Making the move!!!

I haven't worked this hard in years. The Shlepping is not normal... especially since we have to repack about 30 huge boxes from the previous Rabbi, when he was here... Two full days of work and the heat and humidity are not helping.

I've shvitzed the S. lawerence river twice already!!!!

This past week's community email - Ki Savo

Shalom, The time has finally come! After a year and a half here in Cabo, we are moving on. This Shabbat will be our last one being celebrated at the current Casa Shalom location on Hidalgo. Starting next week, Shabbat services will be spent on the third floor of the Puerto Paraiso shopping mall, right next to the cinema entrance. It will be prefect timing coming just before the high holidays and G-d willing, with our new central location, our community will be able to grow to new heights. So make sure to stop by the center tonight and join us in celebrating a final Friday night Shabbat service at our Casa Shalom. One that will be memorable and exciting. We will pray with added energy and joy, dine over Sonia's delicious Shabbat food and say L'chaim to a bright past year, - but more importantly, to a shining Jewish future here in Los Cabos. *** With even more reason to celebrate, tonight is the 18th day of the Hebrew month of Elul. It marks the birthday of Rabbi Israel baal Shem tov, founder of the Chassidic movement. He was born in 1698 and until now, his teachings continue to revolutionize and infuse lives with joy and enthusiasm when serving G-d. But that's not all!! There's another great Rabbi who celebrates his birthday on this day. That is Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the first Rebbe of Chabad. He lived two generations after the Baal Shem Tov and taught Chassidism with a much more focused, effective approach... It is his structured spiritual path which has blazed the way for Chabad's original and very successful approach to Judaism and it's also what has generated the rejuvenation of our nation in this post-holocaust era. We will dedicate the services and Kiddush tonight to our last week in Casa Shalom, but also to the great leaders, guides and Rebbe's who celebrate their birthday tonight. We hope to draw inspiration and strength from them, to create for ourselves a better world, a better year and a better humanity. Shabbat Shalom and I look forward to seeing you tonight, Benny

One last thing.

Our helper Isidra with her best friend in the world... Kovi!

Menny all dressed up. Our cleaning lady Isidra dressed him up like this in 92 degree weather. It was funny.

Menny is barush hashem gagoozh!!

My main man Kovi... He's adorable Kein ayin hora...

One of Sonia's friends came to visit us for a week and she brought chocolate... What a treat!!

If I'm not going to blog for awhile, then I may as well put up some pictures.

Well, enjoy!

Haven't blogged in awhile.

I know I haven't... But I will.

Friday I have lots of Mivtzoim to do and lots of planning for next week.

Sunday I travel to La Paz for the day. I will spend it making connections with the Jewish people who live there. The Bochurim who came on Merkos Shlichus here met a couple of Jews and I figured I best go up to La Paz before the High Holidays and make a Kesher with them.

Monday we begin to shlep all our belongings to the new house and to the new Chabad House (which we're still not sure exactly where it's going to be)... There are loads of stuff to shlep and I'm not looking forward to it.

Tuesday we continue shlepping.

Wednesday we finally move into our new home and we need to be out of the current home we are renting. That means that everything inside this place needs to be gone by Wednesday.

Thursday I can rest... Just kidding. I'll have a trillion things to do before Rosh Hashana and I will still be getting things both in the house and at the Chabad house in order... So much work, it's crazy!!

So that's my week. Don't expect to see this blog being updated too much during the next few days (or weeks)... things are hectic.

Good Shabbos

The High Holidays

Malkali of the day!

I am sitting here at the computer while Malkali plays at the other side of the room for Kovi, who is eating some Challah with jelly.

This is part of a song that I overhear her singing and I feel the sudden urge to put it on the blog.

"Twenty two letters of the Alef Beit...

Take a walk, walk and talk..."

And so I ask... What the heck??!!

This week's email letter I sent off to the community!

Parshas Ki Seitzei

Shalom,

Well, let the good news be told: With G-d's help, we are moving the Synagogue location this coming September. Our new Center will be in the center of Cabo S. Lucas, where we will be be more visible and accessible to everyone. The exact location is still under talks, so until it's official, let's suffice to know that we are indeed moving. Mazal Tov!

