Rabbi Blog

Dear QJC Family,
 
I hope that, to whatever extent possible during these trying times, that you were able to have a meaningful and enjoyable Yuntif. We missed being in shul and celebrating wtih you, but it was nonethless nice to have a yuntif.

Unfortunately, since before Pesach, our community has experienced loss. Some of our members have lost their loved ones, and one of our own, Mark Levine z"l, passed away from this terrible disease. As individuals and as a community, we find ourselves facing sadness and tragedy.

It is perhaps at this time that the spirit of the Omer mourning practices find their relevance. Although Sefirat Ha-Omer began during Pesach, it was after Pesach that we began to observe the mourning practices of this time period. The Gemara (Yevamot 62b) describes how 12,000 pairs of Rabbi Akiva's students died between Pesach and Shavuot from a plague called asachra (diphtheria, according to Jastrow).

While the spirit of this mourning period may feel distant during other years, I find it meaningful that this practice coincides with our particular situation. Even for those who may not have experieneced personal loss during this time, we as a community engage in a small level of mourning for the many individuals whose lives were cut too short due to the pandemic. 

The Gemara explains that Rabbi Akiva's students died because they did not respect each other. Now, I wrote in my first drasha when shul closed that I do not believe that in modern times, any rabbi has the authority to say that a specific calamity can be attributed to a particular reason. I stand by that. But I also believe that we are mandated to use a distressing situation to internalize important messages that can strengthen our character. And during sefirah this particular year, I believe the message of the Gemara here is vital. As we battle this pandemic, it is crucial that we focus on treating others with respect. Even as we approach an election season, it is important to maintain respect for others and to put people above politics. The order for the hour is to support other each other and to be empathetic. It is amazing to hear every night the applause on the streets for our healthcare workers, showing our gratitude for our heroes.

Im yirtze Hashem, by the time we reach Lag Ba'omer, in merit of the respect and love we give to others, the situation in which we find ourselves should drastically improve. Although we may currently be internalizing the losses our community and our world has experienced, hopefully we will be able to emerge from this period with room for optimism that we will emerge from the pandemic.

Daily Limmud Mishnayot
Before Pesach, I was learning Kitzur Shulchan Aruch daily with a few individuals in our community over the phone. Going forward, however, I would like to learn Mishnayot on a daily basis for 10 minutes. The word משנה has the same letters as נשמה (soul), so in addition to giving us a few minutes to learn Torah together on a daily basis, we can also pay tribute to those who we have lost. Please be in touch if you would like me to dedicate the learning to any individual - I will include all requests. This may be a meaningful way to mark a yarzheit.
We will begin from the beginning with Masechet Berachot.
We will start Wednesday, April 22 at 7:00 pm (since we have the Yom Ha-Shoah program tomorrow night and my shiur on Tuesday night). After that, it will be Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 7:00 pm.

To join online:
https://zoom.us/j/93713522296?pwd=ZEJpTG0xcE9YTjMzU0dQMzdhSEFTQT09

To join by phone:
(646) 558-8656
Meeting ID: 937 1352 2296
Password: 742509

Kol tuv,

Rabbi Judah Kerbel