A Tough Shabbat

It is now about one hour after Shabbat has ended. I still am in a bit of a fog looking back over this Shabbat, as it was my last as Rav of KJBS. In what was a very emotional day, I gave my last speech (see below), gave my last Dvar Torah at Seudah Shlisheet and gave my last class (after 10 years) of Mishne Berura. I found myself MANY times over this Shabbat reminiscing about the last 10 years and the various speeches, incidents, happy times and sad times. I truly can not believe that this has come to an end. While it is a day I had long anticipated, I did not know exactly how I would feel today. I also had no way of predicting how people would "feel" today nor how the reactions would be.

Giving the speech was a most surreal experience and I still do not believe I am past that point already. It was quite emotional for me, and I "kept it together" for most of the time. While I could give a lot of other insight into my feelings and thoughts of this day, I think that it would be TOO personal a reflection, so I have chosen to merely post the speech in its entirety below, instead.

One note...I was SO overwhelmed by the number of people in Shul this morning and how many came for this Shabbat who do not daven here....only to share in the experience of the last Shabbat! I appreciate everyone who was there!
===================================================
Who would have thought that on January 22, 1972, when I celebrated my Bar Mitzva and spoke at this very pulpit, that one day I would be standing up here saying goodbye to the Shul I so love!
Allow me today to make my remarks as personal as possible. Please forgive me in advance if I find it difficult to say some of these words today, as it is one of the most difficult speeches that I have ever had to give. The truth is that I have been writing this speech in my head for the last couple of months, in anticipation of this morning.

I find it hard to believe that I stood before you exactly two years ago this Shabbat to announce our Aliya. Many questioned why I went public so early, and I told them then that the time would fly by. Little did I know HOW fast the time would truly go.

Before I make some parting remarks, I want to share with you a Dvar Torah that I feel is quite appropriate for today.
If we look at the Parasha of LAST week, the parasha dealing with the Meraglim and then look at today’s parasha, we see clearly that there is a common denominator to both...one that may NOT seem so clear on the surface: That common denominator is the power and potential of the INDIVIDUAL. Let’s look back to last week.

Out of the hundreds of thousands of men, Moshe Rabbeinu sent 12 men to check out the Land of Canaan. Twelve...not a platoon..not a garrison...twelve men. These 12 men return and ten of them give a scathing report about the Land...it’s no good...it eats its inhabitants. Based on the testimony, as it were, of these 10 people, the Torah tells us:
וַתִּשָּׂא כָּל־הָעֵדָה וַֽיִּתְּנוּ אֶת־קוֹלָם וַיִּבְכּוּ הָעָם בַּלַּיְלָה הַהֽוּא
The entire nation cried about this report. They had been totally and overwhelmingly influenced by the statements of these spies...but they were just 10 people! This land that G-d had promised to Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov...suddenly, this land was sub-par and not worth inherting, all due to their perceptions.
The scene, so to speak, shifts to Kalev ben Yefuneh. When he opens his mouth, everyone listens to him as well. But how does he “get their attention”? As rashi tells us:
צווח ואמר, וכי זו בלבד עשה לנו בן עמרם, השומע היה סבור שבא לספר בגנותו, ומתוך שהיה בלבם על משה בשביל דברי המרגלים שתקו כלם לשמוע גנותו, אמר, והלא קרע לנו את הים והוריד לנו את המן והגיז לנו את השליו
The people were all MORE than willing to be swayed by more “dirt” on Moshe. Potentially swayed and again, merely by one person.
And back up a minute! When the Meraglim went to Canaan in the first place, we see Moshe daven for Kalev...just Kalev...that he should not fall prey to the influence of the others. But Kalev was just one man.

Look at the END of last week’s parasha: Miriam speaks Lashon Hara about her brother Moshe. Do you think for a minute that NO ONE had spoken Lashon Hara in ALL of the Bnei Yisrael besides Miriam!?! Were they such big tzadikim?? Yet, the Torah, due to her position and familial connection spends a number of Psukim on this incident...to such an extent that we look at this particular incident to teach us certain rules about Lashon Hara. BUT...Miriam was just one person!

