Rabbi's Blog - The Shul of Bellaire

Prioritizing Redefined!

Friday, December 20, 2013 - 2:00 PM

Prioritizing Redefined!

This is the age of communication bombardment.

Flooded inboxes, flashing messages and ring tones for every sort of notification – Yikes!

Must we adjust our priorities accordingly?

How should we be sifting through this overload?

Here’s a story which has helped shape my perspective on this issue:

In the early 80’s, an 8 yr. old child living in NJ (today a Rabbi in Australia), was troubled by a detail he learned in school about Moses (introduced in tomorrow’s Torah reading.)

The Torah tells: When Moses prepared his young family for travel he first saw to it that his wife Tziporah was comfortable on the camel and only then – their children.

But when we read about Moses’ ancestor Jacob departing, he first ensured that the children were in place, and only then their mother.

“So who takes precedence?” wondered this 8 year old boy, “The Mothers or the Kids?”

The young boy wrote a letter with this very question and sent it to the Lubavitcher Rebbe. Before the end of that day, the Rebbe replied:

While typically both parents secure their children, and then themselves before departing on a trip, in the case of Moses however the children were barely eight days old and couldn't have been secured in their places, until their mother would be waiting for them.

Here’s what I find fascinating about this story:

The Rebbe was a very busy man. He was a world leader who corresponded daily with hundreds and thousands of people from across the globe. Many people turned to the Rebbe with serious life and communal issues, often in critical need of counsel.

Yet, the Rebbe wouldn’t leave his office on that Wednesday evening, before answering the question of an eight year old boy who sincerely wanted to understand the Torah he was learning.

To me this story is a game changer. No matter how caught up we may be with important issues as parents, teachers, or community leaders, we must always find the time to pay attention and respond to the sincere inquiry or concerns of a thirsty soul.

"A great man shows his greatness by the way he treats little men."

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

Foresight

Friday, December 13, 2013 - 4:07 PM

Foresight

Did you ever encounter a problematic situation where you were faced with a quandary, only to discover that the solution was already present right before you?

We are taught that our forefather Jacob’s best years of life, were those he spent living in Egypt.

The question is obvious: How were his best years, those he spent in Egypt? Egypt wasn’t a place particularly known for its moral or religious values.

The answer is that Jacob had foresight. He was a visionary who knew how things tend to play out. Therefore, even before traveling to Egypt, he sent his son Judah ahead to establish a house of study - a Yeshiva - where his family members would be able to study Torah.

The strength and fortification this Torah environment and community provided, made it possible for Jacob’s years spent in Egypt to have been his favorite and best.

This message is particularly meaningful today – the 10th day of Tevet. (Today is a Jewish Fast day known as: ‘Asara B'Tevet’). On this day we commemorate the Babylonian siege around Jerusalem, which set off a series of events and led to the subsequent destruction of the Holy Temple.

It’s interesting that the siege of Jerusalem created a desperate environment where Jews were ‘stuck’ together. Under those difficult circumstances they were forced to unite and put their differences aside to face their shared challenge and threat to their existence. Who knows, perhaps if this unity was present before the siege, much sadness and destruction could have been prevented?

Although today we are not under siege, let us learn from Jacob about being proactive and preemptive. Why wait for problems and crisis to bring us Jews together?

Why do we need enemies to unite us? Let’s preempt! Let’s celebrate our commonality and brotherhood without the need of outside reminders.

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

A lesson from Nelson Mandela

Friday, December 6, 2013 - 2:47 PM

A lesson from Nelson Mandela

Nelson Mandela, a giant of a man - who brought new meaning to the words royalty, dignity and leadership - passed away yesterday, at the age of 95. He served as president of South Africa from 1994 to 1999, the first black to hold the office, voted in as part of the country's first-ever multi-racial election.

Much is being written of his unique character, outstanding leadership and trailblazing efforts for peace and reconciliation.

Here is a story I read in the news (and would like to share) from an interview with Mandela from a couple years ago:

“At this point in our conversation, Mandela shared with me his love for the Jewish People and Israel.

When I was about 7 years old, I worked as an errand boy at a Jewish company.

Once in a while they would send me to buy a certain product, and I would ride on my bike for 30 minutes to buy it from a distant shop.

One day I asked my boss, why can't we buy this same piece at a shop much closer to our location?

My boss explained to me that his Jewish friend recently opened this distant shop, and they wanted to help him in his new business.

This was a great lesson for me, because you Jews really know how to help each other. I'm saying this out of deep respect...."

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky