Archive for August 2013

The Most Important Moment in Your Life

August 26, 2013 MUSSAR HASKEL/ A Lesson No comments

 

    

 

One of the first and foremost topics we read about in the parsha is about slaves. It happens to be that it’s also one of the first commandments that G-d instructed the Israelites, as they were packing to leave Egypt. The exact command involves setting free one’s slave. Why was it necessary to instruct them at that awkward time? This commandment won’t be applicable for at least a half a century later.

 

 

The Talmud relates a story of Rebbi Eliezer ben Dordia who was a womanizer to say the least. He was under the impression that every woman was permissible to him. One of his conquests made a chance remark one time, with a snickering expression, alluding to the fact that his actions in his lifetime will never enable any repentance to be accepted and he’ll never see the gates in heaven. In one’s lifetime there are few, very few times, where words pierce the heart. Her words had such a powerful affect on him that he sat down on a mountain and cried until he died. A heavenly voice proclaimed, “R Eliezer did repentance and has entered the World to Come”.

 

The Talmud continues describing how Rebbi cried after hearing the story. Everybody in the study hall wondered why was he crying? He should have been joyous towards R’ Eliezer. R’ Eliezer ben Dordia had raised himself from the degrading cesspool in life, to a place in heaven in an instant, wow!! R’ Eliezer ben Dordia was able to capitalize on the feeling in which he was so overwhelmed by the words of his companion in sin.

 

Similarly with the Israelites, the feeling of compassion towards slaves was to penetrate their heart as they themselves were being ushered over the threshold of slavery to freedom. What better time of strong emotional feelings to learn about the very law, of strong temptation not to release slaves whom have been with you for a lengthy period of time. That momentary feeling would stay with them for the rest of their lives and it would be taught to their children with tremendous emotion.

 

So why was Rebbi crying when he heard the story of R’ Eliezer? Rebbi didn’t cry for R’ Eliezer’s sake, but rather for all of humanity. Each one of us experiences a moment of awakening that is capable of impacting one’s entire life. Yet only one in a thousand, in fact, utilizes the moment. Most of us miss a chance; that is the very reason why we were put on this earth. This is why Rebbi cried.

 

 

“The Most Important Moment of Your Life” is from the writings of Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz, Sichot Mussar.

The Holiday of Purim

August 25, 2013 Purim No comments

 

 

Introduction: The holiday of Purim is very difficult to understand for many reasons. First, there is no “expensive”, “special effect” miracle like the splitting of the sea or the whole world rockin’ ‘n poppin’ because of G-d reciting the Ten Commandments with fire on Mount Sinai. Purim’s miracles are all disguised. In fact, G-d’s name isn’t even mentioned in the Megilla. All is hidden between the lines. Everything was done in HESTER-secret. We call the scroll from which we read about this triumph MEGILLAT ESTHER-revealing the hidden.

 

The ARI”ZAL says that Purim is the greatest and holiest of all the holidays, even surpassing YOM KIPPUR. He mentions that YOM KIPPUR is YOM KEH PURIM- a day like PURIM, similar to PURIM, however not as great. This day is also a chance to get our prayers answered in a big way.

 

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE IN ORDER FOR US TO FULFILL THE COMMANDMENT OF PURIM?

 

One fulfills the commandment simply by having a nice meal and getting intoxicated. WOW!! That sounds easy; I don’t think I can mess that one up!!

 

WHY IS THE EMPHASIS ON THE MEAL?

 

WHY IS THE INTOXICATION SO IMPORTANT?

 

LET US PROVIDE A LITTLE BACKGROUND:

Life for the Jews in the Persian Empire was good, life was better than many of the other periods in Diaspora. However, the Persians were uncomfortable with the Jewish religion. The Persians believed in a belief called Zorastriasm- G-d of light and dark.

 

We say Friday night in our prayers before the SHEMA, “BAMEH MADLIKIN”. In that prayer, which is from the Mishna, we state, “HAMECHABEH ET HANER”- if a Jew blows out the candle. This is in reference to the Persian Empire, in which some pagan believers insisted on the lights being turned off during certain days in the Persian calendar upon which their holiday of darkness falls. On these days, the Jew is PATUR.

 

Rabbi Berel Wein mentions that whenever the Jews looked up to their host country, there would be a greater amount of intermarriage. Conversely, if they looked down at the host country, intermarriage would be minimal. Here, the Jews not only looked down at the Persians, they mocked their pagan belief. Therefore, the Persians felt uneasy. This is the reason HAMAN found an eager audience.

 

The nations of the world were very knowledgeable of the Jewish religion and the history of their Temple. They knew that if the temple was not built by a certain date, it’ll never be built.

