Akiva Society

Five Ideas I Hope to Pass On to My Children

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 10:10:39 +0200

by Emuna Braverman

Here’s my list. What’s yours?

1. There is one God and one power.

This idea is at the root of all others. Without this idea, the world is hard and cold and random. With it, there is hope and meaning and purpose. There is loving and giving and caring. It is the source of their recognition that there are moral choices to be made and their clarity on how to make them. This is the most essential foundation I can give them. It’s an idea that needs constant reinforcement in today’s society and one that needs to be reflected in our choices and attitudes.

2. We each have the opportunity to have a personal relationship with God.

Every night, when my children were small, we said the Shema (Hear O Israel, the Lord is our God, the Lord is one) with them. This was always followed by a long list of the people that love them, culminating in “And most of all, God loves you.” This deep, ingrained sense of being loved by the Creator of the world should help take them through life’s challenges.

I am always moved by the stories I have heard of the power of the Shema, the deathbed recognitions and recitals. But perhaps my favorite story of all is the one of Rabbi Silver after the Second World War. There were so many Jewish children hidden in convents without any papers to prove their origins. Rabbi Silver would walk up and down in from of these lost souls reciting the Shema. Whenever he saw a glimmer of recognition in a child’s eyes, he would mark them as Jewish and bring them home.

3. We all need something more important than our own lives to live for.

If we don’t have something bigger than ourselves, we will end up as very selfish, self-centered human beings. And very unhappy ones. Being involved in something transcendent lifts us out of our petty concerns. Our history is replete with tales of men, women and children who sacrificed their lives rather than giving up Torah, or circumcision, rather than converting or betraying their fellow Jews. Our ancestors knew that life was not about them and their individual concerns but about the Jewish People.

We pray not to be tested in these ways but the world still demands of us that we stand up for the Jewish people and the land of Israel and I want my children to be engaged in the fight – in whatever way is reflective of their individual strengths and talents. We were on a sabbatical year in Israel when Iraq invaded Kuwait. We stayed throughout the Gulf War, not because we were heroes (we didn’t pick up guns or work abandoned fields) but because I wanted my family to feel they were part of a people and that we don’t abandon our brothers and sisters when times are tough.

4. It’s better to give than to receive.

The old cliché may be trite but it’s true. I hope my children will recognize that. I believe that the moments of giving they experience will deepen and internalize this recognition. Even if they may sometimes be resentful, I know in the end they will appreciate that they have grown and benefited from every act of giving and sharing (even with their annoying younger siblings!). I want them to learn that a day spent giving to others, a day spent working for the community at large, leads to a greater sense of joy than a day spent at the spa (although once in a while, the spa is good too!).

When we send our kids off to school in the morning, we always tell them to “Have a good day. Remember the Almighty loves you (point 2). Learn Torah (Point 3). Do chesed – acts of kindness - (point 4) and be happy.” Being happy is connected to giving. That is how they will experience true joy. I hope to furnish them with enough appropriate opportunities to give that they will come to appreciate this idea on their own and search for more.

5. Be a mensch.

The Mishna states “If there isn’t derech eretz – basic human decency and consideration – there isn’t Torah.” I want my children to be polite (which in today’s society is no small accomplishment) but I don’t want it to be just the veneer of being civilized, something that is external only and slips off when I’m not watching or chastising! I want them to have a deeply internalized sense of respect and courtesy for others. I think that’s a crucial aspect of what it means to be a mensch. And I think being a mensch is no small goal or achievement.

The rabbi who officiated at our wedding, Rabbi Moshe Aharon Stern, of blessed memory, used to advise parents looking for prospective matches for their children, “Just look for a mensch.” He knew a mensch wasn’t so easy to find and he knew it was all that really counted.

Inculcating Values

Okay, nice thoughts, deep thoughts, but how do we inculcate these ideas in our children? We tell them stories, we learn with them, we point out instances of the Almighty’s hand in our lives. We introduce them to mentors and expose them to role models. We choose schools that embody these values and place them in communities with peers whose parents share these goals.

