Dear Friends,

This week’s Torah portion, Vayishlah, describes Jacob’s return to the Land of Canaan after his twenty year absence.   You may recall that he fled his homeland after stealing his father Isaac’s blessing for his brother Esau at his mother Rebecca’s urging. 

He was understandably nervous about a reunion with his brother, who he thought might want to kill him, so he separated his camp into two.  He figured that if Esau destroyed half of his family and belongings that the other half could escape and survive.

There is a fascinating passage in the Torah that describes how Jacob brought his family and possessions across a stream.  Later, he returns to the other side of the stream and “Jacob remains alone.”  The word for “alone” in Hebrew is levado, and since the rabbis understand this to be superfluous, they make a play on words with another Hebrew word which looks very much like it, lecado, which means “for his vessel” (or pot). 

I chanced across a wonderful commentary by a rabbinical student in Israel named Jonathan Neril who explains this beautifully.  This pun is intended to point out that Jacob crossed the river to retrieve a few vessels that he had left on the other side of the stream.  And why would someone fearing for his life be worried about a few measly clay vessels?

Neril writes:  The seeming absurdity of Jacob’s action becomes understandable when one examines his worldview: he believes that everything in his possession comes from God, has a specific purpose, and must be used to its full potential. As one rabbinic commentary explains, each material item that a righteous person uses is a means toward spiritual repair in the world. Jacob went back for the vessels to ensure they were used in the optimal way. Had he not, their full potential would not have been realized.

This is truly a wonderful lesson because it teaches us that everything in our possession should be seen as a gift from God.  It’s what we do with what we own that defines who we are.  It reminds us that we should not be wasteful and that every material possession that we have, large or small, expensive or seemingly insignificant, should be utilized to its fullest potential. 

 We live in a consumer oriented society.  Many people amass all of the possessions that they can.  Look in your closets, your garages, or your storage places.  How many things do you possess that you have forgotten about?  You may have purchased them on a lark, or thought that “for the price” it might be worthwhile to have.  Perhaps it’s time to go through your possessions, see what you still really need (and use it), or shed yourself of those things that may be better used by someone else.  During difficult economic times, there are others who may be able to utilize the things that are superfluous to you.   Like father Jacob, consider all the vessels in your life and put them to good use!

 Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Dear Friends,

 In the wake of the Mumbai massacres, where over 100 people were murdered and hundreds more severely injured, many of us are perplexed and pained by the senseless loss of life and troubled by the possibility of war between India and Pakistan, both nuclear powers.  This was an evil attack by vicious Islamo-Fascists whose goal was to kill Westerners, especially Americans, British citizens, and Jews and to foment regional war.  As civilized people, we decry this horrific operation, and mourn the life of every innocent victim regardless of their faith or nationality.

 There was one Jewish target in particular that has caught the attention of the world.  A small synagogue in Mumbai was attacked, its rabbi and rebbetzin were killed (but not, apparently, before being tortured), and the only survivors were an Indian woman and the baby of the rabbinic couple that she managed to smuggle out of the building.  You probably know that the synagogue was a Chabad (Lubavitcher) institution, but the fact is that this was not simply an attack against a single Orthodox sect.  It was, rather, an attack against every Jew.  This time, it was a Chabad center.  In Rome it was the Great Synagogue (1980), in Munich it was the Olympic Village (1972), in Buenos Aires it was at the Jewish Community Center (1994).  The Radical Muslim war against Jews knows no borders and couldn’t care less about our theology.

 Quite coincidentally, when I returned home late last night from teaching my Introduction to Judaism class, my wife Debbi happened to be watching a movie that we had both seen before, the Academy Award winning “Driving Miss Daisy.” There was one particularly memorable scene in which Miss Daisy was being driven to Temple, and they were turned back by the police who informed her driver that the Temple had been fire-bombed.  In disbelief, Miss Daisy exclaimed, “Well, it’s a mistake. I’m sure they meant to bomb one of the Conservative synagogues or the Orthodox one. The Temple is Reform. Everybody knows that!”   Of course, Miss Daisy was mistaken.  Those who wish to hurt or kill Jews care little about our denominational affiliation.  To them we are all targets.  Similarly, while this time it was a Chabad center in Mumbai that was attacked; we Jews are all the targets of Islamo-Fascism.

