Mendel Bluming | Blogger

In Jewish tradition  naming your child’s Jewishly  is not just an arbitrary choice . The center  letters of the Hebrew word for soul, neshamah, are shem meaning ‘name’. The name essentially carries code for the spiritual life force of this child’s soul energy. It is for that reason that a Jewish name is considered divinely chosen and the parents' choice should not be overly swayed by others because specifically parents are given the ability to identify the code for their child’s soul. Mazel tov!  As part of Rabbi Mendel Bluming’s position in Potomac, Maryland, he officiates at life cycle occasions including Brisses and baby namings and encourages all Jewish parents to give their children a traditional Jewish name.

Rabbi Mendel Bluming guides the Chabad Shul of Potomac, Maryland. Chabad’s motto is to increase understanding in and connection to the service of G-d. So here’s a thought to provide more understanding as to why we wash before bread. In the times of the Temple, the Kohen tribe of priests would survive off of donations of produce from all the farmers, called the Terumah. This food could only be given to a Kohen and his family, and had to be eaten in a state of ritual purity. So the priests would ritually wash their hands before eating to ensure that they were pure. From then it became customary for even non-priests to wash their hands before eating, in deference to the Kohanim who had an obligation to do so. And even though today we unfortunately don’t have those foods that need to be eaten in purity, we continue to wash our hands before bread. Why did our sages require us to wash our hands the same way the priests did? The Kohanim did not work outside in the fields. Th...

As a rabbi in Maryland since 2000, Rabbi Mendel Bluming, is turned to regularly with the quest of how to find happiness in life. In fact it is a question that is central in Jewish life because the verse in Psalms 100 teaches that one MUST serve G-d (do their mission in this world) with joy! But how is that possible when life is often full of agony, loss and setbacks?! And that’s why it’s given to us as a mitzvah. Happiness is not a reaction to a wonderful life but rather an action, a commitment to living with joy regardless of life’s circumstances. But how? Here’s a thought: Rather than looking at happiness as being a product of our circumstances, see it as the driver of our circumstances. Joy has the power to break down obstacles. A happy and positive viewpoint can bring about happy and positive results. Not that happy people never have grief. But happy people don't allow suffering define them. And that gives them the gift to see through tough times and come out the...

In the Torah we are told that Jacob remained alone (Breishis 32). Abraham was called Ivri due to the fact that he was on the “other side” of all of mankind, he stood alone. Elijah famously stated I am the only one left, alone (Melachim Aleph 18). The Lubavitcher Rebbe was very comfortable to stand alone. He was given criticism for his campaign to put tefillin on with men on the streets, for urging women to light Shabbat candles even if they did not keep Shabbat yet, for his views on Israel and on halachic conversion and of course on his Moshiach fervor and so much else. He was willing to stand alone and he shaped a Jewish renaissance as a result. G-d stands alone. The mystics enlighten us that "One who is alone" is the level of the Divine Infinite Light that does not manifest in relationships. As in the prayer of adon olam “Livado yimloch”. Isaiah 2: G-d will be exalted alone. Do you have the inner strength to brave standing alone rather than cave for acceptance of ...

Spirituality and healing are fundamentally intertwined. Modern medicine has opened its mind to the power of the mind to help heal the body, and the impact of a patient's spiritual state on the healing process. Any attempt to better our physical health should be coupled with an upgrade in our spiritual health. On many levels, the body and soul go side-by-side. A medical treatment will only be effective if it is well-matched for the patient. Factors such as blood type, genetic make-up and family history will help make a determination whether a particular treatment is appropriate for a particular person. A practitioner would be negligent in their duty if they did not first investigate the patient's background prior to deciding how to treat them. The same applies to remedies of the spiritual nature. Your soul's family history must be thought about before embarking on any spiritual path. If your soul’s DNA is Jewish, it needs Jewish spirituality to be healthy. Heal...

In the words of Isaiah carved in the wall of the United Nations: “…they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks- Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war anymore.” (Isaiah 2-4) But it is a little hard to see that happening in today’s world... how will it come about? The Messianic era, which we have been praying for ever since the Temple was destroyed 2000 years ago, will usher in an unbelievable reign of peace. All nations will bond under one G-d with a singular moral purpose. There will be no more hostilities, no famine, and no slow internet. While religious and national unique qualities will remain, the hatred between them will be gone. No blood need be shed to attain this. The force of ideas, not the might of weapons, will bring about the redemption. This means some ideologies will need adjustment and certain beliefs rejected. But this can be done through self-examination from within rather than at...

Traditionally freshly laundered clothing is not worn for the duration of this period (other than Shabbat), however that is only if they are changed because of comfort or pleasure. Those who are accustomed to changing their shirts regularly due to dirt or perspiration in the heat of summer, may do so even during the nine days, even if the shirt has previously been freshly laundered. Menachem Mendel Bluming quoted from Rabbi Goldstein at ShulchanAruchHarav.com who sources this in Kinyan Torah 1:109; Piskeiy Teshuvos 551:17