BeToch HaSadeh

Hodu laHashem ki tov, ki le'olam chasdo!

I am happy to announce that if you make it to the last day of the sfarim sale at Y.U. today, you'll find my book at the check out counter. I only got the book myself this week. At the end of the week I made a gentle attempt to get in to the sfarim sale. But I didn't try hard. Today I filled my Y.U.N.M.U.N. messenger bag with books and went to the sale. I made my way to the head of the sale and by the end of our talk, a deal was made, the labels were on, and the book was on display. It's at a one time only sale price. If you found it at the sale let me know. Enjoy.

Two take center stage

your wisdom, the work of G-d

experience, life

This is the original picture that is now the cover photo of my book. This shows the circle around the field which you don't see in full glory on the cover. For ten years I served as rabbi at Camp Isabella Freedman. I'd get there via the Metro-North train to Wasaic, New York. That was forty five minutes away from the retreat center. Someone would pick me up. One time on the way, my colleague told me there was a view I had to see. This was it. I was, and remain amazed - not maybe, but definitely.

Besides the Y.U. sfarim sale (till 11 PM tonight) you can get the book from me, or at lulu.com.

Somewhere In Time

Garisson Keilor said once, during his review of his week in Lake Wobegone, that every story happens at all times. It's true. I'd add that some people are more sensitive to the fact that the past is the present. What will happen has happened. To put it bluntly - somewhere in time ex-lovers are courting, old men are being born, and the dead are doing their old dance (the one that you loved and hated at the same time). Barry Lichtenberg wrote a piece about this that ripped my heart out. I'm honored today to say that Barry is a fan of me and my poetry, and is a true friend. His wife Sandy is a sweetheart, someone I connect with, and if she can she might review my book.

My book was written over a lifetime. I remember about 8 years ago talking to friend in the publishing industry about making a haiku book of my work. She agreed that one on a page was the way to go. Then the blog started. And the haiku kept appearing like scattered bricks. Then a dear friends surprised me with a labor of love, a laboriously, hand made beautiful book of hundreds of my poems - each one in a cloud floating atop another, on another on a long - graphically designed in an original and tasteful manner - perfect page. Seeing that made me cry like a baby; the bricks were made into a castle. I kept going back to my longer poems though, when I thought of a book, often. I loved my haiku, but I didn't love them enough. I treated them like second class poems. I took a course, did well, almost paid the teacher to help me write a book of long poems. Instead, I came around and I wrote my haiku book - without him. Now that the haiku book is out, I'm thinking of committing to the longer book.

The book was delivered to me on Tuesday. It feels like a long time. It feels like a short time. It's time to give up on deciphering the mystery of time. Since it came out there have been gifts and sales and purchases. There have been effusive reactions and silent one. One experienced and brilliant maven of poetry gave me a hug and kiss and said, "Malechet machshevet." He explained what a teacher of his told him, that machshevet - thoughtfulness is compromised of two words - moach - brain, and shevet - the act of sitting. He said my work indicated that I had put in that combination of needed factors. His words were up there with what a dear colleague said to me - that what he liked best about the book was that I make it look easy. He knows it's not.

It's approaching 12:30 AM, time to go to sleep - though that doesn't always stop me from staying up. I need to/want to close up this post - though it could easily be the post that never ends. And really, waht does end? I am writing this in the basement of the house that I grew up in. It's a nice/cozy house, across the street from a gorgeous park.

Today would have been mom's 75th birthday. Somewhere in time my mother is frying breaded veal cutlets while the soundtrack of The King and I plays on the stereo. Somewhere in time I am in this basement, stealing some privacy for a phone talk with a high school crush. Somewhere in time we are all living The Life we're meant to, and somewhere in time we are living the life which is so real and imperfect that it becomes the perfect life that could only come from G-d.

Somewhere in time it is now. Now I have to go upstairs to the room I grew up in. It's time to go to sleep in the bed where as I child I spent hours putting on my own variety show in the spot light sponsored by The Rosenbergs of Next Door.

Somewhere in time

I have the right words and place

for you

An Old School, Mixed Bag, Blog Post

"The secret to success is to start from scratch

and keep on scratching."

~ Dennis Green

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You can order my book here.

