Rabbi Shaya's Thoughts

A True Leader

Wednesday, March 26, 2025 - 12:19 PM

Have you ever been to a grand opening ceremony? You see all the C-suite executives on stage, smiling for the cameras, while the construction workers—the ones who actually did the work—stand in the background.

At first glance, this might seem unfair. The monied people take all the credit, while the laborers remain unseen. But perhaps there’s more to it.

In this week’s Torah portion, we find a similar episode in the construction of the Mishkan, the holy Tabernacle. When the Jewish people finished building and assembling this house of G-d, Moses blessed them, saying, “May it be G-d’s will that His presence dwell in the Mishkan, and that the work of our hands be pleasing to Him.”

The Torah describes how, although the people built every component of the Mishkan, they turned to Moses to assemble it. Why? If they had the skill to construct it, why couldn’t they complete the final step themselves?

An even deeper question arises: Why did Moses include himself in the blessing? Was he, like the executives at a grand opening, trying to take credit for the work of others?

Here we uncover a powerful double lesson: As Jews, we need a Moses, and a true leader desires to be part of the people.

The Jewish nation didn’t involve Moses because they needed his help to complete the Mishkan—they wanted him to be part of it. They didn’t see Moses as a leader only in times of struggle; they turned to him in moments of joy as well.

Moses understood that being a spiritual leader doesn’t mean staying distant, detached, or above the people. He couldn’t simply give instructions and remain on the sidelines. A true leader gets involved—hands-on, side by side with the people.

From Moses, we learn an essential leadership principle: Don’t stand on the stage like a sage—be a guide from the side. Encourage, uplift, and empower others to reach their full potential.

Shabbat Shalom!

Be Happy! It’s Purim

Thursday, March 13, 2025 - 11:20 AM

Why is happiness such an essential ingredient in celebrating Purim? Sure, Haman wanted to wipe out the Jewish people, but the tables turned—we not only survived, we thrived! So, we celebrate. But isn’t that the story of every Jewish holiday? As the saying goes: They tried to kill us, we survived, let’s eat.

Clearly, Purim has a unique element that deserves exploring.

The miracle of Purim wasn’t just about getting rid of Haman or even the Jews defending themselves against their enemies. What truly stands out is their reaffirmation of their connection to the Torah. As the Scroll of Esther states, they reaccepted what they had already accepted before.

At Mount Sinai, the Jews embraced the Torah, proclaiming the poetic words: Naaseh V’nishma—"We will do, and we will listen." A beautiful response, no doubt, but on some level, they had no choice. They had just witnessed mind-blowing miracles, and according to the Midrash, they were compelled to accept the Torah. (Had they refused, who knows what would have happened to the Jewish people?)

However, after the miracle of Purim, they voluntarily recommitted themselves to G-d and the Torah—on their own volition, with their whole hearts.

This commitment is expressed through the four mitzvot of Purim:

Reading the Megillah – Learning Torah, in public, recounting the miracle of Purim, emphasizes the importance of community.
Having a festive meal – Gathering with family and friends to foster joy, friendship, and unity.
Giving gifts of ready-to-eat food to at least two friends – Spreading happiness by showing others they are cared for.
Giving money to the poor – This includes not just those who are financially struggling, but also those who feel alone, such as widows, orphans, and anyone in emotional or spiritual need. Charity isn’t only about finances—it’s about lifting up others in every way.

The common thread? Each of these mitzvot brings joy into our lives.

Happiness strengthens our commitment to what matters most. As Jews, that means G-d and His Torah.

The Purim story reveals the deep joy within each and every one of us.

So, let’s raise a glass and say L’chaim! Let’s celebrate together as a Jewish nation.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim!

The Fight Against Ideological Evil

Tuesday, March 4, 2025 - 1:42 PM

When it comes to those who hate us, the hatred can be personal—the haters may feel we have wronged them in some way, leading to resentment. But there is also a form of hatred that is ideological. As Jews, we experience this often through antisemitism. In these cases, the hatred is not based on personal interactions but rather on a belief system that demonizes us.

When dealing with personal hatred, we should strive to make amends when possible. However, ideological hatred is different. There is no clear path to reconciliation because
the cause of the hate is not rooted in a personal grievance, but in a worldview that sees us as the enemy.

This week, on the Shabbat before Purim, we read a special Torah portion known as Parshat Zachor. In it, we are commanded to remember Amalek. The Torah describes
how Amalek attacked the Jewish people without cause, simply because they were Jews. Because of this, we are commanded to erase Amalek’s existence from the world.

There are six remembrances in the Torah, yet none of them have a special public reading on Shabbat—except this one. Why is it so crucial to read about Amalek in this way, especially when today we do not know who Amalek is and therefore do not act on the command to destroy them?

The answer lies in understanding Amalek’s mindset. Amalek knew exactly who the Jewish people were. He recognized G-d and understood that we were His chosen nation. Yet, he did not care. He knew right from wrong and deliberately chose evil.

This is what we must eradicate—the mindset that knows with clarity truth and goodness yet still chooses to defy it. Mistakes happen, but willful evil is unacceptable.

This is why we are so shaken by the brutal murder of innocent children and adults at the hands of Hamas. The killing of the Bibas family was neither an accident nor an act of war—it was intentional, deliberate, and evil. We struggle to comprehend such pure cruelty.

Whether or not Hamas is the biblical Amalek is not for us to determine. But we do know how we feel about it.

So, what can we do?

When we hear the Torah reading, we should reflect on the subtle influence Amalek can have within ourselves. We must ensure that our knowledge of right and wrong is not merely intellectual, but translates into the emotions in our hearts and the actions in our lives. We must never allow ourselves to fall into an "Amalek mindset"; where there is a disconnect between what we know to be true and how we choose to behave.

Shabbat Shalom and Happy Purim