Who are these men perpetually hovering outside the doors of the yeshiva? Who are these children, this gaggle of goslings, and these women, seemingly dutiful and unfazed as they stroll toward their place of prayer? Who are they?
Schwartz, a wealthy Jew, took ill in Boston. The medics rushed him to the best hospital, Mass General, where he received VIP treatment.
Recently, an analysis appeared in the press about the Jewish elements in American popular music.
A story is recorded in the inspiring biography about the late Jerusalem rabbi Aryeh Levin, \”A Tzaddik in Our Times.\” One of the rabbi\’s students was about to be married when he came to Reb Aryeh and asked: \”How should I behave toward my wife? How should I treat her?\” Reb Aryeh looked at him in wonder and said: \”How can you ask a question like that? A wife is like your own self. You treat her as you treat yourself.\”
On the eve of Simchat Torah, many synagogues auction the three major honors of the day, with proceeds benefiting the synagogue or other Jewish institutions. Two honors, Hatan Torah (for the one called to the final reading in Deuteronomy) and Hatan Bereshit (for the one called to the first reading in Genesis), usually receive the highest bids. The third, Kol Hanearim — supervising the blessing of all minor children as a tallit is held over their heads, while the honoree receives the next-to-last aliyah in Vezot Haberakha — can be a close second.
People often complain that if we only had leaders like those in past generations, we would not have the problems we face today. It seems to be a chronic malady that we never are satisfied with the leaders of our own time. Yet, an old Jewish adage states, \”each generation receives the leader it deserves.\” In truth, nowhere is this fact so apparent as in this week\’s Torah reading.
Students of drama are well acquainted withAristotle\’s view about the \”fatal flaw.\” Protagonists of tragedy, nomatter how exalted, are brought down by a tragic flaw from within:bad judgment or bad character.
In April 1994, following numerous suicidebombings, 400 American Jewish leaders took a two-day trip to Israelto show American Jewish support for the besieged State.
An unusual Buddhist-Jewish dialogue took place inSeptember 1989, when the Tibetan Buddhist leader, the Dalai Lama, metwith a group of six Jewish leaders. The Dalai Lama requested themeeting, not because of an academic interest but, rather, because ofa practical need. He wanted to learn the Jewish \”secret technique\”for survival. \”We always talk of Jewish people scattered in so manycountries, speaking so many languages, yet the Jews keep theirtraditions. It\’s something remarkable,\” he said.
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