New Pictures

New pictures are now up on the website of Welcome Week events as well as of today's Hope for the Hungry event.
Check them out!

(Of course, they're also on Facebook at Rabbi Dov's profile!)

Trojans Shabbat, Hope for the Hungry, and Big Bear

Hi,

Hope you're getting back into the rhythm of school. There's tons of great stuff going on here at Chabad, and we hope to see you at something soon. And make sure to keep an eye out for info on High Holidays services and meals, just around the corner.

Check out our website at www.chabadusc.com for info on upcoming events and pictures! Were you at the BBQ or Falafel Fiesta? Your picture might be up there! Just go to www.chabadusc.com and click on "Pictures" on the sidebar. You can also use the website to sign up for upcoming events. (Or you can look for pictures by facebooking Rabbi Dov.)

Also, lots of special occasions happening this weekend. As you'll read about below, we're hosting the women of Alpha Gamma Gamma, celebrating Tali Golan's birthday together with her family as they join us as sponsors of this Shabbat, and celebrating Ari Wiener's ('04) "aufruf" (shabbat before the wedding) as he and Stella ('05) prepare for their wedding this coming Thursday. Hey, they met at our Shabbat table. Who knows? Maybe you'll meet someone special here this week! :-)

Also, a great big Mazal Tov to Steve (Israel) Shahramzahd-Nemani ('04) on his engagement this week.

Hope to see you soon!


1) Big Bear Getaway - Labor Day Weekend
2) Work Study
3) Hope for the Hungry - Social Action this Wednesday
4) Pizza and Parsha
5) Trojans Shabbat - with AGG
6) Kabbalah and Kabob
7) Save the Date: Torah Dedication Celebration
8) Sinai Scholars Society
9) Hebrew Reading Course
10) Free Trips to Israel - Birthright
11) Thought for the Week


1) Big Bear Getaway – Labor Day Weekend
Our fourth annual Labor Day weekend Big Bear Getaway is just days away. Reservations due by Thursday, August 31. There are more than a dozen students from other schools who are currently on the waiting list – Trojans have precedence, but any spaces still open on Thursday night will be given away. Boating, biking, alpine sliding, hiking, bbq, ropes course, and much more in a fun-filled and adventure-packed two days.
Sunday, Sept. 3 - Monday, Sept. 4. Just $28-!! Incoming Freshmen, just $22-!! Reserve your spot now by emailing runya@usc.edu or call 310-801-4571 for more information.

2) Work Study
Don’t miss your chance for a dream job – working at the heart of USC Jewish life with a position at Chabad. If you are work-study eligible, capable, and friendly, please inquire about one of our open positions. Whether it’s helping to prepare Shabbat community dinners, working on our social action events, or maintaining/designing our website, you’ll get paid while you have a great time.
Chabad@usc.edu for details or to apply.

3) Hope for the Hungry – Social Action Tomorrow
Make a difference!
Join us for the first in our series of monthly opportunities to do a good deed, right on campus at lunchtime. First up: Hope for the Hungry. Make sandwiches to be distributed to the local indigent and homeless.
Wednesday, August 30. 12:00 – 1:30 pm. In Alumni Park, right behind Trousdale.
See the flyer at www.chabadusc.com/hands.pdf

4) Pizza and Parsha
Always one of our most popular classes. Right on Trousdale behind the Chabad table, join us for insightful discussions and delicious Kosher pizza. Explore the relevance of the weekly Torah portion to modern-day life while enjoying a free lunch.
Every Thursday, anytime between 12:15 – 2:00 pm.

5) Trojans Shabbat – with AGG
Show your USC spirit as we cheer our football team on to victory at yet another amazing Shabbat at Chabad.
As mentioned in the opener, there are a bunch of special events happening this Shabbat:

a) It’s the football opener. History has shown that the USC football team has never lost a game on a Shabbat when we had a minyan for morning services here at Chabad. That’s in over 6 years!!
Keep the winning tradition alive by showing your Trojan spirit this Friday night, with Trojans Shabbat at the Chabad House.

b) USC’s only Jewish sorority, Alpha Gamma Gamma, is joining us for Shabbat. Let’s show them how it’s done at Chabad, and that Greek, Trojan, or just plain Jew – everybody has a great time.

c) Ari (’04) and Stella (’05) met at our Shabbat table a couple of years back. The rest, as they say, is history. They were supposed to get married in Israel earlier this month, but due to the security situation many of their wedding party could not travel. So they had just under a month to plan a completely new event several thousand miles away, and are getting married next Thursday in NY.
Although Runya and I are flying out for the wedding, many of their LA friends won’t be able to make it, so we’re making a special celebration this Shabbat for Ari at the Chabad House. Traditionally, on the last Shabbat before the wedding the groom is called up to the Torah and showered with candies and sweets, along with our blessings for a sweet life together with his new wife. Don’t miss it!

d) Shabbat is being sponsored by the Golan family in honor of Tali’s birthday.

That’s all in addition to the usual wonderful lineup of such favorites as Challah, Matzah ball soup, Runya’s amazing selection of salads, and so much more.

Here’s the schedule:
Friday, September 1
Candle lighting and services: 7:00 pm
Dinner: 8:00 pm.

Saturday, September 2
Mystical Insights into the month of Elul (and cholent!): 9:30 am
Services: 10:15 am sharp
Lunch and cholent tailgate: 12:45 pm

Come and bring a friend…

6) Kabbalah and Kabob
Start of a new tradition. Once a month. On Tuesdays. (Alternating, of course, with the Food for Thought series.) BBQ. Kabobs. And Kabbalah. Free. 6:30 – 7:30 pm. Followed by the weekly Talmud and Tanya class.
First up: Next Tuesday, September 12.
RSVP chabad@usc.edu

7) Save the Date: Torah Dedication Celebration
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006
Join the USC Jewish community for this historic event as a qualified scribe fills in the last letters of this painstakingly restored Torah scroll on USC’s campus, followed by a processional with music and dancing from the center of campus to the Torah’s new home in the Chabad House.

Completion Ceremony: 12:00pm • Processional from Tommy Trojan: 1:00pm
Dancing and catered lunch follow at the Chabad @ USC Jewish Student Center.
Invite your family, friends, and professors!
More info coming soon at www.chabadusc.com/torah

8) Sinai Scholars Society
Time and space running out:We are very proud to be one of the pilot campuses nationwide hosting the Sinai Scholars Society. This semester-long series of 8 classes tackles the Ten Commandments in depth, providing a fascinating look at the laws that form the basis of almost every legal system and culture, and contain the core building-blocks of Judaism. Qualified applicants who successfully complete program requirements will receive a stipend from the Rohr National Foundation (up to $500-). Very limited spots available. Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Full details at www.sinaischolars.com. Inquire by contacting Julie at lindeen@usc.edu or Danya at dburakof@usc.edu

9) Heeb-brew Reading Course
Always wanted to be able to follow along in the synagogue? Want to be able to study Jewish texts in the Hebrew original? Or just curious what it says on that t-shirt you brought back from Israel?
If you want to learn to read Hebrew—easily, quickly, and accompanied by some delicious flavored coffee—this is the class for you. Runya’s years of experience in teaching translate into a most rewarding reading experience.
6 Wednesdays, 8:00 – 9:00 pm. Starting Wednesday, September 20.
Sign up now by emailing runya@usc.edu

10)Free Trips to Israel – Birthright
Registration opens on September 12 and is expected to be overbooked within days. You can have a most amazing completely free 10-day to Israel, as a gift from Birthright Israel and Mayanot. If you are between the ages of 18 and 26 and have never been on an organized peer trip to Israel before, this trip is for you. Pre-register now at www.israelexpress.org or contact Chava at frankiel@usc.edu for more details.

11) Thought for the Week
Just a quick though on this week’s Torah portion – Ki Tetze.
The portion begins with the verse:
“When you go out to war upon your enemies, and the L-rd your G-d will deliver him into your hand.”
The Torah goes on to discuss some of the ethical issues that are raised during a war and how they should be properly dealt with.

Who are these enemies of whom the verse speaks? And why does the Torah start talking about enemies (plural), and then switch mid-verse to talking about him—one single enemy?

Throughout our history, the Jewish people have faced two main categories of enemies. There are those who would destroy us physically. The Hitlers, the Chmielnickis, the Husseins or Nasrallahs, the Hamans. They do not care about the details of the Jewish religion, or how devout a particular Jew is. They hate Jews and wish to kill them.

Then there were others who waged a more subtle battle. The Stalins, the Torquemadas, the Crusaders, or the Greeks of old. Their battle was against the laws and teachings of Judaism. They waged war against the spirit of the Jew, and attempted to crush it.

At first glance, these are very disparate enemies. They come from a very different mindset, are attempting to achieve a very different goal.

But ultimately, when we dig beneath the surface and get to the core, these enemies are one and the same. The body and the spirit of the Jew are not distinguishable. Through thousands of years of Jewish existence—throughout countless eras, locales, and cultures—there has been one uniting factor, one thing that maintained our shared identity and kept us existing throughout.

Mark Twain, an unabashed anti-Semite, wondered about it:

"The Egyptian, the Babylonian, and the Persian rose, filled the planet with sound and splendor, then faded to dream-stuff and passed away; the Greek and the Roman followed, and made a vast noise, and they are gone; other peoples have sprung up and held their torch high for a time, but it burned out, and they sit in twilight now, or have vanished. The Jew saw them all, beat them all, and is now what he always was, exhibiting no decadence, no infirmities of age, no weakening of his parts, no slowing of his energies, no dulling of his alert and aggressive mind. All things are mortal but the Jew; all other forces pass, but he remains. What is the secret of his immortality?"

But as in every scientific inquiry, we need do no more than search for the common denominator to reach that secret. What has united the medieval Jew with the modern, the Eastern Jew with the Western, the affluent Jew with the poor throughout all of the centuries? Ultimately there is but one shared essence: The Torah.

And so the enemy that attacks our spiritual connection is no different than the enemy who beats our physical bodies. And, in fact, the opposite is true as well. The underlying context of the hatred exhibited by our mortal enemies throughout history—even when not couched in spiritual terms at all—ultimately comes back to that one inherent difference, to the bond created so many years ago at Mount Sinai.
So when we go out to wage war against our enemies we might at first presuppose that there are many. But as we continue to look, as we strip away the “Emperor’s clothes”, we get to the core of the issue. We have but one enemy, expressed in many different ways. And that enemy is the evil inclination with ourselves. That very same spiritual balance within each and every one of us, that struggle between good and evil inclination, is expressed on the macro level as the struggle between good and evil in the world at large. And every step we take in the right direction within our own struggle is magnified and amplified, and ultimately manifested, in the fragile spiritual balance of the entire world.

So do a Mitzvah. It might be small. Lighting candles for Shabbat. Donning Tefillin. Putting up a Mezuzah. Making a sandwich for a homeless person. Smiling at your friend. Calling your grandmother.
But those small actions are the start of a huge change. Those small steps are often the first sounds of the ultimate victory.

To quote a wise man :-) “Your next act will change the world. Make it a good one!”

Shabbat Shalom,
Dov and Runya Wagner

Q & A about Elul

Q:
Hello Rabbi I am once again a little confused.
If the month of Elul is when G-d is accessible to us, what is he for all the months preceeding it? I have always felt that G-d should be a daily part of my life, a thought for all of my days. That my connecting with him is an always existent part of life, not that I need to be especially deserving to gain his attention.
When the King is in the castle and in his chambers I find it hard to believe that the peasant even acknowledges his existence. The peasant would only think of him when the peasant is doing wrong-doing. The same as in a business model a good person may be keeping tabs on the overall idea, but most focus is on the day-to-day. I feel as though G-d should be in the day-to-day always. Why is it that in this month he is supposed to be more accessible?
Is it really that in this month we want to think of him as more accessible, because we know of the impending decisions he will make regarding the Book of Life. That in this month our minds have realized that we will be coming before him in a very different way, and we seek to believe that he is more understanding. That G-d is truly as accessible this month as he was last month, only in this month we see him differently?

Thank you for reading my reply. I look forward to meeting you soon.


A: Sorry once again for the delayed response. Things are very hectic beginning of the school year. But thanks for writing – I love the opportunity to think.

BTW, if you don’t already have plans for Friday night we’d love if you could join us for Shabbat dinner. Let me know.

So the question is: Isn’t G-d always there for us? Isn’t He supposed to be part of our every day life? How could we say that He is available one month and not others.

