Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - November '19

The Jewish Voice, Page 3
Your Perspective on Life
Makes the Difference
By Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui
In the course of thought a
person draws their actual life
and soul in the direction of
what they are thinking about.
Happy thoughts will make for
a happy person, not only in
thought but also in actuality.
The person actually becomes
a happy fellow.
In addition to the personal
transformation there is what
getinvolved
explore your path in the Jewish community
in a way that’s meaningful to you
volunteer
roll up your sleeves. give back.
GivingTuesday Community Event
Tuesday, December 3, 2019
Multiple locations
8 Days, 8 Ways: Hanukkah Service Projects
Throughout the month of December
Signature Project: Meal Packing with Feeding
Children Everywhere
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Mandel JCC (Boynton Beach & Palm Beach Gardens) Unique program for 8 -graders to learn about
MLK Day of Service
Monday, January 20, 2020
Multiple volunteer locations and community-wide
gathering to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Interested in more volunteer experiences?
Visit jewishvolunteer.org
advocate
stand up. be informed. take action.
The Gross Family Center for the Study
of Antisemitism and the Holocaust
November 2019 – April 2020
Featuring prominent experts and international
speakers. Multiple locations. Free and open
to the public. See the full schedule at
jewishpalmbeach.org/holocaustcenter
Jewish Community Relations
Council (JCRC) Event
Wednesday, January 15, 2020 – 7 p.m.
Palm Beach Synagogue, Palm Beach
Featured Speaker: Deborah Lipstadt
American Historian and Author, Denying
the Holocaust and The Eichmann Trial
Jewish Community Relations
Council (JCRC) Event
Monday, February 24, 2020
Multiple times and locations
Featured Speaker: Gil Troy
Renowned Historian, Author
and Political Commentator
Combatting BDS: Training with Israel
Action Network
March 15, 16 and 17
Multiple locations
All information subject to change.
Visit jewishpalmbeach.org/upcoming
for more opportunities, or contact us at
info@jewishpalmbeach.org or 561.478.0700.
JewishVoiceSeabreeze-GetInvolved13192.indd
From the rabbis
thought does in the atmosphere and environment around the with us in abundance, with joy and happiness.
Because G-d empowered each person to be his partner in
person generating these thoughts. Your thoughts can actually
alter world events! creation, He has given each one of us this tremendous ability.
The first way your thoughts modify the world is because G-d the source of all energy designed the universe in such
thought is the first seed to get you to do what you are thinking a way that how G-d deals with us is activated and triggered
about. You will act according to your thoughts and that will by what and the way we do things.
bring about what you are thinking into the world. When a person senses problems and troubles coming his
There is a second, more powerful way thoughts will way, the Bible says, “Don’t be afraid, trust in G-d’s salvation.”
influence the world. Thoughts are on a higher realm and Trust is the ultimate tool in dealing with challenges.
not limited by space and time — and because of that, this Trust isn’t only faith in G-d’s ability to do good and
powerful energy can influence and modify the more finite save you from the situation you are in. Trust is much more
and limited physicality of this world. powerful and intense. Trust is like having money in a trust
One reason our thoughts are so powerful is because, “G-d fund. You feel secure, you know you have nothing to worry
above is our shadow.” He mimics, so to say, our actions. G-d about financially, because the money is there and you are
deals with us in the exact manner we put out our energy. not lacking of anything. In the book Duties of the Heart,
When a person is in a state of joy and happiness, G-d deals the author writes, “The quality of trust is (known by the)
tranquility of the soul in the one who trusts. His heart feels
secure and confident in no doubt, in the one he is trusting,
that he is trusting.”
that he will do good and what’s proper for him in the matter
Once there was a pious student of a mystical teacher, a
Chasid, who was told that his daughter had a very serious
terminal illness. The doctors gave up on her. As is the custom
among Chasidim, he wanted to go to his spiritual mentor
only hours left, so why bother. A good friend reminded this
for a blessing and advice. But the doctors said there were
student the statement of our sages, “A person should never
desist from prayer,” and “To the last second a person must
never give up hope,” because miracles happen.
