PARSHAT VAYAKHEIL

BSDIMAGE TAKEN FROM MUSEUM OF THE BAIT HAMIKDASH

THE PARSHA HAS A UNIQUE MESSAGE ABOUT TALENT, CREATIVITY, ART AND HUMILITY.

MAY WE TRULY BE UNIFIED IN THE REBUILT BAIS HAMIKDASH THIS YEAR

LISTEN HERE…

http://www.mediamax.com/morah/Hosted/parshat%20vayakhel-%20unit

February 29, 2008 | Filed Under Audio Shiurim | Leave a Comment

TEHILLIM 121- ESA EINAI

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TEHILLIM 121 STUDIED LEILUI NISHMAT GITEL BAT ASHER ALEHA HASHALOM

click here to listen, and please comment!

http://www.mediamax.com/morah/Hosted/tehillim%20121.mp3

February 28, 2008 | Filed Under Audio Shiurim | Leave a Comment

PURIM KATAN, TODAY AND TOMORROW

http://www.mediamax.com/morah/Hosted/purim%20katan%2057

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The power of clarity in Adar!!

February 21, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

As long as it doesnt snow today in Yerushalayim…

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There will be an online shiur-

If you are in the neighborhood, drop by

HaGilboa 18

Nachlaot

Every Monday 5:10- PM Yerushalayim time, 10:10 AM NY time
Here’s the link. It takes a while to register.

Let me hear from you!
http://oneg.tv/?view=live&movie=11

February 18, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment

ONLY IN YERUSHALAYIM

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Stories from Yerushalayim:

In Har Nof, as in every neighborhood, there are many interesting characters. One of my favorites is our Yarkan- the man who is in charge of the fruits and vegetable department in the large supermarket. He is a quiet, unassuming person, who surprised me one Thursday many years ago. I was picking out some bug free, clean Gush Katif lettuce that he had just put out, and he said in a sage-like, singsong voice, “Kol Hakniyot Lechvod Shabbat Kodesh.’ I did a double take, not quite taking in what he had said, and he saw that and dutifully repeated for me, the obvious new American Olah- Kol Hakniyot Lechvod Shabbat Kodesh- all purchases are in honor of the Holy Shabbat.

I have gotten used to many holy and beautiful things here, and his weekly reminder is one of them. Nevertheless, it always gladdens my heart when I hear his song. At first I had thought that perhaps he only said this around people like me- who looked non-Yerushalmi and who perhaps really needed to be reminded that our food and all of our treats are indeed Lekavod Shabbos Kodesh, but I have observed him muttering this refrain to himself, when no one is around and he is just stacking potatoes or picking up fallen fruit.

Usually I repeat Lechvod Shabbos Kodesh after him, loud enough for him to hear. Let him get some Nachas from his ‘students’. One week, soon after Shmitta began, I heard his reminder, and as I dutifully repeated after him that all my purchases were to be in the honor of Holy Shabbos, I added something of my own. I said aloud, for him to hear, “Lekavod Shabbat Kodesh, and Lekavod Eretz Yisrael, and Lekavod Mitzvot Hatluyot BaAretz”. In honor of Shabbos, in honor of the holy Land and in honor of the Mitzvot that depend on our living here to fulfill them. He listened, thought a bit and shook his head. “Rak Lechvod Shabbat Kodesh” – only in honor of the holy Shabbos… He was very emphatic and it left me a bit puzzled and a bit in awe of his depth and understanding.

Zecharya, for that is his name, is a humble man. I see how he talks to the Arab boys that the store hires to do some of the heavy work. He treats them with respect, yet clearly maintains his dignity so that they know he means business. And his business is just to provide his customers with the best. He too is but an employee for the large chain store supermarket and he gets no kickback if his sales are high. Yet he is diligent and very trustworthy. Zecharya happily announces when ‘clean’ onions have arrived and will go to the back to schlep out a better watermelon if the ones he put out earlier are not to your liking.

A few weeks ago, I saw an ad in our local newsletter that Zecharya’s wife was ill and needed care. Everyone in the neighborhood, it seems, feels close to Zecharya and sees his unique way of serving Hashem with the carrots. So women were recruited to visit his wife while he was at work. From that ad I learned that he lived in a totally different part of town, and that his wife was bedridden. A few weeks later, there was a modest sign on the outside door of the ZolPo that he was sitting Shiva for his wife who had passed on.

The week passed and I wondered what to say to him when I saw him back at his job. I was after all just one of thousands of customers and perhaps it would be inappropriate for me to say anything. I had no idea the minhagim of his Aida and decided to just observe how others related to him.

