#24 adar

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Jew Quiz - 24 Adar:

This week's Jewquiz is all about the Amidah! Find out which blessing in the Amidah fits your personality and learn a little more about the prayer in the process. Hopefully this quiz inspires you to learn a little more about the prayers we say every day!

Although the Amidah, the central prayer of Jewish liturgy, is known as the Shmoneh Esreh (literally: eighteen), it actually contains ninetee

(Credit to Shaicat101 on Uquiz for letting us use their Jewish quiz in this week's edition of OBAweekly!)

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#MitzvahChallenge

This week's mitzvah for the #MitzvahChallenge is Kashrut! You can submit a picture or story of yourself doing this Mitzvah to be eligible to win this week's contest!

Any kind of observance of Kashrut counts. You can show us your Milchig/Fleishig kitchen, a kosher meal you had, some kosher baking, or even your kosher snacks! Anything goes!

Reblog this post with an example of the mitzvah for a chance to be featured in the next edition of OBAWeekly! Nobody's actually done this yet, so you could be the first!

Good luck preforming this mitzvah!

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Jew & A - 24 Adar

Today's Jew & A is all about Music! Answer in the tags, reblogs, or comments!

Who is your favorite Jewish musician?

What prayer do you think has the best melody?

What's your favorite Jewish song that's not a prayer?

What's your go-to Jewish tune?

Do you play any instruments, or prefer to go A Capella?

And remember, you can always ask us at Outreach by Adellah some questions for Jew & A as well!

Seriously... we haven't gotten any yet... (;

[outreach-by-adellah]

New You: Better Jew - Everyone’s Gift Matters - 24 Adar

In this week’s parsha, Pekudei, we learn more about the construction of the Mishkan, continuing the discussion on it from last week. Much of this discussion focuses on the materials involved in the construction of the Mishkan and the artifacts those materials are made into. All sorts of materials were used in the Mishkan, from precious metals like gold, silver, and bronze, to animal skins, to wood, fabrics, and precious stones. Each of these materials had its own unique place in the Mishkan, just like every Jew has their own unique place in the people of Israel.

Sometimes, in our striving to become a better Jew, we end up comparing ourselves to others. A frum Jew who’s had a deeply ingrained relationship with Hashem since birth but has never deeply examined their convictions to Judaism might feel jealous of a ba’al teshuva who can barely read Hebrew but davens with intense conviction and with all of their heart. Of course, an outside observer can see that each of these Jews has their own unique gift. The frum-from-birth Jew has the gift of a formal Jewish education, allowing them to understand not only the original Hebrew text of the Torah, but also the millennia of commentary on it since. The newly religious Jew has the gifts of Kavanah and Emunah and a true sense of awe by Hashem, which cannot be gained simply by studying and reciting prayers, even if one does it for many years.

Comparing yourself to another Jew is like comparing two materials in the Mishkan, and saying one is better or more important than the other. This could not be further from the truth. Just as every object in the Mishkan served its own unique purpose in creating the holiest dwelling place for Hashem, every Jew shares a place in the one Jewish soul that we all contribute to. You would never compare the copper used to make the altar to the gold used to make the table, or any other materials from the Mishkan. In the same way, you should see yourself and any other Jew who you might feel jealous of (or even other Jews you might feel superior towards!) as part of a greater whole which serves exactly the same purpose that the Mishkan did: creating a holy place for Hashem to dwell in.

Tell me in the tags:

What is your gift to the Jewish community? What is a gift you don’t have but others do that you can appreciate? How do these things work together to benefit the Jewish soul and Hashem.

Jew joke:

Although every Jew may have their own unique gift, we're all inferior to whatever Jew has the gift of making it on time for Haskhama!

[outreach-by-adellah]

Throughout Time & Space - What Happened to the Aron HaBrit? - 24 Adar

The Aron HaBrit (the Ark of the Covenant) was the holiest object in the Mishkan and the Beis HaMikdash and the most sacred artifact in the entire Jewish faith. It was a golden box containing both copies of the original 10 Commandments (the broken ones written by Hashem and the ones written by Moshe), Manna from heaven, Aaron’s staff, and a Torah scroll. However, before the destruction of the first temple, the Ark was hidden so it wouldn’t be defiled by the Babylonians. To this day, we have no idea where it is, but there are a few theories.

