From Our Rabbi
From the Heart with Rabbi Liebowitz
Dear friends,
My sister Janice who lives in England has started to become a family archaeologist, that is to say, she is digging deeply into our family roots. She is a whiz at it, discovering documents long hidden and fairly revealing. (Yes, one skeleton or two that I would only share over a glass of wine if you are interested!) These finds included some Yiddish letters that were dusty and worn. Finding an expert Yiddishist to translate them was not as challenging as I had first thought. While not all that inexpensive it was worth it. Two of them resolved a debate over our Great Grandfather’s occupation. On his immigration paper he was listed as a Hebrew teacher. Memories fail and often become embellished. I remembered that he was not only a Hebraist but a Rabbi. Of course, my sister disagreed. As you can see from the two letters below, despite my aging memory, I was vindicated. The first letter, a poem from the student of my great grandfather. The second is Great Grandfather’s poem which was an acrostic. As is traditional, often poets would use the letters of their name to configure one verse or line after another. The Sabbath bride verses Lecha Dodi is an acrostic spelling out Shlomo Ha-Levi. (Solomon the Levite) Various psalms also employ acrostics as does the Book Lamentations in the Bible. Such was the case of the poem he wrote back to his student. It was signed Rabbi Binyamin Budafsky.
Rabbis start to think about the High Holy Days in July. The first poem from his student contains a High Holy blessing. From his time to ours. From the students of my Great Grandfather Binyamin to you and yours. A wonderful summer! A wonderful year to come!
Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz, D.D.
From the Heart With Rabbi Liebowitz
Dear Friends,
As I am preparing to teach a mini-course on God (a fairly broad subject p. 5), I have come to see how glibly folks toss about the idea of the Divine being responsible for blessings. Curious assertions such as “I prayed to God and the tornado in my town spared my home!” or “God has blessed me all the days of my life!” (a favorite of televangelists) or when I was watching the suspenseful moon landing, my devout Christian boss said, “They will land only if God wants them to! Not the science of course or Armstrong’s skill as a pilot made the difference. This antique view of course is matched by a series of curses that can also be traced to the Holy One. My favorite curse came from one-time presidential candidate and TV 700 Club evangelist Pat Robertson. When that awful Hurricane afflicted New Orleans claiming the lives of hundreds and causing untold pain to thousands of its citizens this Bible thumping self-appointed prophet claimed how God was displeased with the gay population in that city. Ergo, God’s curse-filled wrath poured forth. The fact that the neighborhoods inhabited by a largely gay presence was the least affected by the hurricane could only have meant that God had bad aim.
In the cited quote from the Seven Beggars written by Rabbi Nachman of Bratislav, a young couple is visited every day for a week by a well-meaning man with a deformity. One could not see, another was blind, one more was lame, and so forth. But, each brought with him a blessing which could be traced to making what would seem to be a curse into something good. The blind man claimed he could now see with his heart and the deaf man better understood the cries of the world. He cleverly noted as well in his narrative how too many blessings can become a curse. Ergo, “There was much muchness!”
The Jewish view of the flip side of blessings, curses, is informative. Under the category of “If you don’t laugh then you will cry!” Yiddish folklore absorbs life’s pains with a touch of whimsy making our sufferings more tolerable. Here are a few of my favorite curses that one might wish to have inflicted on an adversary.
May all your teeth fall out but one – and may that one have a tooth ache!
May you win the lottery – and spend it all on hospital expenses!
May you prosper selling candles and then may the sun never set!
May you be like a chandelier – hang by day and burn by night!
Summertime and the living is easy – so we hope and pray that whatever burdens you have you will take heart from the Yiddish proverb. “God gives us burdens, but he also gives us shoulders to carry them!”
Blessings only to you and yours, Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz, D.D.
Join Rabbi Liebowitz for his Lifelong Learning Course at Wofford College.