 Our Torah reading, Vayetze, teaches us how father Jacob fled from home, fearful that his brother Esau would kill him.  In retrospect, he was probably wise to do so.  Many years passed before they would meet again.  And when they did, it appears that Esau forgave Jacob for any perceived wrongdoing.  Today, however, flight is not an option. It is clear that the enemies of the United States, Great Britain, India (Hindus) Israel (and all Jews) – indeed the entire Western World - are the targets of radical Muslims (who unfortunately comprise a large percentage of the world’s Muslim population).  It makes no difference how far removed so called “infidels” (non-Muslims) are from Mecca, Teheran, or the Gaza Strip.  We are all the objects of their hatred and in the crosshairs of their diabolical schemes.

 Therefore, I trust that as a new presidential administration soon takes over, as well as a new congress, that we as Jews and Americans will encourage all of our elected officials to be vigilant against the scourge of Islamic extremism.  In ancient times Jacob fled from his brother Esau.  But later in life, Jacob transformed into Israel (because he struggled with the angel), and we, the Children of Israel, must be part of a struggle against people who would torture and kill us, if only they had the opportunity.

 We conclude every recitation of Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals) with the verse “May the Lord give strength unto His People – May the Lord bless His People with peace.”   Every time I intone these words, I am reminded that only through strength is peace possible. 

 Shabbat Shalom,

 Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Dear Friends,

First, let me wish everyone in the Beth El family a happy and delicious Thanksgiving.  Expressing thanks to God is an exercise with which we Jews are all familiar. During most Jewish Holidays, including the three Pilgrimage Festivals (Passover, Shavuot and Sukkot), as well as Rosh Hodesh (the new Jewish month), we recite a series of Psalms called “Hallel” – meaning “Praise.” We thank and praise God Almighty for the many bounties in our life. 

Over the years I have learned that the greatest blessing that one can have is life.  And life can best be enjoyed in good health.  You can be the richest, most beautiful person in the world; you can drive the fanciest cars and socialize with the elite – but if you’re in constant discomfort, everything can be a challenge.

As we celebrate our many blessings on Thanksgiving weekend, I also ask everyone to think about and act on behalf of those who are less fortunate than themselves.  I don’t need to tell you that we are experiencing challenging economic times.  Of late, more people than usual have been approaching me for financial assistance.  I have been utilizing my Discretionary Fund to help some people as best I can, but I can always use some financial replenishment if you are able to help.

Furthermore, this Monday evening, beginning at 7 p.m., I will be representing the Jewish community in an interfaith service for World AIDS DAY at the Church of the Beatitudes (on the southeast corner of 7th Ave. and W. Glendale Ave).  While there are major theological differences between Jews, Christians and adherents of other faiths, I believe that it’s fair to say that all good people of faith care a great deal about those who are the least fortunate among us.  Those who have been infected with the HIV virus or suffer from AIDS certainly fall into that category.  This service shows our solidarity with those who are afflicted with this illness as well as those who care for them and tend to their physical and spiritual needs.   While treatment of HIV/AIDS has improved over the years, we are still a long way from a cure, and those who work within this field of caring are deserving of our encouragement, our presence, and our prayers.  I truly hope that many of you from Beth El will join me this Monday night as we express our solidarity with members of the clergy and lay men and women from other faith groups. Let us join hands in hope and prayer as we all battle a deadly illness and support those whose lives are challenged by it. 

Again, I wish everyone a Happy Thanksgiving!  In addition to the traditional over-eating among family and friends, beginning Friday, Debbi and I plan to escape for a few days of golf and relaxation among the Red Rocks of Sedona.  We’ve already gotten the turkey, but we’re hoping to enjoy a few “birdies” as well!   I know that the congregation will be in good hands over Shabbat with Cantor Goldman at the Kabbalat Shabbat service on Friday night and Joan Sitver delivering the Dvar Torah on Shabbat morning.

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Dear Friends,

This Shabbat we read from Parashat Haye Sarah, which relates the story of Mother Sarah’s death and Abraham’s purchase of the Cave of Machpelah, which was to become the burial ground for all of our patriarchs and matriarchs (with the exception of Rachel, Jacob’s wife).

Upon her passing, the Torah states that the span of Sarah’s life came to one hundred and twenty and seven years.  Of course, the Torah could have been more economical in its language by stating simply that she died at the age of one hundred and twenty seven.  Why break down the years in such a belabored fashion?

One explanation from the New JPS Torah Commentary states “The repetition underscores this unique biblical specification of a woman’s age at death and testifies to Sarah’s great importance as the first matriarch.”

There is a famous commentary by the greatest of all biblical scholars, Rashi, who posits that the years of her life were enumerated in this way “in order to teach us that at the age of one hundred Sarah was as beautiful as she was at age twenty, and at the age of twenty she was as sinless as she was at seven.” So Sarah was sinless and beautiful all her life.

