Just Do It

The beginning of the secular New Year is an opportunity for people to undertake resolutions or commitments. It can be an overwhelming endeavor, as we might not know where to begin the process. There are so many areas where one can improve, and just contemplating bringing positive change is daunting. As always, profound lessons from the Torah are insightful on this topic. In a somewhat bizarre incident, Yosef brings his two sons, Menashe and Ephraim, to his ailing father's bedside for a final parting and for the two young grandchildren to get a blessing from their sage grandfather. Yaakov stuns Yosef when he places his right hand on the second brother, Ephraim, and his left hand on the firstborn son, Menashe. This is met with resistance from Yosef, who not so gently reminds his elderly father that Menashe is the firstborn and thus deserves the right hand placed on him. (This is somewhat ironic considering that Yosef, who was not the firstborn, was considered the preferred son, and now he is taking offense that his firstborn son was not receiving his due honor). What was it about Yaakov's insistence that Ephraim was the recipient of the preferred bracha? Not only that, but Yaakov designated the gold standard of blessings as "May G-d make you like Ephraim and Menashe."Why was it so important that Ephraim precedes Menashe? The Nesivos Shalom writes based on a famous verse in Tehillim/Psalms: סור מרע ועשה טוב /Desist from Evil and Perform Good. This is the formula that King David taught us toward the path of character development and improvement. First and foremost, it is important to desist from wrongdoing and only then to engage in mitzvah or good deeds. The only problem with that approach is that a person can always be busy with desisting wrongdoing and never get to perform one mitzvah or good deed -- for who can actually say that I have no baggage left in the closet and now I am free to pursue mitzvahs and good deeds? One of the best ways to desist from wrongdoing is just to do a mitzvah or good deed. This is illustrated by Menashe and Ephraim's story. In Parshas Mikeitz, the reason why Yosef named his two sons Menashe and Ephraim is stated. His first son was named Menashe for, as he put it, " God has made me forget the toil." In essence, that is the value of desist from wrongdoing. His second son was named Ephraim for as he put it "G-d made me fruitful in the land of my affliction". In essence, this is the value of Asei Tov /Doing a Mitzvah or good deed. That was Yaakov's deeper message in designating his two grandsons. Although in an ideal world, it is important to first get away from wrongdoing, it is imperative that one just perform a mitzvah or a good deed as activation energy. Sometimes, it is precisely one small positive action that can be a catalyst for much greater things to come. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Finding Light in the Darkness

It is not as easy to make the journey to Israel from America these days. As most airlines have stopped flying to and from Israel because of the war, one has to undertake a degree of creativity in planning an itinerary. I flew from Jacksonville to Miami to Dubai to Tel Aviv to arrive for my grandson's Bris in Jerusalem. It was a whirlwind, and I could not be more grateful to be in the Capital of our ancestral homeland to observe how this young infant, representing the newest link in the chain of thousands of years of Jewish tradition, would enter the eternal covenant. As I began the journey back to my current residence in Jacksonville, I found myself at the Dubai International Airport for an extended layover on the first night of Chanukah. I had packed candles in my carry-on and was on a mission to find a place to light the Chanukah candles. I did not pack a lighter or matches as I did not want to cause an international incident by having that contraband in my possession. My initial plan was to go to the Duty-Free, buy a carton of cigarettes, and ask them to throw in a lighter. I have never bought a pack of cigarettes in my life, but if this gave me a lighter to be used for lighting the candles, I would break my nearly five-decade tradition of not owning cigarettes. After learning that the Duty-Free did not have any lighters or matches to distribute with cigarettes, I needed to resort to Plan B. I discovered Plan B when I walked by the smoker's lounge and saw people smoking. I braved the cloud of smoke in the lounge and asked someone if I could use his lighter, and he graciously gave me his lighter. I took out my candles and set them up in the smoker's lounge. I stood up and recited the blessings before lighting the first candle for Chanukah. The person in charge of the lounge asked me what I was doing, and in a matter of fact manner, I responded that I was lighting Chanukah candles. He wished me a Happy Chanukah and even offered to get me a beverage of choice! I stayed there until the candles went out, and I reflected on the most interesting turn of events. In a larger sense, I was really taking the message of Chanukah to a new level. A primary message of Chanukah is to bring the light into an increasingly dark world. The world is dark and cold in many ways, and we become increasingly anxious and frustrated with the onset of more news reflecting pain and suffering. While we cannot do everything to eliminate the darkness, we are empowered to light a candle. Lighting a candle or lamp during Chanukah represents the larger message of bringing the light of G-d into our mundane lives. Every time we undertake a Mitzvah we are essentially continuing to bring this light into the darkness. While we can question what our efforts of lighting these candles can accomplish, I am reminded of the saying, "There is not enough darkness in all the world to put out the light of even one small candle.” That lesson was reinforced to me this year at Dubai International Airport. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

