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Is there such a thing as a bad Jew?

Friday, November 21, 2014 - 10:05 AM

Dear Friends,

'Rabbi, I'm a bad Jew'- How often do we hear modern Jews speak about themselves in self deprecating terms. But is there really such a thing as a 'Bad Jew'?

When Isaac our forefather grew old and blind, he wanted to bless one of his two sons with eternal blessings. He chose the Esau and sent him on a mission to bring him dinner before imparting the blessing upon him.

In a dramatic twist of the Torah portion this week, Rivka, Isaac's wise wife, sends the righteous Jacob in for the blessing. Concerned that the blind Isaac would realise that he was being duped, she dressed him in the clothes of Esau, so that Isaac eventually declared that the 'voice is the voice of Jacob but the hands are the hands of Esau'.

How interesting! Instead of adopting the age old tradition of Jewish wives criticising their husbands when they disagree with them, Rivkah goes to great lengths to deceive her husband by exploiting his blindness so that Jacob would receive the blessing instead of Esau! Why didn't she just talk to him?!

Our sages reveal to us that within Rivka's actions lie tremendous meaning and depth. As a yiddishe mame, she intuitively anticipated a day, far in the future, when her righteous Jacob, would indeed dress like the wild Esau. Instead of studying Torah and observing mitzvahs all day, she saw a Jacob far off in time that would live as the other nations, though deep inside he would remain Jacob.Indeed- Rivka forsaw the typical American Jew.

Rivka loved not just her openly righteous Jacob, but even the Jacob who would dress and behave like Esau. This is why she went to great lengths to ensure that the blessing Isaac gave to Jacob would impact him whilst he was dressed as Esau. In this way she ensured, that even when the American Jew would arrive on stage, he too would know that he was loved, accepted and embraced by our Yiddishe Mame.

A Jew is a Jew is always a Jew!

Good Shabbos

Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler

A Light Meditation

Monday, November 17, 2014 - 12:03 PM

History was made this week when a spacecraft from Earth was successfully landed on a Comet, 67P, after ten years and 4 billion miles travelled!!! There was just one problem: Apparently the spaceship landed in the shade and cannot recharge its batteries using solar power. Unless the scientists at the European Space Agency can work out a remote controlled solution, the billion Euro Project might just die.

In our Torah portion this week too, we find the theme of Light playing an important role. After Sarah passes, her son Yitzchak seeks a wife. It was only when he brought her into his mothers tent and saw the Shabbos Candles that she lit, that he knew that she was his bashert.

What's the connection between Light and Life?

Light is different to everything else in the Universe: With everything in the world,the more you give, the less you have. That applies to money, resources, time etc.

But not so with Light. If you share light with others, you are left with more, not less lightas the new candles enhances the light of the first one!

This is why we Jews use Candles so much: Shabbos and Holiday Candles, Yahrtzeit Candles, Chanukah Candles to name a few. As you light your Shabbos Candles tonight (5:12pm) meditate on this thought and try to be a better giver in your relationships. Like light, it will enhance your life!

Light reminds us not to be afraid to share with others, because it's sharing with others that will ultimately bring out the best in ourselves too, leading us to a life which is truly fulfilling!

Lets make this Shabbat, a Sabbat that's filled with Light!

Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler

A Torah Secret About Happiness

Monday, November 10, 2014 - 10:12 AM

Chabadniks are known to be ‘Happy Jews’. So its no surprise when a fellow once told me that he doesn’t enjoy being happy. He prefers to miserable. Its his nature to be more serious than frivolous. I told him: ‘its totally ok to be miserable….if that’s what make you happy!!’

We often think that happiness is a reward you collect when everything in your life is absolutely perfect. When you finish paying the mortgage on your third home, drive a Lexus and perfect your golf swing, you have reached happiness.

Indeed the English word ‘happy’ comes from the word hap, which means ‘luck’. When one experiences good fortune, one reaches happiness.

But Torah teaches us the opposite: Happiness is not a result of your environment, it’s actually the cause of it.

In the Psalms, King David exposes us to a deep mystical truth: ‘G-d is your shadow’ (Psalms 121:4) teaches us that like a shadow follows a person, so too does G-d mimic our mood. When we’re down, He sends us limited blessing (like sadness is lethargic and slow energy); when we’re happy, He sends us overflowing blessings (like joy is exciting, overflowing energy)!

In this week’s Torah Portion, we read the about G-d informing Abraham that he would sire a son, despite his old age. G-d makes sure to tell Abraham to name the boy ‘Yitzchak’ means laughter and happiness. Anticipating the cynicism they would face from within and without, G-d instructs them to be happy and to focus on positive energy as encapsulated by the name of their future son, so as to enable the extraordinary blessing to be fulfilled in actuality!

Indeed, modern science supports this ancient Jewish Truth as seen here – that happiness brings success. But Torah tells us why!

The message is inspiring and empowering. (Maybe that's why we had over 50 people at the first session our Happiness Seminar this week.): You hold the keys to your success. As long as you're happy, G-d will be your shadow and rain abundance and joy upon you too!!

Let's make it a really happy Shabbos!

Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler