Rabbi Vigler's Blog

Over the summer, Chabad Israel Center kiddie camp ran a day camp for young kids. During the last week of camp,  the counsellors bought a goldfish for the campers to help bring to life the weekly theme - discovering fish. Once camp was over, however, my own kids got it into their heads that it was their job to care for the poor fish. It’s been a week since camp ended, and all I’ve been hearing is, let’s feed the fish! Let’s play with the fish! Good shabbos fish! Hello fish! Bye fish! It was only after the request that the fish sleep in their room that I decided to take a closer look at the object of my children’s obsession.

Peering into the glass bowl, I wondered how the little creature kept himself entertained. His entire existence revolves (literally) around his next meal. In between meals, he swims round and round, with only my kids’ noses magnified against the glass to provide comic relief. And I thought I had it tough!

But if you think about it, we humans live exactly the same mundane life, only ours is a larger tank. We swim merrily from our home to our office, from meeting to meeting, and once in a while we wade into the further waters of a summer vacation. Our lives are governed by the schedules we adhere to and the deadlines we stress to meet. Amidst the constant buzz, we’ve completely lost focus. More and more often we tend to overlook our true priorities; a conference becomes more important than my son’s football match, my daughter’s homework will wait until after a phone call with my boss. We manage to convince ourselves that what we’re doing is what really counts, but in reality we lead nothing more than a fishbowl existence.

We stand now barely a week before Rosh Hashanah. This year, on the ultimate day of purpose and meaning, let us each resolve to infuse our lives with a dose of significance, to introduce a glimmer of light into our pathetic tanks. The cry of the shofar on this holy day shatters our carefully built routines, piercing through all our illusions. Where are you? It demands.

To lead a meaningful life you don’t need to climb mountains. All it takes is a shift in focus, a re-evaluation of what truly matters to you. Do a Mitzvah! Befriend your neighbor! Study Torah! Once you recognize where your priorities lie and commit to a life of purpose, you’ll suddenly notice that your daily swim has turned into a deep-sea dive.

I was in Crown Heights, Brooklyn this week running errands. As the World Headquarters of Chabad, the place was bustling with Chassidic Jews all in a frenzy of preparation for the upcoming Holidays. The main shul was packed with fervent worshippers. The local grocery had a 15 minute line; apparently nobody wanted to leave cooking to the last minute. In the Judaica store, one guy was buying a shofar, another a silver honey dish. The air in the streets was spiritually charged and the anticipation was palpable.

I was therefore glad that I had made the trip with my family; most notably my son and daughter, whose friend from Manhattan had joined us. I was thrilled because my kids had a great opportunity to witness the joy of the preparation for the imminent chagim, an experience that will no doubt etch itself into their fertile minds, hopefully ingraining them with a love for their heritage and a desire to live it.

When we returned home and our friend saw the little shofar that we had purchased for her daughter, she couldn’t believe that it was already Rosh Hashana again. I found myself thinking how strange it is that here in Manhattan, it still hasn’t dawned on us that Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur are less than two weeks away.  

Rosh Hashana this year falls out immediately after Labour Day, so it’s no wonder we’re practically still in our “summer mode”. In Brooklyn, a mere stroll down the street is enough to make you realize that the Day of Judgement is rapidly approaching. Across the river in Manhattan, the awakening has to come from within: we have to shake ourselves up and start preparing. It’s up to each of us to establish a commitment to G-d, to ask our friends whom we have wronged for forgiveness, so that in a few days time when we stand before G-d, our slate will be clean.

The last twelve days of the month of Elul correspond to the twelve months of the year gone by. On each of these days, it is customary to reflect upon our actions of the corresponding month; repenting for any sins we may have transgressed during that time. 

The countdown begins this Shabbat. Why not give it a go?

Last week while out shopping with my four year old daughter Rosie, I realized why my wife prefers to go shopping without the kids. Walking the aisles of my local grocery, Rosie spotted a candy that she insisted on buying. I firmly told her no, since the candy in question was not kosher. She promptly returned it to the shelf and that was that.

