Bears from Bergenfield comes of age Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

If man is gifted with free will, then he can make his choice. It might not have been the right choice with the outcomes that he so desired but it was his choice, nonetheless. Did he know what he was doing? Did he know what he was choosing? Did he know what were the foreseeable outcomes, or not? How does Gd punish someone if man does not know what will be the consequences of his actions? What lessons can we learn from making choices that disrespect, hurt,  or kill others? Can we learn to break that evil cycle if we get caught up in the web of evil? Gd had a plan and He taught it to Cain, or so Gd thought. The plan is there for the learning, Chapter 4; verse 7. Just take the time to learn it and not fall into Cain's trap. Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

What lessons can be learned from Gd taking his time to do it right, by creating the world, step by step, detail by detail? Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

What do you want to leave your children? What will be your blessing? Can you let go of what you didn't accomplish in life and think about what you did? Those are the words of the blessings that your children desire. It isn't about your failures. It is about your successes as developing yourself to be the best that you can be. We are here to serve Hashem. If we strive to be and do our best, then we can make Gd's work that much easier. We can improve our corner of the world by improving ourselves. Show your children the way. Bequeath them Gd's Tanakh and Gd's Oral Law. Those are the best gifts that you can leave them with. They are counting on you. Shabbat shalom and Chag Sameach! Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein 

Who are you? Who are you at your core? Are you ready to compromise yourself to be in a (fill in the blank....relationship, job, friendship, team, project, etc.) You say that you are the only one who is on this path or so you tell yourself. But is that so? Don't give up. Gd put you on Earth for a reason. You are unique. Gd has a mission for you. That is what we need Sukkot for. We have to step off the wheel and begin to look within ourselves to search for that true essence of self. Take the time to dig within. You are worth it. Remember, "Portray or betray." It really is up to you.  Chag Sameach. Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein

As a child in Day school, you learn the names and the simple meaning of Sukkot. But as an adult you yearn for more depth. This podcast opens up the floodgates of information so that you too can begin to appreciate some of the Sukkot more in depth. Shalom from the Sukkat of peace. Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein 

Why continue to build a flimsy Sukkah that can be blown over in the wind at any moment? Can't we just open a story book and read the story to our children or grandchildren? Why spend the time and money to put out that effort? Ok, the Torah tells us to do so but that was during, and in the time of the desert generation. Aren't we well past that moment in our history? That's what it is but it's not. It's not just about our history and development as a people. It's about our faith and its renewal. It's about our internal and eternal happiness, not being generated from someone who might sell you your best mattress ever and give you that fleeting sense of joy for 15 seconds or so.  We are in the market for true faith and true happiness, that's lasting and everlasting. Hence the Sukkah. The shaky, unsteady Sukkah reminds us of our everlasting story of our faith and trust in Gd. When it waxed and when it waned, we were still able to find a spark of faith and tap into our glimpse and spark of happiness.  May you withstand the winds that shake you to the core and experience that vulnerability one more time. May you find within yourself the faith of Gd and true happiness that exist in all of us, gifts from Gd.  Shalom, Rabbi Claire Ginsburg Goldstein Covid 2020