Have a wonderful Shabbat! – 11th Tammuz, 5769

 

The Holy One, blessed be He,

said to Moses,

“I have a precious gift

in My treasure house,

called the Sabbath,

and desire to give it to Israel;

go and inform them.”

(Babylonian Talmud, Tractate Shabbath, 10b)

Courtesy:www.jewishsearch.com/

Aryeh’s DIARY, 6th – 12th Tammuz 5769

 

Courtesy of pumpaid.org

DIARY 28 June-4 July 2009 6-12 Tammuz 5769 Wednesday 1 July / 9 Tammuz On this day at the end of the First Temple period, the wall of Jerusalem was breached by Nebuchadnezzar’s armies and King Tzedekiah and his ministers tried to escape. Friday night-Saturday 3-4 July / 12 Tammuz After five Shabbatot on which the Torah readings in Diaspora communities have been out of sync with those read in Israel, Diaspora communities today catch up with Israel by reading two parshahs together: Israel Torah Reading BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam’s abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8. Diaspora Torah Reading CHUKAS Numbers 19:1-22:1 giving the laws of the Red Heiffer and recounting the closing stages of the Children of Israel’s journey to their Land and their miraculous conquests of the Emorites and Bashan; and BALAK Numbers 22:2-25:9 telling the story of Bilaam’s abortive efforts to curse Israel at the behest of Balak king of Moab; Haftara: Micah 5:6-6:8.

 

SOURCE:

Azamra means “I will sing” (Psalms 146:2)

“And the way to sing the song of joy is by seeking the good in all people, especially in ourselves. Each good point is one more note in the song of life!”

– Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

Torah Reading for the Week of 29th Sivan – 5th Tammuz, 5769

 

Eretz Yisroel

Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom
The World’s Pride and Charm
By Rebbe Nachman of Breslev – From “The Essential Rebbe Nachman,” by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum

Chassidic Pearls
Optical Illusions – Chukat
By: Rabbi Lazer Brody

Stories for the Shabbos Table – I
The Thirsty Student – Chukat
By The Baal Shem Tov

Stories for the Shabbos Table – II
The Holy Letter – Chukat
By The Baal Shem Tov

The editorial page of Breslev Israel’s English website
We Don’t Have Horns
By Rabbi Lazer Brody

Diaspora

Parsha – Korach (Numbers 16-18)
Conflict Resolution
By Rabbi Max Weimman

From our Sages on the Parshah – Parshah In Depth
Parshah: Korach Verses: Numbers 16:1-18:32
Source Chabad org

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Korach: Yismach Moshe – I Hid In My Tent Until It Was All Over
Source RevachL’Neshama

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Korach: Chasam Sofer – Dasan or Aviram’s Debt of Gratitude To Moshe
Source RevachL’Neshama

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Korach: Are You Sure You Know What Happened to Korach?
Source RevachL’Neshama

Peninim on the Torah
PARSHAS KORACH
By Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum

Chasidic Insights on the Weekly Parsha
CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS KORACH 5769 (from 5763) BS”D
By Zvi Akiva Fleisher

What’s Bothering Rashi?
Parashas Korach (69)
By Dr. Avigdor Bonchek

From the Prophets – on the Haftara
PARASHAT KORACH (HAFTARA) – 5769
By Jacob Solomon

The Baal Shem Tov Times
Korach
By Tzvi Meir Cohn

Sources

Aish HaTorah   |   Breslev.co.il   |   Baal Shem Tov Foundation   |   
Chabad.org   |   RevachL’Neshama   |   Shema Yisrael Torah Network

Aryeh’s DIARY, 3rd – 5th Tammuz 5769

 

Attributes of the month of Tammuz: Ruling permutation of the letters of HAVAYAH: KEH VAV KEH YOD, contained in the concluding Hebrew letters of zeH einenU shoveH lI, "…this is not of worth to me…" (Esther 5:13). The month’s corresponding letter is: CHET; Human attribute: VISION; Body Part: RIGHT HAND; Tribe: REUVEN; Constellation: SARTAN (Cancer, the Crab). Today is the Yahrzeit of Yosef HaTzaddik (the biblical Joseph). Wednesday night-Thursday 24-25 June / 3 Tammuz On this day Joshua caused the sun to stop in Giv’on and the moon in Emek Ayalon in his war against the kings of Canaan. The three day massacre of Jews in Uman, Uikraine commenced in 1768. Today is the Yahrzeit of Rabbi Menachem Mendel Shneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (1902-1994). Friday night-Saturday 26-27 June / 5 Tammuz Israel Shabbat Parshat Chukas Shabbat Parshat CHUKAS: Torah Reading: Numbers 19:1-22:1 giving the laws of the Red Heiffer and recounting the closing stages of the Children of Israel’s journey to their Land and their miraculous conquests of the Emorites and Bashan; Haftara: Judges 11:1-33. Diaspora Shabbat Parshat KORACH: Torah Reading: Numbers 16:1-18:32 telling of Korach’s conspiracy against Moses and Aaron and giving the laws of the priestly and Levitical gifts. Haftara: I Samuel 11:14-12:22

 

SOURCE:

Azamra means “I will sing” (Psalms 146:2)

“And the way to sing the song of joy is by seeking the good in all people, especially in ourselves. Each good point is one more note in the song of life!”

