What does it take to be Kohanim?

After last week's detailed instruction of constructing the Tabernacle, Parshat Tetzaveh tells how God speaks to Moses about how the Israelites will use the Tabernacle to help them on their way to the Promised land. God proclaims that Aaron and his sons will be the priestly leaders of the caravan. They will be known as the Kohanim. Did you know Jews consider people with the last name Kohen/Cohen to be destined for leadership for this very reason? The Kohanim get their first instructions of leading worship. They learn how to dress like leaders, speak like leaders, and carry out laws like leaders. With the Tabernacle's furnishing and leadership taking shape, the question of returning to Egypt seems to be fading faster in this parshat.

Why have Kohanim? Aaron and his sons had to be speakers for Moses. Midrash says that Moses had a lisp. God would speak through Moses, who would tell Aaron. Then, the Kohanim announced the message or commandment to the people. Also, the Kohanim would lead any religious duties in the desert. If somebody became ritually unclean, the Kohanim could tell them how to atone properly. Specifically, God tells the Kohanim how to perform ritual sacrifice. In Biblical times, the Kohanim were the only religious leaders of their day. Over the course of the ages, Jews needed local leaders and scholars which became the modern day rabbi.

Do the Kohanim have the making of strong Jewish leaders? A Jewish leader needs to be able to think and think quick on their feet.If Israel is in crisis, the leader would need to be able to communicate it in an appropriate way to the people within hours of the event. Also, the superior must have a way with words to communicate with his or her subordinates. For most Jewish leaders, this includes a decent understanding of the Hebrew language. Finally, a Jewish leader must show empathy and compassion. A cold power will destroy even a thriving Jewish community. Let us see; the ability to think, communicate, and care. Sounds like Jewish and secular leaders share some similar attributes.

All this talk about leaders got me thinking this week. If there are leaders in the world, do there need to be followers? My parents are always saying, "Be a leader, not a follower." I believe that all parents desire their child to be the same way. If everyone is a leader, there would not be anybody to follow them. Perhaps, all those parents want us to be leader in our forte. I could lead a seder, but when it comes to music I will leave that to my band teachers. We can all be leaders at certain times. As long as we are not always a passenger, we can occasionally hang around for the ride. It goes back to what a leader needs to have. In any situation, the leaders need to think about the consequences or rewards of their actions. Aaron and his sons got us to Israel, they must have done something right!

Egypt, From All Perspectives

Lately, Egypt has been appearing all over the news. What has been happening? All the unrest began with the Jasmine Revolution in Tunisia. As Tunisia's government ignored its economic disaster and unemployment of youth, all those unemployed youth began to band together. Protesting together the Tunisian youth defeated their dictator, Zine El Abidine Ben Ali. They may not have a government yet, but the Tunisians feel a great sense of hope and freedom for their country. When Tunisia's tale of freedom reached the headlines, similar Egyptian protests began. The youth feel ignored by the 30-year regime of President Hosni Mubarak. Growing chaos has been continuing over the past week and a half. Mubarak has already decided not to run for re-election, chosen his successors, and now it seems like he has three choices. He can resign, go into exile, or really die. If he does not, things may just get worse.

To an Egyptian, the story is quite heroic. They may believe that it goes down in the history of great protests. Egyptians may believe that this is their American Revolution, a war of independence. It must give the unemployed hope that the cost of food and fuel may finally drop. Young Egyptians do not believe that their country is falling apart. Instead, they feel that they are rising up against the totalitarian, wealthy government. In their opinion, protests are the only way their voice can be heard.

Israelis have something to fear. Change in Egypt may be good, but only time can tell. Anti-Israel Hesbalah just took power in Iran. China and Russia are supporting the Iran nuclear program. Israel is in the middle of a turning neighborhood. Egypt can hold a democratic election, but elections in Gaza only resulted in Hamas gaining power. If a anti-Israel, extremist leader takes over Egypt, we can know for sure that the peace that has been installed since 1978. A glimmer of hope is the fact that Hosni Mubarak was thought to have revoke that peace thirty years ago. Egypt may just surprise Israel. What can they do now? Netanyahu can only check with Mubarak if the peace is still prevalent. All they can do is to have the defense forces ready to go.

Americans are caught in the middle on Egypt. To start, Americans have always supported democratic change in the Arabic world. Our core values of the state department is to encourage peaceful shifts of power. Egyptians are protesting for election. There may be violence along the way, but they are truly just fighting for freedom. Protesting allowed our nation to break away from King George and England. On the other hand, Mubarak has consistently stopped Al-Qaeda. He has caught thousands of terrorists and given intelligence to the United States. Egypt could elect someone just as anti-America as Bin Laden. Also, the economic influence of Egypt has a lot to do with the United States. The Sumed pipeline and Suez Canal reduce a cargo ship's journey by over 6,000 miles. Blockage could forces gas prices to skyrocket to almost five dollars per gallon. Just like Israel, only time can tell America's future.

