Charles Liché, before the war, was a chazzan at the synagogue des Tournelles. From the outside, this synagogue, like all the other ones in Paris, is practically impossible to distinguish from the rest of the buildings on the street. The Shuls are meant to blend with the rest of the architecture. However, when you walk in, a gigantic synagogue welcomes you, with magnificent stone walls, majestic candelabras, intricate Aron Kodesh, and red velvet on the Bima. To this day, a gabbai with white gloves, a jacket with épaulettes, and a Napoleon hat will welcome you. If you are a visitor, he will ask you right away if you are a Cohen, a Levy, or Israel, and will escort you to a seat.
During WW II, Paris found itself in the occupied zone and the German rule was that Houses of Worship had to do the prayer for the Reich during Services. Anyone caught saying the prayer for the French Republic would be sent to jail. Our young Charles Liché would hear none of that; proudly, determined and stubborn, he insisted in saying the prayer for France every Shabbat. Of course, he was caught. He was sent to a detention camp, and shortly after to Auschwitz. Hungry, thirsty, cold in winter, he and his companions were sent to forced labor every day. When you find yourself surrounded by darkness, disease, death and despair, it is easy to lose hope. Charles Liché decided not to. Every morning, he would daven Shacharit, every afternoon, he would pray Mincha, and every night he would fervently recite the Maariv prayer. Hashkiveinu Hashem Elokeinu... Lay us down to sleep, Hashem our God, in peace... One freezing winter morning, while waiting in line before being sent to forced labor, he was finishing his morning prayers. The man next to him became irritated: "Why are you wasting your time and energy praying? Do you see God here? When was the last time He answered your prayers?" To which Liché responded: "I pray and I still give thanks, because you see, I was thirsty, but I opened my mouth and it was filled with snow that quenched my thirst. I keep on praying because I believe it makes a difference. I pray, and in return, I get the strength to go on; I get the conviction that this insanity will end. I choose to see God, even here, and I know that each word of prayer brings me Light." And so, one day, this insanity did end, and he was able to return to Paris. The synagogue des Tournelles became Sephardic, forcing him to start a minyan on the beautiful Place des Vosges. After getting his ordination, going from chazzan to rabbi, he was named "Rabbi of the Deported" and the "Synagogue de la Place des Vosges" was born. And this is the synagogue that became our spiritual home in Paris, with a rabbi who experienced no bitterness, only love and compassion. Rabbi Charles Liché taught me to see God an entirely different way. I came to understand that "God" is just a word, and "God", as described in our culture is not necessarily the "God" I believed in. When I hold my children and I feel love that could fill the universe, when I listen to music and a flow of emotion moves me beyond words, when I smell the ocean and feel the sun on my face, I know these experiences are beyond words. And so, God is also an experience beyond words. God is the source of love that fills my universe, God is the source of emotion that moves me beyond words. God is also behind my tears, but also behind the sun that dries them and behind the wind that keeps me moving. So if you tell me you don't believe in "God", I will most likely agree with you. The word "God" has been terribly abused in history, and some traditions have turned religion into something un-spiritual and bland. However, over 3,500 years ago, at the foot of Mount Sinai, we heard God speaking within us; every fiber in our body and our mind resonated with the Divine. Since that moment, to speak to God and to hear God was no longer only for a few chosen. You and I heard it then, and God hasn't stopped talking to us. We only need to review a few basic skills to hear the voice again. And when we do, what we manifest is most beautiful.
0 Comments
Moshe was walking up the hill. There was no path, but it seemed like the bushes were glowing. In the darkness, he could see where to step. The branches were throwing long shadows, like menacing fingers. Still, Moshe knew he needed to go on. He knew there was a great revelation waiting to be received. Only moments ago, everything came to a sudden halt, after the clouds had covered the entire sky, amidst thunder and howling sounds. It was like being in the eye of a hurricane.
