The accusation is thrown as a spear, “women in the religious Jewish community are treated like second class citizens.” The claim is made by those outside of the community who have no understanding of the Jewish way of life.

A young woman once asked, “how can you tell such beautiful stories, yet accept the mistreatment of women?” The answer, from my part was easy, Jewish law does not condone such behavior. Unfortunately society sets the norms and standards and they are many times in opposition to religious beliefs.

As an example I reference a responsa (rabbinic legal decision) found in the Cairo Geniza (repository of Jewish documents) dated 1216 answering a petition of a woman to the rabbinic court:

“What is the legal opinion of our master and teacher Abraham ben Moshe ben Maimon, the paramount Rav, the leader of our generation, the light of the world – may his glory be enhanced – about this: a man has traveled to the land of India and remained there for about fifteen years. Before setting out on his journey he had appointed his wife as his legal representative. She maintains herself and her two daughters by the work of her hands.

Recently a Jewish man arrived from Aden and was questioned by another Jewish man who asked him about the man who had traveled to India. The Jew who had arrived from Aden said: we have heard that he traveled to Fansur (Sumatra) and died in Fansur and that the ruler of that country had taken his property.

Can the wife on the basis of this testimony marry again? How much of the property of her late husband is she permitted to take for herself?

According to the Torah and Jewish law, the daughters, not she, are the legal heirs. But since she has maintained herself and her children for fifteen years, which was the duty of the husband, she is clearly entitled to remuneration of the living costs for this long period.”

Reading this legal decision some questions come to mind:

v What rights did a Jewish woman have in medieval Egypt?

v Could a woman, in general, have standing before a court?

v What role did Jewish women play in business?

When read carefully one sees that Jewish women had many rights in the community that were not shared in other communities.

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Two constant questions in Jewish history: What is our obligation to other Jewish people? What is our obligation to the world at large?

Rav Avraham Tizchok Kook answers that the two are inseparable: “Love for Klal Yisrael (the Jewish people)  implies the love for humanity.” Yet we see so often an emphasis on love of scholars and those in our community, while forgetting those who are not Jewish. We learn in Avos deRabbi Nosan that we should “teach not the love of scholars only, but the love of all.”

Some equate one’s level of religious observance with the love of the holy One, blessed be He. This is sad, because many become so involved in their religious studies, ritual and observances that it all becomes mechanical. Rabbi Levi Yitzchok of Berdichev taught, “Whether a man really loves G-d can be determined by the love he bears towards his fellow man.” One must take their religious practices beyond the academic and intellectual phase into action. One who truly follows the teachings of the Scriptures fine tunes their beliefs which becomes their lifestyle. We should strive to Be of the disciples of Aaron, one who loves peace and pursues it, who loves all men and brings them close to Torah (Avos 1.12)

Among the birds 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.

Some eight hundred years after Rash, the Kotzker rebbe asks, “If the hasidah 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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We speak and learn so much about religion, values, prayer and ritual, yet forget the important aspects of faith. To live by the standards established in the holy words of the T’NaCh (Scriptures). We should look upon all around us favorably and give them the benefit of the doubt.

Once upon a time a religious man ransomed a beautiful woman from imprisonment, and when they came to the inn in the evening, he put the young woman to sleep at the foot of his bed. In the morning he immersed himself in the purifying waters, and then he went to teach his pupils. While he was teaching them he asked his students, “Did you suspect me of anything last night when you saw the young maiden lying at the foot of my bed?” They answered, “We did not suspect you of anything; we thought that you put her near you because you had among your pupils one whom you did not know, and you would not let her sleep in a separate room for fear that harm might come to her.”

Then the religious man asked, “Why did you think I went in the morning and immersed in the purifying waters?”

“What else do you believe we could have thought,” replied his students, “except that probably on the way you had touched something unclean which made it necessary for you to immerse in the purifying waters?”

Then he said, “I swear that it was exactly as you thought. And as for you–as you judged me on the  scale of merit, so may He who is everywhere judge you on the scale of merit.

Based on B. Shabbos 127b and Ma’asah Book #21

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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I just finished a very difficult project and me mind started to wander and the thoughts turned towards the Philmont blacksmiths and a story I told in one of the smithies…

A central element of Judaism is derech eretz which emphasizes courtesy, integrity, and kindness in addition to an understanding of religious texts. Ritual obser­vance absent action is empty, without meaning and contrary to our way of life.

The Jewish elders of Kurdistan tell that….

There was once a very holy man who lived alone in a cave in the forest. He studied the holy books and night and prayed long everyday. For this he was granted a great favor by G-d, who provided him with food day after day.

One day our master Moshe (Moses) went to visit this holy man, and on that day two portions of food were sent down from heaven. The holy man welcomed his guest and brought him into his cave and he brought out one portion and shared it with our master Moshe. They both began eating, and discussed such secrets and mysteries of the holy words..

Later on, Moshe came to another little cave, went inside, and at the entrance saw the owner, a blacksmith. Behold now this miracle – the blacksmith, too, received his portion of food from G-d every day. The blacksmith welcomed Moshe and went to fetch his portion of food in order to divide it into two halves, but suddenly he saw in front of him two portions of food. He put both portions on a golden plate, which he served to Moshe, and waited until Moshe had finished eating. Only then did he extend his own hand and take what food was left and out his food on a wooden plate. This was how the blacksmith treated the man of G-d who had appeared before him. Moshe finished his meal, thanked the blacksmith for his kind hospitality, and left the cave.

