CBS Correspondent Tonight, Homecoming/Sinai Shabbat tomorrow, and Test Tube Torah on Tuesday
Hi,
As many of you know, we just got back from an amazing weekend in NY, where we went with a group of USC students to join over 500 students from all around the country and beyond.
You can see pictures and videos (among other things, of Matisyahu’s live performance Saturday night – singing about his baby son who was born just 12 hours earlier) at www.chabad.edu
In any event, we’re back now and ready for Shabbat. A couple of big things happening before and after too, including a Thursday night presentation by the Middle East correspondent for CBS as well as next Tuesday nights final installment of the Food for Thought – Jewish LAS series with world-renowned Rabbi Immanuel Schochet. Please scroll down for details.
Believe it or not, we’re already into the last few weeks of the semester. We’d love to see you some time this week.
1) Is there a media bias? An evening with David Gilbert - CBS Middle East correspondent
2) New and improved - Pizza and Parsha
3) Homecoming Shabbat honoring the Sinai Scholars
4) Test Tube Torah - last Food for Thought with Rabbi Dr. Immanuel Schochet
5) Announcements
6) Thought for the Week
1) Is there a media bias? An evening with David Gilbert – CBS Middle East Correspondent TONIGHT
David Gilbert is a Middle East Correspondent for CBS, based in Jerusalem, who will be speaking about his experiences covering the current Intifadah.
Where: Taper Hall Room 106
When: Thursday November 9th at 8:00 pm.
This is a great opportunity to hear about the conflict in Israel from a journalist's perspective.
Hope to see all of you there.
2) Pizza and Parsha – New and Improved
TODAY
12:15 – 2:00 pm
On Trousdale
Kosher pizza.
Open discussion.
Spiritual sustenance.
Today’s discussion: Revelation vs. rationale. Which is Judaism really?
3) Homecoming Shabbat honoring the Sinai Scholars
You haven't been to Shabbat at Chabad in a while.
Holidays, midterms, weekenders, whatever....
Well, this is the week to make it happen!
Join us for a very special Homecoming Shabbat celebration. Our signature delicious home-made five course dinner, the amazing atmosphere of warmth, family, and community, and so much more.
Believe it or not, the semester is almost over. As our Sages once said: "If not now, when." Sort of like Nike said: "Just do it!"
Honoring the 60 participants past and present in the Sinai Scholars Society. There’s also a bunch of birthdays happening/happened this week, including Rabbi Dov’s Jewish birthday coming up on Tuesday, so come celebrate with us!
This Shabbat is sponsored by Martin and Klara Shandling, our guest for the weekend.
Friday, Nov. 10
Candle Lighting: 4:35 pm
Services: 6:00 pm
Dinner: 7:00 pm
By popular request: Shabbat dinner will be followed by a Farbrengen at 10:30 pm.
Saturday, Nov. 11
Morning discussion topic: Al Qaeda or Akeida – Martyrdom in Jewish thought: 9:30 am
Services: 10:15 am
Beat the Ducks – come to Minyan!
Lunch: 12:45 pm
Shabbat ends: 5:28 pm
4) Test Tube Torah - last Food for Thought with Rabbi Dr. Immanuel Schochet
Followed by Rabbi Dov’s Birthday Farbrengen
Jewish Letters, Arts and Sciences concludes with an in- depth look at Jewish scholarship and attitudes about medical ethics. Explore our heritage’s stance on euthanasia, cloning, abortion and much more. Enjoy alternative healing with a full buffet of Chinese food.
Rabbi Dr. J. Immanuel Schochet is a noted author, lecturer, professor of philosophy and congregational Rabbi.
This is truly an event you don’t want to miss!
Tuesday, Nov. 14.
6:30 pm
At Chabad House
Farbrengen 9:00 pm
5) Announcements
Shalom!
