We hope you had a wonderful Passover! In Sioux Falls, the community joined together for a beautiful Seder, and in the weeks before the holiday, we brought Matzah across the state.
This Sunday, we are bringing a Torah Scribe to Sioux Falls to work on our Sefer Torahs. If you were to ask any child, with even the most limited Jewish education, what the holiest item in Judaism is, they will instinctively tell you it's the Sefer Torah; the parchment Torah scroll with the five books of Moses written by hand. What the child may not know, but what is equally true, is that for the Torah to be used, each of the 304,805 letters must be complete, intact, and full. If even just one letter is missing or rubbed out, it could render this sacred treasure invalid for use. This is also why a Shul must have their Torahs checked by a qualified scribe, every few years. Some may feel that this is a little "extra." After all, a Sefer Torah takes a year to write, and based on the skill and experience of the scribe, costs tens of thousands of dollars. Yet one missing letter and it is basically useless?! That is precisely the point. For it to be a Sefer Torah, it must be complete. In our personal lives too, we can look at a Sefer Torah as a microcosm of a Jewish community, where every Jew represents a letter in the Torah. So long as there is even one Jew missing, or broken, the community is incomplete. It is not a community. And just like the Torah, every one of us must also occasionally "get checked," take a moment of introspection, to ensure we are complete and whole, to fix what needs to be fixed, to fill in what is missing.
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In recent weeks, our brothers in sisters in the Holy Land of Israel are once again facing a wave of unprovoked terror attacks, ending with 16 Israelis murdered in cold blood. Just yesterday, a Palestinian terrorist opened fire on a random bar in Tel Aviv, killing three, and critically wounding another seven people.
Unfortunately, as Jews are being murdered in Israel, our enemies rejoice by dancing in the streets and handing candy to their children. The parallel images sicken any sane human being. We also have the people who tell us "we condemn the killing of innocent civilians" before adding a "but." What is it about Israel, the Jewish people and their homeland, that always get that “but”? Regardless of one's beliefs and political opinions on the Middle East, it should be simple to condemn terror and the brutal killing of innocents, without adding a “but”! There is never an excuse for terror. G-d was aware of all this when He started the Torah with the story of creation. One might wonder why the Torah starts with a story, rather than a commandment, when it is not a history book, but a book of instruction for our daily lives. Wouldn’t the first commandment given to the Jewish people be a more logical place to start the Torah? Rashi, the greatest biblical commentator, explains that the Torah starts with Genesis to provide us with an important message. Should there ever come a time that people will accuse the children of Israel of being thieves for living in the Holy Land, they will be able to answer, “the entire world belongs to G-d, he created it (including the land of Israel), when he wished he gave it to you, and when he wished he gave it to us." The Torah is considered a sacred book to billions of people, of all major faiths. It is by the word of G-d in the Torah that the Children of Israel have the right to the land, a right which no person, nation, or legal body can ever challenge. Ever. It is not the UN, League of Nations, or Balfour Declaration that gave the children of Israel the rights to the land, nor can they, or anyone else, take it away. We will continue to teach our children the dignity of life and the value of each human being, and be unapologetically proud of our gift from G-d and ownership of the Holy Land. Then Israel will live in peace with her neighbors. In the hallowed words of the first morning prayer "I take upon myself the commandment to love your neighbor as yourself." On April 12 this year, we will be celebrating the Rebbe's 120 birthday. Why posthumously celebrate a birthday? Some may ask.
A Jew always answers a question with a question. So though I'm only imagining a question you asked me, I pose a question back at you. What does it mean to be living? To be alive? This past Tuesday, I attended a conference in Washington, DC that focused on the Rebbe's work and impact on world Jewry, and the world entire. I was honored to be welcomed by our Senator John Thune, and our congressman Dusty Johnson. At the conference we also heard from elected officials from every end of the spectrum. From Senators Chuck Schumer, to Ted Cruz, from Cory Booker to Lisa Murkowski, and even nearby Amy Klobuchar too. They spoke about how the Rebbe's teachings influence them and how it inspires and empowers human beings of all walks of life to dedicate their lives to serve others, to make our world a place of goodness and kindness, of love and unity, a place where G-d feels welcome and comfortable. They noted how through his transformative approach and dedication to rebuilding Judaism and inspiring all people, today, so many years after his his passing, Chabad and the Rebbe's work continues expand and positively impact Jewish life and American life, today! This is living. This is alive. And this is why the Rebbe's birthday is still celebrated today. On this 120th birthday, I hope to continue the mission the Rebbe entrusted, not to me, but to all of us, to spread our individual surroundings with more light. More goodness. More spirituality. More kindness. That we become better people, better families, better communities and thereby a better world. Each year, Chabad of South Dakota distributes hundreds of lbs. of matzah to the local Jewish community. Usually, we like to purchase these matzahs from a bakery in Israel. It's the eternal Jewish homeland, and the holy place we pray for every day. But this year, I will be giving every Jewish home in SD matzah. . . that was baked in Dnipropetrovsk, Ukraine.
