Rabbi's Blog - The Shul of Bellaire

Where is G-d?

Friday, August 23, 2013 - 4:54 PM

Talk about ‘Aha!’ moments.

I watched this very poignant story on Youtube this week, which I highly recommend CLICK HERE TO WATCH.

In it, after describing his philosophical struggles, Mr. Lasky approached my mentor the Lubavitcher Rebbe and asked him “Where is G-d”? The Rebbe answered “G-d is everywhere.”

But Mr. Lasky was unsatisfied and pressed on “But, where is G-d?” To which the Rebbe replied “G-d is in your heart…”

I’m so glad I heard this story at this time of year, because it really sheds light onto a major High Holiday theme.

Teshuva.

Teshuvah is commonly translated to mean ‘repent’, but its literal meaning is actually: ‘returning’ to G-d.

Like many of us, you too may see the words ‘returning to G-d’, nod your head and continue reading. Because let’s face it, it doesn’t exactly ooze with practical implications.

Is ‘returning to G-d’ just an abstract and pious idea or is it something realistic and do-able? Where does one go inorder to ‘return’ to G-d?

After watching this video, the idea of ‘returning to G-d’ suddenly seems a little more pragmatic. Because, although G-d is found everywhere, He is first and foremost found in the heart of each Jew. ‘The essence of a Jew is tied to G-d through the Torah. Think about that for a minute!

If there is a spark of G-d in your heart, then returning to G-d actually means: ‘Returning to yourself’.

No need to look further. During this season, when we self-reflect and evaluate the status of our inner hearts and minds, by getting in touch with our true selves - we really are ‘returning’ to G-d.

It may sound intense, but it certainly is attainable!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Yossi Zaklikofsky

Are you childish?

Friday, August 16, 2013 - 5:21 PM

Are you childish?

Earlier today, I overheard a conversation between my wife Esty, and 4 year old daughter Mushka.

They were both elbow deep in Challah dough; kneading and braiding (one brave way to keep kids entertained before school starts.)

The conversation went something like this:

Mushka: “Mommy, right we get to eat all this Challah?”

Mommy: “Well, for sure some of it.”

Mushka: “But Mommy, who gets to eat the small piece of Challah you burned?”

Mommy: “Hashem – G-d”*

Mushka: “Oh, Okay!”

At first it was funny; Mushka was cool with the idea of G-d eating Challah dough. But on second thought it was also remarkable to see how receptive a child can be towards spirituality.

Try talking to a child about ‘G-d’, ‘soul’ or ‘heaven’ and you will see how smooth it goes. Even if you’re explaining something very symbolic and metaphoric like G-d ‘eating’ the Challah (which is not quite the case), kids totally get it, because that’s just how they roll (no pun intended.)

Wouldn’t it be great to capture just a bit of that childlike openness and innocence?

Obviously we must use our adult intelligence to analyze and question, but at the same time there is much to learn from the refreshing innocence of children, where G-d is so in their ‘comfort zone’.

The High Holidays are fast approaching. G-d wants us to engage.

With an: “Oh, Okay!” childlike receptiveness, our experience will be that much more enriched.

Shabbat Shalom!

*Jewish women through the centuries have practiced the mitzvah of ‘Challah’ – separating and burning a piece of dough for sanctification. Click here for more.

Are you a Gmail user?

Friday, August 9, 2013 - 3:48 PM

Do you use Gmail?

Attention Gmail users: Have you noticed the 3 new categories that Google has recently superimposed on our inboxes, Primary, Social, Promotions?

Disorienting as it may be, this new e-mail organization thing is amazingly in sync with the Jewish calendar!

The Jewish Month of Elul (we entered this week) is a time of reckoning, a time to prepare for the High-Holidays and get into the mode of new beginnings. Life can be quite hectic. Our schedules, families, relationships and work pull us in so many directions. The Jewish Month of Elul is an excellent time to pause, reprioritize and reorganize.

So yes - whether you use Gmail, Yahoo! or AOL - now is Jewish High Time for logging into the ‘flooded inbox’ of life and to start creating tabs!

What is ‘priority mail’? What can be ‘deleted’? What is pure ‘Spam’?

It’s almost as if somewhere in the corporate Google universe, they have caught wind of the approaching Jewish New Year, and they’ve created a platform for us to prepare accordingly.

Thank you Google!

P.S. And if you find emails from us going to 'Promotional' be sure to drag them back into Primary!

Should Anthony Weiner be elected?

Friday, August 2, 2013 - 2:42 PM

Should Anthony Weiner be elected?

I think many of us have wanted to tell Anthony Weiner this week: “What you do speaks so loud, we can’t even hear what you’re saying.”

Although New Yorkers in particular may be concerned about who will be elected as their next mayor, I think all of us are wondering and worrying about some underlying leadership issues.

Can someone who is intelligent, charismatic and capable, yet deeply flawed in his/her personal life, be truly fit for leadership?

Good question, right? I think many of us have been going back and forth with this one.

For the final analysis, I believe the Torah’s wisdom says it best:

When Moses appointed leaders G-d instructed him: "You shall choose out of the entire nation men of substance, G-d fearers, men of truth, who hate monetary gain, and you shall appoint over Israel, leaders…" What does "Men of truth" refer to? Those who keep their promises - i.e., people you can trust. If you can trust them in their personal lives, then you can trust them as public leaders.

It’s kind of an ‘across the board’ rule: The best and most effective way to parent, teach, legislate or lead is by example, because as it turns out, what leaders do in their personal lives, really does matter!

People are watching, teenagers are watching, kids are watching, and they are picking up strong subliminal messages about family values, morality, honesty and leadership.

G-d is well aware of our powerful inclination and therefore if we do succumb to our evil impulses, He also gave us the ability to repent. However repentance requires two steps. 1. Realizing we have a problem – knowing the sickness and not fooling ourselves. 2. Move away from the limelight and to sincerely regret our actions. We need to return to G-d from the depths of our heart. After completing both these steps we regain the integrity lost to unfortunate personal choices.

We are all leaders. For our families, in the work place or in our communities. What we do behind closed doors is critical in our lives of leadership.

Shabbat Shalom!