 

Balshatzar who ruled before Achashverosh, was a big anti Semite. Balshatzar didn’t allow any attempt to build the Temple. He threw a party mocking the Jews and their G-d. This is where the famous expression “the writing on the wall” originated. In the middle of the party, on the wall, everyone noticed, was written “You will be killed”. Balshatzar soon died. People don’t get it! DON’T MESS WITH THE JEWISH G-D!!

 

Balshatzar’s daughter was Vashti, who married Achashverosh

 

THE SECRET OF WINE

 

Achashverosh was losing power and his domination of the world. He now ruled over 127 countries as opposed to 252. A person always strives to move ahead in life, moving up from one house or neighborhood to a slightly larger house and more affluent part of town. When one downgrades, he becomes desperate.

 

Marrying into royalty has its pluses and minuses. Achashverosh now had access to the booty that was captured by his wife, Queen Vashti’s grandfather, Nevuchadnetzar, the Emperor of Babylonia who destroyed the first Temple.

 

Achashverosh threw a party where many of the artifacts and utensils of the holy Temple were displayed. He dressed himself in the high priest’s garb which was worn in the Temple and he performed the ceremony that was done by the Jews and the Kohen Gadol. This was done to receive power to dominate his enemies in battle. He reasoned that every time the Israelites were about to enter battle, they would have their ceremony in the Temple and would emerge victorious. So too, he thought, these garments will be my lucky charm and I will regain all which I have lost and more!!

 

Another reason was to show the Jews that the time came and has gone already and the Temple and the salvation has not arrived. The Jews were forbidden to go to this party. However, many did and enjoyed themselves. This angered G-d and a bad decree would now be cast upon the Jewish people.

 

While the Jews were at their lowest point, the birth of the salvation took place.

 

NICHNAS YAYIN YATZA SOD- ‘wine goes in and the secret comes out’ is a famous expression. One can tell about a person through his KISO, KA’ASO, KOSO- his pocket, his anger, and his cup of wine. This is when the true essence of a person comes out.

 

When righteous people drink together, they start to sing. Music is very spiritual. Achashverosh was drinking with his friends and they were discussing who’s prettier, the Persian girls or the American. Then the conversation got more personal. Who’s prettier, my wife or your wife. Achashverosh said “I’ll show you!” and summoned his wife. When she didn’t come because of a blemish that suddenly appeared on her, Achashverosh had her killed.

 

The wine began the salvation.

 

There was a story that happened a few hundred years ago in Eastern Europe when a Gentile boy was murdered and the Jews were blamed. This is the kind of incident that the non-Jews wait for so that they can take the opportunity to cause destruction to the Jewish people. The Jewish leaders went to the Ba’al Shem Tov and asked him what to do. He said, “go to this particular person at four in the morning, wake him up from his sleep and ask him to pray and stop this bad decree.” Surprised, as this was the town drunk, they did as the Rabbi said. The next day, the real killer was found and he wasn’t Jewish. The Jewish leaders asked the Rav, “how did you know that this man is the savior and why at 4 in the morning?”

 

The Ba’al Shem Tov started to tell a story about this man. This man comes from a wealthy family. When he was a young man in his early twenties, he would treat himself every six months by going to the most expensive prostitute in the big city. At that age, it is quite difficult to control your desires and this was his weakness. On one of these trips as he’s traveling to the big city, he hears a cry of terror. He immediately informed the wagon driver to stop so that he can investigate. He ran to the apartment complex towards the screaming and learned that the landlord is about to kill the tenant for not paying the rent, and is taking the wife and daughter for his enjoyment. The traveler noticed that the family was Jewish.

 

After inquiring into the matter, he learned that this family and the Jewish family down the hall were about to be evicted and forced to endure a severe punishment for not paying the rent.

 

The traveler decided to pay the rent for the two Jewish tenants using all the money set aside for his trip to the prostitute.

 

The Baal Shem Tov said, “wow, here’s a man who gave up his extremely strong desire which he anticipated for 6 months to save these fellow Jews whom he doesn’t even know!!”

 

He continued, “They were impressed in the heavens and rewarded him that whatever he wishes will come true…..WAIT A MINUTE! MAYBE HE’LL ASK FOR MASHIACH. We can’t allow that! We’ll give him all the wealth, a nice family, his children will marry into nice families, however he’ll have an extreme desire to drink, we’ll keep him drunk all the time. When one is intoxicated, his prayers are not answered. This way there will be no request for the mashiach. The Baal Shem Tov said, “I know that at four in the morning after sleeping for a nice amount of hours he won’t be intoxicated.”

 

The question we can all ask is that on Purim it’s a MITZVA to get intoxicated. We also said that one can pray and get his prayers answered big time. But we see from this story that if a man is drunk, his prayers are not answered?

