My commencement address to Graduates

It is an exciting time of year as the Class of 2022 dons their caps and gowns, graduates from this stage in life, and prepares for the next stage. Students who worked hard and invested so much into reaching this stage have much to be proud of all their efforts. Let's not forget the parents who invested much of their blood, sweat, and tuition dollars so that their children can reach this milestone. It has become a tradition for a notable figure to deliver the commencement as politicians, athletes, and celebrities flock to universities to dispense some with some of their wisdom. I have mused to myself if I had been invited to deliver a commencement address, would I have anything meaningful to share with a group of students ready to transition to the next step in their journey? Here are some of my thoughts: Life of Gratitude: This approach to life cannot be overstated, especially in the post-Covid era. Our society is wholly enmeshed in the throes of entitlement, and unfortunately, Observant Jews are not immune from this malady. From a young age, we are fed a concoction of rights that feed this perception among ourselves that we are entitled to whatever, however, whenever we desire something. If this outcome is not met to its specification, one is usually disappointed and sad. The opposite approach is to live a life of appreciation and gratitude. The latter individual expects nothing and appreciates everything. Judaism teaches us that the first prayer to recite daily is the Modeh Ani. This is a declaration of gratitude that we have been afforded another day in this world to make a difference in the world. The more we express our gratitude to G-d and others, the more we appreciate every day for what it offers, no matter the challenges it brings. Live with Holiness: As one advances with a career, life can quickly turn meaningless by one jumping from earning a paycheck to paying the bills to work to make a paycheck to earn, etc. The weeks at work turn into months, then years, and then one wonders where all the time went. Therefore, making every day count is important by infusing some G-dliness in the day. For example, one can study Torah for a few minutes, pray fervently or commit to engaging in chesed. All these have the marking of inculcating holiness into your day. So my dear graduates, as the saying goes, you only live once! So make the most of each day, and the entire world will benefit from that single choice. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

A Holy Experience

As we celebrate the holiday of Shavuos, it is worth reflecting on the significance of this date and its impact on the Jewish People in particular and the world in general. Shavuos is the anniversary that G-d revealed the blueprint for humanity to live a life with the utmost holiness and Godliness on this mundane earth. G-d revealed this blueprint to us in what is known as the Torah. It is hard to overstate how transformative this transmission was to the Jewish People. The Torah unlocks the ability of a mortal being and allows him to live a life of meaning, purpose, and fulfillment. The Torah enables the Jew to infuse spirituality and purpose into the most mundane and physical activities. The Torah has empowered the Jew to connect with the Divine even in the world's darkest moments and find that light in an increasingly dark world. In his book Derech Hashem, Rabbi Moshe Chaim Luzzato (1707-1746) writes, G-d created many spiritual manifestations in this world with His presence. However, one embodiment is more compelling and more intense than any other in this world. This manifestation of Godliness and holiness that one connect is more profound and superior than any other experience. Rabbi Luzatto writes that this manifestation can only be found through Torah Study. That is another explanation of the famous words of the sages, ותלמוד תורה כנגד כולם or the Study of Torah is equivalent to them all. I found this interpretation mindblowing and refreshing at the same time. It provides an entirely new and refreshing perspective on the power of Torah study. The conventional understanding of the purpose of Torah Study is to accumulate knowledge. For example, for one to know how to put Tefilin on his arm, he must study and be knowledgeable in the laws of Tefilin. However, there is an entire another dimension that is entirely different and transcendent about Torah Study. It is the ability of a mortal being in this mundane world to have a connection with Godliness and holiness that will touch his soul to the core. For this reason, it is meaningful for our souls to study sections of the Torah that we have studied before, i.e., the weekly Parsha, or to explore areas of the Torah that may have little practical relevance. The truth is the connection to Godliness and holiness our souls connect with during this experience is so profound that it matters little what the topic is or how relevant the Talmudic discourse may be for the participants in the class. אשרינו מה טוב חלקינו Fortunate is our lot in life that we have the gift of Torah! As we celebrate the Yom Tov of Shavuos, let us reflect on this unparalleled opportunity of spiritual experiences that the Torah offers us in the jungle of this mundane world. Have a Peaceful Shabbos and Yom Tov, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

