Rabbi's Blog - Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho

Magical Eight

Friday, April 25, 2025 - 7:19 AM

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 »

The Long Game

Friday, April 18, 2025 - 10:03 AM

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.

*

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

Passed Over?

Friday, April 11, 2025 - 8:17 AM

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 »

The Middle Path?

Friday, April 4, 2025 - 7:58 AM

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 »