Parshas Bamidbar 5770
BSD
Parshas Bamidbar
The Slonimer Rebbe in Nesivos Shalom points out the Medrash that says that the Torah was given with fire, water and in the desert. Fire surrounded Har Sinai, the Torah teachings nourished and revived us like water and all this happened as the Jewish Nation stood in the wilderness.
The metaphor is clear- fire represents serving Hashem with passion, energy and striving upward. It also represents Yir’at Hashem- fear of losing His closeness, awe of His greatness.
Water represents the concept of serving Hashem with love. It also contains the element of humility, since water, as opposed to fire, tends to go from a higher elevation to a lower one.
In the physical world, fire and water are opposites. In the world of the spirit, they don’t cancel each other out, but they complement and complete each other.
These weeks of Sefirat HaOmer were meant to be a time of elevation, of self correction, of preparation for the yearly spiritual adventure of Kabbalat HaTorah, receiving of the Torah. We are beginning the last week of Omer.
So, what if your Sefirat HaOmer has not been a time of growth, of self correction or a time of inspiration? What if you’ve just been concerned with ‘regular’ life, and have not felt an upgrade in your spiritual life?
The Rebbe says that the answer is to go to the third element of Kabbalas HaTorah- the desert. We might not be in awe or in love with Hashem and His Mitzvos right now, but we can be Mevatel ourselves to Hashem and His Mitzvos.
Mevatel means to put your own apparent desires aside when they conflict with Torah. It means to stay committed to the actions of Torah. It means to humble yourself to commit to Torah life, despite the lack of inspiration.
Bitul is about a decision to commit yourself to the Torah. It is about recommitting to thousands of years of Jewish history, to your Land and destiny. Bitul reminds us that the body is the vehicle of the soul, that which allows the soul to manifest and express itself. The body and soul made a pact to serve each other- the soul enlivens the body and the body allows to soul to perform physical actions.
Putting the ego first is the opposite of Bitul. Committing to acting the right way, the Torah way, is the key for any Jew, inspired or not, to receive his or her portion in the Torah on Shavuous.
This is an interesting time in world history. Not a day goes by without some global change. The economy of the world, particularly Europe has been hit. It is not a coincidence that the Icelandic volcano began to disrupt Europe on Yom HaShoah, Holocaust day. It is not a coincidence that Europe is covered in ashes.
The ashes of our brothers and sisters were also scattered by the Europeans just a few decades ago. Hashem is great and His justice is great.
May we see the true and everlasting Geula BeRachamim in these days.
Lag BaOmer 5770
BSD
LAG BAOMER 5770
MI KE’AMCHA YISRAEL
Having just returned from Meron with the music still ringing in my ears and the light still shining in my eyes, I want to share two stories with you that touched my heart.
The first was one that I heard on the bus going up to Rashbi from the head of one of the seminaries here in Yerushalayim. In his words:
“My first experience with Meron on Lag Ba’omer left me speechless. Well, perhaps not speechless…perhaps that was the problem. As a regular Yeshiva Bachur, I was used to the discipline, the dignity and the Derech Eretz of Torah and B’nai Torah. The wildness of Meron shocked me. The music, dancing, merriment that bordered on Tohu, disturbed me. Those were days in my life when I was in a religious fervor of Emes and I remarked to a friend that in my humble opinion, Rebbe Shimon Bar Yochai must be ‘turning over in his grave’.
No sooner had I said this, when I saw something that verified my fears- some young man, apparently very merry and borderless, began to start up with one of our students. I ran over to defend her, and the man began chasing her, and then me with a large stick. He could barely walk a straight line, this young man, and I just ran around, dodging him, until all the girls from the group were safely away and he had run out of strength.
Frustrated by his inability to hurt me ( I have no doubt that when he came back to his sober self, he would never have wanted to do any harm…), he tried to wield his piece of wood towards me, but it finally got the better of him and he dropped it. In the end, all he could get out was a big mouthful of spit, hurled forcefully towards me and landing on my shoulder.