And look at today’s reading: ONE MAN...Korach...he is able to foment the very first uprising and potential schism in the Jewish people. As the Midrash tells us, he went around like a modern day politician trying to rally the troops all night long before his showdown with Moshe and Aharon.

Rashi:
בדברי ליצנות, כל הלילה ההוא הלך אצל השבטים ופתה אותם, כסבורין אתם שעלי לבדי אני מקפיד, איני מקפיד אלא בשביל כלכם, אלו באין ונוטלין כל הגדולות, לו המלכות ולאחיו הכהונה, עד שנתפתו כלם
"All night long, Korach tried to win the shvatim over. All night
He swayed hundreds of people to rise up against MOSHE! Again, he was one guy...not a platoon...not a garrison...one guy.

And the truth is that if you look ahead over the next few weeks, you see this pattern continue! We learn about Bilaam, who seems to have the power to curse or to bless an entire nation; we see Pinchas single-handedly stand up for the honor of the Jewish people and the honor of Hashem and have such a profound impact that Hashem rewards him by making him a KOHEN!

And why is it that we seem to see these narratives one after the other at this juncture in the Torah? Because the Jews were on the verge of entering the land...twice! Once, based on the original timing promised in Mitzrayim. Then--as we go further into Sefer Bamidbar and then into Devarim--the second time as the next generation is actually poised to enter.
It is precisely at these junctures that we need to see the power of the individual. While they travelled in the dessert, they were one large nation with no official “territory.” BUT, they would now be entering the Land of Canaan and each be given their “turf.” After that, the charge would have been to build the Bet HaMikdash. At that point, there could have been all kinds of feelings by individuals that they are now part of some huge “corporation” and would lose their identity as they become a part of a more segmented population. “I live in the area of Dan and YOU live in the area of Nafatli...I wouldn’t be caught DEAD in YOUR area!” Each one’s individual identity potentially could become more and more DILUTED at this point.
It was for this reason, in my opinion, that the Torah gives us SO many narratives at this point about the influence of the individual. However, while giving us these pictures, we also learn an even greater lesson: it is when the INDIVIDUAL works WITH the population and not AGAINST the population that he is most succesful. Yes, says Hashem, you are an individual and you CAN influence my people (YES YOU CAN!)...but it needs to be on MY terms and following MY rulebook...then and only then will you be successful as you enter the Land of Canaan as my people.
===================================================
Congregation KJBS is about to enter its next phase of congregational life. KJBS is about to move to new ground. It may be that some people will sit back and be satisfied with the status quo. Some may feel that they have nothing to contribute, after all “I am only one person.” I think that this is exactly the point of these multiple narratives of individuals.

Each of you, here at KJBS, CAN indeed make a difference. While this sounds like a speech that can be given at the begining of the tenure of a Rabbi, I am actually using this concept as I take leave of the Shul.

The Gemara in Brachot says:
אל יפטר אדם מחבירו אלא מתוך דבר הלכה, שמתוך כך זוכרהו.
While what I am saying today may not SEEM like Halacha, I feel that indeed it is. It is the Halacha that helps to encourage the Kedushat bet HaKenesset and its growth as a Makom Torah. If I am not remembered for anything else at KJ, I hope that I will be remembered as someone who encouraged each and every individual to make his or her mark on this Mikdash M’at.

Which brings me to the toughest part of the speech today...the “good-bye” aspect. While I know I will stay in touch with many of you and that I will hopefully see many of you in our new home in Israel, I also know that this coming week may be the last time I see many of you. It also marks my last speech at this pulpit.

