Rabbi's Blog - The Shul of Bellaire

Women Lead

Friday, March 21, 2025 - 4:58 PM

I once heard Senator Joe Lieberman share in a speech here in Houston that the morning after he lost the election, his wife Hadassah reminded him: “Don’t worry, Joe. In this house, you’ll always be vice president.”

We all know the truth: in every Jewish family, the woman is the boss!

But it’s not just in the home. Throughout our history, Jewish women have played central roles at the most pivotal moments for our people...

A few examples are: Yocheved and Miriam in Egypt; Queen Esther in the Purim story; Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka; and the list goes on.

Today, I want to focus on another extraordinary moment: the building of the very first synagogue, the Mishkan, the portable Sanctuary in the desert. When Moses called on the people to contribute materials for this sacred project, it was the women who stood out:

They gave more than anyone. Their response was so overwhelming that Moses actually had to stop the campaign. There was too much generosity!
They gave with joy and enthusiasm. Not out of obligation or pressure, but with open hearts and alacrity, they led by example in how to invest yourself heart and soul and give with genuine excitement.
They gave their most cherished possessions. Their jewelry and valuables, freely offered, were most beloved by G-d.

A longtime friend of mine from Detroit once said: “Everyone says you should give until it hurts. But I’ve learned you should give until it feels good.”

At the time of building the Mishkan, it was the women who set the standard. They gave until it felt good and inspired the entire community of men to do the same.

May we all follow their lead and step up even before we’re called upon!

Children Are Our Pulse

Monday, March 17, 2025 - 12:02 PM

Mordechai was the leader of the Jewish people when they were under the threat of Haman. When did Mordechai know that salvation was near?

When he met three Jewish children on their way home from school. With pure conviction, they expressed their unwavering faith in G-d and their belief that He controls every detail of the world. In that moment, Mordechai understood: as long as our children are strong in their Jewish values, not only at school but also at home, the Jewish people are untouchable.

Today, the same is true. When we invest in inspiring and educating our youth to be proud of their Jewish identity, we can be certain that redemption is close at hand.

Start by celebrating today with your family. Wishing you and your family a joyful, light-filled Purim!

When Absence Speaks Louder

Friday, March 7, 2025 - 3:15 PM

Have you ever realized that there’s someone you see all the time, whether at the gym, the coffee shop, or in Shul every Shabbat, but you don’t really notice them until one day they’re not there?

Their presence was so consistent that they blended into the background until their absence suddenly makes you aware of how much they were a part of your routine. We find ourselves thinking about them more now that they are missing than when they were present.

This week’s Torah reading, Tetzaveh, presents a striking example of this idea. For the only time since Moses was introduced in the Torah, his name is completely absent from the text. Week after week, Moses is the central figure in our story, always mentioned by name. Then suddenly, in Tetzaveh alone, he is missing.

But is he really gone?

The truth is, Moshe’s absence is not a disappearance at all. The Parsha still speaks about him. His role and presence remain. The only thing missing is his name. This teaches us that a person’s true presence is not defined by how often their name is mentioned but by the lasting imprint they leave behind.

This idea becomes even more powerful when we consider that Tetzaveh is always read around the 7th of Adar, the Yahrzeit of Moses, which happens to be today. When a righteous person leaves this world, their physical presence may no longer be here, but their true essence becomes even more accessible. Their teachings, their influence, and their spirit remain, not just in memory, but in the way they continue to actively shape our lives.

Just like the person we only truly notice when they are absent, Moshe and the "Moshe" of our own time, are more present than ever before. Their impact, no longer confined to a physical form, is now everywhere, waiting for us to recognize it.