Rabbi Marc D. Angel offers thoughts for discussion at your Shabbat table. Please visit this column each week, and invite your fa
Angel for Shabbat, by Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Modern western civilization trains us to value independence, autonomy, freedom of choice. We have an aversion to being told what to do by authoritarian figures; rather, we like to make decisions based on our own judgment. We are open to advice and suggestions; but we are less than enthusiastic about being bossed around.
My wife and I were recently having a quiet dinner in a local kasher restaurant. Before long, a young family was seated at a table across from us. As veteran grandparents, we are used to children making a bit of noise. No problem.
An ancient Greek parable tells of a cat that was magically transformed into a Princess. The Princess was elegant, well mannered, and always with a ready smile on her face. Everyone seemed to be enchanted by her nobility.
And then, one day, as the Princess greeted a group of admirers, a mouse happened to run into the room. In an instant, the Princess was transformed back into cat-like behavior. The illusion was over. Everyone realized she was not really a Princess after all, but was a cat who was posing as a Princess.
Carl Sandburg once observed: "We know that when a nation goes down and never comes back, when a society or civilization perishes, one condition may always be found. They forgot where they came from. They lost sight of what brought them along. The hard beginnings were forgotten and the struggles farther along." ("Remembrance Rock," 1948, pp.18-19)
During the past week, I received an email from an organization in Israel seeking donations for which donors would merit success, happy marriage and good health. The organization offered to have a Torah scholar pray at the Kotel from the Fast of Esther through the 7th day of Passover. They assured donors that this is a "very powerful time for hidden blessings to be revealed."
With the victory of the Jews over their enemies, the Megillah informs us that "the Jews had light and gladness (simha) and joy (sasson) and honor." What is the difference between simha and sasson, and how does this impact on our understanding of this verse's message?
Angel for Shabbat, Parashat Tazria
by Rabbi Marc D. Angel
Between 2005 and 2009, researchers at the Gallup World Poll surveyed thousands of respondents in 155 countries to find out the "happiness" levels in each country. They asked people to reflect on their overall satisfaction with their lives. Do they feel free? Are they making a living? Do they feel intellectually engaged? Are they relatively free of pain? Do they feel that they are respected by others?
On Shavuoth, we commemorate the awesome Revelation at Mount Sinai, when the Almighty presented the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel. All of the Israelite men, women and children experienced that solemn moment, marking an everlasting covenant between God and the Israelite nation.
Let us imagine that God would invite us to a second Revelation at Sinai, asking all the Jews of the world to attend.
Some years ago, my wife and I visited Rome. Among the historic sites we visited was the Arch of Titus--a monument to the Roman conquest of Judea in 70 C.E. The Romans destroyed Jerusalem, razed the Temple, killed and enslaved many thousands of Jews--and sent our people into an Exile that lasted until the rise of the State of Israel in 1948. On the inner wall of the Arch of Titus is a depiction of the Roman victory over the Jews, with the Romans carrying off the Menorah which had graced the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem.