So, my kids wanted to know if they were matching well enough for "twin day" in camp. I jokingly replied that my oldest could dye his blond hair brown to be closer match to his dark-haired brother.
"Or he can make his hair lighter" he immediately said. Which got me thinking. Their hair color is just a microcosm of the larger picture, that they are each unique, with their own personality and set of skills. And I wouldn't have it any other way.
This week we read in the Torah how the land of Israel was split. Each Jew received a plot of land. How would they decide who got that piece beachfront real estate? A special lottery was held ensuring divine accuracy. In fact, the lottery tickets themselves miraculously announced the results. No one questioned their allotted parcel. Off they went to go and grow their future.
Each of us is given a spiritual "plot of land", a destiny and mission in life. It may not be the same as someone else's, but it is ours to develop and nurture. Sometimes it may be tough, we may lose sight of the divine accuracy, we may wish we had a different color hair. This week, we are reminded that this is a match made in heaven, and though perhaps challenging, the beautiful results will be worth the journey.
Join us on August 14th for a captivating film following the difficult, yet inspiring journey of parents who lost their children to terror, as well as two of the youngest holocaust survivors.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
From the Rabbi's Desk
What's Your Hair Color?
Chassidic Pokémon
There’s the new viral Pokémon Go game that exploded onto the scene. The augmented reality game overlays these animated Poké characters on a map of the player’s real life location. The
player captures it by actually throwing a virtual ball at it. In one week, this has become the most popular smartphone game ever. While reportedly it has increased health benefits, motivating thousands of gamers to get off the couch and run around, there have also been incidents of a teen getting bitten by a venomous snake, and two other players falling from a cliff, after getting too absorbed in the game. All are currently recovering. There are even reports of players coming to Chabad Centers in search of Pokémon. Pretty crazy, right?
The truth is, we can probably all identify with it a bit by reflecting on what are we crazy about. Is it a sports team? A particular show, a hobby, or even a morning routine that we simply cannot start our day without.
On Monday, we commemorate the previous Chabad Rebbe's release from soviet prison in 1927. He had been incarcerated for "counter-revolutionary" activities - maintaining a network of underground schools throughout Russia that would teach the children about their rich Jewish traditions.
In what would be his final printed Chassidic text just before his passing, he explains a profound concept. We all have our things that aren't logical. The big question is, whether they are belowlogic or above logic.
This "crazy" can be channeled for good. It can be a healthy experience; a passion that fuels growth and productivity, that motivates us to achieve for ourselves and for those around us.
Do a senseless act of kindness. Love where there is hate. Shine in the face of darkness. Be crazy.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Dovid Bush
p.s. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people in Nice. On Bastille Day, as the French were in the midst of celebrating unity and independence from political tyranny...
Let's respond to this darkness with light - Light the Shabbat candles this evening at or before 8:15pm. How, what and why.
The First Mossad Agents
Giants.
Not our baseball team; they’re good guys. I’m referring to the giants that the spies encountered in ancient day Israel. While journeying through the desert, Moses had sent a group of 12 men to scout out the land. They came back with a frightening report. The cities were fortified. The natives were huge and mighty. The fruits were larger than life (eight men were needed to carry a single bunch of grapes). There was just no way that the Jews would be able to conquer them.
The Jews were disheartened and broke down crying. Caleb and Joshua (the two spies who refused to talk badly about the land) rebuked them for their lack of faith. As a result of this episode, the Jews had to remain in the dessert for 40 years - one year for each day the spies had been in the Land.
What’s up with that? Why are the spies punished for doing their job? They reported precisely what they saw. Shouldn’t they be commended? Where did they go wrong?
Well, here’s the thing. They weren’t tasked with figuring out if they would be able to conquer it. Of course, they would; after G-d had taken them out of Egyptian slavery, with miracles galore, it wasn’t even a question. The mission of the spies was to see how they would be able to best accomplish it. And they completely missed this point.
In our life, when faced with challenges, don’t get caught up in the particulars, the statistics, or the issues. We have the ability to conquer any trials and tribulations that we are faced with. Instead, focus on the how, maintaining our faith that G-d will help us through it.
Knowing that we can overcome any challenge and accomplish anything we set our mind to, is the truest freedom. #LandOfTheFree
Shabbat Shalom and Happy 4th!