Your Special Purim Weapon
BSD 
PURIM 5767 YERUSHALAYIM IH’K
Imagine that you are a soul. Pure, simple and perfect. You are living in the world of souls, where all is bliss, clarity and the greatest joy is in perceiving the Presence of Hashem, The Creator and Only. Yet, you sense a slight stain, an imperceptible imperfection and as a soul, this bothers you. Also, as a soul, you perceive that your perception of Hashem is imperfect. Your awareness incomplete and this dissatisfies you. Yet, where you are in the world of souls, all is quiet, perfect and serene. This juggle between perfect tranquility and desire for further perfection in closeness to Hashem is a deep and constant inner rumble. Finally, you get the invitation, from the
Divine Court
And of course, you agree.
You, the soul, becomes slowly and steadily enclothed in a body. As a soul, you understand the rules of the game- the world you are leaving needs nothing physical, but the world that Hashem loves and ultimately chooses is a world of action, of activity, of physicality. So, you don your body with a certain understanding that it is your vehicle of transport and accomplishment in this world. You, the soul, often feel conflicted about the body, and as a newborn, you often cry with confusion at the restrictions of the body. Yet, the mature part of your soul, the understanding and remembering part, accepts, values, respects and makes peace with the body. You merge into yourself.
Hashem gives a person different goals and possibilities at different stages of the life of the body-soul. At birth, we forget everything that the soul knew of its opportunity and return privileges.
Faith is the only currency that keeps a person steady in the voyage on earth. Faith that Hashem is the One, the Only, the Ultimate and that Hashem is guiding you in absolute detail to repair, fix, elevate and create the new you. Faith in Hashem that there is nothing accidental, nothing superfluous, no mistakes. Faith in the power of your Tefilla to create vessels that will bring you more convenient and desired tools to get you through the journey.
Children are generally cheerful – they are glad to be alive. They have a soul understanding that just being a soul in a body is enough potentially to elevate the soul, and to bring the greatest joy to the Master Of The World.
Purim we return to a simple childlike way of serving Hashem. We let go of our complicated understandings, we dress up, share food and generally have a good time. It’s the greatest time to verbalize the following truism:
Hashem has created a force of evil that is given permission to challenge me, the holy Jew, and tempt me to leave Hashem. This challenge is just a game Hashem is playing with me. Hashem wants to see what I truly want in this gift of life that He has given me. Do I want closeness to Hashem, like I had in the world of souls? Or will I be distracted by the material and put Hashem in the second best category? The tests are scary, nations rise up to kill me, to attempt to anyway. They will all, of course, fail, since Hashem has promised
Nevertheless, as far as I might distance from Hashem, as tempted as I might be in the ways of the distracters, when I finally wake up and call out to Hashem He happily, and lovingly saves me.
Calling out to Hashem is my greatest power. It is my only power. It is my Hashem-given power. And even if I have not utilized this power for a long time, even if I have given up faith in this power, it is always totally available and returned to me instantaneously.
Mordechai HaYehudi, the Tzaddik, reminds us never to give up hope. He encourages Esther HaMalka, the soul, in her work of Tefilla and trust in Hashem. And the Hamans that try to make us feel weak, un-empowered and apathetic are just angels from Hashem to push us, Jews, to the furthermost edges of our greatness.
One of the great gifts that the Baal Shem Tov renewed in the world was to remind us, to rewire our consciousness, to reactivate our awareness to the fact, the absolute promise that Hashem totally and completely loves each of us. Hashem is here with each of us, and is guiding and directing each and every iota of life. Hashem loves every tiny baby step we take towards Him, and answers every word of Tefilla. Nothing in any action we do to be better people, better Jews and bring Nachas to Hashem, is lost or ignored. Nothing is lost or ignored, nothing insignificant.
Hashem loves us.
That’s why Hashem gave us Purim.
Use the days of Purim to talk to Hashem non-stop.
Ask Hashem for a strengthening in faith, and in trust- Emuna and Bitachon. Thank Hashem for the infinite blessings of daily life. And ask Hashem for your needs. Pray for others, for their needs and mostly for the greatest need- that Mashiach come in a revealed way, a final way, with great Rachamim and Bracha, without the need for more tests.
May we celebrate together here in Yerushalayim Ir Hakodesh with all the Tzaddikim and with Mashiach Tzidkeinu.
PURIM
PARSHAS TETZAVEH-PURIM 5767 YERUSHALAYIM
Once again, we, the Jewish People return to the season of miracles. We are entering Purim and Pesach, the Tekufa of hidden miracles and revealed miracles.
There are two parts to the Jew, the body and soul. The body is visible, follows rules of nature, cause and effect. Basically, it is measurable and predictable.
Then, there is the soul. How much has been written, sung and painted trying to depict the soul. It is a hard task, defining and describing the soul. The Tanya teaches that it is a Chelek Eloka Mima’al Mamash. It is a portion of Hashem. This is a bit above comprehension, especially since we know in simple Pshat that Hashem has no parts or pieces. He is a totality of Wholeness. Yet, we have a spark of His wholeness as our base, our soul.
Purim might reflect the body, in that the miracles of Purim followed a path that might have been understood by journalists reporting on an unfolding news story. The miracles happened through the disguise of nature. This is one of the reasons we disguise ourselves with costumes on Purim. The miracle of Purim began with the Avoda and Mesirut Nefesh of two people. The life of Mordechai the Tzaddik and his righteous wife Esther was invaded by the hateful enemy Haman the Amaleiki. They decided to risk their private lives to save the Jews, and with the approval of Hashem, and the cooperation of the entire Nation (which was a miracle in itself…) they succeeded.
There have been many who have chosen a similar path. Many great people gave their lives for a cause they believed in. So, the Purim story could have been written as a chapter in great human leadership and idealism. But, Chazal tell us there was much more to the Purim story that meets the eye. The greatest act can be easily and conveniently and humbly disguised as an ordinary activity. Such is the greatness of greatness, that desires its good to be hidden from public eye.
On Purim, the Nation and Her leaders had to decide on a basic definition of self. In the end, we chose to willingly reaffirm our commitment to be the Am Segula, the Chosen Nation.
There are two ways in which we know and relate to Hashem. One way is through the Midos that He has chosen to reveal to us, and relate to us with. These are clothed within the Sefirot, the lenses that take the Infinite Light and filter It to allow the creation to experience Hashem. The Midot of Hashem are imitatable, understandable and allow and cause us to be accountable. Within this system are reward and punishment, good and bad, love and hate. We perceive of Hashem as He allows us to perceive Him.
But in His essence, Hashem is above and beyond our human perception. He is Infinite, Ein Sof. This is a concept and a Being that humans cannot comprehend. And yet, we can unite with Hashem in this place, since He has created us in His Image and the soul of a Jew is part of this Infinity.
The story of Purim can be understood on a myriad of levels. On one level, we see cause and effect. A decree was issued against the Jews as a result of assimilation. The leaders found out this impending doom, stirred the hearts of the Jews to Teshuva, and the Teshuva was accepted. The decree was changed, the Jews were saved and we lived happily ever after. We celebrate Purim in the spirit of each salvational holiday. Pesach, Chanukah and Purim all seem to have the same pattern- ‘They tried to kill us, we won, let’s celebrate!’
But the Tzaddikim point to a deeper understanding of Purim and its miracles. When Mordechai Hatzaddik found out what the
Persian Court
Heavenly Court
Mordechai was almost alone in his generation in this level of understanding. The other members of the Sanhedrim didn’t agree with this method of approaching the impending disaster. They faulted Mordechai when he actively searched out Haman, to stand upright in his presence, instead of avoiding him as they all tried to do. Even Esther had a hard time coming to this level, but with Mordechai’s help, she too understood.
At first, Esther Hamalka wanted to operate within the borders of logic. Soon, Achashverosh would undoubtedly summon her. She would honor him and go, and then, in her humbled place as his docile wife, would beg him to spare the Jews. And since the king in the story is Hashem, she also meant that when the time was opportune spiritually, when she felt the Shechina Presence close and her inspiration level high, she would Daven from a broken heart.
Mordechai Hatzaddik disagreed. He told her that the old method which she was suggesting is not sufficient. The decree is too harsh, the level we sunk to was too low. We needed a different Avoda. She must go, despite her being unprepared and uninvited. She must appeal to the essence of the King from the essence of her soul. She must fear nothing, since there is nothing to lose. They are doomed either way. She must let go of logic, let go of all her previous understandings and appeal to the Infinite Essence.
