Parshas Bamidbar 5770
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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.
Rivka Emainu and her Dilemma
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Rivka is finally pregnant, and experiencing strange symptoms. Surely she consulted with midwives, but her symptoms were spiritual in nature and she needed more elevated guidance. Married to the greatest Tzaddik of the generation and having his father, the Prince of the world available to ask, she nevertheless chooses to ask the head of the Academy of Shem. Why?
Listen here to the Shiur given in Yerushalayim today…
http://www.mediafire.com/?zwkzom3hqjjгардероби
Sara Emainu in Mitzrayim
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A startling Chidush by R’ Y. Eibshutz might change your way of understanding the relationship that our grandparents Avraham and Sara had with each other.
Listen here to a shiur given to the womens learning group in Har Nof, Yerushalaim IHK.
Have a great week, a wonderful Shabbos
http://www.mediafire.com/file/mloynzmni2t/5770 Sara Emainu in Mitzrayim.mp3
Women in Torah- Naama
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Noach and Naama– recreating the world. These two had much more in common than the sweet meaning of their names. Naama and Noach relive an episode in human history that their ancestors Adam and Chava already unsuccessfully passed through.
Listen here to this shocking, eye opening shiur. A must for women who thirst for their portion in the Torah.
I would love to hear your comments.
http://www.mediafire.com/?gtwkjdemwxl
( Image from create-a-mural.com)
New Beginnings- Again!
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Welcome back to a new year of learning, growing and sharing. Beraishis- a new beginning.
Here is the link to the shiur given today at Neve Womens Learning Center- discussing the first Rashi in Chumash- and its message to us today- enjoy and share.
http://www.mediafire.com/?wncdnzkn5jq
Shabbos Chazon
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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.
Parshas Korach
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Korach was a cousin of Moshe Rabbeinu, a Levite who carried the Holy Ark when the Israelites traveled in the desert. Chazal tell us that the quarrel he had with Moshe Rabbeinu reached the deepest part of Torah- hear why he was punished so unusually…
The book of Tehillim chronicles the life of King Dovid. History repeats itself, Hashem re-teaches humans lessons until we finally understand. The kingdom of Dovid, and the life of Dovid Hamelech repeatedly was threatened- how does he react? Tehillim 120 is the first of the 15 Perakim of Shir Hamaalos and deals with the tragic results of lies, slander and gossip. A special look at the last two Pesukim, which sound as if they were written just this week, as a response to the threatening speech of the president of the USA…
Parshas Shlach
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It is clear from the events surrounding the Meraglim, who were Tzaddikim, that there is a dimention of Eretz Yisrael that goes above and beyond human comprehension. Rebbe Nachman teaches that Eretz Yisrael is aquired with Emuna, and that living in Eretz Yisrael enhances Emuna, among a myriad of other things.
This year, the second day of Shavuos came out on Shabbos. Here in Eretz Yisrael, it was a ‘regular’ Shabbos, and we read the regular Parshat Hashavua of Naso. The Torah reading for Chul was still Shavuos reading. Consequently, for the next few weeks, there is a different Parshat Hashavua in Eretz Yisrael than in Chul.
It is a good time, therefore, re-evaluate our love, devotion and committment to living in Eretz Yisrael- wherever you happen to currently be. Chutz LaAretz is not our home. Whether you are physically in the Land or not, your heart has to be directed here. If it is not, you need to ask Hashem to open your mind and heart to Eretz Yisrael, to understand the centrality of living in this Land in order to fulfill the Tafkid of being a practicing Jew.
So many of our brothers and sisters have no connection to Torah on an apparent level, and therefore cannot be expected to understand the concept of our own Land as the place to live as a complete Jew. The Torah world must at least acknowledge the fact that Eretz Yisrael is the hope and goal.
Here is a shiur given in Har Nof to the valiant women who spend their Wednesdays learning Torah.
Have a wonderful Shabbos
Awesome Torah
BSD
The deepest part of a Jew- what precisely is it? Where do we make our biggest errors, and our biggest conquests? And how did Aharon Hakohein manage to love every Jew and bring them back to their soul-point? Listen here!
5769-parshas-behaalosecha-the-nature
Much of Tehillim is heartwarming and strengthening! Dovid Hamelech was not much of a complainer, and shares his Emuna with us in the pages of Tehillim. Yet, there are some Perakim of Tehillim that surprise us with their sharpness. Here are two- which go through Jewish history. Nevertheless, their is a dose of sweetening to take us closer into goodness and repair.
tehillim-78-and-106-history_mistakes
Lamb Chops
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The Torah mentions four types of damage-done by an ox, a donkey, a lamb or damage done to clothing. How can we relate to these Halachos in our cosmopolitan world?
Are you the ox type? Or, do you prefer to hurt in a mule-like way?
Listen to a shiur based on teachings from the Tzemach Tzedek on Parshat Mishpatim…
5769parshas-mishpatim-neve-women