A Fast for the Ages

Taanis Esther or the Fast of Esther is the most unusual fast. We have had several fast days that are scheduled on the Jewish calendar for thousands of years. The fast days are essentially an opportunity to commemorate days of tragedy and despair that occurred to our people over the millennia. A primary example is Tisha B’av which we not only fast but also sit on the floor and mourn the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. The same applies to the 17th of Tammuz, 10th of Teves, and Fast of Gedalia. (A notable exception is Yom Kippur where the fasting is not practiced because we are mourning but rather we are working to reach a state of intense spiritual purity). The Fast of Esther seems like a bit of an anomaly. The Purim story is one where the Jewish People were victorious against the evil forces that conspired to unleash genocide against us. It was Mordechai who collaborated with Esther to convince Achashveirosh to reverse the decree and the pending doom was quickly transformed into a great celebration. Why in the world are we fasting before Purim? The Maimonides in the Laws of Megila provides the following insight. מתענין בי"ג באדר - כי בימי מרדכי ואסתר נקהלו ביום י"ג באדר להלחם ולעמוד על נפשם והיו צריכין לבקש רחמים ותחנונים שיעזרם ד' להנקם מאויביהם ומצינו כשהיו ביום מלחמה שהיו מתענין שכן אמרו רז"ל שמרע"ה ביום שנלחם עם עמלק היה מתענה וא"כ בודאי גם בימי מרדכי היו מתענים באותו יום ולכן נהגו כל ישראל להתענות בי"ג באדר ונקרא תענית אסתר כדי לזכור שהש"י רואה ושומע כל איש בעת צרתו כאשר יתענה וישוב אל ד' בכל לבבו כמו שעשה בימים ההם: Because in the days of Mordechai and Esther they gathered on the thirteenth of Adar to fight, stand up for their lives, and had to ask for mercy and supplications that God would help avenge their enemies and we find a precedent that fasting was conducted on the day of the war as the Rabbis taught that Moshe fasted on the day that he fought Amaleik. Surely in the days of Mordechai, the Jews fasted on those days. therefore all of Israel used to fast on the 13th of Adar and it was called Ta'anit Esther to remember God sees and hears every man in his time of trouble when he fasts and returns to God with all his heart as he did in those days. The Rambam is teaching us something nothing short of remarkable. The purpose of the Fast of Esther is to remind us that whenever we find ourselves in a time of distress we should turn our hearts in prayer while fasting to our Father in Heaven. As the world grows darker by the day, the future in almost every area seems more uncertain than ever. For a community of faith, one area that is tried and true is to tap into the advice of Esther and gather in fasting and prayer. I encourage and implore everyone in the community, including those who do not normally fast on the Fast of Esther to seriously consider fasting on this coming Fast of Esther. The fast is scheduled to begin in Jacksonville on Wednesday, March 16 at 6:24 am and concludes at 8:11 pm. It’s traditional to recite Ch. 22 of Tehilim/Psalms as the Talmud states that Esther prayed these passages as she went in to plead for her people. מי שענה למרדכי ואסתר בשושן הבירה הוא יעננו May the One who responded to Mordechai and Esther in Shushan, answer us as well! Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

