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Rabbi Elazar Green
A chance to Win $10,000 and Support Chabad! www.jewishenrichment.com/raffle
Thursday, June 04, 2009
Our near miss on the way back from Toronto - Chabad Newsletter
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Rabbi Elazar Green
A chance to Win $10,000 and Support Chabad! www.jewishenrichment.com/raffle
Near Miss on the way back from Toronto
Shira, the kids, and I, were in our van on the way back from Toronto…it was on Route 15 near Mansfield at 11:30pm, Sunday night.
Anxious to get home before it gets "too" late, we weren't making many stops.
I was driving.
The road dips up and down and then all of a sudden we see two deer on the road ahead of us. One deer in each lane. No room to go around, no room to pull over.
I hit the horn and the brakes and aimed for the middle, trying to direct the van in between the deer.
We clipped the one on the right at about 34 miles per hour. We hit it and kept on going. We damaged the right headlight and crunched in the bumper, fender, and hood. As we are driving, I am scanning the dashboard making sure that the gauges looks good, while also figuring out how many miles to an exit with a gas station that is open at this hour.
The kids, sitting in the back, had no idea what happened. They were even laughing, giggling together.
Shira and I were quite shaken.
The expression goes, "There is a sermon in there somewhere".
This past week's Parsha Class (12:00 noon on Tuesdays) we talked about Adam and Eve in the garden, and their sin in eating from the "tree of knowledge of good and evil."
Why was this a sin? Can knowledge be a bad thing?
Imagine our girls knowing and understanding about what accidents are and what accidents could be and that we are about to be in one…imagine their terror. Over something that turns out to be what?
A smashed headlight, a crunched bumper.
Tradition has it that as many times as G-d saved us from catastrophe that threatened us openly, there are many more times that G-d saved us without us even knowing about the threat!
In our day to day life, G-d hides his face as well. Imagine if we were able to "know" that everything we get, every dollar that we make, everything that happens to us, comes from him…
Why don't we know/feel that G-d is involved?
Because we are kids sitting in the back seat.
One day we will grow up, and be in a world where everyone and everything can feel and know G-d's presence and influence in this world.
May it come much sooner than we expect.
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
How to Judge, Video of Estie - Chabad Newsletter
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Friday, May 08, 2009
AIPAC and Chabad
| Some of you saw this article entitled "At the Aipac Conference, A Capital Experience" http://lubavitch.com/news/article/2026142/Chabad-at-AIPAC-A-Capitol-Experience.html
Below are some musings from my experience... it reads rather "Bloggerish".
Several people asked me, "How does Chabad compare to AIPAC?"
AIPAC is a large organization that promotes a strong U.S. - Israeli relationship. Chabad is a large organization that promotes Judaism, in several tracks, educational, religious, and social services offerings. Since Israel is such a major component of Judaism it is only natural that both organizations have interest in each other.
There is no question that Chabad's presence was felt at AIPAC . I met more than a few of my colleagues there, among them... Rabbis Pinchus Herman, Aharon Herman from North Carolina, Chaim Shul Bruk from Montanta, Yossi Gordan from Chabad on Campus National, Dov Hillel Klein from Illinois, Yitzchok Raskin from Burlinton, Vermont, Aaron Margolin from Norfolk, VA, and of course Levi Shemtov, Chabad's "Rabbi on the Hill" in Washington, D.C.
Michael Oren spoke about his inspiration as a youth from a Chabad Rabbi Sholom B. Gordan from Maplewood N.J.
Chabad on Campus was one of the few organizations asked to participate at the Campus Delegate Dessert Reception.
Random people came up to me to introduce themselves and talk about their connection to Chabad.
AIPAC has 6,500 participants in the annual conference of members.
Chabad had 4,000 Rabbis and Lay Leaders and 3,000 Rebetzins and Lay Leaders at their annual conferences. (As I write this I wonder...if all the Chabad supporters were to come to the annual conference, how many people would that be?)
AIPAC's conference focused on what we could individually do to help Israeli security. Chabad focuses on the effect every single person and every single mitzvah has on the world.
