A Rabbi's Thoughts - Chabad of Mid Suffolk

Matchmaker

Friday, November 21, 2008 - 12:01 PM

Of all the professions that deserve our honor and respect I think that matchmakers are way up there with nurses, teachers and tax collectors (just kidding about the last one).

Really, remember the person that drove you mad to go on a blind date, or call a girl that his wife was friends with, or come to a party where you best friend's husband''s best friend would be "and don't worry, he's mr. right, not right in your face").

Whether you were on the receiving end of a match and definitely if you were involved in getting one together, you definitely appreciate that bringing two people together is a no simple matter...

So matchmakers, wherever and whoever you are - we appreciate you.

Even G-d thinks so;

This week, in the narrative describing the efforts of Eliezer the servant of Avraham Avinu to find a girl for his master's son Yitzchok the Torah relates a fascinating episode.

As Eliezer stands at the well praying that he find "mrs. right" the Torah tells us that even before he finished his prayer beautiful Rivka appeared at the well.

Now how's that for instant gratification?

He whispers a prayer and poof, before he's even finished she appears (even J-date won't get you such returns...).

Rashi notes, quoting from the Talmud, that Moshe and King Solomon also got instant responses folloing their prayers.

But there it was an instant response - following their prayer. Here it was before he even finished!

(Tevya, are you listening?)

The Rebbe explains that in fact the union of Yitzchok and Rivka whch Eliezer was facilitating was a paradigm for the for fulfillment of the creation of the world.

Yitzchok, himself a sacrifice on the altar, born into the first sanctified marriage into a life of piety and holiness is going to meet Rivka who, despite her own remarkable qualities was born into a family of deceptive and immoral idolators.

And the prayers for such a union, that would shatter the inherent boundaries between physical and spiritual, heaven and earth, G-d and man, and body and soul created an energy that could see G-d's response, even before the Prayer concluded.

But you know, where are all the matchmakers.

Yes, even if you don''t have three married couples and two potentials under your belt, you're still a matchmaker.

Remember the time that you created the match between the change in your pocket and the poor man's outstrectched hand?

Or how about when you connected a downtrodden and depressed friend with the happiness and joy they never met but was already hidden deep in their soul.

Or even when you got your inquisitve but "very secular and agnostic" mind to go on a date with a few words of Torah's wisdom?

Those were very real and meaningful matches that broke through the unspoken seperations and brought two wonderful beings together.

And G-d takes matchmakers very seriously.

As serious as Moses and King Solomon.

So this week as I gather with 3,000 of the Rebbe's full time matchmakers, let me put you up to a challenge;

Think of one special but bold match which you always wished you could get together but never had the guts to make the move - in your own life as Jew, in your family or community - and go ahead and get them together.

Become one of the Rebbe's matchmakers too.

Wishing you a Shabbat of connecting the potential around you.

Thanks Osher for the inspiration!

Arguing...

Friday, November 14, 2008 - 12:36 PM

Is it a sin to argue with G-d? Is it sacrilegious to question the Divine? Well, Abraham did it. Not for himself, but on behalf of the people of Sodom, whom G-d had decided to destroy because of their wickedness. Abraham was the paragon of chesed, the personification of kindness and compassion. He grappled with the Almighty, attempting to negotiate a stay of execution for the inhabitants of the notorious cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.

"Will you destroy the righteous with the wicked?" he asks G-d. "Will the judge of all the earth not do justice?" "If there are 50 righteous men, will you spare them? 45? 40... 30... 20... 10?" In the end, Abraham cannot find even a minyan of righteous men in the cities and he gives up. And then the verse reads, V'Avraham shov l'mkomo -- "And Abraham went back to his place." Having failed in his valiant attempt, he acknowledges defeat and retreats to his corner.

