June 4 - June 18, 2010 Vol. 6 Issue 156 g”a, jrue - jka ,arp F ARBRENGEN sWxc You are cordially invited to attend a Chassidic gathering of warmth & inspiration Tuesday June 15 • 6:00 pm g"a, 'zun,c wd crgc aa vgac at the Bais Menachem Chabad House 18181 Burbank Blvd | Tarzana No Fee | Dinner will be Served For information please visit CHABADOFTHEVALLEY .ORG or call: 818.758.1818 A program of The Menachem Institute Machon Menachem - J & S Gutnick Foundation CHABAD OF THE VALLEY The Finder & Schaeffer Family Centers Farbrengen funded by a grant from The Finder Family Educational Center in honor of Gimmel Tammuz 16 th Yahrtzeit-Hilulah of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Keynote address by RABBI LEVI GARELIK Currently the Rabbi of the European Synagogue situated across from the EU in Brussels Belgium vhkukt fk vevk nuzni kfcus ak vrch nkhuctuuhya
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J u n e 4 - J u n e 1 8 , 2 0 1 0 V o l . 6 I s s u e 1 5 6 g”a, jrue - jka ,arp
FARBRENGENsWxcYou are cordially invited to attend a
Chassidic gathering of warmth & inspiration
TuesdayJune 15 • 6:00 pmg"a, 'zun,c wdcrgc aa vgac
at theBais Menachem Chabad House18181 Burbank Blvd | Tarzana
No Fee | Dinner will be Served
For information please visitCHABADOFTHEVALLEY.ORG
or call: 818.758.1818
A program of The Menachem Institute
Machon Menachem - J & S Gutnick Foundation
CHABAD OF THE VALLEYThe Finder & Schaeffer Family Centers
Farbrengen funded by a grant fromThe Finder Family Educational Center
in honor of
Gimmel Tammuz16th Yahrtzeit-Hilulah of the
Lubavitcher Rebbe
Keynote address by
RABBI LEVI GARELIKCurrently the Rabbi of the European
Synagogue situated across fromthe EU in Brussels Belgium
THE COMMUNITY LINKS is publishedbi-weekly and is distributedfree to the Jewish Communityof Southern California.
THE COMMUNITY LINKS accepts noresponsibility for typographicalerrors or reliability of Kashrus ofany advertisers. All submissionsbecome the property of THECOMMUNITY LINKS and may beshortened and/or edited forlength and clarity. Articlespublished in THE COMMUNITYLINKS express the views of theindividual writers and may notnecessarily represent the viewsof THE COMMUNITY LINKS. No art-work or any part of the maga-zine may be reprinted orotherwise duplicated withoutthe written permissions of thepublisher.
FeaturesJune 4, 2010
Is Happiness ARealistic Goal?As a society, I believe
that we confuse happiness withacceptance. Someone who ac-cepts his flawed life with a smile,refusing to succumb to depres-sion and the lethargy that so oftenaccompanies this emotional state,is considered a "happy" person.Rabbi Naftoli Silberberg
LuminousMitzvot
Mitzvot bring G-dliness into thedark world, but we need light, spir-itual awareness, to recognize it.Tzaddikim are our candles.Rabbi Reuven Wolf
Job PlacementOne week the young
designate decided that he hadenough. He wanted to be affordedthe same dignity as Rabbi Avra-ham Shmuel. He woke up earlythat Shabbos and came to shul be-fore anyone arrived. Parshas KorachRabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky
Creative Ways ToImprove JewishMarriages
Should the Jewish communitytackle this issue of requiring pre-marital classes? Are there othertechniques which can help youngcouples in best establishing a newJewish household?Dr. Robert Rome
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our mailboxes fill with wedding invita-tions. Following the end of the Omerperiod and entering the summermonths, we commence the wedding sea-son. It is exciting to open the beautifullarge envelopes with wedding invitationsand RSVP cards enclosed. Some ofthese invitations are formal announce-ments of weddings previously cele-brated through engagement parties and“L’Chaims” that we attended. Some in-vitations are surprises as we had not pre-viously heard that so-and-so’s daughteror son was getting married. Each invi-tation reflects the dreams of two fami-lies. The whole community gets excitedas two young people commit themselvesto build a Jewish household.
Marriage is at the heart of Jewish tra-dition. Marriage sets the foundation forthe Jewish family. So many Jewish tra-ditions and celebrations center aroundthe family. Good marriages often leadto successful families and childrearing.
Despite the promise that marriagepresents, there are a variety of problemscurrently associated with marriage in theJewish community. Intermarriage ratescontinue to climb. Divorce rates in theJewish community have never beenhigher. Within the traditional Jewishcommunity, we are witnessing a disturb-ing trend of divorces leaving manyyoung couples with young children sep-arating. What is in store for these cou-ples that just a year or two earlier seemedso happy under the Chupah?
There are other concerns as well. Youknow the television ad where the younggirl says, “I just got into one of the bestcolleges in the country,” but the fatherhears the daughter say, “I just got intoone of the most expensive schools inthe country.” Many fathers and motherscome to a realization hours after the joyof the announcement of an engagement
that a wedding is going to cost up to$60,000 or more. Even when the list ofinvitees is limited and the in-laws-to- beshare totally in the cost, a wedding caneasily cost $35,000 or more per family.With the cost of the hall, and the costsof the caterer, the photographer, thevideographer, the band, and even the in-vitations and stamps, among many othercosts, the next weeks and months pre-ceding the wedding present challengesto keep the costs lower while trying stillto make a beautiful and memorable wed-ding. This becomes a stressful periodfor the families. The stresses often filterdown to the young couple who manytimes end up arguing about what is in-deed necessary and what goes beyondwhat is required. This is not a good wayto begin a marriage and family.
