Rabbi's Corner

Rabbi's Corner Links ************************ Hebrew Lingo Jewish Humor Jewish Thoughts Poetry from Israel Personal Prayers Jewish Stories	Welcome to Rabbi Lee's Corner ********************************************************************************** Hebrew Lingo 1. Haslama has nothing to do with salami, but means "escalation" in modern Hebrew as in the phrase "the escalation of the diplomatic crisis." Haslama, escalation, is built on the Hebrew root of the word sulam, meaning ladder. Remember the Torah's recounting of our Patriarch Jacob's dream of a ladder reaching to the heavens. Top Jewish Humor 1. Chayim brought home a very bad report card and showed it to his father. As his father grew angrier and angrier, the boy said, "Abba, which do you think is responsible for this report card - heredity or environment." (Told by Morris Mandel) 2. The phone rings at the synagogue office. "Hello, is this Rabbi Schwartz?" asks the caller. "It is." "This is the Internal Revenue Service. We wonder if you can help us?" "I'll try," the rabbi responds. "Do you know a Herman Cohen, Rabbi?" "I do." "Is this man a member of your congregation? "He is." "Did he donate $10,000?" "He will; he will." (Told by Jonathan Powell) Top Jewish Thoughts for Personal Reflection 1. "Woe to a person who is not aware of his/her faults, for that person does not know what he/she needs to correct. Double woe to a person who is not aware of his/her own virtues, for he/she lacks the tools to make the corrections." (Rabbi Yerucham Lebovitz) 2. "The commandment 'to love' occurs three times in the Torah. First, 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).' Second, 'you shall ove the stranger as yourself (Lev. 19:34).' 'Finally, 'you shall love your God with all your heart (Deut. 6:5).' Why is love for God mentioned last? 3. "The Torah teaches that if you do not love your neighbor and the stranger, you cannot love God. Love of God is attainable only through loving people. That is why some siddurim, prayer books, suggest that before praying, one should give charity, tzedakah, an example of the mitzvah, commandment, of loving one's neighbors." (American Rabbi, author unknown) 4. "Rejoice so much in doing a mitzvah, that you will desire no other reward than the opportunity to do another mitzvah." (Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav) Top Poetry from Israel 1. "Ishmael, Ishmael," Ishmael, my brother, How long shall we fight each other? My brother from times bygone, My brother - Hagar's son, My brother the wandering one. One angel was sent to us both. One angel watched over our growth - Thee in the wilderness, death threatening through thirst, I, a sacrufuce on the altar, Sarah's first. Ishmael, my brother, hear my plea; It was the angel who tied thee to me. The caravan progresses, out of breath, Crossing the desert, a march to death. But we have seen a mission divine, Eternal secrets are thine and mine. Why should we blind each other's eyes? Let us be brothers; brother arise! The heat of the desert has narrowed our mind, The common grazing ground we cannot find. Let us remember our father's kind heart, Let brothers never again from each other part. Remember "the well of the Living God Who sees me," Let bonds of friendship bring me to thee. Time is running out, put hatred to sleep. Shoulder to shoulder, let's gather our sheep. The shepherds are out and down, Dry and empty the crocks, Let's roll the stone From the well, and water the flocks. (By Shin Shalon, trnsl. Ada Aharoni) 2. Menthol Sweets Inside names nestle little animals. Flowers grow out of what never will be again. And a hand has written "Open" on a closed gate And drawn eyes on blind places. The head faces in the opposite direction To the much loved landscape. "I'm a great believer in menthanol sweets" She said weeping bitterly and went her way. (By Yehudah Amichai, from Amen. Trnsl. By the Author and Ted Hughes) Top Personal Prayers 1. A Prayer for Blessings May it be Your will, our Eternal God, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of health, a life with fear of sin, a life without disgrace or shame, a life of means and honor, a life with love of Torah and reverence for God, a life in which You fulfill all the wishes of our hearts for good. (A Prayer of Rav, Berachot 16b) 2. Prayers for Someone who is Sick May God who is present everywhere have mercy upon you and upon all the sick of Israel. (Shabbat 12b) "Heal us O Lord and we shall be healed; save us and we shall be saved." O God, Creator of Life, source of vigor and healing, we pray for strength and healing for __________ and for those of our people who are stricken with illness. Bring them healing of body and soul. Grant them comfort and the strength to endure. May their trust in You sustain them. Bestow your wisdom upon those who attend them. Keep us mindful that our bodies and their faculties are gifts which you have entrusted to us for Your service. "Merciful One, hear and answer our supplications and the prayers of all Your people Israel in kindness, compassion and favor. And let us say: Amen" (Rabbi Barton Lee. The concluding quote is from a Genizah fragment text.) 3. A Prayer that Our Prayers Be Acceptable Our God, look with pleasure on Your people Israel - female, male, child, parent, old and young. Let our prayers renew our bond with You. Accept in Your love our love, our prayers and our deeds, in forms ancient and new, as the offering of our hearts. Blessed are You, God, who remembers Your covenant with us. (Rabbi Barton Lee) 4. A Prayer for Shabbat May the rest and quiet of this Shabbat worship refresh our inner life and renew in us the sense of Your holy presence. Open our eyes that we behold truth and beauty in the words of the inspired teachers of Your will. Animate our thoughts and endeavors with the power of Your divine purposes, so that whatever we do, we may do with all our might. Fill our hearts with Sabbath peace and serenity, that we may hear the voice of Your spirit and be inspired to build our lives on the abiding foundations of your mitzvot. (Union Prayerbook, adapted) 5. God's Prayer Every day When prayers rise In synagogue, church and mosque God prays for His world. May it be the will of My children To accept My gift of life, And allow me to lead them Toward the light. (Rabbi Ben Zion Bokser) Top Jewish Stories Denial of God A story of Moshe Leib of Sassov: Rabbi Moshe Leib was teaching his students in a public place. He told them: "Every human quality and power was created for a purpose. Even base and corrupt qualities can be uplifted to serve God." A bystander challenged him, saying "You say even base, corrupt qualities can be used to serve God. So tell me, how can the denial of God be used to serve God?" Rabbi Moshe Leib replied: "If someone comes to you for help, you should not turn that person away with pious words, saying, 'Have faith! Trust God; He will help you!' No! You should act as if there were no God, as if there were only one person in the would who could help this human being - You! (Buber, Tales of the Hassidim) The Heart that Did Not Grow In ancient times there lived a man who above all things prized his heart. It was his choicest possession, the noblest motive of his life. Concerned lest his heart become bruised and calloused accompanying him through the rounds of his daily associations, he determined on a method for its safekeeping. Tenderly, he placed his heart in a cushioned vault, protected by layers of steel from the jars and bruises of life. He rejoiced in this happy decision, for had he not protected the most sublime aspect of his being? The long awaited day of reconciliation finally arrived. Trembling with anticipation, he reached into the open vault. But the heart did not fit. He was too old; his heart was too young. They had not grown together. (By Milton Matz) Top

