Rabbi Michael Leo Samuel

Some Rosh Hashanah Meditations and Rambling Thoughts on the holiday

Attitude is everything.

But in hard times, it’s a lot easier to sit and complain rather than do something about bettering our life circumstances and attitudes.

I am reminded of an old story I came across almost 10 years ago, which I filed away for a rainy day.

Marty visits Dr. Saul, the veterinarian, and says, “My dog has a problem.” Dr. Saul says, “So, tell me about the dog and the problem.”

Marty said, “You see, Doc, it’s a Jewish dog, and his name is Hershel; in fact, he can even talk!”

Dr. Saul exclaims, “A talking dog? Impossible.”  ‘Watch this!’ Marty points to the dog and commands: ‘ Hershel, ‘Fetch!’

Hershel, the dog, begins to walk toward the door, then turns around and says, “Nu. Why are you talking to me like that? You always order me around like I’m nothing.  And you only call me when you want something.  And then you make me sleep on the floor, with my arthritis.  You give me this lousy food with all the salt and fat, and you tell me it’s a special diet. It tastes like dreck!  YOU should eat it yourself!  And do you ever take me for a decent walk?  NO, it’s out of the house, a short whiz, and right back home.  Maybe if I could stretch out a little, the sciatica wouldn’t kill me so much!  But what do you care?!’

Dr. Saul is amazed and says, “This is remarkable!  I never saw a dog like this in my life!  So, what’s the problem?” Morty says, “He has a hearing problem!  I said ‘Fetch,’ not ‘Kvetch.’”

Rosh Hashana teaches us that we need to leave our kvetching behind. Tonight begins a year of  infinite possibilities.

But what is the antidote to the pessimism and complaining that have often become the touchstone of modern life?  What does Jewish tradition teach us that can help us get past this chronic feeling of negativity and despair?

One of the customs of Rosh Hashanah involves dipping our hallah bread in honey and as well as apples.

Apples, in Western tradition, often symbolize enlightenment and knowledge.  What does bread symbolize? For one thing, it represents sustenance and food; in American slang, it also represents money and livelihood.  The ancient Hebrews conceived of bread in similar terms.

Bread is לֶחֶם (leḥem) the staple of our life; but bread is often the source of considerable conflict. Moses in his wisdom recognized how the Hebrew words for bread and war  מִלְחָמָה (milḥāmâ) are profoundly intertwined. Throughout recorded history, nations have gone to war over coveted resources and still do.

In our own day, the quest for bread has become an onerous challenge for over 15 million Americans who are currently out of work.

When people are suffering it is so hard for people to believe that there might be a light at the end of the tunnel—but I am here to remind you that Rosh HaShanah offers each of us a new opportunity to celebrate life as individuals and as a community. We feel as if we are in a war fighting for our lives. Survival has become a major struggle in every way.

The one constant in the universe is change; nothing stays stationary in the universe–how we deal with change is the real challenge. For many of us experiencing the loss of a spouse, or the loss of a home, or job,—Rosh HaShanah can help each of us to reinvent ourselves and our lives. We may have no choice for the events that happen in our lives, but we always have a choice how we respond. We can look at life’s cup as half-full, or see it as half-empty; it all depends how we frame these events. The Chinese say that the same pictogram for crisis can also mean opportunity. This is the challenge God has places before us. Although change often comes as an intruder, it also acts as the catalyst for moral growth. Change affords us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves,  but to do so requires a great deal of imagination, focus, determination, work, and hope.

Change requires insight; insight comes from knowledge–the kind of wisdom that we find in our tradition.

One of the meanings of Lashana Tovah can mean, “A good year for study!” Our devotion and love toward one another and to Torah offers a proud and defiant message to the world around you —namely, we will eat our bread, share our bread in gladness and show there is nothing in the world that can destroy the goodness and spirit that we have.

Rav Nachman of Bratzlav was a famous Hassidic rabbi, the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov; he was a man who, by modern psychoanalytical terms, happened to be a manic-depressive. Yet, one of the most important lessons he stresses in his writings, is the importance of seeing the good that is always present in our lives.  Here are some practical suggestions he makes, “The world is like a narrow bridge; but the main thing for you to always be clear: Never give in to the voice of fear.” Nachman is not denying the existence of fear in our lives, but we do not have to let fear dominate and micromanage daily our existence.

Optimism, hope and renewal hold the key to a wonderful New Year. In other words, you cannot serve God with a heavy heart; God did not create us to be mere creatures dedicated to consumption; our purpose in this world is to learn and love. With a positive attitude like that, we will emerge with our spirits intact.

