Tefillin on Death Row & Happy Second Adar

Did you see this picture?

This is a picture of Rabbi Dovid Goldstein, director of Chabad-Lubavitch of West Houston, Texas, and Jedidiah Murphy, a death-row inmate in a West Livingston, Texas prison.  (Guess which one is which. J) 

The story was picked up in the Jewish press a few weeks ago, and there is longer story about this subject on Chabad’s website.  Rabbi Goldstein enabled Murphy, convicted for killing a 79-year-old woman, to lay tefillin for the first time.  It was not easy to arrange as state law prevents death row inmates from having direct contact with their visitors.  Goldstein provided the tefillin and a kippah for Murphy and instructed him through the glass.  Rabbi and prisoner celebrated the “Bar Mitzvah” with chips and soft drinks from the nearby vending machine.

(This was not Goldstein’s first time putting tefillin on a death-row inmate.  In 2013, he helped Douglas Feldman put on tefillin one week before being executed by lethal injection.  That time, he was allowed direct contact with the prisoner since the tefillin were considered part of his last rites.)

What can we take away from a story like this?

There are Jewish criminals…Chabad is dedicated to every single Jew…It’s never too late to perform a mitzvah…

I find myself thinking about how we approach second chances.  Murphy never had a Bar Mitzvah or a chance to act in a Jewish way.  It took a death-row encounter with a truly dedicated rabbi to create this mitzvah moment.  Often, we seek out second chances in moments of extremis.  We repent in time for Yom Kippur or we try to spend more time with someone after not spending time with them earlier.  As the saying goes, “Better late than never…”

Why can’t there be more opportunities to seize the moment?  How about more positively-induced second chances?  We could each benefit from proactively wanting to do all these good things because they are too good to miss out on, and we want to experience them again.

Do you remember this commercial?

A father and his daughter are sitting watching a sunset, and, as the sun sets, the dad says, “Going...going...going...gone!”  And then the girl says, “Do it again, Daddy!”  It is really cute.

There are so many things we should try to experience again because they are just so special and awesome that, heck, why not?  We don’t need to wait until the last minute – or when it is too late – to try and spend more time with our family or enjoy the beautiful weather or read that book or try that new experience.

Today, we are reminded of just such an opportunity.  It is Rosh Chodesh Adar Sheini (the second).  Adar is a happy month, and…guess what?  We have a second opportunity to be happy!  We had one happy month, and now we have another one.  We have a chance to grab the opportunity for a second consecutive month of joy.  Had enough?  No way!  Enjoy while we can.

We may not be able to make the sun set again, and we, most certainly, don’t want to need to be on death row to push us to perform a mitzvah.  For now, let us savor a second month of simcha and think about what other positive experiences - for religious and personal growth or spending time with family or just doing wonderful things – we can grab. 

Happy Adar once again!  Let’s enjoy it all while and when we can!

Fluctuations in Faith

God does not have much confidence in the Jews leaving Egypt.

As the Jews leave Egypt, God diverts them away from the Philistines since He is afraid “they will have second thoughts when they encounter the difficulties of battle and wish to return to Egypt.” (Shemot 13:17) 

Why does God have such little faith in us?  Haven’t the Israelites just experienced the ten plagues?  Haven’t they seen enough to know God can defend them?

The answer is no.

It is not easy to have faith, and God knows that.

While the common explanation is that the Children of Israel still possessed a “slave mentality” and were free but not fully free, I think Parshat Beshalach is teaching us a lesson about faith.

There are fluctuations in faith.

I learn a lot from my Ramaz 3^rd graders.  One of them asked me this morning. “God split the sea for the Jews.  When we’re in trouble, will God perform miracles for us?” 

Wow.

My answer, you ask?  I did the best I could to explain that the miracles that took place in the past remind us that God is there.  They don’t mean that God will always perform them for us.  God exists, but we also need to do the best we can. 

(To top that, a 4th grader this morning asked, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  I responded that, sometimes, we just don’t know why things happen.  The world is much bigger than us, and sometimes we can’t explain why things happen. We have to try and make sense and hope things work out the way they should.)

There are times when we feel close to God, and there are times when we feel distant.  Moments of great closeness and strong feelings of belief can very quickly change into feelings of distance, doubt, and despair.

Look at the flow of this week's parsha.

-       Jews excitedly leave Egypt yet God doesn’t trust them to encounter adversity

-       Jews despair when caught between the sea and the Egyptians

-       Jews rejoice after being saved through the Splitting of the Sea

-       Immediately after, they complain since they have no water

-       God provides water and promises to protect them

-       They bitterly complain over a lack of food and want to return to Egypt!