Speaking of the future, the entire Arab world may be on the brink of major change. Tunisia was successful. If Egyptian protesters get their victory, similar situations could begin in Jordan, Syria, and Saudi Arabia. Dictators in these countries fear their futures. New leaders in these countries bring the same fear that Americans and Israelis feel about the rebellion in Egypt. To a citizen of these countries, they must feel hope. Before Tunisia, no Arab country's people could take down their leader. Now, they feel they can. Good or bad, the Arab world is in line for an awakening.


To me, the change could be good or bad. I agree more with the Israeli policy than the American. Israel may lose its only friendly neighbor. With the recent reports of Lebanon, Egypt and Lebanon could team up to take down their neighbor. These protesters are not rioting in support of terrorism. All these Egyptians want is to secure their economy and future. I believe that another peace maker could greatly improve Egypt. Too many times, we associate Muslim and Arab countries with terrorism. Mubarak is not a terrorist. Anwar El Sadat was not either. As I write this, the sun is preparing to set in Egypt. Maybe there is something wonderful out on the horizon.

God and Survival

Like it or not, humans need four things to survival. Without food, oxygen, water, and shelter, human life is impossible. Why does God create us with the struggle to find each of these things every day? Why would there be the hungry, thirsty, or homeless? Perhaps, each of these things is not just a necessity. God gave us four blessings.

Food is a blessing that we can physically enjoy. To taste a delicious dessert or a warm soup is a blessing in itself. The culinary arts are an amazing field, yet others enjoy creating their own food masterpieces. As beautiful as food can taste, it can be a struggle for some. Each day we choose what to put in the human body. An ice cream cone is a chain on the road to obesity, yet an apple a day can keep the doctor away. We can not blame God for obesity, for we create our own bodies. For Jews, this discipline advances a step further. Orthodox, Conservative, and even some Reform Jews, like myself, keep the Kashrut. The Kashrut are the Jewish dietary laws. These Jews are commanded to abstain from eating and mixing certain foods. God gave us this blessing to enjoy life, but Adonai also presented food to teach discipline to the masses.

Oxygen is life's only constant. We can go days without food, water, and shelter. Seconds without oxygen is so deathly. Oxygen can shows us that some things never fail to happen. To breath is such a simple task, yet it is so crucial. Air is air, right? Wrong! Just as humans have been revolutionizing the culinary arts, they have been revising the air as well. Unfortunately, we probably should have stuck to our original draft. Since the Industrial Revolution, we have been forming our own downfall. I speak the truth, not to frighten us, but just to put it out there. As far as we know, Earth is the only place that has the right balance of air to sustain life. Without a clean Earth, we have nowhere to perform the "simple" task of breathing.

Water shows us how to care for others. It is a blessing for our mind and heart. While some of us can just go to the faucet, others walk miles to find a drink. Why? Water presents ourselves with the power of compassion. Those replete with water could lend a hand to the thirsty. Eventually, no one will have to work hard. Instead, thirst is just as much as hunger. What is the difference? Hunger shows on the body. Humans get skinnier and skinnier when they have no food. Thirst messes with the mind. Poor water supply is the silent killer.

According to my own beliefs, shelter is the most important of the four necessities. Shelter brings us together. When shelter is not a factor, humans are just single wanderers. Without a home, the idea of family does not exist. As my father put it a few weeks ago, "Family is the place where no conversation is too awkward." I know I have at least three people that I can come to with anything. This does not even include my aunts, uncles, cousins, grandparents, and other relatives. These three people live with me. We endure everything together, whether we want to or not.

During the journey through the desert, the Israelites beg for food from God and water from God. Even in a sandstorm, the Israelites would rely on God to give them the lasting breaths for life. Why does God gives us these shackles? Food brings hunger and morbid obesity, but it also brings the splendors of taste. Water entails the suffering of the thirst, yet we can open our hearts and give compassion. Oxygen never seems to stop demanding of our attention, but it is routine. It provides the smallest stability in the roughest of time. At least, the Israelites had each other. On this Shabbat, may we all rest in our tents together.

URJ Shabbat

Last night, the Union for Reform Judaism hosted a wonderful service at Congregation B'nai Shalom. Three congregations joined together to observe the Sabbath. Musically, it was delightful. Our guest speaker, Rabbi Elwell, delivered a philosophical sermon on prayer. Not even a blizzard could stop this Shabbat!