AIPAC is professional. Chabad is heimish.
If AIPAC takes you for a trip, there would be several coach busses to take you. If a bus is breaks down, then the professional driver would radio or call for an alternate bus.
Chabad would put you on a school bus. If it broke down they would ask people on the school bus behind you to squish a little to make room.
Both AIPAC and Chabad feature an impressive roll call at the annual gala banquet. Chabad is of the Chabad families from all over the world, by country and state of the thousands of locations in hundreds of countries. AIPAC's is of the hundreds of honorable dignitaries present at the banquet.
I think what AIPAC and Chabad have most in common is the optimistic hope for the future coupled with the determination do everything in our power and use every tool possible to bring about this future.
They both do a great job, but both recognize that they have a hard journey ahead.
When they finally succeed (finish) there won't be any reason for the organizations to be around anymore.
Let's get to work. |
Friday, December 19, 2008
Rabbis (B)Log Dec 19, 2008
Sunday – December 14, 2008 – The Chabad House in Lancaster hosted a JLI class at 10:00am. Cake needed to be cut, grapes washed, mint candies put out. Projector set up for the presentation. Will the class like the Kabbalah-toons? Time will tell.
Last week a cabinet in York fell off the wall. Called the contractor to put it back up, he said he will be there at 12:00pm today (Sunday). JLI class participants stayed behind to discuss, and I forgot about the appt in York. I remembered at 11:30 and called the contractor to see if he was still coming. He wasn't! He told me that he will be there tomorrow night. So I stayed and discussed.
Sunday evening, the York JLI class got together at Fran's. (Thank you!). My brother and sister in law came from Balti to come to the class. Including them, we had a bunch of people (9 or 10). I think everyone loved the KaballahToons. I forgot to show "Feivel goes Wacko". Have to remember to do it next time. I also forgot to make the announcement about "If you like the class, please consider donating 10-15 dollars to help pay for the course" at both Lancaster & York.
Oh well. It's not about money, right? I will send out emails maybe some of them will read it.
Monday was Pizza and Parsha at Lancaster at Noon. It is also the day that Marissa comes to help out at the Chabad house. She cleans the whole house and gets it ready for the next Shabbat. After working on paperwork and writing, I had to go back to York to meet the contractor. He called 10 min after he was supposed to be there to say he cant come today, but will be there tomorrow, same time.
Tuesday was when Shira had to be in Philly to participate in the ceremony of becoming a citizen. (Yes, she is now a US citizen.) So I get to drive the kids to Balti for school. I drove there, drove back to York for a meeting at 10:00am, drove back to Balti cause the weather was turning ugly and was worried that they may call me to pick up the kids. Hung out at the JCC café, working on the computer, shopping, and so on. Picked up MM from day care. He was happy to see me and sang the wheels on the bus for about 15 minutes. I didn't mind. I could listen to him sing much longer.. Contractor showed up on time, put the cabinet back up, reinforced the others and left.
Wednesday – I had a Lunch and Learn in Lancaster. Worked on paperwork, the mortgage broker called me to tell me that the time has come to refinance, did more paperwork, called some students, emails, and worked on Chanukah Bowling Party. We did some learning on the phone. Opened some holiday cards. One had "merry Chri…Whoops Happy Chanukah" written on it.
Thursday – Menachem Mendel woke up feeling a bit sick, so I hung out at York with the computer in case he needed me. Called bowling supply companies, trying to figure out how to make a bowling pin menorah. I think I got it. Went to Lancaster in the evening for the JCC Rededication. Was honored with helping to put up the mezuzah, but was little for me to do. I think putting up a menorah is a one man job. I got to meet some very nice people and see old friends. I think they did a very nice job renovating it. I got a call from a woman who wanted me to deliver a menorah today for her daughter to take to school to show everyone. No problem.
Friday – Esti had an appt in Lancaster so I get to hang out with her all day! I actually wrote most of this week's email while waiting 90 minutes in the waiting room.
We got so many thank yous for the Chanukah Magazine we put out. Some people wanted us to send it to their relatives. Two families wanted us to take them off our list. No problem to all of them.
