Day 32 - Shabbos, November 25 - Why Should I Marry?

This Shabbos is a very special Shabbos. It is the Shabbos Kallah of one of my Maimonides students, Jennie Lev.

A Shabbos Kallah is a celebration held for the bride-to-be on the Shabbat preceding the week of one's upcoming marriage.

Jennie completed the Maimonides program this past year, went to Birthright in Israel in winter, where she met Avraham Berkovich on the same program.

This past summer they both returned to continue their Jewish studies at Neve Yerushalayim (for young women) and Ohr Somayach (for young men). At the end of the summer, they announced their engagement.

And next Thursday is their wedding, please G-d.

May what Dr. Shindler writes in his essay be a blessing to Jennie and Avraham:
Marriage has proved to be the best framework for a man and woman to find lasting meaning and fulfillment in life.

Day 31 - Friday, November 24 - Treatment of Animals

Each essay only takes a few minutes to read but is so profound.

This one has so many excellent points that could be discussed at length.

Just this past week at the Maimonides class at CTN, Rabbi Moshe Katz discussed this topic and through textual analysis of some of the verses quoted here in the essay, he showed the fine balance the rabbis made between caring for animals and distinguishing them from humans.

I hope to post this class online soon.

Shabbat Shalom.

Day 30 - Thursday, November 23 - How can 'Religious People' fail in their Moral Conduct?

You did it! You're half way through! Well done.

I've really enjoyed the project so far and I've also enjoyed posting these short thoughts on each essay. Some days I've missed and had to catch up, so don't feel bad if you've done the same. Keep on going. We'll be done at the end of Chanukah. Then we can really celebrate!

Today's is a particularly appropriate essay in light of recent events in the US and most recently rioting by hooligans in Jerusalem.

However, I don't want this to be a forum for 'religious' bashing. Rather, it should be a lesson to us on two levels:

1) Our personal responsibility to behave correctly in all aspects of our lives.
2) Our responsibility to ascertain the truth behind so-called accusations before judging people.

Day 29 - Wednesday, November 22 - Saving the World - A Kabbalistic View

We hear the phrase 'tikkun olam' so many times. This essay makes this concept real for each one of us. Rabbi Haber concludes his essay with these words: "A good word, a little causeless love and a little forgiveness may just save the world."

We don't need to take on 'big' projects to save the world. Little acts of goodness are what we all need.

This project, reading one essay a day, in memory of one Jew, and to increase one's own understanding is an excellent example of this, and I commend you all for doing your part to save the world.

By the way, I'm busy listening to a series of lectures on CD by Rabbi Yaakov Haber on prayer. I highly recommend it for beginners and advanced learners. Go to http://www.torahlab.org/ for more information on this and other fascinating Torah material.

Day 28 - Tuesday, November 21 - The Chosen People - An often Misunderstood Idea

Another fantastic essay. Short but very powerful.

This is one of the most important ones too, dealing with the concept of Chosen-ness.

If every single Jew would read this essay, once, or better yet, once a month, the world would be a better place.

Day 27 - Monday, November 20 - Absolute Morality

This issue of Absolute Morality is a very contentious one and I would love to hear some comments on this essay.

I do believe in absolute morality coming from a Divine source so I feel secure in my position. But I wonder how those who believe in relative morality defend their position. I'm sure there are many who do. I just haven't heard them.

Day 26 - Sunday, November 19 - The long journey Home

This is a truly heartwarming story by Andrew Shaw, the founder of the 60 Days for 6 Million project.

It is a privilege to be involved with such a fine Jew and human being.

Day 25 - Shabbat, November 18 - Jewish Business Ethics

A line worth posting on your wall from this essay reads: "It is only when we believe that something is scarce that we need to hoard it or fight for it."

In other words, if we see our resources coming from an infinite Source, we are less likely to be create conflict over it.

I read this essay together with a business student at DePaul and he was excited to see that Judaism deals with all the issues in modern day business.

In fact, here in Chicago, there is an advanced learning program devoted exclusively to the study of these laws.

If you are interested in Jewish business ethics there is a great resource at the following site:

http://www.aish.com/search/article_search_results.asp?article_author=Rabbi+Dr%2E+Asher+Meir%2C+Business+Ethics+Center+of+Jerusalem&title_text=&date_amount=&date_option=year

This week's question is: Is a press release masquerading as a news article ethical?

