<\/p>\n
CHICAGO TORAH NETWORK WELCOMES RABBI JOSH MARDER TO THE CTN TEAM<\/h4>\n
Coming to Chicago from the sunny Bay Area in California, originally from even sunnier Florida, Josh says that he’s looking forward to seeing some snow!<\/p>\n
![\"JoshPic\"](\"http:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/08\/JoshPic-300x300.jpg\")
Josh graduated Yeshiva University with a BA in Jewish Studies and went on to additional advanced Torah studies for five years in Jerusalem. He then enjoyed five more years of great weather and fun with the Jewish Study Network in the Bay Area, teaching, running programs, and sharing his passion for Judaism and Jews.<\/p>\n
While in San Francisco, Josh received his Masters in Counseling Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies. Along with being a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, Josh has trained in a multitude of Expressive Arts Therapies and Emotionally Focused Therapy. Over the years, he has counseled children, families, and adults, with a strong emphasis on couples work. Josh loves incorporating his experiences from the mental health field into his workshops and classes on Jewish Topics.<\/p>\n
Depending on which “hat he is wearing”, Josh is also a musician, biker, rower, reader, traveler, friend, ‘hubbie’, father, and an avid storyteller. And he loves to listen! His favorite moments in life are enjoying time with his wife and children, and he can\u2019t wait for you to come over soon and join the fun!<\/p>\n
Most recently, Josh says, “after hearing how wonderful the Chicago community is and the amazing work Chicago Torah Network does, Laura and I decided it\u2019s time to come and join the fun out here in the Mid-West!”<\/p>\n
CTN is thrilled to have Josh and Laura on board. We look forward to their making a tremendous contribution to CTN, especially in bringing much Jewish inspiration and knowledge to Chicago’s young Jewish professional community.<\/p>\n
1. RIGHTEOUSNESS, RIGHTEOUSNESS SHALL YOU PURSUE… (16:20)<\/h4>\n
It\u2019s an important verse. But the wording seems a little strange.<\/p>\n
Why not just say \u2018pursue righteousness\u2019? Why does it say the word righteousness twice?<\/p>\n
\u2026 Jewish tradition says that it is teaching us a very important lesson.<\/p>\n
That of course \u2018pursuing righteousness\u2019 is very important.<\/p>\n
\u2026 But it\u2019s not enough.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s something else to be very careful about. As we work towards that goal.<\/p>\n
To make sure we do it in a righteous way.<\/p>\n
\u2026 Because sometimes we can be involved in a very important project.<\/p>\n
Something to help others. Maybe something for the community. Or an important project at work.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s lots of pressure. Deadlines to be met.<\/p>\n
\u2026 And we know how it is.<\/p>\n
How sometimes when it gets like that, we\u2019re not quite as patient as usual.<\/p>\n
Not as sensitive to other people\u2019s feelings.<\/p>\n
\u2026 The Torah wants us not just to work for righteousness.<\/p>\n
But also to work with righteousness.<\/p>\n
Moshe. G-d tells him about his mission. To take the Jews out of Egypt.<\/p>\n
And to give them the Torah. That will change the world.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s got to be the most important \u2013 and most exciting \u2013 mission in human history.<\/p>\n
And what does Moshe say?<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t do it. Send someone else.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Talmud says that there was a reason that he said no. Something was on his mind.<\/p>\n
\u2026 His older brother Aaron.<\/p>\n
Moshe was afraid that Aaron would be hurt. Would feel slighted that his younger brother got the job.<\/p>\n
\u2026 So Moshe says he simply can\u2019t go.<\/p>\n
Until G-d assures him that Aaron will be thrilled to see his brother as the leader.<\/p>\n
\u2026 Moshe taught us to do what\u2019s right.<\/p>\n
But he also taught us how to do what\u2019s right.<\/p>\n
2. STORY OF THE WEEK<\/h4>\n
It was after a funeral, on a cold rainy day in Jerusalem. One of Israel’s leading Rabbis, close to ninety years old, is in the procession.<\/p>\n
A few blocks from the cemetery, he asks the driver to stop. He wants to walk the rest of the way. And in the cold and the rain, he does.<\/p>\n
He explained: \u2018Seventy years ago, I was a Yeshiva student in Russia. I was so poor that I couldn’t even afford a coat. I nearly froze in the Russian winter.<\/p>\n
This man was also there. And he bought me a warm coat.<\/p>\n
Now, at his funeral, I wanted to remember what it felt like to be so cold.<\/p>\n
So I could say my final thank you, fully appreciating the favor he did for me.\u2019<\/p>\n
3. QUOTE OF THE WEEK<\/h4>\n
\u201cPeople often avoid making decisions out of fear of making a mistake.
\nActually, the failure to make decisions is one of life\u2019s biggest mistakes.\u201d<\/p>\n
— Rabbi Noah Weinberg, 48 Ways To Wisdom, Way #4<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
VOLUME 20, ISSUE 34 FRIDAY, AUGUST 9, 2013 \/ 3 ELUL 5773 TORAH PORTION: SHOF’TIM (DEUTERONOMY 16:18 – 21:9) CANDLE LIGHTING: 7:38 P.M. SHABBAT ENDS: 8:47 PM (CHICAGO) This week’s CTN Shabbat Fax is dedicated by Julie Swartz, “thanking CTN for all the wonderful things you do for the Jewish community, and for helping me […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-751","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-the-chicago-torah-network-shabbat-fax"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=751"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":783,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/751\/revisions\/783"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=751"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=751"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/torahnetwork.org\/wp\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=751"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}