A father of two adult children who re-cently got married shared with me hispersonal experiences regarding planningsimultaneously two separate weddings,one in New York and one in Los Ange-les. The New York wedding wasplanned through a few long distancephone calls. The L.A. wedding tookweeks of meetings and much hard workin finalizing plans. In New York, thereis a relatively new kind of establishment:The comprehensive, one-stop weddinghall. With a single call to one of severalestablishments throughout New YorkCity, a wedding can be arranged, com-plete with the wedding planner, the cer-emony, the caterer, the photographers,and even the flowers. There is a $35-40per person fee for a beautiful wedding,far less than the typical cost of up to$200 per person for a relatively standardwedding in Los Angeles. This fatherstated that the food choices in NewYork actually exceeded what he couldget in Los Angeles. Not only was theNew York wedding significantly less ex-pensive and complicated to plan, this fa-ther concluded that the actual event wasin many ways superior to what was held
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We in Los Angeles may need to think of weddings in adifferent way. This new wedding business model now inuse in New York seems needed here in L.A.
Regarding some other aspects of weddings and mar-riage, I read recently two articles. One article addressedthe challenges of wedding costs and the stress of planningweddings in the Jewish community. In some communities,Rabbis have set limits now as to how many people can beinvited to a wedding. Rabbis in some locales have takenthe steps to actually issue rulings that put the 600-800 par-ticipant wedding off limits. Limits have been establishedin these places which serve to cap what is appropriate interms of the number invited to a wedding affair. Cuttingthe invitee list by 200 can limit the expense by many thou-sands of dollars. There is a need for creativity to lead toweddings that do not unnecessarily add to the costs andstress that arise. Young couples need parents that arethere to support them in numerous ways during the oftentrying first months of marriage, not parents whose ener-gies and finances have been exhausted by the wedding.
I most recently read an article which compared marriagetrends in the Jewish community with other communities.This article cited the impact of pre-marriage counselingand marriage classes on lowering the subsequent divorcerates and raising positive features which are associatedwith “happy” and successful marriages. Various religious
groups, especially groups under a central authority like theRoman Catholic Church now require 8, 10, or 12 weeksor more of either individual and/or group pre-marriagecounseling or pre-marriage classes. Psychologists and so-ciologists have been studying the positive impacts of hav-ing couples attending such programs where they developa budget before marriage, where partners study conflictresolution strategies and the various other components re-quired in such counseling or classes. The reported resultsof having required counseling or therapy: Long-timetrends are reversing where Catholic couples are experienc-ing fewer divorces while divorces in the Jewish communityand other communities where such programs are not re-quired are increasing.
Should the Jewish community tackle this issue of requir-ing pre-marital classes? Are there other techniques whichcan help young couples in best establishing a new Jewishhousehold?
We Jews have historically shown great intelligence in ad-dressing community problems. We need to acknowledgethe presence of some pressing problems impacting nega-tively on weddings and marriages in the Jewish commu-nity. We then can work together to address theseproblems.
We are a creative people. We can work together to cre-atively address disturbing trends and restore the strengthsof the young Jewish family. •
Robert J. Rome, Ph.D., is a licensed Psychologist in clinical practice in Encino, CaliforniaHe can be reached at [email protected].
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In the adjoining Torah portions of Shelach and Korach, one can learn twoprofound lessons in the proper service of G-d.
By studying a bit about Judaism, we discover that there are two main ele-ments. The first is comprised of many practical obligations: Mitzvot to ob-serve and commandments to follow at particular times. The Shulchan Aruchis filled with dos and don’ts - what and how to eat, what to wear, permissibleand forbidden types of business transactions, even special activities like wear-ing tefillin or shaking a lulav and esrog. There is also an aspect of Judaismwhich addresses the inner dimension of the person. The Torah guides us incharacter refinement - to be kinder, gentler, and more caring. It demands thatwe have an emotional attachment to G-d, love and fear of G-d, and that wedevelop and fill our minds with holy intelligence by probing the wisdom ofG-d through Torah study, prayer and meditation.
We might call these two aspects the physical and spiritual dimensions ofJudaism, or, the body and the soul. Mitzvot dominate the physical realm andthe spiritual demands of Judaism are focused on mental and emotionalawareness.
There is yet another difference between these two aspects of Judaism.When it comes to the physical performance of mitzvot, all Jews are the same.All Jewish males put on the same tefillin - all pairs of tefillin are made thesame way, with the same words written inside. Every Jew is obligated to eatMatzah the same way at the seder. With matters of the soul, within the mindand the emotions, nobody is the same. Some people have a very high levelof awareness and connection with G-d and others don’t feel anything. Somepeople are great scholars, filled with knowledge and understanding, even delv-ing into the mystical, while others understand very little or don’t know any-thing at all.
What takes precedence? Does G-d want our actions or is Judaism aboutthe spirituality of the experience?
In the desert, the Jewish People experienced a purely spiritual lifestyle.
G-d provided everything for them - manna from heaven, they were sur-rounded by glorious clouds of security and light and they were immersed inlearning and spirituality. In the desert they could pray for hours - there wasno rush to get to work. The Jews spent their days learning with the greatestteacher of all time, Moshe Rabeinu. It was an amazing time of spiritual con-nections, but they couldn’t observe many of the mitzvot until they got intothe land - Israel. Their physical observance would be in full action when theygot there.
However, when the spies arrived in Israel, they immediately understoodthat the Jewish People would also have to give up their spiritual bliss. Arrivingin the land meant that they would need to become farmers and merchantsand involve themselves in working for a living, performing all kinds of otherdistracting physical activities. The incident of the spies was a result of theirwanting to stay in the desert and continue to work on the spiritual and emo-tional aspects of G-dly service. The Jewish people didn’t want to go into theHoly Land and begin working the physical dimension; they wanted to giveLu
up the physical completely, so they could have the ul-timate spiritual relationship with G-d.
This was a terrible mistake on their part. G-d wantsus to work and transform the dark physical world intolight. The physical performance of the mitzvot fulfillsthe ultimate purpose of creation, for man to elevatethe creation back to a G-dly level and make it adwelling place for Hashem. All of this can only comethrough mitzvah observance, though physical actionswith G-dly purpose. That’s why it’s worth coming intothe land, so we have the opportunity to elevate thephysical - even if it is at the cost of our spiritualgrowth.
This is made clear within the Shulchan Aruch. Thecode of Jewish law says that if someone is engaged inTorah study and there is a mitzvah to be done he isobligated to close the book and perform the physicalmitzvah. Only after the physical obligations have beenfulfilled can one return to delving in his Torah study.This was the primary lesson of the incident with thespies. An entire generation perished in the desert be-cause of this lesson. G-d wants our hands even morethen our hearts.
