Parshas Achrei Mot: Improving Every Day

 We are in the home stretch now of our Passover preparations.  The house is nearly ready and we are working on switching our kitchen over even as we write this.  If you need somewhere to go for a meal over Pesach, whether for a seder or for a daytime meal during the Yom Tov, please call the Shul office.

In this week’s parsha, we read about how the kohen gadol (high priest) has to immerse himself in a mikveh when he changes into his special white garments for Yom Kippur and again when he changes back into his regular priestly clothing.  But there is something unusual about this: We usually only immerse in the mikveh when we are ascending to a higher spiritual level.  It makes sense for the kohen gadol to immerse before putting on his special Yom Kippur clothes.  On the other hand, it seems odd for him to immerse in a mikvah when he is putting on his regular clothes.  It seems like he is going down a spiritual level, not going up!

From this we learn that we must always work to improve ourselves.  The reason the kohen gadol immerses before putting on his normal workaday clothing is that he will now be doing an even better job than he did before.  His priestly service on Yom Kippur raised him to such a high spiritual level that he is now going to be on an even higher spiritual plane even for his normal daily activities.

So, too, we learn that we can always grow and improve.  We must always be working to climb to a higher spiritual level, to keep a bit more of the Torah than we did in the past.

Pesach is the perfect time to implement this.  We can always keep it a little more strictly, a little bit better than we did last year.  If last year you did not eat bread during Pesach but you still had pasta or crackers, try this year to eat nothing leavened.  If last year you had nothing leavened on Pesach, try this year to eat all your foods certified kosher for Passover only.  If last year you attended or hosted one seder, this year attend two.  There is always some room for improvement.  One easy first step is to attend this week’s shiur on the Hagaddah!

We wish you all a Shabbat shalom and a happy and kosher Pesach!

Read more on Parshas Achrei Mot-Kedoshim & Yom Haatzmaut: Celebrating Israel

Parsha Metzora: Time to Clean Up!

To the tune of “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”:

I’m making my list, checking it twice
Wish I was Sephardi so I could have rice!
Pesach time is coming to town…

It haunts you when you’re sleeping
You clean while you’re awake.
Who knows if it’ll be bad or good
But it’ll be clean for goodness sake!

So you’d better not shout. You’d better not cry.
You’d better just clean, I’m telling you why:
Pesach time is coming to town!

Yes, that’s right, Passover (Pesach) is right around the corner.  With two babies under two, we’ve had to start our preparations extra early this year.  It really helps to have a good song or two to sing while you work, which is how Rachel came up with the one above.

But Pesach isn’t only about cleaning up your house.  All that cleaning to get rid of chometz in the physical sense leaves lots of time for reflection and it is an ideal time to focus on cleaning up our spiritual selves.  It is often said that chometz is a metaphor for the ego.  All the hot air that puffs up bread is like the ego that puffs up a person.  Pesach is the time to get rid of it, to empty oneself so one can be a more humble receptacle for G-d and His Torah.

But this week’s parsha reminds us that ego isn’t the only thing we have to clean out of our lives.  Miriam, Moshe’s sister, speaks lashon hara and develops tzaaras, a spiritual malady with a physical manifestation, often mistranslated as leprosy.   We don’t have a real translation for tzaaras because it doesn’t exist today.  Most people would, perhaps, see this as fortunate. Phew, I don’t have to have an ugly skin disease just because I spread some gossip about my neighbor!  But in reality, it is sad.  The fact is that gossip is so accepted and so rampant in our society that if tzaaras existed we would probably all be afflicted!  So G-d has removed the malady from us.

As we clean our homes for Pesach it is the perfect time to clean ourselves of old, bad habits.  As we brush aside our ego, one of the first things we should do is to brush aside our inclination to gossip.  We can choose not to speak it, choose not to read it, and choose not to listen to it.  We have the power to decide, and in that power comes freedom.  The freedom of Pesach.

Shabbat shalom!

Read more on Parshas Metzorah: Tsaraas: Sometimes a Bad Thing Can Be a Good Thing

Parshas Shemini: Mourning a Loss

Sadly, our congregation has suffered two losses this week.  Our hearts and prayers are with the mourners; they should be consoled amongst the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem.

How fitting, then, that this week’s parsha also features two sad deaths.  Two of Aaron’s four sons, Nadav and Avihu, bring an unbidden incense offering to G-d in the Tabernacle.  G-d sends down a fire to consume the offerings, but that fire consumes the men also, and they die.

Who can ever contemplate the pain suffered by a parent upon the loss of a child?  This is suffering none of us wants even to imagine.  Just the thought of losing a loved one causes us to catch our breath in our throats. Our hearts skip a beat.  And the feeling of utter devastation when we do actually experience a loss defies words.  The loss is total and complete.

This is why we sit shiva.  Judaism in all its beauty and wisdom acknowledges that pain.  We are permitted for seven days after the funeral (excepting Shabbos) to mourn as deeply as we need to.  Friends, acquaintances, and even caring strangers may come to visit the shiva house because pain is easier to bear when the house is full than when it is empty.  And at the end of that week, we rise from our shiva but we do not resume our normal life.  We continue an abridged mourning ritual for the first month, and a lighter form still during the first year.  In this way, mourning follows a natural progression.

But poor Aaron who lost his sons! He was not permitted to sit shiva.  They were the only priests in the entire Jewish nation.  There was nobody to take over from them while they mourned, so they had to set aside their mourning and continue in their duties.

Moses tries to comfort Aaron, telling him that G-d has brought Nadav and Avihu close to him as sacrifices out of His great love for them.  Perhaps Aaron thought his sons were killed as a punishment for bringing the unbidden sacrifice.  ‘No,’ Moses tells him, ‘they were killed because they were on a higher level than the two of us put together!’  But Aaron is silent in the face of his brother’s attempt to comfort him.

Perhaps this is a lesson for all of us when we visit someone in mourning.  Trite words and platitudes cannot help someone who is hurting so much.  To say, “he’s in a better place now” or, “G-d loved her so much He called her back to Him” do not really make a person feel better when they are deep in their mourning.  Sometimes fond memories of the lost beloved one help remind the mourner of the lives he or she touched. Yet, sometimes words, even well-intended, cannot do a thing to make someone feel better.  Sometimes all the mourner really needs is a hug, a shoulder to cry on, and an ear to listen.

Baruch dayan ha’emes; blessed is the True Judge, for we cannot understand His ways.  May the mourners be comforted among all the Jews of Zion and Jerusalem.

Shabbat shalom!

Along with other travel bloggers, we have begun a collaboration to create an article about our favorite place.

The Traveling Rabbi writes about Jerusalem

Halva for sale at Machaneh Yehudah Maerket in Jerusalem

History, Culture and a Melting Pot of Religions

Jerusalem is one of my favorite cities in the world to visit. It fascinates me to no end and every time I am there I discover something new. It is the melting pot of many religions and is revered as a holly city by possibly half the worlds population. But it’s not just about religion, Jerusalem is fascinating from an Archeological perspective, military history, and anyone interested in ancient civilizations. Jerusalem at the same time is a fusion of the old world charm and modern technology.

Fascinating history

Walk underground for 533 meters trough Hezkiah’s Tunnel which are over 1000 years old. If you are Christian, retrace the steps of Jesus and visit the many chapels and churches. Witness thousands of Jews praying at the Western Wall, the remains of a 2000 year old Temple. Visit the Burnt house and see what people lived in during the Roman period. Marvel at the collection in the Israel museum with enough history to boggle anyone’s mind.

Places of Worship

All of the Abrahamic religions are represented here. Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Along with this there are the extremes from the secular, to the mildly religious, though the full on fanatics. Stroll through the ancient streets of Jerusalem and you will see Muslims dressed in white robs, Armenian monks in black, and ultra orthodox Jews in gold striped coats.  From the western wall, to the Dome on the rock, to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher Jerusalem has no shortage of fascinating religious sites revered by a few billion people in the world.

Food Galore

There is pizza, doughnuts, ice cream and all the same foods you will find anywhere in the world. But when I’m in Jerusalem I prefer to eat like a local, and that means falafel and shawarma. There are dozens of places around the city but my favorite is King George Falafel on King George street. Go there any time and there is a line of people waiting. It is one of the cheapest places to eat yet remains one of the tastiest. Get a falafel or laffa filled with what you want, then sit outside and watch the people go bye as you enjoy your meal.

Ancient Markets

Get a feel of what it was like to shop hundreds if not thousands of years ago. Machane Yehuda Jerusalem’s most famous outdoor market  where you will find fresh produce, spices, halva, olives and dairy products. The Old City Souk, is the most famous with tourist where you can find tacky souvenirs but also useful bits and pieces. The markets are also a great place to stop for a snack of Baklava and some sugary mint tea or a strong cup of coffee.

Kendra Thornton writes about Las Vegas

Food, Fun and Far Out Rides

I have visited the city of Las Vegas several times with my family. Each time brings something new that I didn’t discover the previous time I was there. On my last few excursion I have found attractions that I can visit with my family as well as by myself. Some of the activities are outdoors, but many of them are inside for an added convenience.

Wine Tasting

One of my favorite things to do in Las Vegas is to sample wine. I found a fun spot with my husband last year that I continue to visit. Perhaps the best place is the Michael Mina restaurant. While there, I learned about the wine making process and got to mix some drinks of my own. The class on wine making and bartending takes about two hours, but it is worth the time.

Science

While Las Vegas is known for a city of adult fun, there are some new museums that my children enjoy. They can learn about science and some history. The Neon Museum is a favorite because it looks like it is in a junkyard. Another favorite is the Discovery Museum. There are several hands on exhibits for children of all ages.

Sand and Sun

The Pink Jeep Tour is by far one of the best experiences. A jeep picks you up right outside your hotel room. While on the tour, I traveled across some of the deserts in Las Vegas. The ride was a bit bumpy, but it was one of the best ways I have seen the city and surrounding areas. The last time I went I took advantage of the trip that lasted an entire day and was set in the Grand Canyon.