It seems that I was not alone in not knowing what to say. He was his serious but cheerful self, muttering words of Torah under his breath as he recommended which beets were good and reminded people that the bananas have Kedushat Sheviit. But no women that I saw were speaking to him words of comfort. I puttered around the yams, observing that others were also doing the same. Till finally two other characters from Har Nof showed up. One was wearing a big cowboy hat- he does that regularly as his head covering. The other was a big jolly fellow who seems to be a famous and elusive person. They teamed up, as only men can do, and began to pelt Zecharya with questions about a certain sugya in Torah. They would not let him avoid their queries, and began to have a loud, lively Torah debate right there among the tomatoes and cucumbers. These two men made themselves seem a bit foolish, and they badgered Zecharya with different ideas, steering the conversation where they wanted it to go. I did not catch the intricacy of their pilpul, but the smiles at their silliness couldn’t escape notice. Zecharya was smiling. I don’t think I had seen him smile like that in a while.

The end words that I caught from the big jolly man were something about Mashiach coming, everybody ‘coming back’ and that then the real fun would begin. And then it became clear how these men sought to comfort Zecharya. It also obviously then became clear to him. He looked at them for a long while and then said repeatedly, Toda Raba Raba, Rav Todot, Toda, Toda. Thank you, thank you so much, thank you…

Five minutes in the vegetable section of ZolPo…witnessing greatness as only sincerity and kindheartedness can create.

Mi KeAmcha Yisrael. We Jews are amazing!

SHABBAT SHALOM AND MAY ALL YOUR JOYS BE IN HONOR OF SHABBAT KODESH

February 15, 2008 | Filed Under Inspiration | Leave a Comment

The Stones of the Choshen

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Dedicated to Reuvain and Adele Ben Dov of Har Nof, who constantly encourage me to write. May they see everlasting Nachas from their family

Parshas Tetzaveh 5768 Yerushalayim IHK

A teaching from the Mei Hashiloach, the Izhbitzer Rebbe …

The Gemara in Erchin teaches us that the clothing of the Kohanim, especially the Kohein Gadol had similar spiritual results as offering a Korban. When the Kohein Gadol donned his robe, it had the effect of atonement for those who had done (Teshuva for) murder. The pants were an atonement for immorality, the head covering for conceit, the belt for inappropriate thoughts. The Choshen breastplate atoned for injustice, the Ephod, which was the embroidered vest that held the Choshen was an atonement for idolatry, the apron with its bells atoned for inappropriate speech and the circlet crown of gold on his forehead for arrogance. Each article of clothing was holy, had significance and power to elevate, inspire and purify.

In lieu of an activated and operational Bait Hamikdash, we have n o clue how this took place. We have no real model to compare this idea of clothing being a form of atonement and inspiration. The closest we can get to this, perhaps, is the concept of,”Let your eyes see your teachers”, which reminds us that just gazing at a Tzaddik has a powerful positive effect

Nevertheless, every teaching in the Torah is eternal, and must have a parallel in daily life. Perhaps the consciousness of holy Jewish women as they get dressed is such a parallel.

Nothing is insignificant. Nothing is meaningless, ‘stam’. Nothing is for nothing. A woman has Halachot directing how she dresses in public. A man has no such Halachot. There are minhagim that the Torah world has adopted defining appropriate attire for Jewish men, yet none are Halacha.

A woman is clearly guided in the areas of Tzniyut. For many women, this remains their hardest Tikun, their hardest Mitzva. Just knowing that our mode of dress is powerful, has ramifications, and causes (hopefully) atonement and inspiration is a good thought to hold onto when choosing what to wear each day. Dressing with awareness is an enviable goal and achievement.

There was an article of the Bigdei Kehuna which could be described as an accessory, a piece of jewelry, if you will. This was the Choshen Hamishpat, the breastplate.

Onto an embroidery was set twelve stones, in four rows of three stones each. These stones represented the 12 tribes and had the names of the tribes, as well as the names of the forefathers, etched into them. Into a pocket of the embroidered fabric was slipped the Urim VeTumim, the parchment inscribed with the unpronounceable Name of Hashem. When questions of national importance came up, the Kohein Gadol would ‘ask’ the question while wearing the breastplate, and the letters suggesting the correct answer would light up.

The Torah goes into detail naming these twelve stones. Nowadays, we don’t have a non-disputed tradition of what these stones are. Nevertheless, the Machon Hamikdash here in Yerushalayim has identified and created a halachically acceptable Choshen. http://www.templeinstitute.org/beged/priestly_garments-7.htm

The first stone, on the top right hand corner was called Odem. It was red and was for the tribe of Reuvain. Red is the color of happiness, life and awareness. Reuvain symbolizes the ability to see Hashem in all parts of your life. A person who works on this, who searches for Hashem in every event and situation, who cries out “AYEH”- where are you Hashem, such a person is then rewarded by Hashem and that person has more clarity in seeing Hashem. The source of all happiness, of true life in this world, is the constant awareness that you are not abandoned to chance. Hashem is directing every event in your life. ‘Seeing’ Hashem is Simcha, and is represented by the Ruby.