Esther Hamalka fasted for three days, supported by the fasting and prayers of her nation. She had prepared herself to be pure, and approached the King. As she approached the king in this world, she felt all the preparations, all the purity and all the merits of the Nation slowly drain out of her. Chazal say that she uttered the famous Pesukim of Dovid Hamelech (Tehillim 22), Keili Keili, Lama Azavtani… She stood before the king, and The King, stripped of her Malchus. And in that state of total abnegation, total Ayin, total nothingness, she speaks. She invites the king, The King, to come to her. To descend from his place, His Place, and meet her in hers. And she invites the forces of evil to come. Twice this invitation is extended. The king is curious, evil is curious, and Esther has let go of all boundaries of previously accepted Avoda. She enters the realm of the unknown, of the Infinite and cries out, “Don’t destroy us; we are Yours, despite whatever we do.”
Haman the evil one did not understand this concept, nor did he believe it to exist. The Jews at the time understood this idea conceptually, did not feel they were on the level to live within its guidelines, but knew it was the basis of their existence. Mordechai and Esther lived within this level of Lemaala Miderech Hateva. They also infused into the time and into our soul the ability to access this level on Purim.
When Haman saw his lottery fell in Adar, he rejoiced, seeing the death of Moshe Rabbeinu as his guideline. Mordechai rejoiced, knowing Adar was also the birth of Moshe Rabbeinu. Haman used the lottery as a symbol of appealing to his highest level of ‘letting go and leaving it to fate’. Mordechai let go, went higher and left all to Hashem in His Essence, a level so high that no one, even angels, can reach there. And the inheritance given to us as a result of the original Purim, allows us to access this unknowable level every year, in these days of Purim.
That is one of the reasons we go a little nuts on Purim! We often overeat, overdrink, oversleep, overmock and basically appear rowdy and crazy! And the point we are making, is that even when we are on the lowest levels, we still remain Jews, Beloved Jews and Eternal Jews. One day of the year ( or potentially two, if you are in Eretz Yisrael and want to run around a bit and end up in Yerushalayim for Yerushalayim Purim…) we are told to let go of all that we think is right, worshipful and just have some holy fun. And this holy fun is appealing to the Holy One, since we are His Holy Children. Purim gives a once in a year space for a Jew to let go, and let God.
We are taught that a Jew has to listen to every word of the Megilla. While we listen, down here, do you know what Hashem is doing Up There? The Mekubalim tell us that while we are ‘distracted’ by the Mitzva of Megilla, Hashem is downloading into our mind and being, all the Torah we need for the whole year!
Chazal say that Mashiach will come when we are in a state of Hesech Hadaas. This is usually translated as ‘not paying attention, not focusing’. Removing our thoughts from Mashiach will bring him closer? The Baal Shem Tov teaches a different thought on this Chazal. When we remove our Daas, our preconceived notions of how Mashiach will come, when we even remove the Daas that seems to indicate that only if we are worthy will Mashiach come, when we let go of how we think things should be, then we open a space for Hashem to bring Mashiach.
During the exile of
That’s why we go overboard with all the Mitzvos on Purim. Nothing is in proportion to logic or normalcy. Everything is above the usual way. We give more money than we usually feel comfortable with. We eat and drink more than we are comfortable with. We pray and ask for blessings more than we think we deserve. We have more fun than we think is appropriate. We get out of Galus a little. Halevai we should get out of Galus once and for ever.
It’s good that the world is such a mess. It’s good that the State of Israel is so mixed up and senseless. It’s good that the Torah world is having so many internal challenges. We are a mess. This is good. It’s the best time for Hashem to show us that despite our mess, or even davka because of it, He can and will redeem us. That would be the ultimate Purim Shpiel. Let’s make it happen by just being innocently happy on Purim and telling Hashem that we expect Him to come through for us this year.
SEE YOU SOON, HERE IN BEAUTIFUL HOLY REBUILT YERUSHALAYIM.
SHABBAT SHALOM, HAPPIEST PURIM EVER!
