darkness - Shluchim.org
Transcription
darkness - Shluchim.org
בס״ד how to defeat darkness feature: White Russian Chanukah A Modern Day Miracle Psychoneuroimmunology Exclusive Interview with Dr. Arnie Gotfryd Celebrity Chef’s Latke This Years Top 8 Chanukah Events The iJew Community Meet Rabbi Pickle inside: holiday guide inside farbrengen Dedicated to the love and inspiration of the Lubavitcher Rebbe Winter 5770/2009 Volume 12 | Issue 2 a little nosh for the soul how to defeat on the cover: darkness feature: darkness’ last stand against...you. Pyschoimmunology In all my time as editor of Pyschoimmunology this magazine, I’ve never Pyschoimmunology seen the world so dark. Pyschoimmunology review | products soul market what’s new in review a Modern day Chanukah Miracle Send us your comments to [email protected] exclusive Interview with dr. arnie gotfryd exclusive Interview with dr. arnie gotfryd have internet, will eat exclusive Interview with dr. arnie gotfryd exclusive Interview with dr. arnie gotfryd I remember the Rebbe once said that darkness is most intense right before day break. And we’re all looking forward to the sunrise of that New Day. That’s why this issue is our light issue. It’s not so much about light as it is about our light hero. Come on, we all have a hero. Hero worshipers have the gamut covered from Babe Ruth to Bill Gates. But, in our global search of a hero I think our generation now seeks a kind of heroism that has nothing to do with bats and balls or pennies and dimes. It’s the heroism of beating the darkness. Keeping that little flame you have inside and letting it shine away the darkness. Our hero on the cover is the guy who knows that any journey may be his last, that danger lurks everywhere, yet he does not break down. Our hero is the one who was told “You’ll never make it,” yet, with a little candle in his hand he pushes forward. Our hero conquers his will, is slow to anger, and maintains his focus. This issue is all about you. Yes, you the reader, you are our warrior of light. You are our hero and we salute you. inside: NOW THERE IS A KOSHER DELI IN YOUR LIVING ROOM holIday guIde InsIde Your biggest fan, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Editor About the photographer Levi Tenenbaum: Levi is an award winning photographer currently based in Los Angeles California. Having completed both Yeshivah and studies in photography, he fuses his Talmudic talents with his savvy photographer’s eye. His artistic direction? “Reality is where I live every day. Composing hyper-real imagery allows me to live beyond those restrictions.” >> EDITOR IN CHIEF: Rabbi Chaim N. Cunin EDITOR: Rabbi Shmuel Marcus Distribution: Rabbi Avraham Green MANAGING EDITOR: Rachel Moss COPY EDITORS: Ita Marcus, Lisa Burstein CONTRIBUTING EDITORS: Dr. Arnie Gotfryd, Dr. Ben Sherman, Rabbi Shmuel Marcus, Eli Marcus, Sarah Lehat, Miriam Lieberman, Rachel Moss EDITORIAL CONSULTANTS: Rabbi Levi Cunin (Jay Leno’s Rabbi), Jared Sundell, Yosef Marcus ART DIRECTOR & DESIGN: Nechama Marcus contact: [email protected] COVER PHOTOGRAPHY: Levi Tenenbaum contributing ARTISTS: Marc Lumer, Sarah Lehat SPECIAL THANKS TO: Uri, Dina, Natan, Yitzchak, Moshe and Gilana Sara Pikover for continuing the Rebbe’s Farbrengen. Website: www.farbrengen.com ©2010 by Chabad of California All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce any portion of Farbrengen in any form, without prior written permission from the publisher, except by a reviewer who wishes to quote brief passages Printed in the USA food {our staff’s favorite} rye bread pastrami smoked turkey dijon mustard mayonnaise lettuce kosher pickles tomatoes Remember to heat up your meat and toast the bread slightly. brought to you by... The Kosher Pickle Factory is co-sponsored by a grant from the OK Kosher Certification (the OK). Today, among the world’s most respected kosher symbols, the OK has established a sterling reputation with uncompromising integrity. With more than 10 million consumers seeking kosher products in the United States alone, the OK has attracted such food giants and products as Kraft, ConAgra, Keebler, Snapple and Perrier. Companies recognize the OK’s proprietary kosher technology as cutting edge, enabling superior customer service. The Kosher Pickle Factory hopes to educate and entertain all while keeping it kosher. More at www.ok.org. ic editor's cho e Where did the classic old Jewish butcher go? You know, the one who knew you by name and always smelled of smoked turkey? The happy man from Eastern Europe who taught you how to use the brisket? This old man now lives in a Miami high-rise, but don't worry, he set up a user friendly website koshermeatstore.com, and he has the meats cut just the way you like it. Fresh deli comes to your door no matter where you live. There are hundreds of items from Beef, Veal, Lamb, Chicken, Turkey, and Deli, all online with images you can view and almost smell. The new virtual kosher butcher cuts every piece of meat fresh just for you, as soon your order is placed. My personal favorite is that koshermeatstore.com has absolutely no minimum order requirements and the butcher won't ask, "So, when you going to get married?" Try some smoked turkey at www.koshermeatstore.com. meet rabbi pickle on kosher awareness & traveling half-sours Here is some news from the world of Kosher Pickles you weren't expecting. What could be new about half sours and full sours? Try munching on this. A Rabbi Pickle is on a mission to teach thousands of people across the world how to keep kosher. With thousands of products going kosher each year, "You're already eating more kosher than you think," says a Rabbi Pickle. The flagship product of the Rabbi, is his traveling Kosher Pickle Factory where he demonstrates how to make a pickle while exploring the secrets of the kosher diet and why it's so important for your soul and spiritual health. Find a kosher workshop near you at www.rabbipickle.com THE KING OF KOSHER MUNCHIES Let me introduce you to the new kosher snack that has just hit shelves in the United States: Mr. Wheat. Don’t let the formal name scare you; this rice cake alternative knows how to party. Try Mr. Wheat’s Crispy Wheat Sea Salt its high in fiber yet not heavy at snack time. The nutritious whole-grain snack has become my favorite. Find Mr. Wheat’s Crispy Wheat at your local kosher market or visit www.mrwheat.com. judaica TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE CHASID My First Niggunim is a masterpiece for the baby in the stroller and for those pushing the stroller. Classical chasidic melodies come to life through tinkering bells and airy harps. Master pianist Yaron Gershovsky is joined by sweet fluttering flutes and dancing fiddles, as the meditative and transcendent qualities of niggunim come through with each instrument thoughtfully chosen for its gentleness, grace, and charm, encouraging relaxation, comfort, and hopefully a little sleep, since it is nap time. My First Niggunim Audio CD is sold at www.chabadmusic.com. Artist: Benny Friedman // Album Title: Taamu // in stores In today’s Jewish music scene we’ve discovered a new artist named Benny Friedman. The debut album is titled Taamu and it is a form of chasidic music that fuses the most up-to-date recording abilities and a young soulful chasidic singer. And that makes for easy listening, yet upbeat, overall fun. If you’re new to modern chasidic music this is a great start. The influences from the king of chasidic music, his uncle Avraham Fried, are apparent. The album also features some new composers including 8th Day, who’s title song is by far my favorite. Check out Benny’s album at www.bennysmusic.com. new music Send us your new albums, products or any other soul findings to [email protected] cover | feature Rabbi Menachem Mendel of Lubavitch (1789-1866), once said: Light vs evil “The mandate of the whole of Creation is stated almost immediately. They translate it as ‘Let there be light’. Instead, read, ‘It should become Light.’ Meaning that all the world --even the darkness-- should become a source of light and wisdom.” -“365 Meditations,” Tzvi Freeman Read online book on chabad.org by Dr. Ben Sherman The Baal Shem Tov loved light. “Once, the students of the Baal Shem Tov had only a single candle and, despite their efforts, could not obtain any more. // “When the Baal Shem Tov entered the room, he told his disciples to go outside and collect the icicles that hung from the roof. He then I f you’re anything like me, than you want light to win over darkness. You want to laugh as the villain goes down in a ball of fire. You want to see the H1N1 virus stopped and done with. So, how do we lovers of light beat the darkness? What do I mean by darkness? Well, darkness can come in many colors and sizes. It could be the failed job interview. The overdrawn bank account. The nagging in-law from Jersey. The sharp pain in your lower back. Or perhaps, it’s just that funny sound coming from the kitchen sink. So how do we beat these sudden attacks of darkness? It may be simpler then you think. A wise man once told me “sometimes all you need to do is shed new light on it and somehow, life’s greatest challenges are quickly transformed into, exactly that, life’s greatest challenges.” To begin, you’ll first need to shed a new light on your personal darkness. My personal trainer reminds me every Tuesday morning at 6am that muscle is only created with resistance. Profound, no? Imagine if you were trained to view each life-resistance as a spiritual pushup? Perhaps, the burn of a failed job interview will only embolden you and make you an emotional heavyweight ready to grab yet a better job? Spiritual seekers have long sought out the secret to beating darkness. There’s even a chapter in the Tanya, (the chasidic classic known as the bible of Chabad philosophy written by Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812) that could have been titled “How to instructed them to arrange the ‘ice candles’ about the room and light them. The ice burned like wax, flooding the room with light.” // Rabbi Menachem Mendel fell silent. Then, with a note of yearning in his voice, he said: “For the Baal Shem Tov’s chassidim, ice burned and yielded light. Today’s chassidim sit in well-heated and well-lighted rooms, and yet it is cold and dark...” knock-out your inner darkness in three nique to master, nor a goal to achieve, short rounds.” Here’s a direct quote: nor even a state to surrender to. It’s “When two people wrestle, each trying what we are at our core. We can always to throw down the other, if one of them hear our tiny voice of hope, by virtue of moves with sloth and lethargy, he will our own inner life force and soul that is be easily defeated even if he is stronger truly a part of G-d. Even the darkness than his fellow. So, too, in battling one’s knows that it is actually there just to own darkness, one can prevail over it ... be beaten. but only with alacrity that comes from a As a lamplighter, you never know joyous heart that is free from any worry what light you’ll set off in someone or sadness.” else’s mind. Like they say, a smile is It’s pretty clear that you’ll need a poscontagious. itive outlook before you strap on those Ben Sherman is a family physician living in gloves. So, how do you free yourself of Mission Viejo, CA. Sherman is a staff writer for Farbrengen Magazine. worry or sadness when life is bringing you down? Now that you are a spiritual boxer you’ll need to focus carefully. When a camera a fool-proof guide focuses on the wrong object, to being life-proof it puts all the truly important Tip #18 on achieving happiness things in a blur. Your trainer courtesy of the Chasidic masters. is going to want to make sure Once, a crying man came to the holy that you’re focused on all the Maggid of Mezeritch in hopes of finding a good things going on right solution on how to deal with his suffering. now in your life, and on how The Rebbe suggested that the man visit his much more real and endurdisciple Reb Zushe. ing they are than that funny The man arrived at Reb Zushe’s bare sound that’s coming from and almost empty home and Reb Zushe under the sink. For example, welcomed him in happily. The visitor when the pain in your back couldn’t think of anyone who suffered starts taking center stage in more hardship in his life than did Reb Zuyour life you better hit your sha: a frightful pauper, there was never inner auto focus key in your enough to eat in Reb Zusha’s home, and mind, and flip through some his family was beset with all sorts of affamily photos or take a walk flictions and illnesses. Yet, Reb Zushe was in the park. Do whatever it always happy and cheerful, and constantly takes to get that smile back expressing his gratitude to the Al-mighty on your face before the darkfor all His kindness. ness gives you a body slam. But what was is his secret? How does According to the chasidhe do it? The visitor finally decided to ic masters, darkness never reveal the reason for his visit and that really had a chance. The took Reb Zushe by surprise. “Why did our founder of Chabad wrote Rebbe send you to me?” He asked. “How that our soul is “literally a would I know? He should have sent you to part of G-d.” So light or joy, someone who has experienced suffering...” ultimately, is not a tech- holiday | best events Chabad Magazine’s Top 8 Chanukah Events Dec. 10, 2009 6:00pm Thursday in Virginia Chanukah party Pentagon Row (Outdoor Rink) Admission: $10 in advance, $12 at the door. Includes skate rental. Food sold separately. (*In case of heavy rain, rink will be closed.) www.chabadaa.org From the estimated 7,122 public Menorahs that will be lit in approximately 50 countries this year, we chose only 8. You can find the other 7,114 events at virtualchanukah.com. Dec. 13, 2009 4:00pm Sunday in San Antonio Chanukah On The River a much-anticipated annual event will be staged at the beautiful downtown San Antonio riverfront area for a menorah boat ride, menorah lighting and Chanukah concert with world famous Chasidic rock group 8th Day. www.chabadsa.com Friday Dec. 11 6:00pm Shabbat in New York Come see the world’s largest menorah. Located in Manhattan, the 32-foot high, gold colored 4,000 pound steel structure is a symbol of light in the city that doesn’t sleep. The lighting will occur at 5:00p.m. on 5th Avenue and 59th Street, by Central Park, between the Plaza and the Pierre Hotels. www.rijewish.org www.lubavitchyouth.org Dec. 12, 2009 7:00pm Saturday Night in New York Chanukah kiosk, Kosher food, discounted tickets, lots of Chanukah fun. www.chabadwesthempstead.org Dec. 11-18, 2009, tba chanukah in your house The Guide Dec. 14, 2009 5:00pm Monday in NYC Menorah lighting at one of America’s oldest structures, the Blackwell House on Roosevelt Island which dates back to 1796. Check out one of New York’s hidden gems while enjoying a fresh doughnut at the Menorah Lighting at the Blackwell House at 6pm. Chabad of West Hempstead will be lighting a giant Menorah on the ice between periods at the NHL hockey game NY Islanders vs Boston Bruins. Game starts at 7:00pm. Chanukah, feel the heat date Dec. 15, 2009 location Miami Heat Game time 7:30 pm Join the NBA for a little Chanukah game when the Miami Heat take on the visiting Toronto Raptors at the famous American Airlines Arena (601 Biscayne Blvd Miami, FL 33132) It’s the Chabad’s Jewish Heritage Night and you’ll enjoy a Concert and Menorah Lighting. Kosher Food will be on hand for purchase. www.jewishheritagenight.com Dec. 15, 2009, 5:00pm