Over the last 10 years, I have given well over 1000 speeches here and outside the shul. I have tried to teach, instruct, educate, enlighten, guide and uplift all of the members and members of the Chicago Jewish community. I have made every effort to do all of this to the best of my ablility. There have been mistakes that I have made along the way and for those publicly ask you all for Mechilla. But at the same time, it is very gratifying to see all of the GOOD that we have accomplished together.

I am sad and I am excited.
I am happy and I am nervous.
I am in turmoil, yet I am at peace.

This is a natural outgrowth of the monumental move we are about to embark upon by making Aliya. I am leaving behind family, friends, community and students.

While I never looked upon my position as one of POWER, I do hope that in some measure, I was able to INFLUENCE some of you over the years towards greater Avodat HaShem. The truth is that MY life has been greatly enhanced by knowing each and every one of you. In one way or another, the contact I have had with all of YOU has greatly influenced ME. It has been a good “shidduch,” and it has been one that has been symbiotic. The respect that has been shown to me has been greatly appreciated and the warmth I have felt here in these walls has been overwhelming Yes, it has been a good run.

But now the time has come to say L’Hitraot.

I look at today as merely a separation by LAND, WATER and DISTANCE...not the end of friendship or of mutual respect. While you will be served by a new Rav in the near future, always know that I am a phone call, email or Skype call away. I believe that your new Rav, Rabbi Leibtag, will be only as succesful as YOU allow him to be through YOUR input into what the shul needs to grow to the next level. Please know that you all have a standing invitation to our home in Maale Adumim...but maybe spread out the visits!

To your new Rav, Rabbi Leibtag, I quote the words of Moshe Rabbenu speaking to Yehoshua bin Nun:
כג וַיְצַו אֶת־יְהוֹשֻׁעַ בִּן־נוּן וַיֹּאמֶר חֲזַק וֶֽאֱמָץ כִּי אַתָּה תָּבִיא אֶת־בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶל־הָאָרֶץ אֲשֶׁר־נִשְׁבַּעְתִּי לָהֶם וְאָֽנֹכִי אֶהְיֶה עִמָּֽךְ:

Rabbi Leibtag, may Hashem be with you as you lead this congregation in your Melechet HaKodesh. May He see fit to shower His manifold blessings on you and your family and give you the Chizuk, the inner fortitude to act B’derech Hashem, as you walk into the future with this fine membership.

Allow me to close with the words of thanks and a Bracha to this shul and its members. I know that I said some of this at the dinner, but it truly bears repeating.

I want to thank you for taking a chance on a guy who had no pulpit experience and for enabling me to have the MOST rewarding 10 years of my entire life as your Rav. I want to thank the officers, the board and all of the members for making this my home away from home. Thank you to my parents, siblings, nephews and nieces for davening here in spite of the fact that I was rabbi and for not giving me TOO hard a time of it. Thank you to my three beautiful daughters for whom I live and whom I cherish with every breath I take. And finally, thank you to my Eishet Chayil, Andy.

We have shared some good times, and we have shared some sad times together. Together we have witnessed some of the worst that man has to offer, such as 9/11 and some of the best that man has to offer, such as how the world came out in full force to help survivors of the great Tsunami in Southeast Asia in 2004. While life is indeed a series of good and bad things that happen, I can only pray that the future holds for ll of you MANY more positive events and smachot and very little in the way of the negative and sad events.

--The time has come for me to go “home.”
--The time has come to write the next chapter in the book of the Shandalov family.

--The time has come to begin anew.

It has been my pleasure...my honor...and my privilege to have served for the past ten years as the Rav of Congregation Kehilath Jacob Beth Samuel.

I wish each and every one of you the best of luck in all that you do...and may Hashem be with you every step of the way.

Shabbat Shalom!

CAUTION: Your Future is Closer than It May Appear

I was driving in my car the other day, when I glanced at my sideview mirror and began to smile to myself. As do many mirrors, this mirror was stenciled with the words "CAUTION: Objects in Mirror are Closer Than They Appear!" The meaning of this pithy little statement is that the mirror distorts the image somewhat and you might THINK you have more time to react to a car or truck, etc, indeed you may have LESS time as the object is truly closer than it seems.



