Rabbi's Blog

In between working on next week’s event at the city council meeting, the Open House on Thursday (with Lt. Governor Abel Maldonado and Assembly member Roger Niello in attendance) and getting ready for the High Holidays, my family and I are getting ready to move to a new house! We currently live a little over a mile and a half from the Chabad Jewish Community Center and we will be moving to a nice house about a block away. So, things are getting pretty busy…

Talking about moving to a new house reminded me of Chassidism’s answer to the age old question: Why are we here? What is our purpose in this world? Chassidic thought answers that our job is to "Make a home for G-d in the material world." Here is a great article written by Yanki Tauber that illuminates this mystifying statement.

Nations go to war over it; families sign away a sizeable chunk of their income for the next 30 years to acquire one. The sages of the Talmud go so far as to say that "A man without a homestead is not a man."

A home is more than a roof to keep out the rain, walls to keep out unwanted visitors, a kitchen in which to prepare food and a bed in which to sleep. Forts, office buildings, hotels and restaurants can perform those functions as well, or better, than any residence. But only at home is a person at home. Home is where you can make faces at the mirror, wear an old green sweater with a hole under the armpit and eat pickles with peanut butter -- because you feel like it.

G-d, too, desires a home -- a place where He can be fully and uninhibitedly Himself. The Chassidic masters ask: Why did G-d create the physical world? What can our coarse, finite, strife-ridden existence give Him that the spiritual dimensions of creation cannot? And they answer: G-d created the physical world because He wanted a home -- a place where He can do things because He feels like it.

G-d's first home was a two-room, 45 by 15-foot building. According to Exodus 25, it was made of the following materials: gold, silver, copper, blue, purple and red-dyed wool, flax, goat hair, animal hides and wood. It was made to order, from detailed specifications given to Moses at Mount Sinai. It sat in the very center of the Israelite camp in the desert, and was designed so that it could be dismantled and reassembled as they wandered from place to place for the forty years between their Exodus from Egypt and their entry into the Holy Land. Later, a larger and more permanent version was constructed on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.

Said G-d to man: I created wisdom, knowledge and understanding, and in these creations My mind dwells. I created love, justice and compassion, and in these my character resides. I created beauty, splendor and majesty, and in these I invest My personality. But none of these are My home, any more than the office at which you work or the theater at which you are entertained is yours. So I created physical matter -- the most undivine thing I could conceive of -- so that I should have a place in which there are no roles for Me to play and no characteristics for Me to project. Only My will to fulfill.

When you take your gold (your material excesses), your silver (your stolid middle-class wealth) and your copper (your pauper's subsistence pennies) and use them to fashion a reality that conforms to My will, you have made Me at home in My world.

If you would like to read more about this profound idea, please click here and here for a great piece about the importance of home and family.

Please join us for the Community-Wide Open House next week – come and bring a friend! For information about our services and schedule during the High Holidays, please click on the link below.

Best regards and Shabbat Shalom!

I’ve heard so often from people that they don’t have any connection to Judaism, that they are not knowledgeable in Torah nor are they particularly observant. They therefore feel like they don’t belong and hesitate to participate. Does this sound familiar? Have you or someone you know thought along these lines?

I’d like to tell you a story about a chassid who was sent by the Previous Rebbe, R. Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, to visit Jews in outlying communities and inspire them in the observance of the mitzvot. When he returned to the Rebbe, he told him that the Jews he visited had asked him the purpose of his trip, and he had answered them using the following analogy. In previous generations, there were traveling scribes who would journey from community to community, checking the Torah scrolls and correcting any cracked or faded letters.

“Every Jew is like a Torah scroll,” the chassid explained to the local people. “But sometimes some of its ‘letters’ a mitzvah here or a mitzvah there become faded. My mission is to restore the letters.”

The Previous Rebbe appreciated the analogy, but told the chassid that it was not entirely appropriate. “The letters of a Torah scroll and its parchment are two separate entities. Therefore when a letter fades, its restoration can be considered as fashioning a new entity. A Jew’s relationship with his/her heritage is, by contrast, a fundamental part of his/her being. It is like the letters of the Ten Commandments that were carved into two tablets of stone; once carved the letters became part of the tablet itself.