New World Disorder

The world has entered a very dark era and no one knows how this will end. As Russia invaded Ukraine in an offensive and unprovoked attack, this marks the first major war on European soil since World War Two. Despite the worried anticipation leading up to the military attacks, now that the time of peril has arrived, people are in shock and disbelief. Tens of millions of Ukrainians including the thousands of Jews have their lives upended in too many ways to count. Beyond the staggering cost of the lost lives, the ramifications of this conflict are likely to trigger a financial and refugee crisis. There will be far-reaching economic consequences felt here in America. Some people have questioned how such a war in which we witness a return to an authoritarian conquest can occur in the year 2022. The uncomfortable question that we are confronted with is has the world has returned to its pre-World War II state in which the strong take advantage of the weak, and authoritarians are on the march? This disturbing development is just the latest in a string of smashed illusions of the Western world we thought was living in an era of a permanent state of peace and prosperity. On September 11, 2001, we woke to a shattered illusion of the immunity to mass terror and mayhem on American soil. As the years went on and the country tried to rehabilitate itself, it was hit with the financial crisis of 2008. The vaunted financial sector quickly unraveled and the effects were felt well beyond Wall Street. As the country recovered once again, people were feeling giddy about a rising stock market and newfound prosperity. The good times didn’t last for too long. In 2020, the world was hit with COVID, and this time the modern world including the United States realized the vulnerability of its public health infrastructure. A mere two years later the latest bubble has burst. This time with a nuclear power pummeling its way through a weaker neighbor and its menacing presence threatens not just Ukraine but the entire world. (Many have taken notice of the reluctance of Israel to condemn Russia. This is attributed to how beholden Israel is to Russia as it seeks to eliminate terror in Syria and Russia controls the airspace of Syria.) In 20 relatively short years, the great might of the American military, its vaunted economy, and public health infrastructure have sadly unraveled. As the Talmud teaches us, we are living in the days of each day the curse is greater than the previous day. The Talmud cites the verse from the Torah which states בַּבֹּקֶר תֹּאמַר מִי־יִתֵּן עֶרֶב וּבָעֶרֶב תֹּאמַר מִי־יִתֵּן בֹּקֶר. This translates as “in the morning one will say what will the evening bring and in the evening one will say what will the morning bring”. As the Talmud states in these uncertain times, it’s becoming more clear by the second that, we have no one but to rely on other than our Father in Heaven. Let us engage in serious reflection and prayer to the עושה שלום במרומיו or the One who makes peace above to usher in an era of permanent peace for the weary who are beleaguered with uncertainty. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

A Process with Dignity

Our shul achieved a significant milestone this week with the Town Hall Meeting on the Mechitza Initiative. I was so impressed with the tone and atmosphere during the forum. While there was not one point of view or opinion expressed, everyone was very respectful of each other. There were no personal attacks or criticisms directed to one another. Our shul was able to present a forum to the community that presented a smorgasbord of opinions that were not necessarily aligned in at atmosphere of Derech Eretz and respect. In an era of increased polarization and divisiveness in the Jewish world and in society at large, this is quite uncommon and a credit to our community. Our objective of the evening was to provide a forum for the membership to hear and be heard. I gained a lot of insight from many of the comments and questions that were communicated and will seriously reflect on everything spoken. I also thought it would be helpful to review for everyone to understand the two fundamental values that are guiding this process. The first value is to ensure that our Kehilla can provide a sacred space for Tefila. An important component in ensuring a sanctuary meets the level of sacredness is having a Mechitza that is halachically appropriate. As I mentioned in my remarks, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein the pre-eminent halachic authority from the 20th century writes the purpose of a Mechitza is to minimize frivolity between the genders during prayer. There are other areas of improvement in the realm of reducing frivolity that we must address. I would recommend this process for everyone to engage in soul searching as to what we all can do to reduce frivolity in the Sanctuary during Tefila. The other core value that is driving our process is our commitment to being a warm and inclusive shul. We are an Orthodox Synagogue AND open to all Jews. It is a badge of honor for us to boast a membership that represents the diversity of the Jewish People. It is vital for Etz Chaim to remain the community shul that is open to everyone. It is a false choice for us to be either a shul committed to Halachic observance or a shul that is open and inclusive. Our commitment to both values are guiding the Mechitza committee in all aspects of this process. While I anticipate that the ultimate conclusion of this process is not something that will make 100 percent of people happy, I do sincerely hope that no matter what a person's viewpoint on this complex issue, all will agree that this process was conducted with the utmost integrity. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Disagreeing with Respect