My name is Daniel Orlik and I am a student at the University of Southern California. I am conducting research about the experiences and assimilation levels for Jewish immigrants to America and their family members. I have created a survey that I believe can provide much insight into how immigrants' host countries have impacted their experiences as immigrants and Americans. Below is a link to the survey I created. I ask of you to please send this link to your students as soon as possible and encourage them to fill the survey out with their families. It is imperative to my research to have as many people as possible complete the survey by November 9, 2006. As stated in the survey instructions, all responses will be kept completely confidential and will be used for research purposes only. As a graduate from a private Jewish high school in the Los Angeles area, I have always been fascinated with Jewish sociology within the American social and cultural environment. The link is included below:
http://www.my3q.com/go.php?url=soci142gm/16705
The success of this survey will greatly impact my ability to study the trends of Jews in America.
6) Thought for the Week
The young boy was studying Chumash. Every verse presented a new challenge, each new understanding an added joy. But at the beginning of Vayerah (this week's Torah portion) he burst out in tears.
“What’s the matter,” asked his grandfather, the famed Tzemach Tzedek.
“G-d showed Himself to Abraham,” complained the boy. “Why can’t I see Him?”
“Abraham did something to deserve that revelation,” replied the Tzemach Tzedek. “He was ninety-nine years old, and yet he decided to circumcise himself.”
Abraham circumcised himself because of his realization that he was only “ninety-nine.” He felt that he was not yet “one hundred”; he had not yet reached perfection. Despite his having achieved degrees of spiritual connection never before even attempted, Abraham felt that matters could not stay as they were; he had to continue to change. He recognized that man is always imperfect, and constantly needs to strive to change for the better.
It is this understanding, expressed at the conclusion of the preceding portion, that sets the stage for Vayerah. It made Abraham worthy of G-d’s revelation, and ultimately allowed Yitzchak to be born.
We may not reach Abraham’s level, but, like the boy in our story, (a boy who grew up to be the revered Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch,) we do need to strive towards it. It is a person’s recognition that there is always room for improvement that enables him/her to grow. When not limited by ego, there is truly no end to the possibilities.
It is only our own creation of a "box" for ourselves, our own pretensions to having reached everything we need or want to, that limit our capacity for growth, and that prevent us from achieving our true potential.
At the end of this week's Torah portion, Abraham passes the hardest of his ten tests, the Binding of Isaac. In that case, too, Abraham transcended his own self -- even his own spiritual self -- and exhibited a capacity for connecting to the Infinite.
Abraham's nature was the epitome of kindness. He excelled in welcoming in guests, in showering even the undeserving with acts of love. Every aspect of his Divine service up to this point had always been expressed through the dimension of giving and loving-kindness. Even his argument with G-d recorded in this week's Torah portion is all about wanting to show mercy even to the completely evil and rotten people of Sodom.
But Abraham recognized that all of that was not enough. He appreciated the fact that if he continued to serve G-d in a single-dimensional manner, from within the confines of his own emotional makeup, then -- despite all of his great spiritual achievements--he remained limited and bound by the borders of his own personality. He could not truly be selfless, he could not truly become one with the Infinite Essence of G-d, for all of his work was no more than an expression of his own self--good and holy as that self may have been.
It was only by the Binding of Isaac that something was proven. Here, Abraham was not tested to see how far the limits of his kindness and patience would stretch. The test was quite the opposite. He was asked to commit a cold, cruel act; an act unfathomable in its brutality. He was asked to take his only beloved son and offer him as a human sacrifice to G-d. He was asked to exhibit the ultimate in severity and harshness.
G-d never intended for Abraham to actually offer his son. But by his willingness to do so, something had changed. Abraham had once again shown that same lack of ego that had allowed him to circumcise himself; that willingness to completely ignore his own self. By his willingness to heed G-d's every command, Abraham proved once and for all that his Divine Service was not about himself, was not for the sake of any personal agenda at all, not even one of holiness.
It was this true self-abnegation that characterized Abraham's loftiest achievement. It is the merit that continues to stand us in good stead to this very day.
We may not achieve Abraham's complete selfless devotion to G-d. But, like the child in the story we began with, we should at least recognize that such a level of connection exists, and at least be moved to tears by our comparatively self-centered natures. This feeling is the first and most meaningful step towards actually reaching beyond ourselves and our egos.