After he had gone a few steps, he heard a great noise from inside the cave. He returned to the cave and saw the blacksmith breaking the golden plates and cups to bits. Moshe was puzzled and asked the blacksmith what he was doing, to which he replied, ^“today I had a very important guest, and yet G-d has sent me just an ordinary meal, nothing special.’”

When Moshe returned to heaven he asked the holy One, blessed be He, “The blacksmith in whose cave I was a guest received more food than that of the holy man, who prays to You and occupies himself in Your holy service day and night, Yet the blacksmith is a simple man, who does not even know how to pray. Why did You prefer him to the holy man?^“

G-d replied, “I shall open to you here the hearts of both men, and let us see whose heart is cleaner and purer, the heart of the holy man or the heart of the blacksmith.” So G-d showed Moshe the heart of the blacksmith, and behold, it was shining in its cleanness and purer than any pure thing. Then he showed him the heart of the holy man, and behold, it was darker than any dark thing, more impure than any impure thing.

G-d asked Moshe, “To whom now should I grant a better portion of food, to the holy man or to the blacksmith? Behold, today I gave both of them double portions of food. The holy man set aside for himself one portion and shared with you only the second portion. What good are is his studies and his prayers so long as he behaves like this? The blacksmith did not behave like this, for his heart is pure and clean, full of truth and faith. And if he does not know how to pray, it is not his fault.

We must strive everyday to treat all around us with respect. Live what we believe and in that way truly change the world.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Someone asked: “With so many stories why do you mainly tell religious ones?” I have told ancient, medieval, American folktales and Jewish stories in the past, but it seemed that the religious stories were being lost. So many other storytellers tell the vast gamut of secular stories, and every Jewish storyteller tells the Chasidic tales. I chose to tell the biblical, midrashic and medieval Jewish stories so that they will inspire and touch the heart and soul of the listener.

Stories have touched the hearts, minds and souls of people since the beginning of time. For this reason they have been used continuously for millennia. Too many people stop with Bible stories and have forgotten the art and skill of spiritual storytelling. A holy man once said, “I came to teach you scriptures and you understood it not, therefore I will tell you stories.” Spiritual storytelling always has an underlying purpose, which is to inspire people with faith and communicate wisdom and values. 

Storytelling has always been a main way for communicating spirituality. Some of the greatest religious teachers were expert storytellers. Then, as time passed, events in their own lives also became stories. In Judaism, some communities emphasize the importance of sacred storytelling and the sacred story. 

What is the difference between religion and mysticism? It is the difference between believing in G-d and actually experiencing the Divine Presence. The stories touch the listener and awakens the yearning for more. They help people to see the wonders around them and allows them to peek into the mysteries of life.

Mysticism is a path to the deepest meaning of life, to the source of joy, and to a closer relationship with G-d. Yet, even non-mystics can tap into these wellsprings of mystic teachings in their search in today’s confusing world.

So, I, in the Jewish tradition of the maggid (storytelling rabbis) will continue to tell the stories others don’t and have been forgotten.

May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)

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Well Thursday night I went with my father to a reception at Scout HQ where the National Chaplain for the Jewish Committee spoke and than my father made a comment.

Can you believe it just a little comment. He tells stories to hundreds, teaches students and discusses religious stuff with no problem, but when it comes to being recognized for his work, he has nothing to say.

We went to the Council Dinner, I wore my Venturing uniform, where he was presented with the Silver Beaver. There was easily over 500 people there. There were a lot of cheers as my father stepped up onto the stage.

Would you believe they spelled “Rock” wrong? Here is the citation that put in the program book about my father:

 Rabbi Rachmiel “Rach” Tobesman

Rachmiel Tobesman came to Scouting as an adult. His motivation was to become a Scoutmaster under very special circumstances. He saw a need for fervently observant Jewish Boy Scouts to be able to participate in the outdoor program and still be consistent with their religious practices.

As an enthusiastic new leader. Rach brought maturity, passion and energy to this responsibility. Very quickly. Troop 13. sponsored by Ner Tamid Congregation was seen as successfully blending traditional standards and religious purpose. This successful combination established the groundwork for future units with the same focus.

As a unit leader, Rach combined his roles as a Rabbi. teacher, story teller and spiritual guide. Through his energy, he initially revitalized the Jewish Religious Retreat (kinus). As chair of the Jewish Committee. he worked to establish one combined truly ecumenical religious program involving all Scouts: Jewish, Catholic and Protestant. He has been so committed to his ministry that he is believed to be the only Rabbi who is a member of the National Catholic Committee on Scanting.

In 2005, Rach accepted the challenge to serve as a Mashgiach at the National Boy Scout Jamboree. In this role, he became the person who resolved both the religious and practical challenges of supervising and serving ten days worth of Kosher meals three times a day to Jewish and Muslim Scouts. Despite personal hardships, he proved that it could be done.

As a direct outcome of Rabbi Tobesman’s successes. he became a part of the Northeast Region Jewish Committee assuming responsibility for program planning for their annual conference. Similarly. he has served for a number summers as Chaplain at the Philmont Scout Ranch.

Rabbi Tobesman is creative and willing to serve God and our youth  in any way he can. He serves as an inspirational example of what it truly means to be a man of God. Daily he shows us how to combine an active. Scout presence and yet still be a humble and dedicated servant, cheerfully giving of his time and talents for the benefit of others.

Scoutmaster, Venture Crew Advisor, Roundtable Commissioner, District Committee, Wood Badge, Wood Badge Staff, National Jamboree Staff, Phil­mont Scout Ranch Chaplain, Philmont Training Center Faculty, Shofar Award, Interfaith Committee, Chair­man of Jewish Committee, Regional Jewish Committee

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