Rabbi's Blog

You know that feeling you get when a parent uses your Full Name followed by, we need to talk? The angst of what did I do??

It happened to me. My father had called me over and said, “I'd like to learn a piece of the code of Jewish law with you”. Opening to a very short halacha/law, he read with me “כל האומר דבר לחבירו הוא בבל יאמר עד שיאמר לו לך אמור” (Shulchan Arukh HaRav, Orach Chayim 156). This means “Whatever someone says to their friend is under the rule of “don’t repeat”, unless they are told explicitly that it is ok to repeat it.

Having overheard me sharing another’s private information, my father was teaching me that as Jewish people we need to be modest; by default, everything is private. Living modestly is living an internal private principled world.

Learning this week’s Torah portion, we learn how Rochel, seeing her sister Leah being led to the Chuppah to marry Yaakov, her intended husband, shared with her that which Yaakov had privately taught her.

I wondered how it could be that our matriarch Rochel would not follow a seemingly simple law. Rochel, who of our matriarchs, was the most in tune with her internal identity. She did what she needed to do without fanfare, and often at a high personal cost. She lived a life true to herself. How can we say that she went against her values here?

Yaakov, aware of who Lavan was and the possibility of being tricked, made a sign with Rochel. He taught her about the 3 mitzvos Jewish women are careful about. To confirm that it was indeed Rochel under the chuppah, she would have to name them to him: Shabbat Candles, Family Purity, and Challah.

Rochel realized that if Leah doesn’t know the answer when Yaakov asks her ‘the secret question’ then “My sister will be put to shame. So, she readily transmitted those signs to her.”

She did this because she was modest and true to her values of not allowing another person to be degraded.

My prayer for all of us is that we too should be modest and true to ourselves and our soul identity. We should be able to be true to our Jewish values and merit to the coming of Moshiach when the world will see true and complete peace.

Have a good Shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

Tuesday morning, a few of us representing the Jewish community of Harford County, went down to the rally in Washington D.C. in show of support to the Jewish people in the Holy Land. In addition, to take a stand that we want our brothers and sisters, who are being held hostage, to be freed. And finally, to remind everyone that we are proud Jews and will stand proud!

Personally, I was hesitant to go. Why shlep and spend a day running to a rally, what impact will it really have? was my question. Consulting with others, we concluded that while we are uncertain of our impact in going, we have a responsibility to do the spiritual service that is represented by our unique soul characteristics. Sure enough, we went. One member of our local community stopped a few hundred people to offer them candles, to encourage them to light them for Shabbos. Inspired, she herself recommitted to lighting Shabbos candles. I was offering people to wrap tefillin and merited to have many people come over on their own, asking if they can wrap.

There were many people who did not come to the rally. Their soul characteristics required something else. In this week's Torah portion, we read and learn how each person has their divine mission and path in life. Issac, wanting to do as his father, considered going down to Egypt. However, G-d told him to stay in Israel. Some people elevate the world by being full time Torah scholars. Others do so by squeezing a bit of Torah learning into their work day. Whether a class before work or after dinner or even a podcast during their commute to work.

There is no one way to bring G-dliness into our lives.

Torah scholars need, at times, to deviate from their "main mission" and encourage others to study or to learn with others. Businesspeople need to ensure that they are including Torah study in their day to day.

What is your mission from Hashem today? Now go do your part to brighten up the world!

Have an amazing Shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

Question of the Week

I live on the ground floor of an apartment building, right near the entrance. My front door is visible from the street. Any passer-by can see my mezuzah. I am scared that this makes me and my children a target for all those haters out there. Am I justified in taking down my mezuzah, at least until things calm down?

Answer

I can understand your fears. Many of us are facing levels of antisemitism we didn’t think existed anymore. But if you take your mezuzah down, you’ve let the terrorists into your home. Worse, you’ve let them take over your mind. 

The evil death cult that raised its ugly head on October 7, and its sympathisers and apologists around the world, are a force of terrible darkness. They want Jews to disappear from the face of the earth. If we fearfully retreat into anonymity, that only emboldens those forces of evil.  Darkness can only win when light recedes. But when the light shines, darkness is immediately banished. 

We have to shine our Jewish light right now. Retreating is not an option. We all need to be more outwardly Jewish. We can’t Jew down. We have to Jew up. 

Don’t remove your mezuzah. Put up more on your other doors. Don’t hide your Jewishness, wear it publicly and proudly. Don’t avoid Jewish gatherings, attend as many as you can. Not a shul goer? Become one. Sending kids to a non-Jewish school? Time to switch them to one where they will be safe, and learn who they are. 

Your mezuzah is your protection, a sign that your home is proudly Jewish. Every time you pass it, be reminded that G-d is by your side. Strengthen your faith. Do not fear. 

We don’t cower in the face of evil. We shine our light stronger. Live more Jewishly. Let’s all Jew up. 

Good Shabbos, please note there will be no services on shabbat and no tiffilin club on sunday.
Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

I HAVE A FEW MEZUZAH SCROLLS THAT I WILL GIVE AT NO COST TO ANYONE WHO IS ADDING A NEW MEZUZAH, and I will gladly come over to put it up. Please respond to this email.