Yosef the Closer, the Continuer and the Need to Internalize Impermanence Just when you think that the story is over, there always seems to be more. As we read the epic tale of Joseph, Yosef HaTzadik, each chapter in his life seems that it could be the end of the story, but it is not. He is put in a pit, left to die–not the end. He is sold as a slave-not the end. He rises to the top level in his job-not the end. He is sent to jail to languish-not the end. He has a ruptured relationship with his brothers-not the end. Yosef is the paradigm of resilience in the book of Breishit and in looking more at this fascinating character, his life reflects the dual nature of his name. In Vayetze, we are told that Rachel is finally given the gift of children and she gives her child the name Yosef. The first allusion to his name is the hope for an end. Yosef contains the root of the word for the end, the sof, as it is the end of this terrible chapter of childlessness for Ra...
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Attention as an Essential Ingredient to Gratitude Each year, in late summer, we are told by the Rambam that the Shofar is there to wake us up. It is as if the Shofar tells us: Sleepers arise from your slumber, and those who are dozing, awake from your lethargy. And this year, in this late fall, this Thanksgiving, after reading an essay on gratitude by David Whyte, I realize that this call to wake up and to pay attention requires a constant reminder. David Whyte, in his masterpiece book, Consolations, writes: “Gratitude is not a passive response to something we have been given, gratitude arises from paying attention…Gratitude is not necessarily something that is shown after the event, is the deep, a priori state of attention that shows we understand and are equal to the gifted nature of life. (Consolations, p.89) We live in a world that is constantly trying to grab our attention. And it is the area of attention where we need to focus on most this Thanksgiving. As Jews, ...
Kohelet., Amichai and Wisdom for this Simchat Torah
As soon as the shofar is blown after Neilah, there’s one thing I’m typically thinking about (in addition to my break-fast meal): Sukkot. After an intense month of selichot, teshuva, and literally praying for our lives, I look forward to the lighter holiday of Sukkot and Simchat Torah, which symbolize fall, family, feasting, and fun. But this year, like countless other people, I’m conflicted. How do we celebrate Sukkot — zman simchateinu — the holiday that is synonymous with unadulterated joy, when it is now connected to perhaps the darkest day in Israel’s history? It can be no coincidence that we find some guidance in the very megillah we read on Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot, Kohelet, attributed to Shlomo HaMelech. Chapter 3 famously opens with: לַכֹּ֖ל זְמָ֑ן וְעֵ֥ת לְכׇל־חֵ֖פֶץ תַּ֥חַת הַשָּׁמָֽיִם עֵ֤ת לִבְכּוֹת֙ וְעֵ֣ת לִשְׂח֔וֹק עֵ֥ת סְפ֖וֹד וְעֵ֥ת רְקֽוֹד׃ עֵ֤ת לֶֽאֱהֹב֙ וְעֵ֣ת לִשְׂנֹ֔א עֵ֥ת מִלְחָמָ֖ה וְעֵ֥ת שָׁלֽוֹם׃ There is a time and a season for...
Disorienting Tears: A Biblical Trio and the Shofar in 5784 (2024) For months, I have been dreading Rosh Chodesh Elul. Up until now, each year, I eagerly awaited this day. As crisp fall air would gradually make its presence felt in the early mornings, Elul would be a time to cue up my special Playlist on Spotify, take out my Yamim Noraim sefarim and await the first sounds of the Shofar. Yet, this year, the thought of those first sounds fills me with angst. While the shofar’s first blasts have always brought me to tears, the tears of this Elul, Elul 5784, will be painfully and dramatically different. These will be tears of loss, of heaviness and of a world that seems stuck in sadness. . I was not sure I could be ready for this shofar moment until I thought of the lives of three Biblical figures, Noach, Daniel and Iyyov, and realized that if they could face catastrophe, so must we. The Torah mentions Noach three times in one pasuk (Bereshit 6:9) נח ו, ט: אֵ֚לֶּה תּֽוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ...
A Pshat Tisha B'Av Companion: 25 Psukim in Eicha that Speak for Themselves Every year, we all have our traditions that we turn to as Av arrives. And, for me, turning to Midrash Eicha Rabba to hear how Chazal related to the text has always resonated. But this year, as I opened Eicha, there was no need to read midrash and no need to read interpretations. The psukim, one after the other, jumped off the page. They are descriptive of today’s events and emotions and, to put it clearly and simply, the texts need no interpretation and commentary. They describe the day of destruction, the tears, the displaced, the murdered and ripped-apart souls. Attached here are 25 psukim that stood out for me in studying Eicha this year. While in learning groups and classrooms the psukim could be accompanied by stories, snapshots or videos, in the end, those feelings and images should be left to the reader. The psukim speak for themselves. They evoke images to our minds an...
Perek of Prayer for Our People: Beginning our Third Cycle with Zechut Avot and Imahot Tomorrow, we will conclude the second round of learning Tehilim in the hopes of peace in Israel, safety on our borders, protection for our soldiers and a return of our hostages. When this project began, it was on day 74 of this crisis, in December of last year. In those days, it was not imaginable that we would be heading to day 300, but here we are. I have been thinking a lot about beginning the next round of learning and different ways to frame it. In this search, I have been heavily influenced by R. Shimshon Raphael Hirsch’s commentary on Tehilim and, most recently, Walter Brueggerman’s Spirituality of the Psalms. However, in this coming round, I want to call upon the zchut Avot or more accurately zchut Imahot. This term literally means “the merit of our ancestors”, the idea that the positive actions of those who came before us can have influence on our lives and our destiny. Hashem refers to ...
The Blessings of 24-Graduation Speech Ramaz Upper School Bzchut Rabbi Lookstein, Mr Cannon, Members of the Board, Faculty, Parents, Friends, and of course, the Class of 2024! Before I begin I want to acknowledge the administration,faculty and staff of the Upper School. Our entire school community is blessed to have your guidance and support each day. Thank you. I would also like to extend our appreciation to our Senior Management Team and all teachers and staff, from nursery to elementary and middle school. This graduation is a tribute to each and every one of you who have impacted this special class. Mark Twain said that there are two most important days in someone’s life. The first is the day they are born and the second is the day they figure out why. While 2024 may or may not be the year you figure out why, it will certainly be significant in how you count time. 2024 will mark the beginning of your journey into adulthood — leaving home and beginning a new cha...