Day 9 - Jewish Medical Ethics

This is such a fascinating area of Jewish thought and law. I'm not a medical person in the slightest but I've listened to Rabbi Dr. Akiva Tatz talk on medical subjects like Triage (the use of limited resources for multiple patients) and have become a lot more interested.

In fact, Rabbi Tatz has a series of lectures on medical ethics that you can find at www.tatz.cc.

What is most fascinating is how Traditional Jewish methods of logic are used to decide on cutting edge technological issues in the medical field.

Day 8 - The Holiness of the Land of Israel

Rabbi Becher explains some of the reasons connecting the physical land of Israel with its kedusha (holiness). In particular, he highlights the observance of the shmitta (sabbatical) year.

This year is a shmitta year in Israel. I was fortunate to have one shmitta year while I was living in Israel. I definitely felt a closer connection to the land during that year. I did have to make certain adjustments to my eating habits and be careful about kashrut considerations, but it was so worth it.

There is still a few months of the shmitta year left this year. If you can, you should try visit this year.

Day 7 - Touching Every Human Need

Stories like this one of Rabbi Israel and his amazing chesed organization, Hazon Yeshaya, make me very proud to be a Jew and inspire me to make my organization the best it can be.

If you'd like to share your story of an inspiring person or organization, we'd love to hear about it.

Day 6 - Our Holy Language: The DNA of Creation

Hebrew is a fascinating language. One of my teachers, Rabbi Akiva Tatz, often shows how words are connected and have a deeper meaning.

Over the years, I have taught many people how to read Hebrew using the excellent material from National Jewish Outreach Program (www.njop.org). If you don't know how to read Hebrew, you'd be amazed how easy it is to learn using this program. And then the whole world of Hebrew and it's spiritual connections will be open to you.

Day 5 - A Journey Through Israel

One writer's thoughts on some of his favorite sites in Israel.

My favorite place in Israel is the holy city of Tzfat and I've been fortunate to spend a number of Shabbats there. It's not just the place, it's also the time and there's nothing like a Shabbat in Tzfat.

Although I've visited Israel many times and lived there for 6 years, there are a myriad different places and I'm always excited to visit a new place I haven't seen before. This last visit over the winter break, I spent a Shabbat in Ramat Beit Shemesh, in the Judean Hillls between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem.

Perhaps you'd like to share your favorite site.

Day 4: From Rosh Hashanah to Yom Kippur: Actualizing your Potential

Sara Rigler is my favorite Jewish writer. Her articles, including this one, appear on www.aish.com. I have been fortunate to meet her and she has spoken for JET a number of times. (You can hear one of those talks on my podcast www.rugbyrabbi.podomatic.com).

This essay is related to Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. However the message of learning from the paing of others, and putting our lives in perspective compared to those who have suffered tragedies, is an ongoing one.

I just read an email today about the ongoing medical struggles of an infant child and the amazing strength and faith of their parents.

As I write this, we are approaching Pesach. You can read another great essay by Sara Rigler with a Pesach theme, also discussing achieving greatness through struggle at www.aish.com or at http://www.aish.com/passthought/passthoughtdefault/The_Catapult1.asp if it is no longer on the home page when you read this posting.

Day 3 - Tehillim: The Ultimate Connectivity

Another delightful essay, this time a concise and carefully crafted summary of probably the most widely used book of Tanach of all times, Tehillim - Psalms.

There are Psalms for all occasions.

Currently, synagogues around the world say two Psalms at the end of Shacharit (the morning prayer) to ask for G-d's help to protect us in Israel from all the enemies we face.

When I lived in Jerusalem, I would always see people on the buses reading the book of Tehillim. Some read the whole book every day! And many know all 150 Psalms by heart! Many others cover them in the course of a month. In the 60 Days book there is a suggested Psalm to read each day.

There are many translations today and I recommend the interlinear one by artscroll to help you learn how to read them in the original hebrew and understand what you are reading. Go to www.artscroll.com and search for tehillim.

Another recommendation is a great commentary on Tehillim, Growth Through Tehillim, by Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, noted author of numerous inspiring books. "He presents us with the key to Tehillim's hidden treasures. In his captivating style, he offers analyses of many verses of Tehillim with practical suggestions for how to implement their message to transform our lives. This work is replete with anecdotes illustrating how such sage advice has helped people achieve success. Growth Through Tehillim is an invaluable aid to anyone seeking a happier, more meaningful life. Go to http://www.artscroll.com/Books/gtth.html for some sample pages.

Day 2 - Tiberias: A Tale of Romans, Rabbis and Renewal

I learnt so much from this short historical vignette of Tiberias. For example, I had no idea that the pronounciation (sorry, this is the way, we South Africans spell that word) of Hebrew as we know it today was introduced in Tiberias.

It is another reminder that there is always something new to learn about Israel and its history. Knowing more about the places you visit makes the visit more meaningful.

Rav Mendel Weinbach, Rosh Yeshiva of Ohr Somayach, has been writing a column for years, called Love of the Land, with short pieces on familiar and unfamiliar places in Israel.

Go to http://ohr.edu/yhiy.php?seriesid=6&archive=1 to see the archives.

Day 1 - The Miracle of Israel

Rabbi Sacks is so eloquent. He captures our thoughts and feelings so powerfully. What a great introduction to this project.

Chicago Launch of 60 Days for 60 Years: Israel set for April 8

Coinciding with JET's 2nd Annual Benefit Event, The Great Debate, JET will be launching its new learning project: the 60 Days for 60 Years: Israel - A commemoration and celebration.

Attendees will each receive a copy of the new book which has 60 essays by prominent Jewish writers.

The Chicago learning is dedicated in memory of the eight students of Merkaz HaRav Kook yeshiva who were murdered in a terrorist attack in March, 2008.

To be among the first to join this exciting project, order your tickets online at www.jeteam.com

The Great Debate is on Tuesday, April 8th at the NorthShore Center for Performing Arts in Skokie.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to order your copy, call 773-465-5378.

We will have an online option to order books soon.

Regards
Rabbi Zev Kahn