The Old World is not Coming Back

Last month at the General Assembly, the annual conference of the Jewish Federations in North America held its annual conference in Washington, D.C. One of the keynote speakers was Bari Weiss, who delivered a most compelling address. I rarely find a speech so impactful and thought-provoking. The presentation was entitled "The Old World is Not Coming Back." I will share the beginning of her remarks. When did you know? Looking back, now that we are on the far side, I wonder: When did you realize that things had changed? When did you know that the things we had taken for granted were suddenly out of our reach? That the norms that felt as certain as gravity had disappeared? That the institutions that had launched our grandparents had turned hostile to our children? When did you notice that what had once been steady was now shaky ground? Did you look down to see if your own knees were trembling? When did you realize that we were not immune from history, but living inside of it? When did you see that our world was actually the world of yesterday—and a new one, one with far fewer certainties, one where everything seems up for grabs, was coming into being? Weiss lists at least a dozen events over the last two decades that exhibited violent Jew-hatred that resulted in death and destruction. Of course, she mentions October 7 and its horrific consequences. Her remarks' main takeaway is that we are never going back into the old world of pre-October 7. We must come to grips with this reality. This week's parsha has an episode of the world's oldest hatred. In an effort of reconciliation, Yaakov presents multiple gifts to his brother Esav, who desires to kill him for past grievances. Esav is overwhelmed by Yaakov's generosity, embraces his brother, and kisses him. In an unusual and rare instance, several dots above the Hebrew word וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ translates into him kissing him. Rashi quotes the famous rabbinic interpretation about the significance of the dots over the word וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ. There is a law or halacha that Esav hates Yaakov. It was a moment of temporary weakness that Esav displayed in his embrace of Yaakov. (I would equate it to a version of air quotes around the word וַיִּשָּׁקֵ֑הוּ). The hatred of Esav for Yaakov has spanned thousands of years as the biological and ideological descendants of Esav continue to not only hate the descendants of Yaakov but also plot their genocide. Many well-meaning people over the generations have tried to solve the problem of Jew hatred with little success. As Rashi points out it is a halacha or law that this hatred will endure and manifest itself in a variety of ways. I find myself surprised about how much shock there is to a message from Bari Weiss that we are not going back to the old world. The current manifestation of unadulterated Jew hatred is just the latest version of the original hatred. Understandably, this can cause sadness and depression. I would suggest that we utilize this uncomfortable era as an opportunity to embrace our destiny. The Jewish People have received the Torah, which represents the message of G-d in this world, and are challenged to be guardians and ambassadors of this sacred task. That uncomfortable truth has made some Jews unsure about our destiny and caused some non-Jews to plan for our demise. It is our responsibility to get in touch with our inner self and embrace our mission connection and purpose. Another option would be to put our heads in the sand and pretend this is a passing phase. Bari Weiss delivered the inconvenient truth last month to Jewish leaders that mindset is just wishful thinking. The question we all need to ask ourselves is, what are we going to do about being a citizen in this newly discovered, uncomfortable world? Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Climbing the Ladder to Greatness

