בס׳ד

"Where does it say that you have a contract with G-d to have an easy life?"

the Lubavitcher Rebbe



"Failure is not the enemy of success; it is its prerequisite."

Rabbi Nosson Scherman



30 Mar 2017

Outrageous

Tucker Carlson of FoxNews interviewed Christian Action Network founder Martin Mawyer regarding what he called Islamic indoctrination in our schools. The video can be watched here. The video showed a portion of a website called Access Islam. You can click here to see who vets the site and who funds it.

The site has tabs pointing to lesson plans, timelines and videos.

Has there been any selective editing on the timeline of the life of Islam's founder?

You might want to peruse the timeline of The Modern Era: 1914-2005 to read about the year 2001 which contains the entry, "The Second Intifadah is sparked after Ariel Sharon visits the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, the third most sacred site in Islam."


Outrageous.

Reducing payments

Parashat Vayikra: The Joy of Misvot

ISRAEL REDUCING PAYMENTS TO UN AFTER UN "HUMAN RIGHTS" COUNCIL'S LATEST DEMONIZATION OF ISRAEL

Family of murdered DNC staffer raising money to investigate unsolved crime

29 Mar 2017

27 Mar 2017

No new messages

Sacred letter and awesome segulah

Goldstein on Gelt: Can You Really Live on Less?

Rasmea Odeh was offered similar plea deal three years ago – why is she taking it now?

Yesterday I was crossing the street when I heard a voice. Looking around, I noticed a short older woman talking about two people crossing at a red light.

"What they are doing is dangerous," she said, to no one in particular. I acknowledged her and she continued telling me that she had once been hit by a car while standing on the curb.

"People shouldn't cross at a red light," she continued.

I told her she was right and she continued talking. I let her vent her feelings and soon we came to a parting of ways as I had to turn left while she continued straight down the street.

As I left her, I felt good that I had provided her with human contact and mused as to her particular situation and whether she had anyone with whom to talk.

Last week I came across a site titled ageUK which offers befriending services to older people. I urge you to click on this link and watch some of the stories of older people who have been helped through the service. I was particularly moved by Barbara, who, after the deaths of her husband and daughter, used to check her message service, just so she could hear a human voice saying, "there are no new messages."

My friend's son recently moved to a building in which an old woman lives. He befriended her and now buys her challos for Shabbos, among other things.

These days, when we are on the bus and are preoccupied with our phones, we don't even notice the old people who can use a seat or a bit of conversation. When I was waiting online at the pharmacy, sometimes an older person was monopolizing the pharmacist, talking to him/her while I used to silently fume about how much time was being wasted and I sorely wanted the conversation to come to an end. These days, I just wait patiently, knowing the older person might have no one to go home to talk to.

I recently spoke to an older man who said his children don't have much time for him. One time his son called him and invited him to his house. The man was surprised at the invitation and tried to figure out what could have possibly motivated his welcoming gesture.

When he got to the  house, he was told the reason that he was invited was because he wanted to let him know that he was moving to another country.

Do you know someone who is lonely? Someone who would appreciate a visit or your call? When was the last time you called your grandmother or visited? How about picking up the phone right now?

26 Mar 2017

Allegedly

When the Rebbe Screamed "No"

לך למיילך"; ההוראה של הרבי והישועה של החולה"

Marc Lamont Hill wrote an article a number of months ago in defense of Rasmea Odeh, A Palestinian who accepted a plea deal.

...her conviction in 1970 was by an Israeli military court, ... it was allegedly based on a false confession made by Odeh,,,

Odeh has already spent over a month in prison — three weeks of it in the torturous conditions of solitary confinement, allegedly.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/marc-lamont-hill/black-activist-should-stand-with-rasmea-odeh_b_8288682.html

Why does Professor Hill need to use the word "allegedly" if he accepts her version of events as factual?





Jewish Voice for Peace has a video on its site titled Israel Palestinian Conflict 101. Why does the video use a map depicting historical Palestine as a lot less than what was historical Palestine? Why don't they use map 1 as an accurate depiction of historical Palestine?

23 Mar 2017

The passion

Sanctify the Moment

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudeh: The Foundation

Parshas Vayakhail-Pekudei: Sensitive Souls...

