Newspapers / The Charlotte Jewish news. / March 1, 1985, edition 1 / Page 20
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Page 20-THE NEWS-March, 1986 Thoughts From The Lubavitcher Rehhe Puriiii - Jewish Identity Children Learn About Tu B’Shvat Children preparing Challah for Sbabbat. Children prepared their own food for their Chanukah party. By Rabbi Yossi Groner The study of Purim is told to us in the scroll of Esther (megillat Esther), which is read twice on Purim each year. The miracle of Purim seems to start later in the story when Haman began expressing his anger on Mcrdechai and the rest of the Jews, which was the reason for his decree against edl the Jews. Why therefore, does the “megillat” tell us, in such great detail about the previous events, like Mordechai’s ‘sit ting in the kings gate.’ In those days this was not an unusual occurrence. We also read about the special feast King Achashver- osh prepared, where he made sure that everything should be done according to everyone’s desire, that is even if a Jew To Correct By Rabbi Hershel Fogelman Worchester, Mass. It is with a sense of urgen cy that I feel a compulsion to correct an erroneous impres sion falsely conveyed by those who should know better. In recent months articles and statements have appeared accusing the orthodox Torah community, and more particu larly Lubavitcher, that they view Reform and Conservative Jews as being less than Jewish, or not really Jewish. Rabbis from pulpits and leaders of movements, con tinue with the bombardment that the “Orthodox" think we are not Jewish. Whether this is a ploy to arouse the masses to battle is difficult to ascer tain. In any case, innocent lajrmen, and in some cases spiritual leaders, are left wondering as to this position. It is, therefore, incumbent once and for all, to set the record straight irrespective of issues. While it is axiomatic that Jews with regard to observance and behavior are guided and bound by the G-d given Torah, Talmud, Shul- chan Oruch - code of Jewish law, etc, it is however the same Shulchan Oruch that provides the Halacha as to how one views a Jew. The Rambam • Maimonodies codifer of Jewish law, in the se cond chapter of “Hilchos Gerushin,” clearly states that even a Jew who rebels against the Halacha is considered not only a Jew, but a believer in the innermost portion of his Neshomo (soul). It is on this basis that the Rambam draws a Halachic conclusion that even in those areas where one’s willful consent is needed, such as in certain cases of divorce; Korbonos, etc., and the Beth Din forces him to comply, it is predicted on the principle that he is inherently a believer and wants to fulfiU the will of G-d. should request kosher food and drink. The lesson from this is as follows: A Jew may think that when he is in the capital city or in a position of influence he should not openly display his Judaism. He should not, by asking for kosher food, show that he is different from other people. Why should he “stand out?” Since we are a minority, a Jew may be happy to be in this position. Why touch on anti-Jewish sensibilities by showing that our religion is different from all peoples? The megillat teaches us otherwise: Even when a Jew is in the capital city and knows that there is a Haman there, he must still openly display his Jewishness and ask for kosher food. Every person’s desire is to show that he is a whole per son. If he is ashamed of his Therefore, not only dare we not exclude any Jew from Klal Yisroayl, but further, all Jews according to Maimonodies, ir respective of their religious orientation are considered Halachlically “Maameenim Bnei Maaminen” • believers, children of believers, whose Jewish spark is just as impor tant as any Jew. Emunah belief is inherent in every Jew. In the words of the Rambam only his “Yetzer” (in clination) forces him to act rebelliously. One can quote hundreds of passages at testing to the axiom. We must, therefore, set the record straight that we are all truly one as Jews. In conclusion, it is worth while also to convey an il luminating Midrash which tells of seven things that G-d caused to come into existence before creation, amongst them Torah and souls of Jews. Which of these two are first, asks the Midrash? “Jews are first because the Torah tells of G-d sa}dng to Moses ‘speak to Jews.’” This means that Jews precede Torah, concludes the Midrash. This Midrash is quoted and elaborated on ex tensively in Chabad Chasidic literature. From the point of view of the word Jew there fore, there is absolutely no dif ference between one Jew and another. I do not at this time wish to enter into the many complex issues that divide Jews because, to quote the famous American expression, “what unites us is far greater than what divides us.” If you, therefore, hear a i J-L identity and tries to hide it, he is in a sense a cripple. To the non-Jew he is a hypocrite. In deed, if one’s wish is to get in to the right circles and thereby be successful in the king’s gate, he is to display his Judaism. Hence, when sitting at the king’s table, one must demand to be given kosher food. Such conduct wins honor and respect for a Jew also in non-Jewish eyes, to the extent that they pay attention to his views on governmental mat ters for they see he is a true person of complete trust. The above is applicable wherever he is. Whether he is influential in the capital, in his city or his neighborhood, he should open ly conduct himself as a Jew. Through this he will have greater success in all his mat ters, finding favor in non- Jewish eyes. speaker or read an article, whether from the left or the right, creating an illusion or distortion about this subject, ydu should know that he or she is either ignorant or malicious. The unity and love of our people as a collective, and more so with regard to the individual, is the priority of priorities. Rabbi Fogelman is director of Lubavitch Schools in Wor cester, Mass., serving the com munity for over forty years. This past month the Luba vitch Afterschool Children were very busy learning about the Holiday of Tu B’Shvat. They learned how to plant seeds and started off their own little plants in honor of the holiday. A very important custom of Tu B’Shvat is to partake of fruits that are grown in our land, Israel. We tasted figs, dates and ‘bukser’ (carob). Of course, the children learned the blessings over the fruit, too. The class was fasci nated to leam that they are compared to a tree and just as water and sun are important to the growth of the tree so is Jewish education to a Jewish child. n'3 GUN ISRAEL DAY CAMP Sponsored by Lubavitch of NC * A camp that prides itself on the lively atmosphere that it provides for its campers who anxiously looK forward to each camp day. * A.camp where safety and responsibility is the number one concern. * A camp which offers a dynamic program of field trips, swimming, athletics, culture, arts & crafts, electronic game rooms, dramatics, and much more. * A camp where door to door transportation is available. * A camp that is surely worth your call! Fun, Sporfs(Sl Spirit to Savof'Yeaf'liffund Featuring Swimming Baseball Soccer Basketball Field Races Bowling Miniature Golf Rolle'rskating Carowinds Discovery Place Movies Arcades Arts & Crafts Culture Discussion Groups Songs Shabbatons Riverbanks Zoo Hebrew Studies Jewish Education Petting Farm Horseback Riding Shabbos Parties TINY TOTS 3-5 PIONEERS 6-12 JUNE 10-21 MONDAY - FRIDAY $ 90.00 9-1 $120.00 9-3 For Information Ctf 366-3984 A False Undercurrent
March 1, 1985, edition 1
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