 

We can learn the answer from a parable. A man who drinks is compared to four kinds of animals. When he drinks one glass, he gets a buzz and acts like a cow. After the second cup, he roars like a lion. After the third cup, the man is jumping from chandelier to chandelier like a monkey. If he drinks all four cups, he wobbles around in the mud like a pig.

 

The first cup is the key. Rabbi Akiva Tatz said that we know NICHNAS YAYIN YATZA SOD- wine goes in the secret comes out. Yes, it’s true the secret comes out! The secret is a vision that man is able to see and focus on what life is all about, more than he would have ever been able to when sober. With the right dosage of wine, man can understand G-d and things can emerge so clear. At this point, the right dosage of intellect and emotions are perfect. However, he has to drink for the sake of the Mitzvah, then he’s able to ask for whatever his heart desires

Parshat Tetzave

August 25, 2013 Highlights on the Weekly Parsha No comments

 

 

Introduction: LET’S GO TO WAR!! NO WAIT!! NOT A GOOD IDEA…. WELL…HMMM…LET’S FIND OUT IF IT’S NECESSARY; WE’LL ASK THE URIM VATUMIM.

 

The “soul” of the CHOSHEN, the URIM VE’ TUMIM, were inserted between the two layers of the CHOSHEN. It lay hidden between its folds. The CHOSHEN was worn by the High Priest over his chest. (see more detail in the highlight section, second portion)

 

The most intriguing part of the KOHEN GADOL’S-High Priest’s clothing were the URIM VE’ TUMIM which were scrolls of parchment on which Moshe had written the Divine seventy two letter name. They caused the choshen to light up. The letters supplied the Divine answers to questions that were posed to it. Hence, the name URIM VE’ TUMIM as URIM-the letters lit up (from the root OR-LIGHT), and TUMIM-their say was final and unalterable (derived from the word TAM/perfect, in contrast, the word of the prophet was not final, but conditional depending on their repentance).

 

The CHOSHEN was also called CHOSHEN MISHPAT since the final decision (mishpat for each questionable scenario was reached by means of the URIM VE’ TUMIM).

 

Only matters concerning the king, the BET DIN- high court, or the entire nation could be settled by the means of the URIM VE’TUMIM. It was not permissible to question them for private purposes.

 

In the course of the conquest of the land of Israel, after Moshe’s leadership of forty years, the Israelites were defeated after attacking the city of Ai. Yehoshua, the leader who followed Moshe, asked G-d in wonderment, “why were we defeated?” G-d answered, “Someone violated the oath prohibiting anyone from taking any spoils from Yericho, for the entire city was to be consecrated to G-d”.

 

Yehoshua determined who the sinner was by the URIM Ve’TUMIM, by looking at the CHOSHEN and finding the gem of Yehuda’s tribe lit. He realized that the culprit came from that tribe. After further investigation and drawing lots, the guilty party was discovered. Achan, the perpetrator, thereupon confessed.

 

The RAMBAN’s view is that the URIM VE’ TUMIM were actually made by G-d himself. Presumably, Moshe handed down the secret of the URIM VE’TUMIM to the greatest men of his generation and it was passed down through the ensuing chain of command.

 

There is the famous story of Chana, who’s prayer is the standard of excellence, when she came to pray for children, she got into an argument with Eli, the High Priest. When he chided her for being intoxicated, she responded, “No, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit”. Eli saw Chana weeping silently, so he asked the URIM VE’ TUMIM about her. The letters SHIN KAF RESH HEI lit up. He read it to mean a drunk, intoxicated. However, he was mistaken by not rearranging the letters correctly; it was KESHERA-reputable. Chana’s prayers were answered and she had a boy, Shmuel the Prophet.

 

Besides Moshe, no prophet could have a prophetic vision whenever he wished. By contrast, whenever the Kohen Gadol wish to pose a question to the URIM Ve’ TETUMIM, he could do so, implying that the URIM VE’ TUMIM were greater than most prophets.

 

MAIN THEME OF THE PARSHA: This week’s parsha deals primarily with the Kohanim; their selection, their attire worn during their service to G-d, and the inauguration service, by which they and their offspring would become confirmed as kohanim for all time.

 

First Portion: * G-d places responsibility on man by giving him physical resources in a giant playground called Earth, where he has to elevate himself and the settings around him to spiritual heights. Last week we discussed the various materials needed for the construction of the Mishkan (tabernacle). In this week’s Parsha, for the most part, we will discuss the High Priest’s proper attire; these kohanim are the conduit between us and G-d and therefore much emphasis is spent on the topic.

 

* The Parsha begins with a description of what kind of oil is needed for the Menorah. Only oil from the first pressing of an olive was acceptable for the Menorah. These first drops were perfectly clear and without sediment. The oil in its perfect state represents purity of the heart.