Ukraine is home to a large Jewish population, by some estimates as many as 400,000 Jewish people. Today they are facing unprecedented war, hunger and a refugee crisis. And if the Midwest is known as America's breadbasket, Ukraine is Europe's breadbasket. So I was not surprised to learn that Ukraine also exports some fine matzah. There is also very significant historic and spiritual relevance to matzah from Dnipropetrovsk. The Rebbe's father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson (1878 – 1944), was the chief rabbi there for over thirty years. As the leader of the community, he unapologetically stood up to the communist regimes, and risked his life to ensure that even under their oppression the matzah baked in Ukraine would be kosher to the highest standard. His ironclad commitment to his people and faith, led to his persecution and arrest at the hands of the KGB. He was imprisoned, tortured and interrogated and eventually died in harsh circumstances while in Soviet exile. Years later the KGB would apologize. This year, as we celebrate our freedom, and the blessings we are fortunate to have living in America, let us remember our brothers and sisters in Ukraine who baked these matzahs. Let us hope and pray that they too, will be able to enjoy their matzah in true freedom. Maybe this will also stand as a testament to the dedication and ultimate self-sacrifice of the Rebbe's father, and the original Ukrainian matzah. We celebrated Purim yesterday, and being able to read the megillah and fulfill the mitzvahs of Purim with such a vibrant and loving community atmosphere was very special.
Why is the Purim megillah named after Esther, the Jewish heroine, Megillat Esther. Why not Megillat Esther and Mordechai? Wasn’t Mordechai also a hero in the story? Yesterdays, jam packed, fun filled, Purim party, helped me understand one reason why the singular focus on Esther. Along with 70 others attendees, two Jewish women, mothers of young children, drove their families for several hours to join. Shannon did a 3.5 hour drive from Leola, and Shay drove 5 hours all the way from Rapid City! They did this all to give themselves and their children the opportunity to participate in the Purim celebration. As a parent of young children myself, I know what a long drive means. This is what commitment and dedication looks like. This is the power of the Jewish woman. Like Esther in her time, doing whatever it takes to ensure Jewish continuity, with pride and joy… and even a super long drive! Several weeks ago at our Shabbat experience we played a Jewish trivia game. One of the questions was “what makes someone a Jewish hero today?”
As we went around the table, friends offered a number of suggestions, ranging from Ruth Bader Ginsburg to IDF soldiers, from Ben Shapiro to Bernie Sanders. The ideas literally spanned the spectrum of Jewish thought and politics. But they were all shared with love. That’s what is so beautiful about our Jewish community. Everyone is welcome, and everyone has a place. It really is mishpacha, family. But over the past few weeks I had an idea of another type of Jewish hero: Chaya and Rabbi Avraham Wolf from Odessa. One of the organizations they run is the Mishpacha Orphanage where they care for some 150 precious children. With war looming, they desperately tried to obtain the necessary documentation to secure an exit for the children. But to no avail. Finally, just over a week ago, after war had already broken out, they got the last birth certificate needed, and over the next few days a convoy of buses left Odessa carrying children, women, and elderly people. Through a treacherous journey that was documented by the AP, they traveled for more than 50 hours through several countries, until reaching Berlin where they are now. As the head of the orphanage, Rabbi Wolf accompanied the final bus to leave. But once making sure that every child under his responsibility had safely arrived, Avraham did the unthinkable. He got on a train and went straight back to Odessa. He still shoulders the responsibility of those in the Jewish community who can not leave (males between ages 18-60, elderly women and men, and the disabled). While others are fleeing from Ukraine, Rabbi Wolf couldn't get back fast enough. Rabbi Wolf and his wife Chaya are Jewish heroes today. This may be the story of one couple, but just like one small drop of water can reflect the entire sun in it -- so long as it's clear and facing the sun -- it reflects the good work of the 200+ Chabad Rabbis' their wives and children currently serving the Jews of Ukraine. They are the Jewish heroes of the hour. Let us take inspiration from them. Purim is next week, and while we are living comfortably here in the United States, we are still called upon to be heroes. Like Mordechai and Esther in their times, and the Jews of Ukraine today, each of us has a unique role to play. With prayers for the safety of the people in Ukraine. Last year, at the conclusion of the Passover festival I turned on my phone and saw I had a voicemail from Ross Lerner. He lives in a town some 160 miles away from Sioux Falls with a population of about 3000. He is the only known Jew in the town. In his voicemail, he thanked me for the matzah gift, that we proudly deliver or ship to every Jewish home in South Dakota.