They all waited. No one dared make a sound. Even children and babies. All one could hear was one's own breath. And from this breath, within everyone's own soul, a voice spoke. This experience was like nothing anyone ever went through before. Not a sound could be heard, yet a voice was heard from within. A commanding voice, but also comforting as it sounded so familiar. Even Moshe, who was used to this experience, was in awe. He saw his people in trancelike stillness. He realized that his people now truly understood who God was. He also saw the longing on their faces. The longing was to leave this physical life to join a world of souls and to be at one with their Creator. Moshe knew the people could not continue with this experience because it would mean physical death. Of course, God knew it too. This was all planned in advance. God wanted to bring a new awareness in the world, and the timing was perfect. This experience made the people aware that they were also able to hear God from within themselves. They were made aware of their divine soul and they understood how this physical life is a beautiful gift to help their soul grow. However, the people could not handle any more of this intense encounter. God had given them enough. So the voice stopped, but the people knew there was more, and they urged Moshe: "You are used to this. You need to go for us and tell us everything!" So now Moshe was on his way to hear more. He was anxious to find out, but he was distracted by the shadows. They looked menacing, and as he walked, doubt started seeping into his mind. "What if I can't handle it? What if God doesn't want to talk anymore? What if..." But Moshe went on walking. As he continued on, his doubts developed into fear, and since his only thoughts were about his doubts and fears, they became his reality. As he came closer to the meeting place, a holy ground filled with so much energy, his reality became manifest. His doubts and fears created beings of gigantic proportions who spoke to him directly. "Why are you coming here? Don't you know that this Torah is not for you? Can't you see you don't deserve it? Don't you understand that it belongs exclusively in heaven? If you come closer, surely you shall die!" So Moshe stopped. He was paralyzed with fear. God's voice came to him. "Moshe, these are your fears, these are your doubts! You must address them! Only you can make them vanish". "But I am so scared, I am powerless!" So God said, "What you need to do is remember all the miracles I performed for you. Remember how I have been with you, and I am telling you now, I am still with you". With this in mind, Moshe slowly regained his confidence. He remembered the intense love he had felt whenever God spoke to him. So he knew how to address these creatures now. He told them how God took him, Moshe, and all of his people out of slavery in Egypt. People of flesh and blood needed God's direction because they knew their mission was to bring down Heaven in this physical world. "This Torah definitely belongs here, with us. And I will hear every word of it, because I will then teach it to my people". With this, the creatures started to shrink, and when Moshe's doubts and fears vanished, so did the creatures. At that moment, he felt as if he had been standing next to God's throne itself. He was filled with the knowledge that God's voice that emanates from within him is a powerful source of strength. He realized that if his fears could manifest such creatures, then his dreams could as well. He realized that the Divine Presence inside of him could manifest a reality even more beautiful he could ever imagine. “One day Honi the Circle Drawer was journeying on the road and he saw a man planting a carob tree; he asked him, ‘How long does it take for this tree to bear fruit?’ The man replied: ‘Seventy years.’ He then further asked him: ‘Are you certain that you will live another seventy years?’ The man replied: ‘I found ready grown carob trees in the world; as my forefathers planted these for me so I too plant these for my children.’ Honi sat down to have a meal and sleep overcame him. As he slept a rocky formation enclosed upon him which hid him from sight and he continued to sleep for seventy years. When he awoke he saw a man gathering the fruit of the carob tree and he asked him, ‘Are you the man who planted the tree?’ The man replied: ‘I am his grandson.’ Thereupon he exclaimed: ‘It is clear that I slept for seventy years.’”
(Talmud, Taanit 23) This story is often told during the holiday of Tu B’Shevat as an incentive to care for the environment; an incentive to take an active role for the future. The man in the story knows it is his responsibility to prepare the future for his children and grandchildren. And what he does is called an act of faith, because he knows intrinsically that it is the right thing to do. Our western world, and perhaps our generation in particular, seems to struggle with the concept of faith. Maybe many people had painful experiences. To some of them, faith might mean blindly adhering to a dogma, a lot of negative self-judgment, or the fear of being condemned for not having enough faith or even the "right" kind. These are genuine feelings, they need to be addressed, but I would like to say that faith has nothing to do with these negative feelings. Unfortunately, the way their religion has been presented to them is most likely the issue. So let’s look at the etymology of the word “faith”. Its root comes from the Latin fides, meaning “trust”. In our story, the man’s children have faith in him because they know that he is making sure the land will be ready for them. And this is the whole point. In Judaism, faith is a verb. It is not a commodity that we have or don’t have. It is something we do. We “faithe.” Our faith must translate into positive, concrete acts; and when it does, it plays an important part in sustaining our world. Every mitzvah that we do is not only an act of faith, but also a positive action that has a double effect. It elevates our soul and it contributes in bringing harmony to the world. Shimon Hatzadik, in Pirkei Avot (the Ethics of our Fathers), explains this concept in a simple teaching: “The world stands on three things: on Torah, on Service [of God], and on acts of loving-kindness.” We live in a world where we are compelled to act, react and interact with others. And through our positive acts of faith, God interacts with the world. Faith is a beautiful verb! Here is a poetic illustration of this concept by Rabbi Rami Shapiro: We are loved by an unending love We are embraced by arms that find us even when we are hidden from ourselves We are touched by fingers that soothe us even when we are too proud for soothing. We are counseled by voices that guide us even when we are too embittered to hear. We are loved by an unending love. We are supported by hands that lift us even in the midst of a fall We are urged on by eyes that meet us even when we are too weak for meeting. We are loved by an unending love. Embraced, touched, soothed, and counseled… ours are the arms, the fingers, the voices; ours are the eyes, the smiles. We are loved by an unending love. Are You Spiritual But Not Religious? After Chanukah: 8 Reasons Why Judaism will Enrich Your Life12/21/2013 It wasn’t long ago when most synagogues –and churches for that matter, were full every week. You see, most Americans took their religion for granted and went to Services. It is obviously no longer the case, as according to the Pew Research Report, 20% of Americans describe themselves as religiously unaffiliated. That’s up 15% from just five years ago, and the percentage goes even higher the younger you are, 72% of the young adults.