For this momentous Shabbat, three synagogues in central Massachusetts came together. Temple Emanu-El of Worcester, Temple Sinai of Worcester, and Congregation B'nai Shalom of Westborough shared B'nai Shalom's sanctuary. Rabbis Matthew Burger, Seth Bernstein, and Larry Milder gave insight into Judaism and led the service co-led. Although the topic is solemn, I found it touching that the rabbis dedicated the Mourner's Kaddish to the late Debbie Friedman and the unfortunate victims of Tuscon, Arizona. The temples also provided us with three beautiful voices. Cantorial soloists Lisa Marcus Jones and Sharon Brown Goldstein joined forces with Cantor Kim Singer. They harmonized beautifully. Although it has been done, these three congregations have not joined forces on Shabbat in a very long time.

As I said before, the cantorial soloists and cantor harmonized quite well. With Rabbi Milder joining them on guitar, congregants did not know whether to pray or just watch the performance. Cantorial soloist Jones' operation of the flute was spectacular. Once she stopped, congregants just wanted the flute to keep going. Overtones are a concept of music theory. They only happen when people harmonize so well that the two notes turn into one note in the room. I heard overtones last night. One congregants of B'nai Shalom told me that they wish we could have music like that every week.

Finally, Rabbi Elwell presented this momentous gather with a very modern topic. With a number of accomplishments in the Reform Movement, Rabbi Elwell spoke on the topic of "Why does prayer matter?" Her words kept people engaged and interested throughout the sermon. A main theme of her sermon was that prayer is different for each and every one of us. I would bet that Rabbi Elwell made a difference on about 90% of the people who attended.

To me, the community in B'nai Shalom pleased me the most. I felt like a part of the "temple posse". As a foreigner of Westborough, this is monumental feat. I had always felt included with this group of temple folk, but last night I was no longer "the new guy". I could tell my entire family felt this way. We had become friends rather than acquaintances.

Unity, music, and wisdom all made last night a great Shabbat service. Hopefully, the three congregations joining collectively could become an annual tradition. If it does, the music could continue to be beautiful. Also, another sage of Jewish wisdom could be brought to our bima. On a cold January night, an event of such magnitude can shine brighter than the Moon.

Commandment One

In Yitro, Moses receives the Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Each year as Yitro comes, I intend to analyse the Ten Commandments. Over the next ten years, I will dissect them for every meaning they may have.

To start the Ten Commandments off, God says, "I, Adonai, am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage"(Exodus 20:2). Controversy has come about whether this is actually one of the commandments. Jews have come to agree that God meant this one verse to be its own commandment. Some Christians believe that this is a preface for what is to come. Why should such a statement be one of the Israelite's first and most important laws? Just as the preamble of our constitution starts with "We the people," God declares, "I, Adonai am your God". This one verse is so obvious, yet it seems as though it is necessary for it to be said.

At the time that Moses ascends to Mount Sinai, the Israelites are not the God praising people they were at the sea. They are hungry, thirsty, and stuck in the middle of the wilderness. Some even wanted to return as slaves in Egypt. God feels that all of Adonai's people should know what happened in Egypt. Israel needed to know that Moses was just God's messenger. God parted the sea, Moses held up the staff. God brought the plagues. Before the people elevate to Israel, they must realize that God liberated them. Perhaps, God wanted anyone who studies the Ten Commandments to realize what Adonai just did for the Israelites. It took a lot of power to free the tribes of Israel.

Judaism, at its core, is a monotheistic religion of faith. Over the past year, I have been taking a course on Reform Judaism. I believe in God. My belief is probably a combination of my mother's and father's beliefs. My father believes that God creates, but does not intervene. Once a human is created, God shines through that human. My mother is of the belief that God gives each of us free will. We have a choice of right and wrong. In my opinion, God creates new life and watches over the world. God hears and grants our prayers, but also gave humans the ability to think. Unlike animals, humans can choose how they live. They can live in any place and be friends with anybody. Unfortunately, God's gift of freedom can cause just as much evil as it does good. Belief in God is a beautiful concept.

Why not believe in God? God can be anything to anybody. God can be the weatherman, but God could also be the healer. God can bring change in our lives, or punish our misdeeds. To some, God could be like the "force" in Star Wars. God is the one thing that binds the universe together. When tragedy strikes, we either affirm our faith or curse it. We stop believing because we feel "God stopped protecting us". Maybe God just cannot help the actions of every human. To me, God created humans with freedom and officially restores our freedom. God firmly commands that we acknowledge that we were taken out of Egypt by Godself. Although I do, it does not matter if we believe it or not. We just have to acknowledge it.