That every Jew be able to celebrate Passover, and have matzah for the holiday, was something very important to the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson. He distributed matzah himself, sending to Jews in under-served communities like those in the former Soviet Union and Morocco, or a lonely Jew in Tyler, Texas, or Dakar, Senegal, and always encouraged rabbis and communal leaders around the world to ensure everyone in their communities had as well. Each of the boxes we gave last year contained 3 matzahs, the prescribed portion for a traditional Seder. The Kabalistic masters teach how matzah is the “bread of faith” that strengthens our faith in G-d and reminds us of His protection at our Exodus from Egypt. Many have told me how this is especially meaningful for them. Without it, there are simply no options for matzah in South Dakota. It is not something you can just pick up at a local Hy Vee or Costco. Authentic kosher matzah can also be pricey, sometimes costing $30 per lbs, before shipping. But Ross didn’t just call to share his gratitude. In a choked voice he said that to his surprise, the box only contained 3 matzahs. “Rabbi, how could you let me down like that!?” And he was right. A person really needs 6 matzahs, 3 for each Seder on both nights of the festival. Ross went on to say that he did some research and discovered that matzah is made of only plain flour and water - just like our ancestors had when they left Egypt - and that it must all be baked within 18 minutes. Then he continued, and I will never forget what he said next “I realized I have flour, and I have water. So I cleared out my oven and made matza so I can have it for the second Seder.” That’s it. That’s the story. Somewhat dumbfounded and awestruck, I immediately called him and told him how precious his matzahs must be in the eyes of G-d. In other places where Jewish amenities are abundant, some might spend weeks deciding on their preferred matzah vendor, and pay a premium for the finest matzah baker. But it was his homemade matzahs that actually carried with them the tears, love, joy and feelings of our beautiful tradition. If only we could all eat our matzah with the same sincerity and fervor. Several months later I repeated this story to Barbara & Larry Ellberger, and their children Aliza & Ruven, and Eytan and Shai, friends from New Jersey who generously helped sponsor the matzah for the South Dakota Jewish community for several years. They were so moved by this that they immediately decided to increase their contribution to ensure that every Jew in South Dakota can have enough matzahs for two Seders. This is the Jewish spirit. This is the meaning of “mitzvah goreres mitzvah,” one good thing leads to another, and the reward for the Mitzvah is the Mitzvah itself. So this year, as we celebrate Passover, let us take a bite of the bread of faith, with true faith and determination. Let us be proud of our heritage and traditions. Proud of the beauty of our holy Torah and its commandments, and let us live them better on a daily basis. L’shana Haba’ah B’Yerushalayim! There is so much beauty to this holiday. Children playing dreidel, parents giving Chanukah gelt, the special feeling of pride when seeing a large menorah in public, and of course families sitting around the Menorah listening to the messages the candles tell us.