Consider for a moment a relationship you have. It can be a child’s with a parent, a person with their spouse, a sibling. There’s a relationship there. They are – at least on some level – always available to one another, always connected. But that doesn’t mean that all times are equal. An anniversary, a birthday, a family reunion, a holiday – all of those are things that bring the relationship out into the open. The love that was there all along is suddenly in greater focus, sharper, more real.

Or even consider something so mundane as a doctor’s office. The doctor may be on call at all times for emergencies. He/she may be available always for an appointment, if the patient only chooses to come looking. But open clinic hours create a different type of opportunity – a certain ease of entry and accessibility that, though it might really be there at all times, is tangible and clear on a whole different level.

G-d always exists. He is always “there” for us. To stick with the analogy, even when the King is in his palace, his entire being is completely and totally wrapped up in being king to his people. His days are spent on improving their lot. And the peasants, too, are essentially and really subjects of the king. (We don’t relate much to the whole monarchy analogy any more because it’s almost ceased to exist on a real level in the Western world.) So the connection is always there and the reality is always there.

But then there comes a “special time.” In this case, a special month. A month during which, in addition to the constant ability to turn towards G-d in prayer and bring Him into our lives, we’re actually given an even greater pass, a sharper focus. A month during which G-d makes a point of making it easier, of removing more of the obstacles, of getting rid of even imaginary obstructions. It is the anniversary, or the birthday; a time when “love is in the air” and there’s just such an opportunity to connect.

But He still leaves it up to us. The month of Elul isn’t about G-d reaching out to us, revealing His glory as it were, as He does during the High Holidays. It’s about Him making Himself available for us to reach out to him. The accessibility is there – to use the relationship analogy, the candles are lit, the table is set, the bottle of wine is open – but He’s still waiting for us to make the first move.

Hope this helps,
Dov

Falafel Fiesta, Gaming Night and much more

Hi,
So school has started. It’s back to classes, labs, homework, papers. But of course, you’ve got to make time for you as well. Yes, you as in partying, hanging out, having fun. But also you as in who you really are. You as in your soul. You as in your Jewishness.
We’d love to see you at one of the following events, at a Shabbat dinner or a discussion. And we’d love to hear your ideas for continuing to make Jewish life at USC as vibrant and fulfilling as it possibly can be.

So whether you make it to the Falafel Fiesta tomorrow night or just stop by to say Hi at the Involvement Fair on Wednesday, we’re looking forward to seeing you.

Check out the full calendar for the semester and much more at http://www.chabadusc.com/.

Do you need a Mezuzah for your room? Get one free (w. deposit) at www.chabadusc.com/mezuza

Got a comment, question, or argument about something in one of our emails? Please share your thoughts by emailing us or by commenting at the blog, jewsc.blogspot.com


Dov and Runya


1) Falafel Fiesta – Israel Night
2) “The Inside Scoop” – Involvement Fair on Trousdale
3) Open Board Meeting - Leadership Opportunities
4) Pizza and Parsha
5) Gaming Night at Arena Lounge
6) Friday Night Live – Shabbat @ Chabad
7) Sinai Scholars Society
8) Work Study Positions
9) Big Bear Getaway (Labor Day Weekend)
10) Save the Date – Torah Dedication Celebration
11) Thought for the Week


1) Falafel Fiesta – Israel Night
Care about Israel? Find out what you can do to help and how you can get there. Join us for a special evening of free Falafel and Schwarma, information on Birthright free trips to Israel and other Israel opportunities, and presentations by SC Students for Israel and AIPAC representatives about Israel advocacy opportunities and programming.

It’s all happening at the Chabad House tomorrow night – Tuesday, August 22, 6:30 pm.

2) “The Inside Scoop” – Involvement Fair on Trousdale
Make sure to stop by our table at the Involvement Fair on Trousdale for some great Kosher ice cream and information on everything you need to know. Special treat: coupon for a free Shabbat dinner for you and a friend. (Of course, we don’t charge anyway. But how can you resist a free coupon? J)Wednesday, August 23. 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.

3) Open Board Meeting and Leadership Opportunities
Do you have good ideas about events you’d like to see? Is there a particular area of activities you’d like to see strengthened? Do you feel that you are leadership material?If you answered yes to any of the above, you belong on our student board.But don’t take our word for it. Check it out before you join.Whether you plan to commit long-term, just have some ideas to share, or want to find out how to volunteer for a specific event, please join our Student Board in an Open Board Meeting on Wednesday, August 23, from 4:15 – 5:30 pm.Email Michal at michalco@usc.edu or Chava at frankiel@usc.edu for more details.

4) Pizza and Parsha
Always one of our most popular classes. Right on Trousdale behind the Chabad table, join us for insightful discussions and delicious Kosher pizza. Explore the relevance of the weekly Torah portion to modern-day life while enjoying a free lunch. Every Thursday, 12:15 – 2:00 pm.

5) Gaming Night at Arena Lounge
Check out a whole new gaming experience in West LA's newest video lounge. Info at http://www.chabadusc.com/www.arenalounge.com. Free for incoming freshmen or transfer students. Just $5- covers the entire evening for everybody else. X-box, PS2, and Game Cube on super big screens! Linked tournaments in Halo 2, Call of Duty, and much more, with great prizes!Thursday, August 24. Carpool from Chabad House at 6:30 pm.
RSVP Chabad@usc.edu

6) Friday Night Live – Shabbat @ Chabad
As it does every week, Shabbat happens this Friday night at Chabad. Feel right at home at our family-style Shabbat dinner. Find out why so many students have made Shabbat at Chabad the highlight of their week. Last week we started the year off in style with almost 100 students enjoying the unbeatable Shabbat experience far past midnight. This week, make sure you—and your friends—are among the lucky ones.Friday, August 25Candle Lighting and Services: 7:00 pm.Dinner: 8:00 pm.Saturday, August 27
Morning Learning: 9:30 amServices: 10:15 am.Lunch: 12:45 pm.

