Rabbi's Blog - Chabad of the Bay Area

Jacob's honesty

Friday, November 28, 2014 - 1:59 PM

"I worked for your father with all my might." These are the words of Jacob speaking to his wives about his time working for his father-in-law Laban.

Laban was a dishonest person who constantly manipulated his business dealings. Jacob was well aware of this, yet it did not prevent him from being exceedingly honest and conscientious in his work.

When working for an employer like Laban it would be easy to rationalize cutting corners.

Maimonides in his code of Jewish law, quotes this story when he speaks of the laws of employer-employee contracts. Just as an employer must be very honest in his dealings with his employee, so must an employee be very careful to ensure that he is giving his employer the full value of his work.

It's not about territory

Friday, November 21, 2014 - 12:28 AM

The brutal terror attack against parishioners praying in a Jerusalem synagogue this week demonstrates (once again) that this is not, as it's popularly portrayed, a dispute about territory. Just like it wasn't about territory when Arabs butchered the Jews of Hebron in 1929, or when Jews were slaughtered in Russian pogroms in days gone past.

It's about existence, and it is not possible to compromise on existence. If you don't want me to exist, and I do, there's really not much that I can do to solve your problem.

The sooner we, as the Jewish People, recognize this, the better off we are, because accurately identifying a problem is the first step towards handling it properly.

The bias we find in many of the nations of the world (they may disagree about most issues, but when it comes to Israel they seem to be of one mind) dates all the way back to Esau. In this week's Torah portion, Rebecca is prophetically told that the two fetuses quarrelling in her womb would be the fathers of two nations, and that when one would rise the other would fall. Our sages plainly observed that "Esau's hatred of Jacob" is merely a fact of life.

The good news is that the forces of "Esau" will eventually come around and learn to appreciate "Jacob" and his role in the world. May that time come speedily in our days with the coming of the ultimate redemption.

Lessons from Philea

Friday, November 14, 2014 - 3:16 PM

The world watched in awe as a ten year journey, and an even longer effort by the European Space Agency, came to fruition with the first ever comet landing.

As a rabbi, people sometimes tell me that while they believe in G-d and the Torah, they have trouble appreciating the apparent minutiae involved in Jewish observance. It seems like every Mitzvah has a measure of time, place, size, and so on. Can the details really be that important? Isn't the intention the main thing?

The answer is that every Mitzvah is really a reflection of a certain spiritual reality. When we do a Mitzvah down here, and doing it means in accordance with its precise method and formula, it makes a great spiritual impact above. So while we may not be aware of how the precise details of the Mitzvah matter, they really do make a big difference.

Think of the incredible mission accomplished this week. Think of all the calculations, measurements, implements, and so on that must be so precise to successfully reach a tiny comet billions of miles away in space. Could it have been accomplished it with broad good intentions but with neglect for the details?

It's not about being right

Friday, November 7, 2014 - 3:26 PM

When G-d informed Noah that he would flood the world because of the evil behavior of his generation, what was Noah's reaction? He built the Ark as instructed and if anyone were to ask he'd relay G-d's warning.

When G-d told Abraham that he would destroy Sodom and Amorah because of their evil ways, what was Abraham's reaction? He pleaded with G-d to find some merit to spare them.

This fact highlights the unique character of Abraham and what made him truly fitting to be the father of the future Jewish nation.

Abraham demonstrated that it was not enough to simply be concerned with doing what is right in our own lives, but to also look out and care for others, even if - as in the case of Sodom - they were not even deserving. It is precisely this type of selfless kindness that will ultimately help build a better world.