When one tries to conjure a spiritual image in one's head, a few images may come to mind. Anything from envisioning the Kotel to another classic Jewish location that inspires feelings of closeness to G-d. Among the many items not on the list would be a ladder. After all, a product that one would purchase in Home Depot or Lowe's as a ladder has very little association with spirituality. It is precisely for that reason that it is most bizarre that a ladder finds itself the central item in one of the most spiritually charged visions that would define Jewish destiny. In this week's parsha, we learn that Yaakov dreamed about a ladder with its base planted in this world and its top cap reaching the heavens. In Yaakov's dream, we learn about the angles that ascend and descend the ladder. At this moment, G-d reveals himself to Jacob and reassures him about his journey outside his homeland and his overall Jewish destiny. Everything seems so profound and moving, yet one has to wonder how a ladder adds to the moment! The famous Kotzker Rebbe (1787–1859), a Hasidic Rebbe known for his sharp wisdom and wit, shed some insight on this issue. The Kotzker once asked his students: Who was higher, someone on the tenth rung of a ladder or someone on the twenty-fifth? When they responded that the person on the twenty-fifth was higher, Kotzker answered: Who is higher depends upon which way the person is heading. We may not appreciate it, but all of us in the journey of life are heading up the ladder to a more meaningful and purposeful life, or we are descending the ladder to a life of emptiness. In the dream of Yaakov, the base of the ladder is firmly on the ground and the top reaches the heavens. That image is supposed to serve as an outline for us as we are supposed to internalize that we must ascend and rise above all the pettiness and materialism of an increasingly empty world. It is more comfortable for us not to get on the ladder. Even if we are already on the ladder to greatness, part of us desires to descend to allow ourselves a life of more perceived comfort. A major theme of Sefer Bereishes (Genesis) is that we must rise above our comfort zones to find greatness. It turns out that a ladder really is most appropriate to deliver this timeless message. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Gratitude in Tough Times

As Americans gather around their table to celebrate Thanksgiving, this year will be challenging to feel the feelings of gratitude generally associated with this time of year. With Israel fighting a multi front war and Jew hatred rising on nearly a daily basis the air is heavy and it's hard to get into the headspace of gratitude in 2024. The reality is that no matter how challenging the environment is, we never lose the opportunity to express our gratitude. There is a fascinating insight on gratitude from next week's Parsha that I believe addresses this point. After the birth of her first child, Rachel names the baby Yosef. The stated reason for this is that G-d has spared me from shame. The basic understanding is that she has been spared from shame because now she has finally been blessed to have a child after being barren for many years. Rashi, in his commentary, offers a bizarre explanation in the name of a Midrash. The comment is that Rachel would have to take responsibility for various mishaps around the house prior to having a baby. Mishaps such as who broke the dish or ate the snacks would leave Rachel feeling sheepish when her husband would come home. With the arrival of a baby in the home, there was now someone to blame for these mishaps. Hence, G-d had spared her shame. The Midrash is incredulous with this interpretation! It reflects an incredible shallow perspective on our revered matriarch, Rachel! After the amazing blessing of bringing a new life into the world, Rachel is thankful for something so mundane! Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz, in his commentary, offers insight on this passage in particular and on gratitude in general. One doesn't need to be seeking macro and life-changing occurrences for one to express gratitude over. Granted, when those blessings occur in life it is appropriate to be grateful. However, one should seek to identify minor or even mundane happenings in our daily life to show our appreciation and gratitude. Tamara Levitt, a well-known meditation and mindfulness instructor in her masterclass on the Calm app, suggests doing an exercise whenever you find yourself caught up in negativity or seem to need a dose of gratitude called the Gratitude Countdown. She offered the following ten examples of everyday reasons in her won life for her to be grateful: 1)The comforting bowl of miso soup I had for dinner. 2)The fact that I live close to a park where I can breathe fresh air and enjoy a daily dose of nature. 3)A local tailor was able to fix the zipper on my 25-year-old irreplaceable coat. 4)The voicemail I received this morning from my nephew. 5)The subway system I use to zip across the city to do errands. 6)The birds I heard chirping cheerfully outside my window this morning. 7)The marvel of modern communication and the ease it helps me stay in touch with friends and family. 8)My incredible job and the privilege of doing meaningful work. 9)My network of friends and the support I feel from friendships. 10)My mediation practice helps me stay grounded in the world. This list is particular to her life, but I was struck by how ordinary these items seemed. This year more than ever, let us make a choice to seek out and identify simple things in life for which to be grateful. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Lies are Louder than Truth