7) Sinai Scholars Society
We are very proud to be one of the pilot campuses nationwide hosting the Sinai Scholars Society. This semester-long series of 8 classes tackles the Ten Commandments in depth, providing a fascinating look at the laws that form the basis of almost every legal system and culture, and contain the core building-blocks of Judaism. Qualified applicants who successfully complete program requirements will receive a stipend from the Rohr National Foundation (up to $500-). Very limited spots available. Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Full details at http://www.sinaischolars.com/. Inquire by contacting Julie at lindeen@usc.edu or Danya at dburakof@usc.edu

8) Work Study Positions
Don’t miss your chance for a dream job – working at the heart of USC Jewish life with a position at Chabad. If you are work-study eligible, capable, and friendly, please inquire about one of our open positions. Special need: Qualified website maintenance and design. Chabad@usc.edu

9) Big Bear Getaway – Labor Day Weekend
Our fourth annual Labor Day weekend Big Bear Getaway. Boating, biking, alpine sliding, hiking, bbq, and much more in a fun-filled and adventure-packed two days. Sunday, Sept. 3 - Monday, Sept. 4. Just $28-!! Incoming Freshmen, just $22-!! Reserve your spot now by emailing runya@usc.edu

10) Save the Date – Torah Dedication Celebration and Processional
Sunday, Sept. 17, 2006
Join the USC Jewish community for this historic event as a qualified scribe fills in the last letters of this painstakingly restored Torah scroll on USC’s campus, followed by a processional with music and dancing from the center of campus to the Torah’s new home in the Chabad House.
Completion Ceremony: 12:00pm • Processional from Tommy Trojan: 1:00pm
Dancing and catered lunch follow at the Chabad @ USC Jewish Student Center.
Invite your family, friends, and professors!
More information to follow…

11) Thought for the Week
This Thursday and Friday mark Rosh Chodesh -- the beginning of a new Jewish month. Not just any month; the month of Elul.

Elul is very much characterized by, not so much anything that takes place within it, but rather what it acts as preparation for. It is completely overshadowed by the coming High Holy Days, by the solemnity and seriousness of the coming Days of Judgement and Days of Forgiveness. It is a month of Teshuvah, of return to the ideals and standards we may have drifted away from.

"Starting from Rosh Chodesh Elul," writes Rabbi Joseph Schneersohn in his memoirs, "a palatable change came over the streets of Lubavitch. A wind of seriousness began to blow, a wind of Elul..."

Consider a basic business model. Throughout most of the week, month, or even year, one has to focus on the business of doing business, on achieving whatever the goals of that particular enterprise are. But once in a while, every business owner must stop and take inventory. Without a thorough accounting—even, sometimes, an audit—there is no way of being certain where things stand. Have things been profitable, or are the earnings going to need to be restated, as another in a long line of financial scandals?

That is the character of the month of Elul. It is a month of accounting, a month of inventory. A chance for every person – each according to their own individual situation – to stop and take stock of what has been accomplished over the preceding months. What qualities were worthwhile, and should be continued and built upon. And in which areas has he or she failed and not lived up to the fullest potential; character traits and behavior patterns that require a complete overhaul.

In addition to that somewhat somber ideal, however, the Jewish mystics regarded Elul as a month of opportunity.All year long, the king resides in his palace. It is not easy to get to see him. Only someone who has been granted an audience, only someone with the proper credentials, is allowed into the palace. At every doorway there are guards, examining those who wish to pass through, determining their worthiness. Even after being found deserving of entry, the supplicant approaches the king as he sits in his royal chamber, awesome and unapproachable in his overpowering glory.

Once a year, though, the king leaves behind the majesty of his palace, and the glory of his capital city. He walks out into the fields, amongst the common people. There he is accessible. Anyone who but desires can approach the king. The king receives each person graciously, with a smile, and grants to each one their request.
In fact, one who takes advantage of the opportunity to approach the king in the field, will also find it much easier to request and gain an audience with His Majesty after his return to the royal chambers, too.

The king is of course G-d. Normally, there are pathways through which to approach Him--prayers and good deeds through which to be worthy of His attention. But for this a person must be deserving, truly deserving, of such Divine favor.
During the month of Elul, on the other hand, the King is in the field. G-d has made Himself accessible to us, easy to reach through repentance and good deeds. Even then, we must choose to approach Him; we must take the step of going out of our way to get in touch. But when we do so, there are no checks and balances. We are assured good grace; we are assured reception and forgiveness.
And when we take advantage of the days of Elul properly, during the following Days of Awe--Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur--when the King sits in judgment in all His glory and majesty, we can still have faith in G-d's kindness and forgiveness.

Every day presents its own special opportunities. May we all utilize properly the potential of every moment, using this time of Elul to connect with and become more aware of our spiritual selves. And may we and the entire world around us be inscribed and sealed for a good, sweet, and peaceful year!
Shabbat Shalom!

Welcome - Hawaiian Luau, Shabbat, Israel Night and more

Welcome to USC, or welcome back, as the case may be. As in past years, now that school’s starting, we’re returning to the format of once a week emails to let you know what’s going on. (If you know anyone who would like to receive these emails, or if you need to update your contact info, please email me at Chabad@usc.edu.)

So you just started school. You’re away from home, maybe for the first time in your life. You’re walking around campus wide-eyed, almost overwhelmed by all the new things you can try.
Or you’re a returning super-senior. You’ve been there and done that. Nothing interesting, nothing new. The party scene is so over. Just gotta finish those last few courses for the double major.
Or anything in between.
It’s a new school year. We’re about to start a new Jewish year. Get involved!
Involved means anything. It can mean a Shabbat dinner with that incomparable Chabad flavor. It can mean the Big Bear Getaway, the Shofar factory, one of a host of exciting discussions and classes, Shabbat services, or so much more.
But whatever it is, it means you’re exploring. You’re asking questions; hopefully you’re even moving towards some answers. This is your thing – not your parents’, not your teachers’ – yours. That’s what new years are for.

We’d love to hear from you – What would you like to see happening? What are your interests? Just need some help adjusting, figuring out where things are at, or whatever? Speak up. Drop by the Chabad House for a visit. Stop by at the table on Trousdale (as soon as Rush is over J) and say Hi. That’s what we’re here for.

If you can, let us know what you’re planning to come to by emailing Chabad@usc.edu or at www.chabadusc.com
Also – while we’re still in the middle of upgrading our site (and if you’re Work Study eligible and capable – we want to talk to YOU) – you can check out information on upcoming events, see some of the beautiful fliers, or browse through our pictures from years past at our website www.jewsc.com

Here’s what’s happening in the next couple of days. We hope to see you sometime during the Welcome Weekend.