Going Green On Tu B'Shevat

On Tu B’Shevat of 2009, this blog was just getting its start. To me, ecology was nothing. The phrase “Go Green” was just an annoying cliché. Now, I am a vegetarian who would call ecology a true passion . I regret all those times I could have recycled my drawings instead of furiously crumbling them up in the trash. Tu B’Shevat is the Israeli holiday to commemorate the environment. In particular, we celebrate the trees. More than any other Tu B’Shevat, Israel needs our help. Thousands of trees burned during a series of wild fires occurring on the first weekend of last December. Israelis need our green thumbs to help them reforest their land. Ecology is the latest, up and coming science. Tu B’Shevat is a perfect opportunity to discuss the relevance and how it affects our world.


What changed from 2009 to 2011? There are several events that caused me to go to “the green side”. Most of all, Camp Shomria helped show me the beautiful things that being environmentally friendly can do. When a camper attends this moshava (camp/colony in Hebrew), they are emerged in a village of youth. These youth create their own culture and innovate the camp. At camp, we planted and cared for a garden daily. Tender care enabled the garden to yield produce. Sometimes there was enough produce to make meals for the entire camp. Then, we built an amphitheater using recycled tires covered in clay. Since my depature, the camp has announced that is has uite the ambition for the summer of 2011. Camp Shomria intends to have dozens of chickens and a cow. The camp plans to ets a majority of its milk and eggs from this organic source. In addition, they showed me that compost can actually work and that recycling is not really that hard. Also, my path to be Kosher became increasingly difficult. Instead of worrying about milk and meat, I cut out meat all together. Each day I abstain from meat eating I not only save the animals. Factory farms have one less hamburger to make. Those factories would burn coal to get their energy. A brief television program about how sparse water is in some parts of the world still resonates in my mind. Shortly after, I met Israelis who see the water crisis on a daily basis. On these occasions, I discovered that all humans need water to live, but do not always have a faucet to get it from. If all that was not enough, I read that the Torah tells Jews to be “green”. A majority of the Torah’s laws are written with farmers and agriculture in mind. Leviticus specifically tells us to not over farm the land and to appreciate the fruits the Earth provides us. It just goes to show how much can change in two years.


To my surprise and delight, going green has been fairly easy. Of all my ventures, I would say becoming vegetarian is the toughest feat. Even that seems to be getting simpler to do day in and day out. In the case of recycling, all I had to do was be conscious of my paper usage and where I put paper that no longer needs to be kept. Did you know that the regular recycling will also take cardboard? To me, this meant that there was a way to save all those trees that become tissue and cereal boxes. The easiest thing to become greener, that I am doing, is to be more cognizant of shutting or unplugging electronics as I leave the room. This reduces my family’s consumption of fossil fuels. As a result, my family has even started picked up on the eco-friendly habits. We are becoming a “green” household. I expect the progress to continue forward. All it took was gentle reminding. The key to our success has been consistency. We came to the realization that little things are never actually little. Just as an actor can never have a “small role”, an ecologist never does a “small task”. Earth can be saved, but every one of us actors has to put on the show. Life is not that different when we do these things, but our future descendants’ lives are being saved.


Every once and a while, Tu B’Shevat and Martin Luther King Jr. Day occur during the same week. Martin Luther King Jr. had a worthy cause that people did not always listen to. In a country fighting two wars and lifting itself from a fallen economy, the environment is usually put on the back burner. A report by Yale University in 2008 told us that the United States is the 39th greenest country. Israel is the 49th. Tu B’Shevat is a tough time for Jewish Americans to make a difference because it is in the pit of winter. One way we can help the Earth is by donating money to help the Jewish organizations plant trees in Israel. With the election of President Barak Obama, Martin Luther King Jr.’s dreams have become a reality. Why do we say that an eco-friendly Earth is impossible?



What are my hopes for the future of the environment? First of all, I am sure that we can each increase our recycling efforts in the world. I believe that we can transform ourselves into a world that does not have to throw away paper (except for tissues and toilet paper). Personally, I know I need to reduce the time I take in the shower. I know I can turn my 10 to 20 minutes into 5 to 10 with a little bit of effort. In my household, I hope to set up a small to medium sized compost. Composting is a wonderful way to reduce waste. Anything that is not meat, fish, or poultry can be composted. My only challenge is to find a way to keep animals in the backyard away from the container it will be in. As a country, I believe we can rise up as a nation to become a leader on the next list Yale releases. As a Jew, I think we can still honor the Torah and Tu B’Shevat by planting trees in Israel and making sure all Israelis, Jewish or not, have sufficient drinking water. As a world, I think that we need to equally distribute our water and protect our animals. A polar bear should have the freedom to roam the Arctic, just as we roam our cities. Call me a hippie, but I think with a little bit of spirit and work, the Earth can be green as Martin Luther King Jr’s dream is a reality.







