A Telling Bar Mitzvah Invitation

Schizophrenic Purpose And Identity
By Rabbi Yoseph Kahanov Jax. Fl

Legend has it that the late Albert Einstein, having just completed a paper and in need of a clasp, spent a considerable amount of time trying to straighten-out a clip that was twisted and unusable. While struggling with the dysfunctional object, his assistant discovered a new box of perfect clips. Einstein took one of the new paper clips reshaped it and used it as an instrument to repair the old bent one.

In response to his assistant’s bewilderment, the renowned physicist declared: “I had just established a new objective; once set upon a goal I’m not easily deflected.

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A Telling Bar Mitzvah Invitation:

It is with great stress, emotional and physical fatigue, and incredible financial sacrifice, beyond comprehension, that we invite you to join us, on the occasion of our darling Bubale, Sam Isaac, being called to the Torah as a Bar Mitzvah and proudly taking his place in our priceless Jewish heritage.

The Ceremony will take place on Mother’s Day Weekend, Saturday, May 12th, at Temple Ahavat Chesed 17 Charlwood Ln. Westport, Connecticut. Services begin at the ungodly hour of 9 a.m. (although you don’t really need to be there until 10:40 a.m. to catch the real spiel).

If you make it through the three-hour service, we recommend you leave before the Kiddush as it is for the Shnorors (the Chazerei is not worth the calories). You are welcome instead to join us for a grandiose and ostentatious Dinner at 5 p.m. (Not 8 p.m., or you’ll miss out on the 2000 canapés and all the delicacies we Jews don’t allow into our homes).

The Shindig will be held at St John’s Country Club 47 Rout 23 S Westport, CT, (which we were forced to join just for this event and you would never believe the insane initiation fees). Sorry but Kosher will not be offered on the menu (Way too pricey).

Expect to be in the presence of lots of boisterous and luxurious entertainment, designer attire galore and lots of REAL bling. (You might want to consider appointing a designated driver, as most guests will be toasted to the nines).

Be a Mentch and RSVP on time, not a day before the event (can’t take the stress). And if you RSVP, please have the decency to show up (It’s a Shanda if you don’t). You will be billed $95.00 a plate if you are a no-show.

The gift of choice is, of course, of the GREEN variety, (or a routing and account number “Off the top of your head.”) Gifts and gift cards are a waste of your time and ours.

Hope you can make it!
Dorothy and Alan Segal

Dress code: Black Tie (Kippot optional. BYO, don’t have the strength to deal with it)
Theme: 007 James Bond

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We all have the need for a purpose and objective in life. It is without question that a good cause and sense of belonging adds spark and meaning to what might otherwise amount to a mere existence – it is what makes life worthwhile. Living solely for the sake of existing seems inadequate and meaningless.

But what is more important, the feeling of worth and importance that is derived from our involvement and dedication to a cause – the sense of belonging and worth, or the integrity and authenticity of the actual cause?

Too often, we fall into the proverbial trap of mistaking the book for its cover. The actual need for a cause tends oftentimes to overshadow and outweigh the authenticity and importance of the cause itself – be it with regards to politics, social activism and even religion.

Veteran news reporter David Brinkley was said to have set out, in the early 1990’s, to survey the Washington civic scene and to have discovered a truly bizarre incident.

Washington, DC is known to derive a great deal of revenue from traffic tickets. In fact, at the time as much as $50 million was raised each year from citations for moving violations, expired inspection stickers, overdue registrations and of course the inescapable plethora of expired parking meters.

He witnessed one day a particular traffic officer, while writing a citation for an illegally parked car, looking-on in cold blood, as a thief had the audacity to remove the car’s license plate and make off with it in front of the officer’s face.

Undaunted, the officer did not even attempt to stop him. He just continued writing the ticket, even as the crook went about his business. Then, when the thief was finished, he slapped another citation on the car for parking on a public street without plates.

In the first of the double portions read this week, Vayakhel, Moshe gathers the entire nation of Israel and charges them with the complex task of constructing the holy Tabernacle. Before he even gets started with the topic at hand, he fires off a warning about the need to sanctify the Shabbos: “Six days work shall be done, and the seventh day shall be holy . . .” Exodus 35:2-3. Only after this digression does Moshe continue with the directives that pertain to the completion of the Mishkan.

Is it not odd that while instructing the Israelites about this extraordinary and awesome endeavor, Moshe would deviate with a warning about a seemingly unrelated and previously stated observance? The juxtaposition of the laws of Shabbos in the midst of the instruction about building the Sanctuary is by all accounts confusing.

According to Rashi, Moshe cautioned the Jewish people against violating the laws of Shabbos in pursuit of their new-fangled endeavor.

Keenly aware of human nature, Moshe found himself compelled to warn against becoming overly engrossed in the novelty and euphoria of the new and exciting objective, to the point of forgetting its actual higher intent, and even violating its basic spirit.

In warning against the desecration of the Shabbos, Moshe was cautioning against the common human fallacy of confusing the means for the end, or better yet, forgetting that there is an end. Moshe was reminding his flock to keep focused on the real goals and not to get sidetracked by the cozy feelings of self fulfillment associated with the historic mission at hand.

Even when the work is as holy and exciting as the building of the Tabernacle – a place for G-d to dwell – rules are rules and Shabbos is Shabbos. Even when we feel like breaking the rules for what we perceive to be a good cause, we must always focus on the greater cause and objective, the Divine will and intent.

Moshe’s three thousand year old words of caution reverberate with keen relevance. Activism that is kept in check is usually a good thing. Activism that has lost its focus and gone awry is apt to become self-serving and self-centered. It can easily defy its very own purpose and intention.

We must forever be wary of the selfish tendencies that tend to infiltrate our holy endeavors. By doing so we will stay focused on our true Divine mission and hasten the coming of the righteous Moshiach BBA.