-       God provides them with man and gives instructions on how to collect it

-       Israelites ignore the instructions

-       Again, no water – God provided last time yet the Jews complain again

-       Water provided

Are you noticing a trend?!  Faith is not easy.  Even when we have every reason to believe, it is possible to lose faith.  How much more so when we encounter situations that truly challenge our belief!

The portion ends with the story of Amalek’s attack against the nation and the Israelite response.  Here, too, we find a lesson in faith.  Moshe goes up to watch the battle.  When he raises his hands, the Jews win; and when he lowers his hand, Amalek wins.  The Mishna famously asks, “Were Moshe’s hands the determining factor?”  The Mishna answers of course not.  Moshe’s hands were reminders or indicators of the state of the Jewish condition.  When his hands were raised, they guided the eyes of the nation heavenward and inspired victory.  When Moshe’s hands were lowered, the nation lacked this religious inspiration and motivation.

Faith is fickle.  This week’s portion, coming on the heels of so many real-world challenges to our faith, is a guide to responding to the fluctuations in faith that are a natural component of our system of belief. 

Elie Wiesel once said, “You can be a Jew with God; you can be a Jew against God; but not without God.”  Even in its fluctuations, let us all have faith.

Rabbis on Buses Touring Israel

It may not have the makings of an online hit like Jerry Seinfeld's "Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee," but I'm in Israel with AIPAC's Leffell Fellows, 30 rabbinical students from Conservative, Orthodox, and Reform seminaries.

It has been an incredible - and exhausting - experience.

We met, listened to, and learned from such noted figures as Yariv Oppenheimer, General Director of Peace Now; Rabbi Dr. Danny Gordis; Rabbi Dr. Donniel Hartman; Israeli-Arab activist Mohammed Darawhse; and Chief Palestinian Negotiator Dr. Saeb Erekat.  And there are still two days left!

I hope to provide a more detailed report of the experience once I get back (and get some sleep), but I want to share one takeaway:

Israel is complex, and we need to approach this by reaching and exploring beyond our comfort zones.

Speaker after speaker touched upon this theme.  Israel is an incredible, incredible country, and, at the same time, it's a young country with flaws that need fixing.  And that's OK!

Our group has heard and seen a lot.  We are a diverse bunch with different religious and political outlooks.  Throughout the trip, I witnessed young men and women - future rabbis and leaders of the Jewish community - grappling with the reality of Israel.  One may hold more hawkish views, while listening respectfully and asking questions of Saeb Erekat.  One may have preconceived biases towards the right or the status quo in Israel and also recognize that those with different viewpoints make good points, too.

In welcoming the students, I was asked to set the tone for the trip.  Here's what I said:

When Yaakov's name was changed to Yisrael, the explanation for the change is "ki sarita im Elokim v'im anashim va-tuchal - you fought with God and with man and were victorious."

Yaakov became Yisrael through struggle.  Israel is born of struggle.  Israel involves struggle.  The way we love Israel can also be a struggle.  We relate to Israel differently, and we should not be afraid to confront views about Israel different than our own.

I am encouraged and energized by all that I am hearing.  Similarly, I am encouraged and energized by how the future rabbis of the community embrace this complexity.

Speaking of complexity, I'm now off to the Knesset!

Christmastime for the Jews

Are there any Jewish lessons to be learned from this time of the year?

Here’s one:

You can get a Kosher Pareve “Merry Christmas” cake! J

For the most part, the Jewish Christmas experience remains in the realm of Chinese food, movies, and pop culture (like this Saturday Night Live video short).

I think that this season of another religion’s celebration can give us something to think about from a Jewish perspective.  Here are two things I have been thinking about this season.  (Some of what follows is adapted from my sermon this past Shabbat at KJ.)

1)  It’s time for muscular Judaism.

I just read a very interesting piece in the Wall Street Journal entitled “The Death of God is Greatly Exaggerated.”  It focuses on Eric Metaxas, an author, radio host, and speaker, who is a proponent of “muscular Christianity.”  What is muscular Christianity?  Metaxas is a strong proponent that faith has a role in all discussions

I think Judaism should be a little more muscular.

Judaism has something to say about every aspect of our lives.  We should look to the Torah and not shy away from letting our faith influence how we approach the issues of the day. 

Issues such as poverty, hunger, immigration, and strengthening families are among the issues which religious perspectives can be beneficial.  We often say, “Eitz chaim hi,” that the Torah is a tree of life.  It is a way of life, and we should not shy away from looking to its teaching to address the issues of the day.