Like every aspect of Torah and our sacred tradition, the story of Chanukah is not just something of the past. Its lessons and message are to be relived anew each year. The story of Chanukah brings with it so many wonderful lessons and authentic inspiration for our life today. So I want to share one story the Chanukah candles told me, and perhaps as you light your Menorah this year, they will tell you the same. It starts with the Greeks and their battle against the Jews. Their fight wasn’t primarily one of military conquest. Nor was it only the attempt to stop the Jews from practising their traditions. In fact, the Greeks were fine if we studied Torah. But they wanted us to treat it as any human wisdom. Not G-d’s wisdom. They could even accept the Jews lighting the Menorah. After all, every culture had its own unique practices. But they could not accept our insistence that these were G-d given and sacred acts, and that the Menorah needed to be kindled with a special pure and holy oil. So the Greeks “defiled” the oil supplies in the Temple. And when the Jews returned to Jerusalem and wanted to begin worship again in the Holy Temple, they couldn’t find any pure oil left. But after an exhaustive search, we eventually uncovered one cruze of oil that remained untouched, holy and pure. This was used to begin rekindling the Menorah. In our personal lives too, we each have that one cruze of oil that remains constantly pure. Despite the ups and downs of life, the spiritual, emotional and material challenges we each face, and no matter how distant and despondent we may feel at times - we will always have that one cruze of oil, the essence of our soul, which remains holy, connected and sacred. As soon as we find it, we can rekindle our Menorah, and begin shining brightly again. This has a special meaning to us living in South Dakota. You may be the only Jew in your grade, and even in your entire school. You may be the only Jew in your company. You may be only one of a handful of people in your neighborhood lighting a Menorah. Maybe even the only one in your entire city. But you too, are an equally important member of the Jewish community. You too must ignite your spark and shine far and wide. And like those Chanukah lights, we each need to increase, on a daily basis, never being satisfied with our prior accomplishments of Torah and Mitzvahs. Best wishes for a Happy Happy Chanukah! Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins at sundown on Monday evening, September 6 and ends at nightfall, Wednesday, September 8. Dip the apple in honey, hear the Shofar, and take in the awesomeness of the day.
As we prepare for this holiday I'm thinking about a teaching of the Rebbe who said that Rosh Hashanah is the time of the year when we are reminded how one person can improve the whole world. On Rosh Hashanah, we celebrate the creation of Man, which took place five days after the Universe began. The human being was created different from all other species. Only the human being was created single, a unique individual who can and must bring the rest of creation to its fulfillment. This is the foundation of our faith; the belief that each one of us has it in his or her power, regardless of wealth or position, to turn the world into a better place, a force for good rather than evil. Each individual has the ability to produce this kind of harmony, thus following the Will of the Creator. Each year, when we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, we are reminded of our ability. Each year, Rosh Hashanah gives us a resurgence of the strength needed to fulfill these goals. This is a time for rejuvenation and commitment. A time to clarify our sense of purpose and fulfillment. Not just now, but forever. L'shana tova. It’s that time of year, when all South Dakotans have their eyes on one thing: Spring. The winter with its crisp air, and peaceful whiteness, can also have a long uncomfortable side to it, which makes the upcoming spring even more appealing.
In nature, spring brings forth to the surface the natural forces which were hidden during the winter. Blossoms, and all forms of plant life, sprout anew. A basic foundation of Chasidic philosophy is that everything we see and hear, indeed everything we encounter, must serve as a lesson for us individually in our lives and our behavior. So when thinking of Passover, and the meaning of its spring season, it seems we can apply this concept to the human experience as well. We each know all too well that winter feeling, that state of apparent un-productivity in the life of a person. Those days or weeks that we are just feeling dull, and can’t seem to shake it off, or maybe we feel constrained by emotional baggage we carry, and see no way out of our metaphorical “winter.” It’s times like these that we must remember that this state of “winter” can easily and suddenly be changed into “spring” - just as it happens in nature. And that yes, blossoms will very soon come forth. We will become productive, energized, and hopeful again. Indeed, behind that dull feeling we may experience, is the power to reveal the potential renewal. It absolutely is there, beneath the wintery soil. The Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson taught that the significance of “springtime” in Jewish life is suggested by the festival of Pesach which we will soon be celebrating. As indicated in the Torah, “You are going forth (from Egypt) this day, in the month of spring.” For two hundred and ten years the children of Israel lived in Egypt, in physical and spiritual slavery, stagnating in the abominations of Egypt. It did not seem that there could be a revival of Jewish life. Yet, there came the Exodus in the middle of the spring, and the children of Israel were quite free, so free in fact that in a very short time they became worthy of receiving the Torah—the zenith and completeness of the entire universe. This idea, to move from a “winter” - a time of relatively less productivity, to “spring,” is one we can apply in our personal lives. It is also something we very much look forward to at Chabad as a community, as we begin to explore ways of springing forward and expanding our operation in Sioux Falls and across the state. It will be a journey we are excited to be taking with all of you. There are many good things to come! Mussie joins me in wishing you and your family a Kosher and Happy Passover, with good health, peace and happiness, and that we all merit the true meaning and celebration of Passover, also known as “a time of freedom” – free from all worries, concerns and personal limitations. |
Rabbi Mendel Alperowitz BlogServing the spiritual needs of the South Dakota Jewish community. Based in Sioux Falls and travels the state. Archives
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