The Elul Challenge with Rabbi David Baum

Click here for a transcript https://www.rabbidavidbaum.com/post/what-would-golda-do-today In this dvar torah/sermon, Rabbi Baum explores the parallels between the past and the present, focusing on the 50th Anniversary of the Yom Kippur War and its relevance to the current situation in Israel today regarding judicial reform and protests by opponents of the current government. Rabbi Baum delves into the complex issues facing Israel and its relationship with the Jewish diaspora. Drawing inspiration from the iconic Golda Meir, the first and only female prime minister of Israel, Rabbi Baum examines the challenges of leadership, democracy, and the delicate balance between speaking out and supporting one's homeland.

Click Here for Transcript  Travel back in time to a transformative New Year's Eve 23 years ago at a Phish music festival in Florida with Rabbi Baum and his friends. Amidst the music and mayhem, an unexpected encounter led to a powerful message of Jewish identity and renewal. The sermon explores the connection between the band Phish and Judaism/Jews. As we celebrate Rosh Hashanah, the day of remembrance, join us in reflecting on the profound significance of returning to our roots and leaving a legacy for the generations to come. This is your song too.

In this thought-provoking sermon, Rabbi Baum draws inspiration from an unexpected source - Yoda from Star Wars - to explore the profound choices we make between love and hate in our lives. Discover how ancient wisdom from the Torah intersects with modern challenges, including the rise of online hate and discrimination. Rabbi Baum shares personal anecdotes and stories that highlight the impact of hatred and the importance of empathy and responsibility. As we celebrate the birthday of humanity on this special day, learn how each of us can be a beacon of light and love, making choices that shape not only our lives but the world around us. The sermon encourages us all to embrace the wisdom of ancient sages and choose the path of compassion and unity in the pursuit of a better world.

In this heartfelt Rosh Hashanah sermon, titled "Stuck in the Middle With You: Lessons on Family, Care, and Hope," Rabbi David Baum shares a poignant and relatable reflection on the complexities of family life. Using humor and personal anecdotes, he explores the notion of "Middle Child Syndrome" and the challenges faced by the "sandwich generation" – those caring for both aging parents and growing children while balancing career and personal life. Drawing inspiration from the story of Abraham and his sons, Isaac and Ishmael, Rabbi Baum emphasizes the importance of savoring every moment with our loved ones, as time is our most precious, non-renewable resource. He reminds us of the significance of honoring our parents, especially during their times of need, and how these moments can be both heavy and profound. Ultimately, he calls on the congregation to find strength, patience, and wisdom in navigating life's middle place, nurturing their families, and creating a legacy of love and care for generations to come. Click here for a transcript: https://www.rabbidavidbaum.com/post/stuck-in-the-middle-with-you-lessons-on-family-care-and-hope

Our last podcast for the month! In today's podcast, I share the recent discovery that life was found in this solar system in the unlikelist of places: Venus. Venus was overlooked as a source for life because of its harsh environment. The last day of Elul corresponds to the sixth day of creation. There was a quote in the article I read about this discovery: “Venus has been ignored by NASA for so long. It’s really a shame.” That last line really hit me hard - Venus has been ignored by Nasa for so long, it’s really a shame. On the sixth day of creation, mammals, reptiles, bugs, birds, and of course, humans - Adam and Eve, were created. That’s a lot of life to create in just 24 hours! When there’s so much life around us, there’s a lot to overlook. For our final challenge - write down three parts of your life that you want to breathe new life into. Keep that list with you all year and challenge yourself to bring life to places you never could expect it. This is our final podcast - thanks for being with us. If you're interested in praying with us, please join us at www.cskboca.org. Have a Happy New Year! Credits: Theme song to Star Trek - https://youtu.be/7NCsVc9R7z0 Life on Venus? Astronomers See a Signal in Its Clouds by By Shannon Stirone, Kenneth Chang and Dennis Overbye - https://nyti.ms/35yYjmA

The 28th of Elul corresponds to the fourth day of creation when the heavenly bodies were created - the sun, the moon, and the stars. Our podcast begins with a famous scene from the Lion King, when King Mufasa tells his son Simba what the stars represent to them. What do the stars represent to us according to the Jewish tradition? Today's challenge - go outside with someone you love, a partner or a friend (in person or over the phone) and go outside. Stare at the moon and the stars - what do they teach you? Credits - Scene from the Lion King https://youtu.be/KjKpX-axoBU

On the 27th of Elul, the third day of creation, G!d creates the trees. In today's podcast, I talk about a story you might be familiar with - the Giving Tree, and how we view ourselves as humans in relation to trees and the rest of creation. I touch upon the devastating fires on the West Coast of the U.S. and how climate change is making these fires more and more frequent. Today's challenge - plant a tree or plant, or make plans to create your own garden.

On the second day of creation, which corresponds to the 26th day of Elul, G!d splits the waters of the earth - creating the seas and the skies. Today, due to water scarcity in parts of the world, human beings are being separated from the basic element of life - water. In today's podcast, I speak about the innovations in water conservation that was born in Israel and has been spread throughout the world. Today's challenge - take a swim, when you bathe tonight, try and use less water, learn about water conversation projects by the Jewish National Fund. Credits and sources for further learning: Seth Siegel: How Israelis are helping solve the water crisis https://youtu.be/zw7hlEmNyKo The Growing Need for Water Solutions in Israel https://youtu.be/DYDw5a52afI

According to Jewish tradition, the 25th of Elul is the anniversary of the first day of creation. G!d's first creation was light, but it wasn't from the sun;it was a supernal or divine light. Jewish mysticism believes that this divine light is actually hidden within each person - it is called the Or HaGanuz - the hidden light. Your challenge today - bring light to someone who needs it. I can’t tell you how, that’s up to you, but know this - you have the potential to bring God’s divine light to someone who needs it. Credits - This Little Light of Mine - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cKkbIZtqhyQ&ab_channel=ListenerKids

The 24th Elul is the day before the world was created. In today's episode, I touch upon how our tradition views birth, and the loneliness that mothers feel. Today's challenge - call, write, or text a woman who gave birth in the last six months. Check in on them - let them know they aren't alone.

Our podcast today begins with the famous prayer, the Unetaneh Tokef. "On Rosh Hashanah it is inscribed, and on Yom Kippur it is sealed. How many shall pass away and how many shall be born,Who shall live and who shall die..." It is a prayer about trying to understand the unfathomable nature of the world - it is a prayer where we wrestle with God, God’s nature - and this year, the year of the pandemic, when we struggle with why some people live, and some die, this prayer is even more powerful in the time of this pandemic. But do we have some control? That's what this podcast is about - the power to control our destinies. Today's challenge - give tzedakah, often translated as charity, to a cause that can bring justice to the world. Today is also the 19th anniversary of the attacks on 9/11. Here's a site with legitimate charities to help families who suffered and still suffer from the attacks on 9/11. Links - IDF Chief Cantor's Unetaneh Tokef - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyBToUaon2w&ab_channel=IsraelDefenseForces 9/11 Charities - https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=490

We are constantly growing, but it’s hard to see the growth when you are around those people all the time. We have an obligation to recognize the growth, in ourselves, in others. Today's challenge - share three things that you are grateful for with somebody you are grateful to have in you life.

Singing and Jewish prayer are inextricably connected, and yet, we are in a time when singing in public can be dangerous to our health due to Covid-19. Can Judaism exist without song? In today's podcast, I look at the origins as to why Jews sing - as a response to miracles. Today's Challenge - create a playlist of songs that fills you up - here's a start - a Rosh Hashanah Playlist - https://spoti.fi/3ibdq9u Here's an article to read - 'Without music, would we even be Jewish?' "Women's singing is taboo and so is listening to music in a time of loss – but song is part of every celebration and occasion. Norman Lebrecht explores the history of music and Jews, from King David to Leonard Cohen" https://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/mar/01/without-music-would-jews-be-jewish

There’s an old joke about a Jewish telegram back in the old days when we still communicated with telegrams instead of Tweets. It read “Start Worrying. Letter to Follow.” When it comes to Jewish identity, our funny bone is nothing to laugh at. According to the Pew Research Report, 42% of Jews say having a good sense of humor is an essential part of their Jewish identity. Only 19% say Jewish law is essential! Why are Jews so funny? Humor comes from pain. Elul and the High Holy Day season can be a very painful time. We are introspective and deal with the darkest aspects of our souls and we confront our own moratlity. But, like our dessert challenge this week, we have to add some sweetness to our lives - we have to laugh. Our challenge for today: Watch a funny movie or television show tonight. Some articles on Jews and Humor - https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/01/books/review/jewish-comedy-serious-history-jeremy-dauber.html https://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/jewish-jokes/

In today's podcast, I share the first time I experienced Hebrew language like I had never experienced before - on a Coca Cola sign. Hebrew is considered the Jewish people's holy language, but its also the language of the modern state of Israel. It is a language that Jews, no matter where they are from, can connect with each other. Today's challenge - read a line or paragraph in Hebrew. If you don't know Hebrew, take a list to the aleph bet! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YzjHjXe-2XU&ab_channel=ShalomSesame

In today's podcast, we look at what happened on the 17th of Elul according to our Sages. On this day, Noah sends the dove from the ark to look for dry land. Elul is a difficult time of introspection. Like the dove, we go back and forth to find change, but we cannot forget to take care of ourselves. In today's episode, we will hear some advice from actors from the hit television show Parks and Recreation. Today's challenge - Treat Yourself! Eat a Dove Ice Cream bar or dessert of your choice. If you can, buy someone else a dessert - treat someone else! Sources - The Jewish Book of Days by Rabbi Jill Hammer Treat Yourself! Parks and Recreation - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59lVs4dD4eM&ab_channel=LinksCreativeMedia

In today's podcast, I begin by talking about one of my favorite movies, Defending Your Life, starring Albert Brooks and Meryl Streep. It is a comedy about the afterlife, but it also about how we deal with fear. The Jewish tradition has a lot to say about fear, and how we deal with it. Today's challenge - write down three things that you are scared of, that you fear, and write down the reasons why. What can you learn from your fears and yourself when you articulate them? Check out these scenes from Defending Your Life - it's a perfect movie to watch as you prepare for the High Holy Days. http://j.mp/2nuCq2I

Have you ever saved a life? Think about it. Saving a life, Pikuach Nefesh, is one of the most important mitzvoth, but there are many ways to save lives. Today's challenge - think about ways that you can save a life and put that plan into action. Here are some examples of how Jews are saving lives during Covid-19 and how you can do the same! https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/a-covid-19-mitzvah-orthodox-jews-donate-blood-plasma-by-the-thousands/ar-BB16G0ys

In today's podcast, I attempt to answer a question - what is Torah exactly? I begin with a scene from one of my family's favorite movies, The Frisco Kid, starring Gene Wilder z'l and Harrison Ford. Today’s Challenge - Go to www.Sefaria.org and explore - do some learning on your own - at your own pace - you get bonus points for choosing a friend/learning partner (Chevrutah) to study with.

In today's episode, we learn about the sacred obligation to tell our own stories to our descendants and tell the stories of our ancestors to ourselves. Thank you to the Broadway show Hamilton for inspiring today's podcast. Today's challenge - write down three sayings/teachings from a loved one who has passed away and meditate on them for 10 minutes. Bring these words with you to the Yizkor service, the service of remembrance, on Yom Kippur.