www.chabadofmarin.com | Blogs | Minute Rice

Toldot: The Wicked Child

Fri, 21 Nov 2025 4:05:00 PM

Toldot: The Wicked Child

I recall studying this week’s Torah portion, Toldot, as a child. And I recall the most baffling verse. The Torah relates the sterling qualities of Jacob; and the outdoorsman qualities of Esau. Esau's character is further fleshed out in Midrash to include such lovely features as idol worship, murder and trickery. But yet the Torah relates: “And Isaac loved Esau.” (Genesis 25:28) Why would our saintly patriarch, Isaac, love this wayward child (seemingly more than Jacob – the perfect son).

This past Sunday, I was fortunate enough to join 6,000 colleagues at the yearly Shluchim Convention. There was a very popular session on AI, and how to use this tool in our work. The chairman of the conference shared a one line insight about how our work cannot be replaced by AI. And this insight can answer our question. “Our work is not in information, but transformation.”

We often look at life through the lens of information, achievement, and productivity. These are all very important. The more profound lens is that of transformation. What did this person overcome to get to this point? This is, of course, the fuel of every inspiring story. It’s not about what this person did; it’s about what he or she had to overcome to do what they did.

When Isaac looked at his errant son, sure he saw lots of issues, lots of problem, and many obstacles. But he saw deeper. All of these superficial impediments were the cover for a very deep spiritual potential.

When we look at another person, let us adjust our lens to the “potential transformation mode.” Then we will see an entirely different person before us. And even as we look at our own self, to realize that each obstacle and impediment in our life is only there for us to uncover the deeper, as of yet dormant, Divine light.

Chayei Sarah: Requiem of a Penny

Fri, 14 Nov 2025 1:24:00 PM

Goodbye, my friend, the penny. Our smallest coin is going the way of our smallest planet, Pluto. The US Mint is no longer producing the penny; it just doesn’t make any cents. There's something that tugs at your heart when you think about the demise of the penny. A nickel for your thoughts just doesn't sound right. And you're certainly not going to throw a nickel or a dime into a wishing well! This smallest piece of currency is usually our first relationship with money. We teach our children about the very best place for a penny (A Pushka, charity box, of course!).

The penny allows us to exchange the precise amount of money. No rounding up or down. There is something so satisfying about this precision. More importantly, one cent is the smallest piece of currency; it represents our smallest effort that somehow still has value. Indeed, our sages share: “Each and every Perutah (the smallest coin of old) combines to create a large sum.” (Baba Batra 9b)

How are we to comfort ourselves for this cupreous casualty?

The Talmud has very good news about this loss. There is a list of events that will occur right before the coming of the Messiah; one of them is directly connected to the penny. “The son of David (the Messiah) will not come until the Perutah (penny) has ceased from the purse.”

The penny represents our smallest effort. Perhaps this Talmudic portent is relating that each of us has to make sure that we are doing every last positive deed to transform the world. Do not hold back even the smallest Mitzvah. Maimonides teaches that we should envision that our next action will change the entire world! (Mishneh Torah, Laws of Teshuvah 3:4)

Our smallest effort is thus not lost; it is invested in the glorious future we are about to behold.

PS By no coincidence (you can read that word two ways), this week’s Torah portion speaks about currency, with the purchase of the Machpelah Cave for the burial of Sarah, and the cent is mentioned as not being 1/100^th, but rather 100. The Talmud relates: “And Abraham listened to Ephron; and Abraham weighed to Ephron the silver…four hundred shekels of silver, current money with the merchant” (Genesis 23:16), i.e., shekels that could be used in any location. This teaches that not only did Ephron take shekels from Abraham, he took from him only centenaria, i.e., superior coins, as there is a place where they call a shekel a centenarius. (Baba Metzia 87a)

Vayeira: Eye Opening

Wed, 12 Nov 2025 11:23:00 PM

Have you ever looked for something, such as your keys, and not been able to find them? And after looking for them for several minutes or perhaps several hours, you find them right in front of your nose! How could we have missed it? This problem is aggravated when you look for a solution to a problem or seek direction and purpose in life, and you just can’t seem to find it.

