Rabbi's Blog

Have you ever walked by a disco and seen a wild scene of dancing and revelry inside?  If you cannot hear the music or sense the rhythm, you may wonder what all the hoopla is about.  If you see the fans celebrating at a sports event but are not privy to what they are spectating, you might be amazed at their energy and intensity.

If you are on the inside, however, things are entirely different.  If you yourself have won the tournament, you are gushing with visible excitement. You are leaping from your seat after your team wins the Super Bowl. Your body is moving in harmony with the tempo.  Your soul is absorbing the tune.

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The conclusion of this week’s parsha Naso, describes how Moshe would hear the instructions … Read More »

Monday marks the 3337^th anniversary of the Giving of the Torah. The Torah is the greatest gift that anyone has ever received.

It’s no wonder that I receive constant questions and queries from people asking me, “What does the Torah say about this?” From the atom bomb to AI. From war in Ukraine to the cure for cancer. From Donald Trump to King Charles. From ecology to astrology. We all want to know what the Torah has to say about it.

It reminds me of a question posed to the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe in Soviet Russia: Which political party is aligned with the Torah?

The Rebbe responded simply and succinctly. The good within each party is sourced in Torah.

The truth, however, is that there is something far more profound t… Read More »

Antisemitic terror reared its ugly head again this week on American soil. We are all devastated by the attack on two people leaving a Jewish venue in our nation’s capital. We mourn their loss and pray for their families.

The emails in my inbox, the text messages on my phone, and the plethora of articles and statements online all seem centered on the same recycled – and tired – mantra. Condemn the act, declare that we won’t ever allow it to happen again, revisit security procedures, and move on until the next event occurs, G-d Forbid.

While not technically incorrect, these approaches – in large part – miss the point. Let’s put aside that we have made the same assertions in the past and marched to t… Read More »

This past Shabbos, I was outnumbered. And I loved it.

Over 70 Chabad Rabbis showed up in Boise for the Western Regional Kinus HaShluchim. Together we learned, davened, and farbrenged. It was a tremendous privilege and a true delight to host such an auspicious group.

What inspired me the most, was listening to the stories of my fellow Shluchim. Serving on the front lines, they are literally saving Jewish lives – physically and spiritually.

One Rabbi walked over an hour to sound the Shofar for a fellow Jew on Rosh Hashanah. That single act kindled the soul, and this Jew has found his way back to Judaism.

A parent in New York called Chabad in Hilo, Hawaii complaining that they lost contact with their son, who has abandoned Judaism an… Read More »

The first of this week’s two Torah portions is called Acharei Mot, or “after the death,” based on the opening verse, “And G-d spoke to Moshe after the death of Aaron's two sons, when they drew near before the Lord, and they died.”

Why do we name a Torah portion in such a fashion? What message is there in this name that the Torah wishes to convey?

Much ink has been spilled on the meaning of death, the effects of tragedy and the Jewish approach to mourning. Certainly there are lessons to be learned from the death of Aaron’s two sons. But the Torah’s emphasis on after death, versus death itself must mean more.

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This past Sunday was the funeral of my paternal grandmother. She was an only child, but… Read More »

We know how careful the Torah is to talk in a clean and positive language. Instead of referring to nonkosher animals as contaminated, the Torah refers to them as “not pure.”

Why then is this week’s (second) parsha called Metzorah – referring to a person who has been afflicted with a Biblical type of illness similar to leprosy? The metzorah is a person who has fallen to spiritual failure and is condemned to a process of ritual purity. The Talmud teaches that the cause for tzaraas is speaking ill of others (lashon harah). Why should we highlight this person’s failure by calling the entire Torah portion in his name?

Looking at the glass as half-full, rather than half-empty – the Rebbe once offered the foll… Read More »

What happens when days and nights are blurred into one? I remember the difficulty of sleeping in S. Petersburg, Russia in the summertime when it doesn’t get dark at night. The White Nights cause a surreal feeling that challenges one’s natural rhythm of time and order.