“They may become filled with other substances or covered with dust to the point that they are not seen, but the letters are still intact. All that is necessary is that they be uncovered. One does not have to create anything new.”

Please know, no matter your level of knowledge or observance, a Jew is a Jew! You are as Jewish as Moses! Feel welcome to come and claim your stake in your heritage.

During the last 37 days of Moses’ life he communicated to the Jewish people his instructions for their future. They were about to enter the Land of Israel and their lives were going to change radically. Among the experiences and lessons that Moses recounts are the Ten Commandments, found in the portion that is read tomorrow in synagogues the world over.

I thought it would be apropos to share this short insight written by Rabbi Simon Jacobson of the Meaningful Life Center in New York. Please take a moment to read it; I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Is G-d Religious? The polls are mixed on that count. Recent surveys show that as much as 80-90% of Americans will say that they believe in G-d, but 40-50% will say they do not practice a religion.

Indeed, if G-d is all-powerful and infinite, and religion is a set of laws and rituals and a list of things that one must or must not do, it would seem that G-d could hardly be described as "religious." Nor would it seem that being religious will bring a person closer to G-d. If G-d transcends all limitation and definition, why would the way to relate to G-d be to impose further restriction and definition on our already finite and constricted lives?

Yet this paradox is not confined to the religious-spiritual aspect of the human experience. Throughout the ages, whenever man has endeavored to escape the bounds of the mundane and the everyday, he did so by submitting to a structured, even rigid, code of behavior.

My favorite example for this is the discipline of music. There are just so many musical notes on the scale, and no one--not even the greatest musician--can create additional notes or subtract any. Anyone who wishes to play or compose music must conform to this absolute, immutable system.

And yet, by submitting to this framework, the musician will create a piece of music that touches the deepest place in a person’s heart---a place that cannot be described, much less be defined. By using this very precise, mathematical formula, the musician will create something that transports the listener to a place high above the confines and fetters of everyday life, high above the strictures of physics and mathematics.

Imagine, then, a musical discipline whose laws are dictated by the inventor and creator of life---by the one who has intimate knowledge of life's every strength and every vulnerability, of its every potential and its every sensitivity.

The only question remaining is: but why so many laws? Why must this discipline dictate how we are to wake and how we are to sleep, and virtually everything in between?

Because life itself, in all its infinite complexity, is our instrument of connection with G-d. Every "scale" on its "range" must be exploited to achieve the optimum connection.

Music being our metaphor, we cannot but quote the famous anecdote in which Archduke Ferdinand of Austria says to Mozart, "Beautiful music, but far too many notes." To which the composer replied, "Yes, your majesty, but not one more than necessary."

Go ahead, laugh at your circumstances!

Do you ever find yourself in a really tough situation and suddenly you sit back and laugh? I didn't think so. It's not a common occurrence. But, maybe it's a practice we ought to adopt. Try this; the next time things are really going rough, you are frustrated with G-d that He is putting you through a seemingly overpowering challenge; you are ready to pull the hair out of your head... Stop! Sit back with a cup of cold lemonade in your hand, and… LAUGH! Laugh at the situation; laugh at how one day you'll look back and see how overwhelmed you were by the circumstances and how you thought it would never work out… and it did. Or laugh at how one day you'll realize that this challenge was actually a tremendous blessing to help you get to a place you didn't even know you had the potential to reach. Oh, and the more you laugh the better you will deal with the situation.

How do I know this? For that please bring your lemonade onto the porch and I'll tell you a story.

It was sometime after the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem. (This Tuesday is Tisha B’av, the day we commemorate the destruction of the Temple). Rabbi Akiva and his colleagues were walking toward Jerusalem and had arrived at Mt. Scopus. There, below, they saw the site of the destroyed Temple.

They tore their clothing in mourning.

Later, as they approached the actual site of the Temple, they witnessed a terribly distressing sight – they saw a fox emerging from the place where the Holy of Holies had stood.

The Rabbis reacted with weeping… but Rabbi Akiva began to laugh.