Tuesday in Houston It’s another NBA menorah lighting when the Houston Rockets play the Detroit Pistons at the Toyota Center in Houston. Hot Latkes and Hands-on Activities will make this show a slam dunk. www.chabadhouston.org Join your family for your own special Chanukah Menorah Lighting. Be sure to play some dreidel and give the kids some Chanukah gelt. See holiday guide for more info. Did Chanukah happen years ago or is it happening right now? Looking at the events today, you start to wonder. The story of a little light pushing away an empire of darkness, human sensibility defying terror and brute force, life and growth overcoming destruction—the battle is very much alive within each of us, and in the world outside of us. The victory of light over darkness is the cosmic mega drama—the ongoing story of all that is. This victory occurs at every winter solstice and at the dawn of each day. It is found in every decision to do good in the face of evil, to be kind where there is cruelty and to build where others destroy. Chanukah is more than a holiday; it is an eight-day spiritual journey. In this tradition, we present Chanukah in a New Light. Many people know the story of Chanukah, the triumph of a small group of Jews who challenged their Greek oppressors and a little oil that miraculously kindled the lights of the menorah for eight days. The spirit of Chanukah is experienced when we apply its joy, warmth and light to our lives— not only in our homes with our loved ones, but with the entire world. 175 BCE Alexander the Great was the leader of the Greek Empire who by the age of 21 had conquered most of the known world. He respected the Jews. He didn’t want to wage war against tiny Judea; he only required heavy taxes. The Talmud details many conversations that young Alexander had with the Jewish Sages, many of whom traveled to Greece to tutor royalty. After Alexander’s death, the Greek empire was split into three territories: Greece, Egypt and Syria. In 175 B.C.E., Antiochus IV rose to power over the Syrian territories, which included Israel. The Syrian Greeks, called Seleucids, were not interested in co-existence, but in assimilation. The Talmud, the Book of the Maccabees, Josephus and other works detail the events of Chanukah. Antiochus IV sent his ministers to force Greek culture on the people of Israel. Most Jews conformed. What else could they do against the might of the empire? The Zohar says of this period: “The Greeks darkened the eyes of Israel with their decrees.” The festival of Chanukah is about light overcoming darkness. Our world is currently experiencing a particularly dark time. We have become apprehensive, even about opening the letters in our mailbox. Our sons, daughters, friends and neighbors are halfway around the world, fighting an enemy that has no borders. “The soul of man is a lamp of G-d” (Proverbs 23:27). Our challenge, whether we are on the front lines or fighting rush hour at home, is to bring light into the world. The reason the Chanukah candles are lit after nightfall is to remind us that even in our darkest moments, we have the potential to illuminate if we kindle a flame. Spiritual Annihilation Antiochus IV, called Epiphanies (the Illustrious) by his friends and Epimanes (the Madman) by his enemies, did not build ghettos, force conversions or set out to annihilate the Jewish people, as Pharaoh or Nebuchadnezzar had plotted before him. Neither did he intend to destroy their culture. Instead, he outlawed the observance of specific mitzvot (Divine actions), predicting that when the Jews would cease to observe these precepts, it would lead to the end of Judaism as a unique religion and nation. He wanted the Jews to be just another conquered tribe. And so, he declared war against their souls. The Greeks were great philosophers. They acknowledged the mitzvot as part of a great culture, and the Torah as a great work of Jewish literature. What they would not tolerate was that “G-d, Creator of the Universe, ordained the practice of these mitzvot.” In the words of the prayer recited on Chanukah, the Greeks set out to have the Jews forget “[G-d’s] Torah,” and to cease observing “[G-d’s] commandments.” Whenever we do a mitzvah, we become G–d’s autograph on His masterpiece, declaring for all that this is not a jungle where the strong devour the weak. It is a beautiful garden, filled with the light of its Creator. War and Peace Hellenism, the Greek culture, meant accepting its pagan gods and Greek philosophy. Jews who were sympathetic to the Hellenistic view quickly gained power and prominence. But many Jews remained loyal to their beliefs. Eliezer, a Kohen (Jewish priest), was executed because he refused What does a soul look like? Look at the flame of a candle. A flame is bright, jumping, never resting; the natural desire of a soul is to “jump up” to G-d, to break free of physical limitations. to abandon his Jewish faith. Many Jewish women were murdered for having their sons circumcised. Seven sons of Chana, a simple Jewish woman, were put to death for refusing to bow down to pagan gods. The big trouble for the Seleucids began in the village of Mod’in, when the aged Kohen Mattisyahu cried out, “Whoever is for G-d, join me!” Thus, the fight for religious freedom began. King Solomon wrote, “Everything has its season … A time to be born, a time to die … A time for war, a time for peace” (Ecclesiastes). In Judaism, peace is the ultimate goal. Yet if one is being attacked, Jewish law forbids a passive stance. Peace and the sanctity of human life require, at times, that one must defend one’s self, one’s family and one’s country. Despite the fact that the Maccabees were fewer in strength and in numbers, they stood up against the oppressor with complete faith in G-d’s mercy. One lesson of Chanukah is that when we resolve to introduce spirituality into our lives, G-d assists us well beyond our limitations. G-d tells His children, “Make for Me a small opening, like the eye of a needle, and I will open for you an opening through which caravans can enter” (Midrash). We simply need to begin the process for G-d to help us attain that which we perceived as unattainable. Pure Light Antiochus IV outlawed three specific mitzvot and rendered their practice punishable by death. These mitzvot were “Shabbat,” which is a testimony to the fact that there is a Creator Who rested on the seventh day; “Blessing the New Month,” which determines when Jews can sanctify their holidays; and “Circumcision,” which imbues holiness into the human body. The spiritual ghetto that Antiochus IV tried to force on the Jewish people was a world without a Creator, time without sanctity and people with no connection to the Divine. Though a person might have a burning desire to be spiritual, a concrete action is needed to ignite a flame. Lacking the oil of genuine substance, one’s passion can quickly fade, failing to introduce any enduring light into the world. A life without mitzvot is like a wick without oil—it yields little or no light. There are nine branches on the Chanukah meno- when darkness invades G-d’s world we search for the hidden “single jar of pure oil”, the pure and indestructible spark of Creation, which radiates goodness and holiness. rah, even though Chanukah is celebrated for eight days. The ninth branch is the shammash, the “servant” candle, which stands apart from the other candles. This candle is lit so that when we make use of the Chanukah light, we do so from the shammash, and not from the eight Chanukah flames. “…These [eight Chanukah] flames are kodesh (holy). We are not permitted to make use of them, only to gaze at them” (Chanukah liturgy). The Hebrew word “kodesh” literally means separate and beyond. In Judaism, although we can appreciate holy objects and