Rabbi Rob

06/17/2014

The first Tablets (10 commandments), were given in great fanfare and noise, were destroyed. While the Second Tablets, given in private, endured.
Lesson: there is nothing better and more enduring than veiling your Brachot with tzniut (modesty) - Rashi (on Exodus 34:3)

10/09/2013

"All of us today are souls that have been here before. In general, we return on unfinished business. Certainly, we are all responsible for doing all the good we can, and avoiding everything harmful. But that unfinished business, that is where the most obstacles in our life will be. These obstacles will be your only clue as to what business you are here to finish..."

06/28/2013

How to become a Kohane:

There is only one instant in the Torah when a non-kohane becomes one. In the Story of Pinchas we see he his rewarded priesthood because of his jealousy and ability to raise the community closer to Hashem.

The Jewish people as a whole are called a kingdom of Kohan's. It should be a lesson for all of us, to be a priest, to achieve a level of nobility, one must have so much love for Hashem theirs jealousy and at the same time bring the community closer to Hashem as well.

06/19/2013

Friday FAQs: Dinner is at 8, Yes we have tons of alcohol, Registration closes this morning. Dont miss out - will be a fun chill.

06/16/2013

Happy Father's Day Superdad! He wakes up early with the kids, masters tantrums and battles moodiness -with a happy heart! we love you lots! Xoxo

06/14/2013

Friday Night Party!

Shelly and I are looking forward to wining and dining with you Next Friday Night, June 21

Linky: http://www.eventzilla.net/web/event?eventid=2138986561

05/17/2013

During the inquisition Jews had to their practices into hiding. This is just one way in which it was done....AMAZING.

(Thanks for this)

http://imgur.com/a/7Rjbr #0

Imgur is used to share photos with social networks and online communities, and has the funniest pictures from all over the Internet.

05/14/2013

Tonight we begin a celebration of a momentous day, Shavuot. It was on this day we stood by the edge of Mt Sinai and received the most special gift, the Torah.

Sadly, Shavuot has become a forgotten holiday. In fact it's not even called "Mattan Torah (receiving the Torah)" the day is called "Shavuot (Weeks)" based on the mitzva that precedes the holiday. We count 49 days in between Passover & Shavuot. This counting was done in order to create anticipation and desire for the great day of receiving the Torah.

We learn something so special from the mitzvah of counting and the name "Shavuot (Weeks)." A lot of people will tell you learning Torah is about doing everything to the letter of the law your whole life (which would be really amazing) or knowing laws backwards and forwards (so special). How could this be when the day of receiving the Torah is based on the counting before? In truth the name of this special holiday reveals something so enlightening, Torah is about creating a pure desire and anticipation of coming close to Hashem.

Unfortunately today we see so many people who ignore or wait for this desire to come to them. But really it's in our own ability to create a desire and thirst for the things we value. It's only when this feeling is in our hearts that we truly receive the Torah and it's lessons. We should all be blessed to have deep yearnings: knowing who we are, closeness to loved ones, and coming close to Hashem.

04/24/2013

Today is Pesach, again. Back when the Jews were wandering the desert, some ppl had to miss the opp to bring a sacrifice on Passover. But they wanted to bring a sacrifice, that was how they expressed the desire to be connected to G-d. So G-d said, "no worries my children, there will be Pesach #2." This teaches us that G-d believes in second chances and is sensitive to the sincere requests for us to be close to Him. Be like Him, give second chances and come close to eachother and to Him, his arms are open.

04/16/2013

There shouldn't be one person who is not in shock and saddened by the tragedy that took place in Boston yesterday. This act is the ugly and terrible result of baseless hatred.

The great Tana (sage) Rabbi Chanina, he was known as "the kohen deputy" because he oversaw all the work done in the temple, was one who always prayed for Shalom (peace). He said, Shalom is the ultimate blessing, it is equal to the creation of the whole world as it said, "He created Shalom and the entire world." This also means the converse is true, with out shalom the result will be baseless hatred and this trait is so powerful that it can destroy worlds.

My friends, we were kicked out of Israel and our holy temple due to baseless hatred, whenever we see this ugly marker in the world it means we have not fixed it. It means the world is still separated in individuals, when shalom exists we have selflessness and unity. Let us all be blessed to take those difficult steps (as little as they may be) to move beyond the "individual", each step we take will be the most powerful prayer for shalom.

04/04/2013

My friend Jeremy Schiowitz sends out a daily teaching called emunadaily.com (highly recommended). this was from today:

R' Yosef Dov Soloveichick once met a former student who had become a successful manufacturer. He asked the student “How are you doing?” The man answered, “Baruch Hashem, Rebbe, I have a large factory and am doing quite well.”

R' Soloveichick asked again, “Yes, but how are you doing?” Again the student provided a glowing account of his commercial success. Finally, the Rebbe said, “Everything you’ve described are things that God does for you. I want to know about the areas of life that are in your hands. How is your spiritual agenda – your davening, your learning, your giving of tzedakah? How are you doing?” ~ The Pirkei Avos Treasury

04/03/2013

Antignos of Socho said: ... be as one who serves their master not for the sake of reward.

It is said that all our effor, all mitzvoth we do are to generate a the strongest yearning and desire to come close to Hashem. This desire is greater than any reward we can imagine. We should all be blessed to have a desire to come close...