Rabbi Akiva, for example, believed that every word, every letter, every space in The Torah serves a specific purpose and has a specific meaning.

Rabbi Ishmael, on the other hand, was the one who taught us that The Torah speaks the language of human beings. Truth be told, whichever our approach to understanding our sacred literature, one thing is certain — somehow we can always see our own reality reflected in its powerful words.

The Torah Portion which we read this week is no exception. Parashat Lech Lecha tells the story of our father Abraham. It tells the story of a man that dared to change the world in an age when everything seemed to be engulfed by darkness.

Abraham had the courage, both moral and spiritual, to start anew and go on a journey that would not only change his life but the life of all those around him. Today our country starts a similar journey.

I understand that for many of us the past few months have been charged with tremendous anxiety. Some of us feel elated and some of us perhaps devastated — but the truth is that whatever the outcome was, we are all together on this journey.  If you had the opportunity to listen to the words spoken by President Elect Barak Obama last night, I am sure that you were as moved as I was. I believe the words of Senator McCain were also powerful and inspiring. As a new American Citizen, it is hard for me to put into words what it feels like to be part of a nation where corruption, violence and anarchy are not what we live by but rather truth, freedom and hope.

Parashat Lech Lecha introduces a unique way to start chapters within a particular story. It uses a phrase that is used on and off throughout the first part of The Book of Genesis; “Vayehi Ahar Ha Devarim Ha Ele…” which according to The Midrash Rabbah may be translated as, “And it came to pass after all these words were spoken…” and the text uses that sentence structure to fast forward to the future and jump from scene to scene and from story to story.

I feel as if this morning we woke up to a whole new reality in our world we ourselves could use those words; “And it came to pass after all these words were spoken…” Truth be told, the historical events that are unfolding before our eyes belong not to one candidate or one person or one political party — they belong to the entire American People. This is our journey — some of us willingly and many a bit reluctantly but we are all together in our nations own Lech Lecha.

Look at our Torah; it contains eternal truth, its words are not only wise and meaningful but also powerful and relevant. When Abraham smashed the idols in his father’s shop, he did not know what would happen next. He set off on his journey and after listening to God’s voice and to the voice of his own heart, Abraham becomes the father of a great nation.

Change is one of the most difficult things in life to understand because it challenges us to see reality in a different way. Change can be difficult and many times it signals abrupt changes in culture and in conduct but when change comes and when it is needed, it is impossible to stop.

Abraham was a revolutionary figure. He changed the world not because he could but because he had to.  Abraham’s journey was not easy, it was filled with trials, tears and fear but it was rewarded with life, hope and accomplishment! The Jewish People have looked at Abraham’s journey for centuries and through it we have found renewed strength and an everlasting impetus that has caused us to walk through time and never give up no matter how difficult the road ahead may seem.

It is my prayer that starting today we understand the true essence of a life-changing journey. We are the people who gave the world the concept of change! Before Abraham, everything was always the same, through our narrative we gave all humanity the opportunity to be inspired and to understand that journeys begin with one individual but are completed by all of us together.

No matter who you are and what political beliefs you hold, you must agree last night was a tremendously moving night — both Barak Obama’s words and John McCain’s words have the power to change the course of history. For the first time in my life, I recited Shecheyanu after witnessing a political event. I prayed to God and recited a blessing for having granted me the opportunity to witness such an important moment in the life of our nation. Like in our own story, it all started with a dream, with a call that developed into a vision that set us on a journey. May this journey bring change for good and for blessing and may it take us from strength to strength.

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman

While growing up year after year, I saw all around me the reminders of what paganism really is! So, Halloween doesn’t really scare me but I am not fully comfortable with it either. Maybe, understanding the true pagan roots of this holiday and knowing how horribly incompatible it is with Judaism is what makes me so uncomfortable. Yes, my children dress up and go around the neighborhood! I fought it for many, many years but I just gave up two or three years ago.

Tonight is different! I believe that especially on Shabbat, on a Friday night we have to make an effort to remind our children of whom they truly are! So if trick or treat they must, then please bring them to the Synagogue afterwards. Give your children a chance to be reminded that our traditions are more important than the pop culture that surrounds us. If you don’t often prepare a Shabbat meal or regularly attend services, then this is a very good time to do it. I have learned not because I am a Rabbi, but because I am a father that both worlds can co-exist without colliding.

I must confess that it feels pretty awkward to plead for understanding. I must however remind you, now is the time to impress upon our children the importance of their identity, not 10 or 15 years later when there is little we can do, when we have wasted a lifetime of Jewish opportunities. There is no reason for us to think about “The Hanukkah Dilemma,” or about “Halloween when it falls on Shabbat.”  If our Jewish identity is strong, then we will stand the test of time and the test of assimilation. If our identity is not strong, then messages like the one I have just written will mean absolutely nothing to future generations.

When I speak about external influences, the overwhelming embrace of the culture around us or things that are so pagan and unusual in nature, let us make sure that for our children, the understanding and observance of Shabbat doesn’t become one of those those weird, foreign and unusual pagan practices! I know, this sounds funny and obviously sarcastic but It’s not a joke; it is simply a reflection of a reality that we many times try hard not to notice.

