The great rabbis of the Talmud would frequently start the day's study sessions with some humor.
Regarding life at home during Corona-Isolation:
“Finally, I know what it’s like to live in a socialist paradise: no theaters, no restaurants, no traveling, the supermarkets are empty... it’s like living in Cuba but coughing!'
OR: its like being Orthodox... but every day is Shabbas!
Here's one I liked:
Israeli actress Gal Gadot hosted a sing-a-long of fellow celebrities, including Sarah Silverman and Natalie Portman, performing John Lennon's "Imagine" from wherever they appear to be sheltering in place. The Instagram post attracted over 4 million views in 15 hours. See if you recognize the original “Wonder Woman”!
Click here to watch the sing-a-long! (If the video does not automatically start, click on the actress' face to play it)
Torah Thought for Today:
Rabbi Benjamin Blech was one of the most popular rabbis at Yeshiva University when I studied there, and he shared an appropriate teaching yesterday.
One of the most successful parenting techniques for a child who is not behaving is called a “timeout.” The child is restricted from enjoying pleasurable activities. The child has his normal life disrupted. By doing so, the child is forced to contemplate their actions and behaviors.
Rabbi Blech proposes that today, our world needs to re-evaluate our behaviors and virtues that may have led us to questionable attitudes and commitment to G-d's designs for us. This virus has forced millions into a “timeout” of quarantine and seclusion.
Let's use this timeout for some self-reflection!
The Ten Commandments, the justification of our continued existence, were inscribed by G-d on the two tablets with exactly 620 Hebrew letters.
What is the significance of 620 letters? The number of mitzvot in the Torah is 613. However, 7 Commandments were given to the Descendants of Noah (all of humanity). There, 613 plus 7 = 620.
The word “CORONA” – as in coronavirus – comes from the Latin word for “crown”. Crown in Hebrew is “KETER” which has the Gematria of 620.
The keter – the crown – is the most powerful symbol of our connection with G-d. There are three crowns in Jewish thought: The Crown of Kings (G-d's anointed political leaders), The Crown of the Kohanim (G-d's anointed ritual leadership) and The Crown of The Torah.
Rabbi Blech concludes with the thought:
“Perhaps we need to consider the world’s present affliction not just in the context of a disease caused by pathogens but as a divine message reminding us that we have been given our lives to invest them with meaning and virtue as defined by G-d and the Ten Commandments”.
May we all use this time in seclusion to recommit to our true Jewish values!
Amen!!!
With great love,
Rabbi Eliot
Temple Menorah 620 75th Street Miami Beach, FL 33141 info@menorahmail.org
Thank you for your patience as we have been working on bringing you our morning and evening minyans online. We had a minor glitch but have resolved the problem.
Starting today, you can use the Zoom link below to accessour daily minyans, Sunday through Friday at 8:30am and 6:00pm.
I am so proud of our community's response to the guidelines established by the CDC and the Rabbinate regarding communal meetings, social gatherings and simchas.
We are helping save lives. We have to sacrifice a little happiness today... so that we can have a lot of happiness in the future.
That is why I am following the now ratified INTERNATIONAL RABBINIC DECISION that Passover Seders must be limited to the attendance of 'nuclear families”.
If conditions change for the better, this policy will be revisited.
A nuclear family is defined by those that "live under one roof" or those whose daily lives are spent in very close, but confined proximity.
Yes, I know how upsetting this is to all of us.
Judy and I have hosted some friends every single year for 31 years. We opened our doors and welcomed to our Seder table those who were alone, studying locally and away from family, or otherwise unable to participate elsewhere.
This year, we will be celebrating Passover remarkably similar to our ancestors in ancient Egypt. We will close our doors. We will convene the evening with just our immediate family. We will be safe as “the angel of death passes over” our homes.
I will be having a series of ZOOM classes to help anyone who feels they need assistance leading a Seder. I will offer ideas and discussion starters to ensure you have a fantastic spiritually-rewarding experience.
I want all of you to be safe and healthy so that next year, we can all celebrate as the official last verse of the Hagadah tells us:
“NEXT YEAR IN JERUSALEM!”
With great love,
Rabbi Eliot
Temple Menorah 620 75th Street Miami Beach, FL 33141 info@menorahmail.org
Tragedy and calamity can become so pervasive that the negative feelings it causes can cause even more damage.
The late Shimon Peres z"l pushed back against the instinct to focus on the negative, declaring, “Optimists and pessimists die the exact same death, but they live very different lives.”
Let's live life during these challenging times! It’s time to "make lemonade"!
Israelis know how to do it right!
Have you seen these two happenings in Israel? 1. Israel leads fight against the Coronavirus; 2 vaccines could be ready in mere months!
Galilee-based MIGAL has successfully enhanced immune response to the Coronavirus that kills poultry, and it has already been proven successful in pre-clinical trials! Dr. Chen Katz said: “All we need to do is adjust the system to the new sequence”.
Rehovot-based Kamada, has a new blood plasma purification system that can be extract antibodies from the blood of those who have recovered from the virus, so they can then be injected into people who have a serious case of the disease to give them a “jump start” on combating it.
2. Testing positive in Israel and have light symptoms??? Off to the 5-star Dan Hotel at no expense to you!!!!
Israel’s Corona hotel in Tel Aviv receives its first guests:
This is all important to keep a positive outlook and our morale and spirits high.
NOW MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL OBSERVING THE STRICTEST GUIDELINES OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND PREFERABLY, STAYING AT HOME WHENEVER POSSIBLE!
Keep reading your emails from me for some daily Torah thoughts and of course... JOIN US FOR MINYAN ONLINE!!!
EVERY MORNING AT 8:30AM AND EVENING AT 6:00PM.
You are in my prayers,
Rabbi Eliot
Temple Menorah 620 75th Street Miami Beach, FL 33141 info@menorahmail.org
I know how trying these days can be. My heart goes out to all our Temple Menorah family. The level of stress is great and the unease seems to grow daily.
Let us all daven:
that the healthy remain safe and virus-free
that our healthcare providers remain safe and strong
that the infected recover quickly and completely
that a vaccine is created and distributed quickly
The rabbis taught that prayer is not about changing G-d as much as prayer can change us. We know that at Temple Menorah and that is why we have such a strong Minyan culture.
Good news! Starting today, Temple Menorah will be teleconferencing daily minyans!
Just click on the ZOOM link in all upcoming emails and we will be able to daven together and create a new level of community!
Morning minyan at 8:30am (note change in time)
Mincha minyan at 6:00pm
Also, keep reading your emails because we will be able to have classes for up to 100 people at the same time, all online - via your computers, cell phones and iPads!
I know that if we can stay spiritually healthy and emotionally strong, our bodies will likewise be empowered to fight this contagion.
I will be sharing a daily email as well, with positive Torah thoughts and messages to help us focus on the constructive, optimistic and insightful teachings of our Torah and People.
Keep strong and know we are your family and we will persevere and overcome this challenge!
With great love,
Rabbi Eliot
Temple Menorah 620 75th Street Miami Beach, FL 33141 info@menorahmail.org