But the two most important actions we can take cannot be passed on to anyone else. Whatever we tell our children, I feel compelled to quote yet another cliché, “our actions speak louder than words.” Our behavior, our attitudes, our goals will have the strongest impact of all on our family. If these are the values we want to pass on, we have to do our best to embody them, to really mean it and make the (sometimes difficult) choices that reflect this.

And finally, we have to sincerely pray that our children realize these goals. Since God shares these goals, He will certainly help us succeed if we really try.

This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/f/p/Five_Ideas_I_Hope_to_Pass_On_to_My_Children.html

Kollel Finances! Please forward, this is great!

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 19:14:13 +0200

Kollel Finances! Please forward, this is great!

"In advance of a public Talmudic address, Reb Yisroel Salanter posted a list of a hundred references...."

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 19:54:43 +0200

“

In advance of a public Talmudic address, Reb Yisroel Salanter posted a list of a hundred references. Upon entering the auditorium to present his discourse, Reb Yisroel checked the list and found that a prankster had replaced his sheet with another list of a hundred references picked at random. He turned pale, and took his seat for the ten minutes that the introductions were made. He then stepped up to the bimah and delivered a brilliant discourse, tying together all hundred random citations.

His disciple Reb Naftoli Amsterdam later commented, “It did not take Reb Yisroel ten minutes to draw upon his knowledge of Shas to weave together a new pilpul. He turned pale because on the one hand he was reluctant to display his phenomenal intellectual abilities by presenting an ‘instant’ Torah discourse. Instead, he planned to rise to the bimah, declare his inability to give the posted lecture, and take his seat. On the other hand, this would prove to be a grave setback to his campaign to spread mussar. After much analysis and inner conflict - which was why he had turned pale - he decided to present the spontaneous speech, much against his nature.”

”

- http://www.tzemachdovid.org/gedolim/jo/tprofile/rsalanter.html

Shabbat Shalom!

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 13:48:20 +0200

Shabbat Shalom!

"Do the following once a day. (if this is too much, maybe do one/day) 1. Spend 30 seconds thinking of..."

Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:26:00 +0200

“Do the following once a day. (if this is too much, maybe do one/day)
1. Spend 30 seconds thinking of Olam Haba
2. Say once “I love you Hashem”
3. Do one hidden act of chesed.
4. Be like Hashem who lifts the humble, say something to encourage someone.
5. Spend 1 minute about what happened yesterday (cheshbon hanefesh).
6. Your actions should be l’shem shamayim (say once during meals)
7. Look into someone’s face and think – I’m seeing a tzelem Elokim
8. Just like Hashem’s face shines on us, give someone a big smile.
9. When saying “malbish arumim”, think about the great gift of garments.
10. When reciting the words, “If I forget you, Yerushalayim…,” sit on floor and think of loss of Yerushalayim (privately, 1 second).”

- Rav Avigdor Miller zt’l

A Quebec Jew

Wed, 08 Feb 2012 09:37:45 +0200

by Steve McDonald

From Catholic Bloc Québécois MP to staunch Jewish activist.

By changing religion, was I reneging on part of my identity? Or was I adding to it? How were my family and my friends going to see me? Were they going to see me as “the Jew”?

How was my father, a deeply religious and practicing Catholic, going to react? My head was reeling as I thought of my mother, my sister, my brothers.

Would my constituents from the riding of Charlesbourg, in Quebec City, accept being represented by a Jew? By converting to Judaism, was I putting my political career at risk?

These were just some of the thoughts enveloping Richard Marceau moments before he entered a mikveh in 2004. Last-minute considerations common to most Jews-by-choice. But it’s Marceau’s unique journey that is decidedly uncommon, as revealed in his recently published memoirs A Quebec Jew: From Bloc Québécois MP to Jewish Activist.