But to do that, we need to occupy ourselves with activities that will raise our troubled spirits to God—such as communal prayer, Shabbat celebration, and study. When we break through the walls that isolate ourselves from each other and from our inner strength, we will discover a New Year of infinite possibilities. Continue Reading

A chazeer is the Hebrew name for the “pig” and when it is used in Yiddish, it is one of the worst insults you can give. You see, the chazzer is never happy unless the person can get something for nothing. Typically, the chazzeer is the kind of person who goes to a fancy restaurant and orders the most expensive dish and then complains so loudly, the maître d’hôtel gives the meal away for nothing, so he won’t harm his business. That’s a chazzeer. If someone is giving shirts away, the chazzer won’t be happy unless he walks away with triple the amount everyone else has.

Congress has plenty of chazerim—piggish people, who won’t stop at nothing to get themselves reelected—and spend ALL of your money!

Pork barrel politics is also an interesting metaphor; it generally refers to any kind of governmental project that yields jobs or other economic benefits to a specific locale or industry in exchange for campaign contributions or votes.

As we debate the question whether the debt ceiling should be raised or not, I am among those voters who believe we have way too much pork in our government’s arteries. Pork barrel projects have a pejorative meaning in modern society—and for good reason.

Well, the Republicans have at least come up with a list of items they wish to cut. On the other hand, the Democratic Party has yet to come up with a comparable list.

While the Republican list offers some specific guidelines worth looking at, I believe there is still plenty of pork barrel projects neither party wishes to remove that could probably make an even greater difference.

Since I do not believe that bad behavior should be rewarded, I think the time has come for all Americans to adopt a simple voting strategy for the next election: Vote the incumbents out. Plain and simple, not one politician should be allowed to remain in office especially when we examine how they have mismanaged our monies. When you look at the list below, you have to wonder why did it take so long for these charlatans to get rid the below-listed items?

Mr. Obama, that means we are going to get rid of you. As we say in Yiddish, you and your chevra can gei kaken ofen yam, baby!

Now, I want to see the Republicans come up with a plan that gets rid of 7 trillion dollars in the same time period—and not a penny less! End the wars in Iraq, Libya, and Afghanistan–that will also save a couple of trillion dollars. Rome ceased to be a superpower after it had spent all its capital fighting stupid wars. We must learn from history too.  I would encourage the Democrats come up with their own list of pork barrel list and let’s get rid of both of their choices. This is a common sense approach that I think the public would cheer and actually support.

Here is the full list of cuts:

Additional Program Eliminations/Spending Reforms

Corporation for Public Broadcasting Subsidy. $445 million annual savings.

Save America’s Treasures Program. $25 million annual savings.

International Fund for Ireland. $17 million annual savings.

Legal Services Corporation. $420 million annual savings.

National Endowment for the Arts. $167.5 million annual savings.

National Endowment for the Humanities. $167.5 million annual savings.

Hope VI Program. $250 million annual savings.

Amtrak Subsidies. $1.565 billion annual savings.

Eliminate duplicative education programs. H.R. 2274 (in last Congress), authored by Rep. McKeon, eliminates 68 at a savings of $1.3 billion annually.

U.S. Trade Development Agency. $55 million annual savings.

Woodrow Wilson Center Subsidy. $20 million annual savings.

Cut in half funding for congressional printing and binding. $47 million annual savings.

John C. Stennis Center Subsidy. $430,000 annual savings.

Community Development Fund. $4.5 billion annual savings.

Heritage Area Grants and Statutory Aid. $24 million annual savings.

Cut Federal Travel Budget in Half. $7.5 billion annual savings.

Trim Federal Vehicle Budget by 20%. $600 million annual savings.

Essential Air Service. $150 million annual savings.

Technology Innovation Program. $70 million annual savings.

Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) Program. $125 million annual savings.

Department of Energy Grants to States for Weatherization. $530 million annual savings.

Beach Replenishment. $95 million annual savings.

New Starts Transit. $2 billion annual savings.

Exchange Programs for Alaska, Natives Native Hawaiians, and Their Historical Trading Partners in Massachusetts. $9 million annual savings.

Intercity and High Speed Rail Grants. $2.5 billion annual savings.

Title X Family Planning. $318 million annual savings.

Appalachian Regional Commission. $76 million annual savings.

Economic Development Administration. $293 million annual savings.

Programs under the National and Community Services Act. $1.15 billion annual savings.

Applied Research at Department of Energy. $1.27 billion annual savings.

FreedomCAR and Fuel Partnership. $200 million annual savings.

Energy Star Program. $52 million annual savings.

Economic Assistance to Egypt. $250 million annually.

U.S. Agency for International Development. $1.39 billion annual savings.

General Assistance to District of Columbia. $210 million annual savings.

Subsidy for Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. $150 million annual savings.

Presidential Campaign Fund. $775 million savings over ten years.

No funding for federal office space acquisition. $864 million annual savings.

End prohibitions on competitive sourcing of government services.

Repeal the Davis-Bacon Act. More than $1 billion annually.

IRS Direct Deposit: Require the IRS to deposit fees for some services it offers (such as processing payment plans for taxpayers) to the Treasury, instead of allowing it to remain as part of its budget. $1.8 billion savings over ten years.

Require collection of unpaid taxes by federal employees. $1 billion total savings.