Our next stop was a clothing store where Rosie fancied a dress that, in her words, she absolutely had to have. Once again, I refused claiming that she did not need it. As if I had not spoken, Rosie put the dress on over her clothing and continued shopping with me.

As we approached the checkout, experience warned me to brace myself for an oncoming battle of wills. I told Rosie to take off the dress because we were not purchasing it. She refused, of course. When I insisted she remove the garment immediately, Rosie threw a tantrum right on the floor, screaming and shouting how badly she wanted the dress. Eventually I couldn’t refuse her anymore and so I bought it for her.

Later that evening, I was reflecting on the two incidents, wondering why Rosie had accepted my decision on the non-kosher candy without question, while the dress saga had turned into a nightmare. How had Rosie known that I could eventually be swayed to buy the dress? Why didn’t she employ the same tactics to get the candy?

When the reason dawned on me, I smiled because I realized it all boiled down to a successful education. Even though Rosie is only four years old, she senses that no matter how much she may scream, I will never allow her to eat a non-kosher item. It is a red line that will never be crossed. But Rosie understood that she stood a chance at the dress - and she was right.

This week’s parsha of Ki Tetze discusses the laws of warfare. The opening verse begins with the words, “When you go to war on your enemy...”. “Your enemy”, the Chassidic Masters explain, refers to the evil inclination buried deep within the heart of man; the war is an ongoing one that we struggle with every day. Yet the Torah gives us hope for victory, concluding the verse with the promise, “and G-d will deliver him into your hand... and you will take captives...”

The key to triumph against the sly inclination is to set up barriers, to establish red lines that will never be crossed. Each of us knows what our personal red lines ought to be, let us erect them and never fall prey.

This week while working in my office, I answered a phone call from a man frantically seeking a rabbi. He explained that his grandmother was minutes from passing away and needed a rabbi to attend to her on her deathbed. I double checked that I had in fact heard correctly, following which the fellow confessed that he had no money to his name. “It’s ok” I told him, “we’re not in it for the money.”

I grabbed a pair of tefillin and dashed to the nursing home. On the way over, the man told me that his aunt was keeping a bedside vigilance next to his grandmother. His own mother was not present because she hadn’t spoken to her sister in twenty years. Upon arriving at the hospital, I donned tefillin with the grandson and together we all recited the Shema Yisroel. As I said the viduy prayers with the dying woman, I began thinking about this powerful prayer.

The returning of one's soul to G-d at the end of its journey in this world is probably the most profound moment in a person's life. The viduy prayer, as well as the crucial setting in which it is recited, envelops one in an atmosphere of nostalgia, immersing him in a lifetime of memories. Waves of regret and sorrow wash over him, pricking him with the knowledge that he often allowed petty stupidities to overshadow the truly important things in life.

The Talmud draws our attention to a fascinating fact of life: while man enters the world with clenched fists, he departs from it with palms outstretched. The significance behind this, explain our sages, lies in the child’s acknowledgement of a lifetime to come, of conquests to be won and challenges to be conquered, whereas the dying man lets go of everything he ever held on to, taking nothing to the grave but the good deeds he performed throughout his life.

How often do we look back and remember not our material possessions and luxuries, but rather the relationships we have formed, both with G-d and with our fellow man. When a baby is born he cries and everyone around him smiles, how fortunate are those who die with a smile while those around them cry. Let us endeavour to live a life that we will one day reflect on with joy and satisfaction, a life free of guilt and regrets. You may have messed up before today, but always remember, it’s never too late to make a change. After all, today is the first day of the rest of your life.

Just last Shabbos, I was venting to a couple of friends that I was feeling a little frustrated. I was recapping the year: We had reached out to thousands of singles, organized for them countless Shabbat dinners, a cruise, a Lag Baomer BBQ, Chanuka and Purim parties, picnics, etc etc. One of the purposes is that they should find shidduchim and eventually marry each other. Yet the famous Manhattan Jewish singles scene seemed not the least bit dented by all of my heroic efforts.