 

* There is more attention and material written in the Torah on the crown that the high priest wore rather than the king of the Jewish nation.

 

* Every Kohen who served in the temple wore four garments, termed bigdai hedyot (garment of an ordinary Kohen). They were:

– ketonet – the shirt

– michnasayim – the breeches

– avnait – the belt

– migba’at- the turban

 

The four above mentioned were made of white linen.

 

* The Kohen Gadol wore these garments to accept the migba’at. While the migba’at was pointed on top, the turban of the Kohen Gadol was round and called mitsnefet.

 

Additionally, the Kohen Gadol wore four golden garments. They were:

– me’il – the mantle

– aifod – the apron

– choshen – the breastplate

– tzits – the head plate

 

Second Portion: * The most intriguing part of the Kohen’s clothing is the choshen, also known as the choshen mishpat (breastplate of the final judgment). It was made rectangular in form and folded in the middle to form two perfect squares. The Kohen Gadol wore these squares over his heart, one layer above the other. Between the two layers, the urim vetumim were inserted. The choshen was woven in a pattern, which contained four rows of gold settings. Into each of these settings, three precious gems were inserted.

 

* It is written the Kohen Gadol should wear it on his heart. This is referring to Aharon. G-d is rewarding Aharon for not being jealous and having a pure heart for his younger brother, Moshe, being appointed over him as leader.

 

* The soul of the choshen was the urim ve’tumim that lay hidden between its folds. The urim vetumim were scrolls of parchment on which Moshe had written the divine 72 letters name. These urim vetumim caused the letters to light up. The letters supplied answers. Only matters concerning the king, the bet din or the entire Klal Yisrael could be settled by the urim vetumim.

 

Third Portion: * Bells were hanging all around the robe’s hem. The question is asked why the Kohen needed bells? Here, G-d is teaching us manners and proper etiquette. The Kohen was to enter the Holies of Holies where G-d’s ambiance was present. One cannot barge in without knocking or without ringing the bell. This is the source of ringing doorbells.

 

Fourth Portion: * Seven days of inauguration; it was a rejoicing period for the kohanim who were picked to do the holy service

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* An offering was made by Aharon and his sons for the atonement of taking part in the sin of the golden calf. There is a custom till today that the Leviyim in the Synagogue help the kohanim prepare before they bless the people. The inception of this ritual was the result of the commandment by G-d who had instructed Moshe to do so to Aharon, the Kohen. This is because after coming down from the mountain and seeing the golden calf fiasco, Moshe suspected in his heart that Aharon was responsible for this tragedy. By instructing Moshe to assist Aharon, G-d is showing that he had the purist intention. Nevertheless, as the person in charge until Moshe came back, Aharon had to pay a price for having the sin occur under his leadership.

 

Fifth Portion: * Ayil meluim – meluim signifies the inauguration. Another definition, in which Rashi explains, is perfection, an offering of perfection. This is similar to the word, Shalem, which is also a name for an offering. Rashi says the root of meluim is maleh. The concept of the Mikdash is “coming to that perfect state” which is olam habah – the next world, The Mishkan is a compartment of olam Habah.

 

Sixth Portion: * G-d reaffirms His authority with the word ‘Vayedu’, they will know through the sacrifices and through the temple where G-d sort of rests. The ability to identify with the Mikdash as G-d’s house, something tangible will strengthen the belief among the Israelites.

 

Seventh Portion: * Mizbeach haketoret – incense; this is a very important offering. It says G-d’s ambiance did not rest until the ketoret was burned.

The Candyman

August 25, 2013 Tefilla/ Prayer, Uncategorized No comments
   

Where is the candy man? Is the candy man here today? No, I’m not referring to Sammy Davis, Jr. and the famous hit he had in the early 1970s ‘The Candy Man’. Most shuls (Bait Hakneset) have a designated candy man. I must emphasize that it’s important that a shul have one!!! It motivates the children to come. I remember the shul I grew up in, the Sefardic shul on 67th off Queens Blvd in Queens. The shul had a candy man named Nissimico, z’l. He was a feisty old man who had a tremendous love for the shul and its congregants. I remember every time a kid would approach him for candy, he would ask them ‘Are you a good boy or baad boy?” and we would answer back “a good boy”. Then he would say with a mean face holding back a smile “No, you’re a bad boy”, and he would give us a lollypop. We would always sneak a peak over our shoulder and see him winking and smiling at our fathers.

