"Shabbat Shalom from Bangkok"

This week I got a question from someone who spent several years in Thailand, that I think may interest many.

Rabbi - I have a question which I assume you have been asked many times before. This is the desire to rebuild the Beit HaMikdash to restore the korbanot or sacrifical system of worship.  As you have probably guessed I was raised Reform with an occasional "dip" into Conservative Judaism (which I enjoyed).  My family are "old" Americans emigrating to Pittsburgh during the Civil War to join relatives who were previously here. Thus, it was hard to accept animal sacrifices as part of "our" Judaism (we were taught sacrifices were a "stage" of development in Judaism that were no longer valid).  As both a theist and a student of Jewish history how do I deal with a system that is both so foreign and frankly repugnant to our sensitivities.  I am sure that I am not in the minority of American Jews that deals with this question. 

With the best wishes to the Jewish community of Thailand

Before we get into the topic of sacrifices let me ask you something more mundane.

How do you feel about eating meat?

In this week’s Parsha are the laws of Kosher.

Prominent among the laws of Kashrut are the kinds of animals and birds that we may eat, providing that their slaughter is according to the instructions of the Torah.

Clearly as Jews we are permitted to eat fish, chicken and meat.

Yet, if you prefer to be vegetarian that is also acceptable. The Torah doesn’t say that you cannot be a vegetarian.

What does this have to do with the animal sacrifices that were central to the Bet Hamkidash service?

Allow me to digress to another critical and life and death question.

Euthanasia.

The oxford dictionary translates it as follows:

the painless killing of a patient suffering from an incurable and painful disease or in an irreversible coma.  

Ironically, with all the advances our world has made in so many fields, basic G-d based morality seems to be an area in which many are challenged. 

As strange as it may sound, the more enlightened and educated the society becomes, the more they grapple with the clear demarcations between good and bac, moral and immoral. 

Here is a letter I got a while back about from an elderly super-intelligent and sweet and kindhearted Jewish man whom I met more than thirty years ago when he visited Thailand. We remained friends via mail and then email. He became ill and after he was diagnosed with a with a cancerous tumor and a dire medical prognosis he made plans to end his life.

Two weeks worth of radiation to hopefully shrink the tumor. A palliative solution, that could give me a few months with a better quality of life.

At age 89, with an interesting and wonderful life, I can’t ask for anything more.

My plans, with a whole lot of support of our children, R2 up for an end of life solution, legal in California.

I wrote him a heartfelt note with some links to articles about the sanctity of life which I asked him to consider.

Click here for Torah based material on this topic (Quality of Life, Dying with Digntity etc). 

To which he responded.

Rabbi and friend of many years,

When I get the energy, I will reread the article. After a brief glance, it seems to favor the idea of unbearable pain over being able to get relief

Not to mention the pain felt by relatives as they see a loved one dissolve into agony..

As I said, I will reread the article

I think we all agree that it is excruciating to see someone suffering like that.

At the same time, the Torah in the Ten Commandments is firm and unequivocal about the prohibition of taking life.

Suicide is prohibited. Assisted ‘end-of-life’ programs are immoral. 

Life is given by G-d and it is only G-d who can decide when to end someone’s life.

To save a life, most of the laws of Torah may be violated. I should rewrite that. To save a life most of the laws of Torah MUST be violated. 

Choose life! Says the Torah. 

‘See I have placed before you life and good, death and bad’, says the Torah. 

We are a people who clings to life. Am Yisrael CHAI. The Jewish People is ALIVE. We adore, cherish and pray for life. Every breath is a blessing. With every breath on earth we are serving G-d in a way that we cannot do anywhere else, not even in the Heavenly Gan Eden - Paradise.

That doesn’t change the face that our human hearts are filled with compassion and pity for someone who is in pain and suffering so greatly that death seems a better option than life.

Let me ask a question.

If an animal was suffering like my friend, with unbearable pain, would the Torah advise prolonging the life of the animal or would the compassionate path of ending the life be advised?

There is no reason to prolong the life of an animal who is suffering.

Taking the life of an animal is not immoral. 

It is clear cut distinction.

Hashem forbids us to take the life of a human. 

Taking the life of an animal is permissible.

Being cruel to animals sadistically is prohibited by the Torah. It is called ‘Tza’ar ba’alei chayim’.

