On Sunday I had the great honor of Farbrenging in Cedarhurst, New York in honor of the Rebbe’s 31st Yahrtzat. My dear friends Chesky & Naomi Newman were our hosts and so many friends from The Five Towns, many of whom have spent a Shabbos or two with us in Bozeman over the years or read my weekly column in the 5TJT, joined for this evening of inspiration. I love that the Orthodox world is falling more in love with nature, as Chavie and I are honored to be on the welcoming side of their excursions to Yellowstone and beyond. When I returned to Bozeman, I did a 6:00 AM, one-hour, hike at Peet’s Hill with my friend Barrett and the beauty that Hashem embedded in His world never ceases to amaze.

In this week’s Torah portion, Chukas, we read about the time that the Jewish people became disgusted with the Manna that G-d gave them from heaven. Imagine being gifted with such an incredible form of sustenance and being so ungrateful, so obsessed with “what isn’t good enough”, that you don’t see the gift that is literally before your eyes.  The Talmud in Kiddushin says in the name of Rav Chizkiyah that “in the world to come, every one of us will have to give an account of everything that our eyes saw in this world and that we didn’t partake in”. It doesn’t mean that we should be gluttonous or unhealthy, but it does mean that we are to cherish the physical reality around us and recognize that G-d has given us so much, with nature being at top of the list.

While Menny and I walked the streets of Brooklyn, we noticed so much garbage, both piles of bags and small wrappers and the like blowing all over. There are ways to keep the streets clean and city leadership must certainly be part of the solution, but it really starts with the people having an attitude shift. New York will always be congested, and we can’t solve the traffic issues, but garbage? If Dubai and Singapore can keep their streets clean, if Norway and Russia can keep their trains safe and friendly, if Montana can keep their rivers clean, then New York can, and should, do it too. There is no excuse for filthy streets with littering galore. If we can recognize how blessed we are with the world G-d has given us, we would all do a lot more to keep it pristine for those who will come after us.

Don’t be an ingrate; take a hike!

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!

My father role modeled for me the importance of donating blood.

I love the idea that every two months or so we get to roll up our sleeves and do something that is potentially lifesaving for another human being, without ever knowing who they are. A religious rabbi could be donating blood to an atheist who is unkind to Jews, and it wouldn’t matter. We are meant to learn the art of living with empathy and kindness, while simultaneously sticking to our principles and hard-core, unbreakable, values. Yes, I would like the world to operate by the code embedded in Torah, I believe that its ethics and morals are to be cherished and observed by all, but just because those are my innate beliefs, doesn’t mean that I should abandon my inner kindness, my empathy, for another, even if they are, in my opinion, a menace to society.

You feel me?

In this week’s Torah portion, Korach, we read about a man who had it all. Korach was charismatic, wealthy, spiritually gifted, articulate, and influential, yet he gave it all up because he was jealous of his cousins. He initiated a rebellion against the “system” of “nepotism”, seeking “equality”, while demanding that he be appointed as the High Priest in pursuit of “self-aggrandizement. Moses demanded that G-d clarify for the nation who is right and who is wrong, but he also sought out the rebels, begging them to repent, and demanded of G-d that He punish only Korach but none of his collaborators. Moshe was the OG Jew, the OG shepherd, who cared for the people, even when having to hold the primary culprits accountable.

On Sunday, we will commemorate the Rebbe’s 31st Yahrzeit. To me the Rebbe epitomized this balanced approach. He was a vocal warrior for Jewish tradition, he spoke up about the adherence of Jewish people and “Jewish” organizations to Halacha, he didn’t compromise on the word of G-d even if it “cost him” public support and financial backing, but he also had a unique ability to love, care and empathize with every person, no matter their background, level of observance or spiritual affiliation. Our society equates “wrong” with “bad”, and it’s simply not true. Many people are wrong, they’ve chosen an erroneous path due to education, upbringing, circumstances or brainwashing, but that doesn’t mean that they are bad. Almost everyone, Korach excluded, is worthy of receiving kindness, and we must learn the art of caring - not just for those who are on our team or don’t irk us the wrong way, but - for each individual with whom we are in contact.‍

Moses did it for Korach’s sidekicks; we can, and should, do the same.‍

May G-d guard our brethren in Israel and the world over from harm and send us Mashiach speedily. May G-d protect the armed forces of Israel and the United States wherever they may be!