The surprised Rabbi's turned to Rabbi Akiva and asked incredulously, "Why is it that you laugh?" To which he responded, "Why is it that you cry?" They answered, "For the Torah states that Jerusalem will be like a plowed field." To which Rabbi Akiva said, "It is precisely for that reason that I laugh. For I see that just as the prophecy of Jerusalem's destruction has come to pass, so too the prophecy of its rebuilding will come to pass."

Rabbi Akiva was not belittling the destruction; rather he was calling on a deep, inner strength - a profound conviction and faith in G-d - that in time G-d's master plan will be revealed.

When we are facing challenge the normal thing is to tear our clothing and cry. Why G-d? Why me? Why this? And that's ok (after all even Rabbi Akiva tore his clothing). But after you are done crying and fretting, step back and call on your inner faith and confidence. This is the faith and confidence that G-d is a good G-d that wants only the best for us; that our situation is really a blessing in disguise and in time it will be revealed. And that until that time, our strong faith alone is reason enough to celebrate; the fact that we have a G-d that loves us and cares for us and wants to help us to greater heights.

Enjoy your lemonade and have a great weekend.

Shabbat shalom!!

The story is told of a man named Abraham who was a simple, honest, hard working man. He owned a small store and made enough of a living to support his family. He excelled in one area; he was an extremely giving and hospitable individual. His home was open to all; poor neighbors would stop by for a meal or some financial assistance and travelers would be certain to find a comfortable bed and a delicious meal. He was always looking out for the welfare of his fellow.

One time he was honored to host an extraordinary guest; a wise and holy Rebbe who was passing through town. The Rebbe was impressed by Abraham’s hospitality and blessed him with wealth.
Little did Abraham realize the challenges that come with being wealthy. As he became more absorbed in his business deals and his ever-expanding and increasingly profitable business affairs, he tended to spend less time helping others.

One day the Rebbe visited town and after meeting Abraham, he realized the change that had overcome him. The Rebbe asked to meet with Abraham at his home. Once there, the Rebbe took Abraham to the window and told him to look out to the street. The Rebbe asked him many questions about the passer-by and Abraham recognizing his neighbors identified them to the Rebbe. “That woman is a poor widow with young children… that’s the water carrier – he’s getting old and soon will not be able to continue his line of work… and that’s the tailor who although a pious and hardworking man can’t seem to make ends meet…”

Then the Rebbe led Abraham over to the large, ornate mirror hanging over the fire place. “What do you see, Abraham?" asked the Rebbe. “Why, I see myself,” answered a surprised Abraham.

“Both the window and the mirror are made of glass, are they not? Why is it," asked the Rebbe, “that when you look through the window you see others but when you look in the mirror you see yourself?"

Abraham, not understanding what the Rebbe was asking, explained, “The glass is transparent, the light goes through the glass and you can see what is on the other side. However the mirror, although also made of glass, is coated with silver on one side causing the light to reflect. Therefore the mirror only reflects what is looking into it.”

“I see,” said the Rebbe, “when the glass is clear you can see others, but when coated in silver, you can see only yourself…”

Suddenly Abraham understood the Rebbe’s message. So long that he was without the silver coating - before he became wealthy - he had been able to see others and their plight and was moved to help them in any way he could. But since he had been blessed with wealth – “coated in silver” – he was only able to see himself.

That night Abraham scraped the silver coating off one of the corners of the mirror, to serve as a constant reminder to remember others.

What do YOU see in the mirror?

How has your week been? On my end the week has flown by (and not only because we flew back from New York…), I hope things are well with you and your family.

If you live in the United States, you may not have heard about it (although they say it’s a growing sport in the US) but the world is currently preoccupied with the World Cup. Soccer, or as they call it in other parts of the world - football, is the focus of everyone’s attention. Anywhere between 250 Million – 1 Billion people watch the World Cup final!

The founder of Chassidism, the Ba’al Shem Tov, would say “Every single thing that a person sees or hears, is an instruction to him in his conduct in the service of G‑d”. What lesson can we learn from soccer?

There are many I’m sure, here’s one that I found most inspiring: the aim of the game is to score a goal (or many goals). This is simple enough; the goal is a fairly large rectangular net at the end of an open field. You can approach as close as you wish to the goal and the ball that is being used is a size that’s easy to handle.