Purchase In the Field: A Collection of Haiku with 15% off with coupon code IDES305

You can also order it from me directly.

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RSR Hirsch says that we're told after the time of Kayin that music was created, because music is all mood and the mood of the world had to change. I think of this when I listen to music to soothe my mood.

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Breishit Trivia

1. Who invented musical instruments?

2. Name two women described in Breishit as having their faces covered with a veil.

3. Name someone who was not one of the Avot or Imahot whose name was changed in Sefer Breishit.

4. Name three people described one way or another as a son born from old age (some variation of ben zekunim).

5. Two pairs of brothers who hugged and fell on each other's necks and cried.

6. Name two people who said, "Am I in the role of G-d (tachat Elokim)?"

7. 7 days of wedding celebration. 7 days of mourning.

8. Where do we see the example set that it's proper to ask a woman if she wishes to marry a man rather than assume on her behalf?

9. Other than Avraham, who ran to greet a guest? (It's not Lot)

10. When does Yaakov say that an angel should/will bless his descendants? (It's not when he wrestles the malach of Eisav)

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Tonight I watched a fascinating movie. I know a bit more than I used to about Yiddish theater. I know a lot more than I used to about the Burstyn family. When I was a kid I remember everyone making a big deal that an Israeli got the lead in Barnum, the Broadway show. I didn't know his lineage. I din't know his father was a superstar and his mother was a star too (and his twin sister, in her youth). The movie's called The Komediant. I highly recommend it.

Haiku For You (Plural, Plural) II

My haiku writing has influenced friends.

I said to one friend of mine when he wrote me some haiku that I saw that he started writing and sharing haiku and he said, "No, I've started writing and sharing haiku with you."

Here's another that a friend - who still insists he's not a poet - wrote about staying fresh:

"Kekedem," yes please

We can all use some newness

lest we grow stale

I woke up today to this profound haiku-wish from a dear friend:

When you look within

I hope you see the beauty

That all your friends see

Here's mine for this morning:

What does home mean?

David sat in G-d's home

Wherever he was

In The Field By Neil Fleischmann

My book is available for purchase. You can buy it directly from me for ten dollars. It will soon be available via online vendors - stay tuned. I am grateful to G-d and to all who helped make this happen. "Zeh hayom asah Hashem nagilah venismechah bo" - This is the day G-d made; let us rejoice and be happy in it."

Only G-d Can Make Snow Covered Branches

I love snow on branches; two wonders of nature meeting. My friend Shelley B. loves it too, and likes showing her fifth grade students how you can easily portray snow on a tree branch using chalk and and a blackboard. I took these photos today a few steps from my home. Thank G-d.

Yeshiva University Wittenberg Wrestling Tournament

This weekend was the YU sponsored wrestling tournament for yeshivah high schools. I spent a while there on Sunday and today. Several of my students were in it.

Pictured here is a group picture. Next is my dear student Jake Zak, whom I have the merit to teach eight plus periods this year. He won his weight class (with two quick pins) and is seen here receiving his medal.

Next there are the trophies, the crowd, and the wrestling.

This final shot is Daniel Rabban in action. He went on to win his weight class in that championship match.

Thank G-d For What Is Not Lost

An old joke just happened to me. I was walking up to my apartment and couldn't find my keys. I prayed to G-d, "Please, please, please," and then there they were right in my pocket. My first reaction was to just move on, then I said, "Thank you G-d."

The story goes that a mind drove around the street 6 times and said, "G-d if you find me a parking spot I'll be a better person." On his next circle he found a spot immediately and said, "Don't worry about it G-d - I found one on my own."

Above is a scan of the slip case that comes with the new Artscroll siddur. It's a lovely siddur, much more attractive due to nicer font and typeset and cover than the original. I am pleased that during winter break I bought a big box full of them and brought them into the school where I teach. I had dreamt for some time of offering siddurim in honor of my mother's memory. In the end of January I made it happen. One student asked me if I want him to think anything special when he uses the siddur that is dedicated in my mom's memory. Wow. I just want people to daven in a meaningful way.