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman

To listen to the interview click here.

I think the interview went pretty well except for the fact that Temple Beth Sholom was identified by the reporter as a Reform Congregation which is NOT the case.  Temple Beth Sholom in Las Vegas has been a Conservative Congregation for the past 63+ years.

In the interview, you can also listen to Congresswoman Shelley Berkley (D-Nevada), Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and one of the past presidents of Temple Beth Sholom, Sandy Mallin.

Ambassador Ross came to speak as a surrogate of the Obama Campaign. Just like we did for Senator Lieberman when he came on behalf of the McCain campaign, we listened carefully and were delighted to have such a prominent figure in American public life share with us insights on the current election.

Ambassador Ross gave a fascinating presentation on Senator Obama’s foreign policy perspective.  I just came upon an article published by Haaretz this morning that very much summarizes what Ambassador Ross said at TBS.

I have chosen to post the entire article; it is both interesting and may also be enlightening as to what the future may hold in store if Obama is elected president.

Again, this doesn’t constitute my personal endorsement of any candidate nor does it represent the Temple’s point of view or mean that Temple Beth Sholom endorses or supports any specific candidate.

Dennis Ross on why he’s working for Obama and how he’d talk to Iran

By Natasha Mozgovaya

Tags: Israel News, Iran

WASHINGTON - Ahead of the American elections, Dennis Ross, the man who used to work as President Bill Clinton’s envoy to the Middle East, has been busy “working” the shuls in Florida, a key battleground state in the presidential election. Aside from sitting on the boards of many different research institutes, Ross also acts as Democratic candidate Barack Obama’s Middle East advisor. In addition, he is a leading contender - among some 300 candidates - for the post of secretary of state in an Obama government. This week he sat down and talked to Haaretz.

How was it in Florida? How did people react and what are the main concerns of the local Jewish community?

Ross: “When I was down there a few weeks ago, I think there were many more questions about Senator Obama than what I see among audiences today. The questions that are asked now show that people are beginning to decide that they want to go for him, and they want to be satisfied. I think there’s a desire to understand the nature of his relationship to Israel, how he would approach Iran, and [what] he thinks about the peace process. I would say those are the three big questions I was asked in one form or another everywhere I went.”

Assuming that the next president’s capacity to deal with these issues will be limited because of national debt, two ongoing wars and the recent financial crisis, can he really promise anything - and keep his word?

“In the first instance, [Obama] views the issue of Iran as an urgent priority, because the Bush administration’s approach to Iran has failed. I talk about how Obama wants to use our willingness to talk as a means to get others to actually apply more pressure on the Iranians, as a way to ensure the talks’ success, but also because the talks themselves send a signal [to] those who fear [that] applying more pressure means you’re descending toward a slippery slope of confrontation. This is a way of saying, ‘Look, we’re trying to see if there’s a way to avoid that.’ Preventing Iran from going nuclear is a very high priority for him, not only because it’s such a threat to Israel, but because it’s such a threat to the United States.

“On the question of Israel, I talk about what I saw during his trip to Israel, how I saw his understanding of the relationship with Israel - he would describe it as a commitment of the head and heart. He looks at Israel and sees us as being two countries with common values. But he also looks at Israel and sees that whatever threatens Israel also happens to threaten the United States. So we have a [common] interest, because we end up facing the same threats.

“Regarding the peace process, I think this is an issue where engagement is also crucial, but, much like Iran, it is an engagement without illusions. When you engage, you do so without illusions. But when you don’t engage, you leave the way open for your adversaries to actually gain more. The Bush administration wanted to disengage for its first six years in office. [By doing so] they actually strengthened Hamas’ hand, because Hamas’ argument is [that] there is no possibility for peace. The least you want to do is show that there could be an alternative answer.”

What kind of engagement might it be? The Israeli government isn’t fond of being under pressure, and some people are very sensitive about the idea of talking to Iran, especially since the Iranian leadership is saying nasty things about Israel.

“Sure, that’s why I started by saying that it’s an engagement without illusions. With regard to the Iranians, we know that by not talking to Iran the U.S. did not improve the situation. Today Iran is a nuclear power - it doesn’t have nuclear weapons yet, but in 2001 it was not yet able to convert uranium or uranium gas, it didn’t have a single centrifuge. Now it’s stockpiling highly enriched uranium. So the current approach of not talking hasn’t worked. There’s no guarantee that if you talk you’ll succeed, but if you don’t talk you will fail.”

Does one talk to Mahmoud Ahmadinejad?

“You don’t talk to Ahmadinejad. First of all, he’s not the decision maker. When Senator Obama suggests that he would be prepared to meet with him, he says such a meeting first has to be prepared. What he means is that you have to coordinate with your allies - all your allies. Secondly, it means you have to check whether you can put together an agenda for a lower-level meeting. If it becomes clear that you can’t put together such an agenda, then you don’t hold a meeting at a high level - the presidential level - because it’s not going to lead anywhere. But if you can produce something that you know will lead somewhere, then it’s silly not to do that.