Prohibit taxpayer funded union activities by federal employees. $1.2 billion savings over ten years.

Sell excess federal properties the government does not make use of. $15 billion total savings.

Eliminate death gratuity for Members of Congress.

Eliminate Mohair Subsidies. $1 million annual savings.

Eliminate taxpayer subsidies to the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. $12.5 million annual savings.

Eliminate Market Access Program. $200 million annual savings.

USDA Sugar Program. $14 million annual savings.

Subsidy to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). $93 million annual savings.

Eliminate the National Organic Certification Cost-Share Program. $56.2 million annual savings.

Eliminate fund for Obamacare administrative costs. $900 million savings.

Ready to Learn TV Program. $27 million savings.

HUD Ph.D. Program.

Deficit Reduction Check-Off Act.

TOTAL SAVINGS: $2.5 Trillion over Ten Years

 

The Letter of James is arguably one of the most Jewish sounding works of the NT.

Martin Luther’s disdain for James is especially significant. Luther writes in his Preface to the NT that James is an “epistle of straw”[1] because the author rejected the Pauline doctrine of “justification by faith”  that is at the heart of Pauline Christianity.[2] By referring to James’ value as “straw,” Luther wished to convey the idea that the Letter of James has no value to a Christian. Luther even argued for its removal from the NT canon because of its “Judaic” overtones.

Traditional Judaism has long stressed that actions speak louder than platitudes about faith. In fact, a person’s faith even says much about that person’s true beliefs and values. That being said, in deference to Luther, Christian scholars have been historically debating about the inclusion of James into the NT canon for nearly 1700 years!

Except for the opening line of James–an obvious interpolation–the rest of James focuses good old fashion Jewish ethics. To the chagrin of Luther, there is no mention about Pauline Christianity anywhere in the book. I suspect this book may have been a favorite among the ancient Jewish-Christian sect known as the Ebionites (the “poor ones”) who regarded Paul the Apostle as a heretic.

If I did not know better, the book of James almost sounds like a prototype for the Pirke Avoth (the “Ethics of the Fathers” is a short tractate dealing with the famous wisdom aphorisms of rabbinical tradition).

Here are some of my favorite passages in James:

“Anyone who listens to the Word, but takes no action is like someone who looks at his own features in a mirror—once he has seen what he looks like, he promptly forgets what he looked like. But the one who peers into the perfect law of freedom and perseveres, and is not a hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, such a one shall be blessed by what he does” (NT James 1: 23-25).

James writes in the second chapter, “So also faith of itself, if it does not have works, is dead. Indeed someone might say, ‘You have faith and I have works.’ Demonstrate your faith to me without works, and I will demonstrate my faith to you from my works.  You believe that God is one. You do well. Even the Devil believes that and trembles. Do you want proof, you ignoramus, that faith without works is useless?”

^{Commentary: Who do you think is the “ignoramus” James is referring to? Obviously he is speaking about anyone who would be foolish enough to follow Paul’s “justification by faith” doctrine that subsequent Christianity accepted, hook, line and sinker.}

“Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered his son Isaac upon the altar? ^ You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by the works.  Thus the scripture was fulfilled that says, “Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness,” and he was called “the friend of God.” See how a person is justified by works and not by faith alone. And in the same way, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she welcomed the messengers and sent them out by a different route? For just as a body without a spirit is dead; so too, is faith without works also dead” (NT James 2:17-26).

^{Commentary: I would argue Abraham shows more faith by not sacrificing his son! Moreover, this position is more consistent with ethos of James.}

But wait a minute, there’s more to Martin Luther’s personality than meets the naked eye.

Despite Luther’s disdain for James, in some ways, Luther would have made James quite proud of him—at least in the beginning of his career. Think back . . . Wasn’t it Luther who opposed the medieval practice of purchasing credit (the first “Buy now, sin later . . .” campaign in Christian history) with God through indulgences and opposed it with his cry of “faith alone”?

Yep, he sure did! Why did he so radically change? Maybe because the book of James reminded him too much of Judaism. Friends, that is one very important reason why Jews ought to study James!

Like Mohammed before him who befriended the Jews only to turn his back against the Jews, Luther also turned his back against the Jews after failing to convert them to his new faith. Just take a took at Mohammed’s ruthless  jihad on the Jews of Mecca and Medina.  Although Luther wasn’t as violent as Mohammed, he nevertheless knew how to fan the fire of religious bigotry just like Mohammed.  Anti-Semites always seem to follow the same playbook; some are more benign, while others are just plain malignant.

Luther made some Nazi-esque comments about the Jews that goes completely against the ethics that is spelled out in James. In 1543, Luther’s animus probably reached its zenith in a scathing pamphlet, Concerning the Jews and Their Lies, in which he urged the authorities to act against Jews with the utmost severity. Continue Reading

Sometimes I think we are living in the world of Chelm, a place that was famous for its fools who claimed to be “wise men.”