Cited Source


"The World's Greenest Countries - Newsweek." Newsweek - National News, World News, Business, Health, Technology, Entertainment, and More - Newsweek. Harman Newsweek, 23 Jan. 2008. Web. 17 Jan. 2011. .

How Moses Ends Genesis

How Moses End Genesis
Exodus’ fourth portion could be nicknamed “The Israelites Escape”. In this poignant moment in the Torah, the Israelites are running across Egypt after God struck Pharaoh and his citizens with the tenth plague. God sends Moses to the Sea of Reeds for a final awe to display before Egypt. According to the Torah, Pharaoh’s army chases the Israelites to the sea. When the Israelites feel like they are trapped, Moses lifts his staff. God releases an eastern wind, and the Sea of Reeds part to make a path for the Israelites to crossover. Pharaoh chases the Israelites on the path, but the Israelites make it across. Pharaoh does not. Miriam leads her fellow people in the Song of the Sea. The newly liberated caravan took their first steps into the wilderness this week. It was a bumpy road this week as the Israelites complained and cursed God almost every second since they sang the Song of the Sea. God, Moses, and Aaron have the challenge of getting the Israelites to be appreciative of what they have; freedom.
All these years I have been “anti-Joseph”. Joseph was my least favorite of the four Genesis men. Genesis concludes with the portion of Vayehi. Each time I have gone through it, I have always been disappointed. Joseph breaks this chain of men who die in the Promised Land. Instead, Joseph is embalmed like a mummy in Egypt. At last, light has shined upon Joseph. On the eve of their escape, “Moses took Joseph's bones, who had exacted an oath from the children of Israel saying, ‘God will be sure to take notice of you, then you shall carry up from here with you” (Exodus 13:19). It is such a minuscule detail in the portion, yet I feel so satisfied reading it. Every good story has reincorporation and here is the Torah’s reincorporation. Moses is officially freeing the slaves. In my opinion, Joseph is being freed just as much as the other Israelites are.
When we leave a place, we take our important belongings. Our precious photographs and favorite memories come with us. What do we classify as an important object? Sure, Joseph was taken out of Egypt. What about all the other Jews who died in Egypt? Do they not deserve to be freed too? As liberating as Moses releasing Joseph is, we need to think about what we would take. If we had just hours to leave the country to a brand new land, what would we bring? I would be sure to have my family. Of the Jewish items in my home, I would be sure to have my Tanak and tallis. Also, I few of my many yarmulkes would come too. The only real material, non-sacred object I would bring is my autograph picture by Joe DiMaggio. On the contrary, some people would classify that as sacred. Would I bring the dead bodies of my ancestors? I would say most likely not. Surely, packing for the wilderness would really show the values we see in our world.
Does returning somewhere bring about the same feelings as when we left? If Moses were to go back to Mount Sinai, would he feel a sense of liberation? Packing or reorganizing brings us back into the memories of a house, a town, or even a country. When my parents go back to Rockland County, do they feel a sense of freedom? As terrifying as an Auschwitz visit could be to a Jew, how important is it to return to where our people suffered? We always plan the future out. We are all about progress. What happens when we pack so quickly and move so quick, we cannot smell the roses? I believe Joseph gets left behind.

Debbie Friedman

I just read on Facebook and confirmed with an online Jewish newspaper that Debbie Friedman has passed away this afternoon. She was hospitalized for a few days with pneumonia. I always wanted to meet Debbie Friedman. My hope was to have her be invited by my congregation for a Friday night service. Debbie Friedman was the queen of Jewish music. My rabbi would often sing her songs or just reference her musical genius. Although I never met the musical genius, I admire her. First of all, I just had a very mild case of pneumonia, so I guess I could say I have a lot sympathy for what she must have gone through. Secondly, I am a musician. Only a special woman like Ms. Friedman could sing, compose, and play instruments as she could. Finally, Debbie Friedman revived synagogue service life. A conservative synagogue will sing the traditional melodies, but Friedman's tunes make Reform Jews smile. We will miss the Jewish Mozart that was Debbie Friedman. Like Mozart, she could write piece after piece and each would sound wonderful. Just like Mozart, she died way too soon for her time.

Debbie Friedman (1952-2011)
My favorite: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zp3-K16IkSc&feature=related

Sources
-JTA. "Debbie Friedman, Jewish Songwriter and Performer, Dies." Jewish Telegraphic Agency. Jewish Telegraphic Agency, 9 Jan. 2011. Web. 9 Jan. 2011. .

-"Debbie Friedman." Wikipedia, the Free Encyclopedia. Web. 09 Jan. 2011. .

Prove it!