In this week’s parsha Shemini, which means “eighth,” we read about the eighth day of inauguration for the Mishkan, the holy Sanctuary.  For seven days, Ahron and his priestly sons were initiated into the service by Moshe.  On the eighth day they finally were allowed to perform the rituals on their own.

What is the significance of the seven days and the eighth day? And, why are the first seven days in one Torah portion and the last day … Read More »

Taking advantage of the time that all our kids were home for Pesach, my family took a hike this week up to Cervidae Peak.

Well, we all began the hike up the mountain… All fourteen of us started. Little Chana, who just turned one and a half today, also joined us – walking and being carried lovingly by her siblings. Unfortunately, I was under the weather and called it quits early on. But, most of the crew made it most of the way. Turns out, it’s a rather steep climb for little ones. Despite mastering Lion’s Head recently, the younger ones decided to call it quits.  Only the older children made it to the peak.

When starting out on a hike, you gotta have the long game in mind.

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As we reach the end of Pesach, I… Read More »

When we think of the name Passover, we are reminded of the Jewish people’s final moments in Egyptian slavery. G-d killed the firstborns of Egypt, but spared the Jewish firstborns, skipping over the Jewish homes as he smote their foes.  We are grateful that we were skipped. Better to be anonymous on such a night of tragic and widespread death and destruction.

For many of us, this is the central theme of Passover – and a recurring theme in Jewish history.  Jews are targeted again and again the world over. Luckily, we are still here to tell the tale – at least those of us who were passed over during the pogroms, Inquisition, burning of the Torahs, Holocaust and October 7 massacre.

So, we gather again to pay homage… Read More »

As we prepare for Pesach – which invariably involves lots of cleaning – I am reminded of the dangers of Chametz.  What is it about leavened bread that the Torah so abhors, requiring us to purge our bodies and homes from it for one week every year? And if it is indeed so despised, why is it kosher the rest of the year?

The prohibition of Chametz appears quite ironic: during Passover we are forbidden from consuming, benefiting from and even owning leavened products; but the rest of the year they are fully acceptable. Other non-kosher foods – the most infamous being pig – are only off-limits to eat, but we may derive benefit (such as a heart valve or feeding to your pets) from them.  So what does this super-s… Read More »

In the current political climate we hear a fortune about spending fortunes. There’s DOGE, focused on cutting costs in the federal government. There’s Governor Desantis’ visit to Idaho to promote a balanced budget. There’s members of Congress giving themselves a raise. And, much more.

When it comes to public dollars – everyone has an opinion.

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This week’s Parsha, Pekudei, opens with the call for an audit.  The Jews demanded an accounting of all the donations they had given to construct the Mishkan.  Moshe complied, with an independent audit, as the Torah states:

“These are the numbers of the Mishkan, the Mishkan of the Testimony, which were counted at Moshe’s command; this was th…Read More »

Rabbi Yosef Y. Schneersohn once was asked by his father, the fifth Lubavitcher Rebbe, to travel someplace in order to assist a businessman in need.

Upon returning he declared to his father, “I have fulfilled your request. I helped this fellow in the best way possible.”

“You are mistaken,” his father replied.  “You did not help the businessman. You helped yourself.  The Almighty helped the businessman and you merited to serve as His messenger.”

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In the parsha of Vayakhel, we read about the contributions to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Jewish people were very generous and donated more than sufficient materials for its construction. In fact, Moshe commanded them to stop. It was too much:

The…Read More »

On a recent family trip, we all hiked up a mountain together.  It was fairly easy for the first part. But, as we neared the peak, we needed to shift to climbing vertically and using ladders to get to the next level. I asked my three-year-old if he wanted to continue or to head back down. “Tatty,” he said, “I’m going to the top. Are you coming?”

He did make it to the top. With more energy than I had, I must admit. I may be stronger, but I was no match for his youthful energy.

As we celebrate Purim, I’m reminded of this distinction between young and old. A lot of us consider Purim to be a child-oriented festival. Dressing in costume and exchanging food. Eating treats and swinging our Graggers. It all… Read More »