Born and raised in a devout Catholic family in the middle class suburbs of Quebec City – ground zero for the Quebec separatist movement – Marceau was drawn to political activism early. As the descendant of French pioneers who arrived in Quebec in 1635, Quebec nationalism was genetic for Marceau. He quickly rose through the ranks of the upstart Bloc Québécois party, which advocates national independence for the Canadian province of Quebec. In 1997, Marceau was elected to serve as a federal Member of Parliament and was appointed the Bloc’s spokesperson in English Canada – all at the remarkable age of 26. It was a post Marceau would hold for nearly ten years. And it would ultimately open the door to a spiritual journey he never anticipated.

Discovering Israel

In 2000, Marceau visited Israel for the first time with a group of Canadian parliamentarians hosted by the Canada-Israel Committee. “What struck me early on was the normalcy,” Marceau writes. “I was expecting to land in a war-torn country, with soldiers everywhere, and scores of stressed and fearful people. That was certainly the image presented by the media around the world. It was not at all like that. Despite security precautions, I found myself in a Western and modern state like many I had previously visited.”

A turning point was when Marceau’s group met with chief Palestinian negotiator, Saeb Erekat. Erekat told the group that Israel was preventing him from travelling throughout the territories (including to Gaza), effectively holding him hostage in Jericho. “I remember thinking that the Israelis had played us. That the dizzying sites we had seen and the fascinating meetings we had attended were intended to pull the wool over our eyes,” recalls Marceau. “But that was not the only surprise. The following day, with the caption LIVE FROM GAZA at the bottom of our screen, who did we see on CNN speaking about the latest developments? You guessed it: Saeb Erekat himself!”

“Two thoughts crossed my mind. First, the Palestinians had become masters in the art of political propaganda. Second, that the Palestinian message that Palestinians = victims and Israel = oppressor is an easy one for everyone to remember.”

Coming Home a Zionist, Becoming a Jew

Marceau returned to Canada a Zionist – and an enthusiastic one at that. Whether through his work with the Canada-Israel Parliamentary Friendship Group or in Holocaust commemoration, Marceau realized he had tapped into a sense of peoplehood familiar to a proud Quebecker. In so doing, and with the support of his wife Lori (who is Jewish by birth), he began to ask questions of his own spirituality – and discovered the answers in Judaism.

“After a number of years of religious indifference, spent somewhere between a curious agnosticism and militant atheism, I was ready to reconcile myself with God,” Marceau notes. “I needed spirituality. I needed a reason for being. And I had found these in Judaism.”

After countless hours of study and reflection, Marceau took the plunge twice – first through the Reform movement and later through an Orthodox beit din. Perhaps this is only natural for a man who avoids labels. “Instead of focusing on the adjective – Reconstructionist, Reform, Conservative, Orthodox – as important as those differences can be, I try to emphasize the noun – Jew,” he explains. “We need to remain one united people, even if we are divided in our opinions.”

Upon meeting him, one sees that Marceau’s sense of Ahavat Yisrael, love for his fellow Jew, is practically contagious. “The state of Israel is our most important project as Jews today,” he says. “It is the centre of gravity of the Jewish people.” As Senior Counsel at the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, the leading advocacy organization of Canada’s Jewish community, Marceau is on the front lines in the daily effort to build the Canada-Israel relationship and defend Israel from slander. Whether he’s appearing on national television to defend Israel, or meeting with Canadian parliamentarians (including colleagues from his days as an MP), Marceau is defending Jewish sovereignty using the same political skills he once used to promote Quebec sovereignty.

Quebec, Judaism, and Identity

That said, he remains a proud Quebecker, and has been able to bridge the divide and present the case for Israel in a province where many hold misconceptions of Israel and Jews. For Marceau, striving to be a better Jew and advocate for Israel’s rights only makes him a better Quebecker. “I belong to two peoples,” Marceau writes. “Jewish tradition is crystal clear: there is no contradiction between a strong bond to the Jewish people and an unwavering loyalty to the country in which a Jew lives.”