Are You Hungry

I am a fan of the show Man vs. Food. When I saw a competition where I could try to eat for a free meal, I had to try. Several of the hotels have competitions like this. Avoid the ones with steak because the portions are large. However, if you can finish your meal, then you get it free. Your picture is also posted on a wall of fame.

There are places to avoid, but overall, the city is full of fun. It is a place where you can take the family and with so many hotels along the strip, you will be sure to find the right one for you and your family. Sites like Gogobot make it easy to read user reviews. Pay attention to shows that are scheduled so that you can make the most out of your trip by seeing as many attractions as possible.

Are you a passionate travel blogger? If so please send me an article similar to the above posted so I may share it with others:  Rabbiben@travelingrabbi.com

Purim started Saturday night with a party at the Rabbi’s home. The Megillah was read by Rabbi and then everyone sat down for some yummy hamantaschen baked by the Rebbetzin. A couple of visitors from Sydney also joined us.

Purim day we had a nice turnout at the shul for our program fromnoon to 3.00pm. People were having so much fun that it ran overtime and ended closer to 4.00pm.

The program started with hamantaschen baking. Supervised by the Rebbetzin, participants made hamantaschen with fillings of chocolate, marshmallow, peanut butter, jam and sometimes a collection of all four together! The hamantaschen were placed in the oven to bake and then everyone gathered in the shul to listen to the Megillah. Of course Rabbi had to tell a few corny Purim jokes prior to the reading like: “What is the difference between a telephone and Haman”. Answer: “Nothing. When we are finished with both of them we hang them up!”

After the megillah reading we had a collection of short Purim films shown on a big screen in a makeshift cinema on the stage. Special thanks to David Benveniste, for putting it all together. At this point, we should mention that David won first place again for best costume dressed as Ezio from the video game Assassin’s Creed.

By the time the Movie was done, Klee along with some helpers had set up a lovely Israeli lunch of pita, falafel, salad, and tabouli. Dessert was a potpourri of all the fresh hamantaschen out of the oven.

Then came the long awaited Juggling show by the great Benjini, who did some impressive juggling, a couple of magic tricks with plenty of jokes. If you were there, you’d have seen him perform the fastest juggling trick in the world, make a balloon worm, do card tricks, and turn an empty container into a tray of hamantashen!

The day continued with a Purim Seudah at the Rabbi’s home along with a second megillah reading that day for those who had missed the first one, or enjoyed it so much they wanted to hear it again, followed by lots of Rebbetzin’s delicious food, l’chaims and stories.

Thank you to all of you who participated in the great Mitzva of Matanot L’evyonim, giving charity to the poor on Purim. This Purim from the Adelaide Community we gave US$180 to Yad Eliezer (www.yadeliezer.org) and US$61 to Leket Israel (www.leket.org.il) Both organizations do tremendous work in bringing food to those who need it in Israel. The organizations are all well recognized and run mostly by volunteers. Check the links for more information.

Thank you all who participated and made our Purim.

The film ‘Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan,’ is a 2006 comedy starring the Jewish actor Sacha Baron Cohen. The plot: Kazakh television personality Borat Sagdiyev leaves Kazakhstan for the “Greatest Country in the World”, the “U, S and A” to make a documentary at the behest of the Kazakh Ministry of Information. He leaves behind his wife Oksana and other inhabitants of his village including his “43-year-old” mother, bringing along his producer Azamat Bagatov and a pet chicken. The film pokes a lot of fun at a country that most foreigners know little to nothing about.

It is rare to meet someone who has travelled to Kazakhstan, but last week Rabbi Ben met a young Australian who had just cycled through Kazakhstan. Naturally he asked the cyclist, ‘Did you meet Borat’s family?’ The cyclist replied, ‘Whatever you do, never mention Borat in Kazakhstan. The people there are not happy about this movie that has portrayed their country as a joke!’
It’s interesting to note, that the villages that Baron Cohen visits in depicting how backwards Kazakhstan is, were not even in Kazakhstan, they were filmed in Romania.

Sacha Baron Cohen may not be welcomed in Kazakhstan but Jews have a history there.

General Secretary Joseph Stalin forcibly moved thousands of Jews from other parts of the Soviet Union to the Kazakh SSR, and during the Holocaust 8,000 Jews fled to Kazakhstan.

A Chabad-Lubavitch synagogue in Almaty is named after Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, father of the Rebbe, who is buried at the city’s cemetery, close to the synagogue. Levi Yitzchak Schneerson was exiled to Kazakhstan from Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk, where he was a chief rabbi. Lubavitcher Jews from all over the world come to pray at his grave.

It seems like Jews historically ended up in Kazakhstan not entirely by choice though today there are estimated 3,300 Jews living there.

Between 2005 and 2006 attendance in religious services and education in Almaty among Jews greatly increased. The Kazakh government registered eight foreign rabbis and “Jewish missionaries” (most likely Chabad!) and has also donated buildings and land for the building of new synagogues.Across the country, there are fourteen Jewish day schools attended by more than 700 students and there is a Jewish kindergarten in Almaty. 

We find it inspiring to learn about Jewish communities and hope you do too. Who knows, maybe some Rabbi in Almaty met a cyclist from Adelaide and this week is writing about the Jewish community of Adelaide!