In the Jewish community, apart from the Orthodox movement which is doing well, all of the other movements are quickly losing Jews every day to intermarriage and assimilation. They just don’t care! Of course, there are many reasons why people become disenchanted with religion –liturgy may be long and/or boring, messages in sermons may not be inspiring, services may not be creative. Whatever the reason (or lack of), the passion is not there. However, most people continue to yearn for something that gives a deeper meaning, for something we call “spirituality”. About one third of the religiously unaffiliated describe themselves as atheists. But the rest, some 30 million Americans, want to maintain some type of spiritual belief and practice, even though they no longer feel at home in a synagogue, a church, or a mosque. These people consist of the “spiritual but not religious”, the fastest growing segment of the American population. They are usually educated, liberal, open-minded, and have a belief that there is more to life than meets the eye. Can Judaism fill that need? Well, I would like to say “yes”. However, most Jews are unfortunately unaware of the rich spiritual and mystical dimension of Judaism. And yes, Judaism could be drastically different and infinitely more fulfilling than what they grew up with. So let’s look at 8 reasons why Judaism will enrich your life. 1 You have the potential to reach such heights! You may ask/pray for guidance, you may ask for strength, you don’t have to feel alone, but remember; you were created with this most special spark that has the potential to become the brightest light. Judaism has a rich mystical tradition that is for you and will reach you at any level you are. Just crack open the door and everything will flow. 2 What about all the rules? Yes, there are many rules. Some that you may opt not to follow, and many other rules that you probably follow without even thinking. For example, when was the last time you killed someone? Don’t laugh, that’s a very important rule! You may also be unaware of how many acts of kindness you perform naturally every day. These acts of kindness have tremendous influence in the life of so many people. Not all the rules are prohibitive, the more you learn, the more you realize you can be a Super-Jew. 3 It’s OK to question. Don’t be afraid to ask. You don’t have to take anything on faith. And you may be surprised how many topics Judaism can talk about. 4 It makes you intelligent! Join a Talmud class: learn and debate. It is more than stimulating, it is fascinating! 5 “Gd, the soul you have placed in me is pure”. (from the Prayer Book, morning liturgy) Judaism is not about salvation, or original sin. We are intrinsically pure but at the same time naturally created with a good inclination, and a bad inclination –both emanating from the same divine source. We have free will, and sometimes we make a good decision, and sometimes we may miss the mark. And that’s OK, as long as we learn from it. Our tradition provides us with tools, wisdom and insights to help us grow, to help us become what we truly are meant to be. 6 “Shema” In the Shema, we proclaim the oneness of G-d. But ultimately, that statement says that everything is one. Whatever we do, say, or think has an impact in this material world as well as in the spiritual one. So simple, but when we do everything to remind ourselves of this, life around us becomes so much more beautiful. 7 The Kotzker Rebbe said: “Where is G-d? G-d is wherever you let G-d in!” One day, our father Jacob dreamed of a ladder joining heaven and earth where angels were climbing up and down. In his dream, G-d also spoke to Jacob, and when he awoke the next morning, he said: “G-d was in this place all this time, and I didn’t even know it!” The commentator Rashi explains what Jacob meant: “If I had known that G-d would be here, I wouldn’t have gone to sleep!” Rabbi Lawrence Kushner teaches in “The Book of Miracles” that “to be a Jew means to wake up and to keep your eyes open to the many beautiful, mysterious, and holy things that happen all around us every day. Many of them are like little miracles: when we wake up and see the morning light, when we taste food and grow strong, when we learn from others and grow wise, when we hug the people we love and feel warm, when we help those around us and feel good. All these and more are there for us every day, but we must open our eyes to see them.” 8 You have a treasure, don’t let go of it. In an article in “Israel Hayom”, Lital Shemesh writes: “One of the most important poets of the Jewish Emancipation period, Judah Leib Gordon, coined the sentence, ‘Be a man in the streets and a Jew at home.’ Several decades later, Herzl declared that the emancipation, which led to assimilation, merely served to embolden anti-Semitism. Our religion is deeply and historically connected to our people and to our land [of Israel]. The moment we eradicate our roots is the moment we will have no more room to grow.” So continue to grow, learn about your roots, and if you want innovation in your House of Worship, don’t be afraid to be part of it! |
|