Rabbi's Blog

There are two opinions on how the mezuzah should be placed on the doorpost. This disagreement stems from the following Talmudic statement: One should not make the mezuzah like a peg that craftsmen insert into a door. It is unclear which peg the Talmud is talking about. If it is the vertical one on the hinge, then the mezuzah should be placed horizontally. However, if it is the crossbar lock, then the mezuzah should be hung vertically.

Sephardim follow the opinion that considers the upright position as the honorable and correct form. Ashkenazim, on the other hand, find a compromise between the two opinions. They place the mezuzah at an angle, thus being partly upright and partly horizontal.

The mezuzah placement holds profound wisdom and insight while having spiritual and psychological significance.

When establishing a Jewish home, the right approach is to combine both methods. One should not adhere to just one side and reject the other, but find a compromise that incorporates both. This approach beautifully accommodates both the man’s and the woman’s perspectives, creating a harmonious and inclusive home.

This Shabbos, the 20th of Av, is the 80th yahrtzeit of Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father. Reb Levi Yitzchak taught that the word mezuzah - מזוזה is composed of the hebrew letter "מ" (mem), the word "זו" (zu), and the word "זה" (zeh).

Mem has the numerical value of 40. This alludes to the forty days before the creation of the fetus, during which a heavenly voice declares the daughter of so-and-so will marry so-and-so. "זו" refers to the woman (zu means “this” in feminine form). "זה" refers to the man (zeh means “this” in masculine form). Thus, the letters of the word "mezuzah" hint at the combination and harmony in which the man and the woman express themselves in their shared home.

After all, there is nothing harder than accepting a different opinion. We live in a sensitive and impatient world where a differing opinion is perceived as a threat to my existence and forces me to attack back to survive.  How then, do we open our minds to different opinions?

The answer lies in the word "peace" (שלום), which means "completion". Peace is the understanding that truth is a combination of several qualities. It is not just kindness or just discipline, but a balance and harmony between the two. Sometimes it is appropriate to act with kindness, sometimes with discipline, and usually, the right approach is to combine both.

Rabbi Alexander ben Nun was a prominent educator who served as an inspector for the "Oholei Yosef Yitzchak" educational network in Israel. He wrote a book on education and sent it to the Rebbe for his blessing. At the beginning of the book was a preface with ten educational principles. The Rebbe added a line: "You forgot to include Principle No. 11: In education, ultimately there are no rules..."

Have a Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman

P.S. A bit about Reb Levi Yitzchak: Despite facing the persecution of the Communist regime, with heroic dedication, he continued to lead the community at a high religious level. The government arrested him, and after a year of imprisonment and torture, he was sent to four years of exile in distant Kazakhstan. His weakened health suffered severely from the harsh living conditions, and Rabbi Levi Yitzchak passed away and was buried there in the city of exile.

Even during his years of exile and suffering, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak continued to contemplate and innovate in Torah. His righteous wife, Rebbetzin Chana, prepared ink from herbs she gathered in the fields, and the Rabbi would write his ideas on scraps of cigarette paper. His teachings were compiled into a respected series of books and have been studied weekly by his son, the Rebbe. For more info on Reb Levi Yitzchak see https://www.harfordchabad.org/117515

Am I a nudnik? Do I have trouble taking no for an answer? Do I badger and nudge until I get my way? My kids are definitely good at it.  We’ve got some good role models to learn from!

The great Moshe, the greatest of all Jews, was a master of persistence. He begged Hashem to let him enter the land of Israel 515 times!

So, is it ok to badger? If it's bad, why did Moshe do it? And Hashem still didn't grant him his wish! That's where the name of this week's Torah portion comes in. Va'Eschanon, meaning to "entreat" or to ask, even if unworthy (chinom). When we pray, are we asking because we deserve it, or because we're unworthy and still asking Hashem to give it to us anyway, like a loving parent?

The answer is both! We can pray because we deserve something, and sometimes our wish is granted. However, a higher place of prayer is when we ask for something we don't deserve and Hashem still grants it to us because He deems us His beloved child.

Ultimately, every prayer is both a request of hope and a smidgen of entitlement. But that's not how we should be praying. Ideally, we should say to Hashem , "While we may not be worthy, please do give it to us bchinom, for free."

And while we may not be worthy, we may ask again and again. Unlike humans, Hashem doesn't lose patience with us. He wants us to ask again and again. Like my kids, me, and Moshe!

But sometimes, the answer may still be no. Other factors are at play, but asking we can, we must, and that's the G-dly way!

Good Shabbos,

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman
P.S. No Service at Chabad this week

When someone's wrong and we're upset and blue
We want to tell them, "What were you thinking to do?"
But how do we say it in a way that's kind and true?
To help them learn, grow, and see it through?

We can yell and shout and make them feel ashamed
But that won't help them learn and it won't ease the pain.
We can hint and whisper and hope they'll get the clue
And learn from their mistake and grow anew.

Or we can reframe and look at it with new eyes
And see the mistake as an opportunity to rise.
To learn and grow, and become a better me
And cherish the criticism and let it set me free.

As the Rebbe Rashab said, "Cherish the blame".
For it's the criticism that will raise us to the flame
Of true heights and wisdom, and a heart that's pure and bright
And help us become the best version of ourselves, day and night.

In the Bible, Moshe taught his people with a gentle hand.
He hinted at their mistakes, and helped them understand
That even the mistakes can be a chance to grow
And become a better person, with a heart that glows.

So let's look at our mistakes and see them in a new light,
As opportunities to learn and grow, and take flight.
Cherish the criticism and let it guide us on our way
To become the best version of ourselves every single day.

Shabbos morning, don't be late,
Join us at Chabad, it's worth the wait.
At 10 am, we'll gather round,
To pray and sing, and make some noise profound.

Rabbi Kushi Schusterman