Kavei El HaShem

"The verse states, 'Hope to Hashem, strengthen yourself, and He will give you courage, and hope to Hashem.' (Tehillim 27:14). Why is "hope to Hashem" repeated? Because our initial hopes may be those that emanate from our physical selves rather than from our neshamah. The psalmist tells us that after we hope and pray to Hashem, we should strengthen ourselves to overcome our physical desires, so that we can then hope for what we really need:spiritual achievements."

- Rabbi Abraham Twerski,

excerpt from his answer to the question,

"What does one hope for at 80?"

(Gevurah: My Life, Our World, and

the Adventure of Reaching 80, pg. 273)

A Minchah Offering

Someone googled minchah offering and landed on this poem. I'd forgotten that I had written it.

It's the middle of the work day

A time ill-suited for prayer

Kind of like a coffee break

Mid performance of a bypass

`

Early morning, late night

We make time and pray

In the vein of exercise or

other early and late musts

2

But the Minchah Amidah's

Against the grain interruption

Standing still in the afternoon

Let's admit how awkward it is

t

t

I'm in the middle of a life-span

(Almost comically, so called)

An unpopular time to pause

Pen poems, hum new tunes

3

In my youth, in my old age

It was, will be O.K. to play

Like my not driving a car

my lacking a power position

3

In what's called mid-life

Running is all the rage

Yet I'm thrilled to sit and

Share this poem with you

"If we accept that we will not always feel loving to the people we love, then anything is possible." - Brad Hirschfield

In 2007 a friend of mine attended a book signing of Brad Hirschfeld. His book, You Don't Have To Be Wrong For Me To Be Right had just come out and my friend, kindly gifted me with a signed copy. I tried but was never pulled in by this work - until a few nights ago when it jumped off the shelf and a piece of it struck me.

(Don't feel bad, my apprehensiveness about books and videos - especially when expressed on this blog - seems to be a good luck charm. Several years ago I was sent a book about Yiddish witticisms for free in order to review it. It was not to my taste. I chose to write nothing about it. Next thing I knew it went into paperback, the author got a regular column based on the book in a major newspaper, he followed it up with a sequel, and then a best selling novel. In December I received a heads up about a Chanukah video and asked to post about it on my blog. I found the video to be lacking in spiritual umph, and it didn't work for me. I linked to it, and wrote that I hope my readers may like it - even though it wasn't to my taste. [A friend of mine thinks he's brilliant for using the phrase "not to my taste" when he says he doesn't want to date someone again - I'm not sure it's the cleverest of phrases or fits so well for his purposes, but it'll do here just fine]. The video went viral and the singing group became celebrities).

I flipped through Hirshfield's book and fatefully started reading a section that caught my eye. He contends that in a marriage, despite the fact that you - hopefully - feel love for that person there will be times where you do not feel love toward them, rather you feel unloving. He plugs this in to his own life, speaking openly about differences between himself and his wife. The contrast between their personalities came to a boil when they learned that one of their children was ill. He worried and cursed aloud. His wife was thankful to G-d that it wasn't worse. Generally, they each have their way of seeing things and have trouble getting how the other sees things. He suggests that this is not only OK, but the way things are supposed to be.

Hirschfeld is grateful to his father who taught him that "you love people not because of certain things, but despite certain things." He adds that "the paradoxical nature of love is such that if our expectations of those we love are too idealized, it's unlikely that we'll be able to sustain even realistic long-term relationships. If our expectations are more realistic, on the other hand, then we have a shot at reaching our ideals."

He ties this into a line from the Torah:

"Ezer k'negdo, Genesis says of Adam's future companion, Eve. These words are persistently mistranslated from the Hebrew into English in all the different versions of the Bible...The literal translation of ezer k'negdo is "a helper who is against him." Is this a mistake? I don't think so. Every human relationship has its moments of hurt. Even in the most loving of marriages, it is always the case that the partners will hurt each other. To marry is hard - as each of us who has married has discovered. President George W. Bush was fond of saying, "People are either with us or against us." But I think Genesis is telling us that perhaps it is possible to be both at once."

"Adam was deeply lonely, and the being that satisfied his loneliness was also the source of many of his pains and problems. If he had settled for one of the animals as a life partner, something that rabbinic legend imagines as his first approach to his loneliness problem, he would probably never have had the kind of problems he had with Eve, and he would never have found his life's partner."

For me, this has provided, and I expect will continue to foster, much food for thought.