2)  Let’s talk more about faith.

I have watched parts of Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve.  I am intrigued by what is done and what is said.  I am no expert, but I notice a tremendous appreciation of the sacred, expressions of faith, and acceptance of the mysterious in the portions I have seen. 

This gets me thinking about the role of faith and holiness in Judaism.  It goes without saying how fundamental these ideas are in Judaism, but we focus on more on deed than creed.  While Judaism is far more about the mitzvoth (actions), we ignore the Godly and spiritual aspects at our own peril.

On the last day of classes before winter break, I taught my Ramaz seventh graders the “Halakhot of Vacation.”  I gave them a sheet with selections from Rabbi Yechiel Michel Ha-Levi Epstein’s Aruch Ha-Shulchan. In the very first chapter (Chapter 1, section 5), he states:

A foundation of Torah and a central pillar of Judaism is to know there is only one, unique, indivisible God who created the universe and continues to supervise the world every hour of every minute.

You may ask what this has to do with vacation.  The answer is that being Jewish means knowing and having a relationship with God. Whether it is in school or shul or on vacation, Judaism is built upon a relationship with the Divine. This is at the core of our religion, yet it is not a theme often heard in the school or synagogue.

My encounter with Midnight Mass got me thinking about how to add more of the sacred and God awareness in to Judaism.  The religious celebration of others can and should lead to a strengthening of our own faith and religious experience.

The Force Awakens: Star Wars and the Soul

I have not seen Star Wars: The Force Awakens yet.  (Don’t spoil it for me!)

I admit that I am a fan of Star Wars (and Star Trek for that matter).  Although I do not own a costume like this:

Guess who this is? He is NOT my father. :)

The movie is a HUGE cultural phenomenon.  It has had a record opening weekend, and is generating tons of discussion. 

Let’s not forget all the Jewish connections.  Ever stop and consider how Yoda is similar to the Hebrew word “yodei’a,” which means to know?   How about the battle between the Force and the Dark Side?  Yeitzer Tov (good inclination) and Yeitzer Ha-ra (evil inclination), anyone?  (See here and test your knowledge of “Who said these quotes? Yoda or Jewish Sage?”)

Why is Star Wars such a big deal? 

There are a number of reasons.  Without a full analysis of why science fiction movies have such passionate fans, movies like Star Wars are popular since people like to escape – and not in a negative way. 

A good sci-fi or fantasy book, show, or movie activates the imagination and gets us thinking about what is possible beyond the world in which we dwell.  (Anyone else a Twilight Zone fan like me?) 

This doesn’t mean we don’t like our own world or present reality.  As humans, we are constantly striving for more.  (Think about the research and writing of Viktor Frankl – especially Man’s Search for Meaning.) 

From a Jewish perspective, the desire for something more comes from our neshamah, the soul.  In a sense, our soul is restless and wants to change the status quo by fulfilling its mission – our mission – of adding holiness to this world.  It’s trying to move us to feel and – then, by extension – act differently.

The Piaseczner Rebbe, Rabbi Kalonimus Kalman Shapira, was a brilliant educator with keen insight into the inner workings of the soul.  He wrote (Tzav V’Ziruz #9):

The soul of a person loves to feel.  It yearns not only for feelings of happiness but even for melancholy and tearful feelings.  A person will listen to horror stories and watch violent horrifying scenes which actually bring him to tears, just so he will be able to feel.  Emotion is the food of the soul; it is as much of a need of the soul as food is to the body.  A person who fulfills this need with emotional prayer and study is nourishing the soul correctly.  Prayer and study without emotion will leave a vacuum that will force the soul to search for emotion anywhere, even in sinful behavior.     (Emphasis added.)

There is clearly a difference between prayer, Torah study, other religious activities and Star Wars.  The Piasezcner Rebbe would certainly advocate more time spent on the former, and I think we all should think about our religious and spiritual Jewish lives more often.  At the same time, we live in a world with many vehicles to stimulate our attentions, imaginations, and creative thinking. 

It may be Midrash or movies, we need to find ways to let our imagination and souls soar and to take us to new creative, spiritual and religious heights. 

May the force be with you!

The Best Chanukah Present of All

As Chanukah ends, I find myself thinking: “Where did those 8 days go?” 

Do you get this feeling, too?  When Chanukah starts, it seems like the holiday will last forever.  Last Monday, I remember thinking: “Wow, is it only the second night?  This is going to be the longest Chanukah ever.”

(A lot had to do with the excitement surrounding the vandalism of the Menorah in Carl Schurz Park.  UPDATE: NYPD caught the guy!) 

Now, I can’t believe Chanukah is ending.

I always get very nostalgic on the last night of Chanukah.  There is something about seeing all of the candles lit that evokes a reflective and contemplative spirit.  I don’t want the feeling to end.

8th night of Chanukah at the Weinstocks

It doesn’t have to.

Each night, after lighting the candles, we proclaim: "Ein lanu reshut l'hishtameish bahem ela lir'otam bilvad - we have no permission to use the candles for any mundane purposes.  They are only there to be watched."  

What do we gain by simply watching the candles?  A whole lot. 

When was the last time you just stopped and stared at something?  When was the last time you contemplated the joy and beauty of what is right in front of you?  When was the last time you put the phone away (on a weekday)?

Just looking at the lights teaches us that we need to stop, look, and contemplate more.

In a recent NY Times article entitled “Addicted to Distraction,” Tony Schwartz wrote about the phenomenon of our shortened attention spans.  We are always plugged in and online, and this has obvious repercussions on our quality of life.  He tells the following story.

Occasionally, I find myself returning to a haunting image…I was sitting in a restaurant with my family when a man in his early 40s came in and sat down with his daughter, perhaps 4 or 5 years old and adorable.

Almost immediately, the man turned his attention to his phone. Meanwhile, his daughter was a whirlwind of energy and restlessness, standing up on her seat, walking around the table, waving and making faces to get her father’s attention.

Except for brief moments, she didn’t succeed and after a while, she glumly gave up. The silence felt deafening. 

Have you ever encountered something like this before?  Have you ever acted like the father in this story? 

It is not easy to set aside our connection to the wonders of the internet, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, and the other portals for information.  I know from experience, but we need to resist the urge.  (See here for a great message about not missing what’s right in front of us.)

The lasting lesson of the requirement to gaze at the lights of Chanukah is to stop, look, and take in all that is in front of us.  We need to recapture the ability to be fully present in the moment.

The greatest present we can give ourselves as Chanukah ends is to try and be more present – more fully present – in all the great things going on around us.

Now that you’ve finished reading this, turn off your phone and go really connect with someone. J

Put on your yarmulka, it's time for Chanukah!

Have you seen Adam Sandler’s updated version of his Chanukah Song?

I like it!  So do the more than 1.2 million people who watched it on Youtube.  Sandler, in his inimitably crazy way, lists all sorts of celebrities who are Jewish (or partially Jewish), while listing some Jews who have shaped our world: no polio thanks to Jonas Salk; Google’s founders are Jewish.

The song is on ode to Jewish relevance and influence.  While it is not an example of deep Jewish learning or serious commitment, the song captures how much Jews have accomplished and can instill a little Jewish pride in those not as Jewishly engaged. 

The very fact that such a song is so popular is proof of Judaism’s historic and continued influence.  Think about how large a role Judaism plays in pop culture.  Whether it be film, music, or late night television, Judaism is relevant.

Here’s my latest favorite.  Watch James Corden work behind the counter at a Kosher supermarket.

It’s funny stuff, but also very relevant and timely.

Chanukah is all about the survival, continuity, and relevance of Judaism throughout the ages.  There is no logical or numeric reason for Jews to have such an influence.  We just do.

For me, Chanukah is about reminding ourselves and our children and the whole wide world that Judaism is relevant and has the capacity to improve - light up - our world.

The laws and traditions of Chanukah provide the foundation for a holiday incredibly filled with this message of relevance.  Sometimes, however, a little humor or pop culture gives the tradition a little push. This is why Sandler’s Chanukah Song is so timely.

Chanukah’s relevance is why it is a holiday that we cannot keep to ourselves.  We MUST spread the message. 

We light the candles in the window where they can be seen.  But that is not enough.  We need to be more active than putting the lights in the window.  We need to reach out.

We need to “go big.”

That’s why each year we host a Chanukah in the Park and light a giant Menorah.

We can also “go small.”

On Chanukah, it is so easy to reach out to others.  All it takes is a menorah, and you can create a “Home of Light.”  Each year, my family invites neighbors from our building to join us for one night of Chanukah.  We light the menorah, sing a little, and, of course, serve Chanukah treats.  (Here are pictures from last year.)

It is just too easy to share Chanukah.  Everyone needs to try it.

I hope you have an illuminating and enlightening Festival of Lights.  Celebrate it with family and friends – and celebrate it beyond the walls of your home in ways both big and small. 

And, in the immortal words of Adam Sandler, “If you really, really wannaka, have a happy, happy, happy, happy, Chanukah!”