Rabbi's Blog - Chabad Lubavitch of Idaho

It’s a Small World After All

Friday, May 30, 2025 - 8:41 AM

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 »

Komemiyut!

Friday, May 23, 2025 - 11:32 AM

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 »

Outnumbered

Friday, May 16, 2025 - 7:18 AM

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 »

After-Death

Friday, May 9, 2025 - 7:23 AM

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 »

Lemons & Lemonade

Friday, May 2, 2025 - 7:39 AM

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 »