Rabbi's Blog - Chabad of Malibu

Nothing Happens by Coincidence

Friday, July 27, 2012 - 3:48 PM

The places we go, the people we meet, even the leafs that fall before us, all share an important truth; they all have a great deal of significance in our lives and no event, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, is ever random.

A bit less than a year ago I shared with you some thoughts on . The way I was taught by the teachings of the Baal Shemtov is nothing happens by coincidence. Or perhaps the best way to describe it is the way the great Albert Einstein coined it “coincidence is G-d's way of remaining anonymous."

Living life with this at the forefront of our consciousness paves a whole new way of interpreting all that occurs before us. The places we go, the people we meet, even the leafs that fall before us, all share an important truth; they all have a great deal of significance in our lives and no event, regardless of how insignificant it may seem, is ever random.

My experience is that each of us have at least a handful of experiences that occurred in our life, that supports this notion.

Like this past Wednesday, I decided that I could no longer procrastinate a much-needed appointment with my dear friend, Dr. Barbakow. Dr. Barbakow is a orthodontist and Malibu resident who I have come to deeply respect. I have been pushing off the appointment for all the wrong reasons and it was time for me pay him a visit.

So although I had a real busy morning, I was committed to not letting the day pass without my making the call. But as the day began, the meetings began, one after the other, and because I had not put the call in my calendar, the "commitment" was about to return to the great "abyss," when at once I was reminded that I needed to make the call.

This time I was sitting in my office and I had a clipboard in front of me so I quickly jotted down "call Dr. Barbakow." The sense of relief was overcome by an overwhelming sense of joy when I walked in to the front lobby of my office and there he was, with his signature smile, and his huge heart, Dr. Barbakow himself.

It turned out that he was passing by and decided to check up on me. I gave him a big hug and ran back to my office, grabbed the clipboard and there you have it ... coincidence? Serendipity? Perhaps. In the Baal Shemtovs book this is what is called a personal Divine Providence!

Do you have a story you would like to share? I would love to hear from you, [email protected]. In the meantime...

Shabbat Shalom!

Even Liars Can Find Enduring Peace

Friday, July 20, 2012 - 1:25 AM

Once there is a total commitment to being truthful, the foundation becomes so strong that it can even weather the powerful storms of opposing opinions. Thus opening the possibility for true and enduring peace.

With all of the technological developments and changes, there remain certain ideas and truths that seem to be timeless. As the saying goes, "Some things in life never change..."

I recently came across an ancient teaching that seems to confirm this proverb. It was penned over 700 years ago by the renowned Talmudic sage, Rabeinu Yonah. One could have easily believed that it was written today.

The subject matter is a detailed description of seven types of deceivers. As a preface; it is said in the teachings of Torah that: "Knowing one's disease is half of the cure." Indeed, the first step to inner healing is when we become aware of our defects. So the following summary of the seven types of deceivers are what Rabeinu Yonah identified.

If you find yourself counted among one or more of these categories, then instead of feeling shame or guilt, consider this awareness as an opportunity for a healing.

The Seven types of deceivers:

People who are outright liars, cheaters, who willingly testify falsely and cause damage to others through blatant lies.
Lies that do not have an immediate damage to one's fellow but which are calculated to eventually take advantage of another. Like those who manipulate others to gain their trust so they will let their guard down making it easy to take advantage of them.
People who go to great lengths to befriend others all for the purpose of using the "friendship" to their own personal advantage, even if the damage is indirect. For example, when a person knows that their friend has their eyes on a certain property and jumps ahead to purchase it, causing the "friend" to have to pay them off to release their interest.
One who retells a story, knowingly adding untruths to the real story even though there is no tangible "loss" or "damages" involved.
When a person tells someone about a favor that they are going to do for them, when in truth they have no plan in following through... To what can this be compared to a time when the sky is filled with rain clouds but it never rains. Indeed this is alluded to in Proverbs (25:14). "Clouds and wind, but no rain--so is a man who boasts with a false gift."
When a person boasts to his friend about a favor that he did for him when in truth it never happened. In addition to this being a lie, it is also termed "stealing someone's knowledge", which is the Hebrew way of saying "misleading". The same also applies to a person who gives someone the impression that they "went out of their way" to accommodate them when in truth there was no such consideration.
One that misrepresents themselves in their credentials, or when a person boasts of good deeds that they never did. This is what is meant in Proverbs (17:7), "Proud words do not befit a vile person, surely not lying speech a generous one." In this category are also those who remain quiet when they are given credit for something they have not done. For so careful must one be in this behavior that a person of truth should immediately correct a compliment that is false.

Mark Twain once said, "A man is never more truthful than when he acknowledges himself a liar." Perhaps these words seem a bit harsh, but those who embrace being truthful, absolutely, are more likely to be the forebearers of true peace.