What if it’s right in front of your eyes? Your keys, the solution to your problem, your life purpose. It’s all right there. But how does it help us if we can’t see it?

In this week’s Torah Portion, Vayeira, we have a similar story. Hagar wanders through the desert with her son, Ishmael. “And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs…she lifted up her voice, and wept…And G-d opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad to drink.” (Genesis 21:15-19)

The Midrash relates the following eye-opening insight: “Rabbi Binyamin says that all people are assumed to be blind until G-d illuminates their eyes.”

Each morning we recite a blessing, “Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, king of the universe, who opens the eyes of the blind.” Certainly, regular physical vision is something for which we can express gratitude. Thank you G-d, that I can see! But there is a deeper dimension. This is a blessing and a request that, now that we can see, may we be granted effective vision.

The first step in corrective vision is to think about what it is that we desire to see. We can elevate and improve our life by seeing the positive in our life, the blessings that are in front of our eyes, and the amazing opportunities that are put before us. When you see an obstacle, when you see a problem that seems insurmountable, you can actually see something else. What you could envision is that G-d realizes that you have so much more to you than you realize. This will empower you to open your eyes and find the blessed path forward.

My World

Fri, 17 Oct 2025 1:32:00 PM

As you read this sentence, another 15 or 20 human beings have been born. Mazal Tov! How special is one in a million when you can be one in 8,252,845,001. This week’s Torah portion, Bereishit, conveys to us the creation of the universe, culminating with the creation of the human being. “G-d created Adam in his image. In the form of Elokim, He created him, male and female, He created them.” (Genesis 1:26) How peculiar that the verse starts with the creation of one (He created him), and concludes with the creation of two, (male and female he created them). From this the Rabbis deduce that unlike any other animals, the human was first created as a singular entity (not male and female). The reason for this anomaly in the story of creation provides us with one of the most significant life lessons. “Why was the human created as a single entity? For every individual person is obligated to say, ‘The world was created for me.’” (Sanhedrin 4:5)

Everything that happens in your life, your birth, your education, your encounters, all that has lifted you up, and all that has cast you into an abyss – it is all a tailor-made program, from your Personal Divine Trainer. Each day is another opportunity to grow through what we learn, what we discover and more than anything – what we overcome. We are here to grow, to transform and to transform the world. When we live our lives in such a fashion, we turn this world into a home for the Divine Presence.

Sukkot: Je suis un Captif

Fri, 10 Oct 2025 5:23:00 AM

An astounding Universal Jewish Event is about to take place, G-d willing. Hundreds of human beings were taken captive because they were Jewish or associated with Israel. If you or I were there, we would have been taken. Je suis un Captif. And so, the impending release of these captives is a time for national jubilation and gratitude.

This event was foreshadowed in the book of Nehemiah through an event that took place some 2,400 years ago: “And all the congregation of those who had returned from captivity made Sukkot, and dwelt in the Sukkot; for since the days of Yeshua, son of Nun, to that day the people of Israel had not done so. And there was a very great rejoicing.” (8:17) The Jewish People were exiled to Babylonia, where they remained for 70 years. Under Persian rule, the Jewish People were granted permission to return and rebuild the Second Holy Temple in Jerusalem. The captives returned during the Festival of Sukkot, just as our own brothers and sisters will return, G-d willing, during this most joyous festival.

There is deep significance to the return of captives during Sukkot, as well as the “Great Rejoicing.” Our Rabbis teach us that “It is befitting that the entire Jewish People should dwell in one Sukkah.” This Mitzvah, more than any other, brings out absolute Jewish Unity. As long as hostages are being held, the entire Jewish People cannot dwell in one Sukkah. We are incomplete; the Mitzvah is incomplete. With this miraculous (though through natural channels) redemption, the Jewish People are reunited, and the Mitzvah of Sukkah can now encompass the entire nation. The Sukkah is not only a physical structure; it is a Divine Aura, a manifestation of the Shechinah, that takes us all in.

