Page 3 - The Jewish Voice - March '23

The Jewish Voice, Page 3

From the rabbi

How Moses Handled Jewish People from fear to faith. As below, so above — as fear and serenity reigns supreme.

It’s not a question of if things will be rough. It’s only a
soon as we overcome the slavery mentality within ourselves,
Anti-Semitism we were ready to experience freedom on the outside too. question of when. And when that happens, the challenge is
Banish any thought of fear that may be lurking in your how we will react. As harmless as it sounds, our internal
By Rabbi Dovid Vigler mind. To dwell on such a thought even for a moment is to emotional response is ground zero of the battleground. Our
There has been an surrender yourself into the hands of your inner Pharaoh, that faith empowers G-d to bless us; our fear empowers our
alarming increase in anti- he may destroy you. To embrace your faith and experience problem to oppress us. Our destiny is truly in our hearts.
Semitic activity in both West serenity is to surrender to G-d Almighty and to summon Since the beginning of time, G-d has been telling us not
Palm Beach as well as Boca His blessings upon you. to fear; the question is whether or not we’ve been listening!
Raton over the past months. Replace such thoughts immediately with healthy Now, this is easier said than done — it’s easy to say that
While anti-Semitism is thoughts, positive thoughts, thoughts that lift you up. Think you’re not afraid, it’s a whole different story to experience
never OK, this time it’s a good thoughts and your thoughts will allow good things to it. The litmus test is what makes you lose your cool — if
little too close to home. happen. Trust is the inverse of fear. Hold on tightly with you get angry with anti-Semites, you’ve betrayed your
When provoked, our natural trust of steel and nothing in this world can harm you. conviction that they have power over you. If you can stay
reaction is to recoil with fear There is no word in Hebrew for “history” because calm and composed, you’ve indicated that you don’t ascribe
— this is actually the worst we believe that the lessons of the past are the fuel of the any power to them because you know that you are in the
possible reaction. History has taught us that if we can muster present. If the Egyptian Exodus was merely historical, we hands of G-d Almighty exclusively.
the courage to overcome fear, we will reap the rewards that wouldn’t obsess over it as much as we do. Far from archival, Of course we have to take decisive action against anti-
we so desperately seek. the Exodus is psychological — it is a battle that each and Semites using every channel of diplomacy and self-defense
When Moses saved the life of a Jew by killing his every one of us must battle, even today, as we are tested available to us. Moses was anything but passive as he spoke
Egyptian abuser, the Torah tells us that “Moses was with problems — heaven sent — to equip us with the tools truth to power and courageously defended his People from
afraid…and Pharaoh sought to kill him” (Exodus 2:14–15). to experience true happiness and freedom. oppression. What Moses teaches us is not only what to do,
Shouldn’t it be written the other way around? Because It’s no surprise therefore that the most frequently but more importantly, how to do it. When we confront anti-
Pharaoh sought to kill him, therefore Moses was afraid?! repeated directive in the entire Torah is “Al Tirah” — “Do Semites, we do so serenely, fearlessly, and filled with faith,
But no. Only because Moses experienced fear was not fear.” More than one hundred and ten times, the Torah fully aware that they have no true power over us.
Pharaoh empowered to seek his blood. Were it not for instructs us not to be afraid! Warren Buffett and Richard Branson both had to overcome
his fear, no harm could ever have befallen him. The deep If that’s not enough, it is the opening words with which their crippling stage fright in their twenties before they
spiritual truth we see here is that what happens to us mirrors we usher in the chaos of a new week on Saturday evening became billionaires. Bruce Willis and Rowan Atkinson (Mr.
what’s happening inside of us. When we are confident and at the close of Shabbos — “Hinei Kel Yshuasi evtach velo Bean) needed to conquer their speech impediments before
joyous, G-d sends us celebrations; when we are brittle and efchad,” “Behold, the G-d of my salvation in whom I trust, seeing great success. Winston Churchill, Abraham Lincoln,
bitter, He shakes our foundations. and I have no fear.” and Thomas Jefferson all had to bury their fears of public
On the flip side, when Moses faced what was perhaps the They are also the very last words we recite before leaving speaking before becoming giants. Indeed, Jack Canfield wrote
toughest moment of his life — leading the Jewish nation out the safety of the sanctuary and entering into the world that “everything you want is on the other side of fear.”
of Egypt as they were trapped between the Red Sea before outside three times a day at the conclusion of our daily After nearly two thousand years of persecution that
them and the Egyptian army behind them — he instructed prayers. We say “Al Tirah” to remind us that, if nothing led to insecurity, modern Jews today are learning how to
the nation to “Be fearless!” (Exodus 14:13). This powerful else, in the world we are about to enter we should never be fearless. The founders of the Modern State of Israel
inner transformation of their emotions quickly manifested ever be afraid. fought fearlessly like their lives depended on it and, when
as the splitting of the Red Sea before them, leading to their The profound emphasis on fearlessness reminds us over they did so, they experienced success beyond their wildest
miraculous escape from slavery and to the freedom that we and over again that the primary reason for which we were dreams and imaginations. When we are fearless, we are
all cherish and celebrate to this very day. placed upon this earth is to be tested. Instead of our knee- most powerful — no one can stop us!

