Living Jewish

How will our grandchildren remember and appreciate us? That is an important question in Jewish life. My mentors in my yeshivah days taught us that a Jewish life is to be lived in such a fashion that both our grandparents and our grandchildren will be proud of us

When I was a lawyer many decades ago in downtown Chicago, there were few, if any, such Minchah prayer groups. I would lock myself in my office, tell my secretary that I was making an important private long distance call, and then pray. Many times I felt a sense of rejuvenation and exhilaration after this fifteen minute prayer break. It helped me overcome the disappointments and frustrations that are the daily lot of all of us at our places of work

However, to remind us that there were no offerings in the Temple at night, the Amidah is not repeated publicly by the leader of the services at Maariv, as already mentioned above

There is no limit to the cultivation of humility, and there is no human trait as destructive as anger. It is no coincidence that these two are limitless. In reality, humility and avoidance of anger are inextricably linked together, for it is our innate arrogance that fuels our feelings of frustration and anger. It is the per ceived attack on our ego that is usually at the base of our anger. A truly humble person does not lack self-esteem; he simply feels it is unnecessary to defend his position or honor in every instance

Kindness is always measured by the need of the other and not by the intent (no matter how noble) of the one who believes that he or she is extending kindness

There are a large number of people in Israel that hope for a miraculous deliverance from our present difficulties. I am one of them. But a clear reading of Jewish history indicates that God's hand protects us through events that appear to be natural. The solution to our problems often lies within ourselves. And that is where inner strength, faith and fortitude play the main role. In fact, it is the ability of the Jewish People to create this inner faith on a constant basis, generation after generation, which is close to being miraculous. But faith requires effort, a traditional way of life and a historical perspective. Let us be worthy of that faith and history

I definitely appreciate the beauty of a well-turned double play or a fabulous three-point shot at the buzzer. I merely raise the issue that sports, like all other areas of modern life, should be seen within the wide and deep perspective of Jewish tradition. As such, we will be able to absorb the good, enjoy the game and discard the large amount of chaff that abounds in today's sporting society.

The rabbis placed the emphasis of Chanukah on the miraculous pitcher of oil and the light of the Menorah in the Temple. There is no special celebration of the military victories of the Hasmoneans and no mementos of the terrible and bloody defeats inflicted on the Syrian Greeks. We celebrate our deliverance and independence, but take very little relish in the necessity of having to kill thousands of our enemies in order to obtain our deliverance. Therefore, the centerpiece of the holiday is the Menorah and the oil and not the terrible war that preceded it.