We acknowledge the financial support of the A publication of Chabad-Lubavitch, Toronto Government of Canada for our publishing activities SPRING 2012 VOL. 37 , NO. 1 (137 ) NISSAN 5772 The Myth of Relaxation By Shlomo Yaffe A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed the results of a fascinating study. People who work under high pressure conditions will often take time off to get away from it all, relax and "decompress"; this, common wisdom assumes, is the way to alleviate the accumulative effects of stress. Alas, the study's findings indicate that a cycle of intense stress followed by utter relaxation does nothing to counter the deleterious physical and mental health effects of chronic stress. The only thing that really helps is learning to respond in effective ways to stress-inducing situations as they arise. Relaxation is not what heals stress, but reshaping our day-to-day behavior in a way that makes for a less stressful life. Passover is a celebration of our capacity to attain freedom in "every generation" (as the Haggadah challenges us), to leave whichever "Egypt" our souls languish in. Yet when we think of freedom, we usually think in terms of being free of care, worry and the burdens of life -- in other words, freedom equals "relaxation". Passover seems to contradict this with its laws on banishing every crumb of leaven from every nook and cranny of our home, with the requirement to eat precise amounts of matzah and drink a certain measure of wine with each of the "four cups". Religiously speaking -- without eating and drinking the specified amounts, we have not really celebrated the Seder. Is this focus on detail freedom? Indeed, there is no other true freedom. We are physical beings living in a world of myriad details and minutia. If we say, "I can only spread my wings and feel uplifted when I transcend the body, the earth, and all its petty details," we are basically saying that G-d cannot be felt here in our world. In this model, G-d is imprisoned in the sublime, and we are imprisoned in the petty. Escaping the petty won't help either -- sooner or later we'll need to return from the vacation, and then we're back to square one. Passover responds by telling us that if we truly want Annual Dinner Honours Jason Kenney our spirits to soar, we must find G-d in the details of the world we live in -- in the same way that stress is It may have been a departure on the community for support from the norm, still in this case was met with an element of not eliminated by escaping our life-frameworks, but by honouring a politician at the 33rd gratitude, in deference to the remaining within them and transforming them from annual dinner of Chabad honouree. As Rabbi Zalman within. At the Passover Seder, the ordinary act of eating Lubavitch in December 2011, Grossbaum noted, “Jason embodies the will of the infinite, packaged in a few drew a large crowd and countless Kenney is a great friend of Israel mouthfuls. G-d is not imprisoned, and neither are we. well wishers. Ever since being and good friend of Chabad.” G-d can be wherever G-d chooses to be, even in the act elected to the House of With numerous dignitaries in of eating a piece of matzah or the sounds of a small Commons some fifteen years attendance, that included ago, Jason Kenney, Minister of politicians from all levels of child asking the Four Questions. And we, too, are set Citizenship, Immigration and government, the evening free, as we discover the transcendent in the stuff of The Honourable Jason Kenney Multiculturalism has never been proceedings were flawlessly everyday life. coy about his support for Israel this year, notwithstanding the chaired by Frank Dimant, and traditional values. Indeed, global economic crunch, calling Continued on page 3 2 • World of Lubavitch • SPRING 2012 THE FOUR FACTIONS Moses said to the people: G-d says to Moses in the "Fear not; stand by and see the following verse, "that they salvation of G-d which He will should go forward." show you today. For as you The Jewish Response have seen Egypt this day, you Tzaddik in a Fur Coat shall not see them again, at the Splitting of The road to Sinai was rife with forever. G-d shall fight for you, obstacles and challenges. The and you shall be silent." the Red Sea same is true of the road from G-d said to Moses: "Why do Sinai, our three-thousand year you cry out to Me? Speak to the journey devoted to the children of Israel, that they implementation of the ethos and should go forward." ideals of Torah in our world. Exodus 14:13-15 Now, as then, there are several We all know the feeling: you possible responses to an adverse wake up one morning to the world. There is the "Let us throw realization that the world is not ourselves into the sea" approach as you would like it to be. of those who despair of their A common experience, to be said, "Let us return to Egypt." A forever. G-d shall fight for you, and return to Egypt. "G-d shall ability to grapple with, much less sure, but different people have third faction argued, "Let us and you shall be silent" (Exodus fight for you" is the answer to impact, the world out there. Let different reactions. One person wage war upon the Egyptians." 14:13). "Fear not, stand by and those who wished to battle the us plunge into the sea, they say embarks upon a quixotic Finally, a fourth camp see the salvation of G-d," Egyptians, "and you shall be -- the sea of the Talmud, the sea crusade to change the world. A advocated, "Let us pray to G-d." explains the Midrash, is Moses' silent" is Moses rejection of of piety, the sea of religious life. second gives up the world for Moses, however, rejected all response to those who had those who said, "This is all Let us sever all contact with an lost, and retreats into whatever four options, saying to the despaired of overcoming the beyond us. All we can do is apostate and promiscuous world. protective walls he can erect people, "Fear not; stand by and Egyptian threat and wanted to pray." Let us build walls of holiness to around himself and his loved see the salvation of G-d which plunge into the sea. "As you have What, then, is the Jew to do protect ourselves and our own ones. A third takes a pragmatic He will show you today. For as seen Egypt this day, you shall not when caught between a hostile from the alien winds which approach, accepting the world you have seen Egypt this day, see them again" is addressed to mob and an unyielding sea? for what it is and doing his best you shall not see them again, those who advocated surrender "Speak to the children of Israel," Continued on page 14 under the circumstances. A fourth recognizes his inability to deal with the situation, and looks to a higher power for guidance and aid. Our forefathers experienced just such a rude awakening on the seventh day after their liberation from Egypt. Ten devastating plagues had broken the might of the Egyptians and compelled them to free the Jewish people. After Will Moshiach Make Me Wear a Burka? two centuries of exile and By Tzvi Freeman burkas. I could ask around, but it DOS. If you made a mistake, would be just silly to do so. slavery, the children of Israel Question: doesn't seem to be on the agenda. you risked severe punishment— Eventually, the friendlier were headed toward Mount I am very concerned about A woman represents the you could lose files, corrupt your "graphic user interface" won Sinai and their covenant with certain aspects of the messianic Shechina—the Divine hard drive or crash the entire out—and productivity surged. In G-d. Indeed, this was the stated age or those times right before Presence—and in the times of operating system. And that's fact, when the first true GUI for purpose of the Exodus; as G-d it. I am concerned that during Moshiach the Shechina will be what happened—quite often. If the PC was introduced in 1991 told Moses, "When you take this this time when Moshiach revealed in all its glory. So why you didn't read the manual—and (Windows 3.0), about one nation out of Egypt, you will comes, he will set up a Jewish should women then be hidden follow it religiously—you were trillion dollars had been invested serve G-d at this mountain." fundamentalist system. I know inside walking sacks? sunk. The same with your word in business technology with no But suddenly the sea was it has been foretold that You're worried about obedience. processor and any other program measurable overall payback. before them and Pharaoh's obedience will be required of I wasn't very obedient in school, you used. After 1991, payback exploded. armies were closing in from everyone and discipline will be so I should also be concerned. There were friendlier systems, Windows is still pretty kinky behind. Egypt was alive and harsh for those who don't obey. But I'm not, because the key however. Systems that were (I'm a Mac guy), but certainly well; the sea, too, seemed The last thing I want is a aspect of a messianic era is not designed to be "intuitive." That more friendly than those old MS oblivious to the destiny of the situation where I have to wear obedience but wisdom, as means they were designed on the DOS systems.