But when there is a higher purpose for taking the life of the animal, like if they are in agony, then their life should definitely be ceased. 

Imagine if an animal came to you and pleaded for help. 

They have heard that there is an altar in Jerusalem in the Bet Hamikdash in which they can sacrifice their life and be freed from the misery and pain of empty and meaningless animalistic life. 

How would you respond to an animal who is begging to ascend in fiery smoke to Heaven and become incorporated in the blissfulness of G-d’s embrace?

Would any person with a compassionate heart deny the animal their exit from animalistic meaninglessness to a G-dly state of eternal meaning and purpose?

It takes a leap of faith to see how the animal’s greatest aspiration would be to be offered up as a sacrifice on the Altar. Far from it being a ‘pity’ and ‘rachmonus’ on the animal, the animal would be honored and delighted to play the sacrificial role. 

The basis of anything I write is belief in G-d. This article assumes that I am talking to those who believe in the Creator of the Universe and every detail therein.

The very delightful news is that when Mashiach comes, the curtain will be pulled back. It won’t need to be a leap of faith anymore. 

G-d’s presence will be revealed. It will be so clear and evident that the greatest gift that can be given to an animal is to become a part of the service in the Bet Hamikdash.

Right now we don’t see it.

Our vision will change with the reality that will be opened before us when Mashiach comes.

Mashiach will bring peace to the world. 

And moral clarity to humanity.

I am perfectly confident that my friends who find it challenging to understand the concept of animal sacrifices, will be at the head of the lines of those waiting at the entrance to the Bet Hamikdash to bring overdue korbanot – sacrifices.

So have no fear. Have faith. We will all ‘see’ the reality of G-d when Mashiach comes. 

I can’t wait…

We want Mashiach NOW.

Shabbat Shalom

Chodesh Tov (Sunday and Monday are Rosh Chodesh Elul).

As we get closer to Rosh Hashana it is time to start wishing each other Shana Tova – may we be inscribed in the book of LIFE.

Rabbi Yosef Kantor

Whose house is it?

Imagine you lose your way in the sea and after disembarking on a deserted island you find yourself in a well-stocked house, full of delectable foods and drinks. 

As far as you know, there is no one in the house and no signs of any other human as far as your eyes can see.

Clearly however there is someone who built the house and stocked the pantries. 

Moreover, on an ongoing basis the food stocks are replenished. 

By an invisible hand.

Finally, after searching, you discover that there is a manual on the grand living room table.

‘Rules of living in my house, by the builder and provider’.

Several pages of rules follow. 

What would you do?

Would you feel entitled and just use the bounty without giving a second thought to the instructions in the manual written by the provider?

Or would you feel grateful, humble and thankful and graciously respect and give thanks to the beneficent host.

This is exactly the scenario we face in our lives on a daily basis.

G-d says to the Jewish people, I will bring you into a land full of blessing. You will have bountiful food and possessions. 

Remember, says the Torah, it is not your great righteousness that ‘earns’ you the gift of the land of Israel. It is the promise that I made to your forefather, to Avraham, Yitschak and Yaakov.

One of the basic ‘rules’ is to give thanks and acknowledgment to the Master of the Universe.

This week’s Parsha explains that it is incumbent upon us to give thanks for anything we partake of in Hashems world. The Torah teaches us to thank G-d after we eat. ‘You shall eat, be satisfied and bless Hashem’. 

The Sages taught that we should ask ‘permission’ of G-d before we eat as well. 

Based on the verse (Tehillim 24)  ‘The world and everything therein belongs to Hashem’, they stated that we should not benefit from anything in this world before blessing Hashem.

When you think about it, it is simply basic good manner and ‘menshlichkeit’.

Would you take something from the fridge in your friend’s house without getting permission?

Don’t you raise your children to say ‘thank you for having me’ after they had a playdate at their friends house?

The world is created by Hashem and every part of it is His and only His.

Hashem has given us the immensely generous gift of allowing us to partake of His world.

We are guests in his world. Whatever we use is rightfully His. And it is He who grants us the permission to enjoy it.

The decent and upright thing to do is to bless and acknowledge him before we partake of His world.

Click here for instruction and information about brachot blessings.

As well as thanking G-d after we eat by saying Birkat Hamazon – Grace after Meals.