And that is when I smiled to myself. This Shabbat marks exactly two years since we went public with the news of our impending Aliya. At the time, it seemed SO far away. And even as recently as a few weeks ago, it still seemed off in the distance. At times, our future appeared to me like a mirage in the desert...it was there but it was ephemeral. It still seemed so far off in the distance, that I still had some time to breath.



Well, that is no longer the case! Over the next few days, we will experience our last Shabbat in our house (tonight and tomorrow); our last few days in the house and the move over to my parents' home. We will experience giving a final cleaning to the house (if only the house were this empty just before Pesach!!). We will experience both the joy of moving on and the melancholy of saying goodbye to our home of the last 23 1/2 years. Yes, our future indeed IS much closer than it appears.



I find myself filled with so many conflicting emotions this morning. I think that what is helping to magnify that is the fact that I give my last Shabbat speech this week...for all those in the area, you are all invited at 8:30am this Shabbat to hear this final speech and join us for Kiddush afterwards. I look forward to greeting you personally.



Oh my Gosh! The future really, truly is closer than I thought! The countdown is in SINGLE DIGITS!!

9 days...1 hour...8 minutes...TICK...TICK...TICK...whoah!

Lists, Activity and Home-Ownership

Over the past two days, it has been a whirlwind of activities to continue closing up loose ends. I had on my To Do List literally a total of 32 things to do...and Bli Ayin Hara, I was able to get almost all of them done! These activities included: change of address at Post Office; termination of gas, electric, Comcast (internet); returning keys of other peoples' homes; arranging for rides to O'Hare for next Sunday's trip to NY (and on to Israel); giving away more "stuff," and on and on and on!

In the middle of all of this there were three significant events...it was 96 degrees yesterday (35.5C) and our air conditioning decided it was too tired and conked out. Thanks to Max, we got our AC back in three hours, but not before it got up to 84 degrees in the house. And all of this was going on as we were trying to get ready for my niece (Mindy)'s wedding that evening.

But the one event that made the craziness of the day seem a bit more palatable was the news we got from Israel: THE HOUSE LOCATED AT REHOV MITZPE NEVO 114/1 is now officially ours! Our engineer, Chaim Milun (if you need an engineer, I can give a fabulous recommendation) did his final walk-through and approved it to our (also) fabulous lawyer, Aryeh Rachlin, who then approved the final payment. What began two and a half years ago as a dream on paper has now materialized into reality. HODU LA'SHEM KI TOV KI L'OLAM CHASDO!

Today's focus turns back to getting more little and big things done as we approach our final days in the house. Everywhere I go, people ask me how many days left until we leave. SO...

...10 days, 23 hours and 36 minutes to go...TICK...TICK...TICK!

Butterflies, Timeline and Dinner

So much to report, so little time in which to report it.

1. Butterflies: This past Shabbat at Mincha, we began to read (here in Chutz La'aretz) Parashat Korach. As soon as I heard the opening Pasuk, I had butterflies in my stomach. I have known for months (longer) that this coming Shabbat, Parashat Korach, would be my last one at KJBS. BUT, knowing it and being faced with the reality that this week has arrived are two different things. And since Shabbat afternoon, I have found myself, on numerous occasions, feeling the sense of the butterflies in the stomach. It happens at moments that I do not expect it and can last for seconds or many minutes. But, it is all for good reasons...the time is REALLY drawing close!

2. Timeline: This last number of days left in Chicago is SO busy with (BH) smachot and events that it is becoming difficult to schedule our packing of suitcases! Two weddings, 2 Sheva Brachot, 1 dinner (Arie Crown), people taking us out, etc etc...we actually sat down to make a timeline of what will be occurring and how to schedule the next few days. Our last Shabbat in the house will be this week (!), as we will B'ezrat Hashem be moving out next week on Wednesday (to my parents' home). If all goes well, then Bezrat Hashem, we will close on our home and will be "homeless" by Thursday. Daven that all should go well!

