Hi,
Please allow a personal note.
It’s the anniversary of my father’s passing. His yahrzeit.
And I thought I would share something about him.
… I grew up in a Torah observant home.
But my Dad didn’t come from an observant background.
And what happened?
He met my Mom, who did!
This was at a time that most American Jews were drifting away from Judaism.
Certainly the younger generation.
… My Dad decided to “just go out with her and we’ll see what happens.”
And my Mom?
She saw my Dad’s potential.
And she inspired him!
… He was determined to give his kids the Jewish education that he never had.
The results?
Two Rabbis and a daughter who could give most Rabbis a run for their money!
… But he taught us so much.
He taught us by insisting that we teach him.
By challenging us to make Torah relevant to Jews of all backgrounds.
… And he taught us to love all Jews.
Not from books.
But by example.
… It’s one of my early memories.
I was maybe 8 or 9 years old.
And I was in synagogue with my Dad on Shabbat.
There were probably a hundred “non regulars” attending a Bar Mitzvah.
Many of them, to no fault of their own, were clueless. Totally lost in the Hebrew service.
I noticed one guest walking through the aisle at the “wrong time”.
At a time that you were “supposed to be standing with your feet together”!
… And one of the “old timers” got upset. And said to him, “Don’t you know you’re supposed to stand still now”!
I can still picture it in my mind. It’s like it happened yesterday.
… Dad let him have it!
I mean the old timer!
He said, “You should be ashamed of yourself.
When a Jew walks into a Synagogue?
You should hug him!”
Dad continued, “I also didn’t have a Jewish education.
But someone reached out to me. With love!”
… So if you enjoy the Torah Minute?
You can thank my Dad!
… Please allow me one more thing before I go.
As you know, CTN is having its annual fund raising Dinner Gala in two weeks. Wednesday, May 16th at the Bryn Mawr Country Club.
And today, especially because it’s Dad’s yahrzeit, I’m asking you to take this opportunity to help CTN and to help me honor my Dad.
Because he is the one who inspired me to do what I do.
… Use this link www.torahnetwork.org/dinner.htm to make your contribution and reservation. And what would really be great would be if you would take out an ad in the dinner journal at whatever level works for you.
Maybe describe how the Torah Minute makes a difference in your day. Or how the CTN impacts you in other ways.
… My parents are both not here with me any more, but I know that Dad will appreciate it.
And if you say something nice about the Torah Minute, he’ll make sure Mom finds out about it.
And Mom?
She’ll actually believe it!
Thank you in advance.
All the best,

Rabbi Moshe Katz
p.s. I really appreciate your help and hope you will seriously consider not only sending in your contribution, but if at all possible, joining me at the Bryn Mawr on the 16th. Again, the link is www.torahnetwork.org/dinner.htm. Any questions, please feel me to email me directly.