***

This coming high holidays, we will be conducting services at the Puerto Paraiso shopping mall on the third floor, just to the left of the Cinema. We look forward to having a nice crowd and the services will no doubt be exciting, uplifting and interesting... So make sure to come and join in. Your entire coming year depends on it.

***

Anyone reading the news this week was no doubt shocked to see the report, that Iran plans on loading fuel to their nuclear plant this coming Shabbat and if Israel wants to attack, there is very little time before it'll be too late.

A scary thought for everyone. Every day that the world stands back and watches Iran advance their evil agenda is a step closer to doubt, a step closer to feeling insecure about our world's future and us all wondering if we are going to survive the mayhem when it comes.

The beginning of this week's Torah portion discusses different laws pertaining to post-war captives. And so the Parsha begins with the words "If you will go out to battle over your enemy and G-d, your G-d will deliver them into your hands..."

While this verse seems to be merely an introduction to the topic that the Torah intends to address - captives -, if you look closer at the precise wording chosen by the Torah, there is an amazing lesson that we are being given.

Rather than writing "If you will go out to battle with your enemy," the Torah intentionally chooses to write "If you will go out to battle over your enemy."

A small word, yet it makes the world of a difference in the outcome.

The Torah is telling us that victory is not only a physical reality that comes after the war. It is an emotional attitude that comes before the war and is really what guarantees the physical outcome at the end.

Which means to say, if we go out to battle and we have a positive, unshakeable winning attitude to it, that we are fightingover our enemy and not simply with them... We believe that we are doing the right thing and G-d is our protector, then victory is certainly ours. We will no doubt be victorious, as the verse itself concludes "and G-d, your G-d will deliver them into your hands."

While this applies to our individual struggles and challenges, it also takes meaning when we read the news and feel the negative energies surrounding us and licking their paws in preparation for an epic battle.

Our world is about to enter a total transformation stage. We see it in the news, in the natural disasters all around us and on the political front as well. The battle is about to be fought. The thundering trumpets are beginning to blow. It is us against evil. We need to rid our world of it once and for all.

With our positive focus, winning attitude and trust in G-d almighty, we have nothing to fear, for we are battling over the enemy.

"Hoorah! Hoorah!"

With all the blessings for happiness, health and wealth,

Shabbat Shalom,

Benny

This past week's community email.

Parshas Shoftim Shalom, This past week, the two Rabbis, Eli and Yakov travelled up to Todos Santos and La Paz, where they spent time searching and connecting with Jews who are living there. Besides for discovering several handfuls of Jewish residents in both TS and La Paz, they also got to spend lots of time with each one. It was so exciting each time I received a phone call from them with more good news of another Jewish guy who was located and plugged in to his Jewish roots and heritage. Tonight, the Rabbis will grace our Shabbat meal with some interesting stories and experiences that they had this week. I'm excited and if you can make it to services tonight, I'm sure you'll thoroughly enjoy the stories and entertainment as well. *** In the news this week, I read about some fellow who is a suspected serial killer and was arrested several days ago, while he tried to board a flight to Tel Aviv. A murderer was trying to escape to Israel! How interesting that is. In this exact week's Torah portion we read about the Arei Miklat - the Cities of Refuge that we established around Israel, in order to protect mistaken murderers. If someone were to accidentally kill someone else, he would flee to any of these cities, where he would remain 'safe' from revenge of the victim's relatives. He would need to wait there until the Kohen Gadol - the sitting high Priest would pass away, and then he would be allowed to leave and live elsewhere. However if someone murdered somebody on purpose, then these cities would not keep him safe. The judges would determine judgement on his crime and it would be carried out, ignoring his citizenship in the City of Refuge. What a perfect week for someone to try and escape to Israel, his supposed City of Refuge... But thank G-d he was arrested in time. (I'm in no way advocating innocence. I'm merely pointing out the perfect timing to his attempted escape.) However the Torah is giving us all a timeless, incredible lesson. While we don't have a physical City of Refuge nowadays, we all have one located somewhere deep inside the Israel of our conscience. In the 'Holy land' of every soul, there is a City of safety against death. Sin is comparable to death. For every act of negativity, selfishness or evil, we defile the G-dly energies that fill up our world, it is thus comparable to a spiritual death. The lesson we can take from this portion of the Torah is especially pertinent during the month of Elul, where we take an accounting of our entire previous year, preparing for Rosh Hashana, the day of judgement. This month is therefore dedicated to repentance. We need to accept that while we may stumble in our journey to become closer to G-d, thus mistakenly encountering spiritual death, we always have a City of Refuge. We need to flee our physical constraints and travel to our City of Refuge, our spiritual, more refined psyche's... We need to head over to Synagogue, put on Tefillin one more time during the week, light Shabbat candles, begin another Torah class with the Rabbi and commit to another Mitzvah. It is our only guarantee to be safe against the spiritual death that surrounds us. With all the blessings, Shabbat Shalom, Benny

An email exchange I just had.

