Rabbi's Blog - Harford Chabad

Can you package G-d?

Thursday, March 28, 2024 - 6:36 PM

It’s been a busy week for me. Saturday Night and Sunday were Purim. Tuesday, I went cross country to help a friend create operation systems in his Chabad House. Wednesday, I was in Texas for a wedding. I am writing this today, on my flight home.

Tuesday, a truck pulled up with a pallet of Shmurah Matzah. The Lubavitcher Rebbe OB”M was a major proponent of ensuring that every Jew has Shmurah Matzah for their Seder and ideally for the entire Passover. We unloaded the pallet and started discussing the operations side of delivering over 500 matzah packages. It’s an expensive campaign (approx $15 for a 3-matzah package). How do you cover it financially? Is it worth it? What’s the return on investment?

My friend mentioned that we are mailing a package of G-dliness, it is invaluable. Shmurah Matzah is called the bread of faith and the bread of healing. When you eat the matzah on the Seder night, you are awakening an inherent faith in G-d. When that faith exists, you may not understand the mechanics, but you can trust that Hashem will find a way and messengers to cover the cost of the matzah campaign. Sending this G-dliness to every Jew, encourages each one to use the bread of faith and the bread of healing on the Seder night and to make it a part of who they are physically. How can it not be worth it?

A Rabbi sitting at my table by the wedding, the following day, told a story that further brought home this message of faith in G-d. A person wrote to the Rebbe saying: my faith in G-d is questionable, and my daughter is not well. If Hashem heals my child, then I will increase in my Torah and Mitzvot observance and have faith. To which the Rebbe responded: Sorry for the delay in responding but know that as soon as I received your letter, I mentioned your daughter for healing at the holy resting place of the Previous Rebbe. The Rebbe continues with the following PS:

I addressed you in my response letter with the title “a man who is in awe of G-d '' despite that you wrote your faith is questionable. Each and every Jew has faith in G-d because of their G-dly soul. It is just that at times the faith is not expressed because of the conniving thoughts of the animal soul. G-d sometimes needs to wake us up to reconnect with our true selves and reveal the faith that already exists. This can be done in a way of kindness or the opposite. Perhaps your daughter’s illness is there to awaken your dormant faith, and as soon as you reveal it, there will be no need for sickness. Then if G-d needs to reveal your faith he will do it in a positive way with blessings.

Expect your G-dly package of faith within the next 3 weeks!

Have an amazing Shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

Embrace the energy of sacrifice

Thursday, March 21, 2024 - 8:09 PM

The power of sacrifice. In the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, we learn about all sorts of sacrifices that were offered to Hashem. Now, I know it can be hard for us to understand why animal sacrifices were such a big deal back then. But what if I told you that sacrifice is still relevant today?

Think about it. When was the last time you gave up something you really wanted for someone or something else? Maybe it was your time, your money, or your energy. That's a sacrifice, and it's something we all have to do from time to time.

For me, sacrifice means being proud of who I am and where I come from. It means standing up for my Jewish identity and connection to all Jews and the Land of Israel, even when it's hard. It means pushing myself to do more, to be more, and to give more. For me it's about showing my Jewish pride.

And you know what? I think that's what Purim is all about. It's a time when we're supposed to let go of our usual limitations and embrace the unknown. We're told to get so drunk that we can't tell the difference between good and evil. That's a pretty scary thought, but it's also kind of liberating.

So here's what I'm asking you to do. I want you to join me in embracing the energy of sacrifice. Let's take a leap of faith together and see where it takes us. Who knows? Maybe we'll discover a deeper connection to Hashem and our heritage.

Wishing you a Happy Purim and a good Shabbos. Hope to see you at one of our Purim celebrations details at www.harfordchabad.org/purim

Have an amazing shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

P.S. Thank you to my brother Eliyahu from Chabad Intown in Atlanta for the idea of this blogpost

existential joy

Thursday, March 14, 2024 - 10:29 PM

Are you familiar with the profound sense of joy that comes from embracing your essential self? This is the joy that comes from simply existing. It is the joy that we feel when we are tapped into the now and are fully alive.