As promised, I thought I would tell you another story about the legendary Chelmites that I think you will like!

Yankle is walking down the street with a lit lantern; he appears to be looking for something. However, something looks very odd—even to a Chelmite! A friend of Yankle runs into him and asks,  “Why are you carrying a lit lantern in broad daylight?” He replied, “So I can see a bit better!”

Webster’s Dictionary defines “myopia” as, “a condition in which the visual images come to a focus in front of the retina of the eye resulting especially in defective vision of distant objects …”

I believe this condition fits President’s attitude about the problems of our world. Rather than being forceful with the bellicose nations that threaten world peace, he prefers to pick on Israel. Why? Because the Jews have been a longstanding whipping boy for anti-Semites who have ever been a part of what we call, “Western Civilization.” Western Civilization? It almost sounds like an oxymoron–especially when you talk about “Western Civilization and the Jews,” as my father and grandparents could certainly attest to.

Well, President Obama’s political-correct and multicultural government has come up with something new for “The Immigration and Customs Enforcement Agency” (ICE). In their list of “specially designated countries (SDCs) that “have shown a tendency to promote, produce or protect terrorist organizations or their members,”  the following list of dubious nations get special scrutiny when entering the United States.

Here’s the list:

Afghanistan
West Bank
Algeria
Bahrain
Oman
Bangladesh
Pakistan
Philippines
Egypt
Qatar
Saudi Arabia
Indonesia
Somalia
Iran
Sudan
Iraq
Syria
Israel
And so forth.

Israel?  Yes, Israel is considered a “terrorist state” that “promotes, produces, or protects terrorists,” according to the Obama Administration. Is this the President’s way of telling the Muslim world, “Look, we even treat Israel like we treat the members of your country . . .”?  But the latest development is consistent with the national obsession with political correctness, which is why we see the TSA go to such ridiculous means to forcing even a 95 year-old lady to strip for the TSA, as she did last week at the airport. The stupidity goes on . . . not to mention the perversity.

Washington’s  gesture of equality is like blaming the rape victim for getting raped!  Is this new policy another example of stupidity, or does it reflect a virulent strain of anti-Semitism that the State Department is brandishing? Continue Reading

Yes Virginia, San Francisco behaves like a city obsessed with foreskin. The latest attempt to legally ban infant and minor children’s circumcision is creating a storm of controversy all over the state and country. Santa Monica has a similar ballot issue slated for the next election. Lest we think the entire city has gone mad, it is important to keep in mind that the anti-circumcision group gathered only 12,000 signatories among a city of over 800,000 inhabitants.

Freudian analysis would probably suggest that the fear of circumcision stems from what Freud dubbed as “the castration complex.” The fear of castration is primal for many men in all cultures; for this reason, the men in primitive societies wear loincloths because this part of the male anatomy leaves the male exposed and vulnerable. Since the beginning of human history, men have focused upon the symbol of their virility—the phallus. Even today, the pharmaceutical industry has invested billions of dollars in creating new drugs designed to enhance male virility. When seen from this perspective, the anti-circumcision crowd’s neurotic behavior is quite understandable.

Anthropologists and historians of religion refer to this obsession with the penis as “phallic worship” and it seems to me that the worship of this male organ of potency is still very much alive in San Francisco.

THE GREEK BAN ON JEWISH CIRCUMCISION

Whenever a topic like this comes up, it is important to examine the history of circumcision as practiced in Jewish history. While the cartoonist enjoys depicting Jewish tradition as barbaric custom, he shows an ignorance and antipathy toward Jewish tradition that is alarming.

After Alexander conquered the Western world, one of the new innovations he introduced to his conquered peoples was the gymnasium, which derives from the Greek word γυμνάζω gumnázō, “to train naked.” Greek athletes extolled the beauty of the male body, and when young Jewish men became interested in the gymnasium, they suddenly felt very uneasy and embarrassed about being circumcised.

Josephus records how two assimilated Jews, Menelaus and the sons of Tobias, went to King Antiochus and informed him of their desire to embrace Hellenism and wanted to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem, “And when he had given them leave they also hid the circumcision of their genitals, that even when they were naked they might appear to be Greeks.

Accordingly, they left off all the customs that belonged to their own country, and imitated the practices of the other nations” (Antiquities, 12:239-241). Another ancient text adds that Antiochus criminalized the act of circumcision and remained determined to prohibit its practice for good (1 Macc. 1:48, 60, 2:46). Note also that the worst enemies of the Jews have almost invariably been Jews who have utilized gentiles to combat Jewish tradition and continuity.

Evidently, the ancient Jews did not completely remove their foreskin, for it was possible to cut and pull forward the loose skin of the penis (a,k.a., “epispasm”), which in turned gave an artificial appearance of being a partial foreskin. Eventually, rabbinic tradition insisted that more of the foreskin be completely removed so that the Jewish young men would never be able to surgically create the appearance of having a foreskin.