1) Hawaiian Luau
2) Welcome Shabbat
3) Falafel Fiesta – Israel Night
4) “The Inside Scoop”
5) Video Game Night
6) Pizza and Parsha
7) Morning Minyans
8) Sinai Scholars Society
9) Big Bear Getaway (Labor Day Weekend)
10) Free Mezuzah Rentals
11) Thought for the Week

All events at the Chabad Jewish Student Center at 2713 Severance St. (just steps off the "Row"), unless otherwise noted.
1) Hawaiian Luau - Enjoy a delicious BBQ with a Hawaiian luau theme, while finding out all you need to know about life – and Jewish life – on campus. A chance for incoming freshmen and transfer students to pick the brains of our returning students. Right on campus, on the grass across from Tommy Trojan.Thursday, August 17. 5:00 – 6:30 pm
2) Welcome Shabbat – THE weekly Jewish event on campus. Reconnect with old friends or make new ones as we gather for the first Shabbat celebration of the new school year. “Often imitated, never duplicates” unique Shabbat at Chabad atmosphere and all of the Shabbat favorites, including home-cooked Challah, chicken soup, sushi, and so much more. Find out why Shabbat @ Chabad is the most popular Jewish experience on campus!Friday, August 18. Meet and greet: 6:30 pm. Services: 7:00 pm. Dinner: 8:00 pmSaturday, August 20. Early-morning Discussion: 9:30 am. Morning Services: 10:15 am. Lunch: 12:45 pm. RSVP at www.chabadusc.com or Chabad@usc.edu Come and bring a friend!
3) Falafel Fiesta – Israel Night – Got Israel? Delicious falafel party, info on Birthright and other Israel experiences, and all you need to know about Israel advocacy and programming on campus. Presentations by SC Students for Israel, AIPAC, and more. Tuesday, August 22. 6:30 – 8:30 pm
4) “The Inside Scoop” – Make sure to stop by our table at the Involvement Fair on Trousdale for some great Kosher ice cream and information on everything you need to know. Special treat: coupon for a free Shabbat dinner for you and a friend. (Of course, we don’t charge anyway. But how can you resist a free coupon? J)Wednesday, August 23. 11:00 am – 1:00 pm.
5) Video Game Night - Check out a whole new gaming experience in West LA's newest video lounge. Info at www.arenalounge.com. Free for incoming freshmen or transfer students. Just $5- covers the entire evening for everybody else. X-box, PS2, and Game Cube on super big screens! Linked tournaments in Halo 2, Call of Duty, and much more, with great prizes!Thursday, August 24. Carpool from Chabad House at 6:30 pm.
6) Pizza and Parsha – Always one of our most popular classes. Right on Trousdale behind the Chabad table, join us for insightful discussions and delicious Kosher pizza. Explore the relevance of the weekly Torah portion to modern-day life while enjoying a free lunch. Every Thursday, 12:15 – 2:00 pm.
7) Morning Minyan – Start your day off on the right foot. Morning services at the Chabad House, Monday and Thursday, 7:00 am. Followed by breakfast & discussion.
8) Sinai Scholars Society - We are very proud to be one of the pilot campuses nationwide hosting the Sinai Scholars Society. This semester-long series of 8 classes tackles the Ten Commandments in depth, providing a fascinating look at the laws that form the basis of almost every legal system and culture, and contain the core building-blocks of Judaism. Qualified applicants who successfully complete program requirements will receive a stipend from the Rohr National Foundation (up to $500-). Very limited spots available. Wednesday nights, 7:30 – 9:30 pm. Full details at www.sinaischolars.com. Inquire at Chabad@usc.edu
9) Big Bear Getaway - Our fourth annual Labor Day weekend Big Bear Getaway. Boating, biking, alpine sliding, hiking, bbq, and much more in a fun-filled and adventure-packed two days. Sunday, Sept. 3 - Monday, Sept. 4. Just $28-!! Incoming Freshmen, just $22-!! Reserve your spot now by emailing runya@usc.edu
10) Free Mezuzah RentalsYou can rent your very own Mezuzah for your dorm room or apartment. For free.A deposit of $26- gets you a Mezuzah with full customer service. Return the Mezuzah at the end of the year and you receive your full deposit back. And a Mitzvah. Or keep it. www.chabadusc.com or Chabad@usc.edu to order.
11) Thought for the Week:
The Tests of Life

By Yossy Goldman
Reprinted from www.chabad.org


Will the real prophet please stand up? There are false prophets out there, always have been. Way back in the Bible (Deuteronomy 13), the Torah was already warning us that we would encounter individuals who looked like prophets. They might even seem to make miracles like prophets but, in truth, they are really false prophets.

Why then would G-d allow a false prophet to make a miracle or do wondrous things that are really impressive? The answer, says our Parshah, is that G-d is testing us. If we really and truly love G-d with all our heart and soul then we won't be impressed by any fancy wonders or miracles. The acid test will always be: does this would-be prophet encourage us to follow G-d's laws or to ignore them? And if this "prophet" is not faithful to the word of G-d then he is no prophet but an imposter and a false prophet.

If you thought that life's tests were over when you finished school, guess again. There are many tests in life and they can be much more difficult than chemistry or physics. And there isn't that much homework we can do to prepare for these kinds of tests either.

Poverty is a big test of faith. Even affluence can be a test that's tougher than we think. Failing health is no easy one, and tragedy is worse. Every individual faces his or her own unique tests and challenges. We might wish the other fellow's tests upon us but our tests are ours and ours alone to deal with. What tempts one person may not tempt the next. What is difficult for me might be simple for you and vice versa. If we remember that the challenge of the moment is, in fact, a test, we might be better able to handle it and pass the test.

But we don't always realize that this may just be our very own personal, spiritual challenge, perhaps even the most important one of our entire existence. We don't necessarily appreciate that our souls might have come down to this world for the express purpose of passing these tests.

So we rationalize.

If there is a G-d in the world where was He at Auschwitz?

If G-d didn't intend for me to take the money why did the boss leave the cash register open?

If this relationship is wrong why does it feel so right? This poor woman is locked in a loveless marriage. Isn't she entitled to a little happiness? Shouldn't I be there for her?

If G-d really wanted me to keep Shabbat why is my biggest turnover on Saturday?

If a yarmulke was meant for me to wear, why am I bald? I can't even find any hair for the darn clip!

But if we accept the concept of a test of faith then it becomes easier to deal with the challenges, as formidable as they may be.

The question remains: Why does G-d test us? Is it really--as our Parshah explains--"to know whether we do, in fact, love G-d with all our heart and soul"? Doesn't G-d know all that already? How will we enlighten Him one way or the other? Is there anything G-d does not know?

The answer, according to Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi in his classic collection of chassidic discourses, Likutei Torah, is that it is not for G-d to know but for us to know. Of course G-d knows. But He places tests and obstacles in our path so that when we overcome them we develop and bring to the fore the inner, latent love of G-d that was always there inside our hearts and souls.

When we pass life's tests, we discover that we do have that inner strength after all; that we really are believers who are profoundly connected to G-d and that our commitment is true and genuine. In passing life's tests we become more confident in our own moral strength and enriched and ennobled with a higher awareness of G-d. This is why we are stronger after conquering these hurdles than we were before we faced them.

We don't go looking for tests. Every morning in our prayers we ask G-d, "lead us not to temptation." But if it does come our way we must appreciate that it is critical to our success as moral human beings and as committed Jews that we face up to the challenge.

May we never be tested. But if we are, let us remember that it is a test. Please G-d, we will pass with flying colors.

Shabbat Shalom! We look forward to seeing you soon.

Dov and Runya Wagner

More Discussion

Q: Thank you. I had never heard of this holiday before, and am very interested in your inturrpretation of it's purpose.
I must confess that I am a little confused... The rebuilding of the temple will happen when the messiah comes, right? So, for all our planting, the harvest will come when the whole world is reunited and celebrates together. What is it that we will gain by mourning right now?

According to your explanation we mourn the loss to more deeply appreciate and help bring about the celebration. The celebration will be felt by all, not just us, right? It seems to me that to say we mourn for something in order to help bring about the future something dosen't make any sense. Our mourning is a solitary moment, when others do not see us doing good in the world; when, if anything, people are less likely to see the Jewish ideas and way as the chosen one. How will we help to bring about a celebration by spending the day in solitary, inward mouring? That seed of redemption and awareness will only be spread amongst ourselves, and even then it dosen't seem to be spreading very much.

It also seems to me to throw in the face of Passover. Was the joy of that Exile the celebration of Redemption? It seems that the way we remember that holiday, through stories and questions, to mandate the reliving of that tale; we have stated that the exile in Egypt is by far the more important one. It has never seemed to me that the purpose of the exile, the tears and the hardship was to enjoy and celebrate in the redemption.

If you could elaborate more upon this idea, I would be very thankful. May your fast be easy and your day be filled with contemplation.

A: Hi,

Sorry for the delayed response. I started this email last week, got distracted, and things have been hectic since.

Really great questions – thanks for asking.

As I understood it, you had two basic questions:

a) How can we be changing anything by what we do alone in a synagogue or room? Shouldn’t we be out in the streets doing something/sharing a message?
b) Isn’t Passover a focus on the tale of exile in Egypt?

I’ll try to address each of those:

a) The old cliché’ tells us that “there are two sides to every coin.” On a deeper level, though, there are actually two elements to the reality of the coin – the direct and tangible body, and the inner core—i.e. it’s makeup, it’s essence, etc.

When we talk about impacting the world, there are two ways to go about it. Think of the two major types of medical treatment that exist. Let’s look at cancer treatment for example. The traditional mode focuses on the problem directly. There’s something there that doesn’t belong. Burn it, poison it, cut it out.
A more holistic view, though, tells a patient to look beyond just the specific part that is currently troubled. Strengthen the body with vitamins, with exercises; reinforce the body’s ability to fight off the invader, and you may be able to deal with the problem without any – or with minimal – direct interaction.

On a more basic level, think about taking a medication. A person with limited exposure to science may not understand: I don’t need something to drink, I have an infected wound. But of course we understand the extended impact of one part of the body on another.

Just last week, my daughter suddenly complained about a painful lump behind her ear. When we took her to the doctor, he explained that it was an inflamed lymph node. Interestingly, the problem probably resulted from a scratch elsewhere on her head that had gotten infected. And the cure suggested wasn’t anything to do with the lymph node itself, but rather a prescription for antibiotics that would fight off the infection. So the problem neither stemmed from where it was visible, nor was it helped by addressing directly the visible symptom. Because in one body, all of the elements affect every other part.

Applying that to our impact on the world: We see a particular problem. Say it is the need for redemption and celebration. Or say it is a war going on in Israel, Lebanon, Iraq, or anywhere else. Say it is the general problem of human suffering.

There are two elements of the problem, and so there are also two elements to the response.

One is the very real, tangible, physical problem. The real suffering. The actual hunger, or hatred, or injustice, or disease, or anything else. Or the real and actual ignorance or apathy towards the meaning of life, the message of redemption, etc.

It’s a real practical problem. And the way to solve it is through real practical solutions. Finding ways to help. Getting involved in advocacy, in information drives, in fundraising, in volunteering; in whatever it real practical assistance we can offer.

But there’s another element to the problem. The infection hidden beneath the surface, if you will. The belief that when something is wrong in the physical world it is because of an imbalance in the spiritual core. Something that we’re all tied into, something that we all have an impact on. On that level, treating the symptom alone is—though temporarily helpful—missing the long-term point.

Which is why we believe that, in addition to doing everything we can in the physical realm to treat the symptoms of our suffering world, we need to look within as well. Spending a day in mourning over the Destruction of the Temple – in other words, spending a day looking at the root causes of the ills of our society, and concentrating on the promise of redemption and the path towards it – is not being myopic or withdrawing from reality, but is actually the key to ensuring that the underlying issues are truly being addressed, and that the spiritual balance is being corrected.

To make a long story short my answer is: Yes. We do believe that what each of us does locked in a room or synagogue has an impact on the world. Because we believe that reality comprises more than just the tangible world we see and touch.

That being said, however, it’s important to note that Tisha B’av is only one day a year. We each have to tap into the spiritual message that lies underneath, but we also have to find a way to translate that message into real-world behavior, into living a life that is infused by the spiritual messages we believe in.

(It’s a similar dynamic that we experience on a weekly basis. One day a week is Shabbat. One day a week is for withdrawing from the workday mundane world to recharge our spiritual batteries. But during the six days that follow, we’ve got to translate that energy into reality by engaging with the world around us. And the ratio is not an even one – most of the year, most of the week, most of each and every day is spent in the implementation model.)


b) With regard to Passover, I think a careful reading of the holiday’s observances will show that the focus is in fact on celebrating the Redemption from the exile in Egypt. There, too, the emphasis on the hardship of the exile is primarily to provide the context for the joy of Redemption that follows.