Friday, December 05, 2008
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Rabbi Elazar Green
Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center
J_daism needs You! (U)
www.JewishEnrichment.com
717-368-6565
Monday, October 13, 2008
Dear Rabbi (Question from an F&M Student)
Dear Rabbi,
First of all, thank you for inviting me to eat dinner in your sukkah.
I really enjoyed meeting you over Rosh Hashanna and participating in
the service and the wonderful meal that Shira and you prepared for us.
It really means a lot to know that you are right here whenever I or
anyone else needs you.
My question is about Sukkot. I don't understand why it is so important
to eat in the sukkah. What is wrong with eating in the cafeteria or my
room? It's not like Rosh Hashana or Yom Kippur which are important
"High Holy Days". Sukkot is just eating in a hut. What kind of holiday
is that?
P.S. If I like your answer then maybe I will join you in your sukkah.
Sincerely,
Hut-less
Dear Hut,
Thank you for your kind words and for taking the time to write the letter.
Let me ask you this,
Why is Rosh Hashanah important? What makes it a "High Holy Day"? A
classical answer is that it is a day where "bend our hearts like a
bent shofar", we accept G-d, in our hearts, as an authority. Another
answer is that it is the first day where we rectify mistakes made in
the last year by confessing them and regretting them in our hearts.
These two components together make Rosh Hashanah a High Holy Day.
Granted these are difficult to attain, but every year we try again,
growing a little bit more, becoming a little bit better at it.
I am sure that you will agree that these two sentiments are awesome,
important, and are an integral part of the High Holy Days.
You may be too young to remember the tech "bubble" of the 90s. I am
certain that you are aware of the housing "bubble" that has recently
crashed down around us.
We are currently living in another "bubble", a place where
materialistic items and events that are "overvalued" are being bought
and sold at ever increasing prices and as all bubbles do, it will
burst.
As a college student you know better than I the many events, parties,
causes, and social activities that compete for your "currency" of
time, energy, attention and focus.
It may very well be tempting to "spend" your "currency", but ask
yourself if you are overvaluing the "product" that you are buying.
In 5 years, how much will it matter if you attended a certain party or
social event?
A story is told of a man who complained about chest pains. His wife
told him to lie down to rest and she would call the doctor. The doctor
came to the patient's home, sat down at the bedside and took the
patient's hand in order to take his pulse. In a faint voice the
patient said, "Doctor, it is not my hand. The pains are in my chest,
near my heart." To which the doctor responded, "I know, but from the
hand we know how the heart works."
Rosh Hashanah involves the "heart". Sukkot is the service of the "hand".
Eating in the Sukkah is about showing G-d that since he is "the guy in
charge", you trust him to take care of you. It's about showing him
that you recognize that just like the Sukkah is temporary, our "real"
homes and houses and our time spent on this world are also temporary,
and that ultimately we will be shown the true value of our
"investments". It shows that we are aware that we are living in a
"bubble" that, given enough time, will burst. So we build a sukkah
with our hands and eat in a sukkah with our hands to show what is in
our hearts. To show what Rosh Hashanah is all about.
Granted it is difficult to absorb and really feel all these sentiments
in one visit to the sukkah, it is something to work towards. It
requires meditation, introspection, and it requires eating in the
sukkah! So we celebrate Sukkot every year, right after Rosh Hashanah.
Every single year matters and contributes to our understanding and
feelings.
Sukkot is not a different holiday than Rosh Hashanah, it is the
continuation, the next step.
Don't you want to finish what you started?
P.S. There is still plenty of room in the largest sukkah in the
county! If you would like to join us you can; Below is the schedule.
Sukkot Schedule
7:15pm Dinner Tonight, Monday, October 13, 2008
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
1:00pm Lulav & Esrog Shake (even if you can't come for lunch, come by
the shaking!)
1:05pm Lunch
7:15pm Dinner (second night)
You can find all these events at our facebook group "Chabad at F&M".