With the celebration of Purim upon us, when we celebrate this existential joy, I encourage you to take some time to reflect on the joy of your existence and consider how you might cultivate a greater sense of appreciation for the present moment.

Embrace the joy of being, simply for the sake of being.

On Purim, we read the Megillah, give gifts of food and charity, and feast and drink with joy. We reach a level of joy that transcends the physical world and allows us to experience the joy of being. We arrive at a level of bliss that transcends the physical world and allows us to experience joy that is pure and unmarred by concepts of "good" and "bad" or "right" and "wrong."

Unfortunately, many of us rarely experience this existential joy. However, we need to try and strive to reach this level and when we do catch a glimpse of it, we often find ourselves with a deeper sense of connection to and appreciation for the world around us.

May this Purim be a time of joy and celebration for all of us. May we experience all five levels (see the first four listed below) of joy and may we be blessed with a deep sense of connection and appreciation for the world around us. Chag Purim Sameach!

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

P.S.

Joy is multifaceted and each level of joy brings its own unique flavor and significance to our lives. Before Purim is an excellent time to explore the other levels of joy that we can experience as individuals.

Physical Joy
The first level of joy is the joy that comes from our physical beings. This is the joy that we feel when we hit a goal or accomplish a task. It is the joy that comes from the satisfaction of a job well done.

Take time to appreciate the physical world around you and the gifts that it brings.

Emotional Joy
The second level of joy is the joy that comes from emotional sources. This is the joy that we feel when we feel loved, cherished, or appreciated.

Take time to express your feelings and connect with those around you.

Intellectual Joy
The third level of joy is intellectual joy. This is the joy that comes from resolving doubt or solving a problem. It is the joy that we feel when we finally understand something that has been eluding us.

Embrace the joy of discovery and the satisfaction of solving a puzzle.

Spiritual Joy
The fourth level of joy is spiritual joy. This is the joy that comes from feeling connected with something greater than ourselves. It is the joy that we feel when we feel connected with our Creator.

Connect with your higher power and feel the joy that comes from being a part of something greater than yourself.

Are you talented?

Thursday, March 7, 2024 - 11:21 PM

In this week's Torah portion, Vayakhel, the Jewish people build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle, a portable sanctuary for Hashem to dwell amongst the Jewish people. The Mishkan was a place where the Divine Presence would rest. It was built with the utmost precision, care, and love by the Jewish people.

What does this mean for us today, in our modern world? How can we, as individuals, build a home for Hashem in our own lives? Just as the Mishkan was built with specific materials and measurements, we too have been given specific gifts and talents to use in our service of Hashem.

The Chassidic masters teach us that every mitzvah, every good deed, has the power to bring Hashem's presence into the world. When we use our talents to perform mitzvot, we are, in essence, building a Home for Hashem.
For some, this may mean using their artistic talents to create beautiful and inspiring Jewish art. For others, it may mean using their musical abilities to compose and perform uplifting Jewish music. Still, others may use their writing skills to produce insightful and thought-provoking Jewish literature. Whatever we do, it should be in line with creating a home for Hashem in the way that He tells us to.

No matter what our talents are, we all have the ability to use them to serve Hashem and bring His presence into the world. It's not just about the final product. As it is written in Proverbs: Know Him in all your ways, and He will direct your paths (Proverbs 3:6), using our skills and abilities to their fullest potential in the service of Hashem is just as important as the end result. When we invest our time, energy, and creativity into building a Tabernacle for Hashem, we are demonstrating our love and commitment to Him. Additionally, we also become the best versions of ourselves, fulfilling our purpose and potential as Jews and as human beings.

So let’s build a home for Hashem by getting our own behavior to house G-dliness. Doing so will G-d willing bring the ultimate redemption when we will have the final Bais Hamikdash, a physical structure built for Hashem.

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman