This Shabbos we discussed parsha Nitzavim, and the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah. We included in our discussion commentary by both Rav Yeager and Rav Malamed. David Schlesinger led discussion.
We discussed how in the parsha Moses reminds the Jewish people of our covenant with Hashem. We discussed secular law in which a contract with a minor is not valid. However, unlike secular law, our covenant with Hashem applies to all future generations. We discussed how some of our holiness comes from having holy people such as Abraham as ancestors, and some of our holiness comes from how we ourselves are holy by keeping our part of the covenant.
Dave W pointed out how unlike many people, the Jews were offered this covenant and accepted. We agreed to the covenant even before we were given all the details at Mt. Sinai. We discussed how there are actually 2 covenants, one with each of us as individuals, and the other with our nation as a whole.
Because of the covenant with us as a nation, it is important to look out for each other. None of us should think we are living in a vacuum. David told a story from his father, Rav George Schlesinger, about a person in a boat drilling a hole under his seat. Although the person had the seat reserved, his drilling obviously affects everyone. Likewise, what one of us does in our community affects everyone.
In the parsha, Moshe reminds the Jewish people that we have free will to choose between good and evil. Through out history, man has sometimes chosen good, and sometimes chosen evil. Those who choose evil are not necessarily punished immediately. If they were punished immediately, this would take away free will. Do we really have free will whether or not to touch a hot stove? Although rewards and punishments are not immediately, eventually there will be an accounting.
We discussed how free will is a prerequisite for Tikkun Olam (repairing of the world). What would be the purpose of repairing the world if we did not have free will? Hashem left us things to be repaired, because he wants us to repair them. And having robots repair things, is not what Hashem wants for his world.
We discussed how some people seem to be born into great wealth and privilege where others seem to be born into more challenging situations. Norm commented that the world is unfair, because that is how it was meant to be. We discussed how we each have a mission, and a purpose as to what we are suppose to do with our wealth, or talents or skills. Those who are wealthy, are expected to use their wealth for Tikkun Olam and to carry out their mission and purpose.
This Shabbos Brian was here, and offered up an interesting observation from the Torah. He talked about how the year 1948 corresponds to the year 5708. If we read section 5708, it is remarkable and amazing the correspondence between what is written in the Torah, and what actually happened in history thousands of years later in 1948.
This Shabbos we discussed some more of the evidence for Hashem’s existence. Norm pointed out that those who have faith are a lot happier. It would make sense that Hashem created us to be happier when we carry out his will, and that it would be Hashem’s will that we believe in him. David pointed out what his father would say that those who do not believe in Hashem have a lot more explaining to do, than those who do. Some of the questions that the non-believers would have to explain include the fine tuning of the universe in which everything is in a perfect state in order to support human life.
Those who have faith and believe are often asked to explain things such as why we can not call out for Hashem and he appears. Why can’t we jump off a cliff and in the middle of the fall ask Hashem to save us? Norm pointed out that there is order in the world for a reason. After all, if there were no order we would not know how to create and interact with things in an unpredictable world that does not follow rules.
We discussed the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This holiday has a tendency to be fearful, however many people also are able to celebrate and feel joy. Dave W pointed out that it is really both. We need to be serious about being judged, but being joyous and celebrating the creation of the world is part of the holiday.
We discussed how the judgements made by Hashem on Rosh Hashanah are not based on absolutes. For example, someone who has been born into a secular home who has been doing their best, would be judge by a different standard than someone who grew up in an observant household. David commented that we are all given our different set of obstacles that we need to overcome. One person may be at a higher level in absolute terms, but not judged as well as someone at a lower level.
We discussed the purpose of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The shofar was also sounded at Mt. Sinai, and by blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah we are reminded that we received the Torah as part of our covenant with Hashem. The shofar is an alarm and wake up call to us. We all need to wake up and become aware of where we are going, and whether or not it is where we should be going. If we are not on the right path in life, hopefully the blowing of the shofar will help wake us up to this.
We discussed how there is both a big horn and a small horn. The big horn represents the Jewish people as a whole. The short horn represents us as individuals. It is important that we focus on both. There are secular Zionist who are focused on our people, but not on themselves. On the other hand, there are very observant jews who are not concerned about their community. Ideally, we want to strive to be committed to both ourselves and our communities and nations.