Julian Barnes is A Bright Guy

I bought Nothing To Be Frightened Of based on a memory of it garnering good reviews. Julian Barnes has made me laugh and shudder and I've only read the part of his book. He has a masterful way with words and with people in his writing; connecting dots and shuffling things in a way you wouldn't think of in a million years. Early on he tells two anecdotes about conversations with his brother. His brother remembers life differently than Julian does and has a way of implying that his version is the reality. Julian sums up the stories with this comment: "You perhaps can tell from these exchanges that he is the elder brother." It's not easy to make me cough out a hearty, knowing, loud chuckle.

"The Pascalian bet seems simple enough. If you believe, and G-d turns out to exist, you win. If you believe, and G-d turns out not to exist, you lose, but not half as badly as you would if you chose not to believe, only to find out after death that G-d does exist.

Here's another piece from the book that percolated my thoughts:

It is, perhaps, not so much an argument as a piece of self-interested position-taking worthy of the French diplomatic corps; though the primary wager, on G-d's existence, does depend on a second and simultaneous nature, on G-d's nature. What if G-d is not as imagined? What, for instance, if he disapproves of gamblers, especially those whose purported belief in Him is dependent on some acorn-beneath-the-cup mentality? And who decides who wins? Not us: G-d might prefer the honest doubter to the sycophantic chancer." - Nothing To Be Frightened Of, Julian Barnes, pg. 20

Did You Hear the One About The Rabbi-Comedian?

We are taught, "All your actions should be for the sake of Heaven." It's something to truly strive for. Those past two sentences just came out, from brain to fingers to screen. For the past hour plus I was planning on posting and I thought my opening would be, "Words can't describe it." I just returned from a gig in the Five Towns. It went well. When it goes well, there's nothing like doing stand up. It's a comedian thing, you wouldn't understand.

Still, I feel compelled to explain, or at least describe where I'm at. I just came from a performance. The organizer googled "funny rabbi" and found me. He wanted just me, but I convinced him a line up would be better. So the line up was me as emcee and performer along with the consummate comedians Richie Gold and Stu Trivax. I warmed up the crowd (which went pretty painlessly, considering what a hard and thankless job warming up can be) and did about ten minutes. Then Rich did about twenty. Then I did about ten more, Stu did about twenty and then I closed things up. The crowd really enjoyed, and we walked away feeling that it went well.

I loved the car ride home. We were all happy. We had just done something not everyone can do. There was ego involved and fragility. But there was also health. We had used our sparks to good effect. We brought joy to others. We raised money for a worthy charity. And we had a great shmooze about comedians.

A few years ago I posted the quote that I'm going to close this post with. At that time a reader pasted the last lines into his comment and added - "that's sad." I don't find it so sad. Seinfeld once said that as a kid he dreamt of being a superhero and that when he became a comedian that dream came true. I hope that in addition to fulfilling my need to perform and succeed at it that I am lesheim shamayim in bringing happiness to others. Enjoy the quote below, and as the great comic Red Skelton used to say at the end of his show, "Good night and G-d bless."

"You want to hear stupid? Major stupid? Stand up comic. You walk onto a bare stage absolutely alone, no comfort, no help, no script or actors to support you, no lyrics and music to give you life - just yourself saying your own words out of your own head, telling each person one on one, the weirdest corners of your psyche. And everybody is judging your personality, judging whether you are worthy of their money, whether you make them happy. When they do not laugh, that silence is a rejection of you personally, only you. Not your mother. Not your piano player - if you have one. A thousand people in a room are saying, "You stink. You're nothing."

h

But here's what is even more stupid. In order to get on that stage and walk that terrible tightrope, you struggle through years of humiliation and privation, feeling like the misfit of the world. For this job you have to be nuts, but it is the craziness that makes you funny, makes you obsessed with your career. It is craziness that makes you live for that hour facing an audience which can destroy you at any moment. Yet, those are the truly happy times in my life, riding the laughter higher and higher, feeling that euphoria, feeling washed in love." - Joan Rivers

It's moments before Shabbos.

I was blessed to be born into a Shomer Shabbos family.

Every Friday sunset of my life has been like this.

The soul changes at dusk.

Shabbos descends from Heaven with flowers in her hand.

She never forgets.

Everything changes on Friday night.

Like a baby that can't stop crying we need to be cooed to and soothed,

"It's OK - stop running.

It's O.K. - Shabbos is here.

It's O.K."

Good Shabbos.

The Eleventh Commandment

Four days ago, on Shabbos, I was immersed in the topic of humor in the Jewish community. The rabbi of the shul, Rabbi Elly Krimsky commented to me about how rabbis/people need to have a valve, provided by humor, so that they don't take themselves too seriously. His comment brought this poem to mind:

The Eleventh Commandment

By Samuel Adelman

Sam Gibson was his name,

A Christian who taught me well;

A bright eyed octogenarian,

Of whose wisdom I now tell.

Young was I, in self esteem,

Filled with visions bright;

But the brightest of all of them,

Was that of being right.

One day I pouted before him,

My tales of woe and hurt;

The frustrations of this rabbi,

Whose words were so much dirt.

Sadly he looked into my eyes,

And nodded his hoary head;

"The trouble son, is your lack of faith,"

His sharp tongue to me said.

"You're quickly dispossessing yourself

Of earth as well as heaven,

Because you have disobeyed

G-d's commandment number eleven.

"Hold on, Sam, I know full well

What G-d gave to men;

The number that I recall

Is no more than ten!"

"Silly boy, wrong you are,

Now you give ear to me;

The one that I refer to says:

Take not thyself so seriously.

"For men to turn in faith to you,

As is your hope and dream,

You'll have to drop your image of,

Your arrogant self esteem.

"So hear me and I assure,

You'll find a place in Heaven;

When you've learned to obey

Commandment number eleven."

Mid Day Work Post

I have 2 posts I'm in the middle of, can't finish now. Ever? Hope so. There's about five minutes till I start my first of five Torah Guidance meetings in a row. I have been thinking lately (lately?) about balance. It's the key to life. Idealism vs. practicality. There are a lot of barracudas out there, to use a friend's word. And yet (to use Nicole Krause' full sentence). Waiting for the tough people to change is not helpful. And becoming crooked like others is wrong. And yet. And yet. And yet. There's got to be the kind of balance for all of us that Yaakov achieved. Here was an Ish Tam who dealt with manipulative and murderous people and lived to shep nachas from a whole holy family. Yesterday I wrote an F.I.T. recommendation - I hope the student gets in. I also feel like saying I wouldn't mind if she says thank you. I prepared a 30 question/answer review sheet for a class for tomorrow. Today we had a good discussion about what tests are. The Rashbam says that when it says G-d tested Avraham with the Akeida it means He caused him discomfort, not that He tested him the way we think of it. Rashbam sees it as punishment for what came right before - the treaty with Avimelech. The question came up - what does Rashbam do with the chazal statement regarding 10 tests. I say he accepts it. Chazal also say that we tested G-d in the desert ten times, more than testing we provoked Him. Maybe, the Rashbam is saying that nisayon is provocation.

Adam Abergel and Jillian Shapiro just came in for our meeting. Good day.

Haiku of the Day

By Rabbi Neil Fleischmann (as always)

We live as we speak

We say, "Good day" to a friend

We live to wish well

Mom and Her Dear Friend Lillian Bartel

The other day I was looking for my cousin Lewis' email address. I found it in an email from my mom - OBM - which had the address of her friend Lill (Lillian) on the list. I reached out to Lillian, who had taught with my mom at P.S. 20 in the Bronx. Below are a couple of excerpts from her rich response.

Hi Neil,

It has taken me a week to answer your e-mail. All week I've been thinking about my reply. Nothing really stands out, except that we had been friends for over 50 years. In that time line we shared weddings, births, etc. . To this day I wait for her call, "So what's new?" Or, "You can't pick up the phone?"


...When your Mom and Dad came to me I would go to the Kosher deli and the serve them right out of the wrappings on paper plates. After my divorce your mom was one person who kept watch over me. Others cut me off.


For many years I was a Lay Assisting Minister. I helped at mass, I chanted part of the service, said prayers and anything else the Minister thought I could do. I can't do this anymore, because the altar has steps that I find hard to go up and down. I am still active in the church. This past year I have had so serious health problems. Anew tech pace maker has turned things around for me. So I can climb steps with out panting. Hope this helps a little.