But there is also an alternative interpretation to those last words. And Abraham went back to his place can also be understood to mean that he went back to his ways, to his custom. And what custom is that? To defend the underdog, to look out for the needy and to help those in trouble, even if they are not the most righteous of people. Abraham refused to become disillusioned in defeat. He went right back to his ways, even though this particular attempt did not meet with success.

What happens when we lose? We hurt, we sulk, and we give up. It didn't work, it's no use. It's futile, why bother? Just throw in the towel.

Not Abraham. Abraham stuck to his principles. He may have experienced a setback, but he would still champion the cause of justice. He would still speak out for those in peril. And he would still take his case to the highest authority in the universe, G-d Almighty Himself.

Abraham teaches us not to lose faith, not to deviate from our chosen path or our sincerely held convictions. If we believe it is the right thing to do, then it is right even if there is no reward in sight. If it is right, then stick to it, no matter the outcome.

One of my favorite cartoon characters is good old Charlie Brown in Peanuts. In one strip that sticks in my memory there is a storm raging outside and Charlie Brown is determined to go out to fly his kite. His friends tell him he must be crazy to attempt flying a kite in this weather, it'll be destroyed by the wind in no time. But in the last frame we see Charlie, resolutely marching out the door, his kite firmly tucked under his arm, and the caption reads, "A man's gotta do what a man's gotta do."

Do we believe in our principles of faith because of expediency? Are we virtuous because we believe it is the way to the good life? Are we waiting for the big payoff for our good behavior? What happens when we don't see it? Do we become frustrated, disillusioned and angry at G-d?

Some people become religious for the wrong reasons. They are looking for some magical solution to their problems in life. And when the problems don't disappear as quickly or as magically as they expected, they give up their religious lifestyle. It didn't work; I'm outta here.

Virtue is its own reward. Sleeping better at night because our conscience is clear is also part of the deal. Or, in the words of the Sages, "the reward for a mitzvah is the mitzvah."

Our founding father reminds us that a Jew's gotta do what a Jew's gotta do, regardless of the outcome. Whether we see the fruits of our labors or not, if it's the right thing to do, then carry on doing it.

May we all be true children of Abraham.

By Yossy Goldman

The Morning After

Thursday, November 6, 2008 - 12:54 PM

By now the dust has settled on what is by far one the most gripping and globally anticipated democratic elections in the history of the world.

While to many passionate citizens,it may have at times seemed that there was only one candidate, the reality is that for most of this race it was a tight and fiercely fought battle with no one guaranteed success.

In their gracious words of concession or victory on election night the candidates reached out to one another in the hope of reuniting a nation so divided because now is when the real work begins - the morning after.

With all of the hype, excitement and billions of dollars spent, the successes (or the failures) could be seen as an end to themselves...

Like the morning after another battle , though not for the Presidency of the United States, when the victor was offered all of the spoils of war to celebrate.

But he turned it down...

It was Abraham the first Jew who, when in a bid to rescue his nephew Lot, vanquished the armies that held his brother's son captive.

While the spoils of war were many, he turned it all down not wanting to waste the good will of his victory on material pleasure when he realized that so much more still awaited him - he was still childless at the time.

And G-d appears to him "on the morning after" and tells him "do not fear Avram...your reward will be great."

Perhaps the divine message to him was that because of his self discipline in not gloating over his victory rather sensing that his real mission still lay ahead, that created a vessel for the blessing of the birth of his child, and the Jewish People.

While it's true that "life is a journey, not a destination" we must remember that a journey is only special when you are ready to continue in your path...

One thing that we could learn from Avram (and it looks like the President - Elect already learnt it too) is that the opportunities that we are given are only worth what we make out of them.

To celebrate the opportunity but not utilize it fully would be like winning an election but forgetting about the Presidency...

No, you may not be the next President of the United States but we too have had victories and successes in our life; a new job you were hoping for, a successful exam, or a job well done on anything you were working at.

Just remember, that success was the beginning of the journey, not the end.

Wishing you a Shabbat of utilizing the success in our life,