This past week billions have been glued to their TV sets, newspapers, internet, blogs, Facebook and Twitter. They've been gathering, sharing, debating and advising on any scrap of information and method of the daring raid and killing of Osama Bin Laden in his compound in close proximity to many of Pakistan's military forces.
On that same day in history, 28th day of Nissan / May 2, Jericho's wall collapsed before Joshua, Hitler was announced dead, The Rebbe calls out "I have done all I can... do all you can to bring Moshiach" and Osama was announced dead. I heard that Osama's death will be confirmed with the issuance of a death certificate in approximately 3.5 years. Come to think of it, killing Osama was the right decision. Too bad we didn't do it when we had the chance in 1996.
Hamas, (who has recently united with Fatah not for a common goal but for a common enemy), condemned the attack. (In light of that, I tweeted @youngchabad, "Hamas condemns killing Holy Warrior #OBL, yet, praises slaying of infants and school children. This is the PA to talk to?!"). Americans gathered in front of the White House and Times Square to celebrate. While the rest of the world debated whether the raid's execution (pardon the pun) and Bin Laden's "burial at sea" was justified, smart, correct or something to celebrate.
Many have Facebooked, Tweeted and asked me in person my opinion and thoughts on the events and feeling of celebration.
As a colleague of mine expressed: Your celebrating and your feeling a little guilty? You must be Jewish!
This conundrum is not a new one. Ironically, I spoke about this concept on the final days of Pesach. When Moshe parted the sea, the Jews crossed on dry land and the Egyptians drowned. The Talmud teaches us, that the angels in heaven wanted to sing praises to the Almighty. G-d rebuked them: My creatures, the work of My hands, are drowning in the sea and you will sing a song?! Yet, we see that a beautiful song was sung and written by the Jewish people that has become part of our daily liturgy, known as the Az Yashir. But, we do not see rebuke for our song?
The answer is, because the Angels live in a perfect world. A world where no evil pervades. We hope to live in that world as well. The timing is key - we will reach that perfection with the coming of Moshiach. We aspire and hope for that time, in prayer every day.
Meanwhile, however, we live in this world - a world that we must call evil out for what it is and stop it in its tracks. With the efforts of working all we can, to triumph good over evil, we will bring about this time of spiritual and physical utopia. But, our work is not over. Purim is celebrated when the war was won, months after Haman and his ten sons were killed. May Moshiach herald this perfect world, NOW!
- In that vein, last night, over 60 of our weekly young professionals Wednesday's group gathered at one of their homes to hear the life story of Holocaust survivor Riki Roussos where she shared of the horrors of the Nazis and spoke of evil for what it is. She successfully encouraged all to leave inspired to be recommitted to their Judaism and the Land of Israel. Photos posted here.
- Next Shabbos, the group of singles and couples will gather once more for a first Shabbat 100 under the stars dinner and cocktails! Intended for young professionals in their 20s and 30s, we hope you can join us or pass along the message to the appropriate friends and family! It is $18 now, but, will be $25 later! See the website and facebook for more details.
- Sat. night, May 21, Lag b'omer will be a jamming night and bbq for all ages, beginning at 9:30 pm. See website and facebook for more details.
- Our weekly classes are still ongoing, please join us for some Tanya! Wednesday nights, 8:30 pm for young professionals, Thursdays for all ages at noon lunch hour and in the evening at 8pm.
We thank all of you for all of your well wishes on the occasion of Bluma's birth and to all of you who came out to celebrate with us at the kiddush last week.
A huge mazel tov to Ilan and Julliette upon the birth of a baby girl making our Kohen Moshe Melnik a first time grandfather! The baby will be named, b'ezras Hashem on Shabbos during the Torah reading.
So please join us for another wonderful Shabbos in Uptown!
Shabbos, Parshas Emor
Friday, May 6
Services at 7:30 pm | RSVP for dinner at www.chabaduptown.org/shabbatdinner
Candle lighting at 7:40 pm
Shabbos, May 7
Preprayer Kabbala Study at 9 am
Services at 10 am
followed by kiddush
Mincha at 7:45 pm
Ethics of our Fathers, Chapter 2
Maariv, Havdalla and Shabbos ends at 8:40 pm
Living Torah
See you on Shabbos!
Rabbi Chaim & Chanie
P.S. A lot of the above ideas are collected from my thoughts posted and tweeted over the past week. Like it? Follow me at www.facebook.com/rabbichaim and www.twitter.com/youngchabad.
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