Well, three days later, I was riding on a subway minding my own business, deeply captivated by my blackberry, when I hear the guy sitting next to me asking “Are you Rabbi Vigler?” When I confirmed my identity, he said that he had been looking for a shidduch for many years and wasn’t able to find one. About a year ago, he had signed up to one of our popular Friday night dinners. “I met an amazing girl there, and I just thought I should tell you that we just gotten engaged…”

Now this was a complete coincidental meeting. I mean what are the odds of sitting next to a guy on the train that knows your name? And if not for that chance encounter, (which we call divine providence) I would never know that I was indirectly responsible for making his shidduch!

Yet the message is not, to talk to strangers on the MTA. It is to keep on trying even when you do not see the fruits of your labors. Because we are human, and we never will see the whole picture. But it is the effort that counts.

Keep on dating. Keep on trying to set your friends up no matter how many disastrous dates you are responsible for. The other half of your soul is waiting for you. All you need to do is make a little effort, go out and search for him/her and with G-d’s help you WILL be successful!

This week my daughter Rosie got upset at me after I reprimanded her for hurting her brother Mendel. I sent her for a time-out in her bedroom which only served to heighten her annoyance. After about ten minutes, however, she emerged with a glowing smile and got straight down to work building a Lego tower, as if nothing had happened.

That same afternoon, a friend rang me up to vent. He told me how before he had left for work that morning, he and his wife had had an explosive argument, and he had spent his day seething in anger. He had not spoken to his wife all day out of sheer rage and planned to stay away from home until late that night, just to irk her. The next day I texted him to ask if there had been any reconciliation, to which he replied not yet. The day after, they had come to a grudging peace after coming to a compromise over the matter.

Looking back over my week and reflecting on the two incidents, it struck me that the carefree joy of a child is self-created. Children choose being happy over being right. Adults choose being right over being happy. Imagine how much joy we could inject into our lives and how much more fulfilling our relationships would be if we were to adopt the simplistic attitude of a child. So, can we learn from our children how to behave as adults?

My good friend Sam is involved in a serious relationship. They’ve been dating for a while now and recently he confided in me that while he likes her and shares the same values as her, he just isn’t sure if this match is heaven-made. He claims he needs a sign from G-d that this is the right one. “G-d needs to tell me and then I’ll marry her.”

Our community is home to many singles, many of whom would love to settle down and get married.

This week we celebrate what our Sages describe as the most joyous day on the Jewish calendar. In Temple times, the daughters of Jerusalem would go out and dance in the vineyards every year on the 15th of Av. Together they chanted to the observing bachelors, “Young man, raise your eyes and see which you select for yourself…do not look at beauty.”

The women’s message carries immense weight even after all this time, and particularly in our ultra-modern society. In order for a marriage to thrive it must be built upon an unwavering foundation, a core that does not change no matter how many storms blow over it. “Do not base your decision on a pretty face or a gold lined pocket,” implored the women. For these outer qualities are at best frail- beauty will fade and wealth may decline.

Human emotions are fragile- today I love you, tomorrow I might meet someone else who interests me more. The crucial element missing from today’s marriages is G-d. In order for a marriage to last we need to realize the truth in the maidens’ words, “Raise your eyes.” We need to look up to heaven and realize that this person who fits all my criteria and to whom I am attracted is my soul mate.    

A couple is comprised of two halves of the same soul. And just as one would not give up his hand or leg, so ought one not give up his soul mate, for the loss of a spouse is in essence an amputation of sorts. This attitude is the first step to an everlasting marriage and the only way a relationship can survive rough patches and rocky roads.

So in answer to Sam, I told him I think he should go ahead. If she’s everything you want and you’re attracted to her- that is G-d’s sign. Now you have to take the leap of faith and give it all you got. Marriage may be difficult but it’s certainly not impossible. Who would guess that all it took was a change of attitude?