From: S**** S***** <********@gmail.com>

Date: Thu, 12 Aug 2010 22:31:34 +0300

To: <******@gmail.com>

Subject: Letter from the Rabbi

Hello I*****,

Basically what I need is a general letter that says that there is a Jewish community in Cabo that will allow me to

keep manage a normal Jewish life.

The letter should mention that there is a Synagogue in there and the name of the Rabbi.

Since I'm aware to the fact that I'm not planing to come to Cabo, the Rabbi or you couldn't and of course shouldn't take any responsibility of me and the letter shouldn't mention any specific details about me or my arrival to Cabo.Just mention those facts that I wrote.

I really need your help in this matter and any assistance will be appreciated.

Thank you in advance,

***

My response...

Hi S****,

I hope this letter find you well. I do not fully understand your situation. However from the little that I've heard, I must admit that I am somewhat offended by the request that I write a letter to the Rabbanut of Jerusalem confirming our community.

From what I understand, you are going through a conversion from the Rabbanut in Jerusalem. You are several weeks away from your conversion and the Rabbis know that you plan on moving to Mexico. I suppose they think you're moving to Mexico City, where there is a fairly large Jewish community. So they want a Rabbi from Mexico (City) to write a letter, basically confirming that there is a Synagogue and Kosher food readily available in Mexico (City).

#1 - I do not live in Mexico City. I live in a small tourist city called Los Cabos.

#2 - You and I both know that your final destination will be nowhere near Mexico City. You will be in ******, which is a spiritual wasteland. There is no Jewish community there. Kosher food is almost nonexistent and keeping Shabbat like the Torah demands is probably not going to happen. But this information is being cleverly kept from the Rabbis. If they would know this, then they would certainly cut the entire conversion loose. So in essence, the Rabbis are being fooled and I am being asked to be an accomplice to their/this entireHalachic crime (without taking responsibility?)

I pray that I have grossly misunderstood the real story and the above tale I transcribed was but a twisted interpretation that my mind translated.

Forgive me if I seem to come off as harsh... This letter is in no way intended to. But it seems to me that you have a fundamental and huge misunderstanding of conversion to Judaism. I don't know what kind of Rabbis are doing your conversion in Israel. Perhaps they are not properly informed on where you are holding in your conversion. If so, then I am equally shocked and appalled at the Rabbis blatant misuse of one of the most controversial and delicate parts of our religion.

In order for the Torah to allow a gentile to join the Jewish nation, the Rabbis must confirm and validate two parts to their conversion: There is the practical part and the emotional part.

Practically - the Rabbis must see that the potential convert is actively and independently fulfilling the Mitzvot of our Torah and studying the laws and details to the Mitzvot, as well as studying the Jewish history and theology.

Assessment - As far as practical is concerned (again from the little bit that I've heard), it didn't seem like you were enthusiastic or excited to fulfill the Mitzvot. It didn't seem like you were keeping Shabbat fully (going to Synagogue on Shabbat does not constitute keeping Shabbat), actively keeping a fully Kosher home (Trying to keep Kosher is not 'keeping' Kosher) or attempting to keep the laws of a Jewish family which is to only live with another Jewish person after a proper halachic marriage ceremony.

Emotionally - Besides for the practical fulfillment of the Torah and Mitzvot, there also needs to be an assessment made from the Rabbis, confirming the converts devotion and commitment to our Religion.

If the Rabbi's would see the convert fulfilling the laws, but with an absolute lack of interest or enthusiasm in them, then they should not allow such a conversion to go through, because it demonstrates a problem in the lifelong commitment that the convert is making. It's the same as if two people want to get married, but there is an absolute lack of love, interest or passion between them... It means there is a problem in their relationship and they should certainly not marry and build a home together.

