Some Gossip on the Gossip Columnists

Gossip: a person who will never tell a lie if the truth will do more damage

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Family politics are as old as the world itself. Adam blamed his wife for his wrongdoing, and Cain "took care" of his brother in history's first murder. Abraham's father allows him to be thrown into a furnace; Jacob and Esau don't seem to see eye to eye in anything.

This week, we read of a perhaps less dramatic issue: sibling gossip. Moshe's sister, Miriam, passed judgment on him for separating from his righteous wife Tzippora. She then shared her opinion of the story with their brother, Aharon:

"Does he think he's holier than any of us?" she criticized. "G-d speaks to all of us; only he decides that a prophet can't be married?"

G-d quickly let them know of His disapproval and punished Miriam with Tzaraat (a skin disease). The fact that her opinion was wrong was not the point; she may not have known that G-d had so instructed him. Yet jumping to conclusions, casting aspersions and passing them on were inappropriate.

For seven days, according to law, Miriam remained secluded outside the Israelite camp. The Jewish nation waited for that full week until she was pure; only then did they continue the journey through the desert.

Think about it:

For four hundred years, the Jewish nation had breathlessly awaited their redemption, and now, finally redeemed, they were counting down the days to the completion of the journey – minute by minute, step be step. And now, six hundred thousand people had to delay their trip to the Holy land for an entire week, due to some minor, personal have-you-heard issues!

What does that tell us?

Snide remarks, casual gossip and vicious slander have become societal norms. Millions are made by gossip magazines and articles. Saying what's on one's mind is considered "freedom of speech" and is just something we "gotta live with."

Not so for the Holy One. In G-d's eyes, it is a sin. And because it is such an easy slip, G-d took extreme measures with Miriam, teaching a lesson for generations: no slander is acceptable. Celebrity tabloids, politics, racial and family slander – these are absolutely wrong. There is no justification for blabbering.

As the saying goes, "Big people speak of ideas; average people speak about things; small people speak of other people."

Please do not forward this thought to gossip columnists; they might pick on me next time…

Do something about it:

Think and think again before jumping into your friend's dirty laundry.

Blame it on Stupidity!

Genius may have its limitations, but stupidity is not thus handicapped.

– Elbert Hubbard.

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Once upon a time, there lived a man who, by mistake, arrived on a never-before-discovered island. As he walked ashore, he was pleasantly surprised to see the beach covered with the most precious diamonds he’d ever seen. Dreaming of being the richest man alive, he quickly started grabbing diamonds.

With his hands and pants full, he started walking further inland to search for habitation. Before long, he walked into town. Expecting to find a city of gold, he was shocked to find a very simple town smelling terribly of cheese.

Hungry as he was, he found a grocery store and filled a cart. When it came time to pay, he took out a small diamond, handed it to the grocer and asked for change.

“I’m sorry, Sir,” said the grocer. “Over here we pay with cheese, and this stone is worthless.”

Shocked at first, our fellow soon was one of the gang using cheese as currency and living this interesting life style.

Eventually, he amassed quite a “fortune.” One day, as he remembered the family he had left behind, he decided it was the right time to return home. Not wanting to return empty-handed, he filled up a dozen ships with cheese and began his month-long journey home.

Those were before the days of refrigerators. Words can not describe the grand welcome he received when he entered his home equipped with his treasures…

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How is it possible for man to sin? That G-d is The Truth we all believe; that relationships are more important than work we all know; that money won’t bring us happiness we see. So how is it that on “theory level” the head is “screwed on,” yet when push comes to shove and you “gotta walk the walk,” suddenly the talk is only talk as the actions stray far from where your convictions lay?

The only reason for this hypocrisy is utter stupidity, a state in which the intelligent mind – given as a unique present to humans for the purpose of thinking – gets put aside in favor of something with no value. As our sages say, “A person does not sin unless he is overtaken by the spirit of folly.” Cheese rots, as does the physical, yet the chase is on after the cheese. Blame it on stupidity…

Man who falls into stupidity can go so far as to use his mind as a tool for the devil, conspiring to cause destruction. 9/11 is such an example…

Or that same mind, a gift from G-d, can be used for its original intention.

L’chaim! The diamonds are strewn all over - Tefillin, Shabbos candles and kashrus, to name but a few. Just bend down and pick them up. Get rich overnight!

Do something about it:

Add some cash to your spiritual bank account!

Why Didn’t G-d Hire a Producer?

As action is the objective of study, beginning this week, there will be a short “To do” connected to the message. Don’t let yourself get stuck in one place; you can always do more!

A Sunday school teacher was discussing the Ten Commandments with her five and six year olds. After explaining the commandment to "honor thy father and thy mother," she asked "Is there a commandment that teaches us how to treat our brothers and sisters?" Without missing a beat one little boy answered, "Thou shall not kill."

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Ask any movie producer and he’ll tell you that one of the toughest aspects of production is the preparation of the set. Countless hours are spent planning every detail, building facades, choosing props, finding a suitable location.

A presidential candidate puts much thought into the venues at which he will appear to announce his candidacy or campaign. What message will he send by his choice to speak in that particular place? Where will he, or must he, garner the most support?

With that in mind, is it not surprising that G-d chose to present Himself to the Jewish nation and give the Ten Commandments in the DESERT of all places?

G-d certainly knew of the travel magazines’ 100 best locations to vacation, of the beautiful beaches and majestic mountains high up in the Alps. Why, then, was it a hot desert in middle of the summer? Surely this most dramatic moment in history warranted a more impressive backdrop!

