Recap for 12 Sivan 5775 (Parsha Naso)

This Shabbos we discussed some central ideas of Judaism. We discussed the idea that there exists 2 worlds, the physical and the spiritual.  The physical world is composed of space and time and consists of all that we can sense.  For the most part it is pretty obvious we live in a physical world, but there is also a spiritual world.  Since this spiritual world is outside of time and space, we need to set up places and times in which we are in touch with this world.

We set up the day of Shabbos to be in touch with this world, and we also set up the location of the tabernacle, to be in touch with this world. Nowadays, the temple no longer stands, and we have shuls in which we daven and communicate with Hashem.  

It is very hard to understand the spiritual world in which something can come out of nothing, souls continue to live, and Hashem is ever present. We draw analogies between the spiritual and physical in order to describe things. When we speak of the “hand” of Hashem, or Hashem “spoke”, we of course do not mean to say that Hashem has a physical body, but we do the best we can to use words and concepts we can relate to - to describe what is going on.

One of the physical places in which we are particularly close to the spiritual is the land of Israel. Being in Israel is considered a big mitzvah, and living there an even bigger mitzvah. We discussed whether someone born in Israel, that made no effort to live there, would be doing as big a mitzvah, as someone who made Aliyah. David told a story from his father, Dr. George Schlesinger, in order to answer this question.  In the story someone lives in Denver and benefits from the clean air.  The same way someone living in Denver benefits from the clean air, whether they are from Denver or not, someone who lives in Israel receives the spiritual benefits of living there, whether they are from Israel or not.

We discussed a book this Shabbos, in which there is commentary that mitzvahs performed in Israel are worth a lot more than mitzvahs performed outside of Israel. We also discussed commentary that averas such as eating non-kosher food, are worse when committed in Israel than when committed outside of Israel. Finally, we discussed commentary that living in Israel was as great as all other mitzvahs combined. It is clear that those who both live in Israel and perform mitzvah, have the potential to reach a very high spiritual level that is not available to those who live outside this land.

One of the controversial ideas we discussed from this book, was the author’s commentary that the reason we do mitzvah outside of Israel, is so that we remember how to do it when we are in Israel. Although we may not agree with this author completely, it is clear that this is a very important reason. When I was in Israel I was glad I knew how to do many of the mitzvah, like observing Shabbos and eating kosher food!  It has made my visits a lot more meaningful.

We discussed some more the idea that Hashem created the most perfect world possible. We continued our discussion of the virtuous response to suffering. David’s father, Dr. George Schlesinger, has written a lot on this topic. We discussed how praying for someone who is not well is a virtuous response to suffering. If we are sick we should let others know so that they can visit us or at least call and/or bring us food. This allows them to have a virtuous response, which helps them to grow spiritually. We discussed how the virtuous response can go on for centuries and even millennium, for one single event such as a tsunami.

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

Recap for 8th Sivan 5775 (parsha Bamidbar)

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Bamidbar, and the holiday of Shavous which occurred this year the 2 days immediately following Shabbos.  We discussed how in the parsha a count was done, of all those men of draft age - 20 and up. We discussed how doing this count, symbolizes that each and every one of us is important, not only during the time of the parsha, but also today in each one of our communities around the world.

David spoke about Shavuos, and how this is the time in which there is a marriage between Hashem and the Jewish people. The same way that a bride and groom would have trouble sleeping before the big day, we stay up all night in anticipation.  It has become customary to spend the entire night studying to get ready to "receive the Torah".

We discussed again how Judaism is not a religion in which we abstain from physical pleasures, but a religion in which we bring spirituality to the physical world. We discussed how Shavuos is the one holiday in which we try to maximize this spiritual elevation of the simple pleasures around us. David spoke about how it is the custom to eat dairy, but that we can eat the dairy in addition to meat, in order to “elevate the sparks of kidusha” to the maximum amount possible.

We discussed again what a miracle it is, that we have survived for so long. We discussed the importance of the continuity of the Jewish people. There are certain procedures that we can carry out to come up with new laws, however, certain principles will always trump whatever we come up with. Our continuity is what is most important.

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

Recap for 27 Lyyar, 5775 (Parsha Behar)

This Shabbos, I want to thank Yaki for hosting the kiddush and learning which was great as always. David Schlesinger led discussion. We discussed how we were told in advance that we would be exiled but would later return.  This is definitely evidence of Hashem's existence.  Being exiled is a likely occurrence, but to later return to form a nation is miraculous - and we were told of this before it happened!  This is not like someone saying there will be rain followed by sunshine next week.  This was a bold prediction that came true.

