Well, here we are, it is almost one week in, and as we suspected changes are still happening. “The situation is fluid.” I don’t think I ever heard this sort of terminology before last week. Following the news and checking our phones like addicts who can’t wait for their next fix, only to be stormed with more and more doomsday predictions and apocalyptical prophecies. When are we going to get a break from it all? As I write these words, news has come out, that the State and County have more or less shut down life as we know it and we are instructed to “Stay at Home.” Earlier this week, my brother in law reached out to me and asked me to start an initiative. He said, “Listen, we are home for Shabbos anyways. The pubs, theaters, and malls are closed. The parks and nature reserves are off-limits. The world is more or less already keeping Shabbos, let’s be proactive about it and encourage the world to keep Shabbos.” Rabbi Yonason Schippel, our dear friend and son of our beloved member Norma Schippel, must have read my mind and actually released a video to the same effect. This thought was likely inspired by the fact that most of the laws of Shabbat are learned from this week’s Parsha. Additionally, this past week, the Daf Yomi studied the Talmudic teaching [Shabbat 10b] concerning G-d’s greatest gift to the Jewish people, the Shabbat. Rav said: One who gives a gift to another must inform him that he is giving it to him. As it is stated: “Only keep My Shabbatot for it is a sign between Me and you for your generations to know that I am God Who sanctifies you” (Exodus 31:13). When the Holy One, Blessed be He, gave Shabbat to Israel, He told Moshe to inform them about it. That was also taught in a Baraita: The verse states: “For I am God Who sanctifies you,” meaning that the Holy One, Blessed be He, said to Moses: I have a good gift in My treasure house and Shabbat is its name, and I seek to give it to Israel. Go inform them about it. From here Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel said: One who gives a gift of bread to a child needs to inform his mother that he gave it to him. The Gemara asks: What does he do to the child so that his mother will know that he gave him a gift? Abaye said: He should smear him with oil or place blue shadow around his eye in an obvious manner. When the mother of the child notices and asks him about it, he will tell her that so-and-so gave him a piece of bread. A very similar passage in Talmud Beitzah [16a] is explained by Rashi: צריך להודיע את אמו - לעשות לו אות וסימן שאם יאכלנו קודם שיבא לאמו תראה את האות ותשאלנו מי עשה לך כך והוא יאמר פלוני וגם נתן לי פת ומתוך כך ידעו אביו ואמו שהוא אוהבם ותרבה אהבה ורעות בישראל Why must you make sure to leave a sign indicating the child received a gift? So that his father and mother will know that you care for them. This will increase the love and friendship amongst the Jewish people. I was thinking that perhaps the reason why G-d says, “I have a good gift in My treasure house and Shabbat is its name, and I seek to give it to Israel. Go inform them about it,” is the same principle. G-d wants us to know how much He loves us and cares for us. He gave us a great gift, and He wants us to know that he did so. Shabbat this week is a different kind of Shabbat. It is not what we are used to. It may not be the usual gift, but it is still a magnificent gift nonetheless. This Friday night and Shabbat day, is going to be 25 hours that will indeed be fluid. Our family will go with the flow. Davening, meals, walks, spending time together, singing, dancing, learning, joking and laughter, will flood our home. True, we won’t have our usual Shabbat structure, but we will have Shabbat. And we will celebrate this wonderful gift G-d gave us.
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March 19, 2020
Good Morning, Westwood Kehilla Family, I hope you are managing well. Many of us are isolated. Perhaps we are bored. The things we are used to doing have been taken from us. We can no longer do them. We have been told to stay home as much as possible. Some of us have even been told that others should do our shopping for us. This is not easy. My mother in law called today and told me that she came up with a new way to connect to her grandchildren. She is reading them books via FaceTime and she has a schedule of when each family is called. I think it is brilliant! I think she has identified a challenge and come up with a solution. The challenge is this: G-d has given me more time than I know what do with. How should I use my time well? What are some creative things I can do so that: a] I use my time well [avoid boredom]; and b] I connect with other people [so that I do not feel too isolated]? Let's utilize both Torah and Chesed: Torah: There is a so much to learn. Most people have a hard time finding the time to learn. All of a sudden, we have that time. But learning on your own can be boring. So learn with your spouse. Learn with a friend. Find a "Partners in Torah." Utilize technology [the telephone :)] or Skype to connect to someone you've always wanted to [re]connect with. Chesed: At least five people in your inner and outer circle can use a call, a text, or an email. You've got the time. Find the courage :) Family: We cannot connect to family in the usual way. Perhaps we won't be spending Pesach together. Focus on what you can do. Connect now, help your your children by connecting with your grandchildren. Read to your grandchildren, tell them stories or otherwise just check in with them. Call your siblings. Essentially, my suggestion is this: Let's make sure that we are in essence telling Hashem: "G-d, you have given me so much time. I am going to use it to serve You. I am going to make the most of it!" Rabbi Avi Stewart March 18, 2020 Good Morning, Westwood Kehilla Family, I hope you and your family are managing well. Every day is a new day and we are all looking for inspiration. Music is a very powerful force. During the coming days, in addition to some of my thoughts and messages, I thought I would share some music that I find powerful, impactful and inspiring. Here is the first sample. The singer is Avraham Fried. Loosely translated the words are: Master of the world I know, I am in Your hands, like clay in the hands of of a potter, and as much as I may use strategies and advice to gain strength, and even if all of humanity were there to assist me, to save me and support me, without Your strength and Your help, there is no help, nor salvation. Rabbi Avi Stewart P.S. Today's Davening is a regular davening [Include tachanun , skip the 13 Traits of Mercy as they are not recited without a minyan] P.P.S. Please daven for Sion ben Flora . March 17, 2020
Good Morning, Westwood Kehilla Family, I hope you had a pleasant day yesterday. After davening Shacharis yesterday morning, Shaindy and I talked about what we need for the family and the home. As you know, the news reports tell us that there is no shortage of food and goods. Unfortunately, people are panic buying and the shelves at the stores are almost bare. We needed to go to Target for a grocery and supply shopping. But I was nervous about going. I envisioned long lines waiting to get into the parking lot, and I dreaded waiting in line at the cashier. And so, I went at 8:30am, trying to beat the rush. It was not nearly as bad as I feared. Although there was not much on the shelves; more or less, I managed to get what we needed. At the checkout counter, I waited on line for about 15 minutes. It wasn’t an apocalyptical moment. I drove home without incident, in fact, much less traffic than usual. Perhaps this is a metaphor for what is happening. Anxiety blows things out of proportion. I do not mean to minimize the hardships which we may, G-d forbid experience. But let’s transcend our inclination. Live one moment at a time. The way we think about the parts of our life will determine the way we feel about those very same aspects. The verse [Psalms 55:23] tells us “Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will bear you.” The verse is telling us to “Send today’s burden, and he will carry you.” Rabbi Avi Stewart March 16, 2020
Dear Westwood Kehilla Family, Good Morning! This morning greets us with more changes in the world and more questions. Bars, restaurants, and eateries are only open for takeout. The municipal government is making its efforts to legislate social distancing. Some of our members have been asked to work from home. When I woke up this morning, I was notified that someone who prayed with us on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur is in the ICU because of the Corona Virus. Although, he was initially diagnosed with pneumonia, they have confirmed that he did test positive for the virus. Please daven for Sion ben Flora . This is the first of my Daily Refreshing Messages . I offer some hope from King David. In this morning’s services we recited a verse that we recite every day. Today it has more meaning and offers more hope than ever: Psalms 146: 5 אַשְׁרֵ֗י שֶׁ֚קל יַֽעֲקֹ֣ב בְּעֶזְר֑וֹ שִׂבְר֖וֹ עַל־ה׳ אֱלֹקיו Praiseworthy is he in whose help is the God of Jacob; his hope is in the Lord his God. Rashi comments: Praiseworthy is he in whose help is the God of Jacob, for the Holy One, blessed be He, promised him (Gen. 28: 15): “Behold I am with you, and I shall guard You, etc., and I shall return you.” Now why is He praiseworthy? Because He made heaven and earth and the sea, and since all is His, He has the power to guard him on the sea and on dry land; but a mortal king, although he watches him on dry land, cannot watch him on the sea. Rashi’s comment speaks to our reality. A pandemic does not differentiate between rich and poor, government official or simple subject. People all over the world are dealing with a new reality. To where do we turn for answers? No physician, no “mortal king,” no specific person can really help us out here. The CDC has already changed their guidelines multiple times. The experts have offered different solutions during the past few weeks. Our hishtadlut [effort] is limited to washing our hands and social distancing. We pray that that be enough. It is critical that we employ the spiritual side of the equation as well. If our mindset is one in which we are turning to Hashem as our “Hope;” then we will be calmer, and we will deal with our daily challenges with equanimity. I close with a blessing for everyone to indeed be Hopeful and Praiseworthy! Rabbi Avi Stewart |
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