What’s the catch?

The other team. There are other players who do all they can to stop you from scoring. They will use every ounce of strength and any tactic to disrupt your ability to score.

How do you respond when challenged by the other team? You respond by digging deeper and finding more energy, trying new moves, new tactics. You will make an extra effort to win the game. This response is only brought out when you are faced with an opposing team.

Our life is like a game of soccer. We have goals that we aim for and inevitably we are faced with challenges. Sometimes from within, we doubt our capability to achieve; sometimes from without, other forces try to pull us down and distract us.

The purpose of the challenges is to awaken within us a deeper, hidden potential. Don’t lose focus by the challenges that you face – look them square in the eye and find the power to overcome them. You have it within you all you need to do is let it come out.

***

Please share with me your thoughts and feedback; I look forward to hearing from you!

Can you perform miracles?

I think you can. I mean it. Seriously. A real miracle. Does that sound a little far-fetched? Let me tell you a story:

A group of students once visited the Lubavitcher Rebbe, they had prepared questions on a whole range of topics and the Rebbe answered each of their questions. Toward the end of the meeting one student asked “They say that Rebbe can perform miracles, is this true? Does the Rebbe really  have supernatural powers?”

The Rebbe answered “We each posses a soul that is a spark of G-d, therefore we all have the power to transcend the limitations of this physical world.”

“And now,” continued the Rebbe “I will perform a miracle.”

“Each one of you will now commit to improve yourself in one particular area. You will choose something that you have previously realized must be fixed but you have deemed it too difficult and ‘out of your reach’. Still, you will persist and you will succeed thereby proving that you can actually overcome the limitations of the natural order and perform a miracle”.

This Tuesday is the 3rd of Tammuz which marks the anniversary of the Rebbe’s passing. Although physically distant, the Rebbe’s influence is as strong as ever, perhaps more so than before. In honor of this occasion let us each perform a miracle in our own life. You can do it!

Perform a miracle today.

* * *

I am currently in New York attending a conference, visiting family and participating in the 3rd of Tammuz activities. I will be praying at the Rebbe’s resting place and would be honored to include a prayer for you and your family. Please send me an email with your Jewish name and your mother’s Jewish name (and the names of anyone else that you would like to include) and I will make sure to include you in my prayers.

Get this: one of the charges in the Rubashkin case is that he paid a cattle supplier late, violating the 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act and costing the supplier a grand total of... $3,800.51!! This article was posted online recently and includes a lot of interesting facts about this case.

Here's a sampling:

Ironically, Rubashkin was not tried for hiring or mistreating illegal aliens. Instead, he was charged with financial crimes, including violating the obscure 1921 Packers and Stockyards Act, section 409 of which requires payment to cattle suppliers within 24 hours. In many cases, Rubashkin paid his vendors several days late. In a detailed sentencing memorandum, the prosecution points to 31 cattle suppliers who were not paid within 24 hours—but were indeed paid. Specifically, on page 25 of the memo, prosecutors assert, “The actual loss to each Packer's Act victim is attributable to the fact that they all lost the time value of their money while they were waiting for payment.” As an example, the government sentencing memo declares, “Waverly Sales, Inc. has quantified the amount of their actual loss to be $3,800.51. This is based upon the amount of interest Waverly paid on a mortgage loan it took out on its property in order to cover the cost of the cattle sold to Agriprocessors while it was waiting for payment through the Packer's trust.” As such, Rubashkin is to get a life sentence in part because his supplier lost interest waiting for full payment, which was actually made, but made days late. Indeed, this is the first criminal prosecution under the 90-year-old Packers and Stockyards Act any legal expert contacted could remember.

Read the whole article > > > 

In early December 2008, Bernie Madoff was arrested by federal agents for allegedly masterminding a $65 billion, decades-long Ponzi scheme. Yet, within days of his arrest, the government agreed to allow the accused swindler to remain free on bail. Granted, the bail conditions under which Madoff was forced to live were onerous, and included surrendering his and his wife's passports, 24-7 monitoring of his penthouse apartment, and severe restrictions on his movements outside the walls of his home.