Day 24 - Friday, November 17 - The Secret of Jewish Survival

A line in this essay by Alan Dershowitz sums up the mission statement of my organization JET, so I'd like to repeat it

"The secret of Jewish survival is learning, learning, learning."

By participating in this project you are a partner in our work and I thank you and encourage you to continue and spread the word.

Shabbat Shalom

Day 23 - Thursday, November 16 - How can we believe in G-d after Auschwitz

I read this essay with students at Loyola university today and we had a great discussion. There were so many interesting issues brought up in this essay.

Rabbi Rubinstein, or Rabbi YY, as he is affectionately known, is a very popular speaker worldwide and is also writes regular columns.

I found his final statement the most thought provoking:

The question: "How can we believe in G-d after Auschwitz?" begs another another reply,
"After Auschwitz, how can we believe in anything else?"

Day 22 - Wednesday, November 15 - Why Did G-d create the World?

I don't suppose there is any more important question than this.

I discuss this with my students in the Maimonides class. There is one answer which can be expressed in many ways.

This essay gives three answers that he nicely combines in the end.

You can read another essay about the purpose of creation at
http://www.aish.com/spirituality/kabbala101/Holy_Sparks_4_The_Purpose_of_Creation.asp

Day 21 - Tuesday, November 14 - Why do we need the Oral Law?

Remember yesterday I wrote about the 'coincidences' that occur in our lives.

Well today I came home from a short trip to Lakewood, New Jersey, home to the largest yeshiva in the world, where the Oral Law is studied by over 5000 students day and night.

And this past Sunday was the first day that my eldest son, Yisrael Tzvi, now 10, started learning the Talmud (Oral Law) in his 5th grade class.

Maybe one day, he'll learn in Lakewood too.

Day 20 - November 13 - Miracles

Yitta Halberstam is the author of a series of books called "Little Miracles", real life stories of remarkable coincidences. There are currently more than 2 million copies of the Small Miracles series in print. It has been translated into 14 languages, including Italian, German, Spanish, Portugese, Chinese, Japanese, and Hebrew.

Just last night a friend told me of an amazing 'coincidence' that happened to her.

I told her that they happen all the time if we open ourselves to seeing them.

Maybe you'd like to share one with us.

Day 19 - November 12 - The First Chanukah light in Bergen-Belsen

I believe that an essay like this is a very good example of what this whole project is trying to achieve - namely making the unspeakable suffering of millions of Jews memorable and meaningful for us today and for the future. Personally, it is also encouraging me to find out more about the Holocaust, as painful as it is to read about, so that the memory of what happened will never be forgotten

Day 18 - What does belief in G-d Mean?

I was away the last two days so I'm catching up on my blog. I'll add in another comment next cycle.

Day 17 - November 10 - Kosher - The Ingredients for Life

This essay provides some real 'Food for Thought.' Jeremy Conway gives a reason for keeping kosher that in today's world of corporate and political scandals is unfortunately sorely lacking.

One of the books I give to my Maimonides students is a great book called Kosher for the Clueless but Curious. It is the first book to ever present all aspects of kosher - including the kitchen sink - to readers who are filled with curiosity but are hungry for easy-to-understand information.

One of the highlights of Kosher for the Clueless but Curious is a stunning 24-page full-color cookbook featuring recipes from two world-class chefs--Susie Fishbein, author of the bestselling Kosher by Design cookbook series, and Scott Sunshine, a veteran chef of the gourmet cooking industry. This cookbook dispels the myth that kosher places a limitation on cooking creativity.

You can order the book online at
http://leviathanpress.com/details.cfm?Group_ID=7&Product_ID=29

Day 16 - November 9 - The Jewish Family

This is a beautiful essay with so many ideas for discussion.

Also, on an unrelated subject, we had the privilege of hearing Rabbi Yaakov Marcus this week. He spoke on the Mystical Hebrew Alphabet for the JETnet Jewish professionals lunch and learn downtown and then for CTN that evening. You can hear the talk on my podcast site, 'The Rugby Rabbi's podcast' by clicking on the link below

The Mystical Hebrew Alphabet by Rabbi Yaakov Marcus

Give it a listen!

