“RABBI’S
MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
MUSINGS (& AMUSINGS)”
Erev Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Noach
30 Tishrei 5775/October 24, 2014
1 Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan
Last week on Simchas
Torah I was asked to lain a few ‘rounds’ of Parshas V’zos Haberacha, to help
ensure that every man and boy received an aliyah to the Torah. I was still
laining when my bechor, Shalom, received his aliyah. After he masterfully said
the beracha I began laining the aliyah.
Torah I was asked to lain a few ‘rounds’ of Parshas V’zos Haberacha, to help
ensure that every man and boy received an aliyah to the Torah. I was still
laining when my bechor, Shalom, received his aliyah. After he masterfully said
the beracha I began laining the aliyah.
Being that our family
are Leviim, Shalom received the aliyah that begins with the words “Ul’Levi
Amar”. It contains the blessing Moshe Rabbeinu conveyed to his own tribe,
where he blessed the Levites with the priesthood of the nation. Moshe explained
that they were worthy of that blessing because when he rallied the nation to
avenge the honor of G-d after the sin of the golden calf it was his fellow
Levites who heeded his call. Moshe lauded the Levites for ignoring the fact
that they may have been obliged to strike at their own maternal grandfathers or
uncles who had been involved in the egregious sin. The fact that their love of
G-d superseded their natural love for their own flesh and blood made them
worthy of the loftiest responsibility of performing the holy Service in the
Mishkan.
are Leviim, Shalom received the aliyah that begins with the words “Ul’Levi
Amar”. It contains the blessing Moshe Rabbeinu conveyed to his own tribe,
where he blessed the Levites with the priesthood of the nation. Moshe explained
that they were worthy of that blessing because when he rallied the nation to
avenge the honor of G-d after the sin of the golden calf it was his fellow
Levites who heeded his call. Moshe lauded the Levites for ignoring the fact
that they may have been obliged to strike at their own maternal grandfathers or
uncles who had been involved in the egregious sin. The fact that their love of
G-d superseded their natural love for their own flesh and blood made them
worthy of the loftiest responsibility of performing the holy Service in the
Mishkan.
As I read those words
with my bechor standing next to me following along it struck me. I love my son
more than life itself and I hope he feels the same for me. But if I am worthy
to educate him properly, his love for me will not be above all else. His love
for Hashem will be even greater.
with my bechor standing next to me following along it struck me. I love my son
more than life itself and I hope he feels the same for me. But if I am worthy
to educate him properly, his love for me will not be above all else. His love
for Hashem will be even greater.
The first nationally distributed feature film that included dialogue sequences as
well as music and sound effects produced byHollywood
was ‘The Jazz Singer’, starring Al Jolson (1927).
The
protagonist of the movie is a Jewish cantor who falls for an Italian gentile
girl. At first he is banned from theTemple
But the story ends with the protagonist leading the Kol Nidrei services with
his mother and gentile wife looking on from the balcony approvingly.
well as music and sound effects produced by
was ‘The Jazz Singer’, starring Al Jolson (1927).
The
protagonist of the movie is a Jewish cantor who falls for an Italian gentile
girl. At first he is banned from the
But the story ends with the protagonist leading the Kol Nidrei services with
his mother and gentile wife looking on from the balcony approvingly.
That message of
Jewish-dominatedHollywood
has not changed in the decades since.Hollywood
espouses that ‘love’ must champion all else. The fact that they have replaced ‘love’
with fleeting romance and cheap uncommitted narcissistic relationships is
largely unrecognized by our society.
Jewish-dominated
has not changed in the decades since.
espouses that ‘love’ must champion all else. The fact that they have replaced ‘love’
with fleeting romance and cheap uncommitted narcissistic relationships is
largely unrecognized by our society.
The truth is that we agree
that love must champion all else – albeit the love for G-d and His Torah. There
is no greater value that we wish we can inculcate in our children. Life is the
most valuable commodity we have, and every moment of it is precious. But what
makes life valuable? Mesillas Yesharim explains that it is only through living
a proper life in this world that one can enter and merit the bliss of the next
world.
that love must champion all else – albeit the love for G-d and His Torah. There
is no greater value that we wish we can inculcate in our children. Life is the
most valuable commodity we have, and every moment of it is precious. But what
makes life valuable? Mesillas Yesharim explains that it is only through living
a proper life in this world that one can enter and merit the bliss of the next
world.
The greatness of life
is measured by how much value one infuses into his life and how one chooses to
utilize the great gift endowed to him. When one possesses love and appreciation
for Torah and its timeless values than his entire life has meaning.
is measured by how much value one infuses into his life and how one chooses to
utilize the great gift endowed to him. When one possesses love and appreciation
for Torah and its timeless values than his entire life has meaning.
Shabbat Shalom &
Good Shabbos,
Good Shabbos,
R’ Dani and Chani
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