 

Today, my son and I go to a number of shuls Shabbat morning; my son looks forward to get his candy from Rabbi Friedman at the Chofetz Chaim or Simcha at Abramov’s shul. It’s important that the grown ups (my wife might disagree if I’m referring to myself) not munch on the candies before kiddush. One might think since I’m allowed to have my coffee or tea in the morning, then one would be allowed to have the candy, since the bracha is also a shehakol. Rav Ovadia Yosef says, one is allowed to have the coffee or tea as long as there is no sugar in it. Sugar has the ability to make a person feel full which will result in a ‘confident I’m okay’ attitude. One has to approach prayer with a broken heart, with a feeling of “Boy, it’s a tough world out there”. If one is a little hungry, his body gives him that message. He then would be in the proper frame of mind to pray and to ask G-d for his needs.

 

Today, kids get taffy pops instead of hard candies. (How many of you remember the Elite taffies with the white wrappers?) There are many types of candies out there, so much more so than the conventional lollypops Nisimico gave us. But I, must confess from what I remember, the lollys tasted just as good. There are many great memories of the shul of my youth; getting lollypops from the candy man was one of them.

 

I wanted to mention to Dr Neil Levey who is one of the psychologists I use to enhance the quality of our newsletter and lectures, that your grandfather Nissimico was a very special man who put a lot of smiles on children’s faces.

It’s Fun To Be The Boss

August 25, 2013 G-d and Us No comments
   

One can learn a lot about the pulse of the people in a time period and place through advertisements. Some of you might remember a commercial; it was a radio spot with an actor impersonating the late George Steinbrenner, the owner of the New York Yankees baseball team. Steinbrenner, who was famously known as the ‘boss’ would hire and fire his employees frequently citing that they did not live up to his standard of excellence. In a memorable funny moment broadcast at a television press conference, where he was to hire for the fifth time Billy Martin as manager of the Yankees, he staged an argument with Martin where in his bossy tone, fired him yet again. Martin retorted back ‘you can’t fire me George, you haven’t hired me yet.’ The spot commercial has an actor impersonating Steinbrenner saying ‘If I win the lotto, I would purchase a team and hire the best employees: then I would fire them.’ This is to imply the proceeds won by playing the lotto would enable the winner to hire and fire at will. This gives him a certain ‘kife’ (pleasure) just like bossy George had.

 

In this week’s Parsha, we find an odd command by G-d upon Moshe, where the parsha starts (Shmot: 6:2) ‘G-d spoke to Moshe saying I am G-d’. Rav Henoch Leibowitz zt”l quotes the Da’at Zekanim, and says the statement seems to imply that even though I told you that I made you a G-d over Pharaoh, that you will own him, that you will run circles around him, I am still your G-d, remember that.

 

There are many incidents where Moshe humanized and humbled Pharaoh. An example, many early mornings Pharaoh would go to the Nile to relieve himself where Moshe would surprise him. This was humiliating because Pharaoh made himself out to be a G-d and G-ds don’t relieve themselves. This is strange and surprising; why would you think that if G-d makes Moshe a G-d over Pharaoh, he would forget that G-d rules over him? On the contrary, the fact that G-d empowered him to successfully make Pharaoh beg Moshe to stop the plagues and run in pajamas (sleeping gear) in the middle of the night to try to find him, would make Moshe realize even more G-d’s greatness and strength. After all, the plagues itself were miracles which led to Pharaoh’s cries to Moshe. Furthermore, G-d had proclaimed ‘In all my house, Moshe is the most loyal.’ So why would G-d be concerned about Moshe?

 

Rav Henoch teaches us an important lesson about human nature. Even though Moshe has the right intention when dealing with Pharaoh, the fact that I have a subordinate that is eating out of my hands, forces my nature to feel a ‘holier than thou’ attitude and say “I don’t have to listen to G-d”. Man sometimes falls under a trap where he believes something intellectually but he doesn’t feel the same in his heart. This is because the intellect and the heart are worlds apart. Moshe believed full strength in G-d, but now his position in life has been transformed from a shepherd to a leader of the chosen people, who now will have the king of a superpower at his knees, and a person’s actions influence his character. One might think one does not have to have his guard up because he’s doing G-d’s will. Here it was vital that the Moshe-Pharaoh relation be played out in this format for the sake of the redemption. However, that is when one is most susceptible to sin for it might infuse haughtiness as result of power.

 

If G-d was concerned about Moshe who was known to be the most humble person that ever lived, what can we say about ourselves when faced with dealing with subordinates at work? The Steinbrenner commercial is a reflection of our desires and wishes. Isn’t that what G-d is trying to avoid with Moshe? It’s definitely a test.

 

Rav Henoch is not concerned with us taking advantage of subordinates; we’re above that. Perhaps what he wants to bring out is the concern of feeling superior and therefore not being able to perform the commandment of fearing G-d in the proper way.