From the mystical perspective, the invoking of the name of G-d before imbibing in food and drink or other sensory pleasure is a way of bringing G-d’s holy presence into the earthly world. Joining heaven and earth. 

How blessed our lives can be when we reframe our material engagements as opportunities to bring Heaven down to earth!

One of the ways we do this is by eating G-d’s diet – Kosher food. And by asking G-d’s permission before eating by making a bracha – blessings. 

I would like to expand this thought to an arena which is more sensitive.

What happens when things go awry and the train of goodness and holiness seems to be derailed?

Recognizing G-d as the Master of the Universe applies across the board for anything that happens to us. Even those things that are antithetical to holiness and goodness.

The great Rabbi Levi Yitschak Schneerson , the Rebbe’s father who was imprisoned by the Soviets in the late 1930’s for his heroic commitment to G-d and His Torah and died in exile, (his yahrtzeit we just marked on Thursday) was a master kabbalist. 

Astonishingly, he penned kabalistic notations on the scraps of paper he had, regarding the details of his imprisonment.

Rav Levi Yitschak explained in his shorthand notes (that were later smuggle out of the Soviet Union), how the seemingly incidental details of his ordeal, day he was arrested, the number of tourturous prisons he was transferred to, the day of the verdict to exile him to the farthest wastelands of Khazakhstan, all fit neatly into the kabbalistic algorithms that he presented in his notes.

His son the Rebbe observed that his father was making a very poignant faith-filled point. 

While the Soviets were enemies of faith in G-d, which is why they had arrested and were prosecuting the great Rabbi, they were not operating outside of the direct control of G-d.

The great Tzaddik saw in every detail of his incarceration and prolonged suffering, the exactness of Hashem’s Divine Providence.

As excruciatingly tortuous as his ordeal was, he never wavered from his deeply held beliefs that all comes from G-d. He was even able to see it via the Kabbalistic teachings as they aligned with the experiences he had in the seemingly G-dless dungeons of the KGB.

This is a lesson in recognizing the Guiding and ever present ‘Hand of Hashem’ in every single detail of creation.

Even when we cannot fathom or find rhyme or reason as to why the merciful G-d, our loving Father in Heaven is allowing an untenable situation to unfold. There too, where it is impossible to understand, is the unmistakable Divine Providence of the Almighty. 

Armed with this belief and knowledge that Hashem is at the helm of our ship, we can traverse the travails and trials of Jewish history with our head held high as we look expectantly forward to the great days ahead.

Let us hope that the time for this kind of sacrifice is behind us and that now we can utilize our spirit of sacrifice to control our desires and direct our efforts towards Hashem and His Torah in a healthy and successful way.

May we merit the immediate and complete redemption, the release of our hostages, the safe homecoming of our soldiers, the healing of our wounded and the absolute end to all war and conflict with the coming of Mashiach, NOW.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Yosef Kantor

Dear Esther,

My friend saw the pictures of me in the forest and commented ‘it’s good to take a vacation once in a while’.

How ironic. My wife and I got back totally exhausted from leading the three day ‘Bar Mitzvah’ camp in the mountains of Kho Yai.

Arguably, the smiling pictures tell a different story. A story of holiday and laid back vacation. 

In today’s world especially, you need to know the back story behind the picture you are shown. Images can be manipulated to paint a picture that is totally opposite to reality.

I say this as many of the media outlets in the world keep up a barrage of images that foment anti-semitism.

As a Jew to a fellow Jew, I say to you, don’t believe everything you see.

Perhaps I should be even more definitive. Don’t believe anything you see in the media unless you know the source to be scrupulous and bias free.

So yes, I was in the mountains this week for a few days interacting with pre-Bar-Mitzvah age boys. 

It was an exciting opportunity to provide my students with an immersive experience. They didn’t just come for a one-hour bar mitzvah lesson as they usually do, rather they lived and breathed Torah and Mitzvahs for three days.

We had fun to be sure. Karting, swimming, hiking and acting. Master-Chef competitions, BBQ’s, Kumzits around the fire and table hockey competitions. 

As well, as learning and praying, putting on Talit and Tefilin and integrating the ways of Torah in every aspect of life. Even saying the monthly prayers of Kiddush Levana thanking Hashem for the renewal of the moon and learning about its significance and relevance.

The kids enthusiastically participated and relished in every part of the camp thank G-d.

