VOLUME 20, ISSUE 22 FRIDAY, MAY 3, 2013 / 23 IYAR 5773
TORAH PORTION: BEHAR – BECHUKOSAI (LEVITICUS 25:1 – 27:34)
CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:31 P.M. SHABBAT ENDS: 8:43 PM (CHICAGO)
Hang in there – Shabbos is coming!
1. And I will provide peace in the land. (26:6)
Peace. Shalom.
It’s the greatest of blessings.
Look at our prayer service.
We ask for many things. Health. Wisdom. Success.
And then – we ask for the most important thing.
Peace.
Because without peace, we can have everything – but not be able to enjoy it.
… But we can’t just expect to receive peace. As G-d’s gift.
We have to do what we can to make it happen.
… And it’s not just the big picture. Like no more war. Creating world peace.
It’s about everyday life. The little things.
… Think about some of the arguments people have. The petty fights.
That become bigger as time goes on.
Sometimes, all it takes is getting involved. To help them work it out.
And in Judaism, that’s one of the greatest things we can do.
… The Talmud tells us that Shalom is one of the names of G-d.
And that if you want to bring G-d into the world.
Bring peace.
It was just a little argument. Between two congregants.
But Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin (leading Rabbi and Talmudic scholar in 18th-19th century Lithuania)
went back and forth. From one to the other. ‘Shuttle diplomacy’. Just to restore the peace.
People complained. They felt that it was beneath his dignity.
The leading Rabbi of the generation – ‘lowering himself’ to get involved with their petty
bickering.
His answer: ‘Think about how we pray. How we stand before G-d – and ask Him for all our
needs.
But when we get to the prayer for peace – ‘He Who makes peace in His heavens, may He make
peace upon us …’ – we bow our heads, and take three steps back.
… It should teach us an important lesson.
This week’s CTN Shabbat Fax is sponsored by Emily Jackson,
“in honor of Rabbi Moshe Katz and Rabbi Doni Deutsch, who
continue to inspire me from afar”.
That to make peace – we can’t just stand there.
We have to do something about it.
And sometimes we have to step back.
And lower ourselves.
… But it’s worth it.’
STORY OF THE WEEK
Shortly after making Aliyah, Rabbi Berel Wein took his driver’s test.
Afterwards, the tester said, “Sorry Rabbi, but we’re not allowed to tell you if you passed. It’s
against the rules. But one thing I will say. I can tell that you are a very good driver.”
Rabbi Wein was curious. “Thank you very much. But what exactly makes you say that?
The tester replied, “Because before pulling out, you looked in your rear view mirror.
… No one in this country does that!”
Rabbi Wein saw a great lesson in this experience.
The road of life is very challenging. We need to know where we’re going. And how we plan to
get there.
It’s important to be alert. To have our eyes on the road.
And as Jews?
There’s one more thing we absolutely must do.
We need to look into our rear view mirror. Into our past. Because Jewish tradition gives us so
much guidance in life.
And if we want to have a secure future?
We – and our children – need to know our past!