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 How Teshuva Re-JEW-vinates us .: Viewed: 2035 times :.
According to my Great-Great-Grandfather, Bnei Yisocher, the month before ELUL is called AV, because AV is the acronym for ELUL BA, which means, ready or not, ELUL is coming! Therefore, in this month of AV we already must begin to focus on the Teshuvah Process. So here goes.
The Zohar explains that the word TESHUVA is a compound of the words, TASHUV HEI, "returning the HEI". The HEI that the...
Published: July 18, 2018 |
Shabbat's Link to the Mishkan .: Viewed: 2030 times :.
Why is the construction of the Mishkan juxtaposed with Shabbat (Shemot 35)?
When G-D created the world He unleashed His unlimited power to create all forms of existence-inanimate, vegetable, animal, and human beings.
G-D however, purposefully performed His task in an incomplete manner. The last word of the story of creation is LA'ASOT (to do) (Bereshit 2). By using this word, G-D asks...
Published: March 17, 2017 |
Was Noach FFB or BT? .: Viewed: 2028 times :.
G-d tells Avraham, "Walk before Me and be complete." (Bereshit 17:1) Rashi says that Avraham's completeness, his capacity to be TAMIM, was obtained by his observance of the Mitzvah of Brit Mila. As long as he had the orlah (foreskin) he had a physical imperfection. With its removal, Avraham now became complete. The question is why Avraham needed the Mitzvah of MILA to become a TAMIM...
Published: October 3, 2017 |
CORONA - The Mystery of God’s Justice .: Viewed: 2026 times :.
Why have so many righteous people died of Corona while many wicked people like Abu Mazen and his PLO henchmen are not affected at all. It’s the age old question that has haunted humanity since the dawn of time.
In the Tanach and Talmud we find 2 very different approaches to the concept of G‑d's reward and punishment. They are typified in the very different ways in which catastrophe...
Published: May 18, 2020 |
Were the Spies Justified in Fearing the Giants? .: Viewed: 2026 times :.
Are we able to defeat the Giants? The Torah tells us that the inhabitants of Eretz Yisrael were y’lide ho’anaq, remnants of a race of Giants. When the Meraglim returned with their report, they announced: “The people that dwell in the land are fierce, and the cities are fortified and very great, moreover, we saw the children of Giants there.” (Bamidbar 13:28)
And...
Published: June 1, 2021 |
Kosher-You Are What You Eat .: Viewed: 2024 times :.
The Torah only allows us to eat animals that have split hooves and also chew the cud. Animals that chew the cud but do not have split hooves or vice versa may not be eaten.
What is the relevance of these physical signs to the issue of eating the animal that has or doesn't have these signs? Are these just CHUKIM (statutes) from G-D which we must obey without understanding the reason?
The...
Published: April 20, 2017 |
The I.O.U. PRUZBUL – It's Greek to Me! .: Viewed: 2023 times :.
When the SHEMITA year 5775 concludes, SHEMITAT KESAFIM takes effect, and all outstanding loans are cancelled. The Shulchan Aruch in Choshen Mishpat 67 rules that SHEMITAT KESAFIM (release of loans) applies also outside the Land of Israel. Thus, the Shemita year cancels all financial debts. If someone owes you money, and he comes to repay it to you after the Shemita year, you are supposed to...
Published: August 22, 2015 |
Elul - Come Blow Your Horn! .: Viewed: 2013 times :.
Why do we blow Shofar during the month of Elul? Is it just to give the Bal Tokah (the Shofar Blower) a chance to warm up and practice for Rosh Hashana?
Rosh Hashana is a time to step back and regain our lost vision. The call of the Shofar is how we do it. The Rambam states that the message of the Shofar is to “Awaken those who are asleep.”
The Rambam’s analogy to sleep...
Published: August 21, 2019 |
The Incomprehensible Power of Teshuva .: Viewed: 2013 times :.
Rashi in Parshat Chukat quotes a Midrash that explains that the Red Heifer is a tikun for the Sin of the Golden Calf. "To what can this be likened? To a maid that worked in the palace of the king. One day her child came and soiled the palace with his filth. The king said: 'Let the mother come and clean up her child's filth.'" This is the concept of atonement for the golden calf, for the Holy...
Published: June 14, 2021 |
The Eternal Message of the MANN .: Viewed: 2012 times :.
“And now, our life is dried up, there is nothing, we have nothing but the MANN” (Bamidbar 11). Rashi states that G-d remarked, “Look at what my children complain about, the wonderful and delicious MANN”.
My Rebbe, Rav Pam says that G-d’s comment continues to reverberate to this very day – “Look what my children complain about”.
Rav Pam...
Published: June 4, 2017 |
T’SHUVA - Going BACK to the Future .: Viewed: 2011 times :.
There was a cute movie in 1985 with the Jewish actor Michael J. Fox called “Back to the Future”. This is exactly what the T’shuva process is all about. Through T’shuva we can reset the clock by actually changing our sinful past.
The Rambam states that T’shuva consists of a 4 step process where we have the awesome opportunity to erase our sins and wipe away the...
Published: August 15, 2018 |
Eliyahu HaNavi-A Peace Activist? .: Viewed: 2007 times :.
In the special Haftorah for Shabbat HaGadol, we are told, that Eliyahu's task is to "turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents" (Malachi 3). Rashi explains that the "parents" in this verse refers to G-D, and the "children" to the Jewish People. Eliyahu is appointed to restore our relationship with G-D. He will be the ultimate outreach...
Published: March 28, 2017 |
Our Personal Mishkan .: Viewed: 2006 times :.
How can we, flesh and blood human beings, create a physical location which is a worthy residence for G-d's Divine Presence?
Can a mere mortal build a physical place in this material world for the Almighty Who is Infinite? Yet, that is exactly what G-d commands us in Shmot 25, "And they shall make Me a Sanctuary, and so I will dwell in their midst."
The Talmud explains that Bezalel, who...
Published: February 11, 2015 |
Chanukah - 8 Days a Week .: Viewed: 2005 times :.
The Beatles had a number 1 hit song called 8 Days a Week. Were they singing about Chanukah?
2,182 years ago the Greeks had outlawed Torah observance among the Jewish People in Israel. They made it a capital punishment to observe the three Mitzvot of Shabbat, Milah and Nidah, which happens to be an acronym of SHEMEN (oil) (שמן). Parshat Vayeishev always falls out around Chanukah time. Thus...
Published: November 29, 2018 |
Serving God in Joy Despite CORONA .: Viewed: 2005 times :.
King David tells us in Tehillim 100, "Serve G-d with Joy." How is it possible when we are surrounded by a deadly invisible enemy called CORONA?
Rambam provides the solution - the Fear of G d. When someone fears G d, he serves Him in joy. As it says, "Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright of heart." (Tehillim 97:11) A person derives happiness from serving G d.
Yet,...
Published: April 12, 2020 |
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