Yet the explanation lies within the question itself. For the same reason that we would never pick Sinai –its simplicity, dullness and emptiness – G-d specifically chose it.

A desert is a no-show for human life, cattle and produce, a desolate area where almost nothing can live. It is a vast expanse of barren land, rendering it a least desirable topographic area. And all the way down there, G-d gave us the Torah. This was to teach us that our job as Jews is to transform a world which is a spiritual desert, lacking morals, ethics and humility, into a world of Torah and peace.

Torah was not given to the angels, but to you and me. At times we may find ourselves in a moral Sinai. Life can seem empty and dull, uninspiring and depressing. There, specifically there, the Torah must help us rise and climb back up. And as we climb, we bring the desert with us, for the useless stretch of dry land has now served a purpose – it has become a springboard for our growth.

Feeling down? Just open your eyes: G-d is talking to you right now.

Do something about it:

On May 23^rd we will celebrate the holiday of Shavuot, commemorating and reliving the Giving of the Torah. It is of utmost importance that all participate in the morning services and hear the Ten Commandments, especially the children. Be there! Relive the moment!

The “Humility” Game

Walking into the empty sanctuary of his synagogue, a rabbi was suddenly possessed by a wave of mystical rapture, and he threw himself onto the ground before the Ark proclaiming, "Lord, I'm nothing!"

Seeing the rabbi in such a state, the cantor felt profoundly moved by similar emotions. He too threw himself down in front of the Ark proclaiming, "Lord, I'm nothing!"

Then, way in the back of the synagogue, the janitor threw himself to the ground, and he too shouted, "Lord, I am nothing."

Seeing this, the rabbi turned to the cantor and whispered, "Look who thinks he’s Nothing!"

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Was Moshe (Moses) humble? That’s a great question. At first glance, it seems not, what with talking to G-d on a daily basis, being the first leader of the Jewish a nation and all. That wouldn’t quite fit the recipe for humility.

Yet consider our politicians with snub noses broadcasting their accomplishments all night and day, and then ask the question again: was Moshe humble?

The answer is a resounding yes – so much so, in fact, that the Torah tells us that Moshe was the most humble human to walk on the face of the earth! Does this sound surreal, that politics and humility should go hand in hand?

Let’s take an inner look at the definition of humility.

Webster’s dictionary defines humble as “not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive.” It does not mention low self esteem, or a trait in which one doesn’t recognize his strengths and potential. This is because humility absolutely doesn’t mean sacrificing one’s strengths and capabilities on the altar of self-nullification.

You’re talented? Good, use those gifts to their utmost, excel and be the best you can be in your field, be it academic, artistic, interpersonal or any other area of expertise.

BUT… and here comes the catch: always remember that all you posses come from On High. You can not claim credit for your looks, charisma or brains. You didn’t earn them, and are therefore in no way superior to those who lack those talents. Had they received your talents they might have surpasses you.

Humility is strength, not weakness. When faced with a challenge, do not run for cover crying, “I can’t stand up to the test!” That is not humility; it is just plain old fashioned laziness.

And so perhaps we can give humility a new definition: “G-dly ego.” Such an ego is born of true self-esteem, for it is the esteem of the real self, the G-dly soul that is the source of all vitality. It is an ego in whose way nothing can stand, one before which walls crumble and enemies are defeated.

It is the stuff of which a Moshe is made.

I Have an Opinion!

Q: Why do Jewish mothers make great parole officers?

A: They never let anyone finish a sentence.

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If I were to stand today and announce that our president is the greatest in the history of United States , I would receive the same reaction as if I were to say that Napoleon Bonaparte is known to history for his good looks. But it's an opinion nevertheless.

We all hold opinions on topics as varied as the best topping for pizza or the debate about global warming. An opinion can be born through thought or lack thereof, and once an opinion is established, the attitude is often "It's my way or the highway." Every individual thinks he is absolutely correct; end of story.

Unfortunately, intellectual arguments often escalate into much greater feuds. What began as a difference of views may become a power struggle that is at best unproductive, or at worst destructive.

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Here's a slice of history. In the latter part of the first century lived Rabbi Akiva, one the greatest of all sages. He had 24,000 students who passed away within a month's time, ending on Lag Baomer which we'll celebrate this Sunday. Only five students remained.

Our sages teach us that the cause for this catastrophe was the lack of mutual respect amongst the disciples.

As a rule, everyone thinks differently; each man has his own style and perspective. So too, these Torah scholars each interpreted the teachings of Rabbi Akiva in their own way, thereby leading to difference in practice. This quickly led to strife as every student passionately felt that his friends had erred in their understanding. G-d deals strictly with His beloved, and they were punished.

Besides for a great lesson in respect, nothing remains of the 24,000 – neither their names nor their teachings. However, the names of the surviving five are recorded throughout the Talmud, and their teachings guide us until this day.

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The beauty of this world is the diversity. Can you imagine a world in which we all felt and thought the alike on every issue; a universe with no arguments, no debates and no fights? No leaders, no teachers and no knowledge. It sounds like communism, or the kind of dark projection science fiction creates of life in a super-technological, psychologically-regulated society.

We don't look alike and we don't think alike. That's not a curse; it's a blessing. Each human is unique, possessing special qualities and strengths, and that what's great about this world – we are all "one of a kind."

Let's agree to disagree on almost everything, because on one thing we all agree: WE NEED MOSHIACH NOW!