Transmitting The Passion to Our Children

Three-year-olds

ADORABLE 3-YEAR-OLD GIRL GRABS POPE'S HAT

When Moses was in his third year, Pharaoh was dining one day with the queen Alfar'anit at his right hand, his daughter Biti'ah with the infant Moses upon her lap at his left, and Balaam the son of Beor together with his two sons and all the princes of the realm sitting at the table in the king's presence. It happened that the infant took the crown from off the king's head, and placed it on his own. When the king and princes saw this, they were terrified, and each one in turn expressed his astonishment. The king said to the princes, "What speak you, and what say you, O ye princes, on this matter, and what is to be done to this Hebrew boy on account of this act?"
Continue reading: http://jhom.com/topics/crowns/moses.html

DEMOCRACIES MUST STAND UP TO END U.N. FARCE

BEREAVED SON SLAMS UN SPEECH BY PALESTINIAN TERRORIST'S FATHER

New campaign aims to help fund efforts to solve murder of Jewish DNC staffer

22 Mar 2017

Good Medos

Petirah of Chawnaw Hershel Kahn Z”L; See his ‘Handbook on Good Medos’

Jewish Children Taken To Mosque For Prayers In School Outing

WATCH: Hillel Neuer Of UN Watch Rips Human Rights Abusers Condemning Israel

"Mi'as Adanim L'Mi'as HaKikar Kikar LaAden", one hundred Adanim from one hundred kikar, one kikar for each Aden (Pikudei 38:27). The Chidushei HaRim says that the Mishkan needed 100 Adanim while a Yid needs to make 100 Brachos everyday. Just like the Adanim were the foundation of the Mishkan, so too our brachos are the foundation of Kedushas Yisroel and the Kedusha of each Yid.

Aden is from the Lashon of Adnus or Master, which is the way we refer to Hashem's name. Our hundred daily Brachos serve as a reminder that Hashem is our Master and they serve as the foundation of the Mishkan that each Yid builds for Hashem's Shechina, in his heart.

http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Pikudei-Chidushei-HaRim-100-Adanim-100-Brachos/4451

Disgraceful shelling

2014
“The United States is appalled by today’s disgraceful shelling outside an UNRWA school in Rafah sheltering some 3,000 displaced persons, in which ten more Palestinian civilians were tragically killed,” reads the statement from State Department spokesperson Jen Psaki. “We once again stress that Israel do more to meet its own standards and avoid civilian casualties.”
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/08/03/un-school-shelling-_n_5645771.html

2017
At least 33 people were killed in a US-led coalition strike on a school used as a centre for displaced people near a militant-held Syrian town, a monitor said Wednesday.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-39350475

Will the U.S. State Department be issuing a statement of condemnation regarding the disgraceful shelling of a school?

Giving and Receiving Compliments

21 Mar 2017

The ripe old age of 35

Below is a roughly translated story related in Hebrew at Kikar Hashabat.

On the night of Shabbat, Parashat Ki Tisa-Para, a member of Moetzet Gedolei Ha-Torah and Rabbi of the Ramat Elchanan neighborhood in Bnei Brak, Rabbi Yitzchak Zilbershtein, recounted a story about a shidduch which involved HaGaon HaRav Aharon Leib Steinman.

A yeshiva bachur who had reached the age of 35 and still had not found his marriage partner was suggested a 26-year-old woman.

The young man came to HaGaon HaRav Refael Shmulowitz zt "l and asked, "If I tell the young woman my exact age, it is reasonable to assume that she will not want me because of the nine-year gap between us. Can I 'reduce' my age, and say that I am 32 years old, for example?"

Rabbi Shmulovitz told the young man that he was going to Bnei Brak that evening to speak with the Rosh Yeshiva, Rabbi Shteinman Shlita, and he would present the question to him."

Rabbi Zilberstein related, "And what did the Rosh Yeshiva say? - Listen to the wisdom of the Torah!"

"This bachur has one drawback, and that's his age; does he want to have another disadvantage of being a liar?"

Maran said that the bachur should tell the truth.

The young man revealed his true age, and that same day a plate was broken as the couple got engaged.