“And in terms of the peace process, if you don’t engage, then by definition, Hamas becomes stronger. We’ve seen that. Senator Obama won’t deal with a non-state actor like Hamas unless Hamas changes its position, unless it’s prepared to recognize Israel, unless it makes it clear [that] it gives up on terror, unless it’s prepared to recognize previous agreements. So as for non-state actors, he’s not willing to deal with them. Engagement without illusion in the peace process means that the U.S. should play a role, the U.S. should be involved, the U.S. should do what it can to promote the peace process and build bridges where it can.

“At the end of the day his position is [that] we cannot impose peace, because an imposed peace isn’t peace at all. He’s more than willing to invest in the process, but, then again, how he does it and in what ways will depend very much on the circumstances, and obviously there are many other issues out there.”

Do you believe Israel and the Palestinians can reach an agreement in the near future? Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice said she’ll do her utmost to try and reach a framework agreement by the end of the Bush administration.

“I think that in the current circumstances, it’s difficult to see that happening. It’s important for the two sides to do what they can, but I think we need to be realistic as well.”

Leaving the sidelines

Not everyone in Washington likes the Israeli talks with Syria. What do you think?

“The fact that Israel is negotiating indirectly with Syria through Turkey is a sign that Israel believes it’s worth trying this approach, and I believe we should try it, too. I think it’s a mistake not to. Too often when you don’t talk - as I said before - you create a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just because you make the effort doesn’t mean you’ll succeed. But at least you ought to see if you can do it, you ought to do it with your eyes open, without illusions, without naivete, but it’s worth probing and testing.”

Why and when did you decide to take on an active role in this campaign?

“I decided to take an active part in the campaign because I feel the stakes are so high. I looked at us, especially in the Middle East, and I think we’ve been on the sidelines everywhere except [in] Iraq. And when the U.S. is on the sidelines, U.S. interests suffer and I think Israel’s interests suffer, too. I felt that I just didn’t have the luxury of remaining on the sidelines and sitting this one out.”

Some of America’s image problems didn’t start with the Bush administration. Is it possible to repair the damage?

“One of the problems of the last eight years is that too often we’ve staked out objectives that we could not achieve. The rest of the world watches and looks for several things. The first is whether we are effective in terms of what we do. Secondly they have to see that we don’t just lecture, we also listen.”

Can you define what constitutes an American interest right now?

“I think our interest at this point around the world is [that] we do have to contend with the radicalists, they do constitute a serious threat to us. But I think we have to realize who our natural partners are and how we can work with both them and our allies so we, in a sense, build our collective leverage against those who constitute threats to us. It’s very clear that we have to restore our economic well-being, because you can’t be strong internationally if you’re not strong at home, and if you’re not strong financially.”

Is it about the stakes, or Obama’s personality and policies?

“It’s a combination. First, the stakes were so high, and I think he’s also a unique talent. I’ve sat in on probably 100 meetings with our presidents - those I’ve worked for and their counterparts. I know what it takes to be an effective, good leader. I saw Senator Obama at work in meetings with leaders. His manner of operation shows me unquestionably that he’s someone who grasps issues in their detail, but also strategically, and he understands how to deal with leaders in an effective way, from the standpoint of promoting America’s interests and needs. It’s a combination of the stakes but also of seeing in Senator Obama a transformational figure at a time when I think the United States needs a transformational figure.”

If Obama wins and you are offered the post of secretary of state, would you accept the offer?

“I’m not assuming that. The truth of the matter is that I’m concentrating on helping him through November 4. Whatever happens after that - we’ll see.”

What in his character impressed you the most, and what does he lack as a leader?

“I think that what impressed me the most is that he has perspective. He’s very thoughtful, he knows how to ask the right questions, and he doesn’t jump to conclusions. He’s careful with his judgments and he’s not afraid to ask questions, because he’s not afraid to have people ask him questions. I think he has a kind of personal character and the kind of temperament presidents need.

“I’ve worked on the National Security Council staff of Ronald Reagan’s administration, so I was in that White House. I served in a senior State Department position under George H. W. Bush and then I was President Clinton’s negotiator on the Middle East - so I’ve been around a few American presidents. I’ve witnessed decision processes, I’ve been around American presidents at times of crisis, and I think I have a pretty good sense of what it takes for someone to be effective as president - in terms of judgment capability, perspective and even wisdom. And I think Senator Obama brings all those to bear. That’s why I find him enormously impressive and believe he is just the person we need at this time.”

Some progressive groups have expressed disappointment with him, saying that some of his positions are actually more hawkish than those of President Bush. Suddenly his positions regarding Al-Qaida terrorists, Afghanistan, Pakistan or Iran are becoming harsher.

“I think he is quite realistic. Contrary to what was commonplace practice in the Bush administration, he doesn’t let ideology blind or color his thinking. His assessments are based on looking at the world as it is and understanding the kinds of things we’ll need to do to change the world where it needs to be changed.”

Taking into account the possible “Bradley effect” [referring to the discrepancies between voter opinion polls and the outcome of U.S. election campaigns], the traditional low voting rate and other “unknowns” - do you think Obama will win?

“I certainly hope he will, and I’m cautiously optimistic.”

Be sure to check out this related story — Temple Becomes Tiny Battleground.

What an amazing feeling it is to be ready to immerse ourselves in the beauty of Sukkot!  Since I was a child, Sukkot has always been my favorite Holy day and even today it provides me with my very own hide away “spot” within The Jewish Calendar. 