Not everyone agreed. In his book, Marceau describes his public “coming out” as a Jew, and how a 2005 article he wrote on anti-Semitism (and revealing his conversion) sparked a backlash from within his own party. A fellow Bloc candidate responded with a scathing column that denounced Marceau in personal terms – even implying he was unconcerned about racism before his conversion.

But Marceau’s passion will not be denied. “Every time I have gone to Israel, I have returned impressed by this tenacious and intelligent people,” he reflects. “And I decided to be a counterweight, with the modest means at my disposal, to the clearly slanted narrative that was presented to Quebeckers.”

Indeed, Canada’s Jewish community – the third largest in the Diaspora – has found a unique advocate in Richard Marceau, whose journey from Bloc Québécois parliamentarian to Jewish activist is nothing less than extraordinary.

This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/jw/s/A_Quebec_Jew.html

"After the assassination of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, a government official in Ukraine menacingly..."

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:02:10 +0200

“After the assassination of Tsar Alexander II of Russia, a government official in Ukraine menacingly addressed the local rabbi, “I suppose you know in full detail who was behind it.”
“Ach,” the rabbi replied, “I have no idea, but the government’s conclusion will be the same as always: they will blame the Jews and the chimneysweeps.”
“Why the chimneysweeps?” asked the befuddled official.
“Why the Jews?” responded the rabbi.”

Those Who Can, Teach

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 14:58:55 +0200

by Michael Steinberg

I’m not a rabbi, I never studied in yeshiva, and there’s so much I don’t know. So why am I teaching Torah?

I’m almost 60 and I just started teaching Torah. I never expected to do this – but now I see that I can. In fact, I think I must. Let me explain.

I did not start out on the path of Torah. Growing up in Queens in the 1950s, my upbringing was secular: no God, no shul, no Shabbat. I wondered what my friends did in Hebrew school, but my parents didn’t send me, so that was that.

And that could have been the end of my Jewish journey. But in 1991, I became a father. Soon enough my four-year-old son was asking questions. Such questions! He’s a deep thinker and his questions exposed how little I knew: “Daddy, how old is the world? Will it exist forever?” Gulp!

I needed to learn – and quickly – so I could answer him. I started taking classes, and then more classes. Now I had questions of my own that needed answers! I was inspired by Torah tapes from the Chofetz Chaim Heritage Foundation, classes in the Florence Melton Mini-School, and articles at Aish.com.

That also could have been the end of the journey. But the more I learned, the more I wanted to know.

I began learning with a study partner through Partners in Torah. We learned the weekly Torah portion, then some Talmud, then some classic works on spiritual growth. Later, I found a second study partner, and then a third (including a 5 am weekly phone session with Rabbi Jack Kalla from Aish.com). My study partners were remarkably patient and generous, and the hours I spent learning with them were the high points of the week.

Then my shul launched a new study group on Shabbos afternoons to learn Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers), the beautiful tractate of the Mishna dealing with ethical living and improving one’s character. I had never even heard of Pirkei Avot, but I already loved textual study, so I volunteered to lead the new group.

For the next two years, we slowly made our way through Pirkei Avot, covering one mishna each week. I prepared by studying Ethics from Sinai and other commentaries in English translation.

We made a siyyum (festive meal) when we completed the tractate. I felt a sense of accomplishment from being involved in something so meaningful. And that (last time, I promise) also could have been the end of the journey.

Can I Do More?

This past December I heard a powerful talk by Rabbi Shlomo Farhi at the Aish HaTorah Partners Conference. He mentioned a song with the chorus, “Avraham, are we the children that you dreamed of?” Would our forefather Abraham be pleased with the lives we are living today? The question unsettled something at my core.

Rabbi Farhi continued: When we pray, we often refer to God as “Elokay Yaakov,” the God of Jacob. Great, but what about us? What have we done to make Him our God, too? And is it enough?