PHILO OF ALEXANDRIA AND HIS DEFENSE OF CIRCUMCISION

Among the explanations given for circumcision, the first century Jewish philosopher explains that there are health benefits to being circumcised; it prevents a bacterial disease known as “carbuncle” and that this disease was much more common among uncircumcised males than those who have gone through the rite of circumcision.

In philosophical terms, Philo then argues that circumcision befits a body that befits a priestly people. Among the Egyptian priests, they too practiced circumcision. The circumcised phallus resembles the human heart—the seat of passions “for the breath contained within the heart is generative of thoughts, and the generative organ itself is productive of living beings.” By the same token, Philo asserts that the foreskin serves as a metaphor for arrogance—the kind of which causes a person to forget about God.[1]

Most importantly, the act of circumcising represents a spiritual act in that it is a visible reminder that a man must learn to keep is libido in check—especially since when human sexuality when left unbridled, it is capable of causing terrible harm in the world. Maimonides too, concurs that circumcision is meant to help curtail the human appetite for sex, since the foreskin is said to add some degree of extra pleasure in the act of coitus. Whether Maimonides’ view is correct is debatable—at least from a medical perspective. Some studies show that the data can support an opposite view, but ultimately sexual satisfaction has a profound psychological dimension and besides, most of my Jewish friends can honestly say the impact is nil.

A MODERN STORY ABOUT CIRCUMCISION

One of the most moving stories involving a female mohelet occurs in a concentration camp. In Yaffa Eliach’s “Hasidic Tales of the Holocaust,” she narrates an incident at the Janowska concentration camp where, Jewish children were brought (apparently by their parents) from the surrounding areas to be killed.

In her book, one of the great heroes, whose stories she records was that of Rabbi Israel Spira. Years later, he tells the story of what unfolded. “I heard the voice of a woman. “Jews have mercy upon me and give me a knife”. In front of us was standing a woman, pale as a sheet. Only her eyes were burning with a strange fire. I thought that she wanted to commit suicide. … “Give me that pocket knife !” she ordered the German [guard standing by] in a commanding voice. The German, taken by surprise, handed the knife to the woman. … With a steady hand she opened the pocket knife and circumcised the baby. … “God of the Universe, you have given me a healthy child. I am returning to you a kosher child.” She walked over to the German, gave him back his blood-stained knife, and handed him her baby on his snow-white pillow. Amidst a veil of tears, I said to myself that this mother’s circumcision will probably shake the foundations of heaven and earth.” [2]

The religious values associated with circumcision were considered so important that Jews felt a commitment to die for the right to observe their ancestral faith. The mark of circumcision represented a living covenant with the God of Abraham that has bonded generations together since our beginnings.

IN PRAISE OF CIRCUMCISION

Numerous medical studies have demonstrated that male circumcision has played a dramatic role in decreasing the risk for HIV transmission. Without going into too much detail, I will mention some of the salient details found in this valuable medical report:

“Compared with the dry external skin surface, the inner mucosa of the foreskin has less keratinization (deposition of fibrous protein), a higher density of target cells for HIV infection (Langerhans cells), and is more susceptible to HIV infection than other penile tissue in laboratory studies [2].

The foreskin may also have greater susceptibility to traumatic epithelial disruptions (tears) during intercourse, providing a portal of entry for pathogens, including HIV [3]. In addition, the microenvironment in the preputial sac between the unretracted foreskin and the glans penis may be conducive to viral survival [1]. Finally, the higher rates of sexually transmitted genital ulcerative disease, such as syphilis, observed in uncircumcised men may also increase susceptibility to HIV infection [4].

International Observational Studies

A systematic review and meta-analysis that focused on male circumcision and heterosexual transmission of HIV in Africa was published in 2000 [5]. It included 19 cross-sectional studies, 5 case-control studies, 3 cohort studies, and 1 partner study. A substantial protective effect of male circumcision on risk for HIV infection was noted, along with a reduced risk for genital ulcer disease. After adjustment for confounding factors in the population-based studies, the relative risk for HIV infection was 44% lower in circumcised men. The strongest association was seen in men at high risk, such as patients at sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics, for whom the adjusted relative risk was 71% lower for circumcised men.

Another review that included stringent assessment of 10 potential confounding factors and was stratified by study type or study population was published in 2003 [6]. Most of the studies were from Africa. Of the 35 observational studies in the review, the 16 in the general population had inconsistent results. The one large prospective cohort study in this group showed a significant protective effect: the odds of infection were 42% lower for circumcised men [7]. The remaining 19 studies were conducted in populations at high risk. These studies found a consistent, substantial protective effect, which increased with adjustment for confounding. Four of these were cohort studies: all demonstrated a protective effect, with two being statistically significant.

