Parshas Ki Sisa

The Torah shows how much it values Jewish Women in two places in this week's parsha. The first is the commandment to make the Kiyar out of the copper mirrors the women used in mitzrayim to beautify themselves for their husbands. The second is that women did not partake in cheit ha'eigel. They didn't donate their jewelry for the Golden Calf.

We see here that women have tremendous power and intuition. We know when to elevate the physical gifts we have and when to hold back with self control. By being aware of our strengths, we can achieve so much while we are alive!

May we be able to utilize the intuition we were given to make good decisions, help other people and exercise self control!

Parshas Tetzaveh

Hashem commanded Moshe Rabbeinu to build a mizbei'ach for the burning of the ketores, a mixture of spices. If one spice was left out, the whole ketores was not kosher. One of the spices, chelbina, had a bad smell. But when it was mixed together with all the other spices, it was considered pleasing before Hashem. 

We see from here that we must have unity between all types of Jews. Hashem loves when we are together, regardless of our differences. We should never think another Jew is bad enough not to be considered one of us. We shouldn't have a "holier than thou" attitude. It's when we are united that Hashem takes the greatest pleasure in us.

May we be able to love and accept all types of Jews, regardless of their outer appearance or our judgement of who we think they are! 

Parshas Terumah

The measurements of the aron were all in half amos. The aron, which had the luchos inside, represents someone who studies Torah.

We see from here that someone who learns Torah always feels a small sense of incompleteness. No matter how much we learn, we remain humble with the knowledge that there is so much more to learn. Torah is so deep and so vast. As soon as we touch on one topic, we realize there is so much we didn't know. This makes us feel so in awe of how much more there is to learn and know and grow!

May we be able to keep our thirst for Torah alive and continue to delve into the beauty and depth of the Torah!

Parshas Mishpatim

We are told not to cause pain to geirim-converts because "you were strangers in mitzrayim." Since we know what it's like to be a newcomer, we need to be more sensitive to those who are new to Judaism. 

Our life experiences help us become more sensitive to other people in similar situations. If we know that when we are super busy (with a simcha, moving to a new house or while someone close to us is sick lo aleinu,) there's no time to eat, we can send food to a friend when they are overwhelmed with life. We can apply this to so many areas in our lives, as long as we look out for and notice when people need us to step in and be there for them. 

May we able to use our intuition that comes with life experience to always be on the giving end!

Parshas Yisro

The Torah lists the mitzvos Bein Adam lamakom-between man and Hashem, side by side with the mitzvos Bein Adam lachaveiro, the ones involving interpersonal relationships. 

We see that the Torah is not just a set of rules that govern the spiritual aspects of our lives. It's so much more than that. The Torah tells us how to act with the people closest to us. Honor your parents. Don't be jealous of your neighbor. Don't steal-money, time or possessions from anyone. Do what it takes to be peaceful and loving to all those you encounter. 

May we be able to live a life of Torah by keeping not only the mitzvos between us and Hashem, but by also maintaining wonderful relationships with all the people we come in contact with!

Parshas Beshalach

When the sea split, Bnei Yisroel didn't go across the sea to get to the other side, they went into the Yam Suf and then came out on the exact same side that they went in. Even though that seems pointless, they gained so much from the process of seeing the miracles and experiencing the unity of the nation being saved together.

Whether the waters of our lives are stormy or calm, there IS a purpose to every step we take. It's through the challenges that we become greater people. We may feel like we're going to end up exactly where we started, but at the end, the process called life makes us into stronger, more sensitive, more giving and more growing people.

May we be able to stay strong while we go through life's challenges and use our experiences to help other people!

Parshas Bo

One of the last makkos was that of darkness. When the darkness was so heavy and so thick, the mitzriyim couldn't even move. They became paralyzed. 

When a person is going through a dark time in their life, they can become paralyzed. They can't think clearly and the small things become overwhelming for them. We should try to be the light for them, to illuminate their path by listening to them when they need to talk and by helping in whatever way we can. We should try to by being a good support for them on an emotional and physical level whenever we can.

May we be able to use our capabilities to bring light into the lives of those who are going through hardships and may we always be on the giving end!

After Aleinu

I recently heard this story and was so inspired by the message. It was too good and I wanted to share it.

The men were standing around waiting while the shul slowly filled up with people who were gathering to daven mincha.

As they were almost ready to begin, a young teenager ran into shul and started davening very quickly. He didn't look like he was having much concentration in his tefillos. Some of the congregants gave him a look, others snorted and some elderly men were vocal in their disdain for what they called "today's generation."