Please let me know if I misunderstood the questions, or if you have any further comments or questions. And again, thank you for asking. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate questions and discussion.
Dov

Tisha B'Av Dates

I received the following question from a Professor here at USC about my previous post:

Dov,Thanks for your Tisha B'Av message.
I am puzzled, however, by the two historical dates that you gave. The destruction date for the First Temple was 586 BCE (the generally agreed year, though some would put it one or two years earlier or later, but no where near your value of423 BCE); and 70 CE for the Second Temple (your 69 CE is close, but Roman dates are not in doubt).
Best wishes,

Attached is my response:

Hi Dr. xxxxx,
It's great to hear from you. I hope all is well.
Re: the dates. I quoted the dates from "The Jewish Timeline Encyclopedia" by Mattis Kantor (published by Aronson).
Although he doesn't list the entire discussion, there are two issues at hand:
a) The date for the Destruction of the Second Temple. This is much more commonly acknowledged as having taken place in 70 CE. There is however a bit of debate within traditional Jewish circles, and some additional reason for confusion:
1) There are two methods of calculating the Jewish calendar. R. Saadiah Gaon and others point out that the calendar dates recorded in the Talmud and in Seder Olam (a historical work from Talmudic times which is the source of much of Jewish historical dating) used the creation of Adam as their starting date. The Jewish calendar as it is universally computed nowadays actually uses the date of creation as year 1, and starts year 2 on the sixth day of creation (Rosh Hashana) with the creation of Adam. That allows for some discrepancies of one year depending on which system is being used, and can translate into the same discrepancies of one year in translation into secular dates as well (69 or 70).
2) There is additionally some dispute as to the exact year of the Destruction of the second temple, depending on whether it was destroyed in its 420th year or after 420 years. Thus, Rashi (avodah zarah 9b) places the Destruction in the year 3828 (68 or 69), while Tosafos contends that it was in the following year (3829 - 69 or 70). Similarly, Maimonides (shemitah v'yovel 10:4) places the destruction in 3829 (presumably 69, but possibly 70).

b) As you noted, the date for the Destruction of the First Temple involves a much greater discrepancy.
Jewish tradition contends that the Second Temple stood for 420 years. In addition, there was a period of 70 years between the Destruction of the First Temple and the building of the Second. A simple count backward of 490 years from the year 3828 would give the date for the First Temple's Destruction as 3338. Translating that to secular date would require subtracting 490 years from 68 CE and then subtracting one more (because there is no year 0 in the secular calendar), which gives us a date of 423 BCE. (Admittedly, for me to have been consistent I should have put either 68 CE for the Second, or 424 BCE for the First).

To explain the discrepancy of some 150 years from the secular dates, I quote from an appendix in the back of Artcroll Publication's "History of the Jewish People: The Second Temple Era":

"These dates are based primarily on the traditional chronology given in Seder Olam, an authoritative work dating back to Talmudic times, and of course on the Talmud itself. Based on Scriptural and Rabbinic source, Seder Olam is founded on an uninterrupted tradition and forms the basis for such halachic determinations as the dating of Shemittah. Secular historians, however, have adopted a sharply divergent chronological system for this period. They date the destruction of the First Temple and the construction of the Second Temple 167 years earlier than does Seder Olam and all other traditional Jewish sources.
Secular history identifies 538 BCE (3223) as the year Cyrus conquered the Babylonian Empire, while our tradition puts this event at 371 BCE (3390). As Scripture states clearly (Ezra 1:1ff and II Chronicles 23:22-3) it was in the first year of Cyrus' reign that the Jewish exiles were permitted to return to Jerusalem. Cyrus' reign began a year after he and Darius the Mede conquered Babylon (see Daniel 9:2 with Rashi, Megillah 12a, and Seder Olam ch. 28-29). 18 years after that the Second Temple was built (see Seder Olam ch. 30, Megillah 11b). Jewish tradition also states frequently and unequivocally that the Second Temple stood for 420 years (see Seder Olam ch. 30, Arachin 12b et al). According to the secular dating of Cyrus' victory, the Second Temple era would have had to be far, far longer than that ascribed to it by every Talmudic source.
Another discrepancy involves the duration of Persian domination of the near East. In the Rabbinic tradition, Persian rule spanned the relatively brief period of 52 years, from 370-318 BCE (3391-3443), 34 of these years being after the construction of the Second Temple. Secular history assigns 208 years to Persia, from 538-330 BCE (3223-3431). According to this latter version, ten Persian kings reigned during those years: Cyrus the Great, Cambyses II, Darius I, Xerxes I, Artaxerxes I, Xerxes II, Darius II, Artaxerxes II, Artaxerxes III, and Darius III. Jewish tradition, however, recognizes no more than four Persians as rulers of the entire known civilized world: Cyrus, Achashvairsoh, Darius, and possibly Cambyses....
This discrepancy has been noted by numerous Jewish scholars throughout the centuries who have insisted that the traditional chronology is incontrovertibly supported by Scripture.
Don Isaac Abarbanel (in his comm.. to Daniel) suggests that some of the Persian kings mentioned in the ancient sources may have ruled Persia prior to its conquest of Babylonia. The Talmudic reference to a 52-year Persian hegemony, however, refers only to the years when Persia ruled the former Babylonian Empire...."

They go on for a while, but that's the gist of it.
Hope this helps. I'd love to hear your comments.
Let me take this opportunity to again extend our invitation to you to join us some time for a Shabbat dinner. I know that our students would gain immensely from an opportunity to interact with you and hear your thoughts.
Dov

Destruction & Renewal

1) Tisha B’Av – Mourning the Destruction
2) Unity Torah
3) BBQ Sunday in Temescal Canyon
4) Work Study
5) Save the Date: Hawaiian Luau and Welcome Shabbat
6) Thought for the Week

1) Tisha B’Av – Mourning the Destruction
The ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av begins tonight at sunset. This day marks the anniversary of the destruction of both the First and Second Temples in Jerusalem, in 423 BCE and 69 CE by the Babylonians and the Romans respectively. Throughout Jewish history, many other calamities of note happened or began on this same day. It is observed as a day of fasting and mourning, because it is only through our awareness of where we came from and what we’ve been through that we can continue to move forward and appreciate who we are and who we can become. (More on that in the Thought for the Week.)

