Rabbi's weekly messages - Chabad of Olney

Friday, October 27, 2017 - 9:45 AM

Do you go to work? Do you support a family? Then how do you see your job: Are you a breadwinner, or do you have a career?

It may seem like mere semantics; but how we define our primary motive for work is actually an important question to ask ourselves.

But first let's talk about names. It is common for many in the entertainment industry and beyond, to change their names, in order to advance their career. In fact, name-changing is actually as old as Abaraham (Avraham in Hebrew), in this week's Torah portion.

As a baby, our first patriarch was named Avram, which means - father of Aram. foretelling the promising future of this youth, that he would go on to father (Av) an entire nation, the nation of Aram, named after his locale.

Then one day G-d called in Avram and suggested a name-change and a 'promotion' in his career. His name was changed from Avram (=father of his own family/nation) to Avraham - meaning father (=Av) of many nations (=Hamon Goyim) foretelling the promising future of the matured and advanced Abraham to ultimately influence all the nations of humanity.

But if you pay attention, you notice that the "R" from his original name, alluding to his family/nation, remained right there embedded in his name. Why is the "R" still in there? Wouldn't it tamper the rebranding of Abraham - why the throwback to the more limited version of Avram, if he is now the 'Patriarch of many nations'?

Because, no matter how high Abraham climbed the ladder of success to achieve world fame and prestige, and despite the wealth and fortune he acquired, he didn't forget his anchor. Why was he out there? What was he working for? His family! They never left his mind. They never left his name.

Abraham, our father taught us that we don't go to work in order to have a successful career, and by the way, also provide for our families. Rather, we go to work, first and foremost to provide and care for our family, only secondary to that do we also make a mark in the world though our respective careers.

May we all be as successful as our father Abraham!

Noach- The secret to staying calm

Friday, October 20, 2017 - 9:42 AM

This past week, my four year old nephew was having a great time at the playground when he suddenly fell and got a deep cut on his forehead. The doctors stitched it up, and he was on his way. I asked his father later that day how his little boy is doing - "is he traumatized?!" to which he responded - "He's been fine after 20 minutes or so... It's me who can't seem to calm down every time I look at at his cut…"

This is just an example of the whirlwind of daily challenges and hassles that come our way - how do we tackle them with calmness and clarity, and not get overwhelmed? Weather it is a doctor's opinion, a telephone from the bank, a traffic jam or a scolding from the boss. How do we remain calm through these challenges?

Noah, in this week's Torah portion, is an example of one who mastered this art. The whole world was drowning in a flood while he floated along peacefully with his family.

How did he do it?!

The Baal Shem Tov shared the secret to "Noah's Ark", and how it actually is a great piece of advice for life. The Hebrew word Teiva - Ark, can also be translated as "Words". G-d’s instruction of: ‘Come into the Teiva’, now means: ‘come into the words - the words of Torah and prayer'. Just open the prayer book or a Torah thought, and "enter" and be drawn into it’s words and world. With their miraculous power, they elevate us from being tossed around by the storm waters of life, to a higher, spiritual, and more peaceful world.

Now that the holidays have ended, and we have begun the Torah cycle again, It's a great opportunity to jump right in to the proverbial Noah's Ark, the serene, spiritual space of Torah and Prayer, and incorporate it into our daily or weekly routine.

For you it may be attending a weekly Torah class, committing to attend Shabbat Servicemore consistently or subscribing to a publication delivering Torah study to your home such as Chayenu Magazine. It's stormy out there, jump right in!

Lech Lecha- Are you the breadwinner?

Noach- The secret to staying calm