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My message of last week regarding celebrating the demise of Bin Ladin has generated much discussion. I have gotten numerous responses from people on both sides of the issue.
The main objection was - why stoop down to the level of the bad guys. We celebrate life, not death, even death of the bad guy. Good point.
A few thoughts to clarify my message:
1. I believe in celebrating the victory of good over evil, not in salivating over the death of a particular human being. We don't take pleasure from the death or suffering of anyone. However, we do, and must in my view, celebrate each time good is victorious.
2. Why is that important? As in any battle, to win the war on terror we must be absolutely clear in the correctness of our cause. We also need the momentum that comes from the small victories that come along the way. Squashing any expression of celebration robs us of much needed momentum. It can also be interpreted as lack of clarity in our righteousness and the evil of our collective enemy as a humane society. When we equivocate for evil and give it "space" and merit in our minds, it is dangerous, as it weakens the resolve of those charged with uprooting the evil. If it's true that "all it takes for evil to prosper is for good men to do nothing," our lack of enthusiasm in the courageous work of our "good men" can't be helping our cause. That's not good.
3. Some people asked about the Biblical verse "when your enemy falls do not rejoice," look again at the words: Solomon tells you not to rejoice over the fall of your enemy. When you have a personal enemy, in politics, in a business dispute, in a big argument, and he falls, don't rejoice. But when the enemy wants to destroy life of innocents and he falls, it is not the fall of your enemy you are celebrating; it is the lives that have been saved as a result of his demise which you are celebrating. 4. Some pointed to the Torah's teaching (in the Midrash) that when the heavenly angels wanted to sing at the miracle of the Splitting of the Sea, G‑d frowned upon them for celebrating the death of human beings, the Egyptians. Notice however that Moses, Miriam and the Jewish people did break out in song. In fact, their song is included in our daily morning prayers. Here's how Jewish mysticism (kabbalah) explains the difference between angels and humans in the appropriate response to the downfall of evildoers:
Ultimately, everything in G‑d's world is good as it comes from G‑d, the Source of Goodness. Even an evil, hateful person contains goodness deep down in their soul's essence. (As such, the compassion that good people tend to feel towards bad people is not totally misplaced; it comes from our deep-seated belief that everyone is really good. Which is true in the end). This inherent goodness will be revealed for all to see at the "end of days" in the time of Moshiach (may it be speedily) when the world is completely healed and "evil will be transformed to goodness" as promised in the Biblical prophecies. So from the vantage point of heavenly angels, all are good. Rather than celebrating the downfall of evildoers, the angels are expected to see their hidden goodness. However, here on earth we don't have such a luxury, as we were tasked with the mission of bringing about that glorious time of goodness by insuring the victory of goodness over evil each time it rears its ugly head. Until that great day when all "bad guys" turn good, we need to be totally clear on where we stand and do everything in our power to win the battle. Including appropriate celebration. Our role models here are not the heavenly angels, but Moses and Miriam.
To illustrate: Is fire good or bad? Well, like most things it can go both ways. Fire can provide much needed warmth and light. It can also wreak havoc and destruction. Our approach to fire should be a balanced one, looking to make use of its gifts while being mindful of its dangers. How about a firefighter? When he goes out to battle a blaze he can't be balanced about the dangerous flames. He can't stand there gazing romantically at its gorgeous colors. If he is to win, his task must be very clear: to fight the fire and squash it out of existence. (They're not called firefighters for nothing...)
G‑d's world is a good place. Deep down all are good. The day will come when we'll be able to see the goodness, the time of Moshiach when "all mankind will live in perfect peace... serving G‑d with one heart". Until that day, our job is to battle evil with everything we've got. Our focused efforts as a society to make sure goodness wins every time will bring about that glorious day when all will be good.
Shabbat Shalom!
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
P.S. Don't miss Dmitriy Salita, Orthodox Jewish Welterweight Boxing champion who is spending Shabbos with our community. It's not too late to sign up for the Friday night Shabbat Dinner with Dimitriy. Click here to register. If you can't make Friday night, join us at Shul Shabbat morning. Dimitriy will address the congregation at 11AM, and will lead an informal Q&A session during the Kiddush luncheon. (No RSVP needed for the Shabbat morning program, and you don't need to be a member of Chabad. ALL ARE WELCOME.) Thank you Marshall and Randye Hubsher for bringing this program to our town!
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Why a family as secular as ours chose CHABAD as our Shul and children's Jewish education.
Transcript of speech by Janice Parise delivered at the Bar Mitzvah her son Lucas which took place at Chabad last month.
Thank you to everyone for coming and sharing this special day with us. Let me start out by telling a little story about what brought us to this podium today. As many of you may know, one of Chabad's slogans is "Judaism with a smile". Well, I can assure you, for the first 5 years of our son's Jewish education elsewhere; it was anything but "Judaism with a smile"...
Click here to read more.
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Second Chances.
The lesson derived from Pesach Sheni is: "It is never too late." Even if one was 'impure,' or on 'a distant path' - his situation is not "lost."
Click here to watch a 7 minute clip.
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May
13- 14
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 Shabbaton with Dmitriy Salita:
Sponsored by Dr. Marshall & Randye Hubsher
Friday Night Dinner:
May 13, 7:30 PM
following services at 7:00 pm
Shabbat Morning Services: May 14, 9:30 AM
Followed by Kiddush Luncheon and talk by Dmitriy
Cover charge for dinner:
Chabad Members: Adults $30 | Child $20
Non Members: Adults $40 | Child $25
Children 2 & under free
No charge or rsvp needed for Shabbat morning program and Kiddush luncheon.