The next stone is called Pitedah and is generally accepted as an emerald. It represents the tribe of Shimon who possessed great depth in Torah learning and understanding. However, this great depth needed to be clarified and refined, making it understandable and accessible to others. Rebbi Shimon Bar Yochai was from Shimon. The Rebbe explains that the word Pitedah is made up of two groups of letters. Pay and Hay spell Peh, meaning mouth. The Tet and Daled are the letters that precede Yod and Heh. The idea here is that the depth of understanding of Hashem is unable to be expressed by the mouth. Notice that Hashem has used much green to decorate His world- thus nature is a mask that seems to hide Hashem, as it exposes His Infinite Greatness.

The third stone, last one of the first row, is called Bareket, meaning clarity. It represents Shevet Levi, who were the Torah teachers and who enlightened our People with their wisdom and clarity and did so using their innate and constant Yira, awe of Hashem. The colors are bright, either a mixture of white, red and black, or a bright lightening like color.

The second row of the Choshen contained the stones of Yehuda, Yissachar and Zevulun. The stone of Yehuda, called the Nofech, was a multicolored stone, having in it blues, white and black. It represents the ability of a Malchus’dic Jew to resonate with everyone equally- being able to be a Tzaddik with Tzaddikim and a Baal Teshuva with Baalei Teshuva. This was the Midah of Dovid Hamelech- who said of himself that he was a Chasid, and yet as lowly as a worm. The Mashiach will have the ability to merge the worlds of Tzaddik and Baal Teshuva by his unbounded love and understanding for every Jew- and every person.

Yissachar were the Torah teachers and their stone was the Sapir, the clarity of blue. In describing a vision of heaven, we are told there is a seat of Sapphire. Clarity, depth and wisdom are related to the Sapir stone. Yissachar’s partner was his brother Zevulun. Their famous arrangement is the mainstay of Yeshivos to this very day. Zevulun were merchants, and they shared half their earnings with Yissachar. In return, Zevulun acquired half the reward on every level from the learning of Yissachar. The stone of Zevulun was the Yahalom, often translated as diamond, but more likely a quartz crystal. The name Yahalom can be read as two words- Y-h Halom which means God is here. To Zevulun, there was no contradiction between working and maintaining God- consciousness. He saw Hashem while he worked as clearly as Yissachar his brother tribe saw Hashem while he learned.

The third row was for Dan, Naftali and Gad. Dan’s stone, called the Leshem showed that although Dan means Din- strict judgment, and although Dan was a strong and headstrong tribe, nevertheless all they did was Leshaym Shamayim. Often times, the actions of Shevet Dan raised eyebrows- Shimshon was from that tribe. Nevertheless, the intention was always holy.

Naftali were also business people, and his stone, the Shevo reminds us that he always tried to remember where he came from- his past- his origins in holiness, even as he walked in the business world. He was always turning backwards, relating to Teshuva, even as he ran forwards to succeed financially. His stone color was the purple amethyst.

Gad was a warrior, a gatherer of troops. His stone, the slate gray agate, Achlama, teaches that as he gathered his Achim, his brothers to war, it was always after reminding them Lama, why they were battling, and that answer was always to fulfill the will of Hashem and provide safety to their people.

The forth row was for Asher, Yosef and Binyamin. Tarshish, the stone of Asher was reflected in the Olive oil wealth that Asher had, which he nevertheless used only in his service of Hashem. His portion of Land was expanded and reminds us that wealth need not be a harsh master, but properly harnessed, can bring to an expanded way of serving Hashem. The prophets needed to be financially independent before they could receive total prophecy, and wealth used correctly is a blessing. The color of the Tarshish stone was aquamarine blue- green, or according to some, gold like olive oil.

Yosef’s stone was the Shoham, the black onyx. Black represents his ability to ignore the beauty of this world and focus on Hashem only. How was Yosef Hatzadik able to withstand all the temptations and trials of his life? Only be ignoring the worlds hold on his senses and entering into a world that focuses only on Hashem/. Today’s Tzaddikim do just the same thing.

Finally Binyamin. His stone was called Yashpay and it was the opal, a multicolored stone that shines with all the colors of the other stones. The Bais Hamikdash is in the portion of Binyamin and is a place for all people and all peoples. The Bais Hamikdash contains all the elements of the entire creation, and within its walls all of creation is rectified. Yashpay is broken into two words- Yaish Peh- he has a mouth. Binyamin knew of the whereabouts of his brother Yosef, he could have told on his other brothers, he had the ability and the mouth to speak, yet he held back and maintained his silence, never revealing to Yaakov Avinu what the Shevatim had done. For this he was rewarded to have the place which atones for all sins put into his portion in The Land. Like his mother Rochel, he held his silence and did not humiliate his brothers. Like Binyamin her son, one day Rochel Emainu will see her reward and rejoice as her children all return to the Land and re-experience the Bais Hamikdash. May it be soon and in our days.

February 13, 2008 | Filed Under Parsha | 3 Comments