The most profound joy, with everlasting results, is the joy that emerges from sorrow, like the light that emerges from darkness. For reasons that we don’t yet fully understand, this is the history of the Jewish people. The great joy in the time of Nehemiah produced permanent spiritual and physical upgrades for the Jewish people (see Talmud Erechin 32:b). These improvements were specifically because it was an emergence of redemptive light from the darkness of exile. This is also true of the holiday of Sukkot. Three times does the Torah say to be joyous on this holiday. This extreme happiness is because it follows the Teshuvah of Yom Kippur (and the days leading up to it).

May the Jewish people rejoice again, with the actual release of the hostages, and may our national joyous unity yield the fruits of Universal Redemption through Mashiach.

Shabbat Shuva/Vayelech: Do Not Repent

Fri, 26 Sep 2025 5:22:00 AM

Of course I want to change. I just don't want to have to do all the hard work associated with it. Jewish mysticism has a meaningful perspective on what this change is really about. And once we are able to visualize this new perspective of change, we can realize our abilities and possibilities in a more organic and wholesome fashion.

And wouldn’t you know it, it is the theme of this Shabbat, called Shabbat Shuva, or Shabbat Teshuvah. It is name for the 10 Days of Teshuvah between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, as well as this week’s Haftarah which begins “Shuvah Yisrael.”

Many translate Teshuvah as repentance, which includes sincere regret or remorse. True, Teshuva does include remorse, however it does not capture what this transformational process is really about. The word Teshuvah means to return. Of course, we are meant to return to G-d. However, these words need to be understood. Chassidus explains that the very root and source of who we are, individually, is within the very being of G-d. So when we speak of returning to G-d, what we really mean is getting back to the root of our Divine Soul as the very definition of our true being.

Teshuvah is not about feeling bad. It’s about feeling our awesome potential, our incredible true self, notwithstanding our present state of affairs. The Torah relates: “For a portion of G-d is His nation. Jacob is the cable of His legacy.” (Deut. 32:9) Our soul is a cable that is plugged right in to the Infinite Light. However, this soul becomes manifest in our body that seems to have a mind of its own. Thus, we err. We sin. We fail to become the radiant light to our family, our community and to our very own self. This is the occupational hazard of being a Divine Soul in human body.

Teshuvah begins when we realize the answer to the lifelong question: “Who do you think you are?” When we realize the answer, we long to return to who we really are, as an extension of the Divine.

This is a major life reframe that allows us to increase in our commitment to Torah and Mitzvot. Through Teshuvah we don’t become a new person. We become who we really are.

Ki Tavo: The Hidden Verse

Fri, 12 Sep 2025 5:18:00 AM

I was watching the ball, and trying to figure out why it kept getting bigger and bigger. Then it hit me! The same can be said of life, there are always so many things happening at us. In our personal life, our community, society, in the news, in our emotional equilibrium. Frequently, the things that are coming towards us the quickest are issues that we have to deal with. Then there is the news that we freebase and react to. Then it hits us! We become unhappy, sad, or even miserable. And we can’t figure out why.

Things that are coming towards us, through our own choice or otherwise, confuse our perspective. We think that these things are all of what life is, and we become unhappy with the depressing result. The fix is simply, if not easy. We must restore our perspective. Here is a simple exercise for you, take 60 seconds (you can time it) and come up with a list of 10 blessings in your life. If you’re ready to move on to AP Happiness, try 5 minutes, 50 blessings. With little effort you will find that the good things in your life far outweigh the negative. (Of course, there are people who are going through horrors and tragedies. This is not the time for such an exercise – I can only hug you, and pray that your situation improves.)

In almost all situations, once we become aware of the preponderance of good in our life we will begin to find happiness.

Scripture does not speak much about being happy, but there is one hidden verse that unveils the foundational importance of happiness. In this weeks Torah Portion, Ki Tavo, the Torah unleashes a horrific description of what may happen to the Jewish People. Why would these nightmares befall us? Because we didn’t observe the commandments? No. It is even more spine chilling. “Because you served not the L-rd your G-d with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, when you had abundance of all things.” (Deut. 25:47)

Happiness is an integral part of our Jewish work. If you are not doing it joyfully, you are doing it woefully wrong. It takes a small contemplation. Imagine the Infinite Light of all existence desires to have a relation with you, up close and personal. Imagine no more! This is what Judaism is. Even when we tap our chest on Yom Kippur, admitting all of our sins – we do it with a joyful tune! (Look up Ashamnu prayer on YouTube.) Even when we are at our moment of deepest heart-break over our failures – we are joyfully contrite.