Ecologic studies also indicate a strong association between lack of male circumcision and HIV infection at the population level. Although links between circumcision, culture, religion, and risk behavior may account for some of the differences in HIV infection prevalence, the countries in Africa and Asia with prevalence of male circumcision of less than 20% have HIV infection prevalences several times higher than those in countries in these regions where more than 80% of men are circumcised.[3]

For example: circumcision of newborns used to be fairly common at American hospitals until 1971. The American Academy of pediatrics then decided to discontinue the practice except for religious reasons. Years later, however, after surveys at several hospitals, it was discovered that uncircumcised boys were ten times more likely to suffer from urinary tract and kidney infections than circumcised boys. Dr. Thomas Wiswell, of Walter Reed Hospital, who had previously opposed the practice, changed his mind after studying statistics that showed unmistakable proof that circumcision provides a high degree of protection against penile cancer. Only .02 percent of 50,000 cases of such cancer had been circumcised. Other studies from the past few years show that women whose sexual partners have been circumcised have a lower incidence of cervical cancer and lower rates of acute and chronic infections.[4]”

THOUGHTS ABOUT FORESKIN MAN

As Philo observed earlier, if the foreskin is a metaphor for human arrogance, then the writer of this anti-Semitic rag has an abundance of it. Note how blond and Aryan the hero happens to be.  It is surprising to see that even in an enlightened city like San Francisco, anti-Semitism is running–well-eh–amok (pun intended). Continue Reading

ROSH HASHANA
EVENING DRASHA

Rosh Hashanah celebrates the anniversary of the creation of the world. It was on this day, according to tradition, God created the world.

There is a very intriguing passage in the Jerusalem Talmud (Brachot 1:1) that reads:

The ministering angels of heaven gather around the Holy One, and ask: “Almighty God! When Rosh Hashanah begins?” God replies “Why are you asking me? Let us go down and ask the people of earth: “When does the New Year begin?”

One would expect that the Creator would have given a precise answer. What an odd response! This kind of answer almost sounds like, “It sure beats me! How am I supposed to know? Let’s ask somebody else who knows.”

Rabbinic wisdom frequently expressed their wisdom through hyperbole and paradox. What did the ancient rabbis have in mind when they said such a thing?

I believe that Jewish folklore may hold a very valuable key to answering to our original question – “Doesn’t God already know when Rosh Hashanah begin?”

Perhaps the Sages wished to teach us that it is not God who makes the New Year, the New Year begins with our readiness and commitment to renew life.

According to the Kabbalah, the Bible of Jewish mysticism, God did not create us to be mere receivers or “takers” of God’s divine blessings, but to be givers and dispensers of God’s abundance. This spiritual attitude is well known in the annals of Jewish folklore. In the old Shtetle of Europe there was a whole class of people who were popularly known as the “Schnorers.”

Enter the Schonerer.

What’s a schonerer? According to Jackie Mason, a schonerer as a resourceful beggar who spends his whole life figuring out how to live off other people. He’s not successful unless he feels he can make his way through life for nothing. You may recall how the schonerer was one of the more colorful characters in Shalom Aleichem’s “Fiddler on the Roof.”

Whenever schnoring, the schonerer made his usual request modestly, firmly, with a sense of entitlement. He knew that everyone had an obligation to give. He lived on his quit wit. Once a schnorer knocked on a wealthy man’s home, the owner replied, “I haven’t a cent in the house right now. Business has been bad. Come back tomorrow.” said the householder. “Ah, my friend” said the schonerer, “Do I look like I work for a Hebrew Loan Society? You’d be amazed to know what a fortune I have lost by giving people like you credit!” Another version of the story reads,” Because business for you has been bad, must I have to suffer?” quips the Schonerer.

There is a well-known story about a schnorer that once went to Barron Rothschild and asked the rich Barron for a hand-out. The Barron refused, the schnorer was not about to take no for an answer, he started shrieking to the top of his voice, “My family is starving to death, and the Barron refuses to see me!”

The Barron relents “I’m defeated. Here is a sum of 20 thalers (dollars). Let me give you some advice. If you hadn’t made so much noise, you’d got forty instead of twenty.”

The schonerer counting the money said, “Sir. You are a banker; do I give you banking advice? I’m a schnorer; don’t give me schnoring advice!”

The schonerer is no ordinary moocher. He did not ask for alms, he demanded them. Typically, the schonerer was daring, brash, and cynical. Schnorers could often quote Talmud with the best of rabbis. He was quick on the verbal draw. A schonerer was full of hutzpa; they were experts in exploiting one of the most psychological forces that is pervasive in the Jewish psyche everywhere–guilt.

Although Jewish history has always had its share of Schnorers, it was never the kind of occupation any Jewish parent would want their child to aspire to. A doctor? Yes. A lawyer? Maybe. A stock broker? Yes, but a Schonerer? Never!

As the Kabbalah intimates, on Rosh Hashanah, God does not want us to behave as if we were nothing more than spiritual schnorers begging God for the gift a New Year, He expects each of us to make the New Year special. The New Year does not begin in Heaven; it begins whenever human beings decide to re-sanctify their lives anew.

