Parsha & the Weekly Story

We’ve been crying. Struggling. So brokenhearted. What is the call of the hour? The Rebbe gave us the answer 50 years ago, 3 days into the Yom Kippur war. Our mandate is JOY! You can't go into battle with a faint heart or low morale. You need to be strong, courageous, and positive. This week’s story will deeply inspire you to bring forth your song of defiance and courage in the face of all this horror and darkness.

Every single person matters. We all play a role and have a story to create. This week’s story is about a miracle that happened on 9/11, as a continuation to a very special blessing from the Rebbe a decade earlier.

A story of a wild horse, an out-of-control young man, and its powerful message that can bring us all home.

What is the symbolism of the most tragic month of the year being called Av, which means Father? The message is that we all have one Father. The strength of the Jewish people is that we are one big family. This week’s story is with two Jewish mothers who never met before, yet discover how they each carried the other during the darkest of times.

As the Jews are about to enter the Land of Israel, G-d directs them to make lots to divide the land. A miraculous voice also emanated confirming their portion. This underscores how wherever we are in life, is always for a purpose. This week’s story is about a famous Israeli and an incredible life-altering experience he shared with fellow soldiers in a forsaken village in Lebanon.

In his very first discourse upon assuming leadership, the Rebbe chose to focus on the deep love that Jewish leaders have for each and every person. This week’s story shares the remarkable moment when minutes before the final distribution of dollars ended, the Rebbe bestows his love upon a broken-hearted couple and changes their life forever.

The Torah tells us that the Exodus from Egypt was conditional upon us ensuring that our weights are correct. Why is having proper scales such a big deal? Why are faulty weights worse than brazen daylight theft? There is a powerful message here about having integrity and avoiding duplicity. Our story takes us to a cold winter in Krakow and a very special man named Shlomo the Butcher.

What lies at the essence of the laws of Kosher? The Torah sheds lights with one key word: to differentiate, or l’havdil in the original Hebrew—this single word defines the Jew’s uniqueness as a holy person. When we eat kosher food it becomes part of who we are, and transforms our entire spiritual being and can even help our physical health as well. This week story brings the point home with an incredible twist on the very last line of a sacred letter.

The small Alef in the opening of this week’s Parsha teaches us about the special humility that Moses possessed. Interestingly there’s a big Alef in the opening verse of the book of Chronicles in the word Adam. What’s the message? True humility is not lying about one’s greatness. It is the realization that all my strengths, talents and abilities are gifts from Heaven. This week’s story drives this point home with a powerful lesson from a simple tailor and Rabbi Yerachmiel of Peshischa.

Why in the world do we immortalize our enemy Haman by eating cookies that bear his name? The truth is that this is a case of mistaken identity. These Purim treats were originally called Muhntashen, which means 'poppy seed pockets'. The deeper reason for eating Hamantaschen is to symbolize how the Purim story was a hidden miracle, comprised of many natural twists and turns that all lined up perfectly in the end. This week’s story is about a Jew who thought he was seeing a sharp lawyer who came to his defense, but in truth, he was witnessing something so much greater.

Every Jew knows that a Jew doesn’t eat a cheeseburger…but why? What’s the big deal about a drop of milk on my burger? Kabbala explains that milk and meat represents kindness and severity. We must always remember that kindness needs to come first. If our relationships are based on closeness and love, then they will go very far. However, if they are based on severity and discipline, then the journey will take much longer. This week’s incredible story is about a man who went the extra mile and beyond to be there for another Jew, and then the miracles happened.

While others waited at the shore of the Reid Sea, Nachshon walked into the sea and only after this fearless act did the waters split. We too when face with challenges have a choice: we can wait for the dry land before we are prepared to move forward, or we can muster up the courage and leap in, braving the waters so that the dry land miraculously appears. Be like Nachshon. Take the leap and watch the miracles appear. Just like the simple Jew in this week's story who literally did the same.

Often we feel like we simply cannot fulfill our missions in life. Then, we are reminded that we are not responsible for what we do not have. All we need to do is utilize the strengths within ourselves and leverage what we do have to do our part and G-d will take care of the rest. This is the message that G-d gives Moses in this week’s portion, and this is a powerful lesson that we learn from this incredible story that takes us from Bangkok to Taiwan!