Story Tour

Here at Philmont it is easy to see the blessings of the Holy One, blessed be He in everything around. Each sight is beautiful, the sounds soothing and each creature leads one to remember the greatness and majesty of creation.

Nothing is without meaning and everything is filled with prayers and blessings. Today a bird came to the Rose (Shoshanah) and shared with her a secret:

We learn in Berachos 56b that R. Chanan said: Three kinds of dreams symbolize peace, namely, a dream about a river, a bird, and a pot. A river, because it says, “I will extend to her prosperity like a stream” (Isaiah 66:12). A bird, because it says, “Like the birds that fly, so will the God of Hosts protect Jerusalem” (Isaiah 31:5). A pot, for it says, “God will ordain peace for us” (Isaiah 26:12). [Tishpot, "ordain," also means putting a pot on a fire].  

A pot brimming with food symbolizes domestic peace; a meandering river signifies tranquility within a country; a bird that flies unencumbered across all boundaries and borders represents global peace.

As we trek across the Ponil Creek, Rayado River and the Agua Fria may we find peace and tranquility in our homes.

As we share meals may we establish peace with our fellows and also the stranger.

As we watch the birds gliding through the air, may our prayers for world peace be borne upon their wings to the very gates of Heaven.

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This morning, I climbed up to Window Rock to conduct a sunrise service. As the trail led steadily upward the sun began to peak above the horizon, behind some clouds. My thoughts wandered and my heart grew light as I realized it was at this moment that the creation repeated itself.

Indeed I witnessed as it is written: “In the beginning…..” I prayed my personal prayers silently as I climbed upward. The words of the prayers came slowly as the beauty of the new day unfolded.

At the top of Window Rock, I was greeted by a Rayado Crew and began the service. Their eyes were all fixed, but soon became squints as the sun in all its glory flooded the rock and everyone felt the prayers and from each heart came a silent personal prayer.

May it be Your will Hashem to bring about love, brotherhood, peace and fellowship. Cause us to have many students to spread Your word; grant us long life and everything for which we hope; appoint our portion in Paradise. Establish for us good friends, and by a good impulse in this, Your world, that, when we rise, may we find daily our heart waiting to revere Your holy name; and let the satisfaction our soul’s desire be graciously granted by you.

Berachos 16b

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Here at Philmont, many people come each day to the Jewish Chapel, yet very few are Jewish. One may ask, why have a service if so few are Jewish? The answer is simple we all share many similar teachings and beliefs. We need to look beyond ourselves.

On tuesday we had 18 Jewish people at the Chapel. Just think a minyan and chai. What a brocha (Blessing)!

Two important questions are raised throughout Jewish history: What is our obligation to other Jewish people? What is our obligation to the world at large? 

haRav Abraham Yitzchok Kook answers that the two cannot be addressed as separate matters: “Love for Israel implies the love for humanity.” Yet the choices of emphasis in one’s life are often complicated. At times of national distress we will focus on Jewish concerns. Great world issues will induce a more universal response. The role of the Jewish people in the history of the world is intricately intertwined. The Jewish people have always recognized, as the midrash teaches, that to drill a hole in one’s own side of the boat dooms the entire vessel. 

Among the fowl deemed nonkosher in the Bible is a bird called the chasidah (Leviticus 11:19). Remarking on the strange name, Rashi writes that the name chasidah comes from chesed, “kindness.” Why kindness? Because this particular bird acts kindly toward its kin, but not towards any other. 

The Kotzker rebbe asks, “If the chasidah is kind toward its kin, why is it unkosher?” His answer: “To be kosher, you have to be kind not only to your own kin but to all.”

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This past Shabbos was so special as so many staff at Philmont came to the Jewish Study to share the Shabbos meal. We shared food like challah and gefilte fish and had a delightful conversation. Some expressed that they find more spirituality in the outdoors than in religious school or in their respective houses of worship.

