There are multiple passages in this week’s Torah reading where Hashem presents the appropriate formula for life, including his suggestions and advice that we choose “wisely,” thereby affording us a meaningful existence.

There is a beautiful section (Perek 30, pesukim 11-14) which states that the Torah in not hidden from us and is not distant. “It is not in heaven to say, ‘Who can ascend to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to it and perform it? (Lo bashamayim he) “Nor is it across the sea to say,” ‘Who can cross the other side for us to take it for us so that we can listen to it and perform it?’ (Velo mayaiver layam he) Rather, the matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart to perform it” (Bifichah ubilvavcha la’asoso).

This fascinating metaphor cites two scenarios, the heavens and the sea, in depicting a “seemingly” difficult mission, and states it is in our hearts and mouths to perform.

Perhaps the differing scenarios reflect contrasting justifications and rationalizations we employ, finding reasons to exonerate ourselves from attempting to pursue “difficult” tasks. Ascending to the heavens reflects matters that are by nature unattainable, beyond our level of comprehension, and in another sphere. It is not on this earth! It is impossible. “Across the sea” perchance connotes matters that are naturally attainable, however they are not accessible at this time.

At times we might argue that a mission is beyond our capabilities, stating we are not intelligent enough, or the matter is too difficult and impossible to understand. On the other hand, occasionally we might feel that a matter is within the realm of possibility, however it is too inconvenient to attain, and accessing it involves extraordinary measures that are unreasonable and counterproductive. A potential marathoner might contend they do not have the capability to run that distance, or they might argue that they cannot train due to lack of time, energy, or a nearby training venue.

The Torah counters this “reasoning,” encouraging us to persevere, being it is in “your mouth and heart” to perform. The “mouth” reflects the human capability of speech, the ultimate expression of thoughts and ideas that exist in our minds, while “hearts” reflects one’s commitment and desire to act, imploring us to utilize two major aspects of the sophisticated human being’s decision making “apparatus” granted by Hashem. The ability to think and be wise, as well as to make decisions and act accordingly, using our “Tzelem Elokim” to maximize our potential.

The well known Midrash states that all human beings are taught the Torah in the womb, subsequently forgetting it immediately before birth. Rav Yosef Dov Soloveitchik, ZT”L, explains that we all have capabilities regarding Torah study and understanding, evidenced by our pre-natal experience. It is in our minds and hearts. There is a natural connection and association, and we are all endowed with the ability and capacity to progress and to achieve!

Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Avi Haar

Rabbi Zev Meir Friedman, Rosh HaMesivta, and Rabbi Yotav Eliach, Principal, of Rambam Mesivta Maimonides High School in Lawrence, proudly announce that senior Joshua Moskovits has been named a Semifinalist in the 2012 National Merit Scholarship Program.

Joshua is one of approximately 16,000 Semifinalists in the 57th annual National Merit Scholarship Program, and one of only 17 in the country to achieve a perfect score in the competition. His performance on the 2010 PreliminarySAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test is just one aspect of his educational experience. In addition to taking numerous Advanced Placement courses, Joshua finds time to be on the Rambam basketball, tennis, and softball teams. He also has made a name for himself on the school’s Debate, Math, College Bowl, Chess, and Mock Trial teams as well as being a member of the 2011 Rambam delegation to the Yeshiva League Model Congress.

Joshua now has the opportunity to continue in the competition for some 8,300 National Merit Scholarships worth more than $34 million that will be offered next spring. Semifinalists must fulfill several requirements to advance to the Finalist level of the competition. About 90 percent of the Semifinalists are expected to attain Finalist standing, and more than half of the Finalists will win a National Merit Scholarship.

Rabbi Friedman noted: “We are proud that this young man has demonstrated outstanding performance in this highly competitive program. The distinction shows that Joshua is not just one of the most academically talented students in our school, but in the entire nation”

Last year the Rambam Ravens JV hockey team made it to the championship game against the T.A.B.C. Storm, while the Varsity made a playoff run. Even though the JV had a small team we made it all the way to the championship game. This year we hope to do win the championships.

This past Monday night the Rambam Ravens hockey teams had their 2011-2012 hockey team tryouts. Everyone who came to tryout played well and showed a lot of heart. Let’s try to move forward and win the championships because nobody wants to move backward!

Mendy Duftler (10th Grade)

This past Monday, the students of Rambam had an opportunity to hear from two acclaimed Israeli security specialists who have worked in the Israeli Secret Service and helped secure Israeli consulates and embassies all over the world. This was due to their installing of a brand new security system inside Rambam, which was made possible with a generous grant from the Department of Homeland Security.

The two specialists explained in detail how the security system works and why we need it: To ensure everyone be safe if, chas v'shalom, there is ever an incident in the school. They then directed the student body through three drills to make sure they followed the guidelines on how to behave in case of an emergency. The students passed with flying colors, and it’s safe to say Rambam is now well prepared for anything.

Josh Kurman (11th Grade)

For thousands of years, Judaism has seen many different groups and sects, each with shared, but also different, religious practices: Saducees, Pharisees, Essenes, and Zealots of the Second Temple, Karaite and Rabbinic, Sephardim and Ashkenazim, and now in our modern day the Conservative, Reform, and Orthodox. But today, many argue, that because of their inconvenience and downright harm, denominational labels should be abandoned. This should be the era of “post-denominational Judaism.”

First, one should understand some of the arguments in support of denominations. In a recent article, Arnold M. Eisen, Chancellor of the Jewish Theological Seminary, argued that uniformity in Judaism would have “insured our downfall.” This is actually a Darwinian argument: the group with the greatest diversity survives major changes better than others. Faced with a long history, and geographic dispersion among diverse conditions, languages, cultures, societies and political orders, the ability to interpret and reinterpret traditional texts in different ways, ensured Judaism’s survival. On the other hand, an absence of laws, customs and beliefs common to all Jews would have been similarly destructive; lowest-common-denominator Judaism does not work. Eisen therefore concludes that Judaism survived and thrived thanks to an elaborate balance of unity and diversity. Denominations help ensure our diversity.

So how do we balance that with unity? In the article, Eisen suggests that Jews should work together on the many and increasing areas of common interest despite our denominational banners. But here is where I think Eisen’s fine theory begins to become undone. Denominational labels essentially divide Jews into camps of “us versus them” and lend passion to this division. The old passions then become very hard to put aside, even in areas where we admittedly share a common interest. There is also a question whether, in fact, the passions which Eisen believes are needed to support our denominational divide still exist today. Many of today’s Jews look askance at these passions, viewing them as relics of the past. Post-Holocaust Jews cannot forget that Jews across denominational lines went to the same gas chambers. Many of the points of division among the denominations have also become blurred, with modern Orthodox Jews sharing more in common with Conservatives than with Haredim on issues like affiliation with Israel, while affiliating more with the Haredim than with the Conservatives on issues of Shabbat observance. It is hard to be passionately opposed to a group with whom you agree on many subjects, even though you may disagree with them on others.

So I disagree with Eisen that we need denominational labels to inspire us to preserve our diversity. To my mind, the labels only keep us apart in areas where we need to come together. There’s no reason why we can’t debate our ideas within a common Jewish melting pot. And that may enable us to more easily come together when we need to – an important point to consider when Israel is being threatened in the UN. To end with an anecdote: if three architects work on one building separately, the result will be an uninhabitable neighborhood monstrosity; but if we work together, we can build a monument that can inspire the ages.

Avi Gross (10th Grade)