Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - December '22

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the rabbis

Unconventional Wealth happened, as her own son, Chananel Jerufi, was a yeshiva in the IDF. It is this son that saved the life of your son!”
At the end, a son was born to me. He grew up and enlisted
Intrigued, the pharmacist asked when this event
Preservation Strategies student who had been recently stabbed by a terrorist and This incredible story, widely advertised in Israel, exhibits
saved by a soldier. It turned out that the son of the patron the wondrous power of giving. Though one might think that
Be the change you want to see in the world! had indeed saved the life of the son of the pharmacist. the more we give the less we have, the truth is that sharing
The mother of the soldier then turned to the pharmacist with others is the greatest investment we can make for
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler and said: “The truth is that my son, the soldier, is really ourselves as well.
For decades, Yehudit Jerufi also your son. In the Torah we’re introduced to what is perhaps the only
worked as a pharmacist in Twenty years ago, I entered this pharmacy preparing surviving site that is mentioned in the Torah. The Torah tells
Kiryat Malachi in Israel. One for an abortion. The two of us entered into a conversation us that the cities of Sodom and Gemora were “exceedingly
day, a woman asked to skip and I told you that after three daughters, I was afraid I wicked” — these wealthy cities had laws prohibiting any form
the line: “My son is a soldier would have another girl, when I really wanted a son. of kindness to strangers or hospitality to travelers, punishable
in the IDF and he is about to You refused to hear of it and encouraged me to celebrate by pain of death. Unfortunately, Abraham’s nephew Lot and
receive his purple heart for his another daughter if that is what I was having. You his family lived there. When two angels arrived to destroy
extraordinary act of bravery. promised me that you would adopt her if need be. You these wicked cities, they rescued Lot, his wife, and two
He neutralized a terrorist who persuaded me to keep the child. You also encouraged me daughters, before turning the cities of the plain into the most
stabbed a yeshiva student and to write a letter to the Rebbe and seek his blessing which lifeless place on Earth: The Dead Sea.
saved the life of the victim.” I duly received. As Lot and his family were escaping, the angels instructed
them not to look behind them. They were being saved in the
merit of Abraham and thus were unworthy of witnessing the
destruction of their fellow citizens. Lot’s wife was unable to
days contain her curiosity and turned around. As she did so, the
Torah tells us that she turned into a Pillar of Salt. Interestingly,
there is a strange Pillar of Salt on the south western banks of
create miracles
ways by volunteering the Dead Sea that is popularly known as Eshet Lot (the wife
of Lot). Nearby is a luxury spa called the Lot Hotel.
Why would G-d inflict such a peculiar punishment on

