On the Holiday of Shavuot we celebrate the giving of the Torah by G-d to His nation the Jewish People. Yet this holiday is not only about "The Book" alone, but as well about "The People of the Book", especially Jewish children. Shavuot teaches us the importance of Jewish education and the centrality and importance of the Jewish child to Torah and its future amongst The Jewish People. The Midrash tells us how before G-d gave the Torah, He desired guarantors from the Jewish People that the Torah would be kept. The Jews offered various ones, which where all rejected by G-d, until they said "Bonanu Arevim Badanu" Our children will be our Guarantors" and G-d agreed and accept them as such and gave the Torah.

What is the meaning of "Our children will be our Guarantors"? Also why weren't the earlier suggestions i.e. the elders, sufficient guarantors? More so, can man really guarantee anything to G-d and does even G-d need man's guarantee in order for something to succeed? But rather the Midrash is revealing the key to insure the future of the Torah; it is through the children. G-d is telling us where the most effort and emphasis must be for the Torah to remain; it is through teaching the future generation!

A proper " Yiddishe Chinuch"- Jewish education for children in a yeshiva, is essential if the Torah is to succeed. The Torah will not survive through higher learning alone and adult study groups studying Talmud but by a "melemad" teaching "Komatz Aleph -Ah", to small "Yiddishe Kinderlach", in a "Cheder". Thus only after our ancestors promised G-d, to do all that is humanly possible, and even more so, even to the point of "meseras nefesh"- self-sacrifice, for Jewish Chinuch did G-d give the Torah to them. G-d saw, that the people now understood that effort must be put into Torah, to insure its continuity. Indeed history is witness that we have kept our promise.

In this vein did Rabbi Sholom Dov Ber the fifth Lubavitch Rebbe, once proclaim at a farbrengan: "Just as wearing tefillin everyday is a mitzvah commanded by the Torah to every individual regardless of his standing in Torah, whether deeply learned or simple, so too is it an absolute duty for every person to spend a half hour every day thinking about the Torah-education of children, and to do everything in his power-and beyond his power-to inspire children to follow the path along which they are being guided."

As parents and fellow Jews we do not fulfill our obligation to our children's Jewish education, by only spending quality time with them (as the psychologists of today would have us believe); but by spending lots of "all kinds of time" with them, whether classified "quality" or "quantity". More so the chinuch of our children is a parent's responsibility, first and foremost and only thereafter the teachers, yeshiva-schools and community. Paying tuition for our children, though at times with great financial sacrifice, does not free us from personally educating them. This means more then doing homework with them, but spending time by oneself thinking what more can be done in thought, speech and action to instill, improve and perpetuate authentic Jewish knowledge, spirit and practice in our children. Not to mention that the best way to teach is by example, which accomplishes two things, the child is taught, the person who must set the example must observe as well. Thus both generations are observing the law; the parent and the child, the teacher and the student. One must do all that it takes to instill a "Varma Yiddishkiet" into the "Yiddishe-Hartz" of our "kinderlach".

This above includes, not only for our children, but also for all Jewish children both the Jewish child within, and the Jewish child without; whether young in years and knowledge or old in years and young in knowledge. To search out, awaken and nourish the "Jewish child" i.e. "neshoma"-jewish soul, within each of us, with Torah study and practice. G-d gave us the Torah so that we should constantly study it, live it and become one with it, not only use it as a book we refer to when we have a question. This must be instilled in our children and ourselves, the future of our people. With summer approaching, if through out the school year this is important, when there is at least some sort of supervision, certainly during the summer vacation, with all its dangerous freedoms this is a must.

The Holiday of Shavout teaches us that we need not only care for the physical well being of our children, which every Jewish Parent tries their best to see to, but even more so to the spiritual needs of our children, for by a Jew, one cannot separate one from the other. Because G-d actually descended upon the Mt. of Sinai when He gave us the Torah, (not hovering above it or making us ascend to heaven to receive it), He has thereby enabled us to over come all obstacles and difficulties on earth and too accomplish all of our endeavors for the sake and for the benefit of the Torah on earth. We need only approach this with Joy and we are G-d willing, sure to succeed with much health, joy, "yiddishe nachas" from our children, ourselves, and all of "kllal yisroel" from within abundance of both physical and spiritual blessing.

With blessings for a healthy and happy summer and that we look forward to receiving the Torah "B'Simcha U'Pneimeus- with joy and inwardness. Amen

Wishing you a wonderful Yom Tov!

In the Rabbinic literature, we find two perspectives on the human condition which are so different, so diametrically opposed, as to question if both are the work of the same religion.

On the one hand, we are taught to ask ourselves the question, “When will my actions reach those of my forefathers?” As if to say, I am strong, and I have nearly boundless potential. I will achieve the lofty accomplishments of the giants of our history; it’s only a matter of time and effort.

On the other hand, King Solomon told us in the Book of Koheles, “It is better to go to the house of mourning than to the house of rejoicing, for this is the end of all people.” We are a humble lot, whose creation is lowly and whose end is the dust. Look at these points, we are told in Ethics of the Fathers, see how unimportant you are, and you will not come to sin.

In truth, both outlooks are correct. We have great abilities and at the same time we have great weaknesses. The question becomes, however, which perspective should we focus on in standing up to life’s challenges? Should we concentrate on our inherent greatness as the motivation to push on, or our inherent weakness to keep our egos in check? In fact this question was the subject of debate between the two great schools of mussar, Slabodka and Novhardok; Slabodka focused on Gadlus Ha’adam, the greatness of man, while Novhardok focused on his frailty.

And which should we focus on in 2007? Each person must find his own way, of course, but perhaps there is some direction to be found in this week’s parsha, Nasso, and its discussion of the topic of the nazir.

The Nazir is an individual who has dedicated a period of his life to attaining an extra measure of spirituality, and he is required to stay away from certain physical pleasures as a means to that goal. We find that he is also proscribed from coming into proximity of a corpse or a grave. Even for the funeral of one of the seven close relatives for whom a kohen may enter a cemetery, he may not. This could hardly be described as a “pleasure”. What is the purpose of this particular prohibition? How does this add to his increased spirituality?

The Ralbag explains that coming into contact with death reminds us of the inherent weakness of our physical nature. A nazir needs to stay away from corporeal matters because he is on a higher spiritual plane.

It seems odd that someone who is reaching for a higher level of holiness would want to stay away from seeing the ultimate end of every person. On the contrary, would it not be beneficial for this person to see death up close, and thus further his recognition of this world as temporary? If anything, we would think that there should be a mitzvah for a nazir to spend as much time as possible in a cemetery, so he can contemplate humanity, its frailty, and his own ultimate end! And yet, here the opposite is true; a nazir must refrain from such things. Why?

 My rebbi, HaRav Henoch Leibowitz, shlita explained that there are times in life when we feel holy. We feel good about ourselves and our closeness to G-d. At those times, we are better served not to focus on the inferiority of people, but on our potential for greatness! To focus on our end could lessen our fervor, and rather than inspiring us to try harder, we may come smashing down to Earth. The nazir is on such a high that he shouldn’t be deflated at this time; it would be counterproductive for him. He is soaring with holy feelings and that’s just what he needs to facilitate his growth.

 We have just completed the holiday of Shavuos, and perhaps by now the cheesecake has finally begun to settle. The days are long and warm; even here in British Columbia the rain has just about stopped. We’re feeling excited with the approach of summer. Don’t we find it easier to get up and go than we did during the winter? We’re flying high, life is good!

 At such a beautiful time of year, this excitement should also be our motivation in our service of G-d. Take a look at what we can accomplish! Take a look at how much easier it is to feel good about helping someone else, or about going out in the evening to a shiur. The summer is here, and the potential is endless!

Don’t look at the difficulties which we all must face from time to time. There are times when we do need to take a good look at our shortcomings, so we can improve them, but perhaps the summer is not that time. Don’t focus on our weaknesses; focus on our amazing power. We have the power to create an environment in our homes where we and our children and our parents feel not good, but great about themselves. An environment of happiness where people focus on being better to themselves and to others, because they know they can. And if I may borrow a most appropriate, (although too- often used) term, “Just do it!”

Shabbat Shalom!

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