Chametz

August 25, 2013 Pesach No comments

 

CHAMETZ- AN INTRODUCTION
          What is chametz? To begin, let’s introduce SEOR- leaven, which is an ingredient used in making bread which creates the pores one sees in bread loaves. Leavening agents spread throughout the dough by releasing gases that causes the entire batch of dough to rise.
          A leavened product is called CHAMETZ. The Torah describes SEOR as being a lump of old dough which was left to reach a high level of fermentation called yeast. When a peace of yeast is kneaded together with a mixture of flour and water, it accelerates the rising process and creates chametz. Today’s yeast is SEOR. So, is chametz the same as SEOR? Well, Chametz is edible, while seor is not.
          The Torah declares that no chametz shall be eaten for a full seven days starting from the 15th of Nissan through the 22nd of Nissan (Shemot 12:15-18, 34:18)
Enough of biology, what is the Torah’s perspective about chametz?
          Chametz, we believe, is considered an evil force. Its task is to manipulate the purer element. Similar to the lump of leaven in the batch of dough. Chametz is the evil in us. The bad traits including pride, desire, lust etc. are chametz. Therefore, we eradicate it, every speck and crumb, from our midst during the eight days of Pesach.
          The prohibition of chametz is not limited to the holiday Pesach. It was also banned from the meal offering -the Mincha

 

IF CHAMETZ IS SO BAD, WHY DON’T WE BAN IT ALL YEAR?

 

          It seems like we have tremendous respect for bread, especially on Shabbat. We even cover the bread so we shouldn’t hurt its feelings, since the kiddush on the wine is recited first. Some have the custom that if they see bread on the street, they turn it over if it’s upside-down and move it gently to the side. If bread was so evil why do we give it such respect?
          We have to be aware of a few points in order to understand the answer. Firstly, the power of the Seder night is such that, without much effort, we can accelerate to the 49th level of kedusha. Once achieved, we have the ability to request from G-d whatever we desire. The high spirituality, although diminishes over the Yom Tov, is still powerful throughout the eight days. Secondly, it’s funny how things are. Against our will we are brought down to this world. (Some say that this is why the baby cries at the brit; he doesn’t want to be in this world. Similarly, when a person dies, the relatives cry, however the soul, is happy). Why in actuality doesn’t the soul want to come down to this world? Simple. It is because he has to co-exist with the lowly body. Therefore, his spirituality is limited.
          So we are presented with a quandrary, we don’t want any physical motivations, but still we are told that “chametz” -our bad traits, are not always prohibited? To resolve this. we must realize that indeed chametz has a time and place as well. In order for humans to function, one needs both the spiritual and the physical. Humans cannot function without the chametz, our evil side. Therefore, G-d said refrain from chametz for seven days and that will be sufficient  for the whole year. These are the seven days from 15 Nissan to 22 Nissan when G-d displays a special kindness towards us.
          It is no coincidence that this auspicious time occurred when we were first redeemed and led out of our bondage. Hashem specifically granted us this time when we needed it the most to draw close to Him and ask for whatever our heart desires.
          So we see that although, yes, “chametz” is inherently bad and must be eradicated, we unfortunately are faced with the reality that we cannot survive without it. Therefore, chametz is only prohibited for one one week period throughout the year, for the duration, we need the chametz.
          Interestingly, the only sacrifice that has chametz is the one offered on Shavuot, when we celebrate receiving the Torah. We are not concerned by the intrusion of the chametz as the tremendous infusion of Torah deems the chametz insignificant and will not influence us.

The Importance of Water

August 25, 2013 G-d and Us No comments

 

We start in this week’s parsha and finish next week with a magnificent arsenal of plagues. The Egyptians’ first punishment was that all the water will turn to blood. But why start this illustrious lineup of showing G-d’s power with turning water into blood? Why did the water have to fall victim to be the lead off hitter?

 

We learn the main target was the Nile River, which the Egyptians misused for their idol worship. It was a source of bracha; the Nile would overflow and provide them with irrigation. Furthermore, the blood represented the blood they spilled for their actions, degradation, torture, and murder of the Israelites. The water was taken away from them because it’s a source of life. Water is very special and it was chosen, first, to teach the Egyptians a lesson. If you disregard the source of life, the source will be taken from you.

 

Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan z’l teaches us how important water is. He begins by saying, in order for the world to exist; both liquid and solid are needed. Water’s characteristic is such that it involves change; it never stays in one place. Solid, on the other hand, is the opposite; it involves no change, dead state. If the world would exist with just solids, there would be no movement at all in the world. However, if there were only liquids, although there is the capability of change, it would not be able to hold any shape or form and there would exist instability. Therefore, solids need liquid and liquid needs solid in order for life to progress. In the world we live in, there is a constant change but it still retains its identity; a person constantly changes whether physically and spiritually and yet remains the same person. This is because of the co-existence of solid and liquid. Man needs water; without it you are like dust in the ground and that’s where you shall return. No water is mentioned in death because water represents change; change is life; change is development; development is fulfilling G-d’s purpose.