After the betrothal, the future bride told her bridegroom, "I wanted you to know that I was debating whether to get engaged to you, so I decided I would ask you how old you were although, in realty, I knew your age. If you had lied, I would have not got engaged to you. Because you told the truth, I decided that you were to be my chasan.

Last will

Last will and Testament of Oldest Man in Jerusalem

The Omar Barghouti Poster

Parashat Vayakhel - Stop Being Lazy

GUESS WHICH OF THESE TWO THE ACLU SAYS IS PROBLEMATIC: A CHRISTIAN PRAYER CIRCLE OR A MUSLIM PRAYER ROOM

20 Mar 2017

Torah and good deeds

This afternoon I attended a levaya at Shamgar Funeral Home in Jerusalem. On one of the walls hangs a placard with words taken from Pirkei Avot, Perek 6.

בִּשְׁעַת פְּטִירָתוֹ שֶׁל אָדָם אֵין מְלַוִּין לוֹ לָאָדָם לֹא כֶסֶף וְלֹא זָהָב וְלֹא אֲבָנִים טוֹבוֹת וּמַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, אֶלָּא תוֹרָה וּמַעֲשִׂים טוֹבִים בִּלְבַד

"At the time of a person's passing, neither silver, gold, nor precious stones nor pearls accompany him, but Torah and good deeds."

Puts things into perspective, doesn't it?

Ani Ma'amin

"The passengers were seen reading Ani Ma'amin from their prayer books."

The above line was taken from an article at the Daily Mail regarding a flight that had to make an emergency landing.

The Medrash says that Moshe Rabbeinu asked Hashem, if the Bais HaMikdash is destroyed where will Hashem's Shechina rest. Hashem answered that it will rest on the Tzadikim of each generation. The Gemara in Succah (45b) says that each generation has 36 tzaddikim that greet the Shechina every day.

Rav Shlomo Levenstein in Chaim Shel Torah says there is a Remez to this in the first words of Parshas Pikudei. Pikudei according to many Meforshim means "missing" or "lacking". Eileh is gematria 36. "Eileh Pikudei HaMishkan". What will happen with the Shechina when "Pikudei HaMishkan", when the Mishkan is missing, asks the Torah? Eileh, the Shechina will rest among the 36 tzaddikim.
http://revach.net/parshas-hashavua/numbers-amp-letters/Parshas-Pekudei-The-Mishkan-and-The-36-Tzaddikim/1923

Rome’s chief rabbi weighs in on Catholic-Jewish rift


19 Mar 2017

Jewish values

Introducing Coalition for Jewish Values – A Much-Needed Breath of Fresh Air

BDE: Rabbi Benyamin Hauer, ZT'L

Watch: Flight from London to Lizhensk Makes Emergency Landing in Amsterdam After Losing Cabin Pressure

Is giving your baby a name a "small prophecy"?

H. posted a timely story about Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk, who passed away on the 21st day of Adar in the year 5547 (1787).

Reb Elimelech was a prominent student of the Maggid, Rebbe Dov Ber of Mezeritch, and was brought under his tutelage by his illustrious brother the famous Tzadik and Rebbe, Reb Meshulam Zushya of Anipoli.

Reb Elimelech is most commonly known by the name of his popular book Noam Elimelech, a commentary on the Torah. This book is one of the principal works of Hasidism.

Each year, for his yahrzeit, close to 35,000 travel to the remote corner of Poland where he is buried. It is said that anyone who prays at his grave on the day of his yahrzeit will not leave this world without being given a chance of achieving complete repentance. One of the travel agents arranging the pilgrim’s for Reb Elimelech’s yahrzeit to Poland, once recommended to a friend of his - who for many years after his marriage was still childless – that he take the trip with him to Lizhensk, he said to his friend (a non-religious Jew) that the day of Reb Elimelech’s yahrzeit is a very auspicious day, and to pray on this very day at the grave site of this holy man will bring him the blessing he so desperately needs. His friend politely declined.

