Getting ready for Chanukah this year is a challenge, after all who knows what is gonna happen? And there is so much uncertainty in the world. Maybe we should just leave Chanukah for next year?!
Chanukah however is the very holiday that celebrates the victory of uncertainty over certainty, of the few over the many, of light over darkness, well, you get where I'm going with this!
The history of Chanukah is that the Jewish people in their own land of Israel, faced a dictator who wanted to force them to live by his rules.
Imagine the kind of uncertainty of being in your own country, your own land, and of of a sudden being threatened by order of execution if you dare to live by the laws that you and your ancestors lived on this very land for hundreds of years.
Imagine things getting so bad that you can’t stay in your home or your neighborhood and you have to run and hide in hills and caves.
Imagine being hungry, weak, demoralized and scared of what the future holds, not just for you and your family, but for your entire people and country.
And then, having the courage of getting up, and fighting for what you believe in, fighting for your and your people's freedom, fighting against an army many times greater, stronger and more experienced than you.
And Winning!!
Let’s make this year's Chanukah extra special with safe celebration, gratitude, praise and party.
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Women's Paint and Wine 5781
Wednesday, December 2 at 8pm
Enjoy a night out with friends, painting your own Jewish themed painting and a selection of wine and desserts.
Reserve your table with your friends! Tables will be spaced to allow for social distancing.
Admission: $36
After November 23: $40
Complimentary for Partners in Pride
Four Israelis are sitting in a restaurant in Tel Aviv. For a long time, nobody says a word. Finally, one man groans, "Oy."
"Oy vey," says the second man.
"Nu," says the third.
At this the fourth man gets up from his chair and says, "Listen, if you guys don't stop talking politics, I'm leaving."
WEEKLY eTORAH
Philosophers have long struggled with the great question of our freedom of choice on the one hand, and our belief in a higher destiny on the other. Is life determined by fate, or do we enjoy genuine freedom?
Generally, Judaism would seem to subscribe to a personal freedom in matters of morality, faith and the ethical choices we make in life. But when it comes to things like life and death, and even health and wealth, much as we would like to think we are in the driver’s seat, we do seem to be subject to forces beyond our control. Where we live, how long we will live, how comfortably we will live—these are all in G‑d’s hands. Where we can and must choose is what kind of life we will lead. Whether it will be a G‑dly, righteous, upstanding, decent and honest life—this is up to us, and us alone. G‑d steps back to grant us the freedom to determine how good, how kind and how Jewish we will, or will not, be.
And Jacob lifted his feet and went on his way (Genesis 29:1). This verse from our Parshah tells of Jacob’s journey in his escape from the wrath of Esau. He was en route to Haran, where he would eventually establish his family and lay the foundations for the Jewish people. But why the curious language, “And Jacob lifted his feet”? Does the Torah really need to tell us that in order to move, we have to first lift our feet? Was he stuck in a swamp or something?
So many of us look at our circumstances and shrug our shoulders, “Nu, what can you do?” If we were born into poverty or raised in a less-than-privileged environment, we resign ourselves to being doomed to failure. So many people have told me that they were part of the “lost generation” of Jews who had no Jewish education or upbringing. Their immigrant parents were so busy surviving in a new world that they had no time or headspace to raise their children with the Jewish value system they themselves had back in Europe. Tragically, these individuals felt that, Jewishly, they were lost forever.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks A"H tells the story of how, as a young philosophy student at Cambridge, he traveled the world visiting great leaders. When he came to see the Lubavitcher Rebbe, the Rebbe asked him what he was doing for the Jewish students at Cambridge. He began by saying, “In the circumstances I currently find myself . . .” whereupon the Rebbe interrupted him and said, “No one ‘finds himself’ in circumstances. We create our own circumstances.”
Of course, there are times when we will find ourselves in circumstances beyond our control; but throughout life, we will find ample scope and opportunities to improve our own circumstances. G‑d gives each of us our own unique qualities, talents and potential, and it is up to us to use and develop these gifts. Life is full of inspiring examples of individuals who have overcome disabilities and disadvantages of one kind or another. In the Jewish world, many have risen to prominence from the humblest beginnings. The Torah is the birthright of every Jew. We just have to go out and claim it.
The words of our Parshah are quite deliberate and well-chosen after all. “Jacob lifted his feet and went on his way.” Some people follow their feet wherever they will take them. No matter the direction, they simply coast along, allowing their feet to lead them.
Not so Jacob. He was master of his feet and master of his circumstances. He set his feet on the right road, and became master of his destiny.
May we all be inspired to lift ourselves beyond our circumstances.