God brings the last trio of the ten plagues upon Egypt this week. First, an eastern wind blows locusts onto all the fields. Second, the Egyptians have darkness forced upon them for three straight days. Third and finally, God brings the horror of death to Egypt overnight. In addition to get the Israelites liberated, God brings the plagues to show to Pharaoh that the Eternal is the one, all powerful God. Moses describes to the Israelites how to avoid the angel of death. God instructs the Israelites that this day's legacy will become the festival of Unleavened Bread or Passover.

Why does God need to prove something to Pharaoh? If God had only brought one plague, would it have been enough to free Israel? Pharaoh's magicians could match God's early plague. It took all ten plagues to get through Pharaoh skull that God existed. The Torah says that God stiffened Pharaoh's heart. It is almost like God had unfinished business in Egypt. God wanted the Egyptians to know that God is one. It seems like Israel is always trying to prove themselves.

As Americans, we always associate proof with what is real. We need to see it to believe it. It is part of our bio-laws that all criminals are innocent until proven guilty. Now, not all court cases need the wrath of God as evidence, but criminals have slipped through the system. What if God had only brought blood? What if no one believed in God? We see God all around us. It is up to us to recognize it.

Mordecai Kaplan believed that God did not make nature happen, but God is nature. Kaplan thought that everything from the hurricanes we see to the sunrise each day is God. This would mean that God's proof happens everyday. Does God need proof?

If God is the Ruler of the Universe, why do we demand to see God? Maybe we are not meant to see God. In this week's portion God told Moses that it would terrible if he saw the face of God. God's ultimate mystery helps us believe. Judaism is just a religion where we do not necessarily need to prove it!

The End of an Era, A New Time

The portion Vayera means "to be chosen". In this portion Moses begins to fulfill his lifelong destiny as liberator of the Israelites. God sends Moses back to Egypt to speak before Pharaoh for freedom. Pharaoh declines seven times in the portion. Each rejection to free Moses and his people results in a place. God strikes Pharaoh and Egypt down with blood on the Nile, frogs, vermin, beasts, cattle disease, boils, and hail. Pharaoh concludes the portion by seemingly releasing the Israelites.

Throughout the week, two things floated in my thoughts: plagues and the New Year. Are they connected? God plagued Egypt because Pharaoh denied God's existence. He believed each of God's "wonders" could be equally created by his magician. 2011 brings uncertainty to us all. We see God's wonders everyday. Why is it that God lets us watch oil burn, crimes unfold, and sickness dwell? Is God against us in this day and age?

I am afraid that we have brought our own plague upon us. Technology now controls our lives. The Internet, Blackberries, I-Phones, everything has imprisoned us to a world of devices that beep. Theaters have lost great deals of respect. Almost every Shabbat service is accompanied by a ring. In 2010, I feel we have entered a new era. In this year, the Internet became bigger than the phones, newspapers, and even television. Eventually, somebody will write a parallel piece to mine. They say how they internet is out of style. There may be no blood in our water or hail in our skies, but technology is a menace.

In my opinion, the plague is a result of instant knowledge. If we have a question, we Google it. If we need to contact someone, we Facebook them. Got a rumor to spread? Go and twitter it. News is always happening and somebody is always telling it. The plague is the end of privacy. As previously stated, God did not bring this plague upon us. Technology is a man made plague.

In this new time we call 2011, we should redeem ourselves. We have the ability to buy a newspaper. Maybe when we have a question, we look it up at the library. We can even shut off our precious cell phones at synagogue. Technology can be stopped, but we have to part the Red Sea to halt it.

Do They Eat Chinese Food Too?

Dreams are irregular for me, but last night was remarkable. To start, it was not a dream. Reminiscing about it, makes it more clear how much of a nightmare it was. It all started in a small town, like one we would find in upper New England. In the midst of just a few shops, the family and I were on vacation. This dream was over a two night span. On the first night, we created a hangout. Even all my grandparents came to spend the time. We met great people from the town, and had a great first evening. The next night, we started off in the same fashion. We headed down to the hangout, my dad got me a cone of ice cream. Just as everything and everyone begins to look like the closing of an episode of "Friends", the police come in. They claim the guy with us is a crook. My dad looks around and sees a something that horrifies him on the wall. Although, he would not reveal to me the slur, I could only assume it was towards the Jews. A shooting broke out at the scene, and I told the family we had to get out of here. It turns out that it was all a set-up. The police, this guy, and maybe even the ice cream seller hated Jews and planned to exterminate us. My mother was ravaged by the savages. My sister disappeared. Just as I felt as alone and sunken as the bottom of the sea, I awoke.