How many of the young people we come in contact through the various Scouting programs feel a disconnect with their beliefs and are looking for meaning. For this reason we need to provide a good Scouting experience for all Scouts. 

The outdoors holds a special place in our beliefs and these teachings are often lost amid a curriculum of prayer, holiday observances and Torah/Scripture study. Sometimes one gets very much overloaded and misses the warmth, beauty and love of being Jewish. 

Within the storm of questions and the natural curiosity of faith, one can many times find answers: 

THE FIERY FIRE 

Two men were walking through a forest as night fell.  One man was very wise and his name was Chacham.  The other man was very simple and learned with great difficulty and his name was Tam. 

As they walked down the path through the forest the sky grew dark and a storm began to brew.  Soon the quiet of the night was broken by the crash of thunder and the rain fell in torrents.  Lightning streaked the sky as the two travelers looked for shelter from the wind and rain. 

Suddenly the men heard the crackle of lightning and the roar of thunder and saw in the distance a bright light.  Tam stared at the light and was afraid.  Chacham began to work his way toward the light.  Tam, not wanting to be left alone, reluctantly followed Chacham.  As they blazed a new path toward the light the rain and wind stopped. 

Soon, Tam and Chacham were in a clearing walking toward a tree that was on fire.  Tam was afraid of the bright light and blazing fire.  He looked down to the ground and would not move.  Chacham went right up to the tree and looked into flames. 

Chacham went over to Tam and took him by the hand and led him to the burning tree.  Tam came very slowly, but Chacham was very insistent.  For Tam it was difficult, but he trusted Chacham. 

As they drew near the flames Tam felt the warmth and he began to listen to Chacham who started to tell him stories and teach him wisdom.  All night, Tam and Chacham stayed in the light and warmth of the blazing tree. 

For you see Chacham, understood that the burning tree could provide warmth and light.  Tam only knew the fire and the crashing thunder and was afraid. 

So it is that those who don’t understand and rely solely on what they see, they  are afraid of the unknown. 

The Torah is referred to as the etz chaim, the tree of life.  Those who embrace it, learning and live by its wisdom are not afraid of the darkness, storms, lightning or thunder. 

As scout’s we learn about ourselves, our community, the wonders of nature, and our beliefs.  Let us all grow in wisdom so one day we too can be called Chacham.

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So many people come to Philmont to hike the trails, climb the mountains and enjoy the magnificent vistas.  ”Why?” one might ask.

The answer is surprisingly simple, “Because when one comes face-to-face with with the Holy One Blessed be He, the  Creator of the Universe will look down and ask, ‘So did you see My wonders of Creation?’” 

Appreciating beauty is an act of devotion. That is why in Judaism there are blessings for seeing beautiful mountains, the ocean, flowers, trees, and other marvels of nature. The Talmud advises that one should pray only in a room with windows. To sing to G-d and not see His creation is a contradiction. 

In the Bible, humanity begins in a garden, and Judaism continues the use of metaphors from nature: It likens the Torah to a tree, the Talmud to a sea, the human spirit to wind. When we move through the world, we feel its rhythms, we are awestruck by its majesty, we absorb its beauty. We are doing more than paying reverence to the forces of nature; we are offering a deep, authentic prayer to G-d. 

Rabbi Nachman of Breslov taught a prayer: 

Ribbono shel olam, Master of the Universe,

Grant me the ability to be alone;
May it be my custom to go outdoors each day

Among the trees and grass, among all living things.

And there may I be alone, and enter into prayer,
To talk with the one to whom I belong.

May I express there everything in my heart,
And may all the grasses, trees, and plants of the field
May they all awake at my coming,

To send the powers of their life into the words of my prayer

So that my prayer and speech are made whole
Through the life and the spirit of all growing things,

Which are made as one by their awe-inspiring source. 

May all our prayers and blessings gather together as a bouquet of beautiful flowers before the Creator of all things.