Well, that did it. Wiping away tears, I tried to think about what else I could do. Slowly, it dawned on me that I can teach other Jews what I know, which is Pirkei Avot.

So I thought about the Jews I know who are not involved in some kind of regular learning. Then I asked four of them if they would be willing to learn with me by phone once a week. To my surprise, all four said “yes,” and they actually seemed excited about it!

Then I made a brief business visit to the home of a man I barely know. As I was leaving, I saw a baseball cap near the door that said, “Maimonides.” I asked about the cap.

He explained that he studied the Rambam’s “Guide to the Perplexed” back in high school and loved it. So I took a deep breath and asked if he’d like to learn with me. Once again, to my surprise, the answer was “yes.”

Kosher Symbol

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:59:00 +0200

Kosher Symbol

Video

Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:55:33 +0200

"Moses Montefiore z’l was renowned for his quick and sharp wit. At a dinner party he was once..."

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:01:31 +0200

“Moses Montefiore z’l was renowned for his quick and sharp wit. At a dinner party he was once seated next to a nobleman who was known to be an anti-Semite. The nobleman told Montefiore that he had just returned from a trip to Japan, where “they have neither pigs nor Jews.” Montefiore is reported to have responded immediately, “in that case, you and I should go there, so it will have a sample of each””

- Wikipedia

Shabbat Comes to the White House

Sat, 14 Jan 2012 19:19:09 +0200

by Aish.com staff

Jacob Lew is appointed White House Chief of Staff. Is that good for the Jews?

First it was Joe Lieberman gaining notoriety as an Orthodox Jew running (unsuccessfully) for Vice President in 2000. Now comes the announcement of Jacob Lew being appointed by President Obama to serve in the powerful position of White House Chief of Staff.

Lew and his wife Ruth have a home in the Bronx, where they are members of the Hebrew Institute of Riverdale. They also have an apartment in Washington and attend Congregation Beth Shalom of Potomac. They have two grown children.

Lew observes Shabbat, which means that he leaves the office on Friday afternoons in time to get home before sundown, and for the next 25 hours does not use electricity, including the telephone.

Under the headline, “Lew Didn’t Answer Earthly Authority,” NBC News describes that while working for Clinton, Lew’s home phone rang one Saturday. He didn’t answer and the President’s voice could be heard from the answering machine, urging him to pick up the phone. Clinton said he understood the sanctity of the Sabbath, but that the call was important – and that “God would understand.”

Here’s the question: Is having an observant Jew in such a powerful position “good for the Jews”?

Is it good for the Lews?

Share your comments in the box below.

This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/ci/s/Shabbat_Comes_to_the_White_House.html

"Baruch Hashem!!! We had a baby girl in Jerusalem yesterday!!!"

Tue, 10 Jan 2012 12:37:36 +0200

“Baruch Hashem!!! We had a baby girl in Jerusalem yesterday!!!”

- Benyamin Clayman

Daf Yomi Notes

Thu, 29 Dec 2011 20:52:13 +0200

Daf Yomi Notes

Photo

Sun, 25 Dec 2011 22:14:22 +0200

Animated Gemara

Fri, 23 Dec 2011 15:16:44 +0200

Animated Gemara

Video

Tue, 20 Dec 2011 19:23:00 +0200

Video

Thu, 08 Dec 2011 08:03:45 +0200

Israel Inside

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 13:16:18 +0200

by Tanya Strusberg

A new documentary on how Israel’s spirit and resilience brought them to the forefront of world innovation.

These days it can be pretty hard to find something positive about Israel in the media. In fact, the outlook is pretty bleak. There seems to be no limit to the amount of bashing Israel receives. On top of that, Jewish students on campuses across the country are also having to face often overt hostility to anything related to Israel, be it from their professor, a student group or campus demonstrations.

Realizing how difficult it was for anyone to present Israel and its people in a positive light was exactly the inspiration for the filmmakers behind a new documentary called Israel Inside: How a Small Nation Makes a Big Difference.