Lot’s poor wife? After all, she merely looked back. What’s
with Federation
somewhere? And why is this the only biblical landmark that
this Hanukkah the first thing that you do when someone tells you not to look
endures until this very day?
The key to understanding this narrative lies in the Torah’s
words of how she looked back. Instead of saying that she
simply turned around, the Torah says “she looked behind
Lot.” The Midrash explains that Lot and his wife had had
Thanksgiving Food Drive Reading to Children a great debate about hospitality and philanthropy. Lot, who
Wednesday, November 16 | 8:30 – 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, December 21|10 – 10:45 a.m. was raised in the home of his righteous uncle, yearned to help
Drop off donations at either Mandel JCC: Boynton Beach others. His wife, who hailed from the evil city of Sodom,
5221 Hood Road, Palm Beach Gardens or Spend the morning with Federation’s Anne & Sam
8500 Jog Road, Boynton Beach Klein Literacy Program as we read and bring joy to despised such giving. She felt that charity was nothing more
Ensure local families have a hearty, healthy local kindergarten children. School address will be than an epic waste of hard-earned money. Her “looking
Thanksgiving by donating turkeys and non- provided upon registration confirmation. behind Lot” represents her second-guessing her husband’s
perishable food. Please register with your location charitable efforts.
preference for your donation drop off. Hanukkah Meal Packing & Delivery When the two angels arrived in Sodom the night before
Wednesday, December 21 – disguised as ordinary men, Lot was quick to shelter them
Family Art Project Friday, December 23 | 8:30 a.m. – 12 p.m. in his home. When he asked his wife to serve them a meal,
Monday, November 21 | 9 a.m. – 12 p.m. The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach she gleefully asked her neighbors for some salt to feed her
The Soup Kitchen of Boynton Beach 844 Prosperity Farms Road | North Palm Beach
8655 Boynton Beach Blvd. | Boynton Beach Join JVC, The Kind Kitchen of Palm Beach and guests. Thus the cat was let out of the bag and a riot ensued
Children and families are invited to create a Alpert Jewish Family Service to pack and deliver outside their home.
dynamic art project that teaches even though festive kosher meals to homebound seniors and Anne Frank famously said that “no one has ever became
individuals may look different, we are united by the those facing extreme hardship. poor by giving,” but many of us identify with Lot’s wife as
most important part: our hearts. Space is limited. we struggle to justify the sums that we donate to charity.
Cookie Decorating with Seniors This is why G-d taught Lot’s wife a lesson through salt
Make Hanukkah Cards for Seniors for Local Heroes and allowed it to endure to serve as an eternal lesson for us all
Deliver completed cards by Monday, Thursday, December 22 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. until this very day. On its own, salt is bitter and impossible to
December 12 Sunrise Senior Living
Bring smiles to the faces of seniors with this 10605 S. Jog Road | Boynton Beach eat. But when mixed into other foods, it brings out the best of
at-home opportunity! Download Hanukkah Join the residents of Sunrise Senior Living as we flavors. Even more incredible, it actually preserves the foods
cards at jewishpb.org/hanukkahcards. Print decorate and package holiday cookies that will into which it is mixed, greatly extending the shelf life!
and decorate as many as you’d like, and we’ll be donated to essential workers on Christmas Day. Charity needs to be redefined as a long-term investment
deliver for you. In partnership with PJ Library , Our friends from PJ Library will be on-site providing instead of as a short-term expenditure. The idea behind this
®
®
Mandel JCC, Meyer Preparatory and our guests with aprons as we listen to a story. is that the moment you give to others, you are fulfilling G-d’s
synagogue partners. command and effectively making Him your partner! Since
Help Local Women and Men in Need the Master of the Universe has yet to bounce a check, you
Hanukkah Celebration & Supply Sunday, December 25 (Christmas) | 11 a.m. are safely in good hands and ready for the free-flow of G-d’s
Collection for Children in Foster Care Jewish Federation of Palm Beach County grace toward you.
Sunday, December 18, 2022 | 2 – 3:30 p.m. 1 Harvard Circle| West Palm Beach Hence the Talmud in Kesubos 66b rules that Melech
The Square Spend the morning outdoors helping local
700 S. Rosemary Avenue | West Palm Beach residents by packing 1,800 care packages filled Mamon Chesed — one who wishes to preserve his wealth
Join your community for a free, family-friendly with basic hygiene supplies to support our local as salt preserves meat should give some away to charity:
Hanukkah party with the Mandel JCC at The Dignity Grows chapter. Kits will be donated to Just as salting the meat causes it to become a little smaller,
Square. Support children in foster care through Palm Beach County Safe Schools and Human yet preserves it, the act of tzedaka (charity) might diminish
JAFCO by bringing donations of new underwear, Trafficking Coalition. your wealth somewhat, but it will ensure that what you have
socks and pajamas to the JVC booth, which will endures for a very long time.
also feature a Hanukkah card making station. We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what
we give. The happiest people are not those getting more, but
For more information and to register for any of these volunteer those giving more!
opportunities, please visit jewishpb.org/8days Rabbi Dovid Vigler is spiritual leader at Chabad of Palm
Beach Gardens and host of the Jewish Schmooze Radio Show.
Email him at rabbi@jewishgardens.com.
A big THANK YOU to our partner agencies and sponsors:

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