3. Dinner: I mentioned above that we had the Arie Crown dinner to attend. Well, we just got back 15 minutes ago from the dinner. I have attended dozens and dozens of dinners over the years, but this one was different on one level: As soon as it was over, I realized that Andy and I were "officially" over at Arie Crown! Our relationship with the school goes back to the early 1960's as we BOTH attended the school...all three of our daughters went there and...as of tonight...we have finished our "physical" connection to the school. While our emotional connection will always be there, this is yet one more door that is closing for us in our waning days here in town. Our profound thanks to Rabbi Meir Shapiro (principal emeritus) and Rabbi Eli Samber (principal) for giving our children (and US!) a magnificent education. May you and all of the fantastic staff and administration of the school go מחיל אל חיל and may you continue to inspire children for many years to come!

Since things are not busy enough, my niece (Mindy) is getting married IYH on Tuesday. We are looking forward to this great simcha. It will be the last one of the family that we will be attending for quite a while. Emotional? Nah, not at all...yeah, right!

The clock looms quite large tonight. It is now 12 days, 10 hours and 46 minutes until we leave Chicago...TICK...TICK...TICK!!!

More "Lasts"

As the day draws nearer and nearer to our departure from Chicago, I am faced almost on a daily basis with "the last of..." experience regarding SOME event or activity. Some examples: Yesterday afternoon, I finished writing my last speech to be given at KJBS. Usually, once I write and finish a speech, I look it over once or twice before I deliver it but I have not "practiced" a speech (with rare exceptions) for many years. However, THIS speech was different...this speech will be the last one from the pulpit and I did, indeed, practice it yesterday. Needless to say, it was NOT an easy task. And on Shabbat, June 27th, when I deliver this speech, it will be even more difficult. I invite anyone who wishes to be there, to join us for Tefilla Shabbat morning, June 27th beginning at 8:30am, as we will have one joint Minyan that day. I hope to see you there!

This Shabbat, I will help celebrate the last Bar Mitzva that I will officiate at in Chicago. I recall when I saw this young man's name (Zeke Gillman) on the Shul calendar a long time ago, I thought that his Bar Mitzva was SO far away and the last one at KJBS while I was rabbi. Well, here it is, this Shabbat...my last Bar Mitzva.

My youngest daughter, Eliana, who was honored as both the Hebrew AND English valedictorian this week, graduated Arie Crown. Eliana is my last daughter to finish at Arie Crown, where we have been parents for 16 years. It is hard to believe that we will not be parents in the school anymore (but it is NOT hard to believe that we will not be writing any more tuition checks there!). We are very pleased with the education that all three of our daughters received at the school and wish ACHDS continued Hatzlacha in the education of all of its students!

This Shabbat will also mark the last time I will say Birkat HaChodesh in Chicago. This bracha, that announces the upcoming New Month, will be for the month of Tammuz, a month that is not the "happiest" in the Jewish calendar. However, this year, at least, the month of Tammuz will mark the beginning of a new life for our family, as we land in Israel (IYH) on 15 Tammuz!

And finally, one last comment...MANY of you have been asking me about job prospects once I arrive in Israel. The SHORT answer is that I do not yet have a job lined up. The longer answer, which I will not go into depth with here, is that I am working on it quite strongly but most places really do not want to "hear about it" until your feet are firmly planted on the ground. So, if you want to "help," always feel free to daven that I find a job asap!

Ok, back to work...still plenty to do!

17 days and 59 minutes to go...TICK...TICK...TICK!

WOW, What a Day!

So, today did not look like it would necessarily be anything special. I had a relatively quiet day planned with not too much in the way of hassle of headaches. Then, from the moment I woke up until now (7:40pm on Monday), there have been a whole series of things that have happened!

