Page 2 - The Jewish Voice - July '19

Page 2, The Jewish Voice

From the rabbis

How to Bless Your Kids kingdom to those that love His children. When a person Financing the Revolution
truly loves his fellow, the blessing he wishes upon another
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler has a far higher chance of being fulfilled. By Rabbi Paul Arberman
It’s quite an emotional An old saying states that “love laughs at locksmiths.” As part of the normal
moment to watch your kids This truth lies at the foundation of Hollywood blockbusters, Torah reading cycle
mature into adulthood. For bestselling novels, and Shakespeare plays. As it is below every summer we hear of
the first two years of life, on Earth, so it is above in Heaven: Love from below Korach’s rebellion against
we are eager to see them arouses love from on high. Moses. Spoiler alert:
walk and talk, and then we When we can summon a feeling of genuine love upon The revolution fails and
spend the next eight years those whom we are blessing, we are able to access the he and his followers are
telling them to shut up and skeleton key that opens all locks up in Heaven. punished. We read that
sit down! In all seriousness, You may recall the very beautiful and sacred moments ”the earth opened its mouth
raising children is anything when the Kohanim bless the congregation on the Jewish and swallowed them up
but child’s play and when holidays with the Kohanim Blessing: with their households, all
you get a chance to kvell, you had better take full May G-d bless you and guard you. Korach’s people, and all their possessions” (Numbers
advantage of the moment! May G-d shine His countenance upon you and be gracious 16:32).
As our eldest daughter Moussia celebrated her bat to you. The next verse seems to repeat or emphasize: “They
mitzvah in June, we think of all the hopes and dreams May G-d turn His countenance toward you and grant went down…with all that belonged to them.” What was
with which we have blessed her and of the strength and you peace. Korach carrying with him in the desert? In the Talmud,
courage we have wished upon her over the past twelve Before the Kohanim actually bless the congregation, Masechet Sanhedrin, page 110a, Rabbi Levi tells us: “The
years. And we wish we could do more to help her through they declare that they are preparing to undertake the keys alone to Korach’s treasure houses required three
life’s inevitable challenges. mitzvah of blessing G-d’s children “with love.” In no other hundred strong mules to carry them…” Korach was rich
How do you bless your kids? mitzvah do we find a requirement for it to be fulfilled and he carried with him an enormous amount of wealth!
In the days of the holy Baal Shem Tov, word spread with love. Only when blessing another is love absolutely How did he get so rich? Dry goods?
about a simple tailor whose blessings all came true, even necessary, because the key to a successful blessing is the Rabbi Chama son of Rabbi Chanina says in the
when he blessed people in truly dire circumstances. When emotion with which it is given. In fact, a quarrelsome Midrash: Three treasures did Joseph hide in Egypt: one
the Baal Shem Tov went to visit him to inquire about his Kohen is not allowed to bless the congregation, as the was discovered by Korach; one by Antonius the son of
secret, the tailor told him a fascinating personal story. requirement of love is obviously lacking! Severus, and the third is stored away for the righteous
He had recently ventured out on a three-year business It is precisely this blessing with which we bless our in the World to Come. Evidently Korach found Joseph’s
trip where he had been extremely successful. On his way children each Friday Night and in the sacred moments treasure. An alternative midrash says that Korach was
home to bring his earnings to his wife and children, he before Yom Kippur. I still call my father in Johannesburg Pharaoh’s finance minister, “and he had in his hands the
encountered a family whose patriarch had suddenly passed each Friday morning to receive this blessing from him keys to his treasures” (Bamidbar Rabba 18:15).
away and was struggling with a future son-in-law who before the onset of Shabbat. Sensing the love with which Either way, why is Korach’s wealth important to the
refused to marry the daughter unless he was assured of my father blesses his nine children each Shabbos, has rabbis and worthy of mention? One answer is given by the
his dowry. Sensing their distress, he was overcome with exposed me to the power of love as well. Talmud (same page, Sanhedrin 101a). There are “stored
empathy and handed the orphan bride his earnings to cover An old Hasidic aphorism states that the blessing treasures that bring evil to their owners” says Kohelet
the cost of her dowry. The man concluded that “ever since, that we impart upon each other at a Hasidic farbrengen ([Ecclesiastes] 5:12). So the lesson is that too much wealth
anytime I ask for something, it seems to come to fruition. (gathering), when we are feeling unconditional love for can make someone boastful and may lead that person to
I don’t really understand what’s going on.” each other, is more powerful even than the blessing of the chase honor or to demand privilege that is not due them.
Torah reveals to us that G-d gives the keys to his archangel Michael! Indeed, nothing stands in the way of Rabbi Shimon ben Lakish says this was “the wealth of
love. Korach” — i.e., Korach’s wealth corrupted him.
Love is so much more than just an emotion. It is a Rabbis have long debated the nature of Korach’s
Beth David’s Project from page 1 powerful tool. Think of the people that you care about and rebellion. Does he seek to depose Moses so that he might
conjure a feeling of genuine love towards them. Doing so rule? Is he more broadly challenging the rule of Halakhah/
called upon to join in a ceremonial groundbreaking. will allow the blessings that you send their way to flow Jewish law? Or does he think that everyone should be
Hard hats were worn, shovels turned the dirt, and freely. equal, that there should be no authority over the Israelites
everyone rejoiced as this new chapter in the temple’s As we watch our children blossom into the next at all?
history officially began. Project Imagine Co-Chair beautiful stage of their lives, we are brimming with pride Based on the sources I mentioned above, maybe Korach
Linda Fayne thanked all guests for coming and invited and overflowing with gratitude. But most of all, we are believed that his riches should give him greater say in the
them inside for snacks and drinks. Mayor Marciano and empowering them with the blessings of our love. running of the community. Indeed, isn’t that something
Councilmember Marino both spoke about the changes Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of that happens in the modern world? Certainly someone who
in Palm Beach Gardens in the almost 40 years of Temple Palm Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze makes a fortune shouldn’t have less power than others to
Beth David’s history, and also spoke about what the Radio Show. Email him at gardensrabbi@gmail.com.
future may hold for our fair city. From the Rabbis on page 3
Project Imagine, a renovation and reimagining
of Temple Beth David’s original building, will
be completed in the fall. “Each generation of our
leadership has built on the hard work and dedication
of the leaders that came before,” said Larry Kushins.
“We are proud to carry on this tradition.” Bobbi Sadow,
Director of Administration, added, “We will be able to
stream programming in on a large screen so that classes
can interact easily and everyone will be able to view Welcomes
anything we show. We’ll also be able to stream our
services out so that congregants who can’t make it to
the temple will still be able to join us for Shabbat and
holidays.”
The new lobby will create a bright, inviting, and
professional atmosphere and will provide increased
security for the schools and main building. Fayne
added, “We built our original temple 36 years ago.
About 18 years ago we added a large sanctuary, social
hall, and kitchens. Now we are updating and revamping
our original space. Eighteen has always been a lucky
number for the Jewish people. It means life. And we
are happy to bring new life to our original building
through Project Imagine.”

Louis Michaelos, d.o.

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