Shalom,
I would like to introduce myself before writing the next blog. My name is Yitzkhok Sakhai and no I’m not Chinese, I was born in Iran and raised in the United States. My Parents and I moved here when I was about 11 years old to join the rest of the Persian refugees in the land of opportunities. After elementary school I attended the Mirrer Yeshiva in New York from which I received my diploma. A while after I pursued the business life and realized it was not for me. My passion rested at a completely different corner of the word. So I went to Ohr Somayach Yeshiva in Israel and received my Rabbinical Semicha and a degree in leadership and outreach. I am currently employed by S.T.A.R. (Sephardic Tradition and Recreation) and Nessah synagogue. My life, my work and passion is to reach out to the Jewish community especially the younger generation and, Go-d willing, reignite that Jewish spark in their souls and through that build a brighter future for Jews wherever we may be. If you would like to know more about what our organization does please visit us at www.lastar.org
I thank the founders of the PiRo club and all that help it run and I am truly honored to have been asked to contribute to the Blog. Tizke Lemitzvot and Chazzak Ubaruch!!!The Torah commands us "Betezedek Tishpot Et Amitecha," meaning"you shall judge your fellow man righteously." There is a discussion among the Jewish sages as to what and to whom this passage is referring to. Some rabbis point out that this is directed towards Jewish judges as a warning to prevent bribery. But most Rabbis agree that it is a commandment and a warning to every single Jew. Each Jew is presented daily with the opportunity to judge another Jew, but we tend not to see it that way.
As a Rabbi in the PiRo community, working in the outreach field, I see this happening every day, especially targeting the younger generation.
I often find myself in the same situation, when I ask a seemingly routine question from teens like, “why don't you come to synagogue on Shabbat or the holidays,” or “why don't you come to the recent lecture that was held locally?” The answer is always the same: "PEOPLE JUDGE ME." And when I ask them to clarify, that is when they pour their heart out.
And i quote: The other day I came to the synagogue for Shabbat services and someone, (usually one of the "moreorthodox") came over to me and asked why I have come to Shul with a mohawk or why I even have such a haircut". Another example: "why would you come to Shul wearing jeans? don't you own a suit?
To me this is one of the greatest problems that our community is facing today. For the past 35 years, the thirst for Jewish knowledge has been growing rapidly. The only thing that is holding more people from getting more involved in their heritage is the judgmental attitude that some people hold, because of exhasted ideas such as that there needs to be a dress code and without it everything else is meaningless. Don't get me wrong. There is definitely a need for a certain decorum when going in to a holy sanctuary, but it should not be on the top 5 things a person is approached about when they are taking a step towards growth. Instead, why not reach out with a simple invitation to coffee, or a Shabbat meal, or just a friendly talk just to let the other person feel and KNOW that he belongs! One of my rabbis, the world famous author and Jewish historian, Rabbi Berrel Wein once told us “if you want to look Jewish, wear a turban and a long coat, because that is what Jews wore for thousands of years.”
Before we judge anyone negatively, let us take a moment and think about what it means to be one nation. When we received the Torah at mount Sinai the Rabbis tell us that we gathered there "KeIsh Echad Belev Echad," "like One Man with One Heart." No one criticized, no one judged!
May we merit the patience and the vigilance it takes to be simply good people, and more importantly, good Jews.
--By: Rabbi Yitzkhok Sakhai
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