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A person had three friends. One friend was truly beloved, a second was also loved, but the third was often taken for granted. One day the man lost everything he owned. The king commanded him to appear before him immediately. The poor man was very frightened, wondering why the king would want to speak to him. In fear, he called upon each of his three friends to go with him to the king.

First, he turned to his closet friend, and was extremely disappointed when this friend said it would be impossible to go with him to visit the king.

He then turned to his second friend. “Will you go with me to the king?” This friend said, “I can go with you only up to the gates of the palace, but that is as far as I can go.”

Extremely sad, the man then turned to her third friend, the one to whom he had taken for granted. This friend said with assurance, “I will accompany you, but first I will go directly to the palace myself and plead for you with the king.”

The first friend reflects a person’s wealth, which cannot accompany you to the grave, as it is written, “Riches profit not in the day of reckoning.”  The second friend represents a person’s relatives, who can only follow you to the grave site, as it is written, “No person can redeem his brother from death.” The third and last friend represents the good deeds of a person’s life. These never desert you and even precede you to plead your cause before the King of all Kings, as it is written, “And your righteousness shall go before you.”

Adapted from Pirke de Rabbi Eliezer

Tonight will be the first day of religious services of the season at Philmont. It is going to be a wonderful summer filled with adventure and discovery. May we all collect many memories and hopes. Everything is ready in the Jewish chapel and the Ner Tamid (Everlating Light) is lit for the next 3 months and I look forward to speaking to many of the children of Ishmael, Esau and Jacob throughout the summer.

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Shavuous is coming tonight. We celebrate the receiving of the Torah and the Ten Commandments and many will learn throughout the night in preparation for this awesome holiday. On Shavuous we read the Megillas Ruth that tells the beautiful story of the conversion of the Moabite princess to Judaism. 

Learning carries its own seduction. Ruth learned from her mother-in-law and found beauty in the Jewish way of life that when asked to leave by her mother-in-law, Naomi, she responded:

“Do not ask me to leave you, to turn back and not follow you. For wherever you go, I will go; where you live, I shall live; your people are my people; and your G-d is my G-d; where you die, I will die, and there be buried. In this way may G-d do to me – and more! – if anything but death separates me from you.”

Ruth 1:16-18 

There was another convert many years later, Onkelos, who became famous for his learning; his translation of the Torah into Aramaic is found in many printed texts of the Torah to this day. Converting to Judaism was considered an insult to the Roman authorities, and soldiers were sent to carry Onkelos back to Rome. Upon hearing his reasons for changing his life and becoming Jewish. Each group of soldiers, after speaking to Onkelos, decided to stay and study the tradition. 

One of the great frustrations of modern Jewish education is that it is often so academic, so dry and without feeling, that it fails to ignite the minds and imaginations of our children. Unlike the soldiers sent after Onkelos, our children come upon an unexciting, predigested Judaism, and it fails to inspire them. 

The obstacles are many: Parents do not always support Jewish education, teachers are ill trained and lacking deep subject matter knowledge, stu­dents looking for answers find only set uninspiring lessons. But we should let nothing stand in the way of igniting our minds and the minds of our children with an education of depth and texture. Judaism is not merely a religion, it is a way of life, full of wonder, mystery and warmth. It is an ancient, multifaceted, deep, anguished, joyous encounter with G-d. It embraces religion, culture, community, land, and history. Only if we teach it as such will it be worth learning.

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Its a new season and Philmont is being staffed for the adventures that follow. Some will discover that the stories of the Philmont Rebbe, a maggid of day gone by will guide them on their treks. 

People of all ages enjoy stories more than any other form of entertainment. They laugh, cry, smile, and sigh as they enjoy age-old lessons and tales of communities throughout the world. They can travel through time with but a whisper.  

The Jewish storytelling rabbi (maggid), in days gone by, would travel from community to community to strengthen the heart and soul of Jewish people. The stories told of greatness, nobility, and wisdom while at the same time raising the hopes for a better tomorrow. 