In hindsight, the miraculous odyssey from Egypt was jerk reaction that would normally be fear, we are called
the result of the inner transformation of the hearts of the upon to reach higher consciousness — where faith trumps From the Rabbi on page 4

HIGHEST PRICES PAID!
DIAMONDS

.
.
.
.
DIAMOND & ESTATE JEWELRY WATCHES ANTIQUES ART OBJECTS OIL PAINTINGS
GIVE BRUCE KODNER GALLERIES THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXCEED YOUR EXPECTATIONS!
.
.
.
GOLD & SILVER COINS PAPER CURRENCY 14kt 18kt 22kt GOLD

IMMEDIATE PAYMENT - HIGHEST PRICES PAID 3rd Generation Expertise . Call Today
.
.
.
DIAMONDS SAPPHIRES RUBIES EMERALDS
ROLEX WATCHES HIGHEST PRICES PAID
new text
Rolex • Cartier • Patek Phillippe • Tiffany • Bvlgari Wrist Watches & Pocket Watches

Harry Winston • David Yurman • Chimento • Buccellati • David Webb • Van Cleef & Arpels

Mid-Century 1950’s - 1980’s Furniture • Paul Evans • Phillip Laverne • Nakashima • Dunbar

MID-CENTURY FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES MID-CENTURY FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES
ARE AT ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS! Picasso Works of Art & Ceramics ARE AT ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS!
.
.
.

DIAMOND JEWELRY Calder Miro LePho Beanie Backus & All Highwayman Paintings
.
STERLING SILVER ANTIQUE FURNITURE TAPESTRIES MOSAICS CLOCKS ORIENTAL RUGS CHANDELIERS SCONCES
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
FLATWARE & TEA SETS TIFFANY GALLE DAUM NANCY LAMPS & ART GLASS ORIENTAL FURNITURE JADE CORAL SILVER & PAINTINGS
.
.
.
.
.
.
.

GORHAM MARTELLÈ GEORGE JENSEN TIFFANY CARTIER AMERICAN . EUROPEAN & MODERN OIL PAINTINGS KPM MEISSEN SÈVRES . ROYAL VIENNA TEPLITZ
.

.
.
.
.
.
.
BUCCELLATI CHRISTOFLE KIRK STEIFF WALLACE REED & BARTON Estate Jewelry Gold Coins Oil Paintings Sterling Silver
BRONZE & MARBLE STATUARY PIANOS BIRD BOXES
Watches
Diamonds
.
INTERNATIONAL & ALL EUROPEAN AND SOUTH AMERICAN STERLING SILVER RUSSIAN ENAMEL OIL PAINTINGS AND OBJECTS D’ART MID-CENTURY FURNITURE & ACCESSORIES
ARE AT ALL TIME RECORD HIGHS!
.
.
.
.
LALIQUE BACCARAT DAUM STEUBEN WATERFORD AMERICAN POTTERY . GEORGE ORR . ROOKWOOD . ROSEVILLE
GOLD COINS PREMIUM PRICES FOR . KPM • SEVRES • MEISSEN AMERICAN & EUROPEAN PAINTINGS
Sterling Silver
.
.
.
.
.
LOUIS VUITTON BIRKEN CHANEL HERMES LIEBER GUCCI ERTE BRONZES & LITHOGRAPHS FREDERICK HART SAME DAY SERVICE CALL TODAY!

Gold Coins
ry
MICRO MOSAICS
STERLING SILVER
.
.
.
.
LLADRO COPENHAGEN ROYAL DOULTON . HUMMELS
HANDBAGS CLOTHING JEWELRY & SHOES ROYAL VIENNA • ANTIQUE IVORY HOUSE CALLS AVAILABLE
FLATWARE & TEA SETS JUDAICA • SWARVOSKI BRONZE & MARBLE STATUARY
GORHAM MARTELLE TIFFANY • DAUM • GALLE RUSSIAN ENAMEL
GEORG JENSEN • CARTIER ROYAL DOULTON • ROOKWOOD ORIENTAL RUGS • CHANDELIERS
WATERFORD • FINE CHINA DISHES B & G • WELLER • LLADRO ORIENTAL FURNITURE
LALIQUE • STEUBEN • LIBBEY COPENHAGEN • HUMMELS ORIENTAL HARDSTONES
HAWKES • METTLACH, DESIGNER ANTIQUE FURNITURE • TAPESTRIES OBJECTS D’ART • PIANOS
OIL PAINTINGS
HANDBAGS • BIRD & MUSIC BOXES ANTIQUE CLOCKS • ART GLASS ERTE BRONZES & LITHOGRAPHS

3rd GENERATION EXPERTISE Jupiter/PB Gardens (561) 585-9999 Appraisals
ANTIQUE OIL PAINTINGS
AS SEEN
Gemologist On Premises Upon Request
Toll Free (800) 356-3637
BUYING RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE • AUTOMOBILES SAME DAY
BKG antique Mall
Over 100 Dealers ON TV SERVICE
Next Door To Gallery
BRUCE KODNER GALLERIES CALL TODAY!
24 Hours On Call (800) 920-0067
561-533-7707
STERLING SILVER