Recap for 25 Elul 5774 (Parsha Nitzavim and Vayelech)

This Shabbos, David Schlesinger led discussion. We discussed parshas Nitzavim and Vayelech, and Rav Yeager’s commentary on the parsha. We also discussed commentary by Rav Cook, and the upcoming Rosh Hashanah holiday.

From Rav Yeager, we discussed the commitment a man and woman must make to each other before each may realize rights and benefits from the relationship. There are two formal periods of time.  During the first period, the couple is committed to each other, however as of yet do not live together in marriage, and realize the benefits of marriage.  During the second period of time, the couple are married, live together, and realize the rights and benefits of marriage. We discussed how in the Torah, the relationship we had as a nation with Hashem, needed to follow the same pattern as the relationship between the man and wife who have committed to each other.

When we received the commandments for the first time at Mt. Sinai, we were not committed and did not have any “skin in the game”.  This contributed towards our committing the “sin of the Golden Calf”.  When we received the commandments for the second time around, Hashem made sure we had more “skin in the game”.   This second time around we took more ownership, and Moshe carved out the tablets himself.  Even so, it was not until 40 years later, in this week’s parsha and on the occasion of the 120th birthday of Moshe, that we were finally ready to receive the details and make a long lasting covenant and agreement with Hashem that we would do our part and Hashem would do his. This week’s parsha marked for us the beginning of a new “marriage” with hashem in which we will benefit but must do our part.

This Shabbos we studied from another book which included Rav Cook’s commentary, and commentary on Rav Cook’s commentary. We discussed how we must believe in ourselves as a first step prior to doing T’shuva, and making self-improvements. From this week’s parsha, we had to believe in ourselves before going across the Jordan river into the land of Israel. If we do not believe we will succeed, or believe that we do not deserve to succeed, whether as a nation going into Israel for the first time, or as individuals striving for self-improvement, we are licked from the start.

David talked about how it is important to have self-worth no matter what shortcomings we may have. We discussed how we have a pure soul that is basically good, but sometimes we need to do some maintenance. We discussed how this is similar to a car that has a good engine, but perhaps has a light bulb that is burned out, or needs new tires. If we believe the car is entirely worthless, we would have little motivation to fix any of it. By believing in this car, that it is basically fine and runs well, we start off with a positive foundation in our perception and thinking, that is most effective in bringing on change for the better.

Norm brought up the topic of 12 step self-improvement programs, how they relate to this, and I shared about my familiarity with these programs as well.  We must believe in ourselves, and that we have a disease and not a moral failing.  However, even if the disease is not our fault we have a responsibility to treat it, by working and living the 12 steps and taking measures to have a healthier life in all ways.  In the first step we admit our powerlessness, and how our life has become unmanageable. We had tried to stop, change and/or control a behavior on our own only to realize we were powerless to do so. In the 12 step program, we surrender and move on to the second step in which we begin to acquire hope that a power greater than ourselves, aka Hashem, can help us.   In the third step we make an agreement with Hashem that we will do our part and he will do his.  This is similiar to the covenant that we make with Hashem in this week's parsha.

This Shabbos, we discussed the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah, and how the right approach to take is the positive approach, rather than being fearful and dreading the holiday. Our goal is to do the best we can to move in the direction of having a closer relationship with Hashem by doing t’shuva. Norm pointed out how the long uninterrupted sound of the shofar, represents our moving in this right direction. This is a healthier approach, than having as our goal simply avoiding negatives. We discussed, how what is best is to identify negatives, but use them as opportunities to grow. During Rosh Hashanah we can identify these opportunities.  Identifying opportunities for growth is a large part of 12 step programs.

We continued our discussion of the second part of Rav Yeager commentary. We learned how we should replace fear by faith in Hashem. There is no guarantee that everything will turn out any certain way, but we can be sure it is all part of Hashem’s plan for us. This was particularly important for us in anticipation of upcoming battles that would be necessary to conquer the land of Israel. And we can apply this to our lives today, to not have fear and realize whatever happens is for the best even if it does not seem so good at the time it occurs.

We discussed how in the parsha Moses tells Joshua not to lead us into Israel, but to go with us. This indicates the importance in being humble, and realizing that our governance comes from Hashem and that even our leaders are simply servants. It is important for Joshua to realize that he will need to get guidance from the elders, and to remember who is really in charge.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.

Recap for 18th, Elul, 5774 (parsha Ki Tavo)

This Shabbos, David Schlesinger led discussion, as we discussed the week’s parsha Ki Tavo. Norm summarized this week’s parsha as being about crime and punishment. We discussed how this week’s parsha may give the impression that Judaism is all about laws and what is going to happen if we don’t obey them. We discussed to what extent Judaism should be a religion of fear, and to what extent the harshness of the week’s parsha applies to modern day life.  Dave W pointed out that although modern day life does not seem that bad, we have gone through periods of harshness such as the holocaust.

In modern day life, we do not stone those who stray from Judaism, and in fact usually welcome everyone without a lot of judgement.  Ariav brings up the point, that the parsha was written in a way that would have meaning at a specific period of time and under certain circumstances.  Ariav points out that in the historic past, we had a violent nature and were more likely to respond to harsh physical punishment, which is why the parsha is written as it is.  David talked about how the Torah has different layers, and that we must bring out and go with whatever layer applies for our current time period and circumstances.  However, Norm pointed out that there is a danger in allowing the Torah to be too dynamic, and that too much flexibility has led to the many different sects of Judaism that we find today.

David talked about how although the Torah is dynamic, the different layers are only determined by specific rules of interpretation.  David pointed out that we were given the Torah along with these specific rules that we must use to interpret the Torah.  The Torah can not be interpreted to mean anything we want, however there is enough flexibility that the Torah can be applied to different periods of time.  Today, we do not have to implement punishments such as stoning.

Ariav points out that it is a very unhealthy way to live to feel as though one is constantly being observed and punishment is about to be lashed out at the slightest mistake. Ariav further points out that the purpose of the Torah and this week's parsha, is so that we can live a better life today, without being concerned about the afterlife.  By living life in a way that carries out Hashem’s will for us, we have a more rewarding and happier life right here, right now. David talked about how his father would say North Carolina is a southern piece of heaven.  Heaven is right here for us, right now, if we following the Torah and this week's parsha.

David talked about how it is important to work toward long term goals and resist the temptation to “live in the moment”.  Norm commented how there is a lot of “living in the moment”, and how it is not so easy for people, communities, and nations to focus on long term goals.  Norm illustrated his point by saying how to some it is “all about rock and roll”.  Spending time listening to rock and roll does seem to be about right here right now, and most of the lyrics do not seem to be about long term goals.  But there are ways to "elevate the sparks of kidusha", perhaps by creating music with lyrics that help communicate the Torah.

This Shabbos we had a discussion of the structure of davening. We have set prayers that we say as a community, while being able to add our own individual prayers.  Jeff, compared this to giving a message to someone on a birthday or anniversary.  The best way to give this message would be with a card along with some individually picked out words.  This is better than giving a card with no message, or giving a happy birthday or anniversary message written on a regular piece of notebook paper.  Likewise, it is important that our davening include a set of prayers that we say as a community, but it is also important that we include some individual words of prayer.

This Shabbos we continued our discussion of Rav Yeager’s commentary. We discussed how the first parsha communicates to us the importance of doing mitzvah. The next few parshas communicate the specific mitzvah. And how the last parsha communicates to us again the importance of doing mitzvah.

We discussed how after we have done mitzvah, we repeat that we have done all the mitzvah. The reason for this repetition is to illustrate that we should do mitzvah with simchah. David pointed out how doing mitzvah with simchah is analogous to giving the birthday or anniversary card to one’s spouse in a way that shows you really feel like doing it.

We discussed the meaning of the different holidays. Pesach corresponds to the lowest level of physical needs, within Meow’s hierarchy of needs. Shavuous corresponds to an intermediate level. And finally, sukkot, is when we are at the highest level spiritually.  We discussed Rosh Hashanah, and how the shofer reminds us to strive for the messianic error in which Satan no longer has an opening in our mind.  From our previous discussion, Satan represents doing things in the moment, vs. doing things in order to follow the Torah and achieve longer term goals and rewards.