To avoid the fact that I may be psychologically disturbed, let us do some clarifying. When people ask, "How do you deal with the aftermath of the Holocaust or situations in Israel?", remember this dream. My brain is always processing the cruelties Jews have faced. In this week's parshat, it was becoming enslaved in Egypt. Seventy years ago, one-third of our population perished in Europe. In the 21st century, we find ourselves catching antisemitic villains. Hate crimes happen, but nearly to the extent of what my dream may tell. To anyone in a panic right now, do not worry our towns will not turn against us. Antisemitism is a lot more subtle. It seems that all antisemites out there just feel like keeping their hatred a secret.

Watching Christmas come among us this year was quite interesting. For the first time, I felt that Hanukkah was a part of the American way. People for the most part wished me a happy Hanukkah that actual 8 days of Hanukkah. "Conan" brought Hanukkah up each day his show appeared on the holiday. We must not let Hanukkah become a "Jewish Christmas", but it got me thinking. What do other people do without Hanukkah, Christmas, and/or Kwanzaa?

Just like Jews, Muslims have a lunar calendar. Unlike Jews, Muslims do not have any leap year. Ramadan was once in December. Due to the leap years, Ramadan has ended up in September. My question is; "Do they eat Chinese food too?" Islam is the newest of the Abrahamic religions. Muhammad is the Muslim prophet who spoke the word of God to the people of Mecca. In Mecca, he was at first rejected by most and then accepted by a few followers. Muhammad was banished by Mecca and sent to Yathrib which he renamed Medina. Muhammad reclaimed Mecca, but sadly died two year later in 632 CE. Muslims had an empire that spanned from Iran to Spain. Today, they are dispersed all over the world. "Do they eat Chinese food too?"

In history, we have been studying the rise of Islam. On the first day of the unit, my teacher did a very interesting experiment. Each day we do a warm-up in class. On this particular day, the warm-up was to write on the board three words that come to mind when we think of Islam. Some of the most common were 9/11, oil, and women covered. There were two that stick out in my mind, "no women's rights" and "suicide bomber". After the eyeopening experience, my teacher showed a series of video of Muslims combating stereotypes. He showed us a more comical video. For example, the video below, "Video Blog #4: Muslim While Flying" is a funny way of looking at Muslim stereotypes.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-nolNcJ1G7w
"Video Blog #4: Muslim While Flying" by: ummahfilms

On a more serious note, he showed us a video that showed Muslim extremists committing acts of terror. It said, "If you think all Muslims are like this, then all Christians are like this". The video showed a meeting of the Ku Klux Klan. Islam is probably the prominent stereotype of time.

What is our task? As Jews, we know exactly how Muslims feel in America. My dream may be their reality. We must combat their stereotypes. Americans must prevent, the "Islamacaust". We should never have a Muslim persecuted in the home of the free. Jews are finally assimilating without giving up their culture. Let's help the Muslims out. Maybe we can all eat Chinese food together.

How One Tradition Changed Judaism Forever?

Genesis closes with a very powerful statement about Judaism. To start, it is very well written. Besides that Joseph and his father are not madly in love, Jacob's death is a reminder very much of the tomb scene in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet". Shakespeare and the Torah capture the same, resonant tone that paints a vivid, moving picture for the reader.

In the portion, Jacob is prepared to move on from the Earth. He knows his life has come to a nice conclusion with the reuniting of his family. Joseph and his brothers get blessed by their father. Of all twelve sons, Joseph receives the family blessing. To Jacob, the family blessing means to carry out the task of being the leader of God's people. The other leaders, Abraham and Issac, have been buried in a very specific location in Canaan. Jacob says, "Behold, I am going to die, and God will be with you, and He will return you to the land of your forefathers" (Gen. 48:21). Jacob believes Joseph will follow in his footsteps into Canaan. On the other hand, Joseph has a different vision. When Joseph moves on, "they embalmed him and he was placed into the coffin in Egypt" (Gen. 50:26). Maybe even to this day, Joseph remains a mummy in Egypt. Did Joseph get the Jews stuck in Egypt? 40 years in the desert? In the Diaspora?

Joseph had his reasons to stay in Egypt. He was pretty much a Pharaoh in this land. In Canaan, he is just a man. His brothers and entire family have food in Egypt. They must have feared returning to once-famished Canaan. Why fix something that is not broken? Joseph probably should have stayed in Egypt, but Joseph and his whole family went to bury Jacob. The Israelites were in Canaan! They could have stayed. Instead, they remained in Egypt. How could Joseph know that a new Pharaoh would force the Israelites into slavery? Perhaps, God intended the entire story of Exodus and on to happen.