‘I will pay for the entire trip’ said the travel agent, ‘all expenses are on me, please come, I guarantee you won’t regret the trip’. After just minutes of persuasion he finally convinced his friend to come along with him. However he made two conditions, ‘firstly; you must name the baby Elimelech (if it is a boy), and secondly; you must give me the honor of being the Sandek at the Bris’. His friend agreed to both conditions and off to Lizhensk they went.

About a year past and this friend called to say that his wife gave birth to a beautiful baby boy, and he was calling to tell him the good news. The travel agent reminded him about the two conditions he had committed to before the trip to Lizhensk, but his friend told him that although he will fully oblige to the second condition and gladly give him the honor of being Sandek, he does however have an issue with the first, - being non-religious - his wife is strongly opposing the name Elimelech, she said it is an old fashioned name and she wanted to give her kid a more modernized name. The travel agent, disappointed with his friend fought back and pressed that all commitments be met. After a week of argument, persuasion and convincing, the new parents finally agreed to give the name Elimelech, but with the condition that it would be the baby’s subordinate name. The baby’s first name will be the name of their choice, and they will call him by his first name as he grows to adulthood.

On the eighth day Mr. Travel agent got the honor of being the Sandek, and when the baby’s name was announced he froze in shock. The modernized name the couple was so passionate to give the baby was - “Noam” - , the baby’s full name was given as “Noam Elimelech”. Without knowing why, the new parent’s choice the name of Reb Elimelech of Lizhensk’s most popular book, the “Noam Elimelech”.

Most targeted

Jews most targeted group in Toronto hate crimes, police say

The Left's Descent into Fascism

The Opposite of a Two-State Solution Is Not One State

Rebbe Worries for a Jew in Japan

18 Mar 2017

A total unknown

"There were two main contractors working on the mishkan together," says Rav Shimon Schwab. "The first was the Betzalel. He was a child prodigy,who Moshe admitted defeat to, and acknowledged the he was privy to special secrets of the Heavenly Court. He also came from the finest lineage in Klal Yisrael being from the Shevet of Yehuda, the grandson of Chur, who was a leader of Bnei Yisrael, who died Al Kiddush Hashem at the hands of the mob by Chait HaEigel, and the great grandson of Kalev ben Yefuneh.

His second in command was Oholiav ben Achisamach, a total unknown. The Torah never mentions any great details about him or his family. In fact, he came from Shevet Dan, from the Pechusim of the Shevatim. Apparently," says Rav Schwab," he was a simple Yid, a Yarei Shamayim, and was a straight and thoughtful person.

Hashem made this odd team to teach us that while the Bais HaMikdash is made by a great man with a fine Yichus, it is also made by a simple Jew who is a Tzaddik in Hashem's eyes. The reason is that we must understand that Hashra'as HaShechina is for every single Jew to be together with Hashem."
http://revach.net/article.php?id=49854


10 Pearls of Jewish Wisdom

Marry My Husband

16 Mar 2017

Running for Team Lifeline

Please support Shachar's run tomorrow and help him reach his goal for donations to Team Lifeline/Chaiyenu.
Click here and help make a difference. Tizku leMitzvot.

Posters plastered across the University of Illinois at Chicago campus accusing American Jews of benefiting from “Jewish privilege” have rattled the local Jewish community amid a wave bomb threats and vandalism targeting Jewish institutions nationwide.
Read more: http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/226826

The golden calf

Parashat Ki Tisa- The Root of the Golden Calf

חיים של תורה ויראת שמים

Is it permitted to command a mixed-gender combat unit?

13 Mar 2017

Orwellian times

Two headlines regarding the same incident.
Two Officers Wounded in Jerusalem Terror Attack - Family of Palestinian slain in Jerusalem: ‘Our son was executed in cold blood’

Harvard going Orwell, protecting students from conservative websites

Judaism and My Addiction to Food

Amy Krouse Rosenthal, Author and Filmmaker, Dies at 51

A coin of fire

The Transformative Power of the Palestinian Narrative

ADL to combat cyber hate

The Medrash tells us that in order to explain the mitzva of the Shekalim, Hashem took out a coin of fire from underneath his Kisei HaKavod and showed it to Moshe. Rav Elyashiv asks two questions. First, had Moshe Rabbeinu never seen a coin in his life? Second, what exactly is Hashem doing hiding coins under his Kisei HaKavod?