 

G-d has given us certain tools in this world through the Torah so we can elevate and progress ourselves. One of those tools is “mikvah”. When a person immerses himself in a mikvah, in the spiritual sense, his status changes; it’s a form of renewal, a rebirth because that’s the spiritual concept of water. Aharon and sons would immerse themselves in a mikvah not because they were impure, but to change their status to a higher level, so their prayers go through. This is the reason why we go to a mikvah before Yom Kippur. It’s the same with women; they change their status when they enter the mikvah. G-d warms up to them because of the power of the water. Their prayers are heard now because of their changed higher status.

 

Now we see the powerful tool G-d has given us – water.

 

The Bracha of a Tzadic

August 25, 2013 Mitzvot and Traditions No comments
This Dvar Torah was taken from the shiurim of Rabbi Baruch Dopelt.

We find in the beginning of the Parsha that G-d was angry at Moshe for complaining that Pharaoh imposed harsh rules on the Jews because of Moshe’s demand to “let my people go”. He complained to G-d “You sent me and the Israelites now have to find their own straw”.

 

Why indeed did G-d send Moshe if it only made things worse? Even more odd is G-d’s response after Moshe describes the cruelty of Pharaoh. We find at the end of last week’s Parsha, Shemot, that G-d responded “now I will show Pharaoh”. Why was it that after Moshe’s return did G-d respond with such a vengeance?

 

There is a Gemara that describes a puzzling incident in which a man who was the town digger of wells, which was vital to the existence of the town, was informed that his daughter fell into one of the wells he had dug.

 

The news quickly traveled to the leading Rabbi of the generation, Rav Chanina, who happened to live in that town. Rav Chaninna said “nothing will happen to the girl, for a man who does such tremendous chessed will not have a tragedy occur in the same place the goodness occurs” (i.e. the well). A little while later, the girl was saved unharmed.

 

The Gemara continues: “a while after that incident, another similar occurrence happened to the same man. His son fell into a well which he had dug. However, this time the result was tragic. The boy died”.

 

The Gemarah immediately asks ” What about the merit of the father digging the well? Didn’t Rav Chanina proclaim that nothing bad will happen to this man since from his act the town is being sustained?”

 

The Sages answer that Rav Chanina was not alive anymore and so he was not able to make that proclamation again. It seems like the only way the EMET, the true goodness justice will prevail is if a Talmid Chacham gives the Bracha to “seal the deal”.

 

Hey! What about justice?!

 

There are a lot of MALACHIM and MEKATREGIM (bad angels) that intercept the good deeds that protect us in this world. (Olam habah is a different story, it’s an Olam Ha’emet and one gets what he deserves). Rav Chanina had already passed away and could not proclaim and defend justice and preserve the kindness of the man and save his boy.

 

When Moshe came back and complained to G-d about Pharaoh’s wickedness, G-d responded, AHH!! Now I will act.!!! Since Moshe was a great person, a Tzadic, his word carried weight.

 

When one gets married or when other good things happen to him or perhaps even not such good occurrences happen, he should get a bracha from a Tzadic, because no matter how righteous your actions are, a Tzadic can carry it out and fulfill it unharmed with his bracha.