We discussed how certain mitzvah represent “capstone” mitzvah. David commented how there is a capstone as part of the MBA program. Likewise, the mitzvah to give fruit and tithing to the Kohen is a capstone mitzvah. We discussed how with this capstone mitzvah in particular, it is very important to do it with simchah.  We need to come across as more than happy to give to the Kohen.  In modern day, it is important to do mitzvah such as tzedakuh with simchah.   

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.

Recap for 11 Elul, 5774 (Parsha Ki Teitzei)

David Schlesinger led discussion of this week’s parsha and Rav Yeager’s commentary on the parsha. We also discussed the current month of Elul, and how we are getting ready for the high holidays that are coming soon.  With many of us, there is a feeling of fear during this time of year.  There is this fear that we are going to be judged harshly over the high holidays, and that somehow the purpose of these holidays is to avoid a negative.  But instead of fear, we discussed how we should have confidence, and strive to have a great positive experience.  

We discussed how T’shuva includes putting ourselves in the same situation as before, however this time around there are safeguards built in and we do the right thing.  We should look forward to t’shuva as an opportunity to turn negatives into positives and reach new heights with our spiritual growth and relationship with Hashem.

We discussed how this month of Elul corresponds to a time when Moshe had ascended Mt. Sinai and we awaited once again to receive the commandments. This is a month following the sin of the Golden Calf and now during Elul Hashem shows us a great deal of mercy.  Elul is known as the month of repentance when we should be asking for forgiveness and making a major effort at self-improvement, as we did as a nation at Mt. Sinai. We discussed how the months in the calendar such as Nissan and Elul have characteristics built in.  Nissan is a month of redemption, and Elul is a month of repentance.  Sometimes these characteristics get triggered, and this is when events occur.  These events include our being able to leave Egypt, and our being able to get another chance at receiving the commandments.

We discussed how none of us are perfect.  We also discussed how we should be satisfied to be   moving in the direction of our goals, rather than dissatisfied to have not yet achieved our goals.  David made the point that we should focus on the vector or the direction in which we are headed, and be satisfied if we are moving in the right direction, rather than dissatisfied that we are not yet there. This applies to us in our personal life, as well as our communities and our nation as a whole.

There are 74 mitzvah in this week’s parsha. We did not discuss all of them, but did touch on a few. We discussed the laws of kindness towards animals, and having to send a mother bird away before taking her young. We discussed certain prohibited marriages, such as those between a Kohen and a divorcee. The reason for this one is because it is the job of Kohen’s to keep marriages together. We discussed that it is not allowed to remarry someone who has been married to someone else since a divorce. We discussed some of the laws in which offenders can be sentenced to capital punishment. We discussed how although capital punishment is allowed in Judaism, we make it very hard to actually have this imposed.

We had an interesting discussion about reward and punishment. When we are children we are motivated by external rewards and punishments.  David told us how his father, Dr. George N Schlesinger, would say that the most effective way to motivate children is to make sure reward and punishment is certain. This is even more important than the size of the reward or punishment.   

As we mature, we become motivated by internal rewards. The same is true for us as a nation. We should no longer need rewards and punishments for doing mitzvah. We should be doing them based on a mature internal motivation.  As our motivation moves from external to internal, our focus moves from the short to the long term.

We discussed how the Torah and all the mitzvahs are for us, and not for Hashem. Hashem does not need us to do mitzvah. We discussed how we are all created in Hashem’s image, and thus created to do good, however we have a "layer of desire" to go after short term pleasures rather than focusing on our long term spiritual goals. The purpose of the mitzvah in the Torah, is to help us “break through” this layer and be who we were meant to be by our creator.  David talked about how we are born with the potential to do mitzvah and do good, which is analogous to potential energy.   But in order to actually do the mitzvah, analogous to kinetic energy, do good, and carry out our mission, we need to overcome obstacles, and it is the purpose of the Torah to provide us specifics that can help us accomplish this and get through this "layer of desire".

Yaki talked some more this Shabbos about how everything comes from Hashem. Yaki discussed how even our income comes from Hashem, and that an important purpose of income is to do mitzvah and give tzedukuh. Yaki discussed how when we realize everything comes from Hashem, it is a lot easier to forego work on Shabbos. In the short run it may seem we are losing out by not working, but in the long run Hashem will take care of us.

This is a summary of what we discussed.  No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.