Welcome to Rabbi Lee's Corner

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Hebrew Lingo

1. "Woe to a person who is not aware of his/her faults, for that person does not know what he/she needs to correct. Double woe to a person who is not aware of his/her own virtues, for he/she lacks the tools to make the corrections."
                                                                         (Rabbi Yerucham Lebovitz)

2. "The commandment 'to love' occurs three times in the Torah. First, 'you shall love your neighbor as yourself (Lev. 19:18).' Second, 'you shall ove the stranger as yourself (Lev. 19:34).' 'Finally, 'you shall love your God with all your heart (Deut. 6:5).'

        Why is love for God mentioned last?

3. "The Torah teaches that if you do not love your neighbor and the stranger, you cannot love God. Love of God is attainable only through loving people. That is why some siddurim, prayer books, suggest that before praying, one should give charity, tzedakah, an example of the mitzvah, commandment, of loving one's neighbors."
                                                                      (American Rabbi, author unknown)

4. "Rejoice so much in doing a mitzvah, that you will desire no other reward than the opportunity to do another mitzvah."
                                                                         (Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlav)

Top

Poetry from Israel

1. "Ishmael, Ishmael,"

Ishmael, my brother,
How long shall we fight each other?

My brother from times bygone,
My brother - Hagar's son,
My brother the wandering one.

One angel was sent to us both.
One angel watched over our growth -
Thee in the wilderness, death threatening through thirst,
I, a sacrufuce on the altar, Sarah's first.

Ishmael, my brother, hear my plea;
It was the angel who tied thee to me.
The caravan progresses, out of breath,
Crossing the desert, a march to death.
But we have seen a mission divine,
Eternal secrets are thine and mine.
Why should we blind each other's eyes?
Let us be brothers; brother arise!

The heat of the desert has narrowed our mind,
The common grazing ground we cannot find.
Let us remember our father's kind heart,
Let brothers never again from each other part.