After the overwhelming and awesome number of people that come to The Synagogue for The Yamim HaNoraim, after many of us have had our “deep immersion” in Judaism for the entire year, Sukkot is very often one of the least attended Holy Days. Sukkot is the time of the year when we really experience an outmost sense of Joy!

For me as a Rabbi, it provides some very much needed spiritual time with my family and also with my own soul. The smell of the Etrog alone brings back memories of years gone past and the promise we just made ourselves not even five days ago to live our lives anew as we strive to reach our full potential as human beings.

Sukkot is sometimes referred to simply as “Sman Simchatenu,” The Time of Our Rejoicing. I have always marveled at this name, because on one hand it is a Mitzvah to rejoice on Sukkot and on the other we need to be constantly mindful of the fragility in life that The Sukkah itself represents. It is almost like a balancing act; we see fragility all around us and in these times of economic hardship, we don’t even need the Sukkah to remind us! And yet we must rejoice because we have reached this point in time together with those whom we love and treasure.

This year, that feeling of balancing fragility and joy is especially poignant. When our new Assistant Rabbi, Adam Watstein, came to Las Vegas and he was looking to buy a house, I went around with him looking at different homes. Many times we would come into a house that was in foreclosure and was already owned by a bank. Many of these homes were in perfect condition but others still had personal belongings left behind by the owner. The feeling that you get when you know that a family who once lived there viewed that home as their permanent dwelling and all of a sudden that security was no longer there for them was one of the worst feelings I have ever felt! It really brought home for me the fragility of our dwelling places and the fragility of life.

The Sukkah as a symbol is fragile and it is the outmost expression of nomadic life and non permanence that we have in The Jewish Tradition. The Sukkah is also a symbol of hope!  If we look at our history, we know that even though we traveled from place to place for 40 years in the wilderness, there was an incredible ending to the story, God ultimately brought us to Eretz Israel, our Promised Land flowing with Milk and Honey.

This has been a year marked by the tumbling of our financial institutions, the collapse of the sub prime lending frenzy and millions of foreclosures. The message that Judaism has to offer is one of hope and growth. As a result of a new appreciation for the frailty of our way of life, we may also experience a renewed respect for what it means to have a roof over our heads. Once a year, we dwell in our Sukkah. We have been doing it for thousands of years — not because we are preparing for difficult times ahead but because we understand what can happen if we don’t force ourselves to remember how fragile and unpredictable life can be.

Hag Sameach

Rabbi Felipe Goodman

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman.  All rights reserved.

About six months ago, I discovered something that many of you discovered way before I did.  Even though I am known for having all the gadgets and I do mean ALL THE GADGETS (I am still in the market for one of the new iPOD NANOS), sometimes I am a late comer to social technology.  For months I kept getting messages to join Facebook.  

I ignored the messages because, after all, “Who has time to just sit in front of a computer and count how many friends you have on any given day?”

I was also nervous because what would happen if I didn’t get as many friends as I thought I had or if The Cantor ended up with many more friends than me.  What if my numbers would not reflect my position.  What if one of my congregants ignored my request to become a friend?  What if I wanted to ignore the request of one of my congregants? I had all sorts of fears, but then one day I got an email from a friend from elementary school that I hadn’t seen in 23 years.  So, I decided it was time for me to join and the first thing I did was to fill in my profile information.  

I did it in a very detailed way. I listed all my degrees, all my accomplishments. I wrote that I was the proud father of three, married to Liz and the proud Rabbi of a congregation of outstanding people in Las Vegas.   When my daughter Ari, my 7-year-old saw me doing this, she quickly said to me; “No one wants to know what you do, they all want to know what you look like!”  After reality sank in, I proceeded  to select a profile picture.  

Selecting a profile picture may seem like a simple enough task, until you realize that people who haven’t seen you in 23 or 25 years or even more are going to be extra curious. I carefully selected a picture where Yoshua and Daniela appeared cautiously placed in front of me, like a shield. It was then that I discovered that there was going to be one thing that Facebook would ultimately make me confront: TIME IS UNSTOPPABLE!

Facebook is a very interesting phenomenon. It has over 100 million members all over the world. One thing that it does is that it allows you to look through the face and into the life of people in a way in which it had never been done before.

Facebook translated into Hebrew would be SEFER HA PANIM, which sounds more like the title of a Kabbalistic masterpiece than the name of a social website.

So what have I learned after all this months of being in Facebook?  I have learned that once you get past the initial shock, once you see all your classmates from elementary school, you suddenly realize how much things have changed, but you also realize that beautiful faces have been replaced by beautiful hearts!  

The American poet born in Virginia in 1912 Martin Buxbaum once wrote: “Some people, no matter how old they get, never lose their beauty - they merely move it from their faces into their hearts.” , and so… you begin to ask yourself important questions.  

Where are the missing ones?

Eventually you discover that some of the people you grew up with are no longer in this world. You see the 5th grade class picture and you remember so many things; your best friend growing up, your dreams of becoming a sport legend! Your first love! But you also see an incomplete picture of the present because as soon as you ask about those who are now silent, those whose voices you don’t hear or sense in Sefer Ha Panim, then you realize when someone tells you that a sudden heart attack, cancer, a violent accident took them away in an instant and their lives became just a passing shadow — I found that no one asks too many questions about the missing ones, because there is a profound sense of anxiety!

Then the second realization suddenly hits you.  

It could have been me! I am so lucky to be alive, to be able to see my family every day. To be able to touch them and say to them I love you.

It is just a matter of time, because in 20, 30 years from now, another very natural process will begin, we won’t ask about the missing ones but rather about those who are still here.

As reality begins to sink in, you suddenly become distracted by Facebook – a friend just posted a picture of when you were 18-years-old! It is there for the world to see, in my case for all my congregation to see! I looked like Tom Hanks in Castaway.  I was discovered by a 7th grader who thinks I looked better with a full beard!

Then you are distracted again by one of those one line statements that people write. I have my favorites. We have some very talented writers in our congregation who write the best one liners. One person writes how proud she is of her kids, another about how she is fighting jet lag after her last trip. One of our USYers writes about pulling an all-nighter in preparing for a test, and then my favorite: DJ is making spaghetti!

Believe it or not, Facebook gave me an insight into one of the most sacred elements of life. What do we do with our days, how do we spend our time. Are we living meaningful lives? Every time I see one of those one line statements I chuckle privately. These statements come from the very core of our being, it is us crying out for others to understand who we are.

When we are told that we are created B’Tzelem Elohim (In the image of God). We are indeed affirming that within each one of us there is something eternal. That part of us, whatever it is endures in a way we can’t understand.

Week after week, year after year — this is the real question that we face. What do we do with the short time that we are given, how do we transform that time into something eternal! How are we to view the fact that this time will end. It is the greatest single fact about life, IT IS NOT FOREVER! And then how can we strive to find blessing in memory and eternity in remembrance?

In the Jewish tradition, the single greatest fact about death is that it is not complete and that is why again and again we are told to associate the word life with death. Why when we enter a Jewish Cemetery it says above the gates “Beit Hachayim” – House of Life! Because as we are told in the book of Job as Job faces the destruction of his loved ones around him, Job says “V’ani yadati ki Gaali Hai” – For I know that my redeemer lives. God is called in the Yom Kippur Liturgy “Zocher Kol Ha Nishkachot,”  The one who remembers everything. In memory we always find life.

Last Tuesday morning, I sent the congregation an email with a little pre-Yom Kippur homework. I asked you to watch a video of the last lecture given by professor Randy Pausch, who taught robotics and communication at The Carnegie Mellon University. After being diagnosed with terminal liver cancer, he was asked to deliver “The last lecture” which used to be a tradition at Carnegie Mellon, where they asked you to give a lecture as if you knew it was the last one before you died?

The Last Lecture (click here for complete version on YouTube)

Bellow is just an abridged version of the lecture as presented in Oprah’s TV Show:

As we come together this afternoon, we have to be asking many of the same questions Randy Pausch asked himself. Unlike him, we have the luxury of accepting them as a challenge and not as the reality of a life cut short.  

Do you remember your childhood dreams?

Have you enabled the dreams of others?

What lessons have you learned?

Randy Pausch was not Jewish, but this is one of the most Jewish approaches to life that I have ever seen.  Our tradition teaches that it is precisely by empowering others that we ourselves will be empowered to achieve all of our dreams in life.

In his lecture and throughout his book, where he shares short stories about his life, we find time and time again a remarkable concept. WHEN YOU HIT A BRICK WALL, DON’T SEE IT AS DEFEAT, TURN IT INTO AN OPPORTUNITY!!!

His last lecture is a vivid example of that. A man who knows he is dying , who is facing the ultimate brick wall, chooses to share with his three children and with the world his philosophy of life. He turns a brick wall into an incredible testimony of life, accomplishment and hope.

Some years ago I HEARD A SONG BY TIM MCGRAW entitled, “Live like you were dying” which really caught my attention. I am sorry to disappoint you, I am not a country music fan but I love that song.

Allow me to share the lyrics with you:

He said: “I was in my early forties,

“With a lot of life before me,

“An’ a moment came that stopped me on a dime.

“I spent most of the next days,

“Looking at the x-rays,

“An’ talking ’bout the options an’ talkin’ ‘bout sweet time.”

I asked him when it sank in,

That this might really be the real end?

How’s it hit you when you get that kind of news?

Man whatcha do?

An’ he said: “I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

He said “I was finally the husband,

“That most the time I wasn’t.

“An’ I became a friend a friend would like to have.

“And all of a sudden goin’ fishin’,

“Wasn’t such an imposition,

“And I went three times that year I lost my Dad.

“Well, I finally read the Good Book,

“And I took a good long hard look,

“At what I’d do if I could do it all again,

“And then:

“I went sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I gave forgiveness I’d been denying.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

Like tomorrow was a gift,

And you got eternity,

To think about what you’d do with it.

An’ what did you do with it?

An’ what can I do with it?

An’ what would I do with it?

“Sky diving, I went rocky mountain climbing,

“I went two point seven seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu.

“And then I loved deeper and I spoke sweeter,

“And I watched Blue Eagle as it was flyin’.”

An’ he said: “Some day, I hope you get the chance,

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.”

“To live like you were dyin’.” 

May we never face something like this.  May we never have to face the brick wall to ask ourselves if we still have time to live our childhood dreams or to empower others to live their dreams! May the lessons we learn today help us to live a better more meaningful lives before it is too late.

Mayer Anschel Rothschild, who lived in the mid 18th  and early 19th  centuries, was the founder of the Rothschild family banking empire that would become one of the most successful business families in history. Three years ago, Forbes Magazine’s list of the The 20 Most Influential Businessmen Of All Time ranked him as number seven. Forbes referred to him as a “founding father of international finance.” Legend has it that from time to time, the Emperor would send visitors to the luxurious Rothschild palace. It was the most lavish and well appointed palace in all of Austria and everyone wanted to see its beauty.

During one visit, Rothschild took his guest from room to room and the guest was awed by the display of wealth. He showed him room after room, but when he passed a certain door, he continued walking. “I am sorry,” said the banker. “This is the one room in the palace I cannot show you.”

The visitor reported back to Emperor Franz Joseph and told him about all he saw, and about the room he could not see. This peaked the Emperor’s curiosity. He asked the man why he suspected that room was off limits. “Perhaps that is where Rothschild has his magic money machine.”

The Emperor did not know whether to believe the man so he sent a second government official to visit the palace. The second agent came back with the same report, as did the third and the fourth.

Finally, the Emperor decided to visit the palace himself and when they reached the forbidden room, he demanded entry.

Rothschild took out his keys, opened the door, and invited the Emperor to enter. There, in the small room, was a simple pine box, and some plain white cloth on the table. That was all that was there.

“What is this all about?” asked the Emperor.

“We Jews have strict rules about burial,” explained Rothschild. When a person dies, he must be buried in a very simple coffin. His body must be clothed in a plain white shroud. This is to maintain the equality of all God’s creatures.”

“But why is this here in this room?” asked the Emperor, impressed but very confused.

“At the end of each day, I come to this room, and view the coffin and the shroud, and I am reminded that even though I have great wealth and power and I have important influence in the highest echelons of Austrian society, I am still one of God’s simple creatures, and that at the end of my life, this is the end I will come to like all of God’s children.

It all comes full circle! The lesson we learn from this story is that we MUST always live like we were dying, we should strive to live humble lives no matter who we are. Even if we were the most powerful, the most influential, the most learned; we always have to keep in mind that in the end we are all the same.

Yom Kippur is the ultimate rehearsal for death! We dress in white (like the shrouds), we restrain from food and drink, we recite Unetane Tokef! It is in a very abstract way our last lecture! Every year we get a chance to live again, love again and understand life a new.  Let us not waste the precious time that God has given us.

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman.  All rights reserved.

Many people came up to me right after the second day of Rosh Hashanah and asked me what I would be speaking about on Yom Kippur. When I answered that I didn’t know, some of my friends thought I was being facetious. The truth is that I do work hard on my messages for the Yamim HaNoraim, after all it is like “The Super Bowl” for Rabbis, but I must add that even though I have extensive notes with me on The Bimah, I almost never have a full manuscript of my sermon with me. When it comes to delivering my messages during Shabbat and Holy Days, I do it from notes that I have sketched out on several pieces of paper, and that is why when people ask me for a copy, it is sometimes hard for me to produce one. 

For the first time in many years and to the best of my ability, I am going to try and reconstruct some of my sermons to post them on my blog. Here is my first attempt, the sermon for The First night of Rosh Hashanah 5769.

Once in a while during the middle of the day I get the opportunity to do things that people with regular jobs can’t do that frequently. One of the most amazing privileges of being a Rabbi besides being able to be present in many people’s life changing events is that I can research many of the things that I will be speaking about in unusual ways. For example, this summer I went to see “The Dark Knight,” first because I love Batman but also because I wanted to write and perhaps speak during Rosh Hashanah or Yom Kippur about the inherent presence of good and evil in the world. For me, watching “The Dark Knight” was not only entertainment — it was also research.

I know for a fact that many of you did not instantly think of Moses when you first saw Batman punching his way through the streets of Gotham City! For me the comparison was obvious. Allow me to explain how the comparison evolved. Last August while I was attending a special program at The Jewish Theological Seminary in New York, I went to The Metropolitan Museum of Art to watch a relatively unusual exhibit. I know that there are many unusual exhibits in New York but The Met had a special exhibit on Super Heroes!  After I completed a couple of rounds around the exhibit, after I carefully examined Aquaman’s suit and Superman’s vibrant red Cape, I came face-to-face with the hero of my childhood — Batman! 

There in all his majestic glow I saw for the first time in my life the mythical substance of many of my dreams. What is so different about Batman? I always knew he was better than the rest but I never knew why, and then it just hit me — Batman is the only of all the super heroes that has no super powers! Batman is just a human being. Batman spends his time fighting evil because he needs to, not necessarily because he wants to. 

Batman, just like Moses, is perhaps one of the most reluctant heroes that ever was. Batman doesn’t come from a planet that  exploded, he was not shocked by an unusual amount of electricity! He is just a man, a man trying to do his best to keep evil in check. A man trying to do his best so that his life mission can be completed, and again he does it not because he wants to but because he needs to.