We discussed how in the parsha, we are “brought back” to Mt. Sinai as part of a new covenant with Hashem. When we committed the sin of the Gold Calf, this cancelled our previous covenant. In our new covenant, Hashem includes remedies to be implemented in case we do not follow the terms of the agreement. These remedies include things such as being sent into exile, and being left to fend on our own.

We discussed how over time we do grow, both as a nation and as individuals, but in some ways we do not grow. For example, David told a story from his father about how composers create incredible music that can’t possibly get any better over time. However unlike composing music, we should all be on a path to keep progressing, as individuals, and as a nation to the point where we reach the messianic era.

In order to have this progression, it is important to have faith in Hashem. Yaki talked about how it is automatically built in that having faith in Hashem helps provide for our needs. It is only when we don’t have faith in Hashem, that Hashem has to command the land to provide food. Yaki spoke about how the mitzvah of the 7th year, and how having faith in Hashem will ensure we are taken care of.

Yaki spoke about how consequences are not reward and punishment but are automatically built in. For example, if we touch a hot stove and get burnt, it is not a punishment, it is just what happens. Likewise, if we believe in Hashem, and have a relationship with him, good things happen to us. These good things, like being provided for in the 7th year, are not rewards but just what happens.

David spoke about how these consequences are true but are a lot less obvious today. For example, in the past if we were to perform mitzvah, we would see an immediate positive consequence such as rain arriving to help nourish our crops. Today, the relationship between cause and effect is less obvious. David spoke about the reason for this, being that Hashem wants to remain hidden so that we use our free will. In the beginning, Hashem had to be quite obvious.  But now that we have his Torah and have seen his direct presence, it is no longer necessary.  We are intended to be human beings rather than robots forced to believe.

David brought up the topic again of the virtuous response to suffering. David’s father, Dr. George Schlesinger, has written a lot on this topic. David talked about how he is doing work for St. Jude’s research hospital here in Memphis, and how this organization and the people involved are a great illustration of the virtuous response to suffering. As Jews, Hashem has given us the mission of having a virtuous response to suffering that is going on in our world, and it is great to see David and others participating in helping this organization which helps alleviate the suffering of children and their families.

Finally, we talked about how parents seem to pay more attention to their children, than to their own parents. David said his father would say this comes from Adam, who did not have any parents.

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

Recap for 20 Lyyar, 5775 (Parsha Emor)

This Shabbos we discussed the different meanings of Shavuos.  David Schlesinger led discussion. After counting 49 days of the Omer we celebrate this holiday.  It is known as the time we received the Torah at Mt. Sinai.  It is also the time of the harvest, in which special sacrifices were made.

We discussed this Shabbos the importance of believing in Hashem, and only in Hashem.  We discussed how what we believe can influence us.  For example, if we believe good things are going to happen, we behave a certain way in which good things are more likely to happen.  If we believe in idols, we are much less likely to follow a Torah that has been given by Hashem.

We discussed this Shabbos how we were lost in the desert for a very long time. This brought up the interesting question of what  we would do if we lost track of days.  When would we observe Shabbos?   Brett offered up what we agree is the correct answer that we would pick a day to be Shabbos, and make sure we observed on this day from that point forward.

We discussed this Shabbos how some halakuh comes from the Rabbis, and not directly from Hashem, but Hashem accepts these laws as if they came from him.  David commented that in order for Hashem to “go along” with laws we come up with, the proper procedures need to be followed and there needs to be good intention.

Even if we come up with the wrong law, the fact there was good intention and proper procedures were followed, means we are not accountable.  For example, if we eat meat marked with a respected hectar such as OU and find out later the hectar was a mistake, we are not accountable.  In secular law this is known as “mistake of fact” and it applies in Jewish law as well.

We discussed again this Shabbos how Judaism is all about the “vector” of how we are progressing, rather than the absolute position we are in. This is true for us as individuals as well as a nation. Taking things one day at a time, making at least some progress every day, is important and how we should measure ourselves.

This Shabbos we had a very interesting discussion of what is known as the international dateline. When crossing over this line, we adjust our day of the week either forward or backwards. If we are travelling westward the day of the week will move forward. For example if it is Monday at 8 PM, it will become Tuesday, 8 PM as we cross. If we are travelling eastward the day of the week will move back. For example if it is Monday at 8 PM, it will become Sunday, 8 PM as we cross.