Fondly, Lill

Gut Vuch (GNAGB Haiku Included)

Had a wonderful Shabbos in Stamford Connecticut, decided to stay over tonight. The Rabbi and Rebbetzin Krimsky are talking with a guest doing the post op review. They have the cutest little boy. (He's a year and a half old and is sitting on my lap on and off, watching Barney and enjoying a horsey ride as I go back and forth between playing with him and adding to this post). It was a singles event and I was the speaker at Shalosh Seudos and opened for Marc Weiner after Shabbos. He is a master. I told him after that I liked a joke that I heard him tell on Pesach years ago. He didn't think it was his line, but I know it was. He believed me. I told him he should take it back, he appreciated that, and took me up on the offer. Maybe you'll hear him tell it on Pesach. It was a thrill to open for him and even a bigger thrill that he liked my act. The Shalosh Seudos was well received and that makes me happy because I think the ideas I shared are important, and because I like when I'm well received.

I liked the rabbi's talk this morning. I don't know about you but a speaker doesn't have very long before I buy in or check out. Rabbi Elly Krimsky started with "When I grew up," which got my attention. He continued with "I was only allowed to watch TV if it was PBS, and even then - only certain shows." It was looking good. He went on to talk about how much he enjoyed Mr. Rogers and how he vividly recalled "the costume changes." That was his intro for a drashah about the importance of clothing, highlighted in Parshat Tetzaveh by the special requirements for the clothing of the kohein. He spoke of the Hebrew homonyms ohr (with an aleph)and ohr (with an ayin). When it says that G-d made clothes for Adam and Chavah it says he made ohrot for them, when could mean that he clothed them in light. Beged (garment) relates to the Hebrew word for rebellion, showing that clothing can be used that way. Also, beged uses the second, third, and fourth letters of the Aleph-Bet. Letter number one represents G-d, and this hints to the idea that through clothing ourselves appropriately we bring G-d in (or G-d forbid, vice versa). He also cited the Malbim, saying that with what we wear we clothe our souls. Rather than man being made by clothes, his point was that man makes clothes as a statement of how he views himself. He gave credit for many of his ideas to Rav Meir Goldvicht.

After kiddush R. Krimsky gave a little talk on Asher Yatzar. He said that Asher Yatzar is about the body and is followed in the morning by Elokai Neshamah, which is about the soul. I think often about the balance between body and soul. I was taught in my formative years that we are our soul and our bodies are just shells that one day will fall away. As R. Krimsky read through Elokai Neshamah in English it dawned on me that in this prayer we speak of our bodies as our selves. Clearly the "I am exclusively my soul" approach is incomplete.

In the same talk Rabbi Krimsky mentioned that when he was learning in Israel he was once discussing with a chavrusah why it is that in the morning (as opposed to before bread) we alternate the hands we wash, one pour at a time. Rav Nebenzahl passed by, overheard, and suggested that each hand is struggling to become pure now that the soul is returned, so we give both equal attention in terms of cleaning them up real nice asap.

It feels like Motzai Shabbos/Saturday night to me and that's why this post says says that it's Saturday night. Yet it's really early on Sunday morning and I have to cut myself off.

We each have our words

We each have our parting lines

Good night and G-d Bless

Mr. Laurel and Mr. Hardy Meet Mr. Santana

A tribute to Laurel and Hardy's talent, energy, grace.

Great Movie/Music

Beautiful. No?

Parent Teacher Meetings, In Vivo - Part Two

7:23 PM - Spoke with parents of about seven kids so far. It's an amazing zchut to be a part of people's lives. When i first started teaching (about twenty years ago) I was hesitant to give any kind of constructive criticism to parents regarding their children. I've learned a lesson over the years that applies to these meetings about students and to life at large: People appreciate concern and advice. You can express any idea you wish to if you do it kindly.

7:41 PM - A dear colleague and fellow blogger is sitting a table away. He came over to discuss blogging and to tell me about his newest site, and some things about his old site. Good stuff.

7:48 PM - Parent number eight just came by. It's nice to hear a student likes me, and speaks highly of my class.

8:04 PM - Parent number nine just visited.