What lessons can we learn from “The Dark Knight” in this new year? Is there anything to be inferred by knowing that heroes, real heroes, are just simple human beings like you and me? I must admit all those crazy gadgets and the best butler in the world do seem to come in handy for Batman! What about us, if we had to behave like super heroes, if the world was depending on us to save it, who would we choose to be?  What kind of super power would we choose to have?

The other day I noticed that many of our children here at Temple Beth Sholom are using an application in Facebook called “Which Super Hero are you?” It is interesting because once you feed the program all the information it pairs your personality with one of the Super Heroes! I think that is a nice idea but I seriously want to know, if you had the chance to choose a super power, which one would you choose? Would it be x-ray vision? It could come in handy! Perhaps you would choose to be able to fly, or maybe it would be wonderful to breathe under water or to have unusual strength! I believe that the best super power to have is to be simply a real human being.

Think about how we could change the world if we just concentrated more intensely on being ourselves. We spend so much time trying to acquire other people’s powers that we forget that the most important power we have is the one that resides beneath the surface of our own heart. I know that it’s not easy! After all, look at how many times Moses himself tried to get out of the role of leadership. Moses came to God and told God in no uncertain terms that he was simply not qualified to be a hero! “I have uncircumcised lips!”  “Choose anyone but me!” So, why did God choose Moses? Moses’ imperfections made him whole! Moses knew himself better than anyone else. He knew he was a simple human being, flawed, broken, imperfect! God knew that too.

As we begin a new year, a new cycle we too can be super heroes. I remember my first Batman costume; it was not fancy or elaborate. The yellow bat on the shirt was cut out by my mother and sewn onto the shirt by my grandmother. I didn’t particularly like the tights but oh, did I love that cape! It took me almost 40 years to understand that it is not the suit that makes you a hero, it is who you are, your imperfections. It is your humanity that makes you powerful. Moses was always a role model for our People. He was the unlikely hero, the one with no super human strength like Samson but he also was a giant whose only super power came from his ability to take the mantle of leadership even if it was reluctantly, even when he knew he wasn’t worth it.

Another incredible parallelism that I found between these two unlikely heroes is something that should become a life changing lesson to all of us:  Sometimes things are not easy! In trying to achieve your goals you will ultimately fail at some point and then it becomes ever more important to raise yourself up and try again. Imagine what Moses felt, after all those years — leading the people from place to place, everyone complaining, no one listening too closely and yet even though sometimes he felt like a failure, he never gave up! 

It reminds me of something the Irish poet Samuel Beckett once wrote that we should all take to heart especially on Rosh Hashanah: “Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better!”

About 30 years ago, one fateful afternoon I came home to discover that my mother had thrown away my Comic Book collection. Today, I feel as if I have finally outgrown that trauma because now I know that more than in the way they look, super heroes are powerful because of what they have in their heart.

“The Dark Knight” is one of the best movies I have seen of late. The message although troubling is exactly what we need to hear because I believe we struggle with it all the days of our lives. Is it at all possible to rid this world of evil? Evil it seems is an inherent part of the world in which we live. Part of what we do in our effort to make our world a better world is never give up in our fight to bring justice, truth and peace to our midst. I know, sometimes it seems impossible but if we try, if we never give up, even if we sometimes do it reluctantly, one day we will see how much we have built, how much our journey has made us grow and how beautiful the world can be if we just realize our super power to be truly human.

Funny! After all of this I now realize, what I said in so many words can be said in only a couple — for some fighting to rid our world of evil requires you to be a hero. In The Jewish tradition it just requires you to engage in a Mitzvah, Tikkun Olam.

© Rabbi Felipe Goodman.  All rights reserved.

During the Ten Days of Teshuva, the days from the beginning of Rosh Hashanna to Yom Kippur, I often find myself thinking about what has been and what I want my life to become in this brand New Year. I am sure that most of us approach these Ten Days with tremendous trepidation and that we all search within our soul to find a way to reach our full potential in life as we turn towards God.

This Yom Kippur, I would like to do something that I have never done before. I am fully aware that many times we find it difficult to block the world out and find the silence needed to begin the process of engaging our own spirit in a quiet conversation. In preparation to better understand our liturgy, the context of our lives and the meaning of Yom Kippur itself, I would like to share with you a video of one of the most remarkable and spiritual things I witnessed this past year.

Please if you can, indulge me in watching the video which I have included below. Yes, I understand that it is not usual for your Rabbi to assign homework before a Holy Day! Think about it this way – if I asked you to read a book by Wednesday morning, I think not many would do it, but — to watch a video? I think we all can handle it.

Carnegie Mellon Professor Randy Pausch (Oct. 23, 1960 - July 25, 2008) gave his last lecture at The Carnegie Mellon University on Sept. 18, 2007, before a packed McConomy Auditorium. In his moving presentation, “Really Achieving Your Childhood Dreams,” Pausch talked about his lessons learned and gave advice to students on how to achieve their own career and personal goals.

I will be touching on different points of Randy Pausch’s last lecture right before Yizkor. Thanks so much for indulging me, and trust me, this video could very well change your life!