This is exactly the message that Korach understood,and immediately after this incident, he gathered his as-sembly and complained about Moshe and Aharon’sleadership. If the main purpose is the performanceof mitzvot, then, in that aspect all Jews are equal. Ofcourse, some might be more saintly or more learned,some might pray or meditate longer than others, buteven so, all of these things should be secondary to thephysical performance of the commandments. Sinceour primary purpose lies within the realm of physicalaction, why should one Jew be better than any other?Korach asks “why do raise yourselves…?” Why shouldMoshe be the leader of the Jewish people? Why doesAharon get to be the High Priest? What makes themso special if their merits only come from a secondarypurpose?
Korach thought that the primacy of physical actionmakes spirituality secondary to it. He didn’t understandthat even though physical observance is primary, inorder for it to be effective, it must go hand in handwith spiritual refinement.
It’s quite possible for a person to perform a mitzvahwith selfish motives. If a person gives charity so thatpeople will see and think how kind and charitable he
is, it’s like offering G-d a diamond covered in mud.Praying loudly with intense commotion that stemsfrom a desire to be noticed is completely hypocritical.
Mitzvah performance is about connection and sub-mission to G-d, not about attracting attention to one’sself. A person filled with pride, arrogance or self in-terest leaves no room for another, especially not G-d.This type of person is distanced from G-d. Chassidicand kabbalistic teachings say that when a person doesa mitzvah this way, G-d forbid, they are actually in-creasing the darkness in this world. This person is en-dorsing himself to the exclusion of the exclusivity ofG-d. Nevertheless, even if we are incapable of puremotives, the Shulchan Aruch clearly states that weshould still perform the mitzvah, because one day,through teshuva, we will peel away the muck and revealthe diamond within.
So, true and proper mitzvah performance, illumina-tion of the world, comes through actions that are pureof heart and filled with spiritual awareness and defla-tion of ego. But, even if our soul is pristine, and con-stantly yearns to fulfill G-d’s will, our body naturallydrags us in the opposite direction. The soul needs tobe placed within a physical body so she can interactwith the physical world, but this very process is whatgives rise to the existence of ego, and makes the workof the soul quite difficult at times. It seems self-defeat-ing.
To counterbalance the drives and desires of the com-mon body, Hashem sends tzaddkim, supremely right-eous people, into the world. Tzaddikim are mega-soulsthat enter into the physical world but are not impactedor influenced by its lowliness. The bodies of Tzad-dikim are translucent, they remain egoless, unaffectedby physicality and their souls, in this world, shine justas they did when in heaven. This enables even the tini-est physical action of a tzaddik, and especially themitzvot of tzaddikim, to influence and infuse theworld with light that is supremely powerful. Theirphysical actions may match ours, but their spiritualityand purity is projected throughout the world to all ofthe other Jews. We need these extra spiritual Jews, puresouls, to influence and guide the rest of the Jewishpeople. They empower and inspire us to perform themitzvot, and reach beyond our own shortcomings.
G-d saves these souls and spreads the tzaddikimthroughout the generations. Of all these pure souls,
Moshe was the highest. When he was born, as Rashisays, the whole room was filled with light. When hismother held him, she was holding a soul. Moshe wasthe most humble person in the world, because whenhe opened his eyes, he saw nothing but G-d’s light.When he felt anything, it was only G-d’s feeling. Hedidn’t feel any of his own existence, and lived withinthe spiritual realm of creation. This is why he was theleader. Aharon also had a similar spiritual capacity, andwas therefore the Kohen Gadol.
Korach didn’t understand the nature or need forTzaddikim. Moshe’s answer to Korach said it all: “Inthe morning, G-d will make known who is His…”Simply, he meant that in the morning they would havethe contest, and G-d would choose who he wantedfor the position. But why the morning?
Moshe was telling Korach to observe the world. Wehave mountains and trees, a sky with clouds and birds,rivers, lakes, oceans, forests, desserts and many otherwonderful things. They exist at night just as much asthey do in the daytime, but with one difference. Atnight, without light, we can’t see them. It’s only duringthe day, starting from the morning when the worldfills with light, that we can see and recognize theuniqueness and beauty of each thing.
Mitzvot bring G-dliness into the dark world, but weneed light, spiritual awareness, to recognize it. Tzad-dikim are our candles. They illuminate the world withintense spirituality so that G-dliness can be seeneverywhere.
This is also one of the principal teachings of theBaal Shem Tov. We need tzaddikim to guide and in-fluence us. The proper performance of mitzvot goeshand in hand with a spiritual refinement and aware-ness. We need to cultivate our spirituality on our ownthrough prayers and meditation, as well as through aconnection to those tzaddikim that inspire and guideus along the way. May we merit seeing the imminentrevelation of the ultimate G-dly light, through Moshi-ach Tzidkenu, speedily, in our days. •
Excerpt from "The Parsha In My Life" class by Rabbi Reuven Wolf.
Maayon Yisroel was founded by Rabbi Reuven Wolf, arenowned educator and inspiring lecturer who has devoted
his life to reaching out and rekindling the spirit of Yiddishkeitin his fellow Jew. Over the past five years Rabbi Wolf has
been teaching a 2-4 hour class on the weekly Parsha, namedaffectionately "The Thursday Night Shiur".
Rarely do we find that Hashem's commandsassume personal connotations. The com-mands are meted for the sake of Judaism
and the glory of Heaven. Yet, disturbingly, we find themission of the spies defined with very personal invectives.The Torah begins with Hashem commanding Moshe,"Send for yourself spies to scour the land of Israel." Why is thecommand tainted with such a personal epithet? Is Moshesending the spies for himself ? In fact, Moshe reviews theentire episode in Deuteronomy, stating how the idea ofspies found favor in his eyes. The commentaries are quickto point out that the idea found favor in Moshe's mortal'seyes, but Hashem disapproved. Therefore He told Moshesend the spies for yourself. "As far as I am concerned,"Hashem infers, "it is a mistake, but if that is what you desire,then proceed." Thus the words, "send for yourself spies."
Of course, the dire consequences of the mission arewell known. The spies returned and maligned the Landof Israel. They were punished along with the entire nationthat joined them in their misconceived sorrow, and thenext 40 years were spent wandering in the desert.