Click here for more info and to RSVP.
*SALITA MEMARABELIA AUCTION*
Click here to bid online.
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May
15
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Upcoming JLI course: Oasis in Time
The Gift of Shabbat in a 24/7 World
6 Sundays, Begins Sunday, May 15 | 10 -11:30 AM
At Chabad of Port Washington, 80 Shore Road
Instructor: Rabbi Shalom Paltiel
Fee: - includes textbooks and bagel brunch
Chabad Members: $79 Person | $119 Couple
Non Members: $99 Person | $149 Couple
Click here for more info and to RSVP.
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May
15
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Chabad Teen Paintball & BBQ | Ages 13-16
Join hundreds of Chabad teens ages 13-16 from around the area for Paintball & a BBQ this Sunday, May 15 at the Paintball Depot in West Milford NJ. We'll be leaving from Chabad, 80 Shore Rd., @ approx 12:00 noon and will be back at by 9:00 pm. Cost is $40 and includes both Paintball and BBQ. It will be an AWESOME trip! Must RSVP ASAP!
For more info email: [email protected] or call: 516-807-6743.
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| B"H |
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Board of Directors
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Adam Katz, Esq., President
Frank Arnold
Bert Brodsky
Martin H. Brownstein, M.D.
Howard Fensterman, Esq.
M. Allan Hyman, Esq.
Sara E. Paltiel
Rabbi Shalom M. Paltiel
Alan Rosenzweig
Alan Salzbank
Michael Samuel
Felix Sater
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Shabbat Times
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| Shabbat Candle Lighting: |
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Friday, May 13
7:45 pm
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| Shabbat Ends: |
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Shabbat, May 14
8:50 pm
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Daily Thought
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American Money
Do you know why American money is so successful?
Because it has written on it, "In G‑d We Trust."
Not just "Believe."
"Trust."
Furthermore, the money even tells you its purpose:
Upon it is written, "E Pluribus Unum."
The purpose of all your money dealings is to bring the plurality of this world to a Oneness.
And if that is truly your purpose, then you will rely on the One Creator to provide your needs.
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* PATRONIZE OUR SPONSORS *
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Question of the Week
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How Do You Treat Animals?
By: Rabbi Aron Moss
Sydney, Australia
I have been looking into the Seven Noahide Laws. I understand these are the biblical commands to all humanity - the children of Noah - and they provide the basis for ethical living. But looking at the list, there seems to be an odd one out:
- 1. Do not worship idols - agreed, we have to believe in G‑d
- 2. Do not curse G‑d - have respect for Him, I can dig that
- 3. Do not murder - obvious
- 4. Do not steal - ok
- 5. Do not commit adultery - fine
- 6. Set up courts of justice - needed to ensure the other laws are kept, but:
- 7. Do not eat the limb of a living animal - what?????
Why of all things, include that one? While I have no intention of tearing off any animal limbs, I can't see how that would be in the top seven most important things for all humanity to observe...
Click here to read full article
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| Spirituality |
 The Object
One bright and stormy Shabbat morning, the world became real...
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| Video and Audio |
 A Mother's Love
There is only one thing like the love of a mother for her child...
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| Jewish Practice |
 Love Your Fellow
A healthy Jewish people is one big, caring family, and our love for those closest to us nurtures love for the extended family of humanity...
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| Living |
 Under the Sea
If we would only slow down and pay attention to the beauty that surrounds us. We are called human beings, not human doings...
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Chabad-Lubavitch News from Around the World |
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| FEATURE |
 Leap of Faith: Prayer at 13,000 Feet
It's not every day that you see a group of men soaring high above the Seattle skyline in a Cessna aircraft donning the Jewish prayer boxes known as tefillin, chanting traditional Chasidic melodies while anxiously prepping for their very first skydiving jump together.
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| ISRAEL |
 Massive Chabad House Opens in Israeli Desert City
A gleaming new building that will serve as the flagship resource center for Chabad-Lubavitch of Be'er Sheva wowed spectators at its unveiling.
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| PHOTO GALLERY |
 Jersey Friendship Circle Receives Half Million
The Friendship Circle of MetroWest in Livingston, N.J., received a gift of $500,000, effectively guaranteeing the organization's stability and growth, announced directors Chabad-Lubavitch Rabbi Zalman and Toba Grossbaum.
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| NORTH AMERICA |
 As President Visits Ground Zero, New Yorkers Reflect on Bin Laden's End
Zushie Rimler of Brooklyn, N.Y., remembers Sept. 11, 2001 well. An EMT member of the Hatzalah ambulance service, he arrived on the scene shortly after the second plane hit the second tower of the World Trade Center.
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Parshat Behar
On the mountain of Sinai, G‑d communicates to Moses the laws of the sabbatical year. Every seventh year, all work on the land should cease, and its produce becomes free for the taking for all, man and beast.
Seven sabbatical cycles are followed by a fiftieth year — the jubilee year, on which work on the land ceases, all indentured servants are set free, and all ancestral estates in the Holy Land that have been sold revert to their original owners.
Behar also contains additional laws governing the sale of lands, and the prohibitions against fraud and usury.
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