qChabad

Every Friday night and Shabbat lunch for some hot food, warm conversation and cool people…

FEBRUARY 27 at 8pm
Summit Flex Space * Queens College
Megillah Readings: 8pm & 10pm
Free Food * Hamantashen

Featuring mentalist: Terry Parrett

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 28th

Megillah readings in the Chabad House at 11am and 2:30pm.

Tuesday, February 23rd * 8:30-9:30pm

Join Tzipah and expert cake crafter Esty Rosenblatt to make super-fancy (& yummy) cakes!

For Women Only.

In the Chabad House.  For more info: info@qChabad.org.

At Shabbat lunch, we spoke about the statement of our sages (Midrash Tanchuma (Bober) Yitro 16) that the first word of the Ten Commandments — Anochi אנכי – is not Hebrew, but actually Egyptian.

The message behind this, the Lubavitcher Rebbe explains, is that those who dedicate their lives to the pursuit of spirituality and thereby decide to remove themselves as much as possible from the world — lest it have a corrupting effect — are missing the point.

Anochi is the mission statement of the Torah.

When we go to work amidst the distractions and temptations of the world, but at the same time remains focused and dedicated to Judaism by praying, learning Torah, giving charity and acting ethically in business, this is the purpose of the Torah.

In a sense, the erudite sages are missing out on the challenge of Sinai.  Daily we encounter “Egypt” — otherwise known as the workplace, the market, the street, or any other place that isn’t deemed sacred.

It is our task to utilize our faculties to fulfill the Torah while encountering “Egypt” in our everyday lives.

A student asked: Is it really true that the word Anochi is Egyptian?  Have linguists confirmed this?

I answered the only answer I knew: I am not a linguist… but I know one!

A few hours later, I asked Dr. Richard Steiner if there is evidence to support the claim of our sages that Anochi is Egyptian.

“Of course!” was his response.  He went on to explain that the word was “Anok,” which, interestingly, is how the word is spelled in the Midrash cited above.  You can view the word anok in Coptic here.

Strap on your seatbelts, because this class will achieve liftoff!  Tanya is the classic book of Chassidic philosophy.  Every Thursday in the Chabad House from 8:30-9:30pm.  No experience necessary.

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Another day at the office, they say. Just received the following question from a student today. Read my answer below.

Dear Rabbi,
As you know, I am not currently Jewish, and am pursuing conversion. My family belong to a religion which worships idols, and they really want me to bow and pray to the idols in their home. They don’t know that I am beginning the process of becoming Jewish, and would be upset if they knew. Am I allowed to kneel and pray to the idol, if I first say an “apology” to G-d?

Dear _______,

As you are probably aware, idolatry is a grave sin for a Jew, and is one of the three cardinal sins, for which a Jew is obligated to give their life rather than transgress. According to the Seven Noahide Laws, a gentile is also forbidden to worship an idol, and must only worship the One Creator.

That being said, although it is preferable not to kneel and pray before one of your parent’s idols, you may do so if you first declare in your mind, “This action is empty and meaningless” or a similar thing. You are not obligated to verbalize this or tell your parents.

In sum, I am reminded of our ancestor Abraham, who actually smashed his father’s idols and then went on to live a life of spreading G-d consciousness. You will of course one day have to tell your parents about your life choices, and I wish you much success in doing so.

-Rabbi W.