Back on the bus, we all had a good laugh but I began to ponder. Why had this happened to me- and on Lag Ba’omer no less, in the holy resting place of Rashbi? Thinking back to the events prior to the ‘attack’, I decided it was because I had criticized Jews- albeit inadvertently and certainly without wanting to damage anyone. Who was I to say anything about Rebbe Shimon’s opinion of the revelry at his Tzion on his Yahrtzeit? This is his day, he ‘invites’ all the Neshamos that need his specific method of Tikun to come to him. He certainly loves and accepts all of us, despite our wrongdoings. This is his party- who am I to say anything against anyone who heard the inner call to come and be elevated?
I decided then and there never to criticize any Lag Ba’omer event in Meron- for there are things going on there in the souls of Jews that we just don’t quite understand.”
When the Rav told this over, in his self effacing and humble way, it made me think of all the potential that this story contained. It could have been said as a warning to the girls we were taking up to Rashbi to be in their guard. It could’ve been turned into stam Leitzanus, a good funny joke, another Israeli chutzpa story. It was a good entertainment possibility, as our patience was tested time after time with traffic and well meaning but sometimes unorganized traffic managers… Instead, it described the midda of the day- humility, acceptance of every Jew and faith in the power of the true Tzaddikim to enlighten and inspire.
The second story was told to me by a friend on Erev Shabbos, in front of the fruit store…
It seems that a newborn girl was diagnosed with blindness in one eye. The devastated young parents went to their Rosh Yeshiva, Rav Sheinberg Shlita with the news and in need of advice. He told them, “Lag Ba’omer is coming up soon and the light emanating from the holy Rashbi on that day is very great. Your daughter needs to see, and Rebbe Shimon enlightens all of our eyes. Take her there and may Hashem help.”
The young couple made the difficult trip with their infant to Meron. Anyone who has made the trip knows it’s often arduous, and although worth every minute, it takes much inner strength and determination. The young couple made it up to Meron and the father actually took his young daughter into the Tzion, and placed her directly on the Matzaiva of Rashbi.
The next week, the doctors were amazed to reconsider their original diagnosis and pronounce this baby totally fine.
But to me, the biggest miracle of Meron is the fact that although hundreds of thousands of Jews of all stripes and types arrive and stay in the tiny area of Rashbi’s cave, never was there a terror attack or violence. There is virtually no security to speak of, no screening, no searching and no metal detectors to walk through.
Hashem takes very good care of his kids.
Maybe one of the reasons for the extra care is the food lining the sides of the streets, with people literally begging you to eat something, and in doing so, to merit them with the Mitzvah of Hachnasos Orchim.
As our trip came to a close, we told the girls to meet us by the big Chabad balloon, which would be bobbing on the Chabadnik who stands next to the bouncing Breslovers, who share their music with the Rav Ifergan Sefardim who also support the Ethiopians and who are next door to Yad L’Achim saving women from Arabs and kids from missionaries, who enjoy the food from the Tzefat Rabanut, next to the Shtefenesh tent…sounds like the enhanced version of Chad Gadya…
May all who came to Meron see with physical eyes the Brachos of the Rebbe come true, may all who sent messengers to daven for them also see their Yeshuos and may all of Klal Yisrael have all their Yeshuos and come next year to the great Lag Ba’omer parade that will begin in Meron and dance straight to the rebuilt Bais Hamikdash.
Not Just Another Geula Rumor…
BSD
As the date for the Chanukat Habayit of the rebuilt Churva Shul approached, many rumors started surfacing upgrading its significance considerably. The most predominant of these was the connection between this Chanukat Habayit and the ultimate Chanukat Bait Hamikdash. According to some, the Vilna Gaon was to have made this connection, saying that when the Churva would be rebuilt for its third time, it would be a sign that the third Bait Hamikdash also would soon be rebuilt and reactivated.