G’mar Hatima Tova

Rabbi Felipe Goodman

Instead of trying to put the puzzle of Ki Tetze together, I would much rather bring your attention to Judaism as a whole. One of the most important and absolute truths (I don’t use this term often or lightly) about Judaism is that it is not merely a religion. Judaism is a way of life, and that is what makes us so different from all other different religions in the world.

The number and nature of Mitzvot contained in Parashat Ki Tetze has to remind us that as Jews that we have a unique way of seeing the world and understanding how we interact with it. For us, life is Holy. We regard life as a God given gift and in trying to make the most out of that gift, in trying to bring meaning to our existence, we use the Mitzvot as tools to turn our lives into instruments of spirituality, kindness, service, justice and peace!

Have you ever asked yourself why Judaism is not a religion that proselytizes others? Many if not the majority of other faiths spend a great amount of time and energy trying to bring their own version of truth and holiness to others. We as Jews have a unique mission — we have to make ourselves whole through the Mitzvot so that we can become indeed a light unto the nations.

We spend our energy trying to decipher the ultimate meaning of the commandments. We strive to observe the commandments not out of fear of God but out of a profound sense of responsibility. Many look at Jewish Law as a system that enhances prohibitions and restrains behavior. Jewish Law as a system with its rules and nuances has a twofold purpose — to elevate our lives from the realm of instinct and impulse into the realm of purpose and meaning, and of course to preserve our People as such through the passage of time.

We live in a day and age in which many Jews have little or no regard for The Mitzvot. We can’t understand the observance of The Mitzvot as something optional, something left to the choice of the individual rather than as a force that keeps the community as a whole and holy community.

The term “Kehila Kedosha,” was used to designate a community that lived and thrived through its service to God by the observance of The Mitzvot and their understanding of how God manifested God’s self in the life of the community through these holy precepts can’t apply to a community where people act based on instinct and good will rather than through a sense of being commanded.

One of the most incredible statements ever pronounced by our sages is contained in The Talmud — “Greater is a person who is commanded to do something and does it than the one who is not commanded and does it!” This is extremely counter culture.

In today’s world, we regard someone who acts out of simple good will as better than someone who is obligated and then acts because he or she is obligated to do so. To explain this Rabbinic concept, let’s take one of the Mitzvot contained in Parashat Ki Tetze — “Do not stand idly by!” Imagine we, as Jews have no choice we have to cry out for injustice regardless of who the victim is! We can’t afford the luxury of judging whether we like a person or not or whether he or she is deserving of our help!

Because not standing idly by is a Mitzvah, we are obligated to act; we are compelled to help even if we don’t want to. Others can first judge each case on its merit before helping. Remember the Tsunami? Remember the Indonesian government refusing to allow the Israeli planes to land with humanitarian help? The Indonesian government is perhaps, next to the government of Iran, one of the most anti-Semitic regimes in the world, yet we went and helped. Why? Because we are commanded by The Torah and by God!

This Shabbat, when we read Parashat Ki Tetze we must remember that the Mitzvot are not simply concepts that we learned as children in religious school. The Mitzvot are and must always be a major driving force in our personal and communal lives as Jews.

Click here to find a write-up of Monday’s event in the Las Vegas Sun.

Monday September 15, 2008. Doors open at 10:45 AM.

Dear Friends,

Very often during this time of the year, I find myself thinking about my grandparents. I do so because Rosh Hashana brings with it memories of distant places far away — not only in the physical sense but also in a very profound spiritual way.

I think of where we came from. I remember the reality that we faced as a people in so many different lands throughout our history and of the sacrifice of those who got to the shores of our great nation seeking a new life. There are blessings that we must be thankful for that we often take for granted, one of those such blessings is democracy and freedom! When Rosh Hashana and Yom Kipur leave us this New Year, we will find our nation immersed in an absolute exercise in democracy, which is the result of freedom and liberty.

As Jews, we have an obligation to participate in the political process of our nation because of what it means in the context of our history as a People. One of the inevitable conclusions of hundreds of years of enjoying freedom and participating as equals in the development of our country is that our political views have become extremely diverse — to say the least.

This year, we have incredible events planed at Temple Beth Sholom through which we can listen firsthand to the diverse political views that will shape the future of our country. We have made sure that both sides of the political spectrum get equal participation.

Our position as a religious institution is that of complete and absolute neutrality! However, we have a right to listen firsthand to the ideas and policies that affect us directly as members of The Jewish Community.

This coming Monday, Sept. 15, 2008, Senator Joseph Lieberman will be addressing our congregation on behalf of Senator John McCain. This event is open to the entire community, and it promises to be both captivating and enlightening. Doors open at 10:45 AM, with Senator Lieberman scheduled to speak no later than 12:00 PM.

In the very near future we will be hosting someone from Senator Barack Obama’s campaign such as Senator Charles Schumer or Ambassador Dennis Ross. We will also be holding a candidates night on Oct. 16, 2008.

I look forward to seeing you soon as we together prepare ourselves to enter the New Year 5769 in what promises to be a year that will begin with one of the most important Presidential Elections our nation has ever faced.

Sincerely,

Rabbi Felipe Goodman

PS: Check out this related story — Temple Becomes Tiny Battleground.