I would like to suggest one more possibility.  You will note that three separate numbers were used to describe her age at the time of her passing. One came from the “hundreds” column (1), one from the “tens” column (2) and one from the “singles” column (7).  I believe that such a construct teaches us that no matter where we are in life, that each year – indeed each day – makes a difference!

Our personalities form during our early childhood.  It is said that to a great extent, the kind of person that we become is largely determined by the time we have reached the age of two or three.  Throughout our teens and early adulthood we set a pattern for what we will do for the rest of our lives.  Then, many of us strike roots, start families of our own and try to instill in our children the values which we hold dear.  If we are fortunate to live a full and long life, we can then share our years of experience and insights with those who will follow our footsteps.  Every phase of our life is invaluable, and we ought never squander the time that we are privileged to have.

I think that the Psalmist had it right when he penned the following words:

“Teach us to number our days so that we may attain a heart of wisdom!”  (Psalms 90:12)

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Dear Friends,

This week I had the privilege of giving some of our pre-schoolers a brief tour of our Roth Family Chapel, and showing them a Torah scroll “up close and personal.”  I explained to them that unlike the other books which we read, the Torah scroll could not be printed on a printing press and that every letter needed to be written by hand by a Sofer (scribe).  Since the Torah contains well over 600,000 letters it can take a year or longer to write a kosher Torah scroll.  If even one letter is missing, one may not read from the scroll until it is corrected.

Before opening the ark and unrolling the scroll, I asked them why the Torah was so important. One child answered “Because it teaches us how to be good.” Another answered, “It teaches us how to do things like Shabbat.”  But I was absolutely awestruck when a third child, only four years old answered “Because the Torah is our LIFE!”   I was astonished because I’m not sure how many adults could respond with such a profound and meaningful answer.  Indeed the Torah IS or SHOULD be our life, for it guides us in every foreseeable circumstance.  While modernity has introduced new situations and advanced gadgetry, people are essentially the same and confront similar dilemmas and problems.

Unbeknownst to the little girl who said that the “Torah is our life, “ she was echoing the liturgical expression that we Jews recite every day before the reading of the Shema (referencing the Mitzvot) – Ki Haym Chayeynu V’Orech Yameynu – For they are life and the length of our days.  To the committed Jew, the Torah and its commandments are our raison detre, our reason for being.  The more we know and observe, the more meaningful our life becomes.

We continue to read about Father Abraham in this week’s Torah Portion, Vayera.  We see how even the life of the first Jew was complicated by family issues, difficulty with the ruling authorities, and the challenging demands of faith.  Although like all biblical heroes, Abraham was not perfect, we see how he grapples with the serious challenges in his life and how he was an exemplary servant to the Master of the Universe.   As the spiritual children of Abraham, let us follow his example of faith, and let us come to realize, just like the four year old girl in our Pre-School, that the Torah IS our life!

 Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky

Dear Friends,

This week marks the 70th anniversary of one of the darkest days in Jewish history. Kristallnacht, the Night of the Broken Glass, shattered any hopes of normalcy for German Jewry on November 9 and 10, 1938.  During that time, German Jews experienced a massive pogrom in which over 200 synagogues were burnt to the ground, Jewish owned shops were ransacked and vandalized, and Jews were brutalized and killed.

 Kristallnacht has been referred to by many as the beginning of the Holocaust.  The nature of persecution had changed from economic, political, and social to physical beatings, incarceration and murder.  Anti-Semitism was prevalent throughout Germany for centuries, but the stakes were now raised, and the results deadly.

 Many of you know that we are privileged to have quite a few Holocaust survivors at Beth El.  One of our long time members, and a Shabbat regular, Jeannette Grunfeld, witnessed the horrors of Kristallnacht first hand in 1938.  Since the anniversary of Kristallnacht is this week, I thought it would be fitting to ask her to speak about her experiences this Shabbat (in lieu of my sermon).  I look forward to hearing her presentation and hope that many of you will come to hear her recollection of those fateful days.

 As time passes, Holocaust survivors are sadly diminishing in number.  Most survivors are well into their eighties.  It is imperative for us to hear the first person testimonies of people who experienced unspeakable loss and sorrows.  There are already those who falsely declare that there never was a Holocaust.  People like Jeannette share their very real experiences with us and leave an indelible impression on our hearts and souls.  We, in turn, pass on their stories to others.  We must never forget!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Arthur Lavinsky