Recap for 6 Lyyar 5775 (Parsha Metzora)

This Shabbos, David Schlesinger led discussion. We started off by discussing the counting of the Omer. In the times of the Temple, we would give a sacrifice and then begin counting the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuos. We discussed how the Rabbis continued this practice even after the Temple was destroyed. Thus, some hold that today it is no longer a Torah level commandment to count the Omer. It does make a difference, because if we have any doubts concerning our fulfilling this commandment we go strict if it is Torah level, and lenient if it is Rabbinic level.

This Shabbos we discussed a central concept of Judaism, that we are all together as part of a group. What one of us does, affects the others. David told a story that his father, HaRav Natan Ben HaRav Shmuel (aka Dr. George N Schlesinger), use to tell. A group of men are on a boat. One of them starts drilling a hole in the bottom, but doesn’t think it should affect everyone else. Of course it affects everyone else if the boat sinks, and likewise it affects all of us - what we each do as individuals in our community. It is important to note that it works both ways. The same way we can “sink a boat” we can also each help lift up our entire community.

This Shabbos we also had a discussion about choosing to do the right thing, simply because it is the right thing, and not because we are going to get something in return. Judaism brought the idea of morality to the world, in which right and wrong determines our actions, rather than what we have the power to do. As we choose to do the right thing we grow spiritually.

We discussed another topic this Shabbos, which is how we can attract people – such as the secular - to our more observant way of life. We discussed that it is better to not present newcomers with a full dose of our experience. David commented that it should be our goal to change ourselves and others gradually. David talked about how in life the important thing to focus on is the direction in which we are moving, and where we are going, rather than where we are at. Norm has shared in the past about focusing on one day at a time, when making change, and David has suggested doing at least one thing a day – anything - to move forward with our lives. This is important for both our secular and religious life.

Rabbi Bayovitz was with us this Shabbos, and he commented on how the yetzer hara will tell us we do not have to focus on our spirituality. The yetzer hara will put up in front of us more important things that we have to do, and cause us to give lower priority to studying Torah and going to shul. As we discussed sometimes we need to choose the right thing to do, rather than what feels best at the moment.

Yaki spoke about an ethical dilemma that he had with his freezer malfunctioning and dealing with spoiled food. He spoke about having insurance with 2 separate companies. Is it ethical for him to get paid reimbursement for his damages twice? We concluded that sometimes this is the way things are done – for example with life insurance – and sometimes it is not – for example with car and health insurance. Since he paid into both policies, from a Jewish law perspective it would seem ok to collect from both companies.

This Shabbos we discussed some more about how Hashem remains hidden, and how it takes away from free will for reward and punishment to be direct and obvious. This brought up the topic of the world to come. Would we finally be rewarded and punished in the world to come? David talked about the world to come being an experience in which we are very close to Hashem, and those who are prepared being able to appreciate and participate, and those who are not prepared being left out and bored. David told a story from his father, Dr. Rav. George Schlesinger, comparing the world to come to going to an opera. It is possible to study music and be prepared to enjoy and appreciate an opera. Likewise, we can spend our life growing spiritually and enjoy and appreciate the world to come. On the other hand we can be bored at operas, and in the world to come as well.

Finally, Yaki talked about the sin of lashon hara. Even if we are telling the truth, speaking bad about others is against Jewish law. We need to be careful gossiping and talking about others.

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

Recap for 29 Nissan 5775 (parsha Shemini)

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Shemini. It was a special Shabbos for several reasons. We welcome David and Norm and their families back from Israel. The Parsha happens to be Ira’s bar mitzvah parsha. And we celebrate Manny’s birthday.

We discussed the idea of a Kiddush Hashem.  A Kiddush Hashem means bringing honor to his name. We bring this honor by following his Torah, and acting in an honorable way.  This honorable way represents Hashem positively here on earth. We discussed how we can also honor Hashem and have a Kiddush Hashem with death.  We do this by refusing to do three things, even if it means giving up our life.  These things include murdering someone else, having an affair with a married woman, and worshiping idols.

We discussed the idea of counting the Omer. We count the 49 days between Pesach and Shavuous. Brett pointed out that Shavuous is the only holiday that does not have a fixed date in the calendar. David talked about how back in the times of the Temple we would give a sacrifice, and following that we start counting the Omer. We discussed the purpose of giving sacrifices, which is to thank Hashem and seek forgiveness for our sins.  Today we no longer give sacrifices in the Temple, but we still count the Omer.  We discussed whether or not counting the Omer is a Torah commandment.  The Rabbis commanded that we continue doing this, even though the Temple no longer stands.

We discussed the idea that Hashem gives us reward and punishment, but in order to preserve free will it may not be that obvious.  David asked the question of how Hashem could design the world so that we have free will, but face the consequences of all our actions. One idea is that in the long run we will be rewarded and punished, but not in the short run. Those who carry out the will of Hashem live happier and more peaceful lives.  This idea is presented in an article written by David's father, Dr. George Schlesinger, entitled “No Peace for the Wicked”. It may seem like the wicked are not punished, but in the end they end up facing the consequences of their action.

I shared that sometimes reward and punishment does not come in the form of specific events that occur in our life, but in how the specific events affect us. Those who have been a Kiddush Hashem will have a relationship with Hashem in which they have more strength to deal with things.

Of course in the Parsha, Aron's sons faced immediate consequences.  They went off on their own to do sacrifices they were not commanded to do.  Those in leadership positions have an extra duty to bring honor to Hashem's name.  On the other hand, Aron gave up his personal desires to serve our nation and was rewarded for this.

This Shabbos we discussed some more how we have a mission as Jews to represent Hashem in our world.  It is hard for us to do this if we live in walled off communities by ourselves. It is good if we engage in the world and interact with others, including non-Jews, always making sure to be a Kiddush Hashem.  Judaism is about bringing spirituality to our world.  It is important that we do not isolate ourselves away from our world.

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