Rabbi's Blog

Coming back from Israel I can tell you one thing for sure: our bellies do not need the all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet in the kosher hotels in Jerusalem. So what does our belly need? The first time G-d gave the 10 Commandments it was with pomp and circumstance. The result was the sin of the Golden Calf. The second set of tablets were delivered more modestly, and those tablets lasted forever. If the rule is that things that come with fireworks don’t have longevity, why did Hashem not give us the first tablets without pomp and circumstance? The answer is that although the first tablets were not going to last, it did provide us with a spark of excitement. Perhaps Hashem was telling us that when we do something, the initial interaction needs to be filled with excitement and exuberance. Without the initial fire in the belly, long term commitment is also unlikely. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to go to Israel with Shlomo this past week. In addition to all the waffles and yogurts, Shlomo and I were able to put something very special in our bellies. The thing that is really needed is the special fire that connects us to The One Above. That is really what The Holy Land of Israel can provide for all of us. Good Shabbos, Stay Jewish, Live Jewish.