The Music of Life - Beshalach/Shira

The Music of Life
Shabbat Shira - Parshat Beshalach

Imagine yourself hearing some fantastic news and you want to express that moment to your friend, you would probably say something like "it was music to my ears". The reason for this idiom is because music makes us happy and when we hear good news, we associate it with happiness and music.

In this week's Torah portion of Beshalach we read of three beautiful songs. First we read about the Shirat Hayam (song of the sea) which was sung by Moshe and the Jewish people after experiencing deliverance at the splitting of the sea. The Torah also describes the Shirat Miriam (Song of Miriam), where the great prophetess Miriam led the women in song and music. The third song is Shirat Devorah (song of Deborah) in the weekly Haftarah (Shoftim Ch. 4-5). In this song the great prophetess Devorah sings a song of thanks to Hashem for the salvation of Jewish people from Yavin King of Canaan and Sisra his general.

The juxta positioning of these three songs are purposeful. As this Shabbat is called Shabbat Shirah - the Shabbat of Song, our sages found it appropriate to dedicate the Haftarah to the theme of song as well.

But why the big deal about song? Should song or music really play such an important role in theology and faith?

The Kabbalah tells us "Music is the pen of the soul". It is for this reason that Niggun or Song plays such an important role in Judaism. Music allows us to take the negative and transform it into positive. In other words, music allows us to reach beyond words. Music is the expression of pure happiness and connectivity. That is why Niggun plays such an important role in our prayers, life cycle events and faith.

As we go through life and deal with our daily challenges and pressures, we often feel overwhelmed. Everyone has challenges. Everyone has moments of despair. We may even feel that there is nothing to smile about, let alone sing about.

While we cannot control our challenges, we can control our attitude and demeanor. So, we need to ask ourselves the following; what type of person am I going to be? When my child looks at me, what will they see?" Do they see a happy person? Do they see someone who loves Hashem? Do they see a person who sings a happy song or will they see a resentful and angry person. That is how our children will view their Judaism and form their outlook on life.

Make no mistake about it, Music has the power to transform and we just need to learn how to bring that music into our faith and lives.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Y. Marrus 

The Need to Win - Bo

The Need to Win
Parshat Bo

In this week's Torah portion we experience the final plagues and the actual Exodus from Egypt. As we have discussed in previous weeks, Pharaoh remains indignant and refuses to heed G-d's command. Pharaoh's behavior leaves us wondering WHY is he so stubborn? Doesn't he realize how he is essentially digging his own grave? Why won't he just give in? Of course, we know that while Pharaoh hardened his heart for the first five plagues, it was Hashem that hardened his heart during the last five. This was a punishment to Pharaoh, to have a taste of his own medicine, i.e., get what was coming to him.

But let's try to get inside Pharaoh's head for a minute. He did after all have legitimate reasons for not wanting to let the Jewish people go. They were a massive part of his economy, providing free labor to his kingdom. Additionally, as a king that had a healthy dose of pride, he didn't want to be viewed as a pushover or a weak ruler. And finally, just because times get tough and challenging should he really throw in the towel? Is that what strong leaders and kings do?

In Jewish Mysticism and Chassidic Philosophy there is a great deal of talk about the G-dly attributes called the Sefirot. One of these Sefirot is Netzach, which means Endurance or Victory. This attribute manifests itself in the human being as the desire to be successful, win, and be victorious over our enemies and challengers. In fact, the greater the individual, the greater the potential, the more this Middah (character trait) becomes activated. As we see in every day life, successful people have a very healthy dose of personal ambition and drive. That is a natural and G-d ordained phenomenon, not necessarily a bad thing.

The real philosophical question in life is, what is the proper balance between being extremely motivated and the desire to win, and the need to make room for others and sometimes stand down? By the same token, being a pushover and not standing up to challenge is also detrimental to our overall development and lives.

The answer lies in the first words of our Parshah "And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying Bo El Paraoh"" (Exodus 10:1). The Hebrew words "Bo El Paroh" do not mean "Go to Pharaoh" but "Come to Pharaoh". According to our commentaries, G-d was telling Moshe "I will go with you and stand at your side". The message to Moshe was that Hashem would be at his side, helping him, encouraging him, supporting him, and making his mission a success. It is our connection to Hashem, that gives us our morality and direction in life.

As we parent our own children, we are sometimes faced with similar challenges. How do we balance healthy personalities and sense of self with not being overly pushy, gregarious and making room to listen to others and sometimes recognize that we are in the wrong and need to change our behavior?

The Torah perhaps is telling us, that when you are connected to a higher source, and you regularly self-check your attitudes and ambitions against what Hashem has to say, you will stay balanced. This is the reason why having a Torah/Spiritual mentor is so important. It is not because we are weak, but rather, because unchecked Netzach (sense of Endurance and Victory) is a very powerful force and can be used for extreme goodness, or G-d forbid the opposite.

Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Y. Marrus 

Abracadabra-The Magic of Life - Va'era

Abracadabra - The Magic of Life

Parshat Va'era

Our weekly Torah portion discusses how Pharaoh refuses to heed Hashem's command "let my people go" and is now faced with retribution, in the form of the Ten Plagues.

When looking closely at the the dialogue between Moshe and Pharaoh we see something interesting. Moshe is told by Hashem to perform "signs" before Pharaoh and his court, to demonstrate G-d's power. Indeed, when Pharaoh asks for a sign, Moshe tells Aaron to throw his staff to the ground and it turns into a snake. Pharaoh is unimpressed with the magic trick, and has the Egyptian magicians and sorcerers do the same. Egypt was after all the center of sorcery and Pharaoh essentially tells him "are you going to bring coals to New Castle"? Yet, as the story unfolds the Torah tells us (Exodus 12:7) "Each cast down his staff and they became snakes; and the staff of Aaron swallowed their staffs".

Pharaoh in unmoved by the signs. He is convinced they are but an illusion or powerful magic.

The commentaries offer different opinions on this episode. Rashi (France 1040-1105) and the Mizrachi (Ottoman Empire 1455-1525) explain that Aaron's staff first turned back into a staff and only then swallowed the other staffs. This was to show Pharaoh that it was not a magic trick as it was out of nature (even in the nature of magic). The Ibn Ezra (Spain 1089-1167) explains that Pharaoh was not impressed as he thought it was just a more powerful magic than his sorcerers were able to perform.

What's the fascination with magic? Why do children and adults alike so enjoy the magic acts and illusions of the likes of  David Copperfield or Harry Houdini? Is it the excitement of the unknown or perhaps the thrill of seeing the impossible. Or perhaps, the amazement at the illusions that our eyes and minds are subject to?

A couple of years back, I had one of the most powerful moments of my life. It came as my wife and I walked our eldest daughter to the Chuppah (marriage ceremony). I was overcome with pride and gratitude. I started falling apart internally. It was a crushing moment of emotions and thanks to Hashem for all His wonderful blessings. It was a beautiful ceremony and a magical moment.

I was caught off guard by it and it left me processing for many months afterwards. I wondered to myself "when all our guests saw our daughter, the beautiful and radiant bride, what did they see? Can they possibly see the decades of love, sweat, tears, hopes, aspirations, worry and joy? No, I concluded, they see a beautiful bride, but they don't see work and dedication that brought us to this point. In other words, they enjoy the magic trick and excitement of the moment, but they don't really understand or see what's behind it all.

Education is not magic. Raising kids is not a trick (though we may wish it was sometimes). It requires incredibly hard work, perseverance and dedication. It takes years and decades to realize the gains we are hoping for. There are many bumps and detours along the road and sometimes our GPS system doesn't seem to be working at the exact moment when we need it most. The illusion of a perfect life, perfect spouse, perfect family, and perfect kids, is exactly that, an illusion.  Illusions or magic tricks are something that you purchase a ticket for the show, have the wow moment and then go home. Real life and education is the constant work and toil, day in and day out. Teachers and educators get that. It is about the small, seemingly insignificant steps; day after day, semester after semester. It really does all add up in the end.

Perhaps, G-d was trying to impress on Pharaoh that in life, magic or an illusion is nice for Vegas show or for a TV special. But to reap the blessings of life and achieve the Nachas (joy) we desire so much, it's actually really hard work and we need G-d's blessings and guidance. It just isn't magic.

Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Y. Marrus 

Heroic Nourishment - Shemot

Heroic Nourishment
Parshat Shemot

The new book of Shemot-Exodus begins with the story of servitude and pain in Egypt. We are introduced to Pharaoh's cruel edicts with his decree on baby boys. The Torah states (Exodus 1:16) "When you deliver the Hebrew women and you see on the birthstool; if it is a son, you are to kill him, and if it is a daughter, she shall live". The Hebrew midwives Shifra (Yocheved) and Puah (Miriam) risked their lives and disobeyed Pharaoh's command (Exodus 1:17) "But the midwives feared Hashem and they did not do as the king of Egypt spoke to them, and they caused the boys to live".

The bravery of these two women saved countless lives. But there is more to the story. They didn't just allow the boys to live. The Talmud (Sotah 11b) explains that not only did they save the boys from infanticide but they actively helped the mothers and provided nourishment, support and whatever was needed to help these children grow into healthy children. According to the Midrash, it was these children that grew up to be righteous and were the ones that exclaimed "This is my G-d" at the Kriat Yam Suf-Splitting of the Sea. In other words, the midwives ensured a proper and healthy environment for these children to grow into functional, healthy and spiritually sensitive adults. 

Conversely, when Pharaoh told the midwives to "allow the daughters to live" he had a more sinister plan in mind explains the Lubavitcher Rebbe (1902-1994 Russia/US). His intention was to have the Jewish girls assimilate and be raised as Egyptians. This was in a certain sense even worse than physical death!

We learn an important lesson in education and parenting form this story. The responsibility of parents and educators is not just to teach subjects, do well academically, or make sure that kids don't kill each other. It is about educating, raising and providing the proper environment and support for a child to grow into a functional, healthy and spiritual adult. It is a "whole child, SOUL" education. 

The environment and support for the values we want our children to grow up with is just as important and maybe even more important than the textual studies provided. The heroic midwives risked their lives for this, standing up to the most powerful man in the world.

Just like Shifra and Puah, our heroines of Egypt, we must be ready to do everything necessary to ensure and even sacrifice "so that our children will live". This is why we invest so much time, money and effort into creating Jewish environments and schools for our children. It is not enough for our children to survive, we want them to thrive.

Shabbat Shalom