observances on many levels, they are essentially higher than our finite understanding and perception, since they are rooted in the Infinite. It was this “holiness” that the Greeks failed to destroy. And it is this holiness that is manifested in the lights of Chanukah. The War Mattisyahu the Kohen, and his five sons, began to challenge the Greek strongholds with a group of followers called the Maccabees. Historical sources estimate their numbers at 6,000, while Antiochus IV sent 40,000 troops to overwhelm them. Yehudis, a young widow, used cunning tactics to assassinate Holofernes, a vicious Seleucid general. After significant losses in the cities of Shechem and Beit Choron, Antiochus IV sent an additional 65,000 troops. The Maccabees fought bitter, yet intelligent, battles that are studied by military tacticians to this very day. After three years and thousands of lives, Israel was finally free. On Chanukah, we celebrate two miracles: the victory of the Maccabees over the forces of Antiochus IV in the battlefield, and the miracle of the oil which burned for eight days. The victory in the battlefield was miraculous, but it was physical, limited by time and space. The miracle of the oil, which enabled the Jewish people to resume the service in the holy Temple, was spiritual. Jews around the world emulate this miracle and spirituality today by observing Chanukah. The Chanukah struggle is found within each of us. Chasidic teachings explain that we have two souls. One soul is drawn to the spiritual, the other to the physical. We may reconcile this duality by being involved with the material world, but toward a spiritual end. This is one reason why there are so many mitzvot in the Torah, all of them involving physical action. When the physical is engaged for spiritual purposes, the conflict is transformed into peace and harmony. A world of peace begins with inner peace. When one makes peace within, it has an effect on his or her home, environment and eventually the entire world. The Soul of a Flame The name “Chanukah” is rooted in several different, yet related, sources. It comes from “kah,” the Hebrew equivalent of 25, and “chanu,” meaning rest. It is also connected with the words “inauguration” (chanukat) and “education” (chinuch). On the 25th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, the Maccabees rested from their battle. They marched victoriously into the holy Temple in Jerusalem, ready to reinaugurate the holy service. They would forever serve as role models, or educators, to future generations. What does a soul look like? Look at the flame of a candle. A flame is bright, jumping, never resting; the natural desire of a soul is to “jump up” to G-d, to break free of physical limitations. The wick and candle anchor a flame; a physical body grounds the soul, forcing the soul to do its job, to give light and warmth. The human body, precious and holy, is likened to the holy Temple. The Baal Shem Tov, founder of Chasidism, always advised against asceticism, fasts and hurting the body. Better, he would say, to use your body to perform a deed of kindness. Kindness is contagious. When our soul tells our body to do a kind deed, both the soul and body are affected. Eventually, other souls around us awaken and influence their bodies to do the same. Before long, we create an international epidemic of kindness. This is one reason why the Chanukah menorah is placed where it can be seen from the street, either in the doorway across from the mezuzah or near a window, reminding us of our duty to share the spiritual light of warmth and wisdom with our surroundings. Untouchable Victory turned bittersweet when the Maccabees found that the Temple was desecrated and the pure oil needed to light the menorah was defiled. Miraculously, the Maccabees discovered a single jar of pure oil, with the seal of the Kohen Gadol (Jewish high priest) intact. With this oil, the Holy Temple was reinaugurated. Why didn’t the Seleucids just destroy the oil, as opposed to defiling it? Oil is a symbol for holiness. It can permeate anything. Yet when placed in water, it rises to the top. Defiled, not destroyed, oil is exactly what Antiochus IV wanted. He allowed the Jews to adhere to their culture and keep their laws, as long as it was “touched” by the Greek ideals and philosophy. Chasidic teachings explain that despite any entity that tries to sever our connection to G-dliness, the essence of a soul can never be defiled. This spark of holiness continuously burns and longs to be fanned into a great flame. The universe was created to perpetuate light, and it is inherently good (Genesis). But there are times when darkness invades G- d’s world. At such times, we search for the hidden “single jar of pure oil” (Chanukah liturgy), the pure and indestructible spark of Creation, which radiates goodness and holiness. The Eighth Night The Maccabees had done all that was physically possible, but the small jar of oil was only enough to light the candles of the menorah for one day. To prepare more oil would require a process of at least seven days. After defeating the world’s most powerful army and gaining religious freedom for generations to come, the Maccabees were not about to give up. They lit the menorah with the little oil they found, and miraculously, the menorah shone for eight days, plus 2000 years, as Chanukah continues to illuminate our home and world today. However miraculous their victory, some would attribute the Maccabean military success to their superior strategy. The last night of the holiday is called Zot Chanukah, “This is Chanukah.” Our Sages explain that “zot” refers to something when it is revealed and tangible, “when it can be pointed to with a finger.” When the Jewish people witnessed a scientific impossibility, the miracle of the oil, there was no denying G-d’s presence. Why does G-d perform miracles? Without miracles, such as the oil found in the holy Temple, one might believe that the laws of physics define reality. However, once we see the inexplicable, we witness a transcendent reality and attain a higher consciousness. We can then look back at physics, point with our finger and realize, “This too is a miracle.” The Baal Shem Tov said, “The difference between nature and a miracle is the frequency.” The Kabbalah, Jewish mysticism, teaches that the ultimate miracle is not the splitting of the sea, manna from heaven, or the sun standing still. It is described as the subtle and, at the same time, dramatic transformation of the universe that will occur with the arrival of Moshiach. At that time, nature itself will uncover its miraculous essence. What is now perceived as a wall between the physical and spiritual will be revealed as a bridge. How can we bring about this miracle? With the light of our collective mitzvot. holiday | at home Lighting a Menorah {book Review} by rachel moss 1 Shammash Saturday, Dec. 12 After Shabbat Ends & Havdalah is Recited Blessings No. 1 & 2 How & When A Chanukah menorah has eight candle holders in one straight row of equal height. The shammash (servant candle)—an additional candle which is used to light the menorah—is placed higher or set aside from the others. A menorah which uses electric candles can be used as a Chanukah decoration, but does not achieve the mitzvah of lighting the menorah. Part of the Chanukah mitzvah is publicizing the miracle of Chanukah, so we place the menorah in the doorway, opposite the mezuzah, or by a window, clearly visible to the outside. Shammash Friday, Dec. 11 Before Shabbat Candle Lighting Blessings No. 1, 2 & 3 Ever wonder why a mystical group of Chasidic Jews are at your local mall with a large menorah, a live band and box full of hot latkes? 1 2 Shammash // Candles may be used, but because of its role in the Chanukah miracle, a menorah of oil is especially significant. // On Friday afternoon, we light the Chanukah candles just before the Shabbat candles. (On Shabbat, the holy day of rest, it is prohibited to ignite a flame.) On Saturday, the Chanukah menorah is not lit until the end of Shabbat, after the Havdalah prayer is recited. // On the first night of Chanukah, before lighting the Shabbat candles, gather the family for the lighting of the Games&Gelt Kabbalah of Oil To celebrate the miracle of the oil, it is traditional to eat fried foods, such as potato latkes (pancakes) and sufganiot (Israeli-style doughnuts). To produce oil, intense pressure is put on the olive. Chasidus explains that many times people experience pressures in life. Yet, “G-d does not overburden His creations.” The purpose of this pressure is to unleash one’s potential and hidden strength. // We also eat dairy products on Chanukah to commemorate the Jewish heroine, Yehudis. In 164 B.C.E., the Greek general Holofernes besieged the village of Bethulia. After intense fighting, Yehudis rebuked the town elders who were about to surrender. She then approached Holofernes to offer her services as a spy. She met Holofernes in his tent and offered him salty cheese, followed by wine to quench his thirst, causing him to fall asleep. Yehudis beheaded him and escaped. When the Greek soldiers found his corpse, they retreated in fear. Yehudis saved her village and countless lives with the help of a little cheese. Dreidel, a Short History. The game of dreidel is one of the oldest recorded games in history. Around 170 B.C.E., the Greeks who occupied Israel deemed Jewish rituals punishable by death. menorah. Before lighting, say the appropriate blessings (see below). Use the shammash to light the first candle on your far right of the menorah. // On the second night, light an additional candle to the left of the candle lit the night before. Light the “new” candle first, followed by the one directly to its right. Repeat this pattern each night of Chanukah (see diagram below). The candles must burn for at least half an hour. After lighting the candles, recite the “Hanairos Hallolu” (side). 3 Easy Steps to Celebrate at Home Teachers and their students defiantly studied in secret and, when patrols came by, would pretend to be playing an innocent game. The dreidel (or sevivon in Hebrew) is a four-sided spinning top. A Hebrew letter is written on each side: Nun, Gimel, Hay and Shin, representing the phrase Nes Gadol Hayah Sham—A Great Miracle Happened There. In Israel, the Shin is replaced with a Peh, for the word “Po,” Here. // Each player begins with a certain amount of coins, candy or any kind of token. Each player puts a token into the pot. The youngest player often spins the dreidel first. The letter facing upward determines the payoff. Nun = nothing, Gimel = everything, Hay = half, Shin/ Peh = add two tokens to the pot. Splurge on Charity On Chanukah, it is traditional to give gelt (money) to children. Maimonides explains that the Greeks attempted to defile not only Jewish rituals, but also their property. The triumph of Chanukah is celebrated by giving gelt, often designated for charity. Charity is one of the greatest mitzvot because a person puts time, energy, body and mind to work. When he or she gives to the needy, all his or her work is elevated beyond the physical. Sunday, Dec. 13 After nightfall Blessings No. 1 & 2 1 2 3 Shammash Monday, Dec. 14 After nightfall Blessings No. 1 & 2 1 2 3 4 Shammash Tuesday, Dec. 15 After nightfall Blessings No. 1 & 2 1 2 3 4 5 Shammash Wednesday, Dec. 16 After nightfall Blessings No. 1 & 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 Shammash Thursday, Dec. 17 After nightfall Blessings No. 1 & 2 Friday, Dec. 18 Before Shabbat Candle Lighting Blessings No. 1 & 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Shammash 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Heaven on Earth By Rabbi Faitel Levin Reflections on the Theology of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe 8 Why are they not at home meditating or praying? The answer is found in a fascinating book that for the first time ever, explores the Lubavitcher Rebbe`s theology - the philosophy that spurred the growth of Chabad Chasidism into a worldwide movement. Better known for the global social and educational programs he created, the Rebbe`s profound genius is brought into sharp focus in this thoughtfully written work. The author explores the metaphysical implications of placing the essence of holiness squarely within the mundane. A spiritual prayer in no more G-dly than a physical mitzvah. This radical outlook is then applied to offer a distinctly Lubavitch perspective on Jewish observance , the soul, the afterlife, and Jewish outreach. Heaven on Earth tackles this intellectual task with the layperson in mind, and the author`s skillful use of everyday analogies - from laser beams to chocolate ice cream - keeps this heavenly exploration down to Earth. Heaven On Earth ($20.00) is sold at www.kehot.com or at your local Jewish bookstore. The Blessings 1 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei- vwwc nu Me-lech Ho-olom A-sher Ki-de sha-nu Be-mitz-vo-sov Vi-tzi-vo-no Le-had-lik Ner Cha-nu-kah. 2 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-o-so Ni sim La-avo-sei-nu Bayo-mim Ho-heim Bi-z'man Ha-zeh. 3 Bo-ruch A-toh Ado-noi E-lo-hei-nu Me-lech Ho-olom She-heche-yo-nu EXCITING NEW CHILDREN’S BOOK SERIES Ve-ki-yi-mo-nu Ve-higi-o-nu Liz-man Ha-zeh. Blessing #3 is only recited on the Do a Mitzva! Easy Step-by-Step Guides first evening (or the first time one kindles the lights this Chanukah). SHABBAT • HOLIDAYS • LIFECYCLES Hanairos Hallolu We kindle these lights (to commemorate) the saving acts, miracles and wonders which You have performed for our forefathers, in those days at this time, through Your holy Kohanim. Throughout the eight days of Chanukah, these light are sacred, and we are not permitted to make use of them, but only to look at them, in order to offer thanks and praise to Your great Name for Your miracles, for Your wonders and for Your salvations. Tales from the Midrash & Talmud Fun for All Ages Tear-Proof Pages Oversized Format AT YOUR FAVORITE BOOKSTORE ORDER NOW AT WWW.UNCLEYOSSI.COM www.MitzvahExpress.com musings | perspective a brief history of the public menorah my white russian chanukah; a modern day miracle A True Story by Rabbi Shmuel Marcus A merican children are taught never to ride with a stranger. America is technologically advanced; America is on the cutting edge of craziness. The former Soviet Union is lagging behind; people still hitchhike. I watch and learn. Taxis are more expensive, and they don’t take cigarettes as payment. You put your hand out, and a car quickly slows down. You say a street name, the driver says two bucks, you say one, he says forget it and drives off. You stop the next car and say the same street name. He says get in; you do. If you don’t settle on a price beforehand, you take the risk of hearing a wordless grunt when you get out. It was a cold morning, and I couldn’t wait to be sitting in a warm car. I put my hand out. A small blue car stops, and at once, as if it is an old friend of the family, I get into the car without asking or telling. We drive in silence down Pushkinskaya Street towards the shul. In my haste I have forgotten to set a price. When I try to pay, my driver refuses to take the amount shown. He refuses any payment for the ride. I am confused, and it is too early in the morning to argue. What don’t you understand? He says. Look at me. I’m a Jew; my name is Cohen, I should charge a Yeshiva boy to get to shul? I thanked him and later bought a coke with the money. Snow falls and stays. Flake after