– Rabbi Nachman of Breslov

This week’s recommended reading: 22nd – 28th Sivan, 5769

 

Torah Reading for the Week of 22nd – 28th Sivan, 5769

Eretz Yisroel

Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom
A Coin in the Eye
By Rebbe Nachman of Breslev

Chassidic Pearls
A Divided Heart – Korach
By Rabbi Lazer Brody

Stories for the Shabbos Table
Swallowed by the Earth – Korach
By The Baal Shem Tov

Stories for the Shabbos Table
A Simple Misunderstanding – Korach
By The Baal Shem Tov

The editorial page of Breslev Israel’s English website
Anticipating Moshiach
By Rabbi Lazer Brody

Diaspora

Parsha – Shlach (Numbers 13-15)
Two Strategies For Life
By Rabbi Max Weimman

Advanced Parsha – Shlach (Numbers 13-15)
How to Digest Miracles
By Rabbi Noson Weisz – Aish Jerusalem

From our Sages on the Parshah – Parshah In Depth
Parshah: Shelach – Verses: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Source Chabad org

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Shlach: Rav Levi Yitzchok MiBerditchev – Mikoshesh, Chilul Shabbos A Kiddush Hashem?
Source RevachL’Neshama

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Shlach: Rav Yehonasan Eibushitz – Kalev Had Credibility With The People, Yehoshua Did Not
Source RevachL’Neshama

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort
Parshas Shlach: Rokeach – What Is The Connection Between The Mikoshesh Eitzim and Tzitzis?
Source RevachL’Neshama

Peninim on the Torah
PARSHAS SHELACH
By Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum

Chasidic Insights on the Weekly Parsha
CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS SHLACH 5769 (from 5763) BS”D
By Zvi Akiva Fleisher

What’s Bothering Rashi?
Parashas Korach (69)
By Dr. Avigdor Bonchek

The Baal Shem Tov Times
Behalotecha
By Tzvi Meir Cohn

Sources

Aish HaTorah   |   Breslev.co.il   |   Baal Shem Tov Foundation   |   
Chabad.org   |   RevachL’Neshama   |   Shema Yisrael Torah Network

This week’s recommended reading: 15th – 21st Sivan, 5769

Torah Reading for the Week of 15th – 21st Sivan, 5769

Be’halot’cha (Numbers 8-12) – Fulfilled Desires – by Rabbi Max Weimman

Advanced Parsha – Be’halot’cha (Numbers 8-12) – To Believe or Not to Believe, That Is the Question – by Rabbi Noson Weisz – Aish Jerusalem

From our Sages on the Parshah – Parshah In Depth – Parshah: Behaalotecha Verses: Numbers 8:1-12:16

Rebbe Nachman’s Wisdom – Connecting to the Tzaddik, By Rebbe Nachman of Breslev

Chassidic Pearls – “When you kindle the lamps…” (Bamidbar 8:2). – By: Rabbi Lazer Brody

Stories for the Shabbos Table – The Most Humble Man – Behaalotecha – By The Baal Shem Tov

The editorial page of Breslev Israel’s English website – Desensitization By Rabbi Lazer Brody

Parshas HaShavua – Quick Vort Parshas Bahaloscha: Daas Zekeinim & Ramban – Two Explanations For Moshe’s Shocking Question – By Daas Zekeinim & Ramban

Peninim on the Torah – PARSHAS BEHAALOSCHA By Rabbi A. Leib Scheinbaum

Chasidic Insights on the Weekly Parsha – CHASIDIC INSIGHTS PARSHAS B’HAALOS’CHO 5769 (from 5763) BS”D By Zvi Akiva Fleisher

What’s Bothering Rashi? – Shavuot – Parashas Shelach (69) By Dr. Avigdor Bonchek

The Baal Shem Tov Times – Behalotecha, By Tzvi Meir Cohn

Sources

Aish HaTorah   |   Breslev.co.il   |   Baal Shem Tov Foundation   |   
Chabad.org   |   RevachL’Neshama   |   Shema Yisrael Torah Network

The “Stranger”

 

The “Stranger”,
reprinted with the kind authorization of:

 

Introduction:

The Hebrew term for a convert is ger tzedek – a convert for righteousness. In a future letter, I hope to discuss why the convert is associated with righteousness. The literal meaning of ger, however, is “stranger” – a term which can refer to a new arrival in a community. In this letter, I shall begin to discuss a deeper and complimentary reason why a convert is referred to as a ger – stranger.

