It’s spring break for the kids, and instead of flying, we decided to visit Northwest Montana. Wanting to see Kootenai Falls in Libby, we arrived at the trail only to see many downed trees resulting from last week’s wild wind/snowstorm, observing active “controlled burnings” operated by the forest service employees. Yet, despite the iffy weather and questionable terrain, we persevered. We climbed over, and under, branches and trunks, kept an eye on unstable trees that were wobbling in the wind, trudged through mud and ice, went over the bridge, and made it to the falls. It was worth the effort. Nature is soothing for the soul, comforting, inspiring, calming and gives us an opportunity to peek into Hashem’s wonders, which is something our family enjoys immensely.

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayikra, the first in the Book of Leviticus, we read about the Korbanos, sacrificial offerings, in the Tabernacle. Rav Chaim Chaykl of Amdur (1730-1787) in Chaim V’Chessed explains that each offering contains components of all four categories of creations, which are Domem (Inanimate), Tzomeach (Vegetation), Chai (Animal), Medaber (Human). The salt on the offering represents the inanimate world, the wine, oil and flour utilized on various offerings represents the world of vegetation, the animal represents his/her kingdom, and the human who brings the offering, making a devotional declaration, is the human. We put the package together and ask the Kohen to act as our agent to deliver the final offering to Hashem, elevating to holiness all aspects of creation.

Spending time in the mountains, near rivers and lakes, seeing the kids ski at Big Mountain, experiencing mountain goat traffic on the road outside of Fernie, British Columbia, overlooking the Libby Dam, and even making it to The Yaak, considered the most remote town in Montana, all of it serves as a vital reminder that every aspect of creation is inspirational and ready for us to spiritually elevate and refine. It’s not enough to serve G-d with heart and soul, but we must internalize the art of bringing all our “stuff” together and utilize them towards a meaningful life. The town of Libby was hurt and devastated due to corporations who cared more about profits than they did about nature, not seeing it as G-dly. Our response to that must be to acknowledge pristine nature as a gift from Hashem, thus acting as proper custodians of the gift.

It’s all One!

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!

On Wednesday, Chavie and I celebrated our 20th anniversary. It’s been a journey of love and perseverance, and I couldn’t imagine doing life without her at my side. While enjoying a special restaurant-like dinner prepared with love by Chavie’s sister Brocha, I was pondering on how strong, thoughtful, opinionated and resourceful Chavie is and how, sadly, many women in the world don’t have the freedom to live like her. The same folks who accuse Jews of the worst behaviors, are mighty silent to the cry of the Iranian women who are seeking freedom from their Islamic tyrants, some even supporting the Ayatollah and his goons. What happened to women’s rights? What happened to modern feminism? First, they ignored the raped Jewish women of Israel and now they are ignoring the abused, and murdered, women of Iran.

In this week’s double Torah portion, Vayakhel-Pekudei, we read about the Jewish women’s devotion to the building of the Tabernacle in the desert. They weren’t only first to donate funds but were passionate about ensuring that the woven materials were crème de la crème. The Talmud in Tractate of Shabbos mentions that, at times, fathers/husbands felt that they needed to bring fear into their home so that their families remained on the straight line of morality, ethics and religion, but overall Judaism teaches that parenthood and spousal behavior must be done with pleasantness and calm, where no one feels quashed by the “man of the house”. So much so, that the Holy Ari teaches that in the era before Mashiach’s arrival, the sages of Israel will follow the spiritual lead of their wives.

As I reflect on my twenty years with Chavie I am inspired by feminine Jewish leadership. She is my partner in revolutionizing Jewish Montana, she’s a beloved mentor to so many woman in our community, she’s a hostess and Balabuste bar none, she speaks at Jewish events around the country, she launched a successful Podcast, she writes weekly on her Substack, she shares and inspires on her busy Instagram, she raises our five children with unimaginable and incomprehensible love and TLC, she is a devoted sister and daughter, and she shows up as my rock, despite my many flaws, in ways that are so meaningful and valuable. I celebrate the women in my life and wish our society would celebrate feminine depth, wisdom and incredible impact, not just their physical beauty.

Happy Anniversary Chavie Dear!

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!