Elevating the sparks of kidusha

Much of the Torah and a lot of our learning is related to the idea of "elevating the sparks of kiddusha". We have discussed the purpose in life of bring spirituality to the physical world. David sent me this link to a very interesting article on this topic. The search for spirituality article This Shabbos is the 5 year anniversary of the EM and kiddush. Please try to attend!

Recap for 1 Cheshvan 5775 (Parsha Noah)

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Noah and Rav Yeager’s commentary on the parsha. David led discussion.  Norm commented that Noah often gets a “bad rap”, when in fact he was the most righteous person of his era. We discussed how perhaps if we are going to Judge Noah, we should do it by comparing him to everyone else who was alive at the same time as him.

Nevertheless, we did discuss the comparison between Noah and Abraham.  David offered up what his father Dr. Rabbi George Schlesinger would say - that when it is very cold Noah would put on a coat, whereas Abraham would build a fire.  We discussed how Noah established a foundation, that are the basic requirements that even non-jews need to follow.

One of the interesting discussions we had this Shabbos, is why there are so many narratives in the Torah, and so much material, that does not seem to convey to us any mitzvah, commandments or halakuh at all. An example we discussed is Hashem’s creation of everything from last week's parsha. Why are the details of the first 6 days of creation provided to us at all?  We discussed how it is true that this explains our observance of Shabbos.  But we are later commanded to observe Shabbos anyhow.

We discussed that one of the purposes of the Torah is simply to let us know that our actions have consequences.  These consequences can be either positive or negative.  For example, Noah survived the flood, which was a positive consequences.  But many others perished, which was a negative consequence.  The Torah not only teaches us the commandments and guides us in how to use our free will, it contains a lot of narratives that drive home the point that there is judgement and justice.

We discussed specifically the consequences faced by Adam and Eve and how they were kicked out of the garden of Eden. We also discussed the consequences of those who inhabited Canaan, and how they were defeated.   And although Hashem allocated the land of Israel to us, we too can be expelled as a consequence of our actions (or lack of actions).

We then discussed why we often do not see immediate consequences. For example, if I do not follow certain commandments, it is unlikely that I am going to be immediately struck by lightening. David brought up the point that if consequences were immediate in the short run, this would take away free will. And David further commented that human beings who automatically make the right choices, is not a world that maximizes morality and the opportunity to grow spiritually and get close to Hashem. 

David commented on one of his father’s articles, “No peace for the wicked”, in which the wicked do not suffer immediate consequences, but in the long run they always suffer consequences. In this article, the evil dictator is unwilling to seek out medical help because of his lack of trust, and ends up suffering terrible consequences as a result. But this dictator did not suffer immediate consequences after each and every action he took during his life. But in the long run, the consequences of his choices ended up determining his faith.

Human beings seem to be the only animal that has the ability to focus on the long run.  Norm commented how when training dogs, the rewards and punishments need to be immediate.  David commented on one of his father's other articles, "The Child Prodigy", in which even a child is careful not to draw attention to his mother's mistakes.

Being morality means we make the right choices simply because they are the right thing to do. We realize spiritual benefit by making these right choices. And eventually in the long run, we will realize material and physical benefits as well. Ellie brought up the point that perhaps someone who is brought up in a broken home can not be expected to use his free will and discipline to the extent that someone brought up in a healthy environment is able to do. I then brought up the point that what we should do is simply the best we can, and it is true that the best that one person can do may not be as much as someone else.

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

Recap for Tishrei 24, 5775 (Parsha Bereishit)

This Shabbos David Schlesinger led discussion. We began by discussing how we can dwell on the sukkah on the Shabbos following Simchat Torah, without violating the prohibition against “adding" to the Torah.  Normally we would take the sukkah down on the 10th day, but this year Shabbos is the day after Simchat Torah.  We discussed how we have to alter the sukkah, in order to be there on Shabbos.  One example of what can be done, is bring in a garbage can.  Whatever we do, we have to alter the environment, but in a way that isn't work that violates Shabbos.

This Shabbos we discussed the situations that can come up when we are ordered to do something that seems to be against the Torah. There can be a special problem when a rabbi or the courts order us to do something that is wrong. Should we simply refuse to follow these orders?  As an example, what should we do if the religious court orders us to eat something non kosher?

We discussed how there are procedures we can follow for appealing decisions. It is very possible that judges/rabbis are very busy, and may overlook something, so it is ok to appeal decisions, but at some point we have to respect whatever the decisions are regardless of whether or not we agree with them.

David pointed out that it can really start to become a problem if rulings and orders start becoming optional because we feel it is up to us to interpret the laws for ourselves. On the other hand, we discussed the situation of the officials in Germany who performed executions, using the excuse that they were ordered to do so, so there are clearly certain orders that we are obligated not to follow.

We discussed how Judaism is a religion in which disagreement and argument is encouraged, and how we do not have a central authority today.  Our religion encourages that we express our opinions, but at some point we have to accept the interpretation of Torah that is common in our communities. We discussed how different communities, and even different synagogues, may have differing customs. Regardless of what these customs are it is important to follow the customs of our synagogues and communities. One of the examples we discussed if there is a synagogue with more than one minyan each of the minyan should be careful to follow the same customs.