Dear Friends,

In order to understand the deeper significance of the term ger, we need to first understand the following prayer of King David, where he refers to himself as a ger – stranger:

“I am a ger upon earth; hide not Your mitzvos from me.” (Psalm 119:19)

In the above verse, David is expressing the yearning of his soul. The soul is a spiritual entity – a spark of the Divine essence. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch refers to this sacred quality of the soul in the following excerpt from his commentary on our daily morning prayer, “The Soul that You gave me is Pure”:

“G-d, the One, pure and holy Being is the soul’s Creator, and He has breathed that soul into us as part of His own Divine essence.” (The Hirsch Siddur – Prayerbook)

The spiritual soul is placed within a physical body on a physical earth. It is therefore not surprising that those who are aware of their spiritual souls may initially feel like gerim – strangers – on this earth. Our Creator, however, has given us through the Torah a holistic path of mitzvos – Divine mandates – which enable us to sanctify every aspect of our physical existence on this earth. For example, we have mitzvos which sanctify the way we eat, the way we have sexual relations, the way we work the earth, and the way we engage in commerce. Through this holistic path of mitzvos, the physical become spiritual through being consecrated for a higher Divine purpose; thus, our souls can feel more at home on earth. This is why David prayed, “I am a stranger upon earth; hide not Your mitzvos from me.”

The convert has a very sensitive soul, and like David, the convert feels like a stranger upon earth. The convert is therefore attracted to the mitzvos of the Torah path which sanctify every aspect of earthly existence, for like David, the convert seeks to feel more at home on earth.

David’s prayer led me to another level of understanding as to why Hashem stresses that we should love the ger who joins us in our land, because we were gerim in the land of Egypt. For example, Hashem proclaimed to us:

“When a ger dwells among you in your land, do not harass him. The ger who dwells with you shall be like a native among you, and you shall love him like yourself, for you were gerim in the land of Egypt – I am Hashem your G-d.” (Leviticus 19:33, 34)

“For you were gerim in the land of Egypt.” – According to our tradition, we were also “strangers” in Egypt in the spiritual sense, for Egypt was a decadent society where most people were obsessed with lusts for the physical pleasures of this world. This is why before Hashem revealed to us the mitzvos regarding the sanctification of our sexual behavior, Hashem stated: “Like the practice of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled do not do” (Leviticus 18:3). The classical commentator, Rashi, cites the tradition that the practices of the Egyptians were “degenerate”; moreover, Rashi also cites the tradition that the place where Israel dwelled (the Goshen region of Egypt) “was the most degenerate of all.”

When we were in Egypt, we had not yet received the Torah and its path of mitzvos; moreover, we were living in a decadent society where people idolized and worshiped the physical forces within themselves and the earth. Despite this negative influence, we did not totally assimilate, as the Torah states that we became a “nation” within Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:5). The Passover Haggadah cites this source, and it comments:

“This teaches that the People of Israel were distinctive there.”

We still remembered that we are the children of the righteous patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as well as the children of the righteous matriarchs, Sarah, Rebecca, Rachel, and Leah. Despite our great suffering, we preserved the teachings they taught us about the spiritual and altruistic purpose of the soul on this earth. We therefore still felt a connection to our spiritual souls, and this connection caused us to feel like “strangers” in Egypt.

The Hebrew name for Egypt is Mitzrayim. The root meaning of this term is metzar – a word which connotes the distress caused by confinement. We felt confined living in a land where most people had forgotten about the true purpose of the human soul on earth, and this caused us to feel like “strangers” in this land.

The memory of our being “strangers” in this situation is to inspire us to have empathy for the gerim whose sensitive souls cause them to feel like strangers on earth, for human society on earth can become Mitzrayim – a place of distressing confinement – when most of its members are not aware of their true purpose on earth. The Compassionate and Life-Giving One therefore calls upon us to have special love for the converts, for they have the courage to join our small and persecuted people, in order to follow the holistic path of the Torah which enables us to fulfill the spiritual and altruistic purpose of our souls on this earth.