The basic observances of the day include:
No eating, drinking, bathing, marital relations, or wearing leather shoes from sunset tonight (Wednesday, August 2) until nightfall tomorrow night (Thursday, August 3.
Hearing in the synagogue or reading the book of Eicha (Lamentations).
Refraining from any study of Torah not directly pertaining to the story of the Destructions or the laws of mourning, for Torah study is the truest form of joy.
Giving charity (some say at least the value of the meals we are not eating) to the poor.

For more information on the history and detailed observances of Tisha B’Av, click http://www.chabad.org/holidays/3weeks/calendar/article.asp?AID=144575

Here in Los Angeles, the fast begins tonight just after 7:50 pm, and ends tomorrow night just before 8:30 pm.

2) Unity Torah
As rockets continue to rain down on our brethren in the Holy Land and the violence swirls all around (just today there were 210 rockets and missiles! Do you realize that there are over 1,000,000 refugees from the current violence in Israel alone? And another million people living in bomb shelters! This in a country of some 6 million people.), I strongly encourage each of you to join in a spiritual act of solidarity:
Join thousands of other Jewish students around the world in purchasing a letter in a special Torah scroll being written to express our unity and solidarity. It’s just $1-, but the message it sends is priceless.
More info at www.unitytorah.com

You can also read up on other things you can do to help the current situation at www.chabadoncampus.org/crisis www.standwithus.com or www.aipac.org

Also, make sure to check out www.jnet.org for an awesome opportunity for Jewish learning on your schedule at your pace.

3) BBQ Sunday at Temescal Canyon

In case you can’t read the image:
The Persian Jewish community has a tradition of congregating outdoors on the Sunday following “Shabbat Nachamu” – the Shabbat after Tisha B’av. This year, the local campus Chabad Houses will be there with a fully catered Persian BBQ.
You’re invited to join us: Sunday, August 6. 12 – 6 pm. At Temescal Canyon Park.

4) Work Study
Just a reminder that we’re looking for a few good men and women to work with us at Chabad this coming school year. If you are Work Study eligible please contact Runya at runya@usc.edu
Work in a friendly environment, make a real difference in Jewish life at USC, all while getting paid!

5) Save the Date
School is almost here. I’ll give the full rundown of upcoming activities next week, but save these dates already:
Thursday, August 17 we’ll be kicking things off with an amazing Hawaiian Luau BBQ right on campus at 5:00 pm.
And on Friday, August 18, USC’s best weekly Jewish experience returns with our long-anticipated Welcome Shabbat. Catch up with old friends and make new ones as we kick another semester off in style.

6) Thought for the Week
I don’t know if the following story really happened or is a legend, but either way the point is true.

During the height of his conquests, Napoleon was once riding with his entourage when he heard sounds of a commotion coming from a nearby structure. As they drew near the sounds of mournful wailing reached their ears.
Napoleon himself strode into the structure to see what the crying was all about. He saw a classic scene of mourning: dimmed lights, people sitting on the floors, and weeping and crying throughout the room.
“Find out what this is about,” he commanded his courtiers.
It took just a moment. “This is a Jewish synagogue,” they reported back. “And they’re crying over the destruction of their Temple.”
Napoleon was outraged. “This was obviously a building of import. How could such a thing have taken place in my empire without my knowledge and authorization? Where and when was this Temple destroyed?”
The answer shocked him. “The Temple was destroyed in Jerusalem over 1700 years ago. Today is the ninth day of the month of Av, the anniversary of that Destruction.”
“If a people can mourn a loss so deeply and truly for so long,” declared Bonaparte, “surely they will merit to see it rebuilt once again.”

Unknowingly, Napoleon had struck on a teaching of Judaism. “Whoever truly participates in mourning for the destruction of Jerusalem,” our sages taught, “will merit to see in its rejoicing.”

But what exactly is this mourning? Why is it so important? Isn’t mourning centuries later just a sign of paralysis and stagnation? Why not move on?

Of course, on a basic level, there’s no reason to want something unless you truly recognize what it is that you’re missing. So learning about the Temple, recognizing what it meant to the Jewish people, even feeling how much we currently lack that type of relationship with the Divine, are all necessary components of being able to truly want to have it again.

And we all know the quote, “those who ignore history are doomed to repeat it.” So on a purely nationalistic level, the awareness of our history and consciousness of the suffering and persecution in which our nation was forged again and again are key components of understanding what it means to be a Jew.

But I believe the mourning for the Destruction of the Temple achieves more than just that.

“He who plants in tears harvests in celebration” declared the Psalmist.

We’re not just crying for wood and stone. If we were, we’d just go out and build a new structure.
We’re not just weeping for lives lost – bitter as that period in our history was. The reality of the Jewish people and our world as a whole is that there have been many more calamities since.
We’re not just focusing on the grief and sadness of events in our past. Because if we are stuck on a long-ago reality we are failing to live up to the potential that exists in each and every day.

We’re planting in tears. We’re sowing a seed. A seed of awareness. A seed of consciousness. A seed of redemption.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe often pointed out a fascinating phenomenon: The Hebrew word for exile – golah – is comprised of the very same letters as the Hebrew word for redemption – geulah, with just one important difference. The word for redemption has an added aleph.

What is an aleph? It is the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. It’s the first letter of the Ten Commandments, with which G-d introduces himself. It’s the Hebrew symbol for one: One G-d, unity within creation. As it is spelled out, aleph also means teaching, as in the verse aalephca chochma, aalephcha binah – I will teach you wisdom, I will teach you understanding.

Aleph essentially is consciousness. Consciousness of a Higher Being. Consciousness of a higher purpose. Consciousness of an inherent and essential design within all of creation.

Introduce an aleph into exile and you’ve got redemption.

The planting in tears is not something separate from the celebration of the harvest. It’s through the planting that we can reach the harvest. And it’s often through the tears that we can reach the celebration. Because if we get down and deep, if we understand what lies within the tears and perceive the purpose of the exile, we come to recognize that it was all about the joy of the redemption in the first place.
That’s what the tears over the Destruction of the Temple are about. We’re not stuck in the past. Our tears are focused on the future. Our mourning for the destruction is the way through which we get in touch with the glorious promise of its ultimate rebuilding.

May this be the last time we commemorate – even outwardly – the pain and suffering of our exile, as we speedily merit the day when “the L-rd your G-d will erase all tears from the earth” with the coming of Moshiach.

Shabbat Shalom,
Dov and Runya