basic judaism

Revenge is truly in G-D’s hands. It’s amazing how if we let go of our hate and even forgive those who’ve done us wrong as a person, without necessarily forgiving the sin, that  G-D has a way of cleaning the slate. Joseph did not actually seek revenge on his brothers when they sold him into slavery but events led him to find justice when it appeared  to be lost. I have many similar experiences one which I will write about in a future blog post.  We in our lives should try to hold onto those points and as we fight for justice know who the real judge and jury is as well as know that this isn’t the final location that it will be dealt. 

My own experiences have colored the interruptions I’ve had of the story of Joseph. Although I have read the story hundreds of times I’ve never really thought about the brothers angle until this read. I now can imagine how they must have felt seeing how their father gave Joseph the best while they were left with the rest. Then too add blood to this cut Joseph’s stories of grandeur would color many a heart with jealousy and anger. I hope I wouldn’t go to the extreme’s that his brothers did (selling him into slavery) but the times they are a changing and who knows where that story would have went if I lived in those days. All I can say is G-D has a plan and sometimes the path we think we are taking leads us to a world we never expected ,which we wouldn’t have even walked without a coat of many colors.

While other’s might be having the time of their life you are worrying about making sure you do what’s right now.  For me that will be occurring on 1/2o/17 where I plan to be at the inauguration but must go home before the party begins.  It is if I am Cinderella but instead of worrying about the clock I worry about observing Shabbos. While I assume most of the parties will begin Friday night I believe G-D is calling me to observe a more holy day.  Shabbos will not include the dancing and live performances but the simple pleasures of life.  Faith VS Fun sometimes you have to give in and in so doing make fun a bit simpler and less expensive.

It is the 1 lie that changed history and although many Torah/Bible scholars might disagree I’m not sure it couldn’t have been stopped for the better. Jacob lied to his father Issac that he was Esau and received the blessing meant for Esau “which changed history forever. That one lie initially led to Jacob being run out of town by his mother out of fear of Esau’s revenge as well as seeing the tables turned on him when his father in law Laban lied to him.  Throughout history this one lie has been used by many an Anti-Semitic to turn good people against the Jewish people even though it was done thousands of years ago by one individual.   Maybe if Jacob did a bit more persuasion with his father instead of listening to dear old mom things might have turned out a bit different in his life as well as his ancestors.  Jacob was only human and who can truly ignore mom’s pleas but for those who want to use this excuse to continue to hate just remember the person who gave the blessing was Jewish (Issac) and the one who received it and his ancestors have had many strings of pain attached with the words of blessing as well.

SIDE NOTE- If Issac blessed Jacob thinking he was Esau did he really bless Jacob and what does a blessing of a human to another human actually achieve?

You’re alone in a sea of indifference where everyone else appears to be doing what they want and for some reason your values/morals are being swept away. Don’t fret for only a few can truly save the world. While Noah watched as the world literally crumbled Abraham pleaded to G-D to save two small communities. Although it would take 10 some what righteous people to save this community it took one person with the divine spark to start the conversation. Maybe you’re such an individual standing alone while others are really the one’s drowning and your actions/words are giving them some needed oxygen to keep them afloat.  Just maybe your grip in a sea of indifference may leave you alone but protect the boardwalk so others can climb aboard.  It is difficult to be alone but if it’s for the right reason you’re standing for more then you can imagine.

You can try and paint/write a happy face but moving is never fun today can you therefore even imagine how difficult it was in Abraham’s time?  Abraham didn’t have a bank account to hold his asset or a moving company to help pick up and carry any of his items away. There was no Waze to help him get where he was going and he couldn’t call family members or even send snail mail to those he left behind.  If we think looking for a job in a new community is hard  think about how extraordinary challenging it was in Abraham’s days when he literally had to start from scratch at the age of 75. It didn’t take pleading from his loved one to take this challenge but the word of G-D.  Today I personally ask that you make a much smaller move to your faith and offer you 2 challenges  in that path (below).  If you don’t go on this journey there are other roads you might want to consider because sometimes as difficult as it is to move once you get there those painted smiles will move to your face and beyond.

(1) DECEMBER 2ND- 5:30 PM- BEGINNER SHABBAS SERVICE– Congregation Shaarey Israel 18 Montebello Road, Montebello NY- Move your mind, body and soul as you discover exciting new facts and ask important questions that might change everything or at least you’ll enjoy some light wine and cheese with some new friends.

(2) DECEMBER 24TH 10:30 AM-  My Divah Torah on Joseph– Yes I know it’s early but what I will say will wake your mind up better then a Starbuck’s Cappuccino and if that doesn’t work they’ll be free coffee and Kiddish afterwards.

Jealousy is the one emotion that could lead to greatness or destruction. We could take that feeling and use it work extra hard to achieve our own form of success or allow it to be the fire that cracks until violent deadly action results with consequences that hurt those we are jealous of and ourselves.  Cain had the chance for redemption when G-D told him to try harder with his offering instead of being jealous of what Abel did. Cain choice the dark side which resulted in death to his brother and a penalty that was worse then death for himself.  Our jealous impulses G-D willing won’t be this dramatic but how we react to even the small ones can determine which path we start walking in and if we get to swim in the big fish bowl after all.