BEGIN TO PREPARE FOR PURIM
BSD
Rebbe Nachman taught that a person should ‘make Torah into Tefilla’. One meaning of this is to Daven to be able to fulfill each and every Torah teaching that we learn. The Mishna in Avot reminds us that just learning without fulfilling that which we have learned is insufficient.
Rebbe Nosson was the primary and most prolific of the students of R’ Nachman. He took the above advice literally and composed a tefilla corresponding to each of the lessons of Likutei Moharan. Although the lessons in Likutei Moharan are way above our heads, and we can just barely understand portions of them, we can get a Peirush on them by looking at the reaction/tefilla that R Nosson wrote. These tefillot are published as Likutei Tefillot and have been translated into English.
Writing and saying your own tefillos to Hashem is not unique to Breslov. Indeed, many Tzaddikim and ‘regular’ Jews like ourselves regularly talk to Hashem daily, constantly and in our own words.
Since Adar has arrived and Purim is literally around the corner, we must prepare. Although costumes for the kids and menus for the Seuda are on our minds, there is another preparation we need. I have taken the liberty of copying a tiny part of a Tefilla for Purim written by R Berland of Yerushalayim. By reading his words, we can begin to prepare our souls for the work of Adar and of Purim. To see the rest of the Tefilla, visit the site of his yeshiva
http://www.shuvubonim.org/pray1.html
A Prayer written by HaRav Eliezer Berland, shlit“a, for Purim.
1. May it be Your Will, Hashem our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, Who does miracles in every generation, “Who fights our battles” that, in Your endless compassion, You will have mercy on us and save us in an amazing way. Help us so that we will be worthy to receive the holy days of Purim and to fulfill all their holy commandments in a pure and holy manner, joyfully and with the most powerful delight. Help us to fulfill all of the commandments that apply to Purim in all their detail, with proper intention, and a consciousness of how all the other six hundred and thirteen commandments relate to them.
2. Master of the Universe, You revealed to us that all the miracles that You did for our ancestors in the past shine continuously into the present. They can brighten every generation and every person’s every living moment. Help us so that we will be able to experience the light and sanctity of Purim, and all the festivals. Give us the power to feel the illumination of the miracles that were done then and to feel how they are constantly performed anew for each and every one of us.
3. That is why I have come before You in prayer, Hashem. Teach me, show me the way, grant me this undeserved gift and make me feel true Purim joy, an endless joy that I feel with all my heart and soul. And with this joy, may I, together with the rest of the Jewish people, become worthy of the purity that the Red Heifer brings upon us, a cleansing from the impurity of contact with the dead. Help us to draw this purity upon ourselves through true Purim joy, so that we will be pure in time to receive the holiness of the Pesach sacrifice.
4. Master of the Universe, You know how deep we have fallen in this bitter exile and how intense the spiritual pain of the Jewish people really is—especially my pain and trouble. You know how I am drowning and how I am pursued, and how I feel that there is no way out or any hope. Hashem, I need You to do miracles for me. You have always done wonders for the Jewish people, especially the greatest miracle which is the miracle of Purim. It used to be that all beginnings were from Pesach, but now—but now they are from Purim. Help me to make new beginnings now.
5. Master of the Universe, You know the truth—that of all the miracles that You performed for us throughout history, the greatest one is when You rescue us spiritually. For all of the pain that we suffer at the hands of those who persecute us is rooted in their resentment of our faith in You. They hate that we long to follow Your holy Torah and to publicize the truth of Your Providence and rule in the world. It is only because of this that, in every generation, they stand against us to destroy us, but You save us from their hands.
Parshat Teruma
BSD
THE KOTEL ON PESACH 5766
We are now beginning to read the two Parshiyot of Teruma and Tetzave which teach about the building of the Mishkan/Bais Hamikdash.
The Medrash Tanchuma (96:14) tells of two interesting conversations related to our Parsha. The first was between Hashem and the Jewish Nation. Hashem tells us that the Bais Hamikdaash was destined to be physically destroyed but that we must be careful not to allow the service of the Bais Hamikdash to stop. We asked how would we do this? Hashem answered that by reading the order of service in our Siddur and by studying the Torah portions related to these matters, it is as if we physically performed the Korbanos and Ketores. The Medrash then relates a further conversation, this time with the prophet Yechezkel. Hashem shows Yechezkel a model of the future Bayis and tells him to begin teaching about its details, including its measurements. Yechezkel protests saying, “We are now in exile, suffering at the hands of the enemy, and You command me to tell them about the details of what we cannot yet observe. Let me wait until we leave the exile”. Hashem responds,” Just because my children happen to be in exile, should My House remain desolate? Teach them that studying about the Bais Hamikdash is as great as building it”!