I am not aware of this having been substantiated, or of the Sefer which this idea was found (if you have such information, please pass it on!). Nevertheless, this Shmuah was repeated, recycled and it recharged many people, especially since the Chanukat Habayit was scheduled for Nissan, month of redemption.
The danger of having high hopes dashed is well known to the Metzapim of the Jewish blogosphere. Many times in the past ten years, Mekubalim have been quoted and misquoted, special children have been dialoging and predicting, and simple Jews have been analyzing news reports and weather patterns.
We all know that the Geula is unfolding before our very eyes, and yet there is inherent disappointment when a specific prediction doesn’t manifest as clear Geula.
So, I would like to share with you a story that hopefully will encourage the Mitzapeh in you, and give insight as to just how this Geula seems to be developing.
A good friend of mine and her husband and family have lived in the Rova for about 20 years. Her husband is a beloved Ram in one of the Yeshivot in the Rova. His grandfather, who lived here when the Turks were ruling, chose the Churva Shul to be his place to sit and learn. It was his Makom Kavua. This grandfather had to leave the Land to avoid being drafted into the Turkish army and moved to America. After the miraculous Six Day War, this grandfather took his grandson to visit the reunited Yerushalayim, and they went to the Rova, back to his ‘spot’. When he saw the ruins, his grandfather just stood there and cried. They stood together in all the rubble, a weeping grandfather and an idealistic grandson.
As the Churva was being rebuilt, my friend’s children would play in the construction site. They had the keys to all the doors, sometimes locking out the Shomrim. Healthy kids, playing without fear, in their own land.
The first Shabbos that the Churva Shul was open to the Tzibur, my friend’s husband decided he had to forgo his own place in his yeshiva, to daven in the new rebuilt Churva. He took his sons and stood with them in testimony to his own grandfather, and to all who had cried for so long at our losses. And he told them, remember this moment well. One day you will have to tell this story to your own grandchildren.
But the best was yet to come. Everyone who lives here in Eretz Yisrael knows that one of the challenges we face here has to do with getting along with each other. In Ch’ul, Jews have many reminders that somehow keep the glue between us strong. But, B’H, in Eretz Yisrael, we have to do the holy work of fulfilling Ve’Ahavta Lerayacha Kamocha, Lamehadrin Min Hamehadrin. Most folks here realize already that our outside enemies, be they the president of America or our Yishmaeli cousins are only fueled by lapses within our own Avodas Hashem. So, the Jews who came to the Churva Shul that first Shabbos were curious as to who would run the show.
Whoever did arrange that first Shabbos did it with much thought and sensitivity. The Rova is a very mixed Kehilla, and so the Aliyas for Krias HaTora were divided carefully. Every different type of Jew got an Aliya. Ateret Kohanim got an Aliya, the Vilna Gaon’s Zilberman family got an Aliya, Chabad of the Rova got an Aliya, the Chassidish Kehilla and the Chardal world. Every group and Aida got an Aliya to the Torah. No one was left out, and no one felt left out. Indeed, the Churva Shul had been reopened as the community Shul of the old city of Yerushalayim.
At the end of Davening, the entire Kehilla as well as people who had come from outside the Rova had to say that it was a beautiful, unified Davening.
So, the opening of Churva Shul indeed was the first step in the coming down of the third and final Bais Hamikdash. It was a test that was given to the Jews of the Rova, who represented almost every Aida in the Torah world and they managed to pass with flying colors. There was Achdus, there was a heartfelt Davening and there was a bit of wonder at the ability of our Chevra to make this happen.
This Hayinu Kecholmim continued into Pesach and when I went to see the Churva Shul in all its glory and beauty, I joined tens of thousands of Olei Haregel who flooded into Yerushalayim to celebrate Pesach, to celebrate being free in our homeland and just to celebrate life. The old city lanes were packed as usual and there was music in all parts of the city. People sat and ate their matzo, little kids danced to the music, Zekaynim and Zekaynos sat on shaded benches watching, smiling.