One man went so far as to approach this young boy and chastise him. "Aren't you ashamed of yourself?" The man asked. "Is this the way you walk in to shul and daven? You are an embarrassment to the whole kehillah who gathered to daven here!"

The rest of the shul was silent as they continued on with their prayers.

At the end of davening, after aleinu, all the congregants were shocked when they heard this young boy meekly raise his voice to recite kaddish yasom, a special kaddish only recited by an orphan during the first eleven months after the death of their parent.

So he's a yasom! This poor boy is an orphan!

The man who had approached him earlier with his rude comments was so embarrassed, he could barely raise his head to look at the boy. But he gathered his strength and went over to the boy to ask him for mechila.

"I just didn't know! I didn't know about your painful circumstance! I'm so very sorry..."

So many times we look at people and judge them. For their behavior, for their misbehavior or for the way they keep or don't keep certain parts of the Torah. We think they should act differently. Sometimes we keep these thoughts to ourselves and other times we actually yell at the person, all with good intentions. We want them to know that what they are doing is wrong. We want them to know we don't approve of their actions.

But so many times, we just don't know the full story.

So many times, we don't know the reason behind their behavior.

So many times, there is a very painful reason for why they are acting the way they are.

And so many times, we have to wait until "after aleinu" to be able to get a glimpse into the reason why.

It's only "after aleinu," when kaddish yasom is said that we are able to understand why. That we realize that there's pain behind the behavior.

May we be able to accept those who act differently, be understanding of their challenges and be able to give them strength and encouragement to get through the tough times so they can blossom, grow and shine.

Parshas Va'eira

The purpose of the makkos, besides for punishing the Egyptians, was to reinforce that Hashem is actively involved in running the world. It is because of His will that water flows in rivers and blood flows in our bodies.  

Although we do not see the kind of miracles Hashem performed in mitzrayim, we can look out for Him and find Him in our everyday lives. We can notice and appreciate our healthy bodies. We can marvel at how we met someone who was able to help us at the exact moment we needed them. When things work out smoothly for us, we should acknowledge and thank Hashem for being actively involved in every part of our lives.

May we notice Hashem's perfect hand in the good things that click into place just when we need them!

Windows

I look up
At the clouds
With the sun peeking through
And I seem to see
Windows
Windows to the heavens
And I wonder...
What is going on
Up there
In the heavens?
What happens?
Up high?
Beyond the clouds
Beyond the sun
Beyond all
We can see
What is going on?
Beyond the windows
If only I can see
Through the clouds
Through the shining rays
Understand the days
And nights
Of life.
Yet I cannot
Understand
I cannot fathom
God's ways
I have tried
But I haven't ever
Been able to 
Understand
His plan.
I look up
At what seems like
Windows
And I wish
I wish I could scream
And let my voice pierce 
The heavens
Let my voice reach
The highest heights
And then 
Like a silent whisper
Ask one question
Can I see my brother?
Can I speak to him?
Can I encounter him?
Can I approach him?
Can I spend time with him?
I have so much to ask him
So much to tell him
So much to share with him
So much to do with him
He is gone for so long
But he is not gone
He is in my heart
Never gone
I wish for so much
Wish we could talk
Wish we could spend
Time forever together 
So instead
He's in my head
All the time
And that's where
We spend time together
I think about him
I fantasize about him
About life
My life
With him in it.
He's certainly in my life
But not in the way
I dream of.
He's just in my dreams
But not in my reality
Sure, in reality
He's here
In my son's name
In the stories we share
About him
But it's just in
Our imagination 
I look up once more
Just to be sure
I can't pierce through the heavens
Through the windows above
That look so ready
To be penetrated
With the welcoming rays
Of the sun
I can't see
What's happening
Up there
I can only imagine
And live
The life I'm meant to live
Down here 
In this world of confusion 
Sometimes darkness
Sometimes light
I hold on tight
With all my might
As I continue to forge ahead
Knowing in my head
That Hashem knows
What's best
And He decided 
It's best for me
To be down here
While my brother 
Was taken
To a place up there
A better place 
A place of light
A place of peace
I have made peace
With it
As I pray for 
The ability
And strength 
To continue 
Living
And giving
With light
And love
And help from Above 
With strength 
And peace 
As long as 
I live.
I miss you
Shalom
More than I ever knew I could
I miss you
Shalom
Even though I believe this is for the good
You are in my thoughts
In my breath
In my heart
And in my mind
All the time
I hope I can
Give hope to those
Who have lost hope
Give strength to those
Who have lost their strength
It's through you
And your story
That I hope
I'll be able 
To give
So much
To those
Who need 
So much.