Day 15 - November 8 - Preserving the Power of Speech

I gave a class downtown yesterday to two high powered business people and we discussed the idea of not speaking 'loshon hora' - speaking badly - about other people. They explained how it is almost impossible in such a competitive business environment to not speak badly about other people in their business or to avoid hearing bad talk.

I told them that not all negative comments are classified as loshon hora. In fact, in some cases, it might even be a mitzvah to relay incriminating information to a potential business partner.

The bottom line is that if we learn the laws of loshon hora we will be able to navigate the dangerous waters of business communication, and feel much better about it.

In fact, one of the businessmen I was learning with told me that the owner of the company was someone who almost never said anything bad about someone else.

"See." I said, "You have a role model you can learn from just a couple of offices away. How many people are as fortunate as you are?"

Day 14 - November 7 - Life after Death

Another inspiring essay, this time how to create a living legacy for yourself.

In my work educating Jews about Judaism, I find that so many Jews are ignorant about the Jewish view of Life after Death. If you'd like to read just one of many good articles, go to http://www.aish.com/societyWork/work/The_Jewish_Ethicist__-_Ethics_Of_Life_After_Death.asp

This article also includes a discussion on cremation.

Day 13 - Why Jews can't be for Jesus

There is a great organization called Jews for Judaism whose sole mission is to counter the work of missionary groups like Jews for Jesus. My good friend, Rabbi Michael Skobac, is an excellent educator and has spoken a number of times in Chicago for us. Most recently, he wrote a pamphlet "The Da Vinci Code: A Jewish perspective." You can read it at their website http://www.jewsforjudaism.org/

Day 12 - How a Nazi's son became Jewish

As I read more of these essays, I'm finding myself becoming more and more interested in finding out about the Holocaust. I guess this is one of the goals of the project. I'd be interested to hear your thoughts after the first couple of days.

Day 11 - What's with the Laws

Simon Jacobson is a world renowned speaker and writer and in this short, thoughtful essay, he provides a simple but deep idea connecting Jewish law and true connection to the Infinite.

Rabbi Natan Lopes Cardozo echoed a similar theme in his masterpiece lecture "Halacha as a Symphony." Go to http://www.cardozoschool.org to learn more about Rabbi Cardozo.

Check out this podcast episode!

The Rugby Rabbi''s podcast


Give it a listen!


60 Days for 6 Million - Official Chicago Launch






Enjoy! -- rugbyrabbi

Day 10 - Prayer: Food for the Soul

I'm enjoying this little book more and more each day. I find the essays are very well written and encapsulate some major Jewish ideas in a few paragraphs. Today's essay, for example, is an excellent overview of prayer and raises many ideas for discussion. On the eve of Shabbat, I hope this inspires your prayers this Shabbat.

Shabbat Shalom.

By the way, I've now posted Andrew Shaw's remarks at the Chicago launch of 60 Days for 6 Million. You can listen to it right here or at www.rugbyrabbi.podomatic.com
I highly recommend you listen to his inspiring words.

Day 9 - Yad Vashem

Another short but powerful essay. This time by Rabbi Berel Wein, the master historian, originally from Chicago.

If you've visited the Children's memorial at Yad Vashem, you know exactly what Rabbi Wein is talking about.

For more information about Rabbi Wein, go to http://rabbiwein.com/

Day 8 - Israel: A Jewish State or a State for Jews

This book has essays on all the big subjects - and this is one of them. I thought that the writer treated a very sensitive topic very well.

I lived in Israel for 6 six years and the issues raised in the essay were very real to me then.

I hope it will stimulate discussion and create a greater love for Israel.

Day 7 - Dinosaurs and the Age of the Universe

Today I went to Northeastern University where the Jewish students had a meeting. I handed out books and we read this essay. It was also Halloween and I thought it fitting that we should be discussing something Jewish today.

The Age of the Universe according to Science and the Torah has never bothered me. Yet, for many people this is a hurdle to overcome to legitimize the Torah. Dr. Gerald Schroeder has written a number of books on this subject. So this essay is only a very short introduction.

If you'd like to read more, you can go to:
http://www.aish.com/societyWork/sciencenature/Age_of_the_Universe.asp

Day 6 - Living Life on a High, Naturally

A short esssay with a powerful message - make every moment count.