The Toldos, who was the first of the students of the Baal Shem Tov to write down his masters teachings, wonders how was it possible that the mitzvah of building the Mishkan could have been only given to the generation of the desert to build for one time slot only. We know that each Mitzvah is eternal and must be continually performed in order for the world to continue. This Midrash is one answer. When we can’t actually perform a mitzvah, we can study about it and access its holy energy thru study.
The Vilna Gaon taught that the more science and technology develops, the more we will be able to understand the workings of Hashem. So I want to share with you a study done by a Japanese researcher on the power of written and spoken words especially in relation to our mind-body.
Mr. Masaru Emoto published these findings in his book,” The Message from Water”. In his desire to learn of the effects of pollution on water, he began to photograph molecules of water from different sources, and predictably he found that water from polluted sources was affected on a molecular level. Continuing his investigations, he decided to experiment with the effects of sound on water. He found that water exposed to harmonious sounds, including music, kept a beautiful and symmetric molecular structure, and water exposed to harsh words, sounds and music would exhibit irregular and unhealthy shifts at the molecular level. He then experimented with particular words printed on to bottles of water and he found that positive and healing words and names of humanitarian people would ‘miraculously’ alter the water to a geometrically healthy state. Hateful words and names of wicked murderers would again alter the state of the water molecules into an unhealthy and random pattern.
The spoken word, the written word all affected the water molecules in a very real and physical way.
Our body is seventy percent water! What we say, hear and see literally affects us down to the very molecules of our being.
We don’t need science to prove Hashem’s words. Our nation has shown loyalty to the Torah since we received it. Yet it is a nice treat to see in the world of science a surprising partner in accessing the secrets of our Torah.
When Hashem encourages us to study the words pertaining to the service in the Bais Hamikdash, it is because it keeps this service alive, actually and not only figuratively. We can enter into the Bais Hamikdash of our mind and have a visit with Its Creator. This is one meaning of “VeAsu Li Mikdash VeShachanti Betocham”-make for me a set aside and holy space and I will dwell inside of you.
So let us study for a moment a piece of Torah related to the Mishkan.
Chazal say that we have two maps of heaven and all that goes on there. These maps are:
Our body
The Bais Hamikdash/Mishkan
The Passuk,” Naaseh Adam Betzalmeinu Kedmuteinu”, which translates as,” let us make man in our image and likeness” hints to our body as being set up in the same way heaven is set up. As Eliyahu Hanavi teaches,”the right arm is Chesed, the left arm is Gevura” etc.
Parallel to this is the
This map points to the worlds of Asiyah, Yetzirah, Beriyah and Atzilus.
Through the lenses of these “worlds”, Hashem appears to us, either in the physical world, the world of Torah study, Tefila or prophecy.Hashem reveals Himself in our daily life, in our hearts and in our minds and in our highest will.
Another parallel to the map above is hidden in the liquids used in the Bais Hamikdash. Water, oil, wine and finally the water vapor that carried the fragrance of the Ketores are again pointing to these four levels of existence.
The month we find ourselves in right now is Adar, a water month. Its sign, Dagim, fish, also alludes to water. We pray for the time, soon, that the knowledge of God cover the earth as the water does, KaMayim La Yam MeChasim”
Upcoming Shiurim in New York
BSD
I am happy to invite you to all of the following Shiurim that I will be giving in New York on my upcoming visit.
Tuesday Feb. 13 Forest Hills
Location To Be announced later this week.
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Wednesday Feb 14 Far Rockaway
329 Beach Ninth Street.
8:15 pm
“The Ultimate Purim Story”
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Thursday Feb 15 Great Neck
Solemani Family
215 Grist Mill Lane
8:30 PM
“Strengthening Emuna and Bitachon”
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Looking forward to seeing you!