For more information about Sukkot visit
www.jewishenrichment.com/holiday
--
Rabbi Elazar Green
Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center
J_daism needs You! (U)
www.JewishEnrichment.com
717-368-6565
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Chabad @ F&M Update
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Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center | 620 Race Avenue | Lancaster, PA 17603 | 15 North Cherry Lane | York | PA | 17403 |
Wednesday, September 03, 2008
Rabbi's Log
Rabbi's Log
September 3, 2008
We have been planning a Welcome BBQ for weeks. The plan was to introduce Chabad to the new Jewish F&M students showing them the different opportunities for Jewish life on campus.
It was going to be at Buchanan Park, right next to the F&M campus.
Things were going good, students were involved, we had a nice crowd rsvping, I was looking forward to it.
(Don't tell anyone this, last time we had a BBQ at the Park we didn't have a permit. Luckily when we showed up the person that did have a permit gave it to us.)
This time I was going ot be organized, I went to the city and got a permit 2 weeks ago.
Nervously checking the weather…. 10 day forecast, 7 day forecast, 3 day forecast. I heard that the price of oil went up because of concerns of the weather.
Beautiful skies, sunny, perfect weather. Things are looking good!
The BBQ is scheduled for Thursday, Sept 4.
Here is where things went downhill…….
A student called me up…"Rabbi, we may have a problem."
"what's the problem?"
"The BBQ is scheduled for 5:30. Barak Obama is supposed to be at the park from 5:00 – 6:30"
"What?!"
"it's true, we just got an email!"
I went online (Where else can you find reliable information?) and sure enough, The Senator is scheduled to be at the park where we are supposed to be!
I called the city " Hey….um… we have a permit for the pavilion, is that still valid?"
"Yes."
"um….even though Barak Obama is supposed to be there?"
"Yes. He is getting the rest of the park, you are getting the use of just the pavilion".
"Ok."
I called the Mayor.
"Rick! How are you?"
"Rabbi, you are probably wondering why I haven't been coming to temple!"
"Actually, I haven't been there either, but between the two of us, one of us should go! Why don't you go this week?
Then adopting a serious tone, I asked the mayor if we really would be allowed to use the pavilion if there is a presidential candidate in the park. "won't the secret service object?"…
The mayor told me that they are setting up right now and he will check into it and get back to me.
"How are you going to check into it?"
" I am going to walk over there and ask them".
"Mayor, you don't have to do that! I will do that, I am right across the street!"
So I strolled across the street, up the hill where a bunch of guys are hanging out, playing with some red flags. Dressed in T-shirt, sandals…
"are you setting up for tomorrow?"
"Yup!"
"well… we have a permit for the use of the pavilion, is there anyway you could accommodate us?"
"No one told us anything about that!"
I pulled the permit out and showed it to them.
"Ok. Instead of setting the fence here, here and here, we will set it up over there. And the line will go around the pavilion. Yes, Rabbi! We will make it work!"
I thanked them.
They apologized for the inconvenience.
I said, "that's alright, with the Senator coming, we probably are losing our crowd anyway!".
Then I said, "Hey, are you guys from Lancaster?"
They weren't. Chicago, California, New York… not Lancaster.
"Have any of you guys heard of Chabad?"
Guy in black shirt "Sure! Rabbi Zarchi in Harvard", Other guy in sandals "I know Rabbi Moscowitz in Chicago…"
"Well, the student group hosting the BBQ is Chabad of Lancaster serving F&M. Chabad is on 150 campuses in the US and 3000 locations worldwide."
"Yeah, we know Chabad is like huge!"
So I said, "I can't invite the Senator to come to the BBQ. It would appear to be endorsing him and I don't. (For a few reasons; IRS regulations, Chabad Policy, and my personal feeling that clergy should not be telling you who to vote for, more about that on a different post.) But, if he happens to be hungry and would like a nice kosher hot dog, we may have an extra one for him. If we do, and he comes to the pavilion, steps away from where he is speaking, I imagine that the F&M students would be thrilled to meet him, in an unofficial capacity. It may make up their disappointment from having a ruined BBQ."