The Rebbe started the Chabad camp movement seventy years ago in the NY Catskills. The camp was named Camp Gan Israel. Over the years a network of Gan Israel day camps and sleepaway camps was born that now numbers int the hundreds.

In the Rebbe’s eyes, the immersive Jewish experience that camp offers is transformational.  It is akin to the words of the Sages that one should ‘exile oneself to a place of Torah’ i.e. leave home to study Torah. Learning Torah without the familiarity of one’s home surrounding, is the best way to fully immerse in Torah study and observance without outside distractions. 

Having a Jewish camp experience not only enhances the knowledge of Torah and Mitzvahs, it also does so in a fun and enjoyable way.

The impact of fun-filled Jewish camping on strengthening Jewish identity and promoting Jewish pride cannot be overstated. 

It was inspiring for me to watch firsthand how the young boys are developing into responsible young adults, comfortable in their role of being proud links in the eternal golden chain of Jewish history and destiny.

In today’s world, more than ever before, we need to build a strong Jewish identity in our youth that can withstand the torrent of social media messaging, much of which is not moral, nor favorable of our people.

I say this about the power of social media because I got a chance to observe firsthand the attachment to the phone that an average teenager now has. Phone first thing in the morning. Phone last thing at night. Phone when there is an in-between moment. Tik Tok, group games and who knows what else.

(The challenge of phones and gadgets, which is really about our ‘addiction to distraction’ is not the focus of this article. It behooves us all to become more mindful of how to maintain a responsible balance).

The messages that they are imbibing, directly and subconsciously from their gadgets are unceasing and unrelenting. 

To maintain the values that we wish to impart to them we need to find creative and consistent ways to educate them. 

There are no short cuts. 

The best and surest way to teach is the ‘good ole way’ teaching by example.

When we as parents care deeply about something, we impress the same on the minds and hearts of our children. 

Unbeknownst to us, and perhaps even unwillingly, we also teach our children the things we do that we would prefer they didn’t learn from us.

We all care deeply about Jewish continuity. 

Am Yisrael Chai – the Jewish people is alive – because we are connected to G-d who is eternally alive. 

The only way to ensure that we continue to exist as Jews is by acting, breathing, preaching and living as proud Jews.

That mitzvah that you care deeply about, chances are that your children will cherish it. (It may be that they will become adults and parents till you get to see it, but so often our children mimic us when they become parents). So make it your priority to say ‘care’ about more mitzvahs. 

This weeks Parsha says ‘Shma Yisrael’ Hear O’ Israel. Hashem is our G-d, Hashem is One. Love Hashem, put it in your heart and teach it to your children. 

There is a deep truth that is hinted at in these verses.

What is in your heart, is what you transmit to your children and students.

Be more mindful about your epic power. Don’t look to the leadership to ensure our future. You hold the key to the future of Judaism. 

Don’t get distracted by the noise coming at us from all sides. People are highlighting the rising tide of antisemitism and stoking fear. Yes, we have to be proactive in eradicating the scourge of this longest standing anti-Jew bias, but that cannot become our mission statement. We dare not allow our enemies to define our reality. To cower and hide and pretend that we can disappear G-d forbid, is the opposite of the correct approach.

On the contrary. We must highlight and embrace of Judaism more than ever. 

Our enemies will continue to rally against us no matter what we do or say.

We have only one traditionally proven recourse. Stay close to Hashem.

Hatred and darkness must be fought with love and light. The light of the Torah and its Mitzvahs is what will keep us strong and illuminate the darkness.

We the Jewish people know that we are an anomaly. Based on the laws of nature and probability we should be non-existent as the Babylonians and Assyrians of old. 

We are here because we are not bound by the laws of nature.

We are the people of G-d.

In the words of this weeks Parsha of Vaetchanan (4:4):

All of you who are alive today are attached to God, your God.

Deeper attachment to G-d spells deeper attachment to life.

Learn torah. Do a mitzvah.

Add life to yourself, to your family, to the entire people of Israel and tip the scales to redeem the world and bring Mashiach!

May this truly be the ‘Shabbat of Comfort’

שבת נחמו

Comfort from the thousands of years of suffering as Hashem fulfills His promise to wipe away all the tears and bring only good things to the world. 

Shabbat Shalom 

Rabbi Yosef Kantor