Discussion Enlightens, Inspires

Robert Palomo said he had a different take on the story of man’s fall from the Garden of Eden after talking Sunday night with visiting Rabbi Manis Friedman.

“The rabbi said that many people mistakenly think God’s tone of voice was very loud when he spoke to Adam and Eve and that he sent them to the lowest world there was,” Palomo said. “But God still loved them, and he loves us. That’s a perspective I’m taking with me.”

Palomo participated Sunday in a men’s round table discussion by Friedman during an evening of inspiration and culinary delights hosted by Chabad Jewish Center of Salem.

An internationally renowned author, counselor, lecturer and philosopher, the rabbi spoke to male attendees about “Getting to Like the People You Love.”

His talk focused on virtues such as sanctity, loyalty, selflessness, devotion and oneness. He then asked whether those qualities suggest Judaism or marriage.

“Decidedly both,” he said. “Judaism is a relationship with the creator; family is a relationship with creation.

”If God would become as real as a family member, and if a family member were as sacred as God, we would have heaven on Earth.“

More than 60 people attended the event, which, in addition to nationally recognized speakers, included a spread of kosher delicacies, some brought in from New York.

Speaking simultaneously but in a different room just for women was Rivka Zakutinsky, founder of Aura Press, a religious book publishing house.

Her presentation, ”Accessing Your Spiritual DNA,“ focused on women of valor, their deep roots and lessons of the heroines of Jewish history.

”The woman of valor has a hotline to heaven because she knows how to seize the moment and use prayer as her strength,“ Zakutinsky told an audience of about 30.

”By exploring our spiritual makeup, we honor each Jewish woman as her very own Aishet Chayil, an accomplished woman who learns that her value is far beyond pearls,“ she said.

Caren Horensten said she was happy Zakutinsky was well-received by those in attendance.

”She’s very deep,“ Horensten said. ”She’s a very smart woman.“

Although it wasn’t on the program, the current conflict in Egypt was a major topic of discussion at the event.

”Is it good for Israel, or is it bad for Israel?“ asked Rabbi Avrohom Yitzchok Perlstein, of the Chabad Jewish Center of Salem.

”There’s positive and negative for the concern of Israel,“ he said. ”But at the same time, the people of Egypt deserve a democracy.”