Rosie, my four year old daughter has this anti-doctor thing - she is absolutely terrified of them. So this week when she was due to go for her routine check-up, I thought it best to break the news to her on the way there so as to spare us all the ordeal of getting her into the car. Never one to disappoint, she literally flipped out when I informed her, and cried that she was afraid the doctor would hurt her. She begged me to take her home. I felt so bad for her - my heart went out to her. I explained to her that because I love her so much, I need to know that she is ok, and the best way to do that is for the doctor to check her. I told her I’d be with her the entire time and not let anybody harm her. Despite my efforts, she could not quite grasp the concept and wouldn’t calm down. For the rest of the way she remained terribly upset.

At the doctor’s office, Rosie threw a tantrum. No amount of calming her worked. I had to force her to open her mouth and obey the doctor’s instructions. All the while, she must have been wondering why her father hates her so much so as to put her through so much suffering…

G-d loves each and every one of us, and although it may be hard to believe, He treats us all as if we were His only child. This week Tuesday marks the saddest day on the Jewish calendar - Tisha Be’Av, the day that both our Temples were destroyed. Since then, the Jewish people have known almost 2000 years of pain, suffering and unspeakable horrors.

After all these years, amidst the anguish and distress, the one question that continues to haunt us is why? Why need there be so much evil? And although we don’t receive answers, although we will never be able to justify the terrors, we continue to trust, to believe. For deep down we know that no evil stems from G-d. More than that, the pain that G-d puts us through is rooted in His deep love for us; G-d doesn’t hate us for even a moment. Like my daughter Rosie, we don’t realize that all that befalls us is for our own good.

We await the arrival of Moshiach every single day. Only then will we be able to understand with our physical eyes how everything that ever happened to us was for the good. May he come right now!

American Airlines were left feeling rather embarrassed this week when it emerged that the guns belonging to the bodyguards of their prominent passenger, Benyamin Netanyahu, were lost during his flight with them into Washington. The search for the four 9mm semiautomatic Glock 17 pistols is priority No. 1 in American law enforcement. It is also being investigated by the FBI, Secret Service and Israeli authorities.

Personally, I thought the story could not have happened at a better time as its direct connection to the Parsha of this week is almost uncanny. The villain who takes center stage in Parshat Balak is the notorious mystic Bilam. The Torah describes how together with King Balak of Midian, Bilam devised a plan to annihilate the Jews in a never-before-attempted feat - instead of using traditional weapons against the chosen nation, they decided to tackle the Jews using classic Jewish weapons: prayer, or in this case, curses. The plan was a pretty smart one, only Bilam didn’t count on G-d intervening by controlling his words, which, against his will came out as one of the greatest blessings the Jewish people have ever received. The narrative has a fairytale ending as the Jews are commanded to take up swords and smite Bilam together with the rest of the offenders.

The survival of our people throughout the last thousands of years can only be attributed to a miraculous element. The pages of history have been filled with the persecution of countless nations, yet it is the Jewish nation alone who, against all odds, has survived everything that’s been thrown at us. It makes no sense that we have outlived great civilizations like the ancient Egyptians or powerful empires like that of the Romans. There has got to be a secret, a special something that allows us to endure the endless persecutions. And indeed there is - the Torah.

Obviously this is not to say that a physical army is unnecessary. But as Jews we need to understand that our power lies not in weapons of steel but in weapons of words. Yes, we need to fight with tanks and planes, but without the observance of Torah our victory is limited. Perhaps Bibi’s missing guns is a lesson for us to stop relying only on guns and start praying as well?

My beloved home country of South Africa has gone crazy. Soccer – mania has hit the streets. Blacks, Whites, Jews and gentiles are all united in this incredible game. For months the country has been building new stadiums and railway lines in anticipation of the international guests. Soccer mania has even extended into outerspace with astronauts living on the International Space Station tuning in to watch. About one in ten humans are estimated to watch the finals on July 11th – that is 600 million people. As "Soccernomics" author Simon Kuper put it, "It's the moment when the planet becomes a family, when we're all doing the same thing whether we are in California or Nigeria or Shanghai."