We discussed some more this Shabbos how the best way to be judged favorably every year at Rosh Hashanah, is to spend the year focused on longer term goals. It can be very tempting to go for short term pleasure, but in the long run we will be happier and more content if we focus on the long term. David pointed out that this is particularly important within families. We discussed how the building block of a healthy society is healthy families.
Finally, we discussed how doing mitzvah outside of Israel, is analogous to the NFL preseason. Our country has been good to us, but it is our ultimate desire to be in Israel. And once we are there, the mitzvah we are doing is analogous to the regular season. Dave W commented on how much he misses Israel when he comes back to Memphis.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
We discussed how some people seem to be born into great wealth and privilege where others seem to be born into more challenging situations. Norm commented that the world is unfair, because that is how it was meant to be. We discussed how we each have a mission, and a purpose as to what we are suppose to do with our wealth, or talents or skills. Those who are wealthy, are expected to use their wealth for Tikkun Olam and to carry out their mission and purpose.
This Shabbos Brian was here, and offered up an interesting observation from the Torah. He talked about how the year 1948 corresponds to the year 5708. If we read section 5708, it is remarkable and amazing the correspondence between what is written in the Torah, and what actually happened in history thousands of years later in 1948.
This Shabbos we discussed some more of the evidence for Hashem’s existence. Norm pointed out that those who have faith are a lot happier. It would make sense that Hashem created us to be happier when we carry out his will, and that it would be Hashem’s will that we believe in him. David pointed out what his father would say that those who do not believe in Hashem have a lot more explaining to do, than those who do. Some of the questions that the non-believers would have to explain include the fine tuning of the universe in which everything is in a perfect state in order to support human life.
Those who have faith and believe are often asked to explain things such as why we can not call out for Hashem and he appears. Why can’t we jump off a cliff and in the middle of the fall ask Hashem to save us? Norm pointed out that there is order in the world for a reason. After all, if there were no order we would not know how to create and interact with things in an unpredictable world that does not follow rules.
We discussed the upcoming holiday of Rosh Hashanah. This holiday has a tendency to be fearful, however many people also are able to celebrate and feel joy. Dave W pointed out that it is really both. We need to be serious about being judged, but being joyous and celebrating the creation of the world is part of the holiday.
We discussed how the judgements made by Hashem on Rosh Hashanah are not based on absolutes. For example, someone who has been born into a secular home who has been doing their best, would be judge by a different standard than someone who grew up in an observant household. David commented that we are all given our different set of obstacles that we need to overcome. One person may be at a higher level in absolute terms, but not judged as well as someone at a lower level.
We discussed the purpose of blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah. The shofar was also sounded at Mt. Sinai, and by blowing the shofar on Rosh Hashanah we are reminded that we received the Torah as part of our covenant with Hashem. The shofar is an alarm and wake up call to us. We all need to wake up and become aware of where we are going, and whether or not it is where we should be going. If we are not on the right path in life, hopefully the blowing of the shofar will help wake us up to this.
We discussed how there is both a big horn and a small horn. The big horn represents the Jewish people as a whole. The short horn represents us as individuals. It is important that we focus on both. There are secular Zionist who are focused on our people, but not on themselves. On the other hand, there are very observant jews who are not concerned about their community. Ideally, we want to strive to be committed to both ourselves and our communities and nations.
We discussed some more this Shabbos how the best way to be judged favorably every year at Rosh Hashanah, is to spend the year focused on longer term goals. It can be very tempting to go for short term pleasure, but in the long run we will be happier and more content if we focus on the long term. David pointed out that this is particularly important within families. We discussed how the building block of a healthy society is healthy families.
Finally, we discussed how doing mitzvah outside of Israel, is analogous to the NFL preseason. Our country has been good to us, but it is our ultimate desire to be in Israel. And once we are there, the mitzvah we are doing is analogous to the regular season. Dave W commented on how much he misses Israel when he comes back to Memphis.
This is a summary of what we discussed. No Halachic rulings are intended or should be inferred.
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