In 1849, French writer Jean-Baptiste Alphonse Karr wrote, "plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose" or "the more things change, the more they stay the same." This quote is playing loudly in my head this week as I try to absorb what is happening in the world. As we are nearly at the quarter mark of the twenty-first century and pretend that we are more enlightened than ever, we have more than regular reminders that while time has changed, people are essentially the same. The self-proclaimed judge, jury, and executioner of the so-called International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants to the Prime Minister and former Defense Minister of Israel for their alleged war crimes in managing the current war. It's hard to begin unpacking this development. Real war crimes are going on around the world. In Sudan, in the current civil war, there have been tens of thousands of people killed, including in mass killings, the raping of women and girls, the widespread looting of markets and homes, and the burning down of farms. In Ukraine, at least 2,406 children have been killed or injured since the escalation of the war nearly 1,000 days ago, according to the latest available verified reports. In addition to child casualties, which include 659 children killed and 1,747 children injured - amounting to at least 16 children killed or wounded every week - millions of children continue to have their lives upended due to ongoing attacks. It's essential to be mindful that the attacks from Russia to Ukraine deliberately target civilians. It is unheard of for Russia to send text messages to civilians in Ukraine informing them of any impending attack. I don't know of any military that does this tactic currently or in the past. There have been no arrest warrants issued to the leaders of Sudan or Russia. Israel, of course, does send communications to civilians in Gaza and Lebanon about impending attacks. Although the system is not perfect, it has saved countless lives. The WSJ, in an editorial this week, stated that "whose (Israel) military may have achieved the lowest ratio of civilian-to-combatant deaths in the history of urban warfare." The disconnect between the reality and the arrest warrant issued by the International Court in the Hague could not be more profound. In this week's Parsha, we learn again about how Avraham purchased the Cave of Machpeilah in Hebron. Avraham went to great pains to ensure that all elements of this transaction were above board as he feared that his descendants might be accused of thievery in their claim to its ancestral home. History has confirmed the worst fears of Avraham as his descendants are not only falsely accused of being occupiers and colonialists but also charged with war crimes in defending themselves from hostile and lethal adversaries. As the lies and accusations continue to mount, it's worth reviewing our weekly Parsha to be reminded of the facts. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Post Election Musings

Well, it’s finally over! The election season in the United States lasts at least two years and sometimes feels like 20 years has mercifully come to an end. Regardless of how anyone identifies politically, it’s our responsibility to pray that President-Elect Trump successfully governs and brings America as a global leader to a new level of peace and prosperity. Trump also made history as only the second president to return to the White House as President for a second term after losing his initial re-election bid. Grover Cleveland, our 22nd and 24th president, was the only other president to receive that distinction. Originally from Buffalo, who went on to be Governor of New York on his way to two presidencies, Cleveland achieved many accomplishments. He was controversial in ending a railroad strike, among other things. Other than historians specializing in presidential history, Grover Cleveland is pretty much a forgotten name. That makes sense, as he left office in 1897, and there has been much going on since that time. I think about this as I wonder what the name Donald Trump will mean to people in about 125 years. I am not one to make bold predictions, but this story of an unprecedented political comeback may be largely forgotten. I am not comparing Cleveland to Trump, but time has an interesting way of causing people to forget and move on. I raise this point as we are in the immediate aftermath of an emotional and intense election. Many have even called this the most critical election in our lifetime! (I have heard this line in every election since the first election I voted in since 1996.) Some of us not only spend so much time and energy on politics but actually get consumed by it. It has unfortunate consequences as many have friendships and relationships ruined simply because another person has voted for a different candidate than you preferred. The larger point here is that although we need to be active in the political process mainly by voting, there are other priorities in life that we may have more influence on and, for some reason, choose not to exercise our influence. To mention a few areas: a) Investing time and energy in our marriages so that we and our spouses may have a meaningful and joyful relationship. b) Investing time and energy with our children. Passing on our most sacred values to them won’t happen by itself. It requires being intentional and thoughtful. c) Making a priority to improve and enhance our relationship with G-d. There are many ways to accomplish this, from transforming our davening or allocating some precious time in our daily schedule to delving into His wisdom through Torah study. I would posit we have far more influence on any of these areas than any dent we can make in the arena of politics. We only have a certain amount of time and energy in our lifetime. It’s up to us to allocate this finite energy most wisely. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch