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 .
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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 |
Rabbi Avi StewartRav of the Westwood Kehilla. ArchivesCategories |