In 55 minutes, this insightful and uplifting documentary sidesteps the usual conversation of politics, conflict and violence, and tells the story of the Israeli people – a resilient and dynamic nation – whose spirit has brought the tiny country of Israel to the forefront of world innovation and progress.

The film’s narrator, Dr. Tal Ben Shahar, also weaves his own life into the documentary and takes you on a journey to understand what being an Israeli is all about.

Tal, who is a highly successful academic, public speaker and author, gave up a prominent position as Harvard University’s most popular lecturer to return to his homeland, Israel. Tal explores core Israeli character strengths – called “actualizers” – that enable the country to succeed against incredible odds. Through Tal’s eyes we discover that deep-seated values such as education, family and responsibility to the world, directly contribute to Israel’s accomplishments in the economic, technological and humanitarian spheres.

“None of these actualizers are in and of themselves unique to Israel, but in combination, they are bringing about an almost unparalleled progress, success and contribution to the world,” Tal says in the film. “These actualizers have not only made Israel what it is, they also have the potential to help us all enjoy happier, more successful, more productive lives. Through them we can contribute. We can make the world a better place.”

Israel Inside looks at some of the most impactful innovations and initiatives that are having a far-reaching and positive effect on the rest of the world. For example, we meet the CEO of Netafim, Naty Barak, who heads a company that through its breakthrough development of drip irrigation has made an untold difference for countries like Australia and India who often experience extreme drought.

We also meet Amit Goffer, an incredibly humble and inspiring man who invented the ReWalk, the first commercially available upright walking technology, which enables wheelchair-users with lower-limb disabilities to stand, walk, and even climb stairs.

In the humanitarian sphere, Israel’s contributions are no less impressive.

Shachar Zahavi, the founder and Chairperson of IsraAID – The Israel Forum for International Humanitarian Aid – talks about how Israeli medical aid was practically the first international assistance on the ground following the devastating earthquake in Haiti in 2010. Israelis were also among the first to arrive after the earthquake and subsequent catastrophic tsunami that hit Japan earlier this year.

“Despite daily challenges ranging from limited resources to security needs, Israeli creativity and inventiveness advance Israeli society, while simultaneously helping make the world a better place,” said Raphael Shore, Producer of Israel Inside. “Israel has made significant advancements in the fields of science, environment, medicine and technology – and more significantly – it has shared these developments with the rest of the world.”

Israel Inside also takes a lighter look at life in the Jewish state. Tal shares with us how Israelis have no qualms in telling you how to raise your children and how they do not hesitate to give you advice, whether you like it or not! One of the “actualizers” is chutzpah – a word familiar to most of us – but it is great fun watching the various interviewees in the film trying to explain exactly what chutzpah means!

Israel Inside also features interviews with a veritable who’s who in the Jewish world. Everyone from Israeli President Shimon Peres to Co-founder of Birthright, philanthropist Michael Steinhardt; esteemed academic and author Alan Dershowitz and leading historian Sir Martin Gilbert all share their views on this remarkable country.

Given the uphill battle Israel is facing these days, Israel Inside could not have come at a better time. This is a film that needs to be seen in every school, every college campus, and every synagogue and community center. Israel Inside has the power to instill a sense of Jewish pride that has been so sorely lacking in communities around the world.

Even more importantly though, this film needs to be seen by a much wider audience - by people who only know Israel from the headlines, the biased reporting and the angry protests on campus. Watching this film is definitely the next best thing to getting on a plane and experiencing this amazing country first hand. Israel Inside is a very important film with a very powerful message.

Israel Inside will premiere on November 29, 2011 in South Florida on WPBT2 at 8:00 PM. You can also visit www.IsraelInsideTheMovie.com for a sneak peek and more information.

This article can also be read at: http://www.aish.com/jw/me/Israel_Inside.html

Video

Fri, 02 Dec 2011 12:51:15 +0200