Hidden in the First Temple. According to Jewish tradition, when Shlomo HaMelech (King Soloman) built the Beis HaMikdash, he also built a series of winding tunnels and secret passageways inside of it. Decades before the destruction of the First Temple, when tensions were beginning to rise in the region, Yoshiyahu HaMelech (King Josiah) hid the Aron HaBrit in one of these tunnels, where it remains to this day. Although it might seem unlikely that nobody has found it in the millenia since, this region has never been available to excavate during that time (and it still isn’t to this day). Therefore, it is entirely possible that this is where the Aron HaBrit remains to this day until it is discovered in the times of the Mashiach.

Hidden in a Cave. Various Jewish artifacts have been found in “random” caves throughout the Middle East, seemingly having been hidden there after the destructions of each of the temples (such as the Dead Sea Scrolls). There is a possibility that a similar thing happened to the Aron HaBrit, although there is no explicit evidence of it one way or the other. Perhaps someday we will find it in a cave somewhere in the Levant, much like what happened with the Dead Sea Scrolls. Of course, there will always be an air of mystery behind this truly powerful artifact.

Taken by the Babylonians. This is the most unlikely theory, although it is popular among secular historians. This theory states that when the Babylonians looted the First Temple, they took the Aron HaBrit as well. However, the reason this theory is only weakly supported is because Babylonian historical records make no mention of the Aron HaBrit, whereas the accounts of everything else they looted are extremely detailed. This is a positive thing for the Jews, as it means our holiest object never was defiled by our enemies, and also could not have been destroyed by them. This means the Aron HaBrit is likely still out there somewhere, waiting for us to discover it and rebuild the Third Temple.

In conclusion, the Aron HaBrit is likely still out there, although nobody knows its whereabouts. We can infer that we will find it by the time of the Mashiach, but we otherwise have very little information. Whether the Aron HaBrit is beneath Jerusalem or somewhere in the wilderness, we can rest assured that it will be safe until that time, guarded by Hashem’s presence.

Tell me in the tags:

Where do you think the Aron HaBrit is? When do you think we will find it?

Jew joke:

Good thing the "Brit" in Aron HaBrit has to do with a literal covenant. I can't imagine uncovering the remnants of a millennia old Brit Milah.

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Kavanah & Tefillah - When Davening Isn’t Meaningful

Although the vast majority of kiruv is dedicated to Jews who aren’t religious, sometimes frum Jews need kiruv too. There are a number of ways in which even someone who was raised very religious might struggle to connect with Hashem, and one of these struggles which I’ve been informed of time and time again is the struggle to make meaning out of davening. Therefore, if you find yourself struggling with davening, this is the article for you. Whether you’re newly religious or frum from birth, these tips for making meaning out of davening can seriously transform your prayer experience!

Daven in your native language! I absolutely could not stress this tip enough. So many Jews - even extremely frum Jews who have been davening since age 3 - have come up to me with this same issue of feeling disconnected to the prayers. Time and time again, as they describe the issue to me, I realize that they quite literally do not understand the words they are davening! They were never taught the translations into their native language of the Hebrew prayers! The number one tip for meaningful davening is to actually understand what it is that you’re saying. If this is a problem because you don’t speak the Hebrew language you daven in, invest in a bilingual siddur or daven in English. There is no virtue to be found in reciting prayers that you don’t understand if doing so is meaningless to you.

Daven from the heart. Similar to my other point, if there is something about the prescribed davening that makes it difficult for you to relate to, there is no shame in using your own words to speak to Hashem instead. In many liberal Jewish congregations, when it is time to say the Amidah, congregants are given the option to “pray along with the text or with whatever comes to your heart”, and this is something that even extremely frum Jews can take inspiration from. If you struggle with the formal language of davening or feel like some of the prayers just don’t resonate with you, take the time to speak personally to Hashem instead with whatever is on your heart. It can also be a good practice to take some time out of your day just to talk to Hashem, especially in addition to davening, and share your thoughts and feelings with Him without the rigidity of a time-bound service. However you choose to do it, don’t be afraid to personalize your davening experience. Your relationship with Hashem is more important than perfectly fulfilling a specific time-bound mitzvah.

Go at your own pace. Sometimes, if you daven every day without making meaning out of it, it becomes more like an obligation than a clear path towards a relationship with Hashem, especially if you end up having to rush through the davening. Next time your davening feels like an obligation, slow down a little, take a deep breath, and try to truly understand what it is that you are reciting. If this isn’t possible for you, consider making more time available for davening so you don’t feel rushed. All of this is to say that davening can never be meaningful unless you truly understand what it is that you’re trying to say to Hashem and why you’re saying it.

As Jews, it’s important to fulfill time-bound mitzvot, but it’s even more important to do them in a way which will positively impact our future relationship with Hashem. Even if you daven 3 times a day, if your davening is meaningless to you, it won’t help you feel connected to Hashem, which is just as important as the mitzvah of davening itself. With the tips listed in this article, you’ll be able to improve your davening in no time, transforming it from a mere obligation into something you’re truly excited about! This is what will help you get even closer to Hashem.

Tell me in the tags:

What is the most meaningful part of davening to you? Do you ever struggle to make meaning out of the rest? Which of these tips do you think will be most helpful for you to improve?

Jew joke:

A Frum Jew told his rabbi that he doesn’t feel connected to HaShem when davening. His rabbi asked if he wanted to try davening in his native language instead of Hebrew. He said “eh, I’ve complained enough today”.

[outreach-by-adellah]

Torah & More - Living “Without” the Divine Presence - 24 Adar

In this week’s parsha, Pekudei, the long-awaited completion of the construction of the Mishkan finally arrives! This event is symbolized by a cloud descending over the Mishkan, which represents the divine presence of Hashem coming to dwell in it. For hundreds of years, this singular place on Earth where Hashem’s tangible presence could be felt was the foundation of Jewish worship. Eventually, the Mishkan’s contents were moved to a permanent dwelling place in the form of the Beis HaMikdash (the holy temple) where Hashem’s presence (the Shekhinah) also dwelled until its destruction in 586 BCE (3338 HC). This means that for 889 years (from 2449 to 3338 HC), a core part of Jewish worship and faith centered on Hashem’s presence being accessible on Earth. Of course, this time period has been over for a long time, but it is by no means irrelevant to the modern day. There are still plenty of lessons we can learn from the days of the Mishkan and Beis HaMikdash.

The most important of these lessons is on what the Mishkan was not. Although it was the central place of worship and was of utmost importance to the Jewish community when it stood, the Mishkan was not the end all be all of Judaism. Even during the time of the Mishkan and temple, there was still plenty of Jewish practice that occurred outside of it (which logically makes sense, as over 270 of the mitzvot have nothing to do with the Mishkan and are still applicable even in their original sense to this day). Even when Hashem was able to dwell among us, He didn’t just live in the Mishkan (although His presence there was especially obvious). Hashem has always been and will always be everywhere, and He has always been accessible by more than one route.

The Mishkan no longer exists, and as such, Hashem’s presence is no longer so easily visible, but that doesn’t mean it isn’t there. Just like during the days of the Mishkan, Hashem is still everywhere, and can still be accessed by anyone at any time. We may not have the Korbanot (sacrifices), but we still have Torah, Tefillah, and plenty of Mitzvot with which we can connect to Hashem. Of course, we should continue to yearn for the Beis HaMikdash to be rebuilt as we have been for the past 2000 years, but that doesn’t mean we should forget all of the opportunities we currently have to reach out to Hashem in the ways of our times. In a way, one of the most important lessons of the Mishkan is that as vital as it was to our ancestors (and as vital as it will be to us in the future), Hashem’s presence is not something that simply disappears when it cannot be accessed through a single place. Hashem is truly everywhere, and the lack of the Mishkan today will only serve to make us more aware of that when our ability to devote sacrifices to Him finally does return.

Tell me in the tags:

Why do you think the Beis HaMikdash was destroyed? What other lessons can we learn from the time in which it stood? How about lessons we can learn from today?

Jew Joke:

In 587 BCE, a man went to his rabbi to make a confession. He said he felt very guilty because he was thankful for the destruction of the Beis HaMikdash. The rabbi was appalled and demanded to know how he could possibly be grateful for the denial of HaShem’s presence. The man said “well…I owed him $20, no way he can collect now!” 

[outreach-by-adellah]

Halacha Hayom - The Significance of Shabbat, Ancient and Modern - 24 Adar

Jews are entirely unique among any other culture in that once a week - (weeks themselves are a manmade yet divinely-inspired invention created by the ancestors of Jews) on the 7th day - we cease from all work and creation and rest. This might not seem like a big deal to us modern Jews, since we live in a world where 2 day weekends are commonplace, but when Shabbat was invented it was a truly revolutionary idea.

Although the observance of Shabbat in general dates back to the 7th day from creation (when Hashem took a rest after creating the universe in 6 days), the first time the Jews were actually commanded to observe Shabbat was around 2448 Hebrew Calendar, or about 1313 BCE, which was over 3300 years ago! Those are the kind of timescales you date with carbon; borderline prehistoric! In the time period when Shabbat was first commanded to humans, taking a day of rest was unheard of. Agrarian (farming) people worked every single day of their lives during the harvest and planting seasons, and hunter gatherers couldn’t exactly make a habit of taking a day off so often either. This brings us to what one of the primary purposes of shabbat is: to give humans a taste of Olam Haba, the world to come.

In the end of days, after the coming of the Mashiach (whatever that might look like) the world as we know it will be transformed. We may not know the specifics, but we do know that humans will no longer need to work to survive. Although in the past - especially as long ago as when humans were first given the commandment to observe Shabbat - this may have seemed far-fetched and fantastical, we are rapidly approaching this reality. When’s the last time you had to hunt or farm for your next meal? Although I will certainly not use this fact to make any inferences about when the Mashiach might arrive, it is worth noting that the role Shabbat plays in our world is changing somewhat so as to continue to fit its purpose of giving us a taste of Olam Haba when it seems to be right on the tips of our tongues anyway.

Since most people nowadays do not engage in daily hard labor and would take more frequent breaks anyway regardless of religious observances, Shabbat no longer serves primarily as a reprieve from the grueling work of trying to survive. However, it still elevates us to a higher spiritual level in the same way that it elevated our ancestors from the level of survival machines to the level of spiritual beings on their day of rest. Shabbat nowadays gives us an opportunity to truly connect with our community and our peers. It gives us an opportunity to unplug from the technological distractions and other forms of busyness of the modern world and give us a day full of moments to focus on Hashem and on each other. This too is a look into Shamayim and Olam Haba. In the world to come, we will not be suffering at the hands of the news cycle. We will not have to open our phones and computers to news of antisemitism and global issues. We won’t have deadlines to worry about or social media trends to keep up with. We will simply exist in terms of our communities and in terms of Hashem. 

Therefore, whether in ancient or modern times, and whether doing so as a break from the work of survival or a break from the complexities of the modern world, Shabbat has always existed as a window into the safe and fulfilling future that awaits us as Jews. No matter how, Shabbat gives us the opportunity to metaphorically spend a whole 25 hours every single week in Olam Haba and to truly understand the type of world we are trying to work towards building. Remember, in every generation, someone is born who is capable of becoming the Mashiach, provided the world would be ready to accept them. It is up to us to build the sort of world which emulates the divine perfection of Shabbat even during the week. Truly observing Shabbat and getting in touch with its significance is one of the best ways to gain an understanding of how to do this. That is one of the many significances of Shabbat.

Tell me in the tags:

What is the most important thing that Shabbat does for you? How can you try to make the rest of your week a little more Shabbat-like? What can you do for others so they can experience the same?

Jew Joke:

We Jews invented the first ever day off and then spend the next 3300 years arguing about how to exactly do it!