ASK THE RABBI
Rabbi Lipskar's weekly d'var torah
Shabbos Chol HaMoed Pesach
We have just celebrated and re-experienced the incredible, once-in-history miracle of the liberation of the Jewish people from abject enslavement under the jurisdiction of the mightiest empire of that period, from whom not a single slave was able to escape. We became G-d’s Chosen People, known as the Nation of Israel. The emancipation, however, was not conclusive nor clear until the concluding days of Passover when we celebrate the absolute beyond-natural miracle of the splitting of the sea. This act was the final demarcation of the end of exile and the genesis of the Jewish people.
What was so significant about the splitting of the sea that it became the singular symbolic miracle that represented this transition from slavery to Freedom?
There are two distinct interesting characteristics that are completely different in liquid water and solids. Firstly, on top of the Earth things can be seen, felt, and experienced as fact, which beneath the water may have the same properties as that which is on top of the Earth, but it is not visible to the naked eye as the reality is concealed. Secondly, water naturally by its volatility flows downward, and one cannot stack water whereas solid matter i.e. rocks and earth can be stacked on top of each other.
Similarly, we each experience life that is visible, tangible, corporal and available to our senses in a real interactive way, however there is another concealed aspect of life beneath the surface that relates to our inner being, psychic emotions, consciousness, subconsciousness, etc. Physicality and spirituality, one is evident while the other is not as clear as it is constantly avoiding irrational grasps. Also, the nature of water is to flow down and not to stay in a solid state - one cannot pile water upon water as it does not have the same binding powers.
The splitting of the sea represented these two factors in our own maturity and development. Almighty G-d, the inner essence of our spiritual being, usually inaccessible, and beyond any aspect of our physical existence or deepest knowledge and reality that exists became visible, accessible and experienced in the same way as all that exists beneath the sea became as real as that which is above ground. The energy that had been concealed was now evident like the dry land.
Also, the general nature of water is to flow downward but here it stacked upward and created a standing wall. It remained a liquid, but it changed its nature to flow in the opposite direction.
Similarly, a fundamental aspect of the Jew is his ability to buck the trends of secular society and environmental influence of nature to become G-d’s Chosen Children, a change of nature to make one function and operate beyond the limits of the natural human behavior to control one’s emotions, intellect, psyche, and consciousness.
That is the Jew. The splitting of the sea represents the incredible Jewish ability of the person’s G-dly soul controlling the human animal instead of the animal controlling the human. That is the true notion of freedom.
Have a wonderful Shabbos, and a great and beautiful conclusion of this holiday of freedom, liberation, peacefulness, and miracles.
Sholom D. Lipskar
The Shul Pushka Campaign
It's the little things in life that count. G-d fills the world every moment with His divine energy. Tzedakah is one of the special and significant ways to create an all-encompassing Mitzvah, and in today's world, we need more Mitzvot than ever. It doesn't matter where or how much you give, just make Tzedakah part of your day.
The Shul provides beautiful Pushkas (charity boxes) to the community and to all those that would like to participate in the important Mitzvah of Tzedakah. To request a Shul Pushka please call The Shul Office at 305-868-1411 or fill out the form below.
To Learn More About The Meaning of Tzedakah Click Here
Jewish Holidays
All Jewish holidays begin the evening before the date specified on most calendars. This is because a Jewish "day" begins and ends at sunset, rather than at midnight. If you read the story of creation in Genesis Ch. 1, you will notice that it says, "And there was evening, and there was morning, one day."
From this, we infer that a day begins with evening, that is, sunset. Holidays end at nightfall of the date specified on most calendars; that is, at the time when it becomes dark out, about an hour after sunset.
UPCOMING JEWISH HOLIDAY
For more information Click here
Project 33154
Project 33154 is a community wide program to create a neighbor to neighbor Jewish experience. The initial case study started Chanuka 2002 where 10 young Yeshiva boys visited every home in Bay Harbor to identify which ones were Jewish and give them the necessary items (Menorah, Candles, Guides etc.) for the Holiday of Chanuka.
Over 250 Jewish Homes were identified together with a color coded map of Members, Non-Members and Unaffiliated Jews. Over the next Purim and Passover the same idea was used in the Surfside and Bal Harbour area and over 800 new Jewish homes were contacted and had a taste of The Shul.
Block Shluchim
Together with color coded map each neighborhood was split up into different areas that include a lay leader from The Shul.
Before each Yom Tov The Shul prepares a special food package which promotes holiday awareness.
Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succot, Chanukah, Purim, Pesach andShavout
Every newly identified Jewish household in the Bal Harbour, Bay Harbor Islands and Surfside areas has been contacted with thousands of Apples and Honey packages, Chanukah kits and Purim Mishloach Manos and food packages distributed this year.
Over 350 pounds of hand-made Shemurah Matzo (that’s about 2,450 pieces of matzah) has been distributed throughout 33154. If you are new on the 33154 area, please let us know so you can be included in this amazing and inspiring Jewish Program.
Send a letter to the Rebbe זי"ע
Throughout his lifetime, the Rebbe received hundreds of letters every day, from people of every conceivable background, occupation and faith. Today people continue to send letters to be placed at the Ohel for the Rebbe's guidance and intervention On High, in the age-old tradition of written prayer petitions at our holiest sites
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/761128/jewish/Why-Use-the-Mothers-Name-When-Praying-for-Someone.html
http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445It is preferable to use one's Jewish name. (Customarily gentiles use their father's name.) Letters can be written in any language. You can fax directly to the Ohel at: (718) 723-4444 Or you can use the form below to have the rabbis at Ohel Chabad Lubavitch http://www.ohelchabad.org/templates/articlecco_cdo/aid/78445personally bring your prayers to the Rebbe’s resting place.
The Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson of righteous memory, the seventh leader in the Chabad-Lubavitch dynasty, is considered to have been the most phenomenal Jewish personality of modern times. To hundreds of thousands of followers and millions of sympathizers and admirers around the world, he was -- and still is, despite his passing -- "the Rebbe."
Whether referring to one's own self or mentioning someone else's name in a letter, one should always include the name and mother's name (e.g. Isaac the son of Sarah) of both the one(s) who are in need of blessing and the signer.
Click Here to Know More Click Here.
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