But we are human, and our intentions are tinged withmortal bias. Isn't every mortal action filled with humanbias and mortal partiality.
Adam Parker Glick, President of the Jack Parker Cor-poration, told me a wonderful story:
A wealthy man decided to take up the sport of fishing.He rented a cottage near a Vermont lake and barreled intothe local sport and wildlife shop and demanded to see themanager.
"I want to buy the best of everything: the most expen-sive rod and tackle, the best hooks, anglers, and even themost exquisite bait!" The store owner, who had seen hisshare of city-folk, was not impressed. He instructed ayoung salesman to follow the man around the store andserve as a human shopping cart. The man chose the mostexquisite rods and reels; he selected a mahogany tacklebox and a refrigerated bait cooler. Money was no object,and the fisherman-to-be selected the finest of all. The en-thusiastic young salesman was extremely eager to pleaseand offered him every imaginable fishing item and acces-sory. The owner, a crusty and seasoned Vermonter just
As the tycoon approached the checkout counter, henoticed brightly colored, hand-painted fishing lureswhose prices were as outlandish as the colors. "Wow!"he exclaimed, as he gathered a bunch into his hand."These look really wonderful!" Then he turned to themanager and in a voice sounding as well informed aspossible, he asked the owner, "do fish really go forthese?"
"Don't know," shrugged the old-timer. "I don't sell tofish."
Moshe reluctantly agreed to the whims and premoni-tions of a nervous and anxious nation. He agreed totheir pleading to allow spies to check the land that theywould ultimately inherit. But by no means was it a Divinemission. Hashem told Moshe send spies for yourself. Hetaught Moshe that missions that are fueled by self-ful-fillment are doomed.
Often, we stand at the check-out counter of life andchoose the impulse items with the view that they are nec-essary for our success. We marvel at the brightly-coloredlures and find it hard to imagine life without them. Werationalize that they are needed for the sake of family,livelihood, and even spirituality. We think we are pur-chasing them for lofty reasons and negate the fact thatperhaps selfishness and insecurity are the driving forcesbehind the proverbial sale. We buy them thinking thatthey are the items that will catch the fish, but ultimately,we are the only ones caught!
Moshe was about to send spies on a seemingly sacredmission. The mission may have been falsely justified inhundreds of different ways: the operation would savelives, it would prepare a young nation for a smooth tran-sition and pave a new level of spirituality for the fledg-ling folk. But those were not the true objectives. Therewas selfishness involved. And the mission was doomed.For the road to the lowest of places is paved with disin-genuous holy-intent.
Therefore Hashem told Moshe that there is only onemotivation behind the mission. They are not sendingspies for Hashem. The nation is sending spies for itsown ego and insurance. "Send them for yourself." G-ddoes not need scouts, guides, or pathfinders. He doesnot sell to fish. He just may yield to those who are self-ish. And ultimately they get the hook.•
In our community we have been blessed with Educatorswho have a made a difference! Many have been in our com-munity since the “Early Years” or at least since the early1960’s when Los Angeles had a community in which every-one knew each other. There were not as many schools, shuls,restaurants, nor politics. There are those educators who arestill teaching and are teaching the children, if not the grandchildren, of their original students. What then do we do toassist our founding pillars, those who are/were the Yesodof our incredible community? Do we know what is goingon with them, are they able to retire and reap the rewardsof what they have built, are they working, do they want towork?
Recently I received an e-mail asking for memories regard-ing one of my earliest pre-school teachers, she was Niftarand an alumnus of this fine teacher wanted to put togetheran album for her family so that they could see how muchshe affected our young community, and how much she hadcontributed to same. This made me think about educatorsI know who have given to the community, have builtschools, have helped to build our community and yet arestruggling just to pay their bills. Must we wait for them topass before we show them and their families how much theymean and meant to us?
There are those in our communities who have given, whohave been involved in many facets of our community, andnot just building or leading the school in which they werelocated. They helped to build other facets of the communitythat we all enjoy now. These original educators paved theway for most of the institutions we all partake of today,from Yeshivas to Kollels, Chassidishe to Modern Orthodox,and everything else we take for granted.
What about these Educators; are they working, do theywant to work, do they have someone to care for them, doesthe community care for them, are they recognized for whatthey have done, have we as a community recognized them?If they want to work can they get a job or are they“overqualified” for the positions they seek? Can we not em-ploy them if they want to work, or provide for them so theydo not have to? Are we taking care of them now or are wewaiting for them to die so that we can honor them posthu-mously?
Many may say this is a novel idea that we should watchover these founders of our community, but then why write
this article? I write because there are members of this com-munity who have given it so much, and yet in their later daysthey struggle to survive. Have we ever thought of creatinga fund to acknowledge our educators, to take care of them,to dare I say it provide for them? Our educators work forfairly meager salaries and we expect them to survive, theyraise families, they marry off children and before they turnaround they have nothing left. In particular in these tryingtimes, when we are all suffering, what do we do to assistthose educators? Can we not set something up so that wecan help those who were in the forefront and to assist thosewho are our new leaders plan for their future and their re-tirement?
We are a community with many wonderful attributes, andinstitutions, we give more as a community then most otherscombined, however I must ask ”What about our Educa-tors?” How do we give back, help or assist those who havegiven so much, and yet receive so little monetarily for whatthey do. Some may say let their families help them, but intodays reality is that possible? With tuitions being what theyare the cost of living being what it is and of course with thefact that the children of educators are very likely to followtheir parents can they even help themselves?
Let us ask ourselves the following questions; can wechange this, can we not create a “Pension Program” or someother type of endowment to at least make their later yearsless stressful? Can we acknowledge them in a way that showsour true appreciation for what they have contributed? Willyou join me in doing this? In the spirit of the words of Pres-ident Kennedy, “Ask not what your Community educatorscan do for you, ask what you can do for them”!
A Community Member!
For additional information, or to help get this idea off the-ground write to; [email protected]
PARSHAS KORACH Once again, this week,Moshe comes underfire. This time he is at-
tacked by his very own cousin, Ko-rach, who claims that partiality andnot Heavenly direction resulted inthe choosing of Aharon as theKohen Gadol.
Korach did not come alone. Heriled up 250 prominent leaders to vil-ify Moshe, and question the entireprocess of appointing both theprincely and the priestly leadership.
