Page 17 - The Jewish Voice - June '21

The Jewish Voice, Page 17

asK the rabbi

Tough Love convince Christians to accept their new testament. “The So as a result, G-d is strict and G-d is firm. Yes, G-d
G-d of the old testament is always angry but with the new is disciplining us all the time but he is doing so out of
By Rabbi Leib Ezagui testament, we enter a new world of light, forgiveness, and love, out of care, and out of concern because he wants us
Question: I have a hard mercy.” to become the best possible person we can become.
time understanding the In reality, nothing can be further from the truth: G-d Victor Frankel, a well-known psychiatrist, philosopher,
anger and harshness of is fundamentally a loving and caring G-d. It is true that and author, in his book Man’s Search for Meaning,
Judaism. When I read the there are expressions of anger and retribution in the Torah, develops the idea that it’s often our encounter with
Torah it feels as if G-d is as well as suffering, just like in life as a whole. adversity and challenge that brings out qualities of
always angry at us. If the We are not going to understand everything, there will goodness that we otherwise wouldn’t have. Frankel says
Torah is a self-accepting never be an answer to every why, but the one thing we do we have very little choice of what will happen to us
book of rules, why would know is that when you truly love someone you want them externally but we have all the choice in how we respond
anyone accept such strict to become the best possible person they can become. Take internally. And that precisely is the measure of what makes
punishments — almost as if for example a parent who disciplines his child. He may us great!
this is to force us to follow not discipline someone else’s child because he could care Frankel didn’t have a Jewish or religious background.
the rules? less whether or not that child grows up to be a successful But a lot of his insights correspond to Torah values.
Answer: In fact; this is one of the oldest arguments to person. G-d’s anger is not an emotional state of anger but a
tough and empowering anger in order to bring us to a
better and higher place.
All the punishments, difficulties, and sufferings are
there to bring out powers in us that we would otherwise not
know exist. Is there an easier way? I guess not. Otherwise
G-d would have devised it. Sometimes only in the most
difficult situations do our true selves come out. We see
this time and time again, Jews in the Holocaust and in
Israel, people who have been victimized, emerge with an
immense faith, courage, and strength.
There is an old Chassidic saying that “G-d doesn’t give
us a test we can’t pass.” We are meant to be challenged.
We can fail, and we do all the time, but the potential
that results from everything that happens to us allows us
to grow, and that’s the measure of what a human is.
To be kind and give indiscriminately is not really love.
That’s indifference.
When I care about you, I want you to be the best you
can be. If I need to be tough I will be tough, but it’s out
of love.
Rabbi Leib serves as youth director for Chabad House
Lubavitch of Palm Beach and runs the Jewish School of the
Arts kid’s program, (561) 624-7004. The advice offered in
this column is for informational purposes only and is not
intended as a substitute for professional advice. To ask the
rabbi a question, email rabbi@chabadpalmbeach.org.

aLL about Kids
hello
summer Beth Am, Local

Synagogues Create

Teen Zoom Lounge
CELEBRATE EVERYTHING THAT CENTERS YOU.
Temple Beth Am partnered with other reform
There are countless ways to celebrate one’s spirit: music, synagogues in northern Palm Beach County —
reading, gardening, or taking a walk to appreciate nature’s beauty. Temple Israel of West Palm Beach and Temple
We offer several resident programs specifically designed Shaarei Shalom of Boynton Beach — to create an
online space for teens to meet up and learn about
to strengthen your belief and speak to your soul. topics that interest them. Historically, going south to
Boynton Beach and north to Jupiter could have never
Summer Open Houses happened, but thanks to technology, each week teens
were able to choose from different virtual sessions
led by local teachers, clergy, experts, or their peers.
The Zoom Lounge was created to ensure that
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 23 @ 1:00PM all 8th-12th grade teens were able to have a Jewish
THURSDAY, JUNE 24 @ 10:00AM education through this new and challenging year.
FRIDAY, JUNE 25 @ 3:00PM Topics discussed included social and emotional
well-being, Israel, diversity, inclusion, community
RSVP at 772-272-9336 service, social action, social justice, body positivity,
gratitude, and more.
Next year, the synagogues hope to continue this
partnership and hold more programs and events
together so they can remain one big kehilah.

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