Rabbi's Blog - Chabad Jewish Center of Mission Viejo

Near Death Experience

Friday, August 20, 2010 - 2:17 PM

Near Death Experience

On April 15, 2010, Mark went in for a minor surgery to remove some cancer that was in its early stages. The doctor said he would be home in just a few days. As he was going into surgery a friend mentioned to him that she had a friend whose daughter was going in for major cancer treatment at the same time and in the same hospital. Mark offered to visit her as soon as he was able to walk.

On April 27, Mark opened his eyes for the very first time. He could barely see, move or make much sense of what was going on around him. But he had a strong memory of a vision he had while he was asleep. You see Mark suffered from a terrible infection that as a result of the surgery almost killed him. His temperature was so high they had to put him into a coma to try and save his life.

But the vision is still so vivid for him as he retold it to me in person on August 26th, 2010.

Mark had come in to first of all thank me for Chabad being there for him and his family during this difficult time, he was visited by 2 young women who brought him challah on Friday for Shabbat while he was in the hospital and the many calls he received from the Rabbi's at CJC. And secondly to share the vision with me.

In the vision he saw the young girl being taken to heaven with her religion and he saw his grandmother telling him to go back it was not yet his time.

As soon as he had enough strength he called his friend to find out how her friends daughter had fared with her treatment. He told him that unfortunately she did not make it and had passed away. He later found out that she died at the same night he had that vision. He eventually got back some of his strength and went to visit the mother to share with her his vision hoping that it would bring her some comfort which it did.

When Mark was young his grandfather would always go to the synagogue but would give the rabbi a very hard time about religion. It was almost like he only went to annoy the rabbi.

When it came time for his bar mitzvah his grand father said that he would automatically become a bar mitzvah even if he would not celebrate it and it was up to Mark to decide if he wanted one or not.

Being a 12 year old he chose not to have one, learning Hebrew just did not seem exciting enough compared to baseball and tv, a decision he would live to regret for many years. After this near death experience he really wanted to take care of his Bar Mitzvah although it is 60 years later.

Not wanting to wait we had a small but meaningful Bar Mitzvah celebration right there and then. He was overjoyed. It was a tearful and joyful ceremony, a sixty year dream finally coming to fruition.

He attributes his miraculous recovery to G-d and to his devoted and loving wife who nursed him back to life.

I wish Mark a full and complete recovery to full strength and many happy and healthy years ahead.

Mark is an inspiration for me. He has such a deep connection with his heritage it resonates so deep within his soul.

We are told that during these special days of before and after Rosh Hashana our soul which is usually buried deep within our consciousness is more easily accessible. We can tap in to that reservoir of hope, strength and power, and connect with ourselves on the most profound level.

During the rest of the year this would be a difficult challenge, but this time of the year it is much easier.

Seize the moment and reach out and touch your soul, reach out to others and make your life and theirs a whole lot deeper and more meaningful.

Now is the time when doing mitzvot comes more naturally, start a habit today when it is easy, it will stay with you even during the rest of the year.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Zalman Marcus

What Do We Have In Common?

Friday, August 13, 2010 - 2:16 PM

What Do We Have In Common?

Do you tend to find what you have in common with others or do tend to find what separates you from others?

Does your Judaism help you be a more unifying kind of a person or does it make you more divisive?

When you meet other Jewish people who don’t share your particular Jewish point of view, whether that might be in practice or faith, do you try to find common ground or do you try to show how different you are? And what do you feel in your heart of hearts?

Which path would bring more peace? Which path would make your life more meaningful? Which path is in line with the purpose for which we were created?

Peace is one of the greatest blessings in the world. In our prayers we refer to peace as one of G-d’s most treasured blessing and we wish for G-d to bestow it upon us.

Peace does not mean that we should all think alike, quite the contrary, G-d created us each to think uniquely different, as the Talmud states, “no 2 think alike”. However, we need to do what ever we can to pursue peace.

One way of accomplishing it is by focusing on what unites us and not what divides us. We Jews are such a minority as it is, we have no choice but to focus on what unites us rather then what divides us.

This is one of the teachings of the Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, my teacher and mentor, that made a strong impression on me when I was a young Yeshiva student. He taught me that we all have so much in common and we should never let our differences get in the way.