Patience is a Virtue

August 25, 2013 Jewish Values No comments
The following is an excerpt of a talk given by Rabbi Akiva Grunblatt, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Chofetz Chaim.
          DO YOU HAVE PATIENCE? Do you think it’s important to have patience?
Obviously, the answer is that it’s important to have patience. However, like many traits, one has to work diligently to obtain it. Rabbi Yisrael Salanter proclaims that it’s extremely difficult and would take much longer time to correct a bad trait than it would for one to become Shomer Mitzvot- observant of Kashrut and Shabbat.
Our Sages alarm us and warn us to learn the following lesson. The reason why the Israelites weren’t able to comprehend the positive message that Moshe was trying to convey to them was because they lost hope, their patience ran out. It’s dangerous to not have patience because one can fall into a depression if they constantly don’t get their way.
A Rabbi took over a pulpit position in one of the New York communities. One of his congregants kept his store open on Shabbat. The Rabbi approached him and tried to reason that he should close up shop arguing that there is no bracha from proceeds obtained on Shabbat. The congregant complained “it’s my busiest day”. After a few months, the Rabbi convinced the congregant that the bracha will come through the other days of the week. Finally, the congregant acquiesced. “Have Faith!!” the Rabbi smiled and said. Months passed by, and on every Friday the congregant would call and complain to the Rabbi that “I’m losing money!! I shouldn’t have listened to you”. Until, one day, the congregant received a huge order that made up for all those closed Saturdays. He approached the Rabbi and said “see Rabbi, you’ve got to have faith”.
In many instances in TANACH we see to what extent patience can be had.
One such incident involves Elisha the profit’s right hand man, Gechazi. Over time, he had become a rasha, a wicked person. Gechazi is on a short list of unfortunate Jews who lost their World to Come. Elisha cursed him and his three sons with leprosy.
Gechazi and his sons were banished from the Jewish congregation, and being that they were lepers, they had to live on the outskirts of town and could not live among the civilization. Shortly after, a massive famine fell upon the Jews. It was at red alert level where, unfortunately, dying of hunger was inevitable. The four men decided that they had nothing to lose but to walk the long distance to the enemy camp and try their luck obtaining food. Gechazi and his sons reasoned that they were as good as dead if they remained where they were.
To their surprise, they found the camp deserted. It seemed like the enemy was taken by surprise and rushed out on seconds’ notice. Gechazi, after indulging in the excess food, decided to return and inform the King of Israel of the unbelievable discovery.
The Sages comment on the puzzling turn of events which brought life saving relief to the Jews.
The enemy camp heard loud noises, noises seeming extremely nearby. They were afraid that the Israelites were right on their door step. Unarmed and unprepared, they escaped with just their boots on.
Where did the noise come from?
G-d runs the world in a very systematic fashion!
          When the Jews received the holy Torah, it was such a thunderous revelation that the overwhelmed Israelites screamed to Moshe begging that the voice should stop. It was too much to handle. That tremendous noise was put on pause and was conveniently infused where the Jews needed it most.
There is a fascinating incident about the famous commentator on the Chumash, the Abarbanel. He was one of the biggest Rabbis of his time. He was also, surprisingly, the finance minister of one of the super power countries of the time, Spain.
In the late 1400s, the Spanish Inquisition went into effect and the Jews were given the choice: leave, convert or die. Don Yitzchok Abarbanel packed his bags and left.
In his introduction to one of his books which he wrote later in his life, he says that he regrets ever taking public office. He felt that he could have spent his time learning and teaching Torah. “The reason I stayed in office was to pass legislation to make Jews comfortable while learning Torah and even that didn’t happen”. Well, his wish indeed did happen! It happened 500 years later, though. Abarbanel was the finance minister who was responsible for financing Christopher Columbus’s voyage to America. The Jews and Torah prospered in the United States. Every time a Jew opens up an Artscroll Gemara in Central Park, Abarbanel gets his percentage of the learning!

Why Slaves?

August 25, 2013 Achdut- Unity, Jewish Values, Pesach No comments

 

OF ALL THE PUNISHMENTS, WHY DID G-D CHOOSE FOR US TO BE SLAVES?
This Dvar Torah was taken from a conversation I had with Rabbi Illan Feder of Yeshivat Chafetz Chaim.
          We Jews come from royalty. Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaacov, our forefathers, were not only well respected members of society, they were also materialistically wealthy. Avraham was tall and charismatic. Yitzchak was looked upon as quiet but very spiritual, as he had been the one chosen to be the sacrifice. Yaacov had the twelve tribes. Our forefathers were blessed with good Mazal, and whatever they touched turned to gold. This was the result of their wholehearted belief in G-d.
So it’s puzzling how their descendants would be tortured, humiliated, and victims of genocide as a result of being taken as SLAVES!!
How did that happen? Why slaves?  Why that particular punishment?  What happened to the royalty that our forefathers enjoyed?
          It seems like us children were so remotely distant from the lifestyle of our forefathers. We allude in the Hagadda to the descent of our ancestors to Egypt. Yaacov and his sons, the twelve tribes, packed their bags and headed towards Egypt because that’s where Yosef resided. Yosef, who was sold by his jealous brothers many years before, was now second in command of a superpower country. It was because of Yosef’s advice that Egypt became the “caretaker” of the world. He promised to take care of his brothers during the famine years.
          One of the prime directives of our Torah is to make us master and refine our natural character traits. An angry or jealous person, or whatever other bad traits one has, has no place in G-d’s world. One has to work on himself to eradicate bad traits and thereby better himself.
          The brother’s jealousy of Yosef was a trait that bothered G-d tremendously. For this reason, they were punished by being converted into slaves. Slaves have no say, no opinion. They don’t own anything so no one slave can be jealous of the other. They are all equal. This is the kind of mindset G-d wanted his chosen people to have. “We are equal!!”. There is not one Jew who’s better than the other, and one cannot be jealous of his fellow.
          The Seder is set up so that the first half, until the meal, discusses the slavery period. During this time, there was no jealousy among the Jews. The second part of the seder, after the meal, discusses the redemption. It’s a period of tremendous spirituality, closeness to G-d, and a unity among Jewish brethren that also contains no jealousy.
          G-d is teaching us the importance of unity, of caring for one another. It was a painful and costly lesson- one that absolutely had to be conveyed.
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