An Argentian Rabbi told me that during a class about the future redemption, when he mentioned the word Messiah somebody in the audience said, "oh yeah! I see him on TV all the time – Lionel Messi…." The excitement bubbled over even to our shul in NYC when an Argentinean congregant declared that if his country won, he’d sponsor a Kiddush that would resemble a bar-mitzvah. Not to be outdone, an Italian supporter planned a Kiddush the size of a wedding to celebrate Italy’s triumph. Well, we are still hoping Argentina will win – we want our Kiddush!

When France suffered an embarrassing defeat against Mexico, the nation was so shattered that President Sarkozy demanded an independent investigation into why his beloved country lost. I began thinking how fascinating it is that the entire world watches with bated breath as two teams kick a ball around a field aiming for a net. And the funniest thing is how seriously it's all taken- I mean, who would want to cross the path of an angry fan?

While some might argue that soccer is definitely the ultimate in thrillers, the truth is that there is another similar game that tops even FIFA's record of 600 million supporters. Only this time, it's the real deal.  Maimonides teaches that each person ought to see the world as an enormous scale of good and evil deeds. Every single good deed performed by every single person from all previous generations is on one side while on the other side lies every single sin performed by every single person from all previous generations. Both sides are equal. The scale is about to tip depending on YOUR next move. The two teams are your evil inclination vs your good inclination. According to Maimonides this is the finals. All eyes are on your next move - not only every single one of the fifteen billion people alive right now, but also every single person who has ever lived. Your next move will determine history. So what will it be? A Mitzvah will tip the scale in favor of the good leading to Moshiach- the climax of all creation, a sin will lead to the eventual triumph of evil. The ball is at your feet. Are you going to score the goal?  

This week, our much awaited Belev Echad program-- which saw ten severely wounded Israeli soldiers enjoy an unforgettable American vacation-- drew to a close. Thank G-d, the trip exceeded our wildest expectations. During an emotional moment on the last day, I asked the soldiers to share with me what they considered the highlight of the trip. I expected them to name any one of the great sites we had toured-- the Empire State Building, Washington’s Holocaust Museum or maybe the White House. I was shocked when Ofer Spitzer stated the highlight of his trip was his visit to the Rebbe’s Ohel in Queens, NY. Ofer, you see, donned tefillin for the first time in his life that day. It all happened after he witnessed his son, Ben-- considered the most severely wounded soldier in Operation Cast-Lead-- put on tefillin for the first time since he had been injured. Ben was convinced that his life had been spared in the merit of the mitzvah that he had performed right before his unit entered Gaza.

On that day I experienced first hand the unshakable faith that defines a Jew. Here was a soldier who had been ravaged by war, a young man standing on the brink of his entire future with nightmarish memories and the loss of both his hands. Instead of blaming G-d for his torment, for his crippled body, or for his dismally changed life, he decided to thank Him for sparing him! And when his dad, who had never before donned tefillin followed suit… I almost cried.

For me, this story alone made the trip worthwhile, because in that instant I felt that I had had the great honour of assisting to ignite another Jew’s flame. And if for one minute over the months of planning and fundraising I had doubted the success of this trip, that moment undid it for me. 

The whole story left me thinking. Even if it was such an emotionally and spiritually defined moment, why would it stand out in Ofer’s mind? Why would he choose that moment over all the other spectacular things we did? Couldn’t he have chosen the unforgettable Maid of the Mist boat ride in Niagara Falls, or maybe Havdala in Times Square in an extravagant limousine? Perhaps the beach house in the Hamptons or the Israeli embassy? What was it about that day that touched Ofer so deeply? I mean, Ofer is far from religious. He doesn’t keep Shabbat or kosher. He doesn’t pray, yet he couldn’t let go of the tefillin experience…

And then it all came to me when I recalled this week’s Parsha’s opening verse. “Zot chukat HaTorah,”—“This is the decree of the Torah…” The word “decree” literally translates as engrave. Once engraved, the finished product is irreversible as the letters are now “etched in stone.” Whether he realizes it or not, each Jew is manufactured with an inherent desire to cleave to his Maker. When he dons tefillin or performs any mitzvah, he stamps his soul with an intense and powerful bond to G-d. (Indeed, the word mitzvah translates as both commandment and connection). The performance of a mitzvah is the engraving on his soul. Ofer was so moved by the deed because it was most likely the first time he experienced the connection. And in the face of such a colossal event, who would remember something as trivial as New York’s skyline?