The Madoff case illustrates that even for one of the most infamous white-collar criminals in modern times, there was a way to both satisfy the government's interest to ensure that a defendant shows up for court proceedings and at the same time provide an opportunity for a defendant to maintain some semblance of a family, professional and religious life while his or her case proceeds through the justice system.

Surprisingly, however, in another case - this one still unfolding - the Department of Justice is being overly parsimonious in refusing to allow bail for a defendant charged with white-collar crimes far less serious than those to which the disgraced Madoff pleaded last year.

Read the rest > > > 

Please understand that we are very careful whom we support and which causes we champion. If you would like to discuss this matter with me, please feel free to reply to this email or call me at 916 608 9811 ext. 101.

American Jewish leaders are expressing shock and outrage at the federal government’s recommendation that Sholom Rubashkin be sentenced to life in prison for his role as an executive with the Agriprocessors kosher meatpacking plant in Postville, Iowa. It is the latest example of a prosecution that has repeatedly targeted Rubashkin for unfair treatment compared to others who have been accused of employing illegal immigrants or compromising the security of a bank loan. 

Please take just a few moments to sign an online petition at the “Justice for Sholom Mordechai Rubashkin” Web page at www.justiceforsholom.org and  call or e-mail Department of Justice Office of Intergovernmental and Public Liaison (202) 514-3465; oipl@usdoj.gov (and cc pr@justiceforsholom.org), to protest the recommendations of life in prison for Sholom Rubashkin.

If you are interested in assisting the “Equal Justice for Sholom Rubashkin” campaign, or in receiving call to action alerts should e-mail their contact info to info@justiceforsholom.org, or text message ICARE to  347-948-JUST (5878).

Jewish rabbinic leaders have signed a proclamation, urging their Jewish brethren to contact the Justice Department on Rubashkin’s behalf, calling it a “sacred obligation of every individual to participate in this mitzvah.”

In case you are unfamiliar with this case a little background and context is in order.

In May 2008 an Immigration and Customs Enforcement raid took place at Agriprocessors, it included a military style raid with more than 600 federal agents. It was widely criticized for the extreme tactics utilized by prosecutors and ICE. The raid destroyed the company and had disastrous lasting effects on the community of Postville and the kosher meat industry.

Mr. Rubashkin, the former CEO of Agriprocessors, was originally indicted for employing illegal immigrants, an offense that has been punished with probation or a short prison term. After seven superseding indictments, prosecutors chose to proceed to trial on alleged bank fraud charges in an effort to increase Rubashkin’s punishment, even though interest was paid on all of the money drawn by the loan and the bank has acknowledged it received approximately $21 million in profit from the interest payments.

The bank loan was not paid in full because of the government’s raid on Agriprocessors, which caused the company to declare bankruptcy. The bank “called” the loan when Agriprocessors could not continue to make its payments.

Prosecutors and the U.S. Probation Office have calculated the total offense committed by Rubashkin at level 45 under the Federal Sentencing Guidelines. Because the federal Sentencing Table caps at level 43, the Probation Office has calculated the total offense at level 43. An offense level of 43 is punished with a life sentence under the sentencing guidelines, which the Supreme Court held as no longer mandatory.

Rubashkin’s attorneys have asked the court to impose a sentence no greater than 72 months, noting his positive history and character, his extraordinary family circumstances, and the arbitrary nature of the now-advisory guidelines used by prosecutors. They emphasize that Rubashkin’s conduct was not done for personal gain, that he did not intend any loss to the bank, and that a 72-month sentence would allow the Bureau of Prisons to place Rubashkin in a facility with experience in effectively and humanely incarcerating observant Jewish inmates.

The sentencing recommendation submitted by prosecutors to the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Iowa is inconsistent with sentencing of other corporate executives convicted in comparable cases. For example, Mark Turkcan, an official First Bank, was recently convicted of bank fraud involving a loss of approximately $35 million, and was sentenced to one year and one day in prison. And Cathy Gieseker was sentenced to nine years in prison for bilking 179 farmers out of more than $27 million. Her motive, unlike Rubashkin and Turkcan, was greed. 