flake, the earth foams with clouded slush. Sincere snow trucks make rounds. The ice hardens. The sidewalk slips into an endless street. The vendors and beggars surf the cold with grace. Tonight is one of those nights when all I want to do is cuddle up with my cat. But that would be impossible for two reasons. First, tonight is the fifth night of Chanukah. Second, I have no cat. Tonight hundreds of Russian Jews will publicly celebrate religious freedom. Tonight Kharkov’s Minister of Religion, Vladimir Voldovsky, will join Kharkov’s Chief Rabbi, Moshe Moskowitz, for the lighting of the giant Chanukah menorah. Tonight we will celebrate the victory of light over darkness. Or at least we’ll try. Where did the menorah come from? Who built it? Maybe the Maccabees themselves? Kharkov’s menorah was created by students, the first group of Lubavitch students to come to Kharkov. What do young yeshiva boys know about constructing a giant Menorah from less than scratch? But I’ll save that for another story. Like One Hundred Ways to Build a Menorah in Russia. Or The Menorah That Was Made of Snow. In Ukraine you don’t ask, “Where did it come from?” If you have it, you use it. And tonight the menorah stands tall, facing every street in the world, starting with Ulitsa Pushkinskaya. Tonight the Chief Rabbi and the Minister of Religion will arrive on time, and with a rented cherry picker, the two will light the five kerosene lanterns. The glass cover will keep the flame alive all night, and the warmth will melt the frozen heart of man. That is the plan. That’s what’s supposed to happen. That’s what we advertised. That’s what the hundreds gathered came to see. But Russian life is what happens when you have plans. Tonight Yossi is inside the shul, trying to get the frozen lanterns to start. Outside hundreds are waiting in the cold. The Russian crane driver is angry and wants to leave. My fingers are frozen and smell like gas. I run to see how the lamps are doing, but a short man stops me. Do you have a shovel? He offers to clear the snow off the shul stairs. I tell him it is a good idea, but I can’t help him with a shovel. Do you remember me? He points to a small blue car. Cohen has come to celebrate, to be amongst Jews. Cohen wants to do his part, but he already has. He came. Now Yossi and Yefim have three lanterns working in the office. But how can we light only three lamps on the fifth night? We need a Chanukah miracle, the miracle of lights. The minister speaks a few words in Russian; the rabbi places the first working lantern, then the second, then the third. He then slowly tries lighting the fourth and fifth. I close my eyes for the miracle, but there is none. The music starts to play, and the Jews dance in the snow. The crane drives off. Minutes later two lights go out; only one lamp remains shining brightly. I join hands and start to dance, to celebrate, to be amongst Jews. Mr. Cohen smiles and claps his hands. It is time to go home. I put my hand out, and a car stops. We drive a little, and then I look back through the frosty window and see the miracle of lights. Seventy years of Communism, and one flame still burns. Russian Jews still know how to dance. And hitchhiking is still safe. Well, at least tonight. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus is the editor of Farbrengen Magazine and author of Chicken Kiev and The Ballad of the Yarmulkah Kid. Marcus is a singer songwriter who performs under the name 8th Day. He lives with his wife and kids in Cypress California where they run JewishCypress.com. This story is an excerpt from "Chicken Kiev" a book of heart warming stories of Jewish life in the former Soviet Union from the perspective of a 20 year old Rabbinical student. Buy online at kehot.com, $12. It is estimated that Chabad Lubavitch will light 7,122 public menorahs in 50 countries this year. 34 years ago, there was only 1. You could say this idea of lighting a public menorah spread like fire. Here’s a brief overview of how that large menorah ended up in your local mall. 2nd Century B.C.E. The Jews lit the menorah in the Second Temple in Jerusalem at the time of the Maccabean Revolt. Chanukah is established. 1975 A Public Menorah lighting in S. Francisco hopes to promote Jewish awareness in the Bay area. 22 feet tall and made of mahogany wood, this would be the catalyst for all future public menorahs. 1977 Largest ‘Kosher’ public menorah (32 feet high) is erected in Central Park. Designed by artist Yaakov Agam and made out of 4,000 pounds of gold colored steel. 1979 President Jimmy Carter walked to Lafayette Park and lit the shammash (the candle used to light other candles) in the 30-foot electric silver menorah. 5 US Presidents have participated since. 1987 Paris lights it’s first public menorah, thousands come to dance in the snow and rain in support of religious freedom. 1990 The Rebbe participates in first Chanukah Live’ simulcast featuring public menorah lightings from around the world, including New York, Moscow, Melbourne, Israel, and Hong Kong. 2010 VirtualChanukah.com lists thousands of menorah lightings around the world. food | cooking journal celebrity latke hot tips from the best Our Time Honored hollywood’s no name dropping policy: sizzling latke by Sarah Lehat Jewish Chef David Slatkin likes to mix up the traditional latke recipe by throwing in some carrots, roasted peppers and garlic, in addition to the typical fare of potatoes, onions, eggs and matzah meal. Our Chabad Magazine is not into name dropping. After all what would be the point? So, Donald Pliner put on Tefillin in Miami Beach, big deal, thousands of people have put on Tefillin with Chabad On Wheels parked along Lincoln Road in South Beach. Or the recent walk sponsored by Sketchers Shoes for Chabad's efforts on behalf of children with special needs. The main thing is that the kids are being helped. There are many reason's we don't drop names in our magazine. As you can imagine Ron Artest of the Lakers shooting hoops for Chabad centers in Los Angeles is more about education than it is about the Lakers. So, you may be asking why we would use celebrity chef's latke recipe as opposed to using my own? I'll be honest, it has nothing to do with the fact that David Slatkin cooks for Will Smith and Tommy Lee Jones. It's just that I'm not going to let our no name dropping policy get in the way of a good hot latke. So, we hope you enjoy this no name dropping magazine, as we focus on the essence of each mitzvah without getting caught up with the external qualities. By the way, I hope you'll join me at the NYC Menorah lighting, Mayer Mike Bloomberg did a great job lighting it in the past. He recommends serving your latkes with an apple mango chutney for an unusual, surprising and delectable mix of flavors. For those of you who have burned your latkes (or your pan) on repeated occasions, you might want to take David up on this advice: use a mix of 25% olive oil for flavor along with 75% canola oil. According to him, the higher smoking point of the canola will allow you more cooking time before the oil starts to smoke...and then burn your Chanukah treat. David is a highly acclaimed restaurateur and chef in Los Angeles and the South Bay. Known for his fusion of Latin, Caribbean, Californian and Asian cuisines, he has catered events for such clients as Will and Jada Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Walt Disney, CBS and Fox studios, as well as many more. After training at the Culinary Institute of America in New York, and landing a slew of internships in prestigious hotels around the country, he went on to open his very own Fusion and David’s restaurants. >>>Rachel Ray’s Latke 1 (24-ounce) bag shredded potatoes for hash browns 1 large carrot, peeled 1 medium onion, peeled 2 