If the Rabbis would sense that the convert is going through the motions and following all the rules, but they see that he/she does not intend to follow the rules anytime after the actual conversion, then they cannot allow such a conversion to happen.

Assessment - Again, I hope and pray that I have not heard and do not understand the story of what is happening, but it seems to me that you are not in this conversion for the RIGHT reasons. For me, just hearing that you are planning on converting to Judaism and afterward you will fly to a totally spiritual wasteland in *******, Mexico is the same as someone saying they will pay all their taxes and follow all the rules to becoming a US citizen for example... But as soon as they receive their passport, they will join a criminally motivated street gang and put themselves into very controversial situations. If I may voice my opinion; If you were more committed to Judaism and your conversion, then you would choose to live in a Jewish community (in israel, New York, Mexico City or anywhere else), where you would be able to grow as a Jew and spiritually thrive. As a Jew, you would be creating and strengthening a newfound healthy relationship between you and G-d. The fact that you are willing to convert and then put yourself into such a spiritually threatening city, where there is no Kosher, neither is there any structured frame of Judaism and it doesn't seem like you will be properly marrying the Jewish boy who is currently there, is a clear sign that you do not have any interest of continuing to live like a Jew should after the conversion.

If the situation I have outlined above is true, then I cannot be a part of this conversion. In fact - my Rabbinical status aside, - as a JEW, I must strongly disapprove of this gross miscarriage of our Religion and the dangerous effects that such a mistaken conversion will bring.

There is nothing wrong with being a gentile. In our community, we have loads and loads of gentiles who join us for services and take part in our classes. But they are living happily and proudly as Gentiles, fulfilling their seven Noahide laws given exclusively to them by G-d. They are studying about the true G-d and are absolutely wonderful people.

In my opinion, if you are not ready to take on 'all' of the Mitzvot that our Torah gives to every Jewish person, then it is not a problem to cancel the conversion and head over to Mexico. It is better to live in **********, Mexico as a gentile then as a Jew and nobody will or should ever hold it against you. I certainly won't.

If you do choose to continue with the conversion, then do so... However make sure you do it right. Start keeping the Mitzvot and continue growing in them, both practically and emotionally. Once you have gained proper momentum in your conversion, you will see that moving to ********, Mexico is something that you don't even want to do, as it will only jeopardize your beautiful life as a Jew and the incredible connection to G-d that you are capable of achieving.

I am not a mean person and I hate splashing my feet in controversial waters. If you would only see the type of community that we are blessed to have here in Cabo, you would understand how difficult it is for me to 'speak up'.

However I feel that if I did not give a full and elaborate response to your request, then I would be doing a great injustice to my conscience, your particular conversion and the entire Jewish people, who are suffering tremendously from these problematic conversions, which are destroying thousands, if not millions of Jewish lives.

I hope you will receive this email and take the positive messages that I am trying to focus on, as opposed to any negative feelings that I may have expressed.

You can also call me at any time to further discuss this issue. My number is: +52-624-143-1951 or US# +1-310-598-5707.

With blessing for Hatzlacha and only the best of news.

Benny

Hershcovich report

It's gonna' be the little kinderlach!!!

Who's gonna' bring Moshiach

I'll tell you... I'll tell you.

It's gonna' be the little kinderlach, the little, little, little, little kinderlach!!

Making chocolate cake for Shabbos the other day.

My zeeskeit!!!!

The week that was.

Is anyone interested in advertising with our calendar? If yes, email me. I have some spaces left*

Two Bochurim came to Cabo last week and have been travelling around finding Yidden to connect with yiddishkeit. They rented a car for dirt cheap and went.

What a week it's been. On their first night out, I was called by the bochurim at 11pm and told that the car got stuck in a sand dune and they couldn't get out. They were an hour and a half away.

So I drove out to help them... Only to find out that 15 minutes before I arrived, some ATV had passed by and helped them out of the sand... I stayed the night in some hotel out in the middle of nowhere with the guys.

But they're real cool (thank the ribono shel oilom). They found a few Jews and have been putting them in contact with us.

Tomorrow is their big trip. They will be going up to Todos Santos and visiting the 20 or 30 Jews that are located there... Then they're off to La Paz and visiting with the few Jews who are spread out in that Northern city... Who knows what they'll find?!!!