Practically speaking, all our actions, behavior, and thoughts during these two days determine how our destiny will unfold in the forthcoming days. Not only must we make the vessel for God’s blessings, we also have to find innovative ways to expand the vessel so we can attract a greater flow of abundance.
Knowing that our fate is in our hands, the question becomes for each of us:
“So, what am I going do about it?”
Here’s something you can do. Over the next 10 days, make two lists: one containing all the things you want in the coming year; the other outlining the behavior that will get you those things. Now, keep in mind one of the basic requisites of the Kabbalah:

In order to get something you have to give something. The Blessings we ask for, an asiaat Ha-clei. Without a vessel, without a receptacle that is strong, we cannot receive God’s blessings fully.

What are some of the things we pray for on Rosh Hashanah? I will give only a few examples, I believe if you reflect on the words of the Avinu Malanu prayer, you will discover other meanings that are no less spiritually relevant to your lives.

I. We pray for Bracha – blessing.

To receive a bracha, we are told in our sacred tradition, we become a blessing. The story of Abraham should serve as an excellent model. Abraham is told: Be a blessing – vehee bracha!

What a powerful phrase. It’s as if God is telling him: Don’t think that blessings are something that will fall out of the heavens without any effort on our part. It is not a matter of merely possessing the blessing, if we wish to be blessed, then we must become the blessing. Our very presence must emanate goodness and kindness. Let every breath we breathe exude God’s blessings (bracha) to our loved ones and neighbors around us.

II. Another thing we pray for is healing.

If desire healing, we must expend healing to those around us in our communities and in the world. Comfort the afflicted whenever possible; send monies to those who are experiencing hardship; visit the sick. Learn to recognize the healing energy that each of us possesses.

III. We also ask God for Silicha and Michilah – pardoning and forgiveness.

Central to the theme of the Ten Days of Repentance is the importance of personal renewal. So long as we find ourselves “stuck” in the past, we will experience the blessing of forgiveness. If we wish to receive God’s forgiveness and pardon, what are we prepared to do? Do we forgive easily? Do we hold on to grudges, to hatred and animosity? Does anger govern and define our life? Starting this evening, it is time to let go of the old hurts, of grudges, hatred and animosity. Only then can you be a worthy vessel for God’s forgiveness. The Talmud teaches that he who forgives others receives forgiveness from God. Continue Reading

NBA superstar reportedly pays kabbalist Rabbi Yishayahu Yosef Pinto a six-figure to attend a business meeting.

Who would believe it? For the past 20 years we have seen Rabbi Shmuel Boteach cozy up with the Hollywood celebrities, along with the rabbis of the Kabbalah Institute in LA. Just this past week, on prime time television we see another Kabbalah-esque rabbi signing a million dollar contract with basketball superstar, LeBron James. Who is this lucky rabbi? He is none other than Rabbi Yishayahu Yosef Pinto … a man known around New York as the “Rabbi to the Business Stars.”

Adding to his mystique is the fact that Pinto is considered to be a “spiritual guide” to  all sorts of business moguls. Well, if I were LeBron, I would sooner consult the Iching or the Tarot, which would certainly cost him considerably less! Most of these celebrity rabbis, in my opinion, exploit the gullible world of superstars who are too dazzled by the light of their newly acquired stardom. Rabbis are not rock stars; nor are the Kabbalists who cater to the vanity and insecurities of their clients.

Theologian Paul Tillich defined religion as “man’s ultimate concern.” Americans are a strange but religious people who love inscribing God’s Name  even on their money! (On a comical note, “In God we trust” — all others pay cash !) On a more serious note, we need to ask ourselves, “In what kind of God are we placing our trust in? Is it the God Who created the universe and humankind, or is it the God of mammon? No hokey Kabbalistic raz-mitva-taz will prevent an objective observer from seeing what this contract with LeBron really is: the banalization of Kabbalah, and I would add–this is the kind of consumerist mentality one would expect to find in the religion of McMysticism. Beyond that, the exploitation of religion itself really fits the classical definition of idolatry–”the adoration of images,” which derives from  two Greek words, eidolon, “image,” and latreia, “adoration.” Hence, idolatry means “adoration of images.” We might just as easily add, ” the adoration of celebrities too.” Continue Reading

Today’s tale begins with an interesting conversation I had with my good friend and colleague, Rabbi Henry Karp of Temple Emanuel in Davenport, IA. Rabbi Henry is a Reform rabbi who personifies of Reform Judaism’s  ethical sensibilities. Despite being liberal, he is fairly conservative when it comes to the matter of defending Israel against foes determined to demonize her in the media.

At any rate, he emailed me an interesting letter. “Michael, why haven’t you signed up for the “Rabbis for Israel”?  “Frankly,” I replied, “I never heard of the organization before . . .” The name seems almost ludicrous, for what rabbi isn’t for Israel?