Have a Great Shabbat.
Dov and Runya
As many of you know, we just got back from an amazing weekend in NY, where we went with a group of USC students to join over 500 students from all around the country and beyond.
You can see pictures and videos (among other things, of Matisyahu’s live performance Saturday night – singing about his baby son who was born just 12 hours earlier) at www.chabad.edu
In any event, we’re back now and ready for Shabbat. A couple of big things happening before and after too, including a Thursday night presentation by the Middle East correspondent for CBS as well as next Tuesday nights final installment of the Food for Thought – Jewish LAS series with world-renowned Rabbi Immanuel Schochet. Please scroll down for details.
Believe it or not, we’re already into the last few weeks of the semester. We’d love to see you some time this week.
1) Is there a media bias? An evening with David Gilbert - CBS Middle East correspondent
2) New and improved - Pizza and Parsha
3) Homecoming Shabbat honoring the Sinai Scholars
4) Test Tube Torah - last Food for Thought with Rabbi Dr. Immanuel Schochet
5) Announcements
6) Thought for the Week
1) Is there a media bias? An evening with David Gilbert – CBS Middle East Correspondent TONIGHT
David Gilbert is a Middle East Correspondent for CBS, based in Jerusalem, who will be speaking about his experiences covering the current Intifadah.
Where: Taper Hall Room 106
When: Thursday November 9th at 8:00 pm.
This is a great opportunity to hear about the conflict in Israel from a journalist's perspective.
Hope to see all of you there.
2) Pizza and Parsha – New and Improved
TODAY
12:15 – 2:00 pm
On Trousdale
Kosher pizza.
Open discussion.
Spiritual sustenance.
Today’s discussion: Revelation vs. rationale. Which is Judaism really?
3) Homecoming Shabbat honoring the Sinai Scholars
You haven't been to Shabbat at Chabad in a while.
Holidays, midterms, weekenders, whatever....
Well, this is the week to make it happen!
Join us for a very special Homecoming Shabbat celebration. Our signature delicious home-made five course dinner, the amazing atmosphere of warmth, family, and community, and so much more.
Believe it or not, the semester is almost over. As our Sages once said: "If not now, when." Sort of like Nike said: "Just do it!"
Honoring the 60 participants past and present in the Sinai Scholars Society. There’s also a bunch of birthdays happening/happened this week, including Rabbi Dov’s Jewish birthday coming up on Tuesday, so come celebrate with us!
This Shabbat is sponsored by Martin and Klara Shandling, our guest for the weekend.
Friday, Nov. 10
Candle Lighting: 4:35 pm
Services: 6:00 pm
Dinner: 7:00 pm
By popular request: Shabbat dinner will be followed by a Farbrengen at 10:30 pm.
Saturday, Nov. 11
Morning discussion topic: Al Qaeda or Akeida – Martyrdom in Jewish thought: 9:30 am
Services: 10:15 am
Beat the Ducks – come to Minyan!
Lunch: 12:45 pm
Shabbat ends: 5:28 pm
4) Test Tube Torah - last Food for Thought with Rabbi Dr. Immanuel Schochet
Followed by Rabbi Dov’s Birthday Farbrengen
Jewish Letters, Arts and Sciences concludes with an in- depth look at Jewish scholarship and attitudes about medical ethics. Explore our heritage’s stance on euthanasia, cloning, abortion and much more. Enjoy alternative healing with a full buffet of Chinese food.
Rabbi Dr. J. Immanuel Schochet is a noted author, lecturer, professor of philosophy and congregational Rabbi.
This is truly an event you don’t want to miss!
Tuesday, Nov. 14.
6:30 pm
At Chabad House
Farbrengen 9:00 pm
5) Announcements
Shalom!