But Moshe did not cower. He gavethem an offer they could not refuse.All 250 men were to ty to offer thek'tores, a highly potent combinationof spices and fragrances that thekohen offered each day "in that waywe will know, who is "the real, (par-don the pun,) McKoyhen."
He spoke to Korach and to his en-tire assembly, saying, "In the morning G-dwill make known the one who is His ownand the holy one, and He will draw himclose to Himself, and whomever He willchoose, He will draw close toHimself ”(Numbers 16:5). The doubleexpression is troubling. If He willdraw those holy close to himself,then of course those who Hechooses will be drawn close to Him.Why the specific repetition of draw-ing near?
In the mid 1800's, Rabbi AvrahamShmuel of Aishishok served as theRav of the town of Rassein, a smallvillage near Kownus, Lithuania. Abrilliant scholar and the author ofthe Amudei Aish, the communityrevered him and afforded him the ut-most respect. Unfortunately, theCzar government of that era had dif-ferent visions for a rabbi and ap-pointed their own lackey, a puppet ofthe state known as a Rav Mitaam.The Rav Mitaam served as the offi-cial liaison to the Russian Govern-
ment and any official dictate or trans-action, having to do with Judaism,went only through the Rav Mitaam.Unfortunately for that Rabbi, thetownsfolk knew of his very limitedcapabilities, and relegated him to aseat in the middle of the congrega-tion near the Bimah as opposed tothe traditional place up front near theHoly Ark.
But one week the young designatedecided that he had enough. Hewanted to be afforded the same dig-nity as Rabbi Avraham Shmuel. Hewoke up early that Shabbos andcame to shul before anyone arrived.He sat himself down in the seat des-ignated for Rabbi Avraham Shmuelnext to the Aron Kodesh. No onehad the nerve to say anything to himfor fear of government reprisal.
During that era, immediately be-fore Musaf, all congregationsthroughout Russia said a specialprayer on behalf of the Governmentand Czar Nikolai. That week thechazan, it is not known whether itwas an orchestrated ploy or a lapse inmemory, forgot to say the prayer. Hewas about to continue with theMusaf service when suddenly an eld-erly Jew, a former cantonist soldierwho was captured as a youngster andforced to serve in the Czar's army formany years, jumped up from his seatand charged toward the front of thesynagogue. He began raining blowson the official designated rabbi, theRav Mitaam.
"What kind of Rabbi are you!" heshouted. "How dare you allow thechazan to forget the prayer on behalfof our benevolent leader? I servedthe Czar faithfully for twenty yearsand you forget to bless him?!" Thecongregants joined the fray, sometrying to separate the older soldierfrom the bedazzled rabbi, others get-
ting in the blows they always longed to afford the govern-ment appointed rabbi.
It was not long before the police arrived, and arrestedthe soldier, who was dragged out of the synagogue, yellingand hollering about the lack of honor afforded hisMajesty. "After all the years I worked for the czar, I willnot allow this poor excuse for a rabbi, to belittle the dignityof His Majesty!" The local policeman could not decide thefate of the soldier who struck a government official, todefend the honor of the Czar.
Finally the case was brought to the Governor Generalof the region who asked the "rabbi" to defend his inac-tion. "You see," stammered the Rabbi, “I was sitting veryfar from the bimah and I truly did not hear the chazanskip, the prayer. After all, I was sitting next to the HolyArk all the way up front!”.
The decision came down from the governor's office. No
more would the official Rabbi be allowed to sit up front.From now on, he must sit amongst the people to makesure that all the prayers are said correctly.
People may feel that they are holy, but at the end of theday, it only matters who Hashem, the One who knows thetrue spirit of the heart and mindset of the spirit choosesto be close to. Some may run to be near the ark, when intruth, though they may physically situate themselves at thefront, they have no spiritual place-setting there.
The story of Korach reminds us of the enduring sagaof confused positions and roles that we often find in ourcommunity. It is the story of the chazzan who thinks heis the Rabbi, the Rabbi who thinks he is the President, andof course, the President who thinks he is the Creator! Itis a parsha that reminds us that though we all have a placein Hashem's heart, our ego should not define our place inthe community. •
Are you really happy, or just resigned to your lot?
Happiness is an emotional state we achieve when we findourselves in an ideal situation. The more ideal the situationand the longer we have dreamed of the opportunity, thehappier we are. Conversely, we are saddened when we aredenied our dreams, when our state of affairs leaves whatto be desired.
Take a moment to envision your fantasy life. I'd imagineit would include many of the following: More money, anicer home, more self-discipline, regular trips to exotic lo-cations, more time to spend with your family, better health,better healthcare, more money, a more understanding andsensitive spouse, a more meaningful life, better jobs forthe children, a better relationship with your parents, moremoney...
I'd love to meet the person who'd honestly say, "My fan-tasy life? I'm living it! I can't imagine a thing I'd want tochange!"
Considering this all, is true happiness possible? Can any-one claim to be living an ideal life? How can we be happywith mediocrity? Yes, we all have fleeting moments of truehappiness, when we experience an event that is so won-derful that it temporarily blocks out all the other less-than-ideal aspects of our lives. But to be happy with life itself,that would seem to be the domain of those life forms thatlack the ability to dream and imagine.
As a society, I believe that we confuse happiness with ac-ceptance. Someone who accepts his flawed life with asmile, refusing to succumb to depression and the lethargythat so often accompanies this emotional state, is consid-ered a "happy" person. In truth, such a person has suc-cessfully reconciled with his lot, realizing that dreams arejust that -- dreams; but can that be accurately described ashappiness?
Many of the greatest thinkers and contributors in thefields of philosophy, science, government and more, wereknown for their melancholy. Could it be that their keen in-tellect and perception prevented them from settling forimperfection?
•••
Are you wondering why I'm equating happiness with ma-terial possessions and accomplishments? How about aquest for spirituality? Can't a meaningful, spiritual life bea source of happiness? Well, seemingly, the spiritual pic-ture isn't rosier. Au contraire. Human nature and spiritualityare sum opposites. For the vast majority of people, a self-
analysis reveals that the endeavor to be a spiritual/G-dly individual is practically impossible; comparable to a leopardtrying to change his spots (or choose another cliché along the same lines...).
