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

Commitment to Eternal Values

It was an unusual snowy night in New York in November 2018. The winter came early that year, and the planes in JFK were unexpectedly delayed on a Thursday evening. After considerable delays, El Al Flight 002 took off from JFK en route to its destination in Tel Aviv. The crew and passengers on the flight realized it would be arriving at Ben Gurion airport dangerously close to Shabbos and began to fret about potentially flying on Shabbos. After much discussion, the pilot announced that in consideration of Shabbos, the flight would be diverted to Athens to allow anybody who chose to disembark. Not only that but the worlds only Jewish airline had made arrangements with the local Chabad in Athens to provide Shabbos accommodations. While this incident is an anomaly, El Al's policy for over 40 years has been not to fly on Shabbos or Yom Tov. This voluntary cessation of business amounts to about 60 days a year that the airline chooses not to fly. In the cutthroat environment of each airline trying to outmuscle its competitor for a bigger market share, it is nothing short of astounding that an airline chooses to keep its planes idle due to its religious convictions. Menachem Begin was a newly elected prime minister when he declared his intention to have El Al (a publicly owned airline at the time) essentially become Shomer Shabbos. Begin hailed from the Lithuanian town of Brisk, and it instilled within him a respect for his heritage and a deep appreciation of Shabbos. Begin was challenged about how much financial loss this would incur. He famously responded with these words. "We cannot engage in profit-and-loss calculations when it comes to the eternal heritage of the Jewish people. There is no way of assessing the religious, national, social, historical, and ethical values of the Sabbath day by the yardstick of financial loss or gain. In our revived Jewish State, we simply cannot engage in such calculations. If it were not for the Shabbat that restored the souls and revived the spiritual lives, week by week, of our long-suffering nation, our trials and vicissitudes would have pulled us down to the lowest levels of materialism and moral and intellectual decay." The importance of Shabbos in the life of a Jew cannot be overstated. Understanding why keeping Shabbos is so important and central to our lives is essential. The elementary understanding of Shabbos that G-d created the world in six days and rested on the seventh needs to be understood in a more sophisticated and compelling way. While not incorrect, this understanding is not sufficiently intellectually satisfying when we are well into adulthood. While oceans of ink have been spilled on this topic, and I don't think I can fully unpack it in a few words here, I nonetheless attempt to distill this idea in the best way I can. G-d created space and time for us in this world. Time is an intangible reality that our entire lives revolve around. G-d chose to manifest His presence in a specific time that is not equivalent to any other time. It means that during this time, we can connect to His presence like no other. The manifestation of holiness, spirituality, and Godliness enables a person to connect to G-d and himself during this time. This special time is, of course, the Shabbos. While one can connect to G-d at other times as well, the ease and ability to connect on Shabbos is unparalleled. For this reason, the central identity of the Jewish People for thousands of years has been the Shabbos. It is our honor to once again partner with the Kollel in hosting the Shabbos Project in our community. This incredible program allows us as a community to connect to each other, our inner selves, and, of course, G-d like no other time. In an era when we are once again being targeted because of our conviction in our faith, the Shabbos Project is a reminder of what it actually means to be a connected person of faith. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Hurricane and Yom Kippur

The State of Florida encountered an unwelcome and rude guest this week. Milton showed up and created quite a mess, with much chaos in large parts of the state. Milton, of course, showed up during the busy time of the Ten Days of Repentance on the Jewish calendar. There is never a good time to have a major storm or hurricane. That being said, during the season known as the High Holidays, it seems like an extra burden. Upon further reflection, it appears that Milton barging into Florida seems entirely consistent with the season's theme. As we prepare for Yom Kippur, the air has a certain heaviness. Our tradition teaches us that on Rosh Hashanah, everyone is inscribed to the Book of Life for the coming year, and Yom Kippur is the time that the judgment is sealed. Until the end of Yom Kippur, a person can reverse an unfavorable judgment with heartfelt prayer, repentance, and giving of charity. This year in particular, as our homeland is facing an unprecedented seven-front war, the High Holidays season is much more intense. As we get ready for Yom Kippur, we know that there are tens of thousands (or more) of IDF soldiers fighting an existential war in hostile territory. There are many hostages trapped in unbearable conditions in Gaza, and hardly a day goes by when the news doesn't appear worse than the previous day. To say there is a lot riding on the final judgment of Yom Kippur this year would be a massive understatement. With all this in the background, Milton arrived with a gusto. The Jacksonville area was fortunately spared from the brunt of the storm, and we are grateful to G-d for that. That doesn't take away from the feelings of vulnerability that everyone felt before the storm. The feeling of vulnerability can lead many to fear. As I mentioned on Rosh Hashanah, the blessing of being vulnerable allows us to connect more meaningfully to G-d. The daily liturgy has a passage from Tehilim/Psalms which states רוח סערה עושה דברו. (Translation: stormy winds fulfilling His word.) The visit of Milton should cause us to reflect on our vulnerability. We would do well to utilize that vulnerability to connect in meaningful prayer to G-d this Yom Kippur. Wishing you a Meaningful Yom Kippur, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