One such maggid is Rabbi Rachmiel (Rock)  Tobesman who has shared and taught people from childhood through the golden years in many areas of the United States. He has been invited to teach educators and community leaders how to use the power of storytelling to improve the quality of services to the people of all backgrounds. As a traditional spiritual storyteller, Rachmiel Tobesman touches the heart and soul with stories long forgotten.

This maggid shares stories that contain wondrous, lofty, and healing messages that each person understands in their own way. The stories told by this maggid will arouse the heart and elevate spirituality so one can see the holy Sparks in every day deeds. If a person looks at the maggid and his stories with an open mind and heart, they will understand their messages and begin the process of healing on their spiritual journey.     

 The plain, simple meaning of the maggid’s stories strongly motivates a person toward the Holy One, Blessed be He. All the stories consist of mysteries, wonder, beauty, honor and spirituality, aside from their secret meanings, they have a great power to uplift everyone and help them on their spiritual journey

The Palm Beach Sun Times observed that

“Rabbi Tobesman weaves stories and spreads magic as the medieval wizard cast spells…. Everyone felt the wonder and excitement as he told stories long forgotten…. His stories kept everyone spell bound from young to old.”

He is the former Storyteller-in-Residence at the Walter’s Art Museum and was one of the featured storytellers at the CAJE (Coalition for Advancements in Jewish Education) conferences in  Maryland, Georgia, Washington, Ohio and New York. He has presented at the annual conferences of the National Council for the Social Studies (NCSS), in Florida, Missouri and Washington, DC. He combines the skills of educator and maggid (spiritual storyteller) to touch the heart of all who listen. The St. Louis Jewish Times reported that

“Rabbi. Tobesman teaches through stories and tells Jewish stories in the tradition of the Breslover Chasidim. He stirs the memory and sparks the heart and soul of everyone.”

The plain, simple meaning of the spiritual storyteller’s stories strongly motivate a person toward the Holy One, blessed be He.  All the stories consist of mysteries, wonder, beauty, honor and spirituality, aside from their secret meanings, they have a great power to uplift everyone and help them on their spiritual journey.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Once upon a time a Roman came to Rabbi Shammai and said to him,”How many Laws (Torahs) do the Jewish people have?”

Rabbi Shammai answered him,”We have only two. One which has been given to us in writing and another which has been given to us by word of mouth.” 

The Roman replied, “I believe in the written law and in what is recorded in it, but I do not believe in that which has been handed down as oral, nor in what is contained in it. Now accept me as a convert on condition that you teach me the written law.” Rabbi Shammai became angry and drove the Roman away from his school. 

The Roman went from the School of Rabbi Shammai to the School of Rabbi Hillel and asked him the same question as he had asked Rabbi Shammai. Rabbi Hillel accepted him as a convert and began to teach him. The first day he taught him alef, bet, gimmel, dalet. And the Roman repeated after the rabbi exactly as he had told him. The next day Rabbi Hillel taught him again and turned the names around and said, dalet, gimmel, bet, alef.  

Then the Roman said to Hillel, “Dear Rabbi, yester­day you taught me differently. ” Then Hillel said to him, “Just as you rely upon my word, so you must rely on the Law, which is also handed down by word of mouth, and on everything that  is contained within it.” 

Based on B. Shab 31a 

Jewish people are challenged everyday because our lifestyle is what we believe in. So many times it is heard, “there are too many laws and rules. Its too hard to be religious.” 

Sadly, many follow the ways of our teachers and rabbis (May the be a blessing) out of a sense of duty. Their actions become mechanical and by rote. Their service becomes stale and devoid of emotion. 

The laws, rituals, and traditions of the Jewish people makes our lives whole, filled with beauty and wonder. The written and oral Torah has taken us beyond a mere religion to a lifestyle filled with warmth, magnificence, mystery and peace. 

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