Spirituality on campus
Rabbi Hershey Novack
Mike Duncan
Issue date: 9/26/05 Section: Scene
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Chabad, which is a branch of the Hassidic movement founded by the Israel Baal Shem Tov founded 300 years ago in Ukraine. Chabad is devoted to Jewish education and Jewish teaching and serving God in a joyous, meaningful manner. Today, Chabad is the fastest growing Jewish movement in the world, with branches in 45 states and 70 countries.
What spiritual leadership do you provide for WU students?
We teach, we inspire, we consult. We provide a home-style Shabbat dinner every week for students. We bring a broad range of Jewish students together; students who were raised observantly Jewish and students who were never Bar Mitzvahed; students from reform, conservative and orthodox backgrounds. And they are able to join together at Chabad. That is a very special and a very meaningful part of my responsibility.
Did you ever have a spiritual awakening?
I think I became more spiritually aware when I spent a year in London in 1996 as a Yeshiva student studying in a rabbinical seminary and I think that was a pivotal year. When I was studying there, I became more aware of the value of meaningful Jewish experiences. But it was not an overnight thing; it was a lengthy process. In terms of personal Judaism, the process continues. I become more spiritually aware as I study, as I pause and reflect. I cannot overstate the value of stepping back and reflecting in our fast-paced society. It was also profoundly spiritually awakening to become a father for the first time.
What do you do every day/week/month/year that you would consider spiritual?
I pray and I study and I do Mitzvot (sacred acts). I think those are profound spiritual exercises. One of the challenges of praying regularly is that the Prayers can become dry and we can forget the inner meaning of the prayer. It is critical to recognize the accessibility of spirituality in our lives; it is not distant. We have an opportunity to elevate the mundane existence by performing sacred acts.
When do you feel closest to God?
It seems counter-intuitive. Of course I feel close to God on the high holidays and in the synagogue. But there are times in my day-to-day experience when I have the opportunity to do something special; that is when I feel closest to God. We have this spiritual opportunity to be bound to God at all times.
What would you consider the most important part of your spiritual life?
It is the knowledge that spirituality is both essential and very available.
Why don't Jews offer sacrifices anymore?
When the Jewish temple in Jerusalem was destroyed 1,900-and-change years ago, the central location for sacrificial offerings was destroyed. We lost that outlet. Ever since then we achieve repentance and atonement through the inner sacrifice of prayer and liturgy.
If the temple was rebuilt, do you think sacrifices will start again?
Moses Maimonides states that when the temple was to be rebuilt and consecrated properly, animal sacrifice would resume. Do I know what it would look like? Well, when I stand in Jerusalem I find the concept of sacrifice hard to imagine.
If I wanted to convert to Judaism, what would you tell me?
According to Judaism, every person can find their path in the way that they were born. If I were pressed, I would refer you to a Bet Din, which are the folks that would convert you.
So there is a group of people that can convert me?
Well, there is a long serious process. Many people don't realize the weightiness of conversion. The process would involve immersion in a pool of natural water, circumcision if you weren't circumcised and, most importantly, the acceptance of Jewish principles and the responsibility of the Mitzvot. But, then again, we're not out to convert the world.
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