I have been very encouraged by the reaction of the shul membership since the Mechitza initiative was rolled out. I do not mean to suggest I am encouraged in the sense that everyone subscribes to the position that I have articulated on this issue. I recognize that there is a great diversity of viewpoints in the community and some people who I respect greatly have an opinion on this issue that is not necessarily aligned with my position. I am specifically referring to the tenor of the communal conversation on a potentially divisive issue. Just because something has an issue to become potentially divisive does not mean it has to be divisive. The ability of a community to have a level of mutual respect and tolerance towards others with different viewpoints is not always easy. It requires a great deal of listening and reflecting. This is not to suggest that one should seek to adopt the opposing view of someone else. It is essential for someone to accept the opposing viewpoint from a family, friend, or community member as their reality. The Gaon of Vilna writes that the highest form of listening is acceptance. The Gaon clarifies that acceptance does not mean agreement. If a family member or friend expresses a different point of view, it is so important to listen, reflect and accept that this is their position. If you ultimately conclude differently than your friend on an issue, that is fine. The barometer of a successful conversation is in what manner people will listen to each other with respect despite the opposing views of others. It is with this sentiment that I am excitedly anticipating the Town Hall meeting upcoming this week for our membership on the Mechitza initiative. I am not expecting everyone to have a monolithic position on a complex issue. I am also not assuming everyone will align with the position of the Rabbinic leadership of the shul. I am confident that no matter someone feels, the conversation will be conducted with tolerance, mutual respect, and Derech Eretz. In an era of increased polarization and division both in the Jewish world and in society at large, let us become role models in our ability to tackle complex issues with grace. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch

Start with the WHY

Start with WHY. It’s important to reflect and engage in soul searching as to why we attach importance to various pursuits in life. In our professional lives and workplace, we can fairly easily communicate what we are doing and (if competent) how to perform the tasks. A more complex question is the WHY of the job. Is it merely to get a paycheck or is there some more noble mission that you are pursuing? I think this challenge to find your WHY applies to the purpose of having a shul. Most can easily explain what a shul is or how to pray or learn. That is the easy part. The WHY a community or neighborhood needs a shul requires more reflection. Is it simply to have individuals gather for a minyan and daven together or is there a higher and more noble purpose? If individuals gather for a minyan in a home or elsewhere, does that serve the same purpose as having a communal Beit Haknesset? This week's Parsha of Teruma provides an insight into this conversation. G-d told Moshe to instruct the Jewish People. וְעָשׂוּ לִי מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם. This is translated as “You shall make for Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them”. The mandate to create a central house of worship with the Mishkan followed by the Beit Hamikdash is articulated clearly in the Parsha. In the simplest sense, it's for the Divine presence to manifest itself in this mundane world. Of course, G-d’s presence is everywhere, but one can connect to the Shechina in a place that was consecrated for worship and prayer. There is much distraction and noise and it is not easy to find that escape that provides a means for that connection. The Mishkan and later the Beit Hamikdash offered that opportunity for Man to connect with G-d in the most ideal manner. The Talmud teaches us that in the absence of a Beit Hamikdash, a Beit Haknesset or shul can fill that void. It is far more than a collection of individuals praying. It is a group of individuals transformed into a Kehilla that is seeking to connect with the Divine Presence in a space that has been consecrated to allow for the G-d’s presence to manifest with no parallel. A hallowed space such as a shul should be an area with the respect it deserves. Any sort of frivolity should be minimized or eliminated. It is a privilege for a community to gather in this sacred space to connect with the Almighty. In every consideration as to what direction our shul embraces for the future, it is not sufficient for one to communicate the WHAT and HOW. We must confront the WHY of our shul. Have a Peaceful Shabbos, Rabbi Yaakov Fisch