Spirituality; G-dliness = Selflessness; total commitment to a higher cause; utter revulsion for any act that is detrimentalto aforementioned cause.
Human nature = Selfishness; commitment to self-gratification (will only renounce a self-gratifying act in favor ofsomething even more self-gratifying); has no concern for any cause other than his own.
(If you think that this definition of human nature is simplistic or incorrect, print it out and show it to any studentof psychology.)
We can act spiritual and do holy deeds, but isn't it all a grandiose charade? Whom are we fooling? No matter how weact, it can never change who we are.
Almost absurdly, the human being -- the "crown jewel" of creation -- is the only creature that possesses this anti-spiritual nature. All other creations -- from the most celestial angel to the lowly earthworm -- do exactly what theirCreator wants of them, and have no desire whatsoever to stray one iota from their divine mission!
So can we be happy with our spiritual identity and nature? It can be argued that such contentment only serves todangerously bolster and legitimize our egotistical natures.
•••
So from whence does true happiness derive? Here is what Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi says on the matter (Tanyach. 31):
In order to comfort his heart in double measure . . . let him say to his heart:
"Indeed, without a doubt, I am far removed, utterly remote from G‑d, and am despicable, contemptible, and soon. But all this is true only of me -- that is, my body and the animating soul within it. Yet within me there is a veritablepart of G-d . . .namely, the divine soul and the spark of G-dliness itself clothed in it, animating it. It is only that thedivine soul is in exile [because it inhabits such a lowly body]. . .
"Therefore, I will make it my entire aim and desire to extricate it from this exile, and to 'return her to her father'shome as in her youth,' i.e., as it was before being clothed in my body, when it was completely absorbed in G‑d's lightand united with Him. Now too will it likewise be absorbed and united with Him once again, when I concentrate allmy aspirations on the Torah and the mitzvot."
. . .This, then, should be one's lifelong service of G‑d with great joy -- the joy of the soul upon leaving the loath-some body, and returning, during one's study of the Torah and service of G‑d, to "her father's house as in her youth."
Surely, there is no joy as great as that of being released from exile and captivity. . .
True, the body remains abominable and loathsome. . . Yet, let his divine soul be more precious to him than hisloathsome body, so that he rejoices in the soul's joy, without letting the sadness on account of his body interfere withor disturb the joy of the soul.
So it comes down to this: happiness depends on how we define ourselves, which aspect of our personality we identifywith. If we identify with our body and its nature, then the outlook is indeed bleak. If we identify with our souls, theG‑dly spark extant within every one of us, then every mitzvah we do is an exhilarating moment of acute joy. Not de-spite the body; because of it. Because there's no joy like being uplifted from the very depths to the highest of high.
Words to live by:
Let your divine soul be more precious to you than your loathsome body... don't let the sadness on account of your body interfere with ordisturb the joy of the soul. •
Rabbi Naftali Silberberg, a native of Detroit, is on the editorial team of Chabad.org. He resides in Brooklyn, NY, with his wife Chaya Mushka and their three children.
The Jewish Community is urged to support and vote for Chuck De Vore on June 8th.
AN INDEPENDENT EXPENDITURE PAID FOR BY HOWARD WINKLERNOT AUTHORIZED BY ANY CANDIDATE OR CANDIDATE COMMITTEE
A Statement by Assemblyman Chuck De Vore:
Barbara Boxer won't stand up for Israel. But she willstand beside the President who is doing grave harm to Is-rael -- and to America -- so long as he fills her reelectioncoffers. It tells us everything we need to know about her-- and it tells us why she'll be a former Senator in January2011.
Israel is our only true ally in the Middle East -- and in-deed, one of our few true friends in the world. It deservesbetter than the attacks it has suf-fered from the Obama Adminis-tration of late. More important,America deserves better. We ex-pect our President to have aclear-eyed understanding ofAmerica's interests. Instead,Barack Obama's policy on Israelis apparently driven by petty vin-dictiveness, coupled with ashocking naïveté, married to anunforgivable ignorance of theMiddle East.
For the Administration to 'condemn' -- the strongestpossible diplomatic language -- the construction of someapartments in a historically Jewish section of Jerusalemdoes nothing to advance the cause of peace, and still lessthe security of our country. Peace is advanced throughstrength, not weakness -- and through unity, not division.At a stroke, President Obama has diminished both.
Instead, the President and the Secretary of State haveonly emboldened Israel and America's enemies. Have nodoubt that Iran, Syria, and Islamist radicals around theworld are watching America turn on its longtime ally. Andthey approve. Have no further doubt that our allies fromBritain to Korea to Afghanistan are seeing the disregardour President has for faithful friendship to the UnitedStates -- and drawing the appropriate conclusions.
The plain fact is that neither America nor Israel haveever benefitted from capitulation to pressure from theirenemies -- and make no mistake, our enemies are thesame. The American people understand this: that's whythey overwhelmingly support our enduring friendship
with Israel.
Americans stand by Israel because our most sacred prin-ciples compel us. This Administration does not appear toshare those principles. While Vice President Biden waschastising Israel over apartment construction, the Pales-tinian Authority was naming a public square after a suicidebomber who slaughtered 37 innocents. Americans instinc-tually grasp the difference between civilization and bar-barism, and they know that a public honor for a mass
murderer is perilously close to thelatter. It's inexcusable that BarackObama's Administration doesn'thave the same moral sense.
I said the time is come to speakout -- and that's not just true forme. I've been speaking out sinceI entered public life over twentyyears ago. I have a long recordsupporting Israel in public and
private. Decades ago, I workedto secure U.S. funding for theArrow antiballistic missile sys-
tem, which is today a critical component of Israel's self-defense. I also worked in Reagan's Defense Departmenton defeating the Iranian threat of the 1980s. My experi-ence in the Middle East -- academic, professional, and per-sonal -- is longstanding and consistently pro-Israel.
The President of the United States has no such record,and he's not creating one now. In the short run, we mustdemand that Senator Barbara Boxer stand up for Amer-ica's interest in the alliance with Israel. She must opposeBarack Obama's ruinous and shortsighted attack on ourally. She has yet to utter a word in Israel's defense, and itis to her discredit.
And in the long run, we must elect a United States Sena-tor from California who won't need to be remindedwhere duty and American interests lie. I am a candidatefor this office for that very reason -- and when I am inthe U.S. Senate, I will stand strong for America and Is-rael, where the incumbent and our President do not.
(http://chuckdevore.com/n/)
Photo L-R: Stanley Treitel, U.S. Senate CandidateChuck De Vore, Los Angeles County Commissioner
I light candles Friday night, but don't yet keep Shabbat.
I don't know the Hebrew prayers, but I speak to G‑d.
But there is one area of my life where I am as Jewish as I canbe-my approach to being a mother.
Coming from Russia, where the social norm is one or two chil-dren, I could never have foreseen the motherly part of me takingover to the degree it has. Now, comfortably enjoying life in warmand sunny California, it makes no sense to most people why inthe world this young and ambitious doctor would choose to havefour kids and "ruin" her life!?
I am not thinking about it. I simply know Two out of four ofmy pregnancies caught us by total surprise and at the most in-convenient times, but deep inside I was thrilled--I was pregnant,waking up in the morning with my heart singing in ecstasy.
To me, pregnancy is the proof that G‑d is real. I don't needto look any further; with each and every baby's kick and twist, Iknow I am experiencing a miracle in progress. As miserably ex-hausted and extremely uncomfortable as I am, I never feel morealive and happy than when I am pregnant - I know it doesn'tmake sense, so I don't even try to explain.
So last year, when my mom caught me drooling over someoneelse's baby at the park, she almost screamed, trying to bring meto my senses: "Don't even think about it! You are completingyour Ph.D. and your husband is not a rabbi!"
But I am not thinking about it. I simply know that I am readyfor another baby. Is it logical or practical? No,not at all, but Iam possessed by this baby-energy coming so strongly, from in-side of me. I feel honored and privileged to be chosen tobrighten this world with another Jewish soul.
At the same time, I face an inner turmoil of self-doubt: Am Idoing the right thing by considering entering another new preg-nancy--rollercoaster ride- and dragging my whole family withme? Can I stand up for what I believe in, when my logical mindand so many relatives are screaming "NO!?"
My spirit is wrapped in such peace Pulled by my mind and mysoul in two opposite directions, on the way home from the park,I decide to stop by our local Chabad House to get some clarityfrom my friend Bassie, the Rebbetzin. She looks at me with asmile when I tell her about my desire for another child and howillogical even I think it is.
Then she tells me about the teachings of the LubavitcherRebbe and what a mikvah is. As I listen to her, my spirit iswrapped in such peace and comfort. I can almost taste the sweetbreath of my future baby and I love him beyond words already!
One hour later, I come home where my precious, innocenthusband is working on the computer, so focused and intent. Heisn't yet interested in spiritual pursuits, yet he is the best Jewishhusband, always supportive of his awakening wife. And I tellhim that while I can't explain it, I long for another child.
I read about mikvah and it speaks to me on such a deep level,bringing tears to my eyes. I explain to my husband the impor-tance of keeping the laws of family purity, and despite nevereven knowing about this, he agrees and supports me all the waythrough.
I will never forget getting ready for the mikvah: counting thedays, praying, waiting with great anticipation- even though I ampetrified of water, a fear I have had since childhood.
I remember when I finally heard Bassie yelling: "Kosher"(meaning that I had immersed myself the right way, going com-pletely under the water). She felt such excitement, as if it wasshe who had just been cured from a water phobia. I experiencedthis strange, new feeling over me, as if the mystical waters ofthe mikvah were washing off the sticky coat of doubt and fear,connecting me to my roots, from which I could absorb thestrength and wisdom of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah...be-coming like them-a proud Jewish woman.
Back in Russia, I was raised to hide, and be ashamed of, myJudaism. But as I emerged from the mikvah waters I felt that Iwas able to fully claim what has been always mine-my Jewishsoul.
Driving home, laughing through the tears of joy, I kept prayingto G‑d to be with me, to quench my inner thirst for this baby...Ten days later there it was: a faint red plus on a pregnancy test.
I welcomed my baby into my heart and into my life. I also wel-comed our Creator into my pregnancy, for the first time ac-knowledging His invisible presence, somewhere behind theHeavenly curtain, making it all possible.
Ever since then, I am learning to develop my relationship withG‑d.
I find myself praying and talking to Him like never before,finding the great relief of putting all my fears in His hands. Iwant the birth of this baby to highlight my journey to know my-self and G‑d's presence in me. I want it to be a spiritual experi-ence. I am waiting now, till the cry of my baby turns me insideout, transforming my entire self into the person I really am-aJewish mother.
I sit here now in my ninth month, soon to be blessed, G‑dWilling, with my fifth child. I have never been so excited and sonervous at the same time. I am so unsure if I will have enoughlove and wisdom in me for all my kids, and yet I know that G‑d'sguidance and support is just a prayer away. This pregnancy isdifferent, more conscious and spiritual. This is my first mikvahbaby. •
Bikur Cholim has been monitoring the outbreakof mumps within the East Coast Jewish communi-ties as early as last year, and its potential spreadto other Jewish communities in the US. To thosefamiliar with the socialization and frequency oftranscontinental flights between these two re-gions, the spread of mumps to Los Angeles comesas no surprise. While data regarding the source,propagation, and number of mumps cases in LosAngeles is useful for epidemiology studies, the at-tention of all health officialsand physicians is focusedon treatment, limiting trans-mission, and reinforcing theimportance of childhoodimmunizations.
Over recent weeks, sev-eral articles have surfacedciting the Los AngelesCounty Department ofPublic Health publicizingcases of mumps in Los An-geles, particularly withinthe Jewish community. Ef-forts are being made tocollect data and monitor this as closely as possi-ble. Today, there have been 8 confirmed mumpscases with additional cases under review. Fromthe onset, and as recently as last week, informa-tion coming from New York has identified the “Ha-sidic” population as the group associated with thismumps outbreak. Unfortunately this does not ad-equately sensitize the entire Jewish community tothis threat. While these cases may have in factbegun in a Hasidic setting, it is without questionthat this has passed beyond these boundariesand significantly spread throughout the observantJewish community. Bikur Cholim has workedclosely with Los Angeles health officials to ensuretheir language does not solely identify this out-break as “Hasidic” but rather to include the Jewishcommunity as a whole.