“Rabbis for Israel” sounds almost like “Wives Against Wife-Beating,” or “Anti-abortionists for Suicide” for the very name suggests something comical—even absurd. However, we live in absurd times. Now, some Jewish leaders speak about East Jerusalem as “Occupied territories . . .” Really.

Despite the public scorn heaped on Israel, she sacrifices land for peace like she did in Lebanon and Gaza. In return, what does Israel receive in return? Only missiles—over 4000 of them shot at Sederot and Bae’r Sheva. Israel was prepare to give 98% of the West Bank, but as most of you ought to know, Arafat walked and started a new Intifada.

Yes, “Rabbis for Israel” is unfortunately necessary given the ideological era we are living in; multi-cultural beliefs assert that all cultures are of equal value–even those that subsist on the doctrines of sexism,  political/religious-purity and ethnic cleansing. It is no accident that these atavistic forces are posed against Israel precisely because she stands for the voices of hope, freedom and especially—democracy. It is no wonder why these sexist and racist regimes find Israel so threatening as their followers pray to Allah for Israel’s imminent destruction?

Anyone looking at a map of Palestine in Abbas’s office, or for that matter in most of the Arab world, will discover that Israel is not even on the map. How can J Street liberals promote a “Two-State Solution,” when the Palestinians prefer a “One State Solution”–a Middle East without Israel? Yes, the problem is not merely political, it is ontological. J Street and liberal-minded rabbis just do not grasp this truth. They see what they want to see.

Rabbis like Rabbi Michael Lerner of Tikkun Magazine, is one reason why some rabbis take a very hard-line approach to Israel when it comes to the issue of the Palestinians. J-Street is another example of a liberal consortium that frequently blasts Israel for allegedly not giving the Palestinians complete equal rights. Incidentally, Tikkun Magazine advocates divestment from Israel. When liberal churches see Jewish organizations take a strident view toward Israel, why shouldn’t they too? Of course, one would never hear about threats to divest funds from Iran or the Sudan, or even Syria. Only Israel is singled out . . .  What is wrong with this picture?

The liberal failure to challenge this sickness is tantamount to condoning such immoral behavior, for I would argue that the followers of Hamas and their supporters have revealed a kind of evil that dwarfs Hitler and his Nazis. As evil as the Nazis were, they did not transform their children into human bombs to destroy Jews. J-Street along with their well-meaning rabbinic supporters would be wise to take this kind of corporate and pedagogical evil into consideration. There can be no moral equivalence between Israel and her foes, which routinely hide behind children and women’s skirts after unleashing their mayhem on innocent Israeli citizens. If a government refuses to defend her people against an enemy, it might as well disband.

Some rabbis encourage Palestinians to follow the example of M. Gandhi, Martin Luther King, and Nelson Mendela, but such individuals are an endangered species in the streets of Hamas, and even in the West Bank. Most Israelis would prefer that foes wage peaceful demonstrations, but they won’t. Believe me, I wish there were powerful voices like that in the Palestinian community, but religious inspired violence renders these potential leaders either impotent or dead. Continue Reading

I came across another article about the high cost of Passover products. In Atlanta, a can of tuna costing $16.99, a $5 jar of jelly, and a $6 box of cereal . . . $24 for a box of matzah. The writer of the article quipped, “I felt like I was in a foreign country with rampant hyperinflation. Is this really in dollars? Maybe I’m supposed to convert the currency. . . . It seems we should add another question to the traditional four associated with Passover: Why is this food so darn expensive?” I guess the political photo-op has expended its shelf-life. That’s too bad.

Another friend writes from New York, “The concern I will share today is most definitely not a new one, but it is an issue that comes up every year, and we have yet to find an answer to this dilemma. Why in the world is Pesach food so expensive? The prices of Pesach food products are outrageous. These kosher-for-Passover items, from ketchup, to mayonnaise, to cakes, candies and dairy products are all so much more expensive than these foodstuffs are during the year. Is there any good reason that a box of a handful of chocolate leaves costs the kosher consumer over 7 dollars? Is there a good reason why a bottle of kosher l’Pesach ketchup cost over a dollar more than it does during the year? Why do I have to pay close to ten dollars for a box of sorry tasting kosher l’Pesach sponge cake? Why do we continue to allow food companies to fleece us – yes, fleece us – every year Pesach time?”

Oh, I could add to the stories from the Chicago area. A small package of cream cheese costs $6, a three pound kosher brisket 20% more, Houston, I think we have a problem here. Kosher slaughter houses are kosher for Passover all year round; they are not four star restaurants one could order a prime rib at. When the kosher companies like Streits, Manishegetz, and others charge such exorbitant sums, one must wonder for when kashrut businesses steal from the public, ask yourself an important but obvious question: Why should I rely upon their hechser (Kosher approval), if they are so darn unethical? Dear friends, the Kosher Emperor has no clothes. Another good friend of mine in New York told me that her family once spent $15,000 a week at a Passover certified hotel–where the food was rotten! I went to a once formerly 5 star restaurant where the food was fit for a Doggie Diner. Continue Reading