For once there is a total commitment to being truthful, the foundation becomes so strong that it can even weather the powerful storms of opposing opinions. Thus opening the possibility for true and enduring peace.

Shabbat Shalom!

Small Coins, Big Change

Friday, July 13, 2012 - 3:39 AM

Regardless of our personal view on panhandling, there are very real stories, of real hard working people, who because of the current sluggish economy, have been forced to seek outside help just to put food on their table.

Got change?

There was a little old lady who used to sell pretzels on a street corner for 25 cents each. Every day a young man would leave his office building at lunch time and, as he passed the pretzel stand, he would leave her a quarter, but never take a pretzel. This went on for several years. Except for a thank you, the two of them never spoke.

One day as the young man passed the old lady’s stand and left his quarter as usual, the pretzel lady, without blinking an eye, spoke to him and said: “They’re 35 cents now.”

There seems to be a great divide between those who believe that one should never turn away a person who has their hand stretched out for help -- even if it means giving to a person who is clearly making poor choices -- and those who believe that giving to panhandlers is the worst thing that you can do, if you really want to help them.

Regardless of our personal view on panhandling, there are very real stories, of real hard working people, who because of the current sluggish economy, have been forced to seek outside help just to put food on their table. In fact many of them are in immediate need of food and clothing and a few bucks just to get by.

Over the past few years, I have had the privilege of working closely with a charity called "Feed Your Soul," which has fed thousands of hungry people. Perhaps more importantly, this organization has helped many people, through counseling and intervention, to get back up on their feet, to give them a second chance.

We at Chabad introduce our children, at a very young age, to the "Tzedakah Box." Every day, before they go off to school, they are given a few coins to place in a charity box. When it is full, the money is gathered and given to a worthy cause. It is amazing how fast daily small change can translate into a hot dinner for someone in need.

One of the most amazing truths about giving is the realization of how the charity recipient is the ultimate giver. If it were not for the needy, those who are blessed with means would have no possibility of experiencing the joy of giving!

Starting this week, we are joining "feed your soul" in distributing Tzedakah boxes to local homes and businesses. I encourage you to learn more about Feed Your Soul's good work and join in on this campaign of giving.

The more our heart and our hand share in the mode of giving, the more joy we introduce into our community.

If you would like a Tzedaka box for your home or business, or would like to become a volunteer, or for more information, please email [email protected] and we will arrange for your very own box. In addition, if you walk into a local store and see one of the boxes, please take a moment to place some change in there as every little bit counts!

Shabbat Shalom!

The 'G' Particle

Friday, July 6, 2012 - 3:04 AM

The Higgs boson, nicknamed the "God particle", explains an element of physics that has been elusive for decades – why all matter has mass.

One of the greatest pleasures we can experience in life is fulfilling the desire to know. And as much as we take pleasure in discovering what appears to us to be new information, there is even a greater pleasure, paradoxically, in discovering that which is still not known.

Perhaps this is one of the many reasons why there is such an incredible excitement the world over about the new developments that have taken place in Geneva, Switzerland with the large machine termed the "Higgs boson," as we celebrate the results of the research that began four decades ago.

The Higgs boson, nicknamed the "God particle", explains an element of physics that has been elusive for decades – why all matter has mass. And many are betting on the possibility of this milestone allowing us to better understand the very beginning of existence.

First proposed as a theory in the 1960s, the maddeningly elusive Higgs had been worked on by at least two generations of scientists who believed it would help shape our understanding of how the universe's most elemental pieces fit together.

There is no doubt in my mind that the findings of this research are going to generate a whole new discussion and many new opinions regarding our existence and regarding G-d; after all, the subject matter of the discovery is the "God particle." It certainly won't be surprising to hear this research gain center attention amongst theologians; but, at the same time, many will continue to reject the idea of G-d being part of this discussion.

Whichever way one approaches the discovery of the G-d particle, one thing is for certain: we are living in the most amazing of times. Our desire for more discovery, especially of new ideas, is being fulfilled at a seemingly impossible pace to maintain.

And when it comes to uncharted waters, we always must be reminded about the conflict that exists between our preconceived notions and new ideas. This is why the beginning of wisdom is termed within kabbalistic teachings, as "chochma" -- because the Hebrew word "chochma" is made up of two words that together mean, the power of "what." For when we put aside our preconceived notions and we are open to the new question of "what," we become available to experience one of the highest pleasures of life: the knowledge that provides the basis for new ideas. What many characterize as personal growth is really spiritual growth.

How ironic that many consider religion backward-looking. They would ignore that, as others have said, we stand on the shoulders of those who came before us. We are guided by truths that allow us, indeed require us, to keep an open mind.

And to end in the words of Albert Einstein who dared to explore the horizons of the unknown: “The mind that opens to a new idea never returns to its original size.”

Shabbat shalom!