A Message From Rabbi David
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Many years ago, Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel gave a moving address to his rabbinical colleagues in which he discussed the topic of aliyah. Towards the beginning of his talk he spoke about the bravery of the new Israeli nation, and its spectacular victory in the Six-Day War. He shared his embarrassment that he, the scion of a Hasidic dynasty would not live in Jerusalem, but New York.
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And then he urged his colleagues to make aliyah. Aliyah means going up, as in walking up the 800 meter mountain on which Jerusalem is perched. It means making a pilgrimage to the holy land. Realizing that only a few would heed his call, he asked them to make aliyah in their religious lives. He urged them to deepen their connection to God and mitzvot. If they weren't going to make aliyah in Israel then they should channel their passion and religious fervor towards bringing people into the delicious world of Torah, learning and observance.
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| Heschel was truly intoxicated with God and Jewish observance. Few of us reach that level, and even fewer try. While I might quibble with his metaphoric usage of the word "aliyah", I think that his message dovetails nicely with the theme of my new class. Following Chancellor Eisen's suggestion that we undertake a mitzvah initiative, I felt energized presenting that undertaking to you on the High Holydays, and I think the topic is perfect for the Webcam class. I want to hear how mitzvot are a part of your life. A number of you said to me publicly and privately that you suspect you observe more mitzvot than you thought. I agree. Please let me know how this message has affected you, or not! I want to hear from you. |
Warmly, |
Rabbi David Ebstein |
Additional Studies |
Parashat Noach: Take a look at this article about the relationship between pre- and post-Noah’s time and the Rabin Assassination.
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Resources For Growing in Mitzvot |
How Conservative Judaism Understands Mitzvot
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