Does God have a body? Is God able to create a stone too heavy for himself or herself to lift? Is He/She male, female or hermaphroditic? Does he have a wife, a husband? A significant other? Throughout the centuries religious traditions from east to west have depicted the Divine in moving and troubling ways. Questions about Divine justice, omnipotence, omniscience, transcendence and immanence are but a few of the concerns addressed. Not for the weak of spirit or minds and hearts that are closed! Students will need to purchase: The Life of God (as Told by Himself) Paperback – November 8, 1997, by Franco Ferrucci (Author, Translator), Raymond Rosenthal (Translator) 4.1 out of 5 stars.
Fee: $21.00
Dates: 6/6/2022 – 6/27/2022
Times: 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Days: M
Max Enrollment: 30
Building: Central Methodist Church Room: Upper Room
Instructor: Yossi Liebowitz
*Register by June 6*
From the Heart with Rabbi Liebowitz
Rav Kook wrote in Orot (Orot Yisrael 3:3, p. 146):
“Bonding with a Tzaddik, in order that the force of being of the Tzaddik’s soul should influence the imperfect soul [of the follower] is a very respectable matter in the process of spiritual growth. However, it requires great caution. If the follower should err regarding a Tzaddik and cling to his inner essence, he will also be adhering to his faults. These blemishes may sometimes be more detrimental to the follower than to the original soul [of the Tzaddik].”
Dear Friends,
Elon Musk, Will Smith, Johnny Depp, the Kardashians – these are but a few of the names that occupy the attention of our social media. From Elon Musk who is twittering about with free speech, to Will Smith whose slap was seen and heard around the world to Johnny Depp who domestic life is paraded before us to the Kardashians who, as the quip would have it are famous for being famous – all these really have little, if anything to do with my life. And yet, the energy expended in focusing on them is as baf- fling as it is inane. The above quote offers some perspective on our celebrity culture and its incessant preoccupation with personality.
Having just emerged from our Passover celebra- tions it is remarkable to note that the traditional Haggadah hardly mentions Moses if at all; such was our heritage’s posture to emphasize a focus on God and not on an intermediary. Other faiths depend greatly on extolling and imitating the virtues of ancient worthies as the central path to meaning and even salvation. Such was not our Jewish inclination.
The Rabbi of my youth, Rabbi Feinstein played down his role as exemplar. A modest man, he would quip; “Don’t do what the Rabbi does but what the Rabbis have taught us to do!” Our culture is one that is built on distraction, pointing us to consider such things and personages which have so little to do with our inner spiritual lives. I am as much a political junkie as anyone and yet, I have come to realize how very draining the news has become. No sooner is an election over then the prognostications of the future contests begin. We are polled to exhaustion.
Often lost in the holiday Spring observances is the counting of the Omer which begins on the second day of Passover; a forty-nine-day observance that is concluded with the holiday of Shavuot. Shavuot, one of our three ancient pilgrimage festivals (Passover and Sukkot being the other two) is both an observance of gratitude for the spring growth and the sustenance so pro- vided, and an historical reminder of Matan To- rah, the giving of Torah at Sinai. In no small way the holiday of freedom, Passover is only Act I of this seven-week experience. That experience begins with expressing gratitude for freedom and concludes with a clarification that freedom is meaningless without the bounds of Tradition and observance. The mystics of our heritage impelled us to engage in a deep meditative review of our spiritual inner selves. Much of it was based on the Kabbalistic tree of life and its review of the aspects of the Divine.
So many Jews of my generation and before has sought spirituality elsewhere, perhaps because our communities have failed to communicate in these deeper spiritual pursuits – emphasizing culinary Judaism over prayer and study of Torah. One Shavuot tradition impels Jews to this day to stay up and study Torah all night long until morning, this to make up for what was the neglect of our ancestors at Sinai – they fell asleep as the Ten Commandments were being given.
This season provides us with a challenge and a gift to wake up to our inner selves and our connections to the Holy One of Being.
B’Shalom
Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz, D.D.
Book Night!
