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From the Rabbi's
Desk..
A few days ago, our daughter Dena and her four boys arrived from Israel to spend Hanukkah with us and to join the rest of our children and grandchildren on a family vacation in Puerto Rico for a few days. It is truly wonderful that all of our grandchildren, those in Israel and those here, get along beautifully and love to spend time with each other. Although Dena, Steve and their children live on the other side of the world, we manage to see them twice a year and spend quality time together. The telephone and e-mail keep us connected all the time. It is wonderful to have these electronic connections but it is much more wonderful to see them.
For us however, there is always a lingering shadow. The years are passing and the boys are growing taller and older. Shai, the oldest, is now 17 and a junior in high school. When he and the others were born, we thought that by the time they would be old enough to serve in the army there would be peace with the Palestinians and the Middle East would be quiet. Now, seventeen years later, peace with the Palestinians is as elusive as ever. Iran is seeking nuclear weaponry with 'Hitler II' declaring his intention to destroy Israel. Iraq is a seemingly endless quagmire for our country with grave consequences for Israel's future.
Soooo just about the very first thing Shai told us, almost as soon as he entered the house, is that he received his Tzav Rishon, his first call-up. Immediately upon his return to Israel, he has to begin the process of his induction into the army. A few of his friends also received their Tzav and were all very excited. I guess they consider it to be a rite of passage. For us on the other hand, it was unsettling news-news that we had hoped never to hear.
We have profound pride that part of our immediate family has settled in Israel, studying and teaching Judaism, living in a wonderful, supportive community with lots of friends, active in their synagogue with the kids all involved in Noam (Israel's USY). We know however, and have always known, that army service looms. Such is the reality of life in Israel and a worrisome concern for those of us whose children and grandchildren live in Israel.
My son-in-law, Steve Israel, once told me that "life in Israel could be an absolute Gan Aden-a paradise, were it not for the problems with our neighbors." Indeed, one can lead a beautiful, creative, fulfilled life, as Jewishly as one wishes, in Israel. There is, however, this 'little' problem with its neighbors.
A few weeks ago, I delivered a D'Var Torah at a meeting of our Board of Trustees in which I quoted a very well known passage. Jacob returns to Canaan after twenty very difficult years in Aram. He settles down expecting to live the rest of his life peacefully, but it was not to be. Joseph, his favorite, is at odds with his brothers. They hate him and sell him into slavery telling their father that Joseph is dead. Jacob, believing them, is bereaved.
While we would all like to live peaceful and contented lives, sooner or later, trouble finds us, be it issues of health, of family, at work or with friends and neighbors. We all have our 'Peklach'-our burdens. Yet, Judaism teaches us that life is essentially good, life is worth living. Life offers us infinite possibilities for fulfillment and happiness.
I hope everyone in our congregation had a happy, joyous and peaceful Hanukkah, warmed by the beautiful lights of the Hanukkah Menorah.
Rabbi Albert Thaler
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