1. Tofes-4: In Israel, when there is new construction, prior to the builder being able to turn over the keys to the new owners, the Municipality that governs that area must sign off on it indicating that they have met codes for building etc. In the USA, this would be the Certificate of Occupancy. In Israel, this document is the Tofes-4 (Tofes-Arba). Even if the builder had done everything and I wanted to take possession, I could not without that last hurdle. This morning, I received word from our (outstanding!!) lawyer that indeed we had received the Tofes-4 and were ready for the last walk-through and eventual key handover. It was a moment I will not soon forget!

2. Ida Crown Jewish Academy: Today, we had our End-of-Year meeting of the faculty and staff. I have been teaching at ICJA for five years. At the end of the meeting, I turned in my grades, my gradebook and my key for the last time. My tenure as teacher at ICJA came to an end today. As I walked out the building, I must say it was a feeling of sadness and emptiness that filled my entire being. I had the zechut of teaching MANY students there, and I will ALWAYS fondly remember my days engaged in the Chinuch of the next geneneration of leaders...and believe me when I say that there were MANY candidates that fit the bill of "next generation of leaders."

3. Chicago Rabbinical Council: I have had the fortune of being a member of the cRc for ten years. During that time, I have had the zechut of serving as Secretary, VP, President and Chairman of the Executive. Tonight, with the new election of officers, I was (for the first time in seven years!) not on the slate in some capacity. It was my last "official" meeting at an organization that has become an integral part of my life. I will miss the various committees, meetings and camaraderie that those meetings engendered. I will remain a member, albeit from afar.

4. NBN and JAFI Papers Complete! I received an official notification letter that I and my family have completed all of the necessary documents and supporting documents for the flight, the free ride to our final destination and to be considered "ready" (at least as far as the paperwork) to make Aliya!

5. Cell Phones: Prior to making Aliya, we are renting cell phones so we will be able to communicate with each other and the myriad of agencies we will need to be in touch with once we land. (After a period of settling in, we will find the best deal for our needs). I received the cell numbers today (to be given out VERY judiciously over the next 3 or 4 weeks!). So wonderful to now know our address and our cell phone number (at least for the short term).

Not bad for a "day's work." Don't know how I will top that tomorrow...stay tuned!

It is now 19 days, 13 hours and 34 minutes until we leave Chicago. TICK...TICK...TICK!!!!!!!

The Beginning of "The Three Weeks"

Traditionally, there is a period of 3 weeks during the summer that begins with the fast day of Shiva Asar B'Tammuz and culminates with the darkest day in the Jewish calendar, that of Tisha B'Av. That time period is known as "The Three Weeks." It is a time period of greater and greater "restrictions" and greater and greater levels of "mourning." It is a sad time...a time for reflection...a time to think about the destruction of the Bet HaMikdash/Temple.

For us, today begins a different time of "The Three Weeks." For three weeks from today, our family boards a plane to NY to await a flight the next day to our Home in Israel. These weeks will not be marked by mourning (B"H) nor by greater and greater levels of sadness. They will be marked by greater and greater levels of anticipation, excitement, trepidation and anxiety. It will be a time of introspection and one that looks not only at the FUTURE but also at our PAST. It is a time that we have been looking forward to for a long time, and we can not believe is now so close.

This year, the "real" Three Weeks begin two days after our arrival in Israel.

However, unlike the Three Week period of the last 2000 years, this one will be marked by joy and happiness and end with the jubilant re-building of the Bet HaMikdash. This year will be marked not by sadness and mourning, but by joy and elation as we all gather together in Yerushalayim Ir HaKodesh to greet the Mashiach. If I did not truly believe that with every fiber of my being then I would not believe in the 13 Ikarim of the Rambam and of the coming of the Mashiach.

May we ALL be zoche (merit) to be together for this momentous moment in Jewish History, and may we all do our part in both Torah and Miztvot to see to it that this moment arrives speedily!