We discussed where this dateline should be placed for purposes of Jewish law. We agreed that it would be unacceptable to have it cross through a community, in which Shabbos would be observed on different days depending on what side of the street we are on. I

However, we did not resolve where exactly this dateline should be. There are 3 proposals, one of which is to consider Jerusalem the center of the world and have the dateline 180 degrees from this city. The other proposal is to put the dateline 90 degrees away from Jerusalem. The third proposal would be simply to leave the dateline where it is in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, in its current location which has been agreed to internationally.

Regardless of where we place the line, if there is disagreement on the day of the week we may have to observe a day such as Shabbos, on more than one day. We would go strict on one of the days and more lenient on the other.

If we are on a boat headed eastward, we may end up with 2 days of Shabbos, in which we must go strict on both days. And if we are on a boat headed westward we may end up missing all or most of Shabbos. We discussed that if we are counting the Omer we would count an extra day, without a blessing, when we cross the line – headed west.

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

Recap for 13 Lyyar 5775 (Parsha Kedoshim)

This Shabbos we continued our discussion of the period of time known as the Omer. David Schlesinger led discussion. We discussed how the Omer is a period of mourning. During this period, we should refrain from public expressions of joy, such as weddings and parties. We also refrain from getting haircuts. 

We discussed how it is during this period that 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva passed away.  These students did not respect each other which lead to their downfall.  Although so many students died, a few of them including Rabbi Yochai survived.

We discussed the upcoming holiday of Lag B Omer which is coming up this week. This is on the 33 day of the Omer. On this day, our mourning is suspended as we celebrate the anniversary of the death of Rabbi Yochai.  It would seem unusual to celebrate a yahrzeit, but Rabbi Yochai believed strongly and taught about the “world to come”, so we celebrate his journey into this new world on Lag B Omer.

This Shabbos we discussed parsha Kedoshim. We discussed the importance of rebuking others. There are 2 reasons for this importance. First of all, what one of us does (or does not do) affects all of us. David again told the story from his father Dr. George Schlesinger, about a man who thinks that drilling a hole in the bottom of a boat only affects himself. Secondly, we love and care about each other, and it is thus important to let others know that they can improve.   It is best and most effective to pull people aside and tell them very nicely.

This Shabbos, we discussed how being super intelligent is not enough, and how going around bragging about one’s intelligence can end up hurting ourselves. David told a story from his father, HaRav Natan Ben HaRav Shmuel (aka Dr. George N Schlesinger). In the story 2 men play a game of “chicken”, by driving towards each other trying to see who will pull away first. One of the men has super intelligence and can calculate to the nearest fraction of a second exactly when he will need to pull away to avoid a collision. However the other man with an average intelligence wins, because he knows that his opponent is super intelligent and will pull away at the last minute. The lesson of this story is to not let everyone know what you know. And in general, to realize that being smart may not be enough to be successful in life.

We discussed the upcoming holiday of Shavuous, and how the Torah may lose its intensity when passed down from generation to generation. David told a story from his dad about how Mozart and other composers composed beautiful music, but how this just comes about during one time period. The full intensity of the Torah was present at the time of Mt. Sinai, but does not have the same force as we receive it today.

This Shabbos we discussed how life is finite and how we do not want to miss opportunities. However, it is important not to dwell on this. We discussed how it is important to be reminded of negative consequences, however, we should grow to the point where focusing on positive rewards is our primary motivator. We compared negative consequences to mustard, and positive rewards to a hotdog. Very few of us would like eating just mustard by itself, but by combining a hotdog with mustard we get the best possible combination. We should spend most of our time focusing on our motivation to realize positive rewards, however it is important to be reminded occasionally that there can be negative consequences for our action (or lack of action).

Having said this, we discussed how we are not perfect and what we should be most interested in is the "vector" of how our lives are progressing.  If we do something "wrong", the question is are we moving in the right direction.  As an example, someone who has never been observant can not be expected to know and do everything on day one.  This person can say he had a good day even if he has only followed a few halachuh because he is moving in the right direction.

Finally, we wish Yoel Shaper, a regular reader of these summaries, and his family the best as they relocate from Memphis to New York.  I will always remember my philosophical discussions with Yoel and really appreciate his thoughts.  We wish Dave W a happy birthday coming up. And we welcome Michael Novich to our community and hope he can attend more kiddushes with us.

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