest to form a large sum.” feelings about public service. It reinforced my basic Our American heritage urges us to serve as well. faith in the goodness and tolerance of the American Theodore Roosevelt commented: “It is not the critic people; it strengthened my belief that there is an who counts; not the man who points out how the important role for idealism in public life and my strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could conviction that each individual can make a have done them better. contribution to a better society. As an American It can be tempting, in this world of different problems and perspectives, to choose to disengage oneself from action, but all of us have a duty to build a better country.