This week I attended a birthday party, it was for Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi. Mazal Tov, he turned 280! But I would like to share an amazing insight I read from his teachings: “When you see a person who you truly love, you become totally overjoyed with great light and happiness. Your countenance shines and you forget entirely any pain or agony that you may have because of your great joy of seeing the face of your beloved. So too, a person can remember at any time one truly loves G-d, for He genuinely loves you. We can feel His countenance at any moment and realize that God is with us and be totally overjoyed.”

If we feel that we are undeserving of this love, or that we are spiritually deficient, how much more so that we should be overjoyed. G-d may love you even more.

These meditations do not fix all the problems of the world (as if your Facebook post will), but it will put you on a path of happiness and allow you to receive the amazing G-dly blessings that accompany this joy.

Ki Tetze: 4 Stages of Self-Discovery

Fri, 5 Sep 2025 4:42:00 PM

Have you had the experience of not being able to find stuff? My wife frequently give me the sage advice to look where I last put it. My problem, of course is that I don't remember where that was. This brings us to the root problem of losing things: ignorance. No, I don't mean lack of information, I mean ignoring where something is meant to go, ignore-ance. Not paying attention to where we put something down, and thus not being able to find it when we need it.

This week’s Torah portion, Ki Tetze, talks about losing things, finding things, and ignoring things. “You shall not watch your brother’s ox or his sheep go astray, and ignore them; you shall return them, bring them again to your brother.” The Torah continues: “And with every lost thing of your brother’s, which he has lost, and you have found, shall you do likewise; you will not be able to ignore.” (Deut. 22:1-3)

These verses convey a subliminal transformation. The Torah begins with our reality – “You ignore.” This is our default state of unawareness. What is the solution? Shall we meditate? No! The Torah now conveys a command – “You shall return them.” We must force ourselves out of our daze, and pay attention. Then you do the right action and return that which was lost. When we develop this habit of forcing ourselves to be awake, and performing the right action – then the verse concludes, “You will not be able to ignore.” You will arrive at a state of awareness.

We are now in the month of Elul, a month of introspection and self-improvement. Through our life, we may ignore the truth of who we are. And this ignoring leads to “losing ourself.” The way forward is through the “command”. Proper action leads to proper living which leads to self-transformation. Too often we wait for the right mood to do the right thing. This is the state of being lost. Stage one – ignoring. Stage 2, force yourself, command and commit to a Mitzvah. Stage 3, do the Mitzvah (especially when you are not in the mood). This is the path to finding your purpose, finding yourself. Stage 4: You cannot ignore. Self-transformation.

(Based on Alshich, thanks to Rabbi Immanuel Bernstein)

Shoftim: Absorb This

Fri, 29 Aug 2025 4:40:00 PM

We are living in interesting times, as the Chinese “blessing” goes. Are you looking for a little refuge?

This week's Torah portion, Shoftim, talks about the cities of refuge. If one had committed manslaughter, they were to flee to a City of Refuge, where they would be safe from their pursuers. Torah study is also compared to a city of refuge, and the Talmud relates that the words of Torah, the study of Torah, and the preoccupation with Torah act as a refuge.

This will become clear as we examine the Hebrew word for refuge, MIKLAT. It means a place of absorption. You are absorbed and protected within it. Similarly, when we study Torah, we are absorbed within its aura, within its sanctity. At the very same time that we are being absorbed by the Torah, as our mind grasps the concepts, we are absorbing the Torah. This mutual absorption is really a unique unifying experience between the person and the Divine wisdom. And this ontological unity is the very nature of the refuge.

We are now in the month of Elul, the month of preparation for the High Holy Days. Our Rabbis have taught that the letters of this month allude to various verses from the Torah that guide us in this preparation. One of these allusions is the verse: “Ena L’yado Usamti Lach.” As you can see, it spells ELUL. The verse is referring to bad stuff happening, and G-d providing for us the place of refuge. This verse empowers us to increase our Torah study in this special month.

