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Elsewhere the word “keri” means intentionally wasting one’s seed, of greetings. Rabbi Carlebach would have each individual greet
an act representing unbridled passion and capriciousness. When the the entire group, and in return everyone would respond in unison.
Hebrew letters of the word “keri” are permuted they spell the Hebrew Sometimes this process would take a considerable amount of time,
word “yakar” (precious). Thus, we can envision counting the forty- yet everyone would have a chance to shine and the group provided
nine days as part of a process of spiritual transformation wherein we the energy to make everyone feel important and loved. Somehow
go from being slaves to our petty desires and limited consciousnesses time stood still in light of the greater goal.
to free people who value the precious gift of Torah and the closeness Another lesson in the importance of the individual in relation to the
to God one attains by walking in its decrees.
collective was conveyed by the last Lubavitcher Rebbe, Menachem
Mendel Schneerson, who for years would remain standing every
Sunday for eight to ten hours in order to personally hand out dollar
bills to thousands of his followers. Thousands of people from all over
£The Enigma of Jewish HistoryThe Enigma of Jewish HistoryThe Enigma of Jewish History the world would come and wait in line for hours on end in order to
be in the Rebbe’s immediate presence for a few seconds. Why did
££
the Rebbe do this? He felt it to be of the utmost importance that he
personally make contact with each of these people for even a moment,
As discussed at the beginning of Bechukotai, the word “chok” denotes teaching each one the importance of giving charity and offering each
a decree that defies normative logic. Significantly, in the very portion one his personal blessings. Despite the lengthy wait people came
that presents the Jewish people with the choices they have to make willingly and waited without complaint. In truth, throughout the
regarding their future history, the word “chok” is employed. Jewish ages there have been countless examples of Jewish spiritual leaders
history truly transcends all precedent and highlights the ability of who acted in similar ways.
a people to survive persistent oppression of the worst kind all over
the world, and to finally return to their homeland after nearly two This portion contains the secret of emotional and spiritual balance,
thousand years in exile. Although the Jews make up an extremely of finding one’s inner equilibrium – in the context of relating to one’s
small percentage of the world’s population (approximately 0.2 %), family, society, and the very planet as a whole. When we learn to
they have consistently made the most significant contribution to function within all these contexts, we will discover our place in the
virtually every aspect of human progress. The dynamic of Jewish world and how to relate to our Creator; for, ultimately, He placed us
history is indeed a great mystery, a “chok,” in the truest and most here to make the world a better place.
mysterious sense of the word.

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