Date and time TBA
The discussion will be about the book Off the Edge, by Kelly Well. The book is available on Amazon in these formats: hardcover, audio, and kindle. Click Here to Purchase
In every generation a person should see themselves as if they were personally redeemed from Egypt! (Haggadah)
Dear Friends,
My father, alav Hashalom (May he rest in peace!) conducted the family seder. Though not religious he did an decent job and repressed his annoyance when his wife, my mom aleha Hashalom (May she rest in peace!) would complain at his sly attempts to skip over various parts of the traditional Haggadah. One time as my father was complaining about wanting to get on with the meal the very next words he had to read were: “and the evil son says: When do we get to eat already?” thus hoisting himself by his own petard much to the amusement of all gathered. Whatever discomfiture dear dad experienced was certainly lessened by the slivovitz that he generously imbibed dulling both his senses and leadership skills. We were aware of the progression of the seder when the yarmulke he sported would slowly but surely make its way from the back of his head to the front of his brow, a precious comical image which remains in my heart and head.
The Passover seder is unique and the many iterations of the Haggadah speak to the wonder of its messages. To name but a few creative ones:
~The Feminist Haggadah (Shechinah – the feminine Devine presence is intoned)
~The Eco Haggadah (noting our task to liberate the environment from humanity’s excesses)
~The Adoption Haggadah (for adopted children who search in vain for their biological parents— Moses was adopted!)
~The Velveteen Rabbit Haggadah (with its different mixes of new age language and customs).
~The libertarian Haggadah (Let’s not leave out those to the pollical right of the spectrum).
~The DIY Haggadah (for the creatively minded “I want my own personal stamp!”)
~The ten-minute Haggadah (for those with ADD or simply for those who have what my father called shpilchus in tuchus, ants in your pants— though that is not the exact translation – call me
if you want an exact rendering ) And many, many more!
Which do you prefer? You may not know it but the traditional Haggadah (and there are many which are claimed to be the real one) does not include Moses, this to diminish any idea of a intermediary between you and God. It is a bit shocking. It is as if you took out all the scenes with Charlton Heston in Cecil B DeMille’s
The Ten Commandments.
Of late I have come to understand the greater importance of the seven-week counting of the Omer which concludes with the holiday of Shavuot (Remembering Sinai and the giving of the Torah along with the celebration of the first fruits of the land). In some ways, they constitute one big holiday of nearly two months in length, a time of meditation and inspiration. By way of analogy, it would be like observing Rosh Hashanah and forgetting about its conclusion Yom Kippur. In this case, it is celebrating freedom without considering the impact of Torah commitment, for freedom is not an absolute but entails responsibilities.
As your Seders are upon you, I hope the precious memories of those who helped laid the foundation of your lives will come to mind. I hope as well that you will create for yourselves and for those coming after you ever new memories to be cherished.
A sissen and a kosher Passover,
Rabbi Yossi Liebowitz D.D.
Ukraine Then and Now: Prophetic Poem Written by Shalom Gershtein, Rabbi Liebowitz’s Grandfather
This is poem written by Rabbi Liebowitz’s grandfather, a Hebrew poet and teacher who escaped from Ukraine over 100 years ago. This poem could have been written today.
To my teacher Joseph and to my sister-in-law Mrs. Golda with eternal love, I send this picture. It is very difficult for me to bear the sadness of my separation.
Three years we were persecuted
Like sheep devoured by wolves were our own brethren. On Ukrainian soil our brothers’ blood was spilt like water And there was no one left with any spirit.
We were petrified
For we were led like sheep to the slaughter.
Everywhere. We fled from the sword.
We were wounded, no part of our body saved…
The wood and everything in it were filled with their greatness That was a delight for our foes
Children from their fathers were lost
Since with fear they used to run to find shelter.
They were trembling, often losing their minds.
In vain was there hope.
Meanwhile, every day our brothers fell like flies in a frosty weather.
Never had our souls found rest from hard labor.
Hunger and thirst caressed our souls.
Till they dropped to the ground-our little ones.
Our cry was a cry of the poverty stricken.
Our eyes were shedding tears like…after heavy rain and dew. We raised our eyes to the mountains
And there was no one to plead for us.
‘God, you have forsaken us.’
