Rabbi's Blog - Chabad of the Bay Area

Civil war and chaos

Friday, March 27, 2015 - 5:09 PM

This Shabbat, the Shabbat before Passover is known as "The Great Shabbat" ("Shabbat Hagadol"). The reason for this is because several miracles happened on this Shabbat at the time of the exodus from Egypt.

When the Egyptian firstborn heard that the coming plague was going to kill all Egyptian firstborn, they went to Pharaoh with the demand that he free the Jews. When they were refused they went to battle against Pharaoh and his army.

This internal fighting within the very ranks of the Egyptians was considered a great miracle, because instead of oppressing the Jews and preventing them from leaving slavery, the cruel oppressors were suddenly busy fighting each other.

"As in the days of your exodus from the land of Egypt, I will show you wonders" (Micha 7:15). Our sages explain that while the miracles that happened when the Jews went out of Egypt were manifold and great, they will pale in comparison to the ones that will happen during the future and final redemption from exile.

May we merit to see those miracles speedily in our days.

Closing the gap

Friday, March 20, 2015 - 1:09 PM

This week we start the third book of the Torah, the book of Vayikra, which focuses a lot on the Temple and the offerings brought there.

In Hebrew the word for Offering is "Korban." Korban comes from the root word Karov, closeness. Indeed, this is what a Korban is all about, it is a way of "drawing close" to G-d.

Our sages say that today, when we do not have the Holy Temple and its service of Korbanot, we draw close through prayer. Prayer is not only about asking G-d for our needs, but much more than that, it offers us an opportunity to draw close to G-d. To give voice and expression to our soul's deep yearning to be close with the Al-mighty.

Are Jews generous?

Friday, March 13, 2015 - 2:03 PM

Moe needed a doctor and insisted on only going to the best. He found the most expensive doctor in Manhattan, but when it came time to pay he protested, “What, $1,500 for a 45 minute visit?!” The manager explained that while there are cheaper doctors, Doctor Stein was a world renowned specialist. ”Why did you seek out an expensive specialist if you knew you couldn’t afford it?” she challenged. “Because,” said Moe with conviction, “When it comes to my health, money is no object!”

But it was quite different when it came to contributing funds and materials for the construction of the Mishkan, the Temple in the desert.

In fact, at one point Moses had to send out a special message to the Jews to stop bringing donations! “We have enough!”

In our hearts we really want to do good. And when we are inspired, that deep essential desire emerges. At such a time, we are willing, nay, we are eager, to give of ourselves and of our hard earned possessions to be part of a noble cause.

The Jews at the time were so inspired by G-d’s forgiveness of their sin of the Golden Calf, and so much yearned to be close to G-d, that their essence was speaking and acting, and truly, money was no object.

The Power of Modesty

Friday, March 6, 2015 - 3:16 PM

In this week's Torah portion we read about the sin of the Golden Calf and Moses breaking the Tablets. After Moses pleaded with G-d to forgive the Jewish people, G-d instructed him to fashion new tablets, but unlike the first tablets which were given at Mount Sinai in an awesome event, these would be given very quitely without fanfare.

Rashi points this difference out and says that from here we see the power of the trait of modesty. For the First Tablets, which were given in great fanfare and noise, were destroyed, while the Second Tablets, given in private, endured.