It Starts with Listening

Unless you were in a cave in Antarctica, you heard or watched the Presidential Debate between the two leading candidates. In its aftermath, there has been much debate about the debate. From the claim about the bias of the moderators to the claim of migrants eating pets in Ohio, this was one for the ages. It's hard to know whether this debate will change anybody's mind. I definitely do not have the credentials of a political pundit and am not qualified to offer any analysis from a political angle. I will weigh in from a different perspective. What this debate (and virtually all other political debates) did not exhibit was the ability for one person to listen to another person respectfully. In this shouting match, or what some have categorized as a food fight without the food, there were insults, scorn, and contempt hurled from one to another. The inability to have a respectful and healthy discourse all starts with the ability of listening to one another. I am fond of the Gaon of Vilna's teaching about the three levels of listening. The first level is simply to listen. While this can sound rather elementary, it is not a skill exhibited by most of society. The desire to interrupt someone as he might be saying something you disagree with can lead to the person being unable to finish their sentence. The second level is understanding. This means making an effort to understand what the other person is saying before judging if the person is saying something wise or foolish. It may include a follow-up question to the person to give him an opportunity to clarify his position more articulately. The third level of listening is acceptance. The notion of accepting does not mean that you necessarily agree with that person. Rather, it can just mean that you accept this is their position. For example, it may translate by you saying, "I accept that you are against abortion with rare exceptions, but I have a different view." In that case (or others), you are not delegitimizing the person with an opposing view, and at the same time, you are making it clear that you disagree with that viewpoint. As we approach the sacred days of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, our Rabbis remind us of the value of seeking reconciliation with those we may have had disagreements with in the past year. The first step on this path to healing may be as simple as stopping and truly listening to the other person's perspective. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

A Cry for Help

The Jewish world was dealt a sucker punch this week that left some people struggling to breathe. The tragic news that the IDF had recovered six bodies of hostages was a painful ending to their lives. For the last 11 months, the world watched in awe of these families as they rallied the world on behalf of their loved ones. For American Jews especially, the story of Hersh Goldberg-Polin struck an emotional cord. Hersh was born in California, and his family made aliya to Israel when he was a young boy. On October 7, as Hersh was attempting to find refuge in a bomb shelter, his arm was blown off when the terrorists lobbed a grenade into the shelter. As he was in that precarious condition, the terrorists kidnapped him into Gaza and kept him in unspeakable conditions in a dungeon underground. His family, particularly his mother, Rachel Goldberg, left no stone unturned as she traveled the world and met with people of influence to help rescue her son. Rachel said, "I personally feel like we have to keep running to the end of the Earth to save him." Alas, that was not meant to be, as he was executed in cold blood by Hamas terrorists. Rachel eulogized her beloved son Hersh in remarks that captivated people worldwide. Reactions to the tragedy were fast and furious. That is understandable, as many people felt raw anger and sadness, and many people took to the streets in Israel to protest the government's role in the war. It is beyond my purview to weigh in on this issue from a political and security perspective. There are enough people out there who are not shy to offer their opinions in that arena. I will offer some thoughts from a spiritual perspective. As a community of faith, we are once again numb with pain as such unimaginable suffering is endured by our people. The famous biblical judge Gideon commented after the Jewish people suffered at the hands of the ancient Midianim. Ironically, the location was Gaza, as described in the Book of Shoftim/Judges. Gideon saw all the suffering and said the following words. וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו גִּדְעוֹן בִּי אֲדֹנִי וְיֵשׁ ה עִמָּנוּ וְלָמָּה מְצָאַתְנוּ כׇּל־זֹאת וְאַיֵּה כׇל־נִפְלְאֹתָיו אֲשֶׁר סִפְּרוּ־לָנוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ לֵאמֹר הֲלֹא מִמִּצְרַיִם הֶעֱלָנוּ ה וְעַתָּה נְטָשָׁנוּ ה וַיִּתְּנֵנוּ בְּכַף־מִדְיָן.Translation: Gideon said, "Please, my Lord, if G-d is with us, why has all this befallen us? Where are all those wondrous deeds about which our ancestors told us, saying, 'Truly G-d brought us up from Egypt'? Now G-d has abandoned us and delivered us into the hands of Midian!" These words sound sacrilege as he wondered whether G-d had abandoned him. The response that Gideon received in recorded in the following verse. וַיִּפֶן אֵלָיו ה וַיֹּאמֶר לֵךְ בְּכֹחֲךָ זֶה. Translation: G-d turned to him and said, "Go in this strength of yours and deliver Israel from the Midianites. I herewith make you My messenger." What strength did Gideon have? Rashi, quoting the Midrash, says, "By the power of the merit of your advocacy of my children." The real lesson from Gideon was that it was meritorious and righteous for him to turn to G-d and say, "How much can our people handle"? The pain and empathy that one feels for the suffering of a fellow Jew is a currency that has a high value up in Heaven. As we are in the month, let us continue to be kind and empathic toward one another and cry out to the eternal Guardian of Israel to put an end to this most painful chapter of history. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch