Dear Friends,
In our quest for liberty, the United States has definitely been a trailblazer for all things 'free'. Teaching all peoples with their actions how beautiful a world with freedom of speech, freedom of press and freedom of religion can be.
But just like power and money, freedom too, when put in the wrong hands can get to one's head.
Rare is the ruler who's abounding control doesn't induce his lust for more, or a burgeoning wallet comfortable with it's contents. Is freedom any different?
It seems that at the moment the guards are let down, the sky's the limit.
So, as free people, free to express ourselves as we are and treat our bodies as we see fit, do we have the right to die?
Dr. Jack Kevorkian or the Doctor of Death as he was widely known, took this on as his personal mission. His case was to help people in the hopes of ending their life. Usually tortured souls with terminal illnesses or wrought with depression. He felt for them and aided them in ending their misery.
There is definitely merit to his school of thought. However, merit alone does not give us the key to G-d's chambers. Just as G-d alone holds the key to life, He too is the only one that can determine when that life term is up.
As Torah Jews, we have many freedoms but perhaps the most critical is our freedom to choose between good and evil. Evil has its way of cloaking itself in 'white gloves', convincing us that this or that wrongdoing is not really so bad. Evil is so good at it, that sometimes it's actually hard to tell good and evil apart.
It is for this purpose that we have been created with two souls, the G-dly and the animalistic, so that we can recognize what is G-dly from what is not.
Aron blesses the Jewish people in this week's Torah portion and he says:
"May G-d bless you and keep you. May G-d make His face shine upon you, and give you grace. May G-d lift up His face to you and give you peace."
And they shall set My name upon the children of Israel; and I will bless them.
May G-d's face shine upon us always and give us the wisdom to separate good from evil and the understanding that true freedom has its limits.
This week:
Sunday, Schmooze Radio Show - The Great Debate - 1967 Borders: Borders of Peace or Borders of War? Rabbi Bruce Warshal, Publisher Emeritus of the Jewish Journal and Mr. William K. Langfan, outspoken supporter and philanthropist of Israel.
Tune in to Seaview Radio on 960 am 95.9 fm and 106.9 fm, 9:00 - 10:00am Sunday mornings.
Celebrate Shavuos at Chabad of Palm Beach Gardens. Wednesday 5:45 pm - Hear the ten commandments along with a decadent cheesecake and ice cream buffet.
Thursday we begin at 10:00 am followed by Yizkor at 11:00 am.
In observance of the holiday of Shavuos there will be no kaballah class next Thursday.
Don't let your kids lose touch with Judaism through the summer! Announcing our brand new Summer Youth Zone to be held on Tuesdays 5:00-6:00 pm. Get a good dose of Judaism with a good dose of summer fun!
May it be a wonderful Shabbat celebrated in true freedom,
Rabbi Dovid and Chana Vigler