Might As Well Do It
Why do they hate us so? Many reasons have been given, but after all the discussions, it boils down to the fact that we are G-d's People and they just have a hard time with that. Own it friend!
What does it mean to be G-d's People?
Hashem gave us the Torah (please celebrate this anniversary with us) and in it are the instructions how to be G-d's People.
Some of these instructions are about religious things, like Shabbat, Kosher and blowing the Shofar on Rosh Hashanah. But the real stuff is in this week's Torah portion.
The portion is called Kedoshim. G-d asks us to be holy like He is holy. Being holy is about the small things. Things like; how we eat, how we talk and how we treat each other.
In all of our most mundane activities, the actions that are done by all of humankind, we have the opportunity to uncover the G-dliness that is in it and to connect to Hashem and become holy through them.
We can help those that wish to hate us, but we can at least own it. Let's live as proud Jews in all that we do.
Good Shabbos!
With all my love,
Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman
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This week we end the second book of the Torah - Shemos. As is the tradition we announce and call up on strength three times - Chazak Chazak Vinischazek - be strong, be strong and be strengthened. In Jewish teachings, three creates a permanence and enforces.
We are living in truly miraculous times! Unlike the Purim story and throughout our history, we have super powers looking out for the interest of the Jewish People!
In a conversation recently with someone regarding the tension between the USA/Israel and Iran, I made a comment that the Iranian's are crazy and have a death wish.
The following is a story that I heard from my niece's new father in law - Rabbi Aryeh Solomon - at their Sheva Brachos last Shabbos.
Before my Yechidus (private audience), I prepared a Tzettel (a note) to give to the Rebbe, as was customary. In it I wrote about who I was, where I was holding in life, and what I hoped to accomplish in the future.
Idealism is a blessing and also totally unrealistic. Oh, I don't intend to throw the baby out with the bathwater. No, Idealism is what has brought change to the world. Idealism has brought so much good to the world. But it only works when it moves out of its idealistic space into reality.
When the Previous Rebbe’s grandmother, Rebbetzin Rivkah, was eighteen, she fell ill and the physician ordered her to eat immediately upon awakening. She, however, did not wish to eat before davening, so she davened very early, then ate breakfast.
We live in blessed times with unique awareness about our inner world. With that comes an increase in anxiety wondering how we can get rid of the narratives that seem to interfere with living in alignment.
Are you forgetful? Do you ever forget to get something done because it is not on your to do list? Is it possible to get something done in the best possible manner by running away from doing the very thing?
At the beginning of this week's Parsha, the Torah gives us the ancestry of Moses and Aaron and their children. It is not the first or the last time the Torah gives us their pedigree. What is different is the association with their mothers as opposed to their fathers.
(Generally in Torah tradition, tribal association is defined by the father, and identity by the mother.)
Our journey on this earth can feel taxing and burdensome at times. Yet the great mystics teach that these very challenges are the reason the soul descends into this world in the first place.