Neighbours and friends betrayed us.
Who is there for us to turn to for help?
Who will support us in time of distress?
We left our homeland, our clothes-and little money were taken by evil folk.
And here we sit doing absolutely nothing.
And there is no work to find, not even to earn some water.
Shopkeepers give their goods on credit hoping to receive good payment later.
Everything costs manifold more.
And since there is no work we eat double as much. And we play the tune…
Why do I live, what do I need it for?
A poor man is a dead man.
Shalom Gershtein 1899-1926
Interfaith Alliance Spring Pilgrimage
As part of the Interfaith Alliance Spring Pilgrimage, Temple B’nai Israel is hosting a movie night with desserts on Sunday, April 24 at 6:00 pm.
Our guests will join in breaking the Passover fast from unleavened bread. We will reflect on the meaning of Passover with fellowship, Mimouna, and watching again the film “Joachim Prinz: I Shall Not Be Silent” on the role of Rabbi Joachim Prinz in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. Join us so that we may welcome our guests with a large attendance.
Please RSVP to the Temple.
The Interfaith Alliance invites you to join in a Spring Pilgrimage with the Abrahamic faiths in our community. Come to any of these celebrations of Lent, Easter, Passover, and Ramadan as we build community together. All are welcome.
The events below are at 12:00 pm on the specified dates:
March 30: Trinity UMC, 626 Norwood St.
April 6: St. James UMC, 213 N. Lanford Rd.
April 13: silver Hill UMC, 778 John B. White, Sr. Blvd.
Other Events:
April 10 Palm Sunday: First Presbyterian Church at 6:00 pm, 393 E. Main St. A Musical Meditation on Lent and Easter
April 23: St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church at 11:15 pm to 1:30 am, 697 Asheville Hwy. Easter Vigil
Date and Time to be Announced: Islamic Society of Spartanburg, 377 Successful Way
During the month of Ramadan, April 2—May 2, join in a weekend evening meal to break the Ramadan fast with the Islamic Society.
Contract for Selling Chametz 5782
Prohibition of Chametz
On Pesach it is prohibited to possess chametz (leaven). All chametz that will not be eaten or burned before Pesach must be sold to a non- Jew. All chametz utensils that will not be thoroughly cleaned by then, and are stored away in closets or rooms while preparing for Pesach. The storage area is locked or tape-shut, and leased to a non-Jew at the time of the sale. There are many legal intricacies in this sale, thus, only a competent rabbi should be entrusted with its execution. The rabbi acts as our agent both to sell the chametz to the non-Jew on the morning before Pesach starts and also to buy it back the evening after Pe- sach ends. Locking your chametz away and giving your Rabbi
the Signed Chametz Contract is an easy way of observing one of the most important laws in the Torah. (Contract follows below). Chametz which remains in the possession of a Jew over Pesach may not be used, eaten, bought or sold even after Pesach. It is customary to give tsedaka in the performance of this Mitzvah.
I, the undersigned, fully empower and permit Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz to act in my place and stead, and on my behalf to sell all Chametz possessed by me, knowingly or unknowingly as defined by the Torah and Rabbinic Law (e.g. Chametz, possible Chametz, and all kinds of Chametz mixtures). Also Chametz that tends to harden and adhere to inside surfaces of pans, pots, or cooking utensils, the utensils them- selves, and all kinds of live animals and pets that have been eating Chametz and mixtures thereof. Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz is also em- powered to lease all places wherein the Chametz owned by me may be found, particularly at the address listed below, and elsewhere.
Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz has full right to appoint any agent or substi- tute in his stead and said substitute shall have full right to sell and lease as provided herein. Rabbi Yossi J. Liebowitz also has the full power and right to act as he deems fit and proper in accordance with all the details of the Bill of Sale used in the transaction to sell all my Chametz, Chametz mixtures, etc., as provided herein.
Signed: ______________________________________________ Date: ______________
Name: ________________________________________________ Address/es: __________________________________________ ______________________________________________________ City/ State/ Zip Country: ____________________________