Rabbi Rob

The first Tablets (10 commandments), were given in great fanfare and noise, were destroyed. While the Second Tablets, given in private, endured.
Lesson: there is nothing better and more enduring than veiling your Brachot with tzniut (modesty) - Rashi (on Exodus 34:3)

Happy Father's Day Superdad! He wakes up early with the kids, masters tantrums and battles moodiness -with a happy heart! we love you lots! Xoxo

Tonight we begin a celebration of a momentous day, Shavuot. It was on this day we stood by the edge of Mt Sinai and received the most special gift, the Torah.

Sadly, Shavuot has become a forgotten holiday. In fact it's not even called "Mattan Torah (receiving the Torah)" the day is called "Shavuot (Weeks)" based on the mitzva that precedes the holiday. We count 49 days in between Passover & Shavuot. This counting was done in order to create anticipation and desire for the great day of receiving the Torah.

We learn something so special from the mitzvah of counting and the name "Shavuot (Weeks)." A lot of people will tell you learning Torah is about doing everything to the letter of the law your whole life (which would be really amazing) or knowing laws backwards and forwards (so special). How could this be when the day of receiving the Torah is based on the counting before? In truth the name of this special holiday reveals something so enlightening, Torah is about creating a pure desire and anticipation of coming close to Hashem.

Unfortunately today we see so many people who ignore or wait for this desire to come to them. But really it's in our own ability to create a desire and thirst for the things we value. It's only when this feeling is in our hearts that we truly receive the Torah and it's lessons. We should all be blessed to have deep yearnings: knowing who we are, closeness to loved ones, and coming close to Hashem.

There shouldn't be one person who is not in shock and saddened by the tragedy that took place in Boston yesterday. This act is the ugly and terrible result of baseless hatred.

The great Tana (sage) Rabbi Chanina, he was known as "the kohen deputy" because he oversaw all the work done in the temple, was one who always prayed for Shalom (peace). He said, Shalom is the ultimate blessing, it is equal to the creation of the whole world as it said, "He created Shalom and the entire world." This also means the converse is true, with out shalom the result will be baseless hatred and this trait is so powerful that it can destroy worlds.

My friends, we were kicked out of Israel and our holy temple due to baseless hatred, whenever we see this ugly marker in the world it means we have not fixed it. It means the world is still separated in individuals, when shalom exists we have selflessness and unity. Let us all be blessed to take those difficult steps (as little as they may be) to move beyond the "individual", each step we take will be the most powerful prayer for shalom.