eggs, beaten 2 teaspoons salt 1 teaspoon baking powder 3 tablespoons matzo meal, cracker meal or all-purpose flour Vegetable oil, for frying 2 cups chunky apple sauce 1 cinnamon stick 1 cup sour cream Directions: Heat 1/2-inch oil in a large skillet over medium to medium high heat. To test oil, add a piece of bread to the pan. It should turn golden brown in a ten-count. Adjust heat, as necessary. Place potatoes in a large bowl. Using a hand grater, grate the carrot and onion into the bowl. Add eggs to the bowl. Add salt and baking powder, then sprinkle in meal or flour. Combine vegetables and meal with a wooden spoon. READ THIS: So, as you can imagine, there are some other folks reading this same magazine in other parts of the world. // We think some 250,000 people are reading this just like you are. You may be near Cypress, CA, Manalapan NJ - Davenport, IA - Park Slope ,NY - Coram ,NY - Bonita Springs, FL - Brooklyn, NY U Drop mixture into oil in 3-inch mounds, press down gently with spatula to form patties. Fry in batches of 4 to 6 patties depending on the size of your skillet, 1-inch apart, until golden, about 3 minutes on each side. Put chunky applesauce and the cinnamon stick in a saucepan over medium heat and warm for 3 to 4 minutes. Drain latkes on paper towels or parchment lined tray. Serve with apple sauce or sour cream. - Kansas City, MO - Omaha, NB - Miami, Beach, FL - Tallahassee, FL - Hoboken, NJ - Toledo, OH - Riverdale, NY - Grand Rapids, MI - Minnetonka, MN - Minneapolis, MN - St. Paul, MN - Northbrook, IL - Satellite Beach, FL - Los, Angeles, CA, Tulsa, OK - Cheadle, UK - Westminster, CO, Orange County, CA - Houston, TX - or even United Kingdom. We are all united by a common interest in our own Jewishness and we like that. // So, pass this magazine around to your friends, let's spread the light. We love the feedback so keep it coming to [email protected]. 1 interview | science Explore the great cyber frontier: “Mind Over Matter” is compiled from the Rebbe’s works on science, technology and medicine. It covers such diverse topics as proof of the Creator, origin of the species, aviation, fate vs. freedom, geometry, medicine and more. Published by Shamir. Sold at www.kehot. com, or read on www.chabad.org. Psychoneuroimmunology. We’re not sure what that means either, but it sounds cool. In fact, as the editor of a Jewish magazine I’m always in search of cool things as they relate to psychoneuroimmunology. That’s why I called Dr. Gotfryd and pleaded for an exclusive interview for this issue. that the same scientists say are at least 16 billion years old. How can there be stars older than the universe they are in? The problem remains unresolved. But the deeper issue with the dating game is that such conjectures are absolutely unverifiable since they involve immense extrapolations backwards over aeons of unobserved time under unknown conditions. That’s not what we should call scientific proof by any stretch of the imagination. >How about prayers for the sick? Now that medicine has advanced to where it is today, with all its understanding about the body and illness, doesn’t prayer seem like a bit of placebo? D r. Arnie Gotfryd, Ph.D. is an accomplished environmental scientist and an observant Jew. Gotfryd understands secular and religious perspectives from both sides of the fence. He earned Canada’s first doctorate in Applied Ecology and taught an awardwinning, accredited course on Faith and Science at the University of Toronto. His teachings offer fresh insights into old-time religion. >As a man dedicated to both science and Torah, how do you deal with scientific proof that the world is older than 5770 years old? Well, how old would you like the world to be? When I was a kid, it was 18 billion years old, then it was 10, then back up to 16. Now it’s 13.7. According to a recent astrophysics article by Nobel physics expert Moshe Carmeli, that 13.7 billion year age is believed to be a cosmological constant (or fixed number) ever since the first cosmological day. In other words, the universe was created old. The Torah’s view is essentially the same. Also, for those who claim that it’s proven that the universe is at most 14 billion years old, there is the problem of quasars I’m not sure that biology takes us farther away from belief in miracles. On the contrary. For instance, Antony Flew, once deemed the world’s leading atheist philosopher, has recently recanted on his faithlessness, ascribing his change of heart to his studies of genetics and biological complexity. About prayer and medicine, statistical surveys of American physicians clearly show that the overwhelming majority of doctors believe that faith can heal, and a large majority of those believe that the prayers of others can also bring about healing. In fact a triple-blind study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine shows that heart patients in a hospital got better faster and with fewer complications when prayed for. In that study, neither the caregivers, the patients, nor their families even knew that a prayer study was taking place at the time. Besides, what is wrong, pray tell, with the placebo effect? It is based on the well-documented fact that believing you will get better, for whatever reason, boosts your immune system, cancels stress, fights disease, and causes healing. Every doctor knows that. There is even a medical specialty, psychoneuroimmunology, which is wholly dedicated to mind-based medicine. We see huge conflicts these days between religion and science. Why can’t it just be live and let live? This is a very important question that deserves consideration by every thinking person. A “live and let live” philosophy implies two things: First, that we cannot objectively determine who is right and who is wrong. And second, that everyone has a right to his opinion. Both these conditions are violated in the big debates, such as Creation vs. Evolution. Each side claims they are objectively right and each side maintains that opinions are irrelevant in the face of capital “T” Truth. On one hand, the intolerance of some scientists is surely inappropriate. Thanks to Heisenberg’s uncertainty principle, Einstein’s relativity, and Bohr’s quantum theory, science in the last 100 years has realized that its observations are subjective, it’s conclusions uncertain and tentative. If so, the scientist’s overriding trait should rather be humility. On the other hand, what right do the religious have to be intolerant? Granted, their truths are to them absolute and inviolate and yes, religions often disagree. But most religions also mandate the qualities of respect, decency, peace and love, even toward adherents of another belief system, including the agnostics or atheists among some scientists. >Some people say that faith is a product of how our brains are wired. Maybe it’s less about truth and more about biology. A story is told of the chasid, Berel, who was pacing his room one night holding a candle and calling over and over, “Berel, that the Kohen tribe is of patrilineal descent from one common ancestor 3,300 years ago, i.e., Moses’ brother, Aaron. >Is this a scientific faith or a religious one? My contention is that at some point, they come together. >There’s a lot of talk in science and the media these days about how our perceptions create reality and everything is subjective. That seems pretty far from the objective reality and rules of a divinely commanded Torah. How do you reconcile these vastly different approaches? Paul Davies, an Australian physicist and science writer, is a devout believer in a supreme intelligence that creates and sustains the world, while at the same time he slams biblical religion as silly and foolish. I think if he were versed in the Torah, and especially Chabad Chasidus, he might sing a different tune. While cosmologists speak of the “anthropic “There is more to Torah than most people think. Scholars on both sides of the fence, whether religious or scientific, seem to agree that we can’t prove scientifically that there is a G-d. Why not?” where are you.” A friend overheard and asked if he’d gone mad. He said, “No, you are the fool. When I die, you’ll say ‘Berel is gone!’ but will that be true? Physically, every part of me will be present. The Berel that you will be looking for then, I’m looking for now.” There is a soul, a consciousness, a non-physical mind, call it what you will, that is increasingly invoked by the brain scientists. Why was the Dalai Lama chosen to deliver the keynote for the 2005 neuroscience conference and its 14,000 attendees? Because it is the spirit that impels the flesh and there is plenty of peer-reviewed research to support that conclusion. Yes, the brain is hard wired for faith. But faith is not part of the wiring. It just resides there. Then there’s the question of what we put our faith in. Today’s National Post reports progress in the research of Karl Skorecki, a University of Toronto professor who discovered the Y-chromosome markers that validate Judaism’s claim principle,” that says the universe was set up from the outset for human life, the Mishna states, “For my sake was the world created.” While physics speaks of observers creating reality, Chasidus speaks of “think good, it will be good.” While science talks about “an indivisible wholeness beyond space-time which is the ultimate ground of reality,” Maimonides says the same thing about the Creator. While ecology advises, “Act local, think global,” Torah teaches that with one small act, one can either destroy or save the world. There is more to Torah than most people think. Scholars on both sides of the fence, whether religious or scientific, seem to agree that we can’t prove scientifically that there is a G-d. Why not? Science in general works by disproof, not by proof. We propose theories, then test them experimentally. If the experiments show our ideas to be wrong, we reject the theory. If the experiments work, out the theory is supported, but not proven, since more observations may yet be made to challenge the theory. In this sense, one can neither prove nor disprove the existence of G-d. But there is another type of proof, a more natural definition, which is that if an idea explains the observations better than any other, we have what is called conclusive proof, meaning sufficient to base our future actions. If we consider the stand at Sinai, with millions of personal witnesses to the giving of the Torah by G-d, and the unbroken chain of tradition for some 100 generations, including hundreds of thousands of individuals in each generation reconfirming that event, then we have sufficient proof to conclude positively. Is there an alternative explanation that is more feasible? Aliens? Mass hypnosis? Mass collusion? The best explanation is the traditional one, strange as that may seem. >Wouldn’t it be possible to verify the existence of a Creator by looking for some sort of unequivocal imprint left on the world around us? I think most people have a sense of some greater intelligence, a creative force, some greater purpose, when they look at the world around them - the sun, the moon, the mountains, trees, bugs, clouds, the ocean. Formally, we can speak of teleology, the argument from design, which says that orderly design in nature implies an ordering cause, an intelligent Creator. The modern incarnation of this concept is the anthropic principle. Then there is the fact that from time to time, our prayers are answered. To my mind, the biggest proof is the fact that we exist as creatures who can even contemplate the existence of G-d. For why else would a G-d have created the world, if not for the purpose that beings such as ourselves should find out about Him and establish a relationship with Him. This is where science leaves off, for the scientist can only describe how the world works, but in no way can he answer why the world works that way. For that, we need the Torah. Read more at www.arniegotfryd.com. moshiach | ijew Artwork by Chabad Graphic Designer Menachem Krinsky www.menachemkrinsky.com Take the Shabbat Shalom application for example, it tells you the exact time when you should light candles on Friday and the exact time Shabbat ends. And for any location in the world. Is it too late to call your in-laws in Israel? Just flip through the different cities and countries, to see what the local time is and what time they start or end Shabbat. Download this app for free today, unless your reading this on Shabbat of course. >>> welcome to the iJew community iJew there’s an in my iPhone No one mentioned it at the annual conspiracy theory conference, but I still think that technology is out to make us all better Jews. Sure, call me crazy, but I have proof. Here’s a group of people that pray together daily, yet live miles apart from each other. The new Siddur 4.0 actually is a real time Jewish prayer book that configures the prayers based on the day of the week or season and shows the closest minyan to your current location. Sure, the app also tells you the perfect times for each of the daily prayers based on your location, Torah portion of the week and upcoming holidays. But, here comes the cool part. This futuristic Siddur app has a map feature the spiritual side of your iPod by Miriam Leiberman I once heard an interview with Peter Himmelman and Rabbi Simon Jacobson about the spirituality of music. Peter, who is both rock and roll legend and chasidic Jew, was talking about the reason music is perhaps the art form that’s become so popu- lar (as opposed to sculpting or painting for example). Peter claimed that music is the art form with the least amount of physicality. It made total sense to me the moment he made that connection. Just think about architecture, if you can consider that an art form, is huge, it’s material. Sculptures are a little bit more refined, but it’s still dealing with material objects and things. Music has no physical substance at all. that tracks other users across the globe allowing users to post names of people in need of prayers. This is perhaps, the largest minyan in the iJew Community. According Barry Schwartz of Rustybrick.com, “There are over 8,000 Siddur users around the world,” says, Schwartz from him New York office, “When it comes to our other Jewish apps we can see over 50,000 users.” That’s a nice size Jewish community. So, where do they eat? That’s when Barry thought of the Kosher App. After landing in an airport far from New York, a hungry programmer conceived of an app that can locate a kosher restaurant and also provide the kosher certification information including the rabbi’s name. So, when he launched the Kosher App he included the blessings and prayers over food, although he already had them in his iSiddur. Rabbi Shmuel Marcus lives with his wife and children in Cypress California where they run Chabad of Cypress. Marcus is a singer-songwriter who performs under the name 8th Day. He is also the author of Chicken Kiev, The Ballad of the Yarmulka Kid, and is currently the editor of this magazine. Read more at www.meaningfullife.com. Maybe it is for this reason that it’s the art form that most instantaneously has an effect on a person on a spiritual level. That's why I think you should be very careful with your music intake. There is this unseen soul transmission from performer to audience that happens in the artist listener dynamic, that is perhaps, more powerful than a painting depicting a message or idea. So listen carefully.
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