The events transpiring in the Middle East this week kept many people riveted. Viewing the footage of the violence that greeted Israeli soldiers boarding the Turkish flotilla, I found myself wondering about the soldiers. What thoughts crossed their minds as they slid down the ropes onto the ship? What they originally anticipated would be a peaceful inspection turned into a hailstorm of stones and knives and a very real pre-meditated lynch. I guess if that were me, besides for feeling sheer panic, one thought would be very clear to me— what did I just get myself into here?

Regardless of your political mindset, one fact is indisputable—these soldiers boast a tremendous amount of self sacrifice. They are ordinary people with ordinary lives, and yet somehow, they are larger than life. At just 18 years old, these kids are barely out the classroom and have a family, friends and a life waiting for them back home. Yet despite this, you’ll find them boarding hostile ships, weathering blows in the name of a country and a people they desperately wish to protect. Funny how if you zip across the globe to the Great West, you’ll find kids the same age doing nothing more useful than falling out of bars at 3am and toying with their lives while they experiment with dangerous drugs. Each IDF soldier, in contrast, is a tower of perseverance, conviction and commitment. These men ought to be our role models, for their deeds are testaments to what really counts in life and what it means to fight for something you love. This week they made us proud, for each blow they took to their physical persons was endured on behalf of all of us in our comfortable homes, for all of Am Yisrael.

We are privileged to be greeting ten of these very same heroes this Sunday, G-d willing, as they join us for a vacation in the U.S. Our guests were all severely wounded in battle. They have lost limbs on our behalf. We invite everyone to come and meet these ordinary guys, who have become extraordinary after having chosen to put their lives on the line for the sake of the entire Jewish nation.

This week’s Torah portion describes how the Jewish people sent spies to scout the land of Israel to determine how best to conquer it. Ten of the twelve spies returned with a very unfavourable report about the land. “Eretz ochelet yoshveha,” they claimed. “It is a land that consumes its inhabitants. Giants dwell there. There is no way we will be able to conquer it – we will surely be killed. They are far stronger than us.” Only two of the spies, Yehoshua and Kalev, were convinced the Jews could conquer the land- “aloh naaleh yerashnu otah.”

Would it be difficult? Yes. Would there be obstacles to overcome? Undoubtedly. But Yehoshua and Kalev firmly believed that if G-d stood behind the nation’s decisions, they could completely rely on Him to lead them to victory. Their commitment and faith illuminated their way and eventually led them to triumph. We cannot hope to win our modern day war for our land and our people if we do not stand together, ready to carry out G-d’s plan for the Jewish people. Certainly if we adopt similar tactics, we too will be successful.

A few weeks back our family was invited to stay by friends in their luxury home in Midtown for a Shabbat. I planned to drive my family to the house then return to park the car at home before catching a train back. Unfortunately for me, three years in Manhattan still hasn’t taught me that a plan such as this requires a time span of at least three hours plus. Arriving at my friend’s house an hour before Shabbat wasn’t the greatest idea, I soon realized, after I had dropped off the family and found myself sitting in a traffic jam that closely resembled a parking lot. Left with no other choice, I hastily parked in a local garage before racing back to their house… only to discover that Shevy had no matches with which to light her candles. I flew out the house; entered the first door I saw (which turned out to be a gym), and, through pants and heaves, asked a guy on a treadmill for matches. He thankfully obliged and Shevy was able to light her candles with only seconds to spare.