Per the Center for Disease Control (CDC), with-out vaccines, epidemics of many preventable dis-eases could return resulting in increased andunnecessary illness, disability, and death amongchildren. There are currently 15 vaccine-pre-ventable diseases including mumps, measles, and
rubella (MMR) and adults whom were never vac-cinated can receive the MMR vaccine at anyage.
The transmission and spreads of mumps is ofmajor concern to public health and Los Angelesphysicians are mandated to report all cases ofmumps to the Department of Health. Due to itshighly communicable nature, children and adultsdiagnosed with mumps should not attend school
or have contact with otherindividuals during the com-municable period.
Bikur Cholim presidentRabbi Hershy Ten ex-pressed, “With more par-ents exercising the“personal belief” exemp-tion and not immunizingtheir children, the risk of ex-posure and contractingthese diseases increases.The decision not to immu-nize goes beyond effect-ing one’s own child and
family, it directly impacts society. For example,children not immunized for measles and rubellathat contract these diseases can place pregnantwomen, such as teachers and day care providers,and their unborn children at risk.”
Mumps is not a Jewish disease nor is it specific toany religious or ethnic group. Childhood immu-nizations are the single most effective way to pro-tect children and adults from these diseases.Those parents whom are doubtful of the benefitsof immunization should speak with their pediatri-cians. For years now, public health officials haveoffered low-cost and free vaccinations at LACounty clinics which can be found at www.lapub-lichealth.org. Those exhibiting symptoms such asswollen/tender salivary glands under the ears orjaws on both sides of the face, dry mouth, painfulchewing/swallowing, headache, fever, muscleaches etc. should contact their family physician.
Bikur Cholim (www.bikurcholim.net) is working to-gether with health officials to provide informationto all schools and organizations within the Los An-geles Jewish community for them to share withtheir parent bodies and memberships.
RESVERATROL AND AGINGScientists believe that resveratrol can help slow aging.
In lab experiments, fish given high concentrations of resveratrol lived 50% longer, and mice lived about 20% longer than those not given the nutrient.
RESVERATROL AND CANCERDozens of studies have shown that resveratrol plays a role in resisting cancer. In fact, it was effective against all three cancer stages: initiation, promotion and progression. (Subbaramaiah Et
Al 1999, Jang Et Al 1999, Kang Et Al 2003)
Specifically, large doses of resveratrol may protect against the progression of:
(Tessitore Et Al 2000)
(Nakagiawa Et Al 2001)
(Kimura Et Al 2001)
(Kampa Et Al 2000)
(Tsan Et Al 2000)
RESVERATROL,GRAPESEED EXTRACT AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASEStudies have shown that resveratrol may prevent heart disease in two important ways:
1. It inhibits the formation of blood clots, a culprit in both heart attacks and strokes.
from building up in the arteries and blocking blood flow to the heart and brain.
To make this product even more effective against heart disease, we’ve added grapeseed extract, a powerful antioxidant that reduces inflammation.
FORGET THE WINE!Harvested from resveratrol-rich herbs, Maxi Resveratrol™ gives you 100mg of this miracle nutrient in each capsule, equal to what you would get in 100 glasses of red wine!
A miracle?The French Paradox solved
How do the French manage to eat plenty of cheese, chocolate, butter and red meat, yet still have remarkably low levels of heart disease and obesity?
The answer lies in the wine they drink. Red wine is brimming with resveratrol, an antioxidant found in the skin of grapes to protect them from bacteria and fungi. Now scientists believe that resveratrol may do more than protect the heart. It may even help prevent many age-related illnesses, and extend life.
• 4 ounces semisweet chocolate, chopped, or chocolate chips
• 1 stick unsalted butter, sliced• 3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder• 1 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons sugar• 1 cup plus 2 tablespoons milk• 1 cup ricotta cheese, at room temperature• 1 store-bought pound cake, cut into 6 to 8 thick slices• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil• 1 fresh pineapple, peeled, cored and cut into wedges• Shredded coconut, toasted, and/or peanuts, for garnish
Combine the chocolate and butter in a microwave-safebowl. Heat at 50 percent power for 2 minutes; stir, thenmicrowave at 30-second intervals until completely melted.Whisk in the cocoa and 1 3/4 cups sugar until smooth.Microwave the mixture on full power for 5 minutes, stop-ping to whisk occasionally. (Don't worry if the mixture looksgrainy; continue to cook and whisk until smooth.) Add 1cup milk and microwave on full power until smooth andslightly fudgy, 2 minutes. Transfer to a thermos to keepwarm.
Fold the remaining 2 tablespoons milk and 2 tablespoonssugar into the ricotta in a bowl; cover and refrigerate.
Preheat a grill to medium. Brush the cake slices lightlywith oil and grill for 1 to 2 minutes per side. Brush thepineapple lightly with oil and grill until marked, about 1minute per side.
Top the cake with pineapple, a scoop of ricotta creamand hot fudge. Garnish with coconut and/or nuts, if de-sired.
Directions
Ingredients
Calfornia Kosher KitchenPineapple Sundaes
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Master bedroom withprivate restroom &entrance. Femaleapplicants only. Con-tact Sarah @ 310-409-3327 or Rachel:310-210-2691
Part time office assistant 2-6pm, Monday-Friday in Encino.$10 hour. Must be well organ-ized and have basic computerskills. (QuickBooks helpful).Email resume to:[email protected] one year commit-ment.
Chabad Sola. Mon - Fri, at8.30AM. 1627 S LaCienega Blvd, opposite toCheder Menachem. If youare interested and couldcommit to be part of thisnew Minyan please con-tact R Menashe at 646 2586881 or at [email protected].
One bedroom for rent withprivate bathroom, separateentrance, laundry andkosher kitchen available.Utilities included. Month tomonth contract with monthsecurity. Referencesplease. Call David atHome: 323-934-4826. Cell:323-687-4154
Charming Guest Housewith private patio, fur-nished, Kosher kitchenette& private bathroom onOlympic & La Jolla. Monthto month contract withmonth security. No smok-ing, no pets. Referencesplease. Call David atHome: 323-934-4826. Cell:323-687-4154