Rabbi's Corner

Message from the Rabbi

Who Are We Lying to and Why?
 
"And Laban said to Jacob, “What did you mean by keeping me in the dark and carrying off my daughters like captives of the sword? Why did you flee in secrecy and mislead me and not tell me?" (Genesis 31:26-27)
 
Jacob begins with lying to his father to give him the birthright. Then Lavan tricked Jacob into marrying his older daughter before his true love. Jacob in return tricked Lavan by leaving, after his many years of working together with him, in the middle of the night.
 
We tell half truths and we intimate alternative facts and sometimes we just lie to each other and to ourselves. Do we do so to save another pain or as a shortcut or to truly take advantage of someone?  Rabbi Chaim Luzzato in Mesilat Yesharim reminds us to be exact in our language.  
 
We must always ask ourselves, are we stretching the truth, are we exaggerating and if so, why?  Wouldn’t it just be better to tell the truth? 
 
Please join me for “In The Beginning.” Together we will understand the stories that shape the foundation of Judaism. Wednesday, November 17, 2021 on Zoom click here 

On Saturday evening November 20, 2021 at 7:30pm I will be teaching at the Westchester Night of Jewish Learning. My class will be “Modern Jewish Prayers.” There are many extraordinary Israeli musicians producing music that speaks to our hopes and dreams.  Join me as I share them through videos and lyrics.
click here
 
To register for the event and see all of the offerings please go to www.wjcouncil.org