8:07 PM - A colleague just walked to my table and said, "I hear you saying to parents that it was a pleasure talking to them. Do you really mean it (sic)?" Yes.

8:16 PM - Just told a mom that her son wins the mentschlichkeit award. I told her that even though his grades are very high his midot impress me even more. She is very proud, deservedly so.

8:50 PM - The total so far is fifteen. It has not been such a high number (the first conference had me meeting with parents of over seventy kids) and yet it has been a surprisingly steady flow.

I very much enjoy interfacing with parents, trying to be helpful. There are things I need to follow up on. To paraphrase Rabi Tarfon - the day (and night) is short and the work is great. My peers don't all feel the same way, but I came away from these meetings feeling energized. Parents are appreciative of my investment. At the end of the day (night) I like my job.

8:54 PM - It could happen, but I'd be surprised if I have any more conferences tonight.

Energy wanes

Hair that is brown turns to white

Another day ends

Another Day

In a few minutes parent-teacher meetings start and go till nine. Parents are discouraged from attending this one, unless there's an issue (as opposed to the early one where it's good for everyone to meet everyone). Usually a bunch of people come at their leisure early on and then the teachers sit and keep each other company till nine. It's always nice to interact with parents and to discuss the welfare of their kids.

Today (besides for four classes taught) was a busy Torah Guidance day. I had meetings with six kids. We spoke about life, always a good thing. You can tell there were a lot of people going through my office today by the high number of wrappers from Paskesz sour chews, as pictured above.

One Battle Won

There's only 15 best delegate awards for close to 500 kids.

So this was a nice win.

Here's a Frisch Model UN award winner, Jonathan Schwitzer, 2006. (On the back of the picture it says "one hour photo." Remember that long ago era?) Over the years we've gotten our share of awards. Every year our students are serious and invested. It's hard for me to say without worrying that I'll sound condescending, and yet I can't help but say how proud I am of them .

YUNMUN 2011 Part II

No blogging for me

No composing of haiku

No writing at all

For The Eleventh Time, I'm Chaperoning Model U.N.

Yesterday morning I headed out from my home near by Y.U. My colleague drove me to our school. I stopped by my main classroom. The Model UN bus picked us up and then we stopped Kushner and J.E.C. to get their delegations. Now I'm here.

"All stories take place at all times." Garrison Keillor, Prairie Home Companion, February 5, 2011

Amen

Putting G-d in the Center
By Rabbi Yaakov Bieler

When thinking about where Orthodox Jewish day schools might place renewed emphasis both curricularly as well as experientially, I would advocate that God and the manner in which an awareness of His Presence should impact all that we do should be made the central theme of all religious education initiatives.

If Avodat HaShem is the ultimate purpose of Judaism and Jewish belief, I am not sure that day schools are presently doing enough to nurture such a sensibility. While a symptom of the problem is the quality of Tefilla (prayer) that the average day school student engages in not only within the school precincts, but also on Shabbat, Yom Tov and during vacation times - if a student sensed a personal closeness to HaShem, his/her Tefilla per force would have to be serious and heartfelt - I believe that the manner in which the subject matter of the Shiurim that comprise roughly half of the dual curriculum is approached, also contributes to spiritual aridity.

TaNaCh, Tora SheB'Al Peh, Halacha and Hashkafa must all be perceived by teachers and students as so much more than mere examples of ancient literature and commentaries that comprise Jewish culture and tradition.While wishing our students to achieve literacy with regard to the texts and concepts of our heritage is an important goal for our educational institutions, nevertheless I would maintain that literacy must be understood as little more than a means to an end rather than an end in itself. Even if a student upon graduation can competently read, decode, analyze and comprehend Jewish primary and secondary texts, if s/he is devoid of spirituality and a sense of having a relationship with the Divine, then literally and figuratively "Ikar Chaser Min HaSefer" (the essence is missing from the text).

I have always been inspired not only in my personal study, but also in my teaching by the insight of R. Chayim Volozhin in his commentary Ruach Chayim: on Pirkei Avot 1:1 : "For when one engaged in the study of Talmud and Codes and Tosafot, and in his research and dialectical discourse concerning them, he is attached (deveikut) to the Holy One for all comes from Sinai ... The Holy One and Torah are a unity, and he who is attached to His Torah is attached to Him."[1] Placing God front and center in the day school experience is crucial to the viability of Orthodox day school education.