This Shabbos we began the new year, by starting over with the Torah and discussing parsha Bereishit and Rav Yeager's commentary of the parsha.  We discussed how in the parsha it states Hashem “says let there be”. We discussed that the words “says let there be” means that Hashem willed into existence. We also discussed how in the parsha it states “saw that it was good”. We discussed how this means Hashem does not create things and then no longer plays a role. “Saw that it was good” means that Hashem continuously wills into existence. Everything around us exists because of Hashem’s constant will. Hashem did not create things and then leave everything on its own. Hashem plays an active and continuous role in our world and in our lives.

One of the discussions we had this Shabbos is why we study Torah that would seem to be of no practical use to us.  For example, it is unlikely anyone in our community needs to deal with the laws of slaughtering animals, but it is still considered a mitzvah to study this Torah. We discussed how the Torah is not only a “driver’s manual”, but also a way to learn the “why” of everything. The Torah helps us answer general questions such as what is our purpose. And we also need to have a large base of knowledge in order to derive new guidelines for things that may come up in the future.

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

Recap for 15-17 Tishrei, 5775 (First 2 days Sukkot and Shabbos Chol Hamoed)

This Sukkot, during the first 2 days, we discussed the meaning of the holiday. David Schlesinger led discussion. We disccused how Sukkot, coming after the spiritual cleansing of Yom Kippur, is the holiday with the most simchah. We discussed how it is that we be commanded to be in a good mood, and how can we find real happiness in general.

We discussed how material goods bring about a joy that is only temporary. The example of a brand new BMW was brought up and how that would make someone happy for just a limited time until they begin to desire something more, like maybe an even fancier model of car.  On the other hand, a BMW could be used to gives rides to those who can not afford a car, and to drive to Shul and Torah studies so it could be used for spiritual purposes as well.

We discussed that the way to achieve true joy and happiness is to cling to the essence of Hashem. We discussed a few things that we should strive to do to find real joy in our life.  These 3 things include striving for achievement, showing gratitude for hashem and what we do have, and giving to others. We discussed how if we are at point A in our life, the accomplishment of moving to point B can bring us a sustainable joy and feeling of well being.

We discussed how on festivals it should be our goal to spend one-half of the time engaged in Torah study, and the other half of our time engaged in the enjoyment of physical pleasures, such as eating and drinking. Given that the festivals are 25 hours (in Israel), allowing 7 hours for sleep leaves 18 hours, thus 9 would be allotted for physical pleasures, and 9 would be allotted for study of Torah (which includes davening).

David brought up the point that we could spend the day doing both. We can eat delicious food such as barbecue and cholent and drink and study the Torah at the same time. When we do this, we are using the physical in order to realize the spiritual as well. This is known as “evelvating the sparks of Kidusha” and is a central theme of the festivals and Judaism in general, and a glimpse into why Hashem created the physical world to begin with.

We discussed how on sukkot we want to wear our best cloths. We also discussed how it is allowed to use pre-existing flames to light things, but that smoking has come to be forbidden at all times due to the health dangers. We also discussed how sukkot marks the end of the year, with respect to the Torah readings. On the Shabbos of Chol Chomed there is a special Torah reading.

This Shabbos we discussed the Daf Yomi, and the section of the Gemara which deals with the obligation to marry one’s sister-in-law and have a child in your brother’s name, in the case that your brother has passed away. This halakuh is interesting in that it involves a positive mitzvah overriding a negative one. Normally, marrying your sister-in-law would be a negative commandment.

We had a discussion of the Daf Yomi which was about the cases in which a positive commandment would override a negative one. One example, is that of a Brit Milah. In general procedures like this would not be allowed on Shabbos, and certainly not on Yom Kippur, however Brit Milah goes forth on these days. The only stipulation being that the celebration that usually includes drinking, would be after sun down (the next day).

We discussed what we would do if our parent asked us to violate Shabbos. For example, what if our mother asked us to turn on a light. I brought up the point that we would actually be dishonoring our parent by following their request. There are also specific rules that forbid us from following our parents directive to break Shabbos, as Hashem’s commandments would super-cede those of our parents. But we should not feel bad for doing so, as the best way to honor our parents is to make them aware – nicely – when they do not seem to be conscious of an entire situation.

We had an interesting discussion of when we would observe Shabbos if we were on a space ship, or even on another planet. We were not really sure about this, but there are rules for those in a location such as in Alaska near the north pole. Although it may never get dark there are ways to follow the path of the sun as it gets close to, and far away from, the horizon. It may also be possible to follow the day and night schedule of the closest town or city where Shabbos is observed. A space ship may have to follow the day and night schedule of the earth location from which it departed.

We discussed some more how in Judaism it is not so much reaching certain goals, but moving in the direction of them. David talked some more about how his father would greatly value time, and how time is a resource that we can never get back. One minute of spiritual growth is worth more than one minute in the next world, because in this world we have our opportunity to grow and move in the direction of our goal to be ready for the next world.  We should not waste time that can be used for this and other purposes.

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