Judiaism

Friday July 3, Parashat Balak

In this week’s torah portion, Balak, King Balak and the people of Moab, fear the Children of Israel. Balak requests that the prophet Balaam to curse the Children of Israel so that their military forces will be weakened, and they will not be able to defeat the Moabite army.

King Balak requests that the prophet appear twice—but Balaam does not respond. The third time Balaam opens his mouth and instead of cursing the Israelites he speaks the words that begin our morning worship: Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov- mishkinotecha Yisrael…”How beautiful are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, o Israel…” It is an amazingly fascinating story of poor leadership, bad judgement, or just desperation that causes the king to attempt the same solution and to fail again and again and again.

We are often caught in the “Balak trap.” Trying to do the same thing again and again and expecting different results. What are examples of this syndrome? Well—weight loss plans. Every January 1- the beginning of the secular New Year- we are bombarded by advertisements on television, radio, and the internet telling us that THIS is the diet to help you lose those 5, 10, 15 kilos. And of course when you lose those kilos, you will be happier, friendlier, and more successful—just like the smiling models in the commercials who I am sure have never dieted a day in their lives.

So you try the diet: Paleo, Keto, Intermittent Fasting, the No White Foods Diet, Hi Carb, Low Fat, Vegan, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, Low-Carb, Atkins…and what happens? You start the diet and withing a few weeks your back to eating ice cream sitting on the couch. And you feel terrible. It is the “Balak Effect”- trying the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result (Some claim that Einstein called this the definition of insanity- but there is no evidence he actually said it).

When we drive in Tel Aviv, we are victims of the “Balak Effect.” We are driving looking for parking spots and we go around the block just “one more time” because this is the time that the Car Space Genii is going to magically clear a space for us. And around and around in circles we go searching for that elusive parking spot.

The “Balak Effect” extends beyond the personal and into the arena of public policy and international affairs. Here in Israel and much of the Middle East we are mired in a “Balak Effect” of violence triggering violence that only triggers more violence. A “Balak Effect” far more deadly than a weight loss program---but the basic theorem is the same

How do we extricate ourselves from this circle seemingly without end? How do end bad decision making or the inability to make decisions at all and instead feel like we are running incircles with one foot stapled to the floor?

I cannot prescribe a precise way for you to exit the “Balak Effect” -as all of us are different. But I can share with you how I have escaped from this. When we are driving and looking for that non-existent parking spot—we make a turn. It sounds simple—but it totally reorients you and puts you (and the car) in a different place.

What about the elusive quest for peace here in the Middle East? Why has this never succeeded? In my estimation, it is because the lead players have hardly changed, and no new thinking has ever taken place. Our politicians and diplomats have never made that turn. They have never stopped the usual way of thinking and exited the circle.

And changes do not happen overnight. They occur little by little. Slowly you realize to turn down the other street. Gradually you might understand how a different way of approaching food and nutrition is more advantageous than a new fad diet.In the bestselling book “Atomic Habits” by James Clear the author explains how it is this little steps- one at a time- that add up to big change. We can stop the “Balak Effect”—we just have to start one step and one day at a time.

This Shabbat take a moment to reflect on what changes can you undertake? And what can you do step by step moment by moment.

Shabbat Shalom

Cantor Evan Kent

Beth Shalom


Shabbat Nitzavim September 27, 2019

Shehecheyanu V’keyamanu V’higianu La-zeman Ha-zeh. Blessed are You, Sovereign God who has given us life, who has sustained us and who has enabled us to reach this day.

This is the berachah, the benediction for new beginnings. It is the blessing Judaism prescribes for the ‘firsts’ in our lives. For the eating of first fruits. For the wearing of a new garment. It is the perfect benediction for Rosh Hashanah.

At the turning of the new year, it is life that preoccupies us. Again and again at this season, we pray: Zocreinu L’chayim – Remember us unto life, O Sovereign who delights in life and inscribe us in the Book of Life, O God of Life.

The philosopher Ortega y Gasset once wrote: “In birth, we are like sleep walkers thrust upon the stage. Then life becomes a problem that must continually be resolved.” Truly, none of us asks to be born. Life is something that originates outside of the self. But for the Jew, life is not a problem. It is gift. It is windfall. It’s winning the lottery. It is a blessing to be savored, celebrated and appreciated to the fullest. Though to be sure this is an orientation towards being not always easy to sustain.

Life can certainly present us with any number of difficulties and challenges. Woody Allen once wrote that his great regret in life was that he was not born someone else, and I suspect that is a malady that afflicts all of us at one time or another. Where is the person completely content with the shape of his or her age, body, bank balance, IQ? We look at what other people have, their achievements and good fortune and we too begin to wish that we had been born someone else.

The Rabbis ask, “Who is the wealthy one?” Their answer, “The person who is content with his or her portion in life.”

By that standard the wealthiest man I ever met was a man named Bud Fisher. Though his life had seen its share of trouble, Bud was happy. Happy to have been born a little boy. Happy to have his given name, which was really Julius. Happy to grow up in his family of origin, in his town, to have gone to his school. He was happy to have worked in the food business. Happy to have married and have raised his children. Happy to have pursued his vocation and avocations. Towards the end of his life, Bud suffered a series of increasingly more debilitating heart attacks, but - to his doctors’ amazement - Bud just kept on living. He explained it this way. “In the Torah, in the beginning, God saw all that was made and ‘it was good.’ Well, that’s the way God and I look at my life, and we both intend I should keep living it just as long as I possibly can.”

In the beginning, God saw all that was made v’hinay tov m’ohd - and behold it was very good. I think that is the way God feels when any and all of us come into being. If we could just hold onto God’s estimation of our life then we might be more able to pick up with hands of appreciation the gifts and blessings that are ours to enjoy.

Yes, life can be challenging which is why at this season we lift the glass and wish our loved ones and friends a good and sweet year. And we do so with the words, L’chaim. L’chaim. To life.

Shabbat Shalom and I wish you a shanah tovah u’metukah

Rabbi Whiman