Confident that things had settled down, I went to shul and returned to join my family for the Shabbat meal. It was during the first course that I accidently knocked a plate of food against the candles. They tipped over and within seconds the food was aflame! Talk about drama. The Jewish law of pikuach nefesh flew into my head as I hastily extinguished the blaze, an action generally forbidden on Shabbat, but permitted (and even obligatory) in this case, as its purpose was to avoid a potential tragedy and possible loss of human life.

This week’s parsha of Beha’alotcha details the daily lighting of the Menorah in the Temple. A flame is among the most intriguing phenomena in this world. Its incessant flickering grants it a mysterious quality that can only be defined as a frantic bid to return to its source (Judaism explains that the origin of fire is found “under the orb of the moon”). The wick of the candle is the flame’s only deterrent of its goal, ensuring it remains down below, where it belongs. But the flame constantly struggles against this force, desiring to cleave to its source and become nullified within it.

Traditionally, the soul of man is compared to a glittering flame: “ki ner hashem nishmat adam” the Talmud tell us. The similarity is seen in the soul’s inherent desire to connect with G-d, to cleave to its source above, thus transcending this material world, while at the same time wishing to remain inside a physical body. (As a point of interest, the soul’s flickering nature can clearly be seen in the classic Jewish worshipper who sways back and forth while in the throws of prayer.)

The easiest and most practical way the soul establishes a connection with G-d is through the performance of mitzvot, such as lighting Shabbat candles. Sometimes, however, the bond can only be formed by committing what would ordinarily be considered a sin. G-d treasures human life above all else, and therefore He gave us a mitzvah to disregard the regular Torah law in a situation where adhering to it may lead to loss of life.* Therefore extinguishing the candles on Shabbat becomes a wonderful mitzvah and a perfect opportunity for the soul to connect with G-d. I personally managed to connect with G-d in this manner on a separate occasion, when Shevy went into labor with our son Mendel on a Friday night. I found myself on Shabbat morning in a taxi with my tallit on the way to the hospital. It was the only time I remember riding in a car on Shabbat and fulfilling a mitzvah…

All this leads to an interesting point to ponder: if G-d can thrust aside His prized Torah for the sake of safeguarding our very mortal existence, surely we owe it to Him to live our lives not as empty shells, but as refined beings, souls in bodies that work toward an acknowledgement and an acceptance of the Divine will.

*Lest one err in taking this as a given, it should be noted that there are three times when this rule does not apply: in a situation where one is demanded to kill another, or to worship a foreign deity, or to commit adultery at the cost of his life, he is obligated to forfeit his life rather than perpetrate any of these heinous crimes.

It seems that our community is just as excited as the ten Israeli soldiers for their upcoming trip to New York. Unfortunately, while applying for visas this week, one soldier was rejected with a callous dismissal. “There are too many injured American soldiers roaming around in New York”, he was told. Yogev L, a Givati officer will please G-d be replacing him.

The tale of Yogev’s injuries is a chilling one. In the middle of a short military break at home; he received notification to return immediately to the base to assist in the capture of a group of terrorists in Shechem. Arriving at the Ariel juncture fully armed yet attired in civilian clothing, Yogev awaited the arrival of his officer. Just then, a vehicle containing two terrorists sped into the juncture and stopped near two Israeli girls, forcing them into the vehicle. Yogev engaged the terrorists, allowing the girls to make good their escape. Unfortunately his heroic actions earned him a shooting at point blank range, with three bullets piercing his stomach and another two aimed at his right leg. Paramedics from an ambulance that was providentially parked on the other side of the road treated the critically injured Yogev before transporting him to the Beilinson Hospital in Petach Tikva where he underwent several operations. Israeli military intelligence was able to locate the two offending terrorists and entered Shechem the same night of the attempted kidnapping and subsequent assault, capturing the two of them.

G-d commands Moshe in this week’s parshah of Bamidbar to count Bnei Yisrael. Rashi explains that G-d desired an exact tally of His nation because they were so precious to Him. Each individual soul is a treasure unto itself, a valuable jewel whose presence must constantly be determined. The counting represents a fundamental belief of Judaism, the idea that human life is of infinite value. 

It was the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s custom to stand outside the door of his office on Sunday afternoons, greeting the thousands of individuals who came to seek his blessing, handing each a dollar to deposit in tzedaka. The ritual would take hours and hours, with endless lines of people stretching for many blocks.

On one occasion, an elderly woman wondered how the Rebbe, in his late eighties, had the strength to stand for so long on a regular basis. Addressing her question to the Rebbe, he famously replied, “When one counts diamonds, he does not tire…”

The value of life is so absolute that G-d hinted to it in the creation of Adam, the very first person. The Talmud explains that unlike the animals around him, Adam was created as the sole representative of his species, thus he alone amounted to the entire human population of the world. Through this detail, Torah wishes to convey the message that each individual is so priceless that destroying a single life is comparable to destroying the entire world. Likewise, saving a single life is equated to saving the entire world.

On that day, not only did Yogev rescue two lives, he ultimately ensured the survival of two entire worlds. Let us hope we never find ourselves in such trying situations, rather may our simple kindnesses and thoughtful deeds suffice in our quest to see each individual for what he truly is: a rare gem to be admired and prized above all else.

This past Friday I texted a member of our shul who is also a dear friend of mine, inviting him to attend services on Shabbos. I even added an extra lure of our delicious Persian kiddush. Two minutes later I received a very sharp response, "No thank you. I am never coming back to shul and please don't invite me again." Slightly bewildered, I wondered if perhaps I had offended him or hurt his feelings. After all, I'm no stranger to hostile comments and unfriendly behavior, because as a Chabad rabbi I often encounter Upper East Siders who claim to manage quite well with no rabbi. The text message reminded me of several similar experiences, particularly one that occurred three years ago, as I moved to the neighborhood, when a woman pointedly told me, "Rabbi, I've lived here way longer than you. Not only do you move across the street from me and start inviting me and my friends to all your parties, but you then have the audacity to charge me $18 to join the Purim bash!

A second text message suddenly interrupted my "reminiscing". "And you should know Rabbi" my friend wrote, "It's got nothing to do with you. You are a good man, this is between me and G-d." I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief – at least it had nothing to with me. So he has an issue with G-d? G-d can handle it! I replied to him immediately. "G-d loves you!"

Interestingly enough, this guy was the second person who had told me that same week they would not be returning to shul on account of their disappointment in G-d. Each one felt that G-d was not paying attention to their personal issues, their pain and suffering and thus found it pointless to bother praying in shul each week...

This past Sunday we celebrated Lag Ba'omer, the anniversary of the death of the great sage, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai. One of the Rabbi's students once left the academy and returned a wealthy man. His former friends, seeing the man's success, grew very envious. Here they were studying Torah day and night and they are poverty stricken and their friend who left the academy became a wealthy man. Rabbi Shimon led his disciples to a valley and commanded it “Valley Valley, fill yourself with golden coins” The valley filled with golden coins and he turned to his pupils and told them, "Each of you may take what he wishes. But know that whatever you take now will be deducted form your portion in the world to come." Upon hearing this, each student turned his back on the gold and walked away.

Many times we look to our friends who seem to have it all, while we struggle in every area. Just today one of my dear congregants was complaining to me –actually shouting -- how life is so unfair. But from the story of Rabbi Shimon we can be rest assured that nothing we go through or do is unaccounted for. The world we inhabit is alma deshikra -- a world of concealment and deception. Only one thing is for certain and it's written in this week's parsha of Bechukotai. "im bechukotai teleichu, venatati gishmaeichem be'itam". G-d promises to reward those who perform good deeds. Often the reward is not granted immediately, and sometimes it may even take years, perhaps even in the world to come, but G-d never forgets, He never remains in debt. Every move we make, every challenge that is thrown our way serves a purpose and has meaning. G-d is standing in the wings of the stage, monitoring our performance and rewarding us in turn.

May we all see only revealed good in our lives now and always...

Should my friend stop coming to shul? Of course not! G-d is there listening to his prayers. Sometimes we do not understand his answer. But He loves us dearly as if we were His only child!