He answers with a Tosfos in Chulin (42a) that Moshe couldn't understand how money, the most earthly of all creations, can save someone's neshama (Kofer Nefesh). So Hashem showed him a coin. Which coin? The gemara in Bava Basra (11a) says that during a hunger year Munbaz HaMelech emptied out his treasure chest to feed the poor people. His family became very mad that he was squandering the royal wealth. To this he replied that he is not losing the money, he saving the money up in Shamayim in a place where it will last forever while they squander money down on earth where it will eventually disappear.

Rav Elyashiv says these are the coins that Hashem took out to show Moshe. The coins that are given for tzedoka with Mesiras Nefesh are precious and are saved by Hashem under the Kisei HaKavod. Moshe understood that coins are made of destructive fire. They cause jealousy, cheating, stealing, and murder. Hashem showed him that coins can be made out of productive fire. Coins given for tzedoka can light the world and warm the world with their "Holy fire". On these coins Hashem said "Kazeh Yitnu". If the people give in this fashion then even coins can be Kofer Nefesh and money can redeem your soul.
http://www.thejewisheye.com/rev_pkitisa.html

6 Mar 2017

You don't have to be Jewish unless you are

Daughter's tribute to popular Hull teacher who helped Jewish refugees evade the Nazis

Conservative synagogues pass proposal allowing non-Jews as members

Remember the commercial "You don't have to be Jewish to love Levy's real Jewish rye bread?"
It might be updated with "You don't have to be Jewish to be Jewish."

Rabbi Yaron Reuven speaks about Torah Codes in relation to Purim in the second video below.


5 Mar 2017

7 Adar

7 Adar and Moshe Rabbeinu

POLICE INVESTIGATING VANDALISM AT JEWISH CEMETERY IN BROOKLYN

Senator Schumer has posted a video of Loretta Lynch on his Facebook page in which he writes, "If you're looking for inspiring words from a fellow NYer tonight, look no further."
WND has transcribed the video which contains "inspiring" jewels such as the following:

“It has been people, individuals who have banded together, ordinary people who simply saw what needed to be done and came together and supported those ideals who have made the difference. They’ve marched, they’ve bled and yes, some of them died. This is hard. Every good thing is. We have done this before. We can do this again.”
http://www.wnd.com/2017/03/loretta-lynch-need-more-marching-blood-death-on-streets/

Can You Do Purim Right?

4 Mar 2017

Without sediments

FBI arrests ex-journalist over threats to US Jewish centres

ISIS 'plotting attacks on British jews' and sees them as ‘desirable and legitimate’ target - Home Secretary warns

The Jewish community centers arrest is a reminder that pundits should shut up and wait

The Pasuk tells us that the oil for the Menorah must be pure, without sediments. This was accomplished by plucking the olives from the top of the tree (where they received the most sunshine). They also pressed them with a mortar rather than grinding them in a mill in order for them to be pure. This was only necessary for the oil of the Menorah. However, concerning the oil used for Menachos - Meal Offerings - Chazal say, "Kasis LaMaor" - "ViLo Kasis LaMinachos" - Pressing was only necessary for the light of the Menorah but not for the oil of Menachos.

The gemara in Megillah 6b states that if one says, "Lo Yagati Umatsasi Al Taamen" - "If one says that he did not toil in Torah but still found success in Torah - do not believe him. The reason being, Torah can only be acquired through great toil. Therefore, do not believe the one who says that he became a Talmud Chachom without working for it. The Ksav Sofer explains this phenomenon with the Drasha of Chazal -, "Kasis LaMaor" - "ViLo Kasis LaMinachos" -

"Kasis LaMaor" - one must press himself and toil for the light of the Torah. However, "ViLo Kasis LaMinachos" - for a livelihood (Menachos) he does not have to toil. He just has to make his Hishtadlus and the rest is from Hashem. One can work the minimum and become wealthy and visa versa one can work day and night and still remain poor. His toil is not the key to his success.
http://www.revach.net/parshas-hashavua/quick-vort/Parshas-Tetzaveh-Ksav-Sofer-Torah-Requires-Toil-Business-Doesnt/1828