I have tried my entire life to live up to this standard, to always try to find common ground. Even if it is only 1%. When I have succeeded it has brought much joy to my life.

What is remarkable is that it is many times easier to get along with someone that you have little in common with then someone that you have a lot in common with.

That would go for family units, community members etc. In those very close relationships the small differences that we have seem to be a greater obstacle then the large differences with those that we are not so close with.

Therefore it is easier to get along with someone from an entirely different faith then with many of our own faith. It can be easier to get along with a stranger then with a close family member.

The reasons for this can fill volumes, but the underlying solution is simple but not easy. Instead of allowing the differences to consume us, we should obsess over the things that unite us.

Our nature seems to work against us and tries to find the differences that separate us. But for this alone it was worth it for G-d to create the world. To see a world of such diverse people and ways of thinking that despite its differences comes together and finds the things that unite them in making this world a better and more G-dly place, is truly divine.

On a personal level we need to work hard at finding the common ground because the emotions run high and are difficult to reason with.

On a collective level it can be easier.

One of the areas that many of us have in common is the idea of helping people less fortunate then ourselves. The concept of tzedakah is a universal unifying idea. It cuts across all borders and boundaries and allows us to truly rise above our differences to make a cosmic difference.

Let us all unite and join hands in unity and break down the walls that divide us. We don’t have to let go of our personal beliefs or practice we are simply uniting around a cause that we can all agree upon.

We truly are one community we truly are one world. Can you imagine what it would feel like if we could put our differences aside and join together with one heart about one common cause?

True, we cannot change the world overnight and we should not expect dramatic results in our lives in a flash, but by changing our attitude and by looking for opportunities to come together, then we will see some results. Over time it will bring much joy into your life, it will bring much joy to G-d, and will ultimately reach global proportions.

So next time you see or hear of an event that will help others in our community try to find a way to participate, whether you are a part of that group or not. In truth we are all part of the same group, we are really all one big family, with the same history and destiny.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Zalman Marcus

The King Is Coming

Friday, August 6, 2010 - 2:15 PM

The King Is Coming

Are you dreading Monday? Are you feeling a bit down?

The King is coming. No not Elvis, The King is coming. According to Jewish tradition this Monday night begins one of the most beautiful months of the year, Elul. A month of love, love from above, from the King of love, G-d. The word Elul is an acronym for “I am for my beloved and my beloved is for me”.

This month is referred to as the month when the King is in the field, when G-d comes and meets us on our terms in our state of being.

Each one of us has amazing potential and has the ability to accomplish a lot. We have it in us to be successful, but, when times are tough it causes us to doubt ourselves and to cower in face of the seemingly insurmountable obstacles. But we are bigger then that, we can overcome. We need someone to believe in us and encourage us when we are down. We need a cheerleading squad cheering us on. That is what this coming month is all about. For us to tap into the deep recesses of our soul and experience the G-dly part of our soul, The King, and allow it to bring us back to a positive view of ourselves. To a place where we think we can instead of thinking we cannot.

This applies not only to our physical lives but to our spiritual life and pursuits as well. We can get down on our selves and feel that we are falling short and sometimes even give up. This month is the time for us to rally the troops, throw off the shackles, and experience spiritual freedom.

So how do you do this?

Be more giving, by giving to others even in the smallest of ways helps us reconnect with our deeper side. You can give to others by letting someone waiting on line to go in front of you, or by waving a car that is waiting to pass in front of you.
Prayer; add a little bit more prayer into your life. When you wake up say thank you G-d for giving me life. Take a walk and thank G-d for nature.
Study; Open your mind and learn new ideas, learn about G-d’s great world, learn about your soul, study your heritage, study Torah

Any and all of these are sure ways of connecting to your soul, to The King inside of you. The most amazing thing is that you don’t have to dress up for The King at this time. This is our opportunity to have this experience without going out of our homes, without going to a synagogue, without having a holiday and without having to wear or eat anything special, just as you are.

Monday may mean a lot of stress but this Monday can give you a boost and the ability to have a great month.

Shabbat Shalom

Rabbi Zalman Marcus

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