We protect it, we cherish it, we lift it, and we keep it in our most sacred space.

It protects and cherishes us; it lifts us and keeps us in its most sacred space. Pull it off the shelf, place it on your table. And create a seven-minute refuge each day. You're welcome.

Re’eh: Believing is Seeing

Fri, 22 Aug 2025 4:40:00 PM

Picture this. You are on a glorious hike with verdant hills behind you, a golden meadow in front of you. You look down and you see a piece of trash. Litter, gasp. So what do you see? Do you see careless teens that care not about the beauty of nature? Have you judged other groups of people, or perhaps children with parents who cannot adequately supervise them? Or perhaps what you see is a society with twisted capitalism that creates too many disposable materials. Or perhaps, you see nothing at all.

Maybe what you see is a G-d-given opportunity to make this world a more beautiful place by picking up the litter and throwing it away.

What we see is intrinsically connected to what we believe. Our beliefs greatly influence what we see. In this week's Torah portion, Re’eh, we are given the ultimate vision challenge. “See, I give to you this day a blessing and a curse. (Deut. 11:26)

Every situation is G-d-given, and we have a choice to make. This very choice is a gift that is granted to us by the Infinite Oneness of existence. This belief transforms our life; it transforms what we see, what we perceive, and thus it shifts our purpose. I

As the verse continues, “The blessing, if you obey the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you this day. The curse, if you will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside from the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which you have not known.” (Deut. 11:27-28)

The sacred Mitzvot are a pathway to understand that everything, every situation in life is intrinsically connected to my purpose. Our belief compels us to see every situation as an opportunity to improve myself, or to improve the situation. Through the Mitzvah path, we are granted the ability to weave our life into the Oneness of All.

Or, we can turn to the other gods. What other gods mean is that we shift the responsibility to a different entity. We do not take any personal responsibility, there's nothing here that is connected to me, “the gods have willed it.” It is the ultimate form of removing any responsibility, accountability, and thus purpose from our own life. “Other gods” are the source of division, discord, and strife.

The choice that we are granted is a profound gift. Through these verses of the Torah, we are empowered to see the potential blessing in life, and to draw this Light into the reality of the world.

Blesssing and curse in all that we see

Eikev: Pharaoh’s Heart

Fri, 15 Aug 2025 4:39:00 PM

Sometimes, a fabricated story can sway more minds than the truth. We are moved by a good story. You can speak to your friend, an intelligent person, and they wholeheartedly believe the story being told by known liars and manipulators! Anti-Semites used to have to think about what story to concoct in order for it to be credible and to gain traction. Today, they have perfected the formula, simply take the horrific and inhumane acts committed by themselves and apply it to the Jews. The world eats it up.

I was horrified by what occurred on October 7th. However, it was not surprising, since I had read the Hamas Charter and was well aware of their intentions. But what happened on October 8^th astonished me entirely, that after such a heinous act, thousands of students would start marching in support of Hamas. This, I could not believe.

The illogical history of Antisemitism has a particular clue that might give us some insight and hope. The Torah tells the story of one of the first antisemites, Pharaoh. If you read the story in Exodus, he seems entirely unreasonable. Plague after bloody plague, he maintains his position. But even before Moses goes on his journey to redeem the Jewish People, G-d tells him: “When you go to return to Egypt, see that you do all those wonders before Pharaoh, which I have put in your hand; but I will harden his heart, so that he shall not let the people go.”

Pharaoh's illogical and unbelievable position was rooted in something much deeper. G-d had a glorious plan of salvation. And the precursor to that salvation was this illogical antisemitism that seemed to be a disservice not just to the Jewish people, but even to Pharaoh and his country.

The absurd narrative is simply a setup for amazing things to come. Right now, it is hard to stomach. But we know the end of the story: “May they who dwell isolated in a woodland surrounded by farmland, graze Bashan and Gilead as in olden days. I will show him great wonders as in the days when you went out from the land of Egypt.” (Micha 7:14-15)

Va-etchanan: Nazdarovya

Fri, 8 Aug 2025 4:01:00 PM

Is there a Mitzvah to take care of your health? You can research it, do a deep dive in Halachic material, contact a rabbinic expert, or you can do what I did! Just Google it. And this is the answer provided: “Yes, taking care of one's health is considered a mitzvah (commandment) in Judaism. This is based on the verse in Deuteronomy 4:9, "And you shall guard yourselves (your souls) very carefully," which Jewish tradition interprets as a directive to protect both body and soul.” (See Tamud Brachot 32b)

It seems pretty straight forward until you look at the context of the verse. The verses are recounting the Divine revelation of G-d to the Jewish People at Sinai. “The day you stood before Hashem, your God, at Choreiv, when Hashem said to me, ‘‘Assemble for Me the people, and I will let them hear My statements, … Hashem addressed you from within the fire; you heard the sound of speech, seeing no image, solely sound. He told you His covenant, which He commanded you to fulfill—the ten statements—and He wrote them on two tablets of stone…And you shall guard yourselves (your souls) very carefully for you did not see any image on the day Adonoy addressed you at Choreiv from within the fire. Lest you destructively make for yourselves a statue in the image of any form. (Deut. 4:12-17)

The phrase is clearly telling us that we must avoid the human tendency to take something abstract (G-d) and turn it into something concrete (an idol). How does this have anything to do with taking care of our health? Could Jewish law be in error? Even worse, is Google wrong?

Let’s take a deep look into the story and uncover something remarkable about yourself. The Torah is telling us that we heard G-d, we did not see Him. Furthermore, something must be “guarded within our soul”. Perhaps what the Torah is emphatically stating here is that the Divine Revelation does become manifest into something physical. G-d becomes expressed within our very soul. Thus, our body becomes the vehicle for the Divine. “Your souls shall be guarded very carefully,” to maintain the Shechinah that resides within. 3,300 years later we have the Holy opportunity to live our life in a way so that Hashem’s presence is revealed within us. Creating an icon or image would diminish our unique distinction and purpose.

And since our body is the container for this sacred reality, we must take care of our health, for our sake, and for G-d's sake.

Devarim: From Bonkers to Zion

Fri, 1 Aug 2025 3:44:00 PM

This past Wednesday marked my brother's Yahrzeit. David, Alav Hashalom, traversed this planet through many personal challenges. If things did not work out in one place, he would eventually pick himself up and travel to another location. Upon his return to Marin after one of these attempted escapes, he lamented to me, “You know I thought things would be different in the new location, but wherever I went, there I was.”

Change yourself, and your location will automatically be transformed.

In this week's Torah portion, Devarim, we are told of non-geographic locations. Instead of marking where the Jewish People were, these locations described where they were at.

“These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on this side of the Jordan in the wilderness, in the Arabah opposite the Red Sea, between Paran, and Tofel, and Lavan, and Hazeroth, and Dizahab.” (Deut. 1:1) Rashi comments: “Rabbi Yochanan said: We searched through all of Scripture and did not find any place named Tofel or Lavan. Rather, it means that he rebuked them for having maligned the manna, which is white (לָבָן), by saying: “and we are weary of this light bread!” And also, for what they did in the Paran Desert in the incident of the spies.”

Location is not solely a spatial phenomenon. Where we are is determined by our geographic coordinates, and more importantly, by our emotional and spiritual coordinates. (Many years ago, I was trying to put my daughter to sleep. After many failed attempts and much frustration, I looked at her and said, “You are driving me bonkers!” My four-year-old daughter turned up her wide brown eyes and replied, “Tatty, where is Bonkers?” All of my frustration evaporated.)

There is another such location for the Jewish People. It is a long-awaited destination and fulfillment of our collective Jewish dreams and aspirations. This place is Zion. The Haftarah of this week is the beginning of the book of Isaiah. The paragraph concludes (paraphrased and elucidated): “Zion is redeemed through divine alignment — the soul’s clarity in discerning truth. And those who return to her are uplifted by the flow of sacred giving and holy repair.” (Isaiah 1:27)

Tziyon is the essential spiritual center of the Jewish people. It is presently located right inside of you.

Metzuyan!