Unfortunately, Joseph creates an entirely new dynamic of Judaism. The Israelites completely lost their sense of homeland because Joseph did not bring his family back. He chooses to become more Egyptian than Jewish. Having a leader of the people was just about as dead as Joseph and Jacob. Jacob entrusted Joseph with such a dignified honor. He asked to carry on the traditions of the people and join his forefathers in the Canaan burials ground. Back in Egypt, Jewish culture never was the same.

When trying to think of a non-Jewish concept to demonstrate this theme, the New York Yankees came to mind. Every Yankee win is sounded by the playing of Frank Sinatra's "New York, New York". Imagine if the Yankees thought the song was not "hip" or "convenient" enough to be the trumpet of a victory. A win here or there would be missed. Then, the song is not played at all. After that, Yankees fans do not know the song or even who Frank Sinatra is. Finally, Frank Sinatra and his swell Jazz style die out all together. Traditions are powerful. Whether it is a Yankee victory song or section of Torah, enjoy and relish these customs that hopefully keep Jacob's wish alive.

Creative Serivce

At my synagogue, the youth group writes a creative service. This year's theme was miracles!



Miracles
From August 15 to November 1, I struggled to find a miracle. With the High Holy Days coming, it was a struggle for how Jewish I should be. On top of that, Rachel, my sister, was finishing up the college admission process. This eclipsed my life at home. On top of that, I was lost to find who my friends were. With many more issues and pressures of eighth grade, it was a depressing and miserable autumn. Then, one day the light was at the end of the tunnel. Instead of taking the time to focus on the negative aspect, I would like to speak of the triumph.

I was looking for a miracle from the outside. I wanted a friend to reach out and lift this burden off my back. Instead, the depression took over more. Functioning day to day was almost impossible. September was like a few bumps in the rough road. October was the lull of sorrow. Then, out of nowhere November came. With a better sleep and a broader batch of self-confidence, I got through a day. Then, just another week. And now, as one can see a month.

It was certainly a miracle. We find ourselves all at this point. Some go through it at 14, others at 40, and others at 80. Self-confidence is the key to everything. It is the miracle that propelled the Maccabees to victory, the Jews out of Egypt, and a young man through the expedition of his eighth grade year. Having self-confidence is a miracle in itself. When services conclude, go out in the world and find the miracle of self-confidence. It sure does help get us out of the hole.

Genesis Vayigash Verses 44:18-47:27

To start, I would just like to recognize how nice it is to be back in action this week. While Hanukkah and Shabbat were observed, the week felt so empty with a blog and nice Shabbat dinner with the family. Also, I nice mazal tov to all my fellow cast and crew members with two great performances of "Romeo and Juliet".

Jumping back into Torah, we will explore another tale of Joseph and his brothers. As Genesis is heading toward its close, we open this parshat with Benjamin being taken into custody. Joseph has accused his brothers of being spies. Unknowing of their relationship, Judah appears before his brother. He pleads for Benjamin's liberation. Suddenly, Joseph cries out the truth. In shock, Judah goes to tell the others. Vayigash closes with the moving of the Israelites. Joseph successfully appeals to Pharaoh to let his family move into Goshen, Egypt finest portion of land. To conclude a warm and fuzzy family reunion, the Israelites leave their famished land and return to Joseph and his flourishing Egypt.

What if Joseph had not been as accommodating? Perhaps, Joseph would have sentenced all his brothers to imprisonment or worse death. It is their fault that Joseph was a slave and Egypt without even a family to call on for support. In fact, Jacob could have been just as much in a fury. Reuben, Simeon, and all the rest of his sons proclaimed his pride and joy, Joseph, a dead man. Rachel could be equally annoyed. She worked for hours diligently weaving her son's beautiful rainbow coat. Now, she is informed that her son's ruined the gorgeous coat by staining it with blood. Right then and there, the Israelites could have stayed angry and the Jews would not have made it past Joseph's time.

Instead, they forgave each other. Forgiveness is a beautiful aspect of the human mind. Betrayal can presents itself right before our eyes, yet the human mind searches for the good within people's rough exoskeletons of cruelty. Where do we halt forgiving? My mother always tells me not to become a human doormat. She would tell me, "Never let people walk all you!" When is forgiving just not right? When hateful, sorry is not enough for us, yet we despise when someone refuses to accept an apology.

If we are all our own judges, how do we determine who to forgive? Family was obvious for Joseph and still pretty easy for us. Generally, people are a slight bit stingier to forgive with friends. What about a stranger on the street? Do we forgive Joe who bumped into us? I say yes. We never know just what Joe on the street may have to offer. Relentless having a grudge upon him may cause our family to have a famine.

Blog this week

Sorry no writing this week due to my heavy involvement in my production in "Romeo and Juliet". I invite you to share your thoughts on the show, the terrible fires in Israel, or "Romeo and Juliet.


Shabbat Shalom!
Adam