Scapegoating Others

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

April 29-30, 2022 / 29 Nisan 5782 / 14 Omer

Shabbat Acharei Mot

Torah: Leviticus 16:1-18:30

Haftarah: I Samuel 20:18 - 20:42 | Shabbat Machar Chodesh

 

 “Scapegoating Others”

 

Dear Friends,

 

How can we resist blaming others when things go wrong?  So often we are responsible for much of the disappointment and failure in our lives.  We are accountable for our misdeeds.  Yet, the temptation to blame others for our mistakes often becomes irresistible.

 

In this week’s Torah portion, Aaron performs the ancient Yom Kippur rite of placing all the sins of Israel on the head of a goat and sending it out into the desert. This is where the term ‘scapegoat’ originates. Yet, we know that a goat cannot take our sins away, especially when we are culpable. The Talmud says: “Yom Kippur atones for our sins against God. For transgressions against our neighbors Yom Kippur will not atone until we have sought forgiveness from them.”

 

Seeking forgiveness from others and forgiving others each and every day is one of the greatest paths to spiritual release.  It is the way to becoming our best selves.

 

Zye a Mentsch – Be a good person

 

Shabbat Shalom.

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

The Lesson of Difficult Times

 Shabbat Shalom from Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow

 

April 8-9, 2022 / 8 Nisan 5782

Shabbat Metzora/Hagadol

Torah: Leviticus 14:1 - 15:33

Haftarah: Malachi 3:4 - 3:24 | Shabbat HaGadol

 

“The Lesson of Difficult Times”

 

Dear Friends,

 

Is there blessing to be found in difficulty?  In this week’s Torah portion, we learn about skin diseases, such as leprosy, and fungal infections that can affect people and articles.  Of course, this creates great fear.  Those afflicted are to be put in isolation until the situation either heals or gets worse.  Washing in a mikveh and waiting to see what transpires are the proscribed treatments.  Is there any connection between this Torah portion and this Shabbat, called “Shabbat Hagadol – The Great Shabbat” preceding the celebration of Passover? There comes a moment when disease or the enslavement of our ancestors in Egypt becomes so egregious, that something must give. Some treatment must be found to remedy the situation. For the Israelite slaves in Egypt, a slave rebellion, looting, and a march to freedom was in the making.

 

Rabbi Kaplan taught that “Meeting difficulties makes us realize how much better we can do than we thought we could.”  Encountering difficult situations are indeed trying and demanding.  Yet, through them, we grow and become our best selves.

 

Zye a Mentsch – Be a Good Person!

 

Shabbat Shalom,

 

Rabbi Eitan Weiner-Kaplow