[1] Cited in R. Norman Lamm, Torah for Torah's Sake in the Works of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin and His Contemporaries, Ktav , Hoboken, NJ, 1989, p. 243.

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Rabbi Yaakov Bieler is the Rabbi of the Kemp Mill Synagogue, SilverSpring, Maryland.

H.O.T.D.

Years ago someone I knew described someone else as a numismatist. I had just read an article about in the Jewish Week about how the other person was not only an assistant principal but a rare coin collector as well. I figured out what the word meant.

Recently, I read Julian Barnes refer to being a philatelist in his youth. His brother focused on stamps of Britain and his area was "The Rest of The World," because he had to be different than his older bro. Again, I figured the word out.

Numismatist

Philatelist

Collectible words

Terumah - One Side's Ice And One Is Fire

Parshat Terumah begins with G-d telling Moshe to speak to the people and tell them, " Take to me a portion (terumah); from every man whose heart motivates him, you shall take a portion for me" ( Shemos, 25:1).

Rabbi Shlomo Ganzfried, in his Sefer Aperion, notes that the word "take" is used here, even though the people were actually told to give the terumah. By giving terumah and thereby contributing to the building of the mishkan, the people were getting more than they were giving. By connecting with God, via the sanctuary which would serve as the seat of G-d's divine presence in this world, they would be able to tap into their inner essence, as creations of God.

The midrash ( Shemot Rabbah, 33:1), cites Mishlei, 4:2 in connection with Terumah's opening line. Shlomo HaMelech channels Hashem as saying, "I have given you a good teaching ("lekach tov"), do not forsake my Torah." The midrash spotlights the similarity between the word used for taking- "veyikchu," in the first verse in our parsha, and the word used for teaching ( meaning Torah) in Mishlei - lekach. However, it remains unclear from the medrash what the two verses have to do with each other on a thematic level.

Rabbi Avraham Binyamin Sofer, known as the Kesav Sofer, explains that while the mishkan had its great spiritual benefits for the people, it also had a potential negative undercurrent. Before the people had the mishkan, they had to be very careful about everything they did, because, if they sinned, they were open to divine retribution as they did not have a means of atonement. Once, however, they had the mishkan, and were able to bring sacrifices to atone for their sins, there was a danger that they would let down their guard, and be more apt to sin. Therefore, the word vayikchu alluded to the Torah, to remind the people that they needed to adhere to the Torah even after they had a mishkan. Although the function of the mishkan, as the Torah goes on to say, was for G-d to dwell amongst them, without observing the mitzvot of the Torah, that would not happen.

Nechama Leibowits, once cited in class, a midrash which likened the Torah to a bridge with ice on one side and fire on the other. Only through observing the Torah is a person able to make his way successfully through these two pitfalls. Nechama explained that it is possible for a person to be too distant from God, acting towards Him in a cold way, like ice, and it is also possible for a person to try to get too close to God, and get singed by the fire.

Rav Kook, in his work Orot, wrote about the danger of the two extremities in relating to God. He suggested that certain versions of religion, in an effort to avoid idolatry, over emphasize humankind's distance from God. On the other hand other religionists - in an attempt to connect to G-d - identify a man with God. Torah true Judaism teaches balance in guiding us toward a proper relationship with God, avoiding the pitfalls of extreme distance and extreme closeness.

The mishkan, as the seat of God's presence in the world, offered the people an opportunity to come close to him, but also posed the danger of coming too close. The Torah would serve as their guide in keeping the proper balance between the two extremes of ice and fire. This is the point of the midrash in connecting the lekach, which is Torah to the Vayikchu of Parshat Terumah.

The true guide to fostering a connection with Hashem is the Torah, which the midrash in the beginning of Bereishis tells us, was G-d's blueprint in creating the universe. The mishkan, too, is a microcosm of the world and bolsters our spirituality. By following the guidelines of the Torah while experiencing God's closeness through the mishkan, Bnei Yisrael were set to achieve the appropriate balance regarding their relationship with G-d.

This piece is adapted from an article by Rabbi Joshua Hoffman.