Shalom,

Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen (See below)

Related Insights:

1.   Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch was a leading sage and biblical commentator of the 19^th century, and he stressed in his writings that the goal of the Torah’s path of mitzvos is the sanctification of our life on earth. He elaborates on this idea in his noted work, Horeb, which discusses the various mitzvos of the Torah, and how they enable us to achieve this goal. The late Dayan Dr. I. Grunfeld, a member of the London Rabbinical Court, and a renowned scholar and lawyer, wrote a profound introduction to Horeb, and in this introduction, he explains why Judaism is not a “religion” whose activities are primarily centered in a temple. He writes:

“To be religious in the Torah sense means to conceive of all human activities as falling within one scheme whose character is determined by the spiritual destiny of mankind. The farmer behind the plough, the workman on the bench, the merchant with his goods, and the scholar with his thoughts – they all have an equal opportunity of serving G-d as much as the priest in the Temple; perhaps even more so. In the conception of the Torah, only spiritual victory which is won in the arena of life is worth achieving; for the highest aim of Jewish teaching is the sanctification of life in all its aspects.” (Horeb is published by Judaica Press: www.judaicapress.com)

2.   In a later segment of this series, I hope to discuss another kind of stranger who is known as a ger toshav – a resident stranger. This “stranger” is a Gentile who does not join our people through conversion; instead, he or she follows the universal code within the Torah which contains certain mitzvos which apply to all peoples. This Gentile is allowed to become a toshav – resident – in our land, together with all Israel and their converts, which is why this individual is called a ger toshav.

3.   In the above letter, I mentioned the morning prayer, “The Soul that You gave me is Pure.” Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, a leading sage who headed the Chaim Berlin Yeshiva in Brooklyn, New York, composed a beautiful and meditative nigun (melody) for this ancient prayer. An mp3 recording of this nigun can be sent to you upon request. On this recording, I sing the nigun without the accompaniment of musical instruments.

Most of the previous letters in our series appear in the archive on our website.
Hazon – Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.com/publicat/hazon

By Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen

 

The “Stranger”,
reprinted with the kind authorization of:

Halacha Day To Day – 18th Sivan, 5769

 

Food Touched Before Negel Vasser

The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (2:5) says that you should not touch food before washing Negel Vasser since a Ruach Ra is on your hands and can damage the food. The She’arim Metzuyanim BaHalacha brings the Shulchan Aruch HaRav who says that this does not apply to a non-Jew since the Ruach Ra is only attracted to the Kedusha of Jewish Neshama.

Regarding a child, he says that there is also no problem because a child receives its main “Nefesh D’Kedusha” only at Bar Mitzva. However the Maharsham says that a child is more susceptible to this Ruach Ra and one should be even more careful to make sure the child does not touch food before Negel Vasser. The Pri Megadim also says to be careful with a child.

If food was touched, the poskim say that the food can be eaten since the Teva has changed and we don’t really worry about these things anymore. The Mishna Brura (4:14) brings from the Malbim that if food was touched before Negel Vasser it should be rinsed three times before eating it.

Important Note: We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. One should learn the tshuva to verify the accuracy of our interpretation. Please also understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.

From: RevachL’Neshama

Daily Reminder – 18th Sivan, 5769

 

Eliyahu HaNavi Takes A Sharp Turn

Eliyahu killed the Nevi’ei HaBa’al and said his famous words to Hashem, “Kano Kineisi”, I have taken Hashem’s revenge from Bnei Yisroel, who has left your covenant. The Medrash says that afterwards he lost his Nevuah and appointed Elisha in his place. After such heroism is this his reward? The Zohar explains, that even so, since he spoke negatively about Bnei Yisroel this was the end result.

The Zohar further says that Eliyahu did not move from his spot until he swore before Hashem that he will always search for Z’chusim in Klal Yisroel and bring them before Hashem. Furthermore he will not budge until Hashem records these Zechusim in writing. (Shaar HaTvuna 7).

“Zachor Eis Asher Asa Hashem L’Miriam BaDerech B’Tzaischem MiMitzrayim”

The Ramban and other Rishonim count, among the Mitzvos Aseh Min HaTorah, the mitzva of remembering and saying with your mouth each day what Hashem did to Miriam when she spoke about her brother Moshe. The Chofetz Chaim in Shaar Tvunah Perek 12 says that being Mikayem this mitzva can save you from the aveira of Lashon Hara. More than just saying the pasuk, says the Chofetz Chaim, one must think about the incident in order for it to have its intended effect.

Take advantage of this great opportunity and sign up for RevachL’Neshama’s daily email reminder. Feel free to email this to your friends and family. Who knows, it may arrive right when it is needed most!

Subscribe Zechiras_Miriam — daily shmiras halashon reminders, click here.

Listen to RevachL’Neshama’s Shemiras HaLashon Yomi in their audio section. Two halachos a day according to the Luach. http://revach.net/audioarchives.php

From:RevachL’Neshama

Bringing Heaven Down to Earth – 18th Sivan, 5769

 

Related to Wonder

By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Daily Dose – Today’s Meditation – Related to Wonder

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