Emes Ve-Emunah: Kiddush HaShem

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Kiddush HaShem - Chilul HaShem

Kiddush HaShem:

As I've said here before, the President of the United States is one of the most powerful people in the world. There is no one closer to the President than his Chief of Staff. It has been said the the man (or woman) who holds this position has more access to the President than the President's own wife.

No one gets to see the President without first going through this man. I therefore take pride in saying that Jacob Lew, an Orthodox Jew, has been appointed by President Obama as his new Chief of Staff. Why is this a Kiddush HaShem? Because he has risen to a high place of honor thus reflecting postively upon his values. What are those values? As an Orthodox Jew they are the values of the Torah. And that in my view is a Kiddush HaShem. Congratulations Mr. Lew.

Chilul HaShem:
Needs no explanation

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My outlook on Judaism is based mostly on the teachings of my primary Rebbe, Rabbi Aaron Soloveichik from whom I received my rabbinic ordination. It is also based on a search for spiritual truth. Among the various sources that put me on the right path, two great philosophic works stand out: “Halakhic Man” and “Lonely Man of Faith” authored by the pre-eminent Jewish philosopher and theologian, Rabbi, Dr. Joseph B. Soloveitchik. Of great significance is Rabbi, Dr. Norman Lamm's conceptualization and models of Torah U’Mada and Dr. Eliezer Berkovits who introduced me to the world of philosophic thought. Among my early influences were two pioneers of American Elementary Torah Chinuch, Rabbis Shmuel Kaufman and Yaakov Levi. The Yeshivos I attended were Yeshivas Telshe for early high school and more significantly, the Hebrew Theological College where for a period of ten years, my Rebbeim included such great Rabbinic figures as Rabbis Mordechai Rogov, Shmaryahu Meltzer, Yaakov Perlow, Herzl Kaplan, and Selig Starr. I also attended Roosevelt University where I received my Bachelor's Degree - majoring in Psychology.