So he decided to go with a friend and when he reached
the mystic rabbi, he started to cry, thinking maybe she was
teens already gone by this time. The mystic rabbi said, “Don’t cry,
think good and it will be good. Don’t cry anymore, you will
volunteer. make friends. learn. yet be at the bar mitzvah of her children.”
This story clearly illustrates that the way we think will
actually influence the health of one’s daughter. The psalmist
zIsrael Fellowship Program
Dates through May 2020 says, “Those who trust in G-d, kindness will surround them,”
Free, eight-part program for grades 10-12 to connect even if, otherwise, they may not deserve good.
with Israel and explore your unique Jewish identity. Rabbi Shlomo Ezagui is spiritual leader of Chabad
Option to add experience in Israel. House Lubavitch of Palm Beach. Contact him at
Register at jewishpalmbeach.org/zisrael Rabbi@chabadpalmbeach.org, 624-7004, or www.
jImpact chabadpalmbeach.org.
Dates through May 2020
th
Healing the Nation
the impact of philanthropy and volunteerism.
Email carly.jacobson@jewishpalmbeach.org
Jewish Guatemala Teen Experience By Rabbi Paul Arberman
January 17-20, 2020 There is a tear in our
society this year that, if not
Explore and give back with Guatemala’s fascinating
Jewish community. Earn 20 community service hours. tended to, has within it the
Register at jewishpalmbeach.org/teenguatemala seeds of our national demise.
Like the ancient Israelite
women kingdom, which split along
north-south lines, the house
connect. reflect your values. of America is beginning to
divide against itself.
Women’s Season Opener One option is to try to
Thursday, December 12, 2019 – 5:30 p.m. convince those with whom
The National Croquet Center, West Palm Beach we disagree. Isn’t arguing part of Jewish culture? The
Featured Speaker: Susan Lewis Solomont Talmud is all about seeking out the truth through passionate
Author, Lost and Found in Spain: Tales of
an Ambassador’s Wife arguing! It helps us get rid of bad ideas and sharpens
Chair: Sandy Krakoff the good ones. Don’t we all benefit by having our ideas
Register at jewishpalmbeach.org/wpopener
challenged by worthy opponents?
Conversations with Jewish Women Writers When Rabbi Shimon ben Laqish died, his study partner
January 15-16, 2020, and February 26-27, 2020 R. Yohanan was very upset. So Eleazar ben Pedal went to
Palm Beach Country Club and Frenchman’s Creek talk with a grieving Yohanan to cheer him up. He tried to
Country Club study Torah with him, but for every statement that Yohanan
Register at jewishpalmbeach.org/conversations made, Eleazar ben Pedal replied, “There is a teaching that
supports your view.”
israel connections R. Yohanan became annoyed: “My old study partner,
Rabbi Shimon, would raise questions against my position on
connect. think globally.
twenty-four grounds and I would find twenty-four solutions,
Photo Exhibit: Humans of Tel Aviv and the tradition was broadened. But you say to me merely,
November 7-12, 2019 ‘There is a respected teaching that supports your view.’
Temple Emanu-El, Palm Beach Don’t I know that what I say is sound — don’t I know that
December 1-6, 2019 there is a basis for what I say?” So R. Yohanan went on
Lighthouse ArtCenter, Tequesta tearing his clothes and weeping until he went crazy.
Opening Reception: Sunday, December 1, 2019 – 5 p.m. Rabbi Yohanan could not survive in a world in which
Both locations are open to the public. people agreed with everything he said. He needed a worthy
IsraelDays: Community Events opponent to argue with him for his own sake and for the
Holocaust Remembrance Day, Israel Memorial Day sake of testing the limits of our tradition.
and Israel Independence Day
April – May 2020 But not all arguments are good. I’ll give you a personal
Locations throughout the community example: I was over at my friend Matt’s house for Shabbat
dinner in Israel, and his mother-in-law was there as well.
During the meal she began to talk about how in her opinion
the settlers in Israel were being mistreated. “I don’t think
God will forgive the leaders of Israel for what they are
doing,” she said. My friend got really annoyed. He told me
afterward that there’s nothing like someone speaking for
From the Rabbis on page 4
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