Remember "the well of the Living God Who sees me,"
Let bonds of friendship bring me to thee.
Time is running out, put hatred to sleep.
Shoulder to shoulder, let's gather our sheep.

The shepherds are out and down,
Dry and empty the crocks,
Let's roll the stone
From the well, and water the flocks.

(By Shin Shalon, trnsl. Ada Aharoni)

2. Menthol Sweets

Inside names nestle little animals.
Flowers grow out of what never will be again.

And a hand has written "Open" on a closed gate
And drawn eyes on blind places.

The head faces in the opposite direction
To the much loved landscape.

"I'm a great believer in menthanol sweets"
She said weeping bitterly and went her way.

(By Yehudah Amichai, from Amen. Trnsl. By the Author and Ted Hughes)

Top

1. A Prayer for Blessings

May it be Your will, our Eternal God, to grant us long life, a life of peace, a life of goodness, a life of blessing, a life of sustenance, a life of health, a life with fear of sin, a life without disgrace or shame, a life of means and honor, a life with love of Torah and reverence for God, a life in which You fulfill all the wishes of our hearts for good.

                                                                          (A Prayer of Rav, Berachot 16b)

2. Prayers for Someone who is Sick

May God who is present everywhere have mercy upon you and upon all the sick of Israel.
                                                                         (Shabbat 12b)

"Heal us O Lord and we shall be healed; save us and we shall be saved."
O God, Creator of Life, source of vigor and healing, we pray for strength and healing for __________ and for those of our people who are stricken with illness.
Bring them healing of body and soul. Grant them comfort and the strength to endure.
May their trust in You sustain them.

Bestow your wisdom upon those who attend them. Keep us mindful that our bodies and their faculties are gifts which you have entrusted to us for Your service.

"Merciful One, hear and answer our supplications and the prayers of all Your people Israel in kindness, compassion and favor. And let us say: Amen"

                                                                         (Rabbi Barton Lee. The concluding quote is
                                                                           from a Genizah fragment text.)

3.   A Prayer that Our Prayers Be Acceptable

Our God, look with pleasure on Your people Israel - female, male, child, parent, old and young. Let our prayers renew our bond with You. Accept in Your love our love, our prayers and our deeds, in forms ancient and new, as the offering of our hearts. Blessed are You, God, who remembers Your covenant with us.

                                                                      (Rabbi Barton Lee)

4. A Prayer for Shabbat

May the rest and quiet of this Shabbat worship refresh our inner life and renew in us the sense of Your holy presence. Open our eyes that we behold truth and beauty in the words of the inspired teachers of Your will. Animate our thoughts and endeavors with the power of Your divine purposes, so that whatever we do, we may do with all our might. Fill our hearts with Sabbath peace and serenity, that we may hear the voice of Your spirit and be inspired to build our lives on the abiding foundations of your mitzvot.

                                                                         (Union Prayerbook, adapted)

5. God's Prayer

Every day
When prayers rise
In synagogue, church and mosque
God prays for His world.
May it be the will of My children
To accept My gift of life,
And allow me to lead them
Toward the light.

                                                                         (Rabbi Ben Zion Bokser)

Top

Jewish Stories

Denial of God

A story of Moshe Leib of Sassov: Rabbi Moshe Leib was teaching his students in a public place. He told them: "Every human quality and power was created for a purpose. Even base and corrupt qualities can be uplifted to serve God."

A bystander challenged him, saying "You say even base, corrupt qualities can be used to serve God. So tell me, how can the denial of God be used to serve God?"

Rabbi Moshe Leib replied: "If someone comes to you for help, you should not turn that person away with pious words, saying, 'Have faith! Trust God; He will help you!' No! You should act as if there were no God, as if there were only one person in the would who could help this human being - You!

(Buber, Tales of the Hassidim)

The Heart that Did Not Grow

In ancient times there lived a man who above all things prized his heart. It was his choicest possession, the noblest motive of his life. Concerned lest his heart become bruised and calloused accompanying him through the rounds of his daily associations, he determined on a method for its safekeeping. Tenderly, he placed his heart in a cushioned vault, protected by layers of steel from the jars and bruises of life. He rejoiced in this happy decision, for had he not protected the most sublime aspect of his being? The long awaited day of reconciliation finally arrived. Trembling with anticipation, he reached into the open vault. But the heart did not fit. He was too old; his heart was too young. They had not grown together.

(By Milton Matz)
Top