Friday, August 22, 2008

Bnai Noah: Hurricane Fay? Try 40 Days and 40 Nights!




Yesterday, when I was supposed to be showing houses to a client, Hurricane Fay was blowing some wind and rain in our area here in northeast Florida. Many of the bridges were closed due to high winds, so, since I couldn't show houses I decided to check out the beaches where I live.



I put on a nylon windbreaker, camera in pocket, and stepped out of my car. As I got closer to the oean, the wind filled my windbreaker, and I found myself being blown sideways, toward some concrete steps. Fortunately there were several concrete pillars in the walkways. I wedged myself between two of the concrete posts and held on for dear life.



I saw others walking around, and realized that it was my nylon windbreaker that was causing me to be a potential, if reluctant para-sailor! As I looked around at the news vans, at the ocean which was churning white foam as far as I could see, at water that was coming up the steps of the red cross station, at the royal palm trees bending at the waist, I realized how little control we have in the face of the Almighty Creator of heaven, earth, wind, rain,- and mankind!



I made it back safely to my car, with some pictures, and went home and counted my blessings. As my granddaughter said, I had no right to worry my family like that! All day the newscasts were consumed with weather updates. The rain poured and the wind howled all night. Today it was tornado warnings.



In the place where I stood, clinging to the concrete post, I earlier saw four young men, two of them in swim trunks, milling around. Later that day, my daughter informed me that a surfer had drowned at that very beach. It most likely was one of those young men who were there for adventure.



I cannot imagine the terror of the men, women, children and animals at the onset of the flood during the time of Noah. At what point did they realize that Noah had truly received revelation from Hashem? And Noah and his family on the ark, surrounded by the evidence of G-d's power and wrath, trusting but fearful. I can't imagine witnessing this event nonstop for 40 days and 40 nights.



Because of this one event, we are here to tell the story of Noah, a "righteous man who walked with G-d." We are here, free to do utterly stupid things like surf or take pictures during hurricanes. When I think of the unimaginable wrath that Hashem unleashed with mighty waters and mighty winds, enough to destroy the earth and everything on it, I marvel that His wrath was dwarfed by the measure of His love and mercy.



The fact that Hashem thought it was important to preserve one man and his family and life on earth, in the merit of one man, is astounding to me. That Hashem could be bothered to save the world for the sake of one individual is beyond reason. If a single life is so precious to Hashem, how much more precious should life be to each of us. Every person is important to Hashem. We are all created in His image. So of course we should cherish each other, nourish and encourage each other, always give each other the benefit of the doubt, and love each other.



The Torah doesn't tell us that Noah's family was particularly righteous, only that Noah was. This is a pattern that we see in the Torah where Hashem saves many for the sake of a few. In this situation, it was only for the sake of one,- Noah.



I know that Bnai Noah often feel a loss of community, and difficulty in finding their place in the g-d fearing world. How awesome it is to know that the first Noahide was a community of two- Noah and Hashem. The winds may blow and the rain may fall, but with Hashem in charge, Bnai Noah should feel nurtured and cherished in the most holy and fundamental way. Community? It is for your sake that the community of mankind exists today.



Kol tuv.




Thursday, August 7, 2008

Bnai Noah: 7 Reasons Not To Convert to Judaism

The discussion came up this week, as to why a person should NOT convert to Judaism. Overwhelmed, a prospective convert was looking for reasons to turn back, and asking who SHOULD convert. For now, I will answer the first question.

(1.)You will terrify people who love you. Xtian family and friends will spend the rest of their lives trying to persuade you back into the fold and to “pray” you out of the fires of hell. As bnai Noah, it is much easier to fly under the radar, to live your life and to let others live theirs. While the occasional confrontation may be inevitable, the odds for fractured relationships over religious beliefs rise dramatically upon conversion to Judaism.

(2.)Unless you work from home or have a skill that allows you to earn a living primarily within the Jewish community, and unless you are a social recluse, you will spend a lot of awkward moments devising ways to refrain from shaking hands with the opposite sex, or explaining your reluctance. This hampers both social and business relations.

(3.)You may find it difficult to work for large corporations unless you are well established and/or have unusually cordial and influential relationships with supervisors and corporate power brokers. Even working for smaller companies may involve discussions and arguments ad nauseum about the number of Jewish holidays on which you are prohibited from working.

(4.)If your family relationships and your longtime friendships are not troubled enough, wait until you tell family and friends that you can’t eat in their home unless you bring your own food and utensils, and a place mat or other barrier to keep your meal untainted from their treif table! And unless you live in an area where kosher restaurants are conveniently located, forget business lunches with clients and coworkers.

(5.)You will not be able to attend the weddings and funerals of loved ones if the services are conducted in a church or other non-Jewish religious building. And if they are held in secular locations you will not be able to hug or comfort loved ones of the opposite sex unless they are immediate family members, (siblings, parents, grandparents, children, grandchildren.)

(6.)You may not be able to live near family or work, or in a neighborhood that is affordable. You will need to live within walking distance of your shul, in order to be able to fulfill the mitzvah of being part of a minyan on Shabbos (if you are male), and to be part of a Jewish community. This can sometimes come at great emotional and financial sacrifice and should not be taken lightly.


(7.)There are many reasons not to convert to Judaism. The most important reason is because it is not necessary to be Jewish in order to live a Torah observant life and to bring godliness into the world. The message of Torah was given to Adam long before the birth of the Jewish nation. Hashem saved the world and promised never to destroy it, in the merit of a righteous gentile, Noah and his family. In many ways, Bnai Noah can deliver the message of Torah much more efficiently than the Jewish people, by their ability to live their faith every day, while interacting with other gentiles in social, family and work situations. Better to explore and appreciate what Hashem has available to you now, than to struggle on a path that may not be for you. Better to learn the 7 Laws of Noah, to apply them, to appreciate their beauty, and to share them with the world. If later it becomes obvious that Hashem has another assignment for you, you won’t need to ask why a person should or should not convert to Judaism.

Sunday, August 3, 2008

Bnai Noah Weekly Torah Class: Parasha Masei

Bnai Noah have a history of Torah study that dates back to Noah's son Shem, and Shem's great grandson, Ever, who together founded the first yeshiva, (school for Torah studies.) Jacob was a student of Shem and Ever.

Though bnai Noah don't have the extensive list of obligations that bind Jews, the study of Torah is a long standing, if unspoken obligation.

Oral tradition teaches that even Adam and Eve knew the laws of Torah. Otherwise they would not have been ashamed of their nakedness. Cain would not have been aware of the wickedness of murdering his brother Abel.

Jewish people around the world study the entire Torah every year. These studies are broken down into weekly segments called the parasha, which is a small section of the five books of Moses. The parasha is also broken down further into daily readings.

While there is no mandated method of learning for bnai Noah, studying the weekly parasha is a time tested, manageable system of study for everyone. My thanks again to Rabbi Kurinsky for allowing me to include you in his weekly Torah class.

This week's parasha is called Masei which covers Numbers 33:1-36:13

"These are the journeys of the Children of Israel, who went forth from the land of Egypt according to their legions, under the hand of Moses and Aaron. Moses wrote their goings forth according to their journeys at the bidding of Hashem, and these were their journeys according to their goings forth..." Numbers 33:1-2

The parasha proceeds to document the journeys in order to demonstrate Hashem's kindness. While they were called "journeys" they were actually stops along the way out of Egypt to the promised land.

When Moses sent a team to spy out the land of Israel, most of the spies came back with a negative report. As punishment for impugning Hashem's gift, the Jewish people were made to "wander" for forty years in the desert. It was during this time that the Jewish people were completely dependent on the kindness of Hashem, and never lacked for food, water or clothing.

The importance of recording these journeys was to record the miracles that took place daily, and miracles that were specific to each of the journeys in particular. These eye witness accounts and personal experiences are crucial to the credibility of the testimony of the Jewish people. There are no other explanations for our survival in the wilderness, no nearby cities with sources of water and indigenous, edible plant life. And so the Torah faithfully records that this miracle happened here and that miracle happened there, just as today we might record memorable events in a travel journal.

The Baal Shem Tov, founder of the Chassidic movement, teaches that the 42 travels are compared to the spiritual journeys incumbent upon us today. Our birth is compared to leaving Egypt, and is just the first of our journeys on this earth. The rest of our journeys include the necessary steps to free ourselves from the inclinations and challenges that separate us from Hashem, and enable us to bring g-dliness into the world. Rabbi Simon Jacobson enumerates these journeys on http://www.meaningfullife.com/.

So when our journeys feel like punishment, we can know that Hashem is always close by and that there is a purpose for every challenge. Study, prayer and miztvos (obeying Hashem's directives) are what will keep us connected to Hashem and will ultimately bring about the coming of Moschiach.

Again, Rabbi Kurinsky invites you to send him an email with any questions about this week's Torah class at nochum@bellsouth.net.