Geula seems to be happening slowly and gradually. Many thought that the third Bayis would explosively descend as soon as the Churva Shul ceremonies were over. Perhaps on a certain level, it did…
Perhaps Hashem tossed the keys down to us.
Chazal tell us that the Geula will be like a sunrise, and like a birth. A sunrise is slow, gradual and beautiful; a birth is slow, gradual and exciting. There can be days when the sunrise is blocked by clouds and there are some births that are painful. This Geula is happening and we are having our share of excitement, awe, pain and beauty.
May the Achdus shown and felt in the recent days be a merit for us all to enjoy Geula BeRachamim soon!!
Shiurim in New York
BSD
With Hashem’s help, I will be in New York from Dec 13-Dec 22 and have three shiurim scheduled. You are invited for all three and I hope to see you there.
Monday Dec 14 @ 8:45 PM
132 Cumberland.
Lawrence, NY
Hosted by Yaffa Moskowitz and Chaia Frishman
718 471 3223
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Tuesday Dec 15 @ 8:30 PM
75-47 181 Street
Fresh Meadows, NY
Hosted by Rivka Levy and Sara Jabbour
718 503 2502
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Wednesday Dec 16 @ 9 PM
Congregation Shira Chadasha
695 Middle Neck Rd
Great Neck, NY
Back Entrance
Hosted by Rivka Nazly Zar
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Shabbos Chazon
BSD
The Shabbos before Tisha B’Av is nicknamed Shabbos Chazon, which means the Shabbos of Prophetic Vision.
The Haftorah of Parshat Devarim is the first Perek of Yeshayahu, which begins,
“Chazon Yeshayahu Ben Amotz”- describing the vision of the prophet- the vision of exile and eventual redemption.
The Apter Rav was a student of the Baal Shem Tov and is buried right next to him in the Ukraine. He taught that Shabbos Chazon is one of the highest, holiest Shabbatot of the entire year. There were Tzaddikim who said that on this Shabbos, one can actually have a vision of the third Bais Hamikdash.
The Shabbos of Vision- of visions. How can we expand our vision of life? Is there more to what we can perceive? Can we begin to hear and see the messages, the hints, that Hashem sprinkles throughout our day? Can we begin to sense and understand more of the why’s in our life?
A mother takes her baby to the doctor for a vaccination. She holds him as the doctor jabs his little tush with the needle and the baby looks horrified- not just because of the pain of the shot, but because his own mother, it seems, is collaborating with the enemy. Here there is an evil man, stabbing his body and his own mother is helping by holding him still!
Go explain to a baby about illness, about vaccines and about bacteria. This baby knows one thing- right now, this hurts! We often feel the same about life- sometimes it hurts. But there is a bigger plan, and on this Shabbos, we can begin to expand our minds, hearts and experience to open to the justice of this heavenly plan.
People are noticing an interesting phenomenon. Last minute major and minor tikunim are being made. Repair and restitution in different areas of your life are being offered. Have you had a thought of correcting an injustice in your relationships, or in your finances? Has a realization hit you, pointing to a new reason for your repeated tests? Have you seen, recently, a pattern in your life that hints to a particular mida?
This Shabbos reminds us that there is a reason for the exile- both the private personal exile, and our national exile. We are working through major tikunim in many levels, in many worlds.
May Hashem open our eyes to see and understand the great love He has for us. May we see that we were never abandoned, never in danger and always beloved.
The Precious Stones in the Choshen
What can the stones of the Breastplate of the Kohein Gadol tell us about the current global financial strain? Listen here for the weekly Parsha class given in the Neve Community Learning Program every Wednesday morning in the Shul of Neve Yerushalayim
What is more dangerous- a negative thought or a negative action? Listen here for the shiur given in Yeshivat Simchat Shlomo
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GREAT NEWS/plus new photos
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BECHASDEI HASHEM, BREAKING GREAT NEWS FROM ERETZ YISRAEL!
ISRAEL FINDS NATURAL GAS, ENOUGH TO SUPPORT US INDEPENDENTLY FROM NOW ON!
THE HEAD OF THE COMPANY WHO HAS FOUND THE GAS SITE, WHICH IS 90 KILLOMETERS OFF OF HAIFA, IN ISRAEL OWNED TERRITORY, IS NAMED YITZCHAK TESHUVA!!
HE HAS NAMED THE SITE ‘TAMAR’ AFTER HIS GRANDDAUGHTER.
I SAW THEM INTERVIEW HIM ON ISRAELI TV A FEW MINUTES AGO- AS SOON AS THE TV CREW ENTERED HIS COMPANY OUTER ROOM, AS THEY BEGAN FILMING HIM, HE TOOK A SET OF KEYS FROM HIS SECRETARY, AND ON CAMERA OPENED THE DOOR TO HIS PRIVATE OFFICE. BEFORE SAYING A WORD, HE ENTERED AND WITH THE CAMERA FILMNG HIM, WENT TO THE WALL NEAR HIS DESK AND POINTED TO THE WALL, WHERE A LARGE, BEAUTIFUL PAINTING HUNG. THE PAINTING WAS OF A PASSUK THAT SAYS, ” BLESSINGS COME FROM HASHEM”!
MI KEAMCHA YISRAEL. THIS MAN IS NOW A VERY RICH MAN BUT HIS JOY IS ONLY TO THANK HASHEM ( IN THE TV COVERAGE, HE WAS WITHOUT A KIPA, BUT HERE IN ISRAEL, THAT IS NOT NECESSARILY INDICATIVE OF THAT MUCH…) AND TO SAY THAT THIS DAY IS A HOLIDAY FOR ERETZ YISRAEL- SINCE HASHEM NOW BLESSED US TO BE FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT!
WHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD ECONOMY IS FAILING, HASHEM SHINES UPON HIS BELOVED PEOPLE IN ERETZ YISRAEL A GIFT OF PARNASSA!
AND ALL THROUGH MR. TESHUVA! WHAT A GREAT NAME. ALL THOSE WHO INVESTED IN TESHUVA LAST WEEK, ARE RICH TODAY! MAY WE ALL INVEST IN TESHUVA!
THANK YO U HASHEM. NOW, FREE ALL OUR SOLDIERS, AND JONATHAN POLLARD. THE PORTAL OF MIRACLES HAS OPENED…MAY IT FLOW FOREVER…AND MAY THE LAND OF ISRAEL BLOSSOM EVEN MORE, TO GREET AND SUPPORT ALL JEWS FROM THE FOUR CORNERS OF THE WORLD.
MAZAL TOV!
FOR SOME PHOTOS OF HOW OUR ARMY FIGHTS AND WINS , GO TO THIS LINK
http://www.bhol.co.il/forum/topic.asp?whichpage=1&topic_id=1990937&forum_id=771
POWER TODAY-TENTH OF TEVES
Tenth OF Tevet
There are two interesting laws regarding Asara B’Teves that impact on our understanding of the day. The first is that this fast is the only one that can and often does fall on a Friday. When this happens, we fast until Kiddush Leil Shabbat. The second less known Halacha is that if the Tenth of Teves falls on Shabbat, we would fast just like we fast on Yom Kippur which falls on Shabbat. This seems surprising, since Asara Teves is not considered by ‘Amcha’ as a particularly strict fast day. Certainly, it is not as strict on a certain level as Tisha B’Av. Of the four fasts connected to Churban Bait Hamikdash, this one seems the most insignificant, and yet, in Halacha it is given Yom Kippur type of status.
The fact that our present calendar does not allow a Shabbat Asara B’Teves does not lessen the question- what is so powerful about this day?
Historically, the tenth of Teves began the siege around Jerusalem which eventually ended in the Churban. Kol Hatchalot Kashot- all beginnings are difficult. One reason this is true, is that the entire episode is encapsulated in its beginning; much like an entire body is encoded in the DNA of an individual cell. Since the entire Churban is contained in the first moments of its beginning, the day is so powerful.