Now, I hadn’t come to become a Shliach [Chabad-Lubavitch emissary]. I’d come to ask a few simple questions, and all of a sudden he was challenging me. So I did the English thing. You know, the English can construct sentences like nobody else, you know? They can construct more complex excuses for doing nothing, than anyone else on earth. (laughter)

So I started the sentence, "In the situation in which I find myself..." – and the Rebbe did something which I think was quite unusual for him, he actually stopped me in mid-sentence. He says, "Nobody finds themselves in a situation; you put yourself in a situation. And if you put yourself in that situation, you can put yourself in another situation."

That moment changed my life.

Triskaidekaphobia

Tue, 1 Jan 2013 3:19:00 AM

The irrational fear of the number 13. Or is it? As we now enter the year 2013, and we will be frequently reminded of this prime number, I figured it would be a good time to share the breathtaking view of this special number according to Kabbalah.

The usual number of import is twelve. There are the twelve tribes who are the progenitors of the Jewish People, twelve months of the year, and a plethora of twelve imagery throughout the Torah.

Kabbalistically, there are four letter in the Divine Name, three unique letters. Thus we have twelve permutations. The twelve permutations become translated spatially as a box, which has 12 vectors. Four lines of the square on top, four lines on the bottom square, and four lines that connect them.

This is the first template for space as we know it - 3D. A similar expansion occurs with time as the 12 months of the year are generated.

If twelve symbolizes a box, well then, thirteen is that which is outside the box. (Hey, I think I should coin that!) It is a symbol for that which transcends reality as we know it. It is through this transcendent element that we can draw the Divine unity into the dimensions of space and time. The Hebrew word for one is EChaD, spelled Alef – Chet – Dalet. The numeric value of “Echad” is thirteen.

And finally, we have the most Divine sublime form of thirteen, and this is the “Thirteen attributes of mercy.” When a person falls away from the proper path, when one veers from the truth of their own inner core, one can arouse Divine mercy from the Source. These are the special attributes through which G-d shines His inner light upon our inner light to regenerate the bond between the finite human and the Infinite creator.

I hope I have cured your triskaidekaphobia.

With appreciation to Adam Singer. May his father, Avraham HaKohein ben Goldy, have a refuah shleimah.

All that glitters is gold

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 1:47:00 AM

Patina. That is my word for this week. Translation:

1. A green or brown film on the surface of bronze or similar metals, produced by oxidation over a long period.

2. A gloss or sheen on wooden furniture produced by age and polishing

Perhaps you have not heard about Patina; I had heard the word but didn't really know what it was. Apparently, when dealing with antiques rule #1: Don't touch the Patina. I was quite surprised that this was the case. I would think that you want to take that antique and make it shine. Rub off the old and let the new shine through! My brother informed me of a nice lady who brought in a nice polished antique piece to a dealer. "I can see you were up all night shining that piece." The women smiled at the acknowledgment. "I'll give you $25,000 for it. It is an extremely rare Frence piece. Had you not polished it, it would be worth $500,000."

We don't have adequate appreciation for old things. We have this urge to polish them and make them shiny. But removing the Patina has dire consequences of acutley devaluing the objects. Patina protects from further corrosion; in this way, the patina acts as a protection. When one removes this coating, they will unavoidably also remove some of the very fine details that lay underneath. Patina does not shine, rather, it reflects the authenticity and genuine nature of a rare and ancient piece.

Judaims has a thick layer of patina that surrounds it. It has been formed by centuries of experience, tears, devotion, love and awe. Underneath this patina is an ancient work called Torah. It is G-d's gift to the Jewish People, and through them, to all of humankind. It is delicate in its refinement, and precise in its symmetry and beauty. The crastmanship is beyond comparison and its ancient message is pentrating and profound.

We may sense this inner beauty of the Torah and have the urge to polish off the patina. We can make the Torah sparkle and shine so that all can see. We can rub off that film that people may not appreciate, we can scrub off the coarse signs of age that seem to conceal what is underneath. Rule #1 of dealing with antiques tells us an important and counter-intuitive idea: Don't touch the patina. Move yourself to appreciate the rare gift and the dull patina that surrounds it. You will find the authenticity curiously refreshing.