In Rubashkin’s bank-fraud trial, prosecutors were allowed to present inflammatory evidence regarding the employment of illegal workers, even though the judge had previously ruled that such evidence would prejudice the jury and had severed the immigration and bank fraud charges for that reason. The charges regarding harboring illegal immigrants were eventually dropped.

Rubashkin supporters argue that prosecutors have subjected Rubashkin to more severe restrictions and potential punishment than other employers whose work premises were raided by ICE and who were found to have hired larger numbers of illegal workers. The country’s largest meatpacker, Swift & Company, was raided in six different states in December 2006, and almost 1,300 illegal immigrants were arrested. No corporate official of Swift & Company has been prosecuted. RCI, International, a restaurant janitorial service operating in 17 states, was raided in 63 locations in February 2007. Its owners, who paid their employees (all illegal immigrants) in cash, were found to have defrauded the United States of more than $18 million in taxes. Its chief operating officer was sentenced to 10 years in prison. The owner of a Massachusetts manufacturer of leather goods and handbags raided by ICE in March 2007, when 326 illegal immigrants were arrested, was sentenced to one year and one day in prison.

I hope this background information helps clarify the matter; please take the time to sign the petition at www.justiceforsholom.org and call or email the DOJ at the contact info listed above.

Again, please feel free to contact me to discuss this matter.

May we share good news!

Well, he says it better than I could have - here's a quote from a new article on our site profiling a real interesting fellow, Fishel Bresler.

"One day I had a shocking realization; my concept of Judaism was that of a thirteen-year-old's, the age when my Jewish education ended. No one would tell an astrophysicist, 'I know all about it! I studied stars in sixth grade.' But most intelligent adults assume they know all about Judaism, even though they formed their opinions with a childish comprehension!"

Sometimes, I wish I had the courage to say that to some people after they've given me their reasoning as to why they don't believe this or don't do that...

Read the whole article here.

Guest post by Rabbi Yossi Serebryanski, Chabad South Denver.

It is with sadness and horror that we witnessed the tragedy in Haiti.

There is a desperate effort to bring clean water and food to the country with mass starvation a real possibility.

Please take a moment and read the first paragraph of Birchat Hamozon.

Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, who, in His goodness, provides sustenance for the entire world with grace, with kindness, and with mercy. He gives food to all flesh, for His kindness is everlasting. Through His great goodness to us continuously we do not lack [food], and may we never lack food, for the sake of His great Name. For He, benevolent G-d, provides nourishment and sustenance for all, does good to all, and prepares food for all His creatures whom He has created, as it is said: You open Your hand and satisfy the desire of every living thing. Blessed are You, L-rd, who provides food for all.

How can we say this blessing when millions will go hungry this very evening?

My friends this is where Hashem gives us a chance to partner with him in creation.

There is enough food in this world for every human to be fed, the way Hashem sets up creation is such, that there is an imbalance of wealth.

The rabbis explain that this imbalance forces people to engage in commerce and industry, and gives the wealthy a chance to give tzedaka, which will lead to Tikkun Olam a healed and integrated world.

I have no doubt that in the next few days we will see the biggest airlift of food since the Berlin siege. Case in point, one of our alumni (of University of Denver, where Rabbi Serebryanski is the local Chabad rabbi) serving in the US Army is already on the ground in Haiti helping to coordinate the American response.

Now YOU have a unique opportunity to partner with Hashem in bringing food to the hungry.

Please click on this link to find an agency to support, or click here to see the relief efforts of the local Chabad representatives.

May the merit of the mercy you show, be repaid by Hashem's mercy to you.
Mida Kneged Mida- measure for measure.

One Rabbi's Response to the Haitian Earthquake of 2010
Guest post by Rabbi Shais Taub 

It's hard enough to comprehend the significance of what a 7.0 magnitude earthquake does to a densely populated area. It's even harder to imagine what this means when most of the people affected are already living in sub-standard conditions.

Haiti is figured to be the poorest country in the Americas. Something like a third of its GNP is foreign aide. It's been wracked by disease, war, hurricanes and, now, earthquake. It's unreal. Anyone who says that they can understand it clearly doesn't understand it at all.

