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After weeks of cleaning every nook and cranny of our home for Pesach, co-ordinating a colossal Pesach seder, running a bustling preschool and organizing several Chabad events, my wife Shevy was quite understandably wiped. That’s when we started planning her long awaited getaway. A full kids-free week in London was her perfect idea of relaxation. So to say that she was disappointed when an angry Icelandic volcano picked this exact week to erupt, thus shutting down several major airports, would be an understatement. Personally, I found it hard to conceal my glee at this perfect solution after weeks of wondering exactly why I had agreed to a seven day stint of round the clock babysitting. Unfortunately I celebrated too soon.

The flight was booked for Tuesday night. The day was spent in a frenzy of uncertainty as the airline was unable to confirm its departures until the eleventh hour. Finally at 5:30pm we received a phone call: the flight was scheduled to leave in just two hours. Within minutes Shevy had packed her bags and was on her way.

Amidst the strange quiet that followed Shevy’s exit, I could almost hear G-d laughing. Here hundreds of thousands of passengers had taken months planning their itineraries, thinking they had everything under control, when in a sudden flash everything came crashing down. To think that a mere volcano could thwart the plans of a technologically advanced world which basks in the conveniences of iPods and iPads, and has even conquered out of space! I think that every once in a while, G-d likes to remind us most spectacularly who really runs the show. We even pay tribute to this phenomenon every day during davening when we say, "רבות מחשבות בלב איש ועצת ה' היא תקום" - “many are the thoughts in the heart of man, but it is the counsel of G-d that will endure.”

The idea is illustrated in this week’s Parshah of Acharei Kedoshim. The Torah stipulates that the fruits of a newly planted tree may not be devoured in its’ first three years. In the fourth year the fruits may be eaten on condition that we consume them in Jerusalem. As of the fifth year, the fruits may be enjoyed at our leisure. The reason we take the fruits of the fourth year to the holy city is to remind us that before we may enjoy the labors of this world, we must first give thanks where it is due. G-d desires us to acknowledge His presence in this world, lest we forget by whose grace we live and prosper. In other words, sometimes G-d uses fruits to make a point, and sometimes He uses volcanoes. 

Gal G., one of the ten wounded soldiers whom we will be hosting in Manhattan in June, sustained severe head injuries from flying shrapnel after friendly fire was mistakenly opened on his unit. Despite countless surgeries Gal is still left with many scars. Yet anybody who has seen these scars can attest to the fact that the marks covering his head clearly form the word "חי" (Chai). We cannot claim to know what purpose Gal’s injuries played in G-d’s Grand Plan, but perhaps through his vicious injuries, G-d intended a message for Gal… stay strong, I’m always with you. Am Yisrael Chai.

This past Friday I made history. Upon becoming a US citizen, I also became the first Zimbabwean born African-American Rabbi in Manhattan. The citizenship ceremony was attended by 128 people from fifty countries all over the world.

The event began with us all affirming our allegiance to the United States of America, after which followed an alphabetical role call of all countries in attendance that saw each person rise for his motherland and remain standing. First up was Albania. By the time the supervisor had reached the forty ninth country, every person in the room was on their feet, save for me. I finally rose when all the letters had been maxed out, leaving only Zimbabwe. A reporter from Fox News noticed this and was stunned when I confirmed that I indeed am a born and bred Zimbabwean!

After singing the national anthem, next up on the agenda was a message from the President. He concluded by stating, “Now that you are a citizen of the United States of America, nothing is impossible.” (The USCIS director graciously pointed out that that means we may even aspire to one day become a USCIS director ourselves.)

As I listened to Obama speaking, it struck me that his message had a direct connection to the Torah portion of the week.

In Parshat Shemini, the Torah relates the tragedy of the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu. The pious brothers, overcome by their tremendous desire to cleave to G-d, offered incense as a sacrifice to G-d. Since such an act was prohibited, G-d sent down a fire which consumed them. After their deaths, Moses termed the two “kedoshim”- holy ones.

The question is obvious: if they had sinned so terribly so as to warrant an immediate death penalty, by which merit were they titled kedoshim?

Through this account, the Torah wishes to convey a message of deep import. Nadav and Avihu were sincere in their desire to approach G-d. Yes, the means to the end was slightly erred, but nevertheless they remained holy individuals, for their actions were triggered by a dream. It is crucial that each of us too nurture a similar dream, endeavouring to incorporate more spirituality and holiness in our lives. It is preferable to refrain from getting ourselves killed in the process, but a blazing will to infuse our lives with spirituality needs to constantly spur us.

Several days ago I met a member of our shul while running errands. We chatted, and I inquired as to how his business was faring. He replied that things could be better, but with all the plans he had in mind, like investing in real estate and expanding his horizons, he hoped to achieve greater success. When I then queried regarding how matters were on the spiritual side, he answered simply, “I’m happy with where I am.” “Fascinating, isn’t it,” I commented, “how your aspiration for physical success seems to be fuelled by a burning ambition, whereas you claim to be totally complete with your level of spiritual observance… don’t you think the two ought to be reversed?”

While Obama may view US citizenship as the key to many dreams, we Jews have always guarded our own key right in our pockets. It is up to us to retrieve that key, the Torah, and use it to unlock the door to a world of spiritual freedom and joy.

YES WE CAN!