I'm real excited.

***

I'm wondering where exactly is the 'ear' of a fridge. I need to whisper a small message into my fridge's ear.

In other news, I have a small story to tell. It's called:

The Fridge that wouldn't work on Shabbos

Benny once bought a fridge. He bought it brand new (for a change). In fact, since his other two fridges had been ruined, he finally decided to be smart and purchase a brand new fridge from Sam's Club.

He spent lots of money on the fridge.

Once it arrived home, it was set up in the backyard of his house, for his home was situated in beautiful Los Cabos, Mexico where it never rained and fridges in backyards would not damage their working abilities.

The fridge sat outside all alone crying. How he wanted to come inside Benny's home and be able to chill all the food and beers like any other normal fridge.

"Why do I always have to sit outside and do nothing? I am a good fridge!!" cried the fridge softly.

His friends, the neighborhood cockroaches would comfort him. "You should be happy dear fridge," the cockroaches would say. "At least when Benny sees you, he doesn't go mad and violently trample you to death while shouting dreadful obscenities to your very existence like he does to us!!"

But the fridge was still so upset and would cry himself to sleep every night.

Well, after both other fridges in the house became unfit for use, Benny finally decided to bring the big, beautiful fridge into his home and set it up in the main kitchen of his Chabad House.

How happy the fridge felt, to finally be a part of Benny's family and be able to keep all their eggs fresh.

It worked wonderfully and Benny was so happy.

But when Shabbos came, everything changed.

Benny woke up on Shabbos morning and went to the fridge to take out some chatzilim with apples, a secret dish he loved to sneak when his wife Sonia was fast asleep with the kinderlach, when he noticed something wrong... The temperature inside the fridge was not cold. Everything inside the fridge was warm.

Oy! thought Benny. "Our fridge must be broken. It will be our third broken fridge in 3 months! Whatever shall we do!!!???" Whispered Benny in dispair (he whispered it, because he didn't want Sonia to wake up and 'bust' him sneaking some Chatzilim with apples.)

Benny decided to wait until after Shabbos and then decide what to do with his fridge.

But lo and behold, after Shabbos, the fridge magically started working again.

Benny and his family were happy to have a working fridge and happily kept their food inside for the entire next week.

But alas, the next Shabbos, the same exact thing happened. The fridge just wouldn't work and all the food was warm by the time Shabbos morning came around.

And a third week.

Finally, Benny realized what he never believed possible.

The fridge was keeping Shabbos just like his owners.

The fridge would simply not keep cool from Friday evening until Motzaei Shabbos.

It was the weirdest thing.

Finally, Benny decided that the only thing left to do, would be to whisper in the fridge's ear that now that he is in the kitchen and not outside anymore, he needs to keep food cold, even on Shabbos.

But Benny couldn't find the ear... So he was stuck.

I'm so tired. But this story is based on a true story.

If you can help me figure out this mystery, it would be awesome.

******* ------- *******

*In general, when someone writes that they have several spaces left in their calendar, it means that the calendar is in desperate need of being filled up, due to lack of major spaces!! They are practically begging you to purchase a spot in their calendar.

My weekly email letter to the community

Parshas Re'ei

Shalom,

This coming week, the Jewish New Year begins shining from the distant horizons. We will be celebrating Rosh Chodesh (the birth of a new 'lunar' month) for the month of Elul on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Elul is traditionally known as the month of preparation before Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, the day of judgement. Therefore, it is a month of reflection and soul evaluation.

Inasmuch as we file our financial taxes every year and record each penny that was made and spent, the month of Elul is the time to do just that, but on a personal and spiritual level.

"How have I grown spiritually this past year?"

"How much was I capable of growing?"

"Have I strengthened my connection with G-d, as it is on his terms?"

"What will I resolve this year, in order to better myself, my surroundings and the entire world?"

These are the questions that we must ask ourselves as we approach the great and awesome high holidays. When we do our work and put in the extra effort to better ourselves and our surroundings, then no doubt G-d does his part and ensures us a year of goodness, happiness, health, wealth and blessing.

***

Eli Olidort and Yaakov Raskin, the two young Rabbi's from Brooklyn have arrived. They've already started their two week tour of "Jew searching", and it is having its effect. This past week they travelled the East Cape and found several Jewish people whom they spoke to and put in touch with us.