Most of us will react with compassion. We will feel sympathy for the millions displaced from their homes, searching for lost relatives and left without access to even the most meager resources. Some of us will find somewhere to quickly donate online to help in the relief effort.

And then there are those – a very, very small number actually – who will take it upon themselves to interpret for us the meaning of the disaster. They will try to extract moral lessons from what happened. Perhaps they will find some reason to explain why the Haitian people deserve such pitifully bad luck. They did the same thing after Katrina and after the Tsunami. They are quick to figure out why people suffer and to hold up the victims as a frightening example of G‑d's potential wrath to us as well.

Please, do not listen to those who exploit human suffering for rhetorical flair.

They will tell you that G‑d wants to tell us something and that if we don't learn from this, there will be more calamity.

I know this because this is how they respond to every tragedy that grabs the world's attention.

What they are loath to admit is that we have no idea why this happened. We have no idea why G‑d did this. There are no answers that we can understand.

How then are we of faith to react? I mean, in addition to offering our help and our sympathy. How are we supposed to look at something like this?

Just this past Saturday, in Jewish communities all over the world, we read the first portion of the Book of Exodus—a portion which ends with Moses' complaint to G‑d: "Why have You done bad to Your people?"

The answer to this question comes at the beginning of this week's Torah reading, in which G‑d basically answers that the patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, also had cause to question Him but never did. In other words, G‑d doesn't answer the question. Rather, He tells Moses that from another perspective – the perspective of the Patriarchs – it would not even occur to ask such a question.

It's actually quite remarkable. G‑d never answered the question.

I wonder if that's because G‑d knew that Moses wouldn't be able to understand the answer... or because He knew that he would?

It is not for us to be comfortable with human suffering. It is certainly not for us to rationalize it away or, worse yet, to use false piety to audaciously explain the unexplainable.

Does G‑d have a plan? Does He know what He is doing? Yes.

Are we able to explain what that is? If we do, we show that we have not only lost our hearts but also our minds.

Guest post by Rabbi Simcha Backman of Chabad of Glendale. Rabbi Backman is a participating columnist on the Glendale News Press weekly feature "In Theory". Below is his most recent article. Click here for previous columns.

Infidelity is in the news with the recent development of Jenny Sanford — wife of South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford — filing for divorce after 20 years of marriage. The world’s No. 1 golfer, Tiger Woods, also admitted to infidelity. It’s not new in the celebrity world, but what does your faith teach about infidelity? Are we truly damned if we cheat on our wives or husbands?

Infidelity is not only a problem among celebrities, but is fairly prevalent among the general population as well.

One factor contributing to this sad trend is the pervasiveness of overt sexual imagery and innuendo that regularly inundates us all. Whether it’s plastered across billboards or relayed through the Internet, television or print media, many advertising campaigns routinely portray explicit promiscuity and self-indulgence.

Every day, these messages reach all of us — including our impressionable children. Over time, this desensitizes society and obscures the deeper purpose and essential significance of intimacy, and can lead people to consider their marriage vows expendable.

According to Jewish thought, the institution of marriage is extraordinary since it symbolizes on a physical plane a much deeper spiritual reality.

We are taught that husband and wife were originally one soul, which was split into two. When they reunite in matrimony, their bond is unique because it represents the recreation of a single entity — this is the definition of a “soul mate.”

Infidelity causes the tearing apart of this spiritual union, and creates irreversible hurt and pain within the family unit. With true remorse and a sincere commitment to future faithfulness, it is possible to keep together such a severely damaged marriage. However, chances are that the wounded partner will forever be scarred and will carry the injury within for the rest of his or her life.

I would hope that following the recent rash of highly publicized stories of infidelity, national advertising agencies would recognize their moral responsibility by toning down the sexuality of their marketing approaches.

Regardless of whether there is any change of heart on Madison Avenue, however, each of us has an important duty to help educate society about the intrinsic value of remaining faithful. We can do our part to point out that marriage represents a sacred trust — and that a betrayal of that trust always carries painful, lasting consequences.