My name is Daniel Orlik and I am a student at the University of Southern California. I am conducting research about the experiences and assimilation levels for Jewish immigrants to America and their family members. I have created a survey that I believe can provide much insight into how immigrants' host countries have impacted their experiences as immigrants and Americans. Below is a link to the survey I created. I ask of you to please send this link to your students as soon as possible and encourage them to fill the survey out with their families. It is imperative to my research to have as many people as possible complete the survey by November 9, 2006. As stated in the survey instructions, all responses will be kept completely confidential and will be used for research purposes only. As a graduate from a private Jewish high school in the Los Angeles area, I have always been fascinated with Jewish sociology within the American social and cultural environment. The link is included below:
http://www.my3q.com/go.php?url=soci142gm/16705
The success of this survey will greatly impact my ability to study the trends of Jews in America.
6) Thought for the Week
The young boy was studying Chumash. Every verse presented a new challenge, each new understanding an added joy. But at the beginning of Vayerah (this week's Torah portion) he burst out in tears.
“What’s the matter,” asked his grandfather, the famed Tzemach Tzedek.
“G-d showed Himself to Abraham,” complained the boy. “Why can’t I see Him?”
“Abraham did something to deserve that revelation,” replied the Tzemach Tzedek. “He was ninety-nine years old, and yet he decided to circumcise himself.”
Abraham circumcised himself because of his realization that he was only “ninety-nine.” He felt that he was not yet “one hundred”; he had not yet reached perfection. Despite his having achieved degrees of spiritual connection never before even attempted, Abraham felt that matters could not stay as they were; he had to continue to change. He recognized that man is always imperfect, and constantly needs to strive to change for the better.
It is this understanding, expressed at the conclusion of the preceding portion, that sets the stage for Vayerah. It made Abraham worthy of G-d’s revelation, and ultimately allowed Yitzchak to be born.
We may not reach Abraham’s level, but, like the boy in our story, (a boy who grew up to be the revered Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber of Lubavitch,) we do need to strive towards it. It is a person’s recognition that there is always room for improvement that enables him/her to grow. When not limited by ego, there is truly no end to the possibilities.
It is only our own creation of a "box" for ourselves, our own pretensions to having reached everything we need or want to, that limit our capacity for growth, and that prevent us from achieving our true potential.
At the end of this week's Torah portion, Abraham passes the hardest of his ten tests, the Binding of Isaac. In that case, too, Abraham transcended his own self -- even his own spiritual self -- and exhibited a capacity for connecting to the Infinite.
Abraham's nature was the epitome of kindness. He excelled in welcoming in guests, in showering even the undeserving with acts of love. Every aspect of his Divine service up to this point had always been expressed through the dimension of giving and loving-kindness. Even his argument with G-d recorded in this week's Torah portion is all about wanting to show mercy even to the completely evil and rotten people of Sodom.
But Abraham recognized that all of that was not enough. He appreciated the fact that if he continued to serve G-d in a single-dimensional manner, from within the confines of his own emotional makeup, then -- despite all of his great spiritual achievements--he remained limited and bound by the borders of his own personality. He could not truly be selfless, he could not truly become one with the Infinite Essence of G-d, for all of his work was no more than an expression of his own self--good and holy as that self may have been.
It was only by the Binding of Isaac that something was proven. Here, Abraham was not tested to see how far the limits of his kindness and patience would stretch. The test was quite the opposite. He was asked to commit a cold, cruel act; an act unfathomable in its brutality. He was asked to take his only beloved son and offer him as a human sacrifice to G-d. He was asked to exhibit the ultimate in severity and harshness.
G-d never intended for Abraham to actually offer his son. But by his willingness to do so, something had changed. Abraham had once again shown that same lack of ego that had allowed him to circumcise himself; that willingness to completely ignore his own self. By his willingness to heed G-d's every command, Abraham proved once and for all that his Divine Service was not about himself, was not for the sake of any personal agenda at all, not even one of holiness.
It was this true self-abnegation that characterized Abraham's loftiest achievement. It is the merit that continues to stand us in good stead to this very day.
We may not achieve Abraham's complete selfless devotion to G-d. But, like the child in the story we began with, we should at least recognize that such a level of connection exists, and at least be moved to tears by our comparatively self-centered natures. This feeling is the first and most meaningful step towards actually reaching beyond ourselves and our egos.
Have a Great Shabbat.
Dov and Runya
posted by Rabbi Dov | 3:32 PM
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