We are taught that each fast day is an Eit Ratzon- a time of grace and will. Why is that? Chazal teach that in the time of Geula and clarity, each tragic day in our calendar will be transformed into a holiday- each fast day will become a feast day. Therefore, woven into the fabric of today is the potential for a new beginning in Geula. This day, two thousand years ago, began a process that culminated in exile and so, on this day, Tevet 10, 5769, we have the potential to begin a process that will develop and culminate into a personal and national Geula.
How can we tap into the energy of the day? One way is to use the power of the siege. Historically, a siege was placed around Yerushalayim, and nothing was permitted to leave or enter the city. Yerushalayim is the heart of the country, and of the world. Your personal Yerushalayim is your own holy Jewish heart. Every day, but particularly today, take time to go within, to feel your Jewish heart and soul. Put up a temporary siege around your heart, letting nothing in. Go deep within yourself and be with your self, your soul. Remind yourself that you have a unique life force- you have a Neshama, which is a Chelek Eloka Mamash- a Divine Soul enlivens you. The Neshama is holy, clear, clean and perfect. It is the real you. Stay with this thought and develop it.
Then, break the siege and begin to expand. The opposite of the siege is the expansion of Yerushalayim. Chazal tell us that in Mashiach times, the borders of Yerushalayim will expand until the current borders of Eretz Yisrael. Begin today a program of expansion, of change of belief that you can change! Teshuva, which is being called for by all the Rabanim, is about change and improvement- bit by bit. Return to the greatness that your soul contains. A Jew must believe that we are great, and that we have unlimited potential for growth and unlimited capability. It matters not what your past is. From this moment on, you can be a great person. It matters not where you are now, spiritually. It matters only where you are in comparison to where you were. It matters where you want to be.
We are all praying for the youngsters who defend the Jews in Eretz Yisrael. We are all taking ourselves more seriously in Avodat Hashem, and taking more Mitzvos, increasing more Kedusha and sharing more Divine Light. May this be the final war, and may Hashem finally redeem us.
A CHANUKA TREAT – Three Audio Shiurim and NY Schedule
BSD
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I WILL BE IN NY FOR THE WEEK OF CHANUKA! THERE ARE MANY SHIURIM YOU CAN ATTEND-ALL SHIURIM ARE ON THE TOPIC OF CHANUKA AND GEULA
- MONDAY DEC 22 IN FAR ROCKAWAY AT THE FRISHMANS 329 BEACH 9TH STREET
- TUESDAY DEC 23 IN GREAT NECK
CongregationShira Chadasha – 695 Middle Neck Road, Great Neck
- SUNDAY DEC 28 AT THE JABBOURS IN FOREST HILLS 102-30 67th Ave, Apt 6S
- MONDAY DEC 29 IN JAMAICA ESTATES AT THE LUBECKS 81-42 193 STREET
- ALL SHIURIM START AT 815 PM
PLEASE SPREAD THE WORD TO ALL MY STUDENTS AND FRIENDS WHO MIGHT NOT HAVE INTERNET- I WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU ALL !!
FOR ALL MY WONDERFUL STUDENTS IN THE SUNDAY MORNING CLASS– I POSTED THE RECENT SHIURIM ABOVE- REVIEW, PRACTICE AND ENJOY!!!!
After the Election- Lech Lecha!?
Many people noticed that the Parsha of the week that the elections were completed begins with the command to our ancestor Avraham to leave his birthplace and come up to the Land of Israel.
Whoever would have won the election would not have mattered in the message of the Parsha…
However, you all know that I am not officially crusading (yet..) for you to all make aliyah, as much as I hope and pray that you all will. Soon!
The message of the tests of Avraham Avinu is current, definitive and perhaps urgent- how do these tests relate to each of us?
Listen here for a new take on an old problem…