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.

A friend of mine recently told me about how he invited a coworker of his to join him and his family for Shabbat dinner. She and her four-year-old daughter had never experienced a traditional Shabbat dinner before, and they – actually, the four-year-old – were full of questions.

One such question came right after the cover was removed from the challah, before the host had even recited the hamotzi blessing over the bread: “Why did you cover the bread?!” the innocent four-year-old proclaimed.

Challah covers are probably one of the more popular wedding gifts; I myself received a few for my wedding.
Yet I would venture to say that it is not just a curious four-year-old who wants to know why we use them. Moreover, I suspect that many would be startled to learn that the origin of the custom can be traced to this week’s Torah reading, Beshalach.

The Jewish people had recently left Egypt and experienced the Splitting of the Sea. Now they were in the desert, and they were hungry. They turned to Moses and complained that they wanted something to eat. Moses brings the complaint to G-d, who assures Moses that He will provide sufficient meat and bread, AKA manna.

“That evening, quails came up and covered the camp. In the morning, a layer of dew was around the camp. The layer of dew rose, behold, over the surface of the desert, there was a fine substance as fine as frost , uncovered on the ground” (Exodus 16:13-14).

After the dew evaporates, the Jews discovered the manna which was hidden beneath it. The Talmud (Yoma 75b) points out that although in this verse the dew is said to rise from below, in another verse (Numbers 11:9), the dew is said to have descended from above.

Which one is it, the Talmud wonders?

The issue is resolved in a stereotypically talmudic fashion: both are correct! The manna was covered both from above and below in dew, as if it were resting in a box.

From this Talmudic statement developed the custom that the challah rests on a challah board, and is covered by a cloth, representing the “box” that the manna rested in.

Thus, every Shabbat when we place challah on the table and then cover it, we are hearkening back to the time when the Jewish people received manna in the dessert.

It is interesting to note that this is the first mention of the obligation to observe Shabbat in the Torah. The concept of Shabbat is introduced specifically in connection to the manna – and remembered each Shabbat with the challah and its cover – because they both share a theme.

What is the common denominator between Shabbat and manna? They both underscore our dependency on the Creator.

Refraining from pursuing a financial livelihood one day a week can be a significant challenge for some. When we refrain from working on Shabbat, we affirm that even though it would make sense that if we were to work on Shabbat we could make more income, but we refrain from doing so because we know that the Creator will fill our financial needs in other ways.

Likewise, the Jewish people were completely dependent on their Creator to provide them sustenance – it literally descended from above! So a challah cover is not just a nice wedding gift, but it is a reminder of our dependence and reliance on the Provider of all Sustenance. How many gifts evoke such a meaningful idea?

Feb. 5 – 5pm – Kabbalat Shabbat services

followed by dinner from Carlos & Gabby’s in the Patio Room
with special guest speaker QC Vice President Dr. Joe Bertolino

Special thanks to Dr. Joe for sponsoring this event!

Shabbat morning services 9:30am followed by lavish kiddush buffet
For more information go to www.shabbatoncampus.com