Next week, they will head up the West Coast, passing through Cerritos, S. Pedrito, Todos Santos and ending up in La Paz.

If you know of anyone who might enjoy the wonderful atmosphere and energy that these two young Rabbi's bring, please contact me, so that I can direct them to help out.

***

And to end off with a small thought from the Torah portion: This week Moses recounts the laws of a Kosher animal. In order for an animal to be deemed Kosher, it must have two distinct symbols.

1 - Chew its cud.

2 - Have split hooves.

Kabbala explains that these symbols are not just coincidental signs that only the Kosher animals 'just so happen' to have. Rather, these two symbols on a spiritual level are what make the very animal Kosher. In other words, spiritually, these two 'signs' are Kosher characteristics and spiritual services that us as Jews must incorporate in our own lives.

Interestingly, when we look at both symbols, we see that they each are connected with 'double'. Chewing its cud, the animal swallows once, and then regurgitates its food in order to chew it a second time.

Split hooves is one foot, however there are two separated parts.

Perhaps one of the lessons that the Torah is giving us is that in order for our souls and very beings to be deemed 'Kosher', everything that we do in life must have this duality.

Whether we are dealing with our most external, mundane and lowly aspects of life, like the feet, we must still maintain and connect it with holiness and G-d. Earth and G-d must be fused together as the hooves of an animal are two parts of one foot.

... And even when we are dealing with more spiritual, internalizing pursuits, like the animal which eats its food in order to gain strength and energy, we must always remember that we cannot get too lost in the spiritual frenzy... We need to grab hold of the spiritual and fasten it tight with the physical, lowly world, so that the lowest levels can also be elevated.

Thus, we have the great duality of creation and we fulfill the purpose of creation; bringing G-d down into our world and at the same time, elevating our world to be G-dly.

Only when we have both of these 'Kosher' symbols, are we guaranteed from the Torah to be able to reach our maximum and we perfect the amazing world around us.

Hoping that your week is blessed and filled with goodness and happiness in a very Kosher way.

Shabbat Shalom,

Benny

In honor of Sonia

My wonderful wife finally got an inspiration to write. She went to someone's blog and wrote a massive comment about the beauty of the Jewish woman.

It was an absolutely beautiful piece. I was so impressed by her clear descriptions and clarifications to Jewish law and it's approach to the Jewish woman and her modesty.

I tried helping her post it, but I blundered and hit the wrong button. It all got deleted and I feel so bad.

As bad as I feel, Sonia feels so bad too. She worked so hard on it.

I told her that I would post something on the blog in her honor.

Here's to Sonia's wonderful comment on a woman's modesty, which we will never get to read.

A Happy birthday to Zvi!

To the brother who...

• Used to play 'boat' with me.
• Was the cowboy while I was the Indian.
• Hated when I was in the room with him while he learned the phone book ba'al peh (mila b'mila).
• Used to always be Pafyos (pfffff) when playing scatter.
• Always made me Rabbi Tarfon when playing scatter.
• Was always Rafael and Leonardo while I had to be Donatello and Michaelangelo.
• Busted me playing with his 'game-boy' one day upon returning from school.
• Almost killed me one day while I was fast asleep underneath him (He still claims it to be a mistake... KIDDING!!!)
• Always beats me in basketball
• Always beats me in chess
• Always beat me in NHL computer games
• Always beats me in soccer
• Always beat me in scatter
• Always beats me in hockey.
• Is an incredible writer
• Had a cold winter pajama incident.
• Is talented like anything.
• Has a very 'interesting' taste for music and videos.
• Is an inspiration to everyone who meets him.
• Always encourages me.
• Is awesome at harmonies.
• Is a great role model.
• Is now celebrating his birthday... Two years older than me.

Happy Birthday Zvi! Many more years of happiness, health and success in writing and in everything that comes your way.

And... This bud's for you!!

Your big little brother.

Benny

Can you believe this??!!

Another unbelievable media piece!! Oysh!

Some thoughts and good liners!!

Question: Did you hear about the girl who got engaged to the guy with a wooden leg?

Answer: They broke it off!

Question: What's worse than an Uncle Moishy DVD?

Answer: A scratched Uncle Moishy DVD!!