They laughed. "Rabbi, we will pass that message on…"
I said, "it's not a "message". Anyone who is hungry for a kosher hot dog can get one, while supplies last. You can have one too. As long as you ask for one early enough."
I then called the Mayor and told him that if he is hungry tomorrow, to stop by and pick up a hot dog. ( I don't have a problem inviting him, he is already the Mayor!)
He said he will try!
I will let you know how it went. In the meantime we changed the BBQ time to 6:30.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Fwd: I need to hear from you...World wide Jewish News...Post op report - Chabad Newsletter
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Thursday, June 05, 2008
News from Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center
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| Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center | 832 Marietta Avenue | Lancaster, PA 17603 | 15 North Cherry Lane | York | PA | 17403 |
Sunday, May 18, 2008
Archery & BBQ, Camp Dates, 10k Raffle, Course approved by AMA - Chabad Newsletter
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Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center | 832 Marietta Avenue | Lancaster, PA 17603 | 15 North Cherry Lane | York | PA | 17403 |
Tuesday, February 05, 2008
Rabbi Who Stole..Cure for Blind Faith..- Chabad Newsletter
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Sunday, January 27, 2008
Hats Off!
Hats Off!
A Rabbi was walking, slowly, out of a shul in
"I don't think I could have retrieved my hat by myself," said the Rabbi. "Thank you very much!" He then placed his hand on the man's shoulder and said, "May God bless you."
The young man thought to himself, "I've been blessed by the Rabbi, this must be my lucky day!" He decided then and there to go to the racetrack. In the first race he noted a horse named 'Stetson' at 20 to 1. He bet $50 and, sure enough, the horse came in first. In the second race, a horse named 'Fedora' was at 30 to 1, so he bet all his money on that horse. Fedora came in first, as well.
At the end of the day the man returned home to his wife. She asked him where he's been. He explained how he caught the Rabbi's hat, and how he was blessed by him, and how he then went to the track and bet on horses which were named after hats.
"So where's the money?" she said.
"I lost it all in the ninth race. I bet on a horse named Chateau and it lost."
"You fool, 'chateau' is a house, 'chapeau' is a hat!" exlaimed his wife.
"It doesn't matter," he said, "the winner was some Japanese horse named Yarmulka.
Thursday, January 17, 2008
From our mailroom
Dear Rabbi Green,
I can't express how grateful I am for your support and assistance with the passing of my father...
For a copy of the original letter click here.
and scroll to page 4.
UJC Letter
Dear Rabbi Green,
...please find an allocation check in the amount of $1,800 from the United Jewish Community of York's 2007 campaign.
We are proud to make this contribution to Chabad Jewish Enrichment Center and we are confident that you will continue to succeed in all of your endeavors.
Sincerely,
Mark Schmidt
2007 Allocation Committee Chair
for a copy of the original letter click here http://jewishenrichment.com/media/pdf/180/gzmh1807035.pdf
Jail Report
Jail Report (Camp Hill)
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According to Federal government statistics, religion in prison is the most successful tool in reducing recidivism. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has contracted with Chabad to visit and provide services and classes to the Jewish inmates. Rabbi Elazar Green visits the State Correctional Institute Camp Hill twice a month, providing prisoners with religious counseling, hope and guidance and when applicable, discharge plans for the inmates to be able to rebuild their lives. The last visit was on Tuesday, January 15 where 15 people attended a class and group discussion that lasted for over 3 hours.
This month Rabbi Green & Volunteer Gerry Eichner also visited York County Prison which doubles as the holding facility for Homeland Security. About 10 people were present, 3 of which put on tefilin. What was originally scheduled for a 45 minute session turned into 90 minutes as we explored the calendar, Jewish thought, and the weekly portion.
Chabad supplies with prisoners and chaplains with religious articles books and materials. If you would like to designate a contribution that will help us continue in this worthy effort, please call Rabbi Green at 717-368-6565.
Saturday, January 12, 2008
How Much Time Do You Need?
| How Much Time Do You Need? I noticed that if I only have 45 minutes to write you, it takes me much longer, i.e. it doesn't get done that week. If I have more time, then it only takes me 45 minutes. | |