Rabbi's Blog - Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho

Status Symbols

Friday, October 29, 2021 - 7:07 AM

Whether it be through Facebook or home décor, we are often engaged in some degree of self-promotion. On Twitter we let everyone know what we are up to, at the ballgame we demonstrate our allegiances and at home we show our true colors.

We are, on balance, a very self-obsessed society. Those of us that are fortunate to be parents are sometimes yanked out of that constant self-promotion with the cry of a baby or the text message of a teen. We know our duty is primarily to others and we come second.

But how do we ensure that we don’t succumb to our egos the rest of the time? What can we do to faithfully serve our true purpose in life? After all, we can only sense our own hunger, our own angst and worry. When it comes… Read More »

Just Getting Started

Friday, October 22, 2021 - 7:27 AM

Wherever I go, I see signs that say, “WE’RE HIRING!” Today I was in a store that advertised a finder’s fee of $500 immediate cash for anyone that found an employee.

My friends in retail, services and professional fields all tell me the same thing. We are short-staffed and cannot find anyone to hire. Bonuses and benefits don’t seem to be doing the trick.

In fact, at the Chabad Jewish Center, we are also looking to hire secretarial help. Good luck to us…

Nobody seems to know the root cause of this dearth of employees. Is it still due to the pandemic? Is it due to the government support and handouts? Is it simply a changing psyche within American culture? Is it due to people retiring at a younger age?

R… Read More »

Unstoppable

Friday, October 15, 2021 - 7:56 AM

The Lubavitcher Rebbe was once blessed by Mr. David Chase that he be able to continue his wonderful work for many years.

Without hesitation, the Rebbe responded, “I am not satisfied with only continuing. It must increase.”

After this dear supporter insisted that he would be satisfied if the Rebbe simply continued the status quo, the Rebbe added that not only must he (the Rebbe) increase, but he also expects Mr. Chase to increase. A living being, the Rebbe explained, must always grow.

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In this week’s parsha, Lech Lecha, we are introduced to the first Jew, Avraham. G-d’s opening words to Avraham – as recorded in the Torah – are, “Go forth from your land and from your birthplace and from your fath… Read More »

Absent?

Friday, October 8, 2021 - 10:36 AM

Idaho’s number one and number two executives have been in the national headlines again this week. Idaho’s Governor and Lt. Governor have been dueling, with the Lt. Governor issuing Executive Orders while the Governor is traveling out of state. This time, before the Governor even returned to Idaho, he issued an Executive Order reversing the Lt. Governor’s Executive Order.

All of this leads to a debate about the authority of the Lt. Governor to assume the role of Acting Governor and issue Executive Orders when the Governor is absent from the state. And, that is exactly the issue that the Attorney General’s office was asked to weigh in on.

What does it mean to be absent?

The Lt. Governor claims that when the Governor… Read More »

Copycats 101

Friday, October 1, 2021 - 8:55 AM

Some people loathe copycats.

Others adore the emulation.

In the opening parsha of the Torah, Bereishit, studied this week as the weekly Torah portion, we learn about how the world came to be. The act of creation is an act that no one has been able to copy.

In fact, a group of scientists got together and decided that man had come a long way and no longer needed G-d. So, they picked one scientist to go and tell Him that they were done with Him.

The scientist walked up to G-d and said, "G-d, we've decided that we no longer